June 2003 - The first ten days

Surprisingly good numbers of regular migrants were present along the Arava Valley for much of the first week. Olivaceous Warblers, Masked Shrikes and Spotted Flycatchers were a common sight around Lotan with a female Red-backed Shrike there on the 5th.

Further south, the 1st produced a Crane at Eilat's north sewage, an unusual find for June and several shorebirds at Ein Evrona salt pools included a fine Turnstone in full summer plumage. A Temminck's Horned Lark was also present close to the latter area.

A male Lesser Kestrel put on a great show at Yotvata on the 2nd, while Eilat's north beach produced superb tern viewing with Caspian, Gull-billed, Sandwich, Common, Little and White-winged Black all present and highlighted by the more specialist Lesser Crested and White-cheeked Terns. Also of note were 4 Cory's Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater and 2 Arctic Skuas.

Nothing could have really prepared me for the events of the 3rd, apart from that nagging feeling that there could still be a really good bird left to discover in this amazing spring. The midday discovery of a Franklin's Gull at Ein Evrona salt pools did, however, catch me totally off guard. Few could have honestly predicted this North American gull to reach the vicinity of the Gulf of Aqaba and its appearance duly impressed admirers from all over Israel during the next four days. Not only was it a new bird for Israel but it was also an entirely new species for the Middle East region. The appearance of a Franklin's Gull near Eilat is truly astonishing when one considers its traditional migration routes.

Click on the pictures to enlarge (+)

Caspian Tern	Crane	Franklin's Gull
Franklin's Gull	Flamingos	Lesser Crested Tern
Lesser Kestrel	Roller	Turnstone

As Kenn Kaufman describes in his fabulous book - 'The Lives of North American Birds' " they (Franklin's Gulls) are highly migratory,... spending the winter south of the Equator along the west coast of South America... In winter mostly found along the coast, in protected bays, estuaries; sometimes far offshore or on lakes well inland...Migrates in flocks. Most go south through the Great Plains and along eastern coastal plain of Mexico, crossing to the Pacific at Isthmus of Tehuantepec. A few may linger into early winter on southern Great Plains. Strays have reached Europe, (West and South) Africa, Australia, Japan."

One can only speculate how this one reached Eilat! Included are two additional images from the 4th June.

After the dizzy heights of the 3rd, the following days were bound to lack some 'zip'. However, 2 Ferruginous Ducks at Eilat's north sewage on the 5th were good for June, as was a White Wagtail there and the Crane was still present. A Lesser Crested Tern was again present at the north beach.

Namaqua Doves were a common site at Ketura experimental gardens on 7th and 9th, and there was also an unseasonal Hoopoe present.

Possibly the last of the spring's Bee-eaters (10) flew north at Lotan on 9th, and the 10th produced good views of Cory's and Sooty Shearwaters at Eilat and well as a Glossy Ibis at Ein Evrona salt pools.

Do enjoy the picture gallery for early June.

By the way, if you were wondering - June is quite a hot month down here!

Good birding,

James Smith & The Birdingisrael Team

Contact info

Daphna Abell
Program Coordinator
lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
Tel: +972 8 6356935;
Toll Free: 1800 2000 75 (when in Israel)