Rarity Alert –
Little Bunting Emberiza pussila

All images copyright of Jonathan Meyrav
Click the pictures to enlarge [+]

On the morning of 23 November I was happy to find a nice adult Little Bunting at the Samar date plantation.

Little Bunting has become extremely rare in Israel in the past few years and particularly in southern Israel where there has not been a confirmed record for over 15 years! The Bunting was in nice plumage and showed nice rufous cheeks and lores, a pronounced crown stripe and a clean white wing bar. The bird spent most of the morning in the same area and when it occasionally flew around it called several times, a short, sharp "tzip". For most of the morning the Little Bunting fed on the ground at the base of the trees and in dense vegetation. It was good to find this bird since it enlivened an otherwise slow day in the valley. It was hard to get good images but I hope you enjoy these.

Stay posted.

Jonathan Meyrav and the birdingisrael team

Contact info

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