On the morning of the 21st June , Ammar Al Jeraiwi shared a mobile phone video in our WhatsApp group showing a large shearwater with whitish underparts, which he recorded the day before. Although the footage was not of sufficient quality for a definitive identification, the bird appeared most likely to be either a Cory’s Shearwater or a Streaked Shearwater—both of which would represent a first record for Kuwait.

After discussing the video, we decided to organise a pelagic trip that afternoon in the hope of relocating the bird, confirming its identity, and obtaining documentary photographs.

Participants: Omar Al-Shaheen, Humoud Al-Shayji, Abdulrahman Al-Sirhan

After some time at sea, we spotted a large, dark bird sitting on the water. As we approached, white on its back became visible. We slowed the boat and examined it carefully through our binoculars. Omar suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, it’s the same gull we recorded before as a first for Kuwait!” I immediately replied, “It’s a Sooty Gull—a first for Kuwait!”

We were thrilled to have rediscovered this national first, and our excitement renewed our determination to find the suspected Cory’s or Streaked Shearwater. We spent the remainder of the trip searching intensively, but despite our best efforts, we were unable to relocate the shearwater.