Bird watching in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates is situated on one of the main migratory routes with birds stopping here from all over Asia, Africa and Europe. The massive greening of the country has made it an attractive stopover for a huge number of birds with many rare species. Exotic birds from Asia and Africa including European birds such as robins, song thrushes and starlings are found here. Over 360 birds of various classifications like, resident breeding birds, passage birds, birds from Europe as well as summer breeding visitors have been spotted here in the lush green parks of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Safa Park in Dubai is considered one of the best places in the Emirates for bird watching. The sheltered tidal lagoon at Khor Dubai is a good place to watch waders and other migrants and has been found the home to 4,000 of the world's estimated 30,000 broad billed sandpipers.

It also supports large migrant flocks of Lesser Sand Plovers (up to 3,000 counted in winter) and significant numbers of Kentish Plover (up to 3,500 in winters). The most attractive species include Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Harrier, Spotted Eagle, Osprey and Caspian Tern. The area can be viewed from around the perimeter adjacent to the main roads to Hatta and Al Ain.

Further up the coast in Umm al Quwain, the mudflats at Khor al Beidah hosts the country's largest wintering flock of Crab Plover (up to 500 birds between September and February), and the even rarer Great Knot. The extensive khor is also a favored site of Greater Sand Plover, Whimbrel and Terek Sandpiper.

Many exciting and rare species of birds are also found in the intriguing and giant sand dunes of the desert. The most common bird resident in the desert is the Hoopoe Lark, while in winter small areas of scrub are likely to attract Desert Wheatear and Desert Warbler. The unique Prosopis cineraria trees attract birds like Great Grey Shrike. During the cool season the trees home several species of Sylvia warbler (Orphean and Menetries' Warbler and Desert Lesser Whitethroat), while in summer they provide nest sites for Yellow-throated Sparrows.

The Hajar Mountains have many wadis to explore. Resident bird species include Bonelli's Eagle, Sand Partridge, Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Desert Lark, Hume's Wheatear (easily identified by contrasting black-and-white plumage) and House Bunting. Red-tailed Wheatear, Desert Lesser Whitethroat and Plain Leaf Warbler are regular. The Indian Roller, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Little Green Bee-eater are found in the shaded, more cultivated wadis.

The good bird watching zones are:

1: Abu Dhabi

The Eastern Lagoon Area is a bird sanctuary with herons, egrets, gulls and marsh harriers all found in abundance. The Bateen Wood area marvels with warbler, bulbul, mynah, sparrow hawk etc.

2: Al Ain

The Al Ain Zoo witnesses the arrival of the Egyptian vulture, which feed on the raw meat, fed to the animals. In the Jebel Hafiz area you can spot the Griffon vulture, Bonelli eagle, lappet faced vulture, and the long-legged buzzard.

3: Dubai

Dubai offers bird watching in Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Beach Park, Jebel Ali Hotel grounds, Zabeel Water Treatment Plant, and the Mushrif National Park.

4: Fujairah

Kalba in Fujairah witnesses various kinds of kingfishers.

5: Ras Al Khaimah

Jazeerah Al Khor in this region has several migratory birds like flamingo, plover, heron during peak season.