Slowly but surely

Spring is moving on and so does the birding in the area.

At the IBRCE ringing station, numbers are still moderate but nevertheless some nice species are being caught (see Markus write up below) and there are growing numbers of Sylvia's ticking throughout and new arrivals like Red-necked Phalaropes, Marsh Sandpipers, Greater Sand Plovers and more 'feldegg' Yellow & Citrine Wagtails.

And today the first Subalpine Warbler which was found by the team at Holland Park.   

Below are more updates from yesterday by Markus...

"Ringing numbers have been developing quite slowly lately. However, today, Mar 5th, was a better day with a total of 96 birds caught including a stunning 2cy male Dead Sea Sparrow

and finally the first Rueppell's Warbler for the season (a nice male was caught later - photos will come soon - ISH), this was a 2cy female.

Chiffchaff has still been the main ringing species but yesterday we caught the first Blackcap and numbers of other sylvias have also been increasing. Balkan Warbler has been almost a daily catch and today we caught couple of Indian Silverbills again. Yesterday evening we managed to catch some Barn, Red-rumped Swallows and Sand Martins (2 very small individuals which fit perfectly to the 'eilatea' subspecies descriptions - ISH). 18 Barns, 14 Red-rumped and 2 Sand Martins altogether.

Yesterday two British guys, Will and Roger, arrived to reinforce our team for ten days - welcome aboard!. We did a quick afternoon birding to Yotvata seeing an adult male Pallid Harrier, similarly aged and sexed Hen Harrier and other common stuff. Today while ringing Will spotted a Sociable Plover passing by the station. I tried to scramble out as quickly as possible but unfortunately didn't manage to see it. Hopefully it won't be the only observation of this species during the season. Later today, Itai found a winter plumaged Greater Sand Plover and a female Cyprus Warbler at K20 (while searching for these, Will & Roger found the White-tailed Plover & the first Red-necked Phalarope for the season - ISH) and on Mar 3rd Noa and I saw two Oystercatchers flying by the North Beach. On Feb 27th we luckily found the/a White-tailed Plover present at the saltpans near the IBRCE and after that it's been observed twice also at K20. An Egyptian Goose was still present at K19 on Mar 1st and same time we also saw a 2cy Bonelli's Eagle wandering around. A Barbary Falcon at Yotvata on Mar 2nd could also be worth mentioning. Yesterday we checked Ofira Park and Central Park which were quite empty but still holding two Masked Shrikes and five Red-throated Pipits."

New arrivals...

Like every year this time is very thrilling. Each day brings its surprises and there are plenty of new birds throughout and also a growing number of birders are travelling around and bring more updates from the field.

Last weekend, the IBRCE ringing station has started its season operation and we have 2 new volunteers - Markus Lampinen from Finland and Eran Makover from Israel who have started the season with help from Yael, Ron, Noa, Tzadok and myself. we wish then a great season and many interesting and common species!

Over the last week we were busy with opening all the nets and showing Markus and Eran how do we work at the IBRCE. So far the numbers are moderate for the season, but we're sure that it is only a matter of time till the skies and the begs will get filled...

A great discovery was made by Mori Chen of a breeding Cream-coloured Courser up in the area of Ovda Valley, surely there is never stop for the surprises...

Here is Markus first report:

"The last few days of ringing have all produced around 40 to 60 birds including mainly basic stuff like Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroats and Reed Warblers but also some nicer ones like Tristram's Grackle, Penduline Tit, 

quite an early Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, and the first Eastern Bonelli's (aka Balkan) Warbler,

two Indian Silverbills and two Quails. 

Hopefully the numbers will increase in following days and the first Rueppell's Warbler will find their way into the nets and not just hoping in the bushes.

Steppe Eagles of older age classes are still migrating and on Feb 22nd about 150 birds passed the ringing station in half an hour.

On Feb 24th while we were ringing in the station and Itai was on his way for a net round, we heard hime shouting "out, out, White-tailed Plover flyover" unfortunately, by the time we were out, only Eran got a short glimpse of it while it flew next to the station due north. A female Citrine Wagtail was seen at the saltpans on the next day and today, Feb 26th, two gorgeous Dead Sea Sparrows were hanging around the station area in the morning. Unfortunately they weren't in the mood of getting caught this time. On Feb 23rd we walked around Holland Park seeing couple of Sand Partridges, two Little Green Bee-eaters, a Rueppell's Warbler, pair of Trumpeter Finches and other nice stuff."

even the Seychelles can't compete with the migration around Eilat...

While temperatures are rising and the desert is getting nicer with huge amount of flowers in full bloom (mainly different shades of Blue), after this massive rain we had over this winter (60 mm in an area where the average annual rainfall is only around the 20, this is what I call massive), I find myself in a "Zugunruhe" at most times and despite the many tasks before the season and the coming Spring Migration Festival, my head is in a constant search for movements and shades in the bushes.... 

Roy Talbi reported last week of another Pallid Scops Owl from Hai-bar Yotveta and there are also reports from Wadi Shlomo

Last Friday I gave a lecture on  bird migration for guides to be in Sde Boker. As I was driving there already on the Thursday, I stopped en route to check if the Egyptian Nightjars are still present and sure did I find at least 3 different individuals flying in the fields! 

After the lecture I drove back home and stopped at the Meishar where I flushed out of nowhere a male Maqcueens Bustard. These birds should be on breeding territories now thus I didn't stay long and am looking forward to come again and see if it is the case?

