Sultanate of Oman
Oman is a country in the Middle East in West Asia covering 212,500 km². It is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and overlooks the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, while sharing maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan. The capital and largest city is Muscat with 1.7 million inhabitants. Oman has a population of nearly 4.8 million and is the 124th most-populous country. The coast faces the Arabian Sea on the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by United Arab Emirates on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz (which it shares with Iran) and the Gulf of Oman forming Musandam’s coastal boundaries.
A gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Hajar Mountains) and southeast coast (Dhofar Mountains), where the country’s main cities are located: the capital city Muscat, Sohar and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south and Musandam.
Oman’s climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast. Like the rest of the Persian Gulf, Oman generally has one of the hottest climates in the world with summer temperatures in Muscat and northern Oman averaging 30 to 40 °C. The country receives little rainfall, with annual rainfall in Muscat averaging less than four inches, occurring mostly in January. In the south, the Dhofar Mountains area near Salalah has a tropical-like climate and receives seasonal rainfall from late June to late September as a result of monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean, leaving the summer air saturated with cool moisture and heavy fog. Summer temperatures in Salalah range from 20 to 30 °C, relatively cool compared to northern Oman. The mountain areas receive more rainfall, and annual rainfall on the higher parts of the Jabal Akhdar probably exceeds 16 inches. Low temperatures in the mountainous areas leads to snow cover once every few years. Some parts of the coast, particularly near the island of Masirah, sometimes receive no rain at all for a whole year. The climate is generally very hot, with temperatures peaking around 54 °C in the hot season, from May to September.
Omani Oasis – ©Hendrik Dacquin via Wikimedia Commons
Desert shrub and desert grass, common to southern Arabia, are found in Oman, but vegetation is sparse in the interior plateau, which is largely gravel desert. The greater monsoon rainfall in Dhofar and the mountains makes the growth there more luxuriant during summer; coconut palms grow plentifully on the coastal plains of Dhofar and frankincense is produced in the hills, with abundant oleander and varieties of acacia. The Hajar Mountains are a distinct ecoregion, the highest points in eastern Arabia with wildlife including the Arabian tahr. Indigenous mammals include leopard, hyena, fox, wolf, hare, oryx and ibex. Decrees have been passed to protect endangered species, including the Arabian Leopard, Arabian Oryx, Mountain Gazelle, Goitered Gazelle, Arabian Tahr, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle. However, the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary is the first site ever to be deleted from UNESCO’s World Heritage List, following the government’s decision to reduce the site’s area by 90% to clear the way for oil prospectors. In recent years, Oman has become one of the newer hot spots for whale watching, highlighting the critically endangered Arabian Humpback Whale, Sperm whale and Pygmy Blue Whale.
Birding Oman
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 550 species have been recorded. The country opened up in 1970 when the Sultan – Qaboos ibn Said took over and it has developed tremendously since then. He ruled until his death in 2020. 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.. 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 with occasional oases to 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 Dhofar Mountains near Salalah in Oman, after monsoon rains – ©May Paulose, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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 and 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.
Omani Farm – ©Omar AV, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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 still much to discover.
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Masarih Island
InformationSatellite ViewThe island of Masarih (Musarih) is a very good area - 330 species. -
Sawadi, Fahl and Daymaniyah
Satellite ViewThe islands off Muscat (Sawadi, Fahl and the restricted Daymaniyah) hold breeding Sooty Falcons and Red-billed Tropicbird, White-cheeked Tern, and the country's only breeding Sooty and Roseate Terns (Daymaniyah). Common Noddy is often present. Some years also good numbers of seabirds (Jouanin's and Wilson's Petrels, shearwaters, Masked Boobies) can be seen offshore. -
Sohar Sun Farms
eBirdSohar Sun Farms is a vast farm complex with restricted access in the north. Good for farmland species and rarities. Small Skylark, Sociable Plover, Caspian Plover, bids of prey, large flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Black-crowned Finch Lark, Richard`s Pipit and rarities such as Long-billed Dowitcher and Blyth`s Pipit (possibly overlooked). -
Sunub Rubbish Dump
eBirdThe Sunub rubbish dump near Muscat is a haven for close-ups of raptors. Large numbers of eagles (Imperial, Spotted, Steppe); Egyptian Vulture and Lappet-faced Vulture are always present at this smelly place. Tawny Eagle is a vagrant.
