Arabian Adventure 26 - Finale

After another fruitless drive around the Resthouse we set off North. It's now Thursday 22nd. It was windy, VERY windy! It was whipping the sand up, making driving difficult in poor visibility. It was a Norther and Rob was driving straight into it. It was unrelenting and lasted a good couple of hours until we started to reach civilization again. We didn't see any Birds! A quiet evening at our Air B&B followed by a leisurely start Friday morning as we headed for the Border. Again it didn't go smoothly but we eventually made it through to Fujairah, Khor Kalba to be precise.

It took me back to December 2018 when I came here with Louise for a few days. We had a great time visiting various Sites along the East Coast. We had lunch by the Bridge and afterwards made our way towards it. Things had changed. There was now a booth were you could buy tickets to go over the bridge to the new Visitors Centre. We had to wait until 2pm so we had a look along the inlet...

Nothing was seen so we bought our tickets and started towards the Bridge. There were trams to take you across to the Centre but I suggested to Rob that it might be worth having a look from the middle of the Bridge as this was were I saw the Bird we were hoping for 8 years ago...

Can you guess, bearing in mind Robert's favorite Bird? We started to scan and I soon picked up a distant bird on a post...

"our Kingfisher"

Trams came and went regularly so no rush to get on one although there was no shade on the Bridge (we had our hats on). I concentrated on the West bank where I'd scored previously. I was conscious of time, as we had still to drive an hour back to Dubai and I wanted to have a look around the rest of the Reserve and the new Visitor Centre. As reported the last couple of days had been travel so I was hoping for some decent stuff here. Then...BINGO...

Chuffed to find it for him, in exactly the same area I'd seen it previously! Would it come closer?

Yes...

The (Arabian) Collared Kingfisher is an endangered Sub-species with an extremely restricted range. Namely UAE and  Oman around Filim. The Mangroves in this area are perfect for this Bird and are thankfully protected...

Having had our fill, we took the Tram to the Visitors Centre. Very impressive...

We had an hour looking around the area but saw little in the heat of the afternoon...

...before having a Coffee..in a Cafe with a view...

Birds were still available though. In fact we saw more form the Cafe than the Tram!

Indian Roller...

Red-tailed Shrike (Turkestan)...

Little Green Bee-eater...

On the way out we saw Pacific Golden Plover...

...plus Turnstone, Red-wattled Lapwing and Oystercatcher.

Last day tomorrow...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Heading North

Our last morning in the South before our long drive North back to Muscat via the Al Ghaftan Resthouse.. I decided to try Khawr Sawli, East of Salalah. Again, we had access issues but found a decent spot to view from eventually. 

A strange initial sighting was this Purple Heron out in the open on the beach...

A BIG Tern...

Caspain

Other Birds present were...Gull-billed Tern, Temminck's Stint, Little Stint and Pacific Golden Plover.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Small Pratincole had been seen here but alas not by us. Late afternoon would probably have been better...like most Sites! If only you could be everywhere at that time of day!!

It was time to leave. We did make one stop before Dusk at the Maqshin Oasis...

HOT! Unsurprisingly very little activity. Hypocolius was again the target...we kept trying and kept Dipping!

We had a look around the Resthouse at dusk before having Dinner with the locals and retiring for the night before our second long drive to Muscat...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Salalah Day 5

Tuesday 20th January

More Wadis today. Ayn Tabraq first but we stopped at the nearby Camel trough first. Plenty of Camels...

...but no Birds...initially. We gave it 30 minutes and eventually something turned up...our first Purple Sunbird...

A Long-legged Buzzard soared high overhead at the Site, our first sighting in the Country...but it was very quiet otherwise in the midday heat...

After lunch at Taqah...

...we returned to Ayn Razat as we intended to stay till dusk to try for the Owls. At our first stop I picked up this Blue Rock Thrush...

Another sighting of Indian Pond Heron...

We waited till Dusk but no joy with the Owls. Nice Sunset though...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Where Eagles Dare

Monday morning was spent trying to navigate Wadi Darbat. We had fun? We followed the eBird PIN and ended up at a well developed tourist area that didn't feel "right". We did get some more great views of Camels...

I tried Plan B which meant a trip up and over the North Ridge...

Google Maps was still with us and indicated we could drop down into the Wadi. We discussed this option and went for it. It was hairy but once again the Jeep coped admirably. Unfortunately by this time it was late morning and once again rather warm! The Key Species here is Arabian Grosbeak which comes to some Stalactites to drink. We couldn't find the exact spot and were almost certainly too late in the day anyway. I had some screenshots in my File but it wasn't clear to me. We did at least find some water but nothing was seen. Never mind.

We wondered if there was another way out as the descent was steep. I noticed a couple of chaps on the Southside so we drove over. Again, fortunately they spoke English and one of them kindly drove his Landcruiser to the start of the road out. We were glad to get out to be honest!!

I'd arranged to meet Hatem around Noon as we hadn't paid him for Saturday, as he only took cash. On the way down to Mirbat we came across some Raptors circling above us. It was bright, very bright (there's a shock) so viewing the Birds was challenging...

Happy we were looking at IMPERIAL EAGLES, 2 Immatures...

...and an Adult...on a Lamp Post...

After straightening up with him we had lunch and headed back up to Jabal Samhan to try again for the Verreaux's  Eagle. It was clearer today which raised our hopes but it wasn't to be despite another 3 hour vigil. Have to say...VERY disappointed. This was my last chance.

Here's what we could have won...

They were seen the day before AND the day after our visit!?

We did have great views of another Arabian Wheatear...

A Ray of Light

As the East Coast fret continued I HAD to get away from it...so guess where I went? Yep...NDC! I drove through heavy mist, drizzle and spray along the A63/M62 towards Howden and North to the LDV. A Drake Smew had been reported at Thorganby. As you know I always try to connect with one each Winter so I thought I'd give it a go. The drizzle continued and it was cold (2C) so I wasn't keen on standing out on the Platform! A couple of Birders had just disappeared towards it , so I decided to sit it out for a while. Basically I "whimped out" lol! 30 Minutes later they appeared and gave me negative news so I headed South to Duff via the Village Shop.

After sinking my Latte and Pasty I started to get my gear together BUT the Weather...and more importantly the Visibility deteriorated dramatically. So I abandoned the whole visit and headed home!

No improvement as I traveled back through Hull but I thought I'd divert via the Humber and try a few local Sites as it was only 2pm. Still grim!

I drove along Outstray Lane stopping off at various points. Fortunately 3 Marsh Harriers decided to have a stretch culminating in the Waders following suit! They included c150 Black-tailed Godwits. Very nice!

A decent flock of Curlew (c80) were also seen.

A huge flock of Brent Geese (c500) was seen at Welwick.

I finished off at the Outstrays. I parked up at a favoured spot and waited. The drizzle came and went but it was always...dull! I wasn't expecting anything really...remembering an old saying. I was out though...and IN the game. I couldn't see a single Bird as I listened to the Radio. Then out of the mist it came...and landed on a nearby post...

Brilliant!

Always Special.

It only stayed a few seconds before flying off. I moved the car to a nearer spot...and waited...and waited. It was better than watching the rain running down the lounge window!

20 minutes later...It came back...

After a grim day it all faded away watching this beautiful Bird...