Oman birding trip report 30/06 to 5/7/2024

Oman is home to some unique bird species that are hard to find in the northern part of Arabia. Among these is the Sooty Falcon, a breeding species considered vulnerable by BirdLife International, with a limited range restricted to the southern part of the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. Other fascinating birds in Oman include the Red-billed Tropicbird, Lesser Noddy, Saunders’ Tern, and the elusive Omani Owl.

I decided to go on a short birding trip to Oman in search of the Omani Owl, but unfortunately, I didn’t manage to spot it. Bad weather kept me stuck on Masirah Island for two nights, leaving me with less time to search for the owl near Muscat. Despite this setback, I enjoyed exploring many fascinating places, including Jabel Shams, Jabel Al Akhdar, and various wadis and remote villages.

On the first day, I went on a three-hour pelagic trip from Muscat to visit Jazirat Al Fahl Island. I observed nine Sooty Falcons and seventeen Red-billed Tropicbirds. The Tropicbirds were continuously flying around the island, with some venturing farther away, while the Sooty Falcons mostly flew over the island, occasionally landing on the cliffs, rocks, and ledges. Taking photographs of the birds was challenging due to the hot, hazy, and foggy weather, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C. This made it difficult to capture sharp images.

On Masirah Island, the weather was very hot, similar to Muscat. However, the wind reduced the humidity and lowered the temperature. I was amazed by the large number of Great Crested Terns on the island, with a dense flock of around 1,000 birds, although they weren’t breeding. Alongside the terns, there were also several Lesser and Brown Noddies gathered together side by side!

Birds’ checklist: following IOC 14.1

Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
Rock Dove Columba livia
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
Tibetan Sand Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons
Greater Sand Plover Anarhynchus leschenaultii
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei
Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Saunders’s Tern Sternula saundersi
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel Hydrobates monorhis
Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus
Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
Arabian Green Bee-eater Merops cyanophrys
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
House Crow Corvus splendens
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis
Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps
Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis
Arabian Babbler Argya squamiceps