Israel 2007 Spring Migration Festival
Late March 2007
Bird watching Southern Israel in spring needs no introduction. Eilat and the surrounding areas are known worldwide as one, if not the best, Western Palaearctic destination for birders. The dramatic outline of the Rift Valley serves as a corridor for millions of migrants every season.
The variety of habitats promises an incredible range of species of many families and breathtaking views. Besides the migrant birds that dot the bushes and fill the skies, Southern Israel is also home to many exciting near eastern residents that can be hard to come by anywhere else.
Come enjoy with us this birders' paradise and let us point you in the right direction for an unforgettable bird watching and nature holiday.
Eilat and Southern Israel
Nestled in the southern tip of Israel Eilat is beautifully placed between the magical blue waters of the Red Sea and the majestic Eilat mountains, an extension of the massive granite ridges of Sinai.
The relaxed city of Eilat provides new habitats for many migrant and local species and amazing birds can be seen from your hotel room balcony or during a stroll through the cities gardens and parks. At your doorstep you will find Laughing Dove, Yello-vented Bulbul and the beautiful Palestine Sunbird to name a few.
Eilat North beach at the tip of the Red sea is one of the most interesting seawatching locations in the Western Palaearctic. Migrant Herons, Ducks, Gulls and Terns mingle with near tropical species like White-eyed Gull, Western Reef and Striated Herons and Pied Kingfisher for a memorable seawatch. The North beach regularly produces astonishing rarities and has hosted many new species for the region and even a new species of Shearwater to science ! Many Red Sea and Indian Ocean species regularly work their way north up the bay of Eilat and reach the North beach.
Bordering the city from the west are the beautiful Eilat Mountains. Besides the breathtaking scenery, the mountains are home to some great desert species like Little green Bee eater, White crowned and Hooded Wheatears, Sand Partridge, Desert Lark and Barbary Falcon. During the Spring, millions of soaring birds pass over the Eilat Mountains. On a good day thousands of Raptors and Storks can be seen at amazing proximity. There is no better place in the Western Palaearctic to work on identification of birds of Prey of various species, not to mention the photography opportunities.
The pools and reservoirs just North of the city are an important stop for hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that migrate to and from their Eurasian breeding grounds. Any visit to the famous K19 and K20 pools produces an astonishing list of waders and other species. Rare birds like Phalaropes, Broad billed and Curlew Sandpipers and more are easily found here.
Moving North of Eilat up the rift valley, the developing Southern Arava region is dotted with fields, plantations, pools and reed beds that host highly localized residents like Namaqua Dove, Little Green Bee-eater and Indian Silverbill. During the Spring these habitats hold thousands of migrant passerines and birds of prey. The fields are full of Pipits, Wagtails, Wheatears, Hirundines, Buntings and Larks. A good few days are necessary to bird through these areas and the wealth of birds is incredible.
40 minutes North of Eilat lies Kibbutz Lotan. This magical little kibbutz has grown to be an exciting destination for visiting birders. With its active birdwatching center and world renowned tours Lotan is an excellent place to come and enjoy the birds literally at your doorstep. Feel free to bird the kibbutz lawns and gardens or visit the beautiful bird reserve and enjoy the birds from the coolness of one of the hides. Pop into the tourism office and ask about the latest bird information or about the kibbutz eco-tourism and ecological projects.
Lotan will be hosting a special package for festival visitors and birders visiting the area. B&B and full board packages are available and there is a mouthwatering list of activities to be enjoyed by the non birders and birders families visiting Israel.
The open desert areas of the Southern Rift valley and the Southern Negev plateau hold exciting residents like Trumpeter Finch, Desert Wheatear, Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse and more. These areas are also important sites for rare and nomadic Desert Larks which peak during March. Temminck's and Hoopoe Larks require searching for but can be found in these areas and previous springs have produced sightings of the rare and unpredictable Thick-billed, Dunn's and Black crowned Finch Larks.
During late March the whole valley is flooded with birds and migration is evident everywhere. Any green area acts like a magnet to migrants as are the patches of Acacia scrub that dot the valley. Spring migration in Israel is undoubtedly one of the best in the world.
Click here to download a table of events »
The Spring Migration Festival
18-24 March 2007
Organized by the Israel Ornithological Center (IOC), International Birding and Research Center in Eilat (IBRCE), and Kibbutz Lotan Center for Birdwatching, the spring migration Festival aims to bring together birders from all around the world for an unforgettable event during the peak migration period in Southern Israel.
