birding...

Shrika Accipita badius ©Nigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk

The United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven separate emirates formed in 1971 after treaty relations with Britain expired, covers a little over 90,000 square kilometres. Abu Dhabi is the by far the largest of the individual emirates (the city of Abu Dhabi being the country`s capital) although Dubai is perhaps the best-known. The other emirates are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The population stands at around 2.4 million, with expatriate labour outnumbering nationals some 5:1. The wealth of the country is founded on oil but with parallel development in the fields of commerce, including traditional trading arrangements, and finance able to bolster the economy such that it remains prosperous even in the wake of fluctuating oil revenues.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through the south of the country and the climate is typically hot and extremely arid (the interior desert is part of the so-called Empty Quarter). Summer temperatures along the coast reach well into the 40°s and the humidity builds up to become intolerable. Inland, temperatures are even higher (over 50°C is not uncommon) but humidity levels are generally bearable. The temperature in the winter months regularly exceeds the officially published figures of 25-30°C degrees. Rain is irregular, falling most frequently in the east over the mountains in winter. A few torrential summer thunderstorms are, however, noted most years.

The topography of the country is relatively varied with large areas of sand and gravel desert, with high dunes inland and lower meandering dunes systems in the north and east (often with large shading ghaf trees) reaching the coast except where urban development has taken place and in western Abu Dhabi where extensive sabkha salt-flats prevail. The Hajar mountains are bounded to the west by a narrow Acacia savannah on a down-washed gravel plain, while the mountains themselves rise abruptly to 2000-3000 feet. Many wadis (valleys) warrant exploration, especially those supporting permanent freshwater pools. Inter-tidal areas abound, with many khors (blind tidal inlets) vital for migratory waterfowl although not all necessarily easy to work. Accessible areas of mangrove are rather few although the habitat is widespread.

Pre-eminent though is the drive-in site of Khor Kalba, straddling the border with Oman on the Gulf of Oman coast, with the resident endemic kalbaensis subspecies of White-collared Kingfisher readily found together with, in most months, Indian Pond Heron.

Numerous islands exist in the Gulf, although access is severely restricted. Apart from Red-billed Tropicbird, however, all species of nesting seabird can be readily observed on or from mainland beaches and headlands. Thus Socotra Cormorant, Sooty Gull, Swift, Lesser Crested, Bridled, White-cheeked Tern and Saunders’ Terns all generally feature on any trip list.

Some 410 species of bird have been recorded in the UAE in the last twenty-five years, yet of these only 125 or so breed regularly (with less than 60 resident and a further 30 or so naturalised exotics). Remarkably, over 100 species are listed as vagrants. Yet, increased birdwatcher activity in recent years has caused the record books to be rewritten: Blyth`s Pipit and Small Skylark are now regarded as regular passage and winter visitors; Crested Honey Buzzard, Olive-backed Pipit and Hume`s Yellow-browed Warbler annual; Forest Wagtail virtually annual and so on.

The avifauna is an east meets west blend of Palearctic and Oriental (Indo-Malayan) species, amongst the latter being ubiquitous Purple Sunbirds, Red-wattled Lapwings, Little Green Bee-eaters and Grey Francolins. Add to all these possibilities, depending on when you visit, the almost guaranteed attraction of migrant or wintering Grey Hypocolius, Red-tailed and Hume`s Wheatears, White-throated Robin, Upcher`s, Menetries` and Plain Leaf Warblers, Striated Scops Owl, Pintail Snipe, Cream-coloured Courser, Great Knot, Crab Plover and many other species and you can see why the UAE is such a popular destination.

The country is extremely modern, unrivalled in terms of security, free from health risks (characterising most similar tropical destinations) and with liberal attitudes expects to be visited. The road network is of the highest standard, if rather busy at times, but self-drive visitors should have no problems travelling about. The quality of hotel accommodation is very high, with most housing English style pubs. Convinced yet that you should visit?

Birding information, the Twitchers` Guide, updated weekly, and especially exhaustive at migration times, appears on the Ministry of Information website at: http://www.uaeinteract.com/ (or on EuroBirdnet). Visitors are recommended to obtain a copy of the 96 page The Shell Birdwatching Guide to the United Arab Emirates, detailing 50 of the best birding sites in the country with accurate maps and directions on how to get to each, when to go and what you can expect to see as well as where you might stay (a unique cross-referenced sites/species checklist is included to assist in planning a trip). Price £11 include. p&p from S. Aspinall, 7, Dussindale Drive, Thorpe St. Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk. Tel/fax: 01603-435412.

Further information on accommodation and local guiding once in the UAE is available from S. Aspinall [Chairman of the Emirates Bird Records Committee] at the following contact points: P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE; email - phellyer@emirates.net.ae or tel. 00-971+50-6424358. Please remember to pass your records for inclusion in Twitchers` Guide and for the records of the Emirates Bird Records Committee to David Diskin, Secretary of the EBRC e-mail: dadiskin@emirates.net.ae

Note the essential fieldguide to the region is: Porter, R.F. et al. 1996. Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East. Poyser. £29.95. ISBN 0-85661-076-3.