Arrived back in Abu Dhabi on the morning of 19th January. The weather was glorious & even better, the police had my wallet! Everything was there including my cash! Where else would that happen? Amazing!
Its me again!
the mangroves & city.
It was great to see Clare & Ahmed again & Clare & I went out for cocktails to Yas Links Golf Club which was a very pleasant way to spend late afternoon evening. The setting at that time of day is superb, looking towards the city over the mangroves.
Anne & Angie
Guilty pleasure?
She tells me she doesn't
normally do this!
Whatever!
On 21st January I spent the evening at The Club meeting up with Angie & Ryan + Angie's Mum Anne, who is over for a short visit. It was another excellent evening.
Training camels.
The next day I picked Anne up & we visited Al Wathba Camel Racetrack for a spot of birding & for Anne, looking at her first camels!
The whole area is dry - a far cry from the
good old days!
Best birds were:
European Marsh Harrier; Long billed Pipit; 127 Water Pipit; 7 Short toed Lark; 17 Eurasian Skylark; 19 Desert & 8 Isabelline Wheatear; European Stonechat; 3 Siberian Stonechat; Bluethroat; 2 Daurian Shrike; Steppe Grey Shrike; Southern Grey Shrike; 9 Desert Warbler & Menetries Warbler.
Al Wathba Reserve
A quick look at the lake from the main road (without a telescope) revealed hundreds of Greater Flamingo; 159 Pied Avocet & 164 Common Shelduck. Will have to pay another visit with a telescope.
Mushrif Palace Gardens
Anne
The front wood
Anne birding
On 24th I picked up Anne for a spot of birding around Mushrif Palace Gardens in Abu Dhabi. it was a little quiet.
Best species:
European Marsh Harrier; Oriental Honey Buzzard; European Sparrowhawk; 2 Common Kestrel; 2 Gull billed Tern, Song Thrush, Eastern Black Redstart; 30 Common Chiffchaff; 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler; 8 Desert Lesser Whitethroat; Daurian Shrike; Water Pipit & 7 White Wagtail.
Dick & myself on the rooftop terrace bar.
Yes, it was that cold!
That evening we both went to the Emirates natural History meeting in the Park Hyatt Hotel on Sadiyat Island. It was an interesting lecture on conservation in the Lebanon & then we met up with Dick for a drink on the outdoor terrace. A nice evening.
On the way!
Photo courtesy of Maarten
Birding on one of the islands.
Photo courtesy of Maarten.
Great Cormorant.
Grey Heron
Extensive mangroves & mudflats are found
along the channel.
Greater Flamingo
Around 1,000 birds were present.
Steppe Gull
Caspian Tern
European Oystercatcher
Red wattled Plover
On 28th Dick; Anne; Angie; Anne & myself jumped on to Maarten's boat for a morning trip down the Mussaffah Channel. it was cool & a little wet as the sea was choppy in the strong wind. But we all had a good time & saw a good range of species.
1,000+ Greater Flamingo; 46 Eurasian Spoonbill; 120 Grey Heron; 35 Western Reef Heron; 160 Bar-tailed Godwit; 85+ Saunder's Little Tern; 7 Lesser Crested Tern; 19 Caspian Tern; 12 Great Black-headed Gull; 75+ Steppe Gull & a Steppe Grey Shrike.
European Sparrowhawk
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Indian Silverbill
This is a common species these days.
Best species:
European Marsh Harrier; Oriental Honey Buzzard; European Sparrowhawk; 2 Common Kestrel; 2 Gull billed Tern, Song Thrush, Eastern Black Redstart; 30 Common Chiffchaff; 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler; 8 Desert Lesser Whitethroat; Daurian Shrike; Water Pipit & 7 White Wagtail.
The Park Hyatt Hotel
Anne, amid grand surroundings!
Yes, it was that cold!
Photo courtesy of Maarten
Photo courtesy of Maarten.
Anne; Angie; Dick; Anne & Maarten.
along the channel.
Great Black-headed Gull
Ist winter bird.
Anne & Angie
Desert Hyacinth
Best were:
1,000+ Greater Flamingo; 46 Eurasian Spoonbill; 120 Grey Heron; 35 Western Reef Heron; 160 Bar-tailed Godwit; 85+ Saunder's Little Tern; 7 Lesser Crested Tern; 19 Caspian Tern; 12 Great Black-headed Gull; 75+ Steppe Gull & a Steppe Grey Shrike.
In the back wadi.
On 29th I rose early to drive to Al Ain. I needn't have bothered, as I drove straight into a large traffic jam, which caused me to loose dawn birding! I had forgotten about the traffic in the UAE! Birded Green Mubazzarah & the back wadi, but little doing. Indian Pond Heron being the most notable siting. The entire area is now severely degraded by human activity. A far cry from the good old days! In fact, it was a little depressing to see the area in its current state.
View from the top of Jebel Hafet
I then drove up the mountain & birded the Mecure Hotel Gardens. Little habitat now remaining & few birds noted. I then walked around the top car park & had stunning views of a female Hooded Wheatear. No vultures, or raptors of any kind!
Female Sand Partridge
Desert Lark
Eastern Black Redstart
Hume's Wheatear
Female Hooded Wheatear
Red tailed Wheatear
Male Purple Sunbird
House Sparrow
Best species:
2 Sand Partridge; Pale Crag Martin; Little Green Bee-eater; 5 Desert Lark; White Spectacled Bulbul; 4 Eastern Black Redstart; 5 Hume's Wheatear; Hooded Wheatear & 2 Red-tailed Wheatears.
The weather was beautiful, but the birding was quite poor. Surprising really, for this time of year.
