SULTANATE OF OMAN

17th – 28th NOVEMBER 2005

TEAM

R.Adams, L.J.Degnan, G.Featherstone, C.Gaughan, T.McEvoy, A.Roadhouse, N.Whitehouse, J.Wozencroft.

INTRODUCTION

LJD, JW and NW had been to northern Oman two year previously, and this trip basically followed the same route, concentrating on migration hotspots and looking for and trying to learn about the good Western Palearctic migrants on offer. RA was only with us for the first four days and NW was in the country for a week, so after dropping RA at the airport, he did his own thing for four days. There is a separate chapter of his antics at the end of the systematic list. It was a very successful trip with the main team recording a total of 189 species, with a few other interesting races noted as well. Several rarities were found, including Small Skylark, Blyth’s Pipit, Buff-bellied Pipit and a Dalmatian Pelican – only the second for Oman.

FLIGHTS

Flights were booked on the internet for a price of £340, Heathrow to Al Seeb, Muscat with Gulf Air.

CAR RENTAL

LJD, JW, TMc and CG hired a 4.5 litre Toyota Landcruiser with Mark’s rent-a car at a cost of £550 for 10 days with 225 km limited mileage per day. GF and AR hired a 2.8 Toyota Landcruiser, with unlimited mileage from Hertz for a cost of £400. NW and RA hired a Mitsubishi Galant saloon car for 8 days for a cost of £200.We found that four wheel drive was essential, especially for Masirah Island and the road from Sur to Muscat. Petrol was cheap, with the average price of a gallon the equivalent to a litre back in the UK.

MONEY

The currency was the Omani Rial and the exchange rate while we were there was about OR60 = £1 sterling. We exchanged money at the airport and also used credit cards in some hotels.

HOTELS

The Al Sawadi Beach Resort was very plush with excellent facilities, food and beer and cost RO 35 each including our breakfast, evening meal and drinks. The Al Wadi Hotel at Sohar wasn’t quite as good as the last one, but the food was still fine and it had two bars, one with entertainment in the form of Indian dancing girls. The hotel was full so AR and GF shared with the others, which was no problem, the beds being very large and this didn’t appear to incur an added cost as the hotel only charged RO43 each for two nights including all our breakfasts, evening meals and our beer, of which we guzzled quite a lot. We broke our journey from Sohar to Masirah, by spending the night about halfway, in the Safari Hotel in Farq, a large, plush looking hotel with nice rooms, however the food was crap and they didn’t serve beer. The price was RO 20 each including evening meal and breakfast. On Masirah, we stayed in the Hotel Masirah which has recently been renovated and extended, the price per room was RO 12, evening meals were served after being pre-ordered the morning before. If you want to drink alcohol on Masirah it is suggested you take some on with you, we couldn’t find any. A new hotel is nearly finished on the east coast of the island about 10 minutes drive from Hilf. In Sur we stayed in the Sur Beach Hotel, a nice hotel with a good restaurant and a group of Tanzanian dancing girls in the bar! The price of the hotel worked out at OR 30 each, but we did have steaks for dinner and rather a lot of ale! The Hotel Ras al Hadd was a nice large hotel, with a buffet meal served in the restaurant and a beer available, although everyone had an early night there. Cost was OR 20 each including breakfast and evening meal. Our last night was spent in the Majan Hotel in Muscat, which had two bars and a restaurant which served a buffet chinese meal the night we were there, cost was OR 30 each, including breakfast, evening meal and beer.

FOOD AND DRINK

We ate most of our food in the hotels in which we stayed, with most providing a large open buffet for a set price – usually around OR 4. On Masirah, the hotel cooked our evening meals for a set time, after we had ordered the dishes we wanted at breakfast time. Breakfasts were also buffet style, with most doing a western breakfast as well as a continental one. During the daytime, we snacked on crisps, buns, biscuits etc bought from petrol stations. All the hotels had bars, apart from the hotel on Masirah, and a wide range of western lagers were served at a cost of about £2 each.

GENERAL

We used the book, Birdwatching Guide to Oman by Eriksen and Sargeant, which is a very up to date site guide and had all the information on hotels and sites still correct. The only place we visited that wasn’t in the book was Sur sewage works, a site to the north-west of town on the road to Tiwi. We also used a selection of field guides, mainly the Collins guide, Middle-east guide and Lars Jonsson

ITINERARY

18th

Arrived at Muscat Airport at 08.10 hrs, picked up hire cars and headed off to Sunub rubbish dump, a good site with large numbers of Egyptian Vultures, Steppe Eagles and Brown-necked Ravens with much fewer Lappet-faced Vultures and Spotted Eagles, with passerines represented by Hume’s and Red-tailed Wheatears. Early afternoon we moved onto Al Ansab Lagoons (both of these sites were awkward to find) and a good selection of waterbirds and waders. We then drove the 90 or kilometres to Ras as Sawadi Beach Resort being delayed en route for half an hour while the Sultan of Oman, escorted by an entourage of helicopters, police and army, sped along the now deserted road at about 100 mph. We had a good meal in this four star hotel and a few beers before retiring early due to tiredness.

