Serendipity has a way of opening doors to discovery in unforeseen ways.
A week into our arrival in Muscat, I received a book from a person I had not met by then. Dr. Suresh Virmani, one of Muscat’s leading business leaders and a widely respected member of the Indian community, had sent me a copy of the book ’Birds of Al Mouj Golf’ written by Hanne & Jens Eriksen.
A few days later, another book arrived. This was the ‘Common Birds in Oman’ also written by the Eriksens. This time, the book was sent by the American British Academy or the ABA School, where both my children had enrolled.
It seems both Dr. Virmani and the ABA School had followed my amateurish birding exploits in Delhi on social media and thought it wise to welcome me with these books.
Such a thoughtful yet completely unanticipated gesture for a casual and amateur birder and a newcomer to Oman.
I was planning to take my camera out for a morning walk or two in Muscat anyway, but these books and the manner in which they reached me, made sure that I paid adequate attention to birds in this beautiful country.
It was ordained, as they say.
Indian Roller
Gray Heron
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
The two books by Hanne and Jens Eriksen are excellent guides to birding in Oman, lucidly written & illustrated and packed with useful local insights.
According to the redoubtable Eriksen duo, some 528 species of birds have been recorded in Oman, out of which 200 are rare and not likely to be encountered. They themselves have listed 313. Of these, some are permanent residents, others migrants from afar.
Oman’s varied landscape of vast deserts, ocean beaches, mountain ranges, and monsoon drenched hillsides provide a diverse ecosystem for a wide variety of birds. It is also an important pit-stop for long range migration; birds flying in from as far away as Siberia and Europe to spend the winter in warmer climes and vice versa.
From Sunbirds, Bulbuls and Bee-Eaters in the gardens of Muscat, graceful shore birds of the coastline like Terns, plovers and Sandpipers, gigantic vultures and eagles high up in the mountains, and the breathtaking Paradise Flycatchers, Weavers and Buntings in and around Salalah, Oman is a rich and rewarding birding destination. And it has been both educative and fun to discover the winged envoys here.
Arabian Wheatear
Eurasian Spoonbill
True to the philosophy of ‘Ecological Mindfulness’ that I first explored with the ‘Winged Envoys of Chanakyapuri’ project, most of my bird photography has been in and around India House inside the Embassy of India which is located in central Muscat along the beach.
I have had enriching walks of the beach behind the Embassy, but have not ventured much further in Muscat city. I did make use of the trips to Salalah and less frequently to Masirah island to spend some morning time birding and have been richly rewarded by great finds.
I have not engaged any professional guide, relying mostly on the two books mentioned above, and the excellent Merlin app by Cornell University.
The bird count in my photo-catalogue in Oman stands a little over 150 unique species, which I guess is not bad for a casual hobbyist.
Red-vented Bulbul
Red-naped Ibis
Black-rumped Flameback
Envoys with Wings, Urban Birding and Ecological Mindfulness
The project 'Winged Envoys of Chanakyapuri' was conceived as the inspired imagination of finding beauty in the environs all around us and to catalogue birds within a 1 sq. km. radius of our former residence in the leafy suburbs of Chanakayapuri in the heart of New Delhi. Since Chanakyapuri is the diplomatic enclave of Delhi - the residence of envoys from different countries, Divya came up with the title 'Winged Envoys' to describe birds found here. Besides, birds truly are envoys. Of beauty, grace and harmony. They also often travel from and to distances afar, treating the Earth as a shared ecological space.
I like to call the philosophy behind the project 'ecological mindfulness'.
Over and beyond the joys of personal discovery and avian friendships that the project engendered for me personally, what it also underscored is how utterly ignorant we are as urban folks about our natural surroundings.
In the din of daily grind, and glued as we are to our screens, we rarely if at all notice, let alone appreciate the birds and animals that often share the same ecological space with us. This is especially true for our avian neighbours, who despite their startling diversity and obvious grace and beauty, live alongside us as though living in a parallel universe.
