Arxiu de la categoria: birding in Oman

Oman Birding Tour 2026 Trip Report

Dates: January 12th to 21st, 2026
Participants: 13
Number of species seen: 222
Tour leaders: Carles Oliver, Ramiro Aibar & Carles Saurina

Overview: 10th issue of our classic tour exploring Oman. The country keeps being a heaven of quietness in a very restless region. During the trip we enjoyed good numbers of birds of prey and waders. In this issue we nailed every single endemic in the area (beyond Omani Owl, with no records in the last 7 months before we arrived..) but also a number of very interesting species including Caspian Plover, Small Pratincole, Hypocolius (at two different locations), White-breasted Waterhen, Little Crake, Pale Rockfinch, Black-headed Bunting and Bimaculated Lark no name a few..

Very looking forward to be back in that part of the world!

Day 1. Another sunny morning in Muscat. All tour participants had arrive during the previous day to the city, and we all assembled for an early morning breakfast. The group was having people from 4 different nationalities, and after some chat and a short introduction to the tour, we were all ready to start birding. Our first move was to go to a small river mouth known as Muscat River. But even before we could arrive we started having good birds, including the first Indian Roller of the trip on a lamp post, and a couple of Arabian Bee-eaters in a fence. Here we took a change for a nice photo of this recent split. Several doves were moving out of the place, and I could not believe my eyes when a Red-eye Dove sat on the same fence where the Bee-eaters where, sitting briefly along with 2 Eurasian Collared Dove. Even if probably an scape, this could be a very interested sight. Unfortunately, it seems that nobody took any photo on the correct bird. No hard feelings, we were all very excited about the lovely views on the Bee-eaters, and I was personally intrigued about a dark form inside a low tree. We drove there to discover that there were 2 Black-crowned Night Herons sleeping on the tree.

Finally arrived to River Muscat. Here we got a nice selection of waders and terns. Here we got first views on both Tibetan & Greater Sand Plovers, and we got interesting views on 3 Marsh Sandpipers, sometimes moving along with Greenshanks. Along with many Black-headed Gulls, we got a nice flock of 40+ Sandwich Terns and, with them, 1 Gull-billed Tern and a few Little Terns. 4 Greater Crested Terns were seen flying along the shore along with the first Sooty Gulls of the trip. On the sand we got Turnstones, Kentish Plovers, Oystercatchers, Sanderlings and Grey Plover. Closer, a solitary Terek’s Sandpiper was feeding along with a couple of Tibetan Sand Plovers.

A couple of distant flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew over the channel, bringing out attention to the inner side of the river, where a good number of Common Snipes where feeding along with several Dunlins, Western Reef Egrets, a couple of Ruffs and Eurasian Curlew. Back to the sea front, we enjoyed more Sooty Gulls, but also a couple of passing over Caspian Gull and the common Heuglin’s & Steppe Gulls. The harsh vegetation around provided first views on Delicate Prinias and Crested Larks.

After a fast service stop, we moved inland, but we had to stop in a very interesting pond, right in a crossroad. There we got the only one Water Pipit (Caucasian race) of the trip, but also 2 Temminck’s Stints, 1 Ruff, 3 Wood Sandpipers and lovely views on both White-cheeked and Red-Vented Bulbuls. Here we also got first views on Citrine Wagtail and a couple of Western Marsh Harriers.

After a 15 minutes drive we finally arrived to one of this not very known places, that are always worth checking. A short walk around produced nearly nothing but, when we were leaving the area, we got lucky to see one bird, the first Wheatear of the trip, and it turn out to be a Pied Wheatear, a quite scarce overwintering species in the country, especially scarce in the north!

As a final stop, we drove to the formerly great Al Ansab Lagoons. As being National Day, the area was closed, but still we got great views on Indian Rollers plus 2 Greater Spotted Eagles, one distant Eastern Imperial Eagle and 1 adult Egyptian Vulture. Not bad for a five minutes stop!

Arabian Bee-eater posed for us even before we arrived to first stop of the trip!

Marsh Sandpiper feeding at River Muscat. Please, note the difference is size and shape with Common Greenshank (above).

Tibetan Sand Plover is a common overwintering bird in Oman.

White-cheeked Bulbuls showed very well in a number of locations.

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) was an unexpected find at the end of the morning..

Pied Wheatear showing the typical peachy tint in the breast.

Indian Roller, a roundabout bird in Muscat..

Back to the accommodation, we got a well deserved lunch and rest, before leaving for some evening birding. This time, we got to Al Qurum Park quite early, and our walk produced a good array of birds including good views on Isabelline Shrike and Arabian Bee-eaters, but also on 2 Greater Spotted Eagles, several Red-wattled Lapwings, Alexandrine Parakeets, Eurasian Whimbrel, 2 Garganeys, Common Kingfisher, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Osprey and plenty of lovely Purple Sunbirds and Bulbuls. 1 Clamorous Reed Warbler was seen feeding on the mangroves and a Purple Heron flew over us. But probably the best bird on that stop was the Grey Francolin having a long sand bath in a rocky slope at the entrance of the park..

To end the day, we went to check the seafront, expecting to have flocks of gull. Unfortunately, the tide was high, and there were no gulls there for us. For instance, we got a number of waders, including a small flock of Pacific Golden Plovers but also Black-tailed Godwits and a superb Little Heron hunting at sunset. Without doubt, one of the sights of the day!

Grey Francolin resting on the ground. We enjoyed great views for over 15 minutes.

Arabian Bee-eaters proved to be tame that afternoon.

This Little Heron and its cat-like hunting approach were one of the highlights at sunset!

Day 2. In another sunny day in Oman, we left the accommodation and drove inland. After negotiating the traffic around Muscat, we started enjoying the wonderful mountainous landscape of the Al Harar mountains.

Here, we had a first stop to explore a nice, flat valley where we saw a number of goodies. After leaving our cars behind, we only had to walk a bit before a flocks of 7 Arabian Babblers appeared in front of us, squeezing in the bushland. Here and there, we heard calls of several Ménétries’s Warblers, but for long we only managed views on the commoner Lesser Whitethroats. Here Alba found a far away Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Other interesting birds of prey here included the first Short-toed Eagle and Steppe Eagles of the trip. After some effort, we all finally got very nice views on Ménétries’s Warblers. We estimated no less than 6 birds calling around, even if they proved difficult to see. Arabian Grey Shrike (a race of Great Grey Shrike also referred as Levant Grey Shrike) was also seen here along with Indian Silverbills, Indian Rollers and Purple Sunbirds. A further exploration of the place still produced nice views on 2 Long-billed Pipits, and the first Persian Wheatear of the trip was the cherry on the cake of the morning!

Persian Wheatear (aka Red-tailed) keeps being my favourite Wheatear in the region..

After enjoying a superb lunch in our favorite Turkish restaurant in Oman and once we checked in at our accommodation, we went out for some evening birding. This time, we chose a small spot with some large trees. Soon, we were all enjoying excellent views on Eastern Orphean Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush, Eastern Black Redstart and Plain Leaf Warbler and we also enjoyed a family group of Grey Francolins moving around. A superb male Ménétries’s Warbler was quite a bonus here, especially after so much time invested during the morning! When we were about to leave this small spot, 3 Striolated Buntings. Jackpot!

From here, we moved inside a massive gorge. Here we got 3 Lappet-faced Vultures and some Egyptians Vultures that offered good views. Surprisingly, Hume’s Wheatear was the bird that gave us more difficulties, and only with the last light we got distant views on one of them!

After sunset, we waited for the legendary Omani Owl to show out. But, despite our efforts and patience, we never got any single owl in the gorge.. Maybe next year?

Eastern Orphean Warblers tens to be very difficult to spot, so we were lucky to see it like this!

Our got some lovely views on Plain Leaf Warbler, the smallest member on this genus..

After the morning fight, we got amazing afternoon views on Ménétries’s Warblers..

Lappet-faced Vulture crossing the gorge in the Golden Hour.

Day 3. Early morning start. After a fast breakfast, we started the longest transfer of the trip, a journey to cross over 800 kilometres of desert. One the vehicles were loaded, we started the drive, with a morning stop to catch up some good light, and some birds. A short walk in proper habitat under a slightly covered sky produced 3 Egyptian Vultures (2 youngs + 1 adult), Lesser Whitethroats a a lovely Asian Desert Warbler that the whole group enjoyed long. Here we also have Persian Wheatear, and a distant Desert Wheatear.

Some miles beyond, we took advantage of a toilet break to explore a bit a tiny wood, and we were surprised to find a wonderful Masked Wagtail walking along with regular White Wagtails. A great surprise.

African Desert Warbler displayed for us just at the gate of the Empty Quarter.

Masked Wagtail almost in full summer. Without doubt, one of the birds of the day!

Our next stop was longer but didn’t arrive until lunch time, when we had a good break in at Qitbit. At first glance, it didn’t look very promising, but after some scan we found 2 Grey Hypocolius that made the group very happy. A good surprise here was 1 Hume’s Leaf Warbler that showed very well (even if the photos were crap). Song Thrush & Ménétries’s Warblers were also noted here, with a final Rosy Starling flying above us as a final touch!

After some more drive, we had the main stop when the sun was already coming down. An extensive complex of farms covers this part of the desert, and a fast checking around produced several Isabelline & Desert Wheatears but also 7 Greater Hoopoe Larks, lovely Chesnut-back Sparrow Larks and 10+ Cream-coloured Coursers feeding in the fields. A few flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses were also seen, numbering no less than 40 birds.

Before sunset, we were back to the highway to cover the last section of road before arriving to our accommodation in Salalah by dinner time. Another great day!

The best I could manage on the Hume’s Leaf Warbler at Qitbit.

Levant Grey Shrike (aka Arabian Grey Shrike) in lovely sunset light.

Day 4. Our first day in the Dhoffar couldn’t be more interesting. It was a sunny morning, but a bit windy when we left the accommodation. The first location to be visited was Ayn Hamran. Here, very close to the cars, we were enjoying the myriad of African Silverbills, Abyssinian White-eyes, Rüppell’s Weavers, White-spectacled Bulbuls and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings when a very different bird caught our eye. After a couple of glimpses it was clear that it was a lovely male Black-headed Bunting moulting into summer plumage! A very unexpected find!! From here, we move along the stream, enjoying multiple views on Blackstarts, African Paradise Flycatchers and Arabian Wablers. The wind, that at the very early morning looked like an obstacle, became a nice player for us, and birds like Palestine Sunbirds were especially showy! A couple of Short-toed Eagles were seen flying over, and a pair of Black-crowned Tchagra delighted us with splendid views. Here, African Paradise Flycatchers, Delicate Prinias and Long-billed Pipits were all very showy. This was right before a Arabian Grosbeak started singing up in the hills.

Moved up in the hills, just in time to catch up with a male singing about 200 metres away. Wonderful! The bird flew down the hill, we followed it, and a couple of minutes later we were enjoying very close views on one pair as they were feeding in the trees around. The sight was for so long, that after several minutes we decided to walk up the stream, back to the vehicles. In our way, we enjoyed great views on the first Turkestan Shrike of the trip, but also on 2 lovely Yellow Wagtails.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) showing well to start the day.

Black-headed Bunting catching morning light.

Palestine Sunbird showing out its colours

One of many African Paradise Flycatchers at Ayn Hanram

Cinnamon-breasted Buntings are extremely common around the Dhofar.

The Arabian form of Black-crowned Tchagra (percivali race) keeps being my favourite form of this widespread species.

Arabian Grosbeak all stands as one of the top 5 birds for everyone visiting Oman.

The Grosbeaks went to feed in a very specific tree, where I have seen them in 5 trips, so far!

From Ayn Hanram, we drove down to the extensive plains that lead to the Ocean. These dry plains can be a heaven for birdlife, as we saw.. Driving around, it didn’t take long before we found a place with a dense bird activity. There were tens and tens of Black-crowned Sparrow Larks, with several males singing and displaying in the air, and allowing us with very close views. Along with them, small flocks of Greater Short-toed Larks were evident in the middle of the maze of Crested Larks, Tawny Pipits, Isabelline Wheatears and Desert Wheatears. In the distance, we saw 1 male Pallid Harrier patrolling the plains, and a flock of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters moving along. We took the cars and try to approach that area, but we never arrived. Basically, because while scanning the very common Greater Short-toed Larks we found a small flock of Pale Rockfinches! Amazed to find such a scarce winter bird in Oman, we tried to get a bit closer, only to discover a Bimaculated Lark standing side to side with one Pale Rockfinch! During the next minutes, we tried to put everyone on both species. At the end, we counted 5+ Pale Rockfinches, and a minimum of 2 Bimaculated Larks while distant flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses were moving in the plain.

Very happy with this stops, we decided to go back for a second round in Ayn Hamran and explore a different section of the stream. Here we got successful again and we got Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Eurasian Wryneck, several African Paradise Flycatchers and 3 Red-breasted Flycatchers, including a very lovely male!

Tawny Pipits were very common this year in Southern Oman.

This morning we got multiple views on the always cute Black-crowned Sparrow Larks.

One of probably hundreds Greater Short-toed Larks feeding in the plains.

Pale Rockfinches were a very unexpected surprise!

And, along with them, this superb Bimaculated Lark

From here, we drove the short distance to Ayn Razat, a lovely stream with exuberant vegetation and an interesting garden. Here, I was desolate to discover that the rank vegetation, once rich in water lilies and patches of reed bed, was all gone. Heavy machinery had been use to remove the whole ecosystem and now is nothing left, out of the area the parking spots, where some recreational ponds remain. A big disaster.. Still, we had our picnic lunch here. A walk inside the garden produced several Arabian Sunbirds while both Eastern Imperial Eagle and Bonelli’s Eagles + a wonderful Verreaux’s Eagles were patrolling the valley. Inside the garden, Sonja found a nice Bluethroat, and Ramiro got a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin feeding in the low scrubs. About this bird, only the guides got to see it before it went inside the vegetation and never come out again..

After out tasty lunch, we had a coffee stop before driving down to the coast for a short exploration in a river mouth. There are a number of river mouths around Salalah, each of them slightly different in character and goodies but all of them great. We arrived with a wonderful afternoon light and soon we were enjoying large flocks of gulls and terns but also species such as Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Osprey, Citrine Wagtails, Temminck’s Stint and Little Ringed Plover. Here we also got 8 distant Red-knobbed Coots and close views on 1 Greater Sand Plovers. Waves of Glossy Ibises were passing over the wetland to roost. It was also a good moment to go on differences between Lesser Crested & Greater Crested Terns as well Gull-billed & Whiskered Terns. All the time, a gorgeous juvenile Great White Pelican was sitting on an island, providing excellent looks on this species, which very rare in Oman. The flocks of gulls didn’t produce anything of interest beyond some Caspian Gulls, and a final walk in the steppe vegetation nearby produced a couple of Richard’s Pipit while Marsh Harriers were about to go to sleep.

The last stop of the day was Ayn Taqa, another superb place. Here, we got time to scan a bit in the vegetation along the stream, and enjoyed 3 Indian Pond Herons, 1 male Bluethroat, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper and, most importantly, one superb White-breasted Waterhen that delighted our group with prolonged views! After sunset, and after some research, we were lucky to have amazing views on Arabian Scops Owl while a couple of Little Owls were calling up in the cliffs around..

Great White Pelican, a very good bird in Oman.

Isabelline Shrike is the commonest of the Shrikes in winter in Oman.

With the last light, we found this White-breasted Waterhen in Ayn Taqa.

The views on Arabian Scops Owl were, simply, superb!

Day 5. After enjoying our breakfast, we moved out of our accommodation. Today, the morning was devoted to explore the highlands of the Dhofar mountains, but before getting up, we had a couple of stops to check some small, almost unknown ponds.

It was a sunny, quiet morning when we arrived to the fist spot, a small pond with a rich reed bed and some mud around it. A first scan around produced 2 Sedge Warblers moving low in the vegetation but also a superb male Namaqua Dove, Bluethroat and 2 Marsh Sandpipers. Suddenly, we were surprised to find Little Crake feeding at close range from us, and after some chaotic approach, we all enjoyed great views in this amazing bird. A walk around the pond produced some Arabian Sunbirds feeding around, a distant male Shikra and more Namaqua Doves before Ramiro and Carles found a second Little Crake feeding at the opposite shore of the pond!

From here we drove up to the plateau, but with a road stop to admire a Black-winged Kite that was sitting on a lamp post, and also a couple of Eastern Imperial Eagles sitting along the road. From here, our way to Jabal Tal (an impressive cliff towering 1200 metres above sea level) was full of stops. Special mention goes to the Eurasian Wryneck feeding along with a gorgeous male Arabian Wheatear. Along the road we also enjoyed several Short-toed & Steppe Eagles, 2 Steppe Buzzards, 1 male Pallid Harrier, several Fan-tailed Ravens a flock of 47 Eurasian Griffons (massive number for Oman) that was accurately scanned in the search for any unexpected species.

Once arrived to our destination, we were rewarded with great views on 2 Verreaux’s Eagles flying in the way that only a Verreaux’s does along the cliffs, but we were surprised to see at least 1 Lanner Falcon going into a dogfight with one of the Eagles!! Alba got a nice male Blue Rock Thrush and, as we were enjoying the bird, a flock of 8 Arabian Partridges flew off under our feet to land some 400 metres away in open land, where we could track them easily. During the next 20 minutes we enjoy them, with more views also on the now very distant Verreaux’s Eagles.

Coming back from the mountain, we had a stop in the typical place for Yemen Serins. Here, while enjoying our picnic lunches, we were rewarded with some raptor action including 4 Eastern Imperial Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle very active around an impressive sinking hole, Short-toed Eagle and an unexpected male Lesser Kestrel flying quite high.

After lunch, we did a walk around the area, enjoying the several African Silverbills and Palestine Sunbirds but also 1 Singing Bush Lark and, at the end, 1 Yemen Serin that showed very well!

In our way down from the plateau, we had a brief stop in a local bakery and the prays of the main leader (me) were listened, because the best donuts in the whole of Oman were there, waiting for us! I bought a good bag of them (never enough), and we went to enjoy them where the Northernmost Baobabs live in the world (yes, there are Baobabs in the Dhofar!).

Little Crake showing at very close range!

Black-winged Kite along the main coastal highway in the Dhofar.

Wryneck side by side with Arabian Wheatear, a very intense moment of the trip.

Arabian Wheatear offered some unforgettable views

2nd year calendar Eurasian Griffon. One of the 47 seen that morning!

Tristam’s Starling, a common species in the Dhofar region.

Verreaux’s Eagle are authentical superpowers in the air!

Eurasian Sparrowhawks were very common this winter in Oman.

Female Palestine Sunbird in the highlands.

Yemen Serin. A bit far away, but Yemen Serin after all!

Once both the Baobabs and the donuts were enjoyed and admired, we drove down to the coast, to check another river mouth. Here, we got more amazing birding including the first Pheasant-tailed Jacana of the trip, 2 Purple Herons, a wonderful male Yellow Bittern fishing in shallow reedbed, 1 Caspian Gull, 2 Temminck’s Stint,.. Here, Rosy Startings tend to accumulate in the evening, and as the evening was advancing so it did the number of Rosy Startings. At the end, we counted a minimum of 90 of them! But the very best of that evening were 3 Small Pratincoles that suddenly emerged from the plains to feed in the semi-arid plain beside the river mouth. For long, we were delighted by its incredible way of flying, a superb way to end the day!

Small Pratincoles offered a great show to end the day! Images by Miles Tindal.

Day 6. This day we drove North from Salalah early in the morning, aiming to arrive a bit after raising to our offshore. The day was sunny and extremely calmed, with little wind. Normally, this is a bad sign when talking about sea bird activity. In the way, we got a number of Osprey along the highway, and good views on the local population of Abdim’s Storks before we got to the harbour.

Once sailed, we started enjoying some good birds. The numbers of Persian Shearwaters were solid this time, and we got several of them, counting as much as 23 birds moving North. Along the morning we also got a very good number of Masked Boobies, with tens of birds moving in small flocks in the same direction. We got very close views on both species, but also on 2 Flesh-footed Shearwaters to came around our vessel. On the contrary of many offshores here, we never got any flock of terns, and we only got 1 Jouanin’s Petrel that was never close enough to take any image. But one of the best moments of the offshore was a Killer Whale suddenly appearing in front of the boat, jumping by side out of the water. Everything happened so fast that we couldn’t believe our eyes! After a couple of minutes, the beast showed out again, but this time only broke the water surface to show the side of the head. I think that it really wanted to take a look on us!

Abdim’s Stork have become a urban bird in some areas of the Dhofar.

Little Heron, a common but difficult to see species.

Persian Shearwaters came very close to our boat.

Flesh-footed Shearwater has become regular in the last years.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle a few meters away from our boat.

Back to the harbour, and still shaked by the good views on the Shearwaters, the Phalaropes and the Killer Whale, we went to have a coffee before heading to our picnic spot in a urban park nearby. At the urban park in Mirbat we got to have good views on the long-staying Bay-backed Shrike and a good walk around also produced 2 Asian Koel (young and adult), both Isabelline & Turkestan (aka Red-tailed) Shrikes, 8 Tree Pipits, 1 putative Olive-backed Pipit, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Clamorous Reed Warbler, several Arabian Sunbirds, 4 Imperial Eagles, 20+ Abdim’s Storks and 1 Indian Pond Heron.

On the Olive-backed Pipit, it was moving along with Tree Pipits. A slightly smaller bird, with uniformly darker back, shorter and stouter bill, a soft pumpkin-like tint in the side of the breast and a clearly defined occipital patch looked more than good to me! We got them in the scope for a couple of minutes and everybody got to see the bird. Still, nobody managed (or remembered) to take a photo of the correct bird..

Leaving Mirbat behind, we went to check a small lagoon with a rich reedbed. Soon, we realised that we have chosen the correct river mouth. Checking some a small flock of three Coots we soon realised that one of them was actually a Red-knobbed Coot, and we were still trying to get closer to it when three ducks just came flying, revealing the typical pattern of Cotton Pygmy Goose! Checking the lagoon, we counted 5 Cotton Pygmy Geese (including a lovely drake), but also 2 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, two very interesting Medium Egrets, and 2 Purple Herons along with Tawny Pipits and Whiskered Terns. On the raptor side, we got nice views on Booted Eagle and Marsh Harriers.

The long-staying Bay-backed Shrike at the public Park in Mirbat.

While enjoying our picnics we got to see some superb Arabian Sunbirds.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana side by side to Cotton Pygmy Goose.

Drake Cotton Pygmy Goose for the enjoyment of the group!

Taking advantage of the very stable weather we paid a visit to a second river mouth. Here it was far more little activity. Checking the sea we got the first Little Tern of the trip, but also a Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin not far away from us. The river mouth was having little activity and only the typical array of waders, terns and gulls. But, checking the Plovers around, we got to find a wonderful Caspian Plover! Suddenly, the site skyrocketed from being poor to absolutely amazing!!

Very glad after finding a Caspian Plover in the middle of a flock of Kentish Plovers, we then move inland for a final stop. We arrived already with very poor light, and a fast scan revealed no less than 38 Alpine Swifts, the best ever number for this country! Still waiting for some more dark, we got inside a valley to find a very special bird living in this kind of rocky valleys. Soon, we got 2 Arabian Eagle Owls flying away from their day roosts. Carles pointed out that one of the birds was actually singing quite close, and it didn’t take even a couple of minutes to find both birds, one of them quite close and providing really good views! Again, a great end to the day!

Caspian Plover caused high excitement in our group. Here with Kentish Plovers,

Arabian Eagle Owl was closer than we expected.

Day 7. Morning walk in one of the main green spots around Salalah. Here we saw a good number of White Wagtails, Arabian Sunbirds and Tree Pipits, but also small flocks of Scaly-breasted Munias. Another Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over, but the main attraction of the site were the good views on Bruce’s Green Pigeons. A minimum of 10 birds were seen up in the trees, providing great views on the morning light.

From here we moved to Raysut River Mouth, were we enjoyed close views on Arabian Bee-eater, Persian Wheatear and Greater Spotted Eagles. the river itself was full of life. Here we got an impressive list of Terns: Several Greater Crested Terns, stunning views on Lesser Crested Terns, the only White-winged Black Tern of the trip, several Whiskered & Gull-billed Terns, a few Little Terns and a very interesting White-cheeked Tern that flew off from the muddy platform, allowing a good views on its distinctive underwing pattern.

Most of the waders were sleeping, and we were very lucky since two of the very few feeding ones were 1 Terek’s Sandpiper, and the only one Broad-billed Sandpiper of the trip. A full adult bird already coming to full breeding plumage.

From here we drove up to to Raysut ponds, where we enjoyed several Marsh Sandpipers, Abdim’s Storks and Wood Sandpipers along with good numbers of White Storks and also a Red-wattled Lapwing standing beside a Red-wattled Lapwing x Spur-winged Lapwing hybrid. Here got good numbers of both Mallards and Pintails as well as the only 2 Spotted Redshanks of the trip and 1 Black-necked Grebe, a new species for our trips exploring Oman.

The morning was also gone but we still had time to enjoy a second visit to Ayn Hamran. This is always a wonderful place to visit, even if you short of time. Here we enjoyed again great views on African Paradise Flycatchers and Black-crowned Tchagras. The Turkestan (aka Red-tailed) Shrike that we saw only a few days ago was still on place, and we had a phenomenal adding to our list in the form of a drake Masked Shrike that Miles found found for the whole group!

Bruce’s Green Pigeon in our morning walk.

Adult Broad-billed Sandpiper feeding along side with Terek’s Sandpiper at Raysut River mouth.

Lesser Crested Tern in a dramatical turn over the Raysut River mouth.

Our group enjoying the birds at Raysut. Thank you, Karel Simecek, for this lovely image!

Masked Shrike is always a wonderful bird to enjoy!

After enjoying our buffet lunch in our hotel we drove South to explore some nice spots near the coast. Our drive was, anyway, interrupted by a large and compact “pod” of Socotra Cormorants that were resting on the sea, very close to the shore. Here we enjoyed great views on them before they took off and, while scanning the sea around, we found another pod of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins. Further South, we still had time to check a small wetland. Here, we got the only flock of Eurasian Spoonbills of the trip along with several Mallards and Pintails (normally scarce species in Oman) along with some waders. But, more importantly, we got nice views in the long-staying Black Heron standing side to side with Western Reed Egrets.

At dusk, we drove up a wady. Coia got a flock of Arabian Partridges getting into its roost before the last calls of the Hyraxs went off. A few minutes later, a very different call came all the way down from the wadi. It was a Desert Owl. Soon, we were enjoying insane views on this amazing species, once thought to be relict to the Negeb Desert, but recently discovered to be living all along the Red Sea coast and arriving inside Oman!

Socotra Cormorants can gather in “pods” of over 1000 birds!!

Western Reef Egret side by side with Black Heron for a fully comprehension of sizes and proportions.

Once again, we enjoyed walk-away views on Desert Owls. Probably one of the birds of the trip!

Day 8. Early morning start and, after enjoying breakfast we started our long transfer North. It was a long transfer but, as usual, with some very interesting stops! The first stop was to explore a small oasis in the route to Yemen. Even before arrived, we were forced to stop in the road, first to enjoy some Desert Larks and later due to a flock of Sand Partridges. Arrived to the oases, it took as nearly nothing to find 3 Hypocolius, and part of the group enjoyed great views on them as they were perched in a wire. But we noticed that one vehicle never arrived to our position. For instance, they were 300 metres away from us, out of the vehicles, and taking photos. We decided to go down to investigate. And we found that Coia had seen a small flock of Lichtenstein Sandgrouses moving very close to the main road. The next 20 minutes were memorable, as we got very close to these very shy birds. There were 5 of them (3 males, and 2 females) and this is how we got another serious candidate for bird of the trip!

After such a great start (Hypocolius + Lichtenstein Sandgrouse) we kept exploring the oases. Here we found Siberian Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats, Asian Desert Warblers, Blackstarts and, most importantly, a couple of Nile Valley Sunbirds. In a different part of the oases an African Collared Dove started to sing, and we all got great views on this very scarce species, that has slim populations in this part of Oman, and we were surprised by a Montagu’s Harrier crossing the desert!

Our next movement was to go into a small pond where some Sandgrouses come to drink water. It took a bit longer than average but, suddenly, waves and waved of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses started to arrive to the pond. It was an incredible experience to see hundreds of them coming down to drink, flying around us and, as fast as they arrived, going back deep into the desert! Beside this, a couple of Eastern Imperial Eagles were patrolling the area and before living we were surprised by the presence of a Lapped-faced Vulture (a rare species in this part of the country).

From here, we went to enjoy some coffee before moving to our next stop. In the middle of nowhere it is possible to find sage farms in this part of the world, and some of them are great for birding. We drove to one of these places. There we got Isabelline & Desert Wheatears, and some of the common larks in the area, but the very best bird was to find a gorgeous flock of 35 Sociable Plovers in one of the fields! It is, by far, my biggest ever flock, and it included some young and adult birds in summer plumage.. Along with them, we also enjoyed the best views on Steppe Eagle of the trip.

From here we drove North, having a last birding stop in a small urban park in the middle of the desert. Here, we got good views on Tawny Pipit but also on Levant Grey Shrike, Namaqua Dove and Desert Wheatear before the final transfer to our accommodation in Duqm.ç

Desert Lark in a road stop in our way to the desert.

Amazing views on Hypocolius. Not really often this species gets eclipsed..

Some views on Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouses. Always amazing to see them so, so close!

I personally find African Collared Doves extremely cute due to the shorter wings, rounded head and “gentle” face.

Blackstart. They are very tame, especially in the desert oases.

Steppe Eagle in the middle of the desert.

Sociable Plover. No matter in what continent you are. Always a great bird to see!

Day 9. Last day of the tour. Before going to the main location of the day, we had a short stop to check a small garden. Here we got a drake Siberian Stonechat, but also Bluethroat (white-spotted), Tawny Pipits and a few Yellow Wagtails.

From here we went to the area around Masirah Island, where a massive tidal plain hosts an impressive amount of waders. The main target here is to connect with the scarce Crab Plover. In this trip, the tides were not good for us, and we had to wait quite long before the tide became good for them. While waiting, we had time to check the many gulls around. There we got excellent views on several Caspian Gull, and while checking them Luca found the only one Palla’s Gull of the trip. Another interesting sight was a Russian Common Gull (race heinei). When it comes to waders, we got a few Curlew Sandpipers, but also several Terek’s Sandpipers, Tibetant & Greater Sand Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and a couple of distant Broad-billed Sandpipers.

Finally, after a long wait, we got 30+ Crab Plovers appearing in the tidal plain, and immediately started to feed on the several crabs living in the mud. It was a great way to end the birding time of our trip. From here, we had the final transfer back to Muscat to enjoy a great dinner with time to value all the good birds that we had been including during the trip!

Siberian Stonechat male in a small garden in Duqm.

First winter Caspian Gull with hundreds and hundreds of Lesser Black-backed’s.

The always massive Palla’s Gull. Compare the size with the not small Heuglin’s!

Common Gull, Russian race (heinei), a nice adding to our list.

It look a bit long, but Crab Plovers finally showed up!

List of birds seen during the trip:

Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler (Spatura clypeata)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Alpine Swift (Apus melba)
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Rock Dove (Columba livia)
Bruce’s Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot – Fotja comuna (Fulica atra)
Red-knobbed Coot – Fotja banyuda (Fulica cristata)
Little Crake (Zapornia parva)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorior cursor)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Crab Plover (Droma ardeola)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus)
Sociable Plover (Vanellus gregarius)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis aquatarola)
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Kentish Plover (Anarhynchos alexandrinus)
Caspian Plover (Anarhynchos asiaticus)
Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchos leschenaultii)
Tibetan Sand Plover (Anarhynchos atrifons)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Small Pratincole (Glareola lacteus)
Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus): 2 races; Heuglin’s Gull (heuglini) & Steppe Gull (barabensis)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Common Gull (Larus canus)
Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes)
Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Masked Bobby (Sula dactylara)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis)
Little Heron (Butorides atricapilla)
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeolla grayii)
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia)
Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis)
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocratus)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus)
Lappet-faced Vulture – Voltor orellut (Torgos tracheliotos)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Shikra (Accipiter badius)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Common (Steppe) Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus)
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
Little Owl (Athene noctua) – heard only
Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)
Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Arabian Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanii)
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Rose-winged Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus)
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)
Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor aucheri)
Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps)
African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)
Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus)
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus)
Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra cantillans)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Pale Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida)
Common Chiffchaff – Mosquiter comú (Phylloscopus collybita) / Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis)
Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)
Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris)
Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)
Ménétriés’s Warbler (Curruca mystacea)
Abyssian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus)
Tristam’s Starling (Onychognatus tristamii)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura)
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra)
Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)
Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri)
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Pale Rockfinch (Carpospiza brachydactyla)
Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) / Masked Wagtail (Motacilla alba personata)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Richard’s Pipit (Anthus ricardi)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinolleta)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis)
Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

List of mammals seen during the trip

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Arabian Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica)
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Soussa chinensis)

Fringe-toed Lizzard (Acanthodactylus blanfordii) at River Muscat

List of reptilians seen during the trip:

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Fringe-toed Lizzard (Acanthodactylus blanfordii)
Oriental Garden Lizzard (Calotes versicolor)

List of butterflies seen during the trip:

African Lime Butterfly (Papilio demodocus)
Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrissipus)
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
Blue Pansy (Juninia orythia)
Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)

Oman Birding Tour 2026, crònica del viatge

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Dates: Del 12 al 21 de gener, 2026
Participants: 13
Número d’espècies observades: 222
Tour líders: Carles Oliver, Ramiro Aibar & Carles Saurina

Resum: 10è tour del nostre clàssic viatge explorant Oman. El país continua sent un paradís de tranquil·litat en una regió molt convulsa. Enguany vam gaudir d’un bon nombre d’aus rapinyaires i limícoles. En aquest viatge vam poder gaudir de tots els endèmics de la zona (més enllà del gamarús d’Oman, sense registres en els darrers 7 mesos abans de la nostra arribada), però també de diverses espècies mol interessants, com ara el corriol asiàtic, la perdiu de mar petita, l’hipocoli (en dues localitzacions diferents), la polla pitblanca, el sit capnegre, el pardal roquer pàl·lid, la calàndria bimaculada o el rascletó per nomenar uns quants…

Com sempre, amb moltes ganes de tornar a aquesta part del món!

Totes les imatges en aquesta crònica obra d’en Carles Oliver sempre que no s’especifiqui el contrari. Tots els drets reservats.

Dia 1. Un altre matí assolellat a Masqat. Tots els participants al tour havien arribat el dia anterior a la ciutat i ens vam reunir per esmorzar d’hora. El grup estava format per persones de 4 nacionalitats diferents i, després d’una breu xerrada i una breu introducció al país, tots estàvem preparats per començar a observar ocells. El nostre primer pas va ser anar a una petita desembocadura de riu coneguda com a Riu Masqat. Però fins i tot abans d’arribar, vam començar a veure bons ocells, inclòs el primer gaig blau de l’Índia del viatge aturat en un fanal i un parell d’abellerols d’Aràbia en una tanca. Aquí vam fer un canvi per fer una bona foto d’aquests fantàstics ocells, recentment separats dels seus parents asiàtics. Diversos coloms s’estaven movent pel lloc i no m’ho podia creure quan un tórtora ullvermella es va asseure a la mateixa tanca on hi eren els abellerols, breument juntament amb dos tórtores turques. Tot i que probablement era un exemplar escapat, és una observació molt interessant. Malauradament, sembla que ningú va fer cap foto de l’ocell correcte. Sense ressentiments, tots estàvem molt emocionats per les precioses vistes dels abellerols, i personalment em va intrigar una forma fosca dins d’un arbre baix. Hi vam conduir fins allà per descobrir que hi havia dos martinets de nit dormint a l’arbre.

Finalment vam arribar al riu Muscat. Aquí vam veure una bona selecció de limícoles i xatracs. Aquí vam obtenir les primeres vistes de corriols de Leschenault i de corriols del Tibet, a més de 3 sisetes, que de vegades es movien juntament amb les gambes verdes. Les gavianes rialleres eren comuns i, amb elles, vam veure un bon estol de més de 40 xatracs bec-llargs però també 1 curroc i alguns xatracs menuts. També vam veure 4 xatracs becgrocs volant per la platja juntament amb els primers gavians de Hemprich del viatge. A la sorra vam veure remena-rocs, corriols camanegres, garses de mar, pigres grisos i territs de tres-dits. Més a prop, una siseta cendrosa solitària s’alimentava juntament amb un parell de corriols del Tibet.

Un parell de distants estols de gangues ventrebrunes vam creuar el riu, captant la nostra atenció cap aquell sector del riu canalitzat. Allà hi vam veure un bon número de becadells comuns alimentant-se amb territs variants, martinets dels esculls, un parell de batallaires i un becut. De tornada a la platja, vam gaudir de més gavians de Hemprich, però també d’algun gavià del Caspi i de les més comunes gavines de estepa i de Heuglin’s. La minsa vegetació al voltant del canal també ens va oferir prínia delicada i les primeres cogullades comunes.

Després d’una parada de serveis, ens vam dirigir cap a l’interior, però el nostre trajecte es va veure trencat en trobar una bassa prou interessant en un creuament d’autopistes. Aquí vam trobar l’únic grasset de muntanya (raça Caucàsica) del viatge, però també dos territs de Temminck, batallaire, 3 valones i molt bones observaciones de bulbul de galtes blanques i de bulbul cul-roig. Altres espècies interessants a la bassa van incloure cuereta citrina i arpella comuna.

D’aquí vam conduir 15 minuts fins a un d’aquells llocs força desconeguts a l’interior. Hi vam fer una passejada sense trobar absolutament res però, quan ja èrem dins dels vehicles per marxar, vam tenir la sort de trobar el primer còlit del viatge, i va resultar que era un còlit pitnegre, una espècie força escassa a l’hivern en aquest país, especialment al Nord!

Per acabar el matí, ens vam aturar a l’entrada de les llacunes Al Ansab. I tot i estar tancades degut a la festa nacional omaní, aquí vam poder gaudir de bones observacions de gaig blau de l’Índia a més de dues àguiles cridaneres, una àguila imperial oriental i un adult d’aufrany. Gens malament per una paradeta de 5 minuts!

Aquest abellerol d’Aràbia va posar-se molt bé de camí a la primera parada.

Siseta alimentat-se al Riu Muscat. Noteu la diferència de mida i forma amb la gamba verda.

Corriol del Tibet, una espècie força comuna a la costa omaní.

El bulbul de galta blanca el vam gaudir en un grapat de localitzacions.

Aquest còlit pitnegre va ser una sorpresa força inesperada a finals del primer matí

Aquí es pot apreciar la típica coloració del pit

Gaig blau de l’Índia, una ocell de rotonda a Muscat…

De tornada a l’allotjament vam gaudir d’un bon merescut dinar i descans, per tornar a marxar i gaudir d’un vespreig ornitològic. Vam anar al Parc Al Qurum, i la nostra una molt bona varietat d’ocells que va incloure capsigrany pàl·lid i abellerol d’Aràbia però també dues àguiles cridaneres, força fredelugues de màscara roja, cotorres alexandrines, pòlit cantaire, 2 xarrasclets, blauet, 2 tètols cuanegres, 1 àguila pescadora i força suimangues porpres i bulbuls de totes tres espècies. A més, també vam gaudir d’una boscarla cridanera alimentant-se als manglars i d’un agró roig en vol. Però la millor observació va ser probablement la d’un francolí gris descansant en un turonet i fent-se un bany de sorra just a l’entrada del parc, i que el grup va gaudir al llarg d’un quart d’hora.

Per acabar el dia, vam anar a fer un cop d’ull a la platja, esperant de trobar estols de gavians. Malauradament, la marea era massa alta aquest cop i les espècies més destacades van ser els estols de corriols (camanegre, del Tibet i de Leschenault) a més d’un petit estol de daurades petites del Pacífic, tètols cuanegres i d’un fantàstic martinet estriat i de les seves maniobres quasi felines per atansar-se a les seves preses…

Els abellerols d’Aràbia, molt refiats també a la tarda

Aquest martinet estriat ens va fer una demostració de tàctica de caça amb la última llum del dia

Dia 2. Un nou dia assolellat a Oman. Vam sortir del nostre allotjament per començar a moure’ns cap a l’interior del país. Després de sortejar el trànsit de la ciutat, el paisatge va començar a canviar ràpidament, fent-se força més abrupte. A voltes, la carretera serpenteja entre les grans elevacions de la cadena muntanyosa Al Harar, que arriba fins als 3000 metres d’alçària.

La primera parada del dia va ser per explorar una vall oberta i ben coberta per vegetació autòctona. Aquí vam poder gaudir d’un bon grapat d’espècies com gaig blau de l’Índia, bec d’argent indi, suimanga porpra i francolí gris però el principal objectiu de la parada era contactar amb l’escàs tordenc d’Aràbia. I un estol de 7 exemplars no va trigar gaire a aparèixer davant nostre, reclamant i fent-se els esmunyedissos a la capçada dels petits arbres de la zona. Mentre avançàvem van anar veient diversos tallarols xerraires i els reclams del tallarol de Ménétries es feia evident tot al voltant, tot i que vam tenir dificultats per poder-ho veure com cal. L’Alba va trobar el primer de molts esparvers comuns, aquest en concret migrant cap al Sud. Altres rapinyaires a la zona van incloure àguiles marcenques i d’estepa, tot i que lluny. El primer botxí septentrional (raça aucheri) es va deixar veure i, quan marxàvem, una parella de piules becllargues es va deixar veure molt bé. Ja dins dels vehicles, vam observar a plaer el còlit cul-roig del viatge.

Còlit cul-roig. Personalment, el còlit més atractiu de la regió

Després de gaudir d’un dinar antològic en un el nostre restaurant preferit a Oman, vam anar a fer el check-in al nostre nou allotjament. I, una mica més descansats, vam sortir per gaudir del vespre. Vam escollir una petit racó amb quatre arbres per fer un tomb. I va resultar una gran elecció. En només quinze minuts ja havíem observat a plaer tallarol emmascarat oriental, merla blava, cotxa fumada (raça oriental) i mosquiter senzill a més de gaudir d’allò més amb les tórtores del Senegal i amb un estol de francolins grisos. Un meravellós mascle de tallarol de Ménétries ens va fer reconciliar-nos amb aquesta espècies després de la lluita del matí. I quan ja marxàvem, un petit estol de tres sits estriolats ens va fer gaudir d’allò més!

Des d’aquí ens vam endinsar encara més a una de les enormes gorges de la zona. 3 voltors orelluts ens va sobrevolar, acompanyats d’aufranys. Sorprenentment, el còlit de Hume va costar molt i, al final, només el vam poder veure força dalt d’una cinglera, gràcies a la bona vista de la Sonja.

Un cop arribat el capvespre, vam fer una mica de cerca del legendari gamarús d’Oman. Però, malgrat els nostres esforços, no vam aconseguir res de la gorja. Potser l’any que bé?

Els tallarols enmascarats acostumen a ser difícils d’observar a Oman. Aquest cop, no!

Aquest cop vam gaudir d’increïbles observacions de mosquiter senzill

El tallarol de Ménétries ens va fer treballar de valent al matí. A la tarda la cosa va anar diferent…

Els voltors orelluts són força comuns al Nord d’Oman.

Dia 3. Després d’un esmorzar ben d’hora al matí, vam començar el nostre llarg trànsfer fins a Salalah. Un trajecte de 800 quilòmetres travessant el desert! Però el matí no podia passar sense ocells, així aprofitant la fantàstica llum del matí vam fer una parada a on vam poder gaudir de 3 aufranys, còlits cua-rojos, tallarols xerraires, el primer còlit del desert del viatge i, especialment esperada, tallareta del desert asiàtica, que es va deixar fotografiar a plaer.

Fent milles, vam aprofitar una parada de servei per explorar una mica al voltant, i ens vam trobar amb una fantàstica cuereta enmascarada barrejada amb cueretes blanques! Tot i no ser una raça de cuereta blanca, continua sent un animal fantàstic i ens va fer molta il·lusió de trobar-ho al bell mig del desert!

Aquesta tallareta del desert asiàtica ens esperava a l’entrada de l’Empty Quarter.

