Oman – the Continental Connection

John Wyatt

12 September 2006

The new season of indoor meetings kicked off in style with a welcome return of John Wyatt, undoubtedly one of our most popular speakers.

John has taught us much about bird song and wader identification over the past couple of years but we were now taken much further a field to the troubled world of the Middle East. Not that Oman is presently part of the troubles and, as John pointed out, it is led by a Sultan who has his country and its inhabitants very much at heart to the extent of paying the hotel chains in order to keep them open when various troubles in surrounding countries create a drop in the tourist trade; forward thinking indeed. On one occasion the Sultan, incognito, had dropped in at the camp site where John and his colleagues were, and shared a meal and discussion about the Omani environment and it was only afterwards that anyone found out who he was!

The bird population is enormous, swelled not only by migrants from as far a field as Siberia but by birds which are now moving in from Africa and India due to changing weather patterns. I was pleased to note, however, that only 3 water rails have been recorded as it has taken me 30 years to see 3 water rails in this country! Not surprising, however, was the number of vultures, eagles, falcons etc. given the large bird population.

Apparently the number of bird watching visitors is not large but, given the quality hotels which we saw and the wide variety of landscapes and habitat, it can only be a matter of time before the bird watching world takes a closer look. We were told that 40 species on a pre-breakfast stroll near the hotels would be expected! So, if you are thinking of going to warmer climes next year this might be the place for you. A word of warning, however, some of the sands can be treacherous and a responsible guide is, apparently essential.

Another excellent talk from an excellent and knowledgeable speaker.

John Allan