The last few days of January have seen the first signs of the start of spring migration. A Swift was seen over Lotan on 22nd, and a Great Spotted Cuckoo was in Nahal Ketura on 29th.

Steppe Eagle, a typical early migrant, has also been seen passing north over the area in small numbers and the first Eurasian Scops Owl of the year was found in Nahal Shitta on 31st.

A preliminary study into the winter distribution and population of Striated Scops Owl in the Southern

Arava has revealed that the species is present in good numbers in a limited number of Acacia wadis in the area.

Some fourteen individual owls are currently known between Ketura and Yahel, with five elsewhere in the Arava bringing the season's total to nineteen.

The previous highest winter count was six in the Eilat area during January-March 1992 (Shirihai 1996). The study will continue into February with the support of the Israel Ornithological Centre.

A Menetries's Warbler was discovered in Nahal Zihor on 26th January and was still present on 1st February, representing only the third mid-winter record of this species in Israel and allowing a number of Israel's birders to catch up with this tricky species.

Cool, wintery and wet days have also led to one of the best desert flower displays in recent years, such as this image taken a couple of days ago at Nahal Zihor.

Please enjoy our late January gallery of images. Click to enlarge the pictures.

James Smith & the Birdlotan Team