Besides the wealth of birds around, during the week many bird related activities will take place. These will include active Birdwatching trips led by field experts, ringing demonstrations, identification workshops, lectures and more.
Visitors are welcome to join a guided tour, or bird the area on their own. They will be greeted at various locations and hotspots by local guides and birders who will point them in the right direction, answer questions and help with difficult families or species. The Festival headquarters will provide up to date information, sighting boards, rarity alerts and give any help that might be needed exploring the region.
Every evening you will be invited to enjoy lectures, talks and slideshows from professional, local, and visiting birders and a detailed summary of the day's significant sightings.
Local guides and birders will let you in on some of their hotspots and world renowned bird experts will give you a personal look at their work. Professional photographers will help you enhance your results with reflex photography and digiscoping techniques.
Click the 'Tour' tab to view a few examples of activities to be had.
Click here to download a table of events »
Full day tours
The Magical Dead Sea.
In this tour we will look for some of the special birds typical of the Dead Sea region like : Fan-tailed Raven, Tristram's Grackle, Dead Sea Sparrow, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Smyrna Kingfisher and the wealth of migrant present at this time.
The tour will depart from Eilat early in the morning, pass through Lotan and head north towards the Dead Sea. We will visit a great migration watch point, some very dramatic landscapes and have a dip in the Dead Sea. On the way back south we will visit some lesser known birding sites in the central Arava valley.
- Duration: Full day (packed meals necessary)
- Departure: Eilat 05:30 Lotan 06:05
- Estimated return time: Lotan 15:30 Eilat 16:10
- Price – 85$ per person.
Nizzana Bustards, Sandgrouse and more.
This tour will target the specialty species of the Nizzana and western Negev region.
McQueen's Bustard, Cream colored Courser, Up to 4 species of Sandgrouse, Desert Little Owl, Southern Grey Shrike and many migrants await you in the magical steppe like terrain of the Western Negev. The list of species around in March is overwhelming as this is one of the most interesting areas in the country.
As we work our way back south we will visit the Sdeh-Boker area in search for Griffon and Egyptian Vultures and also visit some lesser known birding areas in the high Negev plateau. This is a hectic tour but a must for every birder visiting Israel.
- Duration: Full day (packed meals necessary)
- Departure: Eilat 04:30 Lotan 05:00 (Strict departure times)
- Estimated Return Time: Lotan 15:00 Eilat: 15:40
- Price – 85$ per person
Southern Arava tour
This full day tour will include many of the southern Arava valley birding hot spots.
This is a great tour to get acquainted with the region and the best sites and is intended to give you the local knowledge for further independent birding on your own.
We will look for rare Larks at lesser known sites in the valley, visit the extensive fields and plantations of Neot Smadar (Shizzafon) and work our way south through the various Agricultural areas, Acacia Scrub and sewage pools that serve as magnets to the millions of migrant passing through the region. The tour will include Lunch and a short break at Kibbutz Lotan and will finish in Eilat.
- Duration: Full day (packed breakfast necessary, lunch at Lotan)
- Departure: Eilat 06:00 Lotan 06:40
- Estimated Return Time: Eilat 1730 Lotan 1815
- Price – 85$ per person
The Enigmatic Nubian Nightjar
During the week we will schedule several outings to see the Nubian Nightjar, one of the Western Palearctic's rarest birds. With only 10-12 pairs left in the region this special tour will be led by an expert studying the birds on a regular basis. The tour will include a visit to the southern Dead Sea area and will include some great birding sites before the "main event". We will also find Clamorous Reed Warbler, Dead Sea Sparrow, Smyrna Kingfisher, Little Bittern, hundreds of Pallid Swifts and more.
A large portion of this tours proceedings will go towards conservation of this critically endangered species.
- Duration: Extended Half day (packed snacks advisory)
- Departure: Eilat 12:30 Lotan 13:10
- Estimated return time: Lotan : 21:00 Eilat 21:35
- Price - 85$ per person
Short Birding tours
Eilat Mountains, Raptor Migration and more
In this short tour we will start with some typical Desert species like Sand Partridge, Desert Lark, White Crowned Wheatear and possibly Sinai Rosefinch. We will then turn to the skies and work through the streams of Raptors migrating over the mountains. We will put emphasis on identification and ageing of the passing Raptors, White and Black Storks and more. When we will get our fill with soaring birds we will descend into the valley and visit some of the better sites in the vicinity of Eilat.