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Number of bird species: 556
(As at July 2024)State Bird: Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
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Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Oman , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them. -
OSME
ListOman Bird List, edition 7.10 (JE, 1 Nov 2020) -
Oman Birds Records Committee (via BUBO)
ChecklistIn the Sultanate of Oman, the official list is drawn up by the Oman Birds Records Committee and periodically published. The list used here by BUBO Listing was based mostly on the 6th edition, plus updates as posted on www.birdsoman.com. Thanks go to Derek Moore who did most of the hard work in preparing the list for use. -
Wikipedia
Annotated ListThis is a list of the bird species recorded in Oman. The avifauna of Oman include a total of 556 species, of which 7 have been introduced by humans. -
eBird
PDF ChecklistThis checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
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A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Egypt and the Middle East
| By Richard Hoath | John Beaufoy Publishing | 2022 | Paperback | 176 pages, colour photos, tables | ISBN: 9781913679026 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East
| A Photographic Guide | By Frédéric Jiguet & Aurélien Audevard | Princeton University Press | 2017 | Paperback | 447 pages, 2200 colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780691172439 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birds of Oman
| By Jens Eriksen & Richard Porter | Christopher Helm | 2017 | Paperback | 272 pages, 116 plates with colour illustrations; colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781472937537 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birds of the Middle East
| By AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Jens Eriksen & Richard Porter | Helm | 2022 | Paperback | 224 pages, 400 colour photos | ISBN: 9781472986757 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birds of the Middle East
| By Richard Porter, Oscar Campbell, AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, John Gale, Mike Langman, Brian E Small & Alan Harris | Helm | Edition 3 | 2024 | Paperback | 400 pages, 180 colour plates, 636 colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781399401968 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Birdwatching Guide to Oman
| By Dave Sargeant, Hanne Eriksen and Jens Eriksen | Al Roya Publishing | 2008 | Paperback | 256 pages, Col photos, line illus, maps, tabs | Out of Print | ISBN: 9789948036432 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Common Birds of Oman
| (An Identification Guide) | By by Hanne & Jens Eriksen | Al Roya Publishing | 2010 | Paperback | 256 pages, Col photos, distrib maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9789948153276 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Oman Bird List
| (The Official List of Birds of the Sultanate of Oman) | by Jens Eriksen & Reginald Victor | Center for Environmental Studies and Research | 2013 | Paperback | 288 pages, 500 colour photos, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9789996902185 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
The Birds of Oman (Farsi)
| By Michael D Gallagher & Martin Woodcock | Quartet Books | 1986 | Hardback | 310 pages, 121 plates with colour illustrations; 12 colour photos, 7 tables, 4 colour maps | ISBN: 9780704325821 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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BirdLife
WebsiteA total of 424 bird species have been recorded in the Sultanate, a high number in relation to the country's land area. Oman, perhaps alone amongst all countries, can claim an avifauna composed from no less than four of the world's principal fauna! regions… -
Birds of Oman
Facebook PageThis Facebook Group encourages scientific observation & documentation of birds of Oman in natural wild habitat. The group establish a bridge between bird enthusiasts and photographers provide a platform for exchanging information,sharing pictures and experiencing the joys of rich bird-life in Oman. -
OSME - Ornithological Society of the Middle East