19th

Everyone was up early and checked the hotel grounds and as we checked the nearby beach, the first Sooty Gulls of the trip were seen and a selection of waders, Swift Terns, Caspian and Siberian Gulls. A few Desert Wheatears and one Pied were seen in the hotel grounds before we all sat down to a sumptuous breakfast. Moving onto the nearby small estuary, more waders and terns, including Terek Sandpipers were seen. On the way back to the main coast road, we covered some acacia covered desert a few kilometres from the main junction, in search of Desert Warblers, but no sign of any, and just a few migrants including a female Blackcap, and also 6 White-cheeked Bulbuls. At mid-day we drove up to Sohar and booked into the Al Wadi Hotel. The last few hours were spent at the nearby Sun Farms, the fields here being excellent with a good selection of pipits, larks, wheatears and an evening roost of Montagu’s and Marsh Harriers. We had a few beers in the bar and then a reasonable buffet dinner, followed by a few more beers.

20th

Breakfast at 6am, then 6 of the group drove up to Khatmat Milahah, while LJD and GF decided to stay at Sun Farms. The drive to Khatmat Milahah only took 50 minutes and we had seen our two target species within ten minutes of arriving (Eastern Pied Wheatear and Plain Leaf Warbler), though we spent another hour there and had nine Stone Curlew and an Orphean Warbler. We were back at Sun Farms for 10.30 ( although on the way, a certain well respected member of the community bumped into the car in front – he denies he actually hit the car because they didn’t stop! ) and soon located LJD and GF, who had seen 2 Buff-bellied Pipits, a Small Skylark and several other pipits and wagtails. It wasn’t long before the rest of the team had seen the Small Skylark, but we couldn’t relocate the Buff-bellied Pipits. In the heat of the day, four of the team went back to the hotel for lunch and to relax, while the others were busy finding yet more good birds, namely 7 Cream-coloured Coursers, 2 Desert Warblers and 2 Menetrie’s Warblers. The other team returned and picked up two Masked (personata) Wagtails and 3 White-tailed Plovers. A newly cut field was checked and several Bimaculated Larks were found, the evening was again spent watching the harriers coming into roost, where at least one Pallid was found. Back to the hotel and time for some beer and food, the beer drinking continuing into the early hours with everyone having a good time – with the same well respected member of the community having a better time than the others!

21st

The price to pay for last nights enjoyment was a late start for most and for one, a complete non-starter. Most of the team were at the Sun Farms for 09.30, where we worked the fields that were good yesterday, but they revealed nothing new. We soon had to say our farewells to RA and NW after which we checked the sewage ponds at Sun Farms where there was a reasonable selection of waders. We left the area at 13.00 to move south towards our next destination. We stopped at a wadi near the town of Bidbid for the last hour of day light and were surprised to see 7 Crowned Sandgrouse and a Plain Leaf Warbler. We continued driving until after dark and found the Safari Hotel in Farq It was a grand looking place, with nice rooms and pretty cheap, but the restaurant served crap food and no beer – although to most of us after last night, that was a bonus!

22nd

TMc was up early and wandered round the rocky hillside at the back of the hotel where he found 6 House Buntings, so after breakfast we all had a look around the area and saw the buntings, and Rock and Blue Rock Thrushes as well. At about 08.30 we headed south towards Masirah, which was a long boring drive broken up by a coffee break at Sinaw and then a stop just south of there to look at some raptors, which turned out to be Egyptian Vultures and an Imperial Eagle. We then had another stop in the desert 5 km north of Mahoot (Al Hidj) where we saw Desert and Menetries Warblers and 2 Southern Grey Shrikes. We arrived at Shannah at 13.15 and drove straight onto the ferry, watching flocks of Sooty and Siberian Gulls while we waited for the ferry to leave. It set off at 13.45 and arrived an hour and half later, with only a few terns seen on the voyage. After booking into the newly rebuilt Hotel Masirah, which is now very smart, we then drove a few kms south of town and watched a good selection of waders and terns in the first bay, with at least 43 Crab Plovers seen and a good chance to study Lesser and Greater Sandplovers. We ate in the hotel restaurant, the food was good but we had to wait an hour and half for it to come and there was no beer – disaster!!! We finished the evening by going into town and having a couple of coffees in a local coffee house.

