James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports

16th November 2001 - Kibbutz Lotan

Another fine day dawned at Lotan with some low morning cloud hanging over the Negev plateau to the west. There was virtually no wind but it was still cool enough for a sweater. I began the rounds a little earlier today at 06:00hrs spending the first half hour in the Kibbutz grounds. I heard the White-breasted Kingfisher calling and saw several Robins and Song Thrushes but otherwise it was fairly quiet and I headed out of the northern gate of the Kibbutz to check the date plantation.

The plantation is about 800 metres north of the Kibbutz and I found most of the birds concentrated in the younger trees to the west. Although I didn't find anything particularly rare, the numbers of Bluethroat and Sardinian Warbler surprised me. Also, two northern finches put in an appearance with several Chaffinches and a single Siskin.

Later in the day I took an afternoon stroll down to the organic garden and enjoyed views of an adult Eastern Imperial Eagle circling over the cliffs of Nahal Grofit. This is probably the same adult that has returned to Lotan each winter since 1996/97. On the opposite cliffs, silhouetted against the skyline were four or five Nubian Ibex that seemed to be enjoying a commanding view over the Arava Valley. The organic garden and dairy barn area held much the same species as the previous three days but 15 Corn Buntings were new and 2 Black Kites drifted over very high, heading south.

The following list is composed of species and numbers for the central and northern parts of the Lotan area, with observations from 06:00 - 09:00hrs and 15:15 - 16:30 hrs. Species highlighted by caps can be regarded as notable for the Lotan area;

EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLE - 1 adult.
Black Kite - 2 flew south @ 16:07 hrs.
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Spur-winged Plover - 12
Feral Rock Dove - c.40
Collared Dove - 8
Palm Dove - 60+
Little Green Bee-eater - 6
WHITE-BREASTED KINGFISHER - 1
Crested Lark - 20
TREE PIPIT - 1 on the grass lawn by the main office.
Meadow Pipit - 1
Red-throated Pipit - 140
Water Pipit - 2
White Wagtail - 120
Yellow-vented Bulbul - 62
Robin - 5
Bluethroat - 19
Black Redstart - 5
Blackstart - 5
Stonechat - 6
Isabelline Wheatear - 1.
FINSCH'S WHEATEAR - 1 female near the dairy barn, still present. 2nd record for Lotan.
White-crowned Black Wheatear - 1 in the main car park.
Song Thrush - 3
Graceful Prinia - 18
Sardinian Warbler - 18
Blackcap - 3
Chiffchaff - 27
Palestine Sunbird - 2
Arabian Babbler - 5
Brown-necked Raven - 1
House Sparrow - 70
Spanish Sparrow - 280
DEAD SEA SPARROW - 3 with other sparrows amongst the young dates.
Chaffinch - 5
Greenfinch - 5
Goldfinch - 3
SISKIN - 1
Desert Finch - 6
Corn Bunting - 15

Good birding to all,

James Smith

[next report ]

Contact info

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