Day 1: Arrive Socotra — Coastal Species
Arrive at Hadibu Airport. Afternoon birding at Delisha Beach — Socotra Cormorant, Brown Booby, Sooty Gull, and the endemic Socotra Sparrow. Evening: Socotra Scops Owl call playback (if conditions allow). Camp at Delisha.
Day 2: Dixam Plateau — Highland Endemics
Dawn departure to Dixam Plateau — prime habitat for Socotra’s highland endemic birds. Target species: Socotra Sunbird (brilliant iridescent plumage), Socotra Starling, Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak, and the rare Socotra Buzzard. The Dragon Blood Tree forest provides unique habitat. Afternoon: Wadi Dirhur — Socotra Bunting and Long-billed Pipit. Camp at Dixam.
Day 3: Hajhir Mountains — Alpine Zone
Full day birding in the Hajhir Mountains — the highest peaks host specialist high-altitude species. Target: Socotra Buzzard (critically endangered, fewer than 500 individuals), Socotra Cisticola, and the endemic subspecies of Long-billed Pipit. Lunch in a traditional mountain village. Evening: spotlighting for Socotra Scops Owl. Camp in the mountains.
Day 4: Firmihin Forest & Homhil
Morning at Firmihin — the densest Dragon Blood Tree forest, excellent for forest-dwelling endemics. Target: Socotra Warbler (recently split as full endemic species). Afternoon at Homhil Protected Area — endemic Cucumber Trees attract nectar-feeding Socotra Sunbirds. Socotra White-eye in the wadi vegetation.
Day 5: Arher & Coastal Species
Coastal birding at Arher — Socotra Cormorant colonies on offshore rocks, Saunders’s Tern, Bridled Tern, and the endemic subspecies of Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark. Afternoon at Ras Momi — Greater Flamingo and migratory waders. Camp at Arher.
Day 6: Hoq Cave & Wadi Ayhaft
Morning birding en route to Hoq Cave — Bonelli’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture (endemic subspecies), and Tristram’s Starling in the cliff faces. Wadi Ayhaft — a different wadi ecosystem with Tamarisk warblers and the endemic subspecies of Graceful Prinia.
Day 7: Detwah Lagoon — Wetland Bird Paradise
Full day at Detwah Lagoon — Socotra’s premier wetland habitat. Target: Greater Flamingo, Western Reef Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Crab-plover, and numerous migratory shorebirds. The lagoon is an Important Bird Area (IBA). Afternoon: Qalansiyah cliffs for soaring raptors — Socotra Buzzard and Egyptian Vulture. Farewell dinner with the trip list review.
Day 8: Hadibu & Departure
Morning final birding around Hadibu for any last targets. Visit the souq. Transfer to airport. The trip list should include all 11 Socotra endemics plus 50+ regional specialties.
