Additions and Corrections
to the Oman Bird List,
Edition 6,
by Jens Eriksen, Dave E. Sargeant and Reginald Victor, SQU, 2003
This list should be read with a copy of OBL6 where the used abbreviations are explained. Scientific names are given only for species new to the Oman Bird List. All records have been approved by the Oman Bird Records Committee (OBRC). The total number of accepted species in Oman now stands at 496 excluding species considered escapes unless these have established sustainable, feral populations.
Updated 1 August 2010
35 Jouanin's Petrel. New max: 1,735 at Ras Janjari (D) 4 Aug
2009
36 Cory's Shearwater. Nine records. One at Mirbat (D) 29 Jun 2006
38 Pale-footed Shearwater. New max: 20,000+ (8-10,000 per hour) at Ras
Janjari (D) 17 Jul 2009
43 Sooty Shearwater. Eight records. Two at Ras Al Hadd (B) 6-7 May 2004 [P]; one at Ras al Khabbah (B) 30 Jun 2006; one at Ras Janjari (D) 22 Oct 2006;
one off Muscat (B) 27 Apr 2007 [P]
49 Persian Shearwater. New max: 5,470 at Ras Janjari (D) 23 Sep 2005
67 Red-footed Booby. Three records. Adult at Mukhaizna (D) 18 Jun 2007 [P]
70 Brown Booby. New max: 12 at Ras Janjari (D) 20 Jul 2009
71A Cape Gannet Morus capensis. Vagrant. One record. Adult at Shinayz, Al Hallaniyyat Islands (D) 12 Mar 2004 [P]
72 Cormorant. New max: 6,200 at Khawr Barr Al Hikman (C) 11 Jan 2005
81 Socotra Cormorant. New max: 30,000-50,000 at Ash Shuwaymiyyah (D) 3 Jan 2009
88 White Pelican. Eight records. Four at East Khawr (D) 20 Feb - 22 Mar 2005 [P]; adult at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 31 Mar - 9 Apr 2007 [P];
one moving between East Khawr (D) and Wadi Baqlat (D) 8 Nov 2007 - 27 Dec 2007 [P]
89 Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. Vagrant. Three records. One at Shinas (B) 10-11 Jan 2005 [P];
one at Qurayyat (B) 11-15 Feb 2005 [P]; one at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 22 Oct 2005 - 24 Mar 2006 [P]
92 Great Frigatebird Fregata minor. Vagrant. One record. One at Al Fahl Island (B) 11-18 Jun 1982 [P]
98 Little Bittern. New max: 157 at Khawr Taqah (D) 3 May 2005
99 Yellow Bittern. New max: 8 at East Khawr (D) 30 April 2004
104 Night Heron. New max: 75 at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 27 Oct 2007
111 Cattle Egret. New max: 440 at Jarziz Farm, Salalah (D) 31 Jan 2007
125A Black-headed Heron. Five records. One at Salalah (D) 9 Dec 1986
131 Black Stork. Seven records. Up to two at Khawr Rawri (D) and East Khawr (D) 2-14 Nov 2004 [P];
immature at Khawr Rawri (D) 27 Dec 2006 [P]; up to seven at Khawr Rawri (D) and
Wadi Darbat (D) 16 Nov - 4 Mar 2008 [P]; up to three at various Dhofar khawrs
(D) 2 Nov 2008 - 5 Mar 2009 [P]
142 Sacred Ibis. Six records. Adult at West Khawr (D) 14 Jan 2004 [P]; one at Thumrayt (D) 23 Jul 2005; one at
East Khawr (D) 23 Sep - 25 Nov 2005 [P]
146A African Spoonbill. Five records. Adult at West Khawr (D) 14 Jan 2004 [P];
one at Khawr Setimah and East Khawr (D) 2 Oct - 10 Dec 2008 [P]
160 Lesser White-fronted Goose. Three records. Adult at Khawr Sawli (D) 13 Dec 2006 [P]
170 Egyptian Goose. Three records. Two at Safah (B) 15 Jan 2005 [P]
232 Crested Honey Buzzard. Rare passage migrant and winter visitor