Today I was join by Morten Christensen from Denmark and we had a great morning with amazing looking Sinai Rosefinches 

Later in Ovda Valley  we looked in vein for larks and all we could find are groups of Crowned & Spotted Sandgrouses, Isabeline, White-crowned, Desert & Finch's Wheatears a first Tawny Pipit for the season and a pair of Thick-billed Larks which looked very much into breeding already. In Yotveta we couldn't find any interesting bird except two firsts for the season - 'feldegg' Yellow Wagtail and Common Whitethroat.

After leaving Morten back in his hotel I decided that it is about time to spot the first  Ruppell's Warbler and right on the spot a nice 2nd calendar male was waiting for me!

So despite being dumped in the last minute by our main bird ringer for this season, I'm sure that it will prove once again, that even the Seychelles can't compete with the migration around  Eilat...

Pallid Scops Owl and more

This morning, I went to do some ringing at the IBRCE in order to check where do we stand with migration?! I was joined by Noa, Tzadok and many kids and visitors who came to enjoy a great weather and wonderful array of birds.

Altogether we've ended the morning with some 30 birds of 11 species including some early migrants like Savi's and Sedge Warblers, few wintering species like Bluethroats, Chiffchafs and Sardinian Warblers and also few residents like Palm Doves, Spanish Sparrows and Graceful Prinia.

Savi's Warbler

Bluethroat

  

Sedge Warbler

Galya, (Liat's daughter) releasing a Chiffchaf

The most welcoming catch though, was a beautiful Pallid Scops Owl which was found during the first trap round. The bird had all the classic features and it created a great happiness with all the helpers and visitors... 

No white spots on the forhead

Feathers extending to toes 

Throughout the day there was also a very slow passage of  Steppe Eagles and also huge numbers of Vagrant Emperor and Painted Lady flying throughout...

Painted Lady  

Migration kickstart

When we use the phrase "Spring Migration" around here we usually think about the period between mid Feb- mid May. During this period we use to see the big numbers of migrants of all sorts and species going through this wonderful area.
Last week we had very wet (in Eilat standards) weekend which was followed by nice and dry 2-3 days and today again, floods throughout the Southern Arava and the IBRCE park, yet again has lost its main road for the 3rd time this winter...

Since last Thursday we had 2 visiting birders from Denmark, Silas Olofson and Turkey, Emin Yoğurtcuoğlu who were eager to see all the area specialities and rare migrants. Unnaturally for them, the Storm of last weekend have made many changes and it was hard to relocate both the long staying Dunn's Lark and trio Buff-bellied Pipits, but their lenses have caught a great variety of species which our area is blessed with and also few early migrants which are already on the move like Pallid Swifts, Steppe Eagles. Undoubtedly the stars were a very big surprise to all - 5 very early Egyptian Nightjars which are usually seen around only from late February. Below is a small collection from Silas and Emin 5 days in the region.  

 

 

   

Signs of Spring

It is mid January already and there are many signs of Spring which will soon arrive.
Steppe Eagles are already on the move - singles are seen daily and like each year, I wonder where are they heading so early when everything is still frozen up north?
Asian Desert and Spectacled Warblers are found in many corners of the Arava and up in the air there are constant calls and shrills of Pallid Swifts on migration while at least 3 Great Spotted Cuckoo's were seen both in Eilat and around Samar.

2 different Steppe Shrikes were photographed over the last week around the Arava, I wonder if they represent early movements?!

Last Thursday I had a free hour around Samar and i went to check if the Little Owl is still present. While I could not locate it, I had a great opportunity to study the differences of Water and Buff-bellied Pipits at Samar turf fields with no less than 3 of the later present among roughly 100 Water Pipits.

Water Pipit

Buff-bellied Pipit

 Today, Yaniv found the Little Owl again at the same spot...

  

Happy New 2013!

So where have the blog gone? Why are you not posting any more, we want to hear some updates... 
In fact, I can think of so many excuses but the truth is, that I was just too lazy and didn't have the mood to sit down and write while so many observations and reports have piled on my table over the last 1.5 months and there are many nice birds all around. Many Asian Desert Warblers can be seen both around the Arava and up at Uvda Valley which due to the recent floods has started Spring blooming already. This year there are also unusual numbers of Spectacled Warblers which can be found in suitable habitat around the Arava and the southern Negev.

Dunn's Lark have seem to take few close-by winter territories where both Avi Meir and myself have found it very confiding. Many birders have managed to see the bird and Avi has produced top quality photos of this enigmatic species.

A SA birder who lives in Kibutz Lotan is insisting on an observation of Verreaux's Eagle next to the cow shed a month ago, but the bird was never re-sighted unfortunately, but on a trip there I've found a nice male Goshawk.
Long-eared Owls are present this winter in different places and a single Little Owl from the local subspecies of 'lilith' was seen recently around Samar.

Uvda Valley has been very productive and over the last 2 months, I had many visits all producing good assemblies of wonderful Larks; Temminck's, Bar-tailed, Thick-billed, Lesser Short-toed and even 2 Dunn's Larks were present up at Uvda, together with many White Wagtails, Red-throated and Water Pipits and many Skylarks as well as the usual Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse, Trumpeter Finches and many Desert, Isabeline, Hooded, Mourning Wheatears. Last Friday I was joined by Yael, Ron, Tzadok, Shachar and Limor and together we erected 108 meter nets which produced 4 Thick-billed, 1 Temminck's and 1 Lesser Short-toed Lark, all species which are very seldom being trapped in Israel and still there is so much to learn on their ageing and all their moult strategies.

3-4 Greater Spotted Eagles are seen around the southern Arava and there are at least 2 adult and 1 juv' Eastern Imperial Eagles and also 2 Bonelli's Eagles which wander around. 

Over the last 2 months we had many changes at the IBRCE park and we were busy with building and doing different maintenance works. There are still many more duties to do towards the opening of the Spring which is due to start around mid February and I hope that we will be ready for another great season.