ALL THE LATEST BIRD NEWS & RARITIES

If you find a rare bird could you please download the official Rarity Reporting Form and email it to Jens Eriksen (Chairman of the OBRC) at: hjoman@gmail.com

7th February 2025:
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow - a report of 3 birds in Wadi Darbat by Magnus Robb and Rene Pop. A 1st for Oman if accepted by OBRC.

2nd February 2025:
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) reported from Khawr Jirama, A'Sharqiyah South at GPS: 22°29'32.1"N 59°43'57.6"E
Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata) reported from Al Shamkaiah Park on Masirah Island.
Sykes's Nightjar (Caprimulgus mahrattensis) is still present at Muntesar Oasis.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) has been reported from the last couple of Mirbat pelagics.

28th January 2025 - Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach). Reported to eBird by Marcin Faber at Ayn Hamran, Dhofar.
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

27th January 2025:
Al Shamkaiah Park, Masirah Island - Ashy Drongo & a poss Brown Shrike.

24th January 2025:
Masirah Sewage Ponds - Oriental Turtle Dove, Asian Koel, Blyth's Reed Warbler & Forest Wagtail.
Khawr Sawli, Salalah - Little & Yellow Bitterns, Collared & Small Pratincoles,

21st January 2025:
Shisr Fields - Sociable Lapwing & Cream-coloured Courser
Ayn Hamran - the returning Blyth's Reed Warbler has been seen again for the 3rd year running. Also Arabian Grosbeak has been seen a couple of times recently but no pattern of drinking behaviour has been observed yet. Try for this species between 7-8am here.
Al Qurum Beach - Common Gull & 15 Pallas's Gulls at 23°37'20.2"N 58°28'30.3"E
Duqm - Brown Shrike at 19°37'52.6"N 57°38'19.1"E
Filim - Indian White-eye at 20°36'56.3"N 58°11'40.5"E
Mirbat Public Park - Eastern Yellow Wagtail at 16°59'17.6"N 54°42'12.8"E
Salalah - the flock of Wattled Starlings are still present at 17°01'17.5"N 54°04'01.8"E

19th January 2025:
Salalah Public Park - Eastern Orphean & Menetries's Warblers, 20+ Yellow-throated Sparrows.
Mirbat Public Park - Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Tawi Atayr - Pacific Swift.
East Khawr - Little Swift (11th Jan)
Mirbat Pelagic - Sooty Shearwater (12th Jan)
Khawr Souli - 3 Small Pratincoles arriving around 6pm & seen flying over lagoon.
Khawr Mughsayl - Cotton Pygmy-Goose
Salalah Nature Reserve - Pallas's Gull
Salalah - a flock of Wattled Starlings opposite Salalah Gardens Mall at 17.0215, 54.0672
Al Batinah - Two-barred Warbler GPS 23.1361, 57.6714 reported by ben de kruijff

17th January 2025 - at Khawr Souli 3 Small Pratincoles came in to roost at 6pm, 20 Rose-coloured Starlings were present in bushes on the east side of the lagoon close to the beach, A Jack Snipe was feeding out in the open, and a Pheasant-tailed Jacana also appeared.
View from here: GPS 17°01'58.3"N 54°19'43.3"E

16th January 2025 - Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) at Mirbat Public Park (GPS: .16°59'17.6"N 54°42'12.8"E) reported by Nick Bray. On 15th January Kris Webb photographed a Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) at the same park, along with a flock of Rose-coloured Starlings (Pastor roseus). At Salalah Public Park there is a small flock of Yellow-throated Sparrows (Gymnoris xanthocollis) reported by Nick Bray & Kris Webb (GPS: 17°00'40.5"N 54°04'12.6"E). A Mirbat Pelagic on 16th November recorded an out-of-season Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, plus Persian Shearwater & Masked Booby.

13th January 2025 - Eye-browed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) still 2 birds present at Qatbit Motel Gardens. This represents the 5th record for Oman if accepted. Reported by Nick Bray.

12th January 2025 - 2 Sykes's Nightjars (Caprimulgus mahrattensis) present at Muntesar Oasis, along with an Egyptian Nightjar. These are probably the same birds found by Joachim Bertrands in late November 2024 and represent the 2nd for Oman if accepted. Reported by Nick Bray.

sykes's nightjar
Sykes's Nightjar - Muntesar Oasis, 12th January 2025 © Nick Bray

11th January 2025 - Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) present at Al Shamkaiah Park, Masirah Island. This would represent the 5th record for Oman if accepted. Also 2 Forest Wagtails, Red-breasted Flycatcher and 2 Asian Koels. Reported by Nick Bray.

This Common Hawk-Cuckoo was found on 11th January 2025 by Nick Bray and will be the 5th record for Oman if accepted by the OBRC,

common hawk-cuckoo
common hawk-cuckoo

8th January 2025 - Hume's Warbler (Phylloscopus humei) & Eastern Orphan Warbler (Curruca crassirostris). Reported to eBird by Stephen Duffield at Wadi Bani Habib, A'Dakhiliya.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

8th January 2025 - 2 Grey-headed Swamphens at Al Ansab Lagoons, along with Yellow Bittern & 3 Ferruginous Ducks. At Khawr Al Mahadin (1 hour south of Muscat) there were 8 Pallas's Gulls. Reported by Nick Bray.

7th January 2025 - 2 Wire-tailed Swallows (Hirundo smithii) at Khawr Taqah. Reported by
Kris Webb.

7th January 2025 - Yellow Bittern at Khawr Taqah, 2 Jack Snipes, 2 Small Pratincoles & Black Stork at Khawr Sawli. Reported by Kris Webb.

4th January 2025 - Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) - site info here. Reported to eBird by
Shanoob vs at Saham Water Treatment Plant, Al Batinah North.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

3rd January 2025 - Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis) - site info here. Reported to eBird by
Shanoob vs at Wadi Bahayis, Muscat.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

3rd January 2025 - Eastern Orphan Warbler (Sylvia sinensis) - site info here. Reported to eBird by
Andy LE At Jebal Al Akhdar.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

31st December 2024 - Variable Wheatear (Oenanthe picata) - site info here. Reported to eBird by
Ana y Robert Pla y Guzman.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

31st December 2024 - 4 Spanish Sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis) at Muntesar Oasis- site info here. Reported to eBird by Andy LE

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

27th December 2024 - Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) - site info here. Reported to eBird by Jeff Keitzman.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

27th December 2024 - Arabian Lark (Eremalauda eremites ) - site info here. Reported to eBird by Andy LE.

Map: See here to view Google Maps location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

22nd December 2024 - Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) at Al Ansab Lagoons, Muscat. Site info here. Reported to eBird by Fran Trabalon.

Map: See here to view eBird map location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

20th December 2024 - Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) at Al Shamkaiah Park, A'Sharqiyah South. Site info here. Reported to eBird by Miquel Bonet.

Map: See here to view eBird map location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here

11th December 2024 - 2 Eye-browed Thrushes (Turdus obscurus) 2 at Qatbit Motel, Dhofar. Site info here.
Reported to eBird by Fran Trabalon.

Map: See here to view eBird map location
Checklist: See the eBird checklist here