OMAN
Oman is a peaceful, friendly country with strong connections to the UK, virtually no crime, and bird diversity second to none in the Middle East.
At this time of year, when the weather is just perfect, there is a very high density of wintering raptors. Greater Spotted, Steppe and even Eastern Imperial Eagles are plentiful and give excellent views. Now rare and local, the huge negevensis race of Lappet-faced Vulture is regular at a couple of sites. Along the north coast magnificent Great Black-headed Gulls are in full breeding plumage, alongside Sooty, Caspian and Slender-billed Gulls. Crested and Lesser Crested Terns gather together in large roosts. Our boat trip will give us close views of many seabirds, including Red-necked Phalarope. We have permission to visit a couple of large private farms where Indian Rollers number in their hundreds. Irrigated grasslands attract masses of waders and small birds which, in turn, attract raptors including Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers.
Our excursion to the deserts of central Oman is to witness flocks of sandgrouse, as well as to search the oases for other specialities. The southern region is influenced by the monsoon, resulting in flora and fauna unique in Arabia. The birds here have an African influence, with Bruce’s Green Pigeon, African Rock Bunting and African Paradise Flycatcher alongside South Arabian Wheatear and Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
Oman is a safe, welcoming country, if anything somewhat old-fashioned in terms of good manners and public behaviour, with good food, especially at our hotel in Salalah.
After our flight we will go straight to our hotel in Muscat for the night. The next morning we will set off for a leisurely drive along the Al Batinah coast for a two night stay at Sohar. En route we will visit wintering sites for Plain Leaf Warbler and Variable Wheatear, plus mangroves favoured by Sykes’s Warblers.
Most of the following day will be spent at the outstanding Sohar Sun Farms. Pallid Harrier, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Tawny and Red-throated Pipits, Isabelline Wheatear, Indian Roller and Black-crowned Finch-lark are amongst the commoner species. Flocks of wagtails include White, Yellow, Masked and Citrine. Many marsh terns and waders are often around the pools, and a small flock of Sociable Plovers usually winters here.
The verdant parks and gardens of Muscat are good places to catch up with the commoner species of the area such as Grey Francolin, Little Green Bee-eater, Pallid Swift, Laughing Dove, Isabelline Shrike, Pale Crag Martin, White-eared and Yellow-vented Bulbul, Graceful Prinia, and Purple Sunbird. The Indian influence is felt by the presence of more Indian Rollers, Common Mynas and Indian Silverbills. Nearby, wintering eagles include Eastern Imperial, Great Spotted, Steppe and Bonelli’s, often giving amazing views. They gather alongside Brown-necked Ravens, and Egyptian and Lappet-faced Vultures. These dry hills are also regular sites for the sought-after Hume’s and Red-tailed Wheatears.
On one morning we will visit the old port of Muscat with its Sooty and Slender-billed Gulls, Crested Terns and Western Reef Herons. From here we will take an inshore boat trip on the sheltered azure waters, where Red-necked Phalaropes congregate around pods of feeding dolphins. Common, Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins are the most numerous. In 2007 we were treated to the spectacle of over 100 Spinners around our boat.
Red-wattled Lapwing, Pacific Golden Plover, Arabian Babbler and Clamorous Reed Warbler are common, and we will search the local wetlands for the less common wintering species such as White-tailed Plover and Bluethroat.
Oman is isolated from the rest of Arabia by a vast desert named the Empty Quarter. This desert encroaches into the middle of the country thereby dividing it up, roughly, into three zones: the Indian influenced north, the central desert and the African influenced south.
On day seven we will take the short flight south to Salalah then drive back into the desert to the Qit-bit oasis, for a two-night stay. The next morning we will position ourselves at a nearby desert spring to witness the arrival of hundreds of sandgrouse. Spotted, Crowned and Chestnut-bellied are all likely. The gentle yet far-carrying calls of these hardy birds are a memorable sound in this spectacular landscape.
