Pictures | A majestic scene of flocks of Socotra cormorants `invading` one of the beaches of Oman

Weather of Arabia - In a majestic scene documented by the lenses of the Omani photographer "Ali Harbi" for huge numbers of flocks of "Socotra cormorants" migrating to the "Bassa" beach in the state of Khasab in the Sultanate of Oman, the birds seemed to invade the Oman beach, in a phenomenon that only occurs once a year.

"Harbi" indicated that this year witnessed the migration of this species in large numbers, which caught his attention, which called him to document it in an artistic way bearing his signature as a professional photographer, and published it on his personal account on the "Instagram" website, pointing out that he succeeded in documenting the migration of the Socotra Cormorant, with His keenness to highlight the density of the numbers of the migratory bird in some shots, while in other shots he focused on the details of the bird itself precisely.

Harbi likened the scenes he documented of the birds that almost covered the entire Bassa beach, as being like an "invasion" campaign in a scene that raises eyebrows and astonishment, stressing that this scene prompts contemplation of the greatness of the Creator's work.

"Harbi" indicates that the Socotra cormorant is considered one of the birds at risk of extinction, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the following is the most important information about the Socotra cormorant, according to the official website of the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi, quoting Al-Watan newspaper:

1. The Socotra Cormorant is a resident bird in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
2. The Socotra cormorant dives into the water to get food.
3. Some reports suggest that it can stay underwater for up to three minutes at a time.
4. In the eighties, researchers found a flock of Socotra cormorants, including a group of 250,000 birds.
5. The Socotra cormorant is completely black, but turns purple during the breeding season.
6. A social bird that lives in large flocks.
7. It is a marine species that almost never makes landfall.
8. Adult birds of this type have black plumage, and they have a slender neck, while the plumage of immature birds is brown, often white on their stomach and chest from below.
9. It is considered an endangered bird, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
10. Socotra cormorants often migrate to the coastal areas of the Musandam Governorate, Sultanate of Oman.
11. Such massive gatherings do not occur except on the beach of "Bassa" in the state of Khasab in the Sultanate of Oman, where swarms of Socotra cormorants almost cover the entire beach.