Oman complete species list

Birds

Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala*: 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah, common Tawi Atayr Sinkhole

Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi*: 4 Ash Shuwaymiyyah, 4+ Mudday

Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus*: 2 Al Qurm Muscat, 2 Ras al Hadd

Common Quail Coturnix coturnix*: 1 in off Ras al Jinz

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons: 15 Khawr Rawri

Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus*: 6 East Khawr

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

Gadwall Anas strepera

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail Anas acuta

Garganey Anas querquedula

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina 3 Khawr Rawri

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca: 10+  Khawr Rawri, 4 East Khawr

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis: 3 Shannah Harbour

Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus*: 3 Mirbat Pelagic

Jouanin’s Petrel Bulweria fallax*: 200+ Mirbat Pelagic

Masked Booby Sula dactylatra*: Common offshore around Mirbat and Salalah. First seen Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster*: 3+ offshore from East Khawr

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus*: Common on water bodies

White Stork Ciconia ciconia: 200+ Raysut Sewage Farm

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus: Common, 50+ East Khawr

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax: Common, 5+ Mirbat, 1 Ayn Hamran after dark

Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis: Common, 200+ East Khawr

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides*: 5+ Khawr Rawri, 5+ East Khawr

Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii*: 5+ Ash Shuwaymiyyah, 5+ Al Baleed Archaeological Park

Striated Heron Butorides striata*: 1 Mirbat Pelagic

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea*: Common

Great White Egret Ardea alba

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis*: Common

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis*: 1 flew south at Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Osprey Pandion haliaetus: Common

Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus*: 4 around Salalah, 1 perched at Jarziz Farm

Black Kite Milvus migrans*: 2 Raysut Tip

Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus*: 7+ Jabal Sanham

Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos*: 1 Jabal Sanham

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus*: Common in north

Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus*: Common

Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus: 1 male Shannah, 1 juv Khawr Rawri, 1 ringtail Ayn Hamran

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus: 1 male over road east out of Salalah

Shikra Accipiter badius*: 1 female over Ayn Hamran. 30^th record for Oman

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus2 Jabal Sanham

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus*: 1 in date plantation on east side of Salalah

Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga*: Common 5+ Raysut Tip. Ssp. fulvescens 1 East Khawr, 1 Salalah Airport

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis*: 150+ Raysut Tip

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliacal*: 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah, 40+0 Raysut Tip

Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii*: 2 Jabal Sanham

Booted Eagle Aquila pennata*: 2 around Salalah

Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata*: 2 Ash Shuwaymiyyah, 1 Jabal Sanham

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 East Khawr

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides*: 1 Jabal Sanham

Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo*: 1 Raysut Sewage Farm

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla*: 1 Ash Shuaymiyyah

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata*: 2 Khawr Rawri

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis*: 14 Al Baleed Archaeological Park, including chicks

Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus*: 2 Ash Shuwaymiyyah, 4 East Khawr, 10+ Khawr Rawri

Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus*: 3 East Khawr, 1 Raysut Sewage Farm

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus*: Common around Muscat, 1 Raysut Sewage Farm

White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus*: 1 Raysut Sewage Farm

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva*: 600+ sized flocks at Al Baleed Archaeological Park and Salalah Nature Reserve

Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines: Common

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus*: Common esp. Shannah

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultia*: Common esp. Shannah

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis*: 2 Shannah, 2 Khawr Rawri

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus: 30+ Shannah & Filim

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris*: 2 Shannah

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii*: 5+ East Khawr

Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta*: 1 East Khawr

Sanderling Calidris alba

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus*: 2 Filim

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Collard Pratincole Glareola pratincola*: 2 East Khawr

Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii*: Very common

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei*: Very Common

Pallas’s Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus*: Common in north, 20+ Ras al Jinz, 1 Ash Shuwaymiyah

Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini*: very common

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica*: 1 Shannah, 1 Filim, 2+ Khawr Rawri

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia*: Common, 3 Khawr Rawri, 3 Al Baleed Archaeological Park

Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis*: Common

Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii*: Common

Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Saunders’s Tern Sternula saundersi*: 2 Al Qurm, Muscat

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida: 1 Khawr Rawri

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 6 Khawr Rawri, 20 Al Baleed Archaeological Park

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus*: 150+ Thumrait ~10.00

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus*: ~10 Thumrait ~10.00

Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii*: ~7 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi ~18.30

Rock Dove Columba livia (palaestinae)

