James Smith's Daily Sightings Reports Fall 2001

27th November 2001 - Southern Arava.

I spent the day with Nelson Shwartz from New York, USA. It was Nelson's first full day of birding in Israel and we began at Lotan with a steady stroll around the Kibbutz at about 08:00hrs. Nelson had a great appreciation for some of Lotan's regular species and we had great looks at Spur-winged Plover, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Little Green Bee-eater, Stonechat, Bluethroat and many other Kibbutz regulars. More surprising was an apparent juvenile Common Buzzard which gave wonderful views as it flew low over the Kibbutz. Buzzards resembling pure Commons, occasionally spend the winter in the Southern Arava and this bird may well do the same.

Since Nelson only had one full day for birding we headed straight down towards the Km.20 area, just 25 minutes south of Lotan and began at Eilat's north sewage pools. A good variety of species was present here, including Great Cormorant, Northern Shoveler, 5 Northern Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, Water Pipit, African Rock Martin and Bluethroat to name a handful. At that point we noticed the distinctive silhouette of Irish birding ace - Killian Mullarney who came over for a chat. It was good to see Killian back in Israel as he visits Eilat every year for the exceptional birding. Killian had spotted two male Hooded Wheatears on the sewage farm fence, which gave fantastic views as they spent time fly catching. All three of us then walked over to the more modern sewage complex and soon located the Red-wattled Lapwing roosting under some small trees with Spur-winged Plovers. All of the plover group seemed quite shy, but through the scope the views were excellent.

Nelson and I had lunch by Ein Evrona and were entertained by a very confiding Blackstart at the picnic site. The nearby salt-pans were full of shorebirds, though far fewer Greater Flamingos were present than on my previous visits. There were also at least 12 Avocet, 3 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank.

A little later we headed down to Eilat and found the female Pied Stonechat still present and showing very well in the IBRCE's car park. A Little Egret also flew over here and a quick check of the freshwater pool in Switzerland park produced a major surprise in the form of a large, hulking, gull like bird sitting out on the water and plucking at a dead fish. The bird turned out to be superb juvenile Pomarine Skua. It was a personal first for me, since I've never seen this species in Eilat in the autumn or on a freshwater pool. Most of my sightings have come from the North Beach during April to June.

It was turning into a great day, especially for Nelson, who then requested that we spend the remainder of the afternoon in the Eilat mountains. We finished off our day with good views of a pair of Sand Partridge, and a drive through the Eilat mountains and Ovda Valley road. It had been a superb day and Nelson was delighted with the fifty species that he'd seen well.

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)