- Duration: 6 Hours (packed breakfast necessary)
- Departure: Lotan 06:00 Eilat 06:35
- Estimated return time: Eilat 12:30 Lotan 13:15
- Price: 50$ per person
Eilat North Beach, Sea birds and more
In this series of afternoon tours we will focus on the North beach and start with finding challenging local species (Striated Heron, White eyed gull, Pied Kingfisher and other specialties). This time of spring there is always something interesting to watch as large flocks of Ducks gather on the sea and the fish farm cages host a variety of Gulls and Terns. The chance for potential rarities is excellent. As the sun sets we will try for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse at a traditional drinking spot.
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Departure: Lotan 15:30 Eilat 16:00
- Estimated return time: Lotan 19:30 Eilat 19:00
- Price: 50$ per person
Water birds, Waders, Ducks and more
In this afternoon tour we will focus on Shorebirds, waders and other birds related to water. We will visit the famous K20 salt pools, the K19 reservoir and several lesser known "water holes" where an experienced guide will help you scope through the thousands of Shorebirds, Gulls, Herons and more. At this time of spring the potential for rarities is excellent and the supporting cast of Raptors and passerines is overwhelming.
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Departure: Lotan 15:00 Eilat 15:40
- Estimated return time: Lotan 19:00 Eilat 18:30
- Price: 50$ per person
Click here to download a table of events »
Lectures and Presentations
The following speakers will be giving the main lectures during the week. Most of these lectures will be held at the Agamim Hotel in Eilat and Kibbutz Lotan. Besides the main lectures every evening, slideshows, films and other talks will be presented and detailed accounts of daily sightings in the region.
- Raptor identification and ageing - Dick Forsman
- Sea birds and Gulls in the Red sea area - Klaus M. Olsen
- Converstions with migrants - Dr. Reuven Yosef
- Migrating birds know no boundaries,Global and regional aspects - Dr. Yossi Leshem
- Unusual waves in spring migration+ the search for Desert Larks - Jonathan Meyrav
We are happy to announce that Dick Forsman and Klaus M. Olsen will also be leading several identification workshops in the field. Deatils of these workshops will be posted closer to the event.
Also some of Israel's leading bird photographers will let you in on their trade and stunning images.
Click here to download a table of events »
We offer two packages: The Deluxe and the Lotan Package.
DELUXE PACKAGE –
The package includes:
- Flights and ground transfers.
- 7 nights stay at the top of the line Isrotel "Agamim" Hotel in Eilat and use of all hotel facilities.
- Free pass to all the festival lectures, slideshows and activities (excluding specialty tours).
- Full guided daily tours or On Site guides at various locations around Eilat (for birder visitors birding own their own).
- Free access and a guided tour to 2 active ringing stations, the IBRCE station in Eilat and the field station at Kibbutz Lotan.
- Access to an information counter at the festival headquarters with hot from the field info, maps, tips and help from experienced local birders that know the area like the back of their hands…
- Transportation to and from Lotan to Eilat
- For birders who choose to bird on their own special car hire rates available
Agamim Hotel Eilat
Located In the heart of the hotel district, over looking the southern salt pans and a few minutes stroll from the famous North Beach of Eilat , you'll find the Water Garden Hotel - Isrotel's new, young, laid back hotel in Eilat. After a busy day's birding enjoy the totally free atmosphere, the peace and tranquility, the beauty of the gardens and the top notch food. Agamim (lakes in Hebrew ) the Water Garden Hotel is the hotel for you: a design that harmonizes naturally with the surroundings; rooms "on the water" with a direct descent to the water; chill-out music at the pool; tropical cocktails, cozy hammocks and most important, the freedom to do absolutely nothing...
Hotel Agamim will also serve as the festival headquarters and will host most of the Lectures and presentations featured during the festival week.
LOTAN Package -
The package includes:
- Flights and ground transfers.
- 7 nights at the comfortable Kibbutz Lotan Guestrooms and access to the kibbutz swimming pool and other services.
- Excellent birding at your doorstep
- Free pass to all the festival lectures, slideshows and activities (excluding specialty tours). Some lectures will be held in Lotan and some in the conference room at the Agamim Hotel in Eilat.
- Full guided daily tours or On Site guides at various locations around Eilat (for birder visitors birding own their own)
- Free access and a guided tour to 2 active ringing stations, the IBRCE station in Eilat and the field station at Kibbutz Lotan.
- Access to an information counter and sightings board at theLotan tourism office with hot from the field info, maps, tips and more.
