Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Tropical Birding Israel Tour
March 10– 22, 2018
TOUR LEADER: Trevor Ellery
Report and photos Trevor Ellery, all photos are from the tour.
Green Bee-eater. One of the iconic birds of southern Israel.
This was Tropical Birding’s inaugural Israel tour but guide Trevor Ellery had previously lived, birded and guided there between 1998 and 2001, so it was something of a trip down memory lane for the guide! While Israel frequently makes the international news due to ongoing tensions within the country, such problems are generally concentrated around specific flashpoints and much of the rest of the country is calm, peaceful, clean and modern.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Our tour started on the afternoon of the 10th where, after picking up the group at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, we headed north along the coastal strip, collecting our local guide (excellent Israeli birder Chen Rozen) and arrived at Kibbutz Nasholim on the shores of the Mediterranean with plenty of time for some local birding in the nearby fishponds.
Spur-winged Lapwing – an abundant, aggressive but nevertheless handsome species wherever we went in Israel.
Hoopoe, a common resident, summer migrant and winter visitor. We saw this species on numerous days during the tour but probably most interesting were quite a few birds seen clearly in active migration, crossing the desolate deserts of the south.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
We soon managed to rack up a good list of the commoner species of these habitats. Wildfowl included Northern Shoveler, Green winged (Eurasian) Teal and Mallard. The pools also held several Little Grebes, plentiful Eurasian Coot and Eurasian Moorhen and some impressive flocks of Greater Flamingos. Great Cormorants were common but we also found several Pygmy Cormorants, a much desired species. Little and Cattle Egrets were common as were plentiful Glossy Ibis and a scattering of Grey Herons. Are only raptor of the day were several Eurasian Marsh Harriers cruising over the reed beds. This is a common winter visitor and passage migrant in Israel and we were to see them on most days during the tour. Several of the fishponds were semi drained and held good numbers of waders including Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Common, Wood and Marsh Sandpipers, Spotted and Common Redshanks and Greenshank, while the noisy and aggressive Spur-winged Lapwing were omnipresent. A quick look at the beach added Ruddy Turnstone and Black-bellied Plover. If you’re a wader fan it was certainly a great place to get to grips with the identification of a good variety of species. Gulls were also well represented with good numbers of Slender-billed and Black-headed Gulls plus a single Little Gull on the fishponds. Armenian and Lesser-black-backed Gulls were also seen passing overhead and Sandwich Terns were seen offshore. Feral Pigeons were abundant (here and throughout the trip) and we also found good numbers of Collard and Laughing Doves. Common Swifts arrive and breed early in Israel and could be found hawking aerial insects along with plentiful Barn Swallows. Our first dazzling Hoopoes (Israel’s national bird) were a real highlight while several large and gaudy Pied Kingfishers were also present around the fish ponds. Eurasian Kestrels gave good views, Hooded Crows were abundant and a few Jackdaws flew through. The overgrown fields alongside the fishponds held several subtly beautiful Crested Larks. The reed beds and scrub were excellent habitat for Warblers, Common Chiffchaff (a common winter visitor to Israel) were plentiful and we also managed good views of two reed bed skulkers Eurasian Reed Warbler and the much larger Clamorous Reed Warbler. The latter species lived up to its name with its calls which could be described as resembling grunts and bellows. Subdued Lesser Whitethroats and the much more attractive Sardinian Warblers skulked in the scrub but both eventually yielded good views. Graceful Prinia, (another ubiquitous species in Israel), showed extremely well singing from atop small bushes and showing off their black inner mouths, a feature that only appears during the breeding season. We also got brief views of several Bluethroats, another common winter visitor to Israel which especially like to forage on the ground at the base of the reeds. European Starlings were abundant but even more so the invasive Common Myna. Seventeen years ago this species was confined to the environs of urban Tel Aviv but we found it to be common everywhere we went on the tour, from Mt Hermon in the far north, to Eilat, on the shores of the Red Sea, in the south. This was an impressive and somewhat worrying expansion of this aggressive non- native species. As is typical of this habitat White Wagtails (another common winter visitor and passage migrant) were common and we also had good views of several Meadow Pipits in the coastal mattoral. Finally there were plenty of House Sparrows (a common native here) and far more interestingly our first Palestine Sunbirds. The Sunbird is a common species in Israel but one it is hard to get bored off with the males’ iridescent purple and blue plumage and even the dull females appearing cute, with their down curved bills. We also managed our first mammal of the trip with an Egyptian mongoose crossing between fishponds. We finished the day watching the sunset over the Mediterranean and then enjoyed the first of many sumptuous kibbutz buffets while going over the day’s list.
The next morning we started with some pre-breakfast birding in the fishponds. We added a number of new species including some Common Pochard the ubiquitous Great Egret and the rare Squacco Heron, plus some flyby Eurasian Spoonbills. A hunting Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew through while we also added more waders with Whimbrel and Green Sandpiper. An excellent find in the reed bed were several very attractive Penduline Tits and good views of Great Reed Warbler and Cetti´s Warbler, which we had only heard on the previous day. The scrub added a smart European www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Stonechat and our first European Greenfinch and European Linnet, along with plentiful Spanish Sparrows and a couple of Great Tit. We also added more nonnatives with Indian Silverbill and Rose-ringed Parakeets, both of which are also widespread in Israel. Another brief visit to the shoreline produced the resident Yellow-legged Gull.
After leaving the coast we began journeying NW towards eastern Israel and the Golan heights. We made several impromptu stops to add our first Black Storks, Short-toed Snake-Eagle, Eurasian Griffon, Black Kites and Long-legged Buzzards which were all picked up soaring from the car.
Blue Rock Thrush (above) – fairly common on the rocky cliffs of northern Israel – this obliging male was in the car park at Mt Arbel. Rock Hyrax (below) – we had great views of these cute mammals at Mt Arbel. This individual had clearly been fighting. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Crested Lark. A common species in northern Israel.
