Category: Oman Selection

2025, Bird, Oman Selection

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman.

Flying in tight flocks over the shores of the Arabian Sea, these long-distance migrants connect the coasts of Oman to the Arctic tundras every year.

Always on the move, Sanderlings skirt the shoreline in dense groups, punctuating the coast with their swift, synchronized flights. These small shorebirds travel thousands of miles annually between their Arctic breeding grounds and the temperate or tropical beaches where they overwinter. On the foreshore, they tirelessly follow the ebb and flow of the waves, feeding on tiny invertebrates revealed by the receding water.

2025, Oman Selection, Stars

Moonlight over the Rub al Khali – Oman

Moonlight over the sand dunes of the Rub al Khali desert, Oman

Under the soft moonlight, the Rub al Khali reveals itself in all its nocturnal majesty.

Under the soft light of the moon, the Rub al Khali, the vast sand desert of the southeastern Arabian Peninsula, reveals itself in all its nocturnal majesty.

The silvery dunes draw silent undulations, while the starry sky stretches to infinity above this landscape of raw and timeless beauty. An atmosphere of absolute calm and solitude envelops this legendary desert, inviting contemplation and reverie in the heart of one of the largest sand deserts in the world.

2025, Oman Selection, Reptil and Amphibian

The Gulf Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes): A Night Watchman of Oman

Gulf Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes) photographed at night in the desert, Oman

A small marvel of adaptation to the extreme conditions of the Omani desert.

The Gulf Sand Gecko (Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes) is a discreet and elusive inhabitant of Oman’s arid regions.

Recognizable by its large eyes adapted for night vision, it emerges mainly at night to hunt small insects. Its slender legs allow it to move with agility over loose sand, while its pale coloration helps it blend seamlessly into its environment. A true watchman of the sands, this small reptile is a fascinating example of adaptation to the harshest climatic conditions of the Arabian Peninsula.

2025, Bird, Oman Selection

Skimming Flight, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) – Oman

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) flying low over the waves, Oman

The gull skims the crest of the waves, in perfect balance between sky and sea.

In perfect harmony with the water, the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) performs a silent dance above the ocean.

A remarkable long-distance migrant, identifiable by its slate-grey mantle and yellow legs, it travels thousands of kilometers annually to reach the shores of the Indian Ocean from Northern Europe or Russia. Its low-altitude flight is more than just aesthetic: it utilizes the ground effect to conserve energy during long coastal journeys. In Oman, it is a regular visitor to the coastlines, where its elegant silhouette stands out against the deep blue of the Arabian Sea.

2025, Oman Selection, Stars

The Waltz of Stars Over the Dunes of the Rub al Khali (الربع الخالي)

The

The Waltz of Stars Over the Dunes of the Rub al Khali (الربع الخالي)

 

In the vast, silent expanse of the Rub al Khali (الربع الخالي), literally “the Empty Quarter,” the largest sand desert of the Arabian Peninsula, the night sky turns into a celestial clock.
Captured with a long exposure, this image reveals the slow rotation of the Earth on its axis, as stars draw perfect arcs around the North Celestial Pole.
In the foreground, moonlit dunes glow with warm ochre tones. Shaped by prevailing winds, their flowing forms shift over time. The fine sand is the product of ancient sedimentary rock, weathered and eroded by wind over thousands of years.
Though seemingly still, this landscape speaks of constant motion: of wind, of stars… and of time itself.

2025, Oman Selection, Shellfish, Stars

Bioluminescence of Krill Rising to the Surface at Nightfall (likely Euphausia sibogae) – Arabian Sea, Oman

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence of Krill Rising to the Surface at Nightfall (likely Euphausia sibogae) – Arabian Sea, Oman

 

At nightfall, krill rise from the depths to the surface, driven by the planet’s largest daily animal migration. There, tossed by the waves, they emit a cold, bluish light. Their bioluminescence, produced by tiny organs called photophores, creates brief flashes across the surface of the sea. This shimmering glow — both camouflage and communication — sometimes turns the night ocean into a living sea of stars, drifting and silent.

2025, Oman Selection

Birth of the Day over the Dunes – Rub al Khali desert, Sultanate of Oman


Birth

Birth of the Day over the Dunes – Rub al Khali desert, Sultanate of Oman

Click to see the complete picture in a virtual tour

 

As night slowly gives way to light, the dunes awaken in a golden breath. Shadows slip along the crests, colors stretch across the sand, and the desert reveals itself in silent majesty. At dawn, every wave of sand becomes a mountain, every ray of sunlight a promise of infinity.

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