tropical birding israel tour · tropical birding trip report israel march, 2018 +1-409-515-9110...
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
TropicalBirdingIsraelTourMarch10–22,2018
TOURLEADER:TrevorEllery
ReportandphotosTrevorEllery,allphotosarefromthetour.
GreenBee-eater.OneoftheiconicbirdsofsouthernIsrael.
ThiswasTropicalBirding’s inaugural Israel tourbut guideTrevorElleryhadpreviously lived,birdedandguided therebetween1998and2001,soitwassomethingofatripdownmemorylanefortheguide!WhileIsraelfrequentlymakesthe internationalnewsduetoongoingtensionswithinthecountry,suchproblemsaregenerallyconcentratedaroundspecificflashpointsandmuchoftherestofthecountryiscalm,peaceful,cleanandmodern.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Ourtourstartedontheafternoonofthe10thwhere,afterpickingupthegroupatBenGurionairportnearTelAviv,weheaded north along the coastal strip, collecting our local guide (excellent Israeli birder Chen Rozen) and arrived atKibbutzNasholimontheshoresoftheMediterraneanwithplentyoftimeforsomelocalbirdinginthenearbyfishponds.
Spur-wingedLapwing–anabundant,aggressivebutneverthelesshandsomespecieswhereverwewentinIsrael.
Hoopoe,acommonresident,summermigrantandwintervisitor.Wesawthisspeciesonnumerousdaysduringthetourbutprobablymostinterestingwerequiteafewbirdsseenclearlyinactivemigration,crossingthedesolate
desertsofthesouth.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
We soon managed to rack up a good list of the commoner species of these habitats. Wildfowl includedNorthernShoveler,Greenwinged(Eurasian)TealandMallard.ThepoolsalsoheldseveralLittleGrebes,plentifulEurasianCootandEurasianMoorhenandsomeimpressiveflocksofGreaterFlamingos.GreatCormorantswerecommonbutwealsofound several Pygmy Cormorants, a much desired species. Little and Cattle Egrets were common as were plentifulGlossyIbisandascatteringofGreyHerons.AreonlyraptorofthedaywereseveralEurasianMarshHarrierscruisingoverthereedbeds.ThisisacommonwintervisitorandpassagemigrantinIsraelandweweretoseethemonmostdaysduringthetour.Severalofthefishpondsweresemidrainedandheldgoodnumbersofwaders includingPiedAvocet,Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Common, Wood and MarshSandpipers, SpottedandCommonRedshanksandGreenshank,whilethenoisyandaggressiveSpur-wingedLapwingwereomnipresent.AquicklookatthebeachaddedRuddyTurnstoneandBlack-belliedPlover.Ifyou’reawaderfanitwas certainly a great place to get to grips with the identification of a good variety of species. Gulls were also wellrepresentedwith good numbers of Slender-billed andBlack-headed Gulls plus a single Little Gull on the fishponds.Armenian and Lesser-black-backed Gulls were also seen passing overhead and Sandwich Terns were seen offshore.FeralPigeonswereabundant(hereandthroughoutthetrip)andwealsofoundgoodnumbersofCollardandLaughingDoves. CommonSwiftsarriveandbreedearlyinIsraelandcouldbefoundhawkingaerial insectsalongwithplentifulBarnSwallows.Our firstdazzlingHoopoes (Israel’snationalbird)werea realhighlightwhile several largeandgaudyPied Kingfishers were also present around the fish ponds. Eurasian Kestrels gave good views,Hooded Crows wereabundantandafewJackdawsflewthrough.TheovergrownfieldsalongsidethefishpondsheldseveralsubtlybeautifulCrested Larks. The reed beds and scrubwere excellent habitat forWarblers, Common Chiffchaff (a commonwintervisitortoIsrael)wereplentifulandwealsomanagedgoodviewsoftworeedbedskulkersEurasianReedWarblerandthemuchlargerClamorousReedWarbler.Thelatterspeciesliveduptoitsnamewithitscallswhichcouldbedescribedas resembling grunts and bellows. Subdued LesserWhitethroats and the much more attractive SardinianWarblersskulked in the scrub but both eventually yielded good views.Graceful Prinia, (another ubiquitous species in Israel),showedextremelywell singing fromatop smallbushesand showingoff theirblack innermouths,a feature thatonlyappearsduringthebreedingseason.WealsogotbriefviewsofseveralBluethroats,anothercommonwintervisitortoIsraelwhichespeciallyliketoforageonthegroundatthebaseofthereeds.EuropeanStarlingswereabundantbutevenmoresotheinvasiveCommonMyna.SeventeenyearsagothisspecieswasconfinedtotheenvironsofurbanTelAvivbutwe found it to be commoneverywherewewenton the tour, fromMtHermon in the far north, to Eilat, on theshoresoftheRedSea, inthesouth.Thiswasanimpressiveandsomewhatworryingexpansionofthisaggressivenon-nativespecies.AsistypicalofthishabitatWhiteWagtails (anothercommonwintervisitorandpassagemigrant)werecommonandwealsohadgoodviewsof severalMeadowPipits in the coastalmattoral. Finally therewereplentyofHouse Sparrows (a common native here) and far more interestingly our first Palestine Sunbirds. The Sunbird is acommonspeciesinIsraelbutoneitishardtogetboredoffwiththemales’iridescentpurpleandblueplumageandeventhedull femalesappearingcute,with theirdowncurvedbills.Wealsomanagedour firstmammalof thetripwithanEgyptianmongoosecrossingbetweenfishponds.WefinishedthedaywatchingthesunsetovertheMediterraneanandthenenjoyedthefirstofmanysumptuouskibbutzbuffetswhilegoingovertheday’slist.
Thenextmorningwe startedwith somepre-breakfastbirding in the fishponds. Weaddedanumberofnewspeciesincluding someCommonPochard the ubiquitousGreat Egret and the rareSquaccoHeron, plus some flybyEurasianSpoonbills.AhuntingEurasianSparrowhawkflewthroughwhilewealsoaddedmorewaderswithWhimbrelandGreenSandpiper.AnexcellentfindinthereedbedwereseveralveryattractivePendulineTitsandgoodviewsofGreatReedWarbler and Cetti´s Warbler, which we had only heard on the previous day. The scrub added a smart European
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
StonechatandourfirstEuropeanGreenfinchandEuropeanLinnet,alongwithplentifulSpanishSparrowsandacoupleofGreatTit.WealsoaddedmorenonnativeswithIndianSilverbillandRose-ringedParakeets,bothofwhicharealsowidespreadinIsrael.AnotherbriefvisittotheshorelineproducedtheresidentYellow-leggedGull.
After leaving the coast we began journeying NW towards eastern Israel and the Golan heights. We made severalimpromptustopstoaddourfirstBlackStorks,Short-toedSnake-Eagle,EurasianGriffon,BlackKitesandLong-leggedBuzzardswhichwereallpickedupsoaringfromthecar.
BlueRockThrush(above)–fairlycommonontherockycliffsofnorthernIsrael–thisobligingmalewasinthecarparkatMtArbel.RockHyrax(below)–wehadgreatviewsofthesecutemammalsatMtArbel.Thisindividualhadclearly
beenfighting.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
CrestedLark.AcommonspeciesinnorthernIsrael.
