Desert dweller

After driving through the desert for more than two hours, we stopped at an elevated dune some five kilometres southwest of Bab Al Shams Hotel.

When we got down, I heard some commotion.

We walked down the dune and saw hundreds of sandgrouse running helter-skelter and feasting on lush desert greens that had sprouted after the last rains.

A carpet of green enveloped the valley. The scene was spectacular.

I could see tiny Arabian Primrose, among many other species of plants and grasses.

The Zygophyllum hamiense was the most dominant plant, growing up to 60cm in height and spreading over a metre or so.

Two species of sandgrouse – pin-tailed and chestnut-bellied – were among the hundreds of birds gathering foliage and grass seeds.

Smaller birds such as the crested lark, hoopoe lark, courser, desert lark and a few sparrows were also foraging for insects, worms and plants.

With small birds around, predatory birds such as the kestrel and a pallid harrier were also in the vicinity.

The pin-tailed sandgrouse not only makes a guttural sound but also beats its wings, which can be heard from quite a distance.

When a harrier appeared on the horizon, the flock of sandgrouse took flight.