Except, it is not the birds that are hiding in plain sight, it is us that are living with our eyes wide shut.
Being aware of the nature’s treasures around us and letting our inner selves appreciate and absorb their beauty and grace is the sort of mindfulness that is most needed in today’s headline-and-deadline-charged world. The mindfulness that can come with appreciating our avian neighbors can give us the spiritual energy to lead better, more harmonious and more productive lives.
In a bio-diversity stressed world hurtling towards a climate catastrophe, better awareness of the nature surrounding us i.e ecological mindfulness is the first step to any effort to protect it.
African Paradise Flycatcher
Green-winged Teal
Indian Silverbill
Little Owl
Envoys of India House
The Indian Ambassador is not the only resident envoy in India House. The bucolic campus of India House with verdant gardens adjacent to a beach are home to many other winged envoys, some resident, and many other visitors from near and far.
Among the most common residents in and around India House include the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), House Crow (Corvus splendens), Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Arabian Green Bee-eater (Merops cyanophrys), Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus), White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis), Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), Delicate Prinia (Prinia lepida), Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea), Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis), Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), and Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri).
Among the several interesting visitors encountered include the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) , Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus), Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) , Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes).
Balcony Birding
Sometimes, when you have your eyes (and ears) open, you don’t even need to get off your balcony for bird-watching. Some of my most satisfying birding shots have come from the balcony of the residence - a White-eared Bulbul doing some Yoga poses before retiring for the day, an Osprey carrying its catch from the sea, a Barn Swallow exhibiting Tejas-like flying acrobatics and some Mynas not respecting Gandhian non-violence.
White-eared Bulbul
Common Myna
Osprey
Barn Swallow
‘To bee or not to bee’
That is not the question for Arabian Green Bee-eaters (Merops cyanophrys). Their favorite breakfast consists of delicious bees, freshly caught on the flight.
They are also very handsome birds. As the bard said, what’s in a name!
Green Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Waking up with Sparrows
The once ubiquitous ‘Chidiya/Gauriya’ or the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), is unfortunately disappearing from the Indian urban surroundings. It is thankfully thriving in Oman. Large colonies can be seen in most urban settings including in Muscat.
Though a nondescript and a tiny little bird, there is a certain innocent charm to the Sparrow, especially if you have grown up with their constant chirping and flitting about.
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
Angry Birds
The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a non-native species to Oman, but today among the most commonly encountered. They are noisy and fiercely territorial birds that often edge out other species from the ecosystem.
I once witnessed a fierce fight between two rival groups of mynas. It would have been comical to see these angry birds, except the fight was anything but fun for those who lost. Gandhiji would not have approved.
Common Myna
Common Myna
Common Myna
Common Myna
Common Myna
Common Myna
A rare visitor to India House
The Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) is one of the most elusive and masterfully camouflaged birds; a night hunter that can sit still among and looking like dead leaves. Rarely seen by chance, except when it shows up on the driveway!
She stayed at India House for another 2 days from what I could tell, before vanishing without a trace.
Eurasian Nightjar
Eurasian Nightjar
Breakfast with Indian Roller
An Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) chick fell off his nest inside the Embassy complex and was rescued and lovingly reared by Embassy Security Assistant Sandeep who named him ‘Bachha’. To a point where he almost got domesticated and comfortable around us. So comfortable that he would come and have breakfast with us on the balcony.
The weeks spent in Bachha’s company were really special, till one day when he just grew up, got married and flew away with his mate.
Indian Roller
Indian Roller
No cereal today?
Hello Meher!
Hand fed
50 Shades of Blue
Mornings with the Paradise Bird
Endemic to the Dhofar region in the South of Oman, the African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) is a stunning bird, especially when attired in its breeding plumage. I used my trips to Salalah to look for these graceful fliers, especially in Tawi Attair and Ayn Sahalnoot where they come early in the morning for a dip in the pond.
