OSME - Rustic Bunting in Jordan

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The first Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica in Jordan

GRAHAM TEBB AND NASHAT HAMIDAN

IN WINTER 1999-2000 the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature undertook a project to monitor waterfowl numbers in Jordan. Monthly counts were performed and the second of these, undertaken by Khaldoun Al-Omari, Anwar Halah, NH and GT, took place from 31 October to 16 November 2000. On the morning of 8 November we were at Aqaba sewage station. The sky was cloudless and light conditions excellent, with a fairly strong northerly wind. Having examined the large pools at the plant's north end, we proceeded to the smaller pools, fringed by woodland, keeping the sun behind us. On reaching the third pool, around 09.30, we noticed a bird perched c. 10 metres distant, c. 3 metres above ground. After a minute or more it flew a short distance to the edge of the pool, where it landed, partially obscured by a small shrub. It soon hopped out, joining a Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus. It was clearly a bunting and remained feeding on the ground for 1-2 minutes before flying to the lower branches of another tree. It was watched there for approximately another minute before it was lost to view and not relocated. It was primarily observed with binoculars but was also studied (at 25 metres distance) for c. 20 seconds through a telescope.

Description

Immediately identified as a bunting, slightly smaller than Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, with a noticeably peaked head, the crown feathers being slightly raised. Compared to Reed Bunting, the bill appeared long and somewhat pointed, and the tail was relatively short. The bird had a slightly rotund appearance and was c. 10% smaller than the adjacent Red-throated Pipit. It flew more directly than Reed Bunting, lacking the uneven flapping of this species. Throughout the observation it was not heard to call. The following details were also noted. Upper mandible appeared dark (at least at the tip; the basal colour could not be determined), with a straight culmen and paler lower mandible. Pink legs. Prominent supercilium, most noticeable behind eye. Lores and cheeks pale brown. Submoustachial stripe also prominent, cream coloured and bordered by dark (black?) stripes. White or buff-coloured spot on cheeks, behind ear-coverts, which were pale brown, bordered black. Rear crown peaked and pale in coloration. Narrow but distinct rufous-brown collar on nape. Brown mantle with black and buff streaks (as Reed Bunting). Underparts ground colour white, heavily marked with diffuse reddish-brown streaks on upper breast, extending onto flanks. Vent and undertail-coverts uniform white, with rufous-brown rump. White outertail feathers prominent in flight; tail shorter than in Reed Bunting. Two faint wingbars.

These details are all consistent with Rustic Bunting, most probably a first-winter. The two most similar species are Reed Bunting and Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla. The description above is sufficient to eliminate the possibility of confusion with either of these and thus to establish the bird's identity (e.g. Shirihai et al. 1996, Beaman & Madge 1998).

Rustic Bunting breeds from northern Scandinavia to Kamchatka, wintering mainly in Japan, Korea and China. Those breeding in the west of the range initially migrate east and only move south in east Siberia, although small numbers appear to migrate southwest, resulting in its relatively frequent appearance in western Europe (Cramp & Perrins 1994). In the Middle East the species is a vagrant to Turkey (Kasparek 1990), Syria (Baumgart et al. 1995), Egypt (Goodman & Meininger 1989), Oman (OBRC 1994) and UAE (Richardson 1990). Ramadan-Jaradi & Ramadan-Jaradi (1999) list it for Lebanon, citing Shirihai (1996), who mentions the species as a vagrant without providing further details, making one at Aammiq marsh, on 4 November 1999, perhaps the first record in the country (Beale 2000). It is frequently recorded in Israel (Shirihai 1996), but has not previously been recorded in Jordan (Andrews 1995, Andrews et al. 1999). The Jordan Bird Records Committee has accepted this first record.
The records from Israel are particularly relevant. Shirihai (1996) describes it as a Very rare to rare but regular autumn migrant at Eilat' in the period 20 October-10 December, with most between 10 and 25 November. All those recorded at Eilat have been first-winters. Thus the Aqaba record, from immediately adjacent to the Israel border at Eilat, is unsurprising. Indeed, Andrews (1995) lists Rustic Bunting as a 'species likely to occur in Jordan'. It is unfortunate that access to several key sites on the border with Israel is highly restricted. The Aqaba sewage station, for example, can only be visited with military permission. The lifting of such restrictions, together with an increase in birdwatchers visiting Jordan, should result in further additions to the national avifauna.

REFERENCES

ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
ANDREWS, I. J., KHOURY, F. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1999) Jordan bird report 1995-97. Sandgrouse 21:10-35.
BAUMGART, W., KASPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Vogel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.
BEALE, C. (2000) Notes on the birds of Lebanon, autumn-winter 1999. Sandgrouse 22: 122-124.
BEAMAN, M. AND MADGE, S. (1998) The handbook of bird identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic. A. & C. Black, London.
CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (EDS.) (1994) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 9. Oxford University Press.
GOODMAN, S. M. AND MEININGER, P. L. (EDS.) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press.
KASPAREK, M. (1990) Zum Vorkommen einiger in der Turkei seltener Vogelarten. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 41:181-202.
OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (OBRC) (EDS.) (1994) Oman bird list. The official list of the birds of the Sultanate of Oman. Fourth edn. OBRC, Muscat.
RAMADAN-JARADI, G. AND RAMADAN-JARADI, M. (1999) An updated checklist of the birds of Lebanon. Sandgrouse 21: 132-170.
RICHARDSON, C. (1990) The birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby Publications, Dubai & Warrington.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SHIRIHAI, H., CHRISTIE, D. A. AND HARRIS, A. (1996) The Macmillan birder's guide to European and Middle Eastern birds. Macmillan, London.

Graham Tebb, Waaggasse 2/39, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.
Nashat Hamidan, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, P.O. Box 6354, Amman 11183, Jordan.

