Yet another fantastic day. I began the day with a quick browse through some local sites near the city, that were rather quiet. This handsome male Eastern Black- eared Wheatear was very attractive in the clear early morning sun:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSTS6UTdK9KFln0rxQu9JUm7kUKCcpbZwqaGuwyuBuUHGyHUN1fV9tOTo5p40Nwg8bi7raLC9XrpD10H3Q4qjVJxrSJPESZQnRXJRsmKcZpNdnCN0wg3PqyosdhbmZOOZ4flA7kHkqCr0/s400/BEW.jpg)
On the way north I received an RBA message about a Menetries's Warbler ringed at the IBRCE. I made a quick detour to see this excellent bird - many thanks to the IBRCE staff!
Menetries's Warbler - 2cy male
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkTjyV1PDARaS_CXGVJifLdFj6XviaHu7L_aLiCF5UMWGKjOPM1xldTalSkGfL7Rx7oc_cCX4bhXhYh2kAvq6IJRg8AyDj-X1xm9D_66UX6GPmxs_5J2Yd-MhCsiArTc4EMzx9q95Jy0k/s400/mene1.jpg)
And here in the distinctive cocked-tail posture:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEgQ3nVN1FOoYb8lnXRb_liwpqCiBWGSBuHQvpQqs5g1-x7SGYkpmH6u_MNNhoMNNhYYiR13cNAzQCL2Cye3r47HQt6uZeijOBy43JL9CbW-Vsro78cCZMurT9pfZjf0QQhwHrQSLZ7SH/s400/mene2.jpg)
I headed with Asaf to Yotvata. As we drove into the fields, we noticed the same Pallid Harrier from yesterday, but this time perched on a better branch (not on a sprinkler like yesterday). It was so friendly and let us get very close. I waited patiently for it to get used to us and do some interesting stuff. For a long time it just sat there, looking and listening:
Pallid Harrier
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ULub9CXGLz7tn5njCI7za2OtzgQ7CRTJbaob-IiEHelGfg91cKdyneC9sA_2Bds4hBZXHMXvz8qcU8pBOl4IzzLxqzjm0e3RHZ-QKLaMw0u6giDtDPJBGh_Q50U66lt8LjmUDEpGOh-g/s400/pallid4.jpg)
Then it started scratching:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7qFg70JoRCrn2KeorWV5rnxullJNcFImYam5HRJ5TYPxachXqItW53GZfv12maMjUSYzYDRlgv8yRiwaH0Fb2ZrdYuroiVhDi3_cvsNhU5LBQLQYedCb0IWzmJz1Qv8ykpWmo3kl_EFK/s400/pallid5.jpg)
And shaking:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYvHp8ZIlHoxHnm2yyIlviNrLJGI3_PHGUKiIMiqFx53z4Ix8dylIRSOKdDOeB4zOsjV6Bg1K-oimli49ifpmD0ZdE-DBJMDnfBeHgUngPOIxDLJqVMBt0WrVvtLBPZdlhLOrja2o8rIM/s400/pallid6.jpg)
And stretching:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVv3h1Sfkq-xmRmEcjsDYcQJbQgiik6EtMpXKrblCMjGxbOG7IZFBb6jUp4yhyphenhyphen3x2IiNVK0LUMKmwVRXzhqhpU-TIpP4AbBJb9KsxRUOdA6Eo4AyqS4L89knjh48Tcvj1W3fwantLicyKy/s400/pallid3.jpg)
And then it decided to take off. I was lucky to get these shots. what a stunning bird! It really made my week.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse4y2RaxGIz3W_oHm-bq-3vX-4mjPP6m8x4caj9gGihMKZLYdPEVttWOBIFCaGNySJswsAj-xQAJPG-ZA2of3QGWzvQOFQtGXf9K_k9Y0Z9yAzPAomYR-h1kFd5LTuc9tZo7SN6vQbXI6/s400/pallid2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8DLUgtqptR6RSScdBXHCtwpTeCUXxgsRpcLYfY9-S8C65t1xBNXoUwYAYw7wU_hAF5M1m4pcZPjTT8n9tOPVdahv1ARWvKQfQvBcXH6oYW1tPXxSIlOPxc_BDiZnJSFF52Zqkw3fRE7c/s400/pallid1.jpg)
The fields of Yotvata had a similar selection as yesterday, with a notable arrival of Tawny Pipits.
In the afternoon I led a tour to the KM19 sewage farm, which was pretty quiet but the pair of Little Crakes continued to show very well, and we had a male Namaqua Dove and several brief Dead Sea Sparrows.
And one more thing: check Stephen Menzie's terrific videos from the Festival
here and
here. It's great having Stephen with us, he's certainly working harder than anyone else this week...
Shots that I only dream about. Brilliant.
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