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
The King
A visit to Salalah is not complete without a glimpse of the handsome Gray-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala), which despite its name, does not hunt fish. It is mostly a terrestrial bird that is often found on trees in wooded areas. The striking red bill contrasts with the aquamarine wings & tail and a rufous belly.
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Birds of the Sun
Sunbirds are tiny nectar-feeding birds with a long decurved bill best known for their brilliant iridescent colors. 4 kinds of Sunbirds are reported from Oman. I observed and photographed 3 species.
The Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) is most common and widespread garden bird in and around Muscat. Several reside inside the India House and can be seen flitting around constantly in the mornings.
The other two - Shining or Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri) and Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) are found in the Dhofar region. The Shining Sunbird, which is larger than the other two is even more striking in colors with the red band on the chest.
Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Palestine Sunbird
Shining Sunbird
Palestine Sunbird
The Busy Homemaker
Ruppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) is a talented and spirited nest builder found abundantly in and around Salalah. In breeding plumage the male is unmistakable in bright yellow, busy weaving upside-down nests made of grass.
Ruppell's Weaver
Ruppell's Weaver
Ruppell's Weaver
Ruppell's Weaver
Ruppell's Weaver
Ruppell's Weaver
Out for Lunch
It is fun to watch birds with their mouths full. Be it fruit, bees or a worm.
Golden Oriole
Red-tailed Shrike
Arabian Green Bee-eater
Blackstart
Eurasian Kestrel
Arabian Wheatear
The Carnivores
Several birds of prey can be found in Oman. Those observed from India House include the beautiful Black Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Further south in Salalah were found the Bonell's Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus), Eastern Imprerial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus).
The most handsome of these is the Osprey, a majestic bird that dives head first into the sea to catch fish. What’s more impressive is that when it comes out of the water, it has already adjusted its grip in a way that the fish is held with its head pointing forward. This aerodynamic positioning of its prey makes it easier to fly with the heavy load.
Black Winged Kite
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Eurasian Kestrel
Eurasian Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Western Marsh Harrier
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Steppe Eagle
Steppe Eagle
The Death Eaters
Of the two vulture species that I found in Oman, the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is a striking bird in two-tone black&white feathers. It is also more common.
Also impressive is the massive Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) seen flying high up the mountains in Jabal Shams. At full spread, its wing span can exceed 3 meters.
Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Beach Rescue
I once rescued a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) from the sea. Yes, you read that right.
Kabir and I were walking one late evening on the beach when we heard a loud scream. The falcon had caught what looked like another bird and took off. But its prey was too heavy and the falcon crashed with it into the waters. I waded in and took the falcon out, careful not to let his talons rip my hand apart. He didn’t thank me, but that’s ok.
Peregrine Falcon
Messenger of Solomon
Arguably one of the most beautiful birds out there, the Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) also has the unique distinction of being the only bird mentioned by name in the Holy Quran. In it, the Hoopoe is the messenger of Solomon who delivers his message to Queen Sheba. Known as Hud-Hud in Arabic, the Hoopoe is unmistakable with its bright orange colors with zebra-striped wings and a crest shaped like a Chinese fan. It is a winter passage migrant in Oman and can show up in grassy patches anywhere, including at India House in Muscat.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Hoopoe
The Necklace Bird
The Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) is a pretty shorebird that showed up once on the Crowne Plaza lawns in Duqm. Its distinctive plumage consists of a black necklace that runs from eye to eye. This bird is also a passage migrant in Oman, stopping on its way between southern Europe and Africa.
Collared Pratincole
Collared Pratincole
Birding in Masirah
Masirah is a small 80 km long island located off the east coast of Oman. Relatively little explored by visitors and with a very small resident population, Masirah is very popular with migrant birds. I had some very interesting finds during my few visits here, including the rare Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola), European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Red-necked Phalanrope (Phalaropus lobatus), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), and the Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla).
