14th - 15th March - More from the Negev

Apologies to our regular readers for the brevity of these reports. We are now at a stage in our season where the days are filled with so many birds that it becomes difficult to mention them all! On Thursday, Ken, Margaret and David enjoyed a spectacular birding drive across the Negev calling in at the following sites: Hameishar, Mizpe Ramon, Ein Avdat, and Revivim. After checking in at our overnight stay at Kibbutz Gevulot, we drove out to the Nizzana steppes for the afternoon.

The following day we birded more extensively in the Western Negev, beginning with a pre-breakfast stroll around Kibbutz Gevulot, followed by a search for raptors in the huge arable fields of Urim. We broke the long drive back to Lotan at several sites around the Ramon reserve and enjoyed some of the best views of the Negev that any of us had ever seen in near perfect afternoon light.

Here are some of the best birds of our two-day sojourn through the Negev desert:

Griffon Vulture - 6+ at Ein Avdat
Egyptian Vulture - 4 at Ein Avdat
Bonelli's Eagle - 2 at Ein Avdat
Pallid Harrier - Pristine adult males at Hameishar, Nizzana and Urim. Also, 1 young male and 1 juvenile at Urim. Five birds in one trip is most impressive.
Hen Harrier - 2 at Urim.
Long-legged Buzzard - 1 at Mizpe Ramon, 2 at Nizzana.
Saker Falcon - 1 gave good views at Urim.
Peregrine - 1 adult at Urim.
Merlin - 1 female at Urim.
Chuckar - A pair at Ein Avdat and pairs in Nizzana.
Houbara Bustard - 5 at Nizzana (2 pairs and a displaying male).
Black-bellied Sandgrouse - 5 at Mizpe Ramon.
Spotted Sandgrouse - 2 at Revivim, and a flock heard at Nizzana.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - 100+ at Nizzana.
Barn Owl - 1 seen and several heard at Gevulot.
Long-eared Owl - 1 found roosting at Gevulot.
Syrian Woodpecker - 2 at Gevulot.
Alpine Swift - 6+ at Ein Avdat.
Great Spotted Cuckoo - Good views of 2 at Urim.
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - 3 at Mizpe Ramon, 2 at Urim
Blue Rock Thrush - 3 at Ein Avdat.
Temminck's Horned Lark - 1 gave very good views in the Ramon reserve.
Masked Shrike - 1 male at Gevulot.
Desert Finch - 4 seen well at Mizpe Ramon.

Enjoy the pictures! 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)