late-Sep to late-May [the * against this species has been removed]
235 Black-winged Kite. Seven records. One at Al Qurm Park (B) 27-29 Aug 2004 [P] and one at Sinaw (B) 20 Feb 2006 [P]
242 Pallas's Fish Eagle. Four records. One at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 3-4 Nov 2004 [P]
247 Egyptian Vulture. New max: 500 at Al Amrat Waste Disposal Site (B) 19 Jan 2007
254 Lappet-faced Vulture. New max: 102 at Ibra (B) 2 Nov 2007
272 Shikra. Rare visitor with records scattered throughout the year
[the * against this species has been removed]
275 White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa. Vagrant. One record. One at Ayn Najar (C) 22 Mar 2004
292 Lesser Spotted Eagle. Nine records. One at Qurayyat (B) 2 Dec 2005 [P]
294 Steppe Eagle. New max: 600 at Raysut Waste Disposal Site (D) 10 Nov 2007
299 Bonelli's Eagle. New max: 6 at Wadi Darbat (D) 23 Oct 2006
321 Barbary Falcon. New max: 4 at Jabal Samhan (D) 16 Jun 2009
363 Sand Partridge. New max: 75 at Wadi Aydam (D) 12 Oct 2008
365 Chukar. New max: 420 at Sayh (A) 21 Dec 2007
411 Baillon's Crake. New max: 11 at Khawr Rawri (D) 5 Jan 2009
431 Watercock. Two records. One near Sadh (D) 28 Dec 2008 - 28 Jan
2009 [P]
431 Red-knobbed Coot. Six records. One at Salalah (D) 21 Apr 2005;
one at Khawr Rawri (D) 15 Nov 2009 [P]
482 Dotterel. Nine records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 23-25 Dec 2003, two there 2-5 Jan 2005 [P],
one there 13 Nov 2006 [P], one there 8 Nov 2007 [P]
484 Pacific Golden Plover. New max: 500+ at Khawr Al Baleed, Salalah (D) 26 Mar 2009
484A American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica. One record. One at Sur Sewage Plant (B) 23 Nov - 25 Dec 2003 [P]
485 European Golden Plover. Rare passage migrant and winter visitor early Sep - early Jan [the * has been removed
from this species]
491 Sociable Plover. New max: 31 at Jarziz Farm, Salalah (D)
14 Nov 2009
493 Northern Lapwing. New max: 8 at Jarziz Farm, Salalah (D) 9 Nov 2007
507 Pectoral Sandpiper. Rare autumn passage migrant mid-Aug to
late-Nov with one record in Jun [the * has been removed from this species]
516 Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis. Vagrant, one record.
One at Sahnawt Farm, Salalah (D) 26 Oct 2005 [P]
517 Ruff. New max: 500 at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 13 Oct 2004
529 Woodcock. Two records. One at Hilf (E) 18 Nov 2004
570 South Polar Skua. Two records. One at Ras Al Hadd (B) 24 Sep 2004
571 Sooty Gull. New max: 35,000 at Salalah beaches (D) 20 Nov 2006
572 White-eyed Gull. Nine records. Adult at Taqah (D) 17 Nov 2006, adult at Salalah (D) 25 Dec 2006
591 Siberian Gull. New max: 15,000 at Salalah beaches (D) 20 Nov 2006
628 White-winged Black Tern. New max: 800 at Sahnawt Farm, Salalah (D) 22 Nov 2007
658 Crowned Sandgrouse. New max: 2,000 at Muntasar (C) 13 Nov
2009
665 Rock Dove. New max: 900 (single flock) at Sall Ala (A) 22 Dec 2007
668 Stock Dove. Two records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 5 Nov 1999
670 Wood Pigeon. The race breeding in the mountains of northern Oman resembles C. p. iranica [P]
684A African Collared Dove. Correction: the breeding record at East Khawr (D) 22 May 2002 could not be confirmed and has been deleted.
