Trip Report: United Arab Emirates, April 3-18, 1998

This is a short trip report of a first-time visit by Kristian Franz, myself, and my son Robert to the UAE. Kristian was also accompanied by his wife and daughter. We had booked a package tour that included the flight from Frankfurt to Sharjah and accommodation at the Lou Lou a Beach Hotel in Sharjah. From this base we started our daily trips with a car rented from Avis who have a desk in the hotel.

To prepare for the trip we used the following two books:

• The birds of the United Arab Emirates by Colin Richardson
• Birds of the Middle East and North Africa by Hollom, Porter, Christensen and Willis

We also read various trip reports available on the internet and the weekly newsletter (by email) Twitchers' Guide, issued by Peter Hellyer of the Emirates News. Up-to-date road maps are hard to find since new roads are being built almost continuously. This means that some guesswork is needed sometimes to find the right way. Traffic jams are common in the Dubai area, but outside the big cities the traffic is normal. Be prepared for some wild overtaking by the local drivers and for the tiresome speed humps!

The weather was sunny and very hot almost all the time reaching the 40°C mark on several days. This had the effect that migration of passerines was very slow, such that some species were not easy to find, and some were absent altogether. Also, resident passerines had mostly stopped singing and were rather secretive.

Areas visited

• Ramtha tip (Sharjah)
• Umm al Quwain
• Safa Park
• Al Jazirah
• Khor al Beidah
• Al Jazeerah Khor
• Digdagga area
• Mushrif Park
• Khor Dubai
• Emirates Golf Course (EGC)
• Wadi Masafi
• Khor Fakkan
• Khor Kalba
• Quarn Nazwa
• Mamzah Park (Dubai)
• Al Wathba camel race track
• Khalidiya spit (Abu Dhabi)
• Wadi Bih

Since we hadn't been birding in the UAE before, we tried to see most of the local specialties. The following notes are therefore written from a first-time visitor's viewpoint, i.e. they contain only Middle East specialties and species otherwise rare in Central Europe. A full species list is given at the end.

Notes on selected species

• Socotra Cormorant
  Only seen from the jetty at the northern tip of Umm al Quwain: about 50 flying by on 4.4. and about 1000 in a dense raft on 14.4.

• Little Bittern
  2 at Ramtha tip on 15.4.

• Night Heron
  1 at Ramtha tip on 4.4. and 1 in Safa Park on 5. and 15.4.

• Striated Heron
  Singles on EGC (7.4.), at Khor Kalba (8.4.) and at the northern jetty of Umm al Quwain (14.4.)

• Indian Pond Heron
  An immature heron (2nd calendar year) on EGC on 7.4. was identified as this species after consulting Colin Richardson. 1 ad. at Khor Kalba on 8.4.

• Cattle Egret
  1 at Ramtha tip on 13. and 16.4.

• Western Reef Heron
  Regularly encountered at Khor al Beidah with up to 20 (6.4.). Elsewhere seen at Khor Dubai, Khor Kalba, Ramtha tip and Umm al Quwain.

• Purple Heron
  Only seen once: 8 flying over at Khor Kalba on 8.4.

• Glossy Ibis
  1 at Khor Kalba on 8.4.

• Spoonbill
  Regularly seen at Ramtha tip with up to 20 (4.4.). Elsewhere 6 at Khor Kalba on 17.4.

• Greater Flamingo
  Large numbers both at Ramtha tip (200 on 15.4.) and Khor Dubai (400 on 7.4.). A few (up to 8) also at a shallow pond beside the EGC (12./15.4.)

• Ruddy Shelduck
  4 at Ramtha tip on 15.4.

• Honey Buzzard
  1 over Mushrif Park on 7.4.

• Crested Honey Buzzard
  A real highlight of the trip: 2 birds (1 ad. male + 1 immature) circled low over the highway between Sharjah and Dhaid on 17.4. and gave excellent views!

• Egyptian Vulture
  1 subad. over Khor Kalba on 17.4.

• Spotted Eagle
  The only sighting was of 2 over Mushrif Park on 9.4.

• Bonelli's Eagle
  1 ad. + 1 immat. in Wadi Bih on 14.4.

• Grey Francolin
  Small numbers seen at Safa Park, Al Jazirah, Mushrif Park, Quarn Nazwa and Ramtha tip.

• Black-winged Stilt
  The best places for this species were Ramtha tip with up to 20 (4./13.4.) and the pond beside EGC.

• Crab Plover
  Despite several visits to Khor al Beidah, this species almost eluded us. The solution was to be there well before high tide and scan the lagoon from the top of a dune. 24 birds were thus located quite far out on 13.4. which left the area about 1.5 h before high tide.

