lmSA84 - Big Year 2018 (Part Deux)

[lmSA84]

49. Western Reef Heron, Muscat, 4/1/18

 

 

 

[Tdgraves]

@lmSA84 did you have a birding guide or was it just a driver who took you there?

[PeterHG]

You’re building up an Impressive Oman collection! 

[Galana]

Oman looks so good that I may just follow your wife's lead or fix up a stopover on a longer haul rather than just hang around an airport. My wife could indulge in some retail therapy.  No cancel that. I need someone to carry the Field Guide. Have you any birding experience of Doha?

[xelas]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

I need someone to carry the Field Guide.

 You can carry your own Field Guide. Just use all credit cards as bookmarks !

[lmSA84]

On 1/22/2018 at 3:10 PM, Tdgraves said:

@lmSA84 did you have a birding guide or was it just a driver who took you there?

 

@Tdgraves - It was just a driver but he did help to sweet talk me into a small nature reserve near my hotel (you were meant to pre-book with the cultural ministry) so that was pretty useful. 

 

When you visit the Al Ansab Wetlands for the first time they provide a free personal guide for 30-40mins who has a scope, assists with some identification and with the basic layout of the site. Thereafter, you're allowed to come back whenever you want as long as you give them warning. 

 

I might write short blurb at the end re. birding in Muscat. It was very easy.  

[lmSA84]

On 1/22/2018 at 10:53 PM, Galana said:

Oman looks so good that I may just follow your wife's lead or fix up a stopover on a longer haul rather than just hang around an airport. My wife could indulge in some retail therapy.  No cancel that. I need someone to carry the Field Guide. Have you any birding experience of Doha?

 

@Galana - It's a great choice. All the main birding sites I visited are probably 20-30mins max from the airport. I've worked in Doha occasionally but I've never birded - come to think of it I have no idea why because Lord knows there is nothing else to do there.

 

We might go back to the UAE and Oman for our Easter holiday this year. If we do so, I plan to do some birding in the UAE and then Oman head further down the coast and into the interior / mountains which should produce some new species. 

[lmSA84]

50. White tailed Lapwing, Al Ansab Wetland, 4/1/18

 

This and the Pallas's Gull were my two birding highlights of the trip

 

[lmSA84]

51. Red wattled Lapwing, Al Ansab Wetland, 4/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

52. Grey Heron, Muscat, 2/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

53. Crested Lark, Muscat, 5/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

54. Common Redshank, Muscat, 5/1/18

 

[xelas]

Oman surely delivered plenty of birds! I know persons going there to dive, but obviously birding is also good.

Edited January 25, 2018 by xelas

[TonyQ]

What an excellent selection of birds from Oman. A really interesting and surprising  mix.

A great start to your Big Year.

It would be interesting if you could give a bit more information on Birding in Oman. I am sure a number would be interested!

[kittykat23uk]

Nice selection of birds there!

[elefromoz]

On 1/25/2018 at 1:21 AM, lmSA84 said:

I might write short blurb at the end re. birding in Muscat. It was very easy.  

 

On 1/25/2018 at 1:25 AM, lmSA84 said:

We might go back to the UAE and Oman for our Easter holiday this year. If we do so, I plan to do some birding in the UAE and then Oman head further down the coast and into the interior / mountains which should produce some new species. 

 

Would enjoy a (short...or long actually)TR on all of this, a whole new world to me, have to look at a Map to find these places!

 

On 1/25/2018 at 1:25 AM, lmSA84 said:

I've worked in Doha occasionally but I've never birded - come to think of it I have no idea why because Lord knows there is nothing else to do there.

 

I don't know why but that just made me laugh

 

19 hours ago, xelas said:

I know persons going there to dive, but obviously birding is also good.

 

How have I missed all this holiday action in this part of the world

@lmSA84, certainly big and varied collection

[lmSA84]

55. Common Myna, Muscat, 2/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

56. Common Moorhen, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

57. Graceful Prinia, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

58. Indian Silverbill, Muscat, 2/1/18

 

And No - before you ask the bird isn't in a cage it's inside garden trellis. 

 

[lmSA84]

59. Black-winged Stilt, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

Breeding adult in first image and non-breeding adult in second image

 

[lmSA84]

60. Western Osprey, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

I saw these magnificent raptors in both Muscat and at Al Ansab.

 

[lmSA84]

61. Common Snipe, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

62. White Wagtail, Al Ansab Wetland, 4/1/18

 

[lmSA84]

63. Citrine Wagtail, Al Ansab Wetland, 3/1/18

 

I had hoped that one of these guys was a Western Yellow Wagtail but I think that on closer analysis they are both Citrine