Israel Trip Report: Northern Israel, November 2000
By Susannah Lerman
We all meet at Gatwick airport for our morning flight to Tel Aviv.
James and Susannah met us at Ben Gurion airport and the bird list has
already begun! There are Spur-wing Plovers on the runway and while we
wait for James and Ian to sort out the mini-busses, a Glossy Ibis flies
over. The air is warm and quite inviting. The cars arrive and soon we
are off towards the Mediterranean Coast. Driving through Tel Aviv, we
begin to get a feel for the architecture and landscape. Towns and settlements
are built on the sides of the Judean hills and the stream of traffic
lets us know that we have hit rush hour. Nonetheless, we are at Nahsholim
within 90 minutes, fresh juice awaiting our arrival. We settle in to
our cabanas and the soothing sound of waves lapping up on the shore
fills the air. After dinner, James and Ian go through the plans for
the week and we are all buzzing with anticipation of what is in store.
November 23: Our first morning has us looking out to sea. We position
ourselves on a rocky headland and start scanning the horizon and crags
along the shore. Although still early, the birds are plentiful. A group
of ten Spoonbill, joined by a Great White Egret, fly over. The Spoonbills
are quite easy to identify, their frumpy bill shape silhouetted in the
clear blue skies. There are Pied Kingfishers on every possible perch
and we watch one hover and plunge into the sea for a catch. A European
Kingfisher poses very close while flocks of waders flash by. They soon
settle down and we sift through the group. There are Dunlin, about 40
Little Stint and three Grey Plovers all feeding together. A group of
four Turnstones is spotted near by and a small group of Ringed Plover
and Redshank make up the shorebirds. Great Cormorants taxi back and
forth over the sea and a Marsh Harrier hunts over a nearby field. There
is quite a bit of activity going on off shore. There are constant waves
of Skylarks migrating by, an estimate of about 500 birds within the
hour. An Arctic Skua flies close in to shore and we all have great views.
As we make our way to breakfast, two Little Egrets flap past, yellow
feet trailing the black legs. In the grounds of the guesthouses, there
are plenty of Israel's garden birds to look at. Yellow-vented Bulbuls,
Palm Doves and Palestine Sunbirds are all present.
A traditional Israeli breakfast greets us in the dining room. We all
enjoy the fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses and various other salads.
James tempts some of us with a fabulous pretzel, toasted!
Soon we find ourselves at the famous fish pools at Ma'agan Michael
and quickly realize why it is a must visit. As the doors open from the
vans and the scopes set up, we don't know where to look. A smart looking
White-breasted Kingfisher sits on some overhead wires, the turquoise
back gleaming in the morning sun. Soon the bird turns around and shows
us why he is named White-breasted. And what a dangerous looking bill!
There are plenty of Grey Herons to look at as well as Spur-winged Plovers,
Lapwings and Pied Kingfishers. We are looking at some Snipe in the drained
out pool when we discover some Temminck's Stints, three in total. Soon
a brightly plumaged Citrine Wagtail, feeding close to the edge of the
pool vies for our attention. The scopes are focused on this jewel of
the wetlands. We walk around the pools to get different angles and find
more birds to look at. A Clamorous Reed Warbler is very obliging and
we get prolonged views of this skulking bird perching in the open. The
long bill and short supercilium are quite obvious and we all see the
main features well.
There is a large raft of Teal on the bank and a Spoonbill sifts through
the shallow waters. Lots of familiar birds are also seen such as Moorhens,
Coots, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe, all in good numbers. Kingfishers,
all three species, are everywhere and the sight is just fantastic. Three
Night Herons are almost hidden amongst some Tamarisk trees but we manage
to pick out their beady little eyes. Further around the ponds we come
to a vantage point and look out to sea. There is an easterly wind and
our chances of seeing Yelkoun Shearwater are close to nil. Not to worry,
the Skylark migration is in full swing and we estimate a further 2500
birds flying past. It is an incredible site. Some gulls sit on the beach
and we have our first master class and learn the distinguishing features
of Armenian Gull.
