OMAN DAY 7: MUNTESAR OASIS – QATBIT GARDENS – AL BEED FARM – SHISR FIELDS

Our day began with a 6am departure from Al Ghaftain Resthouse and after a 75 minute drive we reached Muntesar Oasis for a great few hours birding. Almost immediately we came across 2 Pied Wheatears and during our time here we enjoyed repeated views, allowing us some superb photographic opportunities. 

Pied Wheatear

We walked around the oasis slowly and picked up another Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, both Richard’s & Meadow Pipits, and had a single European Bee-eater amongst a flock of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. One of the latter species perched on top of a nearby acacia and the views through the scope and photo opportunities were fantastic. 

The stunning Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

A short while later the first of several groups of Chestnut-bellied and Spotted Sandgrouse flew around the oasis calling but the presence of another group of birders stood out in the open probably dissuaded the sandgrouse from coming down to drink. And then we watched a falcon flying out across the desert that certainly looked long-winged and very long-tailed giving the jizz of an Eleonora’s Falcon. The haze at this time of the day meant we couldn’t obtain any definitive photos but we saw it land on the ground with its long tail seemingly resting on the floor and it caused us quite a bit of excitement! Unfortunately we couldn’t get conclusive views and just have to let it go…. Eleonora’s is a very rare bird in Oman with just one confirmed record so far. The other unfortunate incident whilst we were here was the sighting by a Belgian group of a Ruddy-breasted Crake – with only 2 previous records it’s a mega! One of the Belgians did tell one of my group, but unfortunately they neglected to pass the news on until later in the day!!!

 

So we left here feeling like we’d given the oasis a thorough grilling (ironic really) and drove south to Qatbit Gardens where another Common Quail was found by Simon, along with 2 female Blackcaps, and yet another RB Fly. 

Common Quail

Driving further south we finally came across a Greater Hoopoe Lark that gave very nice views, much to Malcolm’s delight. I thought Al Beed Farms was disappointing and nothing like it used to be, but we did see Namaqua Dove, a flyover Steppe Eagle, Pallid & Montagu’s Harriers, as well as many Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks. 

Superb views of Cream-coloured Coursers....

We eventually reached Shisr Fields at 4pm, finding a flock of 27 Cream-coloured Coursers, along with Rosy Starling, Tawny Pipit and a cracking male Pallid Harrier. By the time we reached our hotel in Thumrayt, we were ready for a hot shower and a decent meal.