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Hypocolius ampelinus
Grey Hypocolius
REFERENCES
NIGHTINGALE
and HILL "BIRDS OF BAHRAIN"
1993 Immel London ISBN
ERIC HIRSCHFELD "BIRDS IN BAHRAIN" 1995 Hobby Dubai ISBN 1-872839-03-7
HOLLOM,PORTER,CHRISTENSEN,WILLIS "BIRDS of the MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA"1988 T&AD POYSER ISBN 0-85661-047-X
PORTER,CHRISTENSEN,SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN "BIRDS OF THE MIDDLE EAST"1996 T&AD POYSER ISBN 0-85661-076-3
I wrote the following
Article in 1997
Grey Hypocolius - a Bahrain Experience
Grey Hypocolius - a Bahrain Experience
When ever I
take someone along to
the Hypocolius roost close to Saar I always insist on punctuality. I'm
certain many visitors are bemused at my insistence but to enjoy the
spectacle
of the evening display, it is always best to be in place before the
days
first arrivals. The time varies in a season by up to half an hour
according
to the length of the day but I always try to arrive at the site around
3.30pm.The first birds too arrive at the roost are incredibly punctual
from day to day, almost to the second. However they are likely to drop
down into any bush within the area. One good reason for being punctual
oneself particularly at the extremes of the species temporary
residence.
For viewing the best place to wait is on the road to the south of the
roost.
With the majority of birds arriving from the west or north west they
are
easily spotted as they circle the area before dive bombing to disappear
into their selected bush.
The birds
generally arrive in small
groups of around twenty to forty but it is not unusual to see a hundred
or just one or two arrive at the same time. It is possible that the
larger
groups are an amalgam of smaller parties that have joined forces en
route.
The arriving parties look almost black against the bright blue sky and
always appear to be flying past the roost before turning to drop almost
vertically back into the roosting area. Although arriving together most
groups fragment as they descend with some birds moving horizontally
over
the roost at a lower level before their final dip and plunge into their
selected thicket or tree. It is always a spectacular entry and never
fails
to thrill me. From November to February birds continue to arrive right
up to dusk. On arrival the majority of birds simply disappear into the
dense thickets but some will remain in view for throughout the roost
there
is always a considerable amount of movement from thicket to thicket.
Parties
will often emerge from one area of the roost, reassemble and plunge
head
long into another more favoured part. The two thorn trees on the road
side
at the southern edge of the roost is a favourite display area and is
used
by many birds before they themselves move down into these trees or
adjacent
palm thickets. During the peak months it is not necessary to chase the
few first arrivals around for good views, a patient wait on the road
near
these trees will be rewarded. The birds which are quite tame, will come
to you and provided the situation at the roost remains the same, in
terms
of human encroachment, this should apply in future years.
The Hypocolius
was first recorded
in Bahrain in 1980 by Tom Nightingale but it was
not until 1986 that the habit of communal roosting was discovered.
Since
then the number of known roosts has slowly declined mainly as a result
of habitat destruction. Saar is currently the only known major site. I
have found several minor roosts in and around the date gardens along
the
west coast but these were short lived. The Hypocolius select only a
certain
type of habitat for their roosts. Primarily it has to be dense and must
provide an element of natural protection from possible disturbance. In
areas where date groves have been abandoned, in Bahrain normally
brought
about by the increase in the salinity of the underlying aquifer, water
table (too much water having been taken out allowing sea water to
penetrate
) the large palms die. About the remaining stump of each dead palm
there
is however a legacy of suckling growth. which despite the problems of
salinity
develops into a dense circular thicket. Competition, for both space and
sweet water, prevents a new full size tree from developing. Over time
these
abandoned plantations develop into the perfect roosts for Grey
Hypocolius.
Such habitats are however useless for anything else and subsequently
are
prone to redevelopment. The individual thickets are well spaced and
seldom
more than 12 feet high and 20 feet around. However a single bush could
hold several hundred birds, the only clue to their presence, the
persistent
whispering murmur from within. I have heard several other calls but
unfortunately
I do not have an ear for music and although I can recognise them when
heard
I cannot describe the calls. One day maybe I'll get a sound man (I
prefer
a women actually but that could be regarded as sexist) to visit and be
able to add the sound track to future articles.
For readers not
familiar with the
species, I have found that the field guides that do include the
species,
are not always as well illustrated as might be expected. I am deeply
indebted
to Dr Mike Hill for allowing me to use this photograph
of a male to illustrate this article, However the Birds when seen in the
field are quite a bit darker than those illustrated in the field
guides.
The most striking feature of the species both male and female is the
soft
satin like plumage.
The
male is a strong slaty grey with only a slight bluish tint, darkest on
the back and towards the black that tips the long tail. The breast
flanks
and belly are a browner grey with a pinkish hue. When at rest the
contrast
with the wings and back is highlighted along the breast sides by the
barely
discernible black of the primaries. The primaries have white tips which
form quite large wing panels that are very prominent in flight The
males
when seen in Bahrain have a much shorter primary projection than the
females.
