Ghantoot | uaebirding

Click on the location name above to explore this spot on eBird

Ghantoot is an area consisting of a Polo Club, a plantation and a hotel. It is situated half-way between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.

Directions and access:

Ghantoot is clearly signposted from the main Dubai to Abu Dhabi highway E-11.

Birding strategy:

For a chanse to see Cream-coloured Coursers, you can start by driving along the western fence of the Polo Club down to a small, unmanned gate-house at 24.867795 , 54.896773, marked 'Fence view' on the map below. Park here and look through the closed gate out on to the grass in front of you. The Coursers can also be seen with a good telescope from the man-made plateau at 24.864822 , 54.895653.
Other birds regularly seen on the lawns are Pacific Golden Plover, pipits, Pied-, Desert- and Isabelline Wheatear.
Caspian Plover, Eurasian Dotterel and Sociable Lapwing have been recorded, but are rare.

Ghantoot used to be good for Grey Hypocolius in the plantation pictured below during late afternoons between November and mid April. This is no longer the case, as the plantation is no longer being watered.

A trip to the Ghantoot area is never complete without a walk through the Ghantoot--Golden Tulip Al Jazira Resort, where a Dusky Thrush was found by Norwegian birders on 27 Feb 2005.

Birds:

170 species (excluding escapes) have been recorded as of January 2019.

Abundant residents here are Grey Francolin, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-cheeked Bulbul and Red-vented Bulbul, Indian Silverbill. Other birds regularly recorded are; Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (flying over at 8-9 AM), Song Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, White-throated Robin (rare in April), Black Redstart (Eastern), Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin and Great Grey Shrike (Arabian).

Rarities have included: Amur Falcon, Merlin, Egyptian Nightjar, Dusky Thrush, Ring Ouzel and European Robin.