Mt Arbel, Israel. Home to Rock Hyraxes and Blue Rock-Thrushes. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
We broke up the journey with an impromptu stop at Mt Arbel, a traditional wintering site for Wallcreeper. We had no luck with the Wallcreeper and in all honesty we were probably too late as this species may well migrate north in February. Our stop was far from a wasted though as we had great views of several of Blue Rock-Thrushes, including an obliging male in the parking lot. Finches were well represented and as well as our first European Goldfinches and Common Chaffinches, we had brief views of a European Serin. Perhaps best of all though was out first real migration. While we had seen a couple of Black Storks soaring near the coast we picked up the beginnings of a stream which turned into a flood. We estimated one long flock of a thousand individuals passed north over head at one point stretching as far as the eye could see to the south. While Black Stork is a common passage and winter visitor to Israel flocks of this size are exceptional and it was a great introduction to the migration spectacle that makes Israel so exciting at this time of year. Standing on the top of Mt Arbel with the Sea of Galilee spread out below in a deep valley (which is really a norther extension of the great rift valley of E Africa) and watching these huge flocks pass directly north overhead was very impressive. In all probability these storks had probably wintered much further south than Israel somewhere in Africa, and were now heading north to their Eurasian breeding grounds. It felt like being stood beneath a great aerial, avian motorway and in fact that feeling was to be repeated daily throughout the tour as we frequently witnessed migrants pouring overhead, or simply flitting from bush to bush, all seemingly in a hurry and eager to get north. Mixed in with the Black Storks were our first White Storks, a species we were to see almost daily throughout the tour. Aside from the birds we enjoyed fantastic views of some obliging and tame Rock Hyrax and also several sunbathing Agama Lizards. We also added a couple of impressive Alpine Swifts wheeling overhead and saw our first Red-rumped Swallows. A final surprise before we left Mt Arbel was a smart Black Redstart (of the western form), again virtually in the parking lot and we also enjoyed great views of rotund Corn Buntings, singing there jangling song from roadside wires.
After our visit to Mt Arbel we spent some time hugging the shore of the sea of Galilee and made a couple of birding stops. These produced distant but good scope views of both Great-crested and Eared Grebes and most interestingly several Pallas’s Gulls, which were starting to attain summer plumage, one of the most attractive and impressive gulls in the world. We also found Whiskered Terns (which winter in Israel) to be common and enjoyed good scope views as they hawked over this vast inland sea.
Night Heron, fish ponds, Hula Valley, Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
We ended the day at some fishponds near our Kibbutz accommodation in the Hula Valley. The ponds were very productive and we were able to add Gadwall and the globally endangered Marbled Teal to our wildfowl list. Several Black-crowned Night Herons (which we had only seen in flight in the morning) posed superbly and a soaring Greater Spotted Eagle was much appreciated. A semi drained fish ponds held a good selection of waders but most exciting was a Water Rail (an often skulking species) feeding out in the open allowing prolonged views. Amongst the waders were our first Little Ringed Plovers and several Common Snipe which again showed well for what is normally a shy and skulking species. Having already seen a number of Pied Kingfishers it was nice to complete the hat trick as we found both White- throated and Common Kingfishers. We were lucky to see the Common Kingfisher as it is another winter visitor to Israel and by this time of year most had already migrated north. We also enjoyed more views of Pygmy Cormorant
White-spectacled Bulbul – an abundant species throughout Israel.
The next morning we made our way to Mt Hermon after a short spell of pre-breakfast birding. The morning walk in the Kibbutz grounds added our first Syrian Woodpecker and Eurasian Blackbird plus a fly over Peregrine Falcon. We also enjoyed great views of Red-rumped Swallows as they landed to collect mud for nesting. The journey over the Golan Heights was broken up with impromptu stops for perched Long-legged Buzzard and Short-toed Snake-Eagle and best of all our first Great Spotted Cuckoo, which perched briefly on overhead wires.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Long-legged Buzzard -. We saw several individuals during the tour but this bird perched in the green flowering fields of the Golan Heights showed the best.
When we arrived at Mt Hermon we found Eurasian Jay to be common, with a number of flocks seen. We also had good views of Hawfinch and Rock Bunting and after much searching found a vocal Western Rock Nuthatch. A lovely male Ruppell’s Warbler showed well and we also enjoyed the spectacular early spring flowering of various trees and flowers that carpeted this impressive mountain. Another Black Redstart was seen – this time a nice male of the attractive eastern race. As we returned toward the Hula valley and began to drop down from the Golan Heights a Black- Shouldered Kite was located on roadside wires and showed well. This species was previously a rare vagrant to Israel but has now established a small breeding population in the north of the country and was a new bird for the leader.
Black-shouldered Kite, Golan Heights, Israel. Formerly a rare vagrant, a small breeding population has established in north Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Common Shoveler, Hula Valley Israel. We saw a great selection of Eurasian waterfowl but the male Shoveler was one of the most attractive.
White Storks, Agmon lake Hula, Israel. As if the site of thousands of Common Cranes wasn’t enough it was more impressive when hundreds of migrating White Storks fell out of the sky and joined them.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
In the afternoon we visited the Agmon Lake in the Hula Valley which provided one of the great spectacles of the trip. This area is home to one of the greatest concentrations of wintering and staging Common Cranes in the world and we were to witness thousands of birds as they noisily foraged and moved between different feeding sites. We also had a flock of Great White Pelicans soaring high overhead and watched the arrival of hundreds of migrating White Storks which promptly whiffled down to join the concentration of Common Cranes. These White Storks had probably been migrating over the deserts of Jordan all day and the oasis of the Hula valley and its vast concentrations of water birds must have seemed like an excellent site to pause during the long migration. We also heard Black Francolin calling distantly but were not able to locate any. Several Greater Spotted and Imperial Eagles were seen in flight and we even managed to scope four Greater Spotted and a single Imperial Eagle as they tussled over the carcass of a dead crane. The reed beds produced a nice male Siberian Stonechat of the hemprichii race. We added another mammal in the form of several Coypu a non-native species from South America which is common in the waterways of Israel. We finished the night at Kfar Blum were a short walk after dinner produced good views of a Tawny Owl, a scarce and localized species in Israel.
