March 23rd
Lee Evans
Robert Fuge
Sue Bryan
Paul Jeffery
Paul, an Israeli birder, Alan Clews, Lee and Andy Clifton
Introduction
Having been on a trip with Lee Evans before, Lee had sent had sent an E-mail to some of us that he knew, that might be interested in joining him on a spring migration trip to
Lee is a phenomenal birder both in his knowledge and his ability to pick birds out and identify them with ease. I enjoyed his company on my last trip and so Paul and I took the opportunity to accompany him and Robert Fuge, who is also good company this time.
Itinerary
23rd March Stansted - Tel Aviv
24th March Tel Aviv -
25th March Hula -
26th March Eilat (K20, K40, K50) Yotvata
27th March Eilat (K20) Yotvata
28th March Eilat (K152)
29th March Route 40 K60 Nizzana
30th March Mount Gilboa Tel Aviv- Stansted
Flights
Lee arranged the flight and car hire. Cost of the flight, and share of the car hire and petrol came to just under £500. We flew with a budget airline www.isstadirect.com from Stansted to Tel Aviv from where we hired the car.
Accommodation
We had a night in a hotel in Hula near the bird reserve, which we did not pre-book, that cost us £106 for the four of us, including a pack of food instead of breakfast, because we wanted to leave early the following morning. In Eilat we stayed at the Sunset Hostel that was clean and comfortable. We did not pre-book this. Paul and I shared a room with en-suite shower and toilet that cost us £15 a night each. One night was spent in the car as we returned to
Money
I took Israeli shekels with me although a slightly better rate is available through money exchanges in Eilat. We had our evening meals at a range of tourist restaurants in Eilat where prices were on a par with the
Climate
In March,
Habitat
The
The Bet Shean and
The
Daily Log
23rd March
Paul and I left home in three inches of snow and met up with Lee and Rob at
24th March
Arriving in the early hours and completing formalities Lee drove to a park by the
Monk Parakeets joined Ring-necked Parakeets on one pathway as we searched for additions to our list. In the early morning sun, a Masked Shrike sunbathed as we also enjoyed the warmth. Pallid and Common Swifts were dipping into one of the lakes as we made our way back to the car. Spur-winged Plovers were quite a common sight in
Spur-winged Plover
Driving through Hasheron a Black-shouldered Kite sat on a wire. Lee was keen to get to Pardes Hana to see Black-hooded Parrot but after extensive searching we failed to find them. Ring-necked Parakeets seemed to everywhere as we searched.
Ring-necked Parakeet
A Great-spotted Cuckoo sat high in a tree as we added a few more species to our lists. Driving through
Hermon Tortoise
Woodchat Shrike
The day was now progressing fast and we arrived late in the day at Hula Bird Reserve. This is a famed bird reserve that is a magnet for waterfowl, raptors and waders. The reserve is also very large and has banned cars in favour of birders hiring electric golf-like carts for a fee for getting around the reserve. We were too late in the day but walked around some nearby fish ponds where we saw our first Pygmy Cormorant. Many common water birds were seen here along with a White-tailed Eagle. We checked into a Hotel in Hula that met our needs. The restaurants food was variable. The starter was fine but the main course was very disappointing.
Pygmy Cormorant sat between two Great Cormorants.
25th March
After leaving the hotel with our packed lunches we headed back to the Hula Bird Reserve which was closed not opening until
Spanish Sparrow
We drove the length of the
We went through the
Little Green Beeeater
Brown-necked Raven
Stopping at a refreshment area near the
Tristams Grackle
By now it was extremely hot for those British birders freshly arrived from cold northern climes. However there were birds to be seen and we set off up a steep arid incline. Paul and Lee set off as if they were mountain goats in full youthful prime, as Rob and I laboured as if we were just shy of our OAP bus passes. It was extremely hot, but I convinced myself to keep going. At the end of the good path Rob played the song of the Striated House Bunting and the bird came to investigate giving us good views. Lee returned from higher up and convinced us to go higher up. It was a bit of a scramble as Rock Martins flew above us. A Steppe Eagle coasted over us but we could not find any Sinai Rosefinches.