23rd

An early check of the bay outside the hotel produced the usual waders and gulls, with good numbers of Sooty Gulls and our first Whimbrel of the trip. After breakfast we drove down to Masirah sewage farm, outside of which, a pond on the beach had a good selection of wildfowl and a few waders and flamingoes. We spent the next three hours in the sewage works, where the ponds held quite a few waders, wildfowl and pipits, with a Cotton Teal and Pheasant-tailed Jacana being unexpected. The surrounding scrub and trees turned up a few migrants- Blue-cheeked and European Bee-eaters, Lesser Whitethroat, Great Reed Warbler, Rufous Turtle Dove, Bluethroat, Ortolan Bunting, Tree Pipits and a Blyth’s Pipit. Most of the afternoon was spent in the adjacent orchard where there were 3 Koel, 3 Black Redstarts, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Clamorous Reed Warblers, one Menetries Warbler, 20 Chiffchaff, 2 Red-breasted Flycatchers. The last two hours of the afternoon were spent watching gull, waders and terns on the east coast of the island, where 3 Masked Boobies were seen distantly. We called back at the sewage works at dusk to see if we could see a nightjar sp. seen earlier in the day, finding it almost immediately, and it turned out to be a European. A good meal was had in the hotel which had been pre-ordered at breakfast, another early night with no beer.

24th

We were all up early and at the sewage works for just after first light, but apart from a Jack Snipe we had few new birds. The Blyth’s Pipit was still present and so was the Jacana although it was now on the pool by the beach. We went back to the hotel for breakfast at 09.00 and then afterwards, headed south down the west coast of the island, where we split into two groups and covered most of the bays, the tide was low so there were very few large concentrations. The main group found 4 Hoopoe Larks and also had 2 Bridled Terns in one bay and good close views of a Jouanin’s Petrel in another in the evening. The west coast in the evening didn’t produce the same number of gulls and terns as the previous night, in fact there were no Slender-billed Gulls going south to roost at all (hundreds previously) and the Sooty Gulls were flying north instead of south as they done last night. Another good meal in the hotel and then the now usual trip afterwards to the coffee house for a few coffees.

25th

We had an early start so we could catch an early ferry back to the mainland, but sadly found out that we were waiting on the wrong pier and the other ferry was full, so we had to wait until 09.00 before we finally set sail. It arrived at 10.45 and we drove the short distance to mudflats south of Shannah, part of the Barr al Hikman area. Unfortunately the tide was as low as it was possible to get. We waded out ankle deep across the mudflats to the teeming masses of flamingoes, egrets and waders. We had superb views of very close Broad-billed Sandpipers and reasonable views of the more distant Great Knots and Terek Sandpipers. We then drove the 350 kms north to Sur, stopping at the roadside late afternoon to check some acacia scrub, but very little was seen. We finally found the Sur Beach Hotel, where we had the best meal of the holiday and followed by quite a few beers.

26th

Last nights excesses again meant a few late risers, but we were still at the Sur sewage works for 09.00. This was good, with a fine selection of common migrants and a few surprises – Red-crested Pochard, Wigeon, a very obliging Baillon’s Crake, a Lesser Short-toed Lark and 2 Richard’s Pipits. We gave Sur Lagoon a quick check and also Khawr al Hajar we then checked in to the Ras al Hadd Hotel and had a drive to Ras al Khabbah, probably the best sea-watching site in north Oman. No sooner had we got out of the cars, when we had 3 Red-billed Tropicbirds, and a few Masked Boobies. We spent all afternoon there and had a few Persian and Pale-footed Shearwaters, some Pomarine Skuas, a lot of distant Red-necked Phalaropes and 150 Great Black-headed Gulls, with another 70 one km south of there on the beach. One of the highlights was a breaching Hump-backed Whale probably a mile off-shore. A quiet night was had with just a couple of beers.

27th

Up at dawn for an early mornings sea-watch off the beach, a few birds were moving but most were distant, apart from skuas and Masked Boobies. We had breakfast, packed and then decided to do another watch from further down the beach. The wind was a little stronger now and Persian Shearwaters were a lot closer and identifiable, as was a really close Red-necked Phalarope, but the highlight was four Bridled Terns passing by. We then headed back to Muscat going via the scenic coastal route, the road was still a dirt track for most of the way to Quryyat,and it proved quite a roller coaster ride. We stopped in Tiwi and checked the pool there, then moved onto Quryyat where the dump revealed Imperial, Steppe and Spotted Eagles and a good selection of waders on the pools there. The acacia scrub by the entrance produced 2 Orphean Warblers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and the only Wryneck of the trip. We arrived at the Majan Hotel in Muscat just after dark and had a quiet evening with just a few beers.

