ISRAEL
I have been fortunate to visit Israel on three occasions.
The first visit was a family bird-watching holiday from the 27th March, 1983 to the 10th April, 1983. Our trip started in the North on the Mediterranean visiting Mt.Hermon and Ma'agan Mikhael and we then worked our way South visiting various sites en-route including the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. We then based ourselves at Yotvata where we could easily visit Eilat as well as the Negev Desert.
My second trip was from the 19th December, 1995 to 23rd December, 1995. We stayed at Eilat and covered sites around Eilat as well as the Negev Desert.
My third trip was from 28th February, 1997 to 6th April, 1997 when I helped to start up a ringing station at Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz in the Jordan Valley,
I have only listed the bird species which I photograph during my three trips, and although I recorded a number of other species, I decided not to include these species due to the length of this trip report,
JFC at the ringing site at Kfar Ruppin.
The following photographs were taken during my three visits. During the first trip I was using a Nikon SLR with a 500mm mirror lens. The second and third trips, I was using an upgraded Nikon SLR with a 300mm Nikon lens non digital and using Kodak films.
Against the species, I have given a very brief status in Israel, and on a number of species which I ringed, I have shown a large selection of the photographs which I took at the time of birds in the hand.
Bird list but not in any particular order
Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps Fairly common resident chiefly in Southern Israel. Just small numbers seen on our first two trips. Not seen in northern Israel.
Arabian Babbler.
Armenian Gull Larus armenicus abundant winter visitor in northern and west-central Israel. Seen on our first and third trips. At Kfar Ruppin large numbers present around the fish ponds with up to 400 estimated during early March. By mid March, numbers had decreased to 150 and by late March only 50 were left mainly 1stW. birds. Numbers continued to decrease in early April and by the 6th, my last date, only 2 were seen. Mainly a short distant migrant breeds Armenia, Caucasus, NW Iran and E. Turkey.
Gulls wintering at Kfar Rupin including Armenian Gulls.
Adult Armenian Gulls. at Kfar Rupin.
Bar Tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus In the Middle East breeds Iran, Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Sinai and Egypt. Bar Tailed Desert Lark resident in Central & Southern Israel in desert type areas. Only seen on our first visit chiefly in the Negev Desert.
Bar-tailed Desert Lark.only seen on our first visit, chiefly in the Negev Desert.
Black Eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica common passage migrant also a common breeding summer visitor in Northern & Central Israel. Only recorded on our first trip in 1983 in the Yotvata and Eilat areas and surprisingly, I did not record it from my stay at Kfar Ruppin, which is situated in Northern Israel.
Black-eared Wheatears.
Black Kite Milvus migrans common passage migrant which winters in some areas. Good numbers seen on our first visit, but at Kfar Ruppin only recorded on a few dates with daily maximum of just 8.
Black Kite
.Eastern Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros common passage migrant and considered to belong to the race semirufus which breeds in Lebanon, Syria and Israel. At Kfar Ruppin recorded on seven dates
between the 2nd March and 19th March. Chiefly singles with 2 on the 2nd and on the 10th.
Male Eastern Black Redstart
Black Stork Ciconia nigra common passage migrant and an uncommon winterer in Northern Israel. On our first visit, we saw a number of birds moving North on our drive South. At Kfar Ruppin I recorded this species daily throughout my stay. Numbers seen fluctuated widely for example 10 on the 28th February, 130 on the 5th March and 8 on the 7th March. Passage proper got under way towards the end of March with 250 North on the 24th March and 600 North on the 25th March. Smaller numbers seen after this with 150 on the 1st April being the maximum. During the early part of my stay birds could often be found resting along the border fence near the fish ponds and were obviously wintering in this area.
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Black Storks at Kaffar Rupin.
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Fairly common Autumn and very common Spring migrant and uncommon winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin I recorded it virtually daily from the 7th March in reasonable numbers with a daily maximum of 35. I ringed 142 during my stay at the ringing site.
Male Blackcap
Blackstart Cercomela melanura Very common resident in desert type habitat in Southern Israel, Recorded it on our first trip and on my winter trip, chiefly in the Eilat area.
Blackstart
Bee-eater Merops apiaster Very common passage migrant over most parts, and common breeding summer visitor in northern and central Istael. On our first visit we had a good arrival at Eilat with birds everywhere even landing on the tracks ahead of us. At Kfar Ruppin One flew over the trapping area on 30th March with 30 seen on the fence around the Kibbutz on the 3rd April with 15 on the 4th. 25 were seen near the Jordan border on 5th April.
