Records and photographs for Around the Region should be sent as soon as possible after the event to Around the Region, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.   

The following assisted in the compilation of this review: Alexander Abuladze, A. Alsirhan, Dr Svetlana Annenkova, Vaughan Ashley,
Dawn Balmer, Andrew Bailey, Jamie Buchan, Mark Chichester, Tom Coles, Judy Dawes, Jeff Delve, Hugues Dufourny, Pekka Fagel, Peter Flint, Brian Foster, Ramezanali Ghaemi, George Gregory, Nader Hamidi, Tomas Haraldsson, Peter Kaestner, Brendan Kavanagh, Abolghasem Khaleghizadeh, Howard King, Guy Kirwan, David Murdoch, Khaled al Nasaralla, Uzi Paz, Yoav Perlman, Kalle Raino, Colin Richardson, Nir Sapir, Dave Sargeant, Michael Schulz, Marius Teeuw, David Whaley, Ingo Waschkies, Frédéric Vanhove, Frédéric Veyrunes, Laurent Veyrunes, Sidonie Veyrunes, Peter Wilson and Süreyya Ysfendiyaroglu.

A record count of 4556 Persian Shearwaters Puffinus (lherminieri) persicus was made at Ras Janjari on 6 January. Four White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus were at East Khawr on 22 February - the 6th record. A Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus was at Shinas on 10-11 January was the 1st record for Oman. Two further records at Qurayyat on 11 and 17 February are under review. A record count of 6200 Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo was made at Barr al Hikman on 11 January. A new record count of 62 Little Bitterns Ixobrychus minutus at Khawr Taqah on 2 May lasted for just 24 hours, as an incredible 157 were seen there the next day! At least 400 White Storks Ciconia ciconia were at Raysut on 11 February. Two Sacred Ibises Threskiornis aethiopica (one of which was ringed) were at Al Ansab Lagoons on 21 March, being joined by a third bird the next day. Two were also seen at Sohar Sun Farms on 4 April. All are currently considered to be escapes. An African Spoonbill Platalea alba was at East Khawr on 29 March and at nearby Khawr Rawri on 1 April. Two Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca were reported from Safah on 3 February and are accepted as the 3rd record. Three Crested Honey-buzzards Pernis ptilorhynchus were seen at Khasab on 21 April and a single was at Salalah Lagoons on 2 May. A Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus was at Jarziz Farm on 10 February and would be the 8th record if accepted. Amur Falcons Falco amurensis were seen at Jarziz Farm, Salalah from 4 January-10 February with a peak of three on 22 January, while a single was at Sahnawt Farm on 8 January. A Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata was at Salalah Bird Sanctuary on 21 April and 4 May and would represent the 4th record if accepted. A Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvirostris was at Shinas from 1-23 January. Two Sociable Plovers Vanellus gregarius were at Sohar Sun Farms from 26 December 2004-5 January. Six were at Sahnawt Farm on 10 Febuary. Five Caspian Plovers Charadrius asiaticus were at Salalah Nature Reserve on 12 February. A single Dotterel Charadrius morinellus was at Sohar Sun Farms from 25 December 2004, being joined by a second bird from 2 January, and both remaining until 7 February (the 5th record). A Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus at Salalah Sewage Farm on 5 March has yet to be reviewed. Two Long-toed Stints Calidris subminuta were at Sohar Sun Farms on 26 December 2004, and a single was at Khawr Taqah on 21 April. Two Common Gulls Larus canus were at Mina al Fahl on 19 December, followed by singles at Qurayyat on 6 January and Khawr Taqah on 1 April and 3 May. Lesser Black-backed Gull L fuscus of the race fuscus (known as Baltic Gull) was at Khawr Dirif on 21 January. The species is a common winter visitor and passage migrant but the race heuglini is normally seen. Rufous Turtle-doves Streptopelia orientalis were at Al Hijj on 11 January, Khawr Taqah on 10 Febuary and Raysut on 22 April. The February record was of the race meena. Koels Eudynamys scolopacea were at Qatbit (up to two on four dates between 18 December-20 January and singles on 14 February and 29 April), and Hilf (seven on 11 January and eight the next day), plus singles at Sohar Sun Farms on 26 December), Al Beed Farm on 11 January, Sunub (calling) on 22 March and Suwayq on 11 April. A Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala was on the north coast of Masirah on 24 May - well away from its normal breeding range south of the Dhofar mountains. An estimated 300-500 Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters Merops persicus were at Sohar Sun Farms on 14 April. Two Small Skylarks Alauda gulgula were at Sohar Sun Farms from 13 January-18 February and represent the 8th record. Two Pale Martins Riparia diluta (sometimes considered as an eastern race of Sand Martin R. riparia) were at Sohar Sun Farms on 28 December. These are the 3rd record. A Brown-throated Sand Martin R. paludicola was at Sohar Sun Farms on 18 February and would be the 6th record if accepted. A total of 300 African Rock Martins Ptyonoprogne fuligula was at Sohar Sun Farms on 26 December 2004. Single Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis were at Qatbit on 4 and 18 January and 9 February, and at Sohar Sun Farms on 22 January and 7 February. Two Buff-bellied Pipits Anthus rubescens were at Sohar Sun Farms on 26 December 2004, with a single then on five further dates until 18 February. This is the 3rd record. A Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus was at the Ghaftayn Motel on 8 February and 27 were at Thumrayt on 23 February. There are now a number of records from the central Desert and Thumrait areas which might point to a small wintering population. A Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus at Sayh on 29 December 2004 was the 6th record. An Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus at Al Beed Farm on 11 January will be the 4th record if accepted. A new record count of Song Thrush T. philomelos was ten at Sayh on 5 January. Also there was a Blyth’s Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum on 28 December 2004 and 6 February (the 2nd record if accepted). A significant count of Marsh Warblers A. palustris was 480 at Qatbit on 6 May. Two Hume’s Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia (curruca) althaea were at Ar Rawdah on 20 December and a single was at Al Ghaftayn on 28 February (these will be the 3rd and 4th records is accepted). A new record count of Rufous Bush-chat Cercotrichas galactotes was 162 at Najd Research Station on 29 April. A Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata was at Sayh on 21–22 April (the 4th record). Single Mourning Wheatears Oenanthe lugens were at Ar Rawdah on 20 and 30 December, Wadi Bih on 20 December and Sall Ala on three dates from 27 December–7 January (the 9th and 10th records). A female Cyprus Pied Wheatear O. cypriaca was reported from Mabr Farm on 27 February (the 2nd record if accepted). A Black-eared Wheatear O. hispanica was at Dawkah on 29 March would be the 10th record if accepted). Single Bay-backed Shrikes Lanius vittatus were at Ar Rawdah on 7 April, Sayq Plateau on 12 April and Sall Ala on 23 April. A Magpie Pica pica was at Ras al Hamra on 4 January and is considered to be the same bird as that reported from Qurm in October 04. Its origins are not clear, but is considered likely to be ship-assisted. A female Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica was reported from Sayh on 21 February - the 3rd record. A male Little Bunting E. pusilla in breeding plumage was reported from Sayq Plateau on 11 March was the 4th record. Eight Siskins Carduelis spinus were at Qatbit on 4 January, and eight were also at Sayq Plateau on 11 March. A count of 85 Yemen Serins Serinus menachensis at Tawi Atayr on 5 January is a record count for this uncommon resident. Record counts of Trumpeter Finches Bucanetes githagineus were 213 at Sall Ala on 27 December and 300 at Jabal Qatar on 4 February.