Caspian Plover
Situated on one of the most important flyways in the Western Palaearctic, southern Israel offers birders a magical migration experience. Our trip is timed to coincide with huge numbers of migrants, making their way through the region to their northern breeding grounds. Whilst the itinerary will take in all of the sites mentioned, it will be as flexible as possible, to ensure that time in the field is maximised. We will visit all the main habitats in and around Eilat and the Negev Desert, returning to those that are most productive. One of the most memorable sights in Israel is that of thousands of raptors flying overhead. Given the correct conditions, we should encounter impressive numbers of Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites. Smaller numbers of Booted and Steppe Eagles, Long- legged Buzzard and Egyptian Vultures are also regular, whilst species such as Lesser Kestrel, Barbary Falcon and Pallid Harrier could turn up anywhere. To offer a real taste of Israeli life, we have chosen to base ourselves at Kibbutz Lotan, following our previous successful visits there. This uniquely Israeli experience is ideally situated to cover all of the best birding sites in the area and has some outstanding birding on site. We will spend a lot of time exploring this green oasis as it acts as a magnet for birds and will provide some memorable experiences of visible migration. Species seen around Lotan include Brown-necked Raven, Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, Graceful Warbler and Namaqua Dove, whilst species such as Little Green Beeeater, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Dead Sea and Spanish Sparrows, Isabelline & Black-eared Wheatears are plentiful. Nearby habitats such as the tamarisk plantations and cereal fields at Yotvata host Eastern Bonelli’s, Olivaceous, Graceful and Arabian Warblers, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Great Spotted Cuckoo and possibly Rufous Bush Robin and White-breasted Kingfisher, amongst a host of flycatchers, warblers and wagtails. The Yotvata area has produced many rarities throughout the years and there is always a chance to find something unusual. Species we hope to encounter here include Bluethroat, Great Reed Warbler, Little and Baillon’s Crake and Citrine Wagtail. At Eilat`s North Beach interesting species may include Terek Sandpiper, Brown Booby, White-eyed and Great Black-headed Gulls, Greater Sand Plover, Black-winged Stilt and Collared Pratincole being found amongst more familiar species. Striated and Western Reef Herons, Greater Flamingo, Caspian, Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns, Red-throated Pipit and Slender-billed Gull can also be expected. We will wrap one day up with a visit to a traditional drinking spot for Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, with up to a dozen birds seen here regularly. In the Dead Sea region, we will be covering a lot of road in search for some of the areas special species that include Fan-tailed Raven, Tristram`s Grackle, Trumpeter Finch, Pallid Swift and more. On our way back south, we will visit a local site for Nubian Nightjar and hopefully Hume’s Tawny Owl. The southern Negev plateau, Ramon Crater and Nizzana are other areas on our itinerary where we will be searching for such gems as Sinai Rosefinch, Syrian Serin, Striated Scops Owl, Mourning, Desert, Red-tailed, White-crowned Black and Hooded Wheatears, Desert Lark, Scrub and Cyprus Warblers, Sand Partridge, Spotted Sandgrouse, Bar-Tailed Desert Lark, McQueen’s Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, Syrian Woodpecker, Spectacled Warbler, Southern Grey Shrike, Hoopoe Lark, Lesser Short-toed, Bimaculated, Thick-billed and Dunn’s Larks.
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