Bee-Eaters
Male Masked Shrike fairly common passage migrant and a common breeding species in the North and Central Israel. Several were seen on our first trip in 1983, was one of the highlights of the trip and the two pictures were taken during this trip. At Kfar Ruppin it was recorded on 5 days with a maximum of 3 on a day. I was fortunate to trap and ring the above two birds.
Male Masked Shrikes
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens Resident in desert type habitat. Our only Mourning Wheatear was recorded on our drive South towards Yotvata in 1983 during our first visit.
Our only Mourning Wheatear
Flock of Flava Wagtails on migration in a field at Kfar Ruppin
Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg Breeds Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Iraq to Israel. an abundant passage migrant and the only form of flava wagtail that breeds in Israel.
Feldegg race : First record was a single male seen on the 4th March. Another male on the 11th March was followed by 22 on the 14th March. Numbers quickly increased to 70 on the l7th, 100 on the l8th, and 200 on the l9th, but only 80 left by the 20th, and 20 by the 24th.
A further influx took place on the 25th when 150 were feeding in the fields, but only 1 left the next day. Sixty were seen on the 28th and 29th March, but numbers fell away with 10 on the 3rd April and only 4 left on the 6th April,my last day.
Male Black-headed Wagtail
Female Black-headed Wagtail
Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava Flava race: A single bird seen on the 4th March with small numbers present from the 14th March on 11 dates until the 4th April when 20 were present.
Male Blue Headed Wagtail fairly common passage migrant.
Female Flava type.
Other races of flava wagtails that I identified at Kfar Ruppin:
Beema race : This race was identified on eleven dates from the 14th March, chiefly singles but 4 on the 23rd, 3 on the 25th 2 on the 27th and 29th and 2 present from the 31st March until the 2nd April.
Thunbergi race : A single bird present on the 19th and 20th March, with 2 on the 31st March, 1 on the lst April and 2 on the 2nd April.
Melanogrisea race : Singles of this distinctive race were identified on the 17th and 18th March and again on the 31st March.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica common passage migrant and winter visitor.
At Kfar Ruppin both red-spots & white spots. were seen and trapped. Many were present when I arrived at the end of February, chiefly at the ringing site and the reedy ditches around the fish ponds,
and it was possible to see 18 on a day. My final sightings were of 3 on the 3rdApril. I trapped 81 at the ringing site and the maximum I caught on anyone day was 9.
Bluethroat common passage migrant and winter visitor.
Brown Necked Raven Corvus ruficollis resident in desert areas in south & central Israel. Just seen in small numbers on our first two trips.
Brown Necked Raven.
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti fairly common resident and passage migrant to North & Central Israel.
At Kfar Rupin up to 8 were heard or seen daily, and I trapped and ringed 10 at the ringing site.
Cetti Warblers.
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita abundant passage migrant and common winter visitor.
It was recorded in reasonable numbers at Kfar Ruppin with a daily maximum of 25. I ringed a total of 28 at the ringing site.
Chiffchaffs.
Chiffchaff Sp. Several birds belonging to a very small race were trapped, and these were on average about 25% smaller and shorter in the wing than the normal race and they had distinctive pinkish ear coverts in the hand. Since returning to the UK, I have carefully checked the various reference works but without success at the present time.
Chiffchaff type - Several birds belonging to a very small race were trapped. these were on average about 25% smaller and shorter in the wing than the normal race and they had distinctive pinkish ear coverts in the hand.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Only seen at Kfar Ruppin. A stunning summer plumage male was located feeding with Black Headed Wagtails in a weedy field on the 27th March. A female was located on the fish ponds on the 29th March. Two were present on the fish ponds on the 31st March with 3 there on the 1st April. One was again seen on the fish ponds on the 3rd April with no less than 5 present on the 4th including some stunning males.Three were again seen on the 5th but only 1 on the 6th.
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Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus local resident in Northern & East Central Israel. Seen on our first trip at Hula, at Kfar Ruppin up to 10 pairs were present in the reedy ditches around the fish ponds and birds were also seen at another site. One was trapped at the ringing site.
Clamorous Reed Warblers
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis a fairly common passage migrant. Our first was in the Negev desert on our first trip. At Kfar Ruppin a fine adult male present in the Kibbutz on the 28th March and a second adult male just outside the Kibbutz on the 5th April.
A stunning male Collared Flycatcher.
