norfolkbirding with chris mills
DAY TEN: 13th April 2004
Eilat: Mount Yoash High Raptor watchpoint 0800 - 10:30;
Wadi Shlomo 1045 - 1130; Coral beach 1400 - 1630;
North Beach 1700 - 1800
Having elected for a day off from ringing and some birding further afield, we had a slightly later start being up at 0630 and away after breakfast at 0715. We arrived at the “high watchpoint” of Mount Yoash summit at just after 0800. By 0845, we hadn’t seen a single raptor, and for the first time in the holiday that deflated feeling of negativity versus expectation crept in! Then, suddenly Oscar announced “Here they come”!! So they did, for the next couple of hours. Few were low down, but a steady evolution of kettles was evident, each about 5-10 minutes apart. It was very exciting as we recorded; 700 STEPPE BUZZARD, 20+ STEPPE EAGLE, 1 BOOTED EAGLE, 150 BLACK KITE, 1 HONEY BUZZARD, 10 MARSH HARRIER, 1 EGYPTIAN VULTURE, 1 OSPREY, 10 SPARROWHAWK, & 1 unidentified ringtail HARRIER (very. high). Also nearby was a fine singing HOODED WHEATEAR.
A quick sortie up Wadi Shlomo in rather hot conditions produced long bouts of nought and then suddenly a brief surge of birds: we scored with SCRUB WARBLER, TRISTRAMS GRACKLE, DESERT LARK, & WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR.
As the heat was now intense and heading for the upper 30’s we retired for an excellent falafel lunch, and then spent a relaxing couple of hours snorkelling at the Coral Beach just south east of Eilat. Even whilst lounging around here it was impossible to escape the birding as both OSPREY & PURPLE HERON passed up the gulf.
We arrived at North beach at around 1700 and were relieved to see there had been a mass exodus of grockles; it seemed to suit the birds as well as us and we had much closer gulls and terns parading up and down the shoreline. Sightings included: 1 POMARINE SKUA, 3 WHITE-EYED GULL, 150+ BALTIC GULL, 1 KINGFISHER, 5 CASPIAN TERN, 40 COMMON TERN, & 2+ SANDWICH TERN. However, it was an unlikely species that will remain in everyone’s minds from this watch: we picked up 3 unidentifiable dots way out but steadily closing in. It was probably their jizz as much as anything else that drew attention; they didn’t fit anything we had seen over the sea before! As they got much closer, vivid blue with strongly contrasty wings became apparent and we soon resolved that we were dealing with 3 ROLLERS in-off!!
Tipped off that the celebrated Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Eilat Pumping station site was no more, we took local advice and tried another site (this site is very susceptible to disturbance, and is not recorded here, if you are hoping to visit please consult with Jonathan Meyrev at Lotan). After a patient wait and a prolonged dusk punctuated by fishing OSPREY, point-blank PRATINCOLES and our third CITRINE WAGTAIL of the trip, the birds arrived on cue, just as the light faltered: we enjoyed approximately 12 LICHTENSTEIN’S SANDGROUSE coming to drink.
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN
DAY ELEVEN: 14th April 2004
Kibbutz Lotan0530 - 1200
Quetera Date Palms
& Organic garden & Shizzafon kibbutz & Sewage farm1300- 1730
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. Today we had 76 birds of 19 species with a clear and fascinating turn-over of species: these included 6 THRUSH NIGHTINGALE, 4 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, and yet another 2 or 3 WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (including our first females). Fresh arrivals included 3 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE & 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER whilst BLACKCAP numbers were clearly soaring.
We also noted 1 GRIFFON VULTURE, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 3 QUAIL and 2 CORNCRAKE.
Following lunch, we spent a couple of hours in the heat exploring the area of Quetera organic gardens 1km south of Lotan, (can be reached by taking the track south off the Lotan entrance road; take the track immediately on exiting the main road, on your right if you are arriving from Yotvata). Seemingly inevitably, another WHITE-THROATED ROBIN was located. Other highlights here were, 1 ORPHEAN WARBLER, 3 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 3 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, 3 THRUSH NIGHTINGALE, & 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER.
