The Arava Valley covers the desert areas of southern Israel
to the north of Eilat and can be explored from the Arava Highway.
Larks are a specialty of Arava with numerous species present
as well as several wheatears and the area attracts large numbers
of migrants during passage periods. The Arava Valley was once
a regular site for Lappet-faced Vulture but this is now an extremely
rare bird in Israel and future records seem unlikely.
Extensive coverage of the Arava Valley by birders over recent
decades has led to the creation of a few well-known "hotspots",
some of which are detailed below. However, many of the species
probably occur much more widely in the valley. All these sites
are within easy reach of Eilat and lie close to Route 90.
Yotvata is about 40 km north of Eilat on Route 90, the Arava
Highway, and an excellent area of cultivated land that attracts
an astounding number of migrants and has a good selection of
resident species. One area worth checking is on the west of
Route 90 opposite the 50 km marker-post. Arabian Warbler and
wintering Cyprus Warbler can be seen here and Barbary Falcon
is possible over the nearby hills. Some of the best areas can
be found by turning right off Route 90 at Yotvata petrol station.
This road leads to kibbutz fields with large numbers of pipits,
wagtails and other migrants. There is also a sewage farm where
the Spanish Sparrows are worth checking for Dead Sea Sparrow,
once regular here as were various waders including White-tailed
Plover. The acacia trees and bushes around Ye'elim Holiday Village
are well-known as a regular spot for Arabian Warbler as well
as Masked Shrike, Palestine Sunbird and Arabian Babbler. A track
to the right at the 53 km marker-post to the north of Yotvata
kibbutz leads to more fields with migrant passerines including
Spectacled Warbler and Oriental Skylark, and possible pratincoles,
courser and even Houbara Bustard. Still further north at a sewage
farm near Shizzafon on the Beer Sheva road, sewage farm has
Crowned Sandgrouse visiting to drink in the mornings although
their appearance cannot be guaranteed. Other birds found in
this area include Sand Partridge, Hooded and White-crowned Black
Wheatear.
One of the most famous areas for migrants is known as Km 40.
There are date-palm plantations here and bushy areas good for
passerine migrants including Cretzschmar's Bunting and a sewage
farm and marshy pools with passage waders and ducks. Lichtenstein's
Sandgrouse may come to drink at dusk. The surrounding desert
has Hooded and Isabelline Wheatears. To explore this area turn
right off Route 90 shortly after the 40 km marker-post.
For larks and wheatears the area around the Km 33 marker-post
is undoubtedly the best in the WP. Although the birds present
vary from year to year the range of larks possible here include
Dunn's and Thick-billed, Bimaculated, Desert and Bar-tailed
Desert, Hoopoe and Temminck's Horned. Wheatears recorded at
Km 33 include Desert, Mourning, Hooded and Red-tailed. Tristram's
Starling, Desert Warbler and Desert Finch are also present.
To find this superb area turn right off Route 90 just past the
33 km marker-post, go past the red and white aerial and park
at the pumping station. Continue on foot on the track that runs
north-south. This area is currently under threat of cultivation
and so birders may have to seek their desert birds elsewhere
in the future.
The Timna Valley is signposted to the left from Route 90 between
Km 33 and Km 40. The impressive rocks here are a popular tourist
attraction but for birders there is the opportunity to see various
desert species such as White-crowned Black Wheatear and Scrub
Warbler but also the very local Sooty Falcon. These birds breed
here and can be seen until early October.
Amram's Pillars also has rock formations that attract tourists
but for birders there is a range of desert-loving species including
Sand Partridge, Brown-necked Raven and White-crowned Black Wheatear,
and this is a regular site for wintering Sinai Rosefinch. Dorcas
Gazelle Gazelle dorcas is common in the Arava Valley and can
be seen at Amram's Pillars.
BIRDS INCLUDE: Little Grebe (W), Purple Heron (PM), Common
Teal (PM,W), Mallard (PM,W), Garganey (PM), Egyptian Vulture
(PM), Marsh Harrier (PM), Northern Sparrowhawk (PM), Lesser
Spotted Eagle (PM), Steppe Eagle (PM), Eastern Imperial Eagle
(PM), Osprey (PM), Lesser Kestrel (PM), Sooty Falcon (Su), Barbary
Falcon, Sand Partridge, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot (W), Cream-coloured
Courser, Spur-winged Plover, White-tailed Plover (rare PM),
Ruff (PM,W), Common Snipe (PM,W), Green Sandpiper (PM,W), Wood
Sandpiper (W), Black-headed Gull (PM,W), Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse,
Crowned Sandgrouse, Collared Dove, Laughing Dove, Common Swift
(PM), Alpine Swift (PM), Common Kingfisher (W), Little Green
Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Wryneck (PM),
Dunn's Lark, Bar-tailed Desert Lark, Desert Lark, Hoopoe Lark,
Thick-billed Lark (rare), Bimaculated Lark, Short-toed Lark,
Lesser Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Oriental Skylark (PM,W),
Temminck's Horned Lark, Sand Martin (PM), African Rock Martin,
Crag Martin (PM), Swallow (PM), Red-rumped Swallow (PM), House
Martin (PM), Richard's Pipit (PM), Tawny Pipit (PM), Red-throated
Pipit (PM,W), Black-headed Wagtail (PM), Citrine Wagtail (PM),
Pied Wagtail (PM,W), Eurasian Robin (PM,W), Nightingale (PM),
Bluethroat (PM,W), Common Redstart (PM), Blackstart, Stonechat
(PM,W), Isabelline Wheatear (Su), Black-eared Wheatear, Desert
Wheatear, Finsch's Wheatear, Red-tailed Wheatear (rare PM),
Mourning Wheatear, Hooded Wheatear, White-crowned Black Wheatear,
Blue Rock Thrush, Scrub Warbler, Graceful Warbler, Olivaceous
Warbler (PM), Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus
Warbler (W), Ruppell's Warbler (PM), Desert Warbler (W), Arabian
Warbler, Orphean Warbler (PM), Lesser Whitethroat (PM), Blackcap
(PM,W), Eastern Bonelli's Warbler (PM), Common Chiffchaff (PM),
Spotted Flycatcher (PM), Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird,
Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike (PM), Masked Shrike (PM),
Brown-necked Raven, Tristram's Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish
Sparrow, Dead Sea Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Pale Rock Sparrow (PM),
Goldfinch (W), Linnet (W), Desert Finch, Trumpeter Finch, Sinai
Rosefinch (W), Cinereous Bunting (PM), Cretzschmar's Bunting
(PM).