Reconnaissance visit to Sunt forest and Um Shugaira Island

Every year I do some ringing activities in the mid January at Um Shugaira Island which is the suitable time for migratory species using the island as stop over or wintering site but this year is different. In a quick reconnaissance visit to Um Shugaira island  and Sunt forest  on 5^th January , we noticed that the White Nile water level still high and the island is still beneath water  except small area in the northern end near Elfitaihab Bridge which is covered by  acacia nilotica (Sunt trees)  with high resistance to water. Most of waterbirds used the area past years were ducks using shallow water in the western side and waders mainly in muddy area which still under water and probably till early February 2013.

At Sunt Forest also water covered  some low lands in the northern and southern edge of the forest  with many species. At the northern side ,we saw Eurasian widgeon, Northern Shovellor ,Black-tailed Godwit, Senegal thicknee, Common green shank, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Spur-winged Plover, Common Teal, Little Stint, Little Ringed plover, white Wagtail, Garganey and whiskered Tern while the species of spur-winged plover and some small wader seen from far distance.

The sunt forest is  highly disturbed by people looking for recreation at the forest especially during the week end