We then re-visited Shizzafon lake & Sewage pools. The big pool held small numbers of waders plus ;
1 male LITTLE BITTERN, 4 LITTLE CRAKE & 6 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, with LESSER KESTREL over and a couple of ROCK MARTINS nipping around. After this we called in again at the sewage pools where birds included 1 COLLARED PRATINCOLE, a pair of HOODED WHEATEAR, 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR, and 1 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER (perched on the barbed wire perimeter fence!),
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN
Eilat: Mount Yoash High Raptor watchpoint 0800 - 10:30;
Wadi Shlomo 1045 - 1130; Coral beach 1400 - 1630;
North Beach 1700 - 1800
Having elected for a day off from ringing and some birding further afield, we had a slightly later start being up at 0630 and away after breakfast at 0715. We arrived at the “high watchpoint” of Mount Yoash summit at just after 0800. By 0845, we hadn’t seen a single raptor, and for the first time in the holiday that deflated feeling of negativity versus expectation crept in! Then, suddenly Oscar announced “Here they come”!! So they did, for the next couple of hours. Few were low down, but a steady evolution of kettles was evident, each about 5-10 minutes apart. It was very exciting as we recorded; 700 STEPPE BUZZARD, 20+ STEPPE EAGLE, 1 BOOTED EAGLE, 150 BLACK KITE, 1 HONEY BUZZARD, 10 MARSH HARRIER, 1 EGYPTIAN VULTURE, 1 OSPREY, 10 SPARROWHAWK, & 1 unidentified ringtail HARRIER (very. high). Also nearby was a fine singing HOODED WHEATEAR.
A quick sortie up Wadi Shlomo in rather hot conditions produced long bouts of nought and then suddenly a brief surge of birds: we scored with SCRUB WARBLER, TRISTRAMS GRACKLE, DESERT LARK, & WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR.
As the heat was now intense and heading for the upper 30’s we retired for an excellent falafel lunch, and then spent a relaxing couple of hours snorkelling at the Coral Beach just south east of Eilat. Even whilst lounging around here it was impossible to escape the birding as both OSPREY & PURPLE HERON passed up the gulf.
We arrived at North beach at around 1700 and were relieved to see there had been a mass exodus of grockles; it seemed to suit the birds as well as us and we had much closer gulls and terns parading up and down the shoreline. Sightings included: 1 POMARINE SKUA, 3 WHITE-EYED GULL, 150+ BALTIC GULL, 1 KINGFISHER, 5 CASPIAN TERN, 40 COMMON TERN, & 2+ SANDWICH TERN. However, it was an unlikely species that will remain in everyone’s minds from this watch: we picked up 3 unidentifiable dots way out but steadily closing in. It was probably their jizz as much as anything else that drew attention; they didn’t fit anything we had seen over the sea before! As they got much closer, vivid blue with strongly contrasty wings became apparent and we soon resolved that we were dealing with 3 ROLLERS in-off!!
Tipped off that the celebrated Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Eilat Pumping station site was no more, we took local advice and tried another site (this site is very susceptible to disturbance, and is not recorded here, if you are hoping to visit please consult with Jonathan Meyrev at Lotan). After a patient wait and a prolonged dusk punctuated by fishing OSPREY, point-blank PRATINCOLES and our third CITRINE WAGTAIL of the trip, the birds arrived on cue, just as the light faltered: we enjoyed approximately 12 LICHTENSTEIN’S SANDGROUSE coming to drink.
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN
DAY ELEVEN: 14th April 2004
Kibbutz Lotan0530 - 1200
Quetera Date Palms
& Organic garden & Shizzafon kibbutz & Sewage farm1300- 1730
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. Today we had 76 birds of 19 species with a clear and fascinating turn-over of species: these included 6 THRUSH NIGHTINGALE, 4 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, and yet another 2 or 3 WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (including our first females). Fresh arrivals included 3 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE & 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER whilst BLACKCAP numbers were clearly soaring.
We also noted 1 GRIFFON VULTURE, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 3 QUAIL and 2 CORNCRAKE.
Following lunch, we spent a couple of hours in the heat exploring the area of Quetera organic gardens 1km south of Lotan, (can be reached by taking the track south off the Lotan entrance road; take the track immediately on exiting the main road, on your right if you are arriving from Yotvata). Seemingly inevitably, another WHITE-THROATED ROBIN was located. Other highlights here were, 1 ORPHEAN WARBLER, 3 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 3 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, 3 THRUSH NIGHTINGALE, & 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER.
