Early October 20003 Sightings Summary

October - 1st - It was certainly nice to open up a new month with a day off from raptor counting, and I set off for my usual exploration of some of the local habitats at Kefar Ruppin, beginning with the date plantations north of the Kibbutz.

Migrants were plentiful with 7 Tree Pipits, 2 Redstarts, 11 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, and 5 Whinchats. The arable fields held over 30 Black Kites, a juvenile Red-footed Falcon, a Richard's Pipit, 18 Isabelline Wheatears, 45 Kentish Plovers, 2 Collared Pratincoles and about 6 Citrine Wagtails.

Arrivals of more northern species were evident today and included a Common Crane, 31 Northern Lapwings, a juvenile Peregrine, 30 Red-throated Pipits, 3 White Wagtails, 4 Bluethroats and a Northern Wheatear.

A strong candidate for 'bird of the day' was the ghost-like form of a close passing male Pallid Harrier in the turf fields - or what was it that incredibly bold Water Rail feeding out in the open in the turf fields?

October 2nd - A strange, rather muggy day with the wind swinging between south-east and south-west during the day. Heavy cloud with some scattered showers were evident until noon.

My counting post was Nahalal Police Station and I enjoyed good views of Red-footed Falcons (21), and Lesser Spotted Eagles (301), but otherwise few birds attempted to migrate in the difficult conditions. Other totals were 15 Levant Sparrowhawks, 27 Short-toed Eagles, 5 Honey Buzzards, 15 Black Kites, 3 Booted Eagles, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Eurasian Sparrowhawks and singles of Griffon Vulture and Steppe Buzzard.

In the evening 2 Collared Pratincoles and 55 Kentish Plovers could be seen on the Kefar Ruppin turf fields.

October 3rd - The muggy airstream, heavy with rain and thunder showers, continued through to about noon today. Luckily, I had another day off and spent the morning in the fields of Kefar Ruppin finding some nice species as I dodged between the rain showers and I enjoyed near complete cloud cover until 11am, a rare treat in the Bet Shean Valley!

The highlight of the morning was a superb Steppe Grey Shrike from Central Asia, which I found hunting around the southern most turf field near the ringing station. This bird was ringed, and was probably trapped at the ringing station on 27th September but had eluded observation until today, though Rami Lindroos also had brief views of a ringed 'grey' Shrike several days earlier.

Up to 11 Collared Pratincoles were scattered around the fields, complimented by the mid-morning arrival of a Black-winged Pratincole.

Other fresh arrivals included Great Cormorant, 2 Penduline Tits, Northern Wheatear and Lesser Grey Shrike. The long staying Richard's Pipit was still present along with 85 Kentish Plovers.

October 4th - A welcome return to one of my favourite stations, at Alonim junction, though it has to be said that the migration was very slow for early October. However,  I did enjoy reasonable views of 2 Great Spotted Eagles amongst an otherwise light passage of 90 Lesser Spotted Eagles. For the first time this season numbers of the latter were matched by an impressive 90 Short-toed Eagles!

Other migrants included 22 Red-footed Falcons, 1 Levant Sparrowhawk, 9 Honey Buzzards, 40 Black Kites, 2 Booted Eagles, 5 Marsh Harriers, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawks and a fine adult Peregrine.

3 Common Cranes flew NW at noon, and the survey team reported that the Steppe Grey Shrike was still present near the Kefar Ruppin ringing station.

The fourth of October was actually my last day of the season for the Raptor Migration Survey for this year. It was a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable experience, enhanced by a really fine team of International birders. One of these, Roelf Hovinga, will replace my daily postings to keep our readers updated on the progress of the survey, as well as postings of the regular day to day observations made by the survey team.

Good birding, James P. Smith, Bet Shean Valley, Israel.

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