Eilat
For sheer variety of species there are few better birding areas
in the Western Palaearctic than Eilat on the Red Sea coast of
Israel where more than 420 species have been recorded. During
passage periods it is not only variety but numbers that impress,
raptors pass through the area in far higher numbers than at
either Gibraltar or the Bosphorus and more than a million have
been recorded in a single spring. Most numerous are Honey and
Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites but Levant Sparrowhawks pass
in thousands and there are also good numbers of Egyptian Vultures,
Short-toed, Booted and various Aquila eagles. In recent years
small numbers of Crested Honey Buzzards from Central and eastern
Asia have been recorded at Eilat.
In addition to raptors there are White Storks, flamingoes and
herons, and waders and crakes are also common. Numerous warblers,
flycatchers, chats and other passerine migrants can be seen
throughout the area, attracted in particular to the kibbutz
farmland surrounding the town. Situated in a largely desert
area, any vegetation will attract migrants and there are gardens,
palm plantations and scrubby wadis as well as the cultivated
areas.
In addition to migrants the local breeding species are of great
interest and include desert birds such as Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse
and Sand Partridge, numerous larks and wheatears, Tristram's
Starling and Brown-necked Raven. Other local desert specialities
include Dead Sea Sparrow, Desert Finch, Trumpeter Finch and
House Bunting. Two elusive and highly sought-after owls can
be seen in the Eilat region, Hume's and Striated Scops, but
to see these may require the help of local birders. Namaqua
Dove, a fairly recent colonist, is found in cultivated land
just north of Eilat.
Now one of the most popular birding locations in the WP, Eilat
is visited each year by thousands of birders from all over Europe
and beyond. This has led to certain "hotspots" becoming
well-known some of which are detailed below.
Most visitors begin their birding at North Beach where many
of the hotels are situated. In the far north of the Red Sea,
Eilat is visited by seabirds seen nowhere else in the WP with
any regularity such as Brown Booby and White-eyed Gull. Striated
and Western Reef Herons are usually present. Various other seabirds
such as Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns
are regular but with strong southerly winds there is the possibility
of rarer birds such as Streaked Shearwater, Red-billed Tropicbird
or even Lesser Frigate bird being seen from shore. White-cheeked
and Bridled Terns are also possible. No doubt other Indian Ocean
seabirds will occur and the Mascarene Shearwater, originally
thought to be a new species, was recorded here in June 1992.
House Crows, ship-assisted colonists from Asia, are usually
present on the beach.
Crakes can often be seen along the Sewage Canal but at the
southern end, where it empties into the sea at North Beach,
Western Reef Heron, White-eyed Gull and a variety of waders
including Greater Sand Plover are regular. The canal is also
good for White-breasted Kingfisher and Little Green Bee-eater.
Inland and to the west of the canal are the Salt Pans where
Flamingo, various herons and a range of waders can be seen.
Slender-billed Gull is regular as are marsh terns and often
Gull-billed and Caspian Terns. Sooty and Barbary Falcons pass
through in autumn and migrant passerines include Red-throated
Pipit and Citrine Wagtail.
The ringing Station is situated over the canal from the saltpans
and the bushes here host migrant passerines such as shrikes,
flycatchers and warblers. Little Green Bee-eater is common here.
Rarities are often trapped and this area is worthy of thorough
examination. It is also a very useful place to exchange information
on what's about.
To the north of the ringing station is a Palm Plantation that
holds Little Green Bee-eater and White-breasted Kingfisher as
well as attracting a host of migrants and passerines in particular.
Further north but still within walking distance of the main
hotel area is an area known as the South Fields where large
numbers of migrants of all kinds occur. Many common European
breeding species can be seen as well as more eastern species
and this is the best site in the WP for Namaqua Dove.
The North Fields also attract large numbers of migrant passerines
and small numbers of Oriental Skylark are regular. Desert Finch
and Dead Sea Sparrow are also present and migrant pipits include
Red-throated, Tawny and Richard's. Caspian Plover is sometimes
seen here in spring. The North Fields are best reached by road,
take Route 90 north from Eilat and turn right on the new road
to Aqaba then left on a track beside a date plantation.
Continuing on this track leads to a Sewage Farm to which there
is no public access. However, there are some pools here and
this area can be good depending on water levels. Citrine Wagtail,
various pipits and Siberian Stonechat occur as well as large
numbers of Spanish Sparrow. Various raptors can be attracted
by these migrants and Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard and Barbary
Falcon may be seen.
Further north from the sewage farm are the Northern Reservoirs
where terns and waders can be found as well as various northern
ducks in winter. Dead Sea Sparrow and Desert Finch, Desert and
Isabelline Wheatear occur in the surrounding desert. The reservoirs
can be reached by continuing north on the track from the sewage
farm or by turning right off Route 90 opposite the turning for
Amram's Pillars. Crowned Sandgrouse can sometimes be seen in
patches of acacias in this area.
