Ras Al Khor: Dubai

Great Cormorant

Immature

Around 60 birds were present.

On 22nd November I drove up to Dubai & paid a brief visit to the Ras Al Khor Sanctuary. I arrived late morning at the mangrove hide. There has been a lot more development since my last visit & the views from here are not as good as before. However, still a lot of waterbirds to see, but a pity one cannot check all the waders as you cannot see the mudflats from here.

Greater Flamingo

The sanctuary was created mainly for Greater Flamingos, but only a few could be seen from the hide. Several hundred more were visible in the distance but too far for viewing.

Great White Egret

14 birds were present

This individual was waiting at the sluice 

for fish to be washed up.

A hearty meal!

Grey Heron

This bird was sunbathing!

c 30 birds were present.

These birds were keeping an eye on a 

Great spotted Eagle flying overhead.

Western Reef Heron

This bird was fishing by shading the water

 with its wings.

Glossy Ibis

52 birds were present.

This bird caught a fish.

Seven Great spotted Eagles were seen.

Gull billed Tern

27 were present.

Common Greenshank

I quickly moved on to the Ajman Water Treatment Works, but yet again no sign of the Pheasant tailed Jacana!

Abu Dhabi

Mushrif Palace Gardens, 

a shadow of its former self.

On 19th November I visited Mushrif Palace Gardens early morning. The weather was superb & I enjoyed a gentle stroll around one of my old bird watching haunts.

The Front Wood; not much habitat left for skulkers!

The villa has now been demolished!

I always wanted to live here but never did!

The habitat has steadily been degraded though, with lots of water erosion eroding the park grass. The wood had been cleaned out again, so little undergrowth for passerines.

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Two individuals were present. 

European Kestrel

Common Sandpiper

They often feed in the shade that the wood provides.

Female Purple Sunbird

Chiffchaff

Eastern Black Redstart

White Wagtail

Best birds:

2 Oriental Honey Buzzard; Booted Eagle ( a very good record for the island & an unusual date); 3 Eurasian Kestrel; European Sparrowhawk; Indian Roller; Eastern Black Redstart; 2 Song Thrush; 8 Desert Lesser Whitethroat; 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler; 12 Chiffchaff; 18 White Wagtail & 2 Water Pipit.

Western Lagoon

Thousands of fish were stranded 
on the shoreline

Part of the huge flock of Black headed Gulls

Adult in winter plumage.

Caspian Tern

I then continued down the Western Lagoon area & saw that there had been a mass stranding of fish with lots of gulls around.

Common Sandpiper

Best birds:

14 Great White Egret; 38 Western Reef Heron; 29 Grey Heron; 85 Great Cormorant; 3,000+ European Black headed Gull; 4 Caspian Tern; Oriental Honey Buzzard; European Kestrel; Turkestan Shrike; 2 Clamorous Reed Warbler.

Maarten

The present day dry, barren desert scrub.

A far cry from its former glory!

Training for camel racing.

Great spotted Eagle

Male Desert Wheatear

Female

On 20th November Maarten & I paid a visit to Al Wathba Camel Racetrack. This is yet another locality which is a shadow of its former self. Birds were very scarce:

Great Spotted Eagle; 5 European Marsh Harrier; 25 Ruff; 10 Eurasian Skylark; Tawny Pipit; 65 Water Pipit; 35 White Wagtail; 2 Steppe Grey Shrike; 2 Southern Grey Shrike; 11 Desert Wheatear; 7 Isabelline Wheatear & 3 Desert Warbler. It was an enjoyable afternoon out, but birding was disappointing.