MtArbel,Israel.HometoRockHyraxesandBlueRock-Thrushes.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
WebrokeupthejourneywithanimpromptustopatMtArbel,atraditionalwinteringsiteforWallcreeper.Wehadnoluck with the Wallcreeper and in all honesty we were probably too late as this species may well migrate north inFebruary.OurstopwasfarfromawastedthoughaswehadgreatviewsofseveralofBlueRock-Thrushes,includinganobliging male in the parking lot. Finches were well represented and as well as our first European Goldfinches andCommonChaffinches,wehadbriefviewsofaEuropeanSerin.Perhapsbestofallthoughwasoutfirstrealmigration.Whilewe had seen a couple ofBlack Storks soaring near the coastwe picked up the beginnings of a streamwhichturned into a flood. We estimated one long flock of a thousand individuals passed north over head at one pointstretchingasfarastheeyecouldseetothesouth.WhileBlackStork isacommonpassageandwintervisitortoIsraelflocksofthissizeareexceptionalanditwasagreatintroductiontothemigrationspectaclethatmakesIsraelsoexcitingatthistimeofyear.StandingonthetopofMtArbelwiththeSeaofGalileespreadoutbelowinadeepvalley(whichisreallyanortherextensionofthegreatriftvalleyofEAfrica)andwatchingthesehugeflockspassdirectlynorthoverheadwasveryimpressive.InallprobabilitythesestorkshadprobablywinteredmuchfurthersouththanIsraelsomewhereinAfrica,andwerenowheadingnorthtotheirEurasianbreedinggrounds.Itfelt likebeingstoodbeneathagreataerial,avian motorway and in fact that feeling was to be repeated daily throughout the tour as we frequently witnessedmigrantspouringoverhead,orsimplyflittingfrombushtobush,allseeminglyinahurryandeagertogetnorth.MixedinwiththeBlackStorkswereourfirstWhiteStorks,aspeciesweweretoseealmostdailythroughoutthetour.AsidefromthebirdsweenjoyedfantasticviewsofsomeobligingandtameRockHyraxandalsoseveralsunbathingAgamaLizards.WealsoaddedacoupleofimpressiveAlpineSwiftswheelingoverheadandsawourfirstRed-rumpedSwallows.AfinalsurprisebeforeweleftMtArbelwasasmartBlackRedstart(ofthewesternform),againvirtuallyintheparkinglotandwealsoenjoyedgreatviewsofrotundCornBuntings,singingtherejanglingsongfromroadsidewires.
Afterourvisit toMtArbelwespentsometimehugging theshoreof theseaofGalileeandmadeacoupleofbirdingstops. Theseproduceddistantbut good scope viewsof bothGreat-crested andEaredGrebes andmost interestinglyseveralPallas’sGulls,whichwerestartingtoattainsummerplumage,oneofthemostattractiveandimpressivegullsintheworld.WealsofoundWhiskeredTerns(whichwinterinIsrael)tobecommonandenjoyedgoodscopeviewsastheyhawkedoverthisvastinlandsea.
NightHeron,fishponds,HulaValley,Israel.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
We ended the day at some fishponds near our Kibbutz accommodation in the Hula Valley. The ponds were veryproductiveandwewereable toaddGadwall and thegloballyendangeredMarbledTeal toourwildfowl list. SeveralBlack-crownedNightHerons (whichwehadonlyseen in flight in themorning)posedsuperblyandasoaringGreaterSpottedEaglewasmuchappreciated.AsemidrainedfishpondsheldagoodselectionofwadersbutmostexcitingwasaWaterRail(anoftenskulkingspecies)feedingoutintheopenallowingprolongedviews.AmongstthewaderswereourfirstLittleRingedPloversandseveralCommonSnipewhichagainshowedwellforwhatisnormallyashyandskulkingspecies.HavingalreadyseenanumberofPiedKingfishersitwasnicetocompletethehattrickaswefoundbothWhite-throatedandCommonKingfishers.WewereluckytoseetheCommonKingfisherasitisanotherwintervisitortoIsraelandbythistimeofyearmosthadalreadymigratednorth.WealsoenjoyedmoreviewsofPygmyCormorant
White-spectacledBulbul–anabundantspeciesthroughoutIsrael.
ThenextmorningwemadeourwaytoMtHermonafterashortspellofpre-breakfastbirding.ThemorningwalkintheKibbutzgroundsaddedour firstSyrianWoodpeckerandEurasianBlackbirdplusa flyoverPeregrineFalcon.Wealsoenjoyedgreat viewsofRed-rumpedSwallows as they landed to collectmud fornesting. The journeyover theGolanHeightswasbrokenupwithimpromptustopsforperchedLong-leggedBuzzardandShort-toedSnake-EagleandbestofallourfirstGreatSpottedCuckoo,whichperchedbrieflyonoverheadwires.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Long-leggedBuzzard-.WesawseveralindividualsduringthetourbutthisbirdperchedinthegreenfloweringfieldsoftheGolanHeightsshowedthebest.
WhenwearrivedatMtHermonwefoundEurasianJaytobecommon,withanumberofflocksseen.WealsohadgoodviewsofHawfinchandRockBunting andaftermuchsearching foundavocalWesternRockNuthatch.A lovelymaleRuppell’sWarblershowedwellandwealsoenjoyedthespectacularearlyspringfloweringofvarioustreesandflowersthat carpeted this impressive mountain. Another Black Redstart was seen – this time a nice male of the attractiveeastern race. As we returned toward the Hula valley and began to drop down from the Golan Heights a Black-ShoulderedKitewaslocatedonroadsidewiresandshowedwell.ThisspecieswaspreviouslyararevagranttoIsraelbuthasnowestablishedasmallbreedingpopulationinthenorthofthecountryandwasanewbirdfortheleader.
Black-shoulderedKite,GolanHeights,Israel.Formerlyararevagrant,asmallbreedingpopulationhasestablishedinnorthIsrael.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
CommonShoveler,HulaValleyIsrael.WesawagreatselectionofEurasianwaterfowlbutthemaleShovelerwasoneofthemostattractive.
WhiteStorks,AgmonlakeHula,Israel.AsifthesiteofthousandsofCommonCraneswasn’tenoughitwasmoreimpressivewhenhundredsofmigratingWhiteStorksfelloutoftheskyandjoinedthem.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
IntheafternoonwevisitedtheAgmonLake intheHulaValleywhichprovidedoneofthegreatspectaclesofthetrip.ThisareaishometooneofthegreatestconcentrationsofwinteringandstagingCommonCranesintheworldandweweretowitnessthousandsofbirdsastheynoisily foragedandmovedbetweendifferentfeedingsites.Wealsohadaflock ofGreatWhite Pelicans soaring high overhead andwatched the arrival of hundreds ofmigratingWhite Storkswhichpromptlywhiffleddown to join the concentrationofCommonCranes. TheseWhiteStorks hadprobablybeenmigratingoverthedesertsofJordanalldayandtheoasisoftheHulavalleyanditsvastconcentrationsofwaterbirdsmust have seemed like an excellent site to pause during the long migration. We also heard Black Francolin callingdistantlybutwerenotabletolocateany.SeveralGreaterSpottedandImperialEagleswereseeninflightandweevenmanagedtoscopefourGreaterSpottedandasingleImperialEagleastheytussledoverthecarcassofadeadcrane.ThereedbedsproducedanicemaleSiberianStonechatofthehemprichii race.WeaddedanothermammalintheformofseveralCoypuanon-nativespeciesfromSouthAmericawhich iscommoninthewaterwaysof Israel.WefinishedthenightatKfarBlumwereashortwalkafterdinnerproducedgoodviewsofaTawnyOwl,ascarceandlocalizedspeciesinIsrael.
TawnyOwl,KfarBlum,Israel.AscarceandlocalspeciesinIsrael.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
GlossyIbis,HulaValley,Israel.AcommonspeciesthroughoutnorthernIsrael.
Thefollowingmorningafteranotherbriefpre-breakfaststroll,whichaddedlittlenewasidefromourfirstHenHarrier,wequicklyheadedsouth.OnceagainafewimpromptustopsweremadewhichaddedouronlyTuftedDucksofthetrip.We then visited a site called Susita where they rocky, grassy hillsides proved very productive allowing us to adddisplayingLong-billedPipits,someobligingChukarsandourfirstBlackstarts.WealsohadabriefCinereousBuntingandouronlyCretzschmar’sBunting,whileanobligingWoodlarkandasingingGreaterWhitethroatwerenice.
GreatWhitePelican,BeitSheanValley.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
DeadSeaSparrow,BeitSheanValley–wehadgoodviewsofasingleindividual.
After thiswe continued south stopping rather briefly in the Beit Shean valley fishpondswerewe enjoyedwonderfulcloseupviewsofsomeGreatWhitePelicansandfoundouronlyDeadSeaSparrowofthetrip.Otherhighlightsincludeda singleNorthern Lapwing, our firstWater Pipits and a single Caspian Gull mixed in with a late flock of sub adultArmenianGulls.Wealsoenjoyedgoodnumbersofwaders,heron’s,storksandourfirstOsprey.OnthemammalfrontacoupleofGoldenJackals foragingondiscardedfish inthefishpondswereonlysightingofthetrip.TheafternoonwastakenupwiththefairlylongdrivesouthtothedeadseabutafewbirdingstopsproducedouronlyDesertFinches,somegoodviewsofPallidSwiftwheelingalongthecliffshighabovethedeadseaandacoupleofdistantEgyptianVultures.WearrivedatEinGediKibbutzatduskbutafterdinnerwemadealongishdrivesouthtoNeotHakikarwhereaftersomesearchingwehadbriefviewsofaNubianNightjarinthefield’sandalsospotlightedourfirstCommonHare.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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Tristram’sStarlingswereabundantaroundKibbutzEinGedi.
PalestineSunbird.AwidespreadspeciesinIsraelwhichwesawvirtuallydailythroughoutthetour.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
TheviewsofthemountainsoftheJudeandesertontheshoresoftheDeadSeaatEinGediwerespectacular.
Thenextdaywestartedwithbirding in thegroundsofEinGediKibbutz– thiswasveryproductiveandwehadgoodviews of Green Bee-eater, Fan-tailed Raven, Peregrine Falcon (of the distinctive F.P pelegrinoides desert race ofPeregrineFalconwhich issometimesconsideredaseparatespeciesBarbaryFalcon.)andRockMartin.Wealso foundour firstmigrant Eastern Bonelli’sWarblers and Eurasian Blackcaps alongwith hordes ofTristram’s Starlings whichwerejustabouteverywhere.WethenvisitedanearbywadiandaswedroveintotheparkingareawewereamazedtoseesinglesofFan-tailed,Brown-neckedandCommonRavensallfeedingtogether.Itwasauniqueexperiencetogetallthe possible Raven’s in the Western Palearctic feeding in one place and great for comparison of key identificationfeatures.Awalk inthewadiproducedour firstbriefSandPartridgeandanobligingDesertLarkalongwithamigrantNorthernWheatear.AfterthiswebeganthedrivesouthtoEilatbutashortstopatsomepondsjustsouthofthedeadseaswasveryproductiveasweaddedGarganey,EurasianWigeon,NorthernPintailandbestofallFerruginousDucktoour wildfowl list. Once near Eilat we first visited Yotvata fields where we added a fly overBooted Eagle, a nice flythroughmalePallidHarrierandtwoverybriefflythroughNamaquaDoves.WealsofoundasmallflockofthreehuntingLesserKestrelswhileLarkswererepresentedbyplentifulGreaterShort-toedLarksandasingleBimaculatedLark.Thedry field’s also hosted several Isabelline Wheatears andWestern Yellow Wagtails and a small flock of TrumpeterFinches.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
DorcasGazelle,KM20,Eilat.FairlycommoninthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
GreaterFlamingo,KM20SaltPans.Israel.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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OnthemammalfrontwesawseveralNubianIbexonthedriveandenjoyedgoodviewsofourfirstDorcasGazellesnearKM20.WespentthelatterpartofthedayatKM20whereweaddedCommonShelduckandmostimportantlyasingleLesser Flamingo amongst the hordes ofGreater Flamingos. This species is a rare vagrant to Israel and theWesternPalearctic,with few previous records andwas another tick for the guide.Waders includedGreater Sand-Plover andKentishPloverandweenjoyedmoreCommonCranesasaflockofhundredscamespiralingdownfromhighelevationandbrieflyrestedonthebanksofthesaltpans.SomebirdinginthescrubproducedWoodchatShrikeandBlack-earedWheatear.WejustmanagedtosqueezeinaduskfinishattheNorthbeachontheGulfofAqabawherewefoundourfirstWhite-eyedGulls.
Blackstart,HollandParkEilat.AcommonbirdinmuchofsouthernIsrael.
ThenextdaystartedwithearlymorningbirdingintheBirdParkandatHollandPark.TheBirdParkallowedgoodviewsof several perchedSquaccoHeron’s, while overhead hirundine passage includedBank Swallows andHouseMartinsalongwithmanyBarnandRed-rumpedSwallows.WealsosawSedgeWarbler inthereedbedsandaSavi’sWarblerthathadbeentrappedinthehand.OurwalkaroundHollandParkproducedmuchbetterviewsofSandPartridge,aniceperchedEurasianThick-kneeandaveryniceMaskedShrike
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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NubianIbex(above),WadiShlomo,Israel.WesawthisspeciesatseveralsitesinsouthernIsraelbutourbestviewswereinWadiShlomo.ScrubWarbler(below),AmramPillars,Israel.Wesawthisspeciesatseveralsitesinsouthern
IsraelbutthebestviewswereatAmramPillars.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
HoodedWheatear,AmramPillars,Israel.AnotherspeciesthatwesawatseveralsitesbutweobtainedthebestviewsatAmramPillars.
DuringthedaywevisitedAmramPillarswherewesawourfirstHoodedWheatearandWadiShlomo,wherewesawourfirstWhite-crownedWheatear.Wealsomadea repeat visit to theGulfofAqabawhereweenjoyedbetter viewsofWhite-eyedGull.AstopatOphiraParkproducedgoodviewsofaEurasianWryneckandanicemaleCyprusWarbler.We saw our first(of manyHouse Crows, an abundant species in Eilat, and obtained good views of severalWesternYellowWagtailsofvarioussubspecies.
SteppeBuzzardmigratingatMtYoash,Eilat,Israel.AcommonpassagemigrantthroughIsrael.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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SteppeEaglemigrating,MtYoash,Israel.StillareasonablycommonmigrantinIsraelbutonethathassufferedseveredeclinesinrecentyears.
ThefollowingmorningwespenttheearlymorningatMtYoashenjoyingastrongmigrationofraptors.SeveralSteppeEagleswerenewbutitwasfantastictowatchastrongstreamofCommonBuzzards(oftheSteppeBuzzardsubspecies)andBlackKitespassingoverheadwiththeoddEurasianMarshHarrier,BlackstorkandAlpineSwiftmixedin.
TrumpeterFinch.AwidespreadbutsometimeselusivespeciesinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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We thenmovedon to theUvdaplainareawherewe foundour firstScrubWarblersbutaphonecall sentusup theAravavalleywherewewereabletoenjoygreatviewsofaAsianDesertWarblerandaBar-tailedLark.WereturnedtoUvda with a lunch time stop adding Common Redstart and then in the evening our first Mourning and DesertWheatearsandapairofveryniceCream-colouredCoursers.
WaterRail,BirdPark,Eilat,Israel.
The18thwasspentmostlyintheEilatarea.WestartedattheBirdParkagain,movedtoYotvata,re-visitedAmrampillarsandtheBirdParkasecondtimeandfinishedinthelateafternoonatYotvata.APurpleHeronthatflewthoughattheBirdParkwasouronlysightingofthetripwhilewealsohadgreatviewsofacloseWaterRailfromthehideandthensawafemaleLittleCrakewhichhadbeencaughttoberinged.ACaspianTernwasperchedatthelakeforashortperiodandwesawourfirstEasternOlivaceousWarblerandCommonNightingalewhentheyweretrappedandringed.AbriefvisittothenorthbeachaddedaTemminck’sStintwithourfirstCitrineWagtaillocatedalongthecanaljustinlandfromthebeach.AbriefstopneartheTurkishPolicestationproducedourfirstArabianBabblers.WestayedatYotvatauntilduskandmanagedtogoodviewsofanEgyptianNightjarandasurpriseShort-earedOwl–ararebirdinsouthernIsrael.WealsomanagedtospotlightseveralRedFoxes.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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NamaquaDove,Male,KM19,Eilat.Ittookseveralattemptsbeforewegotgoodlooksatthisattractivespecies.