Kentish Plovers scurry about close to the waves and we continue walking
around the pools. A Fan-tailed Warbler sits atop some beach grass and
the bird sits still for a few minutes. More gulls adorn the pools, most
in variable Armenian Gull plumage. Though there is one bird with an
extremely dark mantle. James goes through the features with us and explains
that it is a Siberian Gull Larus heuglini. Oh do we love gulls! There
is another Citrine Wagtail, this time standing near a Yellow Wagtail.
Two Water Rails stand out in the open and almost go unnoticed because
of all the activity. Things really get going when James announces "Buff-bellied
Pipit!" We soon aim our scopes on the bank and pick out a plain-backed
pipit amongst some Water Pipits. It is a tricky bird but we are happy
with the views.
The temperatures have been pleasant this morning and we are all ready
for a break and some lunch. On the way out of the pools, we see two
raptors circling overhead. We hop out of the vans and work out that
we are looking at Spotted Eagles. The views are close and we can all
make out the detail in the wings and the blocky shape. Some White Storks
join the birds and we don't know where to look next. After the meal
we pack up our things and head east to the riches of the Hula Valley.
The 80minute drive takes us over the Judean hills and the landscape
becomes a bit more arid. Soon the Sea of Galilee comes into view and
we drop down to the western shores. The road begins to twist and turn
and before long, we find ourselves in the midst of the Hula Valley.
We visit the re-flooded area of the reserve and it is absolutely packed
with birds. There is not much light left in the day so we make the most
of it and enjoy our introduction to this bird winter wonderland. Over
a reedy pond there is a blizzard of white wings: Armenian Gulls, Little
Egrets and Great White Egrets. There are Black Storks, thousands of
Skylarks and Common Snipes. A beautifully marked adult male Hen Harrier
flies directly overhead giving fantastic views. Meanwhile in the hay
fields, a pale Imperial Eagle perches on top of a bale, feathered legs
and all. Marsh Harriers quarter the fields and a Greylag Goose appears!
A Golden Jackal lurks in the distance but what leaves the biggest impression
is the 20,000 Cranes flying down the valley, looking for roosting sites.
The sounds fill the air as groups of 50 to 100 birds flock together.
Everywhere we look there are Cranes. It is just a perfect ending to
the day.
November 24
We wake to cooler weather and a bit of cloud but keep to our plans
to go up to the mountains. Ring-necked Parakeets keep us company while
waiting for our packed lunch to arrive. While driving up Mount Hermon,
we pass groups of Rooks, which only seems to excite James! The journey
up the mountain is quite scenic. There are a scattering of fruit orchards
and rocky outcrops. We pass Nimrods castle, a fortress built during
the crusade period and cross a few bridges. Eventually we come to the
ski village at Neve Etiv to look for some special mountain species.
As soon as we turn into the village, some of us see Sombre Tit in the
bushes alongside the track. We park up and start exploring the grounds
with a bit more detail. There are familiar birds such as Chaffinch,
Greenfinch and Blackbird. A Syrian Woodpecker sallies through the air
and lands in one of the mature pine trees long enough for everyone to
see it. The Sombre Tits take some work but eventually we all catch up
with it and have nice views of this mountainous species.
The peaks of the Mount Hermon are beginning to be covered in cloud
and it doesn't seem like we will get to the higher elevations today.
Not to worry since there is plenty to see in the village. There are
two Griffon Vultures wheeling around together and a Kestrel mobs a juvenile
Goshawk. We continue walking around the village and see an elusive bunting.
Soon we find a feeding flock of buntings and study these birds quite
carefully. One of the birds looks nothing like any of those illustrated
in any of our field guides and causes quite a headache. After further
scrutiny, we all agree that the birds are Rock Buntings, some classic
and some very confusing individuals. While studying these birds, we
do have breaks with Dunnock and European Serin. Walking back to the
minibuses, we see more raptors circling the mountains. A Common Buzzard
soars past with his wings held in a very peculiar position, causing
further identification frustrations! To add to the raptor list, we see
a Sparrowhawk and a dark phased Long-legged Buzzard, the most rare form
of this species.