At a Kibbutz at Hatzeva we drove in and around the scrubby areas where an Isabelline and a Black-eared Wheatear ran around whilst Desert Finches sat on wires above us.
Desert Finch
Heading in to Eilat, Lee took us to a hostel that was clean and comfortable where we spent the next four nights.
26th March
The day started on
Armenian and Steppe Gulls were additions to the Slender-billed Gulls that were around the fish cages just offshore. Caspian and Common Terns flew as egrets and herons stood watching the fish below. A Western Reef Heron and Squacco Heron added to the delight as a flock of Garganey flew in off the sea. A Greater Sand Plover ran along the edge of the beach as a few White-eyed Gulls added to our tally.
Western Reef Heron
Our next destination was the Date Palms just north of the beach where a Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard had been lingering during the winter. It seemed a bit of a needle in a haystack job but we
Crested Honey Buzzard
Moving on to the K20km salt pans we feasted our eyes on the many waders present. Greater Flamingos were also feeding.
Little Stint Greater Flamingo
Black-winged Stilts, Marsh Sandpipers and Kentish Plovers joined Greenshanks and Ruff feeding around the edge of the salt pans. It was now very hot and photography was not easy in the heat haze.
Kentish Plover infront of a Little Stint
All too soon we moved on to K40km where we went in search of a White-tailed Plover near a small sewage works by a date palm plantation. Rock Doves were feeding nearby as a superb Black-headed Wagtail chased flies. In the plantation four Namaqua Doves scurried in the debris from the trees.
Back at Yotvata, Bimaculated Lark was a world tick for me, amongst Red-throated, Tawny and Water Pipits as well as the common Crested Larks. Once again we tried the sewage pool area at K40km as Andy Clifton kindly sent us a text to say that they had just seen the White-tailed Plover there. This time we were successful, flushing out a Bluethroat as we did so. Back in Eilat we spent a pleasant evening at one of the many resort restaurants.
27th March
In amongst the kettle of Steppe Buzzards, an occasional Steppe Eagle could be picked out along with Black Kites and Black Storks. The clear sky made it a wonderful sight as the birds flew from one kettle to another only to soar again in the next kettle gaining height before moving on to the next thermal.
Black Stork
After spending a couple of hours watching we walked down a track-way to En Netafim wadi. Here a couple of Desert Larks were quite unconcerned at our presence as a Hooded Wheatear flew around the wadi. On the way down a Wryneck perched on one of the rocks as Crag Martins flew all around us.
After a quick march back up the track-way we drove to the K20km salt pans and were delighted by the presence of a few Collared Pratincoles.
Driving towards Yotvata we disturbed a group of Temmincks Horned Larks by the roadside but despite a search we could not re-locate them. At Yotvata we finally found an Arabian Babbler after a long search.
Back at the beach we watched as a Sooty Shearwater flew around in the distance. Several other birds were called but all were too distant to see with any certainty. Just before dusk we settled down at one of the K20km pools just in time to see Lichtensteins Sandgrouse come into drink.
Collared Pratincole
28th March
After another quick visit to
View above Eilat looking towards
Driving to the birding centre where ringing takes place, Lee heard about a Black Bush Robin. Precise information was lacking and we scurried about trying to find out more. Lee managed to fall over a low bar and was incapacitated for a few minutes. Eventually I checked a route through a door and located a twitch taking place. Calling back to the others we were all soon watching a Black Bush Robin. We were all delighted that we saw the bird.
Black Bush Robin
Next we headed to K152km where after a long search and several false starts we all saw Arabian Warbler well.
Black-eared Wheatear
A distant Cream-coloured Courser.
