While down in Eilat it was not all about locust. Raptor migration was excellent - peak days for Levant Sparrowhawk. We did not see any huge flocks, but enjoyed nice numbers (several hundreds), and for me driving up and down the valley seeing levants fly alongside the car, or dart between trees, is a thrilling experience.
These were early days for European Honey-Buzzard migration, we had several tens on each morning; a few 'local' Orientals were seen too.
The saltpans south of IBRCE and also KM20 were packed with shorebirds. Among the many stints and ringed plovers were also Red-necked Phalaropes, Black-winged Pratincoles and Broad-billed Sandpipers. We missed a huge arrival of White-winged Terns by few days. At KM20 all three 'marsh tern' species were seen foraging side by side - very beautiful birds. Forgive me White-winged Tern for ignoring you this time.
Black Tern - quite scarce, actually a photo tick for me in Israel
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