Sandgrouse - Recent records in Iran

Sandgrouse 23 (1): May 2001 OSME BANNER
Some interesting bird observations from the coast of Iran, January-February 2000

GUIDO O. KEIJL, TOM M. VAN DER HAVE, JAMSHID MANSOORI AND VLADIMIR V. MOROZOV

Map of Middle east
Observations of 15 species, made during a survey of wetlands on Iran's Arabian Gulf coast, in January-February 2000, are presented. These included two potential first records in Iran, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola, an apparently important wintering area for Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus, records of several vagrants and scarce winter visitors, and a potentially significant range extension for the near endemic Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris. In addition, the area surveyed appears to be of considerable significance to wintering waterbirds, particularly waders. More than 53,000 waterbirds of 82 species were counted during the survey, including globally threatened species such as Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and White-tailed Haliaeetus albicilla, Greater Spotted Aquila clanga and Imperial Eagles A. heliaca.

HERE WE PRESENT INTERESTING records of bird species observed during a visit to the south coast of Iran, between Jask in the south and the Hilleh River Delta in the north-west, between 12 January and 3 February 2000. Most concern species considered rare in Iran, or have not previously been observed there, according to Porter et al. (1996). Coordinates were taken in the field with a Global Positioning System. A complete list of species observed is published in van der Have et al. (2001). Observations were made while surveying coastal waders, in 21 wetlands, with special attention to Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris. The project was organised by the Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO), in cooperation with the Department of the Environment, Tehran.

More than 53,000 waterbirds of 82 species were counted during the survey, including globally threatened species such as Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and White-tailed Haliaeetus albicilla, Greater Spotted Aquila clanga and Imperial Eagles A. heliaca. It was possible to survey only small parts of the wetlands along the Iranian Gulf coast, suggesting that the area as a whole must be very important for waterbirds, in particular waders and Dalmatian Pelican. No Slender-billed Curlews were observed, although extensive and apparently suitable habitat remains in, or near, the Hilleh River Delta, a nature reserve in Bushehr Province.

Shikra Accipiter badius Shikra Accipiter badius
On 24 January an immature passed overhead, at c. 10 metres distance, near Bandar Khamir. Although the observation was brief (probably not more than five seconds), the following characters were seen: yellow iris, vertical throat stripe, relatively short rounded wings (resembling Sparrowhawk A. nisus), limited dark on the wingtips not sharply demarcated from rest of underwing, spotted underparts and rather plain, pale underwings. Levant Sparrowhawk A. brevipes was eliminated on the basis of the positive observation of the yellow iris and rounded wings, and Sparrowhawk, of which c. 20 were seen during the trip including several the same day, on the basis of the spotted underparts, throat stripe and dark wingtips. No attention was paid to tail shape and bands on the uppertail could not be seen. Porter et al. (1996) consider Shikra to be rare in winter in the south-east of the country, but D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) reports that it is not that uncommon in east and south Iran, and is apparently present year-round in the south. Another individual, an adult, was observed, on 1-2 February, at Koreband, near Hilleh Protected Area.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
On 3 February a light morph was seen well near the border of Hilleh Protected Area. Apparently, Booted Eagle was not mentioned for Iran at this season (Porter et al. 1996), but D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) had several winter records in the 1970s, principally in the extreme south-east (Persian Baluchistan).

Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus
Three were seen at a refuse dump, beside the road from Akhvaz to Abadan, on the outskirts of Akhvaz, Khuzestan province, on 14 January. They were observed for c. 10 minutes as they fed among garbage. Diagnostic characters observed were the black upper head, breast and upper belly, brown upperparts, and white cheeks and vent. They were easily separated from nearby Red-wattled Plovers H. indicus. According to Porter et al. (1996) Spur-winged Plover is a vagrant in Iran, although it has apparently been discovered breeding in the south-west of the country in recent years (D. A. Scott in litt. February 2001).