28th

The last day and what a day to finish on! It didn’t start well, JW lost his passport for about half an hour delaying the start slightly, but then we found that one of the vehicles had a flat tyre and we couldn’t find a way to get the spare wheel from under the chassis. Called Mark rent a car seemed the best idea, but in the meantime one of the hotel taxi drivers came over and helped us and after about an hour we had the wheel changed and were on our way to Qurm Natural Park. Within five minutes we had seen our target species- Pacific Golden Plover, there were eleven and showed very well, other good birds here included 2 Glossy Ibis, a Squacco/ Indian Pond Heron, 4 White-cheeked Bulbuls and a stunning male Red-breasted Flycatcher. We then made a very wise decision to have the last hour at Al Ansab Lagoons, where generally the same birds were present as on the first day of the trip. Just before we left we thought we would check the last lagoon and found a pelican on there, it was a Dalmatian – and according to the latest literature, only the second for Oman. The trip came to a perfect end when five of the six team members were upgraded from economy to business class for the journey home.

SPECIES LIST

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Only seen at Al Ansab where there were 9 on 18th and 2 on 28th.

Jouanin's Petrel Bulweria fallax

1 watched for several minutes close inshore on Masirah on the evening of 24th.

Pale footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes

2 were seen off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and 7 off Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus

5 were seen off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and 40 off Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Red billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus

A minimum of four were seen at Ras al Khabbah on 26th, where they performed superbly.

Masked Booby Sula dactylatra

3 adults seen off the east coast of Masirah on 23rd, 8 adults were seen off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and eight (1 juv) were seen of Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

A common bird, although largest numbers seen at inland wetland sites, with a max. of 150 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

An immature was seen at Al Ansab Lagoons on 28th, it appeared to leave north-east. Probably only the second record for Oman if accepted.

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

41 at Al Ansab on 18th, 1 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd and 24th. On 28th, 2 at Qurm Park and 6 at Al Ansab.

Squacco Heron/Indian Pond Heron Ardeola ralloides/grayii

One of these very difficult species to identify at this time of year at Al Ansab on 18th, and another at Qurm Park on 28th.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Only common at Sun Farms, with generally 50 a day, but 300 were seen on 20th, including 250 following a farm vehicle cutting alfalfa, picking up grasshoppers. Elsewhere, 1-2 were seen at the sewage works on Masirah and two were at Qurm Park on 28th.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis

A widespread bird along the coast in small numbers, and also at Qurm Park and Al Ansab, with largest numbers at Barr al Hikman where c.200 were seen on 25th.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

3 at Al Ansab on 18th, 2 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, 1 at Sun Farms on 21st, 1 at Qurayyat dump on 27th, 3 at Qurm Park and 4 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Great White Egret Egretta alba

1 at Al Ansab on 18th, 6 on Masirah on 24th, 2 at Barr al Hikman on 25th, 4 on Sur Lagoon on 27th, 2 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

A common and widespread bird seen daily in good numbers, with a daily max. of 70 on 26th.

Purple Heron Ardea pupurea

3 at Al Ansab on 18th, and 1 on the beach pool opposite the sewage works on Masirah on 24th.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Only seen at Sun Farms, where 1, 14, and 11 were seen on 19th-21st respectively.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

An adult and an immature were at Qurm Park on 28th.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

30 at Barr al Hikman on 25th were the only ones seen.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber

20 at Shannah on 22nd, on Masirah 2 on 22nd, 21 on 23rd, and 75 on 24th, 1000+ were at Barr al Hikman on 25th, and 4 were on Khawr al Hajar on 26th.

Greylag Goose Anser anser

1 was at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th.

Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus

One was seen at the sewage works on Masirah for an hour on 23rd.

Wigeon Anas penelope

1 was at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Gadwall Anas strepera

5 at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd, with 7 on 24th. 1 was at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Teal Anas crecca

6 at Al Ansab on 18th, 12 at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd, with there 18 on 24th. 48 were at Sur sewage works on 26th, 5 at Qurayyat Dump on 27th and 6 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Small numbers seen at Al Ansab, Sun Farms, Sur, Qurayyat and Qurm Park, with a max. of 12 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th.

Garganey Anas querquedula

2 at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th, 2 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

8 at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th, 14 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 1 at Tiwi on 27th.

Pochard Aythya ferina

4 at Al Ansab on 18th and 3 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

Widespread and common, seen almost daily apart from at Sun Farms, regularly up to 50 a day seen while travelling, but a large concentration of at least 150 at Sunub dump on 18th.

Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos

5+ at Sunub dump on 18th, and one near Ras al Khabbah on 26th.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Widespread in small numbers and seen daily. Sun Farms was the place to see this species in numbers, where up to 15 could be seen coming into roost in the northern fields there.

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus

An adult female was seen at Sun Farms on 20th and an adult female on Masirah on 23rd were the only records.

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

Only seen at Sun Farms, where they were best seen coming to roost with the Marsh Harriers, 14 on 19th and 10 on 20th. This and the above species were given special scrutiny, where we felt we aged, sexed and identified them all correctly. Several more distant birds went down as harrier sp.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

1-2 seen on the three days at Sun Farms and a single seen at Qurm Park on 28th.

Long legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus

1 was seen at Sun Farms on 21st.

