Sunday 25 th
of November 2018
and we left Radisson Blu in Muscat and started by driving to Thai Airways office as I will upgrade my ticket from Dubai to Bangkok to business class. We arrived just before 2 o´clock and I found out that they didn´t opened until 2 o´clock. When I was ready we went on the highway and we were driving towards the Botanical Garden.
On the highway going to the Botanical Garden
On the highway going to the Botanical Garden
On the highway going to the Botanical Garden
We arrived to the Botanical Garden, or well, we reached a gate but we were not allowed inside. Construction and they would be closed for 5 years. So we had to turn around and we drove down to some kind of look out place. We over looked a dry flood bed and I walked along the edge, some 6 meters or so above an irrigation channel.
There were vegetation and small trees under the edge and I spotted quite a few birds. I managed to identify 2 of the birds, the White-eared Bulbul and the White-spectacled Bulbul.
But I never managed to get any good pictures of the birds, DARN! They were very scared and they never sat still, jumping around and it was impossible to get any pictures.
Gate at Botanical Garden
Gate at Botanical Garden
Overlooking the dry flood bed
Overlooking the dry flood bed
Irrigation channel
White-spectacled Bulbul
We decide to drive down to the flood bed to see if we can see any birds. We drive through a village and we stop every now and then and I try to get out to get some pictures, but no luck with the birds. We reach the flood bed and we drive along a dust road. There are a few very old forts on the edge 20 meters above the river bed.
Old forts
Old forts
I walk up to some trees to look for birds
I run in to an “outdoor” slaughterhouse
I get out of the car and I walk up to some trees to try to get some bird pictures. I run in to a lot of dead goats. They were slaughter goats under the tree and I decided to go with vegetarian food at the hotel tonight. I turned around walking back towards the car.
I spotted a Green Bee-eater sitting on the wire. Of course, the bird was taking off when I approached. I spotted a few White-eared Bulbuls in the trees and I climber some heaps of stones trying to get closer to the birds.
There were a few other birds that I could not identify. But I managed to get one picture of the White-eared Bulbul that I can use so the bird will end up on my list of observed birds. And this is the only bird I can use for today, but there was plenty birds in the area.
White-eared Bulbul
White-eared Bulbul
We left the area and we were soon on our way back to Radisson Blu in Muscat. Driving on the highway and we passed the Haya Water plant famous for the Al Ansab wetland. You need a permission to enter the area and I will have to apply on line. But I hope my Guide have the permission and I will find out when I meet him at the hotel tonight.
I´m really impressed by the roads in Oman, they all looks new and are very well maintained and Oman looks to be a rich country and they have some very big malls and many are under construction. And you can see how they are building all over the area.
On Muscat Expressway going back to Radisson Blu
On Muscat Expressway going back to Radisson Blu
Restaurant at Radisson Blu
Turkish mixed grill
Back at the hotel and I had some time to kill before my guide would arrive at 7 to discuss the 3 upcoming days. I went to the restaurant for my dinner and I got a big pot of Earl Grey tea and I had ordered some Turkish mixed grill. Plus two plates of creamy mash.
My Guide came at 7 and we made plans for the 3 upcoming days. I wanted to visit the NR Wadi Sireen but we need to apply for permission to enter the nature reserve.
The Reserve is located in the eastern AlHajar Mountains about 45 kilometres south of Muscat. There a large number of wild animals in the area, such as the Arabian Tahr and deer.
They have a lot of problem with poaching of the endangered species so you need permission to enter. It will take some time to get the entry permit and if we get it we will go there on the 28th of November. We will start at Haya Water plant and the Al Ansab Wetlands tomorrow. My Guide had the permit so my application that I applied for before my dinner will not come to use.
Click HERE
to find out how the Al Ansab Wetland will turn out.
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