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola quite common passage migrant. Seen on our first trip when fair numbers were recorded moving through the Eilat area. At Kfar Ruppin three were seen on the fish ponds on the 2nd April, with four there on the 3rd. A party of 15 present briefly on the 4th, and 5 found roosting in a ploughed field on the 5th.
Collared Pratincole.
Common Crane common passage migrant and winter visitor to Northern Israel.Seen on our first and third trips. At Kfar Ruppin it was recorded on seventeen dates from 14th March until 2nd April in variable numbers.500 moved North during the afternoon of the 17th March at the same time as a large passage of White Storks. 160 moved on the l8th March with 250 on the l9th. Otherwise numbers were fairly small. A party of 11 spent 6 days feeding in the fields near the ringing site.
Common Crane a common passage migrant.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin, I saw it throughout my stay around the fish ponds with a daily maximum of 8.
Co9mmon Sandpiper at Kfar Ruppin.
Cream Coloured Courser Cursorius cursor uncommon breeding and passage migrant.Without doubt the highlight of our first trip in 1983, when we came across a small party crossing the road in the Southern Negev Desert.
Superb Cream Coloured Coursers.
Crested Lark Galerida cristata abundant resident. Seen on all three trips, at Kfar Ruppin up to 60 on a day could easily be seen around the area, and I trapped and ringed two.
Crested Larks.
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia common passage migrant and summer breeding visitor to northern and central Israel. Although several were seen on our first visit in 1983. At Kfar Ruppin first seen on the 17th March when 8 were present. It was then seen in small numbers up to the 4th April. Fifteen were seen on the 20th March with 20 on the 23rd, and 15 on the 29th. Numbers had decreased to 2 by April. A total of 27 were trapped and ringed at the ringing site.
1st W plumage.
Female type.
Female 1st Winter types
Various Cretzschmar's Buntings chiefly taken at Kfar Ruppin
Ringing site.
Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax Uncommon Spring passage migrant. Our only sighting was on our first visit in 1983 when a single bird was seen in the desert near Yotvata.
Female Cyprus Warbler uncommon Spring passage migrant.
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus fairly common resident in eastern and northern Israel.Although seen in small numbers on our first trip at Kfar Ruppin up to 250 could be seen at the farm on the Kibbutz in early March and a total of 143 were ringed here. Otherwise, birds were seen at various locations especially during March and 11 were trapped at the ringing station.
Dead Sea Sparrows - Good size flock was present at the farm at Kfar Ruppin and we managed to trap and ring 143 birds.
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo Very rare and irregular passage migrant.
At Kfar Ruppin a superb adult came flying in over the fish ponds with 3 Common Cranes during the afternoon of the 1st April. All 4 cranes appeared to be looking to land and were probably attracted by the large numbers of White Storks which were resting on a dried up pond. The cranes flew around the ponds for several minutes before disappearing towards the fields to the West. I cycled to this area in the hope of relocating the birds on the ground but when I arrived to this area large numbers of people were working the fields and no sign of the Cranes. Good views were obtained of the Demoiselle Crane,the small size was very evident , the black on the neck extending right down onto the breast and the white tuft with grey forehead well seen. The upperparts especially the wings appeared more silvery grey compared to the Common Crane and the legs did not extend so far out the back. I was able to take 2 photographs of it and these clearly show the different in size.
Demoiselle Crane with Common Crane. The Demoiselle is a very rare and irregular passage migrant.
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta fairly common resident. At Kfar Ruppin it was chiefly seen at the ringing site from the 6th March to the 4th April. The majority were seen between the 7th March to the
18th March when 25 were present. Numbers then started to decline although a small influx occurred on the 24th March when 30 were seen, and by early April, just a couple were left. I trapped and ringed a total of 39 at the ringing site.
Desert Finch fairly common resident.
.Desert Lark common resident in the deserts of Eastern & Southern Israel.Only seen on our first and second trips where it proved to be common in the deserts around Eilat.
Desert Lark common resident in the deserts.
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli orientalis common Spring passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin, I recorded it on 8 dates from the 21st March chiefly seen in the trees and bushes in the Kibbutz with a daily maximum of 6 on the 28th March. I just trapped 2 at the ringing site.
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler common Spring passage migrant.
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida elaeica common passage migrant and breeding visitor.
At Kfar Ruppin I recorded it in small numbers at the ringing site from the 14th March and I trapped and ringed ten birds.
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, I photographed all the birds that we ringed in order to have a good selection of pictures.
Fan Tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus uncommon resident in arid areas. Just recorded on our first trip when odd birds were seen in the Dead Sea area.
