James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports Fall 2001

13th November 2001 - Kibbutz Lotan

There was a cool start to the day with a chilly wind coming from the north. Otherwise it was a typical day in the Southern Arava - clear and sunny. I spent the whole morning on foot, walking a loop through the residential area, then by the swimming pool, south to the organic garden, behind the dairy barn and then across to the bird reserve via the new organic fields close to the entrance of the reserve.

It was a thrilling morning and I noted several scarce species for the Lotan area. I also took the opportunity to assess the numbers of the more common birds and came back with some surprising half-day totals for the central and southern parts of Lotan.

The following is a complete list of the species seen from 06:30 - 11:30 hrs. Please note that a species highlighted by capitals can be regarded as notable for the Lotan area, as well as the Southern Arava;

Sparrowhawk - 2
Kestrel - 1
Common Crane - 22 flew south-west at 11:00hrs.
NORTHERN LAPWING - 2 flew low to the north, possibly heading for Lotan's fields.
Spur-winged Plover - 16
Feral Rock Dove - c.60
Collared Dove - 121
Palm Dove - 155
Little Green Bee-eater - 8
Crested Lark - 23
Eurasian Skylark - 1 flew south at 07:30hrs.
TREE PIPIT - 1 on the soccer field, rather late, maybe our latest record.
Meadow Pipit - 2
Red-throated Pipit - 78
Water Pipit - 13
White Wagtail - 121
Yellow-vented Bulbul - 49
Robin - 5
Bluethroat - 13
Black Redstart - 6
Blackstart - 6
Stonechat - 8
Isabelline Wheatear - 2 near the dairy barn.
Desert Wheatear - 1 male near the dairy barn.
FINSCH'S WHEATEAR - 1 female near the dairy barn. 2nd record for Lotan.
FIELDFARE - 1 flew south calling at 09:40 hrs. 5th record for Lotan.
Song Thrush - 4
Graceful Prinia - 2
Sardinian Warbler - 7
Blackcap - 2
YELLOW - BROWED WARBLER - One calling bird appeared briefly in the residential area at 07:00hrs but couldn't be found later. 5th record for Lotan.
Chiffchaff - 16
Palestine Sunbird - 6
Brown-necked Raven - 2
STARLING - 4 by the sewage overflow. Always scarce at Lotan.
House Sparrow - 140
Spanish Sparrow - 90
Greenfinch - 10
Goldfinch - 1
Desert Finch - 2

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)