Bruce’s Green Pigeon Treron waalia*: 12+ Ayn Hamran

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis*: common

Namaqua Dove Oena capensis*: 1 Ayn Hamran, 1 Sahnawt Farm

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Arabian Scops Owl Otus pamelae*: 20+ Wadi Darbat

Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba: 1 East Khawr, narrowly escaped a Peregrine

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus*: 2 Filim, 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis*: Common on verges around Muscat

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops: 2 Ayn Hamran, 1 Ar Dahariz Park

Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata*: 1 Al Baleed Archaeological Park, 11^th/12^th record Oman

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis*: Common around north

Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala*: 2 Tawi Atayr, 2 Ayn Hamran

Daurian Shrike Lanius isabellinus*: 1 Salalah Nature Reserve

Turkestan Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides*: 2 Ayn Hamran

Isabelline Shrike sp. Lanius*: Unidentified juveniles were common; 1 Al Qurm, 1 Khawr Rawri, etc.

Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis*: Common, 1 Ras al Hadd, 1 Shannah etc.

African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis*: 1 pair Tawi AtayrSinkhole, 2 Wadi Hanna, 2 Ayn Hamran

House Crow Corvus splendens*: Common in Salalah & Muscat

Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis*: Common in north

Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus*: Common in south; Jabal Sanham, Tawi Atayr etc.

Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus*: 1 Mudday, 1 Quitbit

White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis*: Common in north

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer*: Common in north

White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos*: Common in south

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps*: Common esp. in north

Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans*: 5+ singing birds Sahnawt Farm

Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes*: Common on roadsides

Crested Lark Galerida cristata*:

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti*: Common

Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cincture*: 2 just north of Mudday

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula*: Common

House Martin Delichon urbicum

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis*: 3 Al Qurm, 1 Khawr Rawri, 1 Sahnawt Farm, 3+ East Khawr

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: 1+ Al Baleed Archaeological Park, 2+ East Khawr

Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus*: Common Filim, Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena*: 1 Khawr Rawri, 1 Ayn Hamran

Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana*: 1 Ras al Jinz, 1 Shannah, 2 Mudday

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca several noted including presumed halimodendri and blythi

Ménétrie’s Warbler Sylvia mystacea*: Common Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi

White-breasted White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus*: Common around Dhofar

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis*: Common in Salalah & Muscat

Rose-coloured Starling Pastor roseus: 20+ Jarziz Farm

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 15 Filim

Tristram’s Starling Onychognathus tristramii*: Very common in south

Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis*: 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 2 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi, 3 Quitbit

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica: 2 East Khawr, 1 Jarziz Farm

Eastern Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros phonenicuroides 1 Al Qurum, 2 Quitbit, 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina: Common

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti*: Common

South Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides*: 4 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi, 1 Jabal Sanham

Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata*: 1 between Muscat & Ras al Had

Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia*: Common esp. in north

Blackstart Cercomela melanura*: Common in south

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitaries: 1 Ras al Jinz

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva: 1 Tawi Atayr Sinkhole, 1 Ayn Hamran

Nile Valley Sunbird Hedydipna metallica*: Common around Mudday

Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris osea*: 3+ Tawi Atayr Sinkhole

Shining Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus*: Common around Dhofar

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus*: Common in north ~Muscat

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Rüppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula*: Common in Dhofar

African Silverbill Lonchura cantans*: Common in Dhofar

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica*: 2 Muscat, 4 Adam

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 Wadi Hanna, 1 Ayn Hamran

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba

Sykes Wagtail Motacilla flava beema*: Common esp. Sahnawt Farm

Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg*: Common esp. Sahnawt Farm

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola: Fairly common in south esp. East Khawr

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris*: Common

Long-tailed Pipit Anthus similis*: 1 Jabal Sanham

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis: 2 Tawi Atayr Sinkhole

Yemen Serin Serinus menachensis*: 2+ briefly Tawi Atayr Sinkhole

Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus percivali*: 7+ Ayn Hamran, 1 Jabal Sanham

Striolated Bunting Emberiza striolata*: 1 Ash Shuwaymiyyah Wadi

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi*: Very common around Dhofar esp. Tawi Atayr Sinkhole & Ayn Hamran

Mammals

Egyptian Fruit Bat Rousettus aegyptiacus: Wadi Hana, Wadi Darbat, Salalah

Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis: Tawi Atayr Sinkhole

Arabian Red Fox Vulpes vulpes arabica: Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Shannah

Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin Sousa chinensis: Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Bottlenose Dolphin sp. Tursiops truncates/aduncus: South of Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Mountain Gazelle Gazella gazelle: Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Mudday, Mirbat Tip

Reptiles

Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas: Mirbat Pelagic, but skeletons common around Shannah

Sochurek's Saw-scaled Viper Echis carinatus sochureki: Ras al Hadd

Hooked Thread Snake Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus: Ras al Hadd

Middle Eastern Short-fingered Gecko Stenodactylus doriae: Ras al Hadd

Ali Kiymi’s Leaf-toed Gecko Hemidactylus alkiyumii: Wadi Hana

Carter's Semaphore Gecko Pristurus carteri: Ras al Jinz Turtle Sanctuary

Rock Semaphore Gecko Pristurus rupestris: Filim

Arabian Chameleon Chamaeleo arabicus: Ayn Hamran

Variable Agama Calotes versicolor: Ayn Hamran, Tawi Atayr Sinkhole,

Dhofar Agama Pseudotrapelus dhofarensis: Khawr Rawri

Sinai Agama Pseudotrapelus Sinai: Khawr Rawri, Ras al Jinz*

*Agamas in Oman have recently undergone genetic revision and have been split into a number of poorly described species. In time it may be that the individuals we photographed on our trip may turn out to be different species to P.sinai

Amphibians

Dhofar Toad Bufo dhufarensis: Wadi Hana

Fish

Manta Ray sp. Manta birostris/alfredi.: Mirbat, East Khawr

Masked Triggerfish Sufflamen fraenatum: Mirbat

Indo-Pacific Sergeant Damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis: Mirbat

Chrysiptera unimaculata: Mirbat

Porcupinefish sp.: Mirbat

Dragonflies

Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator: Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Lesser Emperor Anax Parthenope: Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Scarlet Darter Crocothemis erythraea: Salalah Nature Reserve

Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum chrysostigma: Ayn Hamran

Slender Skimmer Orthetrum Sabina: Tawi Atayr Sinkhole, Salalah Nature Reserve, Quitbit,

Globe Skimmer Pantala flavescens: Quitbit

Phantom Flutterer Rhyothemis semihyalina: Salalah Nature Reserve

Red-veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa: Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Black Percher Diplacodes lefebvrii: Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Salalah Nature Reserve

Coastal Glider Macrodiplax cora: Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Salalah Nature Reserve

Damselflies

African Bluetail Ischnura senegalensis: Ash Shuwaymiyyah, Quitbit

Butterflies

Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus: Tawi Atayr Sinkhole, Mirbat Tip,

Pearl Charaxes Stonehamia varanes: Wadi Hana

Cream Bordered Charaxes Charaxes hansali: Ayn Hamran

Common Three Ring Ypthima astrope: Mirbat

Small Cupid Chilades parrhasius: Abandoned village between Shannah & Ash Shuwaymiyyah

Other butterfly species were seen, but either did not land or insufficient notes were taken to be confident of their identity. 

Oman Day 10; Muscat & Leaving

In a bizarre turn of events, once we arrived in Muscat the previous evening the heavens had opened and a torrential rainstorm had ensued. As a result many of the dry spots around Muscat had been turned into wetland the following morning. It was a shame that we did not have time to look round them but on our drive to the airport we spotted Red-wattled Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt on the fresh water bodies. A pair of Grey Francolins was also seen on the grassy verges at the edge of the airport. The final species we saw on our Oman adventure was Common Myna.

Species List:

Muscat: Red-wattled Lapwing, Grey Francolin, Common Myna, House Sparrow, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Feral Pigeon, 

Oman Day 9; Mudday & the Empty Quarter

Mudday Oasis

During the previous evening we drove down from Salalah to Mudday to camp, ensuring we would be on site for first light. We knew that the majority of the day would be spent travelling back north to Muscat for our flight tomorrow, so it was important to make the most of the morning birding. We started birding around the oasis, and quickly connected with the ridiculous looking Nile-valley Sunbird, which we found abundant in the valley.

In the open areas just down the valley from the oasis there were a number of desert species. We had only our second encounter with Sand Partridge here, although they were very common, and Desert Larks finally showed well, feeding with the House Sparrows. An Asian Desert Warbler was also seen in the scrub at the side of the town.