We then re-visited Shizzafon lake & Sewage pools. The big pool held small numbers of waders plus ;
1 male LITTLE BITTERN, 4 LITTLE CRAKE & 6 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, with LESSER KESTREL over and a couple of ROCK MARTINS nipping around. After this we called in again at the sewage pools where birds included 1 COLLARED PRATINCOLE, a pair of HOODED WHEATEAR, 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR, and 1 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER (perched on the barbed wire perimeter fence!),
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN
Top left - Collared Pratincole
Top right - Corncrake
Mid left - Marsh Sandpiper
Mid right Nightingale & Thrush nightingale
Bottom left - Terek Sandpiper
Bottom right - Rufous Bushchat
Top right - Corncrake
Mid left - Marsh Sandpiper
Mid right Nightingale & Thrush nightingale
Bottom left - Terek Sandpiper
Bottom right - Rufous Bushchat
DAY TWELVE: 15th April 2004-
Kibbutz Lotan0530 - 1000 Shizzafon kibbutz & Sewage farm 1030- 1230
K19 Sewage pools & k20 Reservoir 1400-1600 North beach 1630 - 1730
K40 sewage piles
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. It became apparent that there had been a clear-out of sorts today; we managed 43 birds of 16 species, our lowest total of the trip. However, new birds to be rung included Wood Warbler and at last a Quail made it into a net and stuck. We also managed our second Bluethroat and fourth Black-eared Wheatear before packing up early at 1000.
Birding today at Lotan produced similar numbers and species as yesterday, with fewer Nightingale species present. Several WHITE-THROATED ROBINS were still around (or new in?) and ORTOLANS were one of the few passerines up in numbers. 11 BLACK STORK, 1 CATTLE EGRET, 2 STEPPE EAGLE & 1 OSPREY headed north along the valley. The highlight of the morning was the fearsome speed and agility of the local BARBARY FALCON, as it made light work of a doomed TURTLE DOVE.
With the ringing a bit slower, and the possibility of some overhead passage we closed the nets early and headed up towards Shizzafon. Unfortunately the early promise of raptor passage seemed to have fizzled out so we walked the dried wadi at Shizzafon sewage. Another excellent collection of migrants were present, including WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (yet another!), 1 ORPHEAN WARBLER, 1 BARRED WARBLER,
2 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE, 2 MASKED SHRIKE, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR & 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR. We also enjoyed the ROCK MARTINS still around and a distant PALLID HARRIER passing.
In the afternoon we headed again for K19/K20, there was a similar mix of species as per our previous visits. Different species recorded or big changes in numbers were: a pair of BARBARY FALCON, a SPOONBILL,
1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 150 GREENSHANK, 70 MARSH SANDPIPER, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT and
1 TEREK SANDPIPER (a different individual). Virtually all the wagtails, hirundines and swifts from our previous visit had gone.
We then rolled on to the North beach, but this seemed fairly quiet and so we followed back north Jonathan to K40. The sewage piles and the surrounding bushes produced WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (of course) sharing the same small bush with 1 WRYNECK, 3 REDSTART, 1 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, BLACKSTART and 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER! Also in the area were 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKE & 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN TWIN ROOM BREAKFAST, LUNCH & EVENING MEAL
DAY THIRTEEN: 16th April 2004
EILAT: mountains raptor watchpoints 0800-1000
Eilat Bird Reserve 1015 - 1200
Lotan & Quetera Sewage pools 1400 - 1530
Yotvata & Sewage pools 1600- 1830
Another day off from ringing. we had a 0630 rise and were away after breakfast at 0715. We arrived at a “lower watchpoint” below Mount Yoash just after 0800. Given the dearth of early birds on our previous attempt, Jonathan had recommended watching from lower down, as on a good day many raptors start low in the first hours. Almost on arrival we had a steady passage of birds, many less than on the 13th, but much lower and so giving better views; many of the birds were level with and just above our elevation against the rock face. Over the next couple of hours we recorded; 1 HONEY BUZZARD, BLACK KITE, 2 EGYPTIAN VULTURE, 1 SHORT-TOED EAGLE, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 50+ STEPPE BUZZARD, 1 LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 1 BOOTED EAGLE, 3 OSPREY & 10 WHITE STORK. Also noted nearby were 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR and a DESERT LARK.
