Trip Participants: Steve Arlow & Ian Prentice / Report author: Steve Arlow [email protected]
Website for further images: www.birdersplayground.co.uk
Summary:
After a gap in 2015 to go to Texas I was looking forward to returning to the desert again and this would be the first time in
March since 2013. As with many repeat trips some things were the same and some things were different in this case new
sites.
Of the new sites visited Se’ifim Plains west of the Eilat Mountains produced some great birding whilst the HaMeishar Plains
to the north was less productive. Bird wise the Bet Sh’ean Valley Fishponds was bird rich with Pelicans and both Storks
were present in very large numbers whilst Black Kites were so numerous they became almost ran’s within an hour or so of
arriving.
The Arava was slower for migrants but as always dawn till dusk birding worked in our favour and many good birds were
seen. Of the sites visited Mt. Amsa proved to be my personal favourite with great views of Blue Rock Thrush, Ruppell’s
Warblers, Spectacled Warblers and so on. It was again a real pleasure to be birding in Israel.
Resources:
A Guide to the Birding Hot-Spots of Northern Israel and A Guide to the Birding Hot-Spots of Southern Israel by
Hadoram Shirihai, James P. Smith, Guy M. Kirwan and Dan Alon
The two guides above are indispensable and although some sites are a little out of date, the majority of information is still
valid. Referred to as Shirihai in the following text.
Collins Bird Guide by Killian Mullarney, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterstrom and Peter J. Grant.
This field guide is a quality reference and one that was referred to as much as the following guide.
Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East by Porter and Aspinall
A good field guide with improved maps in the paperback copy, I used the hardback in 2012 which had poorer maps. The
illustrations are decent enough though perhaps it could do with an increase in plumage variations, such as juveniles, whilst
the text is also an improvement. It is the must have book for any trip here. For 2014 I also used the App version for my
smartphone to allow for easier use in the field thus reducing the paperback to a reference for the car and accommodation.
Lonely Planet – Israel & the Palestinian Territories provides information on places to stay and eat as well as general
touristy information. It was used for making visits to the ruins in Bet Shan and at Masada as well as taking time out from
birding to go to the Aquarium in Eilat.
World Mapping Project 1:250,000 Road Map The only road map used, worked well in conjunction with the birding site
guides above.
Websites:
Israel Birding Portal is the main source birding information making many of the following sites for bird information
redundant:
http://www.birds.org.il/en/index.aspx
Eilat Birding: http://eilatbirding.blogspot.co.uk/
Yoav Perlmans Blog: http://nubijar.blogspot.co.uk/
Midbar Birding: http://ramathanegevbirdingcentre.blogspot.co.uk/
IsraRareBirds: http://www.israbirdcenter.org/rarebirds/1pagerare.htm
The Israeli Birding Website: http://www.israbirding.com/
Kibbutz Lotan Centre for Birdwatching: http://www.birdingisrael.com/birdsOfIsrael/
Birding Israel: http://www.birdingisrael.com/blog/
Israel IOC Birds and Birding – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Israel-IOC-Birds-and-Birding/255991381078737
IBRCE - http://ibrceilat.blogspot.co.il/
As in previous years various Trip Reports were reviewed and these are available from several websites such Surfbirds
http://www.surfbirds.com/ and Cloudbirders http://www.cloudbirders.com/ with the latter portal providing most report
information.
Further to this my own reports from earlier trips in 2012, 2013 and 2015 can be located on my website at
www.birdersplayground.co.uk
Travelling:
Flight
As with previous trips I booked my flight directly with British Airways over Easyjet with a 23kg Checked Luggage and 23kg
for Carry On bag plus a Laptop Bag allowance. This I found was extremely helpful when taking lots of optics and camera
equipment, as the flight would see me getting into Tel Aviv at around 5am so I could be out birding nearby within a couple of
hours or so of leaving the airport. Heathrow Terminal 5 has no real facilities outside of security for anyone picking up or
dropping off save for a few coffee shops. Past security there is a fair amount more to choose from.
Apparently Monarch are doing direct flights to Ovda Airport, located just to the north of Eilat, but I have no details of prices or
allowances but given it’s Monarch hand luggage limits are likely to be minimal. Additional the Ramon Airport being built in
the Arava is slated for opening in 2017 with aim to receive direct international flights so keep an eye on that.
Currently then the best option is to fly into Tel Aviv and arrange car rental there on an onward internal flight to Eilat Airport in
town though luggage restrictions will differ to what you would have had with British Airways. This of course restricts your
birding if you want to go up north
No entry Visa is required for UK Citizens.
When leaving the country allow lots of time to get through Israeli security, arrive early. Be prepared to have everything in
your hand luggage removed and swabbed and X-Rayed multiple times.
In Country
For getting around I rented a Mid-sized car, a Ford Focus 1.6 though given the size of the car looked more like a Mondeo,
from Budget Car Rental http://www.budget.co.uk/budgetonline/gb/budget.nsf/c/Locations at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
On arrival go to the upper level to the left as you exit into the main hall, this is where the Budget desk is. I had booked the
car prior to leaving the UK and for the 11days came to £325.54 including insurances. It may be worth purchasing extra
insurance if you intend on driving off tarmac on a regular basis, and you will, as any damage to the underside of the vehicle
will otherwise not be covered.
This car was simply annoying as hell and perhaps the most irritating I’ve ever rented, anywhere. There were so many beeps
to tell you anything you are doing; i.e. beep to tell you when you put car into ‘any gear’ and a beep to tell you’ve changed
gear or put into park. Seat belt beeps, beeps to tell you the door was open, beeps to tell us a brake light bulb was out (all the
f**king time. Also the car security device worked half the time first or second time of trying. Put in the key code and away you
go, oh no. Turn key to far or not far enough and put the key code in the it wouldn’t start and get a message that car
immobiliser activated resulting in taking key out and putting it back in again. Hugely frustrating. That aside the rubber door
seal on the driver’s side came free on day one and more than once nearly hung me as I got in or out the car and I was
constantly banging it back into place. The engine had no power for a 1.6, put your foot down and it just made noise, it was
okay once it got going but it seemed to take a long time to get going. It also had very low clearance so several stone that
would normally not be a problem on the tracks hit the underside. I hope I don’t get another one of these for future trips.
For UK visitors at least an International Driving Licence is not required, just your usual standard photo licence. Also note that
when filling up and paying cash the Petrol/Service Stations this is Pre-pay, which means paying at the counter the
anticipated amount before you can pump.
Roads in Israel are mostly well maintained, some of the minor roads may be potholed and dirt tracks should be driven with
care. Road signs are in Hebrew, Arabic and English and are often right on top of the junction you may be looking for.
For driving directly to Eilat take Route 40 south, which will eventually join Route 90 and takes around 5 hours to drive;
several birding stops on the way can be made. We however started in the North taking Route 60 north to Afula and then
Route 71 TO Beit Sh’ean. From there we headed south on route 90 along the Dead Sea Route detouring to Mt. Amsa and
then was up and down the Arava before travelling back north on Route 40 to Tel Aviv.
For estimating travelling distances I used these websites:
http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Israel_Distance_Calculator.asp
http://www.distancefrom.com
However as a guide I have placed road distances between sites here:
Tel Aviv Airport to Beit Sh’ean:
105km / 65miles
Tel Aviv Airport to Arad:
142km / 88miles (Mt. Amsa approx. 10 miles further north)
Tel Aviv Airport to Eilat:
349km / 270miles
Kfar Ruppin to Ein Gedi:
140km / 87miles
Kfar Ruppin to Eilat:
326km / 254miles
Ein Gedi to Eilat:
246km / 160miles
Eilat to Yotvata:
48km / 30miles
Eilat to Nizzana:
195km / 112miles
Nizzana to Tel Aviv:
169km / 100miles
Places of interest are marked with ‘Brown’ signs and usually well marked.
Driving is on the right side of the road and there will always be someone wanting to overtake you no matter how fast you are
going or if you are on a blind bend. Also observe speed limits, especially along Route 40 which is 90km per hour, as the
Police will pull you over, I have seen this happening to others.
Traffic lights will flash green just before turning to amber and then quickly to red so once they start flashing start slowing
down. Many junctions where lights are positioned you will notice pink coloured ‘Red Light’ that will go off should you jump
the lights and there are Speeding cameras along the main highways near Tel Aviv.
Pedestrian Crossing points are a little different to that in the UK. You will need to give way to pedestrians already on the
crossing but pedestrians will need to give way to vehicles until there is a gap for them to cross. You don’t have to give way to
pedestrians waiting to cross; if you do you may end up with an Israeli driving into the back of you. However always note the
current conditions and act accordingly.
Special Notes:
1. When leaving the airport look for sign’s for Highway 1 towards Jerusalem as this will take you to Route 40 North and
South.
2. Heading south to Eilat from Yotvata you will not be able to turn left to visit the Salt Pans, KM19 Sewage Ponds, North
Fields or North Date Palms due to a barrier along the central reservation. You will have to drive to and through the Security
Check Point and turn around or continue to the Elot/Border Crossing roundabout and take the old road that runs parallel to
Route 40. This is a nuisance, especially if there is a good bird at any of these sites. Likewise if heading north from Eilat you
won’t be able cross the highway to go directly to Amrams Pillars or the Hidden Valley, you will need to travel a long way up
the road to be able to come back down the road.
3. At the checkpoint along Route 90 observe the rapidly reducing speed signs because you will hit a series of speed bumps
if you do not.
