tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28914031970498175232024-03-16T19:34:32.170+00:00Yoav Perlman - birding, science, conservation, photographyYoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.comBlogger1142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-34907276722179549972024-03-16T19:32:00.004+00:002024-03-16T19:33:59.985+00:00Spring bliss<p>This morning was one of those mornings that demonstrate best (to me at least) why I am a birder and how rewarding being a birder can be. I visited Mt. Amasa, at the southern tip of the Judean Mts. This is one of my favourite birding sites in March - the habitat is beautiful, the landscape is stunning, and birding is magnificent. The open, rocky slopes, now covered with flowers, attract juicy migrants, and support healthy populations of quality breeding species. For me, a mid-March visit to Mt. Amasa is really one of the highlights of my birding year in Israel. I know the sites there very well, and I could predict almost precisely what and where I would see. It made no difference - it was a beautiful morning, albeit a bit short (family stuff...).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNJWAsoO6LoJzIxGP7lijsmVq-PTxMcAFeQfcYu5Ub79tUvvyhBQz2B9Izn0WviEYef9eIHnX2xOw6WbsMrqj5RZwa8t3yjocmP0ikVqxjUAuws65a6k0aUVUBIaqb4pAd4fey9ntHr33A_xw7D1W0D6q3_kqilDUvDjcRCJZN6jE9CPU3LEqiTKR2Nc/s4000/1710612650636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="4000" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNJWAsoO6LoJzIxGP7lijsmVq-PTxMcAFeQfcYu5Ub79tUvvyhBQz2B9Izn0WviEYef9eIHnX2xOw6WbsMrqj5RZwa8t3yjocmP0ikVqxjUAuws65a6k0aUVUBIaqb4pAd4fey9ntHr33A_xw7D1W0D6q3_kqilDUvDjcRCJZN6jE9CPU3LEqiTKR2Nc/s320/1710612650636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I met up early with Barak (in the photo above), Avi & Ron. At first we checked around the ruins of Tel Krayot, then descended to the adjacent Wadi Tov. It was a bit cold early on but soon the sweet warm sun lit up some beautiful birds for us. Check out this handsome 2cy male Woodchat Shrike, likely a migrant (not quite in breeding habitat), glowing in the soft early morning light:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BhGCslQKAPz4lMvdpuX7c9BbG-0Ya1C5cIk3syB_YUOC8VoyeqGgFebidlLRJ7-0bF_ceGk4dCD5VGXb67UR-hOSdynqckfBT3Nu-miyGXpNKOXnD33ooErEi3Svo_W9dSv_Jpw8uvgxZlc2VRUuGn9nR-eYo3j6dn9zim9R_DQC29J3lJjgtNznGq8/s2000/woodchat%20shrike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BhGCslQKAPz4lMvdpuX7c9BbG-0Ya1C5cIk3syB_YUOC8VoyeqGgFebidlLRJ7-0bF_ceGk4dCD5VGXb67UR-hOSdynqckfBT3Nu-miyGXpNKOXnD33ooErEi3Svo_W9dSv_Jpw8uvgxZlc2VRUuGn9nR-eYo3j6dn9zim9R_DQC29J3lJjgtNznGq8/w400-h266/woodchat%20shrike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There were really nice numbers of Cretzschmar's Buntings, several flocks moving through and quite many hopping on the rocks. They do breed here but despite some males bursting into their sweet 'Si-si-seee' song, I think they were mostly migrants.