Arxiu de la categoria: Oman Birding Tour Report

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)

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.

Arxiu de la categoria: Oman Birding Tour Report

Oman Birding Tour 2026 Trip Report

Oman Birding Tour 2026, crònica del viatge

Oman Birding Tour 2025 Trip Report

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