Israel in Spring 2010

 Pictures from a trip mainly to Southern Israel from mid-March to April 5. Substantial rainfall during the winter-period transformed arid desert regions along streams and wadis into green and lush areas. Due to many alternative possibilities to feed, migration was therefore much less concentrated compared to recent years. Usually common migrants such as Ortolan Bunting, Rueppell's Warbler or Cretzschmar's Bunting were present only in small numbers in the usual spots in the Arava-Valley. This was more than compensated by the appearance of some very rare and irregular breeding birds. For the first time since a decade Thick-billed Lark may breed this spring. Several dozens territorial pairs were found in suitable habitats on the Negev Plateau. Also Hill Sparrows are building nests in good numbers in the Negev region. An additional highlight is the presence of several territorial pairs of Dunn's Lark, also an irregular breeder in Israel.