Trip report 7-day Classic Birding Tour Southern-Israel

25 April - 1 May

First day - 25 April

After shaking hands with Jonathan, he noticed that there were some Blue-cheeked Bee Eaters around the Kibbutz. These were quickly found and they were beautiful. What a start.

First, we went to the Eilat-mountains. The wind was not that good, so we had an easy morning: 200 Steppe Buzzards, 300 Honey Buzzards, about 10 Levant Sparrowhawk, a resident, beautiful White crowned Wheatear and a Sand partridge.

Then, we visited the ring station at the Birding Center Eilat, the famous K 19 and K 20, which gave us very good views of many waders, among them Marsh Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. In addition, there was a sensational Pied Kingfisher.

In the afternoon, we had a very productive walk around the Kibbutz. We viewed all kind of warblers: Olive-tree-, Upcher's-, Orphean- and Bonelli's Warbler, Lesser White Throat, Whitethroat, but most of all: Blackcap! We also counted 26 Masked Shrikes, a bird that would become our guiding bird.

Second Day - 26 April

The first day in the morning, we went to K33. Sad, but very true: No larks!

However, we found two Barbary Falcons, one of which showed itself very well.

We then turned to the Yotvata's dates orchard, scrub bushes and sewage pond. These produced many Warblers, and again a huge numbers of Masked Shrikes.

In the afternoon, we had a strong southern wind, so we headed to Eilat North-Beach.

4 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Parasitic Skuas, 1 Cory's Shearwater, 10 White-eyed Gulls, 2 Caspian Terns and 1 Reef Egret.

After the Beach, we went to a new spot to see the Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, where we saw 20 Sandgrouse drinking.

Third Day, 27 April

Today we did some 'Desert Birding', which is very special and exciting. Many Raptors were roosting in the mountains. When the sun got a little hotter, many birds started migrating. In the afternoon, we went back into the Negev and visited Neot Semadar, a little heaven on earth. Today's species varied widely: Mourning Wheatear, Hooded Wheatear, Quail, Little Crake, Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle, spotted Sand grouse, desert lark, Hill Sparrows and a House Bunting.

Fourth day, 28 April

Today day was a very special one. The morning started with a strong wind and birding was rather difficult. The highlight was a Barbary Falcon with prey.

Just before dinner the day started to change, a Lesser Spotted Eagle flew over the Kibbutz. After diner, there was a Thrush nightingale at the Kibbutz, which showed itself very well, so that the difference with a Nightingale good be seen.

In the afternoon, we went to the Yotvata fields. We found Ortolan Buntings, Short-toed Larks and Red-throated Pipits. After we walked through higher grass, a bird flew up and immediately Jonathan saw this was something "Big".

The bird was a little one, but indeed a very big one: Black-crowned Finch Lark! A "Lifer" for the guide. After this sensation, we had a great look at a Steppe Eagle, who was drinking at the sewage Pond.

Fifth day, 29 April

Today we headed to the Dead Sea and its surroundings.

One of the first stops was at the southern Dead Sea Rain Reservoir, were we heard the song of a Clamorous Reed Warbler. After a short looking around, the bird was founded and studied. A Lesser Spotted Eagle was also circling above us.

A few more stops gave us the typical Dead Sea area species: Dead Sea Sparrow, Fan-Tailed Raven, and Tristram's Starling. The Raptor Watch Point at Metzokei Dragot delivered very close views of Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagles, Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Lesser-spotted Eagle, a Long-legged Buzzard and a nice group of 90 Levant Sparrowhawk.

After this beautiful day, we went back to search for the Black-crowned Finch Lark.

We found a Caspian Plover and after a while also the Finch Lark. What a closure of a wonderful day!

Sixth Day, 30 April

Early in the morning, we went to the Eilat Mountains . It was to become a first Big Raptor migrating day. If you see a group of about 700 Honey Buzzards, circling high above and then passing over you, that is a sight you can't describe.

If this was not enough excitement, we found a very beautiful Crested Honey buzzard! To top the day, we saw an amazing Verreaux's Eagle. In total, there were 22.000 Honey Buzzards, 3 Lesser-spotted Eagles and 60 Levant Sparrowhawk.

K 20 gave us another highlight: a juvenile Pallid Harrier. Besides this, we had some good groups of waders: 150 Ruffs, 20 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Marsh Sandpipers, 3 Golden Plovers, and 1 Temminck's Stint.

Seventh day, 1 May

Today we drove to the North-West Negev Dessert. The scenery was just amazing. The colors of the sand, the Ramon Crater, the Nitzana surroundings; it was beautiful!

First, we went to a drinking spot to look for Sandgrouse where we saw. : Black-bellied-, Pin-tailed-, Spotted- and Crowned Sandgrouse. In all we saw 300 birds at the drinking spot!

There was also a good Raptor migration over our heads: Honey Buzzards, Steppe Buzzards, Black Kites and 3 Lesser-spotted Eagles. A few more birds we saw around the water: Gull-billed Tern, Collared Pratincole, Hen Harrier, a juvenile Crane and many Storks. In the scrub, we found a nice Spectacled Warbler.

At the famous km 8 from Road 2211 ( Nitzana-ezuz) we found two Houbara, four Cream Colored Courser (one chick). In the same area, we had two Hobbies, Scrub Warbler, Little Owl, 15 Chukar, a Bar-tailed Lark, 3 Hoopoes, about 20 Southern Great Grey Shrikes.

On the way back we stopped at the Sde Boker Cemetery. There we we had good views of a Desert Finch. Over the valley, we saw Griffon Vultures, Bonelli's Eagle and Alpine Swift. Then we discovered a few Griffon Vulture nests, one with a chick and in one nest there was a bird brooding.

In all, It was an amazing week, with very special birds.

I can only recommend this tour to everyone who wants to know something about the birds of Israel .

Kibbutz Lotan Center for Birdwatching is a very good place to stay, and here they have a very professional guide, who not only knows a lot about birds, but also a lot about this very special country Israel. I was pleased to make this tour with him and I am sure about one thing, I will be back. This time in the winter because this is also special in Israel .

I want to thank Jonathan Meyrav for his outstanding birding capacity, I learned a lot from him.

Until in January 2005, you will have to deal with me again!

Shalom

Johan van Ginneken.

Contact info

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