Hi there

[Lissa Jane]

I'm a relatively new birder.. I started getting into it in May last year in South Africa, when I returned to Dubai I looked all over the place for information about birding here and perhaps some people who were also interested... evidently I was looking in all the wrong places.

I'm so excited to have found this forum! I've dug out my dad's binoculars and have my camera at the ready. All I'm lacking at the moment is an ID book for birds of the UAE... If anyone has any specific suggestions on which book might be best and which book-store might be best to buy it at, I'd be grateful to hear your opinion.

Unfortunately I'm slightly swamped with work at the moment, but as soon as I get some time off I'm planning to hit some of the birding hotspots!

[Sandman]

Hi Lissa Jane & welcome to us!
We are a smallish group (30 people or so) of fairly active birders, some deeply into photography, both birds but also lizards, butterflies, mantis's (s?) etc.
The main birding website is www.uaebirding.com but I guess you know that by now :-)
Looking forward to your posts, photos, birdlists etc, & remember; 'the only silly questions are those not asked', so feel free to use us when you wonder about stuff.
And do buy the 'Birds of the Middle East' fieldguide - you can find it in most Magrudy's bookshops in Dubai. Also, the gallery (http://uaebirding.smugmug.com/)holds photos of 95% of all UAE recorded species.
The checklist (http://www.uaebirding.com/uaechecklist.html) chapter has a birdlist for you as well.

[Mike Barth]

Hi Lissa Jane, I can vouch for what Tommy says. I am new to this too, just about 18 months but I have learnt so much from the fellow birders in the forum over that time - they are always helpful !