Kuwait

The small state of Kuwait, situated on the north-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, lies at the very south-eastern edge of the Western Palearctic, but also on two major migration routes – Eurasia to Africa and Turkey to India. Because of it and despite its small size and landscape being mainly a sandy desert, Kuwait is a great place to go birding and one put on the birding map relatively recently. For a few species Kuwait is the only place they are to be found within the Western Palearctic – Grey Hypocolios, Lesser Sand Plover, Red-vented Bulbul, Bank Myna, Afghan Babbler and White-eared Bulbul. Beside these, many other highlights are around – Crab Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Socotra Cormorant, Red-wattled Lapwing, Greater Crested Tern, Bridled Tern, White-cheeked Tern, Egyptian Nightjar, Grey-headed Swamphen, Dunn’s Lark, Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Common Babbler, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Menetries’s Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Daurian, Turkestan and Steppe Grey shrikes, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Pale Rock Sparrow, Cinereous Bunting, Persian Wheatear and many more. The coastline holds considerable amount of waders, along with the best three listed above – also Terek, Marsh, Broad-billed Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalarope; gulls – Greater Black-headed, Armenian, Slender-billed and various races of the Lesser Black-backed. The even smaller reedbeds can reveal virtually everything possible in the area, including alongside view of the three ‘great’ warblers – Great reed, Clamorous and Basra. The oases and small farms scattered throughout the adjacent deserts will also bring a lot of goodies – White-throated Robin, Persian and quite a few other wheatears, and numerous other passerines. Raptors will include both Levant Sparrowhawk and Shikra, Pallid Harrier and Great Spotted Eagle. And there is always a chance for the Pallid Scops Owl. All said, Kuwait is a well worth a visit and we can expect over 150 species in just a week in the spring and near to this number in a winter visit.