The trees and pools around our comfortable guesthouse within the oasis attract Desert Wheatears, Eastern Black Redstarts, and Ménétries’ and Asian Desert Warblers, while Hoopoe Larks are common and often display at this time. The list of migrant birds and rarities at this place is amazing. Even the Grey Hypocolius has wintered in recent years.
Our drive back to the southern coastal region takes us through a mountain pass that is excellent for South Arabian Wheatear, Arabian Partridge and Long-billed Pipit. Our first groups of Tristram’s Grackles should be seen in the frankincense trees that are common here which once provided Oman with its biggest trading resource.
In the quiet seaside town of Salalah we will settle into the fabulous Salalah Hilton for a luxurious three night stay on the coast, with Masked Boobies and Indo-pacific Humpback Dolphins feeding just offshore. Ospreys are frequent, and Socotra Cormorants pass by. Brown Booby is scarce but regular, as are a few Red-billed Tropicbirds returning early to their nesting sites.
This region has a monsoon season, so the vegetation is quite different. Baobab trees are found, giving the area a real African feel. African Silverbill replaces its Indian sister-species, Fan-tailed Raven is the common corvid, Verreaux’s Eagles are resident and the striking African Rock Bunting is easily seen. Wooded valleys are home to Palestine Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher, Arabian Warbler, White-breasted White-eye and Black-crowned Tchagra. Fruiting fig trees are worth checking for the handsome Bruce’s Green Pigeon. The coastal lagoons have a good range of waterbirds including Ferruginous Duck and Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
There are a couple of large farms here too, where we will look for Singing Bush-lark, Cream-coloured Courser and Yellow-billed Kite. Rose-coloured Starlings quite often turn up around the farm drinking holes and Abdim’s Storks sometimes join the migrating White Storks that rest here. A small breeding population of the localised Yemen Serin has recently been found at a dramatic site in the hills, where Bonelli’s Eagles nest.
In the late afternoon on our last day in Oman we will take a shuttle flight from Salalah to Muscat, connecting with our overnight flight back to the UK.
On some days breakfast will be taken at 8am, allowing time for productive pre-breakfast walks in hotel grounds. On other days breakfast will be at 7am so that we can get into the field earlier. Basic fitness is all that is required. Full days will be spent in the field with short walks on the flat. A little uphill walking is necessary, but this will be at a sensible pace. On hot days there will be a longer break in the middle of the day, with birding in the mornings and late afternoons.
Full board accommodation is provided, with one night at the Ramee Hotel near Muscat, two nights at the Green Oasis Hotel at Sohar, three nights back at the Ramee Hotel near Muscat, two nights at the Qit-Bit Hotel and three nights at the Hilton Hotel in Salalah. All hotels are of good or excellent standard and all rooms are en suite. Packed lunches will be taken when we expect to be away from the hotel in the middle of the day.
PRICE INCLUDES …..
All birdwatching excursions with expert leader, full-board accommodation, soft drinks at meal times, local transport by mini-coach, boat trip, internal flights, international flight to Muscat and airport taxes.
Our optional travel insurance, payable at the time of booking. Cost of obtaining a visa on arrival (£9), items of a personal nature, alcoholic drinks, laundry.
Return flight from London Heathrow to Muscat using the scheduled services of Gulf Air. Outbound flight departs late morning; return arrives back early morning. Shuttle flights are available on this tour for £70 return (due at time of booking), from Manchester and other regional airports.
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12 nights including one overnight flight:
Principal leader:
Maximum group size:
Cost with discount (if you book before 27th October 2007):
Full Cost:
Single supplement:
Deposit:
Insurance premium:
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9th to 21st February 2008
Roger Barnes
10 clients with one leader and a local driver
£2140 per person sharing
£2290 per person sharing
£240
£300
£59 due at time of booking (£89 for age 65 to 69) (£118 for age 70 and over)
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