76 species July 4 Birding Dubai in summer
Birding Highlights – Al Marmoom DCR & Ra’s Al Khor | 4 July 2025
An exceptional summer birding day in Dubai, with early morning exploration at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve followed by an early afternoon visit to Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary – Mangrove Hide. A total of 76 species were recorded across both sites, offering an exciting mix of desert, freshwater, and wetland birds.
Al Marmoom DCR & Al Qudra Lake
Time: 5:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Distance Covered: 58 km
Duration: 6 hours
Total Species: 57
The early morning start paid off with excellent visibility and high activity from both resident and uncommon species.
Waterbirds & Exotics
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (4)
• Black Swan (5)
• Egyptian Goose, domestic Mallard, Helmeted Guineafowl, Red Junglefowl
• Little Grebe (4) and a good selection of herons and egrets including Squacco (7) and Great Egret (3)
Gamebirds & Ground Dwellers
• Gray Francolin, Yellow-necked Spurfowl
• Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (3) and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (4)
• Highlight: Asian Houbara (1) – a prized desert sighting
• Cream-colored Courser (3)
Owls & Raptors
• Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (1), Little Owl (5)
• Greater Spotted Eagle (1), Black Kite (1), Shikra (4)
Passerines, Bee-eaters & Shrikes
• Arabian Green Bee-eater (4), Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (5)
• Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Crested Lark
• Great Gray Shrike, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Eurasian Hoopoe
• White-eared Bulbul (10), Purple Sunbird, Clamorous Reed Warbler
⸻
Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary – Mangrove Hide
Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Species: 19
Despite the midday heat, the short visit yielded several wetland highlights and elegant waders.
Waders & Waterbirds
• Greater Flamingo (40)
• Yellow-billed Stork (3), Glossy Ibis (5)
• Western Reef-Heron (1), Striated Heron (4), Purple Heron, Squacco Heron
• Black-winged Stilt (12), Red-wattled and Little Ringed Plovers
Others of Note
• White-eared Bulbul, Purple Sunbird, House Crow
• Indian Pied Starling (1) – a less common local sighting
⸻
Combined Day Total: 76 Species
A rich variety of birds observed across desert and wetland habitats, from iconic desert dwellers like Asian Houbara and Cream-colored Courser to spectacular wetland species like Greater Flamingos and Yellow-billed Storks. The diversity and density of sightings once again prove why Dubai remains a rewarding year-round birding destination.