Fan Tailed Raven.
Garganey fairly common passage migrant Anas querquedula. On our first visit, good numbers of Garganey were seen from the North Shore at Eilat.
At Kfar Ruppin odd birds were seen to the 19th March when a notable influx occurred when 180 were counted on the fish ponds, but only 2 were left the next day. 10 were then present until I left on the 6th April.
Pair of Garganey at Kfar Ruppin.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus fairly common passage migrant. Seen on our first visit, with a flock flying over Eilat (top picture) and also seen at a pool in the Negev desert. At Kfar Ruppin a flock of 13 flew north high over the Kibbutz and also odd birds seen at a nearby fish pond.
Glossy Ibis fairly common passage migrant.
Graceful Warbler Prinia gracilis common resident. Seen on all the three trips, at Kfar Ruppin up to 40 could be seen around the area and a total of 34 were trapped at the ringing site during my stay.
Graceful Warbler usually give the appearance of being an untidy bird.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus fairly common passage migrant. Just recorded from Kfar Ruppin with singles on the 19th and 21st March and the 2nd April, 2 on the 3rd April, and 4 on the 6th April. In total I ringed 5 birds.
The race zarudnyi which occurs in Israel as a migrant is paler throughout and less rufous greyish-olive underparts, lacking the rufous brown with indistinct paler and browner rump and upper-tail coverts . and with a more distinct supercilium. The final three pictures shows a more rufous-brown looking individual and probably belonging to the race arundinaceus.
Great Reed Warblers trapped and ringed at Kfar Ruppin
Great White Egret Egretta alba fairly common winter visitor mainly in northern Israel.
When I arrived at Kfar Ruppin at the end of February I found 800 in the fields
around the fish ponds, but numbers soon started to decline with a count of 400
on the 8th March, 200 on the 13th March, and 60 on the 21st March. On my last day
on the 6th April, just 4 were left.
Great White Egrets etc at Kfar Ruppin.
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii quite common passage migrant but just seen on our first visit in 1983 at Eilat.
Greater Sand Plover at Eilat.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus common passage migrant and winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin, I recorded it daily around the fish ponds, with a daily maximum of 8 on a day.
Green Sandpiper at Kfar Ruppin.
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus uncommon resident, odd birds seen on our first visit on the drive south.
Griffon Vulture
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes rare winter visitor and irregular migrant. I was extremely surprise to trap and ring 2 Hawfinches at Kfar Ruppin, the first was on the 31st March and the second on the 4th April.
Hawfinch trapped and ringed at Kfar Ruppin.
Fuscus type Lesser Black Back Gull common passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin, I saw several Lesser Black Backed types which I initially thought may be heuglini types, but the only one which I could photograph appears to be a fuscus type.
Fuscus type Lesser Black Back Gull at Kfar Ruppin.
Hooded Crow Corvus corone common resident throughout North and Central Israel.
Hooded Crow Common and widespread around Kfar Ruppin.
Male & Female Hooded Wheatears Oenanthe monacha scarce local resident in Southern and Eastern Negev.I just recorded these on my winter visit when several were seen in the Eilat area.
Male & Female Hooded Wheatears.
Hoopoe Upupa epops common resident and passage migrant .At Kfar Ruppin 3 birds were wintering in the Kibbutz and several migrants were seen at the ringing site.
Hoopoe at Kfiar Ruppin kibbutz
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes scarce local resident in desert areas. Only seen on our first trip in 1983, when several were found in the desert areas near Eilat.
Hoopoe Larks
House Bunting Emberiza striolata fairly common winter visitor in north and central Israel. My only sighting was on the winter trip just to the north of Eilat.
House Bunting near Eilat on our winter trip.
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. Just odd birds seen on all three visits. With one on our first trip which soared over the road as we travelled north from Yotavata, we found 1 wintering near Eilat on the second trip and at Kfar Ruppin three juveniles were seen during my stay.
Imperial Eagle as it soared over the road near Yotavata.
Jay Garrulus glandarius common resident in north and central Israel.This local race atricapillus is very distinctive having a paler body, black cap with a white face forehead and throat. At Kfar Ruppin two pairs were always present near the Kibbutz.
Jay at Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz.
Kentish Plover fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin a male present at the fish ponds on the 12th March with a female there on the 29th March. A male was then present on the 30th and 31ast March.
Kentish Plover appeared to be nesting at the Fish Lake at Kfar Ruppin.
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Very common resident breeder mainly in Northern and Central Israel.