• Lesser Sand Plover
  Good numbers (>100) at Khor al Beidah (6./9.4.) and Khor Dubai (7.4.)

• Greater Sand Plover
  Surprisingly scarce. Only single birds seen at Khor al Beidah on 6./9./13.4.

• Pacific Golden Plover
  The best place for this species was Ramtha tip, where a flock of up to 40 was regularly seen (9.-16.4.). Elsewhere 2 at Khor Dubai on 7.4.

• Red-wattled Lapwing
  Several territorial birds, some already with chicks, were encountered, among other places, at Ramtha tip, Umm al Quwain, EGC and below the Wadi Bih dam.

• White-tailed Plover
  4 at Ramtha tip on 15.4.

• Great Knot
  At least 11 birds were seen among the Bar-tailed Godwits at Khor al Beidah on 6.4., but not on subsequent visits.

• Broad-billed Sandpiper
  Only at Khor Dubai with about 20 on 7.4.

• Pintail Snipe
  1 bird was flushed from a small puddle beside the fence of the EGC on 12.4.

• Marsh Sandpiper
  1 on 4.4. and 2 on 15.4. at Ramtha tip

• Terek Sandpiper
  Highest numbers at Khor al Beidah with 20+ on 9.4. Elsewhere smaller numbers at Khor Dubai, Khor Kalba, Ramtha tip and the pond beside the EGC.

• Sooty Gull
  Common (>100) on the east coast in the harbour of Khor Fakkan and along the beach of Kalba (8./17.4.). Singles also at the coast of Umm al Quwain and Sharjah.

• Great Black-headed Gull
  At Khor al Beidah 2 on 6.4. and 1 on 13.4., all 2nd calendar year birds.

• Little Gull
  A first summer bird found at the shallow pond beside the EGC from 11.4. to at least 15.4. was only the 5th record for the Emirates.

• Slender-billed Gull
  Largest count of 70 at Khor Dubai on 7.4., smaller numbers at Ramtha tip, EGC and on the east coast beach near Kalba.

• Siberian Gull
  Both forms (heuglini and taimyrensis) were present in good numbers along the beach near Kalba (8./17.4). At least 1 ad. was at Khor al Beidah on 6.4., with some immatures which could also have been this species.

• Gull-billed Tern
  10 were at Khor Dubai (7.4.) and smaller numbers at Khor al Beidah and Al Jazeerah Khor.

• Caspian Tern
  20 at Khor Dubai on 7.4. and 1 at Khor al Beidah on 9.4. were the only sightings.

• Swift Tern
  10 were seen far out from the northern tip of Umm al Quwain on 4.4. The best place was the harbour of Khor Fakkan, where many roosted on a sort of pipeline together with other terns on 8.4. One was also seen at Khor Kalba on 17.4.

• Lesser Crested Tern
  Good numbers (>10) at the gulf coast at Khor al Beidah, Al Jazeerah Khor and Umm al Quwain. Also at the east coast on the beaches near Kalba.

• White-cheeked Tern
  25 flew past the northern jetty of Umm al Quwain on 4.4. and 2 again on 14.4. Many roosted on the beach near Kalba in a mixed tern flock on 8.4.

• Saunders' Little Tern
  The largest count was 50 at Khor al Beidah on 6.4. Smaller numbers were also seen at Umm al Quwain, Khor Dubai, Ramtha tip and at the east coast near Kalba

• Whiskered Tern
  Ramtha tip was the only place where we saw this species with a maximum of 15 on 4.4.

• White-winged Black Tern
  4 at Ramtha tip on 15.4. was the only sighting.

• Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
  Our visit to Al Wathba camel race track on 12.4. did not produce the expected sandgrouse since the area was too dry. The small puddle outside the EGC, however, proved to be a reliable place during the morning hours: 4 on 11.4. and 30 on 15.4.

• Namaqua Dove
  A splendid male was on Al Wathba camel race track among numerous Palm Doves on 12.4. (only about the 15th record for the UAE).

• Ring-necked Parakeet
  Seen in many places with suitable vegetation. Most common in Safa, Mushrif and Mamzah Park.

• Alexandrine Parakeet
  7 in Safa Park on 15.4.

• Striated Scops Owl
  1 seen beside the swimming pool in Mushrif Park at dusk on 13.4.

• Eagle Owl
  1 or 2 ad. + 2 juv. on the hills at Quarn Nazwa on 16.4. Not of the form desertorum, but apparently ascalaphus.

• White-collared Kingfisher
  Our first visit to Khor Kalba at low tide on 8.4. produced about 5 birds, seen very well. A more fleeting visit at high tide later in contrast produced no sighting at all.