Tawny Owl, Kfar Blum, Israel. A scarce and local species in Israel.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Glossy Ibis, Hula Valley, Israel. A common species throughout northern Israel.
The following morning after another brief pre-breakfast stroll, which added little new aside from our first Hen Harrier, we quickly headed south. Once again a few impromptu stops were made which added our only Tufted Ducks of the trip. We then visited a site called Susita where they rocky, grassy hillsides proved very productive allowing us to add displaying Long-billed Pipits, some obliging Chukars and our first Blackstarts. We also had a brief Cinereous Bunting and our only Cretzschmar’s Bunting, while an obliging Woodlark and a singing Greater Whitethroat were nice.
Great White Pelican, Beit Shean Valley. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Dead Sea Sparrow, Beit Shean Valley – we had good views of a single individual.
After this we continued south stopping rather briefly in the Beit Shean valley fishponds were we enjoyed wonderful close up views of some Great White Pelicans and found our only Dead Sea Sparrow of the trip. Other highlights included a single Northern Lapwing, our first Water Pipits and a single Caspian Gull mixed in with a late flock of sub adult Armenian Gulls. We also enjoyed good numbers of waders, heron’s, storks and our first Osprey. On the mammal front a couple of Golden Jackals foraging on discarded fish in the fishponds were only sighting of the trip. The afternoon was taken up with the fairly long drive south to the dead sea but a few birding stops produced our only Desert Finches, some good views of Pallid Swift wheeling along the cliffs high above the dead sea and a couple of distant Egyptian Vultures. We arrived at Ein Gedi Kibbutz at dusk but after dinner we made a longish drive south to Neot Hakikar where after some searching we had brief views of a Nubian Nightjar in the field’s and also spotlighted our first Common Hare.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Tristram’s Starlings were abundant around Kibbutz Ein Gedi.
Palestine Sunbird. A widespread species in Israel which we saw virtually daily throughout the tour.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
The views of the mountains of the Judean desert on the shores of the Dead Sea at Ein Gedi were spectacular.
The next day we started with birding in the grounds of Ein Gedi Kibbutz – this was very productive and we had good views of Green Bee-eater, Fan-tailed Raven, Peregrine Falcon (of the distinctive F.P pelegrinoides desert race of Peregrine Falcon which is sometimes considered a separate species Barbary Falcon.) and Rock Martin. We also found our first migrant Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers and Eurasian Blackcaps along with hordes of Tristram’s Starlings which were just about everywhere. We then visited a nearby wadi and as we drove in to the parking area we were amazed to see singles of Fan-tailed, Brown-necked and Common Ravens all feeding together. It was a unique experience to get all the possible Raven’s in the Western Palearctic feeding in one place and great for comparison of key identification features. A walk in the wadi produced our first brief Sand Partridge and an obliging Desert Lark along with a migrant Northern Wheatear. After this we began the drive south to Eilat but a short stop at some ponds just south of the dead seas was very productive as we added Garganey, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail and best of all Ferruginous Duck to our wildfowl list. Once near Eilat we first visited Yotvata fields where we added a fly over Booted Eagle, a nice fly through male Pallid Harrier and two very brief fly through Namaqua Doves. We also found a small flock of three hunting Lesser Kestrels while Larks were represented by plentiful Greater Short-toed Larks and a single Bimaculated Lark. The dry field’s also hosted several Isabelline Wheatears and Western Yellow Wagtails and a small flock of Trumpeter Finches. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Dorcas Gazelle, KM 20, Eilat. Fairly common in the deserts of southern Israel.
Greater Flamingo, KM 20 Salt Pans. Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
On the mammal front we saw several Nubian Ibex on the drive and enjoyed good views of our first Dorcas Gazelles near KM 20. We spent the latter part of the day at KM20 where we added Common Shelduck and most importantly a single Lesser Flamingo amongst the hordes of Greater Flamingos. This species is a rare vagrant to Israel and the Western Palearctic, with few previous records and was another tick for the guide. Waders included Greater Sand-Plover and Kentish Plover and we enjoyed more Common Cranes as a flock of hundreds came spiraling down from high elevation and briefly rested on the banks of the saltpans. Some birding in the scrub produced Woodchat Shrike and Black-eared Wheatear. We just managed to squeeze in a dusk finish at the North beach on the Gulf of Aqaba where we found our first White-eyed Gulls.
Blackstart , Holland Park Eilat. A common bird in much of southern Israel.
The next day started with early morning birding in the Bird Park and at Holland Park. The Bird Park allowed good views of several perched Squacco Heron’s, while overhead hirundine passage included Bank Swallows and House Martins along with many Barn and Red-rumped Swallows. We also saw Sedge Warbler in the reed beds and a Savi’s Warbler that had been trapped in the hand. Our walk around Holland Park produced much better views of Sand Partridge, a nice perched Eurasian Thick-knee and a very nice Masked Shrike
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Nubian Ibex (above), Wadi Shlomo, Israel. We saw this species at several sites in southern Israel but our best views were in Wadi Shlomo. Scrub Warbler (below), Amram Pillars, Israel. We saw this species at several sites in southern Israel but the best views were at Amram Pillars. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Hooded Wheatear, Amram Pillars, Israel. Another species that we saw at several sites but we obtained the best views at Amram Pillars.
