Observations - Early July 2003
2nd - About 6 Cory's Shearwaters and 1 adult summer Gull-billed
Tern were present off Eilat's north beach. Also about 60 Little/Saunder's Terns present,
which I prefer to leave undetermined as most of the small terns
on view had greyish rumps and tail feathers. Almost all were
immature/sub-adult birds.
There was no further sign of the Plain Martin at
Eilat's North sewage pools and in actual fact, 2 Sooty Falcons did
a very good job of dispersing all the hirundines there, though
a Red-rumped Swallow was new and a Pallid Swift was
seen. Also 3 Little/Saunder's Terns at the
sewage pools.
Fresh waders at Ein Evrona salt pools included 3 Green Sandpipers and
a Greenshank.
03 - A better morning of seawatching at Eilat's north beach included
a superb, full tailed adult LONG-TAILED SKUA with
4 Arctic Skuas, unfortunately just a little too far
out to be photographed. There were 7+ Cory's and 2 Sooty Shearwaters as
well as 2 WHITE-CHEEKED TERNS off the North
beach with small numbers of Common Terns.
At Lotan we are beginning to notice the post-breeding dispersal
of several resident and summer visiting species. White-crowned Black Wheatears were
notable around the swimming pool area this week having bred in
the desert and then moved into the Kibbutz, and also 2 Fan-tailed Ravens seen
circling over the Kibbutz on the 8th. Namaqua Doves and Rufous Bush Robins remain
common in the area of the organic gardens, and several Barn Swallows and
a Sand Martin spent much of the week near the pool.
With noon temperatures reaching 45 deg C, our field hours are
still being limited to early mornings and perhaps a couple of hours
in the evening. It's pretty warm down here!
Good birding to all,
James P. Smith & The Birdingisrael Team |