The19thwasonceagainspentinthevicinityofEilat.TwoEgyptianGeese(ofpresumablyferalorigin)wereattheBirdPark where we also had good views of Common Quail and Tawny Pipit. A couple of winter plumagedRed-neckedPhalaropesdelightedastheyspunonthepoolsjustinlandfromthenorthbeachandweobtainedmuchbetterviewsofa pair ofNamaqua Doves at KM 19.We also enjoyed a perched sub-adultBonelli’s Eagle at the cow sheds, clearlyvisiting the area to hunt the large concentration of Feral Pigeons that were present. In the evening a dusk sojournwaiting forLichtenstein’s Sandgrousewasunproductivebutwedidenjoygreat viewsof twobarking GreatBitternswhichcircledupandheadednorthonmigration.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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Temminck’sHornedLark(above),UvdaPlain,Israel.Ascarce,unpredictableanderraticspeciesinsouthernIsrael.IsraeliWildAss/PersianOnager(below).FollowingtheextinctionofthenativesubspecieselevenPersianOnagers
wereobtainedfromTurkmenistanandIranin1968andformedthebasisforthecurrentfreeroamingpopulationthatcanbefoundinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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Long-earedOwl,SdeBoker,Israel.AfairlycommonspeciesinIsraelbutcloseupviewsofthisindividualwereatriphighlight.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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HoodedCrow,SdeBoker,Israel.AverycommonspeciesinIsrael.
ArabianBabbler,SdeBoker,Israel.WesawthisspeciesatacoupleofsitesbutthemostobligingbirdswereatSdeBoker.
Onthe20thanearlymorningstartandvisittoUvdaPlainfinallyproducedthemuchhopedforTemminck’sHornedLarksandadistantflockofSpottedSandgrouse.WealsoenjoyedverygoodviewsofanIsraeliWildAss.Wethengraduallydrovenorth through theMitzpeRamoncraterand finished thedayat thespectacularSdeBokerwitha stopatNeotSemadaraddingTreePipit andaobligingTrumpeterFinch.Theafternoonvisit toSdeBokerproducedgoodviewsofbothEgyptianandGriffonVulturessomeconfidingArabianBabblersandaveryobligingroostingLong-earedOwl.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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CrownedSandgrouse,EzuzIsrael.VisitingapurposebuiltdrinkingholecompletewithviewingdeckandCoffee!
SouthernGreyShrike,Nizzana,Israel.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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Themorningofthe21stinvolvedanearlymorningvisittoNizzanawherewesoonlocatedseveralMacqueen’sBustards.WealsovisitedanearbydrinkingspotwherewehadexcellentviewsofCrownedSandgrouse.AvisittoasetofsewageworksaddedlotsofLittleGrebesandsomeniceWhiteStorkmigrationoverhead,whileaSouthernGreyShrikewasonoverheadwires.ScanningthedesertwehadgoodviewsofmoreCream-colouredCoursersandDorcasGazelles.IntheafternoonwevisitedthedryfieldsofSdeBokerandwereabletolocatesomemuchmoreobligingSpottedSandgrouseand a small group ofBlack-bellied Sandgrouse along with a sprinkling ofmigrants such asNorthernWheatear andWoodchatShrike.
LittleOwl,MtAmsa,Israel.
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
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Chukar.,MtAmsa,Israel.Wesawthisspeciesatanumberofsitesalthoughtheyneverreallyallowedcloseapproach.
OurfinalmorningwasspentatMtAmsawherewetwitchedthePersianWheatear,onlythesecondrecordinIsraelandanewbirdforeveryone.ThiswasnottheonlytargetofourvisitandwealsoaddedRockPetroniaandLittleOwlWethenmadeastopatYerohamLakeasweheadednorthwherewefoundabeautifulSpottedCrake.AfterthisitwasacaseofashorttransfernorthtoTelAvivwherewedroppedtheguestsoffatahotelastheyweretobeginaHolylandtourthenextday.LocalguideChenheadedbacktohisuniversitystudiesandTrevorheadedtotheairportforthelonghaulbacktoColombiawithalittlesideadventureinSpainen-route.
BirdList
Thelistincludeseverythingthatwasseenbyatleastoneofthegroup.Threespecieswereheardonlyandarehighlightedassuchintheannotatednotes.
213Speciesseen,3heardonly.
ANSERIFORMES:Anatidae
EgyptianGoose(I) Alopochenaegyptiaca
TwoseenattheBirdPark.PrettymuchallrecordsinIsraelarethoughttorelatetobirdsofferaloriginratherthannaturalvagrants.
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CommonShelduck Tadornatadorna SmallnumbersseenattheKM20SaltpansandatthesewageworksatNizzana.
Garganey Spatulaquerquedula
Severalbirdswereseenthefreshwaterpoolsroadside,southoftheDeadSeaandsomebigflockswereseenmigratingoverNorthBeachandtheSouthernSaltpansatEilat.
NorthernShoveler Spatulaclypeata SeenonmanydaysduringthetripincludingalongtheMediterraneancoast,attheHulavalleyandcommonlyintheEilatareaincludingattheKM20saltpansandlargeflocksinactivemigrationovertheNorthBeach.
Gadwall Marecastrepera SmallnumbersseeintheHulaValleywerefollowedbysmallnumbersattheroadsidefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.
EurasianWigeon Marecapenelope AcouplewereseenonthefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.
Mallard Anasplatyrhynchos
Seenonmostdaysduringthetour.
NorthernPintail Anasacuta SmallnumberswereseenonthefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.
Green-wingedTeal Anascrecca Seenonmostdaysduringthetour.
MarbledTeal Marmaronettaangustirostris
SmallnumbersofthisgloballythreatenedspecieswereseenatthefishpondsintheHulaValley.
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CommonPochard Aythyaferina SmallnumberswereseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoastandatthefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.
FerruginousDuck Aythyanyroca GreatviewsofasmallgrouponthefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.Thisspeciesisconsidered'Near-threatened'onagloballevel.
TuftedDuck Aythyafuligula WemadeanimpromptustopataroadsidereservoirintheGolanHeights,wherewehadgoodviewsofseveralbirds.
GALLIFORMES:Phasianidae
SandPartridge Ammoperdixheyi SeenonmostofourbirdingdaysintheEilatareawiththebestviewsofsomeconfidingindividualsatHollandPark.
CommonQuail Coturnixcoturnix HeardinnorthernIsraelandthenseenreallywellattheBirdParkatEilatwhentwoindividualsslowlycrossedthepathaheadofus.
Chukar Alectorischukar SeenatSusitainthenorthandNizzanaandMtAmsainthesouth.Goodviewswereobtainedbuttheyneverallowedacloseapproach.
BlackFrancolin Francolinusfrancolinus
HearddistantlyintheHulaValley.
PODICIPEDIFORMES:Podicipedidae
LittleGrebe Tachybaptusruficollis
SeenonanumberofdayswithanimpressiveconcentrationofbirdsontheSewageWorks
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poolsatNizzanaintheNegevdesert.
GreatCrestedGrebe Podicepscristatus
GoodnumberswerescopedontheSeaofGalilee.
EaredGrebe Podicepsnigricollis
SeveralsmallflockswerescopedontheSeaofGalilee.
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES:Phoenicopteridae
LesserFlamingo (Phoenicopterusminor)
GreaterFlamingo Phoenicopterusroseus
CommonintheFishpondsatNasholimandabundantattheKM20SaltpansnearEilat.
