Country/territory: Oman
IBA criteria met: A4i, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 2,000 hectares (20.00 km2)
Site description (1994 baseline)
Two major tidal inlets with mangrove Avicennia, Khawr al Jaramah and Khawr al Hajar, part of the major headland east of Sur. The intertidal flats at Khawr al Jaramah are particularly extensive.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Other notable wintering species include Ardea cinerea (89) and Calidris alba (800). In autumn, large numbers of migrant Ciconia ciconia (150, September) and Larus argentatus (1,600, September) rest on the intertidal flats. Marine upwelling offshore provides rich feeding grounds (especially in June–August) for non-breeding and passage seabirds, with large numbers of Puffinus persicus (see box), Oceanites oceanicus (400, July) and Phalaropus lobatus (see box). A total of 87 species has been recorded.
Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: the most important nesting beach in Oman for the sea-turtle Chelonia mydas (E) lies immediately adjacent to the the south (and is protected by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment).
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Simon Albrecht; summary bird data supplied by Oman Bird Records Committee (per Jens Eriksen).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ras al Hadd (Oman). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ras-al-hadd-iba-oman on 23/12/2024.