Darrel from Mangalore works at the Masirah resort and is an authority on nature on the island. Himself a passionate and deeply knowledgeable birder and photographer, it was a pleasure to have his company while exploring the island.
European Roller
Red-necked Phalanrope
A bird of Passage
Eurasian Wryneck
The Storm Chaser
Also called the sea-swallow in some languages, the Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) is a small seabird that comes to offshore waters of Oman all the way from mainland Antarctica during summer months when winter sets in there. It has a fluttering and erratic flight over water, constantly skimming for planktons as food. It is rarely seen from land, but a good spot is the ferry crossing in Masirah, which is where I found a small group fluttering over the waters.
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Catching Crabs and Oysters
Named after their diet, two of the most handsome and striking shorebirds that frequent Masirah in large numbers are the Crab Plover and the Oyster Catcher. Breeding colonies can number into hundreds of birds, as I witnessed in an unforgettable visual experience.
The Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola) is a winter passage migrant to Masirah and nearby areas in Oman and its two-tone black & white plumage can make striking visual impression. Its large black bill is built to crack open crab shells and other crustacean creatures.
The Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) also sports a two-tone black & white plumage, but has a bright red bill and legs. Hundreds can and do congregate in Masirah and nearby sandy beaches and mudflats, on their way from their breeding grounds in northern Europe and central Asia.
Crab Plover
Crab Plover
Crab Plover
Crab Plover
Oystercatcher
Oystercatcher
Finding Noddy
A rare and much sought after visitor to Masirah is the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus). This is a pelagic i.e. oceanic bird that migrates all the way up from southern Indian ocean to breed on the island. I felt singularly lucky when, on second try, 3 Noddies showed up at the southern tip of the island for a darshan.
Brown Noddy
Brown Noddy
The Song of a Lark
Larks are sandy-brown colored, sparrow size birds mostly found in arid open areas. Oman has several Lark species. I came across 4.
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is an abundant breeding resident and the most frequently seen Lark in Oman with several coming to India House daily. Larks are songsters and the Crested Lark is no exception. Its peculiar habit is to go high up in the sky and sing to its heart’s content, before returning to terra firma.
Crested Lark
Crested Lark
Crested Lark
Crested Lark
Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) is a pale sandy resident of the arid areas often seen on the ground. Numerous in the mountain areas of Musandam and Jabal Shams.
Desert Lark
Singing Bush Lark (Mirafra Cantillans) is a common breeding visitor to Dhofar region. Has the same habit of singing from high up in the air.
Singing Bush Lark
Black-crowned Sparrow Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) is a finch-like lark with strong dimorphism (i.e. the males and females are different looking). While spread all over Oman, I only once saw a pair on Masirah island. The male is unmistakable with his boldly patterned black & white head, while the female is rather nondescript.
Black-crowned Sparrow Lark
Birds of Salalah
Salalah and the Ayns and Wadis nearby are home to a wide variety of birds. Among the places I explored include Ayn Hamran, Ayn Darbat, Tawi Attair, Ayn Sahalnoot, Ayn Tobruk, Darbat farms, Khor Dahariz, Ayn Athoum, Shehaid plateau and Wadi Garziz.
Among the highlights of Salalah include the very vocal busy bee Ruppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula), Dideric Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius), Cinnamon-breasted Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi), Trsitram’s Starling (Onychognathus tristramii), Blackstart (Oenanthe melanura), Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali), Gray-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala), Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris hellmayri), Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea), Abdim's Stork (Ciconia abdimii), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Bruce’s Green Pigeon (Treron waalia), Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis), a wide variety of shorebirds, many birds of prey including the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus), Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and of course the African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis).
