9th March - A Trip to the Negev (Part 1)

We departed from Lotan at 4:15am, with guests Paul Sterry and Mike Ford arriving at Nizzana by 6:15 am. We'd made excellent time during our drive across the Negev and I was especially pleased to be there as close to first light as we could manage.

It seemed to be a perfect morning, being cool with a light breeze and with very good visibility and within five minutes we were watching out first exciting species of the day, a wonderful 'dancing' male Houbara Bustard. Although rather distant, we enjoyed good 'scope' views and watched this fabulous display for a while. Closer to our car, a male Desert Wheatear was singing and the nasal calls of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse filled the air. We drove at another area finding a couple of Cream-coloured Coursers and the moved onto to a nearby sewage pool where a pair of Southern Grey Shrikes were actively feeding around the sewage pool fence allowing Paul to get some decent photos.

Several Spotted Sandgrouse were already at the sewage pool when we arrived and small parties of Black-bellied and Spotted Sandgrouse flew in as we spent about an hour watching the interactions of several species, and even had a beautiful male Merlin coming into to drink. Later, we searched in vain for more Cream-coloured Coursers but Mike's sharp eyes did find a wonderful pair of Temminck's Horned Larks feeding close to our car, which turned out to be a great photographic opportunity for Paul and myself.

Feeling the need for refreshment we enjoyed a coffee at Telalim junction and then moved to the huge arable fields of Urim, hoping for some lingering winter raptors. We weren't disappointed and in just three short hours logged the following raptors:

Eastern Imperial Eagle - 4 (1 adult, 3 immatures)
Long-legged Buzzard - 8+
Common Buzzard - 1 at Gevulot
Steppe Buzzard - 1 at Revivim
Black Kite - 500+
Hen Harrier - 6
Pallid Harrier - 4 (2 males, 1 female, 1 first-year).
Marsh Harrier - 2
Saker - 2
Lanner - 1
Peregrine - 2 (adults)
Kestrel - 4

A fine day, and the first leg of our Negev trip, came to an end in the peaceful surrounds of Kibbutz Gevulot as several Barn Owls 'screeched' into the night.

Good birding,

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)