Israel late April to early May 2019 - part 2

The second part of the Israel 2019 spring trip here covers the remaining highlights including some of the stunning Collared Flycatchers that were seen. 

The trip report is also completed and upload now to www.cloudbirders.com and it contains updated maps and infor for visiting birders. 

Kentish Plover : KM20 Salt Pans

This stunning bird was the best of the few that were seen this year 

Bee-eater - Hameishar plains

Several small flocks of migrating Bee-eaters were seen with those at Hameisher hawking Painted Lady butterflies.

Bittern - KM19 Sewage Pond : late April

Initially elusive it was eventualaly seen well at the sluice

Presumed hybird European Honey Buzzard x Crested Honey Buzzard

A number of hybrid Honeys were seen through the Eilat Mountains on days of big migration

 Presumed hybird European Honey Buzzard x Crested Honey Buzzard

A number of hybrid Honeys were seen through the Eilat Mountains on days of big migration

 Crested Honey Buzzard or Hybrid - Eilat Mountains : May

Another conumdrum bird. Amongst the tens of thousands of Honey Buzzards passing overheard initially looked like a juvenile Crested Honey Buzzard however once time has been taken to study the images it looks, structurally, closer to European Honey Buzzard so it to is probably a hybrid. Either way it stood out like a sore thumb in the crowd.

Collared Fycatchers - Lake Yeroham : late April

Right at the start of the trip I hit good numbers of this stunning flycatcher with 20-25 seen at Lake Yeroham.

Levant Sparrowhawk - male, IBRCE : late April

several days of around 2600-2800 were had at the IBRCE whilst the Eilat Mountains one morning gave in the region of 9,000. Just stunning spectacle. 

Visit the Levant Sparrowhawk page for more images and to see a short video clip click on the YouTube link here : https://youtu.be/X-dnj6Kd5aI

Crested Honey Buzzard - IBRCE, May

One of three seen at the IBRCE which part of the twelve that had spent the winter here. This is the least tatty plumaged of gthe three. 

House Crow - North Beach : April

Rarely photographed I liked this image of the two together on the beach

Israel late April to early May 2019 - Part 1

I was back in Israel this spring, from late April into early May and had been hoping for a good Honey Buzzard and Levant Sparrowhawk passage as well as lots of other great birds. 

The Honey's and Levant's hot the mark whilst I catch the end of the Collared Flycatcher bonanza that was occuring in the country but most other migration was a bit tough with lower than expected numbers of some species. That being said some excellent birds and birding experiences were had and some of the highlights are shown below and in the next page. 

For the Honey Buzzards and Levant Sparrowhawks there are seperate pages for this covering numerous birds. 

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Yotvata Sewage Ponds : May 2019

Small flocks were noted here and at Ketura

European Roller - En Avrona

One of three birds found in the Acacia thorn scrub.

Black Scrub Robin

This bird was seen feeding a fledgling and put on a fine show early morning at Kibbutz Samar. To see a short video of this click on the YouTube link here : https://youtu.be/X-dnj6Kd5aI

Black-winged & Collared Pratincoles - KM20 Salt Pans

Initially I found three Black-winged Pratincoles at KM19 Pool before I relocated them here where they had been joined by a Collared Pratincole which allowed for close comparison between the two species; the Collared is the righthand bird

 European Honey Buzzard - KM20 Salt Pans : late April

This was my best year for this species with large numbers seen on more than one occasion with a peak of around 93,000 through the Eilat mountains on the 5th May. This particular bird came down to drink at the Salt Pans late April. 

For a selection of images of the the Honey's visit the Honey Buzzards 2019 highlights page. For a short YouTube video of some of this spectacle click on the YouTube link here: https://youtu.be/l-q5ysJggi8

Little Bittern, female - IBRCE Ringing Centre

A few inteesting birds were sen in hand at the ringing centre with Rufous Scrub Robin and Corncrake amongst the others. 

 Little Bittern - female  : KM19 Sewage Pond

An extremely tame female Little Bittern fished at the sluice of the sewage pond. At time it was so close I couldn't focus the camera on it. 

Rufous Scrub Robin - IBRCE

Absolutley stunning species that here shows the tail pattern nicely

Masked Shrike - Lake Yeroham

Night Herons - IBRCE : late April

This flock was seen migrating north over the reserve

 Ortolan Bunting - Neot Semadar Sewage Ponds

Only seen on the firt evening were a couple came down to drink at the ponds

Short-troed Eagle - Mt. Amasa : late April 

Mt. Amasa is regularly hosts resident birds with this typical individual amongst those seen

 'Southern' Grey Shrike - KM82 : late April

A pair were holding territory close to the road in this superb birding wadi

 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Ketura Sewage Ponds : May

Broad-billed Sandpiper - KM20 Salt Pans : May

 A very good year for this species with my personal peak count being 19 at this location

Collared Pratincole - KM20 Salt Pans : April

Not overly common this year those that were seen showed very well from the car

Corncrake - Kibbutz Samar : late April

This bird walked past the car whilst I was waiting for Black Scrub Robin to appear

Golden Oriole - Kibbutz Lotan : May

Quiet aa good showing this year with several bright birds present around the Organic Gardens of the Lotan Kibbutz. 

 Scrub Warbler - Uvda

A family party of Scrub Warblers was near the picnic site along Route 12 south of the Uvda Valley turn-off.

Hill Sparrow - HaMeishar Plains : May

A few of this species, my only lifer of the trip, were seen at this splendid location