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Glossy Ibis
Bruce's Green Pigeon
Abdim's Stork
Gray-headed Kingfisher
Arabian Grosbeak
Dideric Cuckoo
Blackstart
Indian Whiteeye
White-spectacled Bulbul
Arabian Wheatear
Black Kite
Eurasian Kestrel
Knobbed Coot
Terek Sandpiper
White Stork
Ruppell's Weaver
Indian Silverbill
African Paradise Flycatcher
Tristram's Starling
Little Owl
Chukar and the Lookalike
Chukar (Alectoris chukar) belongs to the partridge family and is spread across Asia and Middle East. Famous in Indian folklore as ‘Chakor’ and said to be in love with the moon (‘Chanda and Chakor’), it is also incidentally the national bird of Pakistan. In Oman it can be seen only in the Musandam peninsula close to the strait of Hormuz, and indeed that’s where I found it.
Chukar
In the far south of Oman in the Dhofar region, we come across the Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala), a curious lookalike pheasant that is native to the southern Arabian peninsula. Like the Chukar, this is also a shy bird and encountered mostly by chance.
Arabian Partridge
Grosbeak and Tchagra
These two unusually named birds are both native to the south of Oman and much sought after by birders. The Golden-winged or Arabian Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali) is a finch with a large black bill and bright yellow wingtips. The Black-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) belongs to the Shrike family and is very reclusive and difficult to find. I was lucky to see it twice.
Arabian Grosbeak
Black-crowned Tchagra
Cormorants and Flamingoes
The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) turns up at the India House beach in large numbers. Since it does not possess oil secreting glands to keep the feathers dry, it needs to ‘sun’ itself frequently.
The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) of course is one of the most recognizable birds in the world. It is commonly seen in Oman and I have seen it in Salalah and Masirah. Once a vagrant youngster turned up at the beach behind India House and stayed there for a week or so, allowing me to take plenty of shots.
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo
Greater Flamingo
Wagtails
These pretty birds are named for the habit of moving their tails, except they don’t wag their tails (like dogs do), but rather bob it up and down. The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is the first non-resident to show up at India House at the onset of winter. Other 3 - Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), the Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) and the Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) are found across grassy fields and near lagoons.
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Western Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
The White Behinds
With their name derived from old English - White (Wheat) and Arse (ear), these unfortunately named birds are elegant residents of open country with different distribution patterns across Oman.
On my travels, I found the Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) in Sharqiyah, Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) and Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) in Dhofar, the Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) in Musandam, and the Hume’s Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra) in Jabal Shams.
Desert Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Arabian Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Hume's Wheatear
Uptown Gulls
Seagulls are large, gregarious shore birds that can congregate in their hundreds across the beaches in Oman. The beach behind India House does gather its fair share and I have catalogued over 6 distinct types. Identifying Gulls however is frustratingly difficult business, and I am quite confident I have not identified or even mis-identified a few. Koi Gull Nahi!
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Sooty Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Caspian Gull
Pallas's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
A Flotilla of Seagulls
Crows and Ravens
The House Crow (Corvus splendens) is an increasingly common urban bird in Oman. Highly intelligent and territorial, it is known to chase away much larger birds. Seen below in the picture on the left is a murder of crows. You read that right. The collective pronoun for a group of crows is 'murder'!
Of the two Ravens encountered in Oman, the Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) was seen on Masirah island while the Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus) is endemic to the Dhofar region in the south.
House Crow
Brown-necked Raven
Fan-tailed Raven
Pink Legged Damsels
The Black Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is one of the more picturesque water birds with its extraordinarily long pink legs, needle-sharp bill and black & white plumage. This elegant though noisy wader can be found in water bodies in north as well as south of the country.
Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
Herons of the Creek
Adjacent to India House is a small creek that empties into the Sea of Oman. For most of the year, it has very little water but even that small pool attracts many birds. Notable among these are the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), the Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Striated Heron (Butorides striata) and Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), as well as the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)..