• Little Green Bee-eater
  Small numbers of the local race muscatensis were seen in many places, for example: Ramtha tip, Khor al Beidah, EGC, Quarn Nazwa, Mushrif Park.

• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
  About 10+ hunting around Khor Kalba on 8.4. and 4+ over Al Wathba camel race track on 12.4.

• European Bee-eater
  The highest count were 10 in Safa Park on 5.4. Several were also seen or heard near Diddagga (6./14.4.), in Wadi Masafi (8.4.) and Wadi Bih (14.4.)

• European Roller
  1 bird only seen in Wadi Bih on 14.4.

• Indian Roller
  Many seen in the Digdagga area (6./14.4.). Singles also in Sharjah, Mushrif and Safa Park.

• Hoopoe
  Safa Park proved to be the best place for this species with up to 15 (5./10./15.4.). Also seen in Mushrif Park (7.4.) and near Digdagga (6./14.4.)

• Black-crowned Finch Lark
  The best places for this lark were the dunes at Khor al Beidah and Khor Kalba. Smaller numbers also at Quarn Nazwa and Al Wathba.

• Desert Lark
  3 in Wadi Masafi on 8.4. and several in Wadi Bih on 14.4.

• Hoopoe Lark
  Several were found in the dunes at Khor al Beidah on every visit. Also at Al Wathba on 12.4.

• Short-toed Lark
  At Khor al Beidah, 3 on 9.4. and 2 on 13.4. 5 at Al Wathba on 12.4.

• Pale Crag Martin
  Only one sighting of 2 birds in Khor Fakkan on 8.4.

• Blyth's Pipit
  In very hot weather on 12.4., we flushed 3-5 birds from grassy areas on Al Wathba, that were subsequently also seen on the ground.

• Long-billed Pipit
  2-4 birds were seen in Wadi Masafi on 8.4.

• Red-throated Pipit
  3 in Mamzah Park on 11.4. and 3+ on Al Wathba on 12.4. were the only sightings.

• Forest Wagtail
  Thanks to Simon Aspinall, who gave us perfect directions to the bird, we successfully twitched this long-staying bird at Khalidiyah spit (Abu Dhabi) on 12.4.

• White-cheeked Bulbul
  Found at several places. Common in Mushrif Park, for example.

• Yellow-vented Bulbul
  Several birds were noted near Digdagga on 6.4. and in Wadi Masafi on 8.4.

• Red-vented Bulbul
  The first birds with juv. were seen right at the hotel (4.4.). Elsewhere at Safa Park, Al Jazirah and common in Mushrif Park.

• Grey Hypocolius
  1 male and 1 female were found in a garden right beside the palace at Al Jazirah on 5.4.

• Rufous Bush Robin
  1 seen in the same garden on 5.4.

• White-throated Robin
  A female was seen at Khalidiyah spit on 12.4.

• Isabelline Wheatear
  About 5 birds seen at Al Wathba on 12.4.

• Pied Wheatear
  About 5 at Khor al Beidah on 9.4. and 1 at Al Wathba on 12.4.

• Hume's Wheatear
  Only two sightings of 2 birds each in the Wadi Bih area on 6. and 14.4.

• Rock Thrush
  Single males were seen at Khor al Beidah (9.4.), EGC (10.4.), Al Wathba (12.4.) and a male + a female at Quarn Nazwa (10.4.)

• Graceful Warbler
  Common in gardens and parks, i.e. Safa, Mushrif Park etc.

• Clamorous Reed Warbler
  About 10 singing at Khor Kalba on 8.4., and 1 at Khor al Beidah on 9.4.

• Olivaceous Warbler
  1 at Mushrif Park on 7. and 13.4., 2-3 at Safa Park on 10.4. and several at Khalidiyah spit on 12.4.

• Booted Warbler
  3 singing birds at Khor Kalba on 8.4.

• Upcher's Warbler
  Singles in Wadi Bih area on 6.4. and Wadi Masafi on 8.4., 3+ in acacia steppe west of Hatta on 16.4. and 2 again in Wadi Masafi on 17.4.

• Arabian Babbler
  Several birds were encountered near Digdagga (6.4.), in Mushrif Park (7.4.), Wadi Masafi (8.4.) and west of Hatta (16.4.).

• Purple Sunbird
  Rather common both in parks (Safa, Mushrif) as well as in wadis (Masafi).

• Isabelline Shrike
  Mostly single birds were seen at EGC (7.4.), Wadi Masafi (8.4.), Khor al Beidah (9.4.) and Al Wathba (12.4.), with 2 in Mamzah Park on 11.4. Both the phoenicuroides as well as the isabellinus race were seen.

