SOCOTRA – Endemics and seabirds in the islands of the Dragon’s Blood Trees

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Important: In the event that permission is received to visit Abd al Kuri, there will be a cost increase of US$400 per person or equivalent. This is to cover the much greater cost of the logistics involved. It is far more costly to go to Abd al Kuri for two nights and camp than it is to have two more nights on Socotra in a hotel. Bookings for this tour are accepted on the basis that everyone will pay the supplement should permission be granted.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

(There will be enough tents to allow single accommodation for all who want it on Abd al Kuri island, should we be able to visit.)

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

SOCOTRA BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Socotra: Day 1  Our expedition starts late this morning at Hadibo airport. Hadibo is the capital of Socotra Island. We will spend seven nights at Hadibo (or five nights at Hadibo in total if two nights are spent on the remote island of Abd al Kuri, should we receive permission to visit)

This afternoon, we will begin our exploration of Socotra.

Socotra: Days 2-7

Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands and islets situated in the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa, some 500km south of the Arabian Peninsula. The Yemeni government-in-exile, in theory, administers Socotra on behalf of the Banu Afrar Mahra Sultanate of Qishn and Socotra, but the current reality is that the island is under semi-occupation by Saudi Arabia.

Socotra is approximately 125 kilometres long and 45 kilometres wide and has a population of 45,000 with its own district language and culture (although the inhabitants also speak Arabic). Socotra is more closely linked with Africa than with Arabia, making it a unique place with a hybrid flavour. Socotra is one of the most isolated bits of land on earth of continental landmass origin (rather than volcanic origin), and its separation from Africa is believed to have occurred approximately six million years ago. As a result of this long isolation, many animals and plants that live today on the island are endemic species. Socotra is home to more than 850 species of plants, some 270 of which are endemic to the island, and there are certainly many more plant species that have yet to be discovered. Likewise, at least 80% of Socotra’s reptiles and many insects are endemic, while there is a splendid endemic avifauna.

From Hadibo, we will explore the wide range of habitats on this remarkable island. The narrow coastal plains with sandy palm-fringed beaches, lagoons and mudflats, the limestone karst plateau permeated with caves and dotted with the iconic Dragon’s Blood Trees (Dracaena cinnabari), and also the Haggier mountains, which rise over 1700 meters. During our stay, we will visit the spectacular Ayfath National Park, the famous Dixsham Plateau and several coastal birding spots.

The Socotra archipelago hosts a great selection of endemic bird species. The eleven currently recognised endemics of the islands include Socotra Buzzard, Socotra Scops Owl, the strange Socotra Warbler, the drab Socotra Cisticola, the elegant Socotra Starling, Socotra White-eye, the neatly-patterned Socotra Sunbird, the colourful Socotra Sparrow, Abd al-Kuri Sparrow, the smart Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak and the rare Socotra Bunting. The local forms of the Long-billed Pipit and Great Grey Shrike may also merit being treated as full species (Socotra Pipit and Socotra Shrike, respectively).

Other exciting resident or breeding species likely to be found during our visit to Socotra include Socotra Cormorant, Red-billed Tropicbird, Masked Booby, Jouanin’s Petrel, Persian Shearwater, Cream-coloured Courser, Sooty Gull, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Nubian Nightjar (which can be hard to find), Forbes-Watson’s Swift and Somali Starling.

More widespread breeding birds we may well encounter while on the island are Brown Booby, Osprey, Egyptian Vulture (which, surprisingly, has the highest density here of anywhere in the world), Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Bridled Tern, Laughing Dove, White-browed Coucal, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Pale Crag Martin, Brown-necked Raven and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting.

Regular migrants and winter visitors include Garganey, Greater Flamingo, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Glossy Ibis, Squacco, Indian Pond, Grey and Purple Herons, Western Cattle and Little Egrets, Western Reef Heron, Spotted Crake, Grey (or Black-bellied), Pacific Golden, Little  Ringed and Common Ringed Plovers, Tibetan and Greater Sand Plovers, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Little and Temminck’s Stints, Curlew, Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers, Common Snipe, Common Greenshank, Greater, Crested, Lesser Crested, Sandwich and Common Terns, European Roller, Barn Swallow, Isabelline, Pied and Desert Wheatears, and Western Yellow and White Wagtails.

With migrant birds passing by at this time of year, we are sure to turn up some surprises. Less regular landbird migrants include Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and Ortolan Bunting.

Rarer seabird possibilities include Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel, Sooty and White-cheeked Terns, and Lesser Noddy. Red-necked Phalaropes are regular offshore during this season.

During our stay, we will make a pelagic boat trip off the western end of Socotra so that we can get close-up views of seabirds, including Jouanion’s Petrel, Persian Shearwater and hopefully Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel.

[Subject to permission, we will make a two-night visit to remote Abd al Kuri island, some 6 hours by boat from Socotra proper. This is the home of the endemic Abd al Kuri Sparrow, a species hardly seen by birders, and there is also a great chance to see seabirds as we travel to and from the island. As with Socotra itself, landbird migrants often make a landfall on this remote isle, so we could well turn up some interesting species. We have even found a Somali Fiscal here, which was only the 2nd record for the Socotra archipelago.

Expect very simple camping on Abd al Kuri with minimal washing facilities (all water has to be taken with us) and no toilet tent. A fine sand beach and blue water are available close to our camp. Transport will be by two of the open local fishing boats. Seas are typically rather calm, but we stress typically. The visit to the island is subject to permission from the local authorities at the time of the tour, as well as prevailing weather conditions.]

Socotra: Day 8

After some final birding, we will reluctantly leave this peaceful island today. Our tour ends around midday.