During the day we visited Amram Pillars where we saw our first Hooded Wheatear and Wadi Shlomo, where we saw our first White-crowned Wheatear. We also made a repeat visit to the Gulf of Aqaba where we enjoyed better views of White-eyed Gull. A stop at Ophira Park produced good views of a Eurasian Wryneck and a nice male Cyprus Warbler. We saw our first(of many House Crows, an abundant species in Eilat, and obtained good views of several Western Yellow Wagtails of various subspecies.
Steppe Buzzard migrating at Mt Yoash, Eilat, Israel. A common passage migrant through Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Steppe Eagle migrating, Mt Yoash, Israel. Still a reasonably common migrant in Israel but one that has suffered severe declines in recent years.
The following morning we spent the early morning at Mt Yoash enjoying a strong migration of raptors. Several Steppe Eagles were new but it was fantastic to watch a strong stream of Common Buzzards (of the Steppe Buzzard subspecies) and Black Kites passing overhead with the odd Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Black stork and Alpine Swift mixed in.
Trumpeter Finch. A widespread but sometimes elusive species in the deserts of southern Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
We then moved on to the Uvda plain area where we found our first Scrub Warblers but a phone call sent us up the Arava valley where we were able to enjoy great views of a Asian Desert Warbler and a Bar-tailed Lark. We returned to Uvda with a lunch time stop adding Common Redstart and then in the evening our first Mourning and Desert Wheatears and a pair of very nice Cream-coloured Coursers.
Water Rail, Bird Park, Eilat, Israel.
The 18th was spent mostly in the Eilat area. We started at the Bird Park again, moved to Yotvata, re-visited Amram pillars and the Bird Park a second time and finished in the late afternoon at Yotvata. A Purple Heron that flew though at the Bird Park was our only sighting of the trip while we also had great views of a close Water Rail from the hide and then saw a female Little Crake which had been caught to be ringed. A Caspian Tern was perched at the lake for a short period and we saw our first Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Common Nightingale when they were trapped and ringed. A brief visit to the north beach added a Temminck’s Stint with our first Citrine Wagtail located along the canal just inland from the beach. A brief stop near the Turkish Police station produced our first Arabian Babblers. We stayed at Yotvata until dusk and managed to good views of an Egyptian Nightjar and a surprise Short-eared Owl – a rare bird in southern Israel. We also managed to spotlight several Red Foxes.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Namaqua Dove, Male, KM19, Eilat. It took several attempts before we got good looks at this attractive species.
The 19th was once again spent in the vicinity of Eilat. Two Egyptian Geese (of presumably feral origin) were at the Bird Park where we also had good views of Common Quail and Tawny Pipit. A couple of winter plumaged Red-necked Phalaropes delighted as they spun on the pools just inland from the north beach and we obtained much better views of a pair of Namaqua Doves at KM 19. We also enjoyed a perched sub-adult Bonelli’s Eagle at the cow sheds, clearly visiting the area to hunt the large concentration of Feral Pigeons that were present. In the evening a dusk sojourn waiting for Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse was unproductive but we did enjoy great views of two barking Great Bitterns which circled up and headed north on migration.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Temminck’s Horned Lark (above), Uvda Plain, Israel. A scarce, unpredictable and erratic species in southern Israel. Israeli Wild Ass/Persian Onager (below). Following the extinction of the native subspecies eleven Persian Onagers were obtained from Turkmenistan and Iran in 1968 and formed the basis for the current free roaming population that can be found in the deserts of southern Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Long-eared Owl, Sde Boker, Israel. A fairly common species in Israel but close up views of this individual were a trip highlight.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Hooded Crow, Sde Boker, Israel. A very common species in Israel.
Arabian Babbler, Sde Boker, Israel. We saw this species at a couple of sites but the most obliging birds were at Sde Boker.
On the 20th an early morning start and visit to Uvda Plain finally produced the much hoped for Temminck’s Horned Larks and a distant flock of Spotted Sandgrouse. We also enjoyed very good views of an Israeli Wild Ass. We then gradually drove north through the Mitzpe Ramon crater and finished the day at the spectacular Sde Boker with a stop at Neot Semadar adding Tree Pipit and a obliging Trumpeter Finch. The afternoon visit to Sde Boker produced good views of both Egyptian and Griffon Vultures some confiding Arabian Babblers and a very obliging roosting Long-eared Owl.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Crowned Sandgrouse, Ezuz Israel. Visiting a purpose built drinking hole complete with viewing deck and Coffee!
Southern Grey Shrike, Nizzana, Israel. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
The morning of the 21st involved an early morning visit to Nizzana where we soon located several Macqueen’s Bustards. We also visited a nearby drinking spot where we had excellent views of Crowned Sandgrouse. A visit to a set of sewage works added lots of Little Grebes and some nice White Stork migration overhead, while a Southern Grey Shrike was on overhead wires. Scanning the desert we had good views of more Cream-coloured Coursers and Dorcas Gazelles. In the afternoon we visited the dry fields of Sde Boker and were able to locate some much more obliging Spotted Sandgrouse and a small group of Black-bellied Sandgrouse along with a sprinkling of migrants such as Northern Wheatear and Woodchat Shrike.
Little Owl, Mt Amsa, Israel.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Chukar., Mt Amsa, Israel. We saw this species at a number of sites although they never really allowed close approach.
Our final morning was spent at Mt Amsa where we twitched the Persian Wheatear, only the second record in Israel and a new bird for everyone. This was not the only target of our visit and we also added Rock Petronia and Little Owl We then made a stop at Yeroham Lake as we headed north where we found a beautiful Spotted Crake. After this it was a case of a short transfer north to Tel Aviv where we dropped the guests off at a hotel as they were to begin a Holy land tour the next day. Local guide Chen headed back to his university studies and Trevor headed to the airport for the long haul back to Colombia with a little side adventure in Spain en-route. Bird List
The list includes everything that was seen by at least one of the group. Three species were heard only and are highlighted as such in the annotated notes.
