ISRAEL SPRING 2011
Impressions from a trip to Southern Israel in March 2011. I spent most of my time in the Arava-Valley - part of a main Eurasian-African bird-flyway. March is a good time to see a great variety of migrating bird-species; and at the same time still many wintering birds are around, like this Bluethroat:
The Arava-Valley from a birds eye perspective. Lush agricultural fields, plantations and parks in the middle of an extreme arid desert promise good opportunities to refuel.
Common migrants: Lesser Whitethroat (above) and Blackcap
This spring proved to be an excellent year to see Rueppell's Warblers, one of the most beautiful warblers (males and female): 
Not always easy to photograph as they like to hide in dense bushes, they even fly inside the bushes!
The only serious rival for the title of the most beautiful Warbler is Subalpine Warbler, also a regular though a bit less common passage migrant:
Common bird in uncommon environment. Chiffchaff feeding on an exotic tree in Kibbutz Lotan. Talking about common birds in Europe in uncommon environments some more examples: Grey Herons and Shelducks coming in for night- roost on migration into a complex of pools near Eilat - the spectacular Edom-Mountains in Jordan as background, below: White Storks in the Desert.
White Wagtails on migration feed on insects over a sewage pool:
Flamingos are a major tourist attraction in the Eilat area usually neglected by birders:
Sewage Works like the one of Kibbutz Yotvata (below) are important stoppover sites in the Valley
Typical migrants in sewage works: Yellow Wagtail (ssp. feldegg and superciliaris), Water Pipit, Little Crake, Grey Wagtail and - fairly regular - Citrine Wagtail:
No visit without a major surprise: This year it was a Buff-bellied-Pipit that was found by Yoav Perlman (see his blog: www.nubijar.blogspot.com) stayed for a few days in the new constructed wetland in Kibbutz Lotan:
Of course, migrating raptors are always a thrilling sight. Pallid Harrier, Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle and Steppe Buzzard:
Agriculture and desert: The intensive land-use poses a threat to the natural desert habitats but at the same time increases food-availability to migrating birds: Ortolan Buntings, Bimaculated Lark, Hoopoe and Wryneck:
RESIDENT BIRDS
Apart from migration Israel is home to spectacular resident birds. To just name one family: An impressive number of no less than 15 species of Wheatears have been recorded here. This trip I spent several days with this fascinating group of birds, especially White-crowned Black Wheatears who live in some of the most arid and remote Valleys.The juvenile birds show only white on the flanks, adults have a white "crown". Isabelline Wheatear is the most common and widely distributed Wheatear species in Israel. Northern Wheatear is a very common passage migrant. 
Blackstart, a spectacular bold little bird endemic to the deserts of the Middle East is one of my favorites:
LARKS
Israel is home of some of the most spectacular Lark species. Since two years, Thick-billed Larks occupy nearly all suitable habitats in the Arava Valley and the Negev Plateau. This nomadic species obviously takes advantage of the strong rainfalls two years ago. Last summer many of them bred sometimes three or even four times. This spring many birds still are present but there is little hope for another year of reproduction on a bigger scale. Nevertheless it is amazing to see so many of this brilliant birds around.
A very common but nevertheless excellent little bird: Desert Lark: 
Temminck's Horned Larks are rare breeders mainly in the Negev Desert. They also seem to do well in the last two years:
Very common: Short-toed Lark
The most exciting bird Israel has to offer: Hoopoe Lark, with less than ten breeding pairs also one of the rarest birds in the country. The last refuges of this fascinating species are remote deserts and military training areas as well as border strips along the boundaries with Jordan. This picture shows a Hoopoe Lark territory that comprises both Jordanian and Israeli land. The wired fence marks the border between both countries:
Sandgrouses: The remote lark habitats are also the places to search for sandgrouses, this time I was lucky with Crowned Sandgrouse and even saw them displaying:
NIGHTLIFE
Photography days are long but nonetheless its worth to spend an hour or two searching for wildlife at night. This trip I saw my first Striped Hyeana
Beautiful Pharao Eagle Owl, so much smaller than its European conspecific
and Barn Owl, a bird that came to the desert with the settlements:
Birdwatchers show up in growing numbers in recent years, enjoying birds and Israel's hospitality. This year's Eilat Spring Migration Festival attracted more than 200 people from abroad. 220 bird species were seen within the week of the festival. In autumn a similar event is scheduled to take place in Northern Israel. I will organize a Photographic workshop during the week of Nov. 20-27. focussing on Cranes, Eagles and Kingfishers. Do not hesitate to contact me in case of interest.More information to follow on my page.
_____
I want to thank my friends from the Israeli Ornithological Center for their ongoing support in all parts of the country: Itai Shanni, Jonathan Meyrav, Yoav Perlman, Asaf Mayrose, Nadaf Israeli, Zeev Labinger, Dotan Yosha and especially Dan Alon and Yossi Leshem. Also without the help and friendship of of Shachar Alterman, Rony Livne, Lior Kislev, Barak Granit, Gal Shon, Liron Ziv,Yoram Shpirer, Amir Ben-Dov - and of course Frank Moffatt - this and other trips would have been much less enjoyable. Toda and lehitraot!