Kestrel very common resident.
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis fairly common passage migrant & uncommon winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin up to 8 present around the fish ponds and one trapped and ringed at the ringing site.
Kingfisher at Kfar Ruppin.
Lanner Falcon Falco cherrug scarce resident in the South. Our only sightings was on our first trip north of Eilat.
Lanner Falcon
Palm (Laughing) Dove Streptopelia senegalensis abundant resident. Very common seen on all three trips.
Palm Doves
Lesser Kestrel Falco naummanni passage migrant and also a breeding visitor in the North &
Central. Odd birds were seen on our first visit and just 1 male at Kfar Ruppin.
Male Lesser Kestrel at Kfar Ruppin, but soon departed.
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina abundant passage migrant Good numbers seen on our first visit including a good number migrating over Wadi Amud where the photographs were taken. At Kfar Ruppin recorded generally in small numbers on 13 dates during the period with 50 moving North on the 30th March and 400+ North on the 3rd April were the largest movements recorded.
Lesser Spotted Eagle abundant passage migrant.
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca abundant spring migrant and a breeding summer visitor in the North. On our first trip proved to be by far the commonest migrant at Yotvata. At Kfar Ruppin I recorded it virtually daily from the 7th March with daily maximums as follows: 25 on the 21st, 25 on the 26th , 40 on the 27th, 30 on the 28th March. Similar numbers were present in early April, I ringed 88 during my stay.
Good numbers of Lesser Whitethroats present.
Little Crake Porzana parva fairly common passage migrant and rare winter visitor. Odd birds seen on our first visit. At Kfar Ruppin a male was present at the fish ponds from the 26 March to 28th March and was joined by a female on the 27th. A second male was present on the 1st April to the 5th April.
Male type
Female type
The following all are Male birds.
Males and Female Little Crakes at Kfar Ruppin.
Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis cyanophrys uncommon resident chiefly in the south and belongs to the race cyanophrys with the blue face and underparts. Only seen on our first and third trips. The first two pictures were taken on our first trip at Eilat and the remainder I took on our winter trip near Eilat.
Little Green Bee-eaters at Eilat.
Little Owl Athene noctua common resident. Several seen only on our first trip in the Negev Desert, and belongs to the race lilith.
Little Owl in the Negev Desert.
Long Legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus uncommon resident. Seen on all my three visits, but chiefly in the north. The first picture was taken during my winter trip in the desert, and the other pictures were taken along the border track at Kfar Ruppin.
Long Legged Buzzard uncommon resident.
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris fairly rare local resident in the Hula Valley
Our only sightings were on our first trip at Hula.
Marbled Ducks at Hula.
Marsh Harrier fairly common passage migrant and winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin I saw it virtually daily with up to 10 on a day.
Marsh Harrier at Kfar Ruppin.
The Namaqua Dove Oena capensis was first identified in Israel in 1961 and first found breeding in 1980. We saw this bird at Eilat on our first visit in 1983, when it was still a very rare bird in Israel.
.Namaqua Dove Scarce breeding summer visitor.
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax resident locally common breeding and passage migrant.
The first two pictures show a flock of Night Herons arriving and landing on the lagoons at Eilat.
Flock arriving at the Eilat lagoons
Discovered a breeding colony on the Israel and Jordan border at Kfar Ruppin
At Kfar Ruppin up to 300 birds could be seen in the heronery along
the border with Jordan. I extracted a number of birds from the nets
over the fish ponds, some of which were in poor condition.
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos common Spring migrant and breeds along the Jordan River.
My only sighting at Kfar Ruppin was a single bird along the Jordan border.
Nightingale seen along the Jordan border at Kfar Ruppin.
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Very common passage migrant.
One of the great surprises was the total lack of all Wheatears seen of all species during my
visit to Kfar Ruppin, even thou I was searching suitable areas for them. My sum totals
were 2 females on the l7th March with l still present on the l8th and one on the 22nd March.
Female Northern Wheatear at Kfar Ruppin.
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis fairly common passage migrant and summer breeding visitor.
I was very fortunate to trap and ring 13 different birds at Kfar Ruppin with adult males and females and birds still in 1st W. plumage which in plumage were like large plump Lesser Whitethroats. I took the opportunity to photograph them all.
Various Orphean Warblers trapped and ringed at Kfar Ruppin.
