The raptor survey in the morning was good fun once again. We
travelled through some pretty cool areas of the mountains but sadly failed to
find any concrete evidence of raptor nests. Fortunately there were lots of
other birds to keep us busy, especially Ortolan Buntings and Blackcaps which
were extremely abundant. There was also a nice passage of raptors and storks,
with an impressive 13 Eurasian Sparrowhawks but still no Levants. The Black
Bush Robin which is resident at Hai Bar also put in an appearance before we set
out for the survey, showing very well.
After the survey we went out snorkelling for the first time
in a long time. It was amazing to see all the reefs again. The highlight was a
Mantis Shrimp that I saw sat on one of the corals, only a small 2 inch long
individual but still amazing to see, not something I had expected to encounter.
They are amazing animals!
After the beach we headed out birding. After our success in
Ofira Park the previous day we decided to head there again. There was no sign
of the little bunting, and species diversity seemed to have dropped off quite a
bit on the lawns, but there were still some nice birds in the bushes. Without a
doubt the highlight was an incredibly showy Rufous-tailed Bush Robin which
allowed me to get extremely close for photos. Sadly it remained in the shade
the whole time I was watching it, but I can hardly complain when it was showing
as well as that.
We drove around the bird park salt ponds and then down to
north beach. Here I finally connected with a Levants Sparrowhawk when a male
flew through low. Sadly it was not close but the views were good enough to
immediately recognise that it was a Levants, no doubt about it. North Beach was
fairly quiet, although there was a notable increase in the number of terns, and
a Honey Buzzard flew in off the sea, rounding off another excellent afternoon
birding.
-Rufous-tailed Bush Robin
-Levants Sparrowhawk
-European Honey Buzzard
Species List:
Raptors Breeding
Survey: Masked Shrike, Black Bush Robin, House Sparrow, Eurasian
Sparrowhawk, Black Stork, Steppe Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Black Kite, Ortolan
Bunting, Egyptian Vulture, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Sand Partridge, Scrub
Warbler, Rock Dove, Rock Martin, House Martin, Rock Hyrax,
Ofira Park: Spotted
Flycatcher, Ortolan Bunting, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Ring-necked
Parakeet, House Crow, House Sparrow, Rufous-tailed Bush Robin, Masked Shrike,
Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat,
North Beach: European
Honey Buzzard, Levants Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Steppe Buzzard,
Long-legged Buzzard, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Marsh
Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Little Stint,
Dunlin, Pied Kingfisher, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Arctic Skua, White-eyed
Gull, Caspian Gull, Heuglins Gull,
Page 66 13.04.2018
The morning was a write off, spending the day in bed
catching up on some much needed sleep. In the afternoon we headed out to
Yotvata to have a look for a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. It took us a while but
we did eventually catch up the bird but it remained distant for the time that
we were there, and we could not approach it as it was sitting right next to the
border. It was, however, a stunning male in its real finery. There were a few
other birds around but not a great deal; a few larks, pipits and turtle doves.
We also called in at North Beach in the evening but there was not a great deal
happening, just a few Common Terns and the usual White-eyed Gulls. A Whimbrel
that flew over was a nice Israeli tick.
-Marsh Harrier
-Common Tern
Species List:
Yotvata: Rufous-tailed
Rock Thrush, Common Kestrel, Black-eared Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Crested
Lark, Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Turtle Dove, Collard Dove, Red-throated
Pipit, Water Pipit, White Stork, Purple Heron, Yellow Wagtail,
North Beach: Common
Tern, Whimbrel, White-eyed Gull, Baltic Gull, Caspian Gull, Pied Kingfisher,
Ring-necked Parakeet, House Crow, House Sparrow, Lesser Whitethroat,
Day 67 14.04.2018
My morning was spent out in the desert surveying for Arabian
warblers. Sadly we failed to find any signs of any but had a nice morning
filled with Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats. Two Rufous-tailed Bush Robins
were also nice, but the undoubted highlight was a Fat Sand Rat which we saw
sunning itself outside its burrow. That is correct, a Fat Sand Rat! What an
animal!
In the afternoon we headed to K20 to see if there were any
waders. We had a number of nice birds; including three Israeli ticks for
myself; Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Black Tern and Ferruginous Duck. There
were still plenty of waders, including Broad-billed Sandpiper, many Collard
Pratincoles and the usual assortment of commoner waders. The numbers of Yellow
Wagtails was also impressive, with many feldeg,
thunbergi and flava sat on the
road by the car.
As usual our final destination was North Beach but once
again there was a lack of White-cheeked terns. A flock of Purple Herons that came
in off the sea was unexpected but sadly that was about the highlight. With one
day left, it seems unlikely that I will be able to connect before I leave
-Fat Sand Rat
-Blue-headed Wagtail
-Black-headed Wagtail
-Grey-headed Wagtail
-Yellow Wagtails
-Gull-billed Tern
-Hoopoe
Species List:
Arabian Warbler
Survey: Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler,
Chiffchaff, Eastern Bonellis Warbler, Rufous-tailed Bush Robin, Collard Dove,
Laughing Dove, House Sparrow, Spectacled Bulbul, Crested Lark, Ortolan Bunting,
Short-toed Lark, Fat Sand Rat, Dorcas
Gazelle,
K20: Black-tailed
Godwit, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Dunlin, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Wood
Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Collard Pratincole, Black-winged
Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Spur-winged Plover,
Ferruginous Duck, Shoveler, Teal, Garganey, Shelduck, Greater Flamingo, Lesser
Flamingo, Grey Heron, White Stork, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House
Martin, White Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail,
Grey-headed Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail, Northern Wheatear, Spectacled Bulbul,
Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Black Tern,
North Beach: Western
Reef Heron, Greater Flamingo, Purple Heron, White-eyed Gull, Baltic Gull,
Caspian Gull, House Sparrow, Common Tern, White-winged Black Tern,
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