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Birding in LotanBy Lyn Mair, Africa Birds & Birding, Volume 4 (5) September 1999 [page 1] [page 2] Driving from Jerusalem to Ein Gedi early one morning at the beginning of September last year my daughter and I noticed a swirling mass of birds low in the sky ahead. Stopping to investigate, we discovered that it was a cloud of migrating White Storks. As it was only about 9.30am we scanned the ground and found an overnight roost where there were hundreds of storks waiting for temperatures to rise so that they could ride the thermals. They seemed to be taking off in batches of two to three hundreds, making an awesome sound as they flew low overhead. It was then that I decided to return in the boreal spring (March/April) and spend a week birdwatching. Not only did I want to see migrating birds, but also some of the desert specials of Israel. On the return trip I stayed on Kibbutz Lotan, where I joined a small group of British birders. This kibbutz, which is totally geared up for birders, is situated in the Arava Valley in southern Israel, about 60 km north of Eilat. In this 'Global Highway of the Sky', thermal air currents generated by the heat from the desert mountains provide ideal routes for the larger birds, while desert wadis, kibbutz gardens, fishponds, and salt pans make attractive stopovers for the smaller species--song-birds, gulls, ducks and waders. The spring migration begins as early as late February and continues into early May--each two-week period having its own specials as the different species are consistent in their varying travel times. Steppe Eagles and Pallid Swifts are the forerunners of the season, while some the pelagics--Arctic and Pomarine Skuas--are among the last to return to their breeding grounds. Most of the world's Sparrowhawks population, about 45 000, pass through Eilat within a few days at the end of April. In 1994, the IBCE logged an astonishing 28 000 on 25 April and a further 12 000 on the following day. The lush green gardens around Kibbutz Lotan were a spectacle. The magnificent swimming pool with its landscaped gardens was the favourite haunt of hordes of Ortolan Buntings and Red -throated pipits. On an older kibbutz nearby, the well-established gardens were bursting with birdlife: the lawn were crawling with blackcaps with a quail among them. Tristram's Grackle was hanging around a tall date palm, while Nightingales and Thrush Nightingales frequented the low bushes. It was great seeing both nightingales together, as we were able to pick out the subtle differences between the two. The K20 salt pools between Eilat and Lotan were fabulous. Flocks of Little Stints mingled with Ruffs, Wood Sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwits, all getting smartly dressed in their nuptial plumage. Imagine a sunburst of Yellow Wagtails, about 400-500, lining the shallows of a pond. Several of the Motacilla flava male subspecies were there: feldegg, thunbergi, beema, and were easy to separate as they were all in breeding plumage. Flocks of Slender-billed and Black-headed gulls were feeding and preening in preparation for the next leg of the journey. While we were watching Red-necked Phalaropes doing their spinning thing, A flock of Purple Herons flying strongly northwards was sighted; in the next instant a Hobby was closely followed by several Steppe Buzzards and a Black Kite, then came a small flock of Garganey and some Pintail. Early one morning we went looking for the enigmatic Hoopoe Lark at a location alongside the Jordanian border fence. We found a female digging furiously and the desert sands for grubs and larvae. Her heavy, down-curved bill was strong enough to make an impact on the hard ground and kick up a bit of dust. Desert and Bar-tailed larks were also in the vicinity. One evening we joined Hadoram Shirihai, author of Birds of Israel, on an expedition to look for Nubian Nightjar and Hume's Tawny Owl. The highly threatened nightjar is fast disappearing from Israel and other Middle East countries. The biggest cause of its demise are roadkills, as it has a habit of sitting on warm roads and not moving, but habitat destruction is also a major contributing factor. There are only about five or six pairs left in southern Israel. As it grew dark the elegant little nightjar briefly floated above the vegetation - the conspicuous white wing patches and outer tail contrasting with the rufous underwing. Then came a trek into a distant canyon that opened into a spectacular wadi surrounded by hight cliffs. As soon as Hadoram had located the owl, we had wonderful views fo it in the spotlight, but only for a short time to minimize any disturbance to this territorial, large, pale, desert owl. [page 1] [page 2]
Contact infoDaphna Abell |
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