Around 1000 we decided to head over to the Eilat Bird Reserve; on arrival we visited the ringing station where a steady stream of birds were being processed. We then spent the next couple of hours wandering the various paths around the vegetation and pools. We noted found similar species to those we had already found at K20 & K19, (in markedly lower numbers) but noteworthy were 1 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, 1 WHISKERED TERN, 1 BLUE CHEEKED BEE-EATER, 500+ HOUSE MARTIN, 1 WATER RAIL, 1M RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 MASKED SHRIKE & 1 “showy” BLUETHROAT plus a fine HONEY-BUZZARD over.
After lunch we visited the Quetera sewage pools, just south of Lotan, (take the same track as described for Quetera organic garden; the obvious fencing is visible before you reach the date palms). These small pools and surrounding scrub held 2 SQUACCO, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 2 LITTLE STINT, 5 GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 WOOD SANDPIPER, 1 WRYNECK & 2 RUFOUS BUSHCHAT.
We then headed on to Yotvata again, this was proving an area that was worth checking each day. Again today it provided another new species for the trip in the form of a fine, late WATER PIPIT (coutelli race). Other birds around the disused holiday camp area, were 2 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, 3 BONELLI’S WARBLER (our first of this species for a few days), 2 HOOPOE, 1 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, 1M RED-BACKED SHRIKE and a brief GOLDEN ORIOLE (the only one of the trip).
By this stage finding WHITE-THROATED ROBIN had lost some of it’s kudos; even so, the discovery of yet another seemed quite amazing, considering that in 9 previous visits to Israel one of us (CM) had failed to record any! We ended the day at the circular fields which, yet again, produced a satisfying selection of birds to finish on, for example: PALLID HARRIER 1R/T (very close views), 2 HOBBY again demonstrated just how fast these birds are capable of moving, as they screamed past us in full flapping flight, 50+ RED-THROATED PIPIT , 1 M BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR & 20 ORTOLAN BUNTINGS.
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN TWIN ROOM BREAKFAST, LUNCH & EVENING MEAL
Kibbutz Lotan0530 - 1000 Shizzafon kibbutz & Sewage farm 1030- 1230
K19 Sewage pools & k20 Reservoir 1400-1600 North beach 1630 - 1730
K40 sewage piles
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. It became apparent that there had been a clear-out of sorts today; we managed 43 birds of 16 species, our lowest total of the trip. However, new birds to be rung included Wood Warbler and at last a Quail made it into a net and stuck. We also managed our second Bluethroat and fourth Black-eared Wheatear before packing up early at 1000.
Birding today at Lotan produced similar numbers and species as yesterday, with fewer Nightingale species present. Several WHITE-THROATED ROBINS were still around (or new in?) and ORTOLANS were one of the few passerines up in numbers. 11 BLACK STORK, 1 CATTLE EGRET, 2 STEPPE EAGLE & 1 OSPREY headed north along the valley. The highlight of the morning was the fearsome speed and agility of the local BARBARY FALCON, as it made light work of a doomed TURTLE DOVE.
With the ringing a bit slower, and the possibility of some overhead passage we closed the nets early and headed up towards Shizzafon. Unfortunately the early promise of raptor passage seemed to have fizzled out so we walked the dried wadi at Shizzafon sewage. Another excellent collection of migrants were present, including WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (yet another!), 1 ORPHEAN WARBLER, 1 BARRED WARBLER,
2 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE, 2 MASKED SHRIKE, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR & 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR. We also enjoyed the ROCK MARTINS still around and a distant PALLID HARRIER passing.
In the afternoon we headed again for K19/K20, there was a similar mix of species as per our previous visits. Different species recorded or big changes in numbers were: a pair of BARBARY FALCON, a SPOONBILL,
1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 150 GREENSHANK, 70 MARSH SANDPIPER, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT and
1 TEREK SANDPIPER (a different individual). Virtually all the wagtails, hirundines and swifts from our previous visit had gone.
