Oman ........ 13th to 26th November 2010

Batinah Coast & Dhofar

The Sultanate of Oman, until recently an undeveloped and little-known Middle Eastern state, has witnessed in the past 30 years or so an extraordinary transformation into a modern, prosperous country. Scenically, it can boast a wide range of habitats ranging from desert, wooded mountain slopes and sandy beaches to lagoons, extensive mudflats and irrigated farmlands. Still largely unrecognised as a premier birdwatching destination, Oman offers a host of ornithological delights. It is positioned on a major migration route for birds moving between Asia and Africa - no wonder, then, that its bird list is rapidly approaching 500 species! Migrant raptors include Greater Spotted & Steppe Eagles; Jouanin’s Petrel and Persian Shearwater are among the seabird specialities; sandgrouse, larks and wheatears abound, and, in the southern region of Dhofar, a number of essentially African species can be found close to the northern limit of their range.

Day 1: Evening scheduled flight from UK to Muscat.

Day 2: Morning arrival at Muscat and then drive to Sohar. In the afternoon we shall visit a commercial farm renowned for its waders, raptors and passerine migrants.
Overnight - Sohar.

Day 3: An early start with an hour’s drive to search for Variable Wheatear and Plain Leaf Warbler. In the afternoon we move back to the commercial farms at Sohar where huge, well-watered fields create an oasis for birds. Indian Rollers feed on grasshoppers disturbed by grass-cutting. Yellow Wagtails of a variety of races provide an unrivalled opportunity for comparison, and, among the larks, Bimaculated and Black-crowned Sparrow-lark are the most exotic. Grey Francolin scatter beside the tracks and groups of Arabian Babblers inhabit scrubby tangles. Flocks of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse are difficult to approach, but not so the community of waders that feed by the cattle enclosures – Red-wattled Lapwings, Little Stints, Ruff and maybe a White-tailed or even a Sociable Lapwing. Overnight - Sohar.

Day 4: Another day in the Sohar farms before driving back to Muscat.
Overnight - Muscat.

Day 5: Today we shall experience a dramatic change of scenery as we drive into the rugged Al Hajar range of mountains. Our overnight destination is the Sayq Plateau which we should reach by mid-afternoon in good time to do some upland birding. In fact, birds are far from numerous but the area is little studied and there is always the possibility of a real surprise. Typical species are Long-billed Pipit, Hume’s Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush and here we have our best chance of Scrub Warbler. Overnight - Al Jabal Al Akhdar.

Day 6: Pre-breakfast birding on the Sayq Plateau after which we shall strike out for the coast at Barr al Hikman, crossing much featureless desert en route.
Overnight - Al Hijj.

Days 7 & 8: Barr al Hikman and, to a lesser extent, the adjacent island of Masirah are a wader enthusiasts delight. Literally tens of thousands of a wide range of wader species spend the winter on the tidal mudflats here. Crab-plover and Great Knot are, perhaps, the most sought-after but it is the sheer numbers and variety of waders and other waterbirds that make the deepest impression. Greater Flamingos, Eurasian Spoonbills, Sooty Gulls and several species of terns, including Saunders’s and White-cheeked, are all present in numbers, while Broad-billed, Marsh and Terek Sandpipers add to the mouth-watering array. Whereas we shall concentrate on the peninsula of Barr al Hikman, it may be possible to make the ferry-crossing to Masirah Island.
Overnights - Al Hijj.

Day 9: A day of driving into the central desert to the isolated motel at Qatbit. Very few birds will be encountered on the journey but the grounds of the motel carry many shrubs and young trees that act as a magnet to migrants and anything from Pintail Snipe to Red-breasted Flycatcher can be present.
Overnight - Qatbit.

Day 10: An early morning visit will be made to the oasis of Muntasar where sandgrouse, mainly Spotted but Crowned also, come to drink. Later we make the 3½ hour drive to Salalah.
Overnight - Salalah.

Days 11 - 13: During this time we shall explore the area in and around Salalah. Lagoons, wadis, coast and woodland ensure an excellent range of species. Specialities include Verreaux’s Eagle, Arabian Partridge, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, South Arabian Wheatear, Arabian Warbler, African Paradise Flycatcher, White-breasted White-eye, Shining Sunbird, Tristram’s Starling, Rüppell’s Weaver, Yemen Serin, African Silverbill and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting; seabirds may include Jouanin’s Petrel, Persian Shearwaters, Masked Booby and Socotra Cormorant.
Overnights - Salalah.

Day 14: Early morning flight to Muscat to connect
with our flight back to the UK.

Tour ref: AA1018

Cost: £2,500 approx.
Deposit: £300
Single Room Supplement: £220

Leaders: Ray Tipper ARPS and Local Guide

Max. Group: 12 plus 2 Leaders

Includes:
Economy class scheduled return flights (London-Muscat-London), accommodation based on twin occupancy, all meals, ground transportation in Oman and services of leaders.

Excludes:
Travel insurance, drinks and items of a personal nature.