Winter 2009, welcoming the New Year with rare Wheatears and more

2009 is here and with it a rather temperate winter bird wise .All heads are looking south to the mess going on in Gaza. Let us just say that we hope things will settle down fast with long term results and minimal casualties for both sides, so we can once again focus on birds and not on the harsh dealings of man.

No major rarities were logged in December 08 and with November rarities including Israel's 1st American Golden Plover and a Red Phalarope, December proved quite calm.

The Black throated Diver is still at the Eilat lagoon and the probable wintering Black Bush Robin was seen several times around the Yoseftal hospital lawns.

The most interesting records involved a mini influx of Kurdish Wheatears (Oenanthe xantoprymna) in the Judean Desert. A pair was found in Wadi Heimar on 08/12/08 and is still present. The male is a 1st winter bird thus breeding here is unlikely. Another superb adult male was found the following week in Wadi Mishmar and was still present in early Jan 09, and showing well.

Yet another pair was seen south of Ein Gedi but there was no follow-up on this record. Anyway it is the best winter for this species ever, with so many birds logged. Normally a real rarity on migration, 3-5 wintering birds is amazing. The Judean Desert is also hosting good numbers of Finsch's Wheatears this winter.

On the last day of 2008 A group of visiting Swedish birders found a dark female type Crested Honey Buzzard at the Eilat date plantation. This is most likely the returning bird from last year. It is a great find and the bird which is now in near adult plumage seems to favor the exact same site as last year.

The same group reported 2 Olive backed Pipits from the Elifaz date plantation the following day.  The Yotvata fields are still holding 4-5 Buff-bellied Pipits and several Oriental Skylarks.

Several Asian Desert Warblers are wintering in southern Israel and Amir Ben Dov got some nice images near Neot Smadar. On January 2nd a 1st year Kittiwake was at the north beach.

Stay posted as the first spring migrants start trickling through.

Jonathan Meyrav

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Contact info

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