Migration on the move again

After several days of  low numbers, migration has decided to show itself once again.
over the last few days we had good numbers both in the field and at the IBRCE ringing station. A very big wave of Red-backed Shrikes, Thrush Nightingales and Barred Warblers all over with amazing numbers trapped daily (numbers represent total new birds for the season respectively - 63, 72, 41). Also a late wave of Whitethroats with 28 new birds between 2-3 May...

A very unusual wave of River Warblers which are considered rare in Israel, nevertheless are being reported from all over the country this year and in our region at least 3 different individuals (Elifaz, Neot Smadar and the IBRCE). 

Honey Buzzards are streaming in full gale and among them there are Oriental Honey Buzzards which are found almost daily. Last Friday while guiding the Southern Arava Bird Club (SABC) we had 2 beautiful males and another one over the ringing station earlier this week.

This year (as said already) is a behaving very strange and a late Pallid Swift and Black-eared Wheatear were a great surprise to the dreamteam in the nets.

All the resident species are in full breeding and some are already on their second round...

 While we were busy ringing, I got a phone call from Frank Mofet who was observing 2 Terek Sandpipers in the salt ponds south of the IBRCE (found earlier by Bark Granit et al). He also reported of a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Holland park on the Fri'...
I must admit, that I've been scanning K20 over the last few days in search for the Terek Sandpiper ,as it is usually arrives in this time of year ... when Shachar heard about it he rushed to get a very long distance record shot and while on it he reported of 4 Oystercatchers (again not a common species around here) from K20 yesterday.

 

The weather seems to be stable now but we hope that this is not the end of the season. Stay tuned for the last summery report by Markus which should be written towards the end of his season sometime next week...