- Transportation to and from Lotan to Eilat
- For birders who choose to bird on their own special car hire rates available
Lotan Guesthouse - a Birders’ Friendly Environment
Located just ½ hour drive from Eilat and the Red Sea.
Come enjoy the relaxed environment, the abundance of birds right at your doorstep, hammocks, beautiful adobe sitting corners, big swimming pool and a friendly Pub open 3 nights a week.
- 20 air-conditioned guest rooms with en-suite showers
- Coffee/ Tea nook and small refrigerator
- An excellent dining room serving 3 meals a day.
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Here a few suggested activities for the non birders on your group or for those wanting to enjoy a relaxing break in the middle of the day:
Holistic treatments
Center for Creative Ecology
Guided Natural history tours
For the early risers or if you intend to spend the whole day in the field we provide generous packed meals upon request.
Single supplement
The single supplement for upgrading to half board at Hotel Agamim is $126 and for Lotan is $56 for the whole week.
Packed Lunches are available for $15 per day and packed breakfasts for 10$ a day.
Click here to download a table of events »
Checklist
Presented is a potential species list of the birds that can be seen in southern Israel during late March. Most of these species can be found easily enough in the suitable habitats. Some may require the help of a local guide. The rarer species are written in capital letters with remarks.
Late March Checklist /// Southern Arava and Negev
Little Grebe
Black Necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cory's Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
White Pelican
Great Cormorant
Little Bittern
Night Heron
Striated (ie.Mangrove, Green backed) Heron
Cattle Egret
Squacco Heron
Little Egret
Western Reef Heron
Great Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
White Stork
Black Stork
Glossy Ibis
Spoonbill
Greater Flamingo
Common Shelduck
Mallard
Pintail Duck
Northern Shoveler
Eurasian Wigeon
Teal
Garganey
Pochard
Ferruginous Duck - rare
RED BREASTED MERGANSER – rare vagrant but seen annually
Griffon Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Osprey
Lesser Spotted Eagle
GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE – Winter visitor, possible on migration
Steppe Eagle
VERREAU'X EAGLE – very rare
Short-toed Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
Black Kite
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier – winterer
Pallid Harrier
Montague's Harrier
Long legged Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Levant Sparrowhawk – usually only from mid April
Common Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel
Red Footed Falcon
Hobby
ELEONORA'S FALCON –very rare on migration
Barbary Falcon
Lanner Falcon – very rare resident
SAKER FALCON – very rare winter visitor, possible on migration
Chukar
Sand Partridge
Quail
Corncrake
Water Rail
Little Crake
Moorhen
Coot
Common Crane
Houbara (McQueen's) Bustard
Avocet
Black Winged Stilt
Stone Curlew
Cream Coloured Courser
Collared Pratincole
BLACK WINGED PRATINCOLE – rare but possible
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Greater Sandplover
Grey Plover
CASPIAN PLOVER – very rare in March
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Spur winged Plover
SOCIABLE PLOVER – very rare in the Negev
WHITE TAILED PLOVER – rare but possible
Turnstone
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Broad Billed Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
TEREK SANDPIPER – rare but possible
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Black tailed Godwit
Curlew
Common Snipe
RED NECKED PHALAROPE – rare but possible
RED PHALAROPE – very rare
Ruff
Pomarine Skua – uncommon off north beach
Parasitic (Arctic) Skua - uncommon off north beach
LONG TAILED SKUA – rare off the north beach
Black Headed Gull
Slender Billed Gull
Caspian Gull
Armenian Gull
Siberian Gull
Baltic Gull
Pallas's Gull
Little Gull
White Eyed Gull
Little Tern
Common Tern
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Gull Billed Tern
WHITE CHEEKED TERN – Very rare but possible off the north beach
Black Tern - rare
White Winged Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Bellied Sandgrouse
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse
Pin Tailed Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse
Rock Dove
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Namaqua Dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
EAGLE OWL (ssp.ascalaphus) – rare but can be seen near nest sites
Eurasian Scops Owl
Long Eared Owl
Barn Owl
Little Owl (ssp. Lilith)
HUME'S TAWNY OWL – rare and harder to find than before, but possible
EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR – rare migrant
Nubian Nightjar – very rare and localised
Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
Hoopoe
Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Bee-eater
Little Green Bee eater
Blue Cheeked Bee eater – rare this early
Roller
Rose Ringed Parakeet
Syrian Woodpecker
Wryneck
Skylark
Crested Lark
Short-toed Lark
Lesser Short toed Lark
Desert Lark
Bar-tailed Desert Lark
THICK BILLED LARK – Very rare and sporadic
DUNN'S LARK – Very rare and sporadic
Bimaculated Lark
Temminck's Horned Lark
Hoopoe Lark
Sand Martin
Pale Crag Martin
Barn Swallow
Red Rumped Swallow
House Martin
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit
BUFF BELLIED PIPIT – rare but possible
Red Throated Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
Spectacled (Yellow Vented) Bulbul
Nightingale
Thrush Nightingale
Rufous Bush Robin
Blue throat
WHITE THROATED ROBIN –very rare.