CICONIIFORMES:Ciconiidae
BlackStork Ciconianigra AscatteringofsightingsthroughthetourwithamassiveflockofaroundathousandbirdsmigratingoverMtArbelonourseconddayfollowedbysmallnumbersinthefishpondsattheBeitSheanValleyandKM20SaltPansandalsoasmallflockmigratingwiththemanyraptorsoverMtYoash,Eilat.
WhiteStork Ciconiaciconia SeenonquiteafewdaysduringthetourwithanimpressivemigrantflockdroppingintojointheCranesattheHulaValleyandasmallermigrantflockpassinglowovertheSewageWorksatNizzanabeingthemostmemorablesightings.
SULIFORMES:Phalacrocoracidae
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PygmyCormorant Microcarbopygmeus
Seendailyduringourfourdaysinthenorth,mainlyaroundfishpondsatNasholimandintheHulaandBeitSheanValleys.
GreatCormorant Phalacrocoraxcarbo
GreatCormorantseenmostcommonlyinthenorthofIsraelbutalsoseenonafewdaysatEilat,mainlyattheBirdPark.
PELECANIFORMES:Pelecanidae
GreatWhitePelican Pelecanusonocrotalus
AlargeflockwereseencirclinghighaboveintheHulaValleyandthenwehadgreatcloseperchedandflightgroupsofaflockatsomefishpondsintheBeitSheanValley.
PELECANIFORMES:Ardeidae
GreatBittern Botaurusstellaris GreatviewsofacouplethatflewupoutofthereedsatKM19atduskandspentalongtimecirclingrepeatedlyaboveusmakinggruntingcallsbeforefinallymigratingnorthintothenight.
GrayHeron Ardeacinerea GreyHeron,seenonmostdayswithsomeniceflocksinactivemigrationintheEilatarea.
PurpleHeron Ardeapurpurea OuronlysightingwasasinglebirdwhichflewthroughtheBirdParkatEilatonemorning.
GreatEgret Ardeaalba SeenonanumberofdaysbutmainlyduringthenorthernIsraelpartofthetourandscarceintheEilatarea.
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LittleEgret Egrettagarzetta Seenonmostdays.
CattleEgret Bubulcusibis SeenonanumberofdaysbutfewsightingsduringthesouthernportionofthetouraroundEilatwherethedeserthabitatwasunsuitable.
SquaccoHeron Ardeolaralloides ScatteredsightingsbeingseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoastandseveralmigrantgroupsatEilatincludinginthereedbedsatKM19andperchedintheopenaroundthepoolattheBirdParkononemorning.
Black-crownedNight-Heron
Nycticoraxnycticorax
GoodcloseviewsinthefishpondsintheHulaValleyandaflockofelevenmigrantsrestingontheexposedbanksofthepoolssouthoftheBirdPark,Eilat.
PELECANIFORMES:Threskiornithidae
GlossyIbis Plegadisfalcinellus
VerycommoninnorthernIsraelandatleastonemigrantseenononedayonthepoolattheBirdPark,Eilat.
EurasianSpoonbill Platalealeucorodia
SmallnumbersseeninNorthernIsraelatNasholimandtheHulaandBeitSheanValleys.
ACCIPITRIFORMES:Pandionidae
Osprey Pandionhaliaetus
Onlyseenonacoupleofdays,onceatBeitSheanvalleyandonceatEilat.
ACCIPITRIFORMES:
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Accipitridae
Black-shoulderedKite Elanuscaeruleus AsinglebirdperchedonroadsidewiresintheGolanHeightswasamajorhighlight.
EgyptianVulture Neophronpercnopterus
AcouplewereseendistantlybytheDeadSeaandacouplewereseenatSdeBoker.
EurasianGriffon Gypsfulvus AsinglebirdseensoaringnearthehighwayshortlyafterleavingNasholiminnorthernIsraelandacouplewhichgavebetterviewssoaringabovethecliffsatSdeBoker.
Short-toedSnake-Eagle Circaetusgallicus SeenonseveraldaysinNorthernIsraelwhereresidentbutjustonceinthesouth,apresumedmigrantperchedonapylonnearShizzafonjunction.
GreaterSpottedEagle Clangaclanga SeenonthreedaysrunninginthenorthwithasingleattheHulafishpondsfollowedthenextdaybymultipleindividualsinthevicinityoftheAgmonlakeintheHulavalleyandthenatleastoneseenattheBeitSheanfishponds.
BootedEagle Hieraaetuspennatus
AcoupleofsightingsintheEilatarea.
SteppeEagle Aquilanipalensis SmallnumbersseenmigratingonseveraldaysattheEilatarea,mainlyoverMtYoashbutalsoovertheBirdParkandotherrandombirdingstops.
ImperialEagle Aquilaheliaca AcoupleofindividualsseenaroundtheAgmonlakeintheHulavalley,includingonethat
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wascompetingwithseveralGreaterSpottedEaglesoveraCranecarcass.
Bonelli'sEagle Aquilafasciata AsingleimmaturebirdwasseenwellperchedaroundthecowshedsatKM19beforeitflewofftowardsthemountainsofJordan.
EurasianMarsh-Harrier Circusaeruginosus
SeenalmostdailythroughoutthedayincludingseveralindividualsinactivemigrationatEilat.
HenHarrier Circuscyaneus FirstseennearKibbutzMeronGolanontheedgeoftheHulaValleyandthenonseveraldaysduringourtimeintheEilatarea,includinganicemalehuntingoverthefieldsatYotvata.
PallidHarrier Circusmacrourus SinglemaleswereseenoverthefieldsatYotvataandhuntingatMtAmsaonourlastday.Thisbeautifulraptorisclassifiedas'Near-threatened'onaglobalscale.
EurasianSparrowhawk Accipiternisus Ascatteringofsightingsthroughthetour.
BlackKite Milvusmigrants WidespreadsightingsthroughthetourwithquitelargenumbersseeninactivemigrationatEilat,especiallyoverMtYoash.
CommonBuzzard Buteobuteo AcoupleofthenominateformB.bButeowereseeninnorthernIsraelandtheB.bvulpinusformoftenknownasSteppeBuzzard(andsometimes
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mootedasapotentialsplit)wasseencommonlyandinquitelargenumberinactivemigrationatMtYoashandotherareasintheEilatarea.SteppeBuzzardisalongdistancemigrantthatpassesthroughIsraelen-routetoandfromitswinteringrangeinAfricaandbreedingrangeintheSteppesofcentralAsia.
Long-leggedBuzzard Buteorufinus Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
OTIDIFORMES:Otididae
Macqueen'sBustard Chlamydotismacqueenii
Greatviewsofatleastthreeindividuals,includingadisplayingmale,atNizzana.Oneofthehighlightsofthetrip.
GRUIFORMES:Rallidae
WaterRail Rallusaquaticus GoodviewsofasinglebirdatthefishpondsintheHulaValleywerefollowedbyexcellentcloseupviewsofasinglebirdattheBirdParkinEilat.
SpottedCrake Porzanaporzana AsinglebirdshowedwellatYeruhamlake.
LittleCrake Zaporniaparva Afemalewasseeninthehandafterbeingtrappedandringed/bandedattheBirdPark,Eilat.
EurasianMoorhen Gallinulachloropus
Seenfrequentlyatwetlandsthroughoutmuchofthetour.
EurasianCoot Fulicaatra Seenfrequentlyatwetlandsthroughoutmuchofthetour.
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GRUIFORMES:Gruidae
CommonCrane Grusgrus ThesiteandnoiseofthousandsofwinteringbirdsattheAgmonlakeintheHulavalleywasundoubtedlyoneofthehighlightsofthetrip.AflockofseveralhundredwhichdroppeddownfromhighaltitudemigrationtobrieflyrestattheKM20Saltpanswasalsoverymemorable.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Burhinidae
EurasianThick-knee Burhinusoedicnemus
SeenonacoupleofdaysintheAravavalleywithanindividualatHollandParkshowingespeciallywell.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Recurvirostridae
Black-wingedStilt Himantopushimantopus
Seencommonlyatwetlandsthroughoutmuchofthetour.
