7th March - The Lotan & Southern Arava Chapters

Every once in a while we have a day in the southern Arava which can only be done an injustice by summarizing the whole day within a few paragraphs in these pages. Today was one such day. I covered a number of sites including the organic fields at Shizzafon, the barren alluvial flats at Km.33, the Eilat bird watching park and the huge salt pools at Km.20.

By way of illustration, Asher has provided this montage of images from the day , while I'll summarize in brief the written highlights:

Stone Curlew - 1 at Shizzafon.
Crowned Sandgrouse - A calling group flew over Shizzafon.
Hoopoe - At least 11 today, including 5 together at Shizzafon.
Tawny Pipit - 2 at Shizzafon.
Black-eared Wheatear - 5+ at Shizzafon.
Isabelline Wheatear - Seen at each site including 15 at Shizzafon.
SYRIAN SERIN - Impressive numbers at Shizzafon, at least 45 with many in song.
Stonechat - 1 male of the form Variegata at Shizzfon.
Skylark - At least 8 at Shizzafon.
Short-toed Lark - 150+ at Shizzafon, and about the same at Lotan in the afternoon.

Desert Wheatear - 1 female at Km.33
Hoopoe Lark - 1 male singing at Km.33
Temminck's Horned Lark - A calling bird flew north at Km.33
Desert Warbler - 1 at Km.33

BIMACULATED LARK - A large flock of 15 discovered at Ein Evrona.

PIED BUSHCHAT - 1 female still present at the IBRCE car park.

WHITE-TAILED LAPWING - Our first of the spring, found by Daniel at Km.20 in late afternoon.

An impressive day ! Tomorrow we bird the Negev, watch this space…….

Good birding to all,

James Smith

Contact info

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