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	IN WINTER 1999-2000 the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature undertook a project to monitor waterfowl numbers in Jordan. Monthly counts were performed and the second of these, undertaken by Khaldoun Al-Omari, Anwar Halah, NH and GT, took place from 31 October to 16 November 2000. On the morning of 8 November we were at Aqaba sewage station. The sky was cloudless and light conditions excellent, with a fairly strong northerly wind. Having examined the large pools at the plant's north end, we proceeded to the smaller pools, fringed by woodland, keeping the sun behind us. On reaching the third pool, around 09.30, we noticed a bird perched c. 10 metres distant, c. 3 metres above ground. After a minute or more it flew a short distance to the edge of the pool, where it landed, partially obscured by a small shrub. It soon hopped out, joining a Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus. It was clearly a bunting and remained feeding on the ground for 1-2 minutes before flying to the lower branches of another tree. It was watched there for approximately another minute before it was lost to view and not relocated. It was primarily observed with binoculars but was also studied (at 25 metres distance) for c. 20 seconds through a telescope.
Description
	Immediately identified as a bunting, slightly smaller than Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, with a noticeably peaked head, the crown feathers being slightly raised. Compared to Reed Bunting, the bill appeared long and somewhat pointed, and the tail was relatively short. The bird had a slightly rotund appearance and was c. 10% smaller than the adjacent Red-throated Pipit. It flew more directly than Reed Bunting, lacking the uneven flapping of this species. Throughout the observation it was not heard to call. The following details were also noted. Upper mandible appeared dark (at least at the tip; the basal colour could not be determined), with a straight culmen and paler lower mandible. Pink legs. Prominent supercilium, most noticeable behind eye. Lores and cheeks pale brown. Submoustachial stripe also prominent, cream coloured and bordered by dark (black?) stripes. White or buff-coloured spot on cheeks, behind ear-coverts, which were pale brown, bordered black. Rear crown peaked and pale in coloration. Narrow but distinct rufous-brown collar on nape. Brown mantle with black and buff streaks (as Reed Bunting). Underparts ground colour white, heavily marked with diffuse reddish-brown streaks on upper breast, extending onto flanks. Vent and undertail-coverts uniform white, with rufous-brown rump. White outertail feathers prominent in flight; tail shorter than in Reed Bunting. Two faint wingbars. These details are all consistent with Rustic Bunting, most probably a first-winter. The two most similar species are Reed Bunting and Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla. The description above is sufficient to eliminate the possibility of confusion with either of these and thus to establish the bird's identity (e.g. Shirihai et al. 1996, Beaman & Madge 1998). Rustic Bunting breeds from northern Scandinavia to Kamchatka, wintering mainly in Japan, Korea and China. Those breeding in the west of the range initially migrate east and only move south in east Siberia, although small numbers appear to migrate southwest, resulting in its relatively frequent appearance in western Europe (Cramp & Perrins 1994). In the Middle East the species is a vagrant to Turkey (Kasparek 1990), Syria (Baumgart et al. 1995), Egypt (Goodman & Meininger 1989), Oman (OBRC 1994) and UAE (Richardson 1990). Ramadan-Jaradi & Ramadan-Jaradi (1999) list it for Lebanon, citing Shirihai (1996), who mentions the species as a vagrant without providing further details, making one at Aammiq marsh, on 4 November 1999, perhaps the first record in the country (Beale 2000). It is frequently recorded in Israel (Shirihai 1996), but has not previously been recorded in Jordan (Andrews 1995, Andrews et al. 1999). The Jordan Bird Records Committee has accepted this first record. The records from Israel are particularly relevant. Shirihai (1996) describes it as a Very rare to rare but regular autumn migrant at Eilat' in the period 20 October-10 December, with most between 10 and 25 November. All those recorded at Eilat have been first-winters. Thus the Aqaba record, from immediately adjacent to the Israel border at Eilat, is unsurprising. Indeed, Andrews (1995) lists Rustic Bunting as a 'species likely to occur in Jordan'. It is unfortunate that access to several key sites on the border with Israel is highly restricted. The Aqaba sewage station, for example, can only be visited with military permission. The lifting of such restrictions, together with an increase in birdwatchers visiting Jordan, should result in further additions to the national avifauna.
REFERENCES
	ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh. ANDREWS, I. J., KHOURY, F. AND SHIRIHAI, H. (1999) Jordan bird report 1995-97. Sandgrouse 21:10-35. BAUMGART, W., KASPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Vogel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg. BEALE, C. (2000) Notes on the birds of Lebanon, autumn-winter 1999. Sandgrouse 22: 122-124. BEAMAN, M. AND MADGE, S. (1998) The handbook of bird identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic. A. & C. Black, London. CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (EDS.) (1994) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 9. Oxford University Press. GOODMAN, S. M. AND MEININGER, P. L. (EDS.) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press. KASPAREK, M. (1990) Zum Vorkommen einiger in der Turkei seltener Vogelarten. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 41:181-202. OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (OBRC) (EDS.) (1994) Oman bird list. The official list of the birds of the Sultanate of Oman. Fourth edn. OBRC, Muscat. RAMADAN-JARADI, G. AND RAMADAN-JARADI, M. (1999) An updated checklist of the birds of Lebanon. Sandgrouse 21: 132-170. RICHARDSON, C. (1990) The birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby Publications, Dubai & Warrington. SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London. SHIRIHAI, H., CHRISTIE, D. A. AND HARRIS, A. (1996) The Macmillan birder's guide to European and Middle Eastern birds. Macmillan, London. Graham Tebb, Waaggasse 2/39, A-1040 Vienna, Austria. Nashat Hamidan, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, P.O. Box 6354, Amman 11183, Jordan.