James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports

15th November 2001 - Kibbutz Lotan

After yesterday's warm south-easterly, the wind had switched back to a more typical northerly direction bringing with it cooler, comfortable conditions. The first bird that I heard and saw this morning was the White-breasted Kingfisher first reported by Mike Nitzan in late September. For such a large, gaudy bird it had been particularly aloof for two days but it was certainly nice to catch up with it and this bird will probably spend the winter at Lotan.

My main interest this morning was trying to re-locate yesterday's Yellow-throated Petronia in the organic garden. In the process, I found a number of pleasing birds including a fine male Hooded Wheatear, and a party of 6 Goldfinch. Closer to the dairy barn, the female Finsch's Wheatear was still present along with 2 Northern and 1 Isabelline Wheatear. In fact, a White-crowned Black Wheatear near the dining room later in the day made for a cool five species of wheatear on Lotan in just one day!

The petronia didn't appear and after ninety minutes of effort I gave up and headed back to the Kibbutz. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the day was spent in the office but just after lunch I located a Yellow-browed Warbler by it's sharp rising 'tsweet' call, with possibly another calling nearby at the same time. It's difficult to say whether or not this is the same bird that I saw two days ago on the 13th. It's fascinating to think of this tiny Siberian waif finding it's way to Lotan in the middle of the desert in the Arava Valley. Lotan does tend to attract this species and two individuals have even spent the winter here in 1996/97 and 1997/98. I'll be keeping you posted on Yellow-browed sightings over the next few days.

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;
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