4. At the Yotvata exit follow the Brown signs for Yotvata Park and not the white signs saying Yotvata as these are for the
Kibbutz which you will not be able to enter. This is a new road, was under construction last year, and takes a few attempts to
get right but it seems to work okay.
5. Parking in Eilat cost 5ils for 1 hour, that’s about 80pence
6. It is birdable by 5.45am at this time of year with sun-up at 6.05am so if visiting the mountains for the Honey Buzzards it is
advisable to be there from 6.30am onwards.
Weather
This year it was variable. In the north it was both warm and breezy on most days but not unbearably hot whilst in the south
we generally had temperatures in the low 30 degrees but it was also rather cool, fleece wearing on occasion. For a few days
the weather threatened rain and we did get a heavy deluge overnight making some of the tracks a little slippery. Winds
varied from southerlies to northerly.
Accommodation:
Kfar Ruppin
An ideal location to base yourself when in the Beit Sh’ean Valley area as there is easy access to the fishponds of Neve Eitan
and Tirat Zevi from here. We stayed at the International Birdwatching Centre lodging at £197 for 3 nights (Sat, Sun and Mon)
for the room that included a light breakfast. The rooms are basic but clean with fridge, kettle and microwave with free good
connection WIFI. There is good birding around the Kibbutz grounds and birding information and maps are available from the
office so it is still a prime location and with little other areas to base yourself out of the area.
Google Earth co-ordinates to the Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz: 32 27'27.17"N, 35 33'20.29"E
Kibbutz Lotan – Arava Valley
Located in the northern Arava, about 10 minutes north of Yotvata and about 45minutes north of Eilat this Kibbutz has a lot to
offer the visiting birder. There are a multitude of micro birding environments within the Kibbutz grounds. We stayed here
throughout our time in the Arava at cost of £505 for 7 nights which equates to around £76 per night including a light
breakfast in the fridge. Overall it is a little expensive for what you get, not much more than a room, shower, bed, fridge, kettle
etc. but it is in a favourable position up the top end of the valley but accommodation options at Elifaz or Quetura might be
worth future exploration.
Eating
Beit Sh’ean
Here we did the easy option in going to the MacDonald’s in town as it was both convenient and cheap. There are other
places to eat in town but we didn’t explore those possibilities.
Eilat
We didn’t eat out in Eilat this year as I was staying in the north of the valley so see previous reports on where to eat.
Yotvata
Apart from the must have Ice Cream at the Service Station/Rest Stop there is a good and varied selection of hot and cold
foods available throughout the day plus lots of snacks and drinks available. It is a very good spot for a lunchtime break when
up this end of the Arava Valley. The Ice cream here is about as good as you can possibly get. Note it is closed Friday nights
from around 6pm/just after dark.
Shizzafon Junction, Neot Samader
There is a restaurant at the junction which is meant to be good but I didn’t visit as Yotvata was usually closer to our end of
day birding.
Service/Petrol Stations
Numerous service stations are scattered around the country and the main areas visited, some better than others, where you
can get sandwiches, drinks and snacks. I also bought some Pot Noodle type things just in case I was out really late and
Yotvata was closed, this happened once, on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Other information
Shabbat
Most shops, restaurants and other eating places will be closed from sundown on Friday night till sundown on Saturday night
which should be taken into account when trying to find somewhere to eat away from Eilat. Petrol Stations will generally be
open however you will probably have to pay extra on petrol during this time.
Birding Areas:
Beit Sh’ean Valley – Shirihai Northern Guide Page 79
Kfar Ruppin has excellent birding within the Kibbutz grounds, Fish Ponds and around the Birdwatching Centre Office. David
Glasner is able to provide information on where target birds are and the current best pools. The road up to the Kibbutz has a
huge number of Black Kites roosting in the Date Palms and surrounding fields, at least 500 were seen in one field alone,
impressive stuff.
Bird around the shaded and vegetated areas near the office of the Kibbutz as this will result in Syrian Woodpeckers,
Hoopoes and Great Spotted Cuckoos whilst the evenings there are a fair few Scops Owls present, 1-2 were seen close to
the room and at the same large tree near the Swimming Pool. http://www.birdwatching.org.il/en.asp
The Fish Ponds at the southerly point of the Kibbutz grounds held the only Temminck’s Stints of the trip on a nicely drained
pool as well as a good selection of other waders along with a stunning male Citrine Wagtail. A windy evening resulted in a
flock of swifts being brought down low over the ponds that contained Common, Pallid, Alpine and Little Swifts. The
Tamarisks had a flock of Spanish Sparrows that had a tag along smaller flock of Dead Sea Sparrows. These were some of
the better fish ponds of the trip.
To look for Black Francolin leave the Kibbutz and travel along the road for several hundred metres to you come to an
obvious track on the right which cuts back around the date palms. Early morning along here resulted in numerous Black
Francolins including a very close individual to the car.
Google Earth co-ordinates to the Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz: 32 27'27.17"N, 35 33'20.29"E
Neve Eitan Fishponds – Shirihai Northern Guide Page 80
Located along Road 71 about 10minutes from Kfar Ruppin has three access points with the ones closer to Beit Sh’ean
giving access to ponds that can ‘only’ be accessed here, the other entrances will lead to pools that are not connected to
these ponds. The Beit Sh’ean side ponds had the best wader ponds and some very confiding Little Crakes as well a large
number of Armenian Gulls to which careful checking resulted in a Heuglin’s Gull and numerous Pallas’s Gulls. Huge
numbers of storks, pelicans and Kites were present in the area as well as good numbers of passage Cranes, Spoonbills and
both of the spotted eagles. To access the best ponds that we birding take the dirt track directly opposite the road to Neve
Eitan Kibbutz at Google Earth co-ordinates: 32 29'45.55"N, 35 32'00.65"E There is a gate so make sure you don’t get
locked in, in the evening.
The other ponds, which I now believe to be the Kibbutz Maoz Haim Fish Ponds can be accessed at Google Earth coordinates: 32 29'47.13"N, 35 32'36.84"E and at Google Earth co-ordinates: 32 29'46.34"N, 35 32'25.22"E. The first of
these has what appears to be an automatic gate which will close at a predefined time whilst the other is a manual gate
relying on someone to physically get out and close and lock it. As before make sure you do not get locked in, especially at
Shabbat. These second ponds were not as productive as the Neve Eitan Ponds but still worthy of investigation.
The only annoying thing here was the bird scarer, a guy whose job it is to drive around and around the ponds with a siren
blasting anytime Pelicans drop in. He must go home with a headache every day. It wasn’t a huge problem as it did let us
know when Pelicans were in the air.
Ganne Huga – Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
On the northern end of the Neve Eitan Fish Ponds is Ganne Huga, a nice little turn out from the main road between Beit
Sh’ean and Kfar Ruppin, turn out clearly sign-posted at Google Earth co-ordinates: 32 30'18.15"N, 32 30'18.15"E Follow
the track and there is an obvious covered shelter on the right where we stopped and watched raptors, mostly many
hundreds of Black Kites and dozens of both spotted eagle species, along with Cranes, Stork and so on. The scrub along the
roadside held Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, a stunning male samamisicus Redstart and other common species. Driving
further along the track will take you through rolling hillside.
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds – Shirihai Northern Guide Page 95
These Fish Ponds are located south of Kfar Ruppin and were amongst the best. There are two access points:
First access point: From Kfar Ruppin turn left immediately after leaving the gate and follow the tarmac track to the Ringing
Station. Turn left and follow the track to the end where there is an obvious T-junction. This track passes through an
interesting area of crops and Date Palms. At the T-junction Google Earth co-ordinates 32 25’57.56”N, 35 32’42.08”E turn
right and then turn left after roughly 150 metres and this takes to you to the Fish Ponds.
Second access point: is from Tirat Zevi Kibbutz. Just before the entrance to the Kibbutz is the track to the Tirat Zevi
Reservoir. This will take you to the Sewage Works and Fish Ponds.
Excellent birding here with variety of waders, gulls and herons. The reed beds here have Clamorous Reed Warblers and
smaller reedy pools can host Crakes. There are no gates so getting locked in is not an issue.
The road that runs parallel to the border fence was good for species such as Chukar and seeing roosting Great Spotted
Eagles.
Mount Gilboa – Shirihai Northern Guide Page 97
From Road 669, at the Petrol Station, take the road that heads up the mountain; look for a track on the left side of the road
as detailed in Shirihai. We parked at the cross roads along this dirt track by the barns and walked up the track towards the
cliffs and then took the track to the left where we found one singing Long-billed Pipit and raptor migration was occurring
overhead with several Short-toed Eagles and Long-legged Buzzards.
Google Earth co-ordinates to the turn off for Mt. Gilboa: 32 30'41.98"N, 35 26'32.26"E
Google Earth co-ordinates to the dirt track to Long-billed Pipit site: 32 29'46.64"N, 35 26' 02.91"E
Google Earth co-ordinates to the Long-billed Pipit site: 32 29' 16.60"N, 35 25' 51.40"E
Dead Sea area
Nahal Dragot Shirihai Southern Guide page 114
Site of one of the few Bonelli’s Eagle pairs to be nesting in Israel. Heading south along Highway 90 turn right immediately
before the Military checkpoint head up the hill, many switchbacks, to where the tarmac runs out. You can either park here
and walk or take your car further along the very bumpy and dusty road, you run the risk of car damaged, to the viewpoint.
We parked a ways back down along the dusty track just before it becomes impassable to all by 4x4’s and walked. The
Bonelli’s Eagle site didn’t disappoint with two birds seen as well as several Mountain/Striolated Buntings and an awesome
view.