PiedAvocet Recurvirostraavosetta
SmallnumberswereseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoast.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Charadriidae
Black-belliedPlover Pluvialissquatarola
SmallnumberswereseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoast.
NorthernLapwing Vanellusvanellus AsinglebirdwasseenatfishpondsintheBeitSheanValley.
Spur-wingedLapwing Vanellusspinosus Abundant,noisyandomnipresentthroughoutthetour.
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GreaterSand-Plover Charadriusleschenaultii
SmallnumbersseenintheEilatareaatKM20andthesouthernSaltpans.
KentishPlover Charadriusalexandrinus
SeencommonlyintheEilatareaespeciallyattheKM20andsouthernSaltpans.
CommonRingedPlover Charadriushiaticula
Seencommonlythroughoutthetour.
LittleRingedPlover Charadriusdubius
ScatteredsightingsbutmostcommonlyseenintheEilatarea.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Scolopacidae
Whimbrel Numeniusphaeopus
AsinglesightingatNasholimontheMediterraneancoast.
Black-tailedGodwit Limosalimosa ScatteredsightingsinnorthernIsrael.
RuddyTurnstone Arenariainterpres
SmallnumbersseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoast.
Ruff Calidrispugnax Seencommonlythroughoutthetour,sometimesinlargeflocks.
Temminck'sStint Calidristemminckii
AsinglebirdgaveverygoodviewsatthenorthbeachEilatandanotherwasseenbrieflyattheBeitSheanvalley.
Dunlin Calidrisalpina Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
LittleStint Calidrisminuta Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
CommonSnipe Gallinagogallinago
Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
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Red-neckedPhalarope Phalaropuslobatus
ApairwereseenwellalongthecanalsouthoftheBirdParkatEilat.
CommonSandpiper Actitishypoleucos
ScatteredsightingsalthoughmostcommonlyseeninnorthernIsrael.
GreenSandpiper Tringaochropus Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
SpottedRedshank Tringaerythropus SeenatNasholimandKM20Saltpans.
CommonGreenshank Tringanebularia Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
MarshSandpiper Tringastagnatilis Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
WoodSandpiper Tringaglareola SeenononedayonlyatthefloodsneartheAgmonlakeintheHulaValley.
CommonRedshank Tringatotanus Seenalmostdailythroughoutthetour.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Glareolidae
Cream-coloredCourser Cursoriuscursor ApairwereseenwellatUvdaplainandthenatleastsevenwereseenatNizzana.
CHARADRIIFORMES:Laridae
Slender-billedGull Chroicocephalusgenei
Seenonmanydaysthroughoutthetour,includingsomeflocksinactivemigrationatEilat.
Black-headedGull Chroicocephalusridibundus
Seenonmanydaysthroughoutthetour,includingsomeflocksinactivemigrationatEilat.
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LittleGull Hydrocoloeusminutus
AsinglebirdwasseenoverthefishpondsatNasholim.
White-eyedGull Ichthyaetusleucophthalmus
SeenonacoupleofdaysatEilat,fromthenorthbeachandthedolphinreefinthegulfofAqaba.
Pallas'sGull Ichthyaetusichthyaetus
SeveralindividualswerescopedontheSeaofGalilee.
Yellow-leggedGull Larusmichahellis SmallnumbersseenatNasholimontheMediterraneancoast.
CaspianGull Laruscachinnans AsinglewasseenwithArmenianGullsintheBeitSheanValley.
ArmenianGull Larusarmenicus SmallnumbersseenatseveralsitesinnorthernIsrael.
LesserBlack-backedGull Larusfuscus Seenonseveraldaysduringthetour-allappearedtobethelongdistancemigrantraceL.f.fuscuswhichisoftencalledBalticGullandwhichisalongdistancemigrantwinteringinEastAfricaandbreedinginnorthernEurope.
CaspianTern Hydroprognecaspia
SeenonacoupleofdaysintheEilatareaincludingaperchedindividualattheBirdPark.
WhiskeredTern Chlidoniashybrida
GoodnumbersofwinteringbirdswereseenhawkingovertheseaofGalilee.
SandwichTern Thalasseussandvicensis
SmallnumbersseenovertheMediterraneanatNasholimandovertheRedSeaatEilat.
PTEROCLIFORMES:
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Pteroclidae
SpottedSandgrouse Pteroclessenegallus
AflockwereseeninflightatUvdaplainandthenwehadgoodviewsbothinflightandperchedofaflockatSdeBoker.
Black-belliedSandgrouse Pteroclesorientalis
ApairwereseenverywellfeedingindryfieldsatSdeBoker.
CrownedSandgrouse Pteroclescoronatus
AsinglebirdgaveexcellentviewsvisitingadrinkingpoolatEzuz.
COLUMBIFORMES:Columbidae
RockPigeon Columbalivia Feralpigeonswereseenalmostdailyduringthetour.
EurasianCollared-Dove Streptopeliadecaocto
Seendailythroughoutthetour.
LaughingDove(I) Streptopeliasenegalensis
Seendailythroughoutthetour.
NamaquaDove Oenacapensis SeenonacoupleofdaysintheEilatarea,averyattractivespecies.
CUCULIFORMES:Cuculidae
GreatSpottedCuckoo Clamatorglandarius
SeveralbirdswereseenroadsidewhiledrivingintheGolanHeightsandasinglebirdwasseeninflightatYeruhamlake.
STRIGIFORMES:Strigidae
LittleOwl Athenenoctua GoodviewsofasinglebirdatMtAmsaonourlastday.
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TawnyOwl Strixaluco AsinglebirdgavegreatviewsatKfarBluminnorthernIsrael.ThisisascarcespeciesinIsrael.
Long-earedOwl Asiootus GreatviewsofaroostingbirdatSdeBoker.
Short-earedOwl Asioflammeus AsinglebirdperchedontheroadinthecarheadlightswhilelookingforEgyptianNightjaratYotvatawasasurprise.ThisisascarcespeciesinIsrael,especiallyinthesouth.
CAPRIMULGIFORMES:Caprimulgidae
EgyptianNightjar Caprimulgusaegyptius
AsinglebirdseenverywellperchedonthegroundinthefieldsatYotvata.
NubianNightjar Caprimulgusnubicus
AsinglebirdseenbrieflyinthefieldsatNeotHakikar.
CAPRIMULGIFORMES:Apodidae
AlpineSwift Apusmelba SmallnumbersseeninbothnorthernandsouthernIsraelalthougharebestviewswereatthesewageworksatNizzana.
CommonSwift Apusapus Seenalmostdailythroughoutthetour.
PallidSwift Apuspallidus SeenonnumerousdaysduringthetouralthoughlessfrequentlyandatlesssitesthanCommonSwift.
BUCEROTIFORMES:Upupidae
EurasianHoopoe Upupaepops Seenonmanydaysduringthetourincludingindividuals
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clearlyinactivemigrationoverthedesertsinthesouth.
CORACIIFORMES:Alcedinidae
CommonKingfisher Alcedoatthis AsinglebirdwasseenatthefishpondsintheHulaValley.
White-throatedKingfisher
Halcyonsmyrnensis
SmallnumbersseenatthefishpondsintheHulaandBeitSheanValleys.
PiedKingfisher Cerylerudis Scatteredsightingsthroughoutthetour.
CORACIIFORMES:Meropidae
GreenBee-eater Meropsorientalis SeenalmostdailyduringourtimeinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
PICIFORMES:Picidae
EurasianWryneck Jynxtorquilla AsinglebirdshowedwellatOphiraParkinthecenterofEilatwhileanotheratNizzanawasonlyseenbytheleader.
SyrianWoodpecker Dendrocopossyriacus
AcouplewereseenwellintheGolanHeights.
