Birding update last week of October, 2010

Storks, storks and more storks

After having guided a German group around the country for six days, I came back home to Kibbutz Lotan, and took a day to look around to see what kinds of birds were around.

While up north in the Jordan valley near Beit Shean and Kfar Ruppin, I saw thousands of White Storks,  Black Storks and Black Kites near the fish ponds and garbage dumps.

Here in the southern Arava, I received reports from various people on Kibbutz Lotan that there were  White Storks overhead. Over the past three days there were at least 2000 storks that came overhead. From here they were migrating in a south-westerly direction over the Eilat mountains. While overhead they made such a racket, that people here came out of their offices. One person  said that he was certain that the dogs on Lotan were up to something.

I also went up to Uvda valley to see what was going on there. Aside from the obligatory  Crested Larks , there were several Black-eared Wheatears that were chasing each other around. This time no sign of the Marsh Harrier.

I had to go down to Eilat for some business, and having finished that, I went to North Beach. No news to report there, but in the canal that runs from the salt works to North Beach there were a number of Grey Herons, two Little Egrets, one Western Reef Heron and one Great Egret. There were also at least twenty  Black-winged Stilts .

At the Kilometer 19 Sewage pond, the Cormorants had arrived; there were 70 of them. In addition, there were 15 Grey Herons, one Western Reef Heron and 5 Great Egrets.

Back on Lotan, I saw the first Bluethroat of the season. It was hopping around with a Common Redstart (the nominate species, not yet the Samamisicus subspecies that will be wintering here) and a  Spotted Flycatcher.

The weather is still unseasonably warm, but we are expecting a sand storm this afternoon. Afterward the temperatures will come down dramatically, which is usually very good for migration.

Good birding,

David Schoneveld

Licensed Tour Guide and Birding Guide