Cuereta enmascarada quasi totalment mudada. Una raça fantàstica espectacular.

La nostra següent parada ja va ser per dinar, quan vam fer una paradeta a Qitbit. El lloc pot no semblar gran cosa a primera vista, però en poc temps vam trobar dos hipocolis que van fer el grup realment feliç. Una bona sorpresa aquí va ser el trobar-nos amb un mosquiter de Hume que es va deixar veure força bé, tot i les fotos justetes. Tord comú, mosquiters siberians i tallarol de Ménétries també es van fer notar, a més dels nombrosos corbs del desert. Quan marxàvem, un estornell rosat ens va passar per sobre!

Després d’uns quants quilòmetres més, vam fer la principal parada del dia, aquest cop per explorar uns camps de conreu al bell mig del desert. Aquí vam gaudir d’un bon estol de aloses puput, però també de nombrosos còlit isabelins i del desert. Uns estol de 10+ corredors del desert va fer les delícies del grup i, mentre alguns gaudíem d’estols de desenes de gangues ventrebrunes, d’altres o feien amb les primeres terreroles frontblanques del viatge.

Abans no es fes fosc ja érem de tornada a la carretera i, abans de sopar, vam arribar al nostre allotjament a Salalah per tal de gaudir d’un molt bon sopar i tancar un altre dia molt productiu!

Mosquiter de Hume ballant entre branquillons

Els corredors saharians fan sempre furor!

Botxí septentrional (aucheri) amb la bona llum del vespre.

Dia 4. El nostre primer dia va ser d’allò més interessant. El dia va començar assolejat però amb una mica de vent. El primer lloc a visitar va ser Ayn Hamran, una fantàstica vall arbolada creuada per un rierol. Aquí, només sortir dels vehicles ja vam ser assaltats per una miríada de becs d’argent africans, zosterops d’Abissínia, teixidors de Rüppell, bulbuls de les olleres i sits canyelles que feien les delícies de tot el grup. Però un parell d’ullades a l’arbust amb més moviment va revelar un sit capnegre mascle agafant tot de llum del matí. Tota una raresa a Oman! Des d’aquí ens vam anar movent tot seguint el rierol mentre gaudíem de nombrosos còlits cuanegres, esplèndids monarques del paradís africans i alguns tímids tallarols d’Aràbia. El vent, que al començament semblava un obstacle, va esdevenir un aliat, fent que molts ocells estiguessin força baixos, incloent un superb suimanga palestí mascle que ens va deleïtar mentre s’alimentava. En vol, vam veure àguiles marcenques i d’estepa i una parella de txagres de coroneta negra alimentant-se al terra van precedir un dels ocells del dia… Tot d’una, un durbec d’Aràbia va començar a cantar vessant amunt.

Ens vam moure cap adalt, just a temps de veure’l cantant des de dalt de tot d’un petit arbre. Fantàstic! Però llavors l’ocell va volar al bell mig de la vall i el vam seguir per poder observar-lo mentre s’alimentava. Tot d’una, ens en vam adonar que hi havien dos durbecs, i no pas només un! Al final, vam gaudir de quinze minuts d’observació, tot sovint molt a prop, fins que vam decidir tornar als vehicles. De tornada vam gaudir de piules becgrosses, 2 cueretes grogues i el primer capsigrany cua-roig del viatge!

Àguila d’estepa per començar la jornada al Dhoffar.

Aquest sit capnegre va ser tota una sorpresa!

Suimanga palestí ensenyant tots els seus colors

Un dels nombrosos monarques del paradís africans a Ayn Hanram

Els sits canyella són sorprenentment comuns

La raça àrab (percivali) del txagra de coroneta negra continua sent la meva preferida!

El durbec d’Aràbia sempre està entre els 5 ocells més cobejats del tour!

Els durbecs es van estar alimentant davant nostre durant més de 10 minuts.

Des d’Ayn Hanram vam conduir de tornada a les planes que donen accés a aquesta vall. Aquestes planes poden ser un autèntic cel pels amants de les aus. Tot travessant la zona no vam trigar gaire a veure una àrea amb força activitat. Ens hi vam endinsar de ple i vam trobar desenes i desenes de terreroles frontblanques, amb molts mascles cantant i fent display en vol, a voltes molt a prop nostre! Amb elles, estols de terreroles comunes eren evidents i, en mig d’aquest maresme, cogullades comunes, trobats còlits isabelins i del desert. Lluny, vam poder veure un mascle d’arpella pàl·lida russa patrullant la planície i un estol d’abellerols perses que es movia per aquella zona. Ens hi van mirar d’atansar, però va ser devades. Estol rere estol de terreroles comunes, ens vam entretenir fins que, de cop i volta, del no res va aparéixer un pardal roquer pàl·lid amb elles! Realment desubicats, ens vam apropar una mica, només per descobrir que al mateix estol també hi havia una calàndria bimaculada! Al llarg dels minuts següents vam treballar en posar tothom en ambdues espècies. I, al final, vam comptar un mínim de 5 pardals roquers pàl·lids i 2 calàndries bimaculades mentre estols de gangues ventrebrunes anaven creuant la plana.

Molt satisfets d’aquesta parada, vam decidir de tornar un altre cop a Ayn Hanram i escorcollar un sector una mica diferent. Vam tornar a triomfar i, fora de les espècies més comunes i de forces monarques del paradís africans, també vam gaudir de 3 papamosques menuts (incloent un mascle), de colltort i d’una busqueta pàl·lida oriental.

Les terreroles frontblanques es van deixar apropar força

Centenars de terreroles comunes adobaben la plana al Nord de Salalah

Pardal roquer pàl·lid, una una altra sorpresa!

Des d’aquí, vam conduir la curta distància fins a Ayn Razat, un rierol preciós amb una vegetació exuberant i un jardí annexe interessant. Aquí, em va desolar descobrir que la vegetació espesa, que abans era rica en nenúfars i pegats de canyissars, havia desaparegut. S’havia utilitzat maquinària pesada per eliminar tot l’ecosistema i ara no en queda res, fora de la zona on hi ha les places d’aparcament, on queden alguns estanys recreatius. Un gran desastre… Tot i així, vam fer el pícnic aquí. Un passeig per l’interior del jardí va mostrar diversos suimangues d’Aràbia mentre l’àguila imperial oriental i l’àguila perdiguera, a més d’una poderosa àguila de Verreaux, patrullaven la vall. Dins del jardí, la Sonja va trobar una bonica cotxa blava, i en Ramiro va un cuaenlairat que s’alimentava entre els matolls baixos al centre del jardí. Malauradament, només els guies van poder veure aquest ocell abans que entrés a la vegetació i no en sortís mai més.

Després de gaudir del nostre fantàstic picnic, vam fer una paradeta per cafè abans d’apropar-nos a la costa per visitar una petita desembocadura. Hi ha un bon grapat de boques de riu al voltant de Salalah, cadascuna d’elles amb les seves característiques que les fan úniques. Vam arribar a la nostra elecció amb un fantàstica llum de tarda i vam comença a repassar els estols de xatracs i gavines. Aquí vam trobar tètols cuanegres, batallaires, àguila pescadora, cueretes citrines, territs de Temminck i corriol anellat petit. També hi havien 8 fotges banyudes una mica llunyanes. Força més a prop, vam gaudir de corriol de Leschenault mentre onades i onades de capons reials anaven arribant al seu dormider. Aquí també vam avançar en com diferenciar xatracs reials i becgrocs, així com curroc versus fumarell carablanc. Al llarg de tota l’estona, un pelicà comú s’estava reposant en una illa. Aquesta ès una espècie força escassa a Oman. Els estols de gavians no van produir cap espècies interesant, tret d’alguns gavians del Caspi i un tombet per una zona d’estepa litoral va produir un parell de piules grosses mentre les arpelles comuns anaven a dormir.

La última parada del dia va ser a Ayn Taqa, un altre racó impressionant. Aquí vam tenir temps de gaudir dels ocells de la zona, que van incloure martinet ros de l’Índia, una cotxa blava mascle, gamba verda, valona i, com a més destacat, una polla pitblanca que es va deixar veure força bé. Un cop arribat el capvespre, vam invertir una mica de temps a cercar mussols i el temps invertit es va traduir en unes fantàstiques observacions de xot d’Aràbia mentre un parell de mussols comuns reclamaven des dels penya-segats del voltant.

Pelicà comú, un bon afegitó a la nostra llista

Capsigrany pàl·lid, el Lanius més comú a l’hivern a Oman.

Xot d’Aràbia, crec que la millor observació de la que hem gaudit en aquests tours.

Dia 5. Aquest dia, el matí el vam dedicat a explorar l’altiplà Dhofar, però abans de arribar-nos-hi, vam fet una parada per visitar uns petits estanys gairebé desconeguts.

Era un matí radiant quan vam arribar a la bassa, que està envoltada de canyissar però que conserva ribes amb fang al voltant. Un primer escaneig al voltant va revelar dos boscarles dels joncs movent-se al del canyissar. També vam veure cotxa blava, tortoreta cuallarga i dues sisetes. De cop i volta, ens va sorprendre trobar un rascletó que estava alimentat-se a pocs metres de nosaltres! Ens hi vam apropar amb una mica de desconcert, però al poc temps tothom estava gaudint d’aquest ocells. Un passeig al voltant de la bassa no va produir massa més; uns quants suimangues d’Aràbia, un mascle d’esparver xikra un xic llunyà i més tortoretes cuallargues. Aquí, el Ramiro i el Carles van trobar un altre rascletó!

Ens vam dirigir llavors a l’altiplà, però vam haver de fer una parada a la carretera ja que a un dels fanals hi havia un esparver d’espatlles negres i, a al vora, un parell d’àguiles imperials orientals. Un cop observades, ens vam moure cap al Jabal Tal (una impressionant talaïa natural a més de 1200 metres sobre el nivell del mar) però, degut, als nombrosos ocells, vam fer multitud d’aturades. Una menció especial es mereix l’observació d’un colltort movent-se amb un mascle de còlit d’Aràbia, que va causar autèntica sensació! Al llarg de la carretera hi havien força còlits d’Aràbia i corbs cuacurts. També àguiles d’estepa i ens va sorprendre trobar un estol de 47 voltors comuns! Aquesta és una espècie escassa a Oman. Piules del arbres als cables i un mascle d’arpella pàl·lida russa que ens passa rabent per sobre. Sense temps per reaccionar, ara són 2 aligots d’estepa els que ens passa arran per aturar-se en una figuera propera.

Un cop arribats a dalt de tot, vam ser recompensats amb unes vistes magnífiques i amb 2 àguiles de Verreaux volant de la manera que només una àguila de Verreaux ho pot fer a la vora dels penya-segats. Aquí també ens va sorprendre veure almenys un falcó llaner en una baralla amb una de les àguiles!! L’Alba va trobar un bonic mascle de merla blava i, mentre gaudíem de l’ocell, un estol de 8 perdius d’Aràbia va volar sota els nostres peus per aterrar a uns 400 metres de distància en terreny obert, on les podíem rastrejar fàcilment. Durant els següents 20 minuts les vam seguir les seves peripècies, amb més vistes també de les ara molt llunyanes àguiles de Verreaux.

De tornada des del cim de la muntanya, ens vam aturar al lloc típic per gafarró del Iemen. Aquí, mentre gaudíem un cop més dels nostres meravellos picnics, vam poder observar un altre ventall de rapinyaires incloent 4 àguiles imperials, un àguila cuabarrada fent reclam i exhibint-se al seu territori, voltors comuns, àguiles marcenques i d’estepa i un xoriguer petit, de regal!

Un cop dinats vam fer un cop d’ull al voltant. Hi havien moltíssims becs d’argent i també suimangues palentins però la nostra atenció es va centrar una alosa cantaire que va volar just davant nostre. Tothom la va poder veure força. De tornada a la carretera, un gafarró del Iemen va sortir del seu amagatall i el vam poder veure forá bé!

De camí cap a la costa, vam fer una breu parada en una fleca local, atenent les súpliques del guia principal (o sia, jo), perquè allà ens esperaven els millors bunyols de tot Oman! En vaig comprar una bona bossa (mai no es tenen prous, de bunyols) i vam anar a gaudir-los on viuen els baobabs més septentrionals del món (sí, hi ha baobabs al Dhofar!).

Esparver d’espatlles negres a la principal autopista del Dhoffar

Colltort i mascle de còlit d’Aràbia, un dels moments intensos del viatge

Alguns còlits d’Aràbia s’hi van posar bé!

Estornell de Tristam, un au comú al Dhofar.

La superpoderosa àguila de Verreaux manté una modesta població al Dhoffar

Els esparvers comuns semblaven ser a tot arreu enguany

Femella de suimanga palestina a l’altiplà

Un cop vam gaudir dels baobabs i dels bunyolets vam baixar cap a la costa, a gaudir d’una desembocadura de riu. En aquesta nova zona humida vam trobar una jacana cua de faisà, 2 agrons rojos i un fantàstic mascle de martinet menut de la Xina que estava pescant en un canyissar. La zona tenia un bon grapat de limícols i gavians, incloent dos territs de Temminck, boscarla cridanera i gavià del Caspi. Aquí, els estornells rosats es concentren per anar a dormir i vam comptar un mínim de 90 d’ells. Però el millor de tot plegat va començar quan 3 perdius de mar van començar a volar per sobre de la desembocadura, de vegades a escassos metres de nosaltres. Realment va ser un altre moment únic del viatge. El seu vol, barrejat amb les nombroses orenetes comunes, va ser una forma excel·lent d’acabar un altre dia!

Perdius de mar en vol. Imatges d’en Miles Tindal.

Dia 6. Aquest dia vam conduir cap al nord des de Salalah a primera hora del matí, amb l’objectiu d’arribar una mica després de l’alba a la costa Nord. El dia era assolellat i extremadament tranquil, amb poc vent. Normalment, no és bon presagi quan estàs a punt de fer un sortida pelàgica. Pel camí, vam veure diverses àguiles pescadores al llarg de la carretera i vam tenir bones observacions de la població local de cigonyes d’Abdim abans d’arribar al port.Un cop navegats, vam començar a gaudir d’alguns bons ocells.

Només sortir del port ja vam veure que el nombre de baldrigues perses era sòlid aquesta vegada, i en vam veure diverses, fins a comptar 23 ocells movent-se cap al Nord. Durant el matí també vam veure un bon nombre de mascarells emmascarats, amb desenes d’ocells movent-se en petits estols en la mateixa direcció. Vam poder veure de molt a prop ambdues espècies, però també 2 baldrigues brunes que van estar una bona estona fent voltes al nostre vaixell. Al contrari que en moltes altres sortides, enguany no vam veure mai cap estol de xatracs, i només vam veure 1 petrell de Jouanin que mai va estar prou a prop per fer cap foto. Però un dels millors moments de la sortida en vaixell va ser quan una orca va aparèixer de sobte davant del vaixell, saltant fora de l’aigua. Tot va passar tan ràpid que no ens podíem creure el que veiem! Al cap d’un parell de minuts, la bèstia va tornar a aparèixer, però aquesta vegada només va trencar la superfície de l’aigua per mostrar el costat del cap. Crec que realment només fer-nos un cop d’ull!

Les cigonyes d’Abdim han esdevingut ocells urbans al Dhoffar

Mascarell enmascarat fent-nos una ullada

De tornada a port, i encara trasvalsats per l’emoció de veure així de bé baldrigues, escuraflascons i l’orca, vam anar a fer un bon cafè per comentar l’experiència abans d’anar al parc urbà més gran de Mirbat i gaudir, un cop més, dels nostres pícnics. Al parc urbà no vam trigar gens a localitzar l’escorxador dorsicastany que s’estava allà des del mes de novembre. També vam veure 2 koels comuns (un adult i un jove), capsigranys cua-roig i isabelí, 8 piules dels arbres, 1 piula de Hogdson, 2 tallarols xerraires, 1 boscarla cridanera, força mosquiters comuns i siberians, suimangues d’Aràbia, 4 àguiles imperials, una vintena de cigonyes d’Abdim i martinet ros de la Xina.

La piula de Hogdson es movia juntament amb les piules dels arbres. Era un ocell una mica més petit, amb l’esquena uniformement més fosca, el bec més curt i robust, amb lleu un to acarbassat al costat del pit i una taca occipital clarament definida. Em va semblar que no hi havien masses dubtes! Les vam posar al telescopi durant un parell de minuts i tothom va poder veure l’ocell. Tot i així, ningú va aconseguir (o recordar) de fer una foto de l’ocell. Coses del directe!

Deixant Mirbat enrere, vam anar a fer parada en una altra llacuna, aquesta vorejada per un opulent canyissar. Aquí també vam fruir d’allò més. De les fotges que s’alimentaven en un racó de la llacuna, vam veure que una era una fotja banyuda, i encara estàvem mirant d’apropar-nos quan tres ànecs vam arribar en vol a aquell raconet, resultant ser tres oques menudes asiàtiques! Vam continuar avançant una mica més descobrir un total de cinc oques menudes asiàtiques (incloent un fabulós mascles), dues jacanes cua de faisà, dos martinets intermedis, dos agrons rojos i uns quants trobats i fumarells carablancs. Per la banda de rapinyaires, àguila calçada i arpelles comunes es van deixar veure bé.

Aques escorxador dorsicastany ha decidit fer l’hivern a Mirbat.

Vam poder veure suimangues d’Aràbia de ben a prop

Jacana cua de faisà a tocar d’una oca menuda asiàtica. Ben bé com si fóssim a l’Índia

Un mascle d’oca menuda asiàtica. Una meravella!

Aprofitant que el temps era força estable ens vam arribar a una segona desembocadura. Aquí hi havia ben poca activitat. Mirant el mar vam trobar xatrac menut i dofí mular indopacífic no gaire lluny de la costa. La zona humida no donava per massa més, amb les espècies més comunes de limícols i poca cosa més. Però, remirant els corriols a tocar, el cor se’ns va aturar en trobar un corriol asiàtic dormint amb un estol de corriols camanegre! De cop i volta, l’indret va guanyar força interès!

Molt contents d’haver trobat un corriol asiàtic enmig d’un estol de corriols camanegres, ens vam dirigir terra endins per a una última parada. Ja vam arribar amb molt poca llum, i una mirada ràpida a la vall arbolada a on èrem va revelar no menys de 38 ballesters, el meu millor estol en aquest país! Encara esperant que fes més fosc, vam entrar a una vall per trobar un ocell molt especial que viu en aquest tipus de valls rocalloses. De sobte, vam veure una parella de ducs d’Aràbia que sortien volant des dels seus amagatalls diürns. En Carles va assenyalar que un dels ocells cantava força a prop, i no vam trigar ni un parell de minuts a trobar els dos ocells, un d’ells força a prop i oferint unes vistes molt bones! De nou, un gran final de dia!

El corriol asiàtic va ser la gran atracció de la tarda! Aquí amb corriols camanegres.

El duc d’Aràbia se’ns va plantar més a prop del que esperàvem!

Dia 7. De bon matí vam anar a fer una passejada per un dels principals parcs urbans de Salalah. Aquí vam gaudir d’un bon grapat de cueretes blanques i grogues, suimangues d’Aràbia i piules dels arbres, però també d’estols de maniquís escatosos, una espècie escapada de captivitat però sempre maca de veure. Un altre esparver comú ens va passar per sobre, també un parell de falciots pàl·lids, però el principal motiu de la nostra visita eren els coloms verdosos waàlia. Malauradament estaven regant la zona a on dormen, així vam haver de fer temps caminant al voltant. Finalment, ens va decidir a apropar-nos i va ser el Ramiro qui va donar la veu d’alerta; havien aturat el rec i ja es podien veure els coloms. Al final, una desena de coloms es van deixar veure, alguns de força a prop!

Des d’aquí vam conduir fins a la desembocadura del Riu Raysut, a on vam poder gaudir d’una llarga, molt llarga llista d’espècies. Abans d’arribar vam trobar abellerol d’Aràbia i àguila cridanera. El riu mateix estava ple de vida. Hi destacaven una gran quantitat de xatracs, molts d’ells pescant. Aquí vam tenir molt a prop xatracs bengalís i xatracs becgrocs i l’ùnic fumarell alablanc del viatge ens va passar a tocar només arribar. Comprovant tots els xatracs de la zona vam trobar un d’aturat a terra tot sol. Semblava un xatrac galtablanc i, efectivament, quan va sortir volant va deixar veure el seu típic disseny per sota de l’ala. Hi havia força limícols encara dormint i vam estar de sort que dos dels que poquets que s’alimentaven foren una siseta cendrosa i un territ becadell adult, l’únic que vam veure en tot el viatge!

Des d’aquí ens vam dirigir a les basses de depuració de Raysut, a on vam trobar força sisetes, cigonyes d’Abdim, valones junt amb una seixantena de cigonyes blanques i també algunes fredelugues de màscara roja. Aquí vam veure un dels híbrids d’aquesta espècie amb fredeluga d’esperons que tomba de fa anys per aquí. Una cosa interessant a destacar era la quantitat d‘ànecs coll-verds, normalment una espècie força escassa a Oman. Aquí en vam veure una vintena, i també ànecs cuallargs i força xarrasclets junt amb les dues úniques gambes rojes pintades del viatge. En Luca va trobar un cabussó coll-negre, una nova espècie pels nostres viatges a Oman!

El matí ja havia estat espectacular, però encara no havíem acabat. Com que teníem temps vam fer una altra visiteta a Ayn Hanram, sempre un bon lloc per a passejar-s’hi. Aquí vam veure més monarques del paradís africà, txagres, capsigrany cua-roig i, al tanto, també un capsigrany enmascarat que ens havien comentat que estava per la zona. Després d’una estona tombant, en Miles el va trobar i el vam poder observar a plaer!

Colom verdós waàlia. Un dels millors ocells del viatge

Territ becadell i siseta cendrosa, una parell d’allò més exòtica

Xatrac bengalí a punt de pescar a Raysut

El nostre grup gaudint a Raysut. Gràcies, Karel Simecek, d’un altre grup, per aquesta imatge!

Capsigrany enmascarat mascle. Sempre un plaer!

Després de gaudir d’un bon dinar buffet al restaurant de l’hotel (no cada dia es pot gaudir del pícnic) ens vam dirigir al Sud per explorar una mica la costa. Al llarg del trajecte vam haver d’aturar-nos, un enorme estol de més 150 corbs marins de Socotra estava aturat al mar, a prop de la costa, i ens va permetre gaudir d’una fantàstica observació. Aquí també vam trobar uns pocs dofins mulars indopacífics. Una mica més al Sud, vam arribar-nos a una altra zona humida. Aquí vam veure els únics bec-planers del viatge junt a força ànecs coll-verds i alguns limícols. Però el més important, vam poder veure el martinet negre que fa setmanes que s’està en aquest punt!

Al vespre, vam conduir wadi amunt. El paisatge de roca i sorra es feia cada cop més impressionant i una parada a mig camí va permetre la Coia de trobar un estol de perdius d’Aràbia que just es ficaba dins una petita bauma per anar a dormir just quan el ressó dels reclams dels damans recorrien la vall. Uns minuts després, ja totalment fosc, un reclam ben diferent va inundar els penya-segats: el gamarús del desert sortia del seu cau diurn. Al llarg dels següents minuts el vam gaudir d’allò més, reclamant a la cinglera que teníem davant. Sempre és meravellós tenir un ocell tant mític tant i tant a prop!

Els corbs marins de Socotra es poden ajuntar en grups de centenars d’exemplars

Martinets esculls i martinet negre. Meravellós veure’ls un al costat de l’altre!

Un cop més el gamarús del desert ens va regalar una observació inoblidable!

Dia 8 . Després d’esmorzar força d’hora, vam carregar els vehicles i ens vam dirigir al Nord. Deixàvem enrere Salalah per endinsar-nos de nou al desert. Aquest cop, la primera parada seria un petit oasi no gaire lluny de la frontera amb el Iemen. De camí, però, vam haver de fer un parell de parades. Primer per observar unes terreroles del desert que estaven a tocar de la carretera i més tard per fer el mateix amb unes perdius del desert. Encara no havíem acabat d’arribar a l’oasi quan 3 hipocolis ens van fer parar. Els vam observar a pocs metres, aturats a un cable. Mentre fèiem fotos, ens vam adonar que faltava un dels cotxes. A uns dos-cents metres de nosaltres, els ocupants del tercer vechicle eren a fora, fent fotos i clarament exaltats. Inmediatament vam anar cap allà. Ràpidament vam ser informats que la Coia havia trobat un petit estol de gangues de Lichtenstein a tocar de la carretera i, al llarg dels següents vint minuts, vam estar gaudint d’un altre dels moments àlgids del tour!

Després d’aquest començament tan espectacular (hipocoli + ganga de Lichtenstein) van començar a explorar l’oais. Hi havia un bon número de mosquiters siberians, tallarols xerraires i còlit cuanegre, així com alguna tallareta del desert asiàtic. Però l’espècie més destacada fou la suimanga del Nil, amb una parella movent-se per la zona. En una zona més allunyada de l’oasi vam trobar una tórtora turca africana que va començar a cantar, i vam poder gaudir d’una gran observació. Aquí també vam veure una femella d’esparver cendrós creuant el desert.

La nostra propera parada va ser per fer una petita espera en una bassa a on les gangues venen a veure aigua. Les gangues necessiten veure aigua quasi a diari, i són capaces de volar desenes de quilòmetres per arribar a una bassa concreta. Vam esperar una bona estona i ja començàvem a desesperar quan, de cop i volta vam veure un petit estol de gangues ventrebrunes que van baixar a veure aigua. De sobte, onades i onades de gangues van aparèixer del no res per formar eixams d’ocells que baixaven, bevies i tornaven a marxat! El so de les aus i dels seus reclams va ser un altre moment àlgid del nostre viatge a Oman. La munió d’ocells a la zona també atreu a rapinyaires i a la zona vam veure un parell d’àguiles imperials i un solitari voltor orellut.

Després d’un matí memorable, era moment de gaudir d’un bon café abans de moure’ns cap al Nord. La nostra següent parada va ser a uns camps de conreu al bell mig del no res. Efectivament, novament el desert es vesteix de verd gràcies a l’aigua acumulada al llarg de mil·lenis a la capa freàtica i ara es pot conrear ferratge al desert gràcies a aquesta aigua… Als camps de ferratge vam observar multitud de còlits isabelins i del desert així com els Alaúdids més comuns de la zona. Però el que realment ens va fer accelerar el pols va ser trobar un estol de 35 fredelugues socials en un d’aquests camps! Sens dubte, l’estol més gran que he vist mai, amb exemplars joves i adults quasi en plomatge estival! Al mateix camp, una àguila d’estepa superba alviraba els encontorns a la cerca d’alguna presa.

Des d’aquí vam continuar conduint cap al Nord, amb una última parada de caracter ornitològic en un petit parc urbà a on vam poder observar trobar però també tortoreta cuallarga, botxí i còlits del desert, abans d’entomar el tram final de carretera fins al nostre allotjament a Duqm, a on vam arribar per l’hora de sopar.

Terrerola del desert a la carretera de camí a la primera parada del dia

Fantàstiques observacions de hipocoli. No passa sovint que aquesta espècie quedi a l’ombra d’una altra…

Algunes imatges de les gangues de Lichtenstein. Sempre meravella de veure-les de tant a prop!

Tòrtora rosa i grisa. Un ocell que té poblacions minses a l’extrem Sud d’Oman

Els còlits cuanegres poden ser increïblement refiats

Fredeluga social. No importa a quin continent hi siguis, sempre un ocell fantàstic d’observar!

Dia 9. Darrer dia del tour. Ens llevem a Duqm en un dia assolejat i marxem de l’allotjament després de gaudir d’un altre bon esmorzar. Estem a un parell d’hores de la principal zona que volem visitar, però abans de marxar cap allà tenim temps de visitar un petit parc urbà a Duqm. Aquí observar l’únic bitxac siberià del tour, cotxa blava, trobats i cueretes grogues.

D’aquí ens vam dirigir a la inmensa zona intermareal que rodeja Masirah Island, a on hiverna un número impressionant de limícols (sembla que prop d’un milió!). El principal objectiu aquí era contactar amb una altra espècie mítica, el droma. Aquest cop, la marea ens va donar prou temps per mirar-nos bé les gavines de la zona, i no vam dubtar-ho ni un moment. Entre els molts gavians foscos, vam trobar uns quants gavians del Capi, i mentre anàvem mirant el Luca va trobar una joia; l’únic gavinot capnegre del viatge! En aquest cas, un 2n hivern. Un altre interessant troballa va ser una gavina cendrosa (pressumiblement de la raça heinei). Entre els limícols, vam veure petits estols de territs bec-llargs, força siseta cendrosa i també territs bec-llargs, corriols de tota mena, tètols cuabarrats, territs menuts, remena-rocs, garses de mar i un parell de distants territ becadells.

Finalment, i després d’esperar una estona un xica massa llarg, els dromes van començar a apareixer a escena. Primer grups familiars petits, però desprès en grups cada cop més grans. Hi vam comptar un mínim de 50 exemplars!

A la tarda, vam conduir de tornada a Muscat, a on vam una mica abans de sopar. Com podeu comprobar, Oman mau no decep!!

El gavinot capnegre és simplement enorme, fins i tot en comparació amb el gavià de Heuglin.

Gavina cendrosa de la raça russa (heinei), un bo afegitó a la nostra llista.

Vam haver d’esperar, però al final els dromes bé que van aparèixer!

Llista d’ocells observats al llarg del tour:

Perdiu d’Aràbia (Alectoris melanocephala)
Perdiu del desert (Ammoperdix heyi)
Francolí gris (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Oca menuda asiàtica (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Ànec coll-verd (Anas platyrhynchos)
Ànec cuallarg (Anas acuta)
Xarxet comú (Anas crecca)
Ànec griset (Mareca strepera)
Xarrasclet (Spatula querquedula)
Ànec cullerot (Spatura clypeata)
Falciot pàl·lid (Apus pallidus)
Ballester (Apus melba)
Cucut koel asiàtic (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Ganga ventrebruna (Pterocles exustus)
Ganga de Lichtenstein (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Colom roquer (Columba livia)
Colom verdós waàlia (Treron waalia)
Tórtora turca (Streptopelia decaocto)
Tórtora rosa i grisa (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
Tórtora ullvermella (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Tórtora del Senegal (Spilopelia senegalensis)
Tortoreta cuallarga (Oena capensis)
Polla pitblanca (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Polla d’aigua (Gallinula chloropus)
Fotja comuna (Fulica atra)
Fotja banyuda (Fulica cristata)
Rascletó (Zapornia parva)
Cabusset (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Cabussó coll-negre (Podiceps nigricollis)
Flamenc comú (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Corredor saharià (Cursorior cursor)
Garsa de mar (Haematopus ostralegus)
Droma (Droma ardeola)
Cames llargues (Himantopus himantopus)
Jacana cua de faisà (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
Fredeluga de màscara roja (Vanellus indicus)
Fredeluga d’esperons (Vanellus spinosus)
Fredeluga social (Vanellus gregarius)
Daurada petita del Pacífic (Pluvialis fulva)
Pigre gris (Pluvialis aquatarola)
Corriol anellat gros (Charadrius hiaticula)
Corriol anellat petit (Charadrius dubius)
Corriol camanegre (Anarhynchos alexandrinus)
Corriol asiàtic (Anarhynchos asiaticus)
Corriol de Leschenault (Anarhynchos leschenaultii)
Corriol del Tíbet (Anarhynchos atrifons)
Becadell comú (Gallinago gallinago)
Tètol cuabarrat (Limosa lapponica)
Tètol cuanegre (Limosa limosa)
Pòlit cantaire (Numenius phaeopus)
Becut eurasiàtic (Numenius arquata)
Gamba roja pintada (Tringa erythropus)
Gamba roja comuna (Tringa totanus)
Siseta (Tringa stagnatilis)
Gamba verda (Tringa nebularia)
Xivita (Tringa ochropus)
Valona (Tringa glareola)
Siseta cendrosa (Xenus cinereus)
Xivitona (Actitis hypoleucos)
Remena-rocs (Arenaria interpres)
Territ tres-dits(Calidris alba)
Territ menut (Calidris minuta)
Territ de Temminck (Calidris temminckii)
Territ variant (Calidris alpina)
Territ becadell (Calidris falcinellus)
Territ bec-llarg (Calidris ferruginea)
Batallaire (Calidris pugnax)
Escuraflascons bec-fi (Phalaropus lobatus)
Perdiu de mar petita (Glareola lacteus)
Gavina capblanca (Chroicocephalus genei)
Gavina riallera (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Gavià fosc (Larus fuscus): 2 races; Heuglin’s Gull (heuglini) & Steppe Gull (barabensis)
Gavià del Caspi (Larus cachinnans)
Gavina cendrosa (Larus canus)
Gavinot capnegre (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
Gavià de Hemprich (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
Xatrac gros (Hydroprogne caspia)
Xatrac bec-groc (Thalasseus bergii)
Xatrac bengalí (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Xatrac bec-llarg (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Xatrac galtablanc (Sterna repressa)
Curroc (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Xatrac menut (Sternula albifrons)
Fumarell carablanc (Chlidonias hybridus)
Fumarell alablanc (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Baldriga persa (Puffinus persicus)
Baldriga bruna (Ardenna carneipes)
Petrell de Jouanin (Bulweria fallax)
Cigonya d’Abdim (Ciconia abdimii)
Cigonya blanca (Ciconia ciconia)
Mascarell emmascarat (Sula dactylara)
Corb marí gros (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Corb marí de Socotra (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Ibis sagrat africà (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Capó reial (Plegadis falcinellus)
Bec-planer euroasiàtic (Platalea leucorodia)
Martinet menut de la Xina (Botaurus sinensis)
Martinet estriat (Butorides atricapilla)
Martinet ros (Ardeola ralloides)
Martinet ros de l’Índia (Ardeolla grayii)
Esplugabous (Bubulcus ibis)
Martinet de nit (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Agró roig (Ardea purpurea)
Bernat pescaire (Ardea cinerea)
Agró blanc (Ardea alba)
Martinet intermedi (Ardea intermedia)
Martinet negre (Egretta ardesiaca)
Martinet blanc (Egretta garzetta)
Martinet dels esculls (Egretta gularis)
Pelicà comú (Pelecanus onocratus)
Aufrany (Neophron percnopterus)
Voltor comú (Gyps fulvus)
Voltor orellut (Torgos tracheliotos)
Àguila pescadora (Pandion haliaetos)
Àguila cridanera (Clanga clanga)
Àguila d’estepa (Aquila nipalensis)
Àguila imperial (Aquila heliaca)
Àguila de Verreaux (Aquila verreauxii)
Àguila cuabarrada (Aquila fasciata)
Àguila calçada (Aquila pennata)
Àguila marcenca (Circaetus gallicus)
Esparver comú (Accipiter nisus)
Esparver shikra (Accipiter badius)
Elani comú (Elanus caeruleus)
Milà negre (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Arpella comuna (Circus aeruginosus)
Arpella pàl·lida russa (Circus macrourus)
Esparver cendrós (Circus pygargus)
Aligot comú (d’estepa) (Buteo buteo vulpinus)
Xot d’Aràbia (Otus pamelae)
Mussol comú (Athene noctua) – heard only
Gamarús del desert (Strix hadorami)
Duc d’Aràbia (Bubo milesi)
Puput (Upupa epops)
Gaig blau de l’Índia (Coracias benghalensis)
Blauet (Alcedo atthis)
Abellerol d’Aràbia (Merops cyanophrys)
Xoriguer comú (Falco tinnunculus)
Xoriguer petit (Falco naumanii)
Falcó llaner (Falco biarmicus)
Cotorreta alexandrina (Psittacula eupatria)
Cotorra de Kramer (Psittacula krameri)
Txagra de coroneta negra (Tchagra senegalus)
Capsigrany enmascarat (Lanius nubicus)
Escorxador dorsicastany (Lanius vittatus)
Capsigrany pàl·lid (Lanius isabellinus)
Capsigrany cua-roig (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Botxí septentrional (Lanius excubitor aucheri)
Tordenc d’Aràbia (Turdoides squamiceps)
Monarca del paradís africà (Tersiphone viridis)
Hipocoli (Hypocolius ampelinus)
Bulbul d’urelles blanques (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Bulbul cul-roig (Pycnonotus cafer)
Bulbul d’ulleres blanques (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
Corb de l’Índia (Corvus splendens)
Corb del desert (Corvus ruficollis)
Corb cuacurt (Corvus rhidipurus)
Alosa puput (Alaemon alaudipes)
Terrerola del desert (Ammomanes deserti)
Terrerola comuna (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Terrerola frontblanca (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Calàndria bimcaulada (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
Cogullada comuna (Galerida cristata)
Alosa cantaire (Mirafra cantillans)
Oreneta de ribera (Riparia riparia)
Roquerol pàl·lid (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Oreneta comuna (Hirundo rustica)
Prínia gràcil (Prinia gracilis)
Prínia delicada (Prinia lepida)
Mosquiter comú (Phylloscopus collybita) / Mosquiter siberià (Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis)
Mosquiter senzill (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Mosquiter de Hume (Phylloscopus humei)
Boscarla cridanera (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Boscarla dels joncs (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Busqueta pàl·lida oriental (Iduna pallida)
Tallareta del desert asiàtica (Curruca nana)
Tallarol xerrarire (Curruca curruca)
Tallarol enmascarat (Curruca crassirostris)
Tallarol d’Aràbia (Curruca leucomelaena)
Tallarol de Ménétrie’s (Curruca mystacea)
Zosterops d’Abissínia (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Minà comú (Acridotheres tristis)
Estornell rosat (Pastor roseus)
Estornell de Tristam (Onychognatus tristamii)
Tord comú (Turdus philomelos)
Merla blava (Monticola solitarius)
Cotxa blava (Luscinia svecica)
Cotxa fumada (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Bitxac siberià (Saxicola maurus)
Cuaenlairat (Cercotrichas galactotes)
Papamosques menut (Ficedula parva)
Còlit isabelí (Oenanthe isabellina)
Còlit del desert (Oenanthe deserti)
Còlit cuanegre (Oenanthe melanura)
Còlit pitnegre (Onenanthe pleschanka)
Còlit d’Aràbia (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Còlit de Hume (Oenanthe albonigra)
Còlit cul-roig (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Suimanga del Nil (Hedydipna metallica)
Suimanga palestina (Cinnyris osea)
Suimanga d’Aràbia (Cinnyris hellmayri)
Suimanda porpra (Cinnyris asiaticus)
Pardal comú (Passer domesticus)
Pardal roquer pàl·lid (Carpospiza brachydactyla)
Teixidor de Rüppell (Ploceus galbula)
Maniquí escatós (Lonchura punctulata)
Maniquí bec d’argent (Euodice cantans)
Maniquí de l’Índia (Euodice malabarica)
Cuereta citrina (Motacilla citreola)
Cuereta blanca (Motacilla alba) / Cuereta enmascarada (Motacilla alba personata)
Cuereta torrentera (Motacilla cinerea)
Cuereta groga occidental (Motacilla flava)
Piula grossa (Anthus ricardi)
Trobat (Anthus campestris)
Piula becllarga (Anthus similis)
Grasset de muntanya (Anthus spinolleta)
Piula dels arbres (Anthus trivialis)
Gafarró del Iemen (Crithagra menachensis)
Durbec d’Aràbia (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
Sit capnegre (Emberiza melanocephala)
Sit estriolat (Emberiza striolata)
Sit canyella (Emberiza tahapisi)

Llista de mamífers observats al llarg del viatge:

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Guineu roja (Vulpes vulpes arabica)
Orcar (Orcinus orca)
Dofí d’estuari indopacífic (Soussa chinensis)

Acanthodactylus blanfordii al Riu Muscat

Llista dels rèptils observats al llarg del viatge:

Tortuga babaua (Caretta caretta)
Acanthodactylus blanfordii
Calotes versicolor

Llista de papallones observades al llarg del tour:

Papilio demodocus
Migradora dels cards (Cynthia cardui)
Papallona tigre (Danaus chrissipus)
Blaveta estriada (Leptotes pirithous)
Juninia orythia
unonia hierta

Oman Birding Tour 2025 Trip Report

1 Resposta

Dates: From January 11th to 21st, 2025
Tour participants: 14
Number of species: 226
Tour leader: Carles Oliver, Sergi Sales, Ramiro Aibar & Daniel Rey

Overview: 9th issue of our classic itinerary in Oman. This year we were surprised with the many sights on Hypocolius, one of the main targets for many birdwatchers visiting the region and normally very restricted. This time, we saw a minimum of 5 birds in 4 different locations! We also scored an amazing number of 6 species of Owls in this issue (Desert, Arabian Eagle, Pallid Scops, Arabian Scops, Little and Omani!). But also had shades as we were not lucky with Socotra Cormorants, and this time we couldn’t contact with this very restricted bird. Beyond the regular specialties it was very satisfying to self-find rarities within the tour, as we found Brown Shrike and (Joe) found Pacific Swift. We also had time to tick Eyebrowed Thrush and even nice views on Syke’s Nightjars! Here we have to thank our clients for their wonderful flexibility, that allowed a slight modification in our average route in order to catch up with the last species and even allowed us to add one day more to the itinerary!

Day 0. Due to the flight combination and other, this issue has been one day longer. Eventually, this extra time gave us more time to explore some spots in the North, with interesting results.

Most of the group assembled at Muscat Airport after a nocturnal flight. Once living the airport, we went to our accommodation, where another guest was waiting for us and where enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. A last client landed a few hours later and join us one hour after we ended the breakfast. After our nocturnal flight, a good amount of coffee was necessary to face the day.

This time, the first contact with the Omani birdlife was a few meters away from the accommodation. We got Red-wattled Lapwings, Great & Little Egrets, Indian Silverbills and Purple Sunbirds but also the first Citrine Wagtail & Little Stint of the trip and really good looks on Clamorous Reed Warblers. A couple of Place Crag Martins were flying around and several Pallid Swifts were hunting further away. Derek had a distant Osprey being harassed by several House Crows. Much closer, a small flock of Grey Francolins came out the vegetation for our enjoyment. Still, the main attraction of this very first stop was a pair of Arabian Bee-eaters and 1 Daurian Shrike.

Living the accommodation, we drove a short distance to the Muscat River. Here we a very large array of waders, gulls and terns. Of course, most eyes concentrated firs in working the differences between Tibetan Sand Plovers and Greater Sand Plovers. A nie flock of Tibetan Sand Plovers were feeding along with Kentish Plovers, providing very good looks, while at least 2 Greater Sand Plovers were moving not far from some 1st winter Eurasian Oystercatchers. Sooty Gulls were roosting on the beach and, well inside the sea, tens and tens and tens of Red-necked Phalaropes were feeding and caught the eye of Miquel, who pointed them out.

A couple of Marsh Sandpipers were feeding in the river bed, and their typical short runs mixed with the movements of the many Dunlins, Common Ringed Plovers, Ruffs, Greenshanks, Eurasian Curlews and Common Redshanks. A small flock of gulls were resting in the river, and saw some Black-headed Gulls along with the more common Slender-billed’s. A few Little Terns were also resting, and along with them we saw many Sandwich Terns, 1 Caspian Tern, 3 Whiskered Terns plus 1 Gull-billed. A few Western Reed Egrets were also seen, but when it comes to Herons we only had eyes for a very close Striated Heron fishing only a few meters away from the group, at least until we found the first Indian Pond Heron for the trip! Some Eurasian Teals were also feeding here and we were surprised to find a Eurasian Wigeon feeding along with them. A large flock of Black-tailed Godwits and a nice Desert Wheatear was feeding along the river bank. Systematically checking the Snipes we were lucky to find a Pin-tailed Snipe, and everybody in the group enjoyed great views in the scope while comparing the bird with the Common Snipes around.

But all was interrupted by a flock of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses that landed 150 metres away from the river bed. We fastly approach them, getting nice views on the birds while moving on the ground!

After a coffee stop we moved to a couple of beaches were gulls tend to accumulate. We were lucky at the first spot, and we found 2 gorgeous Palla’s Gulls standing up in the middle of a flock of Steppe, Heuglin’s and a few Caspian Gulls. Closeby, a couple of small river mouths provided some birding including further views on Temminck’s Stints and the first Little Grebe for the trip.

