Black-shouldered Kite-Bet Shean Valley
-a brief follow-up by Roelf Hovinga:

- 19 November 2003
" During the morning we were visited by some former colleagues from the raptor survey. Amongst others, Dubi Shapiro, Yoav Perlman, Eran Banker and Tomer Landsberger had been trying to relocate the Black-shouldered Kite for most of the morning.

Sadly, the bird was nowhere to be found. During their search they did come up with some good birds however. Greater Spotted Eagle, Sociable Plover, Oriental Skylark and Richards' Pipit (3) were all found in the fields North of Kfar Ruppin.

Roelf "

Despite the bird looking so settled, there have been no further reports of the Black-shouldered Kite north of Kefar Ruppin. Perhaps, like all the other Israel records, it will only be seen on one specific day. However, the Bet Shean Valley is a big area and there's a good chance that Vince and Roelf will eventually get lucky.

Common Crane

Demoiselle Crane

In addition, Itai Shani has sent us this shot of the adult Demoiselle Crane (Anthopoides virgo) that he photographed while watching Common Cranes (Grus grus) with friends in the Hula Valley on 15th November. In comparison to Itai's picture of Common Crane, note the extent of the black neck feathers into the centre of the breast, and the narrower area of white behind the eye. Demoiselle Crane is best described as a very scarce passage migrant through Israel, and this one in November is very late.

Just in!

On 22 November 2003 the Black-shouldered Kite was refound by Vincent de Boer in the fields of Kefar Ruppin. It was perched on one of the large irrigation sprinklers in the northern alfalfa field of the Kibbutz. This field is due west of the road (RTE 6688)
to Kefar Ruppin, and visible from the road itself.

Good  birding,

James P. Smith and The Birdingisrael Team

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Contact info

Daphna Abell
Program Coordinator
lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
Tel: +972 8 6356935;
Toll Free: 1800 2000 75 (when in Israel)