Firecraker!

Terrific news broke this morning - Frank Moffat (UK) and Tuvia Khan found a female Firecrest on Mt. Bar'on in the Golan Heights - the same site holds also two Radde's Accentors at the moment. Due to family commitments today (celebrating 10 years with my lovely wife) I couldn't go, otherwise I would not have celebrated 11 years. It was twitched by quite many birders today, and hopefully it stickes around for tomorrow.

This is turning out to be one hell of a winter for rarities in Israel. The latest scattering of mega records nationwide shows how underwatched Israel is, with super birds showing up in funny places.

This is the first 'first' for Israel since the American Golden Plover in 2008. I was hoping for a good sibe thrush, but this is not bad anyway. It is one of those species that are common and widespead in Turkey but never make it down here: Dipper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Coal, Blue and Long-tailed tit, and a few others. I know these are trash birds for European birders, but as you can imagine it's (almost) as exciting for us here as a White's Thrush. Almost.

Many thanks to Amir Ben Dov for this great image. Wish me luck for tomorrow.