After lunch we went to Al Qurm Park. This is a phenomenal spot for a number of birds, and here we got nice views on White-eared & Red-vented Bulbuls but also Marsh Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, Arabian Green Bee-eaters, Daurian Shrike and a flock of Pacific Golden Plovers including a lovely bird in summer plumage. At dusk, hundreds of people gathered to attend a local festival and it made impossible to see any birds.

Striated Heron (Butorides striata) at Muscat River. Image by Pete Sutton.

Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus) in Muscat. Image by Pete Sutton.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) in flight. Image by tour leader Carles Oliver.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) in Muscat. Image by Pete Sutton.

Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) -centre top- along with Heughlin’s, Steppe & Slender-billed Gulls in Muscat.

Palla’s Gull in flight. Please pair attention to the wing tip. Unmistakable! Image by Carles Oliver

Lovely flock of Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) including a wonderful summer plumage bird! Image by tour leader Carles Oliver.

Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys). Image by Pete Sutton.

Day 1. After enjoying the breakfast at our accommodation in Muscat, we drove the short distance from the coast to one of our very nice locations in the upper thorn bush. But before arriving we had a fast stop in the road. There, the sky was showing us not only the first Eastern Imperial Eagles of the trip, but also several Steppe Eagles that, even if far away, were very welcome by the group. Once arrived to the proper place, it looked like clearly lower than in many previous visits. No sign of the normally common Purple Sunbirds and small flocks of Indian Silverbills were the only evident birdlife. We had a walk around the area, and we fastly had the first Lesser Whitethroats of the trip. Flying above our heads, we had he first Egyptian Vultures of the trip.

Despite being a large group, we kept together, and this was essential when a flock of 7 Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouses flew off right in front of us, calling and moving away from us really fast in search of a more quiet place where to keep feeding. Happy with this nice encounter we kept searching the area. A few minutes later, Sergi called us as he and William had an owl moving in the trees. It was clear that had to be a Pallid Scops Owl. We place everybody in one place, and for the surprise of everybody, the Owl just came out of a bush and flew in the middle of the people, providing really nice flight views. We tried to find the bird once perched in the trees, but was not possible.

A few meters away we found the firsts Asian Desert Warblers of the trip, and as it is usual in this species, it allowed very nice shots. A bit beyond, a Persian Wheatear produced nice views before we decided to come back. After this we decided to go back to the vehicles, but at the moment to get inside Joe told me that we a Babbler-like bird moving down the valley. We took the cars and drove a bit down, and guess what, after a short walk we had a nice flock of 4 Arabian Babblers moving in front of us. In the bush beside, a nice Menétriés’s Warbler was showing well and in the way back to our vehicles we still had a wonderful Lappet-faced Vulture flying really low above us!

From here we just covered a short distance to arrive into a local restaurant where we had a very nice meal and 1 Lanner Falcon moving around the town!

In the afternoon we moved to a place for Omani Owl. Getting in the gorge we had nice views on Hume’s Wheatears and Long-billed Pipit + a couple of Striolated Buntings singing in the gorge and that proved to be as hard to see as usual! We waited until dark and moved a bit along the gorge, but our first chance for Omani Owl was totally unsuccessful, and only a Little Owl came out of the shadows.. After a couple of hours we came down to the accommodation.

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Image by Pete Sutton.

Arabian Babbler (Argya squamiceps). Image by Pete Sutton.

Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana). Image by Pete Sutton.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Image by Carles Oliver

Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra). Image by Pete Sutton.

Day 2. After breakfast we went to the Alsab Lagoons, a nice wetland around the International Muscat Airport. Here, we had a nice walk and enjoyed a good variety of birds including Tufted Ducks, 2 Purple Herons, Arabian Bee-eaters, Grey Francolins and the only 1 Ferruginous Duck of the trip. Here we were surprised to find 3 Arabian Babblers that provided very good views.

Beyond a nice variety of waders and ducks, we had a couple of Grey-headed Swamphens sights, one of them providing amazing views as it was feeding totally out of cover and only a few metres away from us. In the same place we also got nice looks on Bluethroat, Clamorous Reed Warbler and Temminck’s Stints.

Back to the vehicles, we went inland, and after about 50 minutes of driving we arrived into to a small plain with some large trees. Here we parked, and only a few seconds later we were enjoying the first Plain Leaf Warbler of the trip. Scanning the trees around we also got good views on Lesser Whitethroat, Black Redstarts and at least 2 showy Eastern Orphean Warblers. A bit beyond, we got Persian Wheatear and the rocky slopes around had at least 3 Hume’s Wheatear and 1 Blue Rock Thrush.

Happy with this set of birds we went to a restaurant nearby and after lunch we went to check in at our accommodation. In the evening we moved again into the mountains, but this time our goal was one of the most impressive gorges in the country. Here, we still had a couple of hours of light to enjoy Egyptian Vultures and more Blue Rock Thrushes, Hume’s Wheatears and Plain Leaf Warblers before the night arrived.

It was already dark and when we listened an Omani Owl singing at the opposite side of the gorge. We scanned long and at the end we found a medium size Owl perched in the rocks. Unfortunately it was very far and we couldn’t be certain.. Only a few minutes later an Owl flew over the group, and a couple of us had nice views on what it looked to be an Omani Owl!!

We still searched around, also using the thermal technology that Bud was bringing with him. Still, we could not relocate the bird, and the mystery of that Owl flying above us will probably never been disclosed..

Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Extremelly obliging Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) in Muscat. Images by Pete Sutton.

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius). Image by Pete Sutton

Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Day 3. After a not very sophisticated breakfast we moved South. This day we faced a massive, 800+ km long transfer! It looks like crazy, but the transfer was way faster than one can imagine!!

Our first about midday, already mid way down the way to Salalah. There, in small oasis, we had the first of many sights on Hypocolius during the trip. A nice female that was a bit reluctant to show but still provided good views.

Our second stop was further South, in Qitbit. There, while having lunch, we had a fast walk around to try to find some of the specialities that had been reported in the area during the last weeks, and our efforts had a wonderful reward in the way of 2 Eyebrowed Thrushes popping up in front of us. Ramiro put us in the way to them but we discovered that the Thrushes were highly restless. After a couple of runs, everybody had very nice views on them. Beyond them, here we only got 1 Ménétries’s Warbler, some Siberian Chiffchaffs and Brown-necked Ravens.

From here we drove some miles South to the main birding stop of the day, some extensive farms in the middle of the desert. These locations are famous due to the quality of its birdlife, and because they can attract any single bird moving tens of miles around them. A fast scout in the very first field produced tens of Cream-coloured Coursers and Greater Hoopoe Larks. Along with them, small flocks of Crested and Black-crowned Sparrow Larks. All together along with several Isabelline & Desert Wheatears. At least 5 Marsh Harriers were patrolling the area, and here we also got the only one Montagu’s Harrier of the whole trip. Here and there we found small contingents of Tawny Pipits, and a couple of Levant Grey Shrikes kept an eye in what it was moving around.

Far inside there is another wonderful place where we found several Common Kestrels but also 1 Northern Wheatear (first and last of the trip), a Persian Wheatear (first ever for me in this location), and a bunch of Namaqua Doves. A small flock of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew from one of the sides of the main field, but unfortunately not everybody saw them.

Back to the main road, we still had time for a coffee stop before driving the last part of our long transfer and arrive to our accommodation for before dinner.

Grey Hycopolius (Hypocolius ampelinus). The first of many contacts with this interesting species was this lovely female type. Image by Pete Sutton.

Brown-necked Ravens (Corvus ruficollis). Image by Carles Oliver.

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris). Image by Pete Sutton.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) always a superb bird. Image by Pete Sutton.

Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia), a scarce species South of the Empty Quarte. Image by Carles Oliver.

Greater Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes) was seen in numbers along the tour. Image by Carles Oliver.

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor). At least 50 of them were seen! Image by Carles Oliver

Day 4. While having breakfast nobody thought that we were about the experienced what some of the clients defined as “one of the best wildlife days in my life”. Yes, it was an intense day.

The first stop of the day was to explore Aïn Hamran. This is probably one of the best locations in Oman, and it is always amazing to birdwatch in this open woodland following a small stream (aïn). This is the lowest part of the wooded slopes that, on its highest end, connects with large cliffs.

Even from the car park we connected with the first species living in the area: Palestine Sunbird, African Silverbills and the very common Cinnamon-breasted Bunting were all seen here. A short walk around produced the first of many Arabian Warbler and Black-crowned Tchagra along with the first Turkestan Shrike of the trip. Rüppell’s Weavers, Abyssian White-eyes and African Paradise Flycatchers seemed to be everywhere, and among the waves of Laughing Doves singing we could heard Arabian Partridges calling in the slopes.

We walked down the aïn to scan some proper trees for the main target in the area. Suddenly, two Arabian Grosbeaks appeared in the top of one of the trees just to disappear as fast as they came! Virtually nobody saw the birds so we started scanning the trees when suddenly the pair of Grosbeaks flew off the trees. We followed the birds, distracted by the many Arabian Warblers and the Tchagras. We found just at the moment that Short-toed Eagle was flying above us. A few tour participants connected with the birds, but for our desperation they flew off again. After 10 eternal minutes it was Ramiro who found one of the Grosbeaks in the top of a dead tree, but very far away. And again, they flew off!

At this point almost everybody have had something in these little fellas, but no everybody. We dispersed around, Blackstart and Long-billed Pipits were enjoyed but the Grosbeaks were gone. Finally we went back to the place where we first saw the birds, and this time it was Dani who found them in the top of a tree. A very nice view for everyone, finally!

Exploring around the stream we got excellent views on Citrine, Grey, Yellow & White Wagtails, Common & Green Sandpipers, Temminck’s Stint and Moorhen. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over just at the moment that a Namaqua Dove came to drink water. Flocks of Tristam’s Starlings were now more present that early in the morning and they were mixing in the fig trees with the very common White-spectacled Bulbuls and small flocks of White-eyes and Palestine Sunbirds. A detailed scan of the tangles allowed us to get some Clamorous Reed Warblers but also Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Graceful Prinias. A pair of Arabian Bee-eaters were also very welcome by the group.

We decided to have an early lunch at Aïn Hanram, and this extra time allowed to enjoy very close views on the African Paradise Flycatchers and finally got good views on the Red-breasted Flycatcher that had been calling around us..

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides). Image by Pete Sutton.

Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena). Image by Pete Sutton.

Arabian Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus percivali). Image by Pete Sutton.

A couple of images on Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali), a must for anyone birding in Oman. Images by Carles Oliver.

This Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) was very skulky! Image by Pete Sutton.

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis). Image Pete Sutton.

The delicate beauty of Namaqua Doves (Oena capensis). Image by Carles Oliver

A very spectacular white-tailed African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) supershot! Image by Pete Sutton.

Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinerea) nest along the Omani streams. Image by Pete Sutton.

Well, what a place! But it was time to leave. We drove down to the coast to explore a one of the many river mouths around Salalah. After a very short drive, we were birdwatching for a while at East Khawr. Here, we were glad to see large flocks of hundreds of Glossy Ibises but also good numbers of Tufted Ducks (for the Omani starndards), Greater Flamingoes, Whiskered Terns, Black-tailed Godwits, Indian Pond Herons and Citrine Wagtails. Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Middle Egret, Spotted Redshank (3), Little Ringed Plover and Cotton Pygmy Goose were all three new for the trip, and all they three provided good scope views. A couple of distant Greater Spotted Eagles & 1 Booted Eagle were guarding the area. In the beach, we enjoyed a large flock of Heuglin’s Gulls with some Steppe Gulls in the middle. This flock allowed close views on all of them, but also on Sooty Gulls, Greater Crested, Sandwich, Gull-billed and Lesser Crested Terns and a few Black-headed Gulls were also noted along with the much common Slender-billeds’. Sleeping along with Little Stints, Ruff and Dunlins there was a small flock of White-winged Black Terns that flew a couple of times around us.

From here we drove South to another river mouth. The afternoon was still sunny and ir our way had a couple of Steppe Eagles soaring above the highway. Once arrived to this second river mouth, we enjoyed a good number of both Tibetan & Greater Sand Plovers along with 70 Cattle Egrets, 1 Turkestan Shrike in the dunes, 1 Osprey having a prey in the reedbeds and a myriad of waders including Little Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, Kentish & Common Ringed Plovers, Dunlins and 1 Citrine Wagtail. Not happy with this we still decided to visit a third place. It was still early afternoon so we got lots of time. Getting in this 3rd river mouth was a nice experience. At first, we were delighted with the many Black-crowned Sparrow Larks along with a couple of flocks of Richard’s Pipits along with other species. But suddenly something crossed the road in front first vehicle: a large snake!

After a fast acceleration we stopped just by the snake, that seeked for shelter under a medium size concrete block. It was a large, dark snake. It couldn’t be many options. We saw that the snake was actually under the block, not far from the surface, and in a rather risky movement we decided to move the block up. Our hope was to make move the snake so everybody in the group could see it and, hopefully, identify it!

We moved out the block, with everybody standing behind it so the snake had plenty of room to run and escape. As expected, it took the snake some seconds before it moved. Unfortunately Dani could not wait that long and stood almost in the way out, so when the large snake (2+ meters long) came out, Dani had to perform an Olympic jump to get out of its way!! After a couple of seconds we could all see that we were actually facing a Cobra, an Arabian Cobra to be clear. The Cobra run around, and a couple of times stood up in the typical way of, well, how Cobras do. It almost opened the collar before disappearing in the grass. We are all really impressed about how fast this snake was able to move. Amazing!!

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii). Image by Pete Sutton.

Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps). Image by Pete Sutton.

Arabian Cobra (Naja arabica) by Pete Sutton.

Well, still over excited about the Cobra, we finally arrived to the our third river mouth that afternoon. We were close to the sunset, and the river mouth full of activity with 12 Spoonbills, Clamorous Reed Warbler, White-winged Black & Gull-billed Terns and a nice variety of other birds. Here Sergi found a nice Yellow Bittern and we all enjoyed this tiny beauty before a small flock of Rose-coloured Starling emerged to stop at the top of a dead tree. As the Golden Hour was getting pass to sunset, a large flock of Swallows arrived to the reedbed. We counted about a dozen Barn Swallows along with 6 Pale Crack Martins and 1 Sand Martin. We kept an eye around and, suddenly, a lovely Small Pratincole just emerged from the nothing. We got amazing views on it, but at some point there two Small Pratincoles, and later three of them that were flying even among us!! This was an amazing moment, and it was ranked as one of the birds of trip. Tiny contingents of Rose-coloured Starlings were still flying around, moving along with Common Mynas to their roosting places, and we were about to leave when Joe just found an European Red-rumped Swallow! It was actually a new bird for our trips in Oman. Amazing tick!!

The light was almost gone but the day was not done yet! Back to the vehicles, still in magic after the Pratincoles and so and on, we moved into the hillsides. Our goal was to explore a large Aïn during the night, hoping for some Owls..

We arrived to the selected place just after dark. It didn’t take long before we heard some Arabian Scops Owls singing in the slopes. Here we also heard a Night Heron. After a couple of trials, we finally got close enough to one of them, and in a few minutes the whole group was enjoying amazing views on 1 Arabian Scops Owl. Not happy only with this we moved a bit into not a very promising place, but after a couple of minutes we could heard 1 Arabian Eagle Owl singing up in the slope. It took us some effort, but we finally got very nice scope views on Arabian Eagle Owl, singing its heart out while a second bird was replaying it at the other side of a small quarry-like place.

The group could not be more happy, and after enjoying such a good views we decided to go back to the accommodation. We were all just commented the many, many wonderful species of the day when suddenly a pack of 7 Arabian Wolves just crossed the road in front of us. Again, a bit of speed was necessary to catch up with us, but only 10 seconds after they crossed we were out with the lights, and everyone in the group had very nice views on these rather small Wolves as they were moving around and jumping the vegetation. A couple of them stood longer than the rest, looking at us only 100 metres away, and this is for sure of the most incredible sights of the trip!

Still not believing how well we saw these Wolves, we just came back to the accommodation. What-a-day!!

Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreous). Image by Carles Oliver.

Small Pratincole (Glareola lacteus), frontal image by Carles Oliver.

More on the Small Pratincoles (Glareola lacteus) at sunset. It was delicious to see them flying around us. Image by Pete Sutton.

Small Pratincole in a hard vent with the last light. Image Carles Oliver

Arabian Scops Owls(Otus pamelae) were as wonderful as always! Image by Carles Oliver.

Day 5. About to start another day, and we were all intriguing about what was Oman having for us that day? After breakfast we drove up in the high plateau, where a number of goodies were waiting for us. But even before leaving Salalah we got a nice surprise; a flock of Alpine Swifts flying low above the motorway!

This plateau stands between 700 and 900 metres above sea level, and runs parallel to the Dhofar coast. As soon as arrived to the highlands, we started to have nice birds. Tree Pipits and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings were moving in small flocks and Fan-tailed Ravens were all around the sky, often joined by Tristam’s Starlings. Up in the sky, we got nice views on Steppe Eagles, and a few Eastern Imperial Eagles were not high up but on the posts along the road or even feeding on the ground! They provided great views that everybody enjoyed very much. A nice Siberian Stonechat was also a nice pick up, and again provided really close views for the enjoyment of the photographers in the group. Following the lane, we noted a couple of Booted Eagles circling right before a superb male Pallid Harrier showed up flying really low on the slopes. A Short-toed Eagle took over, providing good views. Now, there were 3 Eastern Imperial Eagles going West, and a small flock of Steppe Eagles was circling. At this point, 4 Eurasian Griffons appeared soaring low above our convoy.. We were not even arrived to the first proper stop of the morning when another Pallid Harrier was noted hunting in the plateau. We enjoyed good views again, and could compare this bird with a close Steppe Eagle.

Still amazed, we got out of the cars to scan a proper place for Yemen Serin. This location can look like not very interesting at first glance, but it is a very interesting spot! Blackstarts and Crested Larks are easy to see along the access lane, and as soon as we walked around we got a small flock of Tree Pipits moving away from us. 4 Bruce’s Green Pigeons flew off from a large fig tree, providing good flight views. We walked around. Both Richard’s and Long-billed Pipits were noticed, and we were pointing a typical bufh for Yemen Serins when Sergi called out two of these scarce finches coming to that same bush! After a short stop in the bush, the birds came down to feed on the ground along with the very common Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. It didn’t take long before everyone in the group was enjoying these small birds. A small walk around came after this. A Namaqua Dove was displaying in the sky, a gorgeous Bonelli’s Eagle was coming out from a sinkhole and we were all enjoying the bird when Joe found a Swift in the sky that turned out to be a Pacific Swift flying high up along with Pale Crack Martins.. Couldn’t not believe my eyes! The bird was high and was not easy to track, but most of the group got its eyes on the bird, even if shortly, before it vanished in the blue sky! Cracking spot! There are less than 10 records of Pacific Swift in Oman!!!

Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) flying parallel to our convoi. Image by Carles Oliver

Lovely young Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Image by Carles Oliver

Obliging Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura). Image by Pete Sutton.

Yemen Serins (Crithagra menachensis) showed very well. Image by Carles Oliver.

Few places on Earth can provide views on Bonelli’s Eagles (Aquila fasciata) as Dhofar does. Image by Carles Oliver.

Probably not the best image on a Pacific Swift (Apus pacifica) ever, but it works. Image by Carles Oliver.

From here we kept going higher. The vegetation becomes slightly thicker and soon we were enjoying the first of many Arabian Wheatears along with the commoner Isabelline and Desert Wheatears. After some nice shots, we drove to one of the impressive locations along our itinerary. Here, the plateau abruptly ends in a massive cliffs that goes down for over some hundreds of metres before in transforms into a complex myriad of valleys that led to the close Arabian Sea. It only took us a couple of minutes to have a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles passing by, providing great views. The Eagles stop in the top of some distant rocks, but not for long. Fan-tailed Ravens were not happy with its new neighbours so they moved them out the cliffs. During the next minutes, we got a number of sights on the Eagle moving always along the edge of the cliffs. The cliffs were also having a some Arabian Wheatears and we were also pleased to add Rock Hyrax to the trip list as we had some nice scope views. Before leaving the area, we had long scope views on the pair of Verreaux’s Eagles on the top of the cliffs, and a light form Booted Eagle soared above them as we started moving back to the vehicles.

Moving a bit lower, we had a stop in an open area where enjoyed our succulent packed lunches. Here, we had a full adult Eastern Imperial Eagle, a couple of Long-billed Pipits, a flock of White Storks moving in the distance, the first Arabian Sunbird of the trip and a Eurasian Wryneck that, unfortunately we could not add to the list trip as it was only seen by 1 of the tour leaders..

Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides). A cracker! Image by Pete Sutton.

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina). Image by Pete Sutton.

Verreaux’s Eagles (Aquila verreauxii) provided us with a full set of acrobatic flights! Image by Pete Sutton.

This impressive Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) was soaring above our lunch spot. Image by Pete Sutton.

A drake Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea). Image by Pete Sutton.

Back to the coast, we had a fast stop to look for Spotted Thick-knee. It didn’t take long before we got 1 bird, but it was hard to direct everybody on it. Meanwhile, we were distracted by the Arabian Sunbirds feeding around, and also by the Alexandrine Parakeets moving in the palm trees, with some individuals showing really well. A Whiskered Tern and more Booted Eagles were noted here.

Our next stop was to explore one of the largest urban parks in Salalah. Here, the main attraction was to have good views on the large flock of Yellow-throated Sparrows overwintering in the gardens. About 35 of these birds were resting on the trees or feeding on the ground and, along with them, some very attractive Scaly-breasted Munias were also noted. This a scaped species, but was celebrated for some in the group. The park also provided good views on Rüppell’s Weavers, Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipits, but also on some Arabian Sunbirds and on 1 Eastern Orphean Warbler.

We still had time to scan a proper wetland. This time we went to West Kwar, where we had a very good array of Gulls, Terns and Ducks. 7 Ospreys were on the beach along with Whimbrels, Oystercatchers, Greater Sand Plovers and so on. This is a hot spot for Terek’s Sandpipers, and we saw well above a dozen of them feeding in the tidal plains. Garganey and African Sacred Ibis were new for the trip, and we also had distant views on Citrine Wagtails, Marsh Sandpipers and Palla’s Gull.

The last stop of the day was to explore one of the urban farms in Salalah. These large crops, mainly devoted to the production of cereals, can host large numbers of birds. Unfortunately we were a bit late and our list was not very long. We briefly saw a couple of Singing Bush Larks but never got great views. Isabelline Shrike and Crested Larks were seen, and Wood Sandpiper (3) was new for the trip, but out of that we only got regular species. From here we just went to the accommodation for dinner.

Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) close up. Image by Carlest Oliver.

Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) feeding around Salalah. Image by Carles Oliver.

Tibetan Sand Plover (Anarhynchus atrifrons). Image by Pete Sutton.

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) in Salalah. Image by Pete Sutton.

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis). Image by Carles Oliver.

Day 6. After an early breakfast and we drove North to the harbour where our boat was waiting for us. Even before arriving to the harbour, we started enjoying good birds. A small flock of Abdim’s Storks were feeding along with Heuglin’s Gulls, providing really close views.

Once in the sea, we had to come back (believe or not, but the main guide forgot both the bins and the camera.. Well, back to the boat we left the harbour surrounded by Olive See Turtles. Around the docks we got Western Reef Egrets but also Striolated & Night Herons. Once on the sea, we started having good birds. A few Persian Shearwaters were soon flying around our boat, and after a few miles a couple of them stopped on the water, at close range, allowing really nice shots. Some Common Terns were moving around, and we were checking them when a very distant Jouanin’s Petrel just showed out, moving South to North and showing its unmistakable shape and flight pattern. Fastly, we tried to put everybody on the bird, that was distant. We moved a bit faster, trying to get closer to the bird, but we lost it before we could be close enough. Despite this, most of the tour participants got the bird, even if only provided distant views. We were still trying to find another Jouanin’s Petrel when Sean found a very nice Flesh-footed Shearwater approaching us from behind. This bird, that is becoming more and more common in Southern Oman, landed around our boat, joined by a couple of Persian Shearwaters. Small parties of Red-necked Phalaropes were moving around us, but was not until we started moving back to the continent when we got some of them close on the water. While enjoying them, Ramiro noticed a Masked Booby moving low above the sea surface. During the coming minutes, we got a few of them, ending with a superb bird landed on the water and allowing us close views and very good shots. This was it, or it was supposed to be it. But it was not, because when we were almost arriving to the coast, a superb Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel just appeared from our right, moving South at full speed. With a bit of effort, we got everybody on the bird and we got some record shots before the bird went away. What a phenomenal way to end our pelagic!

Abdim’s Storks (Ciconia abdimii). Image by Carles Oliver.

Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) taking off. Image by Pete Sutton.

Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) beside us. Image by Carles Oliver.

Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes). Image by Carles Oliver,

Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra). Image by Carles Oliver.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) taking off close to our boat. Image by Carles Oliver.

Swimhoe’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates monorhis). Image by Sergi Sales.

Back on the ground, we had a coffee stop to recover from the emotions of the sea, and once recovered we went a nearby urban park. The plan was to enjoy our sandwiches and to have a couple of birds. But it turned up to be a bit more than that.. Just getting inside we got one European Roller perched in the large bush along the main path. The park had some large trees and several lines of smaller trees and bush, with extensive grass in the middle. In the grass, we had a putative Eastern Yellow Wagtail calling and showing really well. Walking around, we found not only Isabelline & Turkestan Shrikes, Lesser Whitethroats and Arabian Sunbirds, and Asian Koel was new for the trip. Soaring above the park we had Osprey, Eastern Imperial Eagle and a few Abdim’s Storks..

From here we drove back to our accommodation to have a midday break and, once fresh, we met again to keep exploring the Dhofar. But our convoy was stop by Joe, who found a wonderful Grey-headed Kingfisher in a scaffolding nearby the accommodation. Once we all saw the bird, we moved out the accommodation but we had to another stop before leaving the city due to a small flock of Rose-coloured Starling that, appearing from nowhere, lined in a wire for us!

From here we drove South. Our transfer was interrupted by the first Brown Bobby of the trip, that was flying North not far from the shore. It was evident that it was a nice movement of seabirds so we directly went up into a lookout for these birds. Soon we had a number of Brown Bobbies flying around but also perched on the boies. Common, Lesser Crested & Greater Crested Terns were on their tens and in one of these mixed flocks we got at least 6 White-cheeked Terns fishing and showing well their grey rumps and a well defined underwing dark frame. This was our last ballot for Socotra Cormorant and, unfortunately, we were unable to find any single of these small Cormorants..

A last scan into a small pond produced at least 4 Red-knobbed Coots feeding along with Eurasian Coots, and its beautiful blueish-tipped bills were admired while some Whiskered Terns and 1 Purple Heron were fishing in the pond along with the much commoner Western Reef Egrets.

When the dark was to come, we had a short drive into a wady, and when the light went off the calls of the legendary Desert Owl came from the end of the wady. It didn’t take long to us to enjoy amazing views on the bird as it was moving and singing in a nearby slope. We could enjoy the bird as long as we wanted and when the tour participants started to pair more attention to the amazing sky than to the owl we realized that it was time to go back to the hotel. An absolute marvel and a great way to end another superb day!

Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) soaring above Mirbat. Image by Carles Oliver.

This very urban Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) was a very nice pick up! Image by Carles Oliver.

Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Desert Owl (Strix hadorami). Image by Carles Oliver

Day 7. Leaving Salalah behind, we headed to the desert, where we were planning to spend the day. Our first stop was at Mudday, a very well known place for Hypocolius in Oman. Just arrived, we got nice views on 2 Nile Valley Sunbirds feeding in the palm trees and a very short walk around produced a nice male Hypocolius in flight. It was early in the morning, and the ambient was still pretty fresh. Walking around the area, Dani found a couple of Sand Partridges moving along a small cliff, and the whole group had nice views on both the male and the female.

Glad with this small introduction to the place, we came back to the vehicles and went the road back to go to one of the places where the Sandgrouses come to drink water. Once arrived, we had problems to access (it was too much water and we decided not to risk the cars!), and we finally approach the place by foot. We wait for long, but we got very little action. At the end, we were almost to leave when 2 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew above our group. Our attention was then diverted by a 2 birds fighting in the sky; a male Hooded Wheatear and 1 Arabian Bee-eater were having a dog fight right behind us! At the end, we had very nice looks on both birds. Happy with this, we were about to leave when suddenly a flock of Crowned Sandgrouses appeared in front of us, and stopped only 100 metres away from the group. We had very looks on the birds, that finally decided to fly away.. In the way back to the vehicles we still had 2 more Hypocolius (!), Bluethroat and Green Sandpiper.
Back to Mudday, we had some extra time enjoying more Hypocolius but also African Silverbills, Nile Valley Sunbird, Isabelline Shrike, Blackstarts and our only confirmed African Collared Dove of the trip!

From here we drove North, and arrived to Qitbit in mid afternoon. After a break, we meet again to go North. It had been reports of Syke’s Nightjars in an oasis close by and we drove there in a lovely late afternoon light, arriving to the place about sunset. A short walk around produced a Red-throated Pipits and 2 Water Pipits (not in the list as they only flew off and we only got poor flight views). We only had to wait a few minutes to dark mantle to cover desert and see the first Nightjar moving around. For our surprise, it was a Syke’s Nightjar! Yes, we had excellent, long views on the bird flying around and suddenly a second Syke’s joined the first! Behind, a Egyptian Nightjar was also moving, and we could compare the sizes, coloration marks and behaviour of both species. Syke’s appeared always clearly smaller and more compact than the Egyptain, with shorter wings and tail, and showing (the male) the nice white pannels at the end of the undertail. What a sight! One of the Syke’s Nightjars sat down in front of us a couple of times, producing a big excitement in our group! After several minutes of observation, we decided to go back to our modest accommodation, where we enjoyed a surprisingly good dinner! A really good day, again!

Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica). Image by Pete Sutton.

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi). Image by Pete Sutton.

Crowned Sandgrouses (Pterocles coronata) attending a water hole. Image be Carles Oliver.

Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus) at Qitbit. Image by Carles Oliver.

Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Syke’s Nightjar (Caprimulgus mahrattensis). Image by Pete Sutton.

Day 8. Early morning start, and we had a walk in the garden around our accommodation, where Eyebrowed Thrush & Hypocolius were, again, seen and photographed. After a surprisingly good breakfast we moved to an oasis close by. Here, we were hoping for some Sandgrouse action. And yes, we had to wait a bit but finally a couple of small flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew above the small puddle in the middle of the desert. But there were only a few Sandgrouses.. A old female Western Marsh Harrier didn’t help us as it was flying around the puddle.. Finally, our patience paid off and 2 small flocks of Spotted Sandgrouses appeared from nowhere and flew really close from our group. Only a pair minutes later, a small flock of Chestnut-bellieds landed around the puddle, but our presence was a bit too much for them, and seemed very reluctant to come to drink. Happy after the sightings, we decided to go away and to allow the Sandgrouses to drink water in peace..

From here we drove North, with no remarkable birding stops out of a Desert Lark. The plan was to arrive at our destination right at the Golden Hour so we could have some birding in the “gardens” around our accommodation. And it worked. As we arrived to the tiny garden, an interesting Shrike moved down from a palm tree. Once the cars were parked, we had a stroll with very poor action out of a Clamorous Reed Warbler and Common Sandpiper. The interesting Shrike was moving around.. Finally we re found the Shrike up again in a palm tree. It was a bit distant but at first glance it looked like a very dark Shrike. Unfortunately it flew off. With clear suspects of what bird was, we followed the bird, tracking it through the different patches of trees into a large, walled garden. There, we finally had a nice view of a beautiful Brown Shrike. A very good bird for our list! Everybody enjoyed the bird in different sites, including wonderful views on the grass along with a Eurasian Hoopoe.

From here we just went to our accommodation.

Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti). Image by Pete Sutton.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus). There are only 6 accepted records of the species in the country. Image by Pete Sutton.

Day 9. We arrived to the first stop of the morning at about nice in the morning, after having a nice breakfast and some drive. Here, an immense tidal plain was full of waders. Both Tibetan & Greater Sand Plovers were common, and along with them we saw several Dunlins, Little Stints, Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlews, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Common Redshanks, Greenshanks and Ruddy Turnstones but also good numbers of Gull-billed Terns and Western Reef Egrets. Terek’s Sandpipers were also common, and they were easy to pick running up and down the mud.
The first Crab Plovers of the trip were seen here, but unfortunately they were really far away.

A carefully scanning of the muddy flat land provided soon scarcer species, including Sanderling but also 5 Broad-billed Sandpipers. Even if far away, we all had good scope views before at least 2 birds moved closer and allowed some shots and a detailed views of their plomages. As Broad-billed’s moved we also did so, and we placed outselves right in front a patch of mangroves. Here we had nice views in Common Kingfisher, Striated Herons and Clamorous Reed Warbler. A Marsh Harrier and a Caspian Tern were patrolling the area, trying to get some preys. Suddenly, a small flock of Indian White-eyes appeared in the outer branched of the mangroves. There were at least 3 birds, and everybody in the group enjoyed good scope views on them, showing its electric yellow upperparts, the large white eye ring and the very contrasted, grey underneath.

Very happy for these sightings, we moved to a second location. Only arrived, we saw several Crab Plover far closer that in the previous place. In here, the tidal flatlands are narrower, allowing closer views on these magnificent waders. Some of them were moving alone, but many times we saw the typical couple of birds; a youngster begging for food to an adult. A few Curlew Sandpipers were feeding around among the far more numerous Dunlins, and Kentish Plover were seen in numbers. We spent some time scanning the waders until Sergi found a Great Knot feeding mid way out in the flat lands. Almost everybody in the group had nice scope views, but unfortunately something happened and hundreds of waders decided to move, flying away in large flocks. We never relocated the Great Knot, that looked like moving really far away from its original location.

From here we moved to a different place to enjoy our packed lunch. Once over, the sandwiches were surprising, and while having lunch we had really close views on Great Crested Terns, Western Reef Egrets, Heuglin’s Gulls, Black-headed Gull and a couple of Caspian Gulls. In the sea, large flocks of Slender-billed Gulls were feeding, very excited with the small fishing boats around, and Lesser Crested, Sandwich and Little Terns were all noted.

This was the very of the trip. From here, we drove back to Muscat, where we enjoyed a very nice last dinner and group disolved as we all had different flights, but hoping to meet again in the future to have another birding adventure.

From our side, only to say that it has been (another) great trip in Oman, and we are already looking forward the 2026 issue. Very last vacancies available!

Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus). Image by Pete Sutton.

Crab Plovers (Dromas ardeola) showed well, but a bit far away. Image by Carles Oliver.

Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii). Image by Pete Sutton.

Fiddler Crabs (Minuca sp.). Image by Pete Sutton.

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii). Image by Carles Oliver.

Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis). Image by Carles Oliver.

Great time, tons of laughs & great birds despite being the largest group ever in this destination for us. Image by Dani Rey.

List of birds seen during the trip:

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler (Spatura clypeata)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)
Syke’s Nightjar (Caprimulgus mahrattensis)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus)
Alpine Swift (Apus melba)
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronata)
Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Feral Dove (Columba livia)
Bruce’s Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot – Fotja comuna (Fulica atra)
Red-knobbed Coot – Fotja banyuda (Fulica cristata)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)
Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorior cursor)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Crab Plover (Droma ardeola)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis aquatarola)
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Tibetan Sand Plover (Anarhynchos atrifons)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Small Pratincole (Glareola lacteus)
Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus): 2 races; Heuglin’s Gull (heuglini) & Steppe Gull (barabensis)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes)
Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates monorhis)
Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Masked Bobby (Sula dactylara)
Brown Bobby (Sula leucogaster)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeolla grayii)
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Lappet-faced Vulture – Voltor orellut (Torgos tracheliotos)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei)
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)
Omani Owl (Strix butleri) — heard only
Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba) — heard only
Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Arabian Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Rose-winged Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor aucheri) / Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris)
Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps)
African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)
Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus)
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus)
Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Arabian Lark (Eremolauda eremodites)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
Pale Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida)
Common Chiffchaff – Mosquiter comú (Phylloscopus collybita)
Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris)
Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)
Ménétriés’s Warbler (Curruca mystacea)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)
Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
Abyssian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus)
Tristam’s Starling (Onychognatus tristamii)
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura)
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra)
Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha)
Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)
Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri)
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)
Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)
Richard’s Pipit (Anthus ricardi)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinolleta)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis)
Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata) — heard only
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

List of mammals seen during the trip

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus arabs)
Arabian Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica)
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Soussa chinensis)
Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica)

List of reptilians seen during the trip

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Dhoffar Agama (Pseudotrapelus dhofarensis)
Oriental Garden Lizzard (Calotes versicolor)
Arabian Cobra (Naja arabica)

List of butterflies seen during the trip

African Lime Butterfly (Papilio demodocus)
Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrissipus)
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
Blue Pansy (Juninia orythia)
Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)

Oman Birding Tour 2024 Tour Report

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Dates: From January 14th to 24th, 2024
Tour participants: 4
Number of species seen: 217
Tour leader: Carles Oliver

Overview: 8th issue of our tour in Oman! Step by step, this wonderful country is becoming one of our classic destinations. Once more, our guests have enjoyed excellent views in all main targets including the near-endemics Arabian Grosbeak, Jouanin’s Petrel, Yemen Serin, Socotra Cormorant and Arabian Eagle Owl along with a long list of specialties including Crab Plover, Hypocolius, Arabian Warbler, Persian Shearwater, Palla’s Gull, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Hume’s Wheatear, Desert Owl, Rose-coloured Starling and Steppe Eagle. The weather has been stable and slightly warmer than in previous trips. We had a couple of windy days in the South, but with no major disturbance in our birding time. The number of ducks this year was high and well assorted, but the number of raptors was not as bright as in other years. Once more, the tour was fullfilled with scarcities and rarities. Beyond Blyth’s Reed Warbler & Lesser Whistling Ducks, we had to emphasise the self found Grey-headed Swamphen, Semicollared Flycatcher, Amur Wagtail (3rd for Oman) and Ashy Drongo (4th for Oman).

Day 1. During this day all tour participants had nocturnal flights to Muscat arriving in Oman early in the morning. This is a bit unusual, since there is normally a flight combination that allow us to arrive to Oman during the evening. This time, however, it was not possible.

Day 2. After assembling in the airport we enjoyed a small briefing while collecting the car. From there, we covered the short distance from the airport and the first birding spot of the trip. We invested 40 minutes in a lovely wetland in the sea side. Here we had a number of common waders but also some scarce species including Tibetan (formerly Lesser) Sand Plovers, 3 Marsh Sandpipers, Ruffs and several Little Stints. Here we also got the first Citrine Wagtails of the tour as well as Isabelline Shrike, Arabian Bee-eater, 7 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flying over, Osprey and the only one Black-winged Kite of the trip.

From here we went to visit the small but always productive Al Ansab Lagoons, where we enjoyed Northern Shovelers, White-cheeked Bulbuls, Delicate Prinia, Grey Francolin and close views on Temminck’s Stint including extremely close views on this species and Little Stint while feeding side by side, allowing to go through the details that allow to tell them apart. The very first Indian Pond Heron of the trip showed up also here, and a few minutes later we also connected with 1 Clamorous Reed Warbler while it was climbing the reeds. A small channel beside the lagoons provided the first surprise of the trip, a wonderful Grey-headed Swamphen, a truly scarcity in the country!

Before our lunch stop, we still had time to check a last location. This time we chose a river mouth, where we had a good selection of waders, gulls and terns. While driving, a pair of laybys allowed us great shots on the very common Red-wattled Lapwings. Once at place, we had both Greater & Lesser Sand Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Whimbrels and Bar-tailed Godwits but also the first of many Sooty Gulls & Greater Crested Terns along with Common, Caspian, Whiskered and Little Terns. As interesting, here we got a nice flock of 4 Common Gulls, a scarce wintering species in Oman.

After lunch, we still had time to check another river mouth, where we were delighted with great views on Delicate Prinia, Indian Rollers, Common Kingfisher and the 7 Squacco Herons.

We went to end the day in Al Qurm Park, where we had great views on all 3 species of Bulbuls living in the area: White-spectacled, White-cheeked and the alien Red-vented. Here we also had some Citrine Wagtails, although always mobile, and a wonderful Jack Snipe that provided great views in low, short flights as it was moving along with 3 Common Snipes and, at least, 2 Pin-tailed Snipes.

Many other species were seen here, including Clamorous Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Osprey, Eurasian Teals and a juvenile Purple Heron.

Back to the beach, we were lucky to connect again with several Steppe & Heuglin’s Gulls as well as some Caspian Gulls, and we were delighted to see a Palla’s Gull walking on its own on the beach. Unfortunately, we bird was moved before we could arrive close enough to take good pictures..

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), a fairly common wader in Northern Oman.

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreous) in Al Ansab Lagoons.

Arabian Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys), lives in small numbers along the coast in Oman.

Left to right: Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) & Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) around Muscat.

Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) in a lovely setting.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), a common specialty in the Omani winters.

Day 3. Leaving Muscat behind us, this day we drove up to the Al Harar Mountains in search of some specialties. Unfortunately, it was a very windy day and our time there was decimated by the weather conditions. Still, a pair of morning walks in the top of the mountains allowed us to enjoy 1 Arabian Red Fox, a very attractive Eastern Black Redstart, 4 Hume’s Wheatears and 2 Persian Wheatears. But beyond this, we got very little. By the end of the morning we came down to the valley and, once sheltered from the wind, we scanned some large trees. It was almost before getting out of the car that we connected with a “not-that-elusive” Eastern Orphean Warbler and a further exploration of the trees around produced good views on 3 Plain Leaf Warblers and 1 female Blue Rock Thrush feeding on the ground.

After a glorious lunch in a Turkish restaurant we explored some of the wonderful gorges nearby Nizwa. Here we had more views on Plain Leaf Warblers and Hume’s Wheatears but also 2 Desert Larks feeding on the wady plus the only Lapped-faced Vulture of the trip, that unfortunately was too fast for a proper photo. Our evening exploring the gorge extended clearly beyond sunset, hoping to connect with the extremely rare Omani Owl. But the wind was not in our side and a very light sunset brise soon became a quite strong wind that made nearly impossible any proper owling.

Back to the accommodation, we ended the day with a great dinner by the swimming pool of our hotel.

The very attractive Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra) on its habitat.

Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca), the commonest bush warbler in Oman.

The impressive landscape of the Al Harar Mounts.

Day 4. Our fabolous transfer to Salalah started with an early breakfast in our accommodation. Once the car was packed we started moving, and we had our first birding stop only 20 minutes away from the accommodation. Here, in a lovely plain rich in scrubs and thornbush, we went for a stroll and we were soon contacting with a flock of 6 Arabian Babblers that showed really well, allowing us to taking multiple images as they were moving along the stream. The ambient was fresh, and despite the sun a thin jacket was welcome. Taking advantage of this, it was a nice birding activity, and the Babblers were very restless and moving fast so we had to be light in order to follow them!

Once everybody in the group was happy with the views, we kept walking through the plain. Purple Sunbirds and Lesser Whitethroats were common, and we also got good views on Persian Wheatears. 2 Tawny Pipits showed very well but, after all, the area looked like a bit empty when compared with other visits, and the most remarkable bird beyond the Babblers was a very showy Common Whitethroat of the very dark icterops race.

Back to the cars, we faced some hours of solid driving with some service stops in our way. Brown-necked Ravens and random Greater Hoopoe Larks crossing the road were the only distractions while crossing the always impressive Empty Quarter.

For lunch, we stopped in one of the most traditional stops in this way: the abandoned gardens of the Qitbit Hotel. We did not have much time, but once more this stop proved to be very productive. As soon as we step out of the car, a nice Pied Wheatear appeared in front of us, allowing us wonderful views. Promising! We ate our packed lunches and had a small stroll around, the sun was hitting hard and it was little movement, but we were lucky enough to find a nice Red-breasted Flycatcher feeding around a dense thicket. Happy with the views on both birds, we went back to the car only distracted with the calls of a couple of Siberian Chiffchaffs and Abyssinian White-eyes. From here, we drove the short distance between our lunch spot and some sewage farms in the middle of the desert.

Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps), in the typical acacia woodland that favours.

Persian Wheatear (formerly Red-tailed Wheatear) is, in my opinion, the most elegant bird within its family.

Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) is a common sight in most of Oman.

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka), an uncommon winter visitor in Oman.

When we arrived it was already mid afternoon, and the fields were filled with insectivores. We had several Isabelline & Desert Wheatears, but also good looks on Crested Larks. Even before getting inside the fields, a majestic male 2nd year Pallid Harrier flew right in front of our vehicle, providing the group with incredible views. Moreover, the bird decided to stop really close to us, and we all enjoyed the bird manoeuvring against the brise. At the same time, up to 5 Greater Hoopoe Larks were feeding around us, some of them even doing small display-like flights! It is always wonderful to see this large Larks and go through the details of their delicate plomage, often difficult to see with the very strong light of the desert.

Only a minute later, 4 Cream-coloured Coursers came to land close to us. Not happy with that, some of them started feeding around, moving closer and closer as they looked for invertebrates in the hard desert soil.

The stop was already a big success, but we decided to move a bit to the East to explore a particular spot that has been really productive several times before. There, we had the firsts Levant Grey Shrike (the aucheri race of Great Grey Shrike) and Namaqua Doves of the trip, plus a female Montagu’s Harrier circling in the sky while hundreds of White Storks were feeding on the recently harvested fields. Tens of Common Kestrels were feeding there, and we were surprised to pick up a Lesser Kestrel flying and hunting in the middle of such a mess of small falcons! Lesser Kestrel is not a particularly common Falcon in Oman during winter, and it was a real bonus for the trip!

At some point, small flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses started moving from the desert around the fields, and a small flock was about to stop right in front of us. Unfortunately, a Kestrel moved them away. A bit more of scanning produced a lovely Steppe Grey Shrike and two more Pallid Harriers before living the farms and drive the very last hour of the transfer, arriving to our accommodation a bit after sunset.

Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes) was the very first bird that we saw when arrived to the farms!

Male 1st winter Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) that came to say hello to our group!

Isabelline Wheatear (Onenathe isabellinus) is the probably the commonest Wheatear in Southern Oman.

Cream-coloured Coursers (Cursorior cursor) have become commoner in the last years.

Male 2nd year Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). One of the 5 Pallid Harriers seen during the trip.

There were hundreds of Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks (Eremopterix nigriceps) in the desert farms.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) has moved from a big rarity to a common view in Southern Oman in only 3 years!

Day 5. Our first morning in Dhofar was devoted to explore one of the most productive spots in the country. Ayn Hamran is a shining, delightful place where to enjoy a number of the most look-after specialties in Oman, and we were directly there after enjoying a very nice breakfast in our accommodation. The morning was a bit windy, and the bird activity looked like low. Still, a few metres of walk was enough to contact with the first of many Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, African Silverbills, Abyssian White-eyes, Arabian Sunbirds, Rüppell’s Weavers and African Paradise Flycatchers. It didn’t take long before we found our first Arabian Warbler. It was the tour participant Francesc who pointed out the bird, that was feeding in a medium size thornbush. All the group enjoyed great views. Graceful Prinias were also evident, and a Turkestan Shrike catching a good morning light was also a nice adding to our list. A few yards away, a pair of showy Blackstarts were waiting for us, and a superb Black-crowned Tchagra was having a sunbath next to them. Meantime, a pair of Palestine Sunbirds were feeding nearby, and a Long-billed Pipit was doing its thing, walking only a few metres in front of our group.

We headed towards the vehicles to explore the plain before having lunch, but in the way a Chinese (Amur) White Wagtail showed up, moving along with a White Wagtail. I looked behind me but I was alone! No one of the clients followed me, as they were all distracted by the many attractive birds along the Ayn. Unfortunately, the bird moved away and all our efforts to relocate the bird were unsuccessful. It was a great sight, the 3rd record for Oman!

We combined the area with the surrounding plane, where we only found 2 Greater Short-toed Larks, several Black-crowneds Sparrow-Larks and the first Bonelli’s Eagle of the trip.

Back to Ayn Hamran we still had some more exploration, and our efforts were granted with lovely views on 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers, 1 Semicollared Flycatcher, 4 gorgeous Bruce’s Green Pigeons and good views on a very restless Blyth’s Reed Wabler, another rarity for the country that has been appearing in the same tree during the last 3 years!!

Finally we left Ayn Hamran after enjoying 7+ Arabian Warblers and 5+ Black-crowned Tchagras. Still, there were few birds of prey moving, and we only had 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle during our time there. After some relax and a coffee stop we drove down to the coast to spend some time in a lovely wetland. But first, we had a fast stop to enjoy some of the Spotted Thick-knees that live inside Salalah. As always, this tame thick-knees provided the group with excellent views and our stop was completed by a lovely sight on 5 Crested Honey Buzzards, 1 Greater Spotted Eagle and 1 Booted Eagle.

Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena) is likely to provide views like this! Note the tiny spider web in the auricular of the bird.

African Silverbill (Euodice cantans), a common sight in Southern Oman.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) is the commonest passerine around the Dhofar.

Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) provided also really close views to the group!

No matter how many you have seen, an African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersphone viridis) is always a wonderful thing to watch!

The always tame Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura) is also a very sought-after species for all the tour participants!

Amur (Chinese) Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis) was one of the surprises of the tour. 3rd record for Oman, if accepted.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

Spotted Thick-knee (Buthinus capensis) close-up. A urban delicatessen in Salalah. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) has a small overwintering population in palm groves around Salalah.

Once in the wetland, we had a very variety of waterfowl including 3 Intermediate Egrets (recently split into 3 different species. The wintering population ocuring in Arabia is considered to be Middle Egret), 1 Purple Heron, several Squacco Heron, 1 Indian Pond Heron, Little Egrets along with Shovelers, Wigeons, 2 Garganeys, Eurasian Teals, Pintails and Common Pochards but the most interesting ducks in this stop were 7 Greater White-fronted Geese but, especially, the flock of 6 Cotton Pygmy Geese feeding in the open water along with Eurasian Moorhens + Red-knobbed & Eurasian Coots. This is one of the few places where to find this Asian species in Arabia, and this winter this was the only flock in the whole of Oman. This time there were not many waders, but along with the 400+ Glossy Ibises we had 3 Wood Sandpipers, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, Little Stints, Common Snipes, a single Black-tailed Godwit, some Ruffs, Temmincks Stint and the very common Black-necked Stilts. In the reeds we were surprised to find a Great Reed Warbler, an uncommon winter visitor and a new scarcity to add to our growing list.

We were next to the sea, and several Gulls and Terns were resting on the sand, some of them allowing extremely close views. Heuglin’s Gulls were dominant among the large gulls, with only a few Steppe Gulls here, while Slender-billed Gull was, as in most of the country, the commonest small gull. Some Sooty & Black-headed Gulls were also present. Caspian Terns were evident and offered magnificent views, and the presence of some Lesser Crested & Greater Crested Terns, an excellent way to compare shapes and colours between all of them. Beyond, we still had Whiskered & Little Terns + the very first Gull-billed & White-winged Black Terns of the trip.

The very last stop of this magical day was devoted to explore a different Ayn (the local name for the uphilled, streamed valleys). It was already a bit late in the evening, and we had little birding action beyond a couple of Greenshanks. But right after sunset everything changed and several Arabian Scops Owls started singing around us. It took us 15 minutes to get into one of them, but we got excellent views! But, even as we were enjoying the tiny scops owl, a bigger owl was already singing really close. We moved only 200 metres away, and only 2 minutes later a majestic Arabian Eagle Owl landed in the top of a tree to offered us a gorgeous view that lasted for 5 minutes! Finally, a second Arabian Eagle Owl called up in the slope, and our Owl decided to go further up in search of its partner. Still excited about this great sight, when the call of a Barn Owl just came from the valley mixing with the calls of a small flock of Night Herons. It was obvious that the night was good for owls, so we tried a improved view on Arabian Scops Owl and less than five minutes later we got a second bird singing from inside a tree!

Very happy after such a great success, we went down to our accommodation, where another excellent dinner was waiting for us!

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleuca) by a swamp. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) in the superb afternoon light typical in Oman. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae) singing high from a tree.

Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi), once again great views in this recent split. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Dia 6. Still recovering from the excellent previous day, we spent the first hour of the day exploring one of the best streams in the Dhofar. Here, lovely nenufars create the perfect conditions for a number of secretive species living in the reedbeds. The place was as great as always, and within 1 hour we got 7 Bluethroats, 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, 7 Bruce’s Green Pigeons, heard White-breasted Waterhen, and had some raptors including Lanner Falcon, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle circling with a wonderful male Pallid Harrier, plus lovely adult Night Heron feeding on a very large fish (probably too big) , the only Eurasian Reed Warbler of the trip, 4 Citrine Wagtails and heard Yellow/Little Bittern.

From here we covered the short distance to a different Ayn, and even before arriving to the place, a gorgeous male Arabian Grosbeak was waiting for us, singing from the top of a small Acacia tree. During the next half an hour we got a number of different sights as we followed the bird, that was feeding in the trees along the Ayn. It was, once again, a wonderful experience to find and watch for so long such a scarce bird, and all the group enjoyed walk-away views before being distracted by close Isabelline Shrikes, Arabian Warblers and Blackstarts.

Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali), a very scarce inhabitant of the Dhoffar deciduous woodlands. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Our 20 minutes long sight allowed us to see some interesting details, like when came down to feed on this euphorbia.

From here, we started climbing up to explore the Dhoffar uplands. It is always a magnificent experience to be up there, and our way to the top was constantly interrumped by Eastern Imperian & Steppe Eagles but also by Short-toed Snake Eagles and Peregrine Falcon and the locally common Arabian Wheatears, Fan-tailed Raven and Arabian Sunbirds (a recent split from Shining Sunbird). For lunch, we chose a typical stop with some seats and shade (no fancy places this time), and after our packed lunches a short walk allowed to connect with 4 Yemen Serins that were feeding on the ground along with Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. They were, once again, really easy to find (especially when it is a bird that can be very hard to find out!). A further walk didn’t produce much beyond several Pale Rock Martins and distant views on Tristam’s Starlings and Bonelli’s Eagle.

Even higher, we arrived to an area of massive cliffs. This is one of the best places to enjoy Arabian Wheatears, and they were all around, even nesting in the hotel located right in the top. From here we were in search of the Verreaux’s Eagles nesting in the area, but they reluctant to show this time. For instance, we got 3 Long-legged Buzzards, Blue Rock Thrush and several Tristam’s Starlings. But the best were the 4 Arabian Partridges that Tanit found in the cliffs! A great spot in a species that has proof to be difficult to find in my last visits to this country.

Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis), a very shy near-endemic, that showed up superbly. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

The rather small Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) was really common this winter in the highlands. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

Female Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) close up in the Dhofar highlands.

Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala) overwatching the desert.

Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) patrolling its territory.

Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), one of the very superb sights during the trip.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), full adult. Note the distinctive “joker” smile.

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca).

By the time we left to highlands it was mid afternoon, and the very last stop of the day was for some farms around Salalah. Here, Crested Larks looked all around but also a number of Singing Bush Larks, first singing high up but later providing the group with wonderful views as they were singing from the walls around. Here we also had Booted Eagle, 2 Siberian Stonechats, 2 Marsh Harriers, several Prinias and 17 Whiskered Tern in a lovely feeding flock. There were tens of Western Yellow Wagtails, but it looked like little else. But suddenly 2 adults Rose-coloured Starlings flew over our group, going to stop in a distant farm. We all jumped into the vehicles and drove there, and in the next 10 minutes we enjoyed great views on the Starlings but also 2 Bluethroats and 1 Red-throated Pipit calling in flight! At sunset, we counted 17 Little Ringed Plovers feeding in the plain around us.

This very tame Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra cantillans) allowed us amazing views.

Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus) was a rather unexpected bird in our trip!

A very interesting male Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

Dia 7. This day we went for an offshore South of Salalah. After a pair of days with strong winds, today the sea was really plain, almost like an endless lake. As soon as leaving the small harbour we had the first of many Persian Shearwaters moving North in small flocks of 2-3 birds. Both Sooty and Heuglin’s Gull were common, and their acrobatic flight was often the sign for a Loggerhead or an Olive Ridley Sea Turtle to be breathing in the surface. Moving a few miles away from the coast, we got a small flock of Terns feeding, and were lucky to discover a 1st winter Bridled Tern feeding along with 3 Common Terns. Masked Boobies were commoner than in other offshores, including a wonderful bird that allowed us great images both in flight and on the surface of the sea. Persian Shearwater came in and out as we were chumming, and a surprising Pomarine Skua appeared as well to try to steal some fish from the common Sooty Gulls! But the main character was still to show, and it took us longer than expected, but we finally got decent views on 1 Jouanin’s Petrel that was flying mid way out from our boat!

Back to the harbour we still had another encounteer with the a mixed pod of Spinner & Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dophins. Back to the harbour, a Hawksbill Sea Turtle came to the surface for a short period of time, a nice adding to the much common Green Sea Turtles around. In the shore, tens of Abdim’s Storks were resting along with a large concentration of Gulls.

One of many Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) seen during our offshore

Always amazing, Masked Boobies (Sula dactylara) stole the show for us!

One of the many Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) see in our offshore.

1st winter Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii), the commonest gull around.

Abdim’s Storks (Ciconia abdimii) in lovely morning light with Sooty Gulls.

After enjoying a good coffee & tea stop, we drove back to the Dhofar highlands, to have our picnic lunches in the impressive cliffs of the areas, including a short stop to see the always impressive Baobabs of the Dhofar, the Northernmost baobabs in the world!

Our lunch time in the wonderful cliffs of the Dhofar provided us great views on a Striolated Bunting, a species that had escaped from us in the northern Al Harar Mounts.

From the highlands we were back to the Southern part of the city, where a stop on the Raysut River mouth is always mandatory. Here, we counted 17 Terek’s Sandpiper just arrived to the place! Surprisingly, the number of plovers was low, but we got 1 Steppe Eagle on the ground along with 8 Ospreys, several Gulls (including a superb Palla’s Gull), 1 Pin-tailed Snipe moving along 4 Common Snipes, 14 Eurasian Spoonbills, 2 Citrine Wagtails, the only 2 Gadwalls of the trip (male and female), Garganeys, Wigeons, Pintails and a single Greater White-fronted Goose. Here we also got the first Socotra Cormorants of the trip and a good array of waders including Temminck’s & Little Stints, Grey Plovers, Black & Bar-tailed Godwits, the always impressive Siberian race of Eurasian Curlew + Whimbrels, Ruffs, Sanderlings, Greenshanks, Oystercatchers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers and the only Great Knot of the trip.

Checking the Terns resting on the beach we found 7 species: Common, Little, Caspian, Lesser Crested, Greater Crested Tern, Gull-billed & Whiskered. A funny Pheasant-tailed Jacana feeding in beach was an interesting and rather unexpected adding!

From here, a second stop was made to explore a different wetland, and the most interesting birds there were 6 Red-knobbed Coots, 2 Pheasant-tailed Jacana and some flocks of Socotra Cormorants moving South.

The very last of the day was devoted to Desert Owl, a very scarce and still unknown species, especially in Oman, where it was discovered for the first time only in 2014. Our wait until sunset was fast rewarded with 2 Desert Owls calling not far from our position, and a bit more of wait was necessary until 1 of them decided to come to its usual song rock, offering the group an unforgettable sight with the male singing only 20 metres away from us while the female was still singing higher in the slope. At the end, we saw both individuals singing in a phenomenal chorus that lasted as one of the most superb sights of the trip!!

Small flock of Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) with some waders.

Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) along with House Crows, Steppe Gulls, Flamingoes and Black-necked Stilt.

Pheasant-tailed Jacanas (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus) were stating to develop their long, pheasant-like tails.

We were extremely lucky with Desert Owls (Strix hadorami) this year. The male landed a few metres away from us, while the female was singing higher in the small cliff.

Carles Oliver

Dia 8. Today was a day to enjoy the desert and some nice wetlands. After the glorious end of the previous day, we left the coastal plain to get into the desert. After a short transfer, we arrived to the small oasis that hosts the only Hypocolius overwintering population in Oman. A first walk around the area revealed some Nile Valley Sunbirds, including a nice male, were feeding along with Common Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats (hadorami race) A lovely flock of Sand Partridges running up and down in the oasis was a lovely entertainment for us, as was a pair of confiding Desert Larks. Beyond this, the area was quiet, and it took us some time to find the first Hypocolius. A distant call put us in the way, and Carmine found a male resting low in a bush. During the next 15 minutes we watched the bird alternatively resting and feeding in a tiny bush, but we always respected the distance. Another 20 minutes were necessary for the bird to move, just in time for a small group of Polish birdwatchers to arrive to the oasis and directly connect with the bird thanks to our indications.

Finally we left, with the bird still resting inside the bush. But we didn’t go far before large flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew above us in search of water. The bush around had to very nice Asian Desert Warblers that were very welcome by the group, and Levant Grey Shrike, Desert Wheatear and very tame pair of Blackstarts completed the list of passerines around. Scanning the ground was not difficult to find a nice flock of 27 Crowned Sandgrouses that came to drink water in a tiny pond. As always, a couple of Eastern Imperial Eagles were closely watching the flocks of Sandgrouses..

Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus). This year we found two separate flocks at the typical place. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

After 9 trips to Oman, this has been the first time to see a Hypocolius feeding on the ground!

Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) male catching the morning light.

Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti), always showing its satin-like plomage!

Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronata) ready to drink water.

After such a good morning, we headed back to Salalah for a good meal and a short midday rest before spending the afternoon in a number of close locations. Out first stop after lunch was in a public park in Salalah. There, we had several Western Yellow Wagtail (including one individual with some characters of Eastern Yellow Wagtail..), 2 Bruce’s Green Pigeon, several Tree Pipits and Hoopoes. From here we drove to Raysut, the location where until a few years ago a massive number of Steppe Eagle used to overwinter. Once in Raysut, we scanned around and we could only find 1 Steppe Eagle, but hundreds of Abdim’s Storks along with White Storks, Red-wattled Lapwings, 2 Spur-winged Lapwings one of the funny hybrid between both species!

Further South, a final stop was made to enjoy a huge flock of hundreds of Socotra Cormorants gathering in the water. Here, we also got nice views on 2 Pheasant-tailed Jacana and 1 European Roller on a road light post.

Socotra Cormorants (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) gather in large flocks.

Dia 9. This day we felt the wonderful Dhofar area behind to concentrate a bit in other regions of Oman. But before leaving, we still had time to check some farms in the it self, where we saw hundreds of Western Yellow Wagtails and Skylarks we could not specify which species along with Singing Bush Lars, 1 female Western Marsh Harrier and 1 Greater Spotted Eagle. Our next stop to explore some plains with a good population of Arabian Gazelles, and we didn’t have wait long before we found a small herb of 3 followed by two more of this kinda small and endangered gazelle. Here, we also got nice views on both Bonelli’s & Easterm Imperial Eagles and 3 Cape Thick-knees resting by the road. A layby stop produced nice scope views on 2 Striolated Bunting before having some solid driving until our next stop, a small coastal wetland right in the border between Dhofar and Al-Wusta regions.

Here we enjoyed our packed lunches and had nice views on the 4 shy Lesser Whistling Ducks that were found a few days earlier by another group of birdwatchers. Along with the whistling ducks we also got other interesting birds here including 1 Masked Booby, Ruff, Turkestan Shrike, 2 drake Tufted Ducks, small numbers of Wigeons and Garganeys, 1 Osprey and 2 Wood Sandpipers.

We kept driving North during the and had a final stop in another small river mouth. Here, a short walk around proved to be productive again and we had 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 2 Tawny Pipits, 2 Palla’s Gulls, 3 Eurasian Spoonbills,1 female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Sand Martin, Pintails, Wigeons and 7 Greater Flamingoes.

From here we just drove the last miles before arriving to our wonderful accommodation.

Arabian Gazelles (Gazella arabica) climbing up the Dhofar hillsides.

One of many Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) seen during the trip. There were mostly young birds (like the one in the image), but also some superb adults and 1 very interesting 3rd year bird.

The Frankiscense Trees (Boswellis sp.) dominates the landscape high up in the dry slopes of the Dhofar.

Turkestan (aka Red-tailed) Shrike (Lanius phonicuroides).

Palla’s Gulls (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus), as superb as always!

Dia 10. After having a nice breakfast in our hotel, we just started moving out of Duqm. A first stop walking around a bushland produced nothing out of a Great Grey Shrike (auchery race) but, before living the city, we decided to check some small gardens. We were just approaching when a Drongo just flew over the van. A Drongo! A Drongo! We park the right there, in a 4 lane road (please note that in Duqm there is no traffic at all!) and jumped out to try to relocate our Drongo. It didn’t take too long as the Drongo was nicely sitting in the top of a small building right in the center of the garden. After several images and trying to have the bird from different angles, it came out clear to be an Ashy Drongo! Only the 4th record for Oman!

Delighted with this bird, we invested some extra 10 minutes in checking other gardens around, and we found Common Sandpiper, 2 Bluethroats (including a very obliging male), Yellow Wagtails and a very tame Little Ringed Plover.

Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus), nice surprise for our group!

Obliging Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) just by the tarmac.

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius).

From here we moved around Masirah island, were we had hours to check the tydal plains. Unfortunately for us, the tide was stronger than average and the birds were more far away than usual. Still we got nice scope views on 12 Crab Plovers and checking the 1000s of waders we found 2 Marsh Sandpipers along with hundreds of Dunlins, Curlew Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwits, some Terek’s Sandpipers, nice Greater Sand Plovers moulting to summer plomage, Gull-billed Terns, Spoonbills, Oystercatchers, Greenshanks, Redshanks, Lesser Sand Plovers, Sanderlings and Kentish Plovers along with Eurasian Curlews, Flamingoes and Western Reef Egrets to name only a few. The area is also excellent to have very close views on some common species including Greater Crested Tern, Caspian Gull and others. This time was not different, and the photographers in the group enjoyed the most!

From one of the view point over the tidal plains, we got the second Pied Wheatear of the trip (a female), but nothing else of interest.

During the afternoon we kept going North with only 2 extra stops. The very first of them was to check a typical place for Asian Koels, and we were lucky to find at least 3 of this very scarce species in Oman. They were a bit active and allowed nice images while resting into the small acacias of a tiny suburb.

The very last stop of the day was devoted to a tiny scrubland in the middle of the dunes. Some years ago we discovered this to be a nice place for Ménétriés’s Warblers, and this time was not different. This is a very skulking species, but only after walking some 100 metres we got a nice male flying away from us. Some patience was required, but at the end the male came out of the vegetation (for some seconds), allowing everybody in the group to have good views on its beautiful salmon breast

A lovely way to end a very surprising day!

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) close up. Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

One of the Crab Plovers (Droma ardeola) during the tour. Unfortunately they were more far away than average.

Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus). Image by tour participant Carmine Grasso.

It was warm, but not for this Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus siniatus).

One of 3 Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopaceus) seen during the afternoon.

Dia 11. Very last transfer of the trip. This day we had only time for a breakfast and transfer to the airport. In our way, we still could enjoy 18 Indian Rollers along the first 50 kilometres of transfer, along with Eurasian Hoopoe and 2 Arabian Bee-eaters. Around the airport we had the very last (and short) stop of the trip, and we had the change for a last view on Red-wattled Lapwings, Lesser Sand Plovers, Little Stints, Dunlins and Curlew Sandpiper.

LIST OF BIRDS SEEN DURING THE TRIP

The list includes the common English and Catalan names + scientific name of all the species:

Arabian Partridge – Perdiu d’Aràbia (Alectoris melanocephala)
Sand Partridge – Perdiu del desert (Ammoperdix heyi)
Grey Francolin – Francolí gris (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Greater White-fronted Goose – Oca riallera grossa (Anser albifrons)
Cotton Pygmy Goose – Oca pigmea asiàtica (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Lesser Whistling Duck – Ànec arbori menut (Dendrocygna javanica)
Mallard – Ànec coll-verd (Anas platyrhynchos)
Eurasian Wigeon – Ànec xiulador (Anas penelope)
Pintail – Ànec cuallarg (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal – Xarxet comú (Anas crecca)
Gadwall – Ànec griset (Mareca strepera)
Garganey – Xarrasclet (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler – Ànec cullerot (Spatura clypeata)
Common Pochard – Morell cap-roig (Aythya ferina)
Tufted Duck – Morell de plomall (Aythya fuligula)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Forbes-Watson’s Swift (Apus berliozi)
Asian Koel (Eudyamys scolopaceus)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronata)
Feral Dove (Columba livia)
Bruce’s Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
White-breasted Waterhen – Polla pitblanca (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – heard only
Grey-headed Swamphen – Polla blava capgrís (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Eurasian Moorhen – Polla d’aigua (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot – Fotja comuna (Fulica atra)
Red-knobbed Coot – Fotja banyuda (Fulica cristata)
Little Grebe – Cabusset comú (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Greater Flamingo – Flamenc comú (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Spotted Thick-knee – Torlit pigallat (Burhinus capensis)
Cream-coloured Courser – Corredor saharià (Cursorior cursor)
Eurasian Oystercatcher – Garsa de mar (Haematopus ostralegus)
Crab Plover – Droma (Droma ardeola)
Black-winged Stilt – Cames-llargues (Himantopus himantopus)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana – Jacana cua de faisà (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
Red-wattled Lapwing – Fredeluga índia (Vanellus indicus)
Spur-winged Lapwing – Fredeluga d’esperons (Vanellus spinosus)
Grey Plover – Pigre gris (Pluvialis aquatarola)
Common Ringed Plover – Corriol anellat gros (Charadrius hiaticula)
Little Ringed Plover – Corriol anellat petit (Charadrius dubius)
Kentish Plover – Corriol camanegre (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Greater Sand Plover – Corriol de Leschenault (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Tibetan Sand Plover – Corriol de Mongòlia (Anarhynchos atrifons)
Common Snipe – Becadell comú (Gallinago gallinago)
Pin-tailed Snipe – Becadell cua-punxegut (Gallinago stenura)
Jack Snipe – Becadell sord (Lymnocriptes minimus)
Bar-tailed Godwit – Tètol cuabarrat (Limosa lapponica)
Black-tailed Godwit – Tètol cuanegre (Limosa limosa)
Eurasian Whimbrel – Pòlit cantaire (Numenius phaeopus)
Eurasian Curlew – Becut eurasiàtic (Numenius arquata)
Spotted Redshank – Gamba roja pintada (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank – Gamba roja comuna (Tringa totanus)
Marsh Sandpiper – Siseta (Tringa stagnatilis)
Greenshank – Gamba verda (Tringa nebularia)
Green Sandpiper – Xivita (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper – Valona (Tringa glareola)
Terek’s Sandpiper – Siseta cendrosa (Xenus cinereus)
Common Sandpiper – Xivitona (Actitis hypoleucos)
Ruddy Turnstone – Remena-rocs (Arenaria interpres)
Sanderling – Territ tres-dits (Calidris alba)
Little Stint – Territ menut (Calidris minuta)
Temminck’s Stint – Territ de Temminck (Calidris temminckii)
Dunlin – Territ variant (Calidris alpina)
Curlew Sandpiper – Territ bec-llarg (Calidris ferruginea)
Great Knot – Territ gros siberià (Calidris tenuirostris)
Ruff – Batallaire (Calidris pugnax)
Red-necked Phalarope – Escuraflascons bec-fí (Phalaropus lobatus)
Pomarine Skua – Paràsit cuaample (Stercorarius pomarinus)
Slender-billed Gull – Gavina capblanca (Chroicocephalus genei)
Black-headed Gull – Gavina riallera (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Heuglin’s Gull (heuglini) & Steppe Gull (barabensis) – Gavià fosc (Larus fuscus)
Caspian Gull – Gavià del Capi (Larus cachinnans)
Common Gull – Gavina cendrosa (Larus canus)
Palla’s Gull – Gavinot capnegre (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
Sooty Gull – Gavià de Hemprich (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
Caspian Tern – Xatrac gros (Hydroprogne caspia)
Greater Crested Tern – Xatrac reial becgroc (Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern – Xatrac bengalí (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Sandwich Tern – Xatrac bec-llarg (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Common Tern – Xatrac comú (Sterna hirundo)
Gull-billed Tern – Curroc (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Little Tern – Xatrac menut (Sternula albifrons)
Bridled Tern – Xatrac embridat (Onychoprion anaethetus)
Whiskered Tern – Fumarell carablanc (Chlidonias hybridus)
White-winged Black Tern – Fumarell alablanc (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Persian Shearwater – Baldriga persa (Puffinus persicus)
Jouanin’s Petrel – Petrell de Jouanin (Bulweria fallax)
Abdim’s Stork – Cigonya d’Abdim (Ciconia abdimii)
White Stork – Cigonya blanca (Ciconia ciconia)
Masked Booby – Mascarell enmascarat (Sula dactylara)
Great Cormorant – Corb marí gros (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Socotra Cormorant – Corb marí de Socotra (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Glossy Ibis – Capó reial (Plegadis falcinellus)
Eurasian Spoonbill – Bec-planer eurasiàtic (Platalea leucorodia)
Striated Heron – Martinet estriat (Butorides striata)
Squacco Heron – Martinet ros (Ardeola ralloides)
Indian Pond Heron – Martinet ros de l’Índia (Ardeolla grayii)
Western Cattle Egret – Esplugabous (Bubulcus ibis)
Black-crowned Night Heron – Martinet de nit (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Purple Heron – Agró roig (Ardea purpurea)
Grey Heron – Bernat pescaire (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret – Agró blanc (Ardea alba)
Intermediate Egret – Martinet intermedi (Ardea intermedia)
Little Egret – Martinet blanc (Egretta garzetta)
Western Reef Egret – Martinet dels esculls (Egretta gularis)
Egyptain Vulture – Aufrany (Neophron percnopterus)
Lappet-faced Vulture – Voltor orellut (Torgos tracheliotos)
Osprey – Àguila pescadora (Pandion haliaetos)
Crested Honey Buzzard – Aligot vesper oriental (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Greater Spotted Eagle – Àguila cridanera (Clanga clanga)
Steppe Eagle – Àguila d’estepa (Aquila nipalensis)
Eastern Imperial Eagle – Àguila imperial (Aquila heliaca)
Bonelli’s Eagle – Àguila cuabarrada (Aquila fasciata)
Booted Eagle – Àguila calçada (Aquila pennata)
Short-toed Snake Eagle – Àguila marcenca (Circaetus gallicus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk – Esparver comú (Accipiter nisus)
Black-winged Kite – Elani comú (Elanus caeruleus)
Western Marsh Harrier – Arpella comuna (Circus aeruginosus)
Pallid Harrier – Arpella pàl·lida russa (Circus macrourus)
Montagu’s Harrier – Arpella cendrosa (Circus pygargus)
Long-legged Buzzard – Aligot rogenc (Buteo rufinus)
Arabian Scops Owl – Xot d’Aràbia (Otus pamelae)
Desert Owl – Gamarús del desert (Strix hadorami)
Western Barn Owl – Òliba (Tyto alba) heard only
Arabian Eagle Owl – Duc d’Aràbia (Bubo milesi)
Eurasian Hoopoe – Puput eurasiàtica (Upupa epops)
Indian Roller – Gaig blau de l’Índia (Coracias benghalensis)
European Roller – Gaig blau (Coracias garrulus)
Common Kingfisher – Blauet (Alcedo atthis)
Arabian Bee-eater – Abellerol d’Aràbia (Merops cyanophrys)
Common Kestrel – Xoriguer comú (Falco tinnunculus)
Lesser Kestrel – Xoriguer petit (Falco naumanni)
Peregrine Falcon – Falcó peregrí (Falco peregrinus)
Lanner Falcon – Falcó llaner (Falco biarmicus)
Alexandrine Parakeet – Cotorra alexandrina (Psittacula eupatria)
Rose-winged Parakeet – Cotorra de Kramer (Psittacula krameri)
Black-crowned Tchagra – Txagra de coroneta negra (Tchagra senegalus)
Daurian Shrike – Capsigrany pàl·lid (Lanius isabellinus)
Turkestan Shrike – Capsigrany cua-roig (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) & Levant Grey Shrike (aucheri) – Botxí septentrional (Lanius excubitor)
Arabian Babbler – Tordenc d’Aràbia (Turdoides squamiceps)
Ashy Drongo – Drongo cendrós (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
African Paradise Flycatcher – Monarca del paradís africà (Tersiphone viridis)
Grey Hypocolius – Hipocoli (Hypocolius ampelinus)
White-eared Bulbul – Bulbul d’orelles blanques (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Red-vented Bulbul – Bulbul cul-roig (Pycnonotus cafer)
White-spectacled Bulbul – Bulbul d’ulleres blanques (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
House Crow – Corb de l’Índia (Corvus splendens)
Brown-necked Raven – Corb del desert (Corvus ruficollis)
Fan-tailed Raven – Corb cuacurt (Corvus rhidipurus)
Greater Hoopoe-Lark – Alosa puput (Alaemon alaudipes)
Desert Lark – Terrerola del desert (Ammomanes deserti)
Greater Short-toed Lark – Terrerola comuna (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark – Terrerola frontblanca (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Singing Bush Lark – Alosa cantaire (Mirafra cantillans)
Crested Lark – Cogullada comuna (Galerida cristata)
Sand Martin – Oreneta de ribera (Riparia riparia)
Pale Crag Martin – Roquerol pàl·lid (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Barn Swallow – Oreneta comuna (Hirundo rustica)
Graceful Prinia – Prínia gràcil (Prinia gracilis)
Delicate Prinia – Prínia delicada (Prinia lepida)
Common Chiffchaff – Mosquiter comú (Phylloscopus collybita)
Siberian Chiffchaff – Mosquiter siberià (Phylloscopus tristis)
Plain Leaf Warbler – Mosquiter sencill (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Great Reed Warbler – Balquer (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Clamorous Reed Warbler – Boscarla cridanera (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Common Reed Warbler – Boscarla de canyar (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Blyth Reed Warbler – Boscarla dels matolls (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Asian Desert Warbler – Tallareta del desert asiàtica (Curruca nana)
Common Whitethroat – Tallareta comuna (Curruca communis)
Lesser Whitethroat – Tallarol xerraire (Curruca curruca)
Eastern Orphean Warbler – Tallarol enmascarat oriental (Curruca crassirostris)
Arabian Warbler – Tallarol d’Aràbia (Curruca leucomelaena)
Ménétriés’s Warbler – Tallarol de Ménétries (Curruca mystacea)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler – Busqueta pàl·lida oriental (Iduna pallida)
Abyssian White-eye – Zosterops d’Abissínia (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Common Myna – Mina comú (Acridotheres tristis)
Rose-coloured Starling – Estornell rosat (Pastor roseus)
Tristam’s Starling – Estornell de Tristam (Onychognatus tristamii)
Song Thrush – Tord comú (Turdus philomelos)
Blue Rock Thrush – Merla blava (Monticola solitarius)
Bluethroat – Cotxa blava (Luscinia svecica)
Black Redstart – Cotxa fumada (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Siberian Stonechat – Bitxac oriental (Saxicola maurus)
Semicollared Flycatcher – Papamosques de mig collar (Ficedula semitorquata)
Red-breasted Flycatcher – Papamosques menut (Ficedula parva)
Isabelline Wheatear – Còlit isabel·lí (Oenanthe isabellina)
Desert Wheatear – Còlit del desert (Oenanthe deserti)
Pied Wheatear – Còlit pitnegre (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Blackstart – Còlit cuanegre (Oenanthe melanura)
Arabian Wheatear – Còlit d’Aràbia (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Hume’s Wheatear – Còlit de Hume (Oenanthe albonigra)
Persian Wheatear – Còlit cua-roig (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Nile Valley Sunbird – Suimanga del Nil (Hedydipna metallica)
Palestine Sunbird – Suimanga palestina (Cinnyris osea)
Arabian Sunbird – Suimanga d’Aràbia (Cinnyris hellmayri)
Purple Sunbird – Suimanga porpra (Cinnyris asiaticus)
House Sparrow – Pardal comú (Passer domesticus)
Rüppell’s Weaver – Teixidor de Rüppell (Ploceus galbula)
Scaly-breasted Munia – Maniquí escatós (Lonchura punctulata)
African Silverbill – Bec d’argent africà (Euodice cantans)
Indian Silverbill – Bec d’argent indi (Euodice malabarica)
Citrine Wagtail – Cuereta citrina (Motacilla citreola)
White Wagtail – Cuereta blanca (Motacilla alba)
Grey Wagtail – Cuereta torrentera (Motacilla cinerea)
Yellow Wagtail – Cuereta groga (Motacilla flava)
Tawny Pipit – Trobat (Anthus campestris)
Long-billed Pipit – Piula becllarga (Anthus similis)
Red-throated Pipit – Piula gola-roja (Anthus cervinus)
Tree Pipit – Piula dels arbres (Anthus trivialis)
Yemen Serin – Gafarró del Iemen (Crithagra menachensis)
Arabian Grosbeak – Durbec d’Aràbia (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
Striolated Bunting – Sit estriat (Emberiza striolata)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting – Sit canyella (Emberiza tahapisi)

LIST OF MAMMALS SEEN DURING THE TRIP

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Arabian Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica)
Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica)

LIST OF REPTILIAN SEEN DURING THE TRIP

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus)
Asian Garden Lizzard (Calotes versicolor)

Blue Pansi (Junonia orithya), one of the commo butterflies in Oman.

Oman Birding Tour 2023 Trip Report

2 Respostes

Dates: From January 15th to 25th, 2023

Number of participants: 4

Number of species seen: 203

Overview: 7th tour exploring Oman, a country that seems to hold countless surprises for any birdwatcher. In the crossroad between the Horn of Africa, the Western Palearctic and the Indian subcontinent, Oman shows a wonderful variety of winter and passage birds.

Some birds living in the coastal Dhofar hills, isolated by the sea but also by the massive sand desert that goes on for over 1000 miles well inside Saudi Arabia, have walked down an interesting speciation process, producing a number of endemics. At the same time, this area keeps being colonised by a number of African species, arriving from Yemen via the Aden Strait.

The weather during the tour was sunny and pleasant, always between 20ºC to 25ºC, out of a pair of days of stronger heat in the North of the country. In the South, we had a pair of windy days, but the wind didn’t destroy any of our birding options, and we kept enjoying an excellent birding in the Dhofar. On birds, it is interesting to note that this winter was poor in Harriers. Normally, one can expect double figures of Montagu’s or even Pallids during the tour, but this time we only got one of each! Numbers of Steppe Eagles were also low, and looks like the main overwintering spot for the bird has been definately re-establised inside Saudi Arabia.

In the same way, both numbers of Ducks and Shrikes were low, especially in the wetlands in the Dhofar, where Ducks can be very common depending on the year. Still, it was a good variety of ducks, and we got good views on both Turkestan & Isabelline Shrikes.

It is also worrying how rare the Arabian Grosbeak is getting during the last years. By the other hand, happy to see more Sandgrouses than ever before in the trip, with hundreds & hundreds of Chestnut-bellieds’s, and really good numbers of both Spotted & Crowned.

Day 1. After an afternoon flight we landed in Muscat International Airport. Once the whole group was assembled there, we moved to our accommodation placed only a few miles away from the airport.

The next morning we had a lovely breakfast and the group enjoyed the very first Common Mynas, Pale Crag Martins and House Crows of the trip. It was a sunny and rather warm morning in Muscat. Our first stop was devoted to explore Al Ansab lagoons. This small wetland has been closed due to maintenance works. Unfortunately one of the works have consisted in a new pavilion next to the main view point over the best lagoon for waders and ducks. Hopefully this will not affect the variety of birds that the area is normally holding.

In Al Ansab we got the very first views on some common birds in the north of the country including Grey Francolin, Indian Silverbill, Red-wattled Lapwing, Delicate Prinia, White-cheeked Bulbul and Purple Sunbird. Beside this, the lagoon offered a good array of waterfowl and waders including Black-winged Stilts, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Common Snipe, Kentish Plover, Pintail, Whiskered Tern, Eurasian Moorhen, Crested Lark, Common Ringed Plover and the first of some Marsh Sandpipers. The grass around had 3 Citrine Wagtails, 1 White Wagtail, Desert Wheatear and 1 Western Yellow Wagtail.

Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) around our accommodation. Image by tour leader Carles Oliver

From Al Ansab we went to Muscat River, where we were delighted by hundreds of waders. Dunlin, Little Stint and Greenshank were propably the commonest species but we also got good views on several Lesser Sand Plovers, Temminck’s Stints, Western Reef Egrets, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Marsh Sandpipers. The area was also nice for terns and in two different mixed flocks we counted 4 Common Terns + 2 Whiskered & 1 White-winged Black Tern. In the way to the beach we were surprised by tens of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses in the way to their drinking ponds.

Once in the beach, we noted 2 Greater Crested Terns along with several Slender-billed Gulls, Sandwich Terns and the beautiful Lesser Crested Terns. Here we also had the chance to see together Greater Sand & Lesser Sand Plovers, and it was useful to see how different the birds are in attitude, size and coloration. The small sand bar at the end of the river was also having several Heuglin’s & Steppe Gulls (both now considered Lesser Black-back Gull races) and the always gorgeous Sooty Gull.

One of the many flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus) flying around the water ponds. Image by Carles Oliver

From here we drove some miles away to look for the tiny population of Black-winged Kites living in Oman. It didn’t take long before we found two adults, probably the same birds that we found nesting in the area back in November 2022. We really enjoyed this wonderful bird, and the stop was also granted with the firsts Arabian Bee-eaters of the trip, and the first Indian Roller! Back to the coast, we scanned some flocks of gulls in search of Palla’s Gull, and again didn’t take long before we found 7 of them, with some individuals showing a wonderful black head. What a beast! A further scanning of the flock revealed not only some Black-headed Gulls but also 2 Caspian Gulls. Beyond, the beach was also having Eurasian Whimbrel and Oystercatcher.

After a nice lunch we explored some parks around Muscat. Unfortunately Al Qurm was closed, and the only accessible point was the coastal promenade so we turned around and went to Al Wustah, where we got good views on 2 Alexandrine Parakeets, Red-vented Bulbuls, White-spectacled Bulbuls and a flyover Bonelli’s Eagle. Late in the afternoon we went back to the Al Qurm promenade, where we enjoyed with the many Pallid Swifts passing by, and good (but distant) views on Pacific Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit to end the day.

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), still a big rarity in Northern Oman.

The impressive Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) along with Steppe Gulls (Larus fuscus barabensis)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), a really common bird in Northern Oman.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), another common view in Northern Oman.

The impressive Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) around Al Wustah

Day 2. Driving South from Muscat, we went to explore the very impressive mountain landscape of the Al Harar Mounts. These peaks, reaching 3000+ meters above the sea level, extend for over 700 kilometres in Northern Oman and neighbouring Emirates. We spent the morning in a small valley immediately below the mountains.

Here we chose to explore a small plain that leads into a gorge. We did a number of stops along the tracks of the plain. Persian Wheatear was the very first specialty to be noted. Up in a wire, we had good views on the first of many Levant Grey Shrike, now considered to be inside the Great Grey Shrike complex. A bit beyond, 2 Desert Larks were seen so we decided to go for a small walk, and we were glad to see that the Desert Larks were actually moving along with 2 Striolated Buntings. Suprisingly, these were the only Striolateds of the tour!

Further inside the plain, we had a stop in the dry river bed (called wadi in Arabic). Here we saw some Lesser Whitethroats, Black Redstart and several White-cheeked Bulbuls. An Eastern Orphean Warbler showed briefly while a pair of Indian Rollers were moving in the rocks nearby. When coming back to the vehicle we got the first Plain Leaf Warbler of the tour, and a wonderful Hume’s Wheatear was perched nearby, providing good photo opportunities.

There were certainly some good birds in the area so we decided to go further on in the valley, but the upper walk didn’t produce anything beyong Purple Sunbirds, Plain Leaf Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. Back the vehicle, we were granted with a Lappet-faced Vulture appearing up in the sky! Always a wonderful bird to have!!

The acacia thornbush in Al Harar Mountains

The recently split Arabian Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)

The very smart Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra), a specialty from Northern Oman living in gorges, gallies and broken terrain.

Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) in the plains.

Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus) prefers large, dense evergreen canopies along wadis

After lunch we drove into a massive gorge. This breathtaking corner of the world is one of the very few sites where Omani Owl is known to exist! It was early in the afternoon, and in our way in we had more Hume’s Wheatears and Indian Rollers. We also explored a small corner with oasis-like vegetation, and we got some Siberian Chiffchaffs calling and performing well and the first Grey Wagtail of the trip. In the distance, two Egyptian Vultures were noted in the top of the cliffs. We did wait until dusk, expecting to get something from one of the most unknown Owls in the planet, and our efforts were well granted. First with really distant houls, but even before dusk we got 1 Omani Owl calling up in the cliffs while flying and, later in the evening, a male was heard singing at least twice not really far away.

Of course, we did look for this closer bird for some time, but we absolutely failed to get anything else from such an enygmatic bird. After this we drove down the gorge and covered the short distance to our accommodation, where we had the chance to taste the local cuisine.

Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida), a common bird in Northern Oman.

Day 3. Early morning start to transfer South to Salalah. Despite the big distance, we did once again very well. After breakfast, we drove South some miles and, taking advantage of the wonderful morning light, we had some birding. We didn’t have to walk far from our vehicle to get a Ménétrie’s Warbler feeding on the lush vegetation. We followed the bird tree to tree and got good views, but we were distracted by an Asian Desert Warbler that popped up from a bush only a pair of metres away from us. Indian Rollers were flying around, as there were the first Brown-necked Ravens of the trip. We kept walking the area and only 5 minutes later we found some Arabian Babblers calling in the distance. We had to move fast to catch them up but finally got good views on this specialist of desert scrublands and oasis-like places. When following the Babblers a wonderful party of Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouses flew off from the bare soil, leaving the group wanting more from them! When scouting the area in search of the Babblers we got 2 juvenile Tawny Pipits.

Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps) were a bit elusive this time. Image by tour participant Moisés Zozaya.

Ménétriés’s Warbler (Curruca mystacea) showed really well while looking for food in the wady srcubalnd. Image by tour participant Moisés Zozaya.

After such a great stop we had some driving, and our next real birding stop didn’t come until the afternoon. Our typical picnic place was this time empty of birds, and only 1 Isabelline Shrike & 1 Western Marsh Harrier were noted. But in the afternoon we had plenty of time to explore the famous desert farms in the way to Salalah. Here we had soon several Isabelline & Desert Wheatears along with a Northern Wheatear. We drove around looking for anything moving, and we were granted with a lovely male Pallid Harrier that the tour participant Otger was fast to catch up when flying low. We enjoyed this beuatiful bird of prey when he was really busy, flying into the green fields, where it was hunting boles, and moving later to the bare ground around to feed on them. The Pallid Harrier repeated the operation three times, and our group was delighted to see this uncommon behaviour once and over.

A further drive in the area brought us to an open fleld beyond the farms. This is a place that normally concentrates a large number of Sandgrouses, and this time was not different. Soon, we had tens of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses moving around, and we got good scope views on them and also in Spotted Sandgrouses, far more scarce here. A Marsh Harrier was patrolling the area, moving flocks of tens of Sandgrouses once and over as he was patrolling the area. Back to the farm, a large flock of Namaqua Doves provided good looks, with some obliging individuals. In the distance, a large flock of 80+ White Storks were circling up in the sky. We decided a do some walk in the area, and we were lucky to find 2 Pied Wheatears (one adult male, and one putative 1st winter female) feeding around along with a male Siberian Stonechat and the only one Greater Short-toed Lark of the trip!

From here we drove to our accommodation in Salalah, even if we had to go into a lay-by due to a Short-toed Snake Eagle that was standing by the road.

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) moulting to adult male.

Isabelline Wheatear (Onenathe isabellinus) , the commonest Wheatear in Southern Oman.

Namaqua Doves (Oena capensis) were fairly common this year in the desert.

Day 4. Early morning start to explore the gorgeous South of Oman. Our first morning stop was devoted to go to Ayn Hamran, a plentiful birding location and one of the corner of wonders in the country. Here went fast through a number of common species in the South. African Silverbills, Rüppell’s Weavers, Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Abyssinian White-eyes, Arabian Sunbirds, African Paradise Flycatchers and Tristam’s Starlings were fastly seen. A female Eurasian Sparrowhawk was quite a surprise, considering that they are really scarce so far South. A 1st year Imperial Eagle just passed over us but it did it in a wrong moment since we were tracking a secretive Arabian Warbler moving inside the canopy. We had excellent views on it, and while searching for this bird we just found the first Eastern Olivaceous Warbler of the morning. We then moved around the stream, and we were lucky to be fast in finding a gorgeous & obliging Arabian Grosbeak! This is one of the most scarce and difficult to find specialties in the area. The bird showed up for at least 15 minutes and we could register its song, take videos and really enjoy this wonderful bird. A second bird was noted to be calling around, but we never found it.

Close by, a Black-crowned Tchagra was feeding on the ground, and the group again had excellent views in the rather small and delicate Arabian race of this common species in Africa.

The morning was already wonderful, and it was only 9:00! We kept walking around. Delicate Prinias were also showy, but they could not compete with the Grosbeak! A Turkestan Shrike was seen at close range but in a difficult angle, and Clamorous Reed Warblers were heart, but never seen. A Red-breasted Flycatcher were heard around, and after some scanning we found the bird catching flies low in the fig trees. For our surprise, a second individual was also calling in the area.

This year we got really wonderful views on the always challenging Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)

This was the first of out of four Red-breasted Flycatchers (Ficedula parva) seen during the tour!

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)

The very scarce Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali) keeps being one of the most sought-after birds in Oman!

Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegallus percivali), often a difficult species.

Bruce’s Green Pigeons (Treron waalia) trust on their plomage to avoid being located.

From here we walked to the large fig trees. This is a place attacting several birds. There were plenty of Bulbuls, White-eyes, a 2nd Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and, after several scanning and some walk, we got to have close views on a beautiful male Bruce’s Green Pigeon. The blue of its eyes is something that many birdwatchers dream to see once in their lives! 3 more Bruce’s flew out the same tree while several African Paradise Flycatchers were hunting around.

After such a great start we came back to the coast, not without a stop in the desert-like plain to see the firsts Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark of the trip, and a lovely flock of 6 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses that the tour participant Magda saw when we were only a few feet away! In the coast was windy, but not that much. While enjoying our picnic in East Khawar, we had a view on the wildfowl around. Here we had the firsts Squacco & Indian Pond Herons of the trip, and some Citrine Wagtails were walking in the patches of tall grass around. 3 Eurasian Spoonbills were roosting in an island. Waders in the area included Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint & Wood Sandpiper but also Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff and Temminck’s Stint. 1 Greater Spotted Eagle came to provide close views while taking an eye on the several Gulls and Terns roosting around. Here we had 4 Gull-billed Terns, Caspian Tern, Common Tern and 1 White-winged Black Tern. The gulls were all Steppe, Sooty, Heuglin’s and Slender-billeds, with only 4 Black-headed Gulls in the large flocks. In the water there were small parties of Garganeys and a single 1st winter Purple Heron was also seen moving in a close patch of vegetation.

Slender-billed Gulls (Chroicocephalus genei)

The afternoon was still young so we drove South of Salalah to check a major wetland. In the way, Booted & Greater Spotted Eagles were noted. Once South of the city, it didn’t take long before we got the first Terek’s Sandpipers feeding in the mudflats along with Lesser Sand Plovers, Dunlins, Common Redshanks, Ruddy Turnstones and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits. Out in the sea, Moises located the first Brown Bobby fishing close to the coast, followed by 3 more and 1 Masked Boobby. Socotra Cormorants were also present, fishing in small parties or alone, and allowed lovely scope views. Back in the shoreline, we found the African Openbill that has been in the area since the last fall. It spent a lot of time feeding in shallow water, surrounded by several Western Reef Egrets and Grey Herons. On the beach, 13 Ospreys and 2 Greater Spotted Eagles were counted sitting on rocks or directly on the bare sand. There were also some terns, including some Lesser & Greater Crested Terns.

Far South, we still had another stop in a wetland, this time a bit twitch the Lesser White-fronted Goose that had been there during the last weeks. Twitch is not something you can do really often in Oman, and it is always welcome! It didn’t take long to locate it feeding in the grassy patches at the river mouth along with some Pintails and Grey Plovers. Here we also got 8 Red-knobbed Coots, several Garganeys, a distant Indian Pond Heron, and close views on Pacific Golden Plover. A further exploration of the place produced 2 lovely Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, one of them showing a little bit of its majestic nesting plomage. A bit of sea watching nearby produced little of interest out of 10+ Brown Boobies and a small party of Socotra Cormorants feeding around.

While vesperting we drove some kilometers in a nearby wady. Even if the access was difficult, it was worth it when a Desert Owl started calling in the area despite the wind! It took us some time and some walk around, but we finally got breathtaking views on this amazing and poorly known owl!

Lesser White-fronted Geese (Anser erythropus), only the 5th record for Oman!

One of the two Pheasant-tailed Jacanas (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus) seen during the tour.

The Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) was discovered in Oman only 10 years ago!

Day 5. After the amazing day before, we could not expect much more, but the day proved us wrong! An early morning stop in a reedbed produced little out of a Crested Honey Buzzard that Moises saw in our way back to the vehicles and that turned out to be the only one of the trip!

From the coast we decided to climb up to the Dhofar highlands, probably the most remarkable place for birds of prey in Oman. The area was filled up with Imperial Eagles, and we counted at least 12 of them! 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle was also seen before stopping forced by a running flock of the endemic Arabian Partridges in one side of the van. Arrived to the top of the mountain, we could enjoy the gorgeous cliffs that are facing the Arabian Sea. Here we enjoyed several Fan-tailed Ravens but also Pale Crag Martins, Common Kestrels, and a lovely pair of Arabian Wheatears. Verreaux’s Eagles proved harder, as it could not be in another way, and required some scanning from different places but finally we got a nice adult soaring around that, even if distant, were one of the highlights of the day!

Imperial Eagle (Aquila helicaca) during our day in the Dhofar highlands.

Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides), another Arabian endemic, formerly considered to be conspecific with Mourning Wheatear.

Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) showed well but briefly.

Tristam’s Starling (Onychognathus tristamii)

Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus) riding Bactrians in the highlands.

Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus). The origin of these Griffons is unknown.

Some Rock Hyrax were feeding around, or hiding in the shades from the very powerful eagle that is always looking for them! The Hyraxes led us to two lovely Red-legged Buzzards that were patrolling the area. When leaving, a Long-billed Pipit was also seen moving in the rocky slopes. When moving in the Dhofar one should always have an eye in the sky, and once again proved correct, since we got both Lappet-faced Vulture & Eurasian Griffon moving around, both being scarce species in Southern Oman.

From here we drove to a proper place for picnic, and after enjoying our packed lunches we moved in search of some specialties. Both Palestine & Arabian Sunbirds were seen, although not at close range. Cinnamon-breasted Buntings were virtually everywhere along with African Silverbills, and we were lucky to picked up some Yemen Serins feeding on the ground along with them! At the beggining we saw only 3 but a further scanning produced at least 10, some of them providing really close looks. Here we also got 4 Tree Pipits. But the most surprinsing was to see a large flock of nearly 50 Bruce’s Green Pigeon leaving a tiny tree next to our group. We had been in this area, enjoying the Yemen Serins, for almost 15 minutes and nobody notice any single of the 50 Bruce’s…

Back to the vehicles we drove down to the coast, with a nice stop to enjoy the small population of Baobabs that subsists in the Dhofar. Here we got Arabian Warbler, Common Chiffchaff and a lovely African Paradise Flycatcher in shining nesting plumage and showing out its 2 long tail feathers. What a cracker!

African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis) in full nesting plomage. A cracker!

Yemen Serin (Cithragra menachensis), a scarce and elusive species.

Juvenie Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) vs Osprey (Pandion haliaetos). Not a great shot but something not to be seen every day.

“fulvescens” Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)

Once in the coast, we take a look into a pair of small corners but we got little, and probably the most interesting sights in both places was a “fulvescens” form of Greater Spotted Eagle, and a juvenile Bonelli’s being moved by an Osprey; definately not a common combination to see in the sky!

After a coffee stop, we did drove back to the hills to explore a wonderful corner: A stream that runs down the mountains and that is covered with lotus and floating vegetation, small reedbeds and mangrove-like bushes. What a great place! Here we did a walk along the stream, and soon we got the first Bluethroat of the trip; a female. Grey Herons, Wood Sandpipers and Little Egrets were around in good numbers, and a low scanning produced great views into 2 White-breasted Waterhens. This bird, often really elusive, was another of the highlights that day. Two Snipes flew off, and one of them really sounded like a Pin-tailed Snipe but unfortunately we could not relocate the bird, neither hear it again… Here we also got 4 Black-crowned Night Herons, Indian Pond & Squacco Herons, 3 Citrine Wagtails at close range in lovely afternoon light, a showy male Bluethroat and a calling Diederick Cuckoo that called 3 times from a large tree but never showed out.

Female type Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

We were lucky to catch up good views on the elusive White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

Yet another Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

Day 6. Early morning start. This was the morning of our offshore. But before arriving to the harbour we had a stop in a small river mouth. Here, in previous tours we have counted tens of Rose-coloured Starlings living the reedbeds where do they roost, but this time we only got one along with several Common Mynas, some Western Marsh Harriers, Rüppell’s Weavers, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 adult Purple Heron. Once in the boat, we sailed out and fastly discovered that it was a quiet day, with very little movement in the sea. Despite this, we got excellent views on a number of Persian Shearwaters passing by the boat, some at close range. Small flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes were flying around, as there were some Masked Bookies, including some great views inmediatly above the boat and on the sea. Both Green & Loggerhead Turtles were seen a number of times, again quite close. But the clymax came when a Jouanin’s Petrel showed up in front of the boat! It was quite distant but still possible to see its typical shape and jizz and the long body. Unfortunately, not eveyone in the group catched up with the bird…

Back on the harbour, we got some close views on Striated Herons before living for our next stop. In the way back to Salalah, we scouted a large plain and our efforts were rewarded with a flock of 10 Cream-coloured Coursers that showed really well along with Isabelline Wheatears. After lunch, we revisited a pair of river mouths but we didn’t get that much different from our previous visits so we moved to check one of the typical places for Spotted Thick-knees to be roosting. They were there, and we enjoyed lovely views on 12 of them before moving for our last stop.

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorior cursor) is quite uncommon in Southern Oman.

Juvenile Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Back to the forested valleys, we explored a small stream, where we were surprised to find another Red-breasted Flycatcher having a bath along with Citrine & Grey Wagtails and 2 African Paradise Flycatchers. We enjoyed long views on the Flycatcher while searching for other goodies to appear, but everything we could find was a Hottetotta genus Scorpion. Here we waited until sunset, and with the very last lights of the day we were surprised to hear a Rufous-scrub Robin calling from the bush land. We scanned a bit but the last light of the day didn’t help and we never got a visual on this always wonderful ground flycatcher. Only a few minutes after the Robin was calling, we got the first call of an Arabian Eagle Owl coming from the opposite slope. During the next half an hour we struggled to find and approach the bird but every second of it was worth it when we finally got this endemic owl only a few meters away in a really unforgettable experience for all of us!

Not a day whithout a portrait on a Citrine Wagtail!

Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura), currently considered to be a Wheatear.

This time we enjoyed really intimate views on an Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi) while moving in the woodlands. Image by tour leader Carles Oliver

Day 7. The morning of this day was devoted to explore the oases at Mudday. This is the only reliable place for Grey Hypocolius in Oman, and there were only 2 birds reported at the end of December (in our trip on early December 2022 we were lucky to see 4 of them!). The Hypocolius proved to be as hard as ever, and it really took us an extra effort and patiente to finally connect with one of them, even if shortly! In the meanwhile we had time to enjoy at least 4 Nile Valley Sunbirds, 3 Blackstarts (they were suprisingly scarce this time in all the places we went!), several Sand Partridges including some birds drinking from a water hole, my first African Collared Dove in the place for some years, an Imperial Eagle, a lovely male Caucasian Bluethroat, the only Montagu’s Harrier of the trip, 1 Arabian Bee-eater and a lovely Hooded Wheatear!

A part from all of this was the experience to see 60+ Crowned Sandgrouses coming down to drink water in different flocks. Their calls, the very shy movements and behaviour and the very special beauty of the Sandgrouses on the ground at close range keep being for me one of the most wonderful birding experiences on Earth!

The very first glympse of the male Hypocolius was when it was feeding in a bush, only a few meters from us. The bird flew off before everyone in the group could have something of it, but it looked like not being far. We accurately scanned all the bushes and palm trees around, but we didn’t have a clue. From there we moved to check other corners around, getting our range of search bigger and bigger. Finally we dediced to come back to the exact place where we first saw the bird and scanned around for several minutes. Finally, right was I was about to give up, the bird appeared right in the same bush as it was the first time! Didn’t stay long there, though, and we still had to follow the bird up in the palm trees where it was hidden and, after a slowy scan, finally got excellent views on this amazing species, and eveyone had really good looks on it.

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) in lovely morning light

Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) overseeing the wadi.

Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedidypna metalltica) showing its amazing array of colours!

African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)

Hundreds of Crowned Sandgrouses (Pterocles coronata) were attending the water holes.

Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus) male hiding in the palm trees.

Really glad for this amazing view we went back to Salalah to have some lunch and rest. In the afternoon, we went to check the well known Raysut ponds. It was cloudy when we arrived, even about to rain! But of course, it didn’t rain at all. Here we counted 120 Abdim’s Storks, double figures of Whites‘, and 9 Red-wattled Lapwings (including one of the spur-winged x Red-wattled hybrids that live in the area). Other interesting species here included several Little Grebes, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 1 Common Snipe (little numbers of Snipes this year) and Temminck’s Stints.

Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii) in the Raysut ponds. Image by tour leader Carles Oliver

Red-wattled x Spur-winged Lapwing hybrid (Vanellus indicus x spinosus). Image by tour participant Moises Zozaya.

Back to the coast, we headed to West Kawhar, a place that very few people check (because normally is very little there). But we were lucky, not only because of the flocks of Pacific Golden Plovers at close range that provided great views but especially because we were lucky to find a Long-tailed Cormorant! Checking the dead trees around I was surprised to find this juvenile, small Cormorant with a long tail and a vivid red eye. The bird was extremely small (for a Cormorant) with a humbed head and whitish underparts. It may not be very exciting for those that have visited tropical Africa, but it happens to be a first for Oman! Very happy for our luck, we did some photos of the bird and pair attention to all main details with the scopes before leaving to our last wetland stop in a in the Dhofar.

Our last river mouth produced little out of a lovely flock of 5 Cotton Pygmy Goose. This is actually one of the best corners for ducks but it was almost empty…

Another point that is well worth checking in Salalah are the several farms around. You can choose any of them, for sure you will get excellent birds. Our farm was close to the beach, and just arriving to the place we found a tiny pond with some reeds. Here, a Clamorous Reed Warbler eluded us again, but we were happy to enjoy some Citrine Wagtails, Bluethroat and Green Sandpiper. Once in the fields, we soon had a large flock of Rosy Starlings flying around, that eventually stopped in the top of a thicket allowing really good scope views. Here we got another large flock (200+) of Pacific Golden Plovers, one of them showing what it look to be a complete summer plomage. Another surprise was to find 2 Common Cranes here, and we enjoyed them while some Red-throated Pipits and Yellow Wagtails were flying above us. The visit ended with brief views on a Siberian Stonechat.

To end the day, we chose another visit to wooded valley, and here we got really nice views on 1 Arabian Scops Owl. At least 3 more were heard singing around before going back to our accommodation for a very deserved rest.

Long-tailed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus), a putative 1st for Oman was a big surprise for all of us! Images by tour leader Carles Oliver

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva), a common overwintering bird in Oman

Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus), a very scarce winter visitor to Oman.

West Khawar in Salalah, a wonderful birding location.

Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae), another Arabian endemic

Day 8. After breakfast we went back to explore farms. This time we had a first stop in a different one. Surprisingly we didn’t have any Harrier at all, but the place was literally fullfilled with Yellow Wagtails. Hundreds, thousands of them were moving around, following the tractors but, in fact, everywhere. Both feldegg & beema races were noted, with some thunbergi probably also there. Large flocks of Ruffs were in the move along with Glossy Ibises. On the ground, we got some lovely views on Red-throated Pipits including some salmon-breasted ones. But the most celebrated bird here was an Oriental Skylark that landed only a few meters away from us, and after some accurate scanning of the soil, showed well for some seconds before leaving.

The visit had been so great so we decided to do a fast stop to the farm where we had been birdwatcher the previous afternoon. There, we got lucky to find the Rose-coloured Starlings bathing in a small pond only a few meters away from us. Besides, 4 Little Ringed Plovers were also seen at close range. Back to the proper farms, we listened some Red-throated Pipits before a wonderful Richard’s Pipit appeared and stop only some 20 meters away from us. All the group enjoyed wonderful views on the bird both with the scope and with the bins before the bird moved to a taller grass corner.

Richard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi), another uncommon winter visitor in Oman.

From here we drove back to the desert. In this day we faced a transfer North for an overnight in Duqm, but we still didn’t give up of birding! After a pair of hours of car we stopped in a new farm. Just driving the road we got some flocks of Sandgrouses flying in the distance so we decided to explore the fields around. Here we were granted with 12 Cream-coloured Coursers, Isabelline Shrike, tens of Chesnut-bellied Sandgrouses, Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks and some Levant Grey Shrikes.

Back to desert, we kept driving North. To cross the desert is always wonderful and not absent of birding opportunities, and after some miles we got a pair of Greater Hoopoe Larks nicely moving in the bare soil. We got even lucky to listen its beautiful song, a long whistle that is often (like this time) joined by a short displaying flight. Really happy with these great views we went back to hit the road until the afternoon, when we did a last stop to enjoy the lovely light. There, not far from Duqm, we did a stroll around and we got really good views on 1 Asian Desert Warbler doing its way while following a male Desert Wheatear.

Soon after that we arrived to our nice accommodation in Duqm, where we enjoyed a well deserved rest before dinner.

A bit of off-road was required but we finally got excellent views on Greater Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes).

Day 9. After breakfast, our day started by doing a short walk to the small garden of our accommodation. Here we found a Red-breasted Flycatcher during our last visit in early December and, suprinsingly, the bird was still moving in this tiny garden! Purple Sunbirds were also seen here. A short drive led us then to a small canal with a rich reedbed where we saw 3 Wood Sandpipers, some Eurasian Teals, a Green Sandpiper and the very firsts Mallards of the tour (a flock of 6).

From here we transfered North to the massive mudflats around Masirah Island. There is an estimation of 1 million waders overwintering here, and once you visit the area you may consider this estimation as conservative. Soon, we had some Kentish & Lesser Sand Plovers along with Dunlins, Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints. We took some time to check some of the several flocks of Gulls around, but nothing different appeared despite the good photo opportunities.

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).

3rdw Heuglin’s Gull (Larus fuscus heuglini).

Back to the mudflats we enjoyed with the arrival of thousands of waders to the feeding areas. Bar-tailed Godwits were really common, as there were Dunlins, Common Redshanks, Grey Plovers, Eurasian Curlews and Greater Sand Plovers, some of them showing already a promising summer coloration. The scan around produced the very first Broad-billed Sandpiper, that was celebrated in the group. At the same time, a Clamorous Reed Warbler showed out from the mangrove vegetation, and we all finally got some views on a species that had been eluding us for all the tour long. A small flock of 7 Spotted Sandpipers were also seen, and when we were checking this gorgeous waders the very first Crab Plover appeared right in front of us! Always a gorgeous bird, almost the size of a Little Egret, the Crab Plovers move often here in pairs that consist in an adult with a juvenile that constantly beg for food. Little by little, more and more Crab Plovers were arriving, and we were able to see some birds catching and feeding on crabs. In only 30 minutes we counted up to 70 birds. Other species also appeared here including Caspian & Gull-billed Terns. We hoped for some Little/Saunder’s Terns to appear, but we didn’t have luck on this.

Our final stop of the day was to check a different corner of this massive mudflats. Here we had barely the same birds than in our previous stop out of Crab Plovers. Still, we got at least four more Broad-billed Sandpipers, 1 Striated Heron in the mangroves and some Eurasian Whimbrels for our day list.

From here we transfered to our accommodation, arriving there a bit after sunset.

Crab Plovers (Dromas ardeola) feeding surrounded by ither waders.

Broad-billed Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus).

Greater Sand Plovers (Charadrius leschenaultii). Image by Moises Zozaya.

Day 10. Last morning in Oman. We drove the distance between our accommodation from Muscat with some stops in the way to take a look on some raptors. First a lienatus-like Black Kite, but later 3 Lappet-faced Vultures joined by 1 Imperial Eagle and some Egyptian Vultures were a good entertaiment for the very last miles before arriving to Muscat. Our last serious birding stop was devoted to explore the famous Al Mouj Golf Courser in search of the White-tailed Lapwing that had been seen during the last weeks. We were not lucky on the lapwing, but we still had some nice addings to our list including Ferruginous Duck (1 male), Eurasian Wigeon and 3 Greater White-fronted Geese. Along with them, we also had several Red-wattled Lapwings, Indian Rollers, Ruffs, Western Yellow Wagtails and Little Grebes in the ponds.

From here we just drove the very short distance to the airport, and got ready for our flights back to Europe!

And this is how we ended our 7th tour to Oman. Already looking forward our trip in 2024 to have more incredible sights in this awesome birding country!

Lappet-faced Vultures (Torgos trachilaetos) are surprisingly common in Northern Oman.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) in a cloudy day to end the tour!

Species of birds seen during the tour:

Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)
Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchus)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronatus)
Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia sp.)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Namaqua Dove (Oenas capensis)
Bruce’s Green Pigeon (Treron waalia)
Common Crane (Grus grus)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollius)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Ruddy Turstone (Arenaria interpres)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus)
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Heuglin’s Gull (Larus fuscus heuglini) / Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Palla’s Gull (Larus ichthyaetus)
Sooty Gull (Larus hemprichii)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus)
Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)
Brown Bobby (Sula leucogaster)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Long-tailed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Western Reed Egret (Egretta gularis)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Great White Egret (Casmerodius albus)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos trachelietos)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufius)
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)
Omani Owl (Strix butleri)
Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesis)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Arabian Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegallus)
Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor aucheri)
Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps)
African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)
Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus)
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus)
Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrela brachydactyla)
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Pale Crag Marting (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus trists)
Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris)
Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)
Ménétries’ Warbler (Curruca mystacea)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)
Abyssinian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Common Myna (Acridothere tristis)
Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus)
Tristam’s Starling (Onychognathus tristamii)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra)
Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha)
Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)
Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayrii)
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Richard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Yemen Serin (Cithraga menachensis)
Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

A lovely Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura) to end another wonderful tour in Oman!

Oman Birding Tour 2022 Trip Report

4 Respostes

Dates: January 16th/26th, 2022
Tour participants: 3
Species seen: 208

Day 1. After a long flight the day before, our small group had a nice breakfast before exploring the hotel grounds. Common Mynas were everywhere, as Laughing Dove did. A five minutes transfer allowed us to visit the Al Ansab Lagoons, always a pretty interesting place.
Here we did have a first contact with several of the common species in Northern Oman including Grey Francolin, Indian Silverbill, Delicate Prinia, Purple Sunbird, Arabian Bee-eater as well as Red-vented and White-cheeked Bulbuls.
Once there we were informed that the area was having the access limited due to recent rains, so our visit limited to the Eastern lagoon. There were several Common Snipes in the area, feeding along the shores along with Common Redshanks but also 2 Marsh Sandpipers that were really celebrated in the group. Among the ducks, Pintail was having good numbers this year, and so it was Eurasian Teal and Northern Shoveler. 16 Greater Flamingoes were providing a exotic note while we were suprised to find a small flock of 4 Gadwalls, a rather scarce species in Oman.
Our visit to Al Ansab was shorter than usual, but we do still managed to get a pair of bonus birds; the first Greater Spotted Eagle of the trip and a Clamorous Reed Wabler skulking inside the bush.

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) during our first day of tour. All images in this trip report by Carles Oliver

Once we leaved this lovely Nature Reserve, we drove a few miles to explore a well known corner for waders, terns and gulls. A short walk in the area allow us to see a long list of species, including several good views on Lesser Sandplovers with useful comparitions on size and structure with local Kentish Plovers. Western Reef Egrets were really common, especially in its dark form, but including also some lgihts. Here we did also find several Little Stints, and a roosting flock of 50+ Black-tailed Godwits. A Western Osprey was also roosting in the channel itself, surrounded by tens of Dunlins and some Temminckˋs Stints. Greenshanks and Redshanks were also common. We walked the channel down to the see, enjoying this good variety of waders. 2 terns were roosting along with them, and we found out that they were actually White-cheeked Terns! A nice find of a quite scarce species.

Dunlins, Little Stints & Lesser Sand Plovers in the River Muscat

We were already really close to the sea shore, and here we found the first of many Oystercatcher and Ruddy Turnstones. A pair of White-winged Black Tern just landed upper in the channel, joining a mixed flock of waders. Here we also found another Marsh Sandpiper, and we could compare it with both Greenshanks and Redshanks. We were just scanning all this amazing activity when 2 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses appeared from nowhere and stop in our path, only 100 metres away from us. Carefully, we approach them and we all enjoyed amazing views on both the male and the female!

A further scanning of the area and sea shore produced a lot of more species: Frist views on both Heughlinˋs & Steppe Gulls, 3 adult Caspian Gulls, and first views on pass-over Sooty Gulls. Still, what our clients celebrated more was the change to compare Great Crested, Lesser Crested, Caspian & Sandwich Terns all together in a mixed flock. A wonderful way to find our the differences between them!

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) male.

Female Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)

We still had some time before lunch so we drove a bit until the Natural Reserve, a small dot of open Acacia thornbush in the middle of the city. The area was having a big density of both Indian Silverbills and Purple Sunbirds. Arabian Bee-eaters were also feeding all around, providing excellent views. But all became nothing when a gorgeous male Long-tailed Whydah flied over us showing out its amazing tail, joined by another small bird that we could not identified. The bird flied over and took us some minutes to refind the bird, nicely showing right in the top of one Acacia and joined by several Silverbills. This incredible birds was not only causing a big excitation in our group of birdwatchers, but also in the birds around.

The Long-tailed Whydah is a bird in the __ family, that inhabits a variety of Acacia thornbush landscapes, gardens and open woodlands in the Horn of Africa, and East Africa.

This is probably the first record for this species in Oman. A former record of Whydah exists in Oman, as a male Pin-tailed Whydah was seen in Salalah some years ago. Still, the bird was finally considered as an scape. In this case, even if it so, it was a sight and we can count ourselves as lucky to have enjoyed this amazing bird. Really happy after enjoyed such a wonderful beauty, we still spent some more time in this tiny natural park, and we were granted with good views on 2 Bonelliˋs Eagles circling along with 2 Brown-necked Ravens.

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea), one of the surprises of the tour

It had been a great morning, and after such a successful time, we drove back to our accommodation for an early lunch. After enjoying the Omani cuisine, we did drive throught the packed Mascate traffic to arrive to Al Qurm Natural Reserva and park. Here we got both Squacco Heron and Indian Pond Heron, Little Grebe, Puple Herons, a lonely Tufted Duck male, Alexandrine Parakeet and excellent views on Indian Rollers that were chasing large insects from the park lights.

A short walk along some shaddy areas allowed us also to connect with our first Isabelline Shrike while 2 Sedge Warblers were calling from a small patch of reeds. Some waders were also noted, including Temminckˋs Stint, 2 Green Sandpipers and Eurasian Curlews. Pallid Swifts and Pale Crag Martins were patrolling the sky in the search of insects, while flocks of Bulbuls were feeding brambles. 2 Garganeys were also spotted in a small pond along with 1 male Mallard (probably the only one along the whole trip). To end this really intense first day, we chose the mouth of the Al Qurm Natural Reserve, where we enjoyed more views on Lesser & Greater Sand Plover and Eurasian Whimbrel. A good scanning of the gulls in the beach produced our only 1 Pallaˋs Gull of the trip (a 1st winter), and with the last lights of the day, we enjoyed the static beauty of a Striated Heron while fishing from some rocks.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), a real stunner!

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus), an extremelly common bird in Northern Oman

White-eared Bulbuls (Pycnonotus leucotis)

Day 2. Early morning breakfast to explore the breathtaking Al Harar Mountains landscapes. During the day we did a number of spots, exploring a good variety of corners. Our first stop was in an semi arid stony landscapes, with scatered Acacias all around. Here we got an amazing number of Striolated Buntings, a bird that can be hard to spot. Over 30 of them were seen in different flocks here! Along with them, Indian Silverbills, but also some Desert Larks and our first Long-billed Pipit. This ambient is excellent for Warblers, and we soon had our firsts Lesser Whitethroats “taking” from the trees and provinding good views. After some scanning around, something bigger appeared and soon we were all enjoying a skulking Eastern Orphean Warbler moving in the canopies. It took as some minutes to have proper views! When leaving, a lovely Persian Wheatear (also known as Red-tailed Wheatear) appreared to provide excellent views!

Ménétriés’s Warbler (Curruca mystacea). A scarce overwintering bird in Oman

Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra) is only found in Northern Oman

After this good start we moved to a close gorge totry to find some of the goodies living there. In our way, a Variable Wheatear appear in the top of a large boulder. Our walk inside the wady proufed soon to be a good idea. A lovely Ménétriesˋs Warbler appeared right in front of us, providing good views not only on its markings, but also in the lovely movements of its tail. It could not be more different from a Sardinian!

A further walk produced several Purple Sunbirds but also a superb Variable Wheatear and a lovely Levant Scrub Warbler that fly over us to stop a bit beyond! Happy after such a great stop, we came back to our van, where another Hume’s Wheatear was waiting for us!

While searching for proper views on Hume’s Leaf Warbler we found some Arabian Toads (Bufo arabicus)

At the end of the morning the temperature raised. It was time to drive a short distance to a local restaurant to have some food and rest. The afternoon was going to be long!

During the afternoon, we explore one of the largest gorges in the Al Harar mountains. Here we were expecting to find the extremely unknown Omani Owl, that was discovered in 2004 and it is only known from this gorges. But first we were to explore some some oases that can concentrate some good birds. Just arrived we had some Lesser Whitethroats moving in the trees along with our firsts Plain Leaf Warblers. This tiny Phylloscopus breeds in Northern Iran and Western Turkmenistan so it is always a treat! The area was having good warbler activity, but not even in our best dreams we expected what was next. Suddenly, a Mountain Chiffchaff started calling in a small tree right by our side. We played the call of the bird, and it came! It showed really well the really white supercilium, that came to its maximum above the lore. Also, it was possible to see a nice white contrast in its throat. We enjoyed good views for some seconds, and everybody in the group got to see the bird before it flew off to go somewhere else. We still listened the bird time to time! This Mountain Chiffchaff was relocated and photographed by Markus Craig on February 24th, 2022.

Right when the Moutain Chiffchaff called and showed in front us, another call came from more distant canopies. I really didnˋt want to trust my ears, but it really sounded like a Humeˋs Leaf Warbler! So, after some listening we decided to get closer (the bird sounded from a quite dark corner of the oases with not a really easy access). Once there, we spent half an hour trying to see the bird. Time to time clearly heard the call, sometimes really close inside a large, dense bush. We all got views on Lesser Whitethroat and Plain Leaf Warbler in that corner, but the best we could manage on this Humeˋs Leaf Warbler was a poor view on the wing bar…

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), a scarce resident bird in Northern Oman

Back to the open, the first Grey Wagtail of the trip apperared in the most open area of the oases. It was time, anyway, to move to the best corners for owl. We did a good wait, and despite scouting the walls we were uncapable to have any contact with such a mysterious bird. Instead, we got good views into Blue Rock Thrush and 2 Egyptian Vultures flying by the large walls, but probably the best was the good views on 3 Lappet-faced Vultures that soared above our heads in lovely afternoon light.

The day had been great and full of surprises, but it was now time to go our accommodation and get some rest.

Day 3. The first was the day of our transfer from the North of the country to the Dhoffar region, in the far South of Oman, and neightbouring Yemen. It is a long drive that, surprisingly, can be really productive in term of birds.

After the successful finds of the afternoon before, we decided to go back to the that oases and try to have some pictures in these really scarce Warblers (both rarities for the country). We did spent about 2 hours in the area, but we were uncapable to do so. Mountain Chiffchaff was showing brief but nicely in a tree before flying away for over 150 metres. It called sometimes and we were all satisfied with that. The Humeˋs Leaf Warbler was much worst as it only called twice and no one in group managed to have any views on the bird.

A bit disappointed after this unproductive stop we kept going with our long transfer South to Salalah. We didn’t have any proper birding until mid-day, when we did stop for lunch in Qitbit, in the abandoned grounds of a closed hotel. After our picnic we enjoyed a short walk in the shade. There were several White Wagtails around, and we had our first hammomedri Lesser Whitethroats of the trip, with their characteristic, Wren-like calls. The grounds were rather low in term of birds but our short walk was still providing us with a pair of surprises, a Song Thrush came out from the bush, a Great Reed Warbler was moving inside a small reed patch in the grounds (the only one Great Reed along the trip) and a surprising Western Barn Owl flew out from a palm tree and gave us good views for a while. It was a big surprise to find out a Barn Owl in such a small orchad in the middle of nowhere!

Western Barn Owls (Tyto alba) inhabitates desert oases in Oman

A bit more of driving allowed to explore one of the many — farms in this part of the desert. We are about 2 to 3 hours of driving West of the Dhoffar, and here there is water in the subsoil, allowing these kind of farming. We different areas, all of them having good numbers of both Desert and Isabelline Wheatears. Here we also had our firsts Tawny Pipits and Greater Hoopoe-Larks of the trip. Small flocks of Brown-necked Ravens were all around, while tens (yes, tens) of Eurasian Kestrels were hunting the very common insects in the place. Just arrived, a flock of a very promising larks were moved out from our location by a Kestrel so we just came closer to the area and wait. There were several Yellow Wagtails, but also Tawny Pipits and Crested Larks. Large flocks of Sandgrouses were moving in the distance, mainly Chestnut-bellieds, and some of the moved closer, including a pair of Spotted Sandgrouses that flew right above our heads, providing excellent views!

Ranking high in the worst-ever-Bimaculated-Lark-image…

Some minutes after our waiting was regarded as a lovely flock of 26 Bimaculated Larks just came back to field to feed on the ground. They allowed excellent views in flight, showing their brownish underwing and tiny, rounded tails. For me, far more used to see Calandra Larks than Bimaculateds, it was a pleasure to have such a good views on this species! Moreover, when the flock flew over, 1 Arabian Lark was seen flying along with them, and it could be identified thanks to the tail pattern. The meadows still provided good views on 4 Common Snipes, several Western Marsh Harriers and distant views on 2 circling Pallid Harriers.

Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor aucheri)

One of the several Isabelline Wheatears (Oenanthe isabellinus) during the tour

Leaving the area, we still enjoyed more views on Desert & Isabelline Wheatears, before going back to the main road and drive the last 2 hours until Salalah, where we did arrive before dinner time.

Day 4. Our first day complete day in Southern Oman provided an amazing array of birdlife, including some of the finest Dhoffar specialities and a good variety of the wildfowl overwintering in this stunning region.

Our first stop was at one of the best known areas for variery and amount of passerines. Here we find an open forest, with several fig trees right at the footstep of the impressive Dhoffar mountains.

Right after leaving the van we got some of the first birds of the day. In the open plains around Salalah we got our firsts Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks, a lovely flock of 3 males and 2 females feeding on the ground along with Isabelline Wheatears. Nearby, flocks of Cinnamon-breasted Buntings & Rüppell’s Weavers were fiding in the area along with African Silverbills and a pair of beautiful Blackstarts. After enjoying these wonderful birds we just walked 50 meters before a “taking” called our attention. Soon, we disovered a Eastern Olivaceous Warbler moving up in a thornbush, joined soon by a Lesser Whithethroat and handsome Graceful Prinias! Things were happening fast, and a pair of minutes later we found a Long-billed Pipit walking among the trees while the firsts Arabian Sunbirds were showing up in the trees around. In the distance, a Turkestan Shrike appeared, and we were lucky to move that way, since 50 metres away from the Shrike a superb Arabian Chameleon was taking a sunbath! We all enjoyed amazing views on the Chameleon, that was really exposed to any potential predator!

Tristam’s Starling (Onychognatus tristamii)

After such a lucky finding we came back the main woodland. Flocks of Tristam’s Starlings were coming into the fig trees, joined by White-spectacled Bulbuls and some superb African Paradise Flycatchers. A very short walk produced then the first of up to 7 Arabian Warblers that morning. It took us some time to enjoy a full view on this individual, but it was worth the time invested not only because of the great views at the end, but also because a small break in our particular fight with this Arabian speciality produced great views on a Pale RockFinch that simply arrived at the top a small tree next to us! That bird created a huge wave of happiness in the group, since it is a really scarce species, normally relicted to the far Nort West corner of Oman, with scattered sights anywhere else!

Still more activity. Even before leaving the Arabian Warbler, another great bird appeared. A black and white, long-tailed bird was moving 50 metres away in the lowest part of the trees. Yes, it was a female Masked Shrike! Well, we did move little to enjoy this masterpiece of the shrikes. After spending some minutes admiring such a pearl, we just realised that we were right beside our car! Everything happened in a 150 metres cercle around!!

Masked Shrike (Lanius nucibus). Probably the same individual that we found in October 2021

Arabian Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegallus percivali), a serious candidate to become a new full species.

Well, this time we took it seriously to go a bit beyond. Once we were about 200 metres away from our car, a new set of species appeared. An (Arabian) Black-crowned Tchagra just appeared from the tree next to us to offer us great views. Here, Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpipers were feeding in the stream, along with flocks of Tristam’s Starlings, African Silverbills and Buntings. 4 Common Snipes flew up from a really muddy corner, and a short exploration of the area produced a lovely Pin-tailed Snipe that flew up, calling in flight, and showing its very dark underwing. Bingo!

Here the area becomes shady, and African Paradise Flycatchers take over the place. 5, 6 individuals chasing flies and other insects. Bulbuls were everywhere, but also 2 Hoopoes and 1 Eurasian Wryneck was moving along with them!

Finally arrived to the proper corner, and while explaining how to tell apart the call of the target here, some birds starting to chirring over our heads. And there were there, 7 Arabian Grosbeaks feeding right above our heads!!!

Well, little can be said to explain the emotion of the moment. We had 2 of them feeding at only 5 metres away. This is a scarce, extremely difficult bird to find, and we were granted with walk-away views on them! The birds were feeding in green berries, and for the 25 minutes that we spent with them, they never stopped feeding them!!

Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali), probably the most sought-after and difficult bird in Oman!

We were granted with amazing views on Arabian Grosbeaks!

Well, that was an amazing way to finish our first stop in the Dhoffar. It was only 10:30 in the morning!!!

Second stop of the morning, this time to explore a small coastal wetland, one of the many along the coast around Salalah. Not a huge amount of birds but still got our firsts views on Citrine Wagtails in the tour, plus 3 Pacific Golden Plovers, another Turkestan Shrike, several Western Reef Egrets and a majestic fulvescens Greater Spotted Eagle, a scarce form of this wonderful raptor that shows creamy wing and body coverts, and that recalls a compact Tawny Eagle! But the best bird in this spot appeared in our way back to the van, when a superb Richard’s Pipit just came out the wady to stop on a branch some 20 metres away from us! After staying there for half a minute, it flew over to stop on hte top of a close cliff. Another bird that was really celebrated in the group!!

A “fulvencens” Greater Spotted Eagle. Always a wonderful bird to see!

This Richard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi) popped out in a rocky outcrop!

For our picnic, we went to a nearby wooded spot, where we had a pleasant brise and flocks of Abyssinian White-eyes moving around. It was warmer than usual in this season, so we agreed a short break in our accommodation and enjoy a good rest.

