Sooty Falcon in Oman – Film

Oman is a destination for migratory birds during  Spring and Autumn, in addition to resident birds in Oman. Some pass through, others like White Storks and Steppe Eagles overwinter in Oman using it as a food larder and return to breeding grounds to the north. But there are some that come to Oman and breed, and included in these is the Sooty Falcon in Oman, Falco concolor.

Sooty Falcon Falco concolor - Oman
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor – Oman

The Sooty Falcon is a medium-sized falcon with, as its name suggests, a colour that is a shade of grey, perhaps Continue reading “Sooty Falcon in Oman – Film”

Aflaj and Leopards in Oman

The Royal Geographical Society held a couple of events mid-week; the Shackleton photography exhibition and talks about Leopards in Oman and the Sultanate’s Aflaj (the plural of Falaj) organised by Nigel Winser.

Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society

With a large crowd , including several Continue reading “Aflaj and Leopards in Oman”

Oman’s Humpback Whale

a lecture given by Andrew Wilson

Andrew Wilson, a researcher at ESO Whale and Dolphin Research Group with his company Five Oceans, gave a very informative presentation about Oman’s Humpback Whale population. This is probably the world’s only sedentary population of Humpback Whales, as over the last 70,000 years it separated from the rest of the Indian Ocean population and settled in Oman’s waters. The seasonal sea temperature changes caused by the summer Monsoon and rich marine food supplies (Sardines & Euphasids) enables both breeding and feeding within the same body of water.

Andrew Wilson explains about Omans Humpback Whale Population
Andrew Wilson explains about Omans Humpback Whale Population

Andrew explained Continue reading “Oman’s Humpback Whale”

Oman’s famed plants in Dhofar

Within the slopes and valleys of the southern mountains of Oman are an extraordinary variety of flora. The plants in Dhofar inhabit an environment that can change from wet cloud soaked biome to bone-dry desert in the period of a few days or meters. Grass dominates the mountain upper plateau while the sea-facing slopes are have Anogeissus dhofarica as their dominant plant.
Though many plants catch a visitors interest, four are Continue reading “Oman’s famed plants in Dhofar”

Egyptian Vulture Survey in Oman

We had an enjoyable morning with Waheed Al Fazari (Oman’s Expert on Sooty Falcons  ) , and Dr. Mike McGrady who with Waheed updates this blog http://sootyfalcon.blogspot.com/ ,

Waheed AL Fazari (on the right with the papers for the count) , Dr. Mike McGrady (L) , Dr. Reginald Victor (R)
Waheed AL Fazari (on the right with the papers for the count) , Dr. Mike McGrady (L) , Dr. Reginald Victor (R)

Dr. Reginald Victor  and others on the monthly survey of Egyptian Vulture numbers in a Muscat site.
Continue reading “Egyptian Vulture Survey in Oman”