Birding around Bahri Sewage Pools

I visited Bahri Sewage Pools again today with Marwa. We originally planned to do some mist-netting, but in the end we spent our time checking the many large pools and thick surrounding reedbeds. Last time at this site we had seen some coots at a distance, and assumed they were Eurasian Coots. On subsequent visits to Khartoum Sewage Pools (about 20 km to the south) we had discovered lots of Red-knobbed Coots, which were the first records for the country and which turned out to be breeders. We had then naturally assumed that the ones in Bahri were also this species. It was therefore a surprise today to find that there were six Eurasian Coots present. Clearly both are present in the region and we will need to monitor them regularly to find out if the two populations are residents and/or visitors.

Eurasian Coot, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

We had a number of other interesting species, including many not commonly seen in the Khartoum area. Two White-tailed Lapwings were our first sightings in Sudan, while a Greater Flamingo was only my second around Khartoum, and a fly-over Black Stork was my third.

White-tailed Lapwing, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Black Stork, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Greater Flamingo, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

There were good numbers of ducks around, with several hundred each of Northern Shoveler, Gargany, and White-faced Whistling Duck. However, it was a little surprising that there were no other species in amongst them. There were also a number of waders at the muddy edges to the main pools and lots of marsh terns. We also saw a couple of African Purple Swamphens and some Glossy Ibises.

Gargany, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Little Stint, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Marsh Sandpiper, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Wood Sandpiper, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014

Spur-winged Lapwing, Bahri Sewage Pools 31st January 2014