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga

4 at Sunub and 6 at Al Ansab on 18th, up to 4 seen at Sun Farms including 1 fulvescens, 2 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 8 in the air together, including 1 fulvescens at Al Ansab on 28th.

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis

20 at Sunub dump on 18th and 1 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca

A near adult was seen near Sinaw on 22nd, and 2 juveniles seen at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

An intermediate at Masirah sewage works on 23rd and 24th, and 2 seen in Sur town on 26th.

Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus

A juvenile was seen at Sun Farms on 20th and 3 juveniles were seen together at Al Ansab on 28th.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Seen daily in low single figures, although good numbers on Masirah, with 10+ seen daily.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

1-2 seen on six dates and 6 at Sun Farms on 20th.

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides

One adult seen at Sur sewage works on 26th was the only definite seen, at least 4 other juvenile/immature falcons were seen, one was thought to be a Peregrine on size, and the other three Barbary, but due to lack of experience of the different races of Peregrines and Barbary Falcons, it would be brave to positively identify these birds.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

The one thought to be this species was seen to take a Saunder’s Tern on Masirah on 24th.

Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus

Common in the north, absent on Masirah. Max. 11 at Sun Farms on 19th.

Quail Coturnix coturnix

2 at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st, and 1 on Masirah on 24th.

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla

A very showy individual performed down to just a few feet at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

4 at Al Ansab on 18th and 28th, 12 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 1 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 2 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Coot Fulica atra

2 at Al Ansab on 18th, 1 on the beach pool and later the sea opposite the sewage works on Masirah on 24th, 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th, and 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus

One was present at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Generally only seen in 10’s along any coastal habitat, however, c.400 on Masirah on 24th.

Black winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Good numbers on the sewage works at Sun Farms, with 80 on 20th, 8 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 6 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 4 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Crab Plover Dromas ardeola

43 on Masira on 22nd, with 300+ there on 24th, 500+ were at Barr al Hikman on 25th, and 5 were at Khawr al Hajar on 26th.

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus

9 in one flock were at Khatmat Milahah on 20th with one at Sun Farms the same day.

Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor

7 showed extremely well at Sun Farms on 20th with 3 there the next day.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

1 at Al Ansab on 18th, and 2 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd and 24th.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

1 at Al Ansab on 18th, 1-2 at Sun Farms, 6 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd, with 1 on 24th, 3 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 10 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

11 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, 2 at Shannah on 22nd, up to 50 daily on Masirah, good numbers at Barr al Hikman, but too distant to count, 10 at Ras al Hadd on 26th.

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus

Any beach area held at least a few of these although we didn’t identify any until Masirah, where we had at least 500 on 24th, good numbers were at Barr al Hikman, but due to the tide being low counts were not made, this was the same for the species below.

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leachenaultii

33 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, small numbers at most other beach sites, with a max. count of 100 on Masirah on 24th, although there were much more than that at Barr al Hikman on 25th.

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

11 were on the small pools at Qurm Park on 28th.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

1 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, common at Shannah and on Masirah with a max. of 150 on 24th, good numbers at Barr al Hikman on 25th, small numbers at Ras al Hadd and Sur and 1 in Qurm Park on 28th.

Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus

10 at Al Ansab on 18th and 12 there on 28th, 10 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, up to 100 at Sun Farms, 24 at Sur sewage works on 26th, and 20 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura

3 at Al Ansab on 18th, 5 at Sun Farms on 20th and 3 there the next day, 4 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 6 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris

8 at Barr al Hikman on 25th were the only ones seen.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Up to 30 a day seen on Masirah, small numbers seen at Barr al Hikman on 25th, and 3 at Ras al Hadd on 26th.

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Common and widespread, at inland sites and on the coast, daily max. c.100 on Masirah on 24th.

Temmincks Stint Calidris temminckii

5 at Al Ansab on 18th, 4 at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st, 4 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 3 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Small numbers seen at inland sites with larger numbers on the coast and a daily max. of 40 on Masirah on 24th.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

3 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, 1 at Sun Farms on 20th, up to 12 on Masirah, good numbers at Barr al Hikman on 25th, and singles at Sur sewage works on 26th and Qurayyat on 27th.

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus

At least 15 showed very well at Barr al Hikman on 25th and 1 was on Sur Lagoon on 26th.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

1 at Al Ansab on 18th, up to 100 on the sewage ponds at Sun Farms, 6 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 1 at Al Ansab on 28th.