The Raptor watch point is opposite the Kibbutz further back along the tarmac section but we had better views of the raptors
from a layby on a switchback further back down the road.
Google Earth co-ordinates to the dirt track to the Bonelli’s Eagle Viewpoint: 31 35'24.52"N, 35 22' 51.93"E
Google Earth co-ordinates to the Bonelli’s Eagle Viewpoint: 31 35' 07.02"N, 35 22'45.22"E
Wadi En Salvadori - Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
If travelling north from the Ein Gedi Rest stop looks out for a small layby on the left between km250 and km251. There is a
fairly large layby followed by a smaller one just before a left hand bend indicated by the upright and a horizontal >>>> signs.
There is a small blue signpost which will let you know you are in the right place.
Take the track up the hill for a couple hundred metres to where the Wadi appears and the path starts to go up through
boulders. The curvature of the lower Wadi is where we looked for Sinai Rosefinch and Mountain/Striolated Bunting. We had
the buntings at the lower end and the Rosefinch further up the boulder Wadi. Google Earth co-ordinates to Parking area:
31 31' 02.90"N, 35 23'34.49"E and following blue trail signs.
Wadi Mishmar Shirihai Southern Guide page 121
Clearly sign-posted on the right when heading south which was a good location in 2012 for Cyprus Warbler. We were here in
the heat of the day but Ian had a male Subalpine Warbler and several Orphean Warblers before we retreated to the car.
Mt. Amsa – Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
We arrived from Wadi Mishmar at around 2pm and stayed still it was getting dark. The temperature was cool, even cold in
the shade and the wind got up. We explored the area to the east of the highway which is open habitat with scattered scrub
and ruins.
The low bushes on the small hillside to the east had numerous Spectacled Warblers nesting as well as Ruppell’s Warblers
and display flight Isabelline Wheatears. Corn Buntings were everywhere here and Short-toed Eagles seen and Quails heard
and seen in the meadows.
Another good spot is on the north side below the main mountain face where the extensive ruins here held singing Blue Rock
Thrush, Black-eared Wheatears and looks likely to hold Rock Sparrows later in the season. Worthy of exploration here
alone. The main scree up along the road is I believe the main site for ‘Rufous-tailed’ Rock Thrush and probably Finch’s
Wheatears in winter.
Google Earth co-ordinates for Access point: 31°20'42.41"N, 35°07'17.30"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for Rock Sparrows: 31°20'37.46"N, 35°07'25.15"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for Spectacled Warblers: 31°20'29.55"N, 35°07'34.96"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for ruins and Blue Rock Thrush (possibly Rock Sparrows): 31°20'51.23"N, 35°07'28.11"E
LaHav Reserve - Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
A stop off on the way the airport in actually rather cool and rainy conditions didn’t result in a lot but it is often worth a stop
here as some of the birding can be great. This reserve has a semi alpine feel to it. In previous trips I have stopped here to
look for Spectacled Warbler, which this time around was completely silent.
Weblink to the site map: http://www.israbirding.com/israelbirdsforum/forum_entry.php?id=209
Google Earth co-ordinates for Access point: 31°23'17.22"N, 34°51'25.53"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for spot where found the singing males in 2013: 31°23'29.99"N, 34°51'45.03"E
Eilat and Lower Arava Valley
Ofira Park – Shirihai Southern Guide page 33
Only visited once and found that more of this once great park has been developed with two new buildings on it, one a
clothes shop. One has to wonder why given the sparcity of green spaces in Eilat. A few birds were seen of note with Eastern
Bonelli’s Warbler and Wryneck being the pick that seen here.
Central/IMAX Park - Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
The other side of the airport near the IMAX this park was again, like previous years, better than Ofira being more bird rich
and worth an hour or so exploration. We gave it good walk around and found the usual suspects with Tree Pipits, Wrynecks,
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and so on by the larger trees at the far end of the park looked like they could hold a good
flycatcher. A team found a Black Bush Robin here a week after our return to the UK.
Parking can be found at Google Earth co-ordinates for Access point: 29°33'08.35"N, 34°05'07.79"E
Holland Park - Not listed in Shirihai Northern Guide
Located on the north side of town there are a couple of ways to reach it. Coming from Ofira Park: Continue along the minor
road north, past the saltpans, to join Route 40 at a roundabout after a looping switchback. Go straight over here and head up
the hill. Holland Park is located on the right with an entrance indicated by a lay-by and wall. Coming from Eilat: After passing
the end of the airport runway turn left at the roundabout and follow the above instructions.
This park is arid with Acacia and scrubland bushes can be good for Sylvia warblers and other dry country species and is
certainly best worked earlier in the morning rather than late. We had some good birding here with many Sylvia Warblers,
Redstarts, Wrynecks, Nightingale, Eastern Olivaceous and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers. We also had a superb flock of Bluecheeked Bee-eaters overhead. Walk up the Wadi as far as you can go, taking in the ‘spur’s on the sides as many of the
birds preferred these areas. Parking is limited Google Earth co-ordinates for Access point: 29°34'18.80"N,
34°57'35.29"E
North Beach – Shirihai Southern Guide page 25
Only one visit made to collect Brown Booby for the trip, of which two frequented the distant buoys out towards Jordan and
Saudi Arabia. There was a Western Reef Heron in the canal on the landward side of the beach. Google Earth co-ordinates
for viewing the sea and meeting other birders in morning and evenings: 29°32'44.76"N, 34°58'14.71"E
South Beach – Not listed in Shirihai Southern Guide
A regular site in the morning for the increasingly difficult to come by Striated Heron is the pontoon at Dolphin Reef. There is
a car park for the centre but be here early to ensure seeing the birds. Parking at Google Earth co-ordinates for parking:
29°31'33.24"N, 34°56'05.66"E
International Birding & Research Centre (IRBC) and Saltpans – Shirihai Southern Guide page 37 & 34
This can be reached from North Beach by following signs along the canal and past the southern Elot Date Palms and from
Route 40 down towards to the Jordanian Border Crossing, turn right before the checkpoint and follow signs to the reserve.
This small reserve is probably best visited early morning, it opens at 7am, and has scrubland and saltpans nearby which can
be driven around thus providing a variety of species. There is also a hide overlooking one of the pans and a ringing station.
It can easily be combined with the often excellent south Elot Date Palms as a walking route, which should produce many
more birds around the greenhouses.
KM19 Sewage Ponds – Shirihai Southern Guide page 53
Located near the large cowsheds only one pool had water in it. The fence has been pushed down in several places so
access is possible. The northeast pool has water in it and is where the Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse come into drink at dusk.
Sit down about at the corner by the obvious sluice, where currently you can also gain access over/through the fence.
Google Earth co-ordinates for parking: 29°36'33.07"N, 34°59'34.19"E and wait for the birds to fly in, it will be very close
to fully dark when they appear so make sure you get here at least half an hour early to avoid disturbance. We had two
parties of 3 birds in total.
Birding here at other times of day resulted in other birds and always worth a visit though the reedbed around the edges are
now making it difficult for smaller waders. Wildfowl wise we had a Ferruginous Duck, Egyptian Geese and Garganey
amounts the Teal.
KM19 Canal
An often extremely productive water filled area between the sewage ponds and the southern end of the Saltpans. The
muddy fringes held several waders but passerines were scarce this year. There is still a bumpy dirt/mud track that runs from
the east and west corners of the southern salt pan to the main track south of the cow sheds.
KM20 Salt Pans / Northern Reservoirs – Shirihai Southern Guide page 49
These large salt pans can be driven around and can produce some good birding. Each year the water levels vary and this
year they seemed to be a little high and with fewer than usual number of waders. Usually see countless Little Stints on each
pan but fewer seen this time around. Highlight was a very fine flock of 70+ Collared Pratincoles, Our one and only Shelduck
also can from the pans this year.
The scrub behind the raised shade / Flamingo watch-point is also a good spot to bird early morning when migrants are in
town.
KM20 Date Palms – Shirihai Southern Guide page 49 & 51
Though not really birded this year the date palms here can be productive for Silverbills. If travelling north from Eilat on the
old tarmac road take a right just past the first date palms on the right. Park near the junction here and bird these palm
groves. The plantations are private but the northern ones can be readily birded from the tracks whilst those to the south of
the Saltpans track have been ‘screened off’ so you can’t see in there.
On the left side of the track to the Saltpans by the junction are more date palms and by walking north along the west fence
along the dirt track the fence disappears, either broken down, fallen into disrepair or removed, which means you can walk
into the palm grove here. However still be mindful that they are private and you may be asked to leave by any workers
present.
On the other side of the tarmac track, towards Route 40, is a small clump of scrub and can also be productive and should be
checked whilst here.
Highway 90 roadside copses
There a several small isolated stands of small trees and bushes along the roadside, northbound, that are worthy of
investigation.
KM20 – By the Saltpans turn off Co-ordinates 29°37'37.91"N, 34°59'17.74"E
KM23 – By the Doum Palms turn off Co-ordinates 29°39'01.39"N, 34°59'28.06"E
KM26 – Before the En Avrona turn off, by the two red and white masts. Co-ordinates 29°40'33.93"N, 34°59'26.66"E
Eilat Mountains / Raptor Viewpoints – Shirihai Southern Guide page 40
Raptor passage can be variable through the mountains though we did strike it lucky on one morning, at around 9am
onwards, from the main parking/viewpoint area when many thousands of Steppe Buzzards passed overhead along with
probably around 100 or so Steppe Eagles, flocks of Black Storks and Black Kites. There are various viewpoints in which to
take in the raptor watching spectacle.
