Mushrif: Two Owl Day

[jsi]

By mid-afternoon I was well back in the highlands, just on the edge of a long tongue of tall (20m +) and straight trunked Ghaf which I discovered a few weeks ago. I had paused for a visual recce when the Ghaf 20 metres in front of me . . . started . . . raining . . . owls. Big ones. The first one dropped down to eye level and crossed my bow at about 5 metres. The second bailed out on the port side. The third stayed put for about two minutes, shifting nervously from foot to foot, before it too launched out of the tree and glided away into the trees further along. But two minutes was enough for putting a very good glass on my closest view yet of the Pharoah Eagle Owl. So, two parents and one fullsized youngster? One parent and two youngsters? Three adults hanging out together? I don’t know. No pics; didn’t dare make a move for the camera.

I landmarked the tree for future reference . . . .

And on the way back out came across yet another Pallid Scops. Mushrif is showing me the love when it comes to owls . . . .

Species today:

Grey Francolin - 60
Feral Pigeon - 40
Eurasian Collared Dove – ubiquitous
Laughing Dove – 30
Rose Ringed Parakeet – 60
Pallid Scops Owl – 1
Pharoah Eagle Owl - 3
Little Green Bee Eater – 11
Eurasian Hoopoe – 3
Crested Lark – 1
Southern Grey Shrike - 8
White Eared Bulbul – ubiquitous
Red Vented Bulbul – 25
Chiffchaff – 1
Arabian Babbler – 9
Com. Mynah – 50
Black Redstart – 1
Purple Sunbird – 200+ (they were everywhere)
House Sparrow – ubiquitous
Indian Silverbill – 6

Also flushed a fine Arabian Red Fox, who gave me a good view as he/she cut up the hill.

John

1200412005

[khalifa]

Niccce John.
Well done. Find a group of long eared owl next:)

[Mike Barth]

I landmarked the tree for future reference . . . .



Hi John. Any chance you land marked it in GPS ?

Merry Christmas

Mike

[Sandman]

Long-eared Owls ARE in Mushrif right now - it's just up to us to find them! I will post a video I took of them a few winters back.
Well done Iversen; I believe that is a new species for Mushrif NP

[Clive]

Two Owl Day? Are they like Three Dog Night?

Happy Christmas everyone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaQzQAlNn4