First ever record of Wilson’s Phalarope in Abu Dhabi

First ever record of a Wilson's phalarope in Abu Dhabi

February 2010. A bird never before seen in the UAE has been spotted at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. Wilson's Phalarope (Steganopus tricolor), a small wader, is a remarkable new find as they are generally found only in the Americas.

Well known for far-flung wandering
The species has only been recorded on four previous occasions in the Middle East, in Oman (twice) and in Turkey (twice in the 1980s). The species is well known for its far-flung wanderings, and is recorded annually in Western Europe in autumn. It has also reached the Falkland Islands, southern Australia and even Antarctica.

The Wilson's Phalarope, although not globally threatened, has attracted scores of bird watchers to the Reserve in the past few days. This species normally inhabits shallow, inland waters, especially those that are very saline. And so, for this reason, Al Wathba Lake would appear to be a suitable habitat for this species as it was observed feeding on the shallow margins of the main lake.

The species feeds either by swimming in shallow water, frequently spinning in circles as it does, or by walking along the shoreline. Both methods were observed at Al Wathba, and the bird was seen to stalk floating insect prey and then seize it with a sudden stab of its long, very fine bill. Given that there is little other suitable habitat in the area, EAD experts believe it may remain in the vicinity for some time, feeding up before it departs northwards.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve
The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is managed by EAD, is approximately 40 km Southeast of Abu Dhabi Island and 3 km from Mussafah. It is currently not open to the general public but has received student and media groups in the past.

This 5 km² area has long been recognized as one of the most important sites for birds in the UAE. Visited by thousands of migrants every winter, including waders, ducks and birds of prey, it is also the site of the UAE's first breeding colony of Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus. For years, the Reserve has been attracting the attention of scientists and birdwatchers that are keen to study both common species and rarer visitors.

435th bird on UAE list
Once formal descriptions and photographs of the Wilson's Phalarope have been assessed by the EBRC, it will become the 435th wild species on the official UAE Bird List, maintained by the EBRC in association with EAD.

Wilson's phalarope in Abu Dhabi.

"I was stunned and delighted by the discovery," said Oscar Campbell, a keen bird watcher and member of the Emirates Bird Record Committee (EBRC). "The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is always a fascinating place to watch birds, and there is always the chance of finding a real rarity, but I would never have imagined that a bird like this would turn up here, thousands of kilometres away from its normal wintering grounds in South America."

Flamingos
"The presence of three flamingos, two tagged in lake Tuzla of Turkey in 2007 and and one at Lake Uromiyeh in Iran in 1989 also highlights the importance of Al Wathba for the flamingos and other waterbirds. This clearly shows the importance of Al Wathba as a migratory stopover for many birds. Continued protection of a network of such coastal and inland wetlands sites is critical for the conservation of waterbirds and wetland biodiversity and also in attracting new species such as the Wilson's Phalarope," said Dr. Salim Javed, Deputy Manager, Bird Conservation at EAD and Manager of Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.

Wilson's Phalaropes
Wilson's Phalaropes are small wading birds with long, thin bills. In non-breeding plumage they are predominately grey and white but in spring they change into a much brighter breeding plumage. Unlike the vast majority of bird species, females compete for males and are consequently more brightly plumaged. After the eggs are laid, males incubate them and care for the chicks, unaided by their mates.

Wilson's Phalarope is a salt-loving bird and can be seen on saline lakes during migration. The species is the largest of the phalaropes and breeds in the short grass area of North America, mostly in the western US, mainly northern California and Kansas and western Canada, east to Ontario. Breeding populations appear to be declining, perhaps as a result of changes in land use.