We added Hobby to our tally as well as a Little Owl before finally Lee managed to pick out a displaying Houbara (McQueens) Bustard. I was so pleased to see it as Lee will testify! However Paul was nowhere in sight but luckily had taken his mobile phone with him. He was soon running towards us as we made an effort to go closer as the bustard had disappeared before Paul could see it. A co-ordinated effort meant that Paul saw the Houbara Bustard just as we managed to re-locate it. Relief all round!
As we returned to the car some Lesser Short-toed Larks were added to the tally and as we left Nizzana, a Long-eared Owl flew in front of the car.
In the dark we headed north once again to Bet Shean, but not before we had a spot of trouble with a road block, that forced us to find another route north, as the route we had chosen was deemed to dangerous for us to travel on at night.
We spent the night in the car at
30th March
Driving back down the road to the Long-billed Pipit site (2.8 km from the turn off from the R669 just before the left hand bend as you ascend the hill) at
Lee drove south once more back towards Tel Aviv but not before stopping off at some fish ponds where a Clamorous Reed Warbler put on a fine show singing at the top of a reed. Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank were also added to our tally.
My final tally was 199 species for the trip and some excellent life birds.
My thanks must go to Lee for the organisation and driving and for his excellent birding skills. I also thank Rob, Lee and Paul for some excellent company and for some highly entertaining moments some of which had tears rolling down our cheeks!
Systematic List
1. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Bet She'an
2. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
3. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Eilat
4. Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus Hula Fish Ponds
5. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo carbo Tel Aviv
6. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Tel Aviv
7. Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis [garzetta] Eilat
8. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Hula Fish Ponds
9. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Hula Fish Ponds
10. Great White Egret Egretta alba Hula Fish Ponds
11. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Tel Aviv
12. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Eilat
13. Green Heron Butorides virescens [striatus] Yotvata
14. Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax Tel Aviv
15. Black Stork Ciconia nigra Bet She'an
16. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Pardes Hana
17. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Pardes Hana
18. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Bet She'an
19. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber K20 Eilat
20. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus Tel Aviv
21. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna K20 Eilat
22. Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope K40 Eilat
23. Common Teal Anas crecca crecca Hula Fish Ponds
24. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Tel Aviv
25. Northern Pintail Anas acuta Hula Fish Ponds
26. Garganey Anas querquedula Eilat
27. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Hula Fish Ponds
28. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Bet She'an
29. Crested Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus [apivorus] Eilat
30. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus Hasheron
31. Black Kite Milvus migrans migrans
32. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Hula Fish Ponds
33. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus K152 Eilat
34. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus gallicus
35. Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus Hula Fish Ponds
36. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus Yotvata
37. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Yotvata
38. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Pardes Hana
39. Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus Pardes Hana
40. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
41. Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
42. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Ein Gedi
43. Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Hula Fish Ponds
44. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Hula Fish Ponds
45. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Pardes Hana
46. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Nazana
47. Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi Eilat
48. Chukar Alectoris chukar Tel Aviv
49. Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus Hula Fish Ponds
50. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Eilat
51. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Tel Aviv
52. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Hula Fish Ponds
53. Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata Nazana
54. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Eilat
55. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus K20 Eilat
56. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta K20 Eilat
57. Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Nazana
58. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor Nazana
59. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola K20 Eilat
60. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Eilat
61. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Eilat
62. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Yotvata
63. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus K20 Eilat
64. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii Eilat
65. Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus Yotvata
66. Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus Tel Aviv
67. White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus Yotvata
68. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Bet She'an
69. Common Redshank Tringa totanus Eilat
70. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis K20 Eilat
71. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia K20 Eilat
72. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Hula Fish Ponds
73. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Yotvata
74. Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos Tel Aviv
75. Little Stint Calidris minuta K20 Eilat
76. Ruff Philomachus pugnax K20 Eilat
77. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Eilat
78. White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus Eilat
79. Steppe Gull Larus cachinnans barabensis Eilat
80. Armenian Gull Larus armenicus [argentatus] Tel Aviv
81. Baltic (Lesser Black-backed) Gull Larus fuscus fuscus Eilat
82. Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus Eilat
83. Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
84. Slender-billed Gull Larus genei Eilat
85. Little Gull Larus minutus Eilat
86. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia Eilat
87. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Eilat
88. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Eilat
