Field Trip to the Hanging Gardens 8-10 October 2003



Field Trip to the Hanging Gardens 8-10 October 2003

With the weather still too warm to climb to the summit, a climb to the Hanging Gardens seemed appropriate for the regular Friday field trip of 10 October.

Having tried unsuccessfully to photograph a sand cat a week earlier in Wadi Juwaif, the group tried to collect more photographic evidence of fox on Jebel Qatar in conjunction with the Friday field trip. On Wednesday afternoon, cameras were set up in two locations: one was the site used last spring when the group photographed two species of fox near the Hanging Gardens, another was a few hundreds meters to the east, also at the base of the escarpment.

Thanks to Bill for organizing the outing and to Brien for sharing photographs.
gardens01.jpg
Fox scat near the parking area at the base of the mountain.
Photo by Brien
gardens02.jpg
Bill leading the way up the ridge.
Photo by Brien
gardens03.jpg
Donkey hoof prints in the soft sand.
Photo by Brien
gardens04.jpg
The scale suggests these are the prints of a young donkey.
Photo by Brien

gardens05.jpg
Two primitive 'houses' under an overhang.
Photo by Brien
gardens06.jpg
A few from the top of the ridge of the Hanging Gardens.
Photo by Brien
gardens07.jpg
The Hanging Gardens still showing evidence of the water from last spring's rains.
Photo by Brien
gardens08.jpg
At the base of the escarpment, a view of the lush growth.
Photo by Brien

gardens09.jpg
The sedimentary buildup from the water outfall in the face of the escarpment.
Photo by Brien
gardens10.jpg
The equipment in place, the water bottle (lower right) marking where the bait will be set.
Photo by Brien
gardens11.jpg
The trap site, with the measuring stick on the left.
Photo by Brien
gardens12.jpg
The bait, slightly frozen chicken hearts.
Photo by Brien

gardens13.jpg
Bill does a last checkup of the setup, the receiver is the black box to the left.
Photo by Brien
gardens14.jpg
One of the more substantial houses (left) on the plateau.
Photo by Brien
gardens15.jpg
The afternoon sun made the colors more impressive.
Photo by Brien
gardens16.jpg
Houses side by side under an overhang near the second camera placement.
Photo by Brien

gardens17.jpg
Bill pointing out lizard, ant, beetle and other tracks in the sand.
Photo by Brien
gardens18.jpg
A lone ????? plant surviving in the corner of the abandoned house.
Photo by Brien
gardens19.jpg
The narrow cave where the second camera was set up.
Photo by Brien
gardens20.jpg
The bait in place, midway across the infrared beam.
Photo by Brien

gardens21.jpg
Bill checking the camera setup.
Photo by Brien
gardens22.jpg
Scattered clouds helped create a memorable sunset.
Photo by Brien
gardens23.jpg
The escarpment from the parking area in the quickly fading sunlight.
Photo by Brien


 


Back Home Up Next

ENHG chapters Bulletins Tribulus eBooks Al Ain Field Trips Al Ain Resources Contacts

Copyright © 1977-2011 Emirates Natural History Group
Patron: H.E. Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan

Served from Molalla, Oregon, United States of America