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
One observation: on 29 January a flock of eight individuals, three of which still possessed juvenile plumage on the upperparts (being a rich golden colour), were observed on mudflats among mangroves in Hara Protected Area (26^o46'N 55^o43'E). The species is considered a vagrant in the country, according to Porter et al. (1996), but because of its regular appearance in other countries bordering the Arabian Gulf in winter (e.g. Bahrain, Hirschfeld 1995; United Arab Emirates, Richardson 1990, Keijl et al. 1998) it is probably more common in Iran than previously thought. Indeed, D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) reports that he had several records in the 1970s and the species appears to be a regular winter visitor in small numbers to coastal Persian Baluchistan. However, our record represents the largest single flock and probably the westernmost record.

Knot Calidris canutus Knot Calidris canutus
On 26 January, 12 Knots were observed feeding and resting on mudflats near Tijab (27^o04'N 56^o47'E), at a distance of c. 30 metres. All were in winter plumage. Important identification characters were the overall size (for instance, larger than Dunlin C. alpina and Sanderling C. alba, but smaller than Redshank Tringa totanus, all of which were in the immediate vicinity) and shape, stubby, straight black bill and greenish legs. The observation constitutes the fifth, but first documented and winter record in Iran. Kirwan (1996) listed all previous observations, in March and September 1961, and March and August 1963. Elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf the species is very rare and we know of only two records: one in summer plumage at Al Awamiyah, Saudi Arabia, on 9 April 1991 (Evans & Keijl 1993), and one at Shuqaiq, on 28 April 1993 (Kirwan 1996). Aspinall (1994) drew attention to the possibility that the few other claims of Knot from the Arabian Gulf (see list of such rejected reports in Kirwan 1996) could have been misidentified Great Knots C. tenuirostris. A regular wintering site for Knot appears to exist in south-east India, in the Gulf of Mannar, where up to 300 are counted each winter (Balachandran 1998). Interestingly, Balachandran (1998) supposed that these Knots belong to the east Siberian subspecies C. c. rogersi, based on mensural data. Knots reaching the Arabian Gulf could therefore be individuals that have 'missed' their Indian wintering grounds. However, measurements of the Indian Knots appear to better fit those breeding on the Taimyr Peninsula or the New Siberian Islands, which belong to C. c. canutus (Tomkovich 1992).

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
On 26 January, during a low-tide count on a mudflat near Tijab (27^o04'N 56^o47'E), two foraging individuals in winter plumage were observed through telescopes for several minutes at a distance of C. 100-200 metres. Principal identification features were the large size (almost as large as the nearby Redshank), heavy, 'pot-bellied' appearance, medium-long, slightly decurved bill, and a few black spots on the breast-sides. Due to the relative distance and light conditions, leg colour could not be established. It is known that small numbers regularly winter in the Arabian Gulf (Aspinall 1994) and Oman (Green et al. 1994), but to our knowledge, this is the first documented record in Iran.

Caspian Larus cachinnans and Heuglin's Gulls L. heuglini Large gulls of these taxa were present almost everywhere along the coast, but the largest numbers were counted, on 27 January, at Azini Khur (4620). These forms could not always be identified with certainty, as differences in mantle colour could be difficult to establish due to light conditions, and because attention was principally focused on waders. Only on a few occasions was special attention was paid to these forms, and only adults were specifically identified.

Caspian Gull (n=168) was identified on the basis of smaller size, paler grey upperparts, bright yellow legs, yellow, grey or dark iris colour, and relatively long bill in comparison with Heuglin's Gull. Heuglin's Gull (n=51) was identified by its large size, heavy bill and darker upperparts (like Lesser Black-backed Gull L. graellsii) than Caspian Gull.

