Summer observations of Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus and Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Armenia

摘要

The species was first found in Armenia in 1984 (Adamian & Klem 1999). Later, the species was recorded in the country in 1986, 1991, and 1995; all of the records have been made in late autumn (November), winter (December and January), or early spring (March) indicating migratory or wintering birds. In 2018, two birds together were observed at Gull island, lake Sevan, in early summer: 5th June (Vahram Petrosyan, Plate 1), 7th June (Anush Khachatryan) and 11th June by the author. Those dates are late for migratory birds, as usually they arrive at breeding grounds early May (Snow & Perrins 1998) to late June (Madsen 1996). The area where the two were observed is located at the core zone of lake Sevan national park (with a strict protection regime). The place is an island with a conglomeration of boulders, partly covered by sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides bushes. Potentially, the site could be used by the Lesser White-fronted Goose as a breeding habitat, since it resembles some other breeding sites of the species with rocks or prominent hummocks and nests hidden amongst vegetation (Madsen 1996). There were no other indications of breeding. Further monitoring of the two should be undertaken.