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Seen on our first and third visits. At Kfar Ruppin I first recorded two on the 13th March, the main influx occurred as the Cretzschmar Bunting was finishing. On the 29th March 3 were found with 12 on the 1st April, 45 on the 2nd, with 60 on the 6th April, my last day. I ringed a total of 17. It was strange that the Ortolan's replaced the Cretzschmar's to the day, They fed in the same areas and even used the same bushes to rest in.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus Winter visitor mainly in Northern Israel and a scarce passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin when I arrived at the end of February, I found several birds which were probably wintering around the fish ponds. Passage was also noted from mid-March and it was seen daily with up to 10 on a day.
Osprey over a fish lake at Kfar Ruppin.
Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea a common resident. Seen on all three trips, at Kfar Ruppin small numbers could be found around the Kibbutz.
Female
Male
Palestine Sunbird a common resident.Various Great Black-Headed Gull (Pallas's Gulls) Larus ichthyaetus in adult (winter & summer plumages) & immature types. Quite common winter visitor to the North & Central Israel.
Our first sighting was on our first trip at Ma'agan Mikhael, at Kfar Ruppin 30 Pallas'sGulls were present around the fish ponds when I arrived, at the end of February, by mid-March numbers started to decrease with just one 1st.W. left by early April. They were often seen with the Armenian Gulls.
Greater Black-headed Gulls with four Armenian Gulls at Kfar Ruppin.
Armenian Gulls
Great Black-Headed Gulls chiefly taken at Kfar Ruppin in various plumages.
Male Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus fairly common passage migrant.On our first trip we had several fine adult males arrive in off the sea at Eilat. At Kfar Ruppin single males were recorded on four dates and 2 an adult and sub-adult were seen on one date. I even had one "bounce" out of my mist-nets at the ringing site.
Male Pallid Harrier.
Male Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus fairly uncommon migrant and winter visitor. Only seen at Kfar Ruppin with a fine male trapped on the 10th March, 12 seen along the Jordan border on the 26th March, and up to 4 seen close to the ringing site at the end of March.
Male Penduline Tit trapped and ringed at the Kfar Ruppin site.
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis common resident in suitable habitat in North & Central Israel. Good numbers seen in the North on our first trip and at Kfar Ruppin it was by far the commonest Kingfisher around the fish ponds and up to 50 on a day could be seen. What was worrying was the number that was being self caught in the nets over the fish ponds. On one day alone I released 26 different birds and during the period I found several dead in the nets. Seven were ringed from these nets and within a week one was re-trapped.
Pied Kingfisher common resident.
Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus In the 1930's it was a fairly common breeding bird but due to drainage and persecution by fisherman it ceased to breed. At Kfar Ruppin I recorded good numbers virtually daily and on the 1st March I counted 75 birds flying over probably going to roost. In the Heronery which I discovered on the border with Jordan, I discovered up to 20 pairs breeding here.
Pygmy Cormorants breeding at Kfar Ruppin.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea fairly common passage migrant. Seen on both our first and third trips. At Kfar Ruppin a single bird was seen on the 28th March and a party of 7 came in from Jordan and then
departed North.
Purple Heron at Kfar Ruppin.
Red Rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica Common passage migrant and fairly common breeding summer visitor to North Israel. Good numbers seen on our first trip and at Kfar Ruppin first seen
on the 1st March, but numbers rapidly increased to 300 on the 20th and 500 by the 25th.
Good numbers of Red Rumped Swallows present at Kfar Ruppin.
Various Red Throated Pipits Anthuscer vinus in transitional plumage. Very common passage migrant and fairly common winter visitor. Good numbers seen on all three trips. At Kfar Ruppin migrants rapidly increased from just 1 on the 2nd March to 70 on the 11th, 120 on the17th, 200 on the 19th and 300 on the 20th. When I left on the 6th April 40 were still present.
Red Throated Pipits in transitional plumage.
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula common passage migrant and winter visitor. Recorded around the fish ponds at Kfar Ruppin with up to16 on a day.
Ringed Plover at Kfar Ruppin.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax Common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor. Large numbers recorded at Kfar Ruppin with the maximum daily count was 125 on the 2nd April
Ruff at Kfar Ruppin
Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi common resident chiefly in arid areas in the South. Seen only around Eilat in both of our first and winter trips but not recorded around Kfar Ruppin.
Sand Partridges in Southern Israel.
Male Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala fairly common resident in Central & Northern Israel. Just seen at Kfar Ruppin on 8 dates, chiefly singles but 3 on the 24th & 2 on the 27th. Just a single bird was trapped and ringed.
