BIRDING SITES IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
In this section we will try and lead you to the best birding sites, roughly following a route from north to south through Oman.
MUSCAT
Muscat has several birding sites and is often a birder's first taste of Omani birding. From the lush vegetated lagoons at Al Ansab, Al Qurum Park, various beaches, the Muscat Rivermouth and more!
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BIRDING SITES NORTH OF MUSCAT
Explore further afield and visit more beaches for Pallas's Gulls, lagoons full of shorebirds and the offshore islands at Ras al Sawadi. Inland from Barka, are areas of farmland rarely visited by birders and there's Barka Sewage Plant as well.
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AL HAJAR MOUNTAINS
Head into the Al Hajar Mountains for Omani Owl, Pallid Scops Owl, Hume's & Persian Wheatears, Plain Leaf Warbler, Streaked Scrub Warbler, Striolated Bunting & more.
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DESERT BIRDING NIZWA - MAHOUT
The long drive from Nizwa to Mahout & Barr al Hickman takes about 3h 30mins but there's still some birding en-route.... Stop for sandgrouse, raptors, shrikes, Asian Desert Warbler etc
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MASIRAH ISLAND
Visit the migrant hotspot of Masirah Island, where few birders seem to go these days. Plenty of opportunity for rarity finding, seeing Crab-Plovers and seabirds as well.
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BARR al hickman
Barr al Hickman is the shorebird mecca of the Middle East. And the best place in Oman to see Crab Plover and Great Knot. But the spectacle of many thousands of shorebirds is exceptional.
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FILIM
Part of the awesome Barr al Hickman complex and another good site to see Crab Plover, along with chances of Collared Kingfisher and Indian White-eye.
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MAHOUT
Most birders stay here for a visit to Barr al Hickman, along with visiting the nearby sewage pools... Plenty of restaurants in town as well.
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MAHOUT to HAIMA
The start of your journey south across the Empty Quarter can be enlivened with a few roadside stops to check wooded parks for migrants...
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AL GHAFTAIN
An important migrant trap with a track record of producing rarities. It's also a decent motel to spend the night too....
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MUNTESAR OASIS
One of the top birding sites in Oman that always produces the goods. So many amazing birds have been discovered here and it's also THE site for Egyptian Nightjar.
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QATBIT MOTEL & GARDEN
Another important migrant trap with recent sightings of Eye-browed Thrush in December 2024... Basic rooms are provided if you have the stomach!
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AL BEED FARM
Any agricultural site in the desert is worth checking and there's always good numbers of raptors present, as well as sandgrouse, larks, wheatears, pipits etc...
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SHISR FIELDS
A top site that for the last few years has held a small wintering flock of Sociable Lapwings. And there's a great chance of finding a rarity too....
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MUDDAY
Famous for its wintering Hypocolius from November to March, there's also Sand Partridge, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, African Collared Dove, Hooded Wheatear & Nile Valley Sunbird.
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SALALAH - west
There's so many sites to fit into a few days here. Heading west from East Khawr, Al Baleed Archaeological Site, Salalah Public Park, Khawr Raysut, Wadi Ashawq Nature Reserve etc
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SALALAH - EAST
Heading east from Salalah there's Ayn Rabat, Ayn Hamran, Wadi Darbat, Khawr rawer, Taqah Cliffs, Tai Atayr, Jabal Samhan, Mirbat etc
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