Apart from these taxa, no other large white-headed gulls were identified, except for two large gulls near Bandar Rig, which exhibited characters of Armenian Gull L. armenicus. These had a medium-dark grey mantle, dark iris, bright yellow legs and a dark vertical band across the tip of bill (gonys). However, they were almost the size of a Heuglin's Gull and thus appeared too large for this species. Armenian Gull is a common breeding bird on Lake Urumieh in the north of the country (Evans 1994), but is certainly not common in the Arabian Gulf in winter (Hirschfeld 1995, Symens & Alsuhaibany 1996, pers. obs.).

cuckoo sp. Cuculus sp. cuckoo sp. Cuculus sp.
On 31 January an unidentified cuckoo was seen from the car between Bul Heir and Bushehr. It perched on an electricity wire beside the road. It was approximately the size of a Common Cuckoo C. canorus, with grey upperparts, long tail, long pointed wings, held slightly drooped, and a small head with a small pointed bill. The underparts were not seen. No cuckoos are known to occur in Iran in winter (Porter et al. 1996), and one of only two species is likely to have been involved: Common Cuckoo, which is a summer visitor to the north of the country and winters on the Indian subcontinent and in Africa, and Indian Cuckoo C. micropterus, which is a resident on the Indian subcontinent. Other species which are impossible to eliminate, however, are Horsfield's C. horsfieldi and (the smaller) Asian Lesser Cuckoo C. paliocephalus (Payne 1997).

Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola
Two observations: on 27 January, four near Azini harbour and, on 1 February, four in Hilleh Protected Area. Although both flocks were observed only briefly, Sand Martin R..riparia could be eliminated due to the dark throat and lack of a breast-band in all individuals. The upperparts were much paler than Sand Martins breeding in Europe. Differences in tail pattern were not established. This would be the first record of a species whose nearest breeding grounds are in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The subspecies involved would probably be R. p. chinensis, which is small and pale.

Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
According to Porter et al. (1996), Mourning Wheatear is a summer visitor in Iran, but according to Cramp (1988) it also winters in very small numbers. Apart from Eastern Pied Wheatear O. p. picata, which was ubiquitous, we observed at least 41 individuals of other wheatear species. Four were identified as Mourning Wheatear, one being seen in flight, showing much white in the flight feathers, on 23 January, south of Bandar Moguye, and three, on 31 January, between Kangan and Bul Heir.

Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei
One was seen and heard at Bord Khum, on 31 January. The winter distribution of this species in the Middle East is still little known, but it is apparently a common winter visitor to Persian Baluchistan, west to the region of Bandar Abbas (D. A. Scott in litt. February 2001). Records further west along the coast are not unexpected, as there is at least one winter record from lower Iraq (Scott & Carp 1982).

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
On 2 February one was heard calling several times in reedbeds along the Hilleh River. Penduline Tit breeds in north and north-west Iran, but the Hilleh River area is outside the range of this species according to the map in Porter et al. (1996).

Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris
Not certainly observed, but a single unidentified babbler was seen briefly in reedbeds at Hilleh Protected Area, on 3 February. Although Common Babbler T. caudatus is common throughout desert areas and cultivation in Iran, it apparently does not occur in marshland and reedbeds, habitat characteristic of Iraq Babbler. Given this, it is interesting to record that a single stuffed babbler in the bird exhibition of the Bushehr Research Center, Department of the Environment, in Bushehr, which apparently displays birds collected in the region, is an Iraq Babbler. Occurrence in Hilleh Protected Area would be a significant range extension for this near-endemic species.

Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus
On 2-3 February several flocks containing hundreds of Dead Sea Sparrow were seen in Hilleh Protected Area, mixed with Spanish Sparrows P. hispaniolensis. Although several individuals were closely scrutinised, the race yattii was not observed. Dead Sea Sparrow is a species with a restricted range and occurs only in the Middle East (Evans 1994). The wintering areas are largely unknown (Cramp & Perrins 1994, Snow & Perrins 1998). Considering the number seen in a relatively small area, the Hilleh River Delta and probably other areas on the north side of the Arabian Gulf appear to be important wintering areas (Evans 1994).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to A. Najafi and S. A. Ayafat, Department of the Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran, for their help in the project's organisation. Mr Nikkhah Bahrami, Royal Netherlands Embassy in Tehran, helped with many aspects of the preparations. Dr Behzod Saeedpour, Director of the Bandar Abbas Research Center, is thanked for providing facilities. Mohamed Asadipour assisted in the field work. We thank Dr Hassan Rostamian, Director Bushehr Research Center, Department of the Environment, for providing facilities, Dr Hamzeh Valavi for sharing his field experience, and Mahmoud Moghimi and Aghayar Moradi for their help and interest in the field. Kees Roselaar and Derek Scott commented on some of our observations. The project was funded by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, or Bonn Convention), of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Mrs Karen Weaver and A. Muller are thanked for their help in arranging funding at short notice. Dr Gerard C. Boere, Chairman of the Slender-billed Curlew Working Group, partly initiated this project.

