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The Ruwais habitation area is an under-watched area 180 km west of the city of Abu Dhabi.
Directions and access:
Open access from the main highway between Abu Dhabi and Sila'a (and Saudi Arabia).
Drive in through the open housing complex gate, no need to stop.
Birding strategy:
This hotspot includes the reedbeds at 24.094256 , 52.642175 as well as and the local park and small lakes, and can be excellent during migration and winter, and is open for public.
A new wetland at 24.090136 , 52.667228 is worth investigating.
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Can be good for desert species.
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This plant has seemingly dried up.
Further to the south lies:
Yu Al Ghader forest
Birds:
171 species (excluding escapes) have been recorded as of January 2020.
Rarities have included;
- Greater Scaup 2012
- Water Rail
- Little & Baillon's Crake
- Purple Swamphen 1995/96
- Long-toed Stint
- Black-winged Pratincole
- Spotted Sandgrouse
- Pied Kingfisher
- Cetti's Warbler
- Hume's Leaf Warbler
- Icterine Warbler
- Olive-backed Pipit (nominate subspecies)
- Buff-bellied Pipit