Rare find Birding in Al Qudra

Date: 27 March 2022

While solo driving through the vast and quiet landscape of the Al Qudra desert on March 27, 2022, I had an incredible and unexpected encounter—a solitary Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) perched on a dead tree stump, surveying the desert floor.

This sighting was particularly exciting as the Egyptian Vulture is considered globally endangered, and sightings in the UAE, especially within inland desert regions like Al Qudra, are rare. These birds are typically more common along migration routes or in rocky outcrops and open plains closer to the coast.

Why Here, Why Now?

Interestingly, the presence of this vulture may not have been entirely coincidental. Around this time, the area saw a spike in ungulate mortality, particularly among Arabian oryx and gazelle populations, due to an unexpected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The carcasses left behind by this tragic event may have acted as a temporary food source, drawing scavengers like vultures to the region.

Vultures in Al Qudra – A Rare Visitor

Egyptian Vultures have been recorded in the UAE, but their presence in Al Qudra is infrequent. Most reports of Egyptian Vultures in the Emirates come from areas such as Jebel Hafeet, Ras Al Khor, and sometimes around the Al Ain region. According to local birding records, this has been the first sighting in over 30 years. This makes the 27 March sighting particularly notable.

Final Thoughts

Finding an Egyptian Vulture in Al Qudra reminded me of nature’s way of adapting and responding to sudden changes in the ecosystem. While it was a moment of excitement for me as a birder, it was also a sobering reminder of the fragility of wildlife populations in desert ecosystems—and how disease outbreaks can impact not only primary species but ripple across the food chain.

Have you seen any unusual wildlife in Al Qudra recently? I'd love to hear your stories