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...

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...