In the afternoon, we visited another wetland, one of the best around Salalah actually. There, in a lovely afternoon light, we enjoyed a long array of species. 200+ Glossy Ibises were feeding and moving in the river mouth. Around, small parties of waders (Ruffs, Black-winged Stilts, Black-tailed Godwits, Temminck’s Stints and Dunlins) were also feeding while 100+ Greater Flamingoes were lighting the river mouth with its colourful plomages. Among the Glossy Ibises we foung our only Intermediate Heron of the trip, and also a lovely juvenile African Spoonbill, a good ratiry in Oman!! About 40 Garganeys were also present, as so they were 3 Eurasian Wigeons and several Common Pochards. An accurate scanning of the area revealed 3 Ferruginous Ducks and 7 Cotton Pygmy Geese! In the shoreline, Terns and Gulls were starting to concentrate: Heuglin’s & Steppe Gulls mostly, but also 2 Caspian Gulls. We also got close views on Caspian Terns resting along with Slender-billed Gulls (always shocking to see that they are as big as these lovely gulls!), and 3 White-winged Black Terns + 2 Gull-billed Terns were also noted. It was already late afternoon, and dozens of House Crows and some hundreds of Common Mynas started to concentrate on its roosting site, a densed vegetated island in the river mouth. Without doubt a great way to end our first day in the Dhoffar!

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) along with Slender-billed Gulls

African Spoonbill (Platalea alba). Another surprise!

Cotton Pygmy Geese (Nettapus coromandelianus)

Day 5. Back to the desert. After a gorgeous 4th day, this day we faced an early start to explore the desert in search of the good specialities living in the oases. The day was ruff and cold (for the desert startards) with several clouds and some wind. A wind that will join us for the next days and make our journey a bit more difficult, and slightly less productive.

Our morning visit to Mudday was quite productive. Early in the morning, we enjoyed some potential Siberian Chiffchaffs, and at least 3 of them proved their identity by calling several times. The area was not so filled up with birds as other times, but we still had some views on 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Bluethroat in a tiny muddy spot. Our main target here was the mythical Hypocolius, a bird that we had seen here twice in previous issues. But despite checking all the corners of the oases, we couldn’t find any this time… However, the area was really interesting and our short walks around produced excellent views on 2 Namaqua Doves male, Blackstarts, Arabian Bee-eater and 2 superb Eastern Imperial Eagles that made the effort worth it. A further scanning revealed 4 Desert Larks feeding on the ground.

Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus tristis) keeps small overwintering populations in Oman

But the morning was passing and we didn’t have sign of any Sandgrouse (another good reason to explore Mudday). The weather was cold and cloudy, so we decided to take the car a prove a different spot, some miles away. Here we had more luck, a got some small flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses flying around, and after some waiting, we got to see a gorgeous flock of 12 Crowned Sandgrouses coming to drink water into a tiny pond! Delighted after the views on the Sandgrouses (but at the same time surprised for the chilly weather and low occurrence of birds, we still moved further South.

There, we didn’t find any other Sandgrouse but 14 Sand Partridges moving in the desert that provided the group with good views while moving in the rocky slopes. A short walk around produced also our only 1 Nile Valley Sunbird of the trip feeding in Lobellias as well as an extra flock of Desert Larks!

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) during our morning in Mudday

Back to Salalah, we realised how windy was in the coast. During the coming days, the Dhoffar was going to be hit by a tropical (wind) storm, with speeds raising over 80kms/hour. A metheorological phenomenom really uncommon in this part of the world. Despite the situation, we decided to explore some areas around Raysut that, surprisingly, were sheltered against the wind.

A fast exploration around the Raysut landfill produced 100+ White Storks and close views on over 40+ handsome Abdim’s Storks. Moreover, the first Steppe Eagle of the trip just flew over the van when we were enjoying the Storks! But here was windy and unconfortable so we moved to the coast to explore another river mouth. Here, after locating a sheltered corner where to set up the scope, we got a unforgettable birding session.

The river mouth was filled up with waders. Up to 15 species of them, with special remarks on 10+ Terek’s Sandpipers feeding nearby and several Lessers & Greaters Sandplovers. Dunlins, Little Stints, Grey Plovers, Eurasian Curlews, Whimbrels, Kentish Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Oystercatchers and Turnstones were all seen among other species. 5 Greater Spotted Eagles were sat at different corners, 1 of them quite close to us, and dozens of Gulls and Terns were in the river mouth itself. A bit beyond, a massive bird was resting in the shallow water: a Dalmatian Pelican!!! I seriously thought that we were the first to see this amazing bird (2nd for Oman?) but once in the hotel I saw that the bird was present since November…

Well, that was something to enjoyed, especially after the Pelican was moved by a Greater Spotted Eagle, and came closer to us!! We were still not recovered from this when a further scanning revealed an African Openbill in the river mouth! Gorgeous! Probably the same bird that we found here during our tour in October 2021!! It was really too good to be real. We spend quite a lot of time enjoying these birds and scanning the flocks of Terns and Gulls in search of any different species, but we only got 3 Common Terns and a flyby African Sacred Ibis (there is a tiny population of this bird nesting in Southern Oman. No scapes, but a natural expansion from Yemen and the Horn of Africa).

After some time, the dust in the air became a bit uncomfortable, so we decided to go back to our accommodation for a kind of early end of the day! Despite the wind, this was a wonderful 2nd day in the Dhoffar.

Obliging Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) along with gulls & terns

African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)

Day 6. This day our group went to explore the Dhoffar uplands. The day was still very windy, and this affected the number of birds along the day. Our first stop was to explore a well known corner in the uplands, about 800 metres high.

Here we got excellent views on Palestine & Arabian Sunbirds, but also Tree Pipits, African Paradise Flycatchers, Long-billed Pipits and really close views on a wonderful male Siberian Stonechat, a scarce overwintering bird in Oman. Here, the area is covered by large grasslands with large, scattered fig trees and small villages. The whole area is great for birds of prey and it didn’t take long before we had our firsts Steppe Eagles flying around. Soon after, 2 superb Eastern Imperial Eagles appeared in the sky followed by 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle.

African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis), one of the most wonderful African specialites living in Oman

Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri), already considered as a full species in some lists

Along our short walk we also had 12 Arabian Partridges, another endemic that sometimes can be hard to find. Our second stop of the morning produced Isabelline Wheatears but also lovely views on a pair of Arabian Wheatears. Here, massive cliffs hosts good populations of Fan-tailed Ravens, and we also got excellent views on Blue Rock Thrush. One of the goals to come to these cliffs is to look for Verreaux Eagle, a large eagle living in broken terrain that has in the Dhoffar a small population.

Unfortunately we could not find any Verreaux Eagle during our visit, but got proper views on a Long-legged Buzzard, another really sought-after bird of prey in this region.

Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala) & Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides), another 2 Arabian endemics

Early in the afternoon we went to explore the palm groves inmediatly around Salalah. This is a large area that also includes some interesting open corners. Again, the wind made our exploration a bit more difficult than usual but still we got excellent views on at least 3 Crested Honey Buzzards and 14 Spotted Thick-knees. En route, we also enjoyed 2 Greater Spotted Eagle and the only one Booted Eagle along the tour.

It was already bit late in the afternoon so we went back to the hills to explore a small, narrow valley. Full of hope to be sheltered against the wind, we arrived there at 16:30, and after enjoying the wonderful small gorge surrounded by a lovely decidous forest, our efforts were granted with good views on 4 Bruce’s Green Pigeons in a tree nearby. Happy after this rather unexpected reward, we moved up in the gorge until we reached a proper corner, really sheltered from the wind.

Here we all waited for the sunset, and some minutes later we were all enjoying wonderful views on 2 Arabian Scops Owls, a recent split from African Scops Owl (2004). Really happy after the a quite productive day, we went back to our accommodation for a good dinner and rest!

Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae), a recent (2004) split from African Scops Owl

Day 7. After 3 days of strong winds, we finally woke up in a calm, very promising day! An early start was mandatory today to catch up with our offshore starting North from Salalah. But before arriving to the departing harbour, we did make a stop en route to check some superb reedbeds. Here, at raising, we enjoyed excellent views on 4 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas while feeding on the floating vegetation. 2 Whiskered Terns were patrolling the area, crossing in the air with the many Western Marsh Harriers leaving their roost. These reedbeds are not only refugee for the Harriers, but also for 3 Barn Swallows and hundreds of Common Mynas that were also leaving at that time. A carefully checking of the flocks revealed a Rosy Starling, then 2 more. Later a small flock of 6, 10, 14 and scattered individuals all along with Mynas! At the end, we estimated no less than 42 Rosy Starlings moving out from the reeds!!!

Well, went to the harbour, but had to do a last stop before arriving, an obliging Abdim’s Stork was having a short walk along the road itself, just a mile away from the harbour! Once by the boats, we enjoyed excellent views on Heuglins & Sooty Gulls, and close ups to Western Reef Egrets. The sea was calm, and beyond the typical views on the roosting Black-crowned Night Herons, this offshore provided as a starter magnificent views on a 60+ False Killer Whale pod, and got quite long and close views on these large dolphins!

Part of the False Killer Whale (Pseudoorca crassidens) pod during our offshore

On birds, we did have as many views on Masked Booby as never before. No less than 25 individuals were counted, mainly passing by but also on the water along with Sooty Gulls. Persian Shearwaters were not uncommon, and we all enjoyed really good views in passby birds. After a careful scanning, we finally found 2 Jouanin’s Petrels that, even if didn’t allow us close views, provided excellent comparitions with both Persian & Flesh-footed Shearwaters. When we were coming back, a Leatherhead Sea Turtle emerged in front of boat, allowing a short but good view.

In our way, a pod of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins provided really good looks, and a single Red-necked Phalarope was the perfect end for our pelagic!

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). The only individual that we had during our offshore

Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax) didn’t show for long this time, but well enough!

Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) along with Sooty Gull

Once on the ground, we came back to the hotel for an early lunch, and after a short break, we drove South to explore some wetlands. Our first stop was to see what we could find in a small river mouth. As usual, it was fithered with waterfowl: Greater Flamingoes, Eurasian Teals, Eurasian Curlews, Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeons but also 5 Eurasian Spoonbills, 17 Garganeys, 28 Greater White-fronted Geese, 5 Terek’s Sandpipers and 1 Red-knobbet Coot (the only one of the tour!).

A second stop was devoted to do some sea watching. It didn’t take long to see our first targets: large flocks of Socotra Cormorants emerged from the see, flying in dense formations towards South. 1, 2, 3, 4 flocks, each one numbering 100 to 200 individuals! Around, tens and tens of terns (Lesser Crested but also Greater Crested, Sandwich and Common) and 5-7 Brown Bobbies with some “close” views.

Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)

To end the day, we drove inland all along a valley. Our purpose was to explore a small wady with some jewels living on them. Only a few minutes after arriving, a Hooded Wheatear appeared in the area, providing really good looks. For the next speciality we had to wait until sunset, but was worth it not only because of the caravans of camels in their way to their resting place, but also (and especially) because of the wonderful views on a hadsome Desert Owl that came out from the darkness. Very satisfied after such a great views, we still had a last surprise in the form of a Eurasian Stone Curlews that appeared under the lights of our van to end the day!!!

Our group enjoyed lovely views on Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)

Day 8. Our time in the Dhoffar was ending, and today we were facing a long transfer. But we still had some time for enjoying great birding. Our first stop was inmediatly West of the Dhoffar massif. Here, a short walk in desert like ambient allowed us to contact with two lovely Asian Desert Warblers, a bird that we were missing until that moment!

From there, we drove a bit until arriving to the first of two locations where to explore the wonderful grass fields in this part of the country. Our first stop didn’t produce much our of Yellow Wagtails until 1 male Amur Falcon just appeared in front of us!! This is an amazing falcon, quite similar to Red-footed Falcon. It nests in Central Asia and overwinters in Southern Africa. In Oman it is a scarce migratory and winter speciality, always pretty scarce!

Our second location, only 40 minutes away from the first one, offered us 3 Namaqua Doves, 2 Pallid Harriers, small flock of Bimaculated Larks and 4 Greater Hoopoe Larks.

After lunch, we just finished our transfer, reaching Duqm well before dinner.

Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana) took some time to show this year

This handsome male Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) was probably the most surprinsing bird of the tour

Day 9. This day was devoted to enjoy the massive tydal planes around Masirah Island. Here, a section of coast extending for more than 50 miles, it is thought to be the main wintering pole for waders in Arabia with 1 milion birds estimated!

But before reaching this Eden, we had to do a stop en route. A small wady, usually totally dry, had water! Stop and check. Desert Wheatear and Levant Shrikes were noted, also 3 Citrine Wagtails and an interesting flock of 23 Wood Sandpipers were feeding in the stream along with 6 Temminck’s Stints. While checking for something else, 4 flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses passed over us. Two of them stopped up in the stream, but we could not located on the ground.

This beautiful corner in the desert produced 23 Wood Sandpipers!

Almost two hours of road separate Duqm from our secret corner for Crab Plovers. When arrived, it was late morning. A large mudflat was in front of us, and large amounts of waders were feeding on it. Here we had many Curlew Sandpipers feeding along Little Stints, Dunlins and some Sanderlings. Both Lesser Sandplover and Greenshanks were common all along, with many Redshanks and Bar-tailed Godwits here and there. We took our time to check some flocks of gulls, but nothing interesting came out this time…

Steppe & Heuglin’s Gulls (Laurs fuscus barabensis & heughini) along with Sooty Gull and 1 Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) at the top left of the image

After some scanning, we finally found our first flock of Crab Plovers: 4 individuals appeared in the distance! After some waiting, more and more Crab Plovers were arriving, totalling 47 in the best of our accounts. We really had great views on these massive birds, walking in the mud or having small arguments with the very common Western Reef Egrets!

In the afternoon, we moved 30 miles to the South to check a different spot. There, again by the mudflats, we were surprised to find 4 Spotted Redshanks (our only 4 of the tour!), but also 4 handsome Saunder’s Terns fishing in front of us at close range, all of them showing the well defined outer black primaries. In the mud, 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers were found and allowed good views along with Dunlins and Curlew Sandpipers. But the very best of the stop were the 4+ Great Knots that were roosting along with Bar-tailed Godwits. Even if far away, the birds allowed good views on their unmistakable bill when one of them decide to have a look around.

Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola). Always a cracker!

A dream for many European birdwatchers: Greater Sandplover (Charadrius leschenaultii) chasing a Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)

Day 10. Last full day of the tour. A sunny, calm day to enjoy our last birding. During the morning we had a pair of stops expecting to improve the views that we had on Lappet-faced Vulture during the second day of the trip. Unfortunately, we failed to find out any of them. Instead, we had 3 Crested Honey Buzzards, Egyptian Vulture and lovely views on typical Northern species including Arabian Bee-eaters, Indian Rollers, Delicate Prinias and Indian Silverbills.

1st winter Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) male. The very last adding to our trip list!

Once in Muscat, we still had a pair of hours to explore Al-Qrm Park before going to the airport, so we enjoyed several White-eared Bulbuls, Bluethroat, Eurasian Whimbrels and Pallid Swifts in close views as they were coming down to drink water in a stream. But the real treat of the visit was a handsome male Yellow Bittern that appeared that showed up well inside a mimosa tree that was by the water. A wonderful addition to our list and a great way to end our tour to Oman.

After sunset, we still had time for a final stop by one of the most amazing, smart and surprising mosques in the city. A good way to say goodbye to this country, that hosts a gorgeous array of birdlife, and where every single stop can produce great surprises!

See full planing here: https://barcelonabirdingpoint.com/tour-por-pais/oman-link-between-two-continents-2/

Species of bird seen along the tour:

1. Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
2. Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
3. Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
4. White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
5. Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
6. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
7. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
8. Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
9. Pintail (Anas acuta)
10. Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
11. Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
12. Northern Shoverler (Spatula clypeata)
13. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
14. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
15. Tutfed Duck (Aythya fuligula)
16. Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
17. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
18. Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronata)
19. Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
20. Feral Dove (Columba livia)
21. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
22. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
23. Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
24. Bruce’s Gree Pigeon (Treron waalia)
25. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
26. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
27. Red-knobbet Coot (Fulica cristata)
28. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
29. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
30. Eurasian Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
31. Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)
32. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
33. Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)
34. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
35. Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus)
36. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
37. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
38. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
39. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
40. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
41. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
42. Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
43. Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
44. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
45. Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
46. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
47. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
48. Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
49. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
50. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
51. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
52. Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
53. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
54. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
55. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
56. Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
57. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
58. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
59. Broad-billed Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus)
60. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
61. Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
62. Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
63. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
64. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
65. Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
66. Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
67. Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
68. Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)
69. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
70a. Heughlin’s Gull (Larus fuscus heuglini)
70b. Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis)
71. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
72. Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
73. Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
74. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
75. Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
76. Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
77. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
78. White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)
79. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
80. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
81. Saunder’s Tern (Sternula saundersi)
82. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
83. White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
84. Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus)
85. Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes)
86. Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
87. Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)
88. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
89. African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)
90. Masked Booby (Sula dactylara)
91. Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
92. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
93. Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
94. African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
95. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
96. African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
97. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
98. Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
99. Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
100. Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
101. Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
102. Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
103. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
104. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
105. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
106. Intermediate Heron (Ardea intermedia)
107. Western Reed Egret (Egretta gularis)
108. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
109. Great White Heron (Agrodiaetus albus)
110. Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
111. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
112. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
113. Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
114. Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
115. Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
116. Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
117. Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
118. Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
119. Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata)
120. Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
121. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
122. Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
123. Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
124. Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
125. Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
126. Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)
127. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
128. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
129. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
130. Arabian Bee-eater (Merops
131. Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
132. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
133. Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)
134. Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
135. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Pstittacula krameri)
136. Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalensis)
137. Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
138. Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
139. Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)
140. Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis aucheri)
141. African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)
142. White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
143. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
144. White-spectacled Bulbul (Pynonotus xanthopygos)
145. House Crow (Corvus splendens)
146. Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
147. Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus)
148. Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
149. Black-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
150. Arabian Lark (Eremolauda eremodites)
151. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
152. Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
153. Pale Crag Martin (Ptynoprogne obsoleta)
154. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
155. Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
156. Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida)
157. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
158. Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus tristis)
159. Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus)
160. Hume’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
161. (Caucasian) Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzii)
162. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)
163. Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
164. Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
165. Streaked Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta)
166. Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)
167. Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
168. Eastern Orphean Warbler (Curruca crassirostris)
169. Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)
170. Ménétriés’s Warbler (Curruca mystacea)
171. Abyssinian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
172. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
173. Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)
174. Tristam’s Starling (Onychognathus tristamii)
175. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
176. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
177. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
178. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
179. Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
180. Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
181. Desert Wheatear (Onenanthe deserti)
182. Blackstart (Oenanther melanura)
183. Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
184. Variable Wheatear (Oenanthe picata)
185. Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra)
186. Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha)
187. Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
188. Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)
189. Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)
190. Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri)
191. Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
192. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
193. Pale Rockfinch (Carpospiza brachydactyla)
194. Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
195. Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea)
196. African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
197. Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
198. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
199. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
200. Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
201. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
202. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
203. Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
204. Richard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi)
205. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
206. Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
207. Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata)
208. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

List of mammals seen during the trip:

1. False Killer Whale (Pseudoorca crassidens)
2. Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

List of reptilians seen during the trip:

1. Arabian Chameleon (Chamaeleo arabicus)
2. Leatherhead Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
3. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

List of amphibians seen during the trip:

1. Arabian Toad (Bufo arabicus)

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) was a good adding for our Omani list

Oman Birding Tour 2021 Trip Report

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Dates: October 26th to November 4th

Number of participants: 3

Species seen: 205

In the falll of 2021 it looked like the Covid-19 pandemia was at its end, or at least that it was giving us a well deserved truce. Several countries had relaxed their restrictions, and many reopened to tourism, even if still requiring specific tests or documents to go beyond their borders.

*Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetos), a common sight in some Omani wetlands. All images in the post by Carles Oliver unless otherwise indicated*

In this context, we arranged with a small group of clients a trip to Oman. This tour was delayed from January 2021, but circumstances forced them to choose the end of October to visit the country, even when probably the best season to explore this unique nation goes from mid-November to January. The option proved really productive and interesting despite the rather high temperatures (from 21 to 34ºC), and some windy afternoons, especially in the North of the country.

Day 1, October 26th. The group arrived in stages during the day before (October 25th) to meet during the evening in the inmigration checkpoints at Muscat International Airport, and we all transfer for a welcome dinner in our nearby hotel.

After enjoying the Omani food, our first day was devoted to explore some wetlands inside Greater Muscat. Our first stop was at Al Ansab wetlands, a small area of ponds and reedbeds recently recovered by the local water company. But even before arriving to our first spot, we got a first good surprise in the way of a 1st winter Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) right in front of our hotel. We didn’t know at that moment, but that was our only Woodshrike of the whole tour!

*White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis), a common bird in Northern Oman.*

Al Ansab was starting to get the winter visitors. There we got good numbers of Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca), Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata), Gadwalls (Anas strepera), Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax), Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola), Little Stints (Calidris minuta), Common Snipes (Gallinago gallinago), Pied Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) and Temminck’s Stints (Calidris temminckii). A flock of 5 Ferruginous Ducks (Aythya nyroca) was a nice surprise, and the group enjoyed very much the good and different views on Marsh Sandpipers (Tringa stagnatilis) along the lagoon. Here we also had first views on some common species in the area: Purple Sunbirds (Cinnyris asiaticus), Delicate Prinias (Prinia lepida) and Indian Silverbills (Eudice malabarica) were showing all around while flocks of White-eared Bulbuls (Pycnonotus leucotis) were noisily feeding in the tamarisks around. Some dizzing up in the sky announced the presence of some Citrine Wagtails (Motacilla citreola) in the area, moving to the extensive grasses where flocks of Common Mynas (Acridotheres tristis) were feeding. In the distance, the distinctive call of a flock of Grey Francolins (Francolinus pondicerianus) pointed us to the correct corner, and allowed us all good views on them.

*Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) in Al Ansad lagoons.*

A short walk exploring the area produced a good number of other species. In the reedbeds and scrubs we got good views on Clamarous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) and on a fast-moving Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides). The extensive canopies around had 2 abietinus-like Common Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita) and at least 1 Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus tristis) answering to the calls + a very vocal Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), and the first of a long list of Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata) along the tour. The channels around were full with Great White Egrets (Agrodietus albus) and Western Reef Egrets (Egretta gularis) + 2 Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) and one 1st winter Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea). Small flocks of Arabian Green Bee-eaters (Merops cyanophrys) & Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters (Merops persicus).

In the way out, we still had a chance to enjoy 5 Garganeys (Spatula querquedula), 1 male Wigeon (Anas penelope) and our first Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) patrolling the wetlands and showing usperbly, but probably the best bird was a male Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) showing well in our way out of this hotspot.

*Garganeys (Spatula querquedula) at sunset*

Our second move was to explore some coastal areas, where we had first views on several common waders but also the very firsts Greater Sand Plovers (Charadrius leschenaultii) and Lesser Sand Plovers (Charadrius mongolus) of the tour. Here we also got good views on a flock of Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva), sometimes showing side by side with Lesser Sands. In the sea side we had also good views on Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bangalensis) and good comparition with Greater Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii) and Common Terns (Sterna hirundo). A fast seawatch revealed here 1 Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus) and 3 Common Gulls (Larus canus) moving along with 2 Caspian Gulls (Larus cachinnans).

*Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)*

After some rest we moved to Al Qrum Natural Park for an evening birding. Despite being a bit quiet if compared with other visits, especially when talking about passerines, the area still produced excellent views on Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), Citrine Wagtails (Motacilla citreola), Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Purple & Striated Herons (Butorides striata), the first Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) of the tour while it was being harrased by a flock of House Crows (Corvus splendens) , several Indian Rollers (Coracias benghalensis) and a rather surprising Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispanoliensis) male!

*Indian Rollers (Coracias benghalesis) are common during winter in Northern Oman, but they keep being a rarity in the Southern part of the country*

Day 2. Early morning start to explore some of the wonderful inland landscapes in Northern Oman. A short transfer from Mascate allows a substantial change in the landscape, and the impressive Al Harar Mountains show up. This morning we enjoyed some gullies and open, dry plains with scattered thornbush. It is a wonderful landscape and prove to be full of birdlife.

A combination of short walks soon prove to be really productive. The firsts Lesser Whitethroats (Sylvia curruca) were soon seen, some of the singing. Here they all look like from halimodendri, with evident black lores and absence of supercillium. A small flock of Sand Partridges (Ammoperdix heyi) were feeding around, but only allowed short views as they were running away. As we got inside the gullies, we found some normal birds for this landscapes including Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Plain Crag Martin (Ptynoprogne obsoleta) and our firsts Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) and Levant Grey Shrikes (Lanius excubitor aucheri) of the tour + a rather distant Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha). The areas with some vegetation concentrated several Purple Sunbirds, and along with them Lesser Whitethroats but also 1 Wood Warbler and, at least, 1 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida). Here we were also delaighted with close views on 2 Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps), a species often difficult to find! While enjoying these wonderful birds we got a bird sitting in a bush, and turned out to be a Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus). Now the group split into two, with some people admiring the Shrike, while others trying to get good shots in the nervous Babblers. But the party was no over, because right there a pair of Levant Scrub Warblers (Scotocerca inquieta) just showed out in the same scrub where Shrike was shinning out! This was a brilliant moment of the tour, with three top birds showing simultaniously!

*Obliging Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) during our exploring the Al Harar Mountains*

*Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps), a bird that keeps expanding its range in Arabia*

*The first of 2 Brown Shrikes (Lanius cristatus) during the tour appeared at the same time & bush than Arabian Babbler, Levant Scrub Warbler and Sand Pratridge!*

*Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)*

The sun was already really high, and it was getting warm so we started to move towards our lunch stop. After a good rest and food in the shade, we move to our afternoon location. During the next hours we were to explore one of the many huge gorges in the area. Here we were expecting to find the poorly-known Omani Owl (Strix butleri), but our chances were really decimated due to the strong wind. Even inside the gorge, the wind and the dust made birdwatching quite difficult and uncomfortable. We explored some oasis like corners in the gorge, and despite the difficult conditions, we got good views on Hume’s Wheatears (Oenanthe albonigra), Striolated Buntings (Emberiza striolata), Palestine Rock Dove (Columba livia palaestinae) and a single Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus). We spend some time scanning the cliffs, despite the poor visibility due to the dust in the air, but we got no sign of the owls. Still, our perseverance was granted with good views on a single Arabian Tarh (Arabitragus jayakari)!

*Purple Sunbirds (Cinnyris asiaticus) are extremely common in Northern Oman*

*Palestine Rock Doves (Columba livia palaestinae) in a large gorge in Al Harar Mountains*

Day 3. Early morning transfer to Liwa, the Western patch of mangroves holding a pair of very interesting species. Our hope was to connect with the endemic & scarce race of Collared Kingfisher (Alcyon chloris kalbaensis) living here. The area is also noted for herons and waders. Here we got some Striated Herons & Western Reef Egrets along with Clamorous Reed Warblers, but got no sign of the Kingfisher. Still, the area was filled up with migratory birds. Here we got the only Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) and the only Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) of the trip. Here we also got first views on Desert (Oenanthe deserti) and Isabelline Wheatears (Oenanthe isabellina). We counted 8 Indian Rollers feeding in the wires around, and minimum of 2 Pied Wheatears (Oenanthe pleschanka) moving in the same area. The large scrubby plains around the mangroves also produced excellent close up into Asian Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana), and 2 Eastern Black-eared Wheatears (Oenanthe melanoleuca) feeding along with a flock of Tawny Pipits (Anthus campestris) and Crested Larks (Galerida cristata)!

*Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis), a common in Oman*

*Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca)*

*Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), the commonest Lark in Oman*. Amazing how distinctive they are from Iberian Crested Larks!

In our way back to Mascate we did a stop in a golf course, enjoying flocks of Ruffs feeding in the short grass and being joined by Citrine & Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava). Here we also got some Common Snipes, Lesser Sand Plovers, a single Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and flyby male Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) before going back to our accommodation.

Day 4. This was the day of our transfer between Mascate and Salalah. And despite the long driving, it was also a great birding day. A number of selected stops produced a really interesting list of birds.

In the North, we enjoyed some birding in the stonnny planes beyond Al Harar Mountains, where we were lucky enough to have intimate views on Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles linchtensteinii) just by the lane! Here we also Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) and Indian Silverbills.

*Lichtenstein Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii) male in the stony desert*

For our picnic time, we enjoyed a small garden where a Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) seemed to be waiting for us. Here, already quite in the South, we got our firsts Abyssinian White-eyes (Zosterops abyssinicus) and intimate views on Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata). In the afternoon we had some time to explore some grass farms along the road, despite having another windy afternoon. It can be said that we arrived at the right time, as the fields were filled up with Greater Hoopoe-larks (Alaemon alaudipes), Isabelline Wheatears and Tawny Pipits. It always fascinated me how these areas, surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of desert, can hold such a wonderful birdlife!

*Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), a scarce bird in Oman during winter*

*1st winter Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)*

*Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), putative sarudnyi race*

The fields were full of birds, and a minimum of 2 Pallid Harriers and 3 Montagu’s Harriers (Circus pygargus) were hunting in the area along with 10+ Common Kestrels. Here we also counted 10+ European Rollers (Coracias garrulus) & Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides). The place was covered with Larks. Beyond the very common Crested Larks, we were surprised by a flying flock of Greater Short-toed Larks (Calandrella brachydactyla) that never stop in the short grass in front of us, but a pair of minutes later we got a small flock of 4 larks stopping close to the fields, and we were all happy to see that they were Arabian Larks (Ammomanes eremodites), formerly considered conespecific with Dunn’s Lark (Ammomanes dunnii), and a scarce bird in Oman!

*Crowned (left) & Spotted Sandgrouses (right) in flight*

*Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)*

Back to the road, we still had a last detour, this time to enjoy some Sandgrouses. Just in time, we were granted with several flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus) flying around us and stopping in the desert, while flocks of both Spotted (Pterocles senegallus) and Crowned Sandgrouses (Pterocles coronata) were also offering excellent flight views! A wonderful way to end our birding time. Only one hour after this we arrived to our accommodation in Salalah to get some rest and comment all the excellent birds that we got along the day!!

Day 5. Our first day in Salalah was one of the most wonderful that I remember in this area. We had an early start and covered the short distance between our accommodation and the first location of the day, and area of open woodland mid way up to the Dhoffar plateau.

Here we were soon enjoying a long list of specialities. The area was fullfilled with Cinnamon-breasted Buntings (Emberiza tapahisi), small flocks of Rüppells Weaver (Ploceus galbula) and some African Silverbills (Eudice cantans). The firsts Palestine Sunbirds (Cynniris osea) were also seen feeding in the highest part of the fig trees while the whistles of Tristam’s Startlings (Onychognatus tristamii) announced the arrival of some of flocks of them.

*Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tapahisi)*

*Arabian Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegallus percivalis)*

2 Brown-headed Kingfishers (Halcyon leucephala) were perched in low branches, trying to locate one of the large locustes that they predate on, while the always nervous African Paradise Flycatchers (Tersiphone viridis) looked like concentrated around a small pound nearby. A short walk around the area soon allowed us to find the first of 4 Arabian Warbler (Sylvia mmemelanea) seen that morning while feeding in some dense thickets. This individual was moving along with a Lesser Whitethroat, and allowed a good comparisition of size, structure and behaviour. One bush away, a Isabelline Shrike was also a good find, and a fast check in the thickets below it revealed a wonderful pair of Arabian Black-crowned Tchagras (Tchagra senegallus percivali) and our first Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis). The morning was being wonderful but it took better was a distant pale Shrike was seen. When landed, the Shrike described a cercle with its tail, and that meant only one thing! We fast moved closer and enjoyed good views on a 1stw Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus), a pretty scarce migratory bird in Oman! The bird was quite nervous and didn´t allow any close ups.

*African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)*

*Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) type blythi*

*1st winter Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus), a scarce migratory bird in Oman*

Back to the denser area we then found a wonderful mixed flock moving in the thickets: Here there were 2 Tchagras, 2-3 Arabian Warblers, some Abyssinian White-eyes, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 African Paradise Flycatcher and 2 handsome Eurasian Wrynecks (Jynx torquilla) that gave excellent views! Just beside them, but not really moving along, we also got excellent views on one pair of Blackstars (Oenanthe melanura). Another great adding to our wonderful morning list! We then decided to explore better the stream nearby. Here we had good numbers of Buntings, African Silverbills, Laughing Doves and White-eyes that were coming down for a bath. Here it was also a handsome Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) and 2 Green Sandpipers (Tringa ochropus). Suddenly, a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) landed in a nearby tree. But the most exciting of that corner was the flock of 4 Arabian Grosbeaks (Rhyncosthrurus percivali) flying over us and briefly landing on a tree, some 50 metres away from us. Two o the tree clients got good but brief views on them, but one of the members of the group could not connect with them. We spent quite a long time trying to relocate them, but we got nothing at all. Instead, we got our only Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) along with Spotted Flycatcher, Turkestan Shrike and a minimum of 6 African Paradise Flycatchers feeding in a lovely corner!

*Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)*

After such a wonderful start of the day we moved into a small gorge having a wonderful stream with rich swamp vegetation. Despite the heat, we also got an excellent selection of birds here: 2 Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) were hunting in the area (one of them hovering for almost 1 minute!), a large flock of 40 Pallid Swifts were also feeding in the skies. Down in the stream, a flock of 4 Wood Sandpipers were a good start. Citrine Wagtails were calling around and some Western Reef Egrets were feeding. Bird activity was low due to heat, but butterflies and dragonflies were at its best! We still spent some time by the stream, and our persistance was finally granted when a Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) flew from a patch of reeds to the next, showing well, but briefly.

*Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucephala)*

African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) at Raysut, 2nd record for Oman

After some rest, we went to spend the afternoon in the Raysut river mouth. Here we got a long list of specialities, but probably the most unexpected bird was an African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) resting along ith Grey Herons! It turned out to be only the 2nd record of this species for Oman!

The areas was as good as always about birding. Here we got our first full adult Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) of the trip. Also a minimum of 7 Terek’s Sandpipers (Xenus cinereus) that were really celebrated. Largo flocks of gulls (mainly Heuglin’s) were in the shore along with a flock of Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus). Around, several waders that included Lesser Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea), Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) and several Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia). A flock of Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) was flying around, trying to decide where to stop. A nearby Greater Spotted Eagle seemed really interested in the flock, while the 3 Western Ospreys (Pandion haliaetos) in the area were concentrated in the rocky outcrops. Several species of terns were around, including 4 White-winged Black Terns (Chlidonias leucotos), 1 Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) and several Lesser Crested Terns.

The last stop of this exciting day was in some sea cliffs South of Salalah. Here, the sea was fullfilled with Gulls and Terns. There were literally thousands of Terns, mainly Lesser Crested and Greater Crested, but here we also got Sandwich & Common Terns and at least 12 Bridled Terns (Onychoprion fuscata). Still, the most celebrated bird of the stop was one pretty close Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus) that all the tour participants got in the scopes! A wondeful way to end a extremely productive day!

Day 6. A new early start, this time to go back to the desert in search of some of the most iconic species living in Oman. We arrived to the location soon after the sun raising and soon had good views on Blackstarts and a confiding Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica). This oasis is a particularly good place for Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius amberinus), although it was a bit early in the season for them. We spend some time scanning different corners of the lush vegetation in search of this wonderful bird.

Sand Partridges (Ammoperdix heyi) were singing in the desert around, and a small walk allowed us to have good views in a male singing from the top of a small cliff. When coming back to the oases, a pair of Desert Larks (Ammomanes deserti) stole the show and gave us excellent views, and good photo chances. Back to the oases, 2 Lesser Whitethroats were calling in the trees right at the same moment that the first flock of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses arrived calling and passed over us in search of water. Only a pair of minutes later we had the only Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) of the tour, as one male showed briefly in the top of one of the trees. Almost at the same time, a flock of 18 Crowned Sandgrouses landed in a nearby plateau. We walked up but, unfortunately, we couln’t refind them on the ground… It was already mid-morning, and hundreds of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses were flying around the oases, providing amazing flight views that the whole group enjoyed very much. From our advantatged point, we also found a Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) feeding in the bare soil. Here we also enjoyed the best views on Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys) along the tour. We still spend some more time in the area, trying to find any Hypocolius, but we couldn’t not find any of them and the only remarkable addings to our list were a pair of Desert Wheatears and a distant Turkestan/Isabelline Shrike.

*Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)*

*Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)*

*Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus)*

Back to Salalah for lunch and some rest, we spent the afternoon visiting a pair of hotspots around Raysut. Our first stop was to visit a water compound, where we got some European Rollers and a good set of waders including some Marsh Sandpipers and the only Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius). Still, the most remarkable in this site was the flock of 27 Abdim’s Storks (Ciconia abdimii) that were resting around the compounds. This was a very awaited bird for the tour participants, and the presence of 2 White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) made a perfect combination to compare sizes and bills.

Then we moved inland to explore a gorge. In our way, an African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) flew over the car: another extra adding!

*Ruffs, Stilts, Marsh Sandpipers, Greenshanks & Little Stints at the Raysut compound*

*Abdim’s Storks (Ciconia abdimii), a very localised bird in Oman*

Once in the wady, we enjoyed some good views in 1 male Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) while flocks of Sand Partridges were flying all around. It was a really quiet afternoon, and the songs of some Striolated Buntings helped us in our wait to the sunset. Big rock boulders were scattered in the way, and we had good views on a Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis) moving in the rocky terrain. Once the night arrived, it didn’t take long until some “hooloes” came out of the cliffs around, and a pair of minutes after that we got horrific views on 1 Desert Owl (Strix hadorami) calling from different places around us in a magical moment that was considered for most of the tour participants and the best moment of the tour!

Happy after such a wonderful sight, we came back to our accommodation for a great dinner and rest.

Day 7. After enjoying a good breakfast we lived our hotel and drived North to enjoy a wonderful offshore in search of the good specialities living in the Arabian Sea. It was a pleasant and calm day, a bit warm but excellent to go into the sea. Our short transfer was not free of excitement because along the way we enjoyed the first Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) of the tour and an intimate view on Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetos) when arriving to the harbour.

Once in the getting out of the harbour, we got good views on Striolated Heron before getting out to the Ocean. Only a few minutes after leaving the harbour we got the first bird of interest as 2 Persian Shearwaters flew quite close to our boat. There were several Sooty Gulls around, with some Great Crested Terns passing over and Heuglin’s and Steppe Gulls in the move. A pair of Green Sea Turtles () were seen as getting away from the continent, but they didn’t allow any photo. Only some hundreds of yards away a black silhouette was seen flying over the water: The first Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)!

1stw Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis)

During the next 2 hours we enjoyed a minimum of 12+ Jouanin’s Petrels, with some really close views. This was, by far, the best offshore for Jouanin’s of all our trips to Oman. The calm day also allowed us to have good views on 4+ Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes), 7 Masked Boobies (Sula dactylora), 2 Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) and a distant Bridled Tern.

3 images of the Jouanin’s Petrels (Bulweria fallax)

Back to the continent, we headed to the impressive plateaus of the Dhoffar Mountains. In our way up, we found an Arabian Chameleon (Chamaeleon arabicus) and forced up to stop our way up. Once in the upper areas, we soon were enjoying good views in some large flocks of Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus) that were concentrating in large fig tree along with Tristam’s Starlings. The wires around proved to be producive and time to time a Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) was sitting on them, providing some great views. Our next target was the rather enygmathic Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis). We first tried at the typical place, but got nothing out of a nesting Blackstart and 2 Tree Pipits (Anthus trivialis). Then we drove some miles away to a place that worked really well during our last tour. Soon after parking we saw that the place was full of birds. Here we had 5+ Red-throated Pipits, 2 Tawny Pipits, 1 Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) flying over, 1 Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) showing superbly in a stone wall, 2 Singing Bush Larks (Mirafra cantillans) feeding on the ground and a wonderful Yemen Serin that appeared in the same stone wall by one abandoned house. This was again one of the top moments of the tour, as confidence in finding this bird was low among the tour participants. The place was even more productive than that: 4 European Rollers, 1 Montagu’s Harrier and the first Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) of the trip were an awesome complement to this site list!!

Arabian Chameleon (Chamaeleon arabicus). Image by tour participant Josep del Haro

Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis). This time we only found 1 individual!

Tristam’s Starlings (Onychognatus tristamii)

The misty ambient in the Dhoffar plateau

We kept riving North to arrive to some stunning cliffs overlooking the coastal plain and the ocean. In our way, several Isabelline Wheatears were seen along with Tristam’s Starlings and Common Kestrels. Once in the cliffs, we soon had good views on Arabian Wheatears (Oenanthe lugentoides) and Blue Rock Thrushes (Monticola solitarius) plus distant views on 1 Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii).

It was still early afternoon, so we drove back to Salalah to explore some areas in the palm tree orchads. Here we got excellent views on 10+ Spotted thick-knee (Burhinus capensis), Indian Pond Heron (Squacco grayii), 3 Shining Sunbirds (Cinnyris habessinicus), 1 Crested Honey Buzzard and 2 Arabian Chameleo. The sunset was close, so a new short transfer brought us to small gorge where we enjoyed some wonderful owling.

only a few minutes after our arrival we started listening the typical ouling of the Arabian Eagle Owls (Bubo milesi). Formerly considered conspecific with African Spotted Owl (Bubo capensis), this is now a new Arabian endemic and a much sought-after speciality. There were some birds calling around. 3, 4? Difficult to know. They all appeared to be quite high in the cliffs until one bird sunddenly started to call from only 150 metres away from us, in a large tree. We moved close to the tree, trying to locate the bird while was still calling, but got nothing. Fortunately, a 2nd individual appeared in the sky, flying over us and stopping in the same tree! That was a lucky sight!!

Very happy after such a great sight we then concentrated in the many Arabian Scops Owls (Otus pamelae) calling around. It didn’t take long before we were all enjoying a wonderful Scops Owl right in front of us. Another magical moment to add in this tour!! Little Owl (Athene noctua) was also noted calling in the clifffs, despite we never arrived to see it.

Day 8. This day we started to have a last visit to the open Euphorbia habitats inmediatly South of Salalah. Here we had excellent views on both Steppe and Eastern Imperial Eagles. We were in search of better views on Arabian Grosbeak, but never got them. Still, we did get 1 Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris) and a 1 “lucionensis” Brown Shrike (3rd official record for Oman if accepted)!

1st winter Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris)

Putative adult “lucionensis” Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus lucionensis) at Ayn Harar, Dhoffar.

After this good start, we then drove all the way to the sewage farms beyond Thumrait. There we got some excellent birding despite the intense heat. When arriving, we got 2 males Pallid Harriers having a nap in a small shade. Such a gorgeous sight took most of the group by surprise since they were resting right by the lane! Once inside the farms we were surprised by 4 Namaqua Doves (Oena capensis) flying over the grassy fields. The number of birds was low, but of top quality. Here we found 1 Pied Wheatear, 2 Siberian Stonechats (Saxicola maurus), 1 Eurasian Wryneck and 2 Rose-coloured Starlings (Pastor roseus) that were really celebrated in the group! Here we also got some Tawny Pipits, White Wagtails and a good number of Black-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) and Crested Larks, the only larks that afternoon.

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellinus)

Male Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). Image by tour participant Josep de Haro

Day 9. After enjoying a wonderful breafkast in our hotel in Duqm we drove North to explore the massive mudflats around Masirah Island. Our main target for that day was to locate some Crab Plovers (Dromas ardeola), a large black-and-white wader specialised in feeding on crabs and other hard-shield arthropodes. Desite their large size, they can be surprisingly hard to find, especially in the vasts tidal plains around Masirah Island. Fortunately we had a good place from previous years, so we headed directly to that place.

This very extensive mudflat concentrates around 1 milion waders in winter, so it is always a great place to visit. Here we had Tereks Sandpipers, Lesser & Greater Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, Kentish Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Ruddy Turnstones, Little & Temminck’s Stints and also 7+ Broad-billed Sandpipers (Limicola falcinellus), some of them moving in mixed flocks with several other species. We arrived soon after high tyde, so many waders were really close to the shores when we arrived. In the bush around 1 Clamorous Reed Warbler was calling, and 2 Red-throated Pipits were also in the move. Still, the most interesting passerine was being harrased by a Dunlin in the beach. I first thought that it was a Sparrow, but fastly I found myself screaming to everybody since we were having a Turkestan Short-toed Lark (Alaudala heinei) right in front of us! We were lucky because everybody had good views on the bird before the Dunlin became really agressive and defitanely expulsed the lark away from the algae! Excellent!