REFERENCES

ASPINALL, S. (1994) A wintering or passage population of Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris in the Arabian Gulf? Wader Study Group Bull. 72: 43-47.
BALACHANDRAN, S. (1998) Population, status, moult, measurements, and subspecies of Knot Calidris canutus wintering in south India. Wader Study Group Bull. 86: 44-47.
CRAMP, S. (ED.) (1988) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol.3. Oxford University Press.
CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (Eds.) (1994). The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol.8. Oxford University Press.
EVANS, M. I. (1994) Important Bird Areas in the Middle East. BirdLife International Conservation Series No.2),Cambridge.
EVANS, M. I. AND KEIJL, G. O. (1993) Spring migration of coastal waders through the Saudi Arabian Gulf in 1991. Sandgrouse 15: 56-84.
GREEN, M., MCGRADY, M., NEWTON, S. AND UTTLEY, J. (1994) Counts of shorebirds at Barr al Hikman and Ghubbat al Hashish, Oman, winter 1989-90. Wader Study Group Bull. 72: 3943.
VAN DER HAVE, T. M., KEIJL, G. O., MANSOORI, J. AND MOROZOV, V. V. (2001) Searching for Slender-billed Curlews in Iran, January-February 2000. WIWO Report 72. Zeist, The Netherlands.
HIRSCHFELD, E. (1995) Birds in Bahrain. A study of their their migration patterns 1990-1992. Hobby Publications, Dubai.
KEIJL, G. O., RUITERS, P.S., VAN DER HAVE, T. M., BIJ DE VAATE, A., MARTEIJN, E. C. L. AND NOORDHUIS, R. (1998) Waders and other waterbirds in the United Arab Emirates. WIWO Report 62. Zeist, The Netherlands.
KIRWAN, G.M. (1996) The status of the Red Knot, Calidris canutus, in the Middle East. Zool. Middle East 13: 17-23.
PAYNE, R. B. (1997) Cuckoos. In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (eds). Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol.4. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
PORTER, K. E., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East. T.& A. D. Poyser, London.
RICHARDSON, C. (1990) The birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby Publicahons, Dubai & Warrington.
SCOTT, D. A. AND CARP, E. (1982) A mid-winter survey of wetlands in Mesopotamia, Iraq: 1979. Sandgrouse 4: 60-76.
SNOW, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (EDS.) (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Oxford University Press.
SYMENS, P. AND ALSUHAIBANY A H (1996) The ornithological importance of the Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary. In: Krupp, E., Abuzinada, A. H. & Nader, I. A. (eds.) A marine wildlife sanctuary for the Arabia Gulf. Environmental research and conservation following the 1991 Gulf War oil spill. NCWCD, Riyadh & Senckenberg Institute, Frankfurt am Main.
TOMKOVICH, P.S. (1992) An analysis of the geographic variability in Knots Calidris canutus based on museum skins. Wader Study Group Bull. 64, Suppl.: 17-24.
Guido O Keijl* and Tom M. van der Have, Working Group International Wader and Waterbird Research (WIWO), P.O. Box 925, 3700 AX Zeist, The Netherlands.
* (Corresponding author: Brederodestraat 16a, 1901 HW, Bakkum, The Netherlands.)
Jamshid Monsoori, Department of the Enviroument, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Vladimir V. Morozov, Zoological Museum, Moscow, Russia.

