Rare Birds in Bahrain 1989 and 1990 
Erik Hirschfeld 
This report deals with some of the scarcer birds recorded in Bahrain 
during 1989 and 1990, as recorded by the Bahrain Natural History 
Society's (BNHS) Bird Recorder. All records have been examined and 
accepted by the Bird Recorder, and detailed descriptions and, for some 
cases, photographs are available in the BNHS files in Bahrain. 
Bahrain's birdlife is, compared with that of other Middle Eastern states, 
poorly understood, and new discoveries are frequent. The number of 
resident birdwatchers is very low, and not everyone has much time to 
spend in the field. The dense population and frequent habitat changes 
also contribute to the fairly low total number of species recorded in the 
country: only around 290. 
A book on the birdlife of Bahrain is currently being prepared (Nightingale 
and Hill, in press) and I should like to thank Tom Nightingale and Dr 
Mike Hill for allowing me access to the script and also for their comments 
on my many queries about rarities in Bahrain. Bundy et al. (1989), 
Richardson (1990) and the Oman Bird List, edition 3, have been extememly 
useful for the comparison of Bahraini records with those in neighbouring 
countries and form the base for the spedes comments below. 
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalns 
One dead juvenile, east coast, December 1989 (Jamie Samour, skin examined by 
Erik Hirschfeld). There are many old reports of pelicans from Bahrain, but this is 
only the fourth record considered satisfactory by Nightingale and Hill. Previous 
records were in January, February and July. 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia 
Six soaring over Muharraq airport, 14 October 1990 (Chris Wilson). Only the 
tenth record for Bahrain, but soaring birds seldom pass over the island. A scarce 
migrant, sometimes in large numbers, in neighbouring countries. 
Greylag Goose Anser anser 
One tired and easily approached at Askar, 18 November 1990 (Dr Saeed 
Muhammed and Phil Basson). This species has been recorded four times by 
birders, all between November and January. However, Bahraini hunters shot a 
few each winter when there were more marshes on the island. The nearest 
wintering sites are in Iran, where around 50,000 were counted in January 1990 
(Perennou et al. 1990). 
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufim 
Four wild birds at Al Areen Wildlife Park, 22 January 1990 Qamie Samour, Erik 
Hirschfeld). The second reliable record: the first was of up to seven birds in 
December 1970. About 3,000 were recorded in Iran in January 1990 (Perenou et 
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