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!