This last spring was a very strange one with relative low numbers over whole, while some species had a very high peak mainly towards the end of the season.
There are still few waders hanging around with Red-necked Phalaropes, Broad-billed & Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints being the most common. 2 Sanderlings and 3 Greater Sand Plover were a nice addition of species during the beginning of the week.
At north beach still few migrants flying through with Common & Little Terns the most common but also Oystercatchers, Sooty Shearwaters and the first White-cheeked Terns all seen almost daily.
Markus Lampinen our dedicated volunteer who had to carry the ringing station throughout the season on its back with the help of many others, have left today back to Finland and in this opportunity if would like to express our big thanks to Markus and the rest of the volunteers (Tzadok, Liat, Jan, Arnold, Eran, Roger, Will, Yochai, Yael, Roni, Ron, Yaara, Merav, Sylvia, Noa, Utte, Shachar and all whom I forgot to mention) who made this season a successful one despite all the obstacles on our way!
We will be happy to see you all back with us in the future.
Itai
"The end of the season is here and I must head back Finland
to finish my studies, earn a lot of money and to do some ringing and birding
there.
Last two weeks haven't been very busy with ringing but still
some nice species like Olive-tree and River Warblers have been caught. Also
some Marsh and Barred Warblers were still around this week. One of the season's
most surprising birds was caught on May 10th when a female Sand Partridge flew
in one of the pond nets. What a silly bird.
Another not-so-common catch was a
Spur-winged Plover that also was hanging in a mistnet during a swallow roost
catch (check its spur over its cheek!).
In the field it has also been pretty slow, but still last week I saw a
stunning adult male Crested Honey Buzzard migrating over the park and also
twitched two Terek Sandpipers from the saltpans. At North Beach we saw three
White-cheeked Terns, 3 Oystercatchers and a few Sooty Shearwaters. A female
Black-headed Bunting was also found from K20 today while Barbary Falcons were
hunting over the pools. Quite nice!
Last evening we also re-checked the daily
drinking routine of Liechtenstein's Sandgrouse at K19. Altogether three (1
male, 2 females) individuals arrived. In the end of April me and my Finnish
friends visited the Dead Sea area and saw a lot of great birds including of
course Nubian Nightjar, Hume's Tawny Owl, Sinai Rosefinch and Striolated
Bunting. Thanks Yoav & co for good company!
Since this was the first time for me in Israel there really
was a lot to see and I didn't actually get bored at any point even though the
season was not the busiest one. If I should pick up some highlights of this
season a White-throated Robin would certainly be one of the top birds. I'm also
still seeing dreams about the 17 Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters we caught during the
season. They are such a beauties! 27 ringed Rueppell's Warblers, 4 Olive-tree
Warblers, 3 Namaqua Doves, 5 Little Bitterns, 5 Golden Orioles and a Spotted
Crake also especially thrilled me. And of course it's always a great experience
to handle any kinds of raptors or owls. Handling over 200 Eastern Olivaceous
Warblers makes also a life bit easier when facing such a bird for example in
Finland where it shouldn't occur.
In the field I really enjoyed of all the species at the Dead
Sea area but also Crested Honey Buzzards, Thick-billed and Temminck's Larks, all
Sandgrouse, Mourning Wheatears, Black Bush Robins, Pharaoh Eagle Owl and Pale
Rock Sparrows only to mention few of them. During the three months I managed to
see altogether 259 species here in Israel, mainly around Eilat area. Still some
species like Ménétrie's and Cyprus Warbler, Pallid Scops Owl, Upcher's Warbler,
Sooty Falcon and Egyptian Nightjar are waiting for the next trip to show up for
me.
Finally I really would like to say thank you to all the
wonderful people who have been helping, accompanying and having fun with me
here in Israel. I have learned a lot about ringing, identification and Israeli
culture during this trip and I know this won't be the last time I visit here.
Especially I want to thank Itai and Tzadok who guided me to
work at the station and always took a good care of me. It was a great pleasure
to work with you. You were like parents for me during this season. You may
decide yourself which of you is mom and which dad :)
I would like to thank also Arnold, Eran, Jan, Luc, Re'a,
Roger, Ron, Roni, Tom, Yaara, Yael, Yohay & Will for staying and ringing
with me here at the station. It was great fun!
Thanks go also to Anthony, Jon, Liat, Limor, Maor, Merav,
Noa, Ofir, Shachar, Sylvia, Utte & Yotam for helping me with ringing and
other stuff. Life would've been much more difficult without you.
And last but not least thanks for my Finnish friends Emma,
Esko, Hannu, Jände, Miksu, Petteri, Roni (again) & Tomppa for birding
company and help also. You're always fabulous!
Hope I didn't forget anyone but if I did, he/she should know
that I really will never forget anyone of you.
See you soon again Israel!
Markus Lampinen"
