red-wattled lapwing (by Saeed Shanfari)<\/p>\n
Two grey heron were attracted to the sprayers.<\/p>\n
grey heron<\/p>\n Two little egret were present there too.<\/p>\n little egret<\/p>\n Having looked at this field we headed on foot towards the bushy and wooded area which is famous for its migrants.<\/p>\n steppe grey shrike<\/p>\n On the way we came across a pallidirostis steppe grey shrike. This is an uncommon wintering bird to Dhofar. In the bushes, we saw several migrants. There was a male common redstart, a male blackcap and two lesser whitethroat.<\/p>\n first lesser whitethroat<\/p>\n I came across them when Saeed and I divided up looking in the bushes. I took one end and he took the other.<\/p>\n second lesser whitethroat<\/p>\n At Saeed’s end there was a common whitethroat.<\/p>\n common whitethroat<\/p>\n At both ends and indeed throughout the farm there were spotted flycatcher.<\/p>\n spotted flycatcher<\/p>\n Huge numbers pass through Dhofar especially in autumn. Though the numbers are highest in September, they still keep coming.<\/p>\n close-up of a spotted flycatcher<\/p>\n Resident house sparrow are numerous in both the bushes and the near-by trees which included rows of palms.<\/p>\n house sparrow by Saeed Shanfari<\/p>\n Only one golden oriole was seen at the farm and this was high in the tallest tree. This was noticed as we moved from the bushes to the trees. The palms held two European scops owl, presumably the same birds I had seen a month before in the same place. Saeed has a passion for owls and he took some very good pictures.<\/p>\n European scops owl peeking (by Saeed Shanfari)<\/p>\n \u00a0I have been told that many European scops owl don’t survive the winter in Oman and the main evidence, if I understand correctly, is that they aren’t seen much after November.<\/p>\n European scops owl (by Saeed Shanfari)<\/p>\n I wonder if survival is the issue or whether many seen at desert stops further migrate to places such as the mountains of Dhofar alongside Arabian scops owl. I don’t think that people should automatically assume they have seen an Arabian scops owl just because it is a scops owl in a Dhofar wadi.<\/p>\n peeking again (by Saeed Shanfari)<\/p>\n All the time we were at the farm we kept seeing three marsh harrier. Mostly they were over the fields but sometimes over the wooded area.<\/p>\n marsh harrier (by Saeed Shanfari)<\/p>\n After the trees, we headed out to more fields. Desert wheatear numbers are now typically high for winter.<\/p>\n desert wheatear<\/p>\n Although only one golden oriole was seen, several European roller were still present.<\/p>\n European roller<\/p>\n Towards the end of our session at the farm, a flock of blue-cheeked bee-eater arrived.<\/p>\n blue-cheeked bee-eater<\/p>\n There are groups of tawny pipit as well as white wagtail in the fields.<\/p>\n tawny pipit<\/p>\n While desert wheatear are numerous, there was also a scattering of Isabelline wheatear.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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