randombirder

A couple of days in the Peak District to end off the year.  Driving up on the 30th arriving into the National Park, and setting off from the White Lodge Car Park for a river walk through Deepdale. The weather was a bit dreary but the steady flow of the river and the rolling hills made for a pleasant walk to the quaint village of Ashford-in-the-water.  Along the way, two Dipper were incongruously inactive by the river margins. The next day was a real treat with a trek up Mam Tor and the Ridge. The circular walk starts and finishes in Castleton with great views over the peaks from the trig point and the 'ridgeway'.  The wind was literally breathtaking, surging through the valley and over the tops, punching its weight into our bodies as we clumsily made our way along the beaten track.  A great experience.

Took a couple of attempts to see the Red-breasted Merganser at Denham Quarry but car parking charges aside, it's a great site. The first attempt was on a gloomy day, where the sawbill had re-located further down the Colne Valley. Today, the weather was much more favourable, perfect in fact.  A crisp cold morning, subdued winter light and no wind.  Present here were eight Goosander made up of four drakes and four females.  The Merg was in full flirt mode taking its fancy to one of the female Goosander. Also on site were a Kingfisher , three Common Gull , Treecreeper , 42 Common Pochard , Common Buzzard , and a Red Kite .

A visit to the stunning Yiti beach and a couple of surprise finds and an Osprey consumed by stealth on a pool created by the receded tide. Heading back from the beach, a Hume's Wheatear was spotted close to the roadside.  A Desert Warbler flitted around a small acacia bush nearby. Three Grey Francolin were later seen plodding through the Qurum Natural Park.

Beach time.

A fine day started at Turtle Beach followed by a fruitless search for Crab Plover.  I believe this was the right location for them, but despite a long muddy trudge, they failed to materialise. I was up early to have a quick look around the scrubby barren areas around the hotel that yielded a couple of male Desert Wheatear , a Red-tailed Wheatear , and a surprise Wryneck . Firstly driving round the lagoon at Ras al Hadd produced plenty of waders including both species of Sand Plover, my first ever Terek Sandpiper with one group holding 35 birds, a Bar-tailed Godwit , a  Gull-billed Tern just offshore, and small groups of Grey Plover and Greenshank . A Black-headed Wagtail flew past. Moving onto Khwar Jirama just off the Sur road, I could sense that the beach was muddy so made conservative efforts to keep the rental car away from the sinking mud.  This was made evidently clear to me as I watched one poor individual, his car sinking...

The Bimmah Sinkhole was a nice little spot en route to Ras al Hadd.  The cool aquamarine waters invited a short swim while trying to ignore the sensation of the digit nipping fish. A few Egyptian Vulture were seen along the way. This Rock Semaphore Gecko was absorbed in a fesity duel with another male by the seating areas. Talk about burying your head in the sand, this Camel preferred a bin to escape the stresses of life. Not the greatest image, but unfortunately the Arabian Gazelle were difficult to pin down.

Nizwa was around a two hour drive from the hotel and was regarded as one of the top sights within the Sultanate.  It is one of the oldest cities in the country and was at one time the capital. The main attraction is the fort and the adjoining castle.  There is plenty to see here to fill up a whole day. Within the city a couple of stunning Little Green Bee-Eater sat on wires. Desert Wheatear were a regularly sighting wherever there was any barren land as were Red-tailed Wheatear .  Both of these were seen just outside of Nizwa city.