Well, Oman is getting popular and now firmly established on the world birding circuit. There’s already a few companies and other birders ahead of us or just finished their tour. In my opinion that is great if you’re after finding some rarities but you’ll miss Hypocolius, although have better luck with Sooty Falcon. And that’s our first target today and I’m hoping there’s still one or two lingering on their breeding islands… Already some of the group had been seeing Greater Spotted Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Red-wattled Lapwing, Glossy Ibis, Delicate Prinia, Pale Crag Martin, White-eared Bulbul, Purple Sunbird, Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike, and other common species.
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| View from hotel window |
So, with everyone arriving yesterday and being well rested we set out on the half an hour drive to Al Qurum creek to meet our boat. Our first Arabian Green Bee-eater was a welcome surprise before we set off out to Al Fahal Island.
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| The gang... |
Would the falcons still be around? I’d seen on eBird that they had been seen yesterday….. It took around 40 minutes to reach the large island and we sailed around the calmer southern side, seeing absolutely nothing until we reached the opposite side where the water was choppy, and of course this was where the Sooty Falcons were hanging out! In fact there were at least 6 in all with a Peregrine Falcon.
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| Our most wanted bird - Sooty Falcon |
It was a little tricky to get good photos but one bird was quite low down and gave great views. Our falcon watching was put on temporary hold with the appearance of an adult and juvenile Red-billed (Arabian) Tropicbird flying around us – and only the second time I’ve seen them in Oman. Brilliant!
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| Red-billed (Arabian) Tropicbird |
But back to the falcons, as this was a species most of the group were extremely keen to see and we enjoyed further great views of them flying around the tall cliffs above us and then right over our little boat. Superb! Everyone was elated with this and after a good while watching them we left and headed back to land, with the added bonus of a close Red-necked Phalarope en-route.
From here, we drove half an hour north to the Muscat Rivermouth in the hope of finding Pallas’s Gull, a species which hasn’t been reported yet this season. Of course, we drew a blank on this but still had a fine time sifting through a very nice selection of shorebirds. Highlights were a mix of Greater and Tibetan Sandplovers giving great scope views, along with Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank, Ruff and many Little Stints, as well as Slender-billed and Sooty Gulls amongst others.
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| Checking one of the beaches... |
We then drove back to the Crowne Plaza to collect our luggage and set off up to Barka where we’d be staying for 2 nights.
After another great picnic lunch prepared by Lynzi we had a good few hours rest before meeting at 7pm to drive to one of our favourite wadis at the base of the massive Al Hajar Mountains where Omani Owl resides. Well, yes they are there but not tonight. We did stay until 2am but didn’t get a sniff of it and had to content ourselves with a Pallid Scops Owlsitting on a rocky ledge and a Little Owl before driving back, bleary-eyed to the hotel for a short night’s sleep.