Tydal plains around Masirah Island, a paradise for waders

Broad-billed Sandpiper (left) & Greater Sand Plover (center,up) feeding along with Dunlins and 1 Little Stint

A pair of images of Crab Plovers (Dromas ardeola)

Heuglin’s Gull (Larus (fuscus) heuglini)

juvenile Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)

We were right comenting this rather unexpected adding when they appeared. At the beggining only two of them. Distant. Adult and a 1st winter still asking for being fed. Always great to see one of the most spectacular waders in the world! After almost half an hour more Crab Plovers appeared. Extremely far away, but they were coming every time a bit closer until we got excellent views on a small flock of 5 that provided more than decent views and allowed some shots. At the end of the morning we counted some 55 of them!

Here we were also scanning for Terns and Gulls. Still far from the gull concentrations in winter, we were delighted with several close ups to Heuglin’s Gull, with some Steppe & Caspian Gulls in the middle. A rather Saunder’s Tern (Sternua saundersi) showed up for us, and some further scanning produced 1 Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) harrasing Slender-billed Gulls. After some more views in the Crab Plovers, we moved to our accommodation for some afternoon rest after 3 very intense days!

Day 10. Very last day of the tour. In our way to Mascate from the East coast we still had time to stop and have some proper birding. In the way North there are a pair of reliable stops for raptors. We didn’t have a lot of time but in our visit to a small recicling place we saw 5+ Lappet-faced Vultures (Torgos tracheliotos) and 27+ Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) along with some Brown-necked Ravens (Corvus rufisollis) and 2 Steppe Eagles!

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos trachelietos)

Happy after such a great stop we decided to have a last stop in some meadows near Mascate. Here we were again granted with some good surprises, since we got views on Jack Snipe (Lymnocriptes minumus) first and on 1 Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) later! Here we also got Marsh Sandpipers and a female Pintail (Anas acuta) as the very last species appearing in the tour before covering the short distance to the airport for a late afternoon flight back to Europe!

List of species seen along the tour:

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronata)
Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Feral Dove (Columba livia)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
Jack Snipe (Lymnocriptes minimus)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Terek’s Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpress)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Broad-billed Sandiper (Limicola falcinellus)
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini)
Lesser-black backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Saunder’s Tern (Sternula saundersi)
Bridled Tern (Onychoprion fuscata)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hydridus)
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Persian Shearwater (Puffinus persicus)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (Ardenna carneipes)
Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax)
African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)
Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Western Reef Egret (Egretta gularis)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Great White Egret (Casmerodius albus)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetos)
Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
Desert Owl (Strix hadorami)
Arabian Eagle Owl (Bubo milesis)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Eurasian Roller (Coracias garrulus)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucephala)
Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys)
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalensis)
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris)
Levant Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor aucheri)
Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps)
African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis)
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus afer)
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhidipurus)
Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
Greater Hoopoe-lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
Turkestan Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala heinei)
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)
Arabian Lark (Ammomanes eremodites)
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra cantillans)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
Sand Marting (Riparia riparia)
Pale Rock Martin (Ptynoprogne obsoleta)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
Levant Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta)
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Siberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus tristis)
Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus)
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)
Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
Arabian Warbler (Curruca leucomelaena)
Abyssian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Rose-coloured Starling (Pastor roseus)
Tristam’s Starling (Onychognatus tristamii)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca)
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)
Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura)
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides)
Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra)
Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha)
Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica)
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)
Shinning Sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus)
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
Rüppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula)
African Silverbill (Eudice cantans)
Indian Silverbill (Eudice malabarica)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinolleta)
Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis)
Arabian Grosbeak (Rhyncostrurhus percivali)
Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

Other wildlife (Mammals)

Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
Arabian Tahr (Arabitragus jayakari)

Other wildlife (Reptilians)

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Desert Monitor Lizzard (Varanus griseus)
Arabian Chameleon (Chamaeleon arabicus)

Other wildlife (Butterflies)

Coming soon

Oman Birding Tour 2020 Trip Report

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Dates: February 5th to February 14th, 2020

Number of participants: 5

Number of species: 195

All images in the trip report by tour participants Bauke Kortleve & Philippe Marchessou and tour leader Carles Oliver.

Flocks of Tristam’s Starlings (Onychognatus tristramii) can be seen in rocky scarpments in the Dhofar, but also inside mountain villages.

Day 1. Coming all tour participants from a variety of countries, we all flew into Oman along February 4th. We met for dinner, and those arriving later in the evening, for breakfast early in the morning, in February 5th.

After enjoying our delicious breakfast we left the accommotadion and started the tour. Temperature was 18ºC in a lovely sunny day. After negotiating the traffic in Muscat we did arrive to Al-Ansab Lagoons, a small natural reserve inside Muscat providing really good birding.

Despite some diversion at the main gate, we did arrive to the typical places. Inmediatly after getting out of the van we got the firsts Purple Sunbirds of the tour. A lovely male singing in bright glossy black coloration and a female feeding in the rich vegetation of a rocky slope. White-spectacled Bulbuls were also seen around.

Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida), one of the first birds to appear in the tour.

One of the view points over the lagoons was offering a wonderful spectacle. A flock of 9 Greater Flamingoes was an evident spot in the lagoon while waders were coming in and out. We soon noticed some Marsh Sandpipers feeding along with Ruffs, Little Stints and at least 1 Temminck’s Stint. In the wàter surface there were several Mallards, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, Pintails as well as Little Grebes and Eurasian Coots. The few bushes around the view point were also having some nice birding activity, and we got our first Clamorous Reed Warbler, and 3 lovely Indian Silverbills and some Delicate Prinias feeding on the grassy vegetation.

A short walk around produced several Common Chiffchaffs (probably all of them abietinus race) and 2 Grey Wagtails in a nearby stream. A second pool was flattered with ducks, including several Common Pochards, 1 Tufted Duck and 3 Garganeys. In the shores of the lagoons, some Great Cormorants were roosting along with Great White Egrets and Grey Herons. And with them, 1 first winter Purple Heron was trying to don’t be discovered.

Purple Sunbirds (Cinnyris asiaticus) are a common view in Northern Oman.

Al-Ansab has three different hides, and from the last one we enjoyed the first Citrine Wagtail of the tour, a bird highly celebrated in the group. Several Common Moorhens were feeding in front of the hide, but everything moved fast when Keith spotted a Grey Francolin beside the reedbed! The bird provided with really short views before it went behind a tamarisk. Decided to improve our views, we just walked to the opposite side of the hide and got good views on 3 birds moving around. While looking for the bird we got our first Lesser Whitethroats of the trip! Some Green Bee-eaters were flying around, showing superbly, and the photographers in the group hap time to enjoy with them while some Pale Crag Martins were flying around. Beyond, in a hilly area, we found 1 Persian Wheatear at the same moment that 3 Pallid Swifts screamed in the sky because of the fast flight of a Western Marsh Harrier. That was definately a good start for our tour.

We later came back to this same spot for our picnic lunch, with a similar list of species and the only (and really interesting) adding of 1 Eastern Orphean Warbler that move from a low bush in front of us and produced short but decent views before flying back up to the canopies, and blind out.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) in almost full summer plomage.

After such a good start we moved to the coast, a short transfer of 15 minutes, to explore a number of mudflats. In two locations we got a good list of waders including a flock of 15+ Temminck’s Stints, Lesser Sand Plover, several Ruffs, Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, and Dunlins.

We then move to the Al-Qurum Natural Reserve, inmediatly East of Muscat, where we did two stops, seaside and inland.

In the seaside we had the change for first views on Caspian Gulls along with Greater Crested, Lesser Crested & Sandwich Terns. Heughlin Gull were common, as they were the Steppe Gulls. In the beach we also got Eurasian Whimbrel and a nice flock of mixed Lesser & Greater Sand Plovers roosting on the river mouth. Everything under the close view of Common Mynas.

Small numbers of Crested Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) overwinter in Oman.

Our second stop was to explore a pair of corners inland., just following along a small stream. We parked the car and inmediatly had two raptors in the sky, being moved by House Crows. There were 2 juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle, one of them quite pale, that were having some difficulties against the crows. Happy with such a nice encounteer we entered the path to stop again as 1 Isabelline Shrike catched our attention. The bird was standing high up in a bush, with a lovely afternoon light. Few minutes after the group was delighted to see 1 Crested Honey Buzzard circling quite low above the area, joined in the blue sky by the first Western Osprey of the tour. The path brought us to a nice corner of marsh while Rose-winged Parakeets were calling in the sky. A short walk around revealed a lovely and rather surprising Desert Whitethroat, a bird considered still a race of Lesser Whitethroat (treated sometimes as a form of Asian Lesser Whitethroat) for many, but considered as a full species for others. The bird was showingly small and extremely pale, depending on the angle being almost as sandy as a Asian Desert Warbler, with a slight contrast between the mantle and flight feathers. It gave us a great view of some minutes long, being able to have proper looks to the rather dark lores, well contrasted with the sandy mantle. Once everyone in the group had good looks on the bird, we all kept moving along a rich vegetated corridor, where 1 Song Thrush flew out of our way. Just few metres beyond, 2 Clamorous Reed Warbler were showing superbly in the dense vegetation, joined by a Great Reed Warbler some meters away!

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) showed really well in Al Anqsar.

Once in the marsh we enjoy some nice waders and kept scanning the few Common Snipes, hoping for a Pin-tailed Snipe to appear. Never did it. Al-Qurum Natural Reserve is having several interesting corners. A short-walk around brought us to a place with some big trees and several open spaces, here we had 3 Indian Rollers flying around and showing really well in the afternoon light.

Indian Rollers (Coracias benghalensis) are common in a variety of landscapes in Northern Oman.

The well known central lagoon was the only place during the trip where we saw Indian Pond Herons, a minimum of 3 of them were seen along with some Squacco Herons. A correct identification of these species is always challenging, and the best way to tell them apart is from the bill and lore coloration. Indian Pond Heron is always having a black final area in the lower mandibule, a well defined and contrasted patch (above 30% of the bill length) while Squacoo Heron shows a more difuse blackish area in the lower mandibule. Besides, Indian Pond Herons usually shows blackish lores, helping a lot in a correct identification of the bird.

The central pond not only produced all Indian Pond Herons of the trip, but also 2 Red-crested Pochards females (scarce bird in Oman), 1 female Tufted Duck, Gull-billed Tern, and the firsts Striated Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron of the tour.

Back to the car, we just drove to a different corner of the park while enjoying the sunset. Was not still dark when we got inside a lovely, quiet corner, having some big trees. After some minutes of scanning we found our goal for that evening, a wonderful Pallid Scops Owl singing and showing superbly. We had the bird for about 25 minutes, barely 15 metres away from us. The view was so great that even some local people came to enjoy the views in the scope!!!

Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei) produced long views in our first evening in Oman.

Glad after such a good start for our tour, we came to our accommodation for a great dinner based in Arab, Indian and International cuisine.

Day 2. After a good rest we drove West to a small river mouth with rich mangroves, a good place to look for some specialities. Our main hope was to contact with the local race of Collared Kingfisher, a splitable population with slim populations along the Eastern coast of Arabia. We arrived quite early to the place, enjoying good views on Indian Rollers along the last part of the road, but despite our efforts we could not contact with any Collared Kingfisher. Instead we had 2 Common Kingfishers moving in the mangroves, Western Marsh Harrier, Western Osprey, Lesser Sand Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Lesser Whitethroats (blithy), and the best views on Greater Hoopoe Lark along the tour as one bird was singing and displaying just beyond the mangroves.

Numbers of Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis) were less spectacular than in previous years, but we still enjoyed tens of them during the tour!

We then had a stop and some rest before driving up Al Hajar Mountains, where we were going to spend the rest of the day, staying there a bit beyond sunset. After a 60 minutes transfer we did a first stop in the mountains, in a savannah-like ambient. There we enjoyed good views on 1 female Hooded Wheatear just next to 1 Isabelline Shrike. Once around the gorge, we explore a bit the area, and we all got good views on 3 Desert Larks feeding on the wadi, but also Eastern Black Redstart, Hume’s Wheatear, Pale Crag Martin, 1 juvenile Blue Rock Thrush and 3 singing Striolated Buntings that never produced a proper view. But probably the most interesting bird at that point was 1 Variable Wheatear moving in the rocky slopes, a bird that is one of the long list of scarce winter visitors to Oman.

White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos), the commonest Bulbul in Oman.

After this exploring we move to our last destination that day, one of the impressive gorges West of Samail. Here we had some time explore the bush in the wadi, producing really good looks on 1 Hume’s Whitethroat, Striolated Buntings and at least 4 Plain Leaf Warblers moving in the small trees in the wadi. The afternoonn was advanced and we spent some time scanning the cliffs in search of the most enygmathical bird in Oman, the poorly known, Omani Owl.

Plain Leaf Warbler (Phyllosocpus nitidus), one of the smallest on its genus, overwinters in small numbers in montane oases in Northern Oman.

In the time we were scanning, we were lucky to find out a nest of Egyptian Vultures high up in the cliffs, and enjoyed good views on the scope. A further scanning in the skyes around produced 4 more Egyptians, joined in the sky by the massive shape of a Lappet-faced Vulture. The birds were soaring and the Lappet-faced started to fly lower and lower above one slope, until it landed. Despite it was far away, everyone in the tour had excellent views on the scope of this scarce giant of the Omani skyes!

The impressive gorges in Al Hajar Mountains are home for the poorly known Omani Owl.

Glad aftert such a good selection of species, we waited until it was dark. Our scans in the cliffs were unseccful to find any roosting owl. Once the darkness arrived, we were soon surprised by the song of an Omani Owl coming from high up in the cliffs. A short series of 4 or 5 “uuu”, not really different from the typical Tawny Owl song. We had the bird singing 3 times, and for a while it looked like it was a second Omani Owl replaying far down away in the gorge. Still, and despite our efforst, it was not possible to get anything else than these impressive calls in the middle of the quiet night.

Day 3. After a good breakfast we transfer South. A 90 minutes drive brought us to a different landscape of open acacia grassland, and the first oases of the tour. But earlier we had a roadside stop, since about 40 Steppe Eagles were flying around, quite close. They were also on the hills around, and a proper scanning around produced as well several Egyptian Vultures, 1 Griffon Vulture, 1 Greater Spotted Eagle adult and 2 Eastern Imperial Eagles! Along with, several Brown-necked Ravens. The images of the raptors in the sky was an amazing and all enjoyed really much! Other good birds around included 2 Striolated Buntings (best views on the tour were here) and 2 Hume’s Wheatears.

Striolated Buntings (Emberiza striolata) can be suprisingly difficult to spot.

Once arrived to the oases we spent some exploring. It was plenty of Little Bee-eaters and 5 Indian Rollers spotted, very vocals at that location. Graceful Prinia, Purple Sunbird, Common Chiffchaff (abietinus race), and distant views on Lesser Whitethroat were also noted, including a very pale individual. Here we came to look for Yellow-throated Petronia and, in the search, we found 1 Red-breasted Flycatcher, a really appreciated bird for the tour participants. When coming to the car, a slim sparrow appeared right in front of us. With the dark and long bill, plane and dark head, this Yellow-throated Petronia showed up only for few seconds before flying away, and unfortunately most of the tour participants never contacted with the bird. We still had time scanning around the oases, but we could not refind the bird.

Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) keeps good populations in Northern Oman.

After this stop we just did a fast stop in the grassy savannah like ambient next to it, having our first looks in the trip for Desert & Isabelline Wheatears. Common Kestrel and Crested Lark were also noted.

Day 4. After a mostly transfer day went for a pre-breakfast walk around our accommodation, located in a remote coastal area i North-east Oman. A short-walk around the hotel produced wonderful views on Black-crowned Sparrow-larks. We could see them singing and displaying in the sky as well as feeding on the ground in small flocks, including both males and females. At the same time, a flock of 8 Tawny Pipits were seeing, as well as Brown-necked Ravens, Indian Silverbills, Desert Larks, a closeby Isabelline Wheatear and some Desert Wheatears.

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopteryx nigriceps), the second commonest lark in Oman.

After breakfast we drove South to the area were Crab Plovers are normally found. Along the way, a sandy desert of golden dunes offered incredible landscapes. Some kilometres South of our accommodation we saw a tiny area with water and some bush. Taking advantage of this, we did a stop and explore around. Inmediatly after living the car we had 1 Persian Wheatear, an encouraging start. The tiny water pond didn’t look like having so much else, until a Sylvia warbler flew out from a bush, a Menetries’s Warbler! The bird flew away, but not far. We had all to run a bit and scan a lot but finally everybody got excellent views in actually 2 Menetries’s Warblers (one of them a male showing a slight pinkish tint in the breast, as James noticed).

Menetries Warbler (Sylvia mystacea) male.A scarce overwintering bird in Oman.

Happy all after such a wonderful spot we came back to the van for a final, short drive. We were at place about 10 o’clock. The huge bay, was full of Sooty Gulls and Slender-billed Gulls. Heuglhin’s & Steppe Gulls were also common. A first scan of the area produced big numbers of Western Reef Egrets, Bar-tailed Godwits, Little Stints, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Lesser & Greater Sand Plovers, Dunlins, Grey Plovers plus about 30 Curlew Sandpipers, some Sanderlings, and some Eurasian Curlews. Some Gull-billed & Caspian Terns were flying here and there. But no Crab Plovers. We kept scanning, and scanning. But nothing. Waves and waves of waders were moving into the bay, mostly Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlins, but not only.

And then Bauke suddenly noticed that we were having 3 Crab Plovers right in front of us, really close! We all had excellent views, and a fast re-scanning produced produced 14 of them! Suddenly all appeared. Only ten minutes later, a counting along the shore produced 47 Crab Plover!!!!

We enjoyed wonderful views on Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola), a massive, elegant a really sought-after wader.

We had time to enjoy of the Crab Plovers, and all the waders around, including 1 Greater Sand Plover in almost full summer plomage. 1 Clamorous Reed Warbler was in the small mangroves by the shore, and 2 Little/Saunder’s Terns were flying around,1 of them showing clear characters of Saunder’s (An extended blakish, well contrasted primaries from P9 to P7 or P6). After long enjoying the Crab Plovers and the birding expectacle around we moved a bit, to scan for different kinds of Gulls. Our main goal was Palla’s Gull, but we couldn’t find any this time as we were a bit in the season for them, this year. Instead we got nice views on 1 full adult Baltic Gull (Larus fuscus fuscus) and several Greater Crested, Lesser Crested & Sandwich Terns.

After some more birding we came back to our accommodation for some rest and eventually enjoy of the swimming pool.

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) in almost complete summer plomage.

Day 5. Long transfer until Salalah, but with interesting stops in the middle. First stop early in the morning to explore a nice desert patch with some vegetation. Here we got our first Southern Grey Shrike (aucheri race) and nice views on Desert Wheatears. But the best was the nice views on the first Asian Desert Warbler of the tour. We got the bird tipically moving in the low, small bushes but also literally running on the sand, for long just following a male Desert Wheatear, a behaviour related several times to this species nesting in Central Asia.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) is the commonest among the wide variety of Wheatears in Oman.

The second stop was a bit later in the day, to explore the formerly famous an excellent Qitbit Hostel. This accommodation is now abandoned, and its gardens are not any more a magnet attracting specialities. Here we only got 1 Eurasian Hoopoe, and a small flock of Common House Martins joined by 1 Barn Swallow.

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis aucheri), a resident bird in Omani deserts.

As this location was empty of any interest we drove some more miles, to explore some Sewage Farms. Here we found an authentical magnet for birds. Just got into the farm, a harvested field was filled up with birds. Both Isabelline & Desert Wheatears (the second with interesting examples of 1st winter birds) were common. Also White & Yellow Wagtails. Tens of Tawny Pipits were also feeding in the many insects. A nice surprise was a flock of 9 Cream-coloured Coursers feeding in the area, allowing nice photo opportunities. The field was also having tens of Crested & Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks. 3 Marsh Harriers & 4 Common Kestrels were feeding in the many grasshopers, and a male Pallid Harrier was really celebrated by the tour participants.

Cream-coloured Coursers (Cursorior cursor) in the sewage fields. A magnet for birds in the desert.

A bit beyond, a second field was also having a good birdlife. In this case, out of the regular species, we enjoyed 4 Common Cranes and 1 female Montagu’s Harrier scanning the field on search of any potential prey.

As the sun started to go down we came to the road, whilling to arrive to Salalah. But some Sandgrouses made this to happen later than expected. Some Greater Hoopoe Larks crossed the road just minuted before a small flock of Chesnut-bellied Sandgrouses flew off from the side of the road. We stopped the car inmediatly, but unfortunately nobody connected with birds, this time. More flocks were in the air so we decided to drive slowly to scan properly the surrounding areas. Just few miles away, a wonderful flock of Spotted Sandgrouses were flying low around, and decided to stop in front of car, right by car, providing excellent views to all tour participants!

Happy after such a wonderful end of the day, we just covered the last miles to our hotel in Salalah, where we enjoyed the first of a row of wonderful dinners, and a good rest.

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellinus) is a common bird in Oman during winter.

Day 6. Our first in Salalah was devoted to get proper views in some of the many sought-after species living around this city. We explore the well known Ayn Hamrat, a location combining indigenous decideous forest, riverside & savannah like ambients, with a nice bushland and a wonderful stream.

Just got out of the car and we got our firsts Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, a wonderful bird that was coming in small flocks to drink water from the stream. Common & Green Sandpipers were spotted along the stream, as well as 1 Grey Wagtail. We went for a short-walk when James spotted 1 juvenile Shikra perched in a fig tree, overlooking the main pond in the stream.

Shrikra (Accipiter badius) keeps

Right after a Palestine Sunbird flew over, providing with a first glence of this beautiful species. The attention of group was captured then by Keith, whom spotted a small flock of Arabian Partridges running away from us. They climbed up the hill, providing us with excellent views. Many Abyssian White-eyes were around, in small (and sometimes not that small) flocks. The first of several African Paradise Flycatchers was seen, and the group was enjoying with such a wonderful bird when Keith went on again, this time with our first Arabian Warbler skulking in the vegetation a bit up in the slope, around from where the Partridges were moving. But got really good views but another bird claim of attention, since a wonderful Eastern Imperial Eagle was soaring low in the slope, probably hoping for a Partridge. The bird, slowly circling, showed the beautiful barring in the head and extending also to the throat. What a bird!

Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) inhabits forest edges and tall bushland.

But Keith was not giving up and again hit us, this time with a Black-crowned Tchagra low in the bushes! The bird was moving on the group, tacking advantage from the shady area to discover and capture insects. Few meters beyond we found our first Blackstart, quite confiding and showing us the beautiful black of its tail as it was open it several times. A pair of Shinning Sunbirds was in the same tree were the Blackstart was, and all the group had great views on the shinning green coloration of the male, but we got distracted by a small flock of African Silverbills that shortly landed in front of us. By that time we had a different bird in the sky, now was time for a 1st winter Short-toed Snake Eagle, that soared low among the decidious trees. At that moment Bauke had the 2 first Fan-tailed Ravens of the tour flying up in the cliffs, and we could even listen their toy-like calls from the distance. That was right before we had our firsts Long-billed Pipits moving in the bare ground, under the trees. These birds showed really tame, just as the African Paradise Flycatchers around, for enjoyment of the photographers in the group.

African Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone viridis), a wonderful drop of African birdlife in Oman.

We then decide to go down a bit the stream, prior taking a look the dry plains around. Some Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks were around, and James spotted our first Steppe Grey Shrike in a branch, overlooking the open space. Back to the woods, we took a look to the well vegetated stream, were we got 2 White-breasted Waterhens calling from the dense vegetation, a 1 Common Snipe flying from the shore.

Flocks of Tristam’s Starlings were coming to drink water, locating them by their beautiful wistles far before we could see them. They were joined by several Ruppell’s Weavers, and many Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. The fig trees above the area was having some Sunbirds, including two wonderful Palestine Sunbirds, for admiration of the group.

We kept scanning around, the trees filled up with birds, when 1 Asian Koel just appeared in front of us! This is a really overwintering bird in Oman, and almost became the hit of the day for at least 1 member of the group!

Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), a really scarce overwintering bird in Oman.

After some time by the stream we decided to do a second short-walk, this time a bit beyond, and our effort was really worth it. At some point, a small flock of 4 Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeaks passed over us, calling and stopping a bit beyond. A bit of running was required but we arrived at the place were the birds landed. They were calling all around, even singing! A really long half a minute passed away until we relocated the birds in a distant bush. Great! We got everybody in the birds, with excellent views despite not being inmediatly close to us.

This is probably the best image that the group could get in Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeaks (Rhynchostruthus percivali).

We dediced to go back bu the stream, maybe the Grosbeaks were coming to drink water…They never did. For instance we got 1 Isabelline Shrike. After a nice picnic by the shade of the many trees we just went to the next location, overlooked by 1 Booted Eagle.

We spend some time in afternoon exploring Raysut. Unfortunately this year there were few Steppe Eagles in the area, and that day more interesting bird we had at the rubbish dump was a solitary White Stork. We also got 1 Citrine Wagtail, 1 Temminck’s Stint and 5 Little Ringed Plovers and a small flock of Whiskered Terns by visiting different ponds.

As Raysut was not as great as the last years, we just went to the sea, where big flocks of birds were waiting for us. At least 15 Terek’s Sandpipers were seeing in the place, along with several Lesser & Greater Sand Plovers, Little Stints, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Intermediate Egret, several Heughlin’s Gulls, Caspian Terns, 12 Western Ospreys, 1 Black-eared KIte, 4 Steppe Eagles, Grey Plovers, Dunlins, and mixed flocks of Citrine & Yellow Wagtails (beema & thumbergi races.

We still got time for a last stop, and we went to explore the Museum. There we got unforgettable views on Spotted Thick-knees, sometimes just a few meters away from us! We counted a minimum of 10. Other interesting birds in the gardens of the museum included Ruppell’s Weaver, Palestine Sunbird, Citrine Wagtail, Laughing Dove and Squacco Heron.

Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) in glorious afternoon light.

A really short drive brought us back to our accommodation for a well deserved rest.

Day 7. This day we basically explored the some spots North of Salalah, and in particular the mountainous areas in Dhoffar.

But before we went up to the hills we did spend some time in the early morning. We left the car right beside a big river moth, and got the firsts birds of the day. Green Sandpiper, Eastern Black Redstart and Isabelline Shrike. A fast scanning of the lagoon revealed 9 Cotton Pygmy Geese, including a drake male. Marsh Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit were both feeding in the shores and it didn’t take long to locate the first of 3 Pheasant-tailed Jacana, feeding on the floating vegetation or even swimming along with Common Moorhens.

Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) has become really scarce in Oman in recent years.

1 Greater Spotted Eagle was standing up in a tree, thinking about possible preys. In the water, 4 Garganeys were spotted, while the shore produced Temminck’s Stint, Lesser Sand Plover, and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. The only one Eurasian Spoonbill of the tour passed over us while 2 White-winged Black Terns were roosting on a floating branck. Happy after such a good selection of birds, the group started to move, but we then we found 2 Red-knobbed Coots! Despite they were not very close, we all got good views on the main remarks.

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) keeps being considered a rarity in Oman, with some individuals overwintering around Salalah.

After such a great place for allus we drove up to hills, to keep having some incredible birds.

A 30 minutes drive brought us up to the hills. In the way, some Steppe Eagles offered good views and a few Long-billed Pipits crossed the road. Once in the area, Bauke spotted the first Arabian Wheatear of the trip in a wire. It was a nice male, and was busy feeding 2 hungry young birds that allowed beautiful views on this small species.

Arabian Wheatears (Oenanthe lugentoides) are early nesters.

Just arrived to our main destination, we parked the van and started scanning around. 1 gorgeous Bonelli’s Eagle was patrolling the area, in really low, and slow flights producing what was the best views I ever had in this species! During the next hours we saw this same individual patrolling a small patch of land, always extremelly low. What a present for all of us!

This Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) kept flying above our van for several minutes in the Dhofar Mountains!

This hillsides are literally filled up with Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. It is difficult to understand how they can be so common… Wherever you look around, there were small flocks of these birds. Still, there are many other birds around. As we were walking around, Keith pointed out 2 Arabian Partridges. Both Shinning & Palestine Sunbirds were seen feeding around, while flocks of Tristam’s Starlings were flying over. Fan-tailed Ravens were also common, with rather nasal, short calls emerging from the sky as they were diving in groups going after the raptors they could find in the sky. Now was time for a juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle to be joined by the ravens…

Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala), another Arabian endemic that provide with excellent views.

As we walked around we found a number of Tree Pipits, overwinter in the area in good numbers, but also Lesser Whitethroat, Tawny Pipits, African Silverbills and Ruppell’s Weavers. Suddenly, a tiny rock got alive from under our feet and became a wonderful Singing Bush Lark that stand for us for a walk-away views that allow all tour participants enjoy all the details of birds, including those alula lovers in the group!

Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra cantillans) is a common bird in the Dhofar high grasslands.

Some uplands in Dhofar region are full of beautiful Tree Pipits (Anthus trivialis).

Our walk was being really productive and improve after we found 1 Eurasian Wryneck feeding on the ground along with Cinnamon-breasted Buntings. Some Blackstarts were also present, one pair even nesting in a wall hole, and 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle flew over us, getting an advice from the local Bonelli’s, you better don’t do that again.

And finally, after some hours of scanning, we got a small flock of Yemen Serins drinking water along with Buntings. We were really lucky this time, and at the same time that we saw them, a flock of 5 just came directly to us, stopping in a wire right in front of us and providing excellent views. They were calling and soon some 10 birds more joined the party. They were in the wires but also on the ground and even on the roof of a close building!! We enjoyed the birds for ten minutes and then decided to move for a further exploration of the area.

After some scanning we got excellent views on a flock of Yemen Serin (Crithagra mechanensis).

The Yemen Serin is endemic living in mountain plateaus in Yemen and Oman, with only a handful of locations where to see the bird. Nowadays Oman is the only place where to try to see the bird safely.

A short drive lead us to an advantaged point where scan for raptors and small passerines. Unfortunably the area was now foggy, but we still got excellent views on a pair of Arabian & Desert Wheatears, Eastern Black Redstart and amazing views on a juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle perched on a dead tree few metres away from the van!!!

juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), in an impressive view by our van.

Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) inhabits mountain rocky areas in the Dhofar.

This was a wonderful end of the day. We still had a chance for a stop in local bakery and enjoy nice local sweets before we head back to Salalah.

Back in the city, we still invested some time in its famous Sun Farms. There we had some interesting birds including a flock of about 120 Pacific Golden Plovers along with at least 3 European Golden Plovers resting in a plugged field. Not far from there, a flock of 7 White–winged Black Tern were flying around in a small marshy area inside the same farm. 1 Yellow–billed KIte was seen flying around the area. It was time to come back to the our accommodation for a nice rest and dinner.

Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) in Salalah Sun Farms.

Day 8. Offshore day. We arribed early morning to the harbour. There, the many traditional fishing boats were filled up with Sooty Gulls, allowing wonderful views. Around the smaller boats, some Grey Herons and Western Reef Egrets were a good entertaiment while our boat was ready.

Once out of the harbour, we enjoyed a really plain sea. Heuglin’s Gulls were flying around, and small flocks of Greater Crested Terns provided excellent views. It didn’t take us long until we got the firsts Red-necked Phalaropes feeding in floating algae. During the 4 hours of the boat trip we got several flocks, totalling at least 50 birds.

Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) are a common view offshore Dhofar.

The Arabian Sea around Salalah is also really good for sea mammals and we were pleased to find a big herd of more than 200 Indian Spinner Dolphins. These small dolphins were swimming quite fast to the South, and we enjoy close views as we followed for some minutes. The image of these small dolphins, spinning and jumping around was a really enjoyable moment!

Spinners Dolphins (Stenella longirostris) were a good company while scanning for sea birds in our offshore North of Salalah.

Back to duty we turn again into the sea, to keep a bit of distance from the coast. Soon, we have the first Masked Booby flying over, and some minutes later we had good views in a flock of 4 of them while Red-necked Phalaropes were busy feeding and wondering around. We kept scanning around and we had short views on a distant dark Shearwater. The bird looked like a Fled-tailed, but was a distant, brief view so could not identify.

Masked Boobies (Sula dactylatra) nest not far from the continent in Oman.

The density of birds is low in this sea, but we were lucky to have a Red-billed Tropicbird passing above us, and the whole group enjoyed great views in a bird that was really celebrated. That was brilliant! And only a pair of minutes after we had a dark, long-tailed Petrel flying around, a Jouanin’s Petrel! Unfortunately it was too fast for some of the tour participants, but not a bad view at all. We kept fighting for a better view until Keith just saw another Jouanin’s coming directly to us from the back of the boat, and this time everybody got excellent views on the Petrel as only passed 20 metres away from us!! Happy after the great views in such a scarce bird, we still were scanning for some time, looking for Persian Shearwaters. During the next half and hour we still had 2-3 more Jouanin’s, but never got any Shearwater.

The vey scarce Jouanin’s Petrel (Bulweria fallax) is normally one of the top targets for any birder visiting Oman.

Glad after the good offshore, we just came to our accommodation to have some rest before going for an afternoon outing.

After having a good rest we did have some late afternoon birding to explore some planes North of the Salalah, where we had some interesting birds including a flock of 11 Eurasian Stone Curlews in flight, 1 Eastern Imperial Eagle and flocks of Greater Short-toed & Crested Larks. As the sunset was arriving we went to a forested area. There we had our first Red-tailed Shrike of the tour perched in some death vegetation, and while we were enjoying this beauty we got our first Arabian Scops Owl singing from the woods.

After some scanning we finally connected with a wonderful male Arabian Scops Owl that provided us with stunning views. At least other 3 birds were singing around in a sight that was highly celebrated! Happy after such a nice encounter we came to the accommodation for a good rest.

Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae) proved that can cooperate for photo tours!

Day 9. Really early morning start with a short transfer to the desert to look for a number of desert specialities. We had some drive until Mudday, a small oases some 35 kilometers to the Yemen border. Here we first had a break to enjoy our take away breakfast just after the raising.

Both Laughing & Eurasian Collared Doves were singing in the place along with White–spectacled Bulbuls. A pair of Blackstarts were also a nice view while enjoying our breakfast. A first walk around produced little out of 2 Lesser Whitethroats (halimomendri race), 1 Song Thrush calling in flight and 1 Brown–necked Raven passing by.

Then we walked until the corner where we enjoyed most birds one year ago. After a pair of minutes of searching we were grateful to find 1 male Nile Valley Sunbird, calling and showing really well in the wires and in the palm trees around. This bird was really celebrated by the group, and it was soon joined by a female!

Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) male, a typical inhabitant of oases in Oman.

Only a pair of minutes later, and when most of the group was still enjoying the Sunbirds, a bird came in flight, it was a female Grey Hypocolius!!! The bird directly landed in the wires right in front of us, giving us wonderful views before diving into a thick young palm tree. Everybody was extremely happy at that moment as the Hypocolius is one of the most sought-after birds in the region!!! The bird only showed for half a minute,and we were just talking about this point when a second Hypocolius landed in the same wire. And this time was a superb male!

Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus) male & female (below), probably the most celebrated birds of the tour, showing superbly in early morning light.

This time everybody enjoyed of a long sight in the Hypocolius allowing several shots,and even went vocal a pair of times before diving as well in the same thick bush where the female went down from the wire!

It is difficult to explain how happy the group was at this point. And it was only the beggining of the day! After enjoying the Hypocolius we just did a short walk around and got the second Red–tailed Shrike of the tour catching the morning light in some dead bush. Was not even nine in the morning! In the area where the vegetation was more rich we got some Common Chiffchaffs moving up and down but the surprise was to find the second Red-breasted Flycatcher of the tour moving in the low palm trees along with an African Paradise Flycatcher. What a strange pair of hunters in the middle of the desert!!

One of two Red-tailed Shrikes (Lanius phoenicuroides) that we enjoyed in the last days of the tour.

As was still early in the morning we went to have a look in a nearby oases. Only 3 miles away there is another corner with luxurian vegetation and some palm groves around. But the area was surprisingly empty of birds. We had a pair of short walks and were productives at the end, as we enjoyed the best views on Asian Desert Warbler of the trip, and a Desert Lark that landed in a small clay cliff in front of us.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) in palm groves at Qitbit.

Back to Mudday we soon were surprised by the calls of tens of Sandgrouses. Flocks and flocks of Chestnut–bellied Sandgrouses flew over the oases. Among with them, we got good views on 12 Crowned Sandgrouses flying quite lowl. We decided to follow them, and after some minutes we got the place where they seemed decided to land.

Crowned Sandgrouses (Pterocles coronatus) are a difficult target in Oman. In this issue we got unforgettable views!

After a short wait, the first 4 Chestnut–bellieds landed in a hillside, fastly followed by more and more, and by a small flock of Cronwed Sandgrouses that decided to land just beside us!!! Suddenly we looked like surrounded by Sandgrouses, with the Crowneds decided to approach a tiny pond of water, and the more numerous Chestnut-bellieds offeing us extremely good views as about 40 birds were coming to drink water in a small stream!!!!! What a wonderful sight!!!!

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus), the commonest Sandgrouse in Oman.

We had a wonderful hald an hour, enjoying flocks of Sandgrouses coming to drink water in the tiny pond. And after this time they vanished as fast as they arrived! Extremelly happy after such a wonderful morning, we started the way back to Salalah, with a nice stop in our way to enjoy a lovely Bar–tailed Lark in the side of the road.

Back in our accommodation, we enjoyed a short break to recover from the early start, and we went South of the city to explore some coastal areas.

The first stop could not be more productive, as we enjoyed good views in a massive flock of over 200 Socotra Cormorants feeding in the sea. They typically move in extremelly dense flocks, and keep feeding all together in giant fisheries. Along with them there were several Sooty Gulls but also 12 Brown Bobbies, some of them quite close to the coast. Some Tristam’s Starlings came to the view point, adding some excellent photo chances to the place!

Liltte Stints (Calidris minuta) were common in many coastal mudflats and other wetlands.

A bit more to the North, a superb river mouth reaches the Arabian Sea. A stop there was mandatory, and we had a good variety of birds including some Garganeys, Tufted Duck, Greater White–fronted Goose, 5 Pintails, LIttle Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Eurasian Teals, Greater & Lesser Crested Terns, Black–tailed Godwit and several species more.

As we still had some time, we did a small detour exploring a nearby wadi, and we were lucky enough enjoy 4 Sand Partridges running in the rocky slopes as well as a close by Arabian Wheatear male!

Part of the group exploring a wadi around Salalah.

Typical Dhofar coastal area.

Day 10. Last day of birding of the tour. In the early morning we went back to a palm grove are in Salalah, hoping for some views on Bruce’s Green Pigeons, a bird that had been scaping from us along the tour. We spend some time in the area, adding 1 Crested Honey Buzzard and good views on Yellow Wagtails (meena) but being uncapable to find any pigeon.

We then moved to the Sun Farms of the city, where we did have Sand Martins and White–winged Black Terns. Unfortunately was quite windy and we didn’t get permit to get inside the farms so we decided to move to a nearby wetland to spend the last time before taking our plane back to Muscat.

Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura), a common but localised bird in Dhofar area.

Once in the wetland, we were once again surprised by the variety of birds. Despite the wind, the water was full of ducks including Garganey, Eurasian Teals, Northern Shovelers and 2 Pintails. Common, Gull–billed, Whiskered and 8 White–winged Black Terns were all added to the list of the place. Marsh Sandpipers and Temminck’s Stints were the most interesting waders. Black–winged Stilts, Greater Flamingoes and Graceful Prinia were all noted. As a good end, James spotted a Namaqua Dove in a fence.

This Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) was the last adding to the tour list.

After this last birding we headed to the Salalah Airport, where a short internal flight brought us to Muscat for a comfortable overnight before everyone could take a plane back home!

In 2021 we will go back to Oman, join us for a good fun and a great birding!

info@barcelonabirdingpoint.com \ http://www.barcelonabirdingpoint.com

OTHER WIlDLIFE

Variable Colotis (Colotis phissada) in Sun Farms 150 miles from Salalah.

Diadem Butterfly (Hyppolimnas myssipus)

One-pip Policeman (Coeliades anchises) at Al-Ansab lagoons.

Blue Pansi (Precis orithya) was present in some well vegetated locations.

Mantidae sp. in a desertic area close to Masirah Island.

Oman Birding Tour 2019 Trip Report

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Dates: 29th January to 7th February, 2019

Tour participants: 5

Seen bird species: 210

Tour Leaders: Sergi Sales & Carles Oliver

After an afternoon flight we arrived to Oman beyond midnight. Passport controls were fast and we arrived to our hotel in Musqat after a comfortable shuttle transport from the aiport.

Day 1. After a good rest and a great breakfast in our hotel we went for a short walk in some tree just by our accommodation. It was time to have a first contact with some common species in Northern Oman. Probably the first bird of the tour were 2 Purple Sunbirds, seen feeding in the trees along a small gorge. Just around, a wonderful Indian Roller was hunting from the wires crossing the gorge. Indian Silverbill, Common Myna and several Laughing Doves were also seen and celebrated. We also had the interesting local race of House Sparrow, being smaller, duller and more grey in the upperside than the races we are more used.

After this small taste by our hotel we drove a short distance to explore the Al Ansad Wetland. This is a small complex of lagoons with riparian vegetation that can be really productive. A first scanning produced Black-headed Lapwings, Crested Larks, Purple Sunbirds, White-spectacled Bulbuls and 1 White Wagtail. A juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle just passed over us giving excellent views in the morning light.

The firs lagoon was really productive. It hosted a good selection of ducks including Mallards, Gadwalls, Eurasian Wigeons, Pintails, Eurasian Teals, Tufted Ducks and Common Pochards. About 20 Greater Flamingos were roosting in the lagoon joined by 5 Eurasian Spoonbills. Black-winged Stilts, Ruffs and 1 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding inmediatly around. By the reedbeds we found 1 Eurasian Coot along with several Eurasian Moorhens and Little Grebes. Grey Heron, Cattle Egret and Great White Egrets were also present in small numbers.

Temminck’s Stints were common with at least 8 birds feeding along with some Little Stints. At least 3 Marsh Sandpipers were also present along with several Common Sandpipers. The good scanning of the area produced as well 1 Citrine Wagtail and 2 Yellow Wagtail (one of them being a male beema race). Some Common Snipes flought off and the Bonelli’s Eagle came back and had a second flight over the water. Was in that moment that the only White-tailed Lapwing of the trip came up from behind a sand bar and we all could enjoy good views on the bird for a pair of minutes. This was already a good start!

Graceful Prinias (Prinia gracilis) are a common view in a number of grassy habitats in Nortern Oman.

Unfortunably the bird was a bit far and came down again to the opposite side of the bank. We spent several minutes trying to relocate the bird, but was impossible.

Happy after such a good start we just moved on along the path. Not far from there we were distracted by the first of several Graceful Prinias singing from the top of a bus. A closer view was demanded so we moved on just at the moment than a flock of Sand Partridges flew off from under our feet! After some good shots in the Prinia our attention was concentrated by a very close Little Green Bee-eaters catching insects at short range. Its footage from the minor branches of a small tree was really productive in photographic terms!

The area was still producing interesting sightings. A group of White cheecked Bulbuls were moving in the bushland and 1 Indian Silverbill was busy while bringing nest material inside a small tree. The same juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle that we saw flying over the lagoon was now sheltered by the shade of a small cliff. A last walk in the area produced some Great Cormorants, the first Greater Spotted Eagle high up in the sky and good views in 1 rather unexpected Eastern Orphean Warbler skulking inside a bush!

Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) showed out really well in the firsts days of the tour.

We then went to the coast, where we had some food near the beach while we were scanning around. Here we had several Heuglin’s Gulls moving in the coast along with the commoner Black-headed Gull. Also some Caspian Gulls were seen, mainly adults. 2 Sooty Gulls passed by but unfortunately a bit far away for everybody in the group to enjoy them. At least 2 Great Crested Terns were moving in the coast and we had really good views as one approached the dock where we were scanning from. A tiny wady in our way was also providing good birds, special mention to our first Greater Sand Plover, Pacific Golden Plover along with Common Sandpiper and Common Redshank.

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a recent arrival to Oman, just arrived to Southern Oman a few years ago, where it is as common as in the North.

The slender Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is the commonest Lapwing in the region, by far.