-Nile-valley Sunbird

-Desert Lark

-Hypocolius

Our most wanted species for this site was Hypocolius, and in the bushes down the road from the oasis we connected with a female. It showed on and off whilst we watched, and got good views at times as it feed from a fig tree. After half an hour it flew off, so we decided to make our move and begin our journey back north. On our way out of Mudday we had a small group of Mountain Gazelle feeding on the roadside, as well as our only Bar-tailed Larks of the trip.

We joined the main road north at Thumrait, where we decided to pull over and fill the car. At the side of the petrol station there was a small spill of water, and on this small spill we had an incredible encounter with a flock of 10 Crowned Sandgrouse and possibly as many as 50 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse. It was just before 10 in the morning so the birds had obviously come in for their morning drink, which we had just completely jammed in on. A Black-crowned Sparrow Lark also came in and joined them.

-Mountain Gazelle

-Bar-tailed Lark

-Crowned Sandgrouse

-Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Species List:
Mudday Oasis: Mallard, Nile-valley Sunbird*, Asian Desert Warbler, Desert Lark, Sand Partridge, Hypocolius*, Laughing Dove, Collard Dove, Sand Martin, Rock Martin, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail,
Driving: Desert Lark, Black-crowned Sparrow Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Bar-tailed Lark*, Collard Dove, Laughing Dove, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse*, Crowned Sandgrouse*, Rock Dove, 

Quitbit

On our journey north we made a brief stop at Quitbit. The small pool of water was a good site for dragonflies, but birdlife was a little thin on the ground. Desert Wheatears showed well, but that was about as good as it got. 

-Desert Wheatear

Species List:
Quitbit: Brown-necked Raven, Desert Wheatear, House Sparrow, Collard Dove, Laughing Dove, 

Adam

By late afternoon and having made it through the very aptly named Empty Quarter, we decided to spend the last few hours of light looking through the scrubby ground of the town of Adam. We had a few bits and pieces that we had not seen since out first day in the north; Purple Sunbird, Indian Silverbill, White-cheeked Bulbul. An Indian Roller was seen briefly but could not be relocated. Looking under rocks also produced our first and only Scorpions of the trip. We finished birding here at dark and continued our journey north to Muscat.

-Indian Silverbill

-Scorpion sp. 

Species List:
Adam: Indian Silverbill, Purple Sunbird, White-cheeked Bulbul, Indian Roller, Laughing Dove, House Sparrow, Tawny Pipit, Scorpion,

Oman Day 8; Salalah & Jabal Sanham

East Khawr

This was our last full day in Dhofar, and we still had a number of species that we wanted to connect with. We started the day at East Khawr in the hope of seeing Cotton Pygmy Teal that we had missed on our previous visit. We were in luck, with 6 of them were showing well at the south end of the Khawr. Many of the other species we saw were the same as our previous visit, including the 3 Spur-winged Lapwing and the Long-toed Stint. Large numbers of herons could be seen coming out of the roost at the south end of the Khawr, with over 200 Cattle Egret and well over 50 Glossy Ibis flying north as we arrived. Species we encountered that we had not seen on our previous visit included a stunning Bluethroat, and an Alpine Swift being hunted by a Peregrine. The Peregrine/Swift chase scene was really something to watch, at one point the swift was nabbed by the Peregrine, but was subsequently dropped, allowing a rather tatty Alpine Swift to fly free.

-Alpine Swift & Peregrine

-Spur-winged Plover

-Citrine Wagtail

-Long-toed Stint

-Purple Heron

-Cotton Pygmy Teal

Species List:

East Khawr: Mallard, Sand Martin, Bluethroat, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Citrine Wagtail, Graceful Prinia, Great Reed Warbler, Alpine Swift, Peregrine, Purple Heron, Spur-winged Lapwing, Cotton Pygmy Teal*, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Common Myna, Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Garganey, Swallow, Little Stint, Temmincks Stint, Long-toed Stint, Redshank, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Crested Lark, Black-crowned Sparrow Lark, House Crow, Laughing Dove, Collared Dove, Heuglin’s Gull, Sooty Gull, Rüppell’s Weaver, Slender-billed Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Coot, Moorhen, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Ferruginous Duck, 

Jarziz Farm

Our next stop was Jarziz Farm in Salalah itself. There were a large number of raptors soaring across the city, including Booted Eagle, Steppe Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle. Once at the farm there continued to be decent numbers of raptors soaring, but the highlight was a perched up Oriental Honey Buzzard in the farm compound, and when the bird took off it flew low right over us. An awesome encounter! The farm had good numbers of very vocal Rose-coloured Starlings, as well as African Silverbills and Rüppell’s Weaver. We also had another Bluethroat briefly fly past us into cover, but we were unable to relocate it.

