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...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Salalah Wadis

It's now Sunday January 18th. 

We decided to try a Wadi or two today. We started at Ayn Razat, eventually. Again initial problems locating the Site but a random local who spoke perfect English came in VERY handy! We drove into the large Car Park and stopped by the water. Always a good idea...

The first Birds we saw were (unsurprisingly) coming down for a drink! Now then, I'm discovering plenty about the Avifauna of Oman. As always some ID's  are easy, others less so. There are two similar Buntings (at least to me) here, namely Striolated (seen previously in the UAE)...

...and Cinnamon-breasted...

I think I've got it right?

I also saw my one and only Blackstart here...

2 more Lifers.

Something special in the shadows...

My African experiences are limited, VERY limited! Namely  a single trip to the Pyramids from Cyprus (I did see a few Pied Kingfishers form the Coach). Again, common Birds within their range become far more special on the edge of it.

I'd heard the Polish Birders on the Pelagic extolling the virtues of this particular Species and placing high on their "most wanted" List. It looked like we'd found it.

African Paradise Flycatcher

We were both obviously impressed. The 2 Birds were active and mobile so I was pleased to get the above pic.

There were plenty of Ruppell's Weavers in non-breeding plumage around the trees in the Car Park...

We spent some time around the enclosed Park as it was unfortunately closed (only open Friday and Saturday). I's a Site for Arabian Eagle Owl and Arabian Scops Owl. Many ahd seen the former at its daytime roost tree. I did my best through the fence but unsurprisingly, no joy! We would try again later at dusk.

After lunch we tried a couple more Wadis, namely Ayn Hamran and Ayn Tabraq. Strangely quiet...but that's Birding!

Arabian Adventure 26 - Pelagic

You may be aware of my inability to deal with the Sea! However I have ventured many times in different parts of the World in the quest for Birds. Australia, America and many trips around the British Isles. My knowledge of our offshore Islands is extensive, as is my memory of my condition after the Trip!! I remember vividly calling for Huey where I sat on my Wollongong Pelagic, South of Sydney 2003. A crew member kindly threw a bucket of water over me to wash it off. I did have full waterproofs on and I did see some fantastic Albatrosses...namely the endangered Indian Yellow-nosed, White-capped.and Black-browed. My many Trips from Ports around the San Francisco with Debbie Shearwater and Steve Howell were epic. Seeing Hawaiian Petrel was a particular highlight.

Anyway, we rose early and headed for Mirbat and Hatem's boat. We arrived at 7.15 and I messaged him to let him know. We couldn't see anyone and wondered which boat we'd be going out on...

Fortunately it was VERY calm. We made our way over to the Quayside and looked down. There was a small boat with a significant drop down with no steps! This was going to be a challenge in my current condition. Suffice to say I made it...where there's a will.

After settling in 4 Polish Birders arrived followed by a couple of chaps from Hungary. We spent 10 minutes looking at Birds around the Harbour before heading out to Sea...

As we ventured further out we soon started to see Persian Shearwaters, another new Bird for us...

The Chum Hatem brought with him came in handy, as eventually a few Birds landed right by the Boat...

Then a couple of Masked Boobies flew over...

I'd seen this Species in the Dry Tortugas, Florida some years ago but nowhere near as close as this! We also saw some Red-necked Phalaropes...

I was hoping for Jouanin's Petrel but we were out of luck. 

It wasn't all Birds...

As we returned to the Harbour Hatem lingered around the Harbour wall to allow us to see the Birds on the rocks which included Little Heron...

...and Black-crowned Night Heron...

After saying goodbye to Hatem and the other Birders we decided to have lunch in the Harbour area. As we were driving the area we came across this on a nearby lamp post...

Abdim's Stork

Another Lifer.

We'd heard the other Birders talking about trying for another special Eagle that can only be found in this part of Oman, namely Verreaux's. An African Species that Breeds in the Jabal Samhan area and a Bird I was particularly keen to see. We arrived around 2 and gave it 3 hours but no joy...for me. Rob got a brief glance of a distant Bird which was great. We would get another opportunity later in our stay.

Viewing conditions were far from ideal!

We had much better views of Tristram's Starling...

...and our Life Arabian Wheatear...

Dapper

A female Desert Wheatear was also present

We shall return...

Slavonian Grebe - NDC 170

I interrupt my riveting Arabian Adventure 26 report due to a significant development yesterday afternoon...