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Male</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqnKacAsU245k1ltPHwyB7gc7CS0NlvDgsOOqzMBX6sfGLH2P_PaB5uOkqlMPVoQOF2xePns8zti4g7vN3J68DuAc9FJtgHq_HVrAAi47vglMJ9myzs1C2VysgmAcXY82iZnccAeONeFxCD7qx53-tPOnsiInfnjO5tujXIykG-mE4FPvVxlQYfEbzWk/s2000/cretzschmar's%20bunting1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqnKacAsU245k1ltPHwyB7gc7CS0NlvDgsOOqzMBX6sfGLH2P_PaB5uOkqlMPVoQOF2xePns8zti4g7vN3J68DuAc9FJtgHq_HVrAAi47vglMJ9myzs1C2VysgmAcXY82iZnccAeONeFxCD7qx53-tPOnsiInfnjO5tujXIykG-mE4FPvVxlQYfEbzWk/w400-h266/cretzschmar's%20bunting1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Female</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz7Gn6NFmsyzkgCvpmXhWOeBsguvqKlJLTJp_hHbFKpkgDe9TNraNKXO-Sz9ZUYBMqh7zROw3jypF_jFRUzHg6M1jpayqH6VsgADZVb6P2Ersfe6edQhj9V4i2HU_4afOpELl-689RVUD4QqPYSpdRY-UfmOA5rZSfl-1B0DL1VhT6Uwv5c1Yp5EWkDg/s2000/cretzschmar's%20bunting2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz7Gn6NFmsyzkgCvpmXhWOeBsguvqKlJLTJp_hHbFKpkgDe9TNraNKXO-Sz9ZUYBMqh7zROw3jypF_jFRUzHg6M1jpayqH6VsgADZVb6P2Ersfe6edQhj9V4i2HU_4afOpELl-689RVUD4QqPYSpdRY-UfmOA5rZSfl-1B0DL1VhT6Uwv5c1Yp5EWkDg/w400-h266/cretzschmar's%20bunting2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Using the ruins and boulders as breeding sites, there were good numbers of Rock Sparrow, Blue Rock-Thrush and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, all seen in advanced breeding activity. Wait for it and turn your volume up:<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/616109352/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><br />Down by the wadi there were more Sylvia warblers in the scattered bushes, including Rueppell's, Eastern Orphean and Eastern Subalpine. I have seen brighter subalps before - still a very neat bird.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_znpH8NC_RzHgAGpzbOzUf6m1RkjE56NsoUf8wIWqTCOrKyzupQ4DVY0WBuIsi_Qn8g6aGkas8tmEORzTQxlAYkMkP3iIiEw0FK7GoXbhoM7aw2dh82mtbt-hFTSo52PHJJnbedTmk5RCUYMJ-T7bhl3ncfNq5vqpvTXvhlPwjeu5PE4hZfnU2DIamY/s1753/eastern%20subalpine%20warbler1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1753" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_znpH8NC_RzHgAGpzbOzUf6m1RkjE56NsoUf8wIWqTCOrKyzupQ4DVY0WBuIsi_Qn8g6aGkas8tmEORzTQxlAYkMkP3iIiEw0FK7GoXbhoM7aw2dh82mtbt-hFTSo52PHJJnbedTmk5RCUYMJ-T7bhl3ncfNq5vqpvTXvhlPwjeu5PE4hZfnU2DIamY/w400-h266/eastern%20subalpine%20warbler1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>There were many redstarts about - lots of wintering Western Blacks still here, one cracking male Eastern Black (likely <i>semirufa</i>), and several Commons, including three male Ehrenberg's. Barak talking in the background:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/616109339/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Twas also fun watching several Wrynecks rockhopping. Always fascinating birds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH4KkRA4zNhL4FMSttzYUa3pXsatQDUf_g51-N7LluEhFyZrqM2A7hM6reZavOhZiHq6Yo_dhliJUJlI36azVTMuVos4cZbwymYJimm4Qro9xXevh_ZIZgChz70MU5Go7eRQDqY_wljgIztworhKmB2W7abbSgCMo2rFAxa4I5rDBeOpkQN_w7lu6L60/s2000/wryneck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdH4KkRA4zNhL4FMSttzYUa3pXsatQDUf_g51-N7LluEhFyZrqM2A7hM6reZavOhZiHq6Yo_dhliJUJlI36azVTMuVos4cZbwymYJimm4Qro9xXevh_ZIZgChz70MU5Go7eRQDqY_wljgIztworhKmB2W7abbSgCMo2rFAxa4I5rDBeOpkQN_w7lu6L60/w400-h266/wryneck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>There were many common migrants around. I enjoyed that immensely. A few scarcities weren't seen this morning (Cinereous Bunting, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush) - next time hopefully. More images and videos in the eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S164977916/">here</a>.