Just as we are about to head down to lower elevations, Ian comes on
the radio and asks if anyone is interested in a coffee break. So off
to 'Fat Abduls'! We make a brief stop for a female Finch's Wheatear
perching on a large boulder beside the road. Her silvery plumage is
showing well in the scopes. We make one briefer stop, hoping for Syrian
Serin but connect with a male Finch's Wheatear instead. Again, the views
are excellent and when the bird flies, we all see his complete white
back.
After authentic Arabic coffee, we drop down to warmer elevations for
lunch. We choose a nice picnic site below the castle. There are plenty
of Chiffchaffs and a Sardinian Warblers to keep us company. The tree
we sit under for our lunch is constantly dropping acorns and soon we
find ourselves amidst an acorn war!
For a change of scenery we return to the Hula Valley to a vantage point
overlooking the reserve. There are fishponds surrounding us, some drained
some full, all-teeming with birds. The skies are clearer down here but
quite windy. A group of 20 Glossy Ibis ride the wind every 20 minutes
or so. They lift up together, their decurved beaks and hunch-backed
appearance silhouetted in the afternoon sun. Large birds are a plenty
here. Two Booted Eagles mix in with the Black Kites and a nice mixed
group of storks are scattered around. Margaret and Terry watch the Black
Kites play with a plastic bag while we look through the groups of birds
on the ground. Avocet, Shoveler, Grey Heron and Great White Egret are
all in large numbers. Great Cormorants adorn the trees and some of the
further fishponds hold hundreds of waterfowl. Beryl calls us over for
an interesting duck and it is one of the star species, Marbled Duck!
There are four in total and we all have great scope views. There are
Pochard, Teal and Mallard to round up the list. Another scan above produces
two White-tailed Eagles dwarfing the Black Kites. The place is just
magic. There are Water Buffalo and Wild Boar in the wild fields. The
machine-gun call of White-breasted Kingfisher echoes through the air,
reminding us of its presence. There is about one hour of daylight left
so we head back down to the pool we were looking at last evening.
Once again, we are in for a treat. Birds are packed into the pool and
there are about 250 White Pelicans floating around, some in pristine
plumage. James shows us a Golden Plover when Celia finds a group of
White-fronted Geese! There are 59 in total, a mixture of juveniles and
adults. Once again, an incredible site for Israel. Black-tailed Godwits
fly around, showing their diagnostic wing pattern and front heavy Spoonbills
fly over. Black-winged Stilts sift through the shallow water and Jeff
spots two Curlews sleeping. But once again, it is the Cranes that leave
us all in silence as their cacophonous sounds almost deafens us. Jeff
and Celia teach us how to pick out the whistling juveniles from the
adults and soon we all have our ears trained. As the light fades, it
is the images of Cranes that remain.
November 25
Our first port of call today is again, the re-flooded area of the Hula
reserve. Each visit produces new species, today being no different.
We see our first Wood Sandpiper bobbing along the edge of the pool,
the morning sun picking out the speckled feathering. There are lots
of duck to look through and Michael finds a pair of Wigeon. Soon, a
pair of Pintail floats by. Looking high up in the sky, a small group
of five Little Swifts glide past, almost too quickly for us to focus
on them. Beryl finds us some Ruff and Allen picks out an Imperial Eagle
sitting in a hay field. Marsh Harriers continue to quarter the surrounding
fields while a beautiful group of Pelicans thermal down onto the pond.
How can a bird so large land so gracefully? As in our past visits, the
place is full of birds.
We soon tare ourselves away and head for different scenery. Driving
along the Golan, we make a few bird stops. James spots some birds of
prey against the hills and we all watch a Long-legged Buzzard mob a
Bonelli's Eagle. The views are good and prolonged and we have an opportunity
to study these difficult raptors. Lunch is taken along the shores of
the Sea of Galilee. Again, the bird list climbs. Terry spots some Pygmy
Cormorants flying at speed and we all can make out their proportionately
long tail. Kentish Plover wade with a Ringed Plover and we have more
views of Syrian Woodpecker. Whiskered Terns whisk by, skimming the water
while a few Great Crested Grebes stay surfaced for a few minutes. Their
white necks shine like beacons and at times, the birds come close to
shore. A Spotted Redshank soon joins the group of waders, giving its
diagnostic call. The mammal list perks up when Ian finds a Mountain
Gazelle grazing at the foot of the mountains.