FALCONIFORMES:Falconidae
LesserKestrel Falconaumanni AsmallgroupwereseenonacoupleofdaysatYotvatafields.
EurasianKestrel Falcotinnunculus Seenalmostdailythroughoutthetour.
PeregrineFalcon Falcoperegrinus AsingleofthenominateformwasseeninflightatMeromGolanandasecond(ofthesmallerdesertraceF.p.
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pelegriniodes,oftencalledBarbaryFalcon)wasseenwellatEinGediKibbutz.
PSITTACIFORMES:Psittaculidae
Rose-ringedParakeet(I) Psittaculakrameri
Seenonmanydaysduringthetouralthoughabsentinpuredesertareas.
PASSERIFORMES:Laniidae
SouthernGrayShrike Laniusmeridionalis
AsinglebirdshowedverywellatNizzana.
MaskedShrike Laniusnubicus SinglebirdswereseenatHollandParkandNeotSemedar.
WoodchatShrike Laniussenator SeenonthreedaysinsouthernIsraelincludingatKM20andSdeBoker.
PASSERIFORMES:Corvidae
EurasianJay Garrulusglandarius
SeenatMtHermonandtheGolanHeights.
EurasianJackdaw Corvusmonedula SmallnumbersseeninnorthernIsrael.
HouseCrow(I) Corvussplendens SeencommonlyaroundEilat.
HoodedCrow Corvuscornix Seenonmanydaysduringthetourbutabsentinpuredesertareas.
Brown-neckedRaven Corvusruficollis SeenonmostofthedayswespentinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
Fan-tailedRaven Corvusrhipidurus Seencommonlyaroundthe
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DeadSeaatEinGedi.
CommonRaven Corvuscorax AsinglebirdnearEinGediwasasurprise.
PASSERIFORMES:Alaudidae
Bar-tailedLark Ammomanescinctura
SeenatacoupleofsitesinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
DesertLark Ammomanesdeserti
SeenonanumberofdayswhilebirdinginthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
Temminck'sLark Eremophilabilopha
GoodviewsofasmallgroupontheplainsatUvdaonourthirdtry!
GreaterShort-toedLark Calandrellabrachydactyla
SeenonmostdayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael,sometimesinreasonablylargeflocks.
BimaculatedLark Melanocoryphabimaculata
AsinglebirdseeninthedryfieldsatYotvata.
WoodLark Lullulaarborea AsinglebirdseenwellatSusitainnorthernIsrael.
CrestedLark Galeridacristata Seenalmostdailythroughoutthetour.
PASSERIFORMES:Hirundinidae
BankSwallow Ripariariparia SmallnumbersofmigrantsseenonseveraldayswhileinsouthernIsrael.
RockMartin Ptyonoprognefuligula
SeenalmostdailyinthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
BarnSwallow Hirundorustica Seendailythroughoutthetour.
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Red-rumpedSwallow Cecropisdaurica SeenfrequentlythroughoutthetourincludingnestingbirdsinnorthernIsraelandplentyofmigrantswhileinsouthernIsrael.
CommonHouse-Martin Delichonurbicum SmallnumbersofmigrantsseenonanumberofdayswhileinsouthernIsrael.
PASSERIFORMES:Paridae
GreatTit Parusmajor SeenalmostdailywhileinnorthernIsrael.
PASSERIFORMES:Remizidae
EurasianPenduline-Tit Remizpendulinus AcoupleshowedwellinthereedbedsatNasholimfishpondsontheMediterraneancoast.
PASSERIFORMES:Sittidae
WesternRockNuthatch Sittaneumayer AsinglebirdwasseenwellontheslopesofMtHermon.
PASSERIFORMES:Pycnonotidae
White-spectacledBulbul Pycnonotusxanthopygos
Seendailythroughoutthetour.
PASSERIFORMES:Scotocercidae
ScrubWarbler Scotocercainquieta
SeenonseveraldayswhileinsouthernIsraelwithourbestviewsbeingofaconfidingpairatAmramPillars.
Cetti'sWarbler Cettiacetti Heardalmostdailyinthenorthandonewasseenwellatthe
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fishpondsatNasholim.AlsoheardononedayonlyattheBirdParkatEilat.
PASSERIFORMES:Phylloscopidae
CommonChiffchaff Phylloscopuscollybita
Seendailythroughoutthetour.
EasternBonelli'sWarbler Phylloscopusorientalis
MigrantswereseenonmostdayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael.
PASSERIFORMES:Acrocephalidae
EasternOlivaceousWarbler
Idunapallida MigrantswereseenonseveraldayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael.
SedgeWarbler Acrocephalusschoenobaenus
SeenacoupleoftimesattheBirdParkinEilat.
EurasianReedWarbler Acrocephalusscirpaceus
Seenonnumerousdaysduringthetour.
GreatReedWarbler Acrocephalusarundinaceus
MostlyheardwhileinnorthernIsraelbutwedidgetgoodviewsofoneindividualatNasholimfishponds.
ClamorousReedWarbler Acrocephalusstentoreus
SeenwellatNasholimfishpondsandheardatthefreshwaterpoolssouthoftheDeadSea.
PASSERIFORMES:Locustellidae
Savi'sWarbler Locustellaluscinioides
AsinglebirdwasseenwhenitwastrappedtoberingedattheBirdPark,Eilatandalsoheardononeotherday.
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PASSERIFORMES:Cisticolidae
GracefulPrinia Priniagracilis Seenonmostdaysduringthetouralthoughabsentinsomeofthedesertareas.
PASSERIFORMES:Sylviidae
EurasianBlackcap Sylviaatricapilla SeenonanumberofdayswhilebirdinginthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
AsianDesertWarbler Sylvianana SeenatacoupleofsitesintheAravavalley.
LesserWhitethroat Sylviacurruca Seendailythroughoutthetour.
EasternOrpheanWarbler Sylviacrassirostris
SeenonacoupleofdayswhileinsouthernIsrael.
CyprusWarbler Sylviamelanothorax
AsinglemaleinOphiraparkinthecenterofEilatshowedwell.
Rüppell'sWarbler Sylviaruppeli AsmartmaleshowedwellonMtHermonandthenaseenacoupleoftimeswhileinthesouth.
SardinianWarbler Sylviamelanocephala
SeenonallfourdaysthatwespentinnorthernIsraelwithgoodviewsatNasholimfishponds.
GreaterWhitethroat Sylviacommunis SeensinginginnorthernIsraelandacoupleofmigrantswerealsoseenwhileinthesouth.
PASSERIFORMES:Leiothrichidae
ArabianBabbler Turdoidessquamiceps
SeenatseveralsitesinsouthernIsraelthoughthebestviewswereofsomeconfiding
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birdsatSdeBoker.
PASSERIFORMES:Muscicapidae
EuropeanRobin Erithacusrubecula
AsinglebirdwasheardatKibbutzEinGedibutremainedindeepcover.
CommonNightingale Lusciniamegarhynchos
AsinglebirdwasseenattheEilatBirdParkwhenitwastrappedforringing.
Bluethroat Lusciniasvecica SeenonnumerousdaysduringthetripincludingwinteringbirdsaroundthefishpondsatNasholimandmigrantbirdsattheBirdPark,Eilat.
CommonRedstart Phoenicurusphoenicurus
MigrantswereseenonseveraldayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael.
BlackRedstart Phoenicurusochruros
AsinglebirdofthewesternformP.ogibraltariensis(WesternBlackRedstart)wasseenatMtAbrelwhileasmartmaleoftheeasternformP.oOchruros(EasternBlackRedstart)wasseenonMtHermon.
BlueRock-Thrush Monticolasolitarius
SeenonacoupleofthedayswespentinnorthernIsraelincludinggreatviewsofourfirstatMtArbelandalsoseenonacoupleofthedayswespentinsouthernIsrael,includingsomebirdsthatwereclearlymigrantsinthedesert.