• Woodchat Shrike
  1 or 2 in Wadi Masafi on 8.4.

• Masked Shrike
  2 at Mamzah Park on 11.4.

• Brown-necked Raven
  Seen at Umm al Quwain (4.4.), Wadi Bih (6.4.) and near Dhaid (17.4.)

• Pied Mynah
  Up to 4 at Safa Park (5.4.), and 2 at Ramtha tip (15.4.)

• Common Mynah
  Very common indeed! Found almost everywhere in towns, parks etc.

• Bank Mynah
  Many in the Digdagga area on 6.4. and in Mamzah Park on 11.4.

• Yellow-throated Sparrow
  Only two sightings: a pair near Digdagga on 6.4. and a male in Mushrif Park on 7.4.

• Indian Silverbill
  The first birds were seen directly from the hotel room. Quite common in habitats ranging from parks to wadis.

• House Bunting
  1 singing male in Wadi Bih on 14.4.

Full Species Trip List

1. Little Grebe -- Tachybaptus ruficollis
2. Black-necked Grebe -- Podiceps nigricollis
3. Socotra Cormorant -- Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
4. Little Bittern -- Ixobrychus minutus
5. Night Heron -- Nycticorax nycticorax
6. Striated Heron -- Butorides striatus
7. Indian Pond Heron -- Ardeola grayii
8. Cattle Egret -- Bubulcus ibis
9. Western Reef Heron -- Egretta gularis
10. Little Egret -- Egretta garzetta
11. Grey Heron -- Ardea cinerea
12. Purple Heron -- Ardea purpurea
13. Glossy Ibis -- Plegadis falcinellus
14. Spoonbill -- Platalea leucorodia
15. Greater Flamingo -- Phoenicopterus ruber
16. Ruddy Shelduck -- Tadorna ferruginea
17. Wigeon -- Anas penelope
18. Teal -- Anas crecca
19. Mallard -- Anas platyrhynchos
20. Garganey -- Anas querquedula
21. Shoveler -- Anas clypeata
22. Pochard -- Aythya ferina
23. Honey Buzzard -- Pernis apivorus
24. Crested Honey Buzzard -- Pernis ptilorhynchus
25. Egyptian Vulture -- Neophron percnopterus
26. Marsh Harrier -- Circus aeruginosus
27. Hen Harrier -- Circus cyaneus
28. Spotted Eagle -- Aquila clanga
29. Bonelli's Eagle -- Hieraaetus fasciatus
30. Osprey -- Pandion haliaetus
31. Kestrel -- Falco tinnunculus
32. Grey Francolin -- Francolinus pondicerianus
33. Moorhen -- Gallinula chloropus
34. Oystercatcher -- Haematopus ostralegus
35. Black-winged Stilt -- Himantopus himantopus
36. Crab Plover -- Dromas ardeola
37. Little Ringed Plover -- Charadrius dubius
38. Ringed Plover -- Charadrius hiaticula
39. Kentish Plover -- Charadrius alexandrinus
40. Lesser Sand Plover --Charadrius mongolus
41. Greater Sand Plover --Charadrius leschenaultii
42. Pacific Golden Plover -- Pluvialis fulva
43. Grey Plover -- Pluvialis squatarola
44. Red-wattled Lapwing -- Hoplopterus indicus
45. White-tailed Plover -- Chettusia leucura
46. Great Knot -- Calidris tenuirostris
47. Sanderling -- Calidris alba
48. Little Stint -- Calidris minuta
49. Temminck's Stint -- Calidris temminckii
50. Curlew Sandpiper -- Calidris ferruginea
51. Dunlin -- Calidris alpina
52. Broad-billed Sandpiper -- Limicola falcinellus
53. Ruff -- Philomachus pugnax
54. Common Snipe -- Gallinago gallinago
55. Pintail Snipe -- Gallinago stenura
56. Black-tailed Godwit -- Limosa limosa
57. Bar-tailed Godwit -- Limosa lapponica
58. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
59. Curlew -- Numenius arquata
60. Spotted Redshank -- Tringa erythropus
61. Redshank -- Tringa totanus
62. Marsh Sandpiper -- Tringa stagnatilis
63. Greenshank -- Tringa nebularia
64. Green Sandpiper -- Tringa ochropus
65. Wood Sandpiper --Tringa glareola
66. Terek Sandpiper -- Xenus cinereus
67. Common Sandpiper -- Actitis hypoleucos
68. Turnstone -- Arenaria interpres
69. Sooty Gull -- Larus hemprichii
70. Great Black-headed Gull -- Larus ichthyaetus
71. Black-headed Gull -- Larus ridibundus
72. Little Gull -- Larus minutus