We then rolled on to the North beach, but this seemed fairly quiet and so we followed back north Jonathan to K40. The sewage piles and the surrounding bushes produced WHITE-THROATED ROBIN (of course) sharing the same small bush with 1 WRYNECK, 3 REDSTART, 1 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, BLACKSTART and 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER! Also in the area were 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKE & 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN TWIN ROOM BREAKFAST, LUNCH & EVENING MEAL
DAY THIRTEEN: 16th April 2004
EILAT: mountains raptor watchpoints 0800-1000
Eilat Bird Reserve 1015 - 1200
Lotan & Quetera Sewage pools 1400 - 1530
Yotvata & Sewage pools 1600- 1830
Another day off from ringing. we had a 0630 rise and were away after breakfast at 0715. We arrived at a “lower watchpoint” below Mount Yoash just after 0800. Given the dearth of early birds on our previous attempt, Jonathan had recommended watching from lower down, as on a good day many raptors start low in the first hours. Almost on arrival we had a steady passage of birds, many less than on the 13th, but much lower and so giving better views; many of the birds were level with and just above our elevation against the rock face. Over the next couple of hours we recorded; 1 HONEY BUZZARD, BLACK KITE, 2 EGYPTIAN VULTURE, 1 SHORT-TOED EAGLE, 2 SPARROWHAWK, 50+ STEPPE BUZZARD, 1 LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 1 BOOTED EAGLE, 3 OSPREY & 10 WHITE STORK. Also noted nearby were 1 WHITE-CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR and a DESERT LARK.
Around 1000 we decided to head over to the Eilat Bird Reserve; on arrival we visited the ringing station where a steady stream of birds were being processed. We then spent the next couple of hours wandering the various paths around the vegetation and pools. We noted found similar species to those we had already found at K20 & K19, (in markedly lower numbers) but noteworthy were 1 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, 1 WHISKERED TERN, 1 BLUE CHEEKED BEE-EATER, 500+ HOUSE MARTIN, 1 WATER RAIL, 1M RED-BACKED SHRIKE, 1 MASKED SHRIKE & 1 “showy” BLUETHROAT plus a fine HONEY-BUZZARD over.
After lunch we visited the Quetera sewage pools, just south of Lotan, (take the same track as described for Quetera organic garden; the obvious fencing is visible before you reach the date palms). These small pools and surrounding scrub held 2 SQUACCO, 2 LITTLE EGRET, 2 LITTLE STINT, 5 GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 WOOD SANDPIPER, 1 WRYNECK & 2 RUFOUS BUSHCHAT.
We then headed on to Yotvata again, this was proving an area that was worth checking each day. Again today it provided another new species for the trip in the form of a fine, late WATER PIPIT (coutelli race). Other birds around the disused holiday camp area, were 2 OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, 3 BONELLI’S WARBLER (our first of this species for a few days), 2 HOOPOE, 1 SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER, 1M RED-BACKED SHRIKE and a brief GOLDEN ORIOLE (the only one of the trip).
By this stage finding WHITE-THROATED ROBIN had lost some of it’s kudos; even so, the discovery of yet another seemed quite amazing, considering that in 9 previous visits to Israel one of us (CM) had failed to record any! We ended the day at the circular fields which, yet again, produced a satisfying selection of birds to finish on, for example: PALLID HARRIER 1R/T (very close views), 2 HOBBY again demonstrated just how fast these birds are capable of moving, as they screamed past us in full flapping flight, 50+ RED-THROATED PIPIT , 1 M BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR & 20 ORTOLAN BUNTINGS.
OVERNIGHT AT KIBBUTZ LOTAN TWIN ROOM BREAKFAST, LUNCH & EVENING MEAL
Top left - Caspian tern
Top right - Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Mid left - Bluethroat
Mid right - Greater Sandplover
Bottom left - Kentish Plover
Bottom right - Red-backed Shrike
Top right - Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Mid left - Bluethroat
Mid right - Greater Sandplover
Bottom left - Kentish Plover
Bottom right - Red-backed Shrike
DAY FOURTEEN: 17th April 2004 Kibbutz Lotan0530 - 1200
Lotan Bird Reserve 1300- 1500
Yotvata 1600-1915
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. After a lull on Thursday, we were to finish in storming style, handling 124 birds of 18 species (albeit 62 being BLACKCAPS!) By now wagtails and wheatears were almost non-existent but variety came from 5 SPROSSERS, an ORPHEAN WARBLER (the second we trapped), 9 ORTOLANS, as well as shrikes and our first SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Try as we might, however, we just could not cajole or manoeuvre a female robin into the net!
Whilst ringing there was a good passage of raptors, most fairly low and passing straight up the centre of the valley, i.e. right overhead! Our totals were probably low as the following counts were made during a busy ringing session: 5 BLACK STORK, 2 HONEY BUZZARD, 1M LEVANT SPARROWHAWK (a species we were starting to fear we never would see!), 500+ STEPPE BUZZARD, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 1 LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, 2 MARSH HARRIER. After lunch we visited the Bird Reserve, were our final WHITE-THROATED ROBIN was present. The alfalfa produced a couple of QUAIL, and there was also 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE & 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE present in the area.