-Rose-coloured Starling

-Crested Honey Buzzard

Species List:

Jarziz Farm: Common Myna, Rose-coloured Starling, Rüppell’s Weaver, African Silverbill, Steppe Eagle, Crested Honey Buzzard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Booted Eagle, Bluethroat, White Wagtail, Laughing Dove, House Crow,

Raysut Sewage Farm

We headed back to the Sewage farm late morning in the hope of being able to find the large numbers of White Storks that the site is known for. As soon as we arrived we could see that there was a massive increase in the stork numbers, with over 200 birds present as well as large numbers of Cattle Egrets on the infrastructure of the facility. Unfortunately we were unable to locate any Abdim’s Storks.

There were also good numbers of waders around the edges of the ponds. Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint and Black-winged Stilt were all present, and there also singles of Red-wattled Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing and White-tailed Lapwing. The White-tailed Lapwing was flushed and went down out of sight for us, and we were unable to relocate it.

-Steppe Eagles

-Greater Spotted Eagle

-White-tailed Lapwing

-Glossy Ibis

Species List:

Raysut Sewage Farm: White Wagtail, Sykes’ Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, House Crow, Tawny Pipit, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Dunlin, Common Snipe, White-tailed Lapwing*, Red-wattled Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Greenshank, White Stork, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Steppe Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Great Spotted Eagle, Greater Flamingo, Shoveler, Teal, Laughing Dove, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Slender-billed Gull,

Jabal Samhan

After midday we returned to Jabal Samhan in the hope of improved visibility and Verreaux’s Eagle. The wind had dropped and the air was clear so we were optimistic that we would connect with this very desirable species. There was not an abundance of birdlife, with Fan-tailed Raven being the only species present, but the site itself was very impressive. It took half an hour before we picked out 2 Verreaux’s Eagles coming towards us along the cliff face. At first we were looking down on the birds as they flew below us, then they flew above us and then even landed on the cliff, all the while being mobbed by the ravens. They were with us for around 15 minutes before they continued flying down the cliff. An amazing birding experience to say the least! Even after the eagles had left and we were taking in what had just happened, a Barbary Falcon came and flew round us overhead.

-Verreaux's Eagle

-Verreaux's Eagle & Fan-tailed Raven

-Barbary Falcon

Species List:

Jabal Sanham: Common Kestrel, Fan-tailed Raven, Rock Martin, Barbary Falcon*, Verreaux's Eagle*, South Arabian Wheatear,

Salalah Nature Reserve 

Having connected with Verreaux’s earlier than expected meant we had a little more time to bird in the afternoon. We decided to have a look at Salalah Nature Reserve on the coast of the south side of the city. We did not really look at the wetland area of the reserve, more working the scrub on the seaward side. Here we had an adult Daurian Shrike, which was our first definite individual of this race. In the scrub itself there was a large flock of Pacific Golden Plover roosting, as well as Grey Plover roosting with them. A single Oriental Honey Buzzard flew overhead. The scrub was a great place for dragonflies, the highlight of which was a stunning adult male Phantom Flutterer.

-Daurian Shrike

-Coastal Glider

-Slender Skimmer

-Phantom Flutterer

-House Crow

Species List:

Salalah Nature Reserve: Pacific Golden Plover, Crested Lark, Northern Wheatear, House Crow, Moorhen, Orientail Honey Buzzard, Grey Plover, Greater Crested Tern, Heuglin’s Gull, Little Stint, Daurian Shrike*, Tawny Pipit, Phantom Flutterer, Slender Skimmer, Coastal Glider, Scarlet Darter, Black Percher

Al Baleed Archaeological Park

For the last hours of daylight we returned to the Archaeological Park. The Spotted Thick-knees were still present and showed well as the light dwindled. Once again there were large numbers of Pacific Golden Plover roosting on the ruins, not quite the 600+ that we’d seen on our way past earlier and on the riverbank there was again a large roost of Common Sandpiper. Indian Pond Heron and Great Reed Warbler were both present again. A juvenile Isabelline Shrike was a species we had not seen on our previous visit.

-Pacific Golden Plover

Species List:

Al Baleed Archaeological Park: Desert Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Great Reed Warbler, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Heuglin’s Gull, Isabelline Shrike, Indian Pond Heron, Spotted Thick-knee, Tristram’s Starling, Common Myna, House Crow, Little Grebe, Collared Dove, Greater Spotted Eagle,