4-Day Spring Birding in the southern Arava

Spring is by far the most interesting season for birdwatching southern Israel.

Migration is evident everywhere and just about any green space in the valley is teeming with migrants. The skies fill with awesome flocks of soaring birds and there is a constant trickle of Hirundines and passerines. The variety of birds is outstanding with many wintering species still around and wave after wave of migrants arrives at our shores as the season progresses. Come enjoy a fully guided spring tour and visit all of southern Israel's birding hotspots at a comfortable pace.Early spring is an excellent time to enjoy birdwatching southern Israel. The days are sunny but cool and many wintering species are still easy to come by. The lawns on Lotan are full of Bluethroats and other passerines and a large variety of soaring birds use the rift valley as a corridor on their way north. Mid spring promises an excellent variety

Suggested Spring itineraries

Day 1 – we will start the day with a leisurely walk around Lotan. In this introductory walk we will get familiar with some of the residents and migrants and also learn about the important birding sites on the premises. Excellent birds await you within minutes  of your door. Breakfast will then be taken at the kibbutz dining room. After breakfast we will head south to Eilat, we will visit the Eilat mountains for raptor migration and some hard to come by residents ( Sinai Rosefinch, Desert Lark, Sand Partridge, Wheatears and more ). We will then head down to the valley and visit such hotspots as the K19 and K20 pools and the birdwatching park. Back to Lotan for Lunch and a short break. In the Afternoon we will visit some sites around Yotvata. The sewage pools and Acacia scrub hold a great variety of migrants and some typical desert species. We will bird our way till dusk.

Day 2 – This morning we will head out to explore some areas of open desert in search for Sandgrouse and Larks. Lark migration peaks during March/ April and there is a real chance to easily find 5-6 Lark species in the right habitits, including some rare and sporadic species like Hoopoe, Temminck's and Thick-billed Lark.A generous packed Breakfast will be taken in the field. We will then head up to the southern Negev Plateau to bird the excellent Neot Smadar area ( formerly Shizzafon ). Back to Lotan for lunch and a short break. In the afternoon we will head back to Eilat and visit the famous North beach for some seabirds and finish the day at a traditional drinking spot for Lichtenstiens Sandgrouse.

Day 3 – Today is our Negev day. An early start ( 04:30) is required as we will head up to the remote wilderness of Nizzana. We will spend the morning searching for the enigmatic Macqueen's Bustard and Cream coloured Courser. We will then visit an excellent drinking pool for up to 4 species of Sandgrouse and a variety of waders. After thoroughly birding the areas around Nizzana we will head back to the higher reaches of the Negev, to the Sdeh Boker and Mitzpe Ramon areas. These remote desert areas are the last strongholds for Eurasian Griffon and Egyptian Vultures in southern Israel. There is also areal chance of finding the local Bonelli's Eagle pair. We will spend some time round Mitzpe Ramon and the Ramon Crater and marvel at this amazing geological phenomenon. After a full day of desert birding and a rich species list we will head back to Lotan.

Day 4 – Today will be spent around the southern Arava. The Program for day 4 is flexible and will be decided upon together. In general we will revisit some of the main sites around Eilat and search for species of special interest or some we might have missed. At the end of the tour we will sit down to compile a full species list.

A few more pointers about the spring tours.

• It is of course recommended to join a full tour but for those interested it is possible to join only the days of your choice.
• At the beginning of every tour you will have a chance to discuss the program with the leader and work out a program to your liking. The programs are flexible and the possibilities endless, we are happy when you are.
• Special night tours for the rare Nubian Nightjar and Hume's Owl are also a possibility but require pre-booking at an additional fee. Contact us for details. 

The itineraries will vary slightly during early May with the focus being raptor migration over the Mountains and the valley. Eurasian Honey Buzzards peak at this time and with them pass small numbers of the rare Oriental Honey Buzzard. Most days will start at the Eilat mountains and once we get our fill of Raptors we will bird the hotspots in the area. May is also an excellent month for passerines and waders with many late sub-saharan migrants showing up only now. For the first time visitors among you we recommend coming anywhere between mid March and mid April. This will ensure a wide variety of species in the beautiful setting of the desert spring. For the Real raptor enthusiasts an Early may tour to witness the spectacle of Honey Buzzard migration is a must.

Hope to see you in the field.

Birding Tours Spring 2007

Jonathan Meyrav and the birdingisrael team

Contact info

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