213 Species seen, 3 heard only.
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
Egyptian Goose (I) Alopochen Two seen at the Bird Park. aegyptiaca Pretty much all records in Israel are thought to relate to birds of feral origin rather than natural vagrants.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Small numbers seen at the KM 20 Saltpans and at the sewage works at Nizzana.
Garganey Spatula Several birds were seen the querquedula fresh water pools roadside, south of the Dead Sea and some big flocks were seen migrating over North Beach and the Southern Saltpans at Eilat.
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Seen on many days during the trip including along the Mediterranean coast, at the Hula valley and commonly in the Eilat area including at the KM20 salt pans and large flocks in active migration over the North Beach.
Gadwall Mareca strepera Small numbers see in the Hula Valley were followed by small numbers at the roadside fresh water pools south of the Dead Sea.
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope A couple were seen on the freshwater pools south of the Dead Sea.
Mallard Anas Seen on most days during the platyrhynchos tour.
Northern Pintail Anas acuta Small numbers were seen on the freshwater pools south of the Dead Sea.
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Seen on most days during the tour.
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta Small numbers of this globally angustirostris threatened species were seen at the fishponds in the Hula Valley. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Common Pochard Aythya ferina Small numbers were seen at Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast and at the freshwater pools south of the Dead Sea.
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Great views of a small group on the fresh water pools south of the Dead Sea. This species is considered 'Near-threatened' on a global level.
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula We made an impromptu stop at a roadside reservoir in the Golan Heights, where we had good views of several birds.
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi Seen on most of our birding days in the Eilat area with the best views of some confiding individuals at Holland Park.
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard in northern Israel and then seen really well at the Bird Park at Eilat when two individuals slowly crossed the path ahead of us.
Chukar Alectoris chukar Seen at Susita in the north and Nizzana and Mt Amsa in the south. Good views were obtained but they never allowed a close approach.
Black Francolin Francolinus Heard distantly in the Hula francolinus Valley.
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe Tachybaptus Seen on a number of days with ruficollis an impressive concentration of birds on the Sewage Works www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
pools at Nizzana in the Negev desert.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps Good numbers were scoped on cristatus the Sea of Galilee.
Eared Grebe Podiceps Several small flocks were nigricollis scoped on the Sea of Galilee.
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae
Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus Common in the Fishponds at roseus Nasholim and abundant at the KM 20 Saltpans near Eilat.
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Black Stork Ciconia nigra A scattering of sightings through the tour with a massive flock of around a thousand birds migrating over Mt Arbel on our second day followed by small numbers in the fish ponds at the Beit Shean Valley and KM 20 Salt Pans and also a small flock migrating with the many raptors over Mt Yoash, Eilat.
White Stork Ciconia ciconia Seen on quite a few days during the tour with an impressive migrant flock dropping in to join the Cranes at the Hula Valley and a smaller migrant flock passing low over the Sewage Works at Nizzana being the most memorable sightings.
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo Seen daily during our four days pygmeus in the north, mainly around fish ponds at Nasholim and in the Hula and Beit Shean Valleys.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax Great Cormorant seen most carbo commonly in the north of Israel but also seen on a few days at Eilat, mainly at the Bird Park.
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Great White Pelican Pelecanus A large flock were seen circling onocrotalus high above in the Hula Valley and then we had great close perched and flight groups of a flock at some fish ponds in the Beit Shean Valley.
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris Great views of a couple that flew up out of the reeds at KM19 at dusk and spent a long time circling repeatedly above us making grunting calls before finally migrating north into the night.
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea Grey Heron, seen on most days with some nice flocks in active migration in the Eilat area.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Our only sighting was a single bird which flew through the Bird Park at Eilat one morning.
Great Egret Ardea alba Seen on a number of days but mainly during the northern Israel part of the tour and scarce in the Eilat area. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Seen on most days.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Seen on a number of days but few sightings during the southern portion of the tour around Eilat where the desert habitat was unsuitable.
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Scattered sightings being seen at Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast and several migrant groups at Eilat including in the reed beds at KM19 and perched in the open around the pool at the Bird Park on one morning.
Black-crowned Night- Nycticorax Good close views in the fish Heron nycticorax ponds in the Hula Valley and a flock of eleven migrants resting on the exposed banks of the pools south of the Bird Park, Eilat.
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis Plegadis Very common in northern Israel falcinellus and at least one migrant seen on one day on the pool at the Bird Park, Eilat.
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea Small numbers seen in leucorodia Northern Israel at Nasholim and the Hula and Beit Shean Valleys.
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae
Osprey Pandion Only seen on a couple of days, haliaetus once at Beit Shean valley and once at Eilat.
ACCIPITRIFORMES: www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Accipitridae
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus A single bird perched on roadside wires in the Golan Heights was a major highlight.
Egyptian Vulture Neophron A couple were seen distantly by percnopterus the Dead Sea and a couple were seen at Sde Boker.
Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus A single bird seen soaring near the highway shortly after leaving Nasholim in northern Israel and a couple which gave better views soaring above the cliffs at Sde Boker.
Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus Seen on several days in Northern Israel where resident but just once in the south, a presumed migrant perched on a pylon near Shizzafon junction.
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga Seen on three days running in the north with a single at the Hula fishponds followed the next day by multiple individuals in the vicinity of the Agmon lake in the Hula valley and then at least one seen at the Beit Shean fish ponds.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus A couple of sightings in the Eilat pennatus area.
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Small numbers seen migrating on several days at the Eilat area, mainly over Mt Yoash but also over the Bird Park and other random birding stops.
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca A couple of individuals seen around the Agmon lake in the Hula valley, including one that www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
was competing with several Greater Spotted Eagles over a Crane carcass.
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata A single immature bird was seen well perched around the cow sheds at KM19 before it flew off towards the mountains of Jordan.
Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus Seen almost daily throughout aeruginosus the day including several individuals in active migration at Eilat.
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus First seen near Kibbutz Meron Golan on the edge of the Hula Valley and then on several days during our time in the Eilat area, including a nice male hunting over the fields at Yotvata.
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Single males were seen over the fields at Yotvata and hunting at Mt Amsa on our last day. This beautiful raptor is classified as 'Near-threatened' on a global scale.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A scattering of sightings through the tour.
Black Kite Milvus migrants Widespread sightings through the tour with quite large numbers seen in active migration at Eilat, especially over Mt Yoash.
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo A couple of the nominate form B.b Buteo were seen in northern Israel and the B.b vulpinus form often known as Steppe Buzzard (and sometimes www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
mooted as a potential split) was seen commonly and in quite large number in active migration at Mt Yoash and other areas in the Eilat area. Steppe Buzzard is a long distance migrant that passes through Israel en-route to and from its wintering range in Africa and breeding range in the Steppes of central Asia.
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
OTIDIFORMES: Otididae
Macqueen's Bustard Chlamydotis Great views of at least three macqueenii individuals, including a displaying male, at Nizzana. One of the highlights of the trip.
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Good views of a single bird at the fish ponds in the Hula Valley were followed by excellent close up views of a single bird at the Bird Park in Eilat.
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana A single bird showed well at Yeruham lake.
Little Crake Zapornia parva A female was seen in the hand after being trapped and ringed/banded at the Bird Park, Eilat.
Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula Seen frequently at wetlands chloropus throughout much of the tour.
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Seen frequently at wetlands throughout much of the tour. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae
Common Crane Grus grus The site and noise of thousands of wintering birds at the Agmon lake in the Hula valley was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip. A flock of several hundred which dropped down from high altitude migration to briefly rest at the KM 20 Saltpans was also very memorable.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus Seen on a couple of days in the oedicnemus Arava valley with an individual at Holland Park showing especially well.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus Seen commonly at wetlands himantopus throughout much of the tour.
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra Small numbers were seen at avosetta Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis Small numbers were seen at squatarola Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast.
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A single bird was seen at fish ponds in the Beit Shean Valley.
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus Abundant, noisy and omnipresent throughout the tour. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius Small numbers seen in the Eilat leschenaultii area at KM 20 and the southern Saltpans.
Kentish Plover Charadrius Seen commonly in the Eilat area alexandrinus especially at the KM 20 and southern Saltpans.
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius Seen commonly throughout the hiaticula tour.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius Scattered sightings but most dubius commonly seen in the Eilat area.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Whimbrel Numenius A single sighting at Nasholim on phaeopus the Mediterranean coast.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Scattered sightings in northern Israel.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria Small numbers seen at interpres Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast.
Ruff Calidris pugnax Seen commonly throughout the tour, sometimes in large flocks.
Temminck's Stint Calidris A single bird gave very good temminckii views at the north beach Eilat and another was seen briefly at the Beit Shean valley.
Dunlin Calidris alpina Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
Little Stint Calidris minuta Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
Common Snipe Gallinago Scattered sightings throughout gallinago the tour.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus A pair were seen well along the lobatus canal south of the Bird Park at Eilat.
Common Sandpiper Actitis Scattered sightings although hypoleucos most commonly seen in northern Israel.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Seen at Nasholim and KM 20 Saltpans.
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen on one day only at the floods near the Agmon lake in the Hula Valley.
Common Redshank Tringa totanus Seen almost daily throughout the tour.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Cream-colored Courser Cursorius cursor A pair were seen well at Uvda plain and then at least seven were seen at Nizzana.
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus Seen on many days throughout genei the tour, including some flocks in active migration at Eilat.
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus Seen on many days throughout ridibundus the tour, including some flocks in active migration at Eilat.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus A single bird was seen over the minutus fish ponds at Nasholim.
White-eyed Gull Ichthyaetus Seen on a couple of days at leucophthalmus Eilat, from the north beach and the dolphin reef in the gulf of Aqaba.
Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus Several individuals were scoped ichthyaetus on the Sea of Galilee.
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Small numbers seen at Nasholim on the Mediterranean coast.
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans A single was seen with Armenian Gulls in the Beit Shean Valley.
Armenian Gull Larus armenicus Small numbers seen at several sites in northern Israel.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Seen on several days during the tour - all appeared to be the long distance migrant race L.f. fuscus which is often called Baltic Gull and which is a long distance migrant wintering in East Africa and breeding in northern Europe.
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne Seen on a couple of days in the caspia Eilat area including a perched individual at the Bird Park.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias Good numbers of wintering hybrida birds were seen hawking over the sea of Galilee.
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus Small numbers seen over the sandvicensis Mediterranean at Nasholim and over the Red Sea at Eilat.
PTEROCLIFORMES: www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Pteroclidae
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles A flock were seen in flight at senegallus Uvda plain and then we had good views both in flight and perched of a flock at Sde Boker.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles A pair were seen very well orientalis feeding in dry fields at Sde Boker.
Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles A single bird gave excellent coronatus views visiting a drinking pool at Ezuz.
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Feral pigeons were seen almost daily during the tour.
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia Seen daily throughout the tour. decaocto
Laughing Dove (I) Streptopelia Seen daily throughout the tour. senegalensis
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis Seen on a couple of days in the Eilat area, a very attractive species.
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator Several birds were seen glandarius roadside while driving in the Golan Heights and a single bird was seen in flight at Yeruham lake.
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Little Owl Athene noctua Good views of a single bird at Mt Amsa on our last day.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Tawny Owl Strix aluco A single bird gave great views at Kfar Blum in northern Israel. This is a scarce species in Israel.
Long-eared Owl Asio otus Great views of a roosting bird at Sde Boker.
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus A single bird perched on the road in the car headlights while looking for Egyptian Nightjar at Yotvata was a surprise. This is a scarce species in Israel, especially in the south.
