banner

Day 2: Night flight and the first new birds

Home Biota: what is it? Animals Plants Mammals Birds Insects NL EN

The journey to Oman starts late at night, with a flight to Qatar. From the large and new airport of Qatar we go to Muscat, the capital of Oman. After leaving our suitcases at the hotel, our first destination is the garbage dump. The trucks with garbage attract many vultures, steppe eagles and crows. It is not a beautiful landscape, but it is a place to photograph birds of prey.

After the dump we go to the mouth of the Sahil Creek at Qurayyat, where I can take beautiful pictures of the curlew and the desert plover. Furthermore, there are thousands of seagulls, and many species of heron.

The most beautiful stop is the (bird) park of the Al Ansab water purification plant where basins are used for sedimentation. The overflows of the basins attract extra many (small) birds to small water animals. It is neatly laid out with knowledgeable guides. Like everything in Oman, admission is free.

Steppe eagle
Aquila nipalensis

Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2500 sec at F5.0, ISO 200, distance 231 m

The photo shows a Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis). It is a bird in the order Accipitriformes and the family Accipitridae. The photo was taken at , Muscat Governorate, Oman at 05:03 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Egyptian vulture
Neophron percnopterus

Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2500 sec at F5.0, ISO 200, distance 90.7 m

The photo shows a Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). It is a bird in the order Accipitriformes and the family Accipitridae. The photo was taken at , Muscat Governorate, Oman at 05:15 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 640, distance 16.5 m

The photo shows a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Scolopacidae. The photo was taken at 06:54 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Greater sand plover
Charadrius leschenaultii

Greater sand plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 1250, distance 6.68 m

The photo shows a Greater sand plover (Charadrius leschenaultii). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Charadriidae. The photo was taken at Quriyat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 06:55 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Common snipe
Gallinago gallinago

Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 1000, distance 97.2 m

The photo shows a Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Scolopacidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 21:34 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Delicate prinia
Prinia lepida

Delicate prinia (Prinia lepida)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 320, distance 30.7 m

The photo shows a Delicate prinia (Prinia lepida). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Cisticolidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 21:49 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Purple sunbird ♀
Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 640, distance 15.1 m

The photo shows a Purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Nectariniidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:08 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Western reef heron
Egretta gularis

Western reef heron (Egretta gularis)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 2000, distance 21.3 m

The photo shows a Western reef heron (Egretta gularis). It is a bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the family Ardeidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:12 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Little grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis

Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 1600, distance 32.7 m

The photo shows a Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). It is a bird in the order Podicipediformes and the family Podicipedidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:14 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Little stint
Calidris minuta

Little stint (Calidris minuta)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 2000, distance 8.37 m

The photo shows a Little stint (Calidris minuta). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Scolopacidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:17 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Purple sunbird
Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 800, distance 20.6 m

The photo shows a Purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Nectariniidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:30 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Great cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo

Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 640, distance 46.3 m

The photo shows a Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). It is a bird in the order Suliformes and the family Phalacrocoracidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:34 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Temminck's stint
Calidris temminckii

Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 1000, distance 12.6 m

The photo shows a Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Scolopacidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:41 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Red-necked phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus

Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 800, distance 10.4 m

The photo shows a Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Scolopacidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:43 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Citrine wagtail
Motacilla citreola

Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5 TC, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 200, distance 20.5 m

The photo shows a Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola). It is a bird in the order Passeriformes and the family Motacillidae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 22:45 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

Greater crested tern
Thalasseus bergii

Greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii)
OM-1 Mark II with OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5, 1/2500 sec at F5.0, ISO 200, distance 71.4 m

The photo shows a Greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii). It is a bird in the order Charadriiformes and the family Laridae. The photo was taken at Muscat, Muscat Governorate, Oman at 23:54 on Tuesday January 28, 2025.

The link Top will take you back to the top of this blog list.

Links