Redstart (both nominate and sammimisicus ssp.)
Black Redstart
Northern Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Black Eared Wheater
CYPRUS WHEATEAR - rare
PIED WHEATEAR – very rare
Desert Wheatear
Mourning Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear
White Crowned Black Wheatear
Blackstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat
Blue Rock Thrush
Rock Thrush
Blackbird
Blackcap
Orphean Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Arabian Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Ruppell's Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
DESERT WARBLER –winter visitor lingering into March
MENETRIE'S WARBLER –very rare
Scrub Warbler
Graceful Prinia
Sedge Warbler
RIVER WARBLER- rare but possible
Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
OLIVE TREE WARBLER- very rare in March
UPCHER'S WARBLER- very rare in March
E. Olivaceous Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Wood Warbler
Eastern Bonneli's Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Semi-collared Flycatcher
RED BREASTED FLYCATCHER-very rare in spring
Great Tit
Penduline Tit
Red Backed Shrike
Masked Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Southern Grey Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Palestine Sunbird
Arabian Babbler
Hooded Crow
Brown Necked Raven
Fan-tailed Raven
Indian House Crow
Tristram's Grackle
Golden Oriole
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Dead Sea Sparrow
PALE ROCK SPARROW- rare and sporadic
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
SYRIAN SERIN – winter visitor, rare in March
SINAI ROSEFINCH - rare but possible at drinking spots.
Trumpeter Finch
Desert Finch
Ortolan Bunting
Chretzschmar's Bunting
House Bunting
Click here to download a table of events »
Activities for non birders and birders’ spouse.
Besides the magnificent birdwatching there are many other activities and trips for you to enjoy during the week.
Day trips
Eilat sightseeing – A relaxing day in which you can really get into the relaxed atmosphere of Eilat. During the day we will visit the Underwater observatory, visit Eilat's Coral beach for snorkeling and visit the world famous Dolphin Reef. This is a great day to be enjoyed by children as well.
Natural history tours with David Schunefeld - Click here for details »
- Park Timna
- The Arava Valley
- Uvda Valley
- The Red Canyon and Four-country Lookout
- Park Timna
- Corals and fish in the Gulf of Eilat
- Shechoret Canyon
- Kibbutz Lotan and its immediate surroundings
Petra and the surrounding areas – Jordan
Visit the amazing sandstone canyons and temples of Petra. Worldly renowned for it s magnificence Petra is only a short drive from Eilat.
Those interested will be able to book a day trip to Petra and we will take care of all the arrangements. The trip includes a minibus trip and visit to Jordan's Petra National Park with enough time to explore the sights, a traditional lunch and a visit to Aquaba.
Lotan Spa and Watsu treatment center. The visitors of the festival will enjoy discounted rates for an amazing Watsu (water-shiatsu) session at Lotan's unique treatment pool or choose from a line of relaxing massages and treatments.
Shorter trips and discounts.
The visitors of the festival will be able to enjoy the following attractions as well:
Lotan Ecological park : visit the friendly community of Kibbutz Lotan and learn about Permaculture, sustainable building, recycling and building with mud.
Hai-BarNational Park– visit the beautiful Park with it's Acacia forest and animals. The park which is run by the Nature reserve's authority, is a huge savannah like Safari with all the biblical animals that used to roam the land. Visit the predators enclosures and learn about the wildlife of the region.
Flora and Fauna of the region:
For the Botanists, insects and animal lovers, we will visit blooming areas and marvel at the desert spring. In this trip we will talk about the desert plants, insects and Reptiles. There is a wealth of wildlife around and with some searching we should find Dorcas Gazelle, Southern Red Fox, Nubian Ibex, Syrian Hyrax and more.
Plus many more attractions in the Eilat area, Contact us for more offers.
Prices
- Eilat sightseeing tour - $70
- Desert trip - $70
- Lotan Eco-Park - $35
- Flora and Fauna of the region - $55
- Petra - prices available upon request, contact us for details.
Click here to download a table of events »
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