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus A single bird seen very well aegyptius perched on the ground in the fields at Yotvata.
Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus A single bird seen briefly in the nubicus fields at Neot Hakikar.
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae
Alpine Swift Apus melba Small numbers seen in both northern and southern Israel although are best views were at the sewage works at Nizzana.
Common Swift Apus apus Seen almost daily throughout the tour.
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Seen on numerous days during the tour although less frequently and at less sites than Common Swift.
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Seen on many days during the tour including individuals www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
clearly in active migration over the deserts in the south.
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis A single bird was seen at the fishponds in the Hula Valley.
White-throated Halcyon Small numbers seen at the fish Kingfisher smyrnensis ponds in the Hula and Beit Shean Valleys.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Scattered sightings throughout the tour.
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Seen almost daily during our time in the deserts of southern Israel.
PICIFORMES: Picidae
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla A single bird showed well at Ophira Park in the center of Eilat while another at Nizzana was only seen by the leader.
Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos A couple were seen well in the syriacus Golan Heights.
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni A small group were seen on a couple of days at Yotvata fields.
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Seen almost daily throughout the tour.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus A single of the nominate form was seen in flight at Merom Golan and a second (of the smaller desert race F.p. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
pelegriniodes, often called Barbary Falcon) was seen well at Ein Gedi Kibbutz.
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae
Rose-ringed Parakeet (I) Psittacula Seen on many days during the krameri tour although absent in pure desert areas.
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Southern Gray Shrike Lanius A single bird showed very well meridionalis at Nizzana.
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus Single birds were seen at Holland Park and Neot Semedar.
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Seen on three days in southern Israel including at KM 20 and Sde Boker.
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Eurasian Jay Garrulus Seen at Mt Hermon and the glandarius Golan Heights.
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula Small numbers seen in northern Israel.
House Crow (I) Corvus splendens Seen commonly around Eilat.
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Seen on many days during the tour but absent in pure desert areas.
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis Seen on most of the days we spent in the deserts of southern Israel.
Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus Seen commonly around the www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Dead Sea at Ein Gedi.
Common Raven Corvus corax A single bird near Ein Gedi was a surprise.
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes Seen at a couple of sites in the cinctura deserts of southern Israel.
Desert Lark Ammomanes Seen on a number of days while deserti birding in the deserts of southern Israel.
Temminck's Lark Eremophila Good views of a small group on bilopha the plains at Uvda on our third try!
Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella Seen on most days while we brachydactyla were in southern Israel, sometimes in reasonably large flocks.
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha A single bird seen in the dry bimaculata fields at Yotvata.
Wood Lark Lullula arborea A single bird seen well at Susita in northern Israel.
Crested Lark Galerida cristata Seen almost daily throughout the tour.
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Small numbers of migrants seen on several days while in southern Israel.
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne Seen almost daily in the deserts fuligula of southern Israel.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Seen daily throughout the tour.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Seen frequently throughout the tour including nesting birds in northern Israel and plenty of migrants while in southern Israel.
Common House-Martin Delichon urbicum Small numbers of migrants seen on a number of days while in southern Israel.
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
Great Tit Parus major Seen almost daily while in northern Israel.
PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae
Eurasian Penduline-Tit Remiz pendulinus A couple showed well in the reed beds at Nasholim fish ponds on the Mediterranean coast.
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae
Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer A single bird was seen well on the slopes of Mt Hermon.
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus Seen daily throughout the tour. xanthopygos
PASSERIFORMES: Scotocercidae
Scrub Warbler Scotocerca Seen on several days while in inquieta southern Israel with our best views being of a confiding pair at Amram Pillars.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Heard almost daily in the north and one was seen well at the www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
fish ponds at Nasholim. Also heard on one day only at the Bird Park at Eilat.
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus Seen daily throughout the tour. collybita
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus Migrants were seen on most orientalis days while we were in southern Israel.
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Eastern Olivaceous Iduna pallida Migrants were seen on several Warbler days while we were in southern Israel.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus Seen a couple of times at the schoenobaenus Bird Park in Eilat.
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus Seen on numerous days during scirpaceus the tour.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus Mostly heard while in northern arundinaceus Israel but we did get good views of one individual at Nasholim fish ponds.
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus Seen well at Nasholim fish stentoreus ponds and heard at the fresh water pools south of the Dead Sea.
PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Savi's Warbler Locustella A single bird was seen when it luscinioides was trapped to be ringed at the Bird Park, Eilat and also heard on one other day. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis Seen on most days during the tour although absent in some of the desert areas.
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Seen on a number of days while birding in the deserts of southern Israel.
Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana Seen at a couple of sites in the Arava valley.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Seen daily throughout the tour.
Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia Seen on a couple of days while crassirostris in southern Israel.
Cyprus Warbler Sylvia A single male in Ophira park in melanothorax the center of Eilat showed well.
Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia ruppeli A smart male showed well on Mt Hermon and then a seen a couple of times while in the south.
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia Seen on all four days that we melanocephala spent in northern Israel with good views at Nasholim fish ponds.
Greater Whitethroat Sylvia communis Seen singing in northern Israel and a couple of migrants were also seen while in the south.
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae
Arabian Babbler Turdoides Seen at several sites in squamiceps southern Israel though the best views were of some confiding www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
birds at Sde Boker.
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
European Robin Erithacus A single bird was heard at rubecula Kibbutz Ein Gedi but remained in deep cover.
Common Nightingale Luscinia A single bird was seen at the megarhynchos Eilat Bird Park when it was trapped for ringing.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Seen on numerous days during the trip including wintering birds around the fishponds at Nasholim and migrant birds at the Bird Park, Eilat.
Common Redstart Phoenicurus Migrants were seen on several phoenicurus days while we were in southern Israel.