Three records. Two at Thumrayt (D) 24 Aug - 1 Sep 2004 and one there 22 Jul 2006
686 Red Turtle Dove. Four records. Adult male at Dawkah (D) 4 Oct 2006, adult at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 1 Feb and 27 Mar 2008 [P]
684 Collared Dove. New max: 2,500 at Sun Farm, Sohar (D) 23 Jan 2008
690 Laughing Dove. New max: 2,000 at Jarziz Farm, Salalah (D) 23 Nov 2006
692 Namaqua Dove. New max: 25+ at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 23 Jan
2008
703 Bruce's Green Pigeon. New max: 30 at Wadi Darbat (D) 12 Nov 2008
722 Plaintive Cuckoo. Three records. 1-2 at Hilf (E) 18-27 Oct 2006 [P]
734B Koel. New max: 9 at Hilf (E) 12 Jan 2005
781 Egyptian Nightjar. New max: 6 at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 12 Mar 2001
829 Grey-headed Kingfisher. New max: 41 at Wadi Darbat (D) 25 Sep 2008
831A Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata. Vagrant. Four records. Two at Khawr Kharfot (D) 18 Sep 2000;
one at Khawr Taqah (D) 1-25 Nov 2004 [P]; one at Khawr Al Mughsayl (D) 10-25 Nov 2004 [P]
and one there 26 Jan 2009
833 Pied Kingfisher. Five records. Adult female at Al Qurm Park (B)
13 Dec 2008 - 10 Feb 2009 [P]
843 Indian Roller. New max: 650 at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 23 Sept 2004
846 Hoopoe. New max: 36 at Wadi Darbat (D) 21 Nov 2007
957 Desert Lark. New max: 150 at Wadi Andhur (D) 13 Dec 2007
958 Hoopoe Lark. New max: 80+ at Rahab Farm, Marmul (D) 2 Oct 2008
975 Small Skylark. Rare, but regular winter visitor to Sun Farms, Sohar (B) in small numbers with max 6 there 1 Nov 2007.
Vagrant elsewhere
980 Brown-throated Sand Martin. Six records. One at Al Qurm Natural Park (B) 21 Mar 2004
981A Pale Martin. Two records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 26-27 Mar 2004
991 Crag Martin. New max: 40 at Sayh (A) 21 April 2004
994 Wire-tailed Swallow. Four records. One at East Khawr, Salalah (D) 25 Dec 2003; adult at Sahnawt Farm,
Salalah (D) 3-4 Jan 2004 [P]; one at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 18 Nov 2005
996 Streak-throated Swallow. Four records. Two immatures at Sidrah (B) 17 Jul 2006; adult at Qatbit (C) 14 Dec 2006
1004 Blyth's Pipit. Four records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 15 Nov 2003; one at Masirah (E) 23-24 Nov 2005;
two at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 17 Dec 2006
1005 Tawny Pipit. New max: 220 at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 14 Nov 2003
1007 Long-billed Pipit. New max: 53 Ar Rawdah (A) 27 Nov 2003
1011 Meadow Pipit. Nine records. Several at Khasab (A) 27-28 Dec 2003;
one at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 1 Dec 2008
1014A Buff-bellied Pipit. Four records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 24 Nov 2003, one there 26 Dec 2004 to at least 22 Jan 2005 [P],
and one there 5-20 Nov 2005
1016 Forest Wagtail. Five records. One at Hilf (E) 18-19 Nov 2003 [P]; one at Ayn Hamran (D) 26 Oct 2005 [P];
up to 5 at Hilf (E) 23 Oct - 20 Nov 2006 [P]