Jack Snipe Gallinago

1 was seen at the pool on the beach opposite the sewage works on Masirah on 24th.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

5 at Al Ansab on 18th, 1 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd, 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 5 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

5 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd and 24th, all these birds were flushed from the surrounding cover under the casuarina trees. 2 were at Qurm Park on 28th.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Common and widespread along the coast, with a max. of 450+ on Masirah on 24th, although probably much larger numbers than this at Barr al Hikman on 25th.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

4 on Masirah on 23rd, with 12 on 24th, and 1 on 25th, the only others were 3 at Sur beach on 26th.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Common along the coast, with a daily max. of 250 on Masirah on 24th.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Up to 10 at Sun Farms, small numbers on Masirah including 35 on 24th, 500+ at Barr al Hikman on 25th, small numbers seen elsewhere.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Widespread in single figures, the only double figure count being 50+ on Masirah on 24th.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

1-2 seen at Sun Farms, Masirah sewage works, and Sur sewage works, with 4 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

4 at Al Ansab on 18th, 4 at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st, 2 on Masirah on 23rd and 24th, 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th, and singles at Tiwi and Qurayyat on 27th.

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

2 at Ras As Sawadi creek on 19th, 6 on Masirah on 24th, 8 at Barr al Hikman on 25th and 6 on Khawr al Hajar on 26th.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Common and widespread, with a max. of c.30 at the sewage ponds at Sun Farms on 20th.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

2 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, 30 at Shannah on 22nd, up to 80 a day on Masirah, and small numbers at Sur and Ras al Hadd.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Distant phalaropes were presumed to be this species, with 30+ off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and 100+ off Ras al Hadd on 27th, this was confirmed when a single flew just 30 yards offshore past Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus

2 were seen off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and 13 off Ras al Hadd on 27th, at least 4 skua sp. were seen off Masirah and the crossing from Masirah and Shannah.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus

The only definite Arctics were; 1 off Masirah on 23rd, and 1 off Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii

9 were at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, very common at Shannah and Masirah where it was very difficult to estimate numbers, although a bare minimum of 2000+ on Masirah on 23rd, good numbers were also seen at Sur, Ras al Hadd and Tiwi.

Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus

149 flew over the headland at Ras al Khabbah going to roost with the other large gulls on 26th, with another 70 on the beach just south of there. 10 were on the beach at Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Slender billed Gull Larus genei

A common bird on the coast, with several daily counts over 200 and a max. of 600+ on Masirah on 24th.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

2 were at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, singles were on Masirah on 22nd-24th, 40 at Sur sewage works and 40 at Ras al Khabbah on 26th, 2 at Tiwi on 27th and 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Siberian Gull Larus heuglini

None of the team pretended to know too much about the large gull group or to be particularly interested in them, however, a bit of effort was put in and only this and the following species were confidently identified. Good numbers and widespread on both coasts, with a max. of 250+ seen at Shannah and Masirah on 22nd, although much larger numbers of gulls were moving north off the east coast of Masirah on 23rd.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

Much commoner on the north-east coast and not definitely identified off Masirah, a max. daily count of 200 on 19th.

Gull billed Tern Sterna nilotica

1 at Masirah on 22nd, 10 at Barr al Hikman on 25th and 3 at Sur Lagoon on 26th.

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia

1 at Ras as Sawadi, then common on Masirah where up to 40 were seen on 24th, but 50 were seen on 26th, mainly at Sur Lagoon and Khawr al Hajar.

Swift Tern Sterna bergii

25 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th, common off Masirah with 500+ logged on 24th, good numbers also seen at Sur, Ras al Hadd, and Tiwi.

Lesser crested Tern Sterna bengalensis

Seen at all the same sites as Swift Tern but usually in smaller numbers, with a max. of 100 on Masirah on 24th.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Seen in small numbers at most coastal sites, with 100+ off Masirah on 24th and 50+ off Ras al Khabbah on 26th.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

3 on the crossing to Masirah on 22nd, 1 there on 24th and 20 on the crossing back on 25th, singles at Ras al Khabbah on 26th and Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus

2 were seen in a bay on the west coast of Masirah on 24th, and 4 were off Ras al Hadd on 27th.

Saunder’s Tern Sterna saundersi

Although Little Terns were not specifically ruled out, birds presumed to be this species included good numbers on Masirah with a max.of 70 on 24th, 6 at Ras al Hadd on 26th.

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus

Up to 80 seen daily at Sun Farms, 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 1 at Tiwi and 1 at Qurayyat on 27th and 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

White winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

Up to 40 seen daily at Sun Farms, the only other record was 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus

7 were seen in a wadi near Bidbid on 20th.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus

Small numbers at Al Ansab, Ras as Sawadi, Sun Farms and Masirah, highest counts were 30 at Sun Farms on 20th and 80 at the pool opposite the sewage works on Masirah on 24th.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Widespread and common.

Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis

One in the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd.

Rock Dove Columba livia

Small numbers of Rock/Feral Pigeons seen across the country.

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

Ubiquitous.

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Small numbers seen mainly in built up areas, with max. counts of 10 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th, and 7 at Sur Beach Hotel on 26th.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

1 was seen at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th.

Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

3 in the sewage works and orchard on Masirah on 23rd, with 1 there the next day.