Male Sardinian Warbler fairly common resident in Israel
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides fairly common passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin ringing site, this species was often singing at first light but soon stopped after about 30 minutes.. Small numbers were recorded passing through this area with up to 6 present on a day and a total of 28 were ringed by myself up to the 6th April when I left the site.
Well marked under-tail coverts.
Savi's Warblers were an early morning singer.
Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta Fairly common resident in desert type areas.
Only seen in small numbers on our first two trips always in desert or arid areas.
Not recorded around Kfar Ruppin.
Scrub Warblers Locally common resident in most Desert areas.
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus common passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin I recorded it virtually daily at the ringing site with a daily maximum of 10 and during my stay I ringed a total of 47 birds.
Sedge Warbler ar Kfar Ruppin.
Short Toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus common passage migrant and breeding species
A number seen on passage during our first visit, chiefly in the Yotvata area. At Kfar Ruppin just 4 birds seen moving North.
Short Toed Eagle.
Short Toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla common passage migrant and breeding summer visitor.
Recorded on our first and third trips. At Kfar Ruppin, small numbers were recorded on four dates including a party of 8 around the fish ponds.
Short-toed Lark.
Slender Billed Gulls Larus genei fairly common passage migrant. On our first trip, good numbers were present on the ponds at Eilat including many immature type birds. The first picture shows immature birds on the causeway around the pools with a migrant flock of Collared Pratincoles.
Collared Pratincoles with Slender-Billed Gulls at Eilat.
Adult Slender Billed Gull at Eilat.
Smyrna (White-breasted) Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis fairly common resident in Northern & Central Israel. On our first trip, this was one of our most wanted birds and we saw a number around Ma'agan Mikhaal and at Hula. At Kfar Ruppin it was always present around the fish ponds and I extracted and ringed a number from the fishing nets, I also trapped one at the ringing site.
Smyran Kingfisher at Kfar Ruppin.
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius aucheri and previously belonged to the Great Grey Shrike complex. It is a resident in most of Israel. Recorded on all three of our trips, at Kfar Ruppin is was chiefly seen in small numbers mainly along the boarder with Jordan.
Southern Grey Shrike.
Female & Male Spanish Sparrows Passer hispaniolensis common breeding and passage migrant.
Large numbers of Spanish Sparrows were seen heading North across the deserts on our first
trip and at Kfar Ruppin an influx occurred from the 25th March when 300 occurred at the ringing
site. Numbers remained high with 1,000 present on the 30th March & the 1st April, many of which departed North. I trapped and ringed 143 at the ringing site.
Female
Male Spainish Sparrows.
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Quite common passage migrant chiefly in Central and Northern Israel.
At Kfar Ruppin a good passage was noted during my stay and I recorded it on 13 dates. A number of the parties stopped off fairly briefly at the fish ponds, before departing North. My daily maximum was 52 on the 5th April, 1997.
Spoonbills with White and Black Storks at Kfar Ruppin.
More Spoonbills feeding with a single White Stork.
Spur-Winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus Common resident breeder. First seen at Ma'agan Mikhael on the Mediterranean coast on our first trip I also saw odd birds during our winter trip at Eilat and it proved to be very common around the Kfar Ruppin Kibbutz with 300-500 present.
I also extracted one from the fishing nets around the fish ponds, which I ringed and it flew away strongly. You can see the spur on the top of its wing.
The bird I released from the nets around the fish pool,
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Fairly common Spring migrant and a scarce breeding bird. Seen on our first and my third trip. At Kfar Ruppin, I extracted 6 from the fishing nets set around the fish ponds which I was able to ring and all six flew away strongly. I was unable to locate any in the Heronery on the border with Jordan.
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo (Race of Common Buzzard) Abundant passage migrant. Very common in the South on our first visit but not recorded at Kfar Ruppin.
Steppe Buzzards
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus fairly common resident and also a winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin it was recorded throughout my stay in suitable habitat and probably 10 pairs were holding territory around the Kibbutz.
Stone Curlew at Kfar Ruppen
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Abundant passage migrant and scarce winter visitor. On our first trip we saw many as we drove South towards Eilat in the more arid/desert areas. Also recorded it at Eilat during my winter visit but I only identified one at Kfar Ruppin although many dots could be seen over the hills flanking the valley may very well have been this species.
A Juvenile bird with the distinct white stripes on the underwing.
Adult Steppe Eagle lacking the white stripes on the underwings.
Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei rare winter visitor. One of the highlights of my winter visit in 1995, when I found this Striated Scops Owl hidden in an acacia tree in a dry wadi near Eilat. It proved quite difficult to photograph as to get the bird face on I was photographing directly into the sun.
