Israel : April - May 2016

So making up the gap year in 2015 I made two visits to Israel this spring, the second of which was to again witness the spectacular Honey Buzzard passage. I was joined by friend Simon and we had some excellent movement through the mountains on a couple of days at Neot Semadar whilst a good number came down to the salt pans to drink one late morning. Migrants were sporadic but some good day were had with some goodies found: White-throated Robin, Black Scrub Robin, Olive-tree Warbler, Ortolan Buntings, Sooty Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon and so on. Another great spring in Israel.

Purple Heron, KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Bee-eater : Mt. Amasa

Black-winged Pratincole : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Broad-billed Sandpiper : KM20Salt Pans, Eilat

Dorcas Gazelle : En Avrona, Eilat

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler : wadi at KM82

Glossy Ibis : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Honey Buzzard : Eilat Mountains

Honey Buzzard : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Honey Buzzard : Eilat Mountains

honey Buzzard : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Honey Buzzard : Eilat Mountains

Honey Buzzard : Eilat Mountains

Honey Buzzard : Eilat Mountains

Hybrid European and Crested Honey Buzzard : Neot Semader Sewage Ponds 

Hybrid European and Crested Honey Buzzard : Neot Semader Sewage Ponds 

Olive-tree Warbler : wadi at KM82

Short-toed Eagle : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat

Turtle Dove : Yotvata Fields

White-winged Black Tern : KM20 Salt Pans, Eilat