After getting all our gear together, ready for leaving, we decided to finish our trip at Yotvata. The edge of the redundant holiday camp held 2 BONELLI’S WARBLER, 2+ OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, & NIGHTINGALE. We headed for our “favourite” circular fields where a leisurely stroll along the edge produced 50+ ORTOLAN BUNTING, 25+ RED-THROATED PIPIT, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (now very late), 1M WHINCHAT, 5+ QUAIL, 40+ TURTLE DOVE, 2 MARSH HARRIER, 1R/T PALLID HARRIER, 2 BOOTED EAGLE & 20 STEPPE BUZZARD, plus a fine, crystal-clear sunset beautifully illuminating the Jordan mountains. At which point we thought it had to be all over…
Not quite. Just as we were leaving the Turtle Dove flock rose up once again and Oscar shouted to stop the car, there appeared to be a wader flying amongst them… being over a stubble field it would surely be a Ruff… As it turned side-on, hearts all missed a beat due to a slim, sublime chest crossed by a clear breast band. It didn’t even need to bank and pitch in for us to know what it was… we finished a fantastic trip in just about the best way imaginable: a superb male CASPIAN PLOVER! All thoughts of dinner were abandoned as we leapt out for a ¾-hour grilling. Our final view of it, or indeed any Israeli birds, was the plover tripping around as Pallid and Marsh Harriers jousted in the background.
Lotan Bird Reserve 1300- 1500
Yotvata 1600-1915
The alarms went off at 0500, and the nets were opened at Lotan organic garden and muck heaps at 0530. See attached sheets for ringing totals. After a lull on Thursday, we were to finish in storming style, handling 124 birds of 18 species (albeit 62 being BLACKCAPS!) By now wagtails and wheatears were almost non-existent but variety came from 5 SPROSSERS, an ORPHEAN WARBLER (the second we trapped), 9 ORTOLANS, as well as shrikes and our first SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Try as we might, however, we just could not cajole or manoeuvre a female robin into the net!
Whilst ringing there was a good passage of raptors, most fairly low and passing straight up the centre of the valley, i.e. right overhead! Our totals were probably low as the following counts were made during a busy ringing session: 5 BLACK STORK, 2 HONEY BUZZARD, 1M LEVANT SPARROWHAWK (a species we were starting to fear we never would see!), 500+ STEPPE BUZZARD, 1 STEPPE EAGLE, 1 LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, 2 MARSH HARRIER. After lunch we visited the Bird Reserve, were our final WHITE-THROATED ROBIN was present. The alfalfa produced a couple of QUAIL, and there was also 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE & 1 WOODCHAT SHRIKE present in the area.
After getting all our gear together, ready for leaving, we decided to finish our trip at Yotvata. The edge of the redundant holiday camp held 2 BONELLI’S WARBLER, 2+ OLIVACEOUS WARBLER, & NIGHTINGALE. We headed for our “favourite” circular fields where a leisurely stroll along the edge produced 50+ ORTOLAN BUNTING, 25+ RED-THROATED PIPIT, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (now very late), 1M WHINCHAT, 5+ QUAIL, 40+ TURTLE DOVE, 2 MARSH HARRIER, 1R/T PALLID HARRIER, 2 BOOTED EAGLE & 20 STEPPE BUZZARD, plus a fine, crystal-clear sunset beautifully illuminating the Jordan mountains. At which point we thought it had to be all over…
Not quite. Just as we were leaving the Turtle Dove flock rose up once again and Oscar shouted to stop the car, there appeared to be a wader flying amongst them… being over a stubble field it would surely be a Ruff… As it turned side-on, hearts all missed a beat due to a slim, sublime chest crossed by a clear breast band. It didn’t even need to bank and pitch in for us to know what it was… we finished a fantastic trip in just about the best way imaginable: a superb male CASPIAN PLOVER! All thoughts of dinner were abandoned as we leapt out for a ¾-hour grilling. Our final view of it, or indeed any Israeli birds, was the plover tripping around as Pallid and Marsh Harriers jousted in the background.
Top Centre - Caspian Plover
Bottom left - Namaqua Dove
Bottom right - Great Reed Warbler