We decided to spend the rest of the day in Al Qurm Park. This is a well known birding spot in Musqat hosting some very interesting specialities. Our arrival to park was really good as 1 Indian Roller was hunting in the parking and only few metres inside the park we had our first Grey Francolin of the trip running up the slope. In the trees, a Common Chiffchaff was seen (here presumably all Chiffchaffs belong to abietinus or tristis races, thought now Siberian Chiffchaff is claimed as a diferent species for some). A small channel of water connects the big central lagoon of the park with the sea. This channel proved to be really productive as we fastly spotted 1 Striolated Heron hidden in the shady bank. Few metres away from it we found 1 Acrocephalus. Silence and check for some seconds before confirming that was a Clamorous Reed Warbler! This was a bird really celebrated by the group. The bird provided really good views in the out for quite long, moving always really low in the vegetation, but clearly in the out. The channel itself was attrackting some Pallid Swifts to drink water and we all enjoyed lovely views on these birds. A Purple Heron flew over and its shade made Common Sandpipers and Black-headed Lapwings move away. Inside the park we enjoy a new Indian Roller until a small shrike was located in the top of the tree. At first it looked like a Isabelline but finally it turned up to be a Red-tailed Shrike, a recent split from the former.

Two images on a 1st winter Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides). Pair attention in the vermiculated extending all along the flank, with a tawny vental area contrasting with white undertail coverts. Uppertail coverts appear reddish, but not uniform as expected on Isabelline Shrike.

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus brunnescens) was spotted a pair feeding in the out along the tour.

Striated Heron (Butorides striata atricapilla) is a scarce resident bird in dense vegetated marshy areas.

The central pond was low of water but as good as always. 1 Whiskered Tern was flying over and 1 Western Reef Egret was fishing along with some Cattle Egrets. Fastly our attention was for “Squacco like” herons around the pond. After some scanning we found the 2 firsts Indian Pond Heron of the tour, feeding along with 4-5 Squacco Herons. Little Grebes and Eurasian Coots were also present in the pond.

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a scarce winter visitor but we got excellent views on Muscat itself. Image by tour leader Sergi Sales

We still had a further walk around the trees. Rose-winged Parakeets were everywhere and a Alexandrine Parakeet was heard in the air. It was time to go but then we found a wonderful tree full of Common Chiffchaff, Purple Sunbirds and at least two Lesser Whitethroats (Desert Whites?). As the area proved really interesting we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in around. A short walk from the park allowed us to explore some tidal muds richly vegetated. Here we found some interesting passerines including Isabelline Shrike, 2 Bluethroats and Eurasian Reed Warbler. Some waders were present in the small mudflats including several Eurasian Whimbrel, 1 Eurasian Curlew, 15+ Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and some Common Ringed Plover. 1 Intermediate Egret flew over us in its way to the sea and 1 Garganey took off from a tiny patch of marsh but the best bird in the spot was a Pin-tailed Snipe that took off along with 1 Common Snipe from the flooded areas. Some Snipes were moving around so we carefully checked every single bird leaving the area. At least 15 Common Snipes left in different waves and we got good views in 1 Spin-tailed showing the remarcable blackish uderwings and contrasted belly.

Purple Sunbirds (Cinnyris asiaticus) is one of the most unobtrusive birds in Northern Oman. Image by Carles Oliver

Happy after such a great encounteer we still looked for something else in this corner. Some Eurasian Moorhens were seen feeding in the grassy areas and 1 Grey Heron arrived for a evening meal. The time of our own evening meal was not far any more so we left the area for a good rest in the hotel and a dinner to go throught all the birds of our first day in Oman.

Spotted Redshanks (Tringa erythropus) at Al Qurm Park the first of the tour.

Day 2. After our good buffet breakfast we left our hotel to explore the Western coast of Northern Oman. But, as tyde was low, before going West we came back for a while to Al Qurm beach. Just arriving we found a small flock of gulls in the beach along with some terns. A fast scan revealed some Great Crested Terns along with Sandwich Terns. Most of the gulls were the splitable Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus babarensis) and got good views and comparision of structure with a lovely Caspian Gull adult. Heuglin’s Gulls were also present in the flock, including different ages and intermediate plomages. Not far after we found the first Palla’s Gull, a 3rd year bird. What a incredible gull! Not only the shape of bill but the general structure of the bird was simply massive. Here, all tour participants enjoyed very much with this flock of gulls and having adults of Caspian, Steppe, Heuglin’s and Palla’s all together in a small flock was really celebrated and appreciated for everybody! Small flocks of Slender-billed Gulls were also present at the beach.

Adults Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) -left- and 2 Steppe Gulls (Larus fuscus barabensis) -center and right- in Al Qurm.

Palla’s Gull (Ichthyaetus Ichthyaetus) was one of the most celebrated target in the crew and a wonderful bird to watch. Here an adult in winter plomage.

Around the flock of gulls there were some waders and it didn’t take long to spot some Lesser Sand Plovers moving in the sand. There were about 30 individuals in different smalls flocks. Here we also had Greenshank, Kentish Plover, Whimbrels, Common Redshank, Western Reef Heron in light form (less common in the area) and Lesser Crested Tern. Again, we enjoyed views on Lesser Crested Terns side by side with Great Crested Terns so a good comparision on sizes, structure and colour could be made. Some Sooty Gulls were also flying around but we only had a single bird stopping on the ground. We spend some time enjoying these gulls and terns but also scanning around looking for other specialities. Some scouting inland produced 6 Common Snipe sleeping on the grass, Black-headed Lapwings, Common Kingfisher and Graceful Prinia and 2 Grey Francolins having a sand bath.

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus) in winter plomage. The combination of long legs, relatively thin bill and slightly contrasted lore allows to avoid confusion with Kentish & Greater Sand Plovers.

Back to the sea shore, we had big flocks of Great Cormorants flying around and we enjoyed how fast they moved as the nets of the fishermen were into the water. A nice espectacle to be seen! More plovers were arriving from the East, clearly bigger and heavier than all species around; 8 Great Sand Plovers! Again, a good comparision on size, shape and facial pattern was made with its relative the Lesser Sand Plover…

2 Greater Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii) -left- in an interesting comparative of sizes and structure with 2 Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis) at Al Qurm.

After such a wonderful stop we then drove to the West, towards the Sun Farms. These are water-assisted grassy crops being a magnet for a good number of species. Despite some reports of the explotation being abandoned from some years ago, we decided to approach and take a look. It was an excellent decision, as you will see.

We arrived to the area were the Sun Farms were and well, it was no sign of any grass anywhere. Still, even before arrived to the exact place we were obligated to stop the car and walk around as a family group of Arabian Babblers were moving just by the track. Unfortunately not everybody in the van enjoyed excellent views so we parked the car and walk around looking for this wonderful bird.

Arabian Babblers (Turdoides squamiceps) showed really well along the tour. Please note how coloration change depending on the light in these two images.

The flock of birds were still moving around in the semi-desert so we decided to do a short walk around expecting to improve our sight. Purple Sunbirds were everywhere and a nice flock of lined Indian Silverbills was welcome by the photographers in the group. A Common Kestrel was circling up in the sky among Pallid Swifts and Crested Larks were singing and moving all around. In a shade, a Tawny Pipit showed really well for a pair of minutes while 1 Hoopoe was diving its bill on the sand looking for warms, but still no signal of the Babblers. While searching for them we had another really good bird appearing. A characteristic “txac” call came from the acacias around us and, after some scanning, we all had excellent views on 2 Hume’s Whitethroat! This is a quite recent Split from Lesser Whitethroat inhabitating juniper formations in Iran and Afghanistan high mountains. They are easy to tell apart by calls but also due to the clearly darker head, auriculars and nape of the Hume’s if compared with Lesser. The back and mantle in Hume’s Whitethroat is also darker than in Lessers, showing really little contrast.

A further scanning in the area still produced a nice male Black Redstart of the Eastern phoenicuroides race and a superb male Pallid Harrier flying around and stopping in the low branches of a distant tree for some minutes. Namaqua Doves were passing over us and we could count up to 8 individuals of this beautiful bird. It was a very productive corner but since no signal of the Babblers around we decided to go on but, just when most of the people was in the car, we had 2 Arabian Babblers coming to us and stopping some 60 metres from us. More and more birds came front he tangles and we arrived to count up to 9 of them!

Indian Silverbills (Eudice malabarica) showing the white rumps in a typical group view.

We had the birds around for some minutes in what was a really unexpected encounteer in one of the most difficult species in the area! We moved but we didn’t really arrived that far away since we fastly found 1 male Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark some 35 metres from us. Not far, an obliging Isabelline Weathear was a good first for the trip.

It was time to go to our next location. A short drive allowed us to arrive to Liwa mangroves. This is home of two of the most wanted species for all birdwatchers coming to Oman: Collared Kingfisher and Sykes Warbler.

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a common bird in most of coastal Oman. Image by Sergi Sales

Tyde was low and we decided to go on with a short walk along the mangroves. Sooty Gulls were really common as walked in the beach and good numbers of Slender-billed Gulls were also seen flying around. Great Crested Tern was less common, with only few moving along the shore.

In the mangroves it was little movement. A small flock of Eurasian Whimbrels were looking for some food in the mud, joined by 4 Spotted Redshanks. A pair of Common Sandpipers were typically moving up and down along the shores. It was time for a bit of scan and most efforts were placed in the most suitable channel to host a Collared Kingfisher. After 15 minutes of scanning a chunky, white shade emerged from the mangroves to stop in outer skinny branches of a dead mangrove. This was a wonderful views even if not specially close. Things improved really much when the bird turned, showing the typical collar and the beautiful blue-greenish in the upperparts. This view was really celebrated by the group. A Common Kingfisher joined its relative for a better comparision of shape and size.

The bird showed for about 2 minutes and after that came back deep inside the mangrove. We still waited, hoping for a better view and some photo chances that never arrived. Still, the group was really happy to see such a scarce bird! Remember that Collared Kingfishers living at Arabian Peninsula are from “kalbaensis” race, an extremely endangered and more than a probable coming split from the nominal race living in most of Asia!!

Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) male in Liwa mangroves.

More than happy about this wonderful sight we kept scanning the area looking for Sykes Warbler. All eyes were to the mangroves when a hard “tchak” came out from the dense vegetation. We scanned for long. First a Isabelline Shrike, after a Graceful Prinia showed nicely, but we didn’t get any other bird from the bush.
We still had some time before sunset so, decided to get somethin different from the area we just drove around the mangroves to the plains placed at the opposite site. A short drive around proved to be quite productive. A first small bush was having 2 White-eared Bulbuls, 2 Common Chiffchaff (not really grey ones) and a third species tha flew off. Not a long scan was necessary to enjoy the female Menétries Warbler. The bird stayed in a low bush for over 2 minutes so we had time enough for looking for the differences from this species and its relative, the Sardinian Warbler (a bird that was more familiar for some members of the group).

This female of Ménétrié’s Warbler (Sylvia mystacea) was the only one membre of its species to appear in the tour.

After driving for 5 minutes more we stopped in a different place and scanned around. 3 Isabelline Weathears were found along with the first Desert Wheatear of the trip. Up in a tree, a wonderful Southern Grey Shrike was looking for an evening meal. The last bird of the day turned up to be a Red-tailed Shrike!

Happy for the good birds of the day we just came back to our hotel for a good rest and dinner.

Day 3. Today we were leaving Muscat and starting our way South. Inmediatly beyond the city, an impressive spine of mountains goes up until 3000 metres high. This is area is home of very interesting birds, some of them unique. During that morning we crossed the mountains, spending some time in a key location looking for some of them.

Here the landscape is controlled by towering bare mountains speckled by small elevated plateaus. In the untouched valleys you can see sparse acacias in an semi-desertic ambient. Our first stop was really a random one. As always scanning the sky we finally got a good bird as 1 Egyptian Vulture was spot high up in the sky. It happen that it was a good place where to stop so we did so and, eventually, scanned around. At the other side of the road we got a Red-tailed Wheatear, a really good bird that may not appear in every tour. All the group was delighted with this little wheatear when a small, whitish bird appeared from the right, moving low in the scrubs. It was an Asian Desert Warbler! It was an amazing to see these two really good birds together! The Asian Desert Warbler flew off and, as not everybody in the group had got good views, we decided to do a short walk around. After some 5 minutes of scanning we relocated the bird and everybody had brilliant views on the tiny bird.

Asian Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana) in a typical view of the species.

Only a small point on the Asian Desert Warbler. I’m personally used to see African Desert Warbler and I was glad to see how different both species are. More than what you can expect from the plates. Asian Desert Warbler is far more grey than its African counterpart and the grey body is having an evident contrast with the orangish tail. In the African Desert Warbler, all body is strong sandy colourated.

Our road stop also produced Isabelline Shrike and Northern Wheatear. We still drove for about half an hour before arriving to our next stop, a gorgeous gorge with a wadi and a pair of oasis-like corners. This is a well known place for the recently discovered Omani Owl, one of the main targets in the trip. As we got inside the gorge we had several Striolated Buntings singing around as well as Lesser Whitethroats in the scattered trees, Purple Sunbirds, Pale Crag Martins and 4 different Egyptian Vultures. Here we spent several time scanning some roosting places of Omani Owl but with no result. Then we moved up in the wadi until a small oasis. In the way, a Bonelli’s Eagle made us stop and it was a good decision to do so since we had 1 Lappet-faced Vulture appeared high in the slopes and showing really well for half minute! This was a bird really celebrated by the group!!

Egyptian Vulture (Neoprhon percnoptreus) flying above a gorge in Northern Oman. Always nice to see that this species is doing well somewhere outside the Pyrenees!

Once arrived we walked a bit around. An obliging Red-tailed Wheatear was a good chance to compare the species with other wheatears while taking some shots. Nearby, 1 female Common Rock Thrush was also showy in the rocks. This is a quite scarce overwintering bird in Oman. A further walk lead us to a small group of trees. Here we easily located the firsts Plain Leaf Warblers and we had a good time enjoying the nervous moviments of this tiny Phylloscopus until the whole group had good views on them. There were al least 5 birds there! Here, a Hume’s Leaf Warbler was also calling in the canopies. We kept scanning but nothing different appeared until 2 Bonelli’s Eagles adults flew over soaring fast and disappearing beyond the gorge.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) juvenile.

Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra) looked like common in a pair of gorges South of Muscat. Image by Sergi Sales

Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) was the commonest wheatear in the broken landscape of the Northen Oman mountain chains.

After lunch we left the mountains, crossing the desert in our way to our accommodation inland Oman. Before sunset we did a small stop in a suitable place. Here we got good views on Brown-necked Ravens, Desert Wheatears, 3 Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks (1 male, 2 females) and 1 Asian Desert Warbler.

After such a successful stop we came back to the place where Omani Owl has been seen in recent years. We searched quite long and waited until sunset, but nothing. We were about to leave, already quite dark, when suddenly an owl just appeared from the cliff, diving into the dark, we barely had a view with our torches before the bird disappeared in the dark. We still had 30 minutes more of reseach but unfortunately we could not have any other sight. At some point we decided to move to our next accommodation, with a convenient stop in the way so we could have some dinner.

We arrived to our accommodation, and recharged energy for the coming day.

Day 4. This day was basically a road day in our way to Salalah. After breakfast we headed to Qirbit for some morning birding. Once the oasis by Qirbit we did a walk around expecting some small birds. The desert around was hosting some Desert Wheatears and we got really good views on our 3rd Asian Desert Warbler for the trip. A aucheri race Southern Grey Shrike was calling from the oasis vegetation and several Eurasian Collared Doves were around. We spent about 25 minutes at the oasis and we only got 2 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Black Redstart.
After such a disapointing numbers we came back to our Qitbit to explore the gardens. These gardens have been really famous for several years and a must for every single birdwatcher exploring inner Oman. Unfortunably the motel in Qitbit is now close and the gardens abandoned so the variety of birds here has collapsed. We didn’t know about we it was evident that the place had once better times. We still had a good surprise in the gardens since a Black-throated Thrush flew off from one of the trees!! The moved into a dense vegetated patch and we decided to follow it. After some wait we had the bird flying to a small pond of water and got good brief but good views on the bird while drinking water.

As Qitbit was disapointing for us in terms of birds we kept driving some more miles South to arrive to a number of farms where irrigation allows a variety of grassy crops. It was midday so quite hot but we still were expecting some good birds. Along the track accessing the farmland we had a number of good birds including several Isabelline Wheatears along with some Desert and Northern. The area was literally full of grasshopers so the presence of 1 Isabelline Shrike was justified. In one of the stops to check around we got 3 Black-crowned Sparrow-larks singing and moving around. Crested Larks were all over. A random stop produced wonderful views on 1 Long-billed Pipit by the car, and everybody enjoyed quiet long. Around, several Tawny Pipits were also seen, some of them performing superbly.

One of the 2 Pied Wheatears (Oenanthe pleschanka) noted in the ferms.

Once by the crops we noticed an even higher density on Wheatears and also Tawny Pipits. 2 Pied Wheatears including a moulting young male were an excellent adding to the tour list. A little walk by the grass produced several Yellow & White Wagtails and we all surprised to listen 2 Quails singing in the field! Several Laughing Doves were in the area, and this was the first place where we noticed the dark form of this beautiful species. The walk was not especially interesting until we got a bird landing in the field. It was a small lark. It was a Skylark actually. It was moving along with a White Wagtail and it looked clearly smaller, thin-billed than the European Skylark. Then a Common Kestrel appeared so all birds flew off to confirm the bird (birds as it was a second one!) to be Oriental Skylarks thanks to the wing patern when flying (mainly the lack of white stripe in the …..

We still spent some more time in the fields. The Oriental Skylarks flew really far away so no chance for a relocalization. After some time without any relevant activity we decided to leave to Salalah.

African Lime Butterfly (Papilio demodocus) were common in the farm land in the desert.

Before living we invested some time on butterflies. Here it was a great variety so we enjoyed some of them, taking good images. After a good driving we finally approached the incredible Jhoffar Mountains. Here, in the road mountain pass, we did a fast stop to enjoy some birds. The firsts of many Fan-tailed Ravens were seen around, offering good chances for photographers in the group. Also Tristam’s Starlings were really showy, with small flocks of about 10 individuals moving around. The short stop turned in a longer one since a small flock of Wagtails included some interesting ones. There were 4 White Wagtails and some Yellow Wagtails including a male Balkan Yellow Wagtail (feldegg). A proper scanning in the White Wagtails produced a Masked Wagtail (personatta) in winter plomage. Beyond the wagtails, an large area of graminea was covering part of the slope. There we saw a small flock of Singing Bush Larks moving around, flying up and down to disappear in the tall grass. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t have a view of the birds on the ground, yet.

Tawny Pipits (Anthus campestris) were common in around the grassy areas in the desert.

There were also some raptors in the area. 1 Common Kestrel was hovering in the area around and 2 wondeful males Montagu’s Harriers passed by the highway with lovely afternoon light. In the distance, 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle was also a good spot!

After such a productive end of the day we arrived to our accommodation in Salalah for a god rest after a long driving day!

Day 5. After a wonderful breakfast in our hotel in Salalah we left towards Raysut, expecting to spend the whole morning in the area. Still, before heading to Raysut we invested 1 hour in a small wetland near our accommodation. Here we got the first views of many of Rüppel’s Weavers, including a wonderful male building a nest. The ambient was clearly warmer than in Muscat. Along with Rüppell’s Weavers we got Graceful Prinias, as common as in the Northern part of the country.

Rüppell’s Weavers (Ploceus galbula) are really common in the Dhofar area. Image by Carles Oliver

The small wetland is in fact a river mouth, known many times as Eastern Salalah Wetland. Here, the floating vegetation was perfect for a number of species and many Eurasian Moorhens were seen taking advantage of it. A Great Reed Warbler appeared from the riverside vegetation while Wood & Green Sandpipers flew around. 7+ Citrine Wagtails were seen feeding, walking and a very obliging stopping really close. In the open water it was a good flock of 15+ Tufted Duck along with Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teals. But the lagoon was having also one of the most celebrated birds of trip, a small flock of 8 Cotton Pygmy Geese were roosting in the center of the lagoon, providing good views when one of the males put its head up for a pair of minutes! Happy after this happy encounteer we kept scanning around. Both shores were having some Squacco Herons and, at least, 2 Indian Pond Herons were along with them. Some Gull-billed Terns were flying over the lagoon, joined by 1 Whiskered Tern. A further scanning in the right shore, where more floating vegetation was concentrated, produced 1 Pheasant-tailed Jacana swimming along Moorhens!

One of the many Citrine Wagtails (Motacilla citreola) seen around Salalah.

The group was really satisfied after these nice findings. In our way back to car a Common Chiffchaff came across our way and stopped in a branch, preening.

We left the area towards Raysut. The place is well known due to the great concentration of eagles, mainly Steppe Eagles, but also other interesting species. Even before arriving to the rubbish dump we had our firsts Steppe Eagles flying over in a wonderful variety of plomages that will make enjoy every single raptor lover! When being closer we counted hundreds of them circling in the sky, taking advantage of the first thermals. We knew that earlier that week somebody estimated about 500 Steppe Eagles to be in that rubbish dump. Well, they were probably right! Along with the Eagles we also saw a more impressive spectacle: Hundreds of Abdim’s Storks circling in two different flocks! Previous census numbered in about 150…Here there were at least 300 of them!!

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) around Raysut, where hundreds of them can easily seen.

Happy about this incredible spectacle we drove a bit expecting to find some raptors on ground. No long drive was required. After some hundreds of metres we got at least 6 Steppe Eagles on the ground in a wonderful set! We took our time studying the plomages and structure of the birds and, after that, we drove to some lagoons SW from the dump. Unfortunately the lagoons seemed to be totally dry and only a handful Tristam’s Starlings and a pair of Desert Wheatears were left in the place.

Juvenile Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis). This individual was flying on a flock of 50+ of them.

We then decided to move towards the coast, to find a different lagoon. Overpassing with the car it was evident that it was having water. A flock of 20+ Greater Flamingoes were there, feeding in the deepest part of the lagoon. At the other side, with small lagoon of shallow water and wide areas of rocks, a party of 150+ of White Storks were roosting, preening or tentativally trying to catch a fish or something from the minor lagoons.
We parked and walked until an apropiated view point. 2 Caspian Terns were flying up and down the river. Lower, 1 Whiskered Tern was doing so, stopping sometimes by a solitary Squacco Heron. Some Grey Herons were also in this part of the river. Tens of Rüppell’s Weavers were in the reeds and their whistles were a constant sound in our ears. In the sky, 2 Western Ospreys were patrolling the lagoon. One of them tried for 4 times to catch a fish but with no luck at all…Finally flew the area toward to sea in a short flight, probably to rest and wait until better times to come. The sky was providing a lot of activity. 4+ Black-eared Kites (race lineata of Black Kite) were also patrolling the sky, probably unhappy after the unsuccessful attemps of the Osprey. Waves of birds of prey were coming down the river from the rubbish dump, located some miles up by the river. They were mainly Steppe Eagles but along with them we spotted our firsts 2 Eastern Imperial Eagles of the trip! An intense scanning of the raptors produced also 8+ Greater Spotted Eagles circling and also stopping in the cliffs by the lagoons. They were clearly coming to take a bath and drink water. One of this Greater Spotted Eagles came down the lagoon and stopped right in front of us! An amazing view of such a incredible bird. Delighted after such a wonderful sights we walked a bit down the lagoons, approaching the area of pools were most of Storks and Herons were. We didn’t cover a long distance before we had to stop again due to 2 magnificent Great White Pelicans flying low over us. This a species considered as a rarity in Oman so we were not really expecting to enjoy them in this tour! The birds passed by us going to the see, joined by a small flock of Barn Swallows.

Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) in Raysut.

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) near Raysut ponds.

Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocratus), a really scarce species in Oman, were another of the main attractions in Raysut.

The ponds were fullfilled with birds. There were 120+ Grey Herons roosting in the roocky river bed, beyond the ponds. Along with them there were some Western Cattle Egrets, 1 Little Egret, some Western Reef Egrets (both white and dark forms) and 1 Intermediate Egret. The ponds were hosting Common, Wood & Green Sandpipers but also Greenshanks, Common Redshanks, 3 Ruffs and some Temminck’s Stints. A wonderful Pheasant-tailed Jacana already developing the typical breeding long tail projection was really showy and allowed some record shots. Here we also had good views on the impressive Pearl Emperor (Charaxes varanes) female, a wonderful large butterfly that flew over our group!

Beyond the ponds, the massive flocks of White Storks and Grey Herons were, for sure, hiding something else so we started scouting them. 1 African Sacred Ibis was found, to turn into 3 individuals later in the day. Also 1 Glossy Ibis was discovered feeding in what we supposed was a tiny pond. Beyond the Herons and the Storks, 1 Greater White-fronted Goose was moving in the scattered rank vegetation.

Beyond this area a small estuary was concealling the stream and the sea. A fast scanning concluded some 1000s of waders but also 4 Western Ospreys and some Greater Spotted Eagles on the beach. We just decided to come closer abd have a good scanning.

The area was simply great. Thousands of waders were feeding in the mudbanks. Many Dunlins, tones of Little Stints but also Common Sandpipers, Common Ringed Plovers, Common Redshanks, Greenshanks, Bar-tailed Godwits and some Kentish Plovers of the witish local race. 4 Eurasian Oystercatchers were counted along with several Eurasian Whimbrels. Here, some Lesser Sand Plovers were seen but the most popular wader were the Terek’s Sandpipers moving around. We counted at least 23 of them, some of them doing their typical short runs in search of food. These birds are authentical runners!

The lower Raysut ponds were hosting a incredible variety of birds!

In the sea, flocks of Socotra Cormorants were moving up and down and we enjoyed a pair of their typical massive flocks. Greater Crested, Lesser Crested & Caspian Terns were all around but the most interesting were two Saunder’s Terns moving South along the coast in what it turned out to be the two only Saunder’s of the tour, a species we were expecting to be commoner.

The area was really interesting. Also for gulls. Here we had good views on Heughlin’s, Steppe Gulls and also Caspian Gulls. It was funny to go throught the flock of gull, with some unclear individuals and many other showing typical characters of any of the species. A solitary Palla’s Gull was also noted in the flock.

The bay also produced good views on Delphins. In fact we got two different species with a small party of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and at least 1 Indian-Ocean Humpback Dolphin moving close to them.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophaisanus chirurgus), one of the most celebrated birds around Salalah.

After such a wonderful morning we just had a break for lunch. After our break it was time to go up in the hills to look for a number of other species. Now the landscape changed a lot with mild hills covered by a carpet of small decidous trees, with the impressive Dhoffar mountains in the back.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) enjoy huge densities in the Dhofar region. Image by Carles Oliver

Flocks of Rüppell’s Weavers jeweled the road as we were approaching the location. African Silverbills joined them. Few minutes later the whole group was enjoying wonderful views on Cinnamon-breasted Buntings and Abyssian White-Eyes. Many of them were coming to drink water in a small channel.
A short walk around was soon producing interesting birds including Palestine and Shinning Sunbirds as well as a lovely flock of African Silverbills. White-eyes were extremelly common , moving up in the canopies but also low in the branches, few inches from the ground. One of these flocks brought associated a lovely African Paradise Flycatcher, one of the most celebrated birds in the afternoon. In total, we counted up to 4 individuals, including one showing a full breeding tail in whitish colour!
The walk was being very productive, especially after 2 Blackstarts appeared really close to the path, delighting us with cracking views! The lower vegetation around was also promising so we went a bit out of the bigger trees to take a look. It proved to be a wonderful decision since we soon had 1 Arabian Warbler moving in one of the small trees. The bird showed nicely and its movements reminded us those of an Orphean Warbler. Right side by side from the Arabian Warbler we had another surprise since 1 Black-throated Tchagra pop up from the very dense vegetation to give us poor views. The bird was moving really low in the scrubland so a bit of wait was necessary until the bird decided to “jump” into the open for half a minute!

Abysssian White-ete (Zosterops abyssinicus), another common bird in bushland and forested areas.

Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura), another of the “African” specialities of the Dhofar region. Image by Carles Oliver

The locations was proving to be really productive and the landscape around was dominated by the impressive rock faces of the Dhoffar mountains. Here the cliffs were monitored by a good number of raptors. They were mainly Steppe Eagles but we could also see 3+ Eastern Imperial Eagles, 1-2 Greater Spotted Eagle and 1 Golden Eagle.

Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) showed really well despite the poor image.

African Paradise Flycatchers (Terpsiphone viridis) were not scarce but sometimes difficult to see, often moving associated with White-eyes flocks.

Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalensis) appeared briefly in the low scrubland.

Before heading to our accommodation we still had a last spot to try to add something else but we only added 1 male Blue Rock Thrush and several Isabelline Wheatears along with a superb Greater Spotted Eagle overwatching the whole area from a pilon.

Day 6. This day we drove some miles North from Salalah to enjoy our sea trip in search of some of the specialities living in this part of the Indic Ocean. The small harbour from where we depart was full of Sooty Gulls, alowing really close views on this lovely species. Moreover, the harbour was also hosting several Heuglin’s Gulls and some Caspian & Steppe Gulls. Inmediatly after our small boat left the harbour we had the first surprise in the form of a flock of Black-crowned Black Herons roosting on the external deck boulders. There were not alone but joined by several Gulls, some Grey Heron and 2 Western Reef Egrets. As the boat passed by we had really good views on the Herons.

Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii) portrait in the harbour few momments before starting our offshore trip. Image by Carles Oliver

Once in the open sea we started a hard work to attrack the some sea birds. Soon, a number of Sooty Gulls were following the small boat. A few minutes later we had the first target appearing in the way of a small flock of 3 Persian Shearwaters flying above the waves. Unfortunately they appeared as not interested in our small boat and kept flying away. Encouraged after such a good start we kept going off shore. Flocks and flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes were all over on the extremelly plain sea and their pure white bodies were like tiny lighthouses in the deep blue sea.
We enjoyed several close views on them but take good photos on them proved to be more difficult than expected.

Flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) were moving in the sea offshore Dhofar region. Image by Carles Oliver

The boat trip was going well but even improved as the 2 Masked Boobies flew over our boat! Great views on a really celebrated bird that, unfortunately seemed to have no interest at all in the food we were offering them. We kept scanning and feeding for long, expecting to attrack a Jouanin’s Petrel, one of the top targets in the offshore trip, but we had no luck in this…
We enjoyed up to 14 Masked Boobies with some great views and a second flock of Persian Shearwaters passed by us but no signal of the Petrel. Midway in the sea trip we got excellent views on Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and enjoy some great views on them while jumping in the waves and chasing tunas. A Green Sea Turtle was also a good addition to our list! It was a quite large one (about 1,5 metres) and it was in the surface only for few seconds…

Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) was one of the most celebrated birds on our offshore trip.

Socotra Cormorants (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) were moving in large flocks along the coast.

Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini) in winter plomage during our offshore trip.

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin during our offshore trip near Salalah. Image by Sergi Sales

Once back on the continent we just went for something to eat. Happy for the relative
good sights during the sea trip we just changed and went to the explore the highest area in the Dhoffar Mountains. A number of lanes go up in the slopes, allowing excellent birding all around. The way up produced excellent views on Long-billed Pipit, Blackstarts and Isabelline Shrikes.

This juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) was one of the most iconical image of the tour to Oman. Image by Carles Oliver

Once in the high plateau we were lucky enough to enjoy a nice flock of Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Long-billed Pipits and wonderful views on Singing Bush Larks. Beyond there, a male Arabian Wheatear Scanning the slopes inmediatly around we found a incredible flock of 20+ Yemen Serins feeding on the ground and showing wonderfully in a rocky area close to the road. We were amazed to have such a great views on this species, being this area the only one place in the world where it is possible to enjoy it!

Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra cantillans) offered lovely views on our exploration of Dhofar Mountains. Image by Carles Oliver

Tristam’s Starling (Onychognathus tristamii) is a scarce urban bird in Salalah and around. Image by Carles Oliver

The group enjoyed long views on a flock of the near-endemic Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis) in the Dhofar. Image by Carles Oliver

Female Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) showing the orangy patch in the ear-coverts and the difusely barred breast. Image by Carles Oliver

Happy after such a good views on many key species we kept moving in the slopes. Inmediatly around a small village we found 1 Eastern Imperial Eagle on a wood pilon. The bird showed nicely and allowed really good shots! Up in the sky, raptor action was increasing. In less than 15 minutes we counted 7 Eurasian Griffons, 10+ Eastern Imperian Eagles, Steppes Eagles, 1 Short-toed Snake Eagle and 1 Bonelli’s Eagle!
Still, the most wanted Eagle was not showing…yet. In our way up we did also a short stop in a pond and got one of the surprises of the trip.

The impressive landscape up in the Dhofar Mountains. Image by Carles Oliver

After such a great found we decided a proper stop in a pond and scan around. Many Abyssian White-eyes were moving around and 2 Shinning Sunbirds delighted us with its incredible colours.
Our last stop that day brought us to a wild scarpment. It was really windy and foggy so we were expecting little that afternoon. Fan-tailed Ravens were moving all around the cliffs and the area around produced wonderful views on Tristam’s Starlings. The scanning around was producing little else and we were already considering to leave when an enormous black and white shape emerged from the fog to fly up in the cliff: it was a Verreaux Eagle! The bird was just playing with wind, moving up and down in the cliffside. Few seconds after a second Verreaux Eagle appeared as well from the fog and we all enjoyed wonderful views in what is one of the most espectacular eagles on Earth! The birds kept appearing and disappearing from the bog for at least 15 minutes, doing incredible acrobatical flights and even stopping in the cliffs for short!!

We got some impressive views on Verreaux’s Eagles (Aquila verreauxii) despite the intense fog! Images by Carles Oliver

Happy after such a successful afternoon we just headed back to Salalah, where a good last stop was waiting for us. Urban birding in Salalah can be really good so we went to one of its urban parks, close to our accommodation, to finish the day. Out of the common Laughing Doves, one of the first birds we got were to Plain Rock Martins resting in one of the buildings of the complex. They offered good views on a bird we could see in flight so far. Beyond the building a small lagoon offered really good views on a flock of Whiskered Terns and also a pair of Caspian Terns. Citrine Wagtails were quite common in the flooting vegetation and 1 Palestine Sunbird showed superbly in low rank vegetation. 2 Indian Pond Herons were also present, catching the afternoon light in a wonderful way. Passing over the lagoon by a small bridge, we explored a palm tree orchad. Here we got one of the main targets of the visit in the way of 2 Bruce’s Green Pigeons showing in a wondeful way, first in a wire, later on a tree while feeding on fruits. This was again a really celebrated bird for everybody in the group.

Bruce’s Green Pigeons (Treron waalia) on a feeding tree in Salalah. Image by Carles Oliver

We kept moving in the area. An open field beyond was hosting waves and waves of Yellow Wagtails, including some nice summer plomaged “feldegg” and “beehma” birds. 1 Isabelline Weathear was also really showy in the area, as it was a Graceful Prinia. The channel around is an interesting roosting place for waders and, at that time, tens of Common Sandpipers were concentrating in the area along with 15+ Greenshanks and several Green Sandpipers. Sun was starting to go down but before we left we still had another top target appearing in the way of 2 Spotted Thick-knees posing for us under one fot he small olive trees in the garden.

Pale Crag Martin (Ptynoprogne obsoleta) is much a urban bird in areas of Muscat and Salalah. Image by Sergi Sales

Citrine Wagtails (Motacilla citreola) were again a major attraction for the tour participants. Image by Carles Oliver

Spotted Thick-knees (Burhinus capensis) resting on an urban park in Salalah. Image by Carles Oliver

After such a great views we just came back to our hotel to enjoy another great buffet dinner.

Day 7. This day we had a very early start with a small tranfer back to the desert, were in a small oasis we were expecting to find Grey Hypocolius as well as other top target birds. After our transfer we enjoyed our packed breakfast while scanning around. Not long at all until we got the first good bird in the way of a gorgeous mal Nile Valley Sunbird just around our car. Not many time for photographs in this wonderful bird because 1 Grey Hypocolius just flew over us (!!) stopping about 200 metres away from us. We just moved on and after some searching in the area we got brief views on a wonderful male up in a palm tree! But was a brief view as the bird pop down and disappear. Spent some time around with little result out of more views on the male Nile Valley Sunbird, joined now by a female!

Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) showed superbly, including this male singing and displaying. Image by Carles Oliver

Grey Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus) female. A flock of 3 individuals were seen in our day in the desert. Image by Carles Oliver

We walked around hoping to have the Hypocolius appearing again but we got nothing but a pair of glimpses on 3 of them moving around. Blackstarts were singing around as the sun was getting higher.
Suddenly, a flock of birds appeared moving in the sky, Sandgrouses! A flock of 30 of them was moving in the distance, apparently moving down to drink water in a small pond beyond the vegetation. We just drove down the area, stopping in a decent distance to the pond. And then it came waves and waves of Sandgrouses, calling and flying extremelly fast around the pond. They were mainly Chestnut-bellied but also Spotted Sandgrouses were mixed with them.
First it was a flock of about 30. But then it came a second flock, and a third, and a fourth. Suddenly the sky look like full of them, with flocks coming in and out, landing, walking, flying fast from few inches to the ground or flying up in the sky while calling. This was propably one of the most remarcable momments of the tour. We estimated about 150 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses and 30+ Spotteds! In one the last flocks coming in we also got at least 1 Crowned Sandgrouse! It could not be better. Wrong. It could.
Right when all Sandgrouses were flying around with their noisy call, 2 Grey Hypocolious jumped on the wire just by our car, allowing some great views on them. ! female in particular stayed in the wire for about 5 minutes, allowing great images! We especially enjoyed the female, being there for some minutes while the male was only a little while…

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus), the commonest Sandgrouse in Oman in our 2019 tour. Image by Carles Oliver

More and more flocks of Sandgrouses were coming down to drink water. Now not only in this corner of the oasis but also in many other areas around. So we moved a bit to try to get better views on the different flocks and, maybe, something different. But we were already at the end of the spectacle and we only got closer views on a small flock of Chesnut-bellied Sandgrouses walking right in the tarmac. They were there for a pair of minutes and after that they flew off. Very little movement of Sandgrouses were left already…2 Blackstarts were singing in nearby cliffs. Got a nice view on them before heading back to Salalah.

Back in the coast we decided to spend some time in ponds in Raysut. There we were compensated with great views in a big flock of Abdim’s Stork, a species that we had only in flight until that moment. But in the ponds we had a flock of 200+ having a bath or simply resting in the gravel shore. Along with them, a good number of waders including several Temminck’s Stints and some Little Stints. Little Ringed Plover, Greenshanks and Common Sandpipers were also there.

Abdim’s Storks (Ciconia abdimii) at Raysut ponds. Up to 200 were seen! Image by Carles Oliver

After an early lunch we just got back to the hills. This time we went a bit inside the fabulous decidous forests covering much of Dhoffar Mountains Eastern slopes. Here we enjoyed with several flocks of Abyssinian White-eyes and some African Paradise Flycatchers. A pool in the forested areas produced good views on a male Shikra posted in the shade, waiting for potential preys to come. The trees around were hosting good numbers of Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Blacktarts but also 1 Siberian Chiffchaff that was calling in the canopies, making much easier to identify the bird. A small walk was done in nearby meadow, where we had a Red-throated Pipit flying over us.

This day we waited until dusk, and then we were to explore an interesting point for Arabian Scops Owl. We just waited until dark and after some minutes we got a wonderful Arabian Scops Owl calling really close to us. It was a question of minutes to get excellent views on the bird, and with the help of special lights we got incredible shots in the owl!

Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae) gave us excellent views on our nocturnal trip around Salalah. Image by Carles Oliver

Happy after such a nice views we came back to the hotel for some dinner and rest.

Day 8. That sunny morning we went to try a different place for Arabian Golden-winged Hawfinch. In our way to the little pond were the birds use to come to drink we had a stop as 2 Arabian Partridges were standing by the road in lovely morning sun. Once in the pond, good numbers of Cinnamon-breasted Buntings and African Silverbills were attending the water. We decided to wait a bit. 1 male Namaqua Dove passed by the pond at the same time that a Greater Spotted Eagle was flying over. Few more minutes of waiting and a female Shikra appeared up in the sky, offering good views.We kept scanning around the ponds, were some flocks of Abyssinian White-eyes were also coming. Then, something moved fast around one of the ponds, and a fast scanning produced a Grey-headed Kingfisher! This was a surprising sight since this species is suposed to arrive in Oman during early April (!!). We anyway enjoyed very much this really unexpected bird as was flying around the pond, chasing dragonflies in a really effective way! The bird showed really well for up to 20 minutes, until a big herd of cattle came to drink water.

Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) was an unexpected goodie in our tour. Image by Carles Oliver

African Silverbills (Euodice cantans) came to drink water in a pond at the Dhofar Mountains foothills. Image by Carles Oliver

It was already quite and it was clear that Hawfinches were not coming to drink water, so we decided to move, missing this wonderful bird. This day we were facing a transfer North but before that we were still having some time to check the Salalah farms.
We checked s two of them before driving North. In our first location we got Clamorous Reed Warbler and up to 5 Graceful Prinias. The grasslands were hosting several Singing Bush Larks that were singing and performing around. Up in the sky, 4 Forbes-Whatson Swifts passed over us, offering good views in both the general colour and the white spot in the throat. Out of this, the grasslands were poor in birds so we decided to move to a second farm. A drive around this second place produced Hoopoe, Green & Wood Sandpipers and the only one Yellow-billed Kite of the trip. Still, the area was poor again in birds so we decided to leave the area and start moving North.

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis aucheri), a resident shrike in Omani deserts. Image by Carles Oliver

In our way North we did one stop midway. A short walk in the desert produced 1 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, 2 Black-crowned Sparrow-lark and 5+ Greater Hoopoe Larks chasing each other and doing acrobatical flights in a lovely afternoon light. After this good sight we just drive until Duqm, arriving a bit after sunset.

Day 9. This day we ha dan early breakfast and left North to explore the …… Bay. This is huge estuary concentrating hundreds of thousands of waders. When did arrive tide was low and birds very distant. Still, we had good views on several Bar-tailed Godwits, Kentish Plovers, Dunlins, Grey Plovers, Eurasian Curlews and Lesser Sand Plovers. Flocks of Greater Flamingoes were roosting in the water, just few inches inside the Ocean. There were several Caspian Terns flying up and down the area and there were flocks of Sanderlings all along the shore.

Despite this, and after 45 minutes of scanning, we were uncapable to connect with our main target in this point, the Great Knot. So, we finally moved some miles North to keep scanning the estuary but from the Northern side. We drove some 40 minutes scan around the deck where some ferries are connecting with Marisah Island.

Impressive flocks like this of Sooty Gulls but also Steppe & Heuglin’s Gulls were a common view on the estuary around in front of Marisah Island.

Flocks of Crab Plovers (Dromas ardeola) were moving in the inter mareal plateau along with several other waders.

In the beaches around there were literally thousands and thousands of Sooty Gulls. Along with them, huge flocks of Slender-billed Gulls were also a good views. Probably more than 7000 Slender-billeds and number even higher of Sooty Gulls! This wonderful espectacled were complemented by 100s of Caspian and Heuglin’s, being Steppe Gulls the less numerous in the area. A scan along the bridge giving access to the ferries produced a small flock of Common Terns, and not far away from them our only one White-cheeked Tern of the trip! Once in the deck we also enjoyed excellent views on Greater Crested Terns. Back in the mainland it was time for the tide to go down once more. Loads of waders came in. And along with the most common species we had wonderful views in 50+ Crab Plovers feeding in the shore and moving along with Bar-tailed Godwits. They were a bit distant but still this was definately one of the images of the tour for some of the tour participants and for sure a wonderful way to end the trip!

Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) were showing really well in our way back to Muscat. Image by Carles Oliver

The best views on Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks (Eremopterix nigriceps) came right before heading back to Muscat. Image by Carles Oliver

In our way out of the area we still had a final stop since a really close Brown-necked Raven was offering nice views. Close by, a lovely Black-crowned Sparrow-lark gave us the best views on the trip, joined by a small flock of Tawny Pipits! These were the very last birds of the trip. After this we just drove back to Muscat for a nocturnal flight back home after a wonderful tour in Oman!

Please check our website for the upcoming issues of this trip. If not finding the information, please contact us: info@barcelonabirdingpoint.com

Barcelona Birding Point Blog

Welcome to the official blog site of Barcelona Birding Point, your new birding & wildwatching travel agency. Here you will find trip reports, detailed information about some of our tours, tips on conservation and more.

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