Spring 2004 Summary - Part 1

[+] Click on the pictures to enlarge

The 2004 spring migration in the southern Arava was very interesting. The relatively slow start, with low numbers of common migrants, was probably a result of a rare weather system in East Africa . We now know that an unusually wet weather system swept through Africa in early spring. This wet weather resulted in green, lush habitat that may have caused the wintering birds to stay longer and feed, taking advantage of the unseasonal richness of resources at hand.

Steppe Buzzard [+]

The rather long staging period of the birds resulted in untypical "waves" of the commoner migrants later in the season and some real eruptions of rare and irregular species in the region, sometimes in astonishing numbers. Many birds seem to stay longer this year, elongating the spring migration. Many juvenile birds of several species are still passing through southern Israel , while their European relatives are already busy feeding their chicks in some cases.

I was very happy to see quite a few foreign birders birding around the southern Arava this spring. This is a welcome change, visiting birders are finally understanding that the political issues don't make it this far into the desert, and that here we really are in a different place. It is not worth pondering too much about the news when the fact of the matter is that I have never encountered any problems whatsoever birding the region intensively in the past years, on the contrary.

Namaqua Doves [+]

On our tours we rarely meet people at all, and the birding is hour upon hour of mouthwatering species and views.

We are happy to present you with a detailed summary of our spring 2004 birding adventures. This summary presents this spring's sightings and deals with rarities and unusual records with some detail, enjoy.

Raptor migration in March started with the usual steady trickle of Steppe Buzzards and good numbers of Steppe Eagles , which peaked at the end of February. As the days passed we started seeing small numbers of Black Kites and Marsh Harriers, I noted the first group of 200 White Storks over Lotan on the 7 th . By mid month hundreds of Steppe Buzzards could be seen daily over the southern Arava. Several interesting raptor species could be seen amongst them, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Pallid Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Osprey and Sparrowhawks all migrated through in small numbers over the Eilat Mountains and Lotan.

March is known as the month of Larks. Good numbers of Short-toed Larks pass through, and so was the case this year with up to 200 passing some days around mid month. Following a phenomenal spring for rare nomadic Larks last year, this year (due to a much drier winter) was significantly slower with only a handful of rare Lark records.

Namaqua Dove [+]

Only 6 Thick-billed Larks were seen in the Arava (more than 60 birds last spring!), and small numbers of Temminck's Horned Larks were recorded. 2004 was an average year for Bimaculated Lark, worth noting were a flock of 15 birds on the 7 th on and a flock of 8 on the 30 th .

Eilat's North Beach continued to produce great birds and aside from the long staying Brown Booby that stayed till mid month , a Crested Tern was found on the 4/3 and an outstanding flock of 17 Red-breasted Mergansers flew north on the 6/3. Towards the end of March good numbers of Skuas could be seen off the north beach. All 3 species were seen (Arctic, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua) but worth noting was an amazing flock of 22 Long-tailed Skuas on the 31 st , seen by Marnix Yonker et al.

The various salt pools and reservoirs north of Eilat produced some good birds in March with the highlights being a few Broad-billed Sandpipers towards the end of the month and single Red-necked Phalaropes on the 29 th and the 31 st . Our first major rarity was a winter plumaged Red Phalarope that I saw with a few Dutch birders on the 29 th .

 

I visited the traditional drinking spot for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse 3 times during March and had good numbers with 22 on the 22 nd . I stumbled across Israel 's southernmost Wren on the 23 rd of March at the Samar date plantation where there were also 2 Indian Silverbills.

Barn Swallow [+]

A green patch on the Arava road (K77) provided many hours of spectacular birding. I visited this patch several times with and without clients, and enjoyed the perfect example of how a little bit of rain forms an island of green habitat in the dry desert sea around. Here are some of the good birds found during March at this site : Rupell's and Desert Warblers, Tawny, Red-throated and a single Richard's Pipit , hundreds of Northern, Black Eared and Isabelline Wheatears, Desert and Trumpeter Finch, Pale Rock Sparrow, Oriental Skylark and more. On the 19/3, B.Granit found a male Menetrie's Warbler here.

This year was a good year for the rare Cyprus Pied Weathear. This endemic breeder to Cyprus is an annual spring migrant in small numbers. At least 8 different birds were seen in southern Israel in mid march including 3 birds on the 13 th . The first Cyprus Wheatear of the spring was found on Lotan on the 12 th , not far from a beautiful male Subalpine Warbler seen in the area of the bird reserve. Our local group of Namaqua Doves arrived at Lotan around mid-month and up to 5 birds could be seen with ease the whole spring.

Broad-billed Sandpiper [+]

These attractive little doves surely breed somewhere in the immediate vicinity of Lotan, and although a nest has never been found, a male carrying a twig on the 20 th of March, was a good sign.

March was a very good month for the eastern forms of Stonechat. Good numbers of both Siberian forms (Maura and Vareigata) were seen with up to 5 birds a day on several occasions.

During March the numbers of Hirundines increased daily and by the end of the month Barn and Red-rumped Swallows, House and Sand Martins could be seen passing in their hundreds throughout southern Israel .

Towards the end of the month we set out to the Western Negev as part of our 7 day classic tour. We found most of the species associated with the region, got great views of a pair of Houbara Bustards and were treated to outstanding views of several Little Crakes, Pallid Harriers and Long-eared Owl.

March 29 th was a great migration day on Lotan with over 6000 Steppe Buzzards, 35 Steppe Eagles, Black Kites, Sparrowhawks, Cranes and a superb male Montague's Harrier. That same day the year's first Semi-collared Flycatcher was found on Lotan, the first of many that would form a record wave that occurred in April.

Stay tuned.

Jonathan Meyrav and the birdingisrael team

>> to Summary Part 2

Contact info

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