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	HERE WE PRESENT INTERESTING records of bird species observed during a visit to the south coast of Iran, between Jask in the south and the Hilleh River Delta in the north-west, between 12 January and 3 February 2000. Most concern species considered rare in Iran, or have not previously been observed there, according to Porter et al. (1996). Coordinates were taken in the field with a Global Positioning System. A complete list of species observed is published in van der Have et al. (2001). Observations were made while surveying coastal waders, in 21 wetlands, with special attention to Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris. The project was organised by the Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO), in cooperation with the Department of the Environment, Tehran. More than 53,000 waterbirds of 82 species were counted during the survey, including globally threatened species such as Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and White-tailed Haliaeetus albicilla, Greater Spotted Aquila clanga and Imperial Eagles A. heliaca. It was possible to survey only small parts of the wetlands along the Iranian Gulf coast, suggesting that the area as a whole must be very important for waterbirds, in particular waders and Dalmatian Pelican. No Slender-billed Curlews were observed, although extensive and apparently suitable habitat remains in, or near, the Hilleh River Delta, a nature reserve in Bushehr Province.
Shikra Accipiter badius	Shikra Accipiter badius On 24 January an immature passed overhead, at c. 10 metres distance, near Bandar Khamir. Although the observation was brief (probably not more than five seconds), the following characters were seen: yellow iris, vertical throat stripe, relatively short rounded wings (resembling Sparrowhawk A. nisus), limited dark on the wingtips not sharply demarcated from rest of underwing, spotted underparts and rather plain, pale underwings. Levant Sparrowhawk A. brevipes was eliminated on the basis of the positive observation of the yellow iris and rounded wings, and Sparrowhawk, of which c. 20 were seen during the trip including several the same day, on the basis of the spotted underparts, throat stripe and dark wingtips. No attention was paid to tail shape and bands on the uppertail could not be seen. Porter et al. (1996) consider Shikra to be rare in winter in the south-east of the country, but D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) reports that it is not that uncommon in east and south Iran, and is apparently present year-round in the south. Another individual, an adult, was observed, on 1-2 February, at Koreband, near Hilleh Protected Area.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus	Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus On 3 February a light morph was seen well near the border of Hilleh Protected Area. Apparently, Booted Eagle was not mentioned for Iran at this season (Porter et al. 1996), but D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) had several winter records in the 1970s, principally in the extreme south-east (Persian Baluchistan).
Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus	Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus Three were seen at a refuse dump, beside the road from Akhvaz to Abadan, on the outskirts of Akhvaz, Khuzestan province, on 14 January. They were observed for c. 10 minutes as they fed among garbage. Diagnostic characters observed were the black upper head, breast and upper belly, brown upperparts, and white cheeks and vent. They were easily separated from nearby Red-wattled Plovers H. indicus. According to Porter et al. (1996) Spur-winged Plover is a vagrant in Iran, although it has apparently been discovered breeding in the south-west of the country in recent years (D. A. Scott in litt. February 2001).
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva	Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva One observation: on 29 January a flock of eight individuals, three of which still possessed juvenile plumage on the upperparts (being a rich golden colour), were observed on mudflats among mangroves in Hara Protected Area (26^o46'N 55^o43'E). The species is considered a vagrant in the country, according to Porter et al. (1996), but because of its regular appearance in other countries bordering the Arabian Gulf in winter (e.g. Bahrain, Hirschfeld 1995; United Arab Emirates, Richardson 1990, Keijl et al. 1998) it is probably more common in Iran than previously thought. Indeed, D. A. Scott (in litt. February 2001) reports that he had several records in the 1970s and the species appears to be a regular winter visitor in small numbers to coastal Persian Baluchistan. However, our record represents the largest single flock and probably the westernmost record.
