Oman Day Eight

Today we finally arrived at our main destination at Salalal in the South of Oman after our 1000 kilometer drive across the whole of the country over the last week. Today's stop off included Mudday village HERE and the nearby oasis HERE and then an incredible stop of the Eagle fest at Thumrait Tip HERE. 

Today's highlights included Hypocolius, Lichenstien's Sangrouse, Nile Valley Sunbird, Hooded Wheatear, African Collared Dove, African Silverbill and the first Blackstarts of the trip. A real Afro-tropical feel to the avifauna now and as we passed over the mountains into the Salalal plain we left the barren desert behind for a green sub-tropical coastal paradise. An amazing sudden ecological transformation.

Male Lichienstien's Sandgrouse

Female/imm Hypocolius

African (lower bird) and Eurasian Collared Dove. African is slightly smaller with white undertail coverts (grey in Eurasian as shown here) and proportionally shorter tail 

Male Hooded Wheatear

Desert Warbler on Frankincense

Juvenile/first winter Steppe Eagles (images above showing some variation) 

Second-cycle (?) Steppe Eagle 

Third-cycle (?) Steppe Eagle (above)

Adult Steppe Eagles (above images)

Juvenile/first-winter Imperial Eagle

Juvenile Greater Spotted Eagle (above)

First winter Steppe Eagle (left) and presumed juv Greater Spotted Eagle variant 

Eagle sp- still working on this. 101225 update- presumably a young Steppe Eagle (the barred coverts and large white trailing edge) but without the broad underwing pale bar.  

Oman Day Seven

Today we contined our journey south. We started the day off at Muntasar Oasis HERE. Highlights included Olive-backed Pipit, Spotted and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and our first Water Pipits of the trip. We then had lunch at Qatbit Motel HERE which was pretty quiet before heading to Awad Farms HERE. Highlights included Pallid and Montagu's Harrier, 'Arabian' Great Grey Shrike, a good Red-tailed Shrike candidate and our first Isablline Wheatears of the trip HERE. 

We ended up at Thumrait for the night. 

Live trip report HERE. 

Male (above) and female (below) Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

'Arabian Great Grey Skrike'

Red-tailed Shrike candidate

Adult female Pallid Harrier

Male Bluethroat

Male Desert Wheatear

Olive-backed Pipit 

Oman Day Six

Today was mainly a travel day after a bit of shorebirding this morning. Highlights today included Great Knots, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pied Wheatear and a few additional migrant trip ticks in various oasis/parks as we headed south.

Live trip report HERE. Now on 145 species for the trip.

Terek Sandpiper

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Great Knots etc

Pied Wheatear

Hoopoe

'Middle East Chiff'

Oman Day Five- Paddyfield Pipit

We had a great day today finding the first Paddyfield Pipit for Oman at Al Shamkaiah Park on Masirah Island. Full list from the park HERE. Other highlights there included Great Reed Warbler, Rosy Starling, Jack, Common and Pin-tailed Snipes and a good selection of other migrants. Thanks to Magnus Robb for confirming the calls of the Paddyfield. 

We then sadly had to leave Masirah island on the ferry HERE, flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes were the highlight on the crossing. 

We then spent an hour or so going for the gulls at Shanna HERE and managed to find a couple of Baltic Gulls amongst what was mainly Steppe Gulls and a few Heuglin's Gull and also loads of Sooty Gulls.

In the afternoon/evening we went to Filim and scored the Collared Kingfishers there which was basically a brilliant end to a brilliant day HERE

Paddyfield Pipit (above) and sound recording below

Paddyfield Pipit sonogram 

Rosy Starling

Red-necked Phalaropes 

Sooty Gull 

Baltic Gull 

Mainly Steppe and Heuglin's Gulls 

Collared Kingfisher 

Oman Days Three and Four- Masirah Island

Yesterday we travelled to Masirah Island and today we spent the day exploring the coasts and vagrant hotspots. Ebird list today from around our hotel HERE, Sur Masirah HERE, Al Shamkaiah Park HERE and Swasamuru Beach HERE. Highlights included Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Baillon's Crake, 3 Asian Koel, Pin-tailed Snipe, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, European Roller, Wryneck, Asian Desert Warbler, Bluethroat, Steppe Grey Shrike and stacks of Crab Plovers, Sooty, Heuglin's and Steppe Gulls and stacks of waders. 

Live trip report HERE. 120 species so far.

Crab Plovers (above)

Crab Plovers and Sandwich Terns etc

Adult Baillon's Crake

Pin-tailed Snipe (above and below)

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Egyptian Vultures

Female/imm Asian Koel

Juv Cuckoo

Steppe Grey Shrike

Asian Desert Warbler

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Indian Silverbill

Indian Pond Heron

Temminck's Stint

Tibetan Plover

Male Bluethroat