Google Earth co-ordinates for upper viewpoint: 29°35'08.37"N, 34°53'15.16"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for middle viewpoint: 29°34'40.16"N, 34°53'18.44"E / 29°34'55.17"N, 34°53'11.07"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for middle roadside viewpoint: 29°34'35.90"N, 34°53'11.47"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for lower roadside viewpoint: 29°34'14.13"N, 34°53'31.24"E
Se’ifim Plain – Not listed in Shirihai Southern Guide
Despite being close to Eilat this location has only recently come onto birders radars. It’s about 10km or so past the Eilat
Mountain raptor watch point along route 12 heading north along the Egyptian Boarder. Shortly after passing the sign on the
right to Red Canyon there will be a sing, also on the right, to Se’ifim plain. Take the dirt track all the way to the end and
either park under the solitary tree and walk out across the plain birding the low shrubby habitat or take the dusty track to the
left for a further kilometre or so and bird out from there.
This area is extensive and best first thing in the morning, take plenty of water and be aware of the sun and wind.
Winter and early spring is likely to be the best time for here as it’s a prime location for larks with Bimaculated, Bar-tailed
Desert, Desert, Crested and Short-toed Larks being seen by ourselves whilst my main target here was seen by others, just
not me, Temminck’s Horned Lark. Others also had Dunn’s Lark and Thick-billed Larks here. Other species seen by us here
and others were Cream-coloured Coursers, Rock Thrush, Hooded, Mourning, Isabelline, Black-eared, Northern and Desert
Wheatears, Wryneck and so on. A great place. Also the site of the 2015 Black-crowned Finch Lark.
Upper Arava Valley & Southern Negev Plateau
Yotvata Shirihai Southern Guide page 57
Located 30minutes north of Eilat the fields around this site are a Lark, Pipit, Wheatear and raptor haven. The northern
circular field was bare whilst the southern circular field was being harvested which was attracting some good birds including
a stunning male Pallid Harrier in the evening. These fields are not actually in the Kibbutz itself but on the east side of the
road with access from the rest stop.
The Melon/Marrow fields to the north of the circular fields were pretty good; especially the most southerly and easterly one
which had a fine flock of Lesser Kestrels for a number of days as well as passerines of interest, such as Siberian Stonechat.
We learnt as we were leaving Israel that an Egyptian Nightjar was being seen around the circular fields at night.
Care should be taken around the fields as it is possible to get stuck in the sand, when in doubt don’t attempt to drive it.
We spent much time around here at the Sewage Ponds. The sewage ponds were not as birdy as in previous years but still a
good place to visit and with constant checks to see what had dropped in. A large fall of wagtails occurred during rain. The
reed-bed though from previous years was all but removed.
These ponds are either drivable or walk aroundable whilst a track to the right of the gate will take you to a fringed pond
which was water filled this year but oddly lacked a singing reed dwellers but we did find a Siberian Chiffchaff here and if it
stays water filled it could be good for future years.
Kibbutz Lotan Shirihai Southern Guide page 71
It’s a green oasis in the northern Arava however it was, like the rest of the valley, not particularly birdy this year though the
area around the Organic Garden was particularly entertaining with a Black Bush Robin and a stunning male Collared
Flycatcher. It is always worth investigation when in the area as there are a number of habitats to explore and should it be
another good migrant year some time should be spent here.
Just to the north of Lotan are the Lotan Fields. Take the right off Route 90 at Google Earth co-ordinates: 30°00'20.59"N,
35°05'11.14"E and take the tarmac track towards the Jordan border. There are some tanks, probably for irrigation at Google
Earth co-ordinates: 30°00'00.91"N, 35°06'26.94"E which could be a good place to park up and walk around the fields. The
area looks good for Lark, Pipits, Wagtails and could possibly hold Caspian Plover. Careful beyond these tanks as it rapidly
becomes soft sand and a car may get stuck. Also could be a good place to reach out to the sand dunes along the border to
search for Hoopoe Lark.
K67 Not listing in the Shirihai Southern Guide
Only a few KM’s north of Lotan and just past the KM67 sign-post is a track off Route 90. Come off here and park up. We
tried driving along the track a ways and got stuck in the sand for a few hours. Walk out towards the Jordan border taking in
the Wadi bushes en-route which was good for migrants. At the border road/track locate the obvious largish white water
treatment tanks and you are in the area of Hoopoe Larks. Apparently there are at least 6 pairs in the area within a few KM’s
in either direction (north/south) with 4 on the Jordan side and 2 on the Israeli side. We saw two birds, both on the Jordan
side. The closest bird was north of the tanks around the obvious marker numbered 589. Around the tanks there is a small
reed-bed as a result of a leak at some point and it held a Great Reed Warbler or two.
The whole area was covered in roosting raptors early morning and it is recommended being here early and perhaps earlier
in the season when the Hoopoe Larks will be more vocal and displaying.
Google Earth co-ordinates for the Pull-off: 30°01'28.56"N, 35°05'41.27"E
Google Earth co-ordinates for the Water Tanks: 35°01'27.40"N, 35°06'17.06"E
K82 Not listing in the Shirihai Southern Guide
The well vegetated Wadi north of Lotan on Route 90 at KM82 was loaded with birds. We visited the site a couple of times
looking for the breeding Thick-billed Larks which we initially failed to find. The area to the west, left side as you head north)
is the best side with numerous buntings (including a Striolated) and Sylvia warblers. Parking is at Google Earth coordinates for the pools: 30°08'38.57"N, 35°07'54.90"E down the embankment away from the main road (care in the sand)
and walk out along the Wadi. The Thick-billed Larks were actually located well away from the main Wadi to the South West
in extremely sparse vegetation. A bird was located by other birders and Ian went over to see it though given the distance
across the open plain decided to stay in the main Wadi.
Also note that this is a Military Firing Zone so if visiting outside of Friday and Saturday probably best to stay within the main
vegetated Wadi only.
Quetura Sewage Ponds Shirihai Southern Guide page 83
Accessed from the track opposite the southern end of the Quetura Kibbutz these small set of sewage ponds are only 5
minutes south of Lotan and less than 10minutes north of Yotvata. The ponds varied in water levels with at least one fairly
shallow with areas for pipits, wagtails and waders to feed. The bushes to the southeast can hold numerous migrants.
Google Earth co-ordinates for the pools: 29°57'50.46"N, 35°03'52.34"E
Kibbutz Samar
Not visited this trip but has been in previous year. At this kibbutz it is possible to bird the area, especially around the Olive
Grove where migrants can be found readily and was this spring home to a lingering Black Bush Robin in 2014. Go through
the kibbutz gate and turn immediately left and after about 100metres park on the right and explore the Grove.
Google Earth co-ordinates for the Olive Grove: 29°49'54.43"N, 35°01'22.71"E
Neot Semadar Shirihai Southern Guide page 87
In 2012 this was a personal favourite Kibbutz which was simply heaving with birds however the kibbutz has new gates and
doesn’t seem as accommodating to visiting birders so no visit was made within the boundary. This site really could be the
under-estimated birding destination in the area if access is made possible.
Google Earth co-ordinates 30 02'57.17"N, 35 01'40.28" E
Shizzafon Sewage Works Shirihai Southern Guide page 87
About half mile to the east of Neat Semadar Kibbutz are the sewage ponds. This is a great little place and you can walk
around. The pools were of varying water levels but generally had a few waders and wagtails present whilst the southern
border where there are shrubs and bamboo plus a large Acacia held most of the passerine migrants. I came across Wolf
prints in the recently damp sand here. Google Earth co-ordinates: 30°02'34.47"N, 35°02'34.88"E
Uvda Valley Road Shirihai Southern Guide page 88
Turn left off route 12 after about 1.5KMs from Shizzafon Junction onto the Shaharut road and then about 1km from the Army
base take the dust track to the Shaharut Cliffs Nature Reserve Google Earth co-ordinates for approximate turn off
29°57'35.91"N, 34°58'22.30"E. It’s a little obscure to find but is sign-posted. There are stretches of sand along the track but
a bit of acceleration will see you through.
Along the main tarmac road explore the area to the south about 1km from the Highway 12 junction, just after the second
‘metalled’ bridge, where there is an obvious clump of vegetation. The Wadi to the south here is ideal for Larks and
Wheatears and is the site for the Basalt Wheatear in March 2012.
Further along the tarmac road there is an obvious dirt track (between the two closest pylons to the tarmac road and just after
the metalled bridge) that leads off to the right/south towards a small fenced compound, around some pipes, and towards two
dark, blackish hills. Very soon after heading down this track take the track to the left which runs parallel to the main tarmac
road. It was along here that the Thick-billed Larks favoured in 2012. You may get a visit from the Army here as further along
the valley is an Airbase.
Along the northern end of Route 20 near the Uvda Valley turn off, including one pretty much opposite by the bus stop, are
several largish copses and these were actually pretty productive for birds despite the windy conditions at the time. Given the
sparcity of the vegetation in the area these patches of scrub are migrant magnets
Wadi Yahel Not listing in the Shirihai Southern Guide
Whilst very good in 2014 in May this Wadi was pretty quiet in March and we didn’t linger too long. However it is likely to still
produce birds at the right time of year and can be real gem. From route 90 heading north turn left into Kibbutz Yahel and
then turn right in front of the main building and following this round the back and keep the Wadi on the right and the kibbutz
fence on the left. I parked by the black and white arrowed sign and explored the Wadi from here. The Wadi goes a long way
but is extremely productive. Take plenty of water here. There is also an isolated garden, known as the cemetery, which also
has birds due to the taller tree’s here. In 2014 there were lots of warblers here and great spot for Thrush Nightingales,
Golden Orioles, swifts and Rock Martins, Blackstarts are common.
