Oman, 22 November-11 December 2006

• Oman is a great country for birding. If one is especially interested in raptors can find here the largest selection. Most eagles for example, from Verreaux’s to Booted, are present in winter. Also, a lot of difficult or rare species of the Western Paleartic are common here in winter or during migration....Ernesto G. Occhiato reports

Musandam and Northern Oman 4th – 10th January 2005

• When within sight of the outflow we noticed the small matter of a Pelican towering over the gulls and herons. On closer inspection it proved to be a Dalmatian Pelican, the first record for Oman, if accepted...Paul Bourdin reports

Desert Lark.

Photo:Georges Olioso

Birds of the Middle East
R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, P. Schiermacker-Hansen: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• If your going to this region you must buy this book. It is a great break through. Comprehensive and complete, it eliminates the need to carry too many books in the field: we know how important that is! The text is well written by experts, and many of the plates are fantastic; those by John Gale especially stand out; just dream about those raptors! Birds of the Middle East" is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this region. It covers all the species, including vagrants likely to be seen in Oman

A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa
William S. Clark, N. John Schmitt (Illustrator): Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• The birds of prey must rank among the most imposing birds to be found anywhere in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In this guide, the author presents the latest information on tried and tested field marks for identifying the diurnal raptors, both perched and in flight

Collins Bird Guide
Lars Svensson et al: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• 15 years in the making Has it been Worth the Wait?...Yes definately! If you buy just 1 book a year then make sure that its this one. Stunning drawings by the worlds finest bird illustrators..and it shows..check out the plates on tern,Skuas, and the Ducks...not forgetting the Finches and Crossbills.

Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback): Available direct from Bradt travel guides
Diana Darke, Sandra Shields: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• Included is a very useful chapter on birdwatching in Oman. More than 480 species have been seen in the country with some mouthwatering desert species on offer. As usual, this Bradt guide provides invaluable information for the traveling birder and wildlife enthusiast.

Oman and the Arabian Gulf (Travellers Survival Kit)
Dan Boothby: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• Introduces visitors to the attractions of this rapidly changing part of the world. The Gulf area offers camel racing in Qatar; Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain have stunning beaches and great nightlife; and Oman has breathtaking desert scenery.