Observations 
With the exception of very common species such as Black Kite or House Sparrow, 
we noted details each time a species was seen. The following scale of abundance 
was used: 
A = Abundant. Easily found in suitable habitat 
C = Common. Usually found on each visit in suitable habitat 
U = Uncommon. Found after search 
LC = Locally common 
R = Rare. Less than 10 sightings 
I = Indeterminate status 
? = Identity not fully confirmed or status unknown 
For abundant and common birds, dates and site names are generally not given, 
except when present at important or less known waterbodies (e.g. Wadi 
Alahssahbah) and in exceptionally large congregations. See Figure 1 for area 
map. 
Systematic list 
LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis C 
Probably resident on most permanent and 
semi-permanent pools and pits. Two in a 
stagnant pool in Wadi Dahaban 13 March 
1989. One on a small pit, with no vegetation, 
near Kamis Harb village 8 January 1992. 
Nearly 30, mostly paired, calling frequently, 
Malaki Dam near Jizan 8 February 1992. 
BROWN BOOBY Sulaleucogaster C Fairly 
common, breeding on outer islands. Seen 
sitting on piers and rocky outcrops near sea 
shore (e.g. Al Qunfidhah 5 January 1992). 
Six birds continuously followed the ferry 
from Jizan to the Farasan Islands for titbits 
10 February 1992. 
CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carlo U 
About 60 roosting on tree stumps in Malaki 
Dam 8 February 1992. 
WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus onocrotalus R 
Erratic winter visitor, perhaps becoming 
less frequent on the Tihamah. Six fishing in 
the sea near At-Tarfa 28 October 1987 and 
one on Malaki Dam 8 February 1992. Stagg 
(1985) found it to be common in theMuhayil 
area of Wadi Hali, but we did not see many 
in our area probably due to lack of large 
waterbodies. Meinertzhagen (1954) 
reported it to be common on both sides of 
the Red Sea in winter and Cornwallis & 
Porter (1982) saw one over Bajil; Brooks et 
al (1987) failed to record any during OSME 
Expedition in North Yemen. 
PINK-BACKED PELICAN Pelecanus 
rufescens C Seen in small groups (5-10) all 
over the Red Sea coast, the Farasan Islands 
and many inland waterbodies (e.g Malaki 
Dam, Wadi Alahssahbah, Wadi Hali). Stagg 
(1985) reported that it is only a summer 
visitor but we found it in all winter months 
or whenever we visited the coast. Jennings 
et al. (1982) discovered a breeding colony 
on islets off the coast near Qunfidhah and 
Al Lith. Other colonies are known in the 
Farasan Islands. 
BITTERN Botaurus stellaris U Perhaps 
reasonably common in suitable localities 
but its secretive nature makes it difficult to 
locate. Two sightings, both from TypJia- 
fringed watercourse in Wadi Alahssahbah 
8 March 1989 and 6 January 1992. 
NIGHT HERON Nycticorax nycticorax U 
Three records: heard coming in to water at 
night near Wadi Rim 8 January 1990; one 
adult and one immature in Al Kuffayrah 
December 1991; seven roosting among 
Tamarix in the backwaters of Malaki Dam 9 
February 1992. 
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