Birding sites AROUND SALALAH (EAST)

There are many birding sites to the east of Salalah and you should check them all....
AYN RAZAT
Currently the mai site to see Arabian Eagle Owl. They often roost in the fenced-off flower garden, which is only open on Friday & Saturday! If you're not here on those weekend days, just wait around the car park for dusk and you can see the pair leave their roosting tree and head up the wadi to hunt. They frequently change their roosting tree and during mid-January they seem to be roosting higher up the wadi in the arid area. This is also an excellent site for Arabian Warbler, which usually frequents the higher end of the wadi where the habitat becomes drier and arid. All the usual Dhofar species are present, along with Arabian Partridge (early mornings) & Long-billed Pipit. Check the watercourse along the one-way system for White-breasted Waterhen, Indian Pond-Heron, Clamorous Reed Warbler & others. The 1st African Openbill for Oman was discovered here by Nick Bray, and also Malachite Kingfisher has appeared here in the past. It's one of the prime sites to visit and anything could turn up here, including Diederik or Grey-bellied Cuckoo...
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Ayn Razat Info
GPS Co-ordinates: 17°07'46.6"N 54°14'13.9"E (car park)
WADI KHEESH
A rather dry wadi with a camel drinking trough allowing great photo opportunities of birds coming to drink. Arabian Grosbeaks have been known to drink from here but their appearance seems erratic. The last sighting here of the grosbeak was 10th January 2025. The grosbeaks sometimes feed on the hillside to the right as you walk up the wadi and can be hard to spot, so listen for their distinctive call. All the usual Dhofar species are here but this is one of the better sites for Black-crowned Tchagra and Arabian Warbler. Other regular species include African Paradise Flycatcher, Blackstart, Graceful Prinia, Palestine & Arabian Sunbirds etc.
The rough approach track to Wadi Kheesh is from the tarmac road nearing Ayn Hamran here: GPS 17°04'59.6"N 54°16'47.5"E Its a bumpy, rocky drive for a few kilometres, with some steep 'up & downs' before turning right here: GPS 17°05'55.7"N 54°15'22.5"E
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Wadi Kheesh Info
GPS Co-ordinates: 17°06'37.9"N 54°15'51.7"E
AYN HAMRAN

One of the premier birding sites in Dhofar and another site that is worth looking for Arabian Grosbeak in. There's usually a fine selection of species here and it's worth a couple of visits during your stay as the year-round water source means there's tall, lush trees and dense bushes. As well as the common Dhofar species this is a good site for White-breasted Waterhen, Bruce's Green-Pigeon, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Masked Shrike, Black-crowned Tchagra, Forbes-Watson's Swift (during summer/Autumn), Arabian Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher (Autumn/Winter), Long-billed Pipit & others. It does frequently attract rarities/scarce species and over the past few years there's been Jacobin Cuckoo, Thrush Nightingale, Semicollared Flycatcher, Common Grasshopper & Savi's Warblers, Yellow-browed Warbler & Spanish Sparrow. A Blyth's Reed Warbler has been returning here for the past few years - originally found by Nick Bray in November 2021 (7th for Oman) try looking for it in this area: GPS 17°05'43.0"N 54°16'50.0"E
Carefully follow the stream downhill, checking the large trees for Bruce's Green-Pigeons, the larger bushes for Menetries's & Upcher's Warblers, whilst checking the skies for raptors and swifts etc. The area to the north of the circular spring is best for tchagra and Arabian Warbler. As with all the Ayns and wadis, you can try Arabian Scops Owl at night here. If there's a rarity around, this is one of the best sites to try your luck.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Ayn Hamran Info
GPS Co-ordinates: 17°05'52.0"N 54°16'52.6"E
AYN TOBRUQ CRAKE POOL