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus

One seen briefly in daylight at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd was later identified as this species at dusk.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus

10 were seen at Ras as Sawadi on 19th.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

2 at Al Ansab on 18th, 1 - 2 at the sewage works on Masirah, 2 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Widespread in small numbers, although absent from Masirah, max. daily count of 30 on 20th.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus

2 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd, with 4 there the next day.

Bee Eater Merops apiaster

2 at Masirah sewage works on 23rdand 24th.

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis

A very common roadside bird in the north of Oman and large numbers concentrated on freshly cut alfalfa fields at Sun Farms with at least 150 there on 20th.

Hoopoe Upupa epops

Up to 4 seen daily at Sun Farms, a single on Masirah on 23rd and 24th and 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla

1 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps

20+ seen at Sun Farms on 20th, 4 there on 21st, up to 12 daily on Masirah, and 5 at Qurayyat dump on 28th.

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti

20 were seen around Sunub dump area on 18th, 1 at Ras as Sawadi on 19th and 2 at Qurayyat on 27th.

Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes

4 seen a few kilometres south of the sewage works on Masirah on 24th.

Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata

8 were seen in one field at the Sun Farms on 20th.

Short toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla

Only seen at Sun Farms, where it was present in good numbers, with a max. of c.100 on 20th.

Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens

One was seen extremely well at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Widespread and common, with good numbers present at Sun Farms.

Small Skylark Alauda gulgula

2 at Sun Farms on 20th.

Skylark Alauda arvensis

Seen daily at Sun Farms, with a max. of 35 on 20th.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

1 at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st and 2 at Qurm Park on 28th.

African Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula

30 at Sunub dump on 18th, and small numbers seen several other sites throughout the country.

Swallow Hirundo rustica

2 at Al Ansab on 18th, 20 at Sun Farms on 20th, 1-2 on Masirah, 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Richard's Pipit Anthus richardii

3 at Sun Farms on 20th and a different 2 there the next day, 2 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 1 at Tiwi on 27th.

Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii

1 was at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th, where it showed very well.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris

Seen daily in small numbers, but common at Sun Farms with a max. of 70 on 20th.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

1 at Sun Farms on 19th, up to 13 at the sewage works and orchard on Masirah, 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Red throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

Common at Sun Farms, with a max. of 25 on 20th and on Masirah 5 on 23rd and 2 on 24th.

Buff bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens japonicus

2 were seen in a freshly cut field at Sun Farms on 20th.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta

1 at Al Ansab on 18th, good numbers at Sun Farms, with a max. of 40 on 20th, 2 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

Common and widespread, with a max. of c.250 at Sun Farms on 20th. 2 males of the race personata – Masked Wagtail were seen at Sun Farms on 20th.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Common at Sun Farms with a max. of c.200 on 20th, up to 6 a day on Masirah, 4 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 2 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 2 at Qurm Park on 28th. There was a good selection of races, with most being feldegg and thunbergi.

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola

10 at Al Ansab on 18th, 3 at Sun Farms on 20th, 2 at Sur sewage works on 26th, 3 at Qurayyat dump on 27th and 1 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

2 at Al Ansab on 18th and 1 at Masirah sewage works on 23rd.

White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys

6 in scrub near Ras as Sawadi on 19th, 2 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th and 4 at Qurm Park on 28th.

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

20 at Ras as Sawadi Beach Resort and 2 in scrub near there on 20th.

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos

Widespread in small numbers, although absent from Masirah, max. day total of 30 on 20th

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

2 at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st, 2 on Masirah on 23rd, with there the next day, 4 at Sur sewage works on 26th

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

3 at Sunub dump on 18th, 6 at Khatmat Milahah and 1 at Sun Farms on 20th, up to 8 on Masirah and 8 at Qurayyat dump on 27th. Most birds appeared to be of the race semirufus.

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola t. maura

2 at Sun Farms on 20th and another there on 21st, 1 at Sur sewage works on 26th.

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina

Up to 10 seen daily at Sun Farms, 2 seen in the desert north of Shannah on 22nd.

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka

One was seen at Ras as Sawadi Beach Resort on 19th but only by CG.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti

Widespread and common, with max. daily counts of 15 on 20th and 24th.

Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna

1-4 seen at Khatmat Milahah, Sun Farms, and odd places in the mountains and deserts, 6 at Sunub on 18th and 6 at Qurayyat dump on 27th.

Eastern Pied Wheatear Oenanthe picata

At least 7 birds were seen at Khatmat Milahah on 20th.

Hume’s Wheatear Oenanthe alboniger

7 at Sunub dump on 18th, 4 at a wadi near Bidbid on 21st and 4 along the road between Sur and Qurayyat on 27th.

Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis

A 1st year bird at the Safari Hotel in Farq on 22nd.

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

1 at the Safari Hotel in Farq on 22nd.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

1 was seen in the orchard on Masirah on 23rd.

Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis

A high count of 20 at Al Ansab on 18th, with small numbers seen at Ras as Sawadi, Sun Farms, Khatmat Milahah, Sur sewage works, Qurayyat and Qurm Park.

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus

One was seen in the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd and 24th.

Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus

Up to 10 at Al Ansab, 2 were seen daily in the orchard on Masirah, 5 were at Sur sewage work on 26th, and 1 at Quryyat on 27t.

Menetries’s Warbler Sylvia mystacea

2 at Sun Farms on 20th, with singles in the desert north of Masirah on 21st and on Masirah on 22nd and 23rd.

Desert Warbler Sylvia nana

3 were seen at Sun Farms on 20th and 21st, 3 in the desert north of Masirah on 22nd, 1 in the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd, and 1 at Barr al Hikman on 25th.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca

1 seen and heard at the sewage works on Masirah on 23rd.

Desert Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca minula

Common and widespread, easily picked up by its distinctive, tit like chattering call. A max. count of 35 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

A female in desert acacia near Ras as Sawadi on 19th and 2 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th were the only records.

Plain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus neglectus

c.30 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th, and 1 in a wadi near Bidbid on 21st.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Widespread in small numbers, but common on Masirah where 30 were counted on 24th including one caught by a snake in the orchard there on 23rd. Also 20 in Qurm Park on 28th.

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva

2 were seen in the orchard at Masirah on 23rd and 24th, 1 was at Qurayatt on 27th and a cracking male was in Qurm Park on 28th.

Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps

Small numbers at Ras as Sawadi, Khatmat Milahah, Sohar and Masirah, with a max. of 10 on 19th.

Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica

Widespread and common except for Masirah where it was absent, max. daily count of 35 on 19th.

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus

1-4 seen daily in the north, but not seen on Masirah, most birds were not put down to a particular race, however, single phoenicuroides were seen at Al Ansab on 18th and Sur sewage works on 26th, and single isabellinus at Sun Farms on 19th, and at Qurm Park on 20th.

Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis

Small numbers seen at Ras as Sawadi, Sun Farms, Khatmat Milahah, desert north of Masirah and Sur sewage works, with a max. of 5 at Khatmat Milahah on 20th.

Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis pallidiroistris

Just 2 singles seen at Sun Farms on 19th and 20th.

House Crow Corvus splendens

Very common in the north, with up to 500 at Sun Farms.

Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis

Good numbers seen in the deserts, with a max. of 30 at Sunub dump on 18th.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

4 at Sun Farms on 20th, up to 3 on Masirah at the sewage works, 4 at Sur sewage works on 26th and 3 at Qurayyat on 27th.

Common Mynah Acridotheres tristi

Very common in the north, where 1000+ were seen at Sun Farms on 19th and 20th.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Widespread in small numbers, except Masirah where it was absent.

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabaric

Widespread in small numbers, except Masirah, max. count of 60 at Qurm Park on 28th.

House Bunting Emberiza striolata

6 at the rear of the Safari Hotel in Farq on 22nd.

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulan

A female was found at Masirah sewage works on 23rd.

Nick’s section

Nick Whitehouse spent until 11.00hrs on 21st with the team and then left us to drop Rob Adams at Muscat airport, he then spent the afternoon at Qurayyat, he then drove to Ras as Sawadi Beach Resort to spend the night. The morning of 22nd spent at Ras as Sawadi and the afternoon at Sun Farms, spending the night in Muscat. The 23rd was spent in the Qurayyat area, the 24th was spent at Qurm Park, Sunub and Al Ansab, then the same again on 25th before flying home late afternoon. Birds that Nick had different to the rest of the team were; Intermediate Egret and 6 Pacific Golden Plover at Qurayyat on 21st, a Saker at Ras as Sawadi on 22nd, 25 Steppe Eagles, a Spotted Redshank, 25 Lichenstein’s Sandgrouse, 5 Menetries Warblers at Qurayyat dump on 23rd, 1 Great Black-headed Gull at Qurayyat harbour, 2 Pacific Golden Plover at Khawr Sallan, with Masked Booby, Bridled Tern and 10 Persian Shearwaters off-shore there also on 23rd. The 24th and 25th, saw a Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Qurm Park, 30 Pallid Swift, 15 Citrine Wagtails, 20 White-cheeked Bulbuls, and 5 Bluethroats.

Other fauna

Single large whales, probably Humpbacked were seen off Ras al Khabbah on 26th and Ras al Hadd on 27th, a small pod of dolphins off the east coast of Masirah were probably Indian Ocean Bottle-nosed Dolphins. An Arabian Gazelle was seen at Qurayyat dump on 27th. Two snakes were seen, one in the cut fields at Sun Farms and one on Masirah where it was seen with a Chiffchaff in its mouth. Quite a few butterflies were seen including several African Monarchs.

Andy Roadhouse. Worldbirder@hotmail.com