After lunch, we travel to Wadi Amud where we spend the remainder of
the day. After parking the vehicles, we begin our walk along this dry
riverbed. The sounds of cows fill the silence and we find ourselves
head to head with a herd! Birds are plentiful in this valley and almost
immediately we see two Blue Rock Thrushes, conveniently perched on the
overhead cliffs. The afternoon sun captures the deep blue feathers.
Almost moments later, James locates another one of our target species,
Long-billed Pipit. This elegant looking bird receives quite a lot of
attention even though it is a Pipit! The views are fabulous and we all
pick out the features, including the long bill. Further into our walk,
we find ourselves being watched by Rock Hyraxes, who seem to dot the
rocks and cliffs throughout the wadi. Deeper into the wadi, the acoustics
improve and the eerie sound of cooing Rock Doves deserves a mention.
A male Palestine Sunbird shows all its glory as it perches atop a small
bush. Wrens call and there are also Blackcaps, Yellow-vented Bulbuls
and Sardinian Warblers. We see another set of Bonelli's Eagle and Long-legged
Buzzard soaring overhead. A group of 40 Crag Martins whiz by, taking
advantage of a recent insect hatch. However, it is probably the Rock
Sparrows that cause the most frustration! There are a few birds flying
around and every so often they land on one of the ledges. Giving directions
is quite a challenge but eventually everyone gets great scope views
of these beautiful little birds. The sun begins to fade and we start
to make our way back towards a chasm in the middle of the wadi. It is
a known perch for Eagle Owl. We set up our scopes and wait quietly for
dusk to come. Just before the light completely fades, we all hear the
grunting calls of Eagle Owl. He calls again. They are the only sounds
we hear in this enchanted piece of wilderness.
November 26
Today is our last day in the Hula Valley. Before breakfast we make
one final stop at the re-flooded ponds. As soon as we open the doors,
the incredible sound of 20,000 Cranes comes blasting through our ears.
The contrast between the quiet vehicles and the gregarious birds will
remain in our memories long after the birds quiet down for the day.
We see our first Black Francolin, a female. There are plenty of Skylarks
and another new shorebird, a Marsh Sandpiper. A Cattle Egret entertains
us as he swallows whole a frog. A Red-throated Pipit flies over, calling
and soon lands long enough for us to see it properly. We all soak in
the bird rich area before heading back to the guesthouse for breakfast.
We pack up the vehicles and just before we head out, we discover that
one of the vehicles has a puncture! We make a quick detour through Kiryat
Shemona to get the tyre fixed before heading up Mount Hermon. The weather
is a bit more promising today than it was the day before. Driving past
familiar scenery, we soon come to new territory. The road winds up Mount
Hermon and ends at a large car park at the ski station. As soon as we
get out of the vehicles, we hear two Rock Nuthatches sing from a nearby
slope. Soon all our scopes are set up on these magnificent mountain
birds. There are plenty of Chiffchaff and Chaffinch but no Syrian Serin.
We walk towards the ski lift and then to an open pool. It is devoid
of any bird life and the wind chill is significant. After a few minutes
of scanning, we head for some shelter and return to the vehicles, somewhat
disappointed about the Syrian Serins. For consolation, we call in to
Fat Abduls for coffee and a warm-up followed by a picnic lunch at the
ski village of Neve Ativ. We are all enjoying our sandwiches when we
are interrupted by a phone call. William, James and Susannah's Finnish
friend, is looking at Syrian Serins just a few hundred meters from where
we had coffee! Ode to Joy! We quickly finish our meal and return to
Majdal Shams to have another go at these birds. We look down onto a
rubbish tip and see quite a selection of finches. Goldfinch, Greenfinch,
Linnet...And finally we locate the birds! There are at least three feeding
together, including one very bright male. We are able to follow them
for some time in the scope and the build up is worth it.