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-34987930785470904472024-03-07T17:25:00.000+00:002024-03-07T17:25:16.299+00:00Up and down and around<p>Over the last few days I have been out and about a bit. It is such an exciting time of year to be out birding. The thrill of seeing fresh migrants, first for the season, keeps me going year after year. It never bores.</p><p>On Saturday morning (March 2nd) I went birding with Piki to sniff some early migrants in <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S163402098">Arsuf</a>, north of Tel Aviv. The habitat was lovely, flowers aplenty. There's a patch of Coastal Iris there, which is endemic to Israel and <a href="https://redlist.parks.org.il/en/plants/detail/Iris%20atropurpurea/">Critically Endangered</a>. Sexy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65SGdSNENbtZIqzLvwhUePApG0E7drmaFT99J-TDPPMfhBJx-O3AA7jSfj-3_QZQUiMGQAgTx9tibUwmkFpWgwFPllsI2xZMKTMYYPKFKUG8uYd_ULlESW6Xvb0QHadMiOZMAUyS5WzLK_S7BOmStOqNvPJ8SzbU4P6xIqL5jVK5p-KIM0OVOQXJ2ELU/s2667/coastal%20iris1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65SGdSNENbtZIqzLvwhUePApG0E7drmaFT99J-TDPPMfhBJx-O3AA7jSfj-3_QZQUiMGQAgTx9tibUwmkFpWgwFPllsI2xZMKTMYYPKFKUG8uYd_ULlESW6Xvb0QHadMiOZMAUyS5WzLK_S7BOmStOqNvPJ8SzbU4P6xIqL5jVK5p-KIM0OVOQXJ2ELU/w300-h400/coastal%20iris1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ALLZk8Q2yZOvdcDpmNJK7ZJixwyEIrdGRDdW22qMKrL-yl8zu7Y8dYNzaXUVuwVXiyGFCJKV9jMNa2tFWx3m0B97E1IJOpqZJOmWXviS57FeuSOkJzS1i5Ip3O4zbZUGiWUmYnNwR4fQ3AfLGKrUn9pePCsPnkYI4OB28Jb8Xqit-oxDksTA30yZovw/s2667/coastal%20iris2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ALLZk8Q2yZOvdcDpmNJK7ZJixwyEIrdGRDdW22qMKrL-yl8zu7Y8dYNzaXUVuwVXiyGFCJKV9jMNa2tFWx3m0B97E1IJOpqZJOmWXviS57FeuSOkJzS1i5Ip3O4zbZUGiWUmYnNwR4fQ3AfLGKrUn9pePCsPnkYI4OB28Jb8Xqit-oxDksTA30yZovw/w300-h400/coastal%20iris2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>There were quite many wheatears about, including an outstanding total of four Desert Wheatears. They are scarce or even rare migrants along the Med coast. Looking so beautiful in the early morning sun, with an atypical green background.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZqM1ilfRkODt8eM_vFfy_ChKqldjTRlPY3XPQQUMMW4EdCKq2Jt49RkW-KDgRI5qUUc_QVNd9POHTc6OvR0KgjEXI8keFo9A7BKWgM008lbcdSdF0UrUFCNfSTaG7KkHQImYcjy17lXo0K2sKnYFsA9SqqmhoHP3bDv-P-NDMH5NyGpdc8a3FWSej6Y/s2000/desert%20wheatear1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZqM1ilfRkODt8eM_vFfy_ChKqldjTRlPY3XPQQUMMW4EdCKq2Jt49RkW-KDgRI5qUUc_QVNd9POHTc6OvR0KgjEXI8keFo9A7BKWgM008lbcdSdF0UrUFCNfSTaG7KkHQImYcjy17lXo0K2sKnYFsA9SqqmhoHP3bDv-P-NDMH5NyGpdc8a3FWSej6Y/w400-h266/desert%20wheatear1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyJ8nYy2oE4yvR3IKom-VQv1AZWBUgf-ES9qIj0eWzMLBhZlGaHGpWM8XRS-Z8cnCIj80seTkug-Jt46NpEcPf8mk_vYUiSo-W7S_p6c9aLiSIVM7uveijcxm2adKe1W2vQizUoXUQ9goEhd-Vmd6bmlv2atSciaX75pu4T9oEPylE1qBndLu8RbzizI/s2000/desert%20wheatear2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyJ8nYy2oE4yvR3IKom-VQv1AZWBUgf-ES9qIj0eWzMLBhZlGaHGpWM8XRS-Z8cnCIj80seTkug-Jt46NpEcPf8mk_vYUiSo-W7S_p6c9aLiSIVM7uveijcxm2adKe1W2vQizUoXUQ9goEhd-Vmd6bmlv2atSciaX75pu4T9oEPylE1qBndLu8RbzizI/w400-h266/desert%20wheatear2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flushed from its favourite perch by the powerful Isabelline