Early morning in east Salalah

Soon after dawn and before work on Monday I went birding locally to Jarziz farm and Khawr Dahariz (East Khawr).

I am trying to visit either Jarziz farm or Sawnout farm every day at the moment on the look out for Amur falcon. It has been spotted over both farms in previous passage seasons. However I have had no success with this bird.

Nevertheless there is a lot more to these farms that one species.

Jarziz farm was little different birdingwise from two mornings before. The marsh warbler was still in the same place. Graceful prinia which is the local breeding warbler was very evident as usual.

graceful prinia

There was again a European roller on site but in a different area and quite likely a different bird. There are many of them coming through at the moment as I have discovered birding elsewhere.

European roller 1

European roller loves wires and is quite easy to pick out.

European roller 2

Saturday was not a fluke when it came to swifts flying low over the field early in the morning. It happened again on Sunday. 30 or common swift were crowded over the one large filed the farm still has. Unfortunately there was no alpine swift this time.

common swift flying low over the field

This time there was a pallid harrier in the area. On its arrival in part of the farm, tens of chestnut-bellied sandgrouse flew up and away in alarm.

chestnut-bellied sandgrouse

I inspected the water reservoir. The grey heron and Indian pond heron which had been there for several visits have both finally moved on.

green sandpiper

The only water loving bird there this time was green sandpiper.

singing bush lark

Once again the main noise was provided by singing bush lark.

While Jarziz farm was rather settled over those 48 hours, there was a little more change at Khawr Dahariz.

little stint and lesser sand plover

One of the changes was the arrival of several lesser sand plover. I didn't see them mid-winter. They are definitely a passage bird in these parts even though they may linger a while on passage especially in the autumn.

lesser sand plover

I am getting better at separating them from greater sand plover. The bill looks less robust, the eye is smaller and the legs are grey-black not yellow-green.

lesser sand plover with ruddy turnstone

Glossy ibis commute between Khawr Dahariz and Sawnout farm. This time they were at the khawr.

glossy ibis

Rather than photographing the flamingo, little stint, kentish plover, squacco heron, black-winged stilt, grey heron and greenshank, my remaining pictures are of birds of which there was only one of their species present.

grey plover

Grey plover can be seen in any season except summer.

greater white fronted goose

The single greater white fronted goose is still  present. If it stays much longer, I fear it is ill.
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common snipe

Khawr Dahariz is a good place to see common snipe mostly because the front end where they graze is quite exposed. Furthermore early morning is the best time to see them as they are often so preoccupied with feeding, they are not so alert.

common snipe 2

Late Monday afternoon, I also went birding in a busy day. It was aanother visit to Sawnout farm especially to look out for Amur falcon. Once again I didn't see one though I did see two other types of falcon. I will blog about that next.