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse breed in the deserts around Eilat
but can be regularly seen drinking at the Pumping Station to
the northwest of the town. This station also attracts Sand Partridge,
Trumpeter Finch and House Bunting, Arabian Babbler, Blackstart
and Little Green Bee-eater. Originally attracted to a small
pool, the birds now drink from a tray provided for this purpose.
The pumping station is best visited just before dusk but the
site has become over-visited and care must be taken to avoid
disturbing the birds. To reach the station head for the top
of Jerusalem Street, cross the junction and continue until a
sharp left-hand bend shortly after which a track turns off right,
signed "Nahal Netaphim". The pumping station is on
the right of this track.
The pumping station track leads into the Eilat Mountains and
by keeping right at all junctions it follows Wadi Roded until
it reaches Elot Kibbutz close to Route 90 north of Eilat. A
good range of local specialities occurs in this area including
Sand Partridge, Little Green Bee-eater, Arabian Babbler, Palestine
Sunbird and Tristram's Starling as well as Scrub Warbler, White-crowned
Black Wheatear, Hooded Wheatear and House Bunting. Cyprus Warbler
winters here.
The Cemetery is well-known as a good site to watch raptor migration
and a wide range of species can be seen at almost eye-level
from the hill beyond the cemetery. Other species to be see here
include House Bunting and White-crowned Black Wheatear, Sand
Partridge and Desert Lark. Passerine migrants are often attracted
to the bushes here. The cemetery is reached by turning right
at the top of Hatmarim Street.
Rarities frequently appear at Eilat in all the various habitats
and many species are recorded annually in small numbers, especially
on spring passage. Virtually any migratory bird breeding from
Europe to Central or even eastern Asia could conceivably turn
up at Eilat and species from further south in Arabia and Africa
are also recorded. News of such sightings soon gets around via
the Birdwatching Information Centre on Hatmarim Boulevard. This
is open every evening for the exchange of information on sightings
and sites, and from here trips to see special birds such as
Hume's Owl are arranged, undoubtedly the best way to see such
an elusive species.
There are few mammals in the area but there is the chance of
Dorcas Gazelle in the desert and Rock Hyrax and Nubian Ibex
in more mountainous regions.
Undoubtedly the most productive times to visit are spring and
autumn, Eilat is easily reached by air from Europe and one of
the easiest and cheapest ways to visit is on a package holiday.
However, for the independent traveller there is a wide choice
of hotels, to suit all budgets, mainly on North Beach, and also
campsites and hostels, all within easy reach of good birding
areas. Birding aside, Eilat is an excellent holiday destination
with all the facilities of a modern resort. Public transport
is good but a hired car is more or less essential to reach all
the best areas. Being in the Red Sea the coral reefs are magnificent
and few visitors return home without having spent a few days
snorkelling or scuba-diving.
BIRDS INCLUDE: Great Crested Grebe (W), Black-necked Grebe
(W), Cory's Shearwater (Su), Red-billed Tropicbird (rare,PM),
Brown Booby, Great Cormorant (W), White Pelican (PM), Night
Heron (PM), Striated Heron (rare), Squacco Heron (PM), Cattle
Egret (PM), Western Reef Heron, Little Egret (PM), Great White
Egret (PM), Grey Heron (W), Black Stork (PM), White Stork (PM),
Greater Flamingo (PM), Common Shelduck (PM,W), Eurasian Wigeon
(W), Common Teal (PM,W), Mallard (PM,W), Pintail (PM,W), Garganey
(PM,W), Shoveler (PM,W), Common Pochard (PM,W), Tufted Duck
(PM,W), Honey Buzzard (PM), Black Kite (PM), Egyptian Vulture
(PM), Griffon Vulture (PM), Short-toed Eagle (PM), Marsh Harrier
(PM), Pallid Harrier (PM), Northern Goshawk (rare PM), Northern
Sparrowhawk (PM), Levant Sparrowhawk (PM), Steppe Buzzard (PM),
Long-legged Buzzard (PM), Lesser Spotted Eagle (PM), Steppe
Eagle (PM), Eastern Imperial Eagle (PM), Golden Eagle (PM),
