Birding field report 16-17 May 2004

[+] Click on the pictures to enlarge

Euan and Beverly are visiting birders from Australia and this is their first visit to Israel . After birding around Israel on their own and with Yoav Perlman, they decided to come down to Lotan and visit some of the great birding sites of the southern Arava.

May 16 th

I picked up Euan and Beverly and we headed to the Eilat Mountains . After a very slow start and nearly no raptor passage, we decided to try other things. We had a quick look at a couple of White-crowned Black Wheatears and a Scrub Warbler, and headed down. On the way down from the Mountains I noticed a big Warbler feeding in some scant vegetation, I hit the brakes and we were treated to good views of a superb Olive-tree Warbler in an unlikely setting.

Northern Wheater [+]

We paid a visit to the IRBC ringing station, where we were lucky enough to enjoy a beautiful European Nightjar in the hand. The pools around held good numbers of Slender-billed Gulls and the trees were dotted with Masked Shrikes and Olivaceous Warblers. We drove through the vineyards and fields where we found 2 Rollers, 2 Golden Orioles, a Red-backed Shrike and a beautiful male Namaqua Dove.

At the K19 sewage plant, we found very few ducks but amongst them 1 Common Shellduck and 2 Wigeon. On the rocky bank of the pool I noticed a Corncrake, some 20 meters away. The bird seemed dazed and tired, and when I carefully approached, the bird seemed to close its eyes and was clearly in bad shape. I was able to walk right up to the Corncrake and pick it up. The poor thing was just skin and bones, with no fat or muscle to spare.

Stone Curlew [+]

I carefully placed the bird in a reed patch at the waters edge, and we were happy to see it drink, and scour into the shaded reeds for cover. This bird was clearly completely exhausted and would not have made it. It now stands a better chance.

In the fields around K19 we found many birds but the highlight was an obliging Upcher's Warbler. This rare Hippolais Warbler was feeding in some vegetation, and we had a good few minutes to scrutinize it and work on the tricky identification of this confusing species. When getting into the car I noticed a Barbary Falcon overhead.

We headed to the K20 salt pools and enjoyed good numbers of waders and other birds at close range. The highlights were: 30 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Broad-billed Sandpipers, 10 Marsh Sandpipers, hundreds of Little Stint, Ruff and Ringed Plovers, 110 White-winged Black Terns, Gull-billed Tern and a beautiful summer plumaged Red-necked Phalarope.

Steppe Buzzard [+]

We returned to Lotan for lunch and a rest, and spent the afternoon leisurely birding the kibbutz grounds and bird reserve, on foot. At Lotan swimming pool we enjoyed another tame (but healthy) Corncrake and a Juv Red-backed Shrike. At the comfortable hide at the bird reserve we had great views of many Barred and Garden Warblers, 2 Thrush Nightingales and a Hobby. A beautiful Stone Curlew was a great bird to wrap up a great day.

May 17 th

We set out early and went up to the southern Negev plateau. We started the day birding around the Neot Smadar sewage. We scanned the desert and noticed a feeding herd of 6 Dorcas Gazzelle. On a stony ridge we found an adult Stone Curlew and on the pools wire fence we found 2 Whinchats and a late Ortolan Bunting. We entered Neot Smadar and birded around the magnificent irrigation lake. In the reeds we had great views of Little Bittern, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Squacco Herons and a Moorhen with Chicks.

Our next site was the extensive open desert of the Ovda valley. Here we set out for some classic desert species. We soon found a few Desert Larks and Mourning Wheatears and a single Spotted Sandgrouse flew overhead. After extensive searching we saw a single Hooded Wheatear but only in flight. We started heading back, and another quick stop at the sewage plant rewarded us with great view of an obliging pair of Hooded Wheatears to compensate for the poor views earlier.

Hooded Wheatear [+]

Most of the afternoon was spent at the North Beach . The light winds called for a calm sea and the light was very good. It took some time but we managed to see most of the classic species one should expect this time of year. Caspian Terns, many Common and Little Terns , a beautiful summer plumaged Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Terns, White-eyed Gulls and Sooty Shearwaters. A Juv. Mangrove Heron was feeding close to shore and an Osprey that Euan called out flew low over the water occasionally dipping its talons in the water to rinse them off.

The day was sealed at our traditional drinking spot for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse. When we arrived we had good views of 3 Night Herons that we enjoyed while waiting for the birds. At last light 18 Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse arrived silently from the desert. The birds drank at their special orderly fashion, and departed in small groups into the darkness. This dramatic experience is as always a wonderful way to finish a day.

Till next -

Jonathan Meyrav and 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)