EuropeanStonechat Saxicolarubicola SeenonthreeofthefourdayswespentinnorthernIsraelwithourfirstatthefishpondsat
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Nasholim.
SiberianStonechat Saxicolamaurus AsmartmaleoftheformS.t.hemprichiiwasseeninreedbedsbytheAgmonlake,HulaValley.
Blackstart Cercomelamelanura
FollowingourfirstatSusitaontheshoresoftheDeadSeathisspecieswasseenalmostdailyinsouthernIsrael.
White-crownedWheatear
Oenantheleucopyga
SeenonanumberofdaysinthedesertsofsouthernIsraelwithourbestviewsatWadiShlomo.
HoodedWheatear Oenanthemonacha
SeenonanumberofdaysinthedesertsofsouthernIsraelwithourbestviewsatAmramPillars.
NorthernWheatear Oenantheoenanthe
MigrantswereseenalmostdailyinsouthernIsrael.
MourningWheatear Oenanthelugens SeenatUvdaplainandSdeBoker.
Black-earedWheatear Oenanthehispanica
MigrantswereseenonfourofthedayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael,most(ifnotall)seemedtobeoftheeasternformO.h.melanoleuca.
Red-tailedWheatear Oenanthexanthoprymna
AsinglevagrantoftheformchrysopygiawhichhasgenerallybeensplitfromxanthoprymnaandcalledPersianWheatearwasseenwellatMtAmsa.ItwasthesecondrecordforIsrael.
DesertWheatear Oenanthedeserti SeenwellonacoupleofdaysinsouthernIsraelwithgoodviews
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atUvdaplains.
IsabellineWheatear Oenantheisabellina
MigrantswereseenonmostdaysthatwespentinsouthernIsrael.
PASSERIFORMES:Turdidae
EurasianBlackbird Turdusmerula GoodviewsatKibbutzMeronGolanandSdeBokerandheardonacoupleofotherdays.
PASSERIFORMES:Sturnidae
EuropeanStarling Sturnusvulgaris SeencommonlyonthecoastalstripinnorthernIsrael.
CommonMyna(I) Acridotherestristis
Seenalmostdailyalthoughabsentinsomeofthepuredesertareasofthesouth.
Tristram'sStarling Onychognathustristramii
ExtremelycommonatEinGediandalsoseenonacoupleofdaysintheEilatarea.
PASSERIFORMES:Nectariniidae
PalestineSunbird Cinnyrisosea Seendailythroughoutthetour.
PASSERIFORMES:Motacillidae
WesternYellowWagtail Motacillaflava MigrantswereseencommonlyduringourtimeinsouthernIsraelincludingavarietyofdifferentsubspecies.WesawseveralmalesoftheformM.f.flava(Black-headedWagtail)whichsomeauthoritiestreatasafullspecies.
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CitrineWagtail Motacillacitreola AcoupleofsightingsintheEilatarea.AndasinglemaleseenwellatourlaststopatareservoirwhilejourneyingnorthtowardsTelAvivonourlastday.
WhiteWagtail Motacillaalba Seendailythroughoutthetour.
Long-billedPipit Anthussimilis GreatviewsofadisplayingbirdatSusitaontheshoresoftheDeadSea.
TawnyPipit Anthuscampestris
SeenonseveraldaysintheEilatareaincludinggoodviewsofacoupleattheBirdPark.
MeadowPipit Anthuspratensis SeenonthreeofthefourdayswespentinnorthernIsraelwithourfirstatthefishpondsatNasholim.
TreePipit Anthustrivialis AsinglebirdseenintheAlfalfafieldsatNeotSemedar.
Red-throatedPipit Anthuscervinus HeardacoupleoftimesinsouthernIsraelbutwenevermanagedtoseeone.
WaterPipit Anthusspinoletta FirstseenatthefishpondsattheBeitSheanvalleyandthenonacoupleofdayswhilewewereinsouthernIsrael.
PASSERIFORMES:Emberizidae
RockBunting Emberizacia AsinglemalegavegreatviewsatMtHermon.
CinereousBunting Emberizacineracea
AsinglewasseenbrieflyatSusitabytheSeaofGalilee.
Cretzschmar'sBunting Emberizacaesia AsinglemaleatSusitabytheSeaofGalileewasouronly
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sightingofthetrip.
CornBunting Emberizacalandra
SeencommonlyatMtArbel,theGolanHeightsandSusita.
PASSERIFORMES:Fringillidae
CommonChaffinch Fringillacoelebs SeencommonlyinnorthernIsrael.
Hawfinch Coccothraustescoccothraustes
AsinglebirdatMtHermonwasfollowedbyacoupleatapicnicsiteattheAgmonlake,HulaValley.
TrumpeterFinch Bucanetesgithagineus
AsmallflockatYotvatafieldswasfollowedbyanobligingsingingmaleatNeotSemedarsewageworksandsomewerealsoseenatNizzana.
DesertFinch Rhodospizaobsoleta
AstoptolookformigrantsatsomescrubneartheDeadSeaproducedgoodviewsofapair,areonlysightingofthetrip.
EuropeanGreenfinch Chlorischloris ScatteredsightingsinthenorthandatSdeBokerbutabsentfromthedesertsofsouthernIsrael.
EurasianLinnet Linariacannabina SeenatMtArbelandintheGolanHeights.
EuropeanGoldfinch Cardueliscarduelis
SeenwellatMtArbelandheardatSusita.
EuropeanSerin Serinusserinus AsinglefemaleseenatMtArbel.
PASSERIFORMES:Passeridae
HouseSparrow Passer Seendailythroughoutthetour.
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domesticus
SpanishSparrow Passerhispaniolensis
Seenalmostdailythroughoutthetourwithsomequitelargeflocksseeninthesouth.
DeadSeaSparrow Passermoabiticus
AsinglemaleshowedverywellatsomefishpondsintheBeitSheanValley.
RockPetronia Petroniapetronia GreatviewsofsomenestingbirdsatMtArbelonourlastday.
PaleRockfinch Carpospizabrachydactyla
PASSERIFORMES:Estrildidae
IndianSilverbill(I) Euodicemalabarica
AsmallflockseenwellinthefishpondsatNasholim.
Othersightings:
EgyptianMongoose Herpestesichneumon
AsinglewasseenbrieflyinthefishpondsatNasholim.
RockHyrax Procaviacapensis.
GreatviewsofsomeconfidingindividualsatMtHermoninnorthernIsrael.
Coypu Myocastorcoypus
SeveralwereseeninthevicinityoftheAgmonlakeintheHulaValley.Thisisanon-nativespeciesofSouthAmericanoriginwhichhascolonisedmanyofthewaterwaysofnorthernIsrael.}
GoldenJackal Canisaureus AcouplewereseenscavengingdiscardedfishatthefishpondsintheBeitSheanvalley.
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NubianIbex Capranubiana SeenatseveralsitesinsouthernIsraelwithourbestviewsofsomeconfidingindividualsatWadiShlomonearEilat.
BrownHare Lepuseuropaeus SeenatseveralsitesinsouthernIsraelincludingbeingspotlightedwhilelookingforNightjarsatNeotHakikarandasingleindividualthatwasflushedatHollandParknearEilat.
DorcasGazelle Gazelladorcas GoodviewsatKM20,AmramPillars,nearUvdaplainandagroupofantlerwrestingindividualsatNizzana.
RedFox Vulpesvulpes SeveralseenwhilespotlightingforNightjarsatYotvatafields.
IsraeliWildAss/PersianOnager
GreatcloseviewsofasingleatUvdaplainandthendistantviewsofatleastelevenatEzuz.FollowingtheextinctionoftheoriginalnativeNegevsubspeciesacaptivebreedingprogramwasestablishedin1968withelevenindividualsfromIranandTurkmenistan.Thisformedthebasisfortheself-sustainingandfreeroamingpopulationofovertwohundredindividualsthatnowinhabittheNegevofsouthernIsrael.