WebpageBirding in Oman
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* List of protected areas of Oman
InformationSatellite ViewNational Park and nature reserves -
Al-Ansab Lagoons
WebpageSatellite ViewAl Ansab Wetland is one of the finest bird-watching sites in Oman. Nama Water Services, through the management of the wetland is committed to providing a nationally and internationally important showcase for some of Oman’s most important wildlife habitats... -
NP As Saleel
InformationSatellite View -
NR Ad Dimaniyat Islands
InformationSatellite ViewThe Nature Reserve is located in Wilayat AlSeeb in the Muscat Governorate and lies about 18 kilometres (11 mi) off the coast of Barka (70 kilometres (43 mi) west of Muscat, the capital). It is composed of nine islands with a total area of 100 hectares (250 acres). The reserve has a rich natural heritage and is replete with several kinds of coral reefs, including some examples that are quite rare. The island is home to a large number of sea turtles that lay their eggs and nest there, as well as a magnet for migratory and indigenous birds. -
NR Al-Dimaniyat Islands
InformationSatellite ViewAl-Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve is located in Wilayat AlSeeb in the Muscat Governorate and Wilayat Barka in Al Batinah South Governorate , and lies about 18 kilometres off the coast of Barka (70 kilometres west of Muscat, the capital). Its total area is 100 hectares (247 acres) and is composed of nine islands. -
NR Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve
InformationSatellite ViewThe most important leopard prey species are Arabian gazelle, Nubian ibex, Cape hare, rock hyrax, Indian crested porcupine, desert hedgehog and several bird species. Occasionally leopards might prey on domestic livestock. Other predators, which are found in the reserve, include caracal, striped hyena and Arabian wolf. -
NR Khawrs of the Salalah Coast Reserve
InformationSatellite ViewThe Khawrs of the Salalah Coast Reserve are a group of eight natural reserves in the Dhofar Governorate of Oman. They consist of lagoons and vary in size from a few hectares to more than one hundred hectares. -
NR Wadi Sireen
WebpageSatellite ViewThe Reserve is located in the eastern AlHajar Mountains about 45 kilometres south of Muscat. There a large number of wild animals in the area, such as the Arabian Tahr and deer. -
WS Jiddat al Harasis Oryx Sanctuary
WebpageSatellite ViewJiddat al Harasis, is located within the central region of Oman. The nearest large settlement is Haima to the west. In the southwest are the Rima and Marmul centres of oil extraction. The eastern and southern borders of the property lie on the shoreline of the Arabian sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean.
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eBird
SightingseBirding This Month
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BirdQuest
Tour OperatorOMAN – Arabian & Migrant Specialities including Grey Hypocolius, with Bahrain Extension -
Birdwatching Trips
Tour OperatorWe Head Into The Wadis And A Beach Full Of Birds Oman A Birdwatching Adventure -
Boletas
Tour Operator...Arabian Partridge,Jouanin’s Petrel, Persian Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Socotra cormorant, Lesser Sandplover, Greater Sandplove, Sociable Plover, Little Pratincole,Saunder’s Tern,White-cheeked Tern... -
HeatherLea
Tour OperatorAt the edge of the Western Palearctic, the Sultanate of Oman is located at a crossroads between Europe, Africa and Asia and as a result, the birdlife is both diverse and surprisingly abundant given much of the country is made up of desert. On this detailed tour, we spread our time around three coastlines, visiting the rugged mountain and bleak desert interiors too. With spectacular and varied habitats including sandy beaches, lagoons, mudflats, agricultural fields, sand dunes, stony desert and mountains, such diversity is reflected in the very special birds we will see. -
Nature Travel Birding
Tour OperatorOur 12-day Oman Birding tour takes you to one of the most exciting birding destinations to add to your birding travel list! -
NatureTrek
Tour OperatorA 13-day holiday focusing on the resident and migrant birds of Oman, plus a pelagic for seabirds, and possible Sooty Falcon! -
