Southern Israel 22-29 March 2006

Mårten Müller
Peter Bjurenstål
Mats Rellmar
Johan Stenlund
Ulf Ståhle
Thomas Svanberg
Mikael Tydén



22/3 Late arrival to Eilat.

23/3 Birding around Eilat: Ofira Park, North Beach, Southern fields, Switzerland Park, Sewage pools (Km18), Cow farm and Sewage ditch (Km19) and Salt pools (Km20).

24/3 Km20, Km19, North Beach, Switzerland Park, Raptor point Eilat High Mountains, Wadi Shlomo, Km33, Km37, Eilat Cemetery.

25/3 Lotan, Shizzafon sewage pools, Yotvata, Km20.

26/3 Km33, Km20, Eilat High Mountains, Eilat Cemetery, North Beach.

27/3 Nizzana, Midreshet Ben Gurion, Km76, Lotan.

28/3 Km76,Yotvata, Shizzafon, Km40, Km19.

29/3 North Beach, Ofira park.



Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
1 Km20 23.3 and 26.3.

Teal Anas crecca
Singles Km20 on several dates and 5 Km18 23.3.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
2 Km18 23.3 and a few at Nizzana 27.3.

Pintail Anas acuta
10-30 Km20 and Km18 on several dates.

Garganey Anas querquedula
Flocks of 10-40 birds seen at the North Beach on several visits and c. 25 Km20 25/3.

Shoveler Anas clypeata
Big flocks seen at Km 18 and Km 20.

Pochard Aythya ferina
3 Km18 23.3.

Chukar Alectoris chukar
1 Km74 28.3.

Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi
4-5 Eilat cemetery 24.3 and 2 Nizzana 27.3.

Quail Coturnix coturnix
Singles or a few birds seen daily at different locations. Daily totals between 5-30 birds.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
1 Km19 24, 25, 28.3 and 5 Nizzana 27.3.

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster plotus
1 2cy North Beach 23-29.3.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Seen in small numbers at North Beach and birds flying over Eilat.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris
1 migrating north Km34 24.3.

Striated Heron Butorides striata
4 24.3 and 3 26.3 around the fish ponds at North Beach.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Singles or small flocks seen almost daily at different locations such as North Beach, Yotvata etc.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Singles seen at North Beach and Km19 on several dates.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis schistacea
1 North Beach 23.3 and 2 at the same place 26.3.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Seen daily at different locations. Most common in the Eilat-area.

Great White Egret Egretta alba
Seen each time the North Beach was visited, with the highest total of 15 29.3.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Seen daily at different locations.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
1 North Beach 23.3, 1 Km19 24.3 and 6 North Beach 29.3.

Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Seen daily in varied numbers. Mostly migrating birds, such as 150 Km76 28.3.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Less numerous than Black Stork in the Eilat-area, with only a few birds a couple of days. One big flock of c. 800 birds was seen migrating at Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
C. 40 migrating north, Eilat 23.3.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
1 migrating north, Km19 28.3.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
C. 200 Km20 23-26.9

Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
1 Km20 23-26.9.

Black Kite Milvus migrans
Seen daily in good numbers, c. 100 Eilat 24.3, good migration at Yotvata 25.3, Eilat 26.3 and Km76 28.3.

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Migrating birds seen daily in low numbers (1-3).

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus
3-5 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Migrating birds seen daily in low numbers (1-5).

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
A few birds seen daily on different locations.

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
1 male Yotvata 24.3, 1 male Km76 28.3.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
A few seen almost daily.

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
Seen daily in high numbers. The best day was 26.3 with 15 – 20 000 migrating over Eilat city.

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
2 Eilat High Mountains 24.3, 2 Yotvata 25.3, 2 En Netafim 26.3, 1 Km76 27.3 and 3 Km76 28.3.

Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
3-4 Yotvata 25.3, c. 100 Nizzana 27.3 and 5 Km76 28.3

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
1 Eilat High Mountains 24.3 and 1 Km25 28.3.

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
Seen daily in varied numbers, with the highest total of c. 25 Km76 28.3.

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Seen daily in numbers between 3 and 10.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus
A few almost daily.

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Seen at Km20, Km33 and Km76 on several dates. Highest total was 16 at Km76 28.3.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Seen daily in low numbers.

Merlin Falco columbarius
1 Km33 26.3.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
1 Eilat cemetery 26.3

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
1 Km33 26.3, 1 Km76 27-28.3 and 1 Yotvata 28.3.

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
1 Km19 24-25.3

Little Crake Porzana parva
Up to 5 Km19 23 -27.3.

