Winter is coming and so are flocks of migratory birds

For residents of UAE, the onset of winter marks the beginning of an exciting time in the outdoors amid nature.

Winter months are pretty significant for avid bird watchers and nature enthusiasts too. The perfect time when flocks of beautiful migratory birds call UAE their home every year. You can spot majority of migratory birds from November until March.

Gulls – aka Seagulls – act as nature’s barometers. They can sense the minute changes in the temperatures and variations in air pressure. When you spot colonies of gulls in the UAE, you can predict for sure that winter is around the corner. 

Bird watching locations in UAE are aplenty. The Mangrove National Park and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, Al Qudra and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Reserve in Dubai, Maleha and AlWasit wetlands in Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain wetlands and Green Mubazzarah in Al Ain provide excellent spots for bird watching.

“Patience is essential when it comes to bird observation and photography. Wait patiently for the birds to arrive. Every step forward in birdwatching will provide a memorable experience.” explains Rahul Bansal from Wild Tales, Dubai.

Wild Tales, a wildlife photography and bird watching group based in the UAE is managed by Rahul Bansal and Khaldoon Aldway. Passionate about wildlife and nature, together they organise wildlife photography and bird watching trips around UAE.

Rahul Bansal shares these valuable tips for bird watchers and wildlife photographers:

• Don’t wear bright-coloured clothes in the wild. Wear earthy tones like olive green, grey or black, and if possible, wear a camouflage suit.
• For bird watching, you must get a lightweight binocular, preferably 8×42 or 10×42 in size. 
• For bird/wildlife photography, carry a long telephoto lens to photograph them. Anything between 300 to 600mm is a good range. 
• Sudden movements and loud noises scare birds, causing them to fly away. The closer you go to a bird, the more silent you should be.
• The early bird catches the worm, and you need to go before the birds wake up to spot it. The chances of viewing a wide variety of birds are higher during this time.
• Get yourself a bird guide. Having a guide is an excellent way to build your knowledge while birding.

With no dearth of nature trails and wildlife in UAE, we suggest you get your cameras and binoculars ready. Take a notepad with you to make note of the specifics of the birds you see and the sounds they make. Share it on instagram and tag TheBrew.ae. Most liked images will be featured on TheBrew.ae website.

Today, November 12th, also marks National Bird Watching Day in India commemorating the birth anniversary of famous ornithologist and naturalist Sálim Ali, often known as ‘The Birdman of India.’ Born on November 12, 1896, Sálim Moizuddin Abdul Ali was a naturalist and a bird enthusiast. In addition to the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s third and second highest civilian honours, respectively, Ali received the British Ornithologists’ Union Gold Medal in 1967. He was the first non-British person to receive the award.