Hello from UK birder

[MarkS]

Hi, My name is Mark, a 45 yr old birder from the UK Midlands. I have 2 short-term contracts in Dubai and will be based near the Emirates Golf Club. I shall be in Dubai from next week until mid-August and hopefully again from mid-September to mid-October.

Any info on which areas are good at the moment would be much appreciated along with access details for any sites near where I will be staying - especially any that I could do early morning before work. (I'll be driving towards Jebel Ali most days).

Hope to bump into some of you in the next few weeks.

All the best

Mark

[Clive]

Hi Mark, At the moment it's too hot but the east coast is good for sea watching and key resident species such as Humes wheatear are in the mountains. On your next trip try anywhere such as the pivot fields, safa park, creek park. You should bump into some of us esp. early morning at the pivots, just park outside and walk in.

[MarkS]

Thanks Clive. I've been here a couple of days now - hotel is stuck in the middle of a building site (aren't they all?!!) so haven't had any opportunity to do any local birding as yet. Dubai list stands at about 7 so far!

Have just picked up a car, so can't wait for the weekend. I think the pivots, the creek and probably Mushrif park could be on the cards (a) if I can find them and (b) I can figure out how to work them.

Best regards

Mark

[Clive]

What's your number, I haven't been out for weeks so may do the pivots early Friday.

Neil? You out too?

[Mike Barth]

Mark, I can take you to the east cost on 1st August if you like.
I will be spending the day over there and you are more than welcome to join me.

Regards

Mike

[MarkS]

Clive / Mike

I've PM'd you my contact details. Should have added that the number is a UAE mobile number - don't try adding +44!

Cheers

Mark

[MarkS]

I'm back in Dubai for a second (and probably last :() 5 week stretch and hope to catch up on some of the wintering species and passage migrants. Going to try to get out to some of spots that I missed last time - especially the Al Ain area (what chance Upcher's in October?) and Al Wathba for Egyptian nightjar and larks, especially Bimac.

I've been keeping track of sightings via the forum (including some cracking pictures from the camera guys) whilst I've been back in Blighty and have been looking forward to seeing stuff I haven't seen for years - Citrine wag, Issy & Desert wheatears, Turkestan, Daurian & Lesser grey shrikes, tawny pipit - all good birds that I should catch up with if I'm lucky.

Any suggestions for the following stuff at this time of year?:

Menetries' Warbler,
White-throated robin,
Pale rockfinch
Plain leaf warbler
Desert Lesser whitethroat
Finsch's wheatear

Expect a few postings over the next few weeks - just don't expect them to be gripping!

[Nick]

Hi Mark,

Have the resident birders had a chance to comment to you in the field on this wish list yet?

If not:

Menetries' Warbler - these come back through from as early as August, and certainly in reasonable numbers by September, so I guess you've already seen them by now? If not, try Green Mubazzarah.

White-throated Robin - less than 1% chance! I saw one autumn bird in 5 years (Green Mub). They may go a different route in autumn; not sure if there's any conclusive evidence of this other than the fact that they are as rare as hen's teeth in the UAE in autumn!

Pale Rockfinch - a few sometimes get recorded in August/September but this is much more of a spring bird: mid-March to mid-April.

Plain Leaf Warbler - already being recorded in the tattered remains of Khalidiyah (Abu Dhabi) this autumn/winter; I guess they must be back in the mountains too, or will be soon?

Desert Lesser Whitethroat - as above.

Finsch's Wheatear - one accepted record in the last 6 years, and it was late March. Less chance than White-throated Robin, I'd say...

Cheers

[MarkS]

Cheers Nick,

Yes, already had good info and assistance from Steve and others and already managed to knock off quite a few Menetries' and Desert Lessers in the last week or so (including 2 of each at Ghantoot plantation this morning).

Waiting another week or so before trying for Bimacs, but might give Masafi Wadi a try at the weekend for Plain Leaf & Scrub Warblers.

White-throated Robin has bugged me for years, although I've not birded the W Pal much in the last decade. Prefer to see a nice male anyway. (Oh dear, that sounded a bit camp!):p

Just enjoying seeing and finding stuff that's scarce/rare back home and being welcomed into the UAE birding scene. It's a much nicer place to bird than back home - and no scrums to contend with. Even photographers are tolerated here!;)

Thanks again for the feedback.

Mark

[Huw]

Hi Mark

Plain Leaf Warbler is back, here in Al Ain. I photographed one in Wadi Tarabat this afternoon. This wadi, which is very near Green Mubazzarah, is a likely place for Pale Rockfinch as well, although how likely in autumn I don't know.

For Scrub Warbler, if Masafi doesn't work, Jabal Qatar, just over the border from Al Ain, near Buraimi, is a really good place . I've seen them there nearly every time I've been there. Possibilities for Trumpeter Finch there as well, and raptors.

Cheers

Huw

[MarkS]

Thanks Huw,

Nice pic - that's a really unusual colour - not brown, not green, not grey, but a strange blend of all three.

Hoping to get down to Green Mub next week - if I can negotiate all those roundabouts. Fortunately, will have the SatNag (wife) to map read. Really enjoyed the trip down there with Mike last week and good to meet up with you & Dave. Loved that wadi - just felt like a really special bird could be in the next bush. Hopefully will be next week - probably the day after me!

ATB

Mark