13 march Lotan circuit

Spring is officially upon us and the days are sunny and warm. I spent the day birding certain local spots around Lotan, following the program of our local tours. Lotan`s swimming pool lawns held among others Water and Red throated Pipits , Quail , and my first 3 Cretzchmar`s Buntings on the kibbutz. The soccer field hosted 7 Hoopoes and a couple of feeding Cattle Egrets.

There is a definite surge in passerine numbers with Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats in the hundreds and singles of Blackcap and Whitethroat . Most bushes and trees on Lotan are blooming and attracting Redstart and the resident Palestine Sunbirds which are getting ready for the hatching of their eggs.

The open areas in the southern part of the kibbutz hold good numbers of Wheatears with the rare Cyprus Wheatear still around the place it was found. A flock of 55 Short-toed Larks was seen feeding in the area. I crossed the bird reserve to check the vegetated area just south of the fence. This area is rarely checked and has yielded some good birds before. This time was no exception, I found a beautiful male Subalpine Warbler , a rare migrant and a gem of a bird.

Raptor migration was superb today with hundreds of Steppe Buzzards and smaller numbers of Steppe and Short toed Eagles overhead. Amongst the commoner species I was able to find 1 light phase Booted Eagle and 2 Lesser Kestrels.

I spent the last half hour of my tour admiring a male Blue Rock Thrush that has been hanging around the kibbutz dining room. A few of these lovely birds pass Lotan each spring and are always a welcome sight. I was getting into my house when I noticed a male Masked Shrike perched a few meters away. This indeed is a magical time of year.

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)