Oriole Birding
Tour OperatorOman – Arabian Birding Odyssey -
Panorama Travel
Tour OperatorOur experts in Oman birdwatching tours know the best birding sites throughout the sultanate better than anyone else. With more than two decades of birdwatching experience in Oman, our experts have gained enormous knowledge of the sites, species, wildlife, timing, logistics, equipment, techniques, and tricks required for each birding site throughout the year. -
Rockjumper
Tour OperatorOman & UAE - Arabian Birding Adventure -
Tropical Birding
Tour OperatorThe Sultanate of Oman is truly unique. For many, this will be the first and perhaps only Sultanate that they will visit, a “mega-tick” straight off the bat. Beyond this though, it is a land of stark and wonderful contrast: towering desert mountains to deep azure ocean, and ochre desert to the lush Afrotropical southern coast... -
WINGS
Tour OperatorOur experts in Oman birdwatching tours know the best birding sites throughout the sultanate better than anyone else. With more than two decades of birdwatching experience in Oman, our experts have gained enormous knowledge of the sites, species, wildlife, timing, logistics, equipment, techniques, and tricks required for each birding site throughout the year. -
Wise Birding
Tour OperatorOMAN: Birding the Arabian Peninsula 2025 -
Zoothera Birding
Tour OperatorOman must be one of the most exciting destinations we can travel to right now. Combining a whole bunch of Middle East endemics and specialities along with an ecletic mix of Asian and African species too! Beginning in the scenicly splendid Sayq Plateau we will search several different wadis for the recently-described Omani Owl...
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2016 [01 January] - Phil Gregory - Oman & UAE
ReportThis was the sixth Field Guides trip to Arabia (and my ninth), and was again an exciting and varied experience, despite it being unusually dry in Oman, with relatively few passerine migrants about. We began in the rather astonishing city of Dubai, where this year we had a much better and more convenient hotel as our base, albeit with beer at an eye-watering $15 per pint! We covered a number of desert sites with Mark, our excellent local guide, before going to Abu Dhabi with its extraordinary architecture and horribly distant Hypocolius roost... -
2016 [11 November] - Mark Beevers
PDF Report...We then returned to the outskirts of Dubai,to a wetland known as Ra’s al Khor and althoughthe front of the hide was taken up byphotographers, we still managed to see a fewspecies, including an estimated 5,000 GreaterFlamingos, our first Greater-spotted Eagle and afew Gull-billed Terns. We didn’t hang aroundtoo long for we had one more site to visit and weneeded to be there just before dusk.... -
2017 [10 October] - David Marshall
ReportOman is incredibly easy for the independent western birder to find his/her way around. The birding is wonderful and the local Omani people and the huge number of foreign nationals working in Oman and enjoying Oman’s wealth really are very friendly, honest and keen to help at all times. -
2017 [11 November] - Hannu Jannes
PDF Report...Birdquest’s tenth Oman & Bahrain tour proved yet again a success for many reasons. We recorded a respectable total of 238 taxa and 52 Birdquest ‘diamond’ species (regional specialities), saw some fantastic migrant s and interesting seabirds... -
2018 [11 November] - Hannu Jännes
PDF ReportThis, Birdquest’s twelfth tour of Oman & Bahrain, proved yet again a great success for so many reasons. We recorded a respectable total of 220 taxa and 49 Birdquest ‘diamond’ species (regional specialities), and saw great migrants and interesting seabirds. O -
2021 [12 December] - Anders Bacher Nielsen
PDF ReportIn short Oman is a very easy country to travel around, the Omanis are often very helpful, food is great, and roads are fine. The target birds however, proved sometimes to be rather tricky while other regional endemics very plentiful and easy to see. -
2022 [11 November] - Andy Smith
PDF ReportThis was Naturetrek’s first tour to Oman for several years. Starting in Muscat in the north we travelled the length of the country, across the edge of the Empty Quarter to the Dhofar Mountains and Salalah in the far south, experiencing a stunning range of landscapes and scenery in the process. -