Wheatear</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlk9tv0azJ8_S0a-U92OnVAWMQxNQl-7R3_1JZg8obnL79AktCkQWvARhyedr56H-MSYcR4XojrFxhyphenhyphen5EGQaHtOO8T00cWdhfK0Q2s0SUluk0M5Trh2nHgWhFeutFK6kEQwH7E7uPRiVsy5vYUInahOFm-9wxXPYKyJypJpIIskj41XAgEoO3UVYSZmQ/s2000/isabelline%20wheatear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlk9tv0azJ8_S0a-U92OnVAWMQxNQl-7R3_1JZg8obnL79AktCkQWvARhyedr56H-MSYcR4XojrFxhyphenhyphen5EGQaHtOO8T00cWdhfK0Q2s0SUluk0M5Trh2nHgWhFeutFK6kEQwH7E7uPRiVsy5vYUInahOFm-9wxXPYKyJypJpIIskj41XAgEoO3UVYSZmQ/w400-h266/isabelline%20wheatear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Tuesday morning (March 5th) I had a meeting at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. The secret in scheduling morning meetings is to start at a time that leaves sufficient birding time beforehand. Before the meeting I checked two sites in Jerusalem that are hosting fine birds. First, Jerusalem's Botanical Gardens, the same site that hosted Israel's first <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2021/04/chinese-pond-heron.html">Chinese Pond-Heron in 2021</a>. In the past few weeks a very cooperative Redwing has taken up residence in the gardens and has become a bit of a celebrity, mainly because it is showing so well, unusually for such a scarce and shy bird in Israel (normally). Indeed, it showed on its favourite <i>Pyracantha </i>bush. In my case it was actually a bit shy and didn't show very well but I can't complain. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZhycJCcNFew0Q-V58E7-Szg2wrPHDPQWQ1uu0mEw21j09kMzskmEBkkPP0XN5r0FBxqz_LRz_FfjPPeN8EmLvOwGKaErhOsD6ukxegKgezwXxAuOYI7oxBHNRs5AZXTT3nZZd-mNEzA2VZtgEs0DbZYSujgqYCXseXZBsV6qu4iQkEuOsgKE3qRGrvA/s2000/redwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZhycJCcNFew0Q-V58E7-Szg2wrPHDPQWQ1uu0mEw21j09kMzskmEBkkPP0XN5r0FBxqz_LRz_FfjPPeN8EmLvOwGKaErhOsD6ukxegKgezwXxAuOYI7oxBHNRs5AZXTT3nZZd-mNEzA2VZtgEs0DbZYSujgqYCXseXZBsV6qu4iQkEuOsgKE3qRGrvA/w400-h266/redwing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Next stop was <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S163761264">Australia Gardens</a>, on the slopes of Mt. Herzl. It's actually a section of the Jerusalem Forest, afforested with non-native pines and cypress trees. However, now when everything is lush and flowering, the habitat looked quite attractive and indeed there were tons of birds there. Gabriel Cedar and Shalem Kurman, to excellent young birders, found there a flock of Olive-backed Pipits a couple of weeks ago. OBP is a very rare winter visitor, though this past winter has been quite good for them. In any case such a flock in central Israel is very welcome. Straight away I heard the pipits giving their tiny 'pip' call but it took me a while to locate them. Eventually I had nice views of them flying between the trees, occasionally dropping down to the ground to forage. However they were difficult to photography well.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LmvcdrUak9h1GFzje6tv532hCRpz2kN8lDVfEZumWX_wq63js85VF_g8GkRAGT6-MNBxPzFkKZfT41gnxECkZETMhbZyfGkbLvU1Xr7qrscPTUf7q9pIFAav2DhH16gBNJUvXs2-y55JuZasX6e2kdTKqijxaE3bSKKtEW_hTMtrNdYLvZqiewQnHEI/s2000/olive-backed%20pipit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LmvcdrUak9h1GFzje6tv532hCRpz2kN8lDVfEZumWX_wq63js85VF_g8GkRAGT6-MNBxPzFkKZfT41gnxECkZETMhbZyfGkbLvU1Xr7qrscPTUf7q9pIFAav2DhH16gBNJUvXs2-y55JuZasX6e2kdTKqijxaE3bSKKtEW_hTMtrNdYLvZqiewQnHEI/w400-h266/olive-backed%20pipit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Listen