Bimaculated Lark
Spring migration is underway already in full force, just in the past two days it seems to have bypassed Lotan. Here is it quite quiet. In our Lotan Wetlands all four types of Wagtails can be seen: White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail (feldegg), Grey Wagtail and Citrine Wagtail. All can be seen hopping next to each other in the same wetland pond. In addition, there are three Little ringed Plovers, six Green Sandpipers, a bunch of Chiffchaffs, Red-throated Pipits and Water Pipits. The lone Barbary Falcon that is here all year round is hunting overhead and goes back everytime to the cellular tower. In the late afternoon, the Barn Swallows, Red-rumped Swallows are about hunting. There are a large number of dragonflies around, which attracts the other birds.
Migration goes on elsewhere in the vicinity, with 75 Bimaculated Larks at Yotvata fields, along with Short-toed Larks. Raptor migration is also proceeding along well, with a growing variety of species. Pallid Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Goshawk, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Steppe Eagle, several White Storks, Steppe Buzzard (several hundred), Black Kite (also in the hundreds) are present . At night, the Pharaoh’s Eagle Owl can be seen flying around the fields of Yotvata.
So far this time,
David Schoneveld