Tucked away just to the east of the Ayn Tobruq roundabout, a dirt road takes you down to this reed-fringed pool. In November 2025 both Baillon's & Little Crakes were present and it is worthy of a quick check. In the early morning you are looking into the sun, making it difficult to view but the light is much better in the late afternoon. The reeds are dense here and ideally some exposed mud should be present to give you the best chance of finding a crake. There's usually a Citrine Wagtail present, along with Namaqua Doves, Graceful Prinia, African Silverbills and other commoner species.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Crake Pool Info
GPS Co-ordinates to pool: 17°03'02.9"N 54°19'47.3"E
AYN TOBRUQ & AYN ATHUM

Formerly THE site to see Arabian Grosbeak coming to a dripping tap to drink near the Camel drinking trough, but lately the water supply to the tap has been disconnected. The camel drinking trough is still active and worth checking out and may still attract grosbeaks occasionally - with at least one sighting in January 2025. It's a good place to get photos of species coming to drink such as Ruppell's Weavers, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, bulbuls, tristram's Starlings etc. The surrounding dry wadi and scrubby bushes have held Booted Warbler in the past, and it's as good as place as any for Black-crowned Tchagra. Scan the surrounding hills for Short-toed Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, shrikes, and as you drive down the hill to this site watch for Arabian Partridge. This was a historical site for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse to come in to drink at dusk, but that no longer seems the case.
If you take the left fork into the main Ayn Tobruk wadi you will find a very well-wooded valley and a permanent water source that includes a small waterfall. All the regular Dhofar species are present here but observing species in the dense vegetation is difficult. The right fork back towards the drinking trough area takes you up into Ayn Athum. This is another heavily wooded valley and worthy of further exploration.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Ayn Tobruq Info
GPS CO-ORDINATES TO CAMEL TROUGH: 17°05'23.3"N 54°19'59.7"E
KHAWR SOULI NATURE RESERVE

Khawr Souli is another of a series of small lagoons just inland from the ocean. This one has an extensive reedbed running inland with open water viewable from the beach on the west side here: GPS 17°01'57.3"N 54°19'39.4"E
This is a good site for Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and recently (Jan 25) Small Pratincole to appear hawking for insects over the reedbed at sunset. There's always a good variety of shorebirds inc Jack Snipe (in winter), terns & gulls on the beach. Check the surrounding scrub for larks and pipits and keep watching the sky for Montagu's or Pallid Harrier.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Khawr Souli Info
GPS CO-ORDINATES: 17°01'58.0"N 54°19'47.1"E
KHAWR TAQAH

A very good site worth checking either side of the co-ordiantes. It's recently held 3 Wire-tailed Swallows in early January 2025. Check for Jack Snipe in winter, along with Richards Pipit, Turkestan Shrike, Yellow Bittern etc.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Khawr Taqah Info
GPS CO-ORDINATES: 17°02'07.5"N 54°22'14.3"E
TAQAH CLIFFS

A breeding site of Forbes-Watson's Swift from late spring to mid November. Good views across to Taqah Beach, whilst Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins can sometimes be seen from here, along with Green Turtles at the base of the cliffs below.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Taqah Cliffs Info
GPS Co-ordinates : 17°01'51.0"N 54°24'36.4"E
WADI DARBAT

This is a very wooded wadi and becoming quite touristy, so don't visit at weekends (Friday & Saturday). However, there's still great birds to be seen here and all the regular/common Dhofar species are present, some of them in large numbers such as Abyssinian White-eye & Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. This is as good a place as anywhere to look for Cotton Pygmy-Goose & Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Check the watercourse, which runs the length of the driveable wadi for herons, egrets, terns etc. The wooded sections can hold some interesting species such as Masked Shrike, Wood Warbler, flycatchers etc. At night Arabian Scops Owl proves just how common it is, whilst Arabian Eagle Owl can also be seen here.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Wadi Darbat info
GPS Co-ordinates: 17°05'26.3"N 54°26'41.3"E
KHAWR RAWRI/KHOR RORI - LOWER