Google Earth co-ordinates to track around building: 30°04'57.41"N, 35°07'51.28"E
Google Earth co-ordinates to parking area for exploring Wadi: 30°05'11.21"N, 35°07'48.94"E
The Negev and nearby areas
Nizzana Shirihai Southern Guide page 127
Not visited this year, mainly due to heavy rains resulting in much lying water for the sandgrouse to use and reports seemed
to echo this with only isolated groups being found rather than concentrated at the sewage ponds. However for fullness it is
toughly a three hour drive from Eilat, two hours / 192km, from Lotan, meant a 3.40am departure to arrive for 5.50 arrival just
as there was enough light for birding. As in the Shirihai guide book the best place for the McQueen’s Bustard were at around
KM7 along the road to Ezuz with a male found almost immediately but I lost this bird as I drove further along the road to get
a better view. Usually there are other birds present but this morning was overcast and spots of rain so little else was noted.
The sewage ponds, Shirihai Southern site guide page 128 were superb and is the current best place to look for the
sandgrouse. Make sure you are here for around 9am. Co-ordinates to the entrance date to the ponds 30°53'29.49"N,
34°26'11.19"E. On passing through the gate there are a number of ponds, all worth checking for various waders etc.
however currently the best pond is the one at the very far end, it is un-vegetated and this is where the sandgrouse come in.
Using the car as a hide and taking careful drives you can get quite close to the birds, I managed to watch at least 70 at a
range of about 15metres in 2014.
It can be a little difficult to locate the ponds, especially as the road nearby has been resurfaced and the access tracks moved
however follow these directions and you should have no problem.
It is important to get here earlier and it’s easy to waste time searching for the ponds so I have detailed the access here.
Coming north along the Ezuz Road, after looking for the Bustards, turn right off the tarmac at the sharp left hand bend at
30°52'24.25"N, 34°26'07.86"E Stay on this bumpy track past the collapsed bridge and turn left onto the tarmac at
30°52'58.26"N, 34°27'10.41"E Follow the tarmac until you reach the last cow sheds on the left, if you reach the end of the
tarmac you’ve gone too far. Turn left after this cowshed, at co-ordinates 30°53'37.51"N, 34°26'29.78"E and then
immediately right and follow the dusty track parallel to the road. At the telegraph post with the electrical transformer on it turn
left and this dirt track will take you the entrance of the Sewage Ponds. This telegraph post is directly opposite sheds on the
other side of the road which has 4 twin sets of silos. If you’ve reached the end of the tarmac don’t try taking a short cut at
any obvious tracks as this quickly runs into soft sand and you run the risk of getting bogged down, as I nearly did after just 3
feet.
HaMeishar Plains Shirihai Southern Guide page 85
Went here in the hope of getting Temminck’s Horned Lark but failed to locate any and the site was strangely quiet for birds.
It can be a top class site and can have some excellent birds in the low vegetation. Access is best on Fridays and Saturdays,
early morning, as this is a Military Firing Zone and these days there is access to go birding. Park by the no so obvious
monument at Google Earth co-ordinates: 30°25'33.74"N, 34°56'30.03"E and bird the low scrub and plains here for about
200-300metres out.
Nearby and back down the road a turning on the right, as if heading back in the direction of Eilat, will take you another
similar habitat zone at Google Earth co-ordinates: 30°24'21.43"N, 34°56'06.06"E Again weekends (Friday/Saturday) are
best as you are otherwise likely to encounter a visit by the Army.
Day to day itinerary:
th
Day 1: Saturday 19 March
Gilboa Prison / Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds / Beit Sh’ean Ringing Station ‘ Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds / Ganne Huga / Neve Eitan Fish
Ponds / Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
•
Day’s highlights:
1. The flock of Pelicans in field opposite Gilboa Prison
2. The numerous Egyptian Mongoose seen at Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
3. The spectacle at Ganne Huga of hundreds of Storks, Pelicans, kites as well as flock of cranes and both Spotted Eagles
4. The smart male samamisicus Redstart at Ganne Huga
5. Adult summer Pallas’s Gull at Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
6. The vocal pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo’s above the car at Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
7. The Scopes Owl in half-light at Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
th
Day 2: Sunday 20 March
Kfar Ruppin Field / Neve Eitan Fish Ponds / Mt. Gilboa / Neve Eitan Fish Ponds / Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds / Beit Sh’ean Ring
Station / Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds / Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
Day’s highlights:
1. The flock of Spoonbills that contained a runt bird at Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2. The large number of Armenian Gulls at Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3. The not often seen Sardinian Warblers on Mt. Gilboa
4. The Mt. Gilboa Long-legged Buzzards
5. The 2 pairs of remarkably confiding Little Crakes in a small reed bed at Neve Eitan Fishponds
6. The large flocks of 200+ Pelicans at both Kfar Ruppin and Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
7. The stunning male Citrine Wagtail at Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
8. The flock of Temminck’s Stints seen on the drained pool at Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
9. Flock of Dead Sea Sparrows at Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
10. The two Great Spotted Cuckoos chasing around the Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
11. The incredible sight of around 800 Black Kites over their roosting site Date Palms
st
Day 3: Monday 21 March
Kfar Ruppin Date Palms / Neve Eitan Fish Ponds / Mt. Gilboa / Neve Eitan Fish Ponds / Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
Day’s highlights
1. The Black Francolin in the Kfar Ruppin Date Plantation
2. The masses of storks at Neve Eitan again
3. The showy Little Crakes again
4. The Neve Eitan Moustached Warbler
5. Citrine Wagtails at Neve Eitan and Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
6. The flock of Cretzschmar’s Buntings at Mt. Gilboa
7. The evening Swift flock at Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds that held four species of swift
nd
Day 4: Tuesday 22 March
Nahal Dragot / En Salvadori / Wadi Mishmar / Mt. Amsa
1. The Bonelli’s Eagles at the view point
2. Mountain Buntings at the viewpoint
3. A couple of nice showy Short-toed Eagles
4. The Mountain Buntings and Sinai Rosefinch at En Salvadori
5. A Donkey riding Camel herder that was on a Cell Phone
6. The Mt. Amsa Ruppell’s and Spectacled Warblers
7. The display flight of Isabelline Wheatears
8. The male Blue Rock Thrushes
9. The sound of howling Jackals at dusk
rd
Day 5: Wednesday 23 March
Lotan / KM82 – R90 / Neot Semadar Fields / Neot Semadar Sewage Ponds / Lotan / KM20 Saltpans / Yotvata Sewage
Ponds / Yotvata Fields / Lotan
Day’s highlights
1. Selection of wheatears at KM82 – R90
2. The confiding Little Green Bee-eater at Lotan
3. The Lotan Collared Pratincole
4. The Black Bush Robin in the Lotan Organic Gardens
5. The two close Collared Pratincoles at the Saltpans
6. The Lesser Kestrel feeding flock at Yotvata Fields
7. The stunning male Collared Flycatcher in the evening at Lotan
th
Day 6: Thursday 24 March
Se’ifim Plains / Eilat Mountains / Eilat South Beach / Eilat North Beach / IBRCE Eilat / KM19 Sewage Ponds / Yotvata Fields
/ Lotan
Day’s highlights
1. The Black and White Wheatears of Se’ifim Plains
2. Bar-tailed Desert Lark display flight
3. The Raptor Passage through the Eilat Mountains with some 7000-3000 Steppe Buzzards, 70-100 Steppe Eagles and 3
Egyptian Vultures
4. White-eyed Gulls again at Dolphin Reef
5. The Little Bittern (possible Yellow Bittern) rush around at IBRCE
6. The Ferruginous Duck at the Km19 Sewage Pond
7. The still present Collared Flycatcher at Lotan
th
Day 7: Friday 25 March
HaMeishar Plains / KM82 – R90 / Wadi Yahel / Quetura Sewage Ponds / KM20 Saltpans / KM19 Canal / KM19 Sewage
Ponds
Day’s highlights
1. The ghostly male Pallid Harrier at HaMeishar Plains
2. Finding a Mountain Bunting in the Wadi at KM82 – R90
3. The Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse at KM19 Sewage Pond at Dusk
th
Day 8: Saturday 26 March
Neot Semadar Sewage Ponds / Yotvata Sewage Ponds / KM20 Saltpans / Yotvata Fields
Day’s highlights
1. Getting stuck in the sand at KM67 and having Yaki from Lotan come and pull us out (highlight for wrong reason)
2. The rain that started when at Neot Semader Sewage Ponds – heaviest rain I’ve seen in the desert
3. The male Citrine Wagtail with hundreds of other wagtails at Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
4. The masses of Yellow Wagtail forms at Yotvata Sewage Ponds
5. The Bee-eaters at Yotvata Sewage Ponds that made ‘dive-bombing splash and fly’ bathing runs
6. The large flock of Black-winged Stilts at Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
7. The obvious VizMig at the Saltpans of Wagtails and Pipits
8. The male Pallid Harrier at Yotvata Fields in the evening
9. The heavy overnight rain
th
Day 9: Sunday 27 March
IBRCE Eilat / Holland Park / Eilat Mountains / Central Park / Ofira Park / IBRCE Eilat / KM20 Saltpans / Eilat North Fields /
IBRCE Eilat / Yotvata Sewage Ponds / Yotvata Fields
Day’s highlights
1. The arrival of Wrynecks today which had largely been absent; now seen in Holland, Central and Ofira Parks
2. The Nightingale in Holland Park
3. The very nice flock of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters that flew over us at Holland Park with another over the Eilat Mountains
a little later
4. The super female Pallid Harrier that flew low over the IBRCE
5. The flock of 74 stunning Collared Pratincoles at the Saltpans
6. The flock of hirundines and swifts at Yotvata Sewage Ponds
7. The large flocks of migrating White and Black Storks over Yotvata Sewage Ponds
8. The Eastern Imperial Eagle high over Yotvata
th
Day 10: Monday 28 March
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds / Route 12 / Se’ifim Plains / Doum Palms / Yotvata Sewage Works
Day’s highlights
1. The Hoopoe Larks at KM67 along the Jordanian Border
2. The widespread raptor roost in the desert on the Jordan side of the border
3. The Bimaculated Lark at Se’ifim Plains
4. Finding Siberian Chiffchaff at Yotvata Sewage Ponds
th
Day 11: Tuesday 29 March
Ramon Crater / Sde Boker / LaHav Reserve
Day’s highlights
1. Egyptian and Griffon Vultures at En Avdat upper viewpoint
2. Cracking Desert Finch in the fields at Sde Boker
Accounts for the 202 Species seen – following order of Bird of the Middle East by Porter and Aspinall
1
2
Little Grebe
Brown Booby
Under-recorded following the first seen at Neve Eitan - more seen than my notepad reflects
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3
21-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Eilat- North Beach
2 on distant buoys
3
4
5
6
7
Cormorant
Pygmy Cormorant
White Pelican
Night Heron
Little Bittern
Under-recorded following the first seen at Neve Eitan - more seen than my notepad reflects
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
1
19-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
Best year I've had to date for this species in the Beit Sh'ean Valley Fish Ponds. Those recorded
here perhaps not a true reflection of the smaller numbers regularly encountered
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
8 over
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fields
1
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
12+
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
4
21-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
9
21-Mar
A big year for Pelicans in Beit Sh'ean Valley with many smaller groups seen than is noted here.
