Michael's Ninth Year

[michael-ibk]

151/O11) Oriental aka Crested Honey-Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) / Schopfwespenbussard

 

Al Sadaah Park, Oman, 2/3/2024. We were actually looking for Asian Koel in this park (without succees). This was the consolation prize.

 

[michael-ibk]

152/O120) Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) / Habichtsadler

 

Ayn Razat, Oman, 2/3/2024. We enjoyed a few good sightings of this impressive Eagle in Oman.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

153/O121) Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) / Rosaflamingo

 

Raysut Settling Pools, Oman, 3/3/2024. Very common in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

154/O122) Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) / Spornkiebitz

 

Raysut Settling Pools, Oman, 3/3/2024. Another friend from Africa. Not an Oman bird according to the books, but has been breeding in this site for a few years now.

 

[michael-ibk]

155/O123) White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) / Weißstorch

 

Raysut Settling Pools, 1/3/2024. Big gatherings at some of the waste disposal sites.

 

[michael-ibk]

156/O124) Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) / Fasanenblatthühnchen

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. A few birds are always around in Southern Oman. Important target for me, so happy to get it.

 

[michael-ibk]

157/O125) Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) / Sokotrascharbe

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. A new Cormorant for me. An exclusively coastal bird.

 

[michael-ibk]

158/O126) Medium aka Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) / Mittelreiher

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. As if Intermediate Bird had not been a bird complicated enough bird authorities have decided to split it up into Medium (Asia), Yellow-billed (Africa) and Plumed (Australasia).

 

[michael-ibk]

159/O127) Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) / Schlangenadler

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. The first pale morph I've seen IIRC.

 

 

Here's a more classic look from a recent sighting in Catalonia:

 

[michael-ibk]

160/O128) (Caspian) Common aka Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) / Teichrohrsänger

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. Subspecies "fuscus" apparently. The whole Reed Warbler species is pretty complex, and there's always discussion about potential splits and lumps. This bird confused me because of the way it moved and habitat found in.

 

[michael-ibk]

161/O129) Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) / Langschnabelpieper

 

Al Mughsayl, Oman, 3/3/2024. Would have expected to get more Pipits, but it was just this one and Tree Pipit.

 

[michael-ibk]

162/O130) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) / Spießente

 

Khawr Raysut, Oman, 3/3/2024. Quite a common sight in Oman.

 

[michael-ibk]

163/O131) Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) / Teichwasserläufer

 

Khawr Raysut, Oman, 3/3/2024. A handful of sightings here and there.

 

[michael-ibk]

164/O132) Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) / Bruchwasserläufer

 

Khawr Raysut, Oman, 3/3/2024. Not as common here as many of the other waders.

 

[michael-ibk]

165/O133) African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus ) / Pharaonenibis

 

Khawr Raysut, Oman, 3/3/2024. A bit unclear here if there are only introduced birds in Oman or if they are "properly wild". But fully countable either way by ebird standards.

 

[michael-ibk]

166/O134) Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) / Stelzenläufer

 

East Khawr, Oman, 3/3/2024. As is so often the case one of the most common waders here.

 

[michael-ibk]

167/O135) Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) / Bekassine

 

East Khawr, Oman, 3/3/2024. We had several sightings of Snipe, and some of those could well be Pin-tailed Snipe (a very similar looking species). With some of my photos I would rather say they are Pin-tailed but with potential lifer species I want to be sure. So I will just add Common Snipe to the count.

 

[michael-ibk]

168/O136) White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) / Weißbrust-Kielralle

 

East Khawr, Oman, 3/3/2024. Rare but a few are generally found in South Oman. Lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

And that's it from Oman. I have 14 more species with photos but have since had better sightings or hope to still get better photos. In total we recorded 170 species and (I) took photos of 150 of those. If anybody is interested in more detailed data here's the ebird "Trip report":

 

https://ebird.org/tripreport/224542

 

(Let me know if that link works please).

 

170 is ok but not a stellar number for Oman this time of the year. The dedicated guided birding groups mostly just about manage 200. Some notable misses:

 

• Arabian Grosbeak. This is the cover bird for "Birds of Oman" so it hurt a bit that we failed getting it. Not for lack of trying.
• Cream-coloured Courser: Would have needed farmland habitat for this one, and never went there. Logistic mistake on my part.
• Arabian Partridge: Surprised to ditch on this one, but has apparently become more difficult in recent years.
• Jouanin's Petrel: Just unlucky here, one to be excected on the Pelagic trip
• Red-billed Tropicbird: Sometimes seen from the cliffs South of Salalah but I did not know exactly where to go for them.
• Lappet-faced Vulture: Best chances in the mountains of Northern Oman where we did not really go.
• Black-winged Kite. There is a small population in Northern Oman.
• Verreaux's Eagle. There is a pretty reliable place for them but since we have all seen them and the weather was not great we did not go.
• Macqueen's Bustard. Almost impossible to get.
• Crab-Plover. Possible in some North-East coastal areas where we did not go.
• Sociable and White-tailed Lapwing. Both rare and a bit of a matter of luck, but visiting farmland would have helped.
• Pacific Golden Plover. Surprised to miss them, seem to be quite common according to ebird data.
• Terek Sandpiper. My nemesis. This one really hurt, should not be that hard to find it.
• Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse. Possible in the desert, especially at Mudday.
• Asian Koel. Missed it in three known locations
• Owls in general. Many good places for them, Arabian Scops Owl especially should be easy, but we did not do any Owling. Just lazy really.
• Arabian Babbler. Less common than I assumed it would be.
• Bar-tailed Lark. Easy around Jarziz farms in Salalah where we did not go.
• Arabian Wheatear. Not uncommon so just unlucky with this one.
• Striolated Bunting. Supposed to be common in North Oman

All in all though, a very successful and easy birding trip. Good infrastructure, great value for money, decent food, friendly people. And great company with Alex and Zvezda.

 

Apart from studying ebird hotspots "Birdwatching guide to Oman" by Jens Eriksen was an invaluable resource. Lots of great advice of where to go, how to get there and what to expect there. It's out of print apparently but I contacted Mr. Eriksen directly and he sent me a pdf file with some updates for a small amount. The updates were important - things change quickly in Oman, and what was farmland last year could well be a construction site today.

Edited April 21 by michael-ibk

[BRACQUENE]

I find that an impressive result Michael and would sign for it ! Great raptors in flight by the way 

[PeterHG]

Thanks for sharing these wonderful sightings and photos from your Oman trip, Michael! Really enjoyed seeing them. I’m sorry about the Caracal, that must have been frustrating. Fortunately Alex, like the true friend he is, would never rub it in afterwards…;)

 

The EBird link works perfectly for me, thanks!

Edited April 21 by PeterHG

[michael-ibk]

Thanks Peters!

 

No, the Caracal did not hurt at all, I was simply happy for my very good friend.

 

6 hours ago, PeterHG said:

The EBird link works perfectly for me, thanks!

 

Thanks for trying, I was not sure if other ebird users can read it. First time I tried this, and I really like this feature. All birds neatly in a  row, with photos, and best of all all the locations in one map.

Edited April 21 by michael-ibk

[Peter Connan]

Some wonderful species and truly magnificent photos, and congratulations on blowing past 100 like it wasn't even there!

[Zim Girl]

Very impressive set of birds from Oman, Michael.

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk

Impressive list. You are very thorough and systematic birder!

Lovely photos that show Oman birds really well.

The eBird list works well and is a very helpful feature