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SPRING MIGRATION IN ISRAELA short summary of a birding trip with Pieter, Jan and Rommert. (Late March 2010) By Roef Mulder 25-3 We started the day with birding at Kibbutz Lotan, with sightings of our first Long-legged Buzzard, Eastern Orphean Warblers and the only Little Swift of the trip. There were not many passerines present and we soon decided to head for Yotvata to search for Caspian Plover, but failed. Of course we saw many other interesting species including several migrating Pallid Harriers and a dark phase Marsh Harrier. We then checked the saltplans at K20, highlight was a migrating 2cy Imperial Eagle. After a short visit to Eilat the day was ended at the Yotvata fields but again without the Caspian Plovers.
Jan and Pieter checking the Yotvata fields 26-3 Expectations were high as we started the day in the Negev desert close to Shizafon junction. Thick-billed Larks were found easily and we counted a total of 10 birds. The large amount of rainfall of past weeks had resulted in the desert looking partially green with many flowers. Apparently this has been the wettest winter in 25 years. Hill Sparrows were also present in good numbers and we estimted a total of 50 birds present in the large wadi east of the road. Several migrating Pallid Harriers and a large flock of Bimaculated Larks were enjoying.
We visited K20 again and went up north the Arava valley towards KM76-78. The fields held many bird including a Temminks Horned Lark. We started driving north to Neot Hakikar where we joined the night-time excursion with Barak. We started with Nubian Nightjar and had great but short views of a bird hunting over the fields just after sunset. A high speed drive in persuit of the guide led us to Ein Gedi were we tried several spots for Humes’Owl. After several hours trying the only result was a distant calling bird. Drove back the 2 hours to Lotan and had nice views of 2 Arabian Wolves along the road.
View over the border (Jordan) 27-3 After the late arrival yesterday evening we were not able to be in the field at sunrise but this morning it was raining so we did not miss much of the action. Went birding around Eilat were we twitched the Black Bush Robin in Holland Park, found by the other group of dutch birders. Rommert had a glimpse of a Grey Hypocolius but the bird went missing and was not refound despite 50 birders searching in the afternoon. The saltpans at K20 did not produce any new birds so we decided to have a try at Yotvata for Arabian Warbler, it did not show.
migrating male Pallid Harrier 28-3 Started birding at Wadi Grofit but as there was not much activity we decided to visit the spot for Arabian Warbler just south of Yotvata, some of us indeed succeeded in finding it. Raptor migration was impressive with many birds flying low in the early morning. The 2cy Bonelli’s Eagle migrating north was the surprise of the day, unfortunately Jan missed the bird because he was undergoing a medical examination after falling into his tripod in the hunt for the Arabian Warbler. We headed for Eilat again and twitched the male Semi-collared Flycatcher at the cemetery, a new lifer for me!
29-3 Today’s target was the northern Negev desert, we wake up at 4:00am and drove the 200 kilometers along the Egyptian border towards Nizzana. It was exactly were it should be, in the military zone opposite of the fallen water tank; a displaying Houbara. What a cracking bird! A small flock of Cream-coloured Coursers was present along the same road.
Later we drove a dirtroad which led us to a water basin just next heavily guarded military station. All four species of Sandgrouse come to drink here regularly but we as we were rather late we were happy to see a single Spotted and 2 small flocks of Black-bellied Sandgrouse. An impressive flock of several thousand Storks passed high over and a corpse nearby attracted an Egyptian Vulture and a dozen Steppe Eagles.
On the way back to Eilat we checked the park at Mitspe Ramon and found 5 fine males Collared Flycatchers and a female Semi-collared. We ended the day at the Eilat north beach but besides the White-eyed Gulls there was not much activity. 30-3 Early and almost desperate start at Yotvata but again there were only onions in the field… The Crested Honey Buzzard at Eilat also eluded us again, like the Sinai Rosefinches at Amram Pillars. We decided to check the well vegetated parking places along the main road, Syrian Serins have been seen regular at these spots. We did not find the Serins but almost drove into a male Lichtensteins Sandgrouse, stunning views of a beautifull bird!
31-3 Early morning birding around Lotan and then drove north. A quick stop at K76-78 and later at Masada for Fan-tailed Raven, several birds were easily seen. We searched the Salvador valley close to Ein Gedi, a sure spot for Sinai Rosefinch. The rosefinches did not show and the cliffs were crowded with tourists, and Fan-tailed Raven turned out to be a common bird around the Dead Sea. Then drove to our hotel at down-town Tel Aviv and enjoyed some fine pizza’s!
1-4 Today we started the Ma’agan Michael fishponds. Several Citrine Wagtails and a Pallas' Gull were the highlights and identifying the large gulls was challenging. The next target was a small reserve holding the last population of the African Soft-shelled Turtle. Upon arrival we were shocked by the setting; hundreds of tourist and huge turtles eating matzes from your hand!
We then headed to the Afula reservoirs but could not find any interesting birds so we decided to try our luck at mount Gilboa. We enjoyed the local Jays and a probable fulvescensGreater Spotted Eagle. Drove back to Tel Aviv where Jan and Pieter left to Switserland in the middle of the night.
2-4 Rommert and I had 2 more days and we decided to visit the northern part of Israel. We left Tel Aviv early and headed for the famous Hula reserve. We were a bit disappointed upon arrival; the valley was completely fenced, acces only by foot or rental bike or even electric golf-car! We started walking towards the main reserve but were soon surrounded by joggers and bikers and it was not getting better when we arrived at the hides; screaming children and parents, bad light and little interesting birds.
Hula reserve (the grey dots on the fields are Cranes) Ticked a Greater Spotted Eagle and several other species for the trip-list and fled towards mount Hermon, what a relieve! 3 Syrian Serins were on a fence along the road and we discussed the strategy for early next morning to find the Crimson-winged Finch. We booked a hotel in Metula, a beautifull kibbutz only several hundred meters of the Libanese border . 3-4 We arrived early on the highest parking on the slopes of mount Hermon. From here we took the cableway to get to the highest peaks and saw Horned Larks and Sombre Tits but the finches were probably blown from the mountain by the strong winds. After several hours of searching we dediced to drive back to Tel Aviv with a short stop at Ma’agan Michael. However, the fences were closed so we had to deal with another disappointment again, now we really wanted to get home:-) Drove to the airport and met Tobi and another german birder who just arrived, see you on Helgoland! The safety procedure took only 3 hours and the airplane took off finally at 6:00 am the next day.
Mount Hermon Southern Israel is still very good birding but much of the original habitat has been destroyed due to cultivation. Many local birds have become much rarer than observed in previous visits, but migration is still spectacular. Lessons learned; try to avoid official nature reserves, sure they are good but they are crowded and closed during the best birding hours. And the new Renault Megane Scenic is a completely useless car for birding/bird photography. Actually it may be useless for other purposes too but we did not test. Contact infoDaphna Abell |
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