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Indian Pond Heron
Squacco Heron
Striated Heron
Striated Heron
Western Reef Heron
Western Reef Heron
Little Egret
Little Egret
Little Egret
Turn, Turn, Tern
Several Terns can and do turn up in the beaches behind India House, often jostling for space with the gulls. Terns are smart flyers and it is fun to watch the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) dive vertically into the sea to catch fish. Other terns observed include the White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa), Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida), Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), and the Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) - the last one being a rare visitor from far oceanic south and seen on Masirah island.
Caspian Tern
Bridled Tern
Common Tern
Greater Crested Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Lesser Crested Tern
Sandwich Tern
Whiskered Tern
White Cheeked Tern
Swallows, Swifts and Martins
These aerial acrobats can be seen darting across the dusk sky, eating and drinking on the fly. All three are expert fliers and test the skills of any photographer. The Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) is a frequent visitor over the India House, flying endlessly and occasionally skimming over the swimming pool for a sip of water. The Forbes-Watson’s Swift (Apus berliozi) is a much more localized species in the south of Oman and I saw it once in Duqm.
The Pale Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) is a fairly common resident bird and often seen near human habitation.
The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) turns up in Oman from Europe during winters and is a strikingly beautiful bird with metallic blue upper parts contrasting with white below and two wire-like streamers on the forked tail.
Pallid Swift
Pallid Swift
Pallid Swift
Forbes-Watson's Swift
Pale Crag Martin
Pale Crag Martin
Pale Crag Martin
Pale Crag Martin
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Butcher Birds
Shrikes are medium-sized passerine birds distinctive for the batman like mask over their eyes. They are also known for impaling their prey on thorns or barbed wire, hence getting the monicker butcher birds (their scientific family name Lanius means butcher).
I saw a Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) devouring a worm it had caught, but clearly didn’t need to impale it first. The Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus) is quite common during winters and shows up for a few weeks at the India House. The Red Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) is much less common and I saw it in Masirah. The Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) was seen in Musandam.
Isabelline Shrike
Isabelline Shrike
Red-tailed Shrike
Red-tailed Shrike
Red-tailed Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Bonus Finds
To paraphrase Forrest Gump, nature is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. When you go out birding, you also observe other plant and animal species. Nature can throw many a surprise sighting when you are least expecting it.
The unexpected darshan of the shy and rare Arabian Red Fox (Ulpes vulpes arabica) was quite thrilling. Once a fox just turned up inside Crowne Plaza in Duqm when I was on post-dinner walk. I was luckier still to find another red fox lazily coming out of its lair on a hillside as dusk set in outside Mirbat in the south of Oman. A most reclusive animal, but on both instances didn’t seem particularly alarmed by human company.
The Arabian Chameleon (Chamaeleo arabicus) is native to the southern Arabian peninsula. A pair is resident in the Masirah resort where they gave me some handsome shots. I also came across a Viper, likely a Saw-scaled Viper (Echis omanensis) endemic to Oman. I took a phone shot, but with survival instincts kicking in, chose not to investigate further.
Ecological mindfulness is equally about nurturing and appreciating the beauty and company of plants and flowers. Muscat streets are handsomely adorned with a wide variety of trees that give the desert city a distinctly bucolic vibe. Of these, the Neem tree, which is ubiquitous in India, is now quite common. It is interesting that the Neem tree is called 'Darakht-e-Hind' here, literally meaning the 'Tree of India'. The scientific name of Neem is Azadirachta indica, which itself is derived from the Persian Azad Darakht-e-hind, meaning the 'Free Tree of India', 'free' here denoting a tree free of disease and insects.
The tree most contributing to the pleasant ambience of Embassy of India is another one, also native to India. The Millingtonia hortensis, also known as Tree Jasmine or the Indian Cork Tree has white flowers resembling small meteor showers and look resplendent when in full bloom.
Arabian Red Fox
Arabian Red Fox
Arabian Chameleon
Arabian Chameleon
Millingtonia or Tree Jasmine
Arabian Chameleon
Saw-scaled Viper
Is it Monday already?