• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Search results

thxpress_search_the_forum Search Opus
  1. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, Dan, couldn't agree more.
  2. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, Nick, totally agree but it's the way I prefer to do it...
  3. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, glad you enjoyed the read and also for the additional information - it may be useful some time.
  4. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    I'll probably be meeting (in a pub) with someone on Friday who did a second visit just before I went out, it'll be interesting to hear what he has to say.
  5. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks Jos, enjoying your US one too.
  6. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Glad you enjoyed it Chris, thanks. I too feel like I have unfinished business...
  7. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    I don't usually do a 'post mortem' on my trip reports but in case it helps anyone else out with future planning I have the following observations with the priceless benefit of hindsight: I should not have bothered with a first night in Muscat but should have done an additional day based in...
  8. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    It didn't work for me Paul but I remembered seeing the ebird trip report.
  9. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Sunday 29th December: Reasonably relaxed start today and headed first to Khawr Shinas and Shinas Lagoons, again seeing a few of the expected species but better was Al Qrm park on the edge of the mangroves on the other side of the town. Closer views of the usual egrets / herons in the channel...
  10. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks for the checklist, I think I saw your ebird reports during my research. An impressive number of species seen - many more then me! Well done. Yes, I realised the owls were really only possible at dusk. When I go somewhere new I tend to get a bit carried away and try to fit in as much as...
  11. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks. No vultures when I was there. I only saw Egyptian in Oman.
  12. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Saturday 28th December: Another early start to get to the appointed spot in Wadi Muaydin but no luck with the target. I then tried again for the other previously visited potential owl sites around Nakhal but as I suspected, as it was now probably too late in the day, no luck at either. I spent...
  13. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Friday 27th December: A short drive first thing for a scan along Ras al Hadd Beach - a few of the usual terns offshore and on the sand the normal mix of gulls but for the first time I picked out one that was pale enough mantled, compared to the Steppe & Heuglin's, to be a Caspian Gull. The...
  14. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thursday 26th December: I had considered a dash to Shannah to cross to Masirah today but with the ferry crossings being limited to just before high tide I did not really want to have to either rush around on the island or risk getting stuck there as I still had a lot of mileage to do. The...
  15. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Wednesday 25th December: Travel day today, reluctantly leaving Dhofar to head north up the south east coast. Once back past Mirbat the next part of the journey is over interesting driving roads and through some spectacular mountain and coastal scenery. On one slow corner a Blue Rock Thrush was...
  16. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, Chris, it took some time and persistence but made up to some extent for some of the owl and sandgrouse misses. Didn't realise you missed it, how about the pigeon and grosbeak?
  17. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Tuesday 24th December: Last full day in Dhofar today and with a long drive ahead tomorrow I decided to chase missed targets relatively locally rather than head off on another search for the mythical sandgrouse. First stop was Ayn Kor which must be a pretty spectacular site when the seasonal...
  18. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, Chris. Yes, the owl was impressive and the sunbird, like them all, is stunning and because of it's build and long tail looks even more delicate than the others.
  19. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Nice photo, Chris, thanks. Monday 23rd December: I probably should have returned to Mudayy this morning but didn't relish repeating the drive so instead headed to Ayn Tabraq - another nice place with a combination of the stream and wooded wadi providing many of the characteristic species of...
  20. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks, Paul, sounds like a similar experience. I guess the description of male non-breeding plumage in Helm is a bit misleading.
  21. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Sunday 22nd December: Very early start this morning to get to the Mudayy area by first light, even passing straight through the police/military checkpoint as they were apparently busy with breakfast. I had a few locations for sandgrouse and visited these in turn plus had a general drive around...
  22. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    No worries, Chris, glad you had good trips out.
  23. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks Paul. Your eBird list was more what I hoped for although, as you and DMW pointed out, I was aware that late December was not the ideal time and that numbers may be lower. I chose the timing of my trip for other reasons. I think I was out longer than usual as Hatem was trying his hardest...
  24. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Thanks Chris. I probably set my hopes a bit too high. I certainly wasn't expecting to see everything possible, or even most species that were likely, but given what has been reported from past trips it seemed a low return. Perhaps a factor of time of year? As I mentioned, Hatem seemed very...
  25. foresttwitcher

    Oman - December 2024

    Saturday 21st December: Out early again to get to Mirbat for the much anticipated pelagic trip. I came across a large flock of Abdim's Stork feeding on a bit of waste ground close to the harbour and then pulled up on the quayside to see loads of the usual gulls and Caspian Terns on the beach...
Back
Top