Oman Day One

The Midde East has been a bit of a theme on this blog recently with two trips to Kuwait this year and several trips to Azerbaijan over the last couple of years. In the past I've also visited Turkey, Georgia, Syria, Jordon and Israel. Top of the wish list was to visit Oman and today we arrived at Muscat to begin a two week exploration of the country from north to south on a Wise Birding Trip HERE

It was a night flight and we arrived at 7am this morning so we had an easy day ahead of going out later tonight owling. So we visited Al-Qurm Park first HERE and then popped in to Al-Bustan Hotel HERE before heading over to our hotel, the Golden Tulip HERE. A nice little introduction with Red-wattled Lapwings, Indian Pond Herons, Grey Francolins, Greater Spotted, Short-toed and Imperial Eagles, Indian Rollers, Arabian Green Bee-eaters, Isabelline shrike, Delicate Prinia, Pale Crag Martins, White-eared and Red-vented Bulbuls, Eastern Black Redstart, Purple Sunbirds and Indian Silverbills. 

Northern Oman and the Al Hajar al Gharbi uplands have a decisive Indian feel to the avifauna. As we move south things will take on a more Afro-tropical vibe.   

Arabian Green Bee-eater

Indian Roller (above and below)

Red-vented Bulbul

Grey Francolin and Budgerigar- plastic overload 

Indian Pond Heron

Eastern Black Redstart

Juv Greater Spotted Eagle (above) and Eastern Imperial Eagle (below)

Delicate Prinia