Black Redstart Phoenicurus A single bird of the western ochruros form P.o gibraltariensis (Western Black Redstart) was seen at Mt Abrel while a smart male of the eastern form P.o Ochruros (Eastern Black Redstart) was seen on Mt Hermon.
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola Seen on a couple of the days we solitarius spent in northern Israel including great views of our first at Mt Arbel and also seen on a couple of the days we spent in southern Israel, including some birds that were clearly migrants in the desert.
European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Seen on three of the four days we spent in northern Israel with our first at the fishponds at www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Nasholim.
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus A smart male of the form S.t. hemprichii was seen in reed beds by the Agmon lake, Hula Valley.
Blackstart Cercomela Following our first at Susita on melanura the shores of the Dead Sea this species was seen almost daily in southern Israel.
White-crowned Oenanthe Seen on a number of days in Wheatear leucopyga the deserts of southern Israel with our best views at Wadi Shlomo.
Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe Seen on a number of days in monacha the deserts of southern Israel with our best views at Amram Pillars.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe Migrants were seen almost oenanthe daily in southern Israel.
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens Seen at Uvda plain and Sde Boker.
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe Migrants were seen on four of hispanica the days while we were in southern Israel, most (if not all) seemed to be of the eastern form O.h. melanoleuca.
Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe A single vagrant of the form xanthoprymna chrysopygia which has generally been split from xanthoprymna and called Persian Wheatear was seen well at Mt Amsa. It was the second record for Israel.
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Seen well on a couple of days in southern Israel with good views www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
at Uvda plains.
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe Migrants were seen on most isabellina days that we spent in southern Israel.
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Good views at Kibbutz Meron Golan and Sde Boker and heard on a couple of other days.
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Seen commonly on the coastal strip in northern Israel.
Common Myna (I) Acridotheres Seen almost daily although tristis absent in some of the pure desert areas of the south.
Tristram's Starling Onychognathus Extremely common at Ein Gedi tristramii and also seen on a couple of days in the Eilat area.
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris osea Seen daily throughout the tour.
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Migrants were seen commonly during our time in southern Israel including a variety of different subspecies. We saw several males of the form M.f.flava (Black-headed Wagtail) which some authorities treat as a full species. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola A couple of sightings in the Eilat area. And a single male seen well at our last stop at a reservoir while journeying north towards Tel Aviv on our last day.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba Seen daily throughout the tour.
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis Great views of a displaying bird at Susita on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Tawny Pipit Anthus Seen on several days in the Eilat campestris area including good views of a couple at the Bird Park.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Seen on three of the four days we spent in northern Israel with our first at the fishponds at Nasholim.
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis A single bird seen in the Alfalfa fields at Neot Semedar.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Heard a couple of times in southern Israel but we never managed to see one.
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta First seen at the fish ponds at the Beit Shean valley and then on a couple of days while we were in southern Israel.
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia A single male gave great views at Mt Hermon.
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza A single was seen briefly at cineracea Susita by the Sea of Galilee.
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia A single male at Susita by the Sea of Galilee was our only www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
sighting of the trip.
Corn Bunting Emberiza Seen commonly at Mt Arbel, calandra the Golan Heights and Susita.
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Seen commonly in northern Israel.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes A single bird at Mt Hermon was coccothraustes followed by a couple at a picnic site at the Agmon lake, Hula Valley.
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes A small flock at Yotvata fields githagineus was followed by an obliging singing male at Neot Semedar sewage works and some were also seen at Nizzana.
Desert Finch Rhodospiza A stop to look for migrants at obsoleta some scrub near the Dead Sea produced good views of a pair, are only sighting of the trip.
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris Scattered sightings in the north and at Sde Boker but absent from the deserts of southern Israel.
Eurasian Linnet Linaria cannabina Seen at Mt Arbel and in the Golan Heights.
European Goldfinch Carduelis Seen well at Mt Arbel and carduelis heard at Susita.
European Serin Serinus serinus A single female seen at Mt Arbel.
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer Seen daily throughout the tour. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
domesticus
Spanish Sparrow Passer Seen almost daily throughout hispaniolensis the tour with some quite large flocks seen in the south.
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer A single male showed very well moabiticus at some fish ponds in the Beit Shean Valley.
Rock Petronia Petronia petronia Great views of some nesting birds at Mt Arbel on our last day.
Pale Rockfinch Carpospiza brachydactyla
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Indian Silverbill (I) Euodice A small flock seen well in the malabarica fish ponds at Nasholim.
Other sightings:
Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes A single was seen briefly in the ichneumon fish ponds at Nasholim.
Rock Hyrax Procavia Great views of some confiding capensis. individuals at Mt Hermon in northern Israel.
Coypu Myocastor Several were seen in the vicinity coypus of the Agmon lake in the Hula Valley. This is a non-native species of South American origin which has colonised many of the waterways of northern Israel.}
Golden Jackal Canis aureus A couple were seen scavenging discarded fish at the fish ponds in the Beit Shean valley. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018
Nubian Ibex Capra nubiana Seen at several sites in southern Israel with our best views of some confiding individuals at Wadi Shlomo near Eilat.
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Seen at several sites in southern Israel including being spotlighted while looking for Nightjars at Neot Hakikar and a single individual that was flushed at Holland Park near Eilat.
Dorcas Gazelle Gazella dorcas Good views at KM20, Amram Pillars, near Uvda plain and a group of antler wresting individuals at Nizzana.
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Several seen while spotlighting for Nightjars at Yotvata fields.
Israeli Wild Ass/Persian Great close views of a single at Onager Uvda plain and then distant views of at least eleven at Ezuz. Following the extinction of the original native Negev subspecies a captive breeding program was established in 1968 with eleven individuals from Iran and Turkmenistan. This formed the basis for the self-sustaining and free roaming population of over two hundred individuals that now inhabit the Negev of southern Israel.
www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]