Birding in Oman Nov -15 Ayn Razat, Ayn Hamran, Ayn Tobroq

Ok, I'm ashamed... It's been five months since the last blogpost from Oman and I really have no other excuses other than that everything else seemed like a higher priority. Might have something to do with the anti virus program erasing about five or six hours of typing in my previous post (which was about the Khawrs we visited)

This post will cover, what I consider, more interesting nature types, namely the Ayns we visited. I don't really know what Ayn means (eye according to one source) but it seems to be the place where a wadi is opening up to the plane below the mountains. Just by the foot of the mountain.

Anyway, as I write these posts in a both chronological and biotop order this first place is where we ended up on the morning the second day (the 17th of November). This is Ayn Razat, check this link out for a google map, Ayn Razat is the only green place on the map, just at the foot of the Dhofar mountain range. For me, Ayn Razat was the highlight so far during the trip. Even though Khawr Rawri gave us great many species, mountain regions are always special to me. For starters, the silence of the mountains is soothing, after a couple of days in a busy city zone, and Ayn Razat (and the other Ayns as well) was just that. Much like Wadi Bih and Masafi Wadi in UAE.

We brought breakfast from the hotel, which we ate while the sun was rising. Around us we could hear and see Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Abyssinian White-eyes, Blackstarts and a Grey Wagtail. A few Palestine Sunbirds and quite a few Afrikan mParadise Flycatchers. 

After the breakfast, we started walking up the wadi. As we were quite a large group, we were quite slow... Over the head, a couple of fan tailed ravens could be seen and in the bushes were several Arabian warblers. At the farthest point of the wadi, which we walked to (this was not far up the wade) we found at least three Black-Crowned Tchagras. Also Blue Rock Thrush was seen and one person in the group saw Striolated bunting and probably also a Merlin. If I would go back to Ayn Razat, at some point, I would definitely roam further up the wadi... 

We headed back to the place where we had parked the cars, for a walk in the small botanical garden, which can be found here. On the way we saw a Wild Cat and then someone said that he had seen a Masked Shrike. I know that I have a thing for shrikes and, as I had been searching for the Masked shrike in Safa Park in UAE on more than one occasion, I was quite keen on seeing this bird. In the end we all succeded but we didn't get very close. Two Short-toed Snake Eagles were also seen by the parking area. One of these were seen very shortly further up in the wadi as well but not they rally showed themselves. After this, into the garden we went.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (zebrasparv, Emberiza tahapisi)

The Cinnamon-breasted Bunting was very common in the Ayns. A beautiful bird which looks quite like the Striolated bunting. For comparison, I have photos of Striolated if you follow this link.

Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena)

It was still quite early in the morning when we walked up the valley (the Wadi) and with the relatively steep slopes to the side, it took some time for the sun to show. Thus the poor light in some of the photos. Here an Arabian Warbler.

Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra 
senegalus)

One of the target species for me during this trip was the Black-crowned Tchagra. So when I found this one I was very happy. However, this species turned out to be not quite as rare as I believed. Nice bird none the less.

Blackstart (svartstjärt, Oenanthe melanura)

Blackstarts could be seen in many places in Oman.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (zebrasparv, Emberiza tahapisi)

Another Cinnamon-breasted Bunting but by now the sun had started to show.

African Wild Cat (afrikansk vildkatt, Felis silvestris lybicus)

This Wild Cat did not seem very wild at all. It was actually sleeping under one of our cars at one point.

Blue Rock Thrush (blåtrast, Monticola solitarius)

Ok, pictures are not entirely in correct order. This female Blue Rock Thrush was actually seen before the Wild Cat

Into the garden we went. This was supposed to be a decent place for Bruce's Green Pigeon and it didn't let us down. Another first for the trip was the Scaly-breasted Munia, obviously an introduced species but I would suspect that it is self sustaining at this point since we saw it in more places during the trip. Hoopoes and more Aftican Paradise Flycatchers could be seen in the park and suddenly someone shouted. I saw a big bird flying off the ground and I instinctively thought it looked like a raptor of some sort. This turned out to be false, though... After quite som search in the trees at the western end of the park one of us (I think it was Gigi... Hmmm) found it. A Spotted Eagle Owl. Wow! This was not expected and a real treat.