Striated Scops Owl near Eilat
Temminck's Stint passage migrant and a scarce winter visitor. A number of birds were found to be wintering at Kfar Ruppin and during mid-March up to 7 on a day could be found in the ditches around the fish ponds and my daily maximum was 12. All were still in winter plumage.
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Temminck's Stint passage migrant, and a scarce winter visitor.
Tree Pipit Anthus trivalis common passage migrant. At Kfar Ruppin I saw my first ones of the Spring on the 17 March and then recorded in small numbers with a daily maximum of 12.
Tree Pipit at Kfar Ruppin.
Tristram's Grackle Onychognathus tristamii is a fairly common resident in arid area, although I did not record it in the Kfar Ruppin area.
Tristram's Grackle is a fairly common resident.
Female Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus resident and often nomadic. Just seen on my winter visit in December, 1995 when odd birds were found in the wadi's behind Eilat.
Female Trumpeter Finch.
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur common on passage and breeding in Northern & Central Israel. At Kfar Ruppin, I first recorded it on the 25th March, and from early April up to 15 could be found around the fish ponds.
Turtle Dove It was an abundant passage migrant.
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida is a breeding summer visitor very rarely seen on passage. I discovered this bird singing outside of my Kibbutz chalet at Kfar Ruppin on the 4th to 6th April,1995. It was generally very elusive, but occasionally giving good views but proved difficult to photograph. Luckily, it sang most of the time and was seen by a number of local birders who confirmed the identification. Has to be one of my best finds ever.
Upcher's Warbler singing in the Kafar Ruppin kibutz.gardens.
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta is a common passage migrant and winter visitor. At Kfar Ruppin, migrants were seen around the fish ponds with a daily maximum of 40 in mid-March but by April only odd migrants were being seen.
Water Pipits around the fish pools at Kfar Ruppin
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a fairly common migrant throughout Israel, although I only recorded the odd migrants.
Whinchats on migration.
Whiskered Tern Chilidonias hybridus is a fairly common passage migrant chiefly in the north, our only sightings were on our first visit to the Sea of Galilee.
Whiskered Tern at the Sea of Galilee.
White Cheeked Tern Sterna repressa is a rare visitor mainly to the Eilat area. We were fortunate to see one in April, 1983 when one was present at the North Beach, Eilat.
White Cheeked Tern on our first visit, which was a lucky sighting.
White Crowned Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga is a resident in some of the desert areas in Eastern and Southern Israel. We recorded it in the south on our first visit in 1983 and I also saw it on my second visit around Eilat in December, 1995, but did not record any at Kfar Ruppin.
White Crowned Black Wheatear
White Stork Ciconia ciconia Very common passage migrant and a fairly common winter visitor. We saw large migration flights on our first visit as we drove South and around Kfar Ruppin many would roost with Black Storks around the Fish Ponds.On the 17th March 1997, I recorded a massive migration when an estimated 30,000 moved North in just 2 hours and at times the sky was completely covered with Storks.
White Storks etc.
White Tailed Plover Chettusia leucura . is a rare passage migrant and winter visitor to Israel.We saw 2 at Eilat on our first visit in April, 1983.
Two White-tailed Plovers at Eilat on our first trip.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba is a common migrant and winter visitor and does breed in Northern Israel. Proved to be very common at Kfar Ruppin with up to 300 migrants on a day could be found around the fish ponds.
White Wagails at Kfar Ruppin.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola is a common migrant which occasionally winters.
At Kfar Ruppin, I recorded it almost daily with a daily maximum of 10.
Wood Sandpiper at Kfar Ruppin.
Woodchat Shike Lanius senator Fairly common migrant and also breeds in Northern and Central Israel.
At Kfar Ruppin I recorded it on 7 dates with 2 on 1 date and trapped a single bird at the Ringing Site.
Woodchat Shrike at Kfar Ruppin.
Wryneck Jynx torqulla a fairly common migrant in Israel. At Kfar Ruppin, I recorded singles on
9 dates between 7 March & 6 April and trapped one bird, and we also recorded it on our first visit at Yotvata in the south.
Wryneck at Kfar Ruppin.
Yellow Vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos was found throughout Israel, although I found it to be commoner in the North & Central Israel, although surprisingly I only trapped 4 at Kfar Ruppin.
.Yellow Vented Bulbul.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Shirihai Hadoram Birds of Israel 1996.
Richard Porter et al Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East 1996.
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