The Sultanate of Oman is a perfect spot for bird watching as many migratory birds make the Sultanate their home during the winter months. According to Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, “Oman witnesses huge swarms of migratory birds during their seasonal journey between their nesting habitats and the places where they spend winters, especially those birds migrating from Europe and East Asia.
“Many birds, especially water fowl, migrate from faraway regions like northern Siberia, and travel about five thousand kilometres.Visitors can see many species of birds in each of Oman’s different regions. Al Hikman Peninsula, Masirah Island, Al Wusta Governorate beaches, the Lagoons, the beaches and springs in Dhofar are ideal places for bird observation. Many of these species live in Dimaniyat Islands and in Musandam.”
Barr Al Hikman is considered one of the most important bird migration stations both in Oman and Southeast Asia. Many birds congregate here, especially water birds coming from as far as Siberia’s northern shores.
Located at the crossroads of some important bird migration routes, Masirah Island attracts birds from India and Pakistan in the east and from Africa in the west, and wintering birds from as far north as Siberia. “The island provides a perfect stopover point for travelling birds that cross more than one continent. The birds found in these places include Crab Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-Winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Sociable Lapwing, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Eurasian Curlew, Egyptian Vultures and many others.