Booted Eagle (PM), Osprey (PM), Lesser Kestrel (PM), Common
Kestrel, Sooty Falcon (rare PM), Lanner Falcon, Barbary Falcon
(PM), Sand Partridge, Common Quail, Spotted Crake (PM), Little
Crake (PM), Baillon's Crake (rare,PM), Moorhen, Eurasian Coot
(W), Oystercatcher (PM,W), Black-winged Stilt (PM), Pied Avocet
(PM,W), Cream-coloured Courser, Collared Pratincole (PM), Little
Ringed Plover (PM), Ringed Plover (PM,W), Kentish Plover, Greater
Sand Plover (PM), Caspian Plover (rare,PM), Spur-winged Plover
(rare,PM), White-tailed Plover (rare,PM), Northern Lapwing (W),
Little Stint (PM,W), Dunlin (PM,W), Broad-billed Sandpiper (PM),
Ruff (PM,W), Common Snipe (PM,W), Whimbrel (PM), Eurasian Curlew
(PM,W), Spotted Redshank (PM,W), Common Redshank (PM,W), Marsh
Sandpiper (PM), Greenshank (PM,W), Green Sandpiper (PM,W), Wood
Sandpiper (PM,W), Common Sandpiper (PM,W), Terek Sandpiper (rare
PM), Pomarine Skua (PM), Arctic Skua (PM), Sooty Gull (rare,PM),
White-eyed Gull, Great Black-headed Gull (PM), Little Gull (PM),
Black-headed Gull (PM,W), Slender-billed Gull (PM), Lesser Black-backed
Gull (PM,W), Yellow-legged Gull (PM), Caspian Gull (PM,W), Armenian
Gull (scarce PM,W), Heuglin's Gull (PM,W), Gull-billed Tern
(PM), Caspian Tern (PM), Lesser Crested Tern (rare,PM), Sandwich
Tern (PM), Common Tern (PM), White-cheeked Tern (rare,PM), Bridled
Tern (rare,PM), Little Tern (PM), Whiskered Tern (PM), White-winged
Black Tern (PM), Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Crowned Sandgrouse,
Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove (PM), Laughing Dove,
Namaqua Dove, Striated Scops Owl (rare,W), Desert Eagle Owl,
Hume's Owl, Nubian Nightjar (rare), Egyptian Nightjar (rare),
Common Swift (PM), Pallid Swift (PM), Alpine Swift (PM), White-breasted
Kingfisher (PM), Common Kingfisher (W), Pied Kingfisher, Little
Green Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Bee-eater
(PM), Hoopoe, Wryneck (PM),
Bar-tailed Desert Lark, Desert Lark, Hoopoe Lark, Thick-billed
Lark (rare visitor), Bimaculated Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark
(PM), Short-toed Lark (PM), Crested Lark, Oriental Skylark (W),
Sand Martin (PM), African Rock Martin, Crag Martin (PM), Swallow
(PM), Red-rumped Swallow (PM), House Martin (PM), Tawny Pipit
(PM), Tree Pipit (PM), Meadow Pipit (PM,W), Red-throated Pipit
(PM), Water Pipit (PM,W), Buff-bellied Pipit (rare,PM,W), Black-headed
Wagtail (PM), Citrine Wagtail (PM), White Wagtail (PM), Yellow-vented
Bulbul, Rufous Bush Robin (PM), Black Bush Robin (rare), Bluethroat
(PM,W), Thrush Nightingale (PM), Nightingale (PM), Common Redstart
(PM), Blackstart, Stonechat (PM,W), Isabelline Wheatear (PM),
Northern Wheatear (PM), Pied Wheatear (rare PM), Cyprus Pied
Wheatear (rare,W), Desert Wheatear (PM), Black-eared Wheatear
(PM), Mourning Wheatear (PM), Hooded Wheatear, White-crowned
Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Graceful Warbler, Scrub Warbler,
Savi's Warbler (PM), Moustached Warbler (PM), Sedge Warbler
(PM), Reed Warbler (PM), Clamorous Reed Warbler (PM), Olivaceous
Warbler (PM), Upcher's Warbler (rare), Olive-tree Warbler (rare),
Subalpine Warbler (PM), Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler (PM,W),
Ruppell's Warbler (PM), Desert Warbler (PM,W), Arabian Warbler,
Orphean Warbler (PM), Lesser Whitethroat (PM), Common Whitethroat
(rare PM), Blackcap (PM,W), Eastern Bonelli's Warbler (PM),
Common Chiffchaff (PM), Spotted Flycatcher (PM), Semi-collared
Flycatcher (PM), Collared Flycatcher (PM), Pied Flycatcher (PM),
Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, Red-backed Shrike (PM),
Lesser Grey Shrike (rare PM), Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat
Shrike (PM), Masked Shrike (PM), House Crow, Brown-necked Raven,
Tristram's Grackle, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow (PM), Dead
Sea Sparrow, Pale Rock Sparrow, Syrian Serin (PM), Greenfinch
(W), Goldfinch (W), Desert Finch, Trumpeter Finch, House Bunting,
Cinereous Bunting (rare Sp), Ortolan Bunting (PM, mainly Sp),
Cretzschmar's Bunting (PM, mainly Sp).