At Neve Eitan we were always aware of pelican’s presence due to the 'Pelican Scarer'. A local
who drives around the ponds with a siren going to scare the birds off.
Shita / Gilboa Prison
200+ in field
19-Mar
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
many
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
200+
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
200+
20-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
70+
20-Mar
Seen at the usual locations of the Fish Ponds and the KM19 Sewage Ponds
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
3
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
20-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
adult
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
2
24-Mar
1
24-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
2
23-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
3
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
3
27-Mar
Only seen in the south
Eilat - IBRCE
8
Striated Heron
Becoming scarce in the Eilat area
Eilat - Dolphin Reef
9
10
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
24-Mar
An average number of birds seen this year
Seen on two occasions but locations were not noted as these were whilst driving - scarce this
year
11
Little Egret
Not recorded due to the species over
commonness
12
Western Reef Heron
Scarce in Eilat
Eilat- North Beach
13
14
15
16
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Black Stork
White Stork
24-Mar
Under-recorded due to the species being overall common; especially at the Beit Sh’ean fish
ponds
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
many
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
lots
21-Mar
Eilat- North Beach
1
24-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
10
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
numerous
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
28+
21-Mar
Saltpans
15
23-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
3
24-Mar
Saltpans
2
25-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2
20-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
juvenile
24-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
juvenile
27-Mar
Common and widespread in suitable habitat
Uncommon this year
Wow, huge numbers passing through the fish ponds, some estimates are likely to fall short of
the actual volume seen. Also a good passage seen in the Arava.
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
6
19-Mar
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
many
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fields
38 on a single flock
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
10+ in field
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
100+
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
47
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
150+
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
21-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
some hundreds
large passage north of several
hundred birds
40+
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
100+
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
61 high north
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
20+
28-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
17
white morph in canal on landward
side of road
21-Mar
24-Mar
Vastly under represented here with very large numbers being see, especially at the Fish Ponds.
Generally scarce on the ground in the Arava but many thousands were reported moving north
in the evenings, a flock of around 3000 made our 300 at Yotvata look paltry.
Shita / Gilboa Prison
20+ in field with pelicans
19-Mar
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
many
19-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
300+ high north
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
170+
28-Mar
LaHav Reserve
15+
29-Mar
18
Glossy Ibis
19
Greater Flamingo
20
Spoonbill
21
Egyptian Goose
22
Shelduck
Only recorded on three occasions this year
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
120+
20-Mar
Saltpans
18
23-Mar
Saltpans
7
27-Mar
Common at the Saltpans in Eilat where it was noted as present
Those recorded here are under representing the numbers seen which is likely to be three times
higher.
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
8
19-Mar
12+ including an interesting runt bird
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
about a third to half the size of a
20-Mar
normal Spoonbill
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
8+
20-Mar
Only encountered at two sites in the south
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
5
23-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
2
24-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
5
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
1
23-Mar
scarce
Saltpans
23
Teal
Seen widely but largely not noted in my note pad; Beit Sh’ean Fish Ponds, the Saltpans and
KM19 Sewage Ponds.
24
Garganey
Fairly common and widespread
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
170+
21-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
21-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
drake
23-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
4
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
4
25-Mar
Saltpans
40+
27-Mar
25
Mallard
Not overly common but still not recorded much in notepad when seen
26
Northern Shoveler
Saltpans
90+
23-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
Saltpans
170+
25-Mar
27
Wigeon
Saltpans
2
25-Mar
28
Pintail
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2+ with the Pintail flock
21-Mar
Saltpans
7
23-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
drake
24-Mar
Saltpans
5+
25-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
7
25-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
drake
24-Mar
29
Ferruginous Duck
30
31
Black Kite
Egyptian Vulture
Vast numbers present in the Beit Sh’ean Valley this spring with flocks of 300-500+ being
regularly encountered. The flock going to roost at the Tirat Zevi Date Palms was impressive.
Also good movement through the Eilat Mountains.
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
hundreds
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
hundreds
20-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
probably minimum of 800+ circling
the date palms getting ready to roost
20-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
170+
24-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
300+
27-Mar
En Salvadori
2
22-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
3
24-Mar
En Avdat
1 seen from the top car park
29-Mar
32
Griffon Vulture
En Avdat
1 seen from the top car park
29-Mar
33
Marsh Harrier
KM19 Sewage Ponds
2 females
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
Holland Park
male
27-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
ringtail
19-Mar
Mt. Amsa
male and 2 females
22-Mar
Some great views of multiple birds this
spring
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
ringtail
19-Mar
Yotvata Fields
female
23-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
stunning ghostly male
25-Mar
Yotvata Fields
male
26-Mar
Holland Park
2 females
27-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
female
27-Mar
Yotvata Fields
male still present
27-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
Saltpans
1
26-Mar
Holland Park
1
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
27-Mar
Good Passage through the Eilat Mountains
one days was impressive
Mt. Gilboa
1
20-Mar
En Salvadori
20+
22-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
7000-10000
24-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
600+
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
10+
27-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
3
21-Mar
34
35
36
37
38
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
39
40
41
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
3+
19-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
1
24-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
6 (minimum)
19-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
2
21-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3
21-Mar
Aquila Sp.
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
Steppe Eagle
A good movement of birds through the mountains in the 'big' raptor day say numerous low
flying Steppe Eagles over the main watch point. Scarce away from the mountains.
Great Spotted Eagle
Yotvata Fields
1
23-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
70-100 : great passage
24-Mar
42
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
immature high up over the ponds
27-Mar
43
Short-toed Eagle
Mt. Gilboa
4
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
3
21-Mar
Nahal Dragot
2
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
2
22-Mar
LaHav Reserve
3
29-Mar
43
Short-toed Eagle
44
Booted Eagle
Oddly scarce this spring with no pale morphs seen though others did note numerous birds
elsewhere
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
dark morph with Black Kites
21-Mar
Saltpans
dark morph
23-Mar
45
Bonelli's Eagle
Nahal Dragot
pair
22-Mar
46
Osprey
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
47
48
Lesser Kestrel
Kestrel
One of my personal trip highlights was the flock around the Yotvata Fields; species more
obvious this spring
Yotvata Fields
5
27-Mar
Yotvata Fields
12+
23-Mar
Yotvata Fields
7
24-Mar
Saltpans
male and 8 females
26-Mar
Holland Park
1
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
8 on Jordanian side of border fence
28-Mar
Common and widespread thus not
recorded in my notes
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
2
19-Mar
49
Peregrine
50
Black Francolin
51
52
53
Chukar
Sand Partridge
Quail
54
Water Rail
55
Little Crake
56
57
Coot
Moorhen
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
Seen at exactly the same place as the bird
in 2013
Kfar Ruppin Date Palms
2 heard & 1 seen in the Date Palms
21-Mar
Seen more frequently than my records bay suggest
Kfar Ruppin Fields
16
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Date Palms
2
21-Mar
Nahal Dragot
7
22-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
3
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
23-Mar
Holland Park
5
27-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
heard only by top layby
20-Mar
Mt. Amsa
5
22-Mar
Holland Park
2
27-Mar
LaHav Reserve
heard
29-Mar
Eilat- IBRCE Ringing Centre
1
24-Mar
The four at the Neve Eitan Fish Ponds that often showed right out in the open at close range
were a personal highlight; cracking. Google Earth co-ordinates: 32°30'11.81"N, 35°34'49.66"E
2 males and 2 females in same
20 &
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
narrow small reed strip
21-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
2
24-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Common and widespread but widely recorded in my notepad
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
20+
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
many
20-Mar
5+
20-Mar
Not overly common but seen frequently: i.e.
