We stopped in Dubai twice, the first time was before we went to Ethiopia and then on our way back. We spent four days at the end birding in and around Dubai. What a wonderfully strange place. The desert scenery in the interior is surprising, but the fact that much of the coastline appears to be under constant construction, many of which appear won’t be complete any time soon. We stayed at a Five Star Hotel in Dubai was right next to another hotel under construction.

We managed to do some site seeing, our first spot was the Burj Al Arab. It was quite impressive when viewed close up. It looks immaculate and appears as if it was carved out of smooth white icing. One would actually had to pay big bucks to get in for a look inside, so we were content to stay outside. Then we went to the interior desert. Fantastic tan and orange colored dunes. No birds here, though if one finds a shrub or two there might be a Desert Warbler hanging around, for what we couldn’t figure out. Much of the interior looks paler and more rocky with scattered shrubbery. This though, makes a great habitat for the Desert Wheatears and, if you are lucky you might even spot the Great Hoopoe Lark.

We then saw the famous hotel at Ghantoot, sometimes the winter home for the Grey Hypocolius, we didn’t see any thought, but what a spectacular quiet atmosphere at sunset. Then we just drove around to see Dubai’s skyline. Many of the skyscrapers are unfinished and are most likely destined to remain that way until the economy improves. That might be a long wait. Our last stop, believe it or not was Dubai’s huge sewage plant. Basically because the treatment plant has ‘fields’ that are always green, well water and thus attracts a whole variety of birds. A bird hot spot if you will, where many vagrant birds are found socializing.