Birding sites ON MASIRAH ISLAND

The best birding site on the island and THE place to check for migrants and rarities. Anything can and does turn up here and surely more birders will decide to visit in the future? For instance on 20th December 2024 there's been Oriental (Rufous) Turtle Dove, Asian Noel, Pin-tailed Snipe, Crested Honey Buzzard, Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Wryneck, Isabelle Shrike, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Wood Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Forest Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit. Other great birds seen here have included Amur Falcon, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Yellow-browed & Hume's Warbler, Booted Warbler, Menetries's Warbler, Brahminy Starling, Richard's Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit and Yellow-throated Sparrow.

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Al Shamkaiah Park
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°37'45.5"N 58°51'58.4"E

Worth checking for species such as Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Citrine Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit or any other rarities. A visit is well worthwhile, as anything can turn up. Over the years there's been White-breasted Waterhen, Allen's Gallinule, Lesser Moorhen, Little Bittern, Black-winged Kite, Cream-coloured Courser, White-tailed Lapwing, Small Pratincole, Jack Snipe, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Phalarope, Saunders's Tern, Asian Koel, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, White-throated Kingfisher, Little Swift, Lesser Grey Shrike, Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Blyth's Pipit, Black Drongo, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Arabian Warbler, Upcher's Warbler, Barred Warbler, Green Warbler, Brahminy & Rose-coloured Starling, Common Rosefinch, Pale Rockfinch, Yellow-throated Sparrow and Spanish Sparrow amongst others. It may not be as good as it used to be, but still draws birds and the more birders that visit should produce some amazing rarities.

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Hilf Sewage Works
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°37'39.7"N 58°52'02.1"E

Very close to the sewage works and park, have a quick look at this coastal location for a variety of shorebirds inc Pin-tailed & Jack Snipe, gulls, terns, herons, egrets etc. Passerines sighted here have included Bimaculated Lark, Isabelle Shrike, Bluethroat, Citrine Wagtail, Tawny & Water Pipit & Rose-coloured Starling. There's even been Water Rail..!

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Hilf Coastal Wetland
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°37'39.7"N 58°52'02.1"E

Use of the map above courtesy of Jens Eriksen & The Birdwatching Guide to Oman. To purchase a PDF of this excellent site guide please email Jens Eriksen at: hjoman@gmail.com (EUR 15).

Probably the best site on the island to see Crab-Plover with up to a 1,000 present on the right tide.

Other species in this area include Egyptian Vulture, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Crested Lark, Desert Wheatear, Brown-necked Raven & Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark.

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Sur Masirah
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°25'35.2"N 58°43'04.6"E

Use of the map above courtesy of Jens Eriksen & The Birdwatching Guide to Oman. To purchase a PDF of this excellent site guide please email Jens Eriksen at: hjoman@gmail.com (EUR 15).

As you're driving around the island this might be a site to try if you haven't seen Pallas's Gull yet.

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Hiql Beach
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°21'45.3"N 58°47'27.0"E

A very good site, if a bit unpredictable. In the right weather conditions and during September to late November you could get lucky with a number of seabirds such as Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Persian Shearwater, Jouanin's Petrel, Bridled & White-cheeked Terns, Pomarine Skua, Red-necked Phalarope, Masked Booby and even Lesser Noddy. A summer visit in late May/June/July would undoubtedly be rewarded with some great views of Saunders's Tern and Lesser Noddy amongst a large non-breeding flock of Great Crested terns that number 300+. This is a fascinating site with huge potential once again, as you can see with a record count of 350 Pallas's Gulls seen on 24th February 2024

TO VISIT THE eBIRD HOTSPOT INFO: Masirah - South Cape
GPS Co-ordinates: 20°09'45.5"N 58°38'10.7"E