Arabian Adventure 26 - East Coast and Empty Quarter!

We left Muscat around 9 intending to reach Filim early afternoon. A substantial drive (250 miles) with no reason to stop off in the bland Desert environment. We were staying nearby at Mahoot and we enjoyed the usual Chicken, Rice and delicious Roti bread before heading down to the Coast at Filim...

The main target here was Crab Plover. I'd looked at the Tides and unfortunately high tide was a couple of hours after dusk. No matter this was out time slot and we were going to make the most of it. We set our scopes up and started to look through the numerous Birds out on the mud. We'd seen this Species in the UAE but you just can't get enough of this unique Wader. We soon picked a few out, way out on the tideline, in time they moved closer as the Sea approached...

We saw a nice selection of Waders but again I felt there were maybe other areas nearby that we couldn't locate? Great Knot is possible here but no contenders. We enjoyed the Sunset...

...and headed fro our more than adequate Hotel.

Wednesday morning dawned and we headed for the Mahoot Waste Treatment Plant...

Nothing of note seen, so we continued South West into the aptly named "Empty Quarter"! Our destination tonight was the Al Ghaftan Resthouse which we reached mid afternoon after another 230 miles...

It was hot, so we checked in and decided to Bird the last hour before Dusk. It was quiet, very quiet...apart from the House Sparrows!

Thursday morning we had 30 minutes around the Resthouse first thing before grabbing supplies from the Shell Station and continuing South towards the Muntasar Oasis, a renowned Birding Site. Our intention was to be there early to increase out chances of Sandgrouse sp. All was going well on the main road BUT as we left it onto an obvious wide track things took a turn for the worse. It was rutted...and I mean RUTTED!!! Remarkably, we still had Google Maps, unfortunately it told us we had TEN MILES to go! I felt somewhat guilty at this stage as this was going to take quite a while and we (or more accurately Robert) still had to drive to Salalah. We discussed whether to carry on and after some deliberation we decided to do so. We arrived at 7.50.

We saw the drinking pools immediately but again no Sandgrouse? This was surprising and disappointing after our efforts? We started to slowly drive around the perimeter of the pools. Then...things bucked up. We spotted a dark "Moorhen type" Bird in the long grass? Rob manouvered the Jeep into a better position and we were soon looking at another Lifer...a White-breasted Waterhen...

A Species common further East but Rare here. Amazing to find it out here surrounded by hundreds of Miles of Desert! Our efforts had been rewarded! Rob then picked up a Raptor deep in a bush enjoying its breakfast...

After initial thoughts of something good I decided on Sparrowhawk...

We then saw a few small Birds having a drink. One was a hoped for Asian Desert Warbler...

A couple of familiar Species were also present. Namely Little Ringed Plover...

...and Coot!

I also had a puzzling Pipit that needs further investigation? We stayed for a couple of Hours before retracing our steps and continuing our journey South. We stopped of at the Qitbit Motel for lunch but couldn't find any Hypocolius...unfortunately. They were seen by other Birders but we arrived at 1pm and it was toasty!

We did have brief company on the last section of our journey...

The Open Road

We arrived at Salalah before dusk after completing just under 300 miles, dropping down off the Plateau into the greenery and after an initial hitch (the Lift wasn't working) we settled into our apartment and even received a new Telly!

Arabian Adventure 26 - Muscat 2

Al Ansab Lagoons, Muscat has already been covered ...here. Again I thought a few pics with some prose would expand on our Visit.

Our initial vantage point in the shade outside the visitors centre produced a quality early sighting...

...c100 yards away on the far Island, wasn't sure on the day but structure definitely points towards IMPERIAL EAGLE...IMHO?

Other notables were Avocet...

Glossy Ibis c150...

...and Ruff...

Robert's number one target was...Kingfisher...any Kingfisher! After negotiating our way in and getting the Grand Tour, of which we were truly grateful...

...we ended up in the Hide overlooking the Weir and Pond area...

We saw an excellent range of Species during an hour watch. The views of Temminck's Stint were remarkable as they fed on the slope below the Weir...

I've never seen this Species so close!

The views of Citrine Wagtail weren't bad either...

Squacco Heron is a beautiful yet common Bird in these here parts...

There is however a much Rarer Heron that can be found here. An Indian Pond. I suspected I might "have one" on the day but now in retrospect I feel certain I have my Tick...

I didn't manage to get a clear shot but I think you'd agree the dark back, strongly marked head and neck, lacking buff tones is diagnostic...

Always a special moment when you add a Lifer!

We also saw our one and only Snipe of the Trip. Pin-tailed is possible but alas this one just looks...Common...