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
58
59
60
Crane
Black-winged Stilt
Stone Curlew
Is there anything better than a flock of bugling Cranes on migration
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
30+ heading north
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
common
19-Mar
Saltpans
many
23-Mar
Saltpans
lots
25-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
70+ flying around the desert
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
30+
26-Mar
Saltpans
200+
26-Mar
Gilboa Prison
1 along roadside
2 in roadside Olive Grove at the same
spot as in 2013
19-Mar
1
2 close - bottom of central cross
bund
76
23-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
61
Collared Pratincole
19-Mar
The flock at the Saltpans were stunning
Lotan
Saltpans
Saltpans
23-Mar
27-Mar
62
63
64
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
3
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
21-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
23-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
Saltpans
2
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
6
20-Mar
Saltpans
2
23-Mar
Saltpans
1
26-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Saltpans
1
23-Mar
Saltpans
3
25-Mar
Saltpans
1
26-Mar
Oddly scarce compared with previous years
65
Spur-winged Plover
Common and widespread
66
Little Stint
Not as common as in previous years in the southern areas
67
Temminck's Stint
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
12
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
8
21-Mar
Saltpans
25+
23-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
23-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
Saltpans
25+
25-Mar
Saltpans
150+
26-Mar
Only found on drained pool at the Kibbutz Fish Ponds
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
16+
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
5+
21-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
14+
21-Mar
1
26-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
23-Mar
Saltpans
2
23-Mar
Saltpans
3
26-Mar
68
Dunlin
Saltpans
69
Snipe
Scarce this year
70
Black-tailed Godwit
71
Spotted Redshank
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
20-Mar
72
Redshank
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Saltpans
many
25-Mar
Saltpans
40+
26-Mar
73
74
75
Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Saltpans
7
23-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
Saltpans
5
25-Mar
Saltpans
4
26-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Saltpans
9
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
6
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
4
28-Mar
Several seen in the south but not recorded in my notepad
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
23-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
76
Wood Sandpiper
77
Common Sandpiper
78
Ruff
25-Mar
KM19 - Canal
3
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
10+
26-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
12
27-Mar
Saltpans
1
25-Mar
Saltpans
1
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
27-Mar
Fairly common and widespread but largely not recorded in my notepad
Fairly common around the fishponds in the Beit Sh'ean Valley and at the various wet areas in
the south so largely under-recorded
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
Numerous
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
20-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
many
many - plenty doing phalarope
impersonation
6
Saltpans
numerous
25-Mar
Saltpans
23-Mar
25-Mar
79
Red-necked Phalarope
Saltpans
2
23-Mar
80
White-eyed Gull
Eilat - Dolphin Reef
2
24-Mar
81
Slender-billed Gulls
Common at the Saltpans with a few seen at North Beach during time in the south
Saltpans
60+
25-Mar
Saltpans
50+
26-Mar
82
Black-headed Gull
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
300+ heading north to Galilee
19-Mar
83
Baltic Gull
Eilat - IBRCE
9
27-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
15+
27-Mar
84
Caspian Gull
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1+
19 &
20 Mar
85
Armenian Gull
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
25+ at least
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
300+
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
120+
21-Mar
86
Heuglin's Gull
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
87
Pallas's Gull
Only encountered at Neve Eitan Fish Ponds in the Beit Sh'ean Valley
88
Caspian Tern
near adult with the Armenian Gulls
20 &
21-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
9+ including fine adult summer
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3
21-Mar
Eilat- North Beach
1
24-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
2
27-Mar
89
Common Tern
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1 very worn/tatty individual
20-Mar
90
Sandwich Tern
Eilat- North Beach
4
24-Mar
91
Gull-billed Tern
Eilat - IBRCE
4
27-Mar
92
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
2 groups of 3 at dusk
25-Mar
93
Rock Dove
Birds of wild origin
many
22-Mar
Nahal Dragot
94
Collared Dove
Very common and widespread
95
Laughing Dove
Common and widespread
96
Turtle Dove
Uncommon with marginally more seen than the single recorded below
97
Namaqua Dove
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
KM66 - R90
2 males
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
male
26-Mar
Saltpans
male
26-Mar
Yotvata Fields
1
26-Mar
KM67 - R90
female
28-Mar
98
Ring-necked Parakeet
Commonly seen in around Kfar Ruppin and Eilat parks
99
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
100
Scops Owl
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2 in large tree by parking area - very
vocal
2 chasing around
19&21Mar
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
1 seen in half-light +2 heard
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
2 seen by torch light
20-Mar
101
Barn Owl
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
1
19-Mar
102
Common Swift
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
10+
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
800+
21-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
21-Mar
Nahal Dragot
5
22-Mar
KM19 - Canal
8
25-Mar
Holland Park
flock of 60+
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
3
28-Mar
103
Pallid Swift
104
Little Swift
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2 at least
21-Mar
105
Alpine Swift
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
2
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
4+
21-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
10
27-Mar
En Avdat
2
29-Mar
LaHav Reserve
2
29-Mar
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
White-breasted Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Little Green Bee-eater
Bee-eater
Hoopoe
Common around the Beit Sh'ean Fish Ponds whilst those seen at Mt. Gilboa and in Eilat are
more unusual
Mt. Gilboa
3 were unusual here
21-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
24-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
6
19-Mar
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
common
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
several
19-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
2
25-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Holland Park
9 hawking overhead
27-Mar
Eilat Mountains Raptor Watchpoint
15 high over
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
2
28-Mar
Lotan
1
23-Mar
KM19 - Canal
2
25-Mar
Holland Park
2
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
Sde Boker
1
29-Mar
Lotan
19 north overhead
23-Mar
KM66 - R90
14 on wires
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
30+
26-Mar
Yotvata Fields
10
26-Mar
Eilat -Northern Fields
8+
27-Mar
Doum Palms
23
28-Mar
Wadi Yahel
1
25-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
2
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fields
1
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
21-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
1
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
2
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
2
23-Mar
Lotan
1
23-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
1
27-Mar
Hoopoe continued…
113
114
115
116
Syrian Woodpecker
Wryneck
Bar-tailed Desert Lark
Desert Lark
KM67 - R90
2
28-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
28-Mar
Uvda Valley Junction Roadside Copse - R12
3
28-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
2
28-Mar
Sde Boker
2
29-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
1
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
1
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
3
21-Mar
Noticeable arrival of birds on 27th March onwards as this species had been absent from all
previous days
Holland Park
4+
27-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
2
27-Mar
Eilat - Ofira Park
1
27-Mar
Northern Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Uvda Valley Junction Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
1
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
1
24-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
1
25-Mar
Nahal Dragot
4
22-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
4
24-Mar
117
Hoopoe Lark
KM67 - R90
2 separate birds on Jordanian side of
border fence (Marker Post 589-590)
28-Mar
118
Bimaculated Lark
Se'ifim Plains
1
28-Mar
119
Short-toed Lark
Kfar Ruppin Fields
8+
20-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
10+
24-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
30+
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
12+
28-Mar
120
Crested Lark
Common and widespread
121
Sand Martin
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
122
Pale Crag Martin
Nahal Dragot
4
22-Mar
En Salvadori
4
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
4
22-Mar
Neot Semader Fields
1
23-Mar
Uvda Valley Junction Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Ramon Crater
2
29-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz
plenty
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
many
21-Mar
Neot Semader Fields
3
23-Mar
KM19 - Canal
3
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
mixed flock
27-Mar
123
Red-rumped Swallow
Hirundines
124
125
126
Swallow
House Martin
Tawny Pipit
Commoner than the below would indicate
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
40+
26-Mar
Saltpans
many migrating north
26-Mar
KM82 - R90
9
23-Mar
Neot Semader Fields
2
23-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
2
26-Mar
Holland Park
10+
27-Mar
KM82 - R90
7
23-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
13
24-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
3
25-Mar
KM67 - R90
28-Mar
Northern Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
5
28-Mar
127
Long-billed Pipit
Mt. Gilboa
1 singing in usual place and from the
power lines
20-Mar
128
Tree Pipit
Neot Semader Fields
5
23-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
2
27-Mar
Eilat - Ofira Park
3
27-Mar
129
130
131
132
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Black-headed Wagtail
Yellow Wagtails
Despite seeing a number of birds flying over none were actually seen on the ground!!