Returning to the vehicles, we begin to make our way south to our last
base in the Bet Shean valley. The drive is very scenic and dramatic.
We pass terraced orchards as the road drops down from the peaks of Mount
Hermon. There is a look out point we stop at that shows the Syrian boarder.
A Woodlark hops about under a tree and we watch a couple of head butting
Mountain Gazelles. Further on, we stop at B'nai Yisrael Reservoir. The
landscape has once again changed to a barren landscape with a scattering
of trees. Cattle graze in the fields and there are a few Cranes. James
and Ian see Little Bustard in a distant field but have difficulty relocating
it. We drive a bit further down the road to get better views. Unfortunately
the bird is a DLT (dodgy leader tick!) since no one else manages to
see it. Not to worry since Beryl finds us the bird of the day, a Syrian
Wildcat! His lanky body struts across the field, not more than 50 yards
away. His long tail is quite obvious as it drags far behind him. Eventually
he disappears behind a mound and a male Finch's Wheatear fills the niche.
The views are incredible as the bird sits just meters away. All the
diagnostic features are shown really well and everyone now truly feels
that they have seen Finch's Wheatear. The light is almost gone so we
pack up the scopes and continue to Bet Shean, passing at least 2,678
(according to Sheila!) Corn Buntings along the way.
The excitement doesn't end with the sunset. A Golden Jackal runs across
the road and sits on a mound by the roadside. We position the headlights
so we can all get good views of this mammal. Further down the road James
thinks he sees another mammal but the light is completely gone and the
expanse is too big for a search. We arrive at Neve Eitan just after
6 and are immediately greeted by a Barn Owl. What a perfect ending to
another wild day in Northern Israel.
Dinner is taken in the kibbutz dining room and we are all invited to
partake in the Friday night service. After the meal, Pessie, our host,
leads us to the clubhouse where we do the list and revel in the past
few days.
November 27
We wake to blue skies but cool temperatures. Everyone is at the vans
just before 6.00 for our pre-breakfast outing to the neighboring fields
of Kfar Rupin. Just before turning into the fields, 2 male and one female
Black Francolin fly across the road and land in some roadside scrub.
It's going to be a good day! We park and set up the scopes for some
serious scanning. Ian finds a wintering Osprey perched on an irrigation
post and Bernard calls out "female Harrier!" The narrow wings
indicate a Pallid. There are groups of White Storks and in between all
our excitement, we can hear them bill clatter. There is a constant blur
of Skylarks flying past and James heroically finds four Sociable Plovers,
one of the star birds of the trip. They sit amongst Lapwings and with
careful scrutiny; we can all make out their beautiful plumage details.
And as their name infers, they are quite sociable, especially when they
fly right overhead and land just 20 meters away! The views are unbeatable.
A crisp looking male Hen Harrier scares up the skylarks and a juvenile
male Pallid Harrier flies along the back of the fields. There are a
few Calandra Larks mixed in with the Skylarks and a bold Isabelline
Wheatear scurries along the fields close to where we stand.
At some other fields, we catch up with a few sparrows. There is a feeding
flock of birds on the edge of one of the alfalfa fields, in some natural
vegetation. Soon we are able to focus and identify Spanish Sparrows
and Dead Sea Sparrows. There are a few bright males of both species
but it is the Dead Sea Sparrow that steals the show. The rufus wing
panel picks up the morning sunlight. Looking at our watches, we see
that time once again has flown and we must return for breakfast. But
what a session it has been.
After breakfast, we try our luck at some fish pools across the road
from Neve Eitan. Just like the other fishponds we have visited, these
are packed with birds. Sifting through the numerous Black-headed Gulls
we see Armenian and Caspian Gull. There are Pygmy Cormorants traveling
back and forth and a single Pintail flying over. Whiskered Terns hawk
insects over the water and three smart looking Gadwall float into view.
Pied Kingfishers hover over the pools before plunge diving for their
next meal. Shorebirds are represented by Redshank and Common Sandpiper.
