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OM020
Duqm
Location Oman, Al Wusta
Central coordinates 57o 41.00' East  19o 40.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Area 1,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 30m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See box for key species. An important site for wintering waterbirds (apart from wildfowl), even though this coast is little known ornithologically. Other notable wintering species include Casmerodius albus (30), Platalea leucorodia (212, February), Phoenicopterus ruber (3,000), Pandion haliaetus (31) and Recurvirostra avosetta (175). A total of 77 bird species has been recorded.

Site description A shallow, sandy bay (Ghubbat Quwayrat) with coastal lagoons and extensive intertidal flats, and sand/gravel terrain of low hills, ridges and escarpments inland. There are relatively few and small settlements in this region, apart from the town of Ad Duqm (which is developing and expanding, away from the coast), and human population density is low. Major human uses of the area are fishing and pastoralism (goats).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea winter  1989-1992  192-268 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis non-breeding  1989-1992  99-250 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis non-breeding  1989-1991  8,467-15,000 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, B2  Vulnerable 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta winter  1990-1992  127-175 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus winter  1989-1992  279-500 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii non-breeding  1989-1992  720-1,220 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus winter  1993  2,000 individuals  poor  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei winter  1989-1992  2,349-5,275 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia winter  1989-1992  89-196 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii non-breeding  1989-1992  234-620 individuals  good  B1i  Least Concern 
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis winter  1989-1992  1,073-2,300 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Sea   minor
Coastline   major
Desert   minor
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   minor

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
fisheries/aquaculture minor
rangeland/pastureland minor

Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Duqm. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife