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close| Location | Oman, Dhofar |
| Central coordinates | 54o 26.00' East 17o 2.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2, B3 |
| Area | 1,100 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 100m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. The most important khawr in Dhofar for wintering and passage waterbirds, with a greater diversity of species and larger numbers of birds present than at other khawrs. Other wintering species include wildfowl (up to 1,200 birds of 16 species), Aquila clanga (max. 3, November) and Hydrophasianus chirurgus (50, February). Large numbers of Ardea cinerea (40, April) and Ciconia ciconia (150, November) occur on migration. The number of species recorded overall (203) is high, reflecting the occurrence of many migrant species, a wide variety of breeders including Afrotropical species, and scarce or vagrant freshwater waterbirds.
Site description One of the largest coastal lagoons in Oman, c.2.6 km long, on the Salalah coastal plain east of and close to the town of Taqah. There is substantial but variable freshwater inflow from Wadi Darbat. Its sandbar is occasionally breached, when the lagoon becomes temporarily tidal. The khawr is cliff-girt along its central part, and a small hill occurs at either side of its mouth. The water surface is partly open, with a dense fringe of Juncus, Phragmites, Typha and sedges and grasses. There are beds of water-weed Chara. An important antiquity site lies just east of the lagoon. A road leads to the mouth of the khawr from Taqah, and the sandbar is open to the public. The vegetation is heavily grazed and browsed by camels, cattle and goats.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala | resident | 1993 | common [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | winter | 1993 | 30 individuals | good | B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris | winter | 1993 | 2 individuals | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga | winter | 1992 | 3 individuals | good | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | winter | 1993 | 2 individuals | good | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena | resident | 1993 | uncommon [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | minor | |
| Coastline | major | |
| Shrubland | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
Other biodiversity Flora: at least three species on the Salalah coastal plain are endemic or near-endemic to Oman, and some may be present at this site.
Management considerations The close presence of Salalah could lead to an increase in uncontrolled recreational use in the future, with potentially detrimental effects on birds through disturbance. The area is a proposed National Nature Reserve.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Khawr Rouri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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