East coast birding in the UAE

Arrived back in Abu Dhabi early morning on 4th May. The flight was fine, but they lost my baggage! After a couple of hours waiting, finally received my bag, went home to Clare's & fell into bed for a few hours! Spent the evening with Clare in the garden, catching up on our respective news.

Striated Heron

This bird was fishing in the harbour.

19 Eurasian Curlews dropped in to the harbour.

Abdullah & myself.

The pelagic crew: 5th May.
Photo courtesy of Huw Roberts.

Map of the route.
Courtesy of Jacky Judas.

Jouanin's Petrel

These birds were in nice crisp plumage.

Much better than the moulting individuals

 in seen in autumn/winter.

Next day I drove to Kalba met up with the others, & jumped on to Abdullah's new boat. It is a cracker! We decided to go far out (around 58 kms offshore) & the first two hours were pretty grim! Virtually no birds at all. We continued further out to sea & soon saw the first Jouanin's Petrels. The total for the day was 84 birds, which is unprecedented in spring for these waters. In fact, I can't think of any previous spring records. We still have a lot to learn about seabirds in the UAE.

Persian Shearwater

Local fishermen, catching Tuna.

Bridled Terns

Bridled Tern on the left. Immature Sooty Tern

on the right.

Immature Sooty Tern

There were a scattering of Persian Shearwaters, eventually we totaled 23 birds for the day.. We kept checking on the local tuna boats & in among the Bridled Terns we saw an immature Sooty Tern. 

Arctic Skua

Lesser crested  Tern

Dusk, just before getting back into harbour.

We headed back inshore & patrolled the area between Fujairah & Kalba at dusk.  Among the small parties of terns fishing was a lone Arctic Skua. Other birds seen included 9 Little Terns & 7 Red necked Phalaropes. It was a great afternoon out & nice to see everyone again.

The view from the farm into the mountains.

Jacky.

 I spent the night at Jacky's house & we birded Wamm Farms early morning on 6th May. It was hot but windy & the humidity was quite low. Birding was quiet:

Rufous bush Chat

This individual was very confiding.

This bird was singing.

Upcher's Warbler

This species has a very protracted spring migration

 & can be recorded very late.

Northern Palm Squirrel

This species has been recently

 introduced to the UAE.

5 Lesser Kestrel; 2 Bonelli's Eagle; 5 Chestnut bellied Sandgrouse; Turtle Dove; 4 Rufous Bush Chat; Isabelline Wheatear; 3 Upcher's Warbler; Olivaceous Warbler & Common Whitethroat. We then called it a morning & I drove back to Abu Dhabi & spent the afternoon at The Club.