Early spring in the southern Arava – Late February 2009 

Spring is upon us. As in past years, winter 08-09 was an extremely dry one for the region. The few major weather systems that hit Israel were late in the season and stayed well north of the southern Arava and Eilat.

I spent a few days down in the region in order to prepare the field work of the Arava natural habitat and bird's survey that will carry on till summer 09. I will elaborate on this important project separately, the past few days were devoted to early spring migrants and rare residents.  

I met up with Thomas and we headed down to the Yotvata area. A first light we were in a very productive Acacia scrub and it was evident that we are into our first migrant wave of the spring. Several bright male Rueppells Warblers were singing and feeding hectically through the scrub. A few Lesser and Common Whitethroats and good numbers of Chiffchaffs were present as well. But our main aim was to check an old Arabian Warbler territory and although silent a pair was present in the area and later on proved to be loyal to a particular tree.

Later in the day we headed up to Wadi Grofit but could not find the wintering Striated Scops Owl. The Wadi was full of birds though and we had great looks at several Cyprus Warblers, also singing, and other common migrants. Late in the day Thomas photographed and adult Lanner at Elifaz, probably one of the resident birds.  

The next morning I headed out to check some remote firing zones in search of desert birds. The broad Hamada plains of the Hayun were barren and the small wadis running through the landscape are dry and bird less. Besides very distant Hoopoe Lark and Spotted Sandgrouse calls it was a slow few hours. An Asian Desert Warbler was a good bird to break the boredom. From here I check a big Wadi in the Yahel area. Again good numbers of passerines were evident including more Cyprus and Rueppells Warblers. A small stream of Steppe Eagles passed overhead.

Later in the day I headed to Eilat. The K20 pools held decent numbers of ducks and waders, a single Greater Sand plover and the spring's first feldegg Yellow Wagtail are worth noting. North of the pools a very bold Asian Desert Warbler was playing with 2 newly arrived Northern Wheatears.  

The following morning was spent around the southern Negev Plateau. I helped Thomas stake out a very tame and very local group of Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse that we found a while back. It took some searching but the birds were finally located and with patience Thomas got some amazing shots of these enigmatic beasts.

I continued to the Meishar and had great views of Bar-tailed Larks, Desert Wheatears and more. The spring's first Tawny Pipits, Woodchat Shrikes, Black eared Wheatears, Savi's Warbler and Short-toed Larks made and appearance. At the Bahad-1 sewage a Fincsh's Wheatear was present as were a small party of Black-bellied Sandgrouse that came to drink. On Friday the 27th a massive rain system entered Israel and luckily some significant rain dropped as far south as the Arava, southern Negev and the Meishar plains. The rain continued for 2 days and soaked the parched ground. It was necessary for the residents as well as the migrants to receive the rain. We now need a few warm days so that seeds can sprout, we are optimistic.

A page about the 2009 Arava Survey will follow suite, as will more reports and images straight from the field.

Good birding.

Jonathan Meyrav  

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Daphna Abell
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