James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports

17th November 2001 - Kibbutz Lotan

There was a distinctly autumnal feel to the dawn. A dark grey blanket of cloud was hanging over the Edom Mountains in Jordan and cool wind blew from the north -west. It was very quiet around the Kibbutz as most people sleep-in on Saturday mornings! The peace and quiet was only broken by a distinctive call note coming from a Tamarisk tree at the north end of the Kibbutz. It was a call that I knew having previously heard it several times in Israel, but still, it was very exciting. In matter of seconds I was enjoying good views of a tired looking Hume's Warbler, a rare visitor from Central Asia. This was only our second record at Lotan, the first being on 16th - 30th November 1996. I marvelled at this tiny, wing barred phylloscopus for a good twenty minutes, while it showed a good deal of aggression towards to the Chiffchaffs that attempted to feed in the same tree. With a great start to the morning I headed off towards the fields at 06:45hrs pleased with such an excellent find.

The walk across the open desert to the fields was fairly quiet, but on reaching the southern fields I noticed an odd-looking raptor sitting on top of one of the work sheds. It looked like a large accipiter and when it flew I realized that it could only be a Northern Goshawk in juvenile plumage. The bird was quite confident and charged around the fields chasing Collared Doves for a while before I lost touch with it at around 07:25hrs. The first Northern Goshawk for Lotan was found as recently as last year by one of guides, Trevor Ellery.

The birding in the fields was relatively quiet after though good numbers of Chaffinch were in the area and I was surprised to find a late Yellow Wagtail in a potato field with Red-throated, Water and Meadow Pipits. There were also at least 16 African Rock Martins hawking overhead and a Southern Grey Shrike perched in a tamarisk.

During the walk back to the Kibbutz I flushed a late Quail and had a number of interesting raptors including 1 Steppe Eagle passing high the southwest and 1 Long-legged Buzzard drifting high to the south.

From mid-morning the day became increasingly blustery with a strong westerly wind, and even some rain in the afternoon. Birds became harder to find but I did see Hooded, Mourning, Northern and Isabelline Wheatears, a Barn Swallow, and at least 250 Red-throated Pipits, most of the latter being around the dairy barn. There was also a high day count of Little Green Bee-eaters with at least 23 noted, most of which were in the fields area.

Another very rewarding day at Lotan.

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)