Some juvenile do actually show white tips to their primaries but no
mask
these are presumably males. Overall females and juveniles have less
contrasting
colours but are a deeper brownish grey on their under parts. The
species
is much heavier in the ventral area of the tail than is normally
illustrated.
This gives the impression of a much shorter tail when the bird is
perched.
The tail is rounded, with the back tips being quite extensive on the
males,
females and juveniles have a much fainter band. The mask, only found on
adult males, is in fact two tone, black through the lores around and
above
the eye and the nape of the neck but a pale blue grey on the ear
coverts
down to the ring of the neck. The forehead on the male is pale often a
brownish cream colour blending into the grey crown which curves down
and
around the back of the head. The chin and throat are grey but the area
of the sub and moustacial stripe are a creamy white that finally blends
into the grey of the throat. It is this pale area that sets off the eye
mask, the line of demarcation being quite distinct. On females and
juveniles
the entire area including the throat is a creamy colour but females do
show a moustacial stripe and the hint of a submoustacial stripe. The
line
of demarcation with the grey of the head is less striking. The ear
coverts
are much paler than the rest of the head but do not have any stripes
through
the eye as is some times illustrated. The black bill is strong and
stout
with the lower mandible being considerably lighter in colour blending
in
with the creamy colours of the throat or head. Legs are a reddish
colour
and the eyes appear black .
The
male is a strong slaty grey with only a slight bluish tint, darkest on
the back and towards the black that tips the long tail. The breast
flanks
and belly are a browner grey with a pinkish hue. When at rest the
contrast
with the wings and back is highlighted along the breast sides by the
barely
discernible black of the primaries. The primaries have white tips which
form quite large wing panels that are very prominent in flight The
males
when seen in Bahrain have a much shorter primary projection than the
females.
Some juvenile do actually show white tips to their primaries but no
mask
these are presumably males. Overall females and juveniles have less
contrasting
colours but are a deeper brownish grey on their under parts. The
species
is much heavier in the ventral area of the tail than is normally
illustrated.
This gives the impression of a much shorter tail when the bird is
perched.
The tail is rounded, with the back tips being quite extensive on the
males,
females and juveniles have a much fainter band. The mask, only found on
adult males, is in fact two tone, black through the lores around and
above
the eye and the nape of the neck but a pale blue grey on the ear
coverts
down to the ring of the neck. The forehead on the male is pale often a
brownish cream colour blending into the grey crown which curves down
and
around the back of the head. The chin and throat are grey but the area
of the sub and moustacial stripe are a creamy white that finally blends
into the grey of the throat. It is this pale area that sets off the eye
mask, the line of demarcation being quite distinct. On females and
juveniles
the entire area including the throat is a creamy colour but females do
show a moustacial stripe and the hint of a submoustacial stripe. The
line
of demarcation with the grey of the head is less striking. The ear
coverts
are much paler than the rest of the head but do not have any stripes
through
the eye as is some times illustrated. The black bill is strong and
stout
with the lower mandible being considerably lighter in colour blending
in
with the creamy colours of the throat or head. Legs are a reddish
colour
and the eyes appear black .My own
observations would seem to
indicate an earlier arrival and much later departure date than has been
previously reported. Nightingale and Hill - Birds
of Bahrain Mid October Mid February. While in his book - Birds in
Bahrain
Eric Hirschfeld suggests that most have
departed
by early January. Both I and Paul Castle (Oct-8th 1996) (Oct. 7th 1994)
found that Birds arrive as early as the first week in October. Numbers
build very quickly so that by early November the roost at Saar can
contain
over 500 individuals. The peak month would seem to remain as December,
this last year (1996) numbers seem to have approached several thousand.
A number confirmed by expat residents of nearby houses who although not
birders keep a constant watch. Numbers start to rapidly decline
from
Mid February however good numbers can still be found well into March.
On
March 2nd 1997 I was informed that 50 plus birds were feeding in a
compound
garden near Janubiyah while over 200 still remain at the Saar roost as
of this date March 25 1997. The incidence of birds being seen in
compound
gardens is also increasing I have received several requests this year
from
casual observers to identify a silky grey and brown bird seen in
compounds
around the west coast. One individual - a male - has been a frequent
visitor
to a garden in Budaiya since early January, feeding in fruit trees, it
remains till dusk returning early the next day.
In 1996 at the Saar Roost 17 were observed on 7th of April but on the 11th of April I received the following Email from my spies at the roost.... Tonight is a very sad night. We looked hard but could not find any of our friends, the Grey Hypocolius, in the scrub opposite our house. We shall have to wait until next October to hear their soft mewing again. They will be missed. John and Maeve Kelynack Skinner
In 1996 at the Saar Roost 17 were observed on 7th of April but on the 11th of April I received the following Email from my spies at the roost.... Tonight is a very sad night. We looked hard but could not find any of our friends, the Grey Hypocolius, in the scrub opposite our house. We shall have to wait until next October to hear their soft mewing again. They will be missed. John and Maeve Kelynack Skinner
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