James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports Fall 2001

26th November 2001 - Southern Arava

We began the day well before sun up this morning and left Lotan for Shizzafon at 06:00hrs. I was joined this morning by British birder Dave Murdoch who was on a six day 'scorch' around Israel, which included spending two nights to Lotan.

Dave was especially keen to see the Menetries's Warbler that I had found at Shizzafon last week, and after checking the alfalfa fields, we went towards the orchard groves to try our luck. By 07:00hrs we were thrilled to find the Menetries's Warbler showing well and feeding in low cover by an alfalfa covered ditch. For such a skulking species, the views were superb. It was great to know that it was still in the area, raising the possibility that it might over winter.

We spent a little more time in the orchards finding numerous Chaffinches, Song Thrushes, Robins and Chiffchaffs. Dave even picked out a late Lesser Whitethroat while we watched Bluethroats bathing in a rock garden pool. There was also a Syrian Serin that flew over calling. Returning the alfalfa fields, we found it to be a little more lively than earlier in the morning. Here we found numerous pipits including a late Tree Pipit, and another late migrant, a female Redstart. Along with 4 Dead Sea Sparrows, it had been another very solid good morning at Shizzafon.

Dave went on to enjoy the rest of his day in the field and he headed down towards Eilat. I didn't see him again until supper when he came into the dining room appearing tired but happy. His day had included stunning views of the female Pied Stonechat still present in Eilat's bird watching park, and also good but brief views of the Red-wattled Lapwing at Km.19. To cap it all off he even saw 3 Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse at a former drinking hole on the edge of the Eilat mountains, a nice reward for a guy who'd had the foresight to come to Israel despite all the negative media attention. Nice one Dave!

Good birding,

James Smith.

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Daphna Abell
Program Coordinator
lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
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