Bruce's Green Pigeon (gulbukig grönduva, Treron waalia)

A master of disguise... As colorfuls as it is, the Bruce's Green Pigeon can be extremely difficult to find, even if you know where it is.

African Paradise Flycatcher (afrikansk paradismonark, 
Terpsiphone viridis)

The long tail feathers of the male African Paradise Flycatcher makes it quite spectacular.

Long-billed Pipit (långnäbbad piplärka, Anthus similis)

While waiting for someone to spot the Spotted Eagle Owl, this Long-billed pipit showed itself from just a few meeters away.

Spotted Eagle-Owl (fläckuv, Bubo 
africanus)

There it is, the Spotted Eagle Owl. Unfortunately, no matter how I positioned myself, I never got a clear shot of the bird. But still, a beautiful species.

Spotted Eagle-Owl (fläckuv, Bubo 
africanus)

Palestine Sunbird (palestinasolfågel, Cinnyris osea)

On the way back to the cars, one of the other photografers in the group took some time to get nice photos of this Palestine sunbird. Very nice blue colours.

Palestine Sunbird (palestinasolfågel, Cinnyris osea)

I speeded ahead of the group, I wanted a second chance at the Masked Shrike. This time, when I was alone, I had more luck. I couple of decent photos of this extrordinary bird. For me, that is...

Masked Shrike (masktörnskata, Lanius nubicus)

Masked Shrike (masktörnskata, Lanius nubicus)

This photo is, of course, more or less the same as the one above but I just like the bird so I ended up with both photos in this blog...

After leaving Ayn Razat, we went back to the hotel for a lunch at the seaside restaurant. More about that lunch can be found in the startup blog post for this trip to Oman.

After the lunch, we drove back towards the Dhofar mountains but this time to Ayn Hamran. In many ways similar to Ayn Razat but still quite different. Mostly because we visitid the place in the afternoon. Here is a google map of Ayn Hamran. There were quite a few raptors; Bonelli's Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, etc, and also another Black-crowned Tchagra, a couple of Arabian warblers and these amazing spiders. Som kind of silk spiders. But we were specifically here to wait for dusk. This is a good place to listen for Arabian Scops Owl. In the end we heard at least seven individuals. But the coolest thing about this evening was when a muezzin was calling from a nearby tower after dusk. Wolves started howling in response to the muezzin. Very cool, indeed.

African Wild Cat (afrikansk vildkatt, Felis silvestris lybicus)

On the way to Ayn Hamran, just before we reached the parking place, another wild cat was found walking beside the road. It did not seem to be as well nourished as the one in Ayn Hamran.

Abyssinian White-eye (abessinsk glasögonfågel , Zosterops 
abyssinicus)

Abyssinian White-eyes were a common sight pretty much evereywhere.

Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena)

While wating for dusk to arrive, I spent some time working with an Arabian Warbler in persuit of some decent photos. Wasn't easy...

White-spectacled Bulbul (levantbulbyl, Pycnonotus 
xanthopygos)

The White-spectacled Bulbyl was more accomodating than the Warbler.

Hej

The Desert Wheatears were common. But always nice to see. Beautiful birds.

Unidentified species of Dragonfly

I tried to capture some dragonflies. The species of this one has eluded me so far. Difficult...

Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra 
senegalus)

As I wrote above, another Black-crowned Tchagra was found here in Ayn Hamran. Always staying low in the bushes or on the ground. Very seldom motionless for more than a second.

Really large spider

Fascinating spiders can be found here in Ayn Hamran. This one - including legs - was about as large as my palm. The threads were thick enough to really make themselves felt whenever you went into one.

