Trip to United Arab Emirates 14.11. - 20.11.1992

Jarmo Komi, Markku Santamaa

 

14.11.

We arrived at 6 a.m. in Dubai. We rented a car from Europcar: Mitshubishi Lancer 1.6, 7 days including insurance were 980 dirhams (1400 FIM). The car was new, less than 3000 kilometres in the meter. First birding around Saffa Park, the park was closed (we heard it would not be open until December) and we were not allowed to go in by a policeman. After that a visit to Emirates golf course, a permit to bird from perimeter road was easily obtained. We arranged a permit also for 16.11. In the afternoon it was high tide at Khor Dubai, thousands of shorebirds. We paid a visit to Colin’s, and drove with him to Fish Farm for the last daylight.

15.11.

Early morning to Ramtha tip, then north towards Digdaga. It was low tide so we decided to skip Khor al Beidah. A stop at al Jazeerah Khor we saw lots of shorebirds not too far for telescopes. Digdaga fields were quiet. We drove back to Khor al Beidah for high tide and had some difficulties finding a proper track to shore, but managed to see Crab Plovers before dark.

16.11.

We started before sunrise at Emirates golf course. After sunrise we had good views of a Pintail Snipe, which was feeding with a Common Snipe. After we had flushed the birds, a thick fog came down suddenly, and birding was almost impossible. So we decided to head to Al Ain. At Al Ain we went straight to the zoo lion fence, where we spent several hours watching Egyptian Vultures. From Al Ain we went to Qarn Nazwa to twitch Eastern Pied Wheather. After successful twitch we drove to al Habab fields for the last daylight hours.

17.11.

We started at dawn at a wadi near Masafi bottling factory. We found a strange looking redstart (Markku shouted it as a flycatcher after first glimpse of its wing). We thought it might be some eastern race of common redstart, and we didn't realise we had seen Evermann's Redstart until we left the place. When it became too hot for us to walk in the wadis, we drove to Khor Kalba. White-collared Kingfisher was tough for us, and it took over 2 hours to locate one. Chesnut-bellied Sandgrouse was easier: we saw 2 after less than 30 seconds of searching. After that we drove north to Diba with few stops. After some seawatching at Diba breakwater, we started driving towards Masafi. It was raining in the mountains, and at the only stop before Masafi we saw 1 bird and got wet. The rain ceased just as we arrived to the morning site. We didn't find anything new before it got dark.

18.11.

We drove in the morning to the tip of Umm al Quwain and walked to the breakwater. We drove via Umm al Quwain's east side towards Khor al Beidah with some stops. At Khor al Beidah it was low tide, but lots of shorebirds were feeding quite close to the shore. We began to scan the shorebirds systematically with telescopes, and after a short while I realised I was watching at a Great Knot feeding on the mudflat. There were 6 birds less than 200 metres away and 15 a little further away. After a while the flock of 6 moved northwards with other shorebirds and 11 of the 15 came to the same place where the 6 had been. We were able to approach these birds to closer than 30 metres. After Khor al Beidah we went to look for shorebirds at al Jazeerah Khor, and for the last daylight back to Khor al Beidah for high tide and Crab Plovers. We phoned to Emirates golf course guest relations office (04-480 222) and arranged a permit for the next day.

19.11.

We started again early at the Emirates golf course. The Pintail Snipe was again beside the pool with a bridge, this time with 5 Common Snipes. After being flushed it flew to the woods behind the pool. After that we drove to Saffa park. We walked in ignoring gardeners' resistance, and had good views of Richard's and Tawny Pipits. The policeman was not at the gate when we went in, but when we came back he was not too happy. After that a short visit to Mushrif national park and then to Khor Dubai. It was low tide and most the birds far away. Then we drove to Ramtha tip, where we birdwatched with Colin. A short visit to Fish farm and Colin's before dark.

20.11.

We started in the morning in the same wadi as 17.11. We had now much better views of the Evermann's Redstart, which was almost at the same place. This time we chose the right wadi for Plain Leaf Warbler, and saw 2 or 3. We also had a look at a wadi a few kilometres north, and had another Plain Leaf Warbler. We drove to Diba, seawatching at the breakwater. After that we drove to Diba Oman, as far as the coastal road continued. A large insect, which looked like a wasp, painfully bit Markku and we decided to head back to Dubai. At Fish farm we managed to locate 2 Pied Mynahs before we were chased off by the police. After that we tried to twitch Menetries's Warbler at Colin's, but had no luck.

21.11.

We returned the car at 4am to the airport. We had driven 2043 kilometres with no problems.

 

Species list

Takaisin > sivun alkuun > Matkakertomusten etusivulle