James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports Fall 2001

1st December 2001 - Kibbutz Lotan

I always enjoy Saturday on Lotan, a traditional day of rest for the Kibbutz, it's always so peaceful especially in the morning. As it happened there wasn't so much around, especially in the way of new birds. A couple of Blackcaps were gathering insects from the grass lawn in front of my apartment and a stroll down to the organic garden and dairy barn produced the regular female Finsch's Wheatear and about 350 Spanish Sparrows. In Nahal Grofit, I was pleased to see 5 Trumpeter Finch close to the road and again I saw the juvenile Common Buzzard circling over the Kibbutz.

The real treat came in late afternoon when I made a late decision to hike though at least some of Nahal Quetura. This beautiful wadi is within walking distance of the Kibbutz, and I usually make the effort to hike there at least once per month.

On entering the wadi from the east I accidentally disturbed two large groups, one of Nubian Ibex with a troop of about 30 animals, and one of Sand Partridge with a covey of at least 18 birds. This was a great start to the walk but afterwards I found very few birds. The species that I did find were typical of this harsh desert landscape with Desert Lark and about 6 Scrub Warblers, and even 2 immaculate Arabian Warblers. This is a non-migratory species, endemic to the Red Sea basin and becoming increasingly scarce in Israel.

However, the highlight of the afternoon apart from the place itself, was a wonderful Striated Scops Owl that I found roosting inside an Acacia bush, deep inside the wadi. Each winter, I find one or two wintering here, but it has to be said that this remains a very rare species in Israel with perhaps five or less known individuals spending the winter in desert wadis close the Arava. It's almost certain that many more are overlooked, given the bird's incredibly cryptic plumage and small size.

Good birding to all,

James Smith.

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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)