There were, of course, no photos of the Arabian Scops Owl, they could only be heard after dark, and this was it for this visit in Ayn Hamran. Already on the way back in the car, we talked about how we would like to visit again, but in the morning instead. We didn't have another visit planned in the itinerary for the trip but we knew that there was supposed to be a couple of mornings free close to the end of the trip. So, on the day when we were going to Al Mugsahul in the afternoon - the 22nd of November - the guys in my car decided that we wanted to go to Ayn Hamran again. In the end, our trip leader included another morning in Ayn Hamran, on the 24th, but we didn't mind. It was a nice place to go birding and at this point we had seen neither the Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak nor the Dideric cuckoo. Both of which were target species for, at least, myself.

So, in the morning of the 22nd, we drove quite early to Ayn Hamran, with the deadline being that we needed to get back before the hotel finished serving breakfast. The photos below shows quite well the outcome of this visit.

Arabian Partridge (arabisk rödhöna, Alectoris melanocephala)

As can be seen by the light in the photo, this was still early. A family of Arabian partridges was walking on the valley floor. Another new species for me.

Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra 
senegalus)

The Tchagras could easily be seen. It seems that they got easier and easier to see as the trip progressed. Here in quite a typical pose.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (zebrasparv, Emberiza tahapisi)

In the early morning light, the Cinnamon-breasted Buntings came down to the small concrete waterway to drink. Along with a Grey Wagtail.

Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (arabisk guldvingefink, 
Rhynchostruthus percivali)

Then finally my father called out. He had seen an Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak. I just saw it before it flew off but I managed to get this shot of the bird. The other two guys were not so lucky. They didn't see this bird.

Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena)

While searching for the Grosbeaks, this Arabian Warbler didn't care at all about me and finally I got some clear shots of the bird.

Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena)

Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (arabisk guldvingefink, 
Rhynchostruthus percivali)

A little later, my father called again. The Grosbeaks were back. This time all of us got to see the birds and this time they were quite accomodating. Beautiful birds! So here are a couple of photos of them

Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (arabisk guldvingefink, 
Rhynchostruthus percivali)

Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (arabisk guldvingefink, 
Rhynchostruthus percivali)

The Dideric Cuckoo was elusive. We didn't see it this time around and not the next time either. One of the few birds that is a clear incentive for me - birdingwize - to go back to Oman. Though, I guess it can be seen in other places as well. 

On the 24th, we drove back to Ayn Hamran, now with the whole crew. As I had, by this time, been here twice before, I started to extend the search area a little bit. First I went further up the hills surrounding the Ayn but with limited result. A Wryneck and a Blue Rock Thrush were the only intreresting species. Instead I started walking down the valley, by the stream. This was interesting and I can recommend doing that. In the short time I had at my disposal I found another Masked Shrike, several Bruce's Green Pigeons, Isabelline Shrike, probably a Northern Wheatear and beautiful views of a Black-crowned Tchagra. I wish I had had more time...

Steppe Eagle (stäppörn, Aquila nipalensis)

Steppe Eagle, on the way to Ayn Hamran

Red Fox (Rödräv, Vulpes vulpes arabica)

Red Fox, arabian sub species?

Steppe Eagle (stäppörn, Aquila nipalensis)

Spotted Eagle again

Eurasian Wryneck (göktyta, Jynx torquilla)

The Wryneck was difficult to get clear shots of. This had to do...

Blue Rock Thrush (blåtrast, Monticola solitarius)

A male Blue Rock Thrush. Always beautiful

View over Ayn Hamran

A photo taken from one of the hills surrounding the Ayn. In the middle you can see the sand flor of the valley.

African Paradise Flycatcher (afrikansk paradismonark, 
Terpsiphone viridis)

Isabelline Shrike (isabellatörnskata, Lanius isabellinus)

1 cy Isabelline Shrike

Isabelline Shrike (isabellatörnskata, Lanius isabellinus)

Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra 
senegalus)

In the eavning of the 19th we drove to a water station (just a water hose) close to Ayn Tobroq. Check out this map of exact location. The place of the water station is centered in the map. You can see a little bit of green in the centre of the map. This is a place where a large flock of Lichtenstein's sandgrouse come to drink, just after sunset. We were also lucky and all in all we counted 61 indivuduals.

Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse (strimmig flyghöna, Pterocles 
lichtensteinii)

Very blurry, taken with phone through scope at very poor light.

This was it from these places. I hope it will not take this long to get to the next one, which will be about the pelagic we did and what we found in Al Mugsahul.

Species list for Ayn Razat (as in earlier posts, I leave out the most common ones). New lifers marked with *.

Palestine Sunbird (palestinasolfågel, Cinnyris osea) *

African Paradise Flycatcher (afrikansk paradismonark, Terpsiphone viridis)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (zebrasparv, Emberiza tahapisi)
White-spectacled Bulbul (levantbulbyl, Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
Abyssinian White-eye (abessinsk glasögonfågel , Zosterops abyssinicus)
Blackstart (svartstjärt, Oenanthe melanura)
White Wagtail (sädesärla, Motacilla alba)
Common Kestrel (tornfalk, Falco tinnunculus)
Shining Sunbird (abessinsk solfågel, Cinnyris habessinicus)
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (grön biätare, Merops persicus)
Grey Heron (gråhäger, Ardea cinerea)
Fan-tailed Raven (kortstjärtad korp, Corvus rhipidurus) *
Grey Wagtail (forsärla, Motacilla cinerea)
Graceful Prinia (streckig prinia, Prinia gracilis)
Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena) *
Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra senegalus) *
Blue Rock Thrush (blåtrast, Monticola solitarius)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (ormörn, Circaetus gallicus) *
Masked Shrike (masktörnskata, Lanius nubicus) *
Bruce's Green Pigeon (gulbukig grönduva, Treron waalia) *
Tristram's Starling (sinaiglansstare, Onychognathus tristramii)
Spotted Eagle-Owl (fläckuv, Bubo africanus) *
Long-billed Pipit (långnäbbad piplärka, Anthus similis)
Eurasian Hoopoe (härfågel, Upupa epops)
Scaly-breasted Munia (fjällig munia, Lonchura punctulata)
African Wild Cat (afrikansk vildkatt, Felis silvestris lybicus)

Species list for Ayn Hamran

Bonelli's Eagle (hökörn, Aquila fasciata)

Lesser Kestrel (rödfalk, Falco naumanni)
Arabian Scops Owl (arabisk dvärguv, Otus pamelae) *
Wolf (Varg, Canis lupus arabs)
African Wild Cat (afrikansk vildkatt, Felis silvestris lybicus)
Eurasian Hoopoe (härfågel, Upupa epops)
Eurasian Wryneck (göktyta, Jynx torquilla)
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (arabisk guldvingefink, Rhynchostruthus percivali) *
African Paradise Flycatcher (afrikansk paradismonark, Terpsiphone viridis)
Arabian Partridge (arabisk rödhöna, Alectoris melanocephala) *
Black-crowned Tchagra (svartkronad tchagra, Tchagra senegalus)
Arabian Warbler (arabisk sångare, Sylvia leucomelaena)
Palestine Sunbird (palestinasolfågel, Cinnyris osea)
Lesser Whitethroat (ärtsångare, Sylvia curruca)
Grey Wagtail (forsärla, Motacilla cinerea)
Masked Shrike (masktörnskata, Lanius nubicus)
Isabelline Shrike (isabellatörnskata, Lanius isabellinus)
Green Bee-eater (grön dvärgbiätare, Merops orientalis)
Bruce's Green Pigeon (gulbukig grönduva, Treron waalia)
Blue Rock Thrush (blåtrast, Monticola solitarius)
Steppe Eagle (stäppörn, Aquila nipalensis)
Red Fox (Rödräv, Vulpes vulpes arabica)

Ayn Tobroq doesn't really need a species list but...
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse (strimmig flyghöna, Pterocles lichtensteinii)
Unidentified Isabelline/Turkestan Shrike (Oidentifierad isbella/turkestantörnskata, Lanius ??)