A return trip to the alfalfa fields at Kfar Rupin proves to be quite
frustrating. Trying to catch up with the four Oriental Skylarks is quite
difficult, especially when there are thousands of Skylarks to go through!
Nonetheless, we all get great views of Red-throated Pipit and have a
lesson in Stonechat races. Caspian Stonechat, varigata, shows well and
we all note the white outer tail feathers, a distinguishing feature.
Desert Finches are flying about and it takes some patience to pin one
down in the scopes. In some distant fish pools, three Great Black-headed
Gulls get some of us really excited. We drive closer to the pools for
better views and see these massive gulls swimming around.
We return to the kibbutz for lunch and then get back out to the pools.
At a drained pool, there are hundreds of Kentish Plovers walking between
the mud cracks. There are three Ruff, two Avocets, at least four Spotted
Redshank and a few Little Stint. A mixed roost of Black Stork, White
Stork, Grey Heron and Great Egret makes for a nice contrast in colours.
It is amazing to see so many birds thriving.
The last port of call for the day is at one of Israel's smelliest sewage
pools just beyond the fields. We pass about five fish ponds, all adorned
with Coots before parking up. A walk around the pool produces excellent
views of a stunning male Citrine Wagtail feeding out in the open. Two
Reed Buntings perch atop some Tamarisk and a Grey Wagtail calls as it
zips by overhead. Some Snipe are almost camouflaged but our expert eyes
pick them out. As we walk back to the car, a Glossy Ibis and two Spoonbills
fly over, adding to the day list.
The light is almost gone and as we weave our way out of the fields,
we stop for a Clamorous Reed Warbler sitting out in the open. The last
bird of the day is an immature Pallid Harrier, a second calendar year
bird. His falcon like wings cut the air as he glides over the fields,
ending yet another top day in the field.
November 28
Once again we wake to clear skies though a bit of a chill in the air.
After breakfast, we pack the vans and head south for our desert day.
And a change of scenery it is! We drive through the Judean hills and
the vegetation constantly changes. Limestone and sandstone soon replace
the lushness. Slowly the elevation drops and within an hour and a half,
we are at the lowest place on the planet: the Dead Sea. The dramatic
cliffs speak for themselves and we are all silent as we take in the
magnificent rock formations. Half way along the Dead Sea, we turn up
into Wadi Deragot. The road is extremely steep and soon we make our
first birding stop. There are Desert Larks blending in almost perfectly
and a stunning White-crowned Black Wheatear perching on a rock. All
the scopes are out and soon we pick up a Blackstart, fanning its tail.
In a nearby scrubby bush, two Sardinian Warblers show incredibly well
and we all have great views. Further up the mountain, we come to a plateau,
which overlooks the Dead Sea and gives an amazing panorama of the desert.
There is a bit of haze in the air but it doesn't affect our views of
the ravens. Brown-necked Ravens glide past and we can even make out
their brown neck. Close behind is a group of Fan-tailed Ravens, floating
effortlessly through the sky. Their bat-like shape and rolling call
are diagnostic. To add to the excitement, a Common Raven makes a showing
and we are able to compare and contrast all three species together.
This is one of the only places in Israel where all three ravens occur.
Ian's eagle eyes picks out a distant Barbary Falcon perching on a ledge
and with a little imagination, we all see it. African Rock Martins sally
through the air, catching insects when Jeff interrupts us with a black
and white wheatear sighting. It's an elusive Hooded Wheatear! Only a
few of us manage to see the bird before it disappears behind a water
tank. We chase it for a little while but have no luck. But all is not
lost. We have great views of Tristram's Grackle and Susannah starts
calling to them. After a few minutes, they respond and we all enjoy
their fluted whistle. Allen spots some Sand Partridges scurrying across
the road and a Kestrel soars by.