to the amount of birdsong in this sound recording:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/615740765/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the highest peaks of Jerusalem to the lowest place on earth. Later that evening I joined a group of researchers from Tel Aviv University working on Pallid Scops-Owls. We trapped and ringed three individuals, and heard another one or two, in one corner of a date plantation near the Dead Sea. Discovered to breed in Israel less than a decade ago, it still is fascinating to see Pallid Scops-Owls in such densities. Very special birds, in special settings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKtzTPJzbB_mxJK0TsLkqPkTzpF998bDPuKdnqiMal7AzoPfMRi2wvhM7O9klZ175q3G8nEF8tSbLLBvIfuFWvyB_IAA2V84B-wvS55qt8mgkXeIdSmZnprD2XY0dlvtyyiErfyg8aKwRwQQOItkDTNGD_zqqpmOaAu9GETxpfDI2NBbPFn4l5oYWACU/s2000/pallid%20scops-owl2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKtzTPJzbB_mxJK0TsLkqPkTzpF998bDPuKdnqiMal7AzoPfMRi2wvhM7O9klZ175q3G8nEF8tSbLLBvIfuFWvyB_IAA2V84B-wvS55qt8mgkXeIdSmZnprD2XY0dlvtyyiErfyg8aKwRwQQOItkDTNGD_zqqpmOaAu9GETxpfDI2NBbPFn4l5oYWACU/w300-h400/pallid%20scops-owl2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_9s2mKrYE3KVDCFCwWQqiOeMkTRVsBXXBdbPBv7oII8KXFmwhyphenhyphen7MJy1YHT4Siec6J2nHdaQBC5W7BiDzmOVITGDIf4uf7eWiY8p67axsbmTMOQfWeehN11RFRLwqcJNPhR3zaMXNw-pS5ywrvAIoCW3Z9uZ8sje1RzQuH3gwGlrAx0kb7lcvJPv8Xik/s2000/pallid%20scops-owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_9s2mKrYE3KVDCFCwWQqiOeMkTRVsBXXBdbPBv7oII8KXFmwhyphenhyphen7MJy1YHT4Siec6J2nHdaQBC5W7BiDzmOVITGDIf4uf7eWiY8p67axsbmTMOQfWeehN11RFRLwqcJNPhR3zaMXNw-pS5ywrvAIoCW3Z9uZ8sje1RzQuH3gwGlrAx0kb7lcvJPv8Xik/w300-h400/pallid%20scops-owl.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Only few hours after the night shift had ended, I found myself in Kfar Ruppin, admiring our newest restored reservoir, in partnership with the kibbutz. It's a large, amazing reservoir, always so attractive to birds and other wildlife - a great and welcome addition to our Start-Up Nature project. Yesterday morning the reservoir was packed with birds, as always. A flock of pelicans graced the reservoir, tons of ducks, shorebirds, raptors, passerines. In two and a half hours I saw in the reservoir and around it 104 species, so much quality, check the eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S163857330">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXSdVfZHoBRZKu7pOVrxmZU3tXVirr0wAZA7m56lrhvPJ0gTD1yntteQsBsX8pvMrwFnoYEBCvUGgMRhmqmd9lnZEPVye4SGOucm_FIwyr6diMbKia6y5h32-zy-EHpwZjAPOk2WrNkE9LRV5sbUgOV_ju_iZixYrQcxrmVYmxoC4JR1DJEUxSIf3-XY/s3000/great%20white%20peilcans%20Safa%20Reservoir%20060324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXSdVfZHoBRZKu7pOVrxmZU3tXVirr0wAZA7m56lrhvPJ0gTD1yntteQsBsX8pvMrwFnoYEBCvUGgMRhmqmd9lnZEPVye4SGOucm_FIwyr6diMbKia6y5h32-zy-EHpwZjAPOk2WrNkE9LRV5sbUgOV_ju_iZixYrQcxrmVYmxoC4JR1DJEUxSIf3-XY/w400-h266/great%20white%20peilcans%20Safa%20Reservoir%20060324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="317" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/615741242/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went live on Facebook when I was there (until I was interrupted by a local guy who asked for some photography advice):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="