Eilat- North Beach
1 in off the sea
24-Mar
KM19 Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
1 fly over
25-Mar
Saltpans
29+ moving north
26-Mar
Yotvata Fields
1
27-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
28-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Saltpans
1
23-Mar
Common and widespread; especially so in the southern area's sewage ponds
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
20+
21-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1+
23-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
24-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
5
25-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
3
25-Mar
Saltpans
10+
25-Mar
KM19 - Sewage Ponds
4
25-Mar
Many mixed flocks of Yellow Wagtails were seen in the south with large numbers at the
sewage ponds on 26-Mar due to rain. Mixed flocks included Blue-headed Wagtail, Blackheaded Wagtail and several forms of hybrids
Saltpans
12+
23-Mar
Yotvata Fields
20+ mixed flock
24-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
150+
26-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
300+ mixed flock
26-Mar
Saltpans
many migrating north
26-Mar
Yotvata Fields
mixed flock
27-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
many
28-Mar
Grey-headed Wagtails
Noted identifiable individuals
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
Superciliaris Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
23-Mar
male
23-Mar
Noted identifiable individuals
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
133
2
A truly special wagtail; the male at Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds was especially fun
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
very fine male on drained pond
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2 males and female
20 &
21-Mar
21-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
male
26-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
female
27-Mar
1
23 &
24-Mar
134
Grey Wagtail
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
135
White Wagtail
Common and widespread and seen most locations in varying numbers; example count seen
below:Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
60+
20-Mar
136
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Common and Widespread, seen in pretty much every location seen
137
Black Bush Robin
Lotan
female around the Organic Garden
showed well
23-Mar
138
Nightingale
Holland Park
1
27-Mar
139
Bluethroat
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1
21-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
3
23-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
Holland Park
1
27-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
28-Mar
Ganne Huga, Beit Sh’ean
male samamisicus
19-Mar
Lotan
male samamisicus
23-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
male nominate
23-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
1
27-Mar
Northern Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Uvda Valley Junction Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Doum Palms
1
28-Mar
Sde Boker
2 samamisicus
29-Mar
Nahal Dragot
2
22-Mar
En Salvadori
2
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
2
23-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
1
24-Mar
KM82 - R90
2
25-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
Yotvata Fields
1
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
2
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
1
28-Mar
140
141
142
Redstart
Blackstart
Whinchat
143
144
145
146
Siberian Stonechat
Isabelline Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
HaMeisher Plains
female
25-Mar
Yotvata Fields
female
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
2
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
4 including some in display flight
22-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
7
24-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
1
25-Mar
Holland Park
2
27-Mar
Doum Palms
1
28-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
1
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
9
23-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
12+
24-Mar
KM67 - R90
3
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
5
28-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
1
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
2 males and 2 females
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
3 males
23-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
3
23-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
male and female
24-Mar
Yotvata Fields
1
24-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
25-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
KM67 - R90
2 males
28-Mar
Northern Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
3
28-Mar
147
Mourning Wheatear
Se'ifim Plains
5+
24-Mar
148
Hooded Wheatear
Eilat Mountains - R12
2males along the roadside
24-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
2 males and 1 female
24-Mar
Nahal Dragot
1 female
22-Mar
En Salvadori
3
22-Mar
Eilat Mountains - R12
2
24-Mar
Ramon Crater
female
29-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
20-Mar
Mt. Amsa
2 males and a female
22-Mar
149
150
White-crowned Black Wheatear
Blue Rock Thrush
151
Blackbird
Noted singing at the Beit Sh'ean Valley Ringing Station
152
Song Thrush
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
153
Graceful Warbler
Very common in the Beit Sh'ean Valley where its song was a constant presence;
notably scarcer in the south
154
Scrub Warbler
KM82 - R90
2
23-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
1
24-Mar
KM82 - R90
9
25-Mar
Wadi Yahel
6
25-Mar
3
19-Mar
155
Cetti's Warbler
Common songster in the Beit Sh'ean Valley Fish Ponds where heard but not often seen.
156
Savi's Warbler
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
heard reeling only
20-Mar
157
Sedge Warbler
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
2
21-Mar
KM19 - Canal
1
25-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
158
Moustached Warbler
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
1 in large reed filled pool
21-Mar
159
Reed Warbler
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
2
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
11
21-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
KM19 - Canal
1
25-Mar
Eilat - Ofira Park
1
27-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
3
28-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
160
Great Reed Warbler
161
Clamorous Reed Warbler
162
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
A common songster in the reed-beds around the fish ponds in the Beit Sh'ean Valley; the below
are a mere representative
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
5
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3
21-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
Holland Park
8
27-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
2
27-Mar
163
Spectacled Warbler
Mt. Amsa
5 including a fine pair
22-Mar
164
Sardinian Warbler
Mt. Gilboa
4
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
Holland Park
male
27-Mar
Mt. Amsa
male and female
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
female
23-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
female
27-Mar
Holland Park
female
27-Mar
En Salvadori
1
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
25-Mar
Wadi Yahel
2
25-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
1
27-Mar
Holland Park
4
27-Mar
165
166
Ruppell's Warbler
Orphean Warbler
167
Lesser Whitethroat
Common and widespread; seen most locations
168
Common Whitethroat
Mt. Gilboa
3
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
Nahal Dragot
1
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
1
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
25-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
2
28-Mar
169
Blackcap
Common and widespread; seen most locations
170
Chiffchaff
Under-recorded but several seen throughout the trip
171
Siberian Chiffchaff
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
28-Mar
172
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
3
23-Mar
Lotan
1
24-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
1
26-Mar
Holland Park
7+
27-Mar
Northern Roadside Copse - R12
1
28-Mar
Doum Palms
3
28-Mar
Sde Boker
1
29-Mar
173
Collared Flycatcher
Lotan
stunning male by the Organic
Gardens
23 &
24-Mar
174
Arabian Babbler
Quetura Sewage Ponds
1
25-Mar
Sde Boker
2
29-Mar
175
Great Tit
Under-recorded in the Beit Sh'ean Valley where several were seen at numerous locations
176
Palestine Sunbird
Under-recorded but was noted fairly widely
177
178
179
180
Southern Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Jay
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
3
19-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
2
20-Mar
Lotan
2
24-Mar
Holland Park
2
27-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fields
1
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
1
21-Mar
Yotvata Fields
pair
27-Mar
Sde Boker
1
29-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
male samamisicus
20-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
1
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
1
23-Mar
Yotvata Fields
1
24-Mar
KM67 - R90
5
28-Mar
Doum Palms
1
28-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
1
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
male
23-Mar
Lotan
2
23-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
1
23-Mar
Lotan
1
24-Mar
Yotvata Sewage Ponds
male
26-Mar
Holland Park
1
27-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
1
27-Mar
KM67 - R90
1
28-Mar
Doum Palms
1
28-Mar
Fairly common in the north with birds seen flying over roads to date palms
181
Jackdaw
Recorded in the north but not noted in my notepad
182
Indian House Crow
Common in Eilat
183
Hooded Crow
Common in the Beat Sh'ean Valley
184
Brown-necked Raven
Under-recorded but seen throughout the trip in the south
Nahal Dragot
2
22-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
4
25-Mar
185
Fan-tailed Raven
En Salvadori
3
22-Mar
186
Tristrams Grackle
Nahal Dragot
4
22-Mar
Wadi Mishmar
25+
22-Mar
Eilat - Central / IMAX Park
2
27-Mar
187
Common Myna
Common in the North
188
Dead Sea Sparrow
Tirat Zevi Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
3 with Spanish Sparrows in Tamarisks
20-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
20+
20-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
10+
21-Mar
Eilat - IBRCE
3
27-Mar
Saltpans
male a 4 females
27-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
8+
19-Mar
Neve Eitan Fish Ponds
30+
20-Mar
KM82 - R90
100+
23-Mar
Yotvata Fields
250+
24-Mar
HaMeisher Plains
50+
25-Mar
189
Spanish Sparrow
190
House Sparrow
Common and widespread but not recorded in my notepad
191
Rock Sparrow
Mt. Amsa
3
22-Mar
192
Chaffinch
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
1
19-Mar
193
Greenfinch
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
194
Goldfinch
Ganne Hunne
2
19-Mar
195
Linnet
Mt. Amsa
3
22-Mar
196
Desert Finch
Sde Boker
male and juvenile in the fields to the
north of Kibbutz
29-Mar
197
Sinai Rosefinch
En Salvadori
2 females only
22-Mar
198
Trumpeter Finch
En Salvadori
1
22-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
15-25+
24-Mar
Wadi Yahel
2
25-Mar
Se'ifim Plains
25+
28-Mar
199
Striolated / Mountain Bunting
Nahal Dragot
3
22-Mar
En Salvadori
12+
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
male
25-Mar
Ramon Crater
2
29-Mar
1
23-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
4
20-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
8+
21-Mar
En Salvadori
3
22-Mar
Mt. Amsa
3
22-Mar
KM82 - R90
6
23-Mar
Neot Semader Sewage Ponds
2
23-Mar
KM82 - R90
2
25-Mar
Quetura Sewage Ponds
3
25-Mar
Eilat -Northern Fields
3+
27-Mar
Uvda Valley Junction Roadside Copse - R12
6
28-Mar
LaHav Reserve
2
29-Mar
Beat Sh'ean Ringing Station
3
19-Mar
Mt. Gilboa
common
20-Mar
Mt. Amsa
many
22-Mar
Neot Semader Fields
1
23-Mar
200
Ortolan Bunting
Neot Semader Fields
201
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Fairly common and widespread
202
Corn Bunting
Additional species seen by Ian ‘only’
203
Cream-coloured Courser
HaMeishar Plain
1
25-Mar
204
Thick-billed Lark
KM82 - R90
male
25-Mar
205
Desert Wheatear
HaMeishar Plain
1
25-Mar
206
Subalpine Warbler
Wadi Mishmar
male
22-Mar
Cape Hare
Saltpans
1
26-Mar
Dorcas Gazelle
HaMeisher Plains
3
25-Mar
Doum Palms
2
28-Mar
Egyptian Mongoose
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
19-Mar
Fox
Mt. Amsa
1
22-Mar
Neot Semader Fields
1
23-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
1
19-Mar
Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds
2
20-Mar
Nahal Dragot
2 females with 2 kids
22-Mar
Ramon Crater
15+
29-Mar
En Salvadori
4
22-Mar
Non Avian Wildlife
Golden Jackal
Nubian Ibex
Rock Hyrax
Selection of images from the trip: more and higher resolution images are to be found on my website: www.birdersplayground.co.uk