We drive back down to Dead Sea level and wander up a different wadi,
Wadi Arugot. Our key species here is Arabian Babbler. We search the
natural oasis of Tamarisk and Date trees but can't seem to locate this
gregarious bird. There are other desert species such as Blackstart and
Sardinian Warbler. We are approaching mid-day so we drive a bit further
south to the Ein Gedi Spa for lunch. As luck would have it, the first
bird we see as we pull into the car park is Arabian Babbler! There is
a troop of these charismatic birds hopping around in the bushes next
to the buildings. We file out of the car and start walking into the
restaurant when Bernard finds us another Hooded Wheatear. Though distant,
we are able to set our scopes on the bird. Isn't it typical that all
the good birds are around the car park?!
After lunch, we find a beautiful Acacia wadi about 10 minutes south
of Ein Gedi called Wadi Mishna. The desert is scattered with vegetation
and alive with birds. Jeff continues to be red hot and locates Little
Green Bee-eater and Southern Grey Shrike, both taking advantage of the
Acacia trees. We meander through this sparse desert forest and are surrounded
by Sardinian Warblers. Almost every bush holds one. A careful scan along
a sandy patch reveals a group of ten Trumpeter Finch, great views at
that. We follow a distant Pallid Harrier for some time and we all see
a Song Thrush in atypical surroundings! The sun begins to set and the
colours on the mountains seem to change every minute. The lighting is
quite dramatic. We head back to the vehicles and soon locate two Scrub
Warblers. They are behaving quite typically and are extremely difficult
to pin down. After trying for about fifteen minutes with no further
luck, we continue back to the vans. As luck would have it, Beryl finds
us a bobby-dazzler: Spectacled Warbler just meters away from the vehicles!
His pink wings and white throat are noticed by all. What a bird to end
an incredible day in the field.
We return to the kibbutz for dinner and our final log call of the trip.
Everyone is absolutely delighted with the taste of the desert.
November 29
Our last day in the field. There are just a few birds that we really
would like to see and we try our hardest to catch up with them. We return
to the fields at Kfar Rupin for one last go at Oriental Skylark. Like
the days previous, the fields are filled with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.
We look through every flock, trying to find the Oriental Skylarks. Soon
James picks up the call and follows it to the edge of the alfalfa field.
We line up our scopes and are able to get good views of the bird feeding
out in the open. Three more individuals join this one and all our hard
work has finally paid off. Most of us are more excited by the fact that
we have caught up with the bird rather than the bird itself, being a
small, streaky job! We return for breakfast with the feeling of victory.
We spend the rest of the morning around the fishponds, soaking up the
riches of the Bet Shean Valley. New bird to add to the list is a Purple
Heron flying over the road. Though the views are brief, we all see the
rufus wing panel. Calling in at the kibbutz grounds, we search for Indian
Silverbill. We walk along the perimeter fence, seeing plenty of Yellow-vented
Bulbuls. Two birds perch on the bougainvillea vines. Yes! Indian Silverbill!
They are a bit flighty at first but eventually settle down on the basketball
court fence. They are seen well, the white rump and black tail. James
fills us in with some new information about these once thought introduced
birds. There is new research that suggests that the Indian Silverbills
have arrived in Israel during eruptive years and are not from jumping
ship.
Meanwhile back at the fishponds…there are kingfishers, egrets and Graceful
Prinias. There are large rafts of duck congregating on the water. About
30 Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler. Tucked in amongst them is a female
Red-crested Pochard. Her dark cap and white cheeks stand out nicely
and it is a welcomed addition to our ever-growing list. A Booted Eagle
soars overhead, mixing in with some Black Kites. Long-legged Buzzard
joins the raptor list and a beautiful male Gadwall floats between the
other ducks.
Our last stop is at the large ponds where the number of Great Black-headed
Gulls has climbed to 7 individuals! To add to the excitement, 17 delicately
marked Ruddy Shelduck sit out on the mud, picking up the shafts of light.
There are gulls, storks, egrets and herons, all in great numbers. We
take it all in, try to savour the moment to let the image carry us through
the winter. Just as we are about to leave, a Purple Heron flies past,
giving better views than the previous one. Everyone is delighted with
the views. We drive slowly back to Neve Eitan, pack up and return to
Ben Gurion airport. There is a happy buzz in the vehicles, everyone
elated with their week of exploring the bird-packed areas of Northern
Israel.
Further reports