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
1 Km19 24, 25 and 28.3.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
1 Switzerland Park 24.3, 1 Km19 24.3.

Coot Fulica atra
Seen at Km18 and Km20.

Crane Grus grus
6 Yotvata 25.3, 26 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3 and 65 Nizzana 27.3.

Macqueens Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii
4 Nizzana 27.3.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
5 North Beach 29.3.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Seen almost daily at several locations around Eilat. 10 Nizzana 27.3.

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
1 Km33 26.3, 2 Yotvata 27.3 and 2 Km76 28.3.

Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
C. 15 Nizzana 27.3 and up to 7 Km76 27-28.3.

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
1 Switzerland Park 24.3.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Seen in suitable habitat such as Switzerland Park and Km20.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Seen at several occasions in the Eilat-area and Km20.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Common. Seen daily in suitable habitat.

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
1 Km20, 23.3 and 26.3, 1 Switzerland Park 24.3, 1 North Beach 26.3 and 2 at same place 29.3.

European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
1 Km19 24.3.

Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus
Seen daily. Common around pools and ditches.

Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius
1 Kibbutz Lotan 25-28.3.

Little Stint Calidris minuta
Seen at Switzerland Park and Km20.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
1 Km20 26.3.

Dunlin Calidris alpina
5 North Beach 24.3.

Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Common, Km20 23-28.3.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
A few Km19 23-28.3 and 1 Shizzafon 25.3, 1 Nizzana 27.3 and 2 Km40 28.3.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
1 Km20 23.3.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
1 Switzerland Park 24.3.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Up to 4 Km20 23-28.3.

Redshank Tringa totanus
Seen in low numbers at Km20 23-28.9.

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Common Km20 23-28.9 and seen at Switzerland Park 23-24.3.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Common Km20 23-28.9 and seen at Switzerland Park 23-24.3.

Green Sanpiper Tringa ochropus
Seen in low numbers, Km20.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Seen in low numbers, Km20.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Just a few observations.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
1 Km20 26.3.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
1 North Beach 24.3 and 3 at same place 26.3.

White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus
Seen regularly at North Beach, highest number of 30 23.3.

Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus
At North Beach 6 23.3, 2 26.3 and 1 2cy 29.3. 4 migrating north Km20 24.3.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Common.

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
Seen daily at North Beach and Km20 where at least 110 were seen 23.3.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus
Migrating flocks were seen daily, day and night, mainly in the Eilat-area.

Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini
Only a few of several potentials were identified; 1 2cy + 3cy North Beach 24.3 and 1 ad. at the same place 26.3.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
Only one of several potentials was identified; 1 2cy North Beach 24-29.3

Armenian Gull Larus armenicus
2 ad. Km20 24.3.

Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
Seen in low numbers at Km20 on several dates.

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Seen on several dates at North Beach; 13 migrating 23.3.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Seen in low numbers at North Beach.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Seen in low numbers at North Beach.

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
1 North Beach 26.3.

Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii
2 Kibbutz Lotan 27.3.

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus
2-3 Nizzana 27.3, 1 Km76 28.3.

Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus
C. 40 Nizzana 27.3 and at least 10 Km76 28.3.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
C. 20 Nizzana 27.3.

Feral/Rockdove Columba livia
Seen.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Common.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
Scarce, 3 Km19 24.3 and 26.3, 1 Nizzana 27.3.

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Common.

Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
2 Km20 23- 26.3 and 2 Km40 28.3.

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Singles and pairs seen around Eilat.

European Scops Owl Otus scops
1 Km76 28.3.

Little Owl Athene noctua lilith
2 Nizzana 27.3.

Common Swift Apus apus
Seen daily.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Seen daily.

Alpine Swift Apus melba
1 Eilat High Mountains 24.3, 2 Nizzana 27.3 and 2 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Little Swift Apus affinis
2 Switzerland park 23.3 and 1 Km76 28.3.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Seen in low numbers at North Beach.

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Seen every time North Beach was visited with the highest total of 4 birds 23.3.

Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
Seen on several locations such as; Eilat cemetery, Yotvata, Km76.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Migrating flocks were seen at several locations in the Arava-valley, amongst others c. 50 Km76 28.3.

Roller Coracias garrulus
1 close to Switzerland park 24.3.

Hoopoe Upupa epops
Daily sums of 5-10 birds. Several birds were heard calling in the desert at Nizzana 27.3.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Seen almost daily, but scarce.

Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cinctura
1 Km76 27.3.

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
Daily sums of 2-10 birds.

Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes
1-2 were heard calling from the Jordanian side at Km33 26.3.

Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
5 Km19 24.4 and 6 Circular fields, Yotvata 25.3.

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Seen daily at different locations. Higher numbers were c. 300 Km19 and c. 500 Circular Fields, Yotvata 25.3.

Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens
3 Km76 27.3 and 1 Nizzana 27.3.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Common.

Small Skylark Alauda gulgula
1 Km19 23.3 and at least 3 Circular Fields, Yotvata 25.3.

Temminck’s Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha
3 Km33 24.3 and 1 Km76 28.3.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Seen daily in low numbers.

African Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula
Seen daily in low numbers.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common.

House Martin Delichon urbicum
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
A few seen almost daily.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Seen in low numbers at different locations accept for Km76 were it was common.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
Daily sums of 5-15 birds. Seen regularly at Km19.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
1 Km76 28.3.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Seen daily in moderate numbers.

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos
Common.

Robin Erithacus rubecula
1 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Nigthingale Luscinia megarhynchos
2 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3, 1 Km40 28.3 and 1 Km76 28.3.

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Seen daily in low numbers.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
1 Km76 28.3.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Common. Races samamisicus and phoenicurus.

Blackstart Cercomela melanura
Seen daily in low numbers.

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
2 Yotvata 25.3, 1 Km76 27-28.3 and 1 Schizzafon 28.3.

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Seen daily.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Common, seen daily.

Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica
Common, seen daily.

Dessert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti
1 2cy male Km33 24.3, 3 Nizzana 27.3 and 1 female Km76 28.3.

Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
1 along the road west of “Zihor-junction” 27.3.

Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha
1 female En Netafim 26.3.

White-crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga
Seen at different locations such as Eilat High Mountains and Eilat cemetery.

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
1 Km20 23.3.

Blackbird Turdus merula
Seen in Eilat and at Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
Seen at Eilat date palm plantation 26.3 and Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis
Common.

Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta
1 Schizzafon 25.3 and 1 ex Km76 27.3.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Seen in low numbers a couple of days at Ofira Park, Km19 and Midreshet Ben Gurion.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Seen in low numbers a couple of days at Ofira Park and Km19.

Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Seen or heard daily in low numbers.

Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata
1 Nizzana 27.3 and 2-3 Km76 27-28.3.

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans
1 (albistriata) Km19 24.3, 1 female Lotan 25.3 and 1 Km76 27.3

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala
Seen daily in low numbers.

Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax
1 Km76 27-28.3.

Rüppell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli
Seen daily from 25.3.

Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris
1 Km20 23.3, 2 Km76 28.3, 1 Lotan 25.3 and 2 Km20 26.3.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Common.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Seen almost daily in low numbers.

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Common.

Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis
Seen daily in low numbers. Increasing numbers at end of the week, c. 30 Km76 27.3.

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
3 Ofira park 29.3.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Common.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Scarce, seen at Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3 and Km76 28.3.

Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata
1 male Km76 28.3.

Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps
6 Shizzafon sewage pools 25.3, 3 Km23 25.3, c. 10 ex Km76 28.3, 2 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3 and 1 Ovda 29.3.

Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea
Seen at Eilat cemetery 24.3, 5 Lotan 25.3 and 3 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus phenocruroides
2 Km76 27.3.

Great Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis aucheri
5 Nizzana 27.3.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
Seen daily in low numbers.

Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus
Seen daily in low numbers.

Hooded Crow Corvus corone pallescens
4 Nizzana 27.3.

Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis
Seen daily. Max 15 Shizzafon 25.3.

Tristram’s Grackle Onychognathus tristramii
Seen almost daily.

Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis
1 Yotvata 25.3.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Common.

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Common.

Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus
8 Km76 27.3 and 2 Km76 28.3.

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
1 Km20 26.3, c 20 Eilat date palm plantation 26.3 and c 20 Km40 28.3.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
1 Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
1 Southern Fields 23.3, 2 Nizzana 27.3, common at Midreshet Ben Gurion 27.3 and 5 Km40 28.3.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina
Seen at Eilat date palm plantation 26.3, 1 Nizzana 27.3 and 3 Schizzafon 28.3

Dessert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta
Seen daily.

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus
Seen almost daily, max 50 Shizzafon 25.3.

Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus
3 Eilat High mountains 26.3

House Bunting Emberiza striolata
1 Eilat cemetery 24.3.

Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea semenowi
1 Lotan and 1 Yotvata 25.3.

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana
4 Km76 27.3 and 2 at the same place 28.3. c 40 Schizzafon 28.3.

Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia
Common.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
Seen at Shizzafon 28.3.