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13.02 North Yorkshire Slavonian Grebe North Duffield Carrs from Garganey Hide

I'd been waiting a loooooong time for this one! (39 years). This week has been horrendous here weather-wise hence my Trip Blogging. Yesterday was no better as I drove West in constant rain and poor light. I arrived at Duff at 2.45 and made my way to the Geoff Smith Hide. On entry there were 3 Birders present. I asked the obligatory question but they hadn't seen it in 45 minutes.

The visibility was poor and the water was choppy, so looking for a tiny Grebe was going to be a challenge!  A few Little Grebes raised hopes briefly. Earlier in the week I'd been tempted to have a drive over to see the remarkable number of Russian White-fronted Geese that were present on the Reserve. At least I had a chance of seeing these even if the Grebe had departed. I was still optimistic.

30 more minutes passed...then a shout from my left..."I think I've got it"!!! Sure enough he'd picked it out very impressively at the far end associating with Tufted Ducks and a couple of Drake Scaup. I thanked him warmly and inwardly celebrated my 170th Species for my inland Patch. YES

Conditions and distance meant no pic but that is always secondary in priority...

I got a message off my pal Steve Lawton asking if it was showing. I answered in the affirmative and he told me he was on his way. An hour later he'd joined me and was connecting with the still distant attraction.

A large number of WFG we're at the far end of the straight by the River (which I was hoping for) but my initial focus was obviously elsewhere. The Grebe was asleep so I had a good look now. As I was scanning them another good number arrived out of the gloom...

I guess you can appreciate the issues seeing the SG.

So, an excellent couple of unexpected hours in the Hut. A scarce Bird nationally BUT a MEGA Patch Tick and an unprecedented flock of WFG...my previous best was TEN!!!!!! Records come in different guises. 

No sign of The Grebe today, which makes my effort yesterday all the more satisfying. A "Once in a Lifetime" opportunity?

Oh go on then. Fourth blob from the left...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Salalah (1)

I thought we'd start our first day in style...trying for another Lifer (I realise most are Lifers for my lad!). An enigmatic Species had been present some 45 minutes West of the City for quite some time and I was hoping it was still present. We set off over the Mountains and were approaching the Site when...

...we waited!

We figured ou the access to Al Mughsayl Khawr, as Rob was driving the track I noticed a small darl Bird way over on the far side of the water, it looked promising. Now I admit I'm no regional expert but it looked smaller than a Western Reef Heron and was behaving in a peculiar way...running around and cloaking it's wings. It had to be a...

BLACK HERON

An African Species full of Character. Its behaviour reminded me of my Favourite US Egret...Reddish...

Stunner!

We watched the Bird for a good while as it continued to entertain...

Other Species present included...

Garganey

Whiskered Tern...

Spoonbill...

Western Reef Heron...

We made our way back along the Coast checking out the Beach at various points... 

There were large groups of Gulls and Terns present...including Greater and Lesser Crested Tern...

We also saw our first Tristam's Starlings wisely keeping in the shade...

We then made the drive back to Salalah and had some late lunch. I suggested we finished up at East Khawr another top site and only 5 minutes from our apartment. We arrived at 4 and made our way down the obvious track towards the Bay/Inlet. With it being Saturday it was fairly busy but there was plenty of space. As we looked to our left Rob spotted a large Bird eating something...it was looking straight at us...

On the track in front of us was a large flock of Glossy Ibis (c150). Quite a sight when they took to the sky...

Rob then exclaimed..."What's that"? I looked to my right..."It's a PELICAN"!!! This Species wasn't on my Radar and to FIND this Bird was really special for us. Apparently the first record since 2020. Can''t beat a large and obvious Rare! High Fives were in order.

The Bird was right by the track some 20 yards away...

We decided to drive down to the sea as the sun would then be behind us. We found a spot and fortunately the Great White Pelican obliged by swimming towards us...

...ending up on a grass hummock some 30 yards away...and started to have a preen...

It was getting some puzzled glances by the some of the locals but many were oblivious to its presence?Eventually the inevitable happened and some children got too close. Fortunately there was another mound nearby which was further out into the water...

King of the Castle

A few local photographers had now arrived but the Bird was undisturbed and we enjoyed the last of the Sun watching it and and other Species that were present...

A couple of cracking Gulls (yes I said it!)

Slender-billed Gull...

Sooty Gull...

Black-winged Stilt...

Pelagic details next...