89. Little Tern Sterna albifrons Eilat
90. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
91. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata Nazana
92. Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus Nazana
93. Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii Eilat
94. Rock Dove Columba livia K40 Eilat
95. European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur Yotvata
96. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Tel Aviv
97. Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto Tel Aviv
98. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis K40 Eilat
99. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Tel Aviv
100. Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus Tel Aviv
101. Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Pardes Hana
102. Little Owl Athene noctua Nazana
103. Long-eared Owl Asio otus Nazana
104. Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius Yotvata
105. Common Swift Apus apus Tel Aviv
106. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Tel Aviv
107. White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Tel Aviv
108. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Tel Aviv
109. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Ein Gedi
110. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Ein Gedi
111. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Tel Aviv
112. Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 'En Netafim 27/03/2008
113. Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus Tel Aviv
114. Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti 'En Netafim 27/03/2008
115. Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata Yotvata
116. Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla [cinerea] Yotvata
117. Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens Nazana
118. Crested Lark Galerida cristata
119. Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha [alpestris] K20 Eilat
120. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Hatzeva
121. Eurasian Crag-martin Hirundo rupestris 'En Netafim 27/03/2008
122. Pale Crag-martin Hirundo obsoleta [fuligula] Ein Gedi
123. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Tel Aviv
124. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Pardes Hana
125. House Martin Delichon urbica
126. Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi [novaeseelandiae] Eilat
127. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Yotvata
128. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis Bet She'an
129. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
130. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Eilat
131. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Hula Fish Ponds
132. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Hula Fish Ponds
133. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Yotvata
134. White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Tel Aviv
135. Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg K40 Eilat
136. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Yotvata
137. White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos [barbatus] Tel Aviv
138. Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes
139. Black Scrub-robin Cercotrichas podobe Eilat
140. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Yotvata
141. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus Yotvata
142. Blackstart Cercomela melanura Ein Gedi
143. Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata torquata Yotvata
144. White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga Ein Gedi
145. Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha 'En Netafim 27/03/2008
146. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Eilat
147. Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens 40 K60 Eilat
148. Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Hatzeva
149. Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti 40 K60 Eilat
150. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Hatzeva
151. Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius Eilat
152. Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Pardes Hana
153. Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Hula Fish Ponds
154. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Hula Fish Ponds
155. Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis Pardes Hana
156. Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides Hula Fish Ponds
157. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Hula Fish Ponds
158. Eurasian Reed-warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Hula Fish Ponds
159. Clamorous Reed-warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus Bet She'an
160. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida K50 Eilat
161. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Pardes Hana
162. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis
163. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
164. Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis
165. Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena K152 Eilat
166. Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli Yotvata
167. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
168. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
169.
170. Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata [albicollis]
171. Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps Yotvata
172. Sombre Tit Parus lugubris
173. Great Tit Parus major major Tel Aviv
174. Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer
175. Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea Tel Aviv
176. Southern Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor meridionalis
177. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
178. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus Tel Aviv
179. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Pardes Hana
180. House Crow Corvus splendens Eilat
181. Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix Tel Aviv
182. Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis Ein Gedi
183. Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus Ein Gedi
184. Tristram's Starling Onychognathus tristramii Ein Gedi
185. Vinous-breasted Starling Sturnus burmannicus Tel Aviv
186. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Tel Aviv
187. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Tel Aviv
188. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis [domesticus]
189. Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica Eilat
190. Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus [serinus]
191. European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
192. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis carduelis Pardes Hana
193. Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina
194. Trumpeter Finch Rhodopechys githaginea 40 K60 Eilat
195. Desert Finch Rhodopechys obsoleta Hatzeva
196. Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
197. Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia
198. House Bunting Emberiza striolata Ein Gedi
199. Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Mammals
Dorcas Gazelle roadside desert slopes towards Eilat
Arabian Oryx roadside desert slopes towards Eilat
Hermon Tortoise