Friday, April 1, 2011

Israel Mecca Visit (Part 3) Eilat gets better....

More around the ringing station. A nice Scop's Owl - they get about 20-30 through each year. Apparently there's been a few problems in Israel with Ring Necked Parakeets stealing nest boxes. Striated Scop's winter in the nearby Wadis but they'd gone by the time we arrived.


Nice Savi's Warbler in the hand.
Israel Mega - BLACK BUSH ROBIN caused quite a stir with a mega twitch soon in action for its release. 



Raptor Migration - raptor list - too early for Levant and Honey B. Just 5 minutes outside of the resort in the Eilat mountains there is a constant steam overhead in the morning. WIth a tail wind they get forced lower and often can be seen zipping past hotel balconies. We were a bit unlucky as the birds were generally quite high, but still quite a spectacle and good to practice ID skills.

Steppe Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Short Toed Eagle
Black Kite
Steppe Buzzard
Long Legged Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Lesser Kes
Kestrel
Steppe Eagle - has long "arms"

Loads of Black Kites going through.
Occasional groups of Black Stork,

Israel birding always has an element of danger to it! 

Jumping into the nearest Wadi we came across a few pair Sand Partridges - the male has some awesome colouring on its side. 



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