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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Oman in 8 days (1 Viewer)

proregulus

proregulus

Tom Bedford
Highlights of a fabulous 8 days in Oman in early November 2015 to try to see Sooty Falcon and Crab Plover, with much more besides. We were a little too early for Grey Hypocolius, though we did check out Muddya Oasis; more time at Barr Al Hickman may have produced Great Knot, but time was not on our side. 10-14 days would be ideal to cover most of the country. The north was good, but Dhofar was better, great birds in amazing scenery:

1. Northern coastal strip: Green Bee-eaters, Great Spotted Eagle, waders.
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/oman-north.html

2. Pelagic from Muscat: Sooty Falcon, Jouanin's Petrel, Persian Shearwater, Sperm Whale.
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/oman-arabian-sea-pelagic-from-muscat.html

3. Barr Al Hickman: Crab Plover.
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/oman-central-coast.html

4. Central Desert: Spotted Sandgrouse, Black-crowned Finch Lark.
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/oman-central-desert.html

5. Dhofar, in 4 parts:

(a) waders, Shining Sunbird:
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/oman-dhofar-1.html

(b) Tristram's Grackle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Abdim's Storks, Dideric Cuckoo:
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/oman-dhofar-2.html

(c) Black-crowned Tchagra, Palestine Sunbird, Verreaux's Eagle:
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/oman-dhofar-3.html

(d) Nile Valley Sunbird, Lappet-faced Vulture, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Forbes-Watson's Swift:
http://www.birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/oman-dhofar-4th-and-final.html
 
Hi,
no time to have a look yet, but re: great knot at barr al hikman, views are apparently normally very distant anyway (they certainly were for me!)
cheers,
James
 
Very enjoyable read. Sounds like a great trip, though way too hot for me (there are days here in Scotland sometimes when it is too hot for me). Lovely photos too.

Should it not be ultra-violet (rather than infra-red) for the comment in the 1st part about the Rollers' plumage?
 
Brilliant writing. Brought back memories of my trip in 2011. I felt the same seeing Verreaux's Eagle (at Ayn Hamran). You should have camped... We had Arabian Wolves howling close by.
 
Stonefaction said:
Very enjoyable read. Sounds like a great trip, though way too hot for me (there are days here in Scotland sometimes when it is too hot for me). Lovely photos too.

Should it not be ultra-violet (rather than infra-red) for the comment in the 1st part about the Rollers' plumage?
Click to expand...

Yes UV, not IR! My mistake. Thanks to all for the kind comments though :t:
 
Congratulations Crab Plovers from Masirah. I was looking for them at the end of November, but I have not found. Only a few near Filim (Flim). Nice trip and nice report.
 
A fine report indeed.

I was particularly interested in your Nightjar story. For several years a Brown Noddy was kept off the Hong Kong list because it was thought to be a Grey Nightjar. The appearance of more photos finally resolved the issue.

Cheers
Mike
 
Nutcracker said:
Very high risk area? How did you manage to avoid the 18 months enforced visit to Mogadishu c/o the Somali pirates?
Click to expand...

i'd imagine a pelagic 12km off the capital and biggest city in oman would be extremely low risk. Dozens if not hundreds of tourists head into that area every day to watch dolphins and I can't find any evidence of any abductions?

James
 
Great report and fun to read - I think you approached the Verreaux's Eagles hunt in just the right frame of mind, nah, no chance, *****!, *****!
 
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