Birding Field Reports , January 2004

* Pictures marked with a [+] can be enlarged.

6th January - Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus - 1, flew over Nahal Grofit at 09:00hrs. Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei - 2 , Ketura Mountains Reserve, west of Kibbutz Lotan. 7th January -

Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei [+]

Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei - 1, still present in Kibbutz Lotan's gardens, north end of residential area. Located by call at 06:50hrs and observed until about 07:20hrs. Very mobile and difficult to follow.

Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei - 4, Ketura Mountains Reserve, north-west of Kibbutz Lotan, giving a total of 8 birds in the Lotan area to date.

8th January - North - Bet Shean Valley Notes. We made the long haul up north from Lotan and managed to have about four hours of rain free birding, after which some quite heavy showers eventually pushed us back down south, but it was well worth it. Greater Scaup Aythya marila - 1, female, still present Kefar Ruppin Reservoirs.

Greater Scaup Aythya marila [+]

White-headed Duck Oxyura leacocephala - 1, female, Kefar Ruppin Reservoirs.

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus - 1, still present, just south-east of Maoz Hayyim, slightly north-east of the S' bend in the road to Kefar Ruppin. Stunning! Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarious - 2, with Northern Lapwings, about 1km south of Kefar Ruppin ringing station. Slender-billed Gull Larus genei -1, first-winter, Kefar Ruppin Reservoirs.

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus [+]

Caspian Gull Larus cachinanns cachinanns - At least
15 adults, perhaps more, with Armenian and Pallas's Gulls.

Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula - 1, in alfalfa, south-east of Maoz Hayyim.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis - 1+, south-east of Maoz Hayyim, frequently flushed by Hen Harriers.

Good birding,

James P.Smith & Susannah B. Lerman
Kibbutz Lotan

Contact info

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