Formerly THE premier birding site in Dhofar until a typhoon ripped away the vegetation from the lower lagoon. If you want to visit here, you will need to pay OMR 3 at the entrance gate (via credit/debit card). This is actually a Ramsar Site called Sumhuram Archaeological site and hosts a museum and some ruins of the old city. You can view the large lagoon, scanning the edges and beach at the mouth of the lagoon. An inlet runs to your left and usually holds a variety of shorebirds that can include Pintail Snipe and Broad-billed Sandpiper. The general area can be covered relatively quickly and a scope is necessary.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Khawr Rawri
GPS Co-ordinates: 17°02'00.6"N 54°26'08.9"E
KHAWR RAWRI - UPPER

A really nice spot to check for shrikes, Eurasian Wryneck, Arabian Partridge, Citrine Wagtail, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and others. To access this from the Wadi Darbat exit, you can visit either the east or west side but not both as the road is broken at the head of the wadi. Head for this GPS point: 17°03'04.8"N 54°25'28.1"E - you might have to drive in-between the red & white barriers that partially block the road. Work the area slowly as the stream flows thought an area strewn with boulders that could hide anything. If there's a Jack Snipe around in November, then this is the site! Other scarce species seen here include Malachite Kingfisher & Black Stork.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Khawr Rawri - Upper Info
GPS Co-ordinates : 17°03'05.2"N 54°25'31.0"E
MIRBAT

A pelagic from Mirbat with Captain Hatem is a must on any Oman trip. You can contact him via WhatsApp on +968 9908 8815 to book a boat trip.
November seems to be the current month for many bird tour companies and visiting birders, with the main targets of Persian Shearwater & Jouanin's Petrel. There's a fine supporting cast that includes flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Bridled Tern and Masked Booby. Sometimes Socotra Cormorant also puts in an appearance. Over the past 2 years Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel has been seen more frequently and sometimes Red-billed Tropicbird & Lesser Noddy appears. Sightings of the main target species are more erratic from December to February and you might need to do a couple pelagics to see your main targets, although rarer species such as Red-footed Booby, Tahiti Petrel & Wedge-tailed Shearwater have appeared in the past. It would be amazing to do a pelagic in July or August as possibilities include White-faced & Black-bellied Storm-Petrels and even South Polar Skua - and who knows what else is possible?
When you have finished your boat trip, go and check Mirbat Public Park as this has proven to be a goldmine for rarities such as Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Brahminy & Wattled Starlings and others.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Mirbat Pelagic Info
GPS Co-ordinates : 16°59'09.7"N 54°41'11.9"E (harbour parking)
Mirbat Public Park Co-ordinates: 16°59'17.6"N 54°42'12.8"E
TAWI ATAYR

The traditional site for Yemen Serin. Look for it around the car park on telegraph wires or i the big trees. Walk around the back of the impromptu 'cafe' building and check the stony ground and trees. The serins can literally be anywhere, so as you walk down the path to the sinkhole check the bushes on either side. Continue down to the steps and then walk left around the edge of the sinkhole. The path is very rocky so be careful but quite often the serins can be found along here in the late afternoon, around 3.30pm - 4pm before they descend into the sinkhole to roost. Arabian Partridges are common in the area, and there's a pair of Bonelli's Eagles present that often give outstanding views. If you're not distracted by the millions of Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, you can also find Blackstart, Arabian Wheatear, Palestine & Arabian Sunbirds, and if the trees here are fruiting you can see many Bruce's Green-Pigeons.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Tawi Atayr Info
GPS Co-ordinates to car park: 17°06'50.6"N 54°33'28.9"E
Jabal samhan

A visit to Jabal Samhan is usually done after your Mirbat pelagic and combined with a visit to Wadi Darbat and Tawi Atayr. A pair of Verreaux's Eagles can usually be seen if you put in the hours scanning the massively tall cliffs. Flocks of Fan-tailed Ravens can be seen here, along with Arabian Wheatear and sometimes Barbary Falcon. Getting here around midday is usually a good bet.
TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Jabal Samhan Info
GPS Co-ordinates : 17°06'07.0"N 54°41'49.0"E