The Northern Valleys Soaring Birds Migration Survey

End of August (Part 2)

I am happy to bring you our second update from the Northern Valleys Soaring Birds Migration Survey. The long hours in the field are rewarded with the season's first "big" days and interesting species.

The dominant soaring birds species passing are still White Storks and Honey Buzzards.

Honey Buzzard passage has increased and we already had some busy days. Over 40,000 Honey Buzzards passed on the 6 th of September over the northern valleys, some migrating at astonishing heights (up to 4km).

White Stork numbers are fairly steady with big flocks (sometimes 6000-7000 birds) noted on several days. I was lucky enough to count just under 20,000 White Storks at the Tirat Tzvi Station ( the easternmost station), including an astonishing "cloud" of 6400 in tight formation on Sep. 4 th.

Harrier species numbers are rising steadily the past few days. Mostly Marsh Harriers are seen but good numbers of Montague's Harriers pass daily and a few suspected Pallids. Other interesting species passing in smaller numbers are Black Storks, White Pelicans, Booted Eagles, Lesser Spotted Eagles (few) Black Kites and Griffon and Egyptian Vultures.

Interesting raptor species seen by the surveyors include c. 5 Crested Honey Buzzards and 2 Eleonora's Falcons.

The rough totals of the dominant species counted till the 7 th of September are: 170,000 Honey Buzzards and 150,000 White Storks.

On the ground migrants are evident and good species are starting to turn up. Citrine Wagtails are seen daily, mostly first winter birds. A superb Cream Coloured Courser was seen at the turf fields at Kfar rupin (Eran Banker) Sept 2-3.

An adult Black-winged Pratincole was present on sept. 4-5 th (Barak Granit and Tomer Landsberger) and was also seen with Collared Pratincoles. A Red-necked Phalarope was seen on the 6 th of September at Maoz Haim (Yoav Perlman).

Good numbers of Lesser Grey Shrikes as well as many Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes.

Other good local birds included a few Calandra Larks and Long-billed Pipits seen on the Gilboa.

I was fortunate to have a brief encounter with an adult Jungle Cat Felis chao,at the Tirat Tzvi fish ponds. I was caught off guard but managed to get one photo with a digital zoom.

More reports will follow. Thanks to Yoav Perlman and Barak Granit for the totals.

Jonathan Meyrav and the northern Valley survey team.

Enjoy!

The BirdingIsrael Team

Contact info

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