- 4th January
Highlights of an extremely interesting day for wintering species in
the Southern Arava included the following:
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis -
12 at Km20 salt pools.
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster - 2 still present
(from
2nd) at Eilat north beach in late afternoon.
Quail Coturnix coturnix- 1 Neot Semadar
western fields.
Little Gull Larus minutus - 3 (1st-winter)
Ein Evrona salt pools.
Common Gull Larus canus -1 (1st-winter)
Ein Evrona salt pools.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus - 4 over Samar
fields.
Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana nana 1
at Km 33, near the pumping station.
Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens japonicus 1
found with hordes of Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta Samar
turf fields.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phyloscopus inornatus -
1, located by call at Yeelim Holiday Village.
Desert Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curucca minula -
1, resembling this form at Ye'elim Holiday Village. Notable by its
small size, tiny bill and extensive sandy-buff wash over most of the
plumage especially on the wing coverts and underparts. Rather interestingly,
found feeding exclusively in rather high Acacia branches despite an
abundance of other vegetation in the gardens. In the images, strong
back lighting makes the bird appear darker than it actually was in
the field.
James P. Smith, Roelf Hovinga and Vincent De Boer on behalf of the
Birdingisrael Team.
- 5th January
Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei - 1, Kibbutz
gardens and swimming pool area, Kibbutz Lotan. Located by call at 06:30hrs
and observed until about 07:00hrs.
Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei - 2 , Ketura
Mountains Reserve, north of Kibbutz Lotan.
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca -
1, adult, between Lotan and Ketura in late afternoon.
Good birding,
James P. Smith & Susannah B. Lerman |