Knot Calidris canutus	Knot Calidris canutus On 26 January, 12 Knots were observed feeding and resting on mudflats near Tijab (27^o04'N 56^o47'E), at a distance of c. 30 metres. All were in winter plumage. Important identification characters were the overall size (for instance, larger than Dunlin C. alpina and Sanderling C. alba, but smaller than Redshank Tringa totanus, all of which were in the immediate vicinity) and shape, stubby, straight black bill and greenish legs. The observation constitutes the fifth, but first documented and winter record in Iran. Kirwan (1996) listed all previous observations, in March and September 1961, and March and August 1963. Elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf the species is very rare and we know of only two records: one in summer plumage at Al Awamiyah, Saudi Arabia, on 9 April 1991 (Evans & Keijl 1993), and one at Shuqaiq, on 28 April 1993 (Kirwan 1996). Aspinall (1994) drew attention to the possibility that the few other claims of Knot from the Arabian Gulf (see list of such rejected reports in Kirwan 1996) could have been misidentified Great Knots C. tenuirostris. A regular wintering site for Knot appears to exist in south-east India, in the Gulf of Mannar, where up to 300 are counted each winter (Balachandran 1998). Interestingly, Balachandran (1998) supposed that these Knots belong to the east Siberian subspecies C. c. rogersi, based on mensural data. Knots reaching the Arabian Gulf could therefore be individuals that have 'missed' their Indian wintering grounds. However, measurements of the Indian Knots appear to better fit those breeding on the Taimyr Peninsula or the New Siberian Islands, which belong to C. c. canutus (Tomkovich 1992).
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris	Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris On 26 January, during a low-tide count on a mudflat near Tijab (27^o04'N 56^o47'E), two foraging individuals in winter plumage were observed through telescopes for several minutes at a distance of C. 100-200 metres. Principal identification features were the large size (almost as large as the nearby Redshank), heavy, 'pot-bellied' appearance, medium-long, slightly decurved bill, and a few black spots on the breast-sides. Due to the relative distance and light conditions, leg colour could not be established. It is known that small numbers regularly winter in the Arabian Gulf (Aspinall 1994) and Oman (Green et al. 1994), but to our knowledge, this is the first documented record in Iran.
Caspian Larus cachinnans and Heuglin's Gulls L. heuglini	Large gulls of these taxa were present almost everywhere along the coast, but the largest numbers were counted, on 27 January, at Azini Khur (4620). These forms could not always be identified with certainty, as differences in mantle colour could be difficult to establish due to light conditions, and because attention was principally focused on waders. Only on a few occasions was special attention was paid to these forms, and only adults were specifically identified. Caspian Gull (n=168) was identified on the basis of smaller size, paler grey upperparts, bright yellow legs, yellow, grey or dark iris colour, and relatively long bill in comparison with Heuglin's Gull. Heuglin's Gull (n=51) was identified by its large size, heavy bill and darker upperparts (like Lesser Black-backed Gull L. graellsii) than Caspian Gull. Apart from these taxa, no other large white-headed gulls were identified, except for two large gulls near Bandar Rig, which exhibited characters of Armenian Gull L. armenicus. These had a medium-dark grey mantle, dark iris, bright yellow legs and a dark vertical band across the tip of bill (gonys). However, they were almost the size of a Heuglin's Gull and thus appeared too large for this species. Armenian Gull is a common breeding bird on Lake Urumieh in the north of the country (Evans 1994), but is certainly not common in the Arabian Gulf in winter (Hirschfeld 1995, Symens & Alsuhaibany 1996, pers. obs.).
*cuckoo sp. Cuculus sp.*	*cuckoo sp. Cuculus sp.* On 31 January an unidentified cuckoo was seen from the car between Bul Heir and Bushehr. It perched on an electricity wire beside the road. It was approximately the size of a Common Cuckoo C. canorus, with grey upperparts, long tail, long pointed wings, held slightly drooped, and a small head with a small pointed bill. The underparts were not seen. No cuckoos are known to occur in Iran in winter (Porter et al. 1996), and one of only two species is likely to have been involved: Common Cuckoo, which is a summer visitor to the north of the country and winters on the Indian subcontinent and in Africa, and Indian Cuckoo C. micropterus, which is a resident on the Indian subcontinent. Other species which are impossible to eliminate, however, are Horsfield's C. horsfieldi and (the smaller) Asian Lesser Cuckoo C. paliocephalus (Payne 1997).
Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola	Brown-throated Sand Martin Riparia paludicola Two observations: on 27 January, four near Azini harbour and, on 1 February, four in Hilleh Protected Area. Although both flocks were observed only briefly, Sand Martin R..riparia could be eliminated due to the dark throat and lack of a breast-band in all individuals. The upperparts were much paler than Sand Martins breeding in Europe. Differences in tail pattern were not established. This would be the first record of a species whose nearest breeding grounds are in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The subspecies involved would probably be R. p. chinensis, which is small and pale.
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens	Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens According to Porter et al. (1996), Mourning Wheatear is a summer visitor in Iran, but according to Cramp (1988) it also winters in very small numbers. Apart from Eastern Pied Wheatear O. p. picata, which was ubiquitous, we observed at least 41 individuals of other wheatear species. Four were identified as Mourning Wheatear, one being seen in flight, showing much white in the flight feathers, on 23 January, south of Bandar Moguye, and three, on 31 January, between Kangan and Bul Heir.
Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei	Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus humei One was seen and heard at Bord Khum, on 31 January. The winter distribution of this species in the Middle East is still little known, but it is apparently a common winter visitor to Persian Baluchistan, west to the region of Bandar Abbas (D. A. Scott in litt. February 2001). Records further west along the coast are not unexpected, as there is at least one winter record from lower Iraq (Scott & Carp 1982).
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus	Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus On 2 February one was heard calling several times in reedbeds along the Hilleh River. Penduline Tit breeds in north and north-west Iran, but the Hilleh River area is outside the range of this species according to the map in Porter et al. (1996).
Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris	Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris Not certainly observed, but a single unidentified babbler was seen briefly in reedbeds at Hilleh Protected Area, on 3 February. Although Common Babbler T. caudatus is common throughout desert areas and cultivation in Iran, it apparently does not occur in marshland and reedbeds, habitat characteristic of Iraq Babbler. Given this, it is interesting to record that a single stuffed babbler in the bird exhibition of the Bushehr Research Center, Department of the Environment, in Bushehr, which apparently displays birds collected in the region, is an Iraq Babbler. Occurrence in Hilleh Protected Area would be a significant range extension for this near-endemic species.
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus	Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus On 2-3 February several flocks containing hundreds of Dead Sea Sparrow were seen in Hilleh Protected Area, mixed with Spanish Sparrows P. hispaniolensis. Although several individuals were closely scrutinised, the race yattii was not observed. Dead Sea Sparrow is a species with a restricted range and occurs only in the Middle East (Evans 1994). The wintering areas are largely unknown (Cramp & Perrins 1994, Snow & Perrins 1998). Considering the number seen in a relatively small area, the Hilleh River Delta and probably other areas on the north side of the Arabian Gulf appear to be important wintering areas (Evans 1994).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
	We are grateful to A. Najafi and S. A. Ayafat, Department of the Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran, for their help in the project's organisation. Mr Nikkhah Bahrami, Royal Netherlands Embassy in Tehran, helped with many aspects of the preparations. Dr Behzod Saeedpour, Director of the Bandar Abbas Research Center, is thanked for providing facilities. Mohamed Asadipour assisted in the field work. We thank Dr Hassan Rostamian, Director Bushehr Research Center, Department of the Environment, for providing facilities, Dr Hamzeh Valavi for sharing his field experience, and Mahmoud Moghimi and Aghayar Moradi for their help and interest in the field. Kees Roselaar and Derek Scott commented on some of our observations. The project was funded by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, or Bonn Convention), of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Mrs Karen Weaver and A. Muller are thanked for their help in arranging funding at short notice. Dr Gerard C. Boere, Chairman of the Slender-billed Curlew Working Group, partly initiated this project.
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