October Round Up

October turned out to be a brilliant month! This round up doesn't do it justice. It is only the highlights of what was an exceptional month for birding in the UAE.

The 5^th saw me driving the long straight road to Al Qua Fodder Field on the edge of the Empty Quarter. There were a few migrants around: 2 Pallid Harriers; 1 Lesser Kestrel; an unexpected Rufous Turtle Dove and 2 Steppe Grey Shrikes were the pick of the migrants.

The next day I was driving again, this time to Sila. A scattering of common migrants were on the headland: 1 Pallid Harrier; 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk; 3 Namqua Dove and a European Nightjar. But it was the Wheatears which stole the show: 65 Pieds & 12 Isabelline hopped around. A walk around Sila Park produced an unexpected surprise in the form of a Shikra. There was also a nice Hobby and 4 Barred Warblers showing nicely.

I was working at Dabbiyah again on 10^th. Plenty of commoner migrants around, but a superb immature Steppe Eagle was in the plantation with the much commoner Greater Spotted Eagle. A great bird to get on my year list.

On 13^th I had arranged a trip into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve & what a day it turned out to be! 

The boys & girls are looking hard!

Arabian Oryx

Arabian (Mountain) Gazelle

Introduced Macqueens Bustards

5 Eurasian Griffon Vultures sat on a sand dune were fantastic, but one of them looked slightly odd! I made a mental note to check the identification features for Himalayan Griffon when I got home. I did, then looked at my photos & bingo! The first Himalayan Griffon Vulture for the UAE and possibly for the whole of Arabia! A fine Lappet-faced Vulture was also present.

 Himalayan Griffon Vulture with 

2 Eurasian Griffon Vultures

 Himalayan Griffon Vulture

I was working at Jebel Dhanna on 14^th and among the commoner migrants I found a Common Rosefinch. Always a welcome bird.

Two days later I was at Dabbiyah again. The place was awash with migrants: a Blyth’s Reed Warbler called loudly from some phragmites scrub & eventually showed really nicely. 2 Red breasted Flycatchers were also new for my year list. But the best was yet to come, a wonderfully colourful Yellow-browed Warbler in the canopy in the plantation. A Common Rosefinch was near the accommodation block.What a bonus and what a great day’s birding!

On the 19^th I was back at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve looking for you know what! No joy.

Neil - looking for Vultures!

 The 4 Eurasian Griffon Vultures were still there, but not their much rarer brethren. A fantastic 19 Lappet-faced Vultures were floating around and I also had great views of a pair of Desert Eagle Owls sat in a large tree. A really good day out.

 Lappet-faced Vulture

 Eurasian Griffon Vulture

Desert Eagle Owl

I was in BAB oilfiled on the 22^nd and found yet another Common Rosefinch for the year.

26^th saw me back in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and yet another surprise awaited me! A Cinerous (Black) Vulture with 13 Lappet-faced Vultures. The first confirmed record of a wild bird for the country.

 Cinerous Vulture - heavily cropped

Greater Hoopoe - Lark, quite common here.

I found yet another great raptor at Zakher Pools the next day: an adult female Amur Falcon. There was also a Hobby and a Barbary Falcon around as well.

Fujairah Port Beach held a Pomarine and 4 Arctic Skuas on the 28^th and on the same day at the FNDF were 2 Crested Honey Buzzards; a Hobby; a Barbary Falcon; the first Oriental Skylark of the autumn and yet another Common Rosefinch!

What a great month!