1104 Nightingale. New max: 100+ at Wadi Darbat (D) 3 Oct 2008
1118 Eversmann's Redstart. Female at Sunub (B) 12 Feb 2004 [P] was only the second record outside Musandam
1020 White Wagtail. New max: 5,000 Salalah (D) 27 Nov 2003.
One of race leucopsis at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 15 Mar 2005
1035 White-cheeked Bulbul. New max: 60 at Ras As Sawadi (B) 5 Nov 2007
1035B Red-vented Bulbul. New max: 22 at Ras As Sawadi (B) 20 Nov 2005
1049 Grey Hypocolius. New max: 27 at Thumrayt (D) 22 Feb 2005
1088 Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis. Vagrant. One record. One at Sayh (A) 17 Nov 2004
1095 Rufous Bush Robin. New max: 162 at Najd Research Station (D) 29 Apr 2005
1103 Thrush Nightingale. Ten records. One at Hilf (E) 3 Nov 2002
1106 Bluethroat. New max: 17 at Al Buraymi Sewage Plant (B) 27 Feb 2004
1121 Black Redstart. New max: 78 at Sayq Plateau (B) 2 Dec 2004
1139 Stonechat. One of the form 'Caspian Stonechat' at Thumrayt (D) 29 Dec 2006 [P]
1141 Pied Stonechat. Five records. One at Al Qurm Natural Park (B) 5 Oct 2004 [P]; one at Sayh (A) 21-22 Apr 2005
1144 Isabelline Wheatear. New max: 125 Al Balid Farm (D) 5 Nov 2001
1147 Pied Wheatear, race vittata. Five records. One at Sall Ala (A) 28 Mar 2004 [P]
1147A Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca. Vagrant, one record. Male at Qatbit (C) 8 Mar 2004 [P]
1148 Black-eared Wheatear. Rare passage migrant late-Mar to mid-May and early-Sep to late-Oct
[the * has been removed from this species]
1152 Red-tailed Wheatear. New max: 69 Ar Rawdah (A) 27 Nov 2003
1154 Mourning Wheatear. Nine records. Adult male at Ar Rawdah (A) 27-28 Nov 2003 [P], one there 30-31 Dec 2004 [P]
1155 Hooded Wheatear. New max: 8 at Jabal Samhan (D) 16 Jun 2009
1156 Hume's Wheatear. New max: 72 at Ar Rawdah (A) 27 Nov 2003
1157 White-crowned Black Wheatear. Seven records. Adult at Qurayyat (B) 18 Jan - 9 Feb 2006
1162A Little Rock Thrush. A review of this species lead to all records being deleted.
1186 Ring Ouzel. Rare winter visitor from late-Nov to late-Feb with one record in late-Oct and one in mid-Mar
[the * has been removed from this species]
1196 Dusky Thrush. New dates for third record: one at Qatbit (C) 24 Dec 2002 - 8 Feb 2003 [P]
1200 Song Thrush. New max: 10 at Sayh (A) 5 Jan 2005
1202 Mistle Thrush. Seven records. Two adults at Hilf (E) 30-31 Dec 2006
1231 Scrub Warbler. New max: 20 at Wadi Khabb Shamsi (A) 28 Feb 2006
1236 Grasshopper Warbler. Rare autumn passage migrant mid-Aug to early-Oct with one record in mid-Jan and
one in mid-Mar [the * has been removed from this species]
1238 Savi's Warbler. Nine records. One at Thumrayt (D) 10 Sep 2005
1239 Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon. Two records. One at Thumrayt (D) 11-13 Apr 2001,
one there 23 Dec 2007 [P]
1241 Moustached Warbler. Seven records. One at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 6 Nov 1999
1243 Sedge Warbler. New max: 6 at Thumrayt (D) 22 May 2009
1247 Paddyfield Warbler. Nine records. One at Thumrayt (D) 27 Oct 2003; one trapped at Al Qurm
Park (B) 25 Mar 2004 [P]; one at Qatbit (C) 7 May 2006; one at Thumrayt (D) 28 Sep 2006
1251 European Reed Warbler. New max: 23 at Qatbit (C) 11 Sep 2008
1248 Blyth's Reed Warbler. Three records. One at Al Ansab Lagoons (B) 27 Dec 2004; one at Thumrayt (D) 31 Mar 2006
1258 Olive-tree Warbler. Two records. One at Sidab (C) 28 Sep 2001
1266 Ménétries's Warbler. New max: 55 at Qatbit (C) 9 Mar 2006
1267 Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala. Vagrant. One record. One at Thumrayt (D) 29 Sep 2004 [V]
1271 Arabian Warbler. New max: 25 at Ayn Hamran (D) 20 Sep 2005
1273 Barred Warbler. New max: 8 at Bukha (A) 23 Apr 2004
1274 Lesser Whitethroat. New max: 100 at Ar Rawdah (A) 2 Nov 2008
1274A Hume's Lesser Whitethroat. Two records. One at Sur Sewage Farm (B) 23 Nov 2003
1274B Desert Lesser Whitethroat. New max: 77 at Ar Rawdah (A) 27 Nov 2003
1300 Yellow-browed Warbler. Six records. One at Hilf (E) 17-21 Nov 2003; one at Al Ghaftayn (C) 8 Feb 2005 [P];
one at Al Qurm Natural Park (B) 13 May 2005; one at Hilf (E) 20 Oct - 1 Dec 2006 [P]
1301 Hume's Warbler. Seven records. One at Qatbit (C) 15 Dec 2006
1307 Bonelli's Warbler. Four records. One at Thumrayt (D) 3 Oct 2004 [V], one there 7 Apr 2008 [P]
1309 Plain Leaf Warbler. New max: 50 at Ar Rawdah (A) 2 Nov 2008
1312 Willow Warbler. New max: 200 at Sayh (A) 21 April 2004
1327 Blue-and-white Flycatcher. Two records. Immature male at Sahnawt Farm, Salalah (D) 14 Nov 2006 [P]
1334 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica. Vagrant. One record.
