Ornithological observations from the 
Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) in 
early May 1989 
CWT Pilcher and G Gregory 
During the period 4-8 May 1989, we visited North Yemen to make a tour 
of the southwestern quarter of the country. An itinerary had been 
planned to allow visits to sites representative of different habitat zones 
of the highland plateau, the Tihamah and the western ramparts. These 
sites thus included Sana'a City; the cultivated areas, wild hillsides and 
cliffs of Shibam/Kawkaban and Wadi Dahr; Sumarah Pass; Ta'izz sew- 
age lagoons; sandy scrub desert of the southern Tihamah; coastal la- 
goons at Khawkhah and Hodeidah/Ras Katib; cultivated areas and 
foothills of the central Tihamah; the western ramparts and high slopes 
of Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb. Numerous other localities were surveyed 
during spontaneous off-road excursions and roadside stops. 
In the five-day period, 99 species were recorded, including many of the 
country's endemics. There are apparently very few observations for 
May (and June) on record (Brooks et al. 1987). Since ours appear to 
extend the dates of the presence of several winter visitors and passage 
migrants, in addition to providing further records of species for which 
there are few published observations, we report them here. 
Systematic List 
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster 
One off Khawkhah, and two off Hodeidah on 6th. 
Pink-backed Pelican Pelicanus rufescens 
Two at Ras Katib on 6th. 
Cattle Egret Buhulcus ibis 
Twelve at various locations between Hays and Hodeidah on 6th. 
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis 
Eight at Hodeidah on 6th. 
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 
Three at Hodeidah on 6th. 
Hamerkop Scapus umbretta 
Seven at Ta'izz sewage lagoons on 5th; four in lower wadis of western 
ramparts on 7th. 
Ab dim's Stork Ciconia abdimii 
One at Al Jarrahi on 6th; nine at rubbish-tip near Al Qutay on 7th. 
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 
Fourteen at Khawkhah on 6th. 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicoptenis ruber 
Five at Khawkhah on 6th. 
Black Kite Milvus migrans 
Common and widespread, at least 15 seen on all days. 
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