Birding Hot-Spots of Israel, continued..

The Arava Valley

The Arava Valley is a portion of the Syrio-African Rift valley which runs from the southern Dead Sea to Eilat and the eastern arm of the Red Sea, other- wise known as the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat. This valley is used by hundreds of millions of migrants during spring and autumn migration. The Arava depression is mostly desert with Acacia scrub. Driving south from the Dead Sea to- wards Eilat you can see local species such as Barbary Falcon, Brown-necked Ravens, three species of black-and- white wheatear, Blackstarts, Desert Larks and others. At the Hatzeva Field Study Center, Arabian Babblers have been extensively studied for many years by local researchers. All types of green habitats in the area are full of local desert birds and a wealth of migratory species but the most important breeding species is the Arabian Warbler, present in some of the larger Acacias and restricted to prime areas of Acacia scrub.

Continuing south and only some 50 kilometres north of Eilat is Kibbutz Lotan, which is noted in Israel for its strong ecological direction. Eco- volunteers here have created a migrant bird refuge on the Lotan premises, including observation hides overlooking freshwater drinking pools and an attractive alfalfa field. The pools attract raptors during migration seasons especially on days of easterly or southerly winds, when tens of thousands of raptors pass over Lotan. Also making use of the pools are Purple and Squacco Herons, White Storks, Little Crakes and a wide range of passerines, of which the Desert Finch is now regular. It is possible to observe three species of Bee-eater on some days in spring and multiple numbers of Richard's, Tawny and Red-throated Pipit in the autumn.

The Kibbutz offers accommodation and a retreat for birders with many regional birds easily seen around the gar- dens and the houses. These include Barbary Falcon, Spur-winged Plover, Little Green Bee-eater, White-breasted Kingfisher (winter only), African Rock Martin, Palestine Sunbird, White-crowned Black and Hooded Wheatears, and Great Grey Shrike. However, during the migration season a wealth of migrants are attracted to the oasis-like conditions offering food to tens or even hundreds of bee-eaters, larks, pipits, wheatears, flycatchers and warblers. Houbara Bustards have been seen in spring and autumn in the dunes to the north of the Kibbutz but are unpredictable at best. In addition, the local birders have produced a steady series of nationally rare species including Crested Honey Buzzard, Black Bush Robin, Pied Stonechat, Dusky Warbler, Menetries's Warbler and Mountain Chiffchaff and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler. Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher have proven to be annual in late autumn, and Syrian Serin in early spring.

At night, European Night jar (spring and autumn), Long-eared and Barn Owls are easily seen hunting around the kibbutz. Several Striated Scops Owls have been found wintering in some of the local Acacia wadis, where Arabian Warbler is also found. The location of Lotan gives easy access to the desert areas of the west and north as well as being close to Eilat, and indeed visiting birders can benefit from making full use of the wide range of facilities offered and the birder-friendly environment.

Ten minutes west of Lotan, on the Negev plateau, lies Kibbutz Shizzafon. The sewage pools here offer a drinking site to many desert birds including Crowned Sand grouse, which is becoming increasingly difficult to see in the area. The birds are notoriously infrequent and perhaps only drink every second or third day. However they can be very obliging when they do come in, and up to 28 birds may spend twenty minutes in the area before heading back into the desert. Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse often drink here in the evenings, six being the largest number recorded.

Yotvata, a little further south, sup- ports a large area of Acacia scrub and is an excellent place to look for migrants, as well as some of the resident species. Orange-tufted (Palestine) Sunbird is common, as are Arabian Babbler and Little Green Bee-eater. The area is also a good place to look for Arabian Warbler, sadly declining in Israel. The agricultural areas around Yotvata can be very productive for migrants; in particular, the alfalfa and melon fields regularly hold Bimaculated Lark, and in spring they are good for Caspian Plover. The southern fields are one of the few remaining areas where alfalfa is still grown and, during migration seasons, large numbers of larks, pipits and wagtails are seen. Red-throated Pipits and Short-toed Larks are usually quite numerous and Tawny and Richard ' s Pipits are seen rather regularly. Oriental Skylark sometimes winters here. A nearby Date plantation at- tracts hordes of Tristram's Grackle and many migrants. The local sewage pools at Yotvata fairly regularly produce White-tailed Plover, pratincoles and Little Crake. The surrounding scrub holds breeding species such as Rufous Bush Robin, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Scrub Warbler and Dead Sea Sparrow. Migrants such as Masked Shrike, Olivaceous Warbler, Citrine Wagtail and several flycatcher species can enliven any day in spring when large numbers of migrating raptors, including Steppe Buzzard, Steppe Eagle and Levant Sparrowhawk, pass overhead. Vagrants such as Black Bush Robin and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler have been reported almost annually in recent years, and a Grey Hypocolious turned up in the winter of 98/99.

The stony desert at KM post 33, north of Eilat offers an excellent habitat for larks. It has been hallowed ground for many years for birders and the only reliable place in which breeding species such as Hoopoe Lark and Bar-tailed Desert Lark, and rarities such as Temminck's, Homed and Dunn's Lark can be found. The last species often winters in the area and can also be seen in early spring. During the migration seasons, very large numbers of larks pass through this area. It is possible to see the above mentioned species in the company of large flocks of either Lesser Short-toed, Short-toed, Bimaculated or even the rare Thick-billed Lark. Cream-coloured Courser occur in some years, particularly in spring, while the few bushes and small acacias provide cover for wintering Desert Warblers, which remain until early spring. The northern section is now lost to agriculture and today we are trying to save this threatened and unique area from the hands of those who think that only a human-modified desert is of any value.

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Contact info

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