There was a lone post in the middle of the pool..

...and I remarked to Rob that it would be a good perch for a Kingfisher...

This was another VERY special moment to share with him. He was elated to see this Bird and we celebrated accordingly. Brilliant! 1 minute...but it was enough...

South into the Desert next...

Arabian Adventure 26 - Into Oman

I am aware there's some repetition here but I feel it's worth re-visiting for completeness...and photos!

OK, it's late morning on Saturday January 10th and we're preparing to start are journey into Oman via Fujairah, a place I have visited twice before pre-Covid. It brought back memories of Birding here previously and a certain Rare Kingfisher...more on that later. We checked our gear and left Dubai eastwards heading over the Mountains in light traffic. We bypassed the City centre and before we knew it Google had us at the Checkpoint. Rob gathered our documents and we waited patiently for our turn. The first official was friendly and engaged in some chat about the Jeep. All seemed fine. As we reached the third checkpoint a problem arose and we became confused about the procedure. Long story short we ended up having to go into a building to have our passports stamped. We eventually made it through the extensive Border and headed for Muscat...relieved!

We arrived around 5pm (c280 miles) and headed for our Air B&B. As with many such situations access issues can arise, especially in a Foreign Country. After some initial difficulties we accessed the apartment and found the car park with the help of a friend of the owner. We settled in, ordered food via Talabat and retired for the night.

I'd decided to try somewhere reasonably close to Muscat as our initial Birding Site, so after a late start we drove South about 30 minutes towards the Al Mutaqa Waste disposal Site. eBird as ever, guided us to the area along with Google Maps but precise access has to be figured out. I did have some information from Birders but we did have issues at several Sites throughout our visit. The Site was active and there was plenty of lorries (and dust) coming and going! We chose what we thought was a suitable vantage point to view the surrounding Cliffs. Although I was visiting in the "coolest Month" it was still HOT! Rob had bought me a Hat...that fitted (a remarkable achievement) and I had my sunglasses which obviously helped but coming from East Yorkshire was quite a jump. No sympathy expected!

We picked out a few Egyptian Vultures distantly high on the Cliffs but nothing came closer in 30 minutes...

...a Great-Spotted Eagle drifted by, the "regular" Eagle in these parts...

eBird reports suggested better things to come? We drove down to the offices and Rob negotiated entry. We drove up to the open refuse area and saw a sight that I will never forget. In Britain it's Gulls...in Oman it's Egyptian Vultures...lots of them...

I was fortunate to see 18 at Jebel Hafit in the UAE in December 2018...

...but this was easily surpassed today!

I'd never seen juvenile Birds and there were lots...

I was sharing one of many special moments with my Son which made it doubly so. We also share the same Optics and Camera!

Family Group

A conservative estimate would be THREE HUNDRED!!! Truly memorable.

As mentioned at the time we also saw the hoped for Eagles. Fortunately I managed to capture the moment and have now completed downloading all images from the Trip. So. here we go. We've all had that "First Sighting" moment. To see a new Species of Eagle some 40 yards away looking straight at you is something VERY special indeed!!! As you know you can spend significant amounts of time searching huge areas for maybe a distant view...I've done it on many occasions. Today was not such a day. Having enjoyed Greater Spotted and IMPERIAL already, today was the day for STEPPE. As we scanned the nearest bank we continued to enjoy masses of Egyptian Vultures of all ages at close quarters..then...a sinister looking large dark Bird appeared and rested...

Granted not the most aesthetically pleasing shot but I felt it was important to record "the moment". The Eagle exuded power, often described as Regal and Majestic and it was easy to see why. Views we were experiencing were far better than we could have hoped for. This huge Bird remained for a good 15 minutes as we observed it from the Jeep. Would it linger?

Fortunately it flew a short distance before landing even closer. It was "into the Sun" but still awesome...

I post this image to give an idea of the power and bulk of the Eagle which virtually flew past the Jeep window...

Those Feet!!!

Too close to fit.

Away it went, exhibiting its huge wingspan...

We celebrated our success by having lunch, hoping we may be treated to further views. We were...and they were just as good if not better...

Definitely one of the Highlights of the whole Trip. Just Superb!!!!

We finished our visit by driving up to the next level to get the Sun behind us and get away from the Lorries that had now arrived. This gave us further stunning flight views...

Just WOW!!!!!!

So, that concluded our visit to "The Dump". Dare I say it wasn't rubbish?! As I've said probably too many times over the Years...it's all context...but from my perspective, to get views of an Eagle like these...from where I come from...is truly amazing. Doubly special to share them with ma Boy!