73. Slender-billed Gull -- Larus genei
74. Siberian Gull -- Larus heuglini
75. Gull-billed Tern -- Gelochelidon nilotica
76. Caspian Tern -- Sterna caspia
77. Swift Tern -- Sterna bergii
78. Lesser Crested Tern -- Sterna bengalensis
79. Common Tern -- Sterna hirundo
80. White-cheeked Tern -- Sterna repressa
81. Saunders' Little Tern -- Sterna saundersi
82. Whiskered Tern -- Chlidonias hybridus
83. White-winged Black Tern -- Chlidonias leucopterus
84. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse -- Pterocles exustus
85. Rock Dove - Columbia livia
86. Collared Dove -- Streptopelia decaocto
87. Turtle Dove -- Streptopelia turtur
88. Palm Dove -- Streptopelia senegalensis
89. Namaqua Dove -- Oena capensis
90. Ring-necked Parakeet -- Psittacula krameri
91. Alexandrine Parakeet -- Psittacula eupatria
92. Striated Scops Owl -- Otus brucei
93. Eagle Owl -- Bubo bubo
94. Little Owl -- Athene noctua
95. Pallid Swift -- Apus pallidus
96. White-collared Kingfisher -- Halcyon chloris
97. Little Green Bee-eater -- Merops orientalis
98. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater -- Merops superciliosus
99. European Bee-eater -- Merops apiaster
100. European Roller -- Coracias garrulus
101. Indian Roller -- Coracias benghalensis
102. Hoopoe -- Upupa epops
103. Black-crowned Finch Lark -- Eremopterix nigriceps
104. Desert Lark -- Ammomanes deserti
105. Hoopoe Lark -- Alaemon alaudipes
106. Short-toed Lark -- Calandrella brachydactyla
107. Crested Lark -- Galerida cristata
108. Sand Martin -- Riparia riparia
109. Pale Crag Martin -- Ptyonoprogne fuligula
110. Barn Swallow -- Hirundo rustica
111. Blyth's Pipit -- Anthus godlewskii
112. Long-billed Pipit -- Anthus similis
113. Tree Pipit -- Anthus trivialis
114. Red-throated Pipit -- Anthus cervinus
115. Forest Wagtail -- Dendronanthus indicus
116. Yellow Wagtail -- Motacilla flava
117. White Wagtail -- Motacilla alba
118. White-cheeked Bulbul -- Pycnonotus leucogenys
119. Yellow-vented Bulbul -- Pycnonotus xanthopygos
120. Red-vented Bulbul -- Pycnonotus cafer
121. Grey Hypocolius -- Hypocolius ampelinus
122. Rufous Bush Robin -- Cercotrichas galactotes
123. Nightingale -- Luscinia megarhynchos
124. White-throated Robin -- Irania gutturalis
125. Redstart -- Phoenicurus phoenicurus
126. Isabelline Wheatear -- Oenanthe isabellina
127. Northern Wheatear -- Oenanthe oenanthe
128. Pied Wheatear -- Oenanthe pleschanka
129. Hume's Wheatear -- Oenanthe alboniger
130. Rock Thrush -- Monticola saxatilis
131. Graceful Warbler -- Prinia gracilis
132. Reed Warbler -- Acrocephalus scirpaceus
133. Clamorous Reed Warbler -- Acrocephalus stentoreus
134. Olivaceous Warbler -- Hippolais pallida
135. Booted Warbler -- Hippolais caligata
136. Upcher's Warbler -- Hippolais languida
137. Chiffchaff -- Phylloscopus collybita
138. Willow Warbler -- Phylloscopus trochilus
139. Arabian Babbler -- Turdoides squamiceps
140. Purple Sunbird -- Nectarinia asiatica
141. Isabelline Shrike -- Lanius isabellinus
142. Great Grey Shrike -- Lanius excubitor
143. Woodchat Shrike -- Lanius senator
144. Masked Shrike -- Lanius nubicus
145. House Crow -- Corvus splendens
146. Brown-necked Raven -- Corvus ruficollis
147. Pied Mynah -- Sturnus contra
148. Common Mynah -- Acridotheres tristis
149. Bank Mynah -- Acridotheres ginginianus
150. House Sparrow -- Passer domesticus
151. Yellow-throated Sparrow -- Petronia xanthocollis
152. Indian Silverbill -- Enodice malabarica
153. House Bunting -- Emberiza striolata

If there are any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at Gerd.Rotzoll@t-online.de.

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