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...
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| BLACK HERON |
An African Species full of Character. Its behaviour reminded me of my Favourite US Egret...Reddish...
.bmp)
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| Stunner! |
We watched the Bird for a good while as it continued to entertain...
Other Species present included...
Garganey
Whiskered Tern...
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...
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| 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...
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