Michael's Ninth Year

[michael-ibk]

131/O99) (Eastern) Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) / Kaiseradler

 

East of Mirbat, Oman, 1/3/2024. I was confused why ebird (Clement's) have ditched the Eastern part and thought Western and Eastern had been lumped by them. But no, Western Iberian Eagle is now Spanish Eagle.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

132/O100) African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) / Graubrust-Paradiesschnäpper

 

Wadi Hanna, Oman, 1/3/2024. Always a delightful bird to see. Quite common in Southern Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

133/O101) Abyssinian White-Eye (Zosterops abyssinicus) / Somalibrillenvogel

 

Wadi Hanna, Oman, 1/3/2024. Abundant in the South but a tricky bird to get. Despite the name "Abyssinian" missed this one in Ethiopia - a lifer therefore.

 

[michael-ibk]

134/O102) Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus) / Borstenrabe

 

Tawi Atayr, Oman, 1/3/2024. Common in the South.

 

[michael-ibk]

135/O103) Yemen Serin (Crithagra menachensis) / Jemengirlitz

 

Tawi Atayr, Oman, 1/3/2024. Unassuming as this one may appear still one of Oman's top birds to get. A very localised species. They only occur in Yemen (a no-go zone right now) and in some locations in Saudi-Arabia apart from this spot. Practically all photos on ebird are from this location.

 

[michael-ibk]

136/O104) Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) / Palmtaube

 

Ayn Tabraq Plains, Oman, 1/3/2024. Probably Oman's most common bird.

 

[michael-ibk]

137/O105) Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) / Bergammer

 

Ayn Tabraq Plains, Oman, 1/3/2024. Abundant in the South. Missed its Striolated cousin which would have been the more interesting to me since I've never seen it.

 

[michael-ibk]

138/O106) Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) / Gebirgsstelze

 

Ayn Tabraq, Oman, 1/3/2024. Most probably a migrant from the Central Asian population and not a European bird.

 

[michael-ibk]

139/O107) Rüppell's Weaver (Ploceus galbula) / Gilbweber

 

Ayn Tabraq, Oman, 1/3/2024. I think I was busy running after this stupid bird when Alex had a Caracal stroll by leisurely.

 

Oman's only native Weaver.

 

Edited April 20 by michael-ibk

[TonyQ]

Well done on your Oman 100.

It really is a crossroads for species from different continents.

[Galana]

3 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

But no, Western Imperial Eagle is now Spanish Eagle.

Probably the same reason that we  they no longer have Hottentot Teals and N Finches.

 

Those lifers keep coming. Sad about the Ruppell's Weaver/Caracal.

[xelas]

3 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

I was busy running after this stupid bird when Alex had a Caracal stroll by

But the Weaver is splendid!

[michael-ibk]

I'm sure i can kick you off a nice cliff somewhere. 

[Kitsafari]

aiya! caracal!  @xelas 's luck. never mind, weaver is great!

Edited April 21 by Kitsafari

[michael-ibk]

Thanks Kit.

 

140/O108) Greater Hoopoe-Lark (Alaemon alaudipes) / Wüstenlerche

 

Desert West of Thumrayt, Oman, 2/3/2024. A very cool looking Lark, and I was happy to get this target bird. Lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

141/O109) Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana) / Wüstengrasmücke.

 

Desert West of Thumrayt, Oman, 2/3/2024. Lifer. Very small Warbler. Breeds in Central Asia.

 

[michael-ibk]

142/O110) Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) / Wüstenflughuhn

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. Mudday is a pretty unappealing truck-stop village in the middle of the nowhere but has emerged as a birding hotspot in the last few years for some of the tougher desert species. This one (lifer) is running around like chicken there, but quite shy.

 

[michael-ibk]

143/O111) African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) / Lachtaube

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. Extremely similar to our Eurasian Collared Dove but "cleaner" on the belly and undertail. Seen before in Zakouma. Very much a bird of the Sahel zone.

 

[michael-ibk]

144/O112) Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii) / Wellenflughuhn.

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. Just a gorgeous bird, and probably the sighting of the day even though it was not the top target. Lifer.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

145/O113) Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) / Steinschmätzer

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. "Our" Wheatear - which is one of the most widespread ones. The only sighting.

 

[michael-ibk]

146/O114) (Grey) Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelinus) / Seidenwürger

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. One of Oman's most sought after birds. Lifer. Took a while of searching and not easy getting a photo, but always good when a mission succeeds.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

147/O115) Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) / Erznektarvogel

 

Mudday, Oman, 2/3/2024. A pretty little Sunbird only found inland in oases. Seen before in Ethiopia.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

148/O116) Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) / Steppenadler

 

Thumrayt Waste Disposal Site, Oman, 2/3/2024. Probably the most common Eagle in Oman in Winter.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

149/O117) Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) / Kappensteinschmätzer

 

Thumrayt Waste Disposal Site, Oman, 2/3/2024. Another new Wheatear - lots of them in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

150/O118) Grey-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) / Graukopfliest

 

Al Sadaah Park, Oman, 2/3/2024. A familiar face from Africa. They like the short-grass habitat of bigger public parks with good trees.