Pale Crag-Martin over the Oman Desert. Early spring in the desert could be very rewarding as surprises could arise everywhere. The birder has a chance to see birds in migration and to see the first birds breeding. A surprise was this Pale Crag-Martin, Hirundo obsolete or Ptyonoprogne obsolete patrolling over the little nice oasis of Mudday in the north-western corner of Dhofar/ Oman.
Interesting features of this particular bird were a yellow gape flange and a whitish-grey rump contrasting with the lead-grey back. These characters suggest a juvenile individual. The flight however has been very swift and showed that the bird was not an inexperienced one. Photos of a young Pale Crag-Martin I have never seen in the internet galleries. Bird-Lens is proud to present this nice pictures and more you will find in the gallery under Pale Crag-Marting of Oman. Bird Lens hopes that these images are of value for other birders, too.
Pale Crag-Martin, Hirundo obsoleta is a split of the widespread Rock Martin, Hirundo fuligula, and has been treated as a subspecies of the Rock Martin, Hirundo fuligula obsoleta before.
It is found in different races from Afghanistan over Yemen to Mauritania. The bird is supposed to be increasing following recorded range expansions The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be common in the whole Arabic peninsula. At least this is true for Dhofar, where I could photograph birds feeding its young at the nest.
Hanne and Jens Eriksen, the heads of the Oman Bird Records Committee write in their 2nd volume of the “Birdwatching Guide to Oman” (2008) that the Pale Crag-Martin is a abundant breeding resident in oman.
It is found in different races from Afghanistan over Yemen to Mauritania. The bird is supposed to be increasing following recorded range expansions The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be common in the whole Arabic peninsula. At least this is true for Dhofar, where I could photograph birds feeding its young at the nest.
Hanne and Jens Eriksen, the heads of the Oman Bird Records Committee write in their 2nd volume of the “Birdwatching Guide to Oman” (2008) that the Pale Crag-Martin is a abundant breeding resident in oman.