birding...

Oman is the easternmost country of the Arabian Peninsula and is ideally situated for getting a mix of African, Oriental and Palaearctic birds, with large numbers of seabirds also occurring. In total, nearly 450 species have been recorded. It covers 212,500 square km and has 2.5 million inhabitants, half of which are expatriates. The country opened up in 1970 when the current Sultan - Qaboos ibn Said took over and it has developed tremendously since then. The infrastructure is excellent with good roads and the scenery fantastic. The people are very friendly and relaxed and the country is absolutely hassle-free and clean. Oman also encompasses the peninsula known as the Musandam, bordering the important Straits of Hormuz and separated from the major part of the country by the UAE. There are also some small Omani enclaves in the eastern UAE. Travel to Musandam is possible via domestic flights, four-wheel drive car (slightly more complicated as it requires visas through UAE) or boat.

Habitats range from the steep fjords of mountainous Musandam in the north, through deserts and vast shores with stands of mangroves, and extensive tidal mudflats and islands (Masirah being the largest) in the east to the afro-tropical forests and brackish khors (lagoons) of the southern Dhofar province. The main part of the country has a dry, desert-type climate with high humidity near the coasts in summer while the monsoon affects Dhofar during July-September when the province receives considerable rainfall; a prerequisite for the lush vegetation on the mountain slopes there.

The mean temperature for Muscat, the capital, is 25C in January and 36C in July, days with up to near 50C occur during the summer period. Salalah, the main city in Dhofar, experiences much cooler summers when the monsoon sets in. The seas off Salalah are deep and there is considerable up-welling there during the monsoon, which makes it ideal for marine life, not only pelagic species of birds but also for whales, dolphins and turtles. Both Humpback and Sperm whales can be seen along most of the Omani coast and there is also a record of Southern Elephant Seal from Dhofar.

There are several good birding sites set out in Top Sites below. In addition to which more generally, the spectacular Dhofar province has numerous good birding sites. Sea-watching from the coast, or by chartered boat, can be very productive after the monsoon with Bridled Tern, skuas, Jouanin's Petrel (anywhere off the coast); Audubon's, Pale-footed and sometimes Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Red-necked Phalaropes in large numbers.

The mountain forests hold many afro-tropical species, such as African Paradise Flycatcher, Shining Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Green Pigeon, African Rock Bunting etc. Hume's Tawny Owl, Spotted Eagle Owl, African Scops Owl and Verraux's Eagle breed. Spotted, Steppe, Imperial and Bonelli's and Booted Eagles are common during the migration/ winter season and rarities such as Tawny Eagle, Long-tailed Shrike and Lesser Spotted Eagle have also turned up. Of Arabian endemics, Yemen Serin, Golden-winged Grosbeak and Arabian Red-legged Partridge occur, with Yemen Linnet a vagrant.

The coastal khors are a haven for water birds and migrants, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Lesser Flamingo, African Spoonbill, Long-toed Stint being more or less regular, with migrant Herons, Little Bitterns, Pintail Snipes, Baillon's Crakes and some years Pale Rock Sparrows. Yellow Bittern apparently has its sole breeding area in Aarabia here.

The local farms are also interesting with Singing Bush Larks, in some years Abdim's Stork, Little Pratincole and Manchurian Red-footed Falcon as well. Cultivated areas in the desert on the road between Salalah and Muscat are excellent for drinking sandgrouse and raptors and rarities (e. g. Wattled Starling and Eye-browed Thrush) are often present.

Travel within the country is easy, in part thanks to the excellent infrastructure. Most international car hire firms are present, and there is accommodation in Salalah (although limited) and Muscat. Group trips for birders are more or less biannually arranged by the Swedish Ornithological Society's Bird Tour [Operator - AviFauna]. The food is excellent, and if sticking to Arabic, Indian and Chinese, fairly cheap. Visas are required and in some cases, depending on which areas one needs to explore, a 4WD and camping equipment is necessary. The country is under-watched, even if a small local group of birders are very active, and there is much to discover.