2022 [11 Novembere] - Henk Hendriks
PDF ReportWe planned our trip end of Oktober/beginning of November as this period would give us, in our opinion, the best chances to find our targets. Personnally I had six target species which we all recorded although the Omani Owl was only heard. -
2022 [11 Novemner] - Dave Astins
PDF ReportVery hard to single any place or bird out, but Barr Al Hikman is just amazing, and you have to see Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak, it is simply mythical! Finally, the experience of Verreaux’s Eagle at Jabal Samhan is hard to convey, just an amazing bird at an amazing location. -
2023 [01 January] - Zoothera Birding
Report... We particularly enjoyed seeing several close Citrine Wagtails, as well as getting nice views of several Greater Spotted Eagle, lots of Slender-billed Gulls up close and personal, with the odd Sooty Gull thrown in for good measure. A flock of Glossy Ibis were present, along with a large flock of Ruff, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, a single Temminck’s Stint, and best of all were 2 Collared Pratincoles... -
2023 [01 January] - Zoothera Birding
Report...And we enjoyed a gentle introduction into many of the commoner species of Dhofar such as Abyssinian White-eye, White-spectacled Bulbul, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, as well as few Bruce’s Green-Pigeons, and both Palestine and Arabian Sunbirds... -
2023 [11 November] - B Ullrich & M Zieger
PDF ReportThere are a wooden observation pier and two observation huts, very good facilities for birding. Unfortunately not freely accessible at time of our visit. Red-wattled Lapwing, Tibetan Sand-Plover, Greater Sand-Plover, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Gull, Lesser Crested Tern, Osprey eBird... -
2023 [11 November] - Dave Astins
PDF ReportOmani Owl: A bird in the Al Hajar mountains was voted as ‘bird of the trip’ Having not seen or heard it on our first attempt, expectation wasn’t particularly high, especially as Dave had never seen the species on 5 previous attempts! -
2023 [11 November] - Greg Roberts
Report...*Persian Shearwater (small flocks total 25-30 birds off Dalmaniyat Islands), Red-billed Tropicbird (1 off Dalmaniyat Islands), Socrota Cormorant (Dalmaniyats: 3 birds on 1 island; 1 bird on a second island), Great Cormorant (Dalmaniyats: 10 including 1 with a single Socrota)... -
2023 [11 November] - Tony Culley
PDF ReportOur targets, which we got excellent and sustained views of, included Crab Plover, Verreaux’s Eagle(s), Persian Shearwater and Jouanin’s Petrel, Socotra Cormorant, Spotted Thick-knee, Pallas’s Gull (one only, a fly by), Sooty Gull, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Namaqua Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Plain Leaf Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Asian Desert Warbler, Abyssinian White-eye, Tristram’s Starling, Hume’s, Red-tailed and Arabian Wheatears, all of the available Sunbirds, Long-billed Pipit, African Paradise Flycatcher and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. -
2024 [02 February] - Benoit Verbruggen
PDF ReportOur Belgian Birders Quartet (BBQ…) was back for this 15th trip, much needed as it became over the years some kind of holy ornitho-break. After Camargue-Crau-Alpilles in 2008, Scotland in 2009, Andalucía-Extremadura in 2010, East Poland in 2011, Morocco in 2012, Finland-Norway in 2013, Lesvos in 2014, Danube Delta in 2015, Hungary-Transylvania in 2016, Israel in 2017, Georgia in 2018, Senegal in 2019, Covid in 2020 (!), Belgium only in 2021, New Jersey in 2022, SE Turkey in 2023, this year we went even further South East, to Oman, a birding destination since long, and a hype for tourists more recently, a well deserved fame. -
2024 [02 February] - Simon Woolley
PDF ReportFlesh-footed Shearwater, Jouanin's Petrel, Crab-plover, Crested Honey Buzzard, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak, Yemen Serin, (South) Arabian Wheatear, Spotted Thick-knee, Abdim's Stork, Socotra Cormorant, African Paradise Flycatcher, Arabian Sunbird and Grey Hypocolius were just a few of the highlights of this stunning 13-day tour.