First winter bird at Hilf (E) 25-26 Oct 2006 [P]
1343 Red-breasted Flycatcher. New max: 20 at Al Ghaftayn (C) 3 Nov 2007
1349 Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Vagrant. One record. Female at Qatbit (C) 21-22 Oct 2004
1504 White-breasted White-eye. New max: 200+ at Wadi Darbat (D)4 Apr 2006
1516 Bay-backed Shrike. Rare passage migrant late-Mar to early-May. A pair bred at Ar Rawdah (A) [WA29] 22 Apr 2004,
first breeding record for Oman [the * has been removed from this species]
1517 Long-tailed Shrike. Rare passage migrant and winter visitor mid-Oct to early-Apr
[the * has been removed from this species]
1549 Magpie Pica pica. Vagrant. One record. One at Qurm (B) 15 Oct 2004 to at least 1 Mar 2005 [P]
1577 Brahminy Starling. Nine records. One at Thumrayt (D) 30 Sep 2003; one at Qatbit (C) 13 Nov 2003; one at Al Hijj (C) 20 Nov 2003;
one at Al Jerry (A) 29 Nov 2003 [P]; one at Al Ghaftayn (C) 28 Dec 2003 - 8 Jan 2004 [P]; one at Hilf (E) 2 Nov 2005
1587 Common Mynah. New max: 3,000 at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 13 Aug 2007
1588 Bank Mynah. Six records. One at Al Bustan Palace Hotel (B) 15 Mar 2002
1602 Yellow-throated Sparrow. New max: 1,000 at Ras al Hamra (B) 22 Aug 2004
1619 African Silverbill. New max: 500 at Jarziz farm, Salalah (D) 24 Nov 2005
1620B Scaly-breasted Munia. Feral, sustainable populations have established themselves at Al Qurm Natural Park (B)
and on farmlands near Salalah (D)
1646 Yemen Serin. New max: 100 at Jabal Al Qamar (D) 10 Nov 2007
1867 Siskin. Seven records. Two at Qatbit (C) 21 Nov 2007
1676 Trumpeter Finch. New max: 300 at Jabal Qatar (B) 4 Feb 2005
1864 African Rock Bunting. New max: 500+ at Wadi Darbat (D) 4 Apr 2006
1866 Ortolan Bunting. New max: 132 at Sayh (A) 10 Apr 2006
1867 Grey-necked Bunting. Three records. Up to five at Sayh (A) 26 Mar - 15 Apr 2004 [P]
1873 Rustic Bunting. Four records. One on ferry to Masirah 2 Mar 2004 [P]
1874 Little Bunting. Seven records. One at Thumrayt (D) 5 Nov 2003; adult male at Sayq (B) 11 Mar 2005;
adult at Abu Najib 16 Nov 2006; one at Muntasar (C) 1-2 Nov 2008 [P]
1880 Red-headed Bunting. Four records. One at Sun Farms, Sohar (B) 3 Mar 2002; adult male at Qatbit (C) 31 Dec 2006
Escapes
129 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis. One record.
Two flying over border into Oman at Khatmat Milahah (B) 19 Dec 1998
1612D Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus. One record. One at Al Qurm Park (B) 4 May - 12 Nov 2004
1612E Red-billed Quelea Quelea erythrops. One record. One at Al Qurm Park (B) 6-7 Apr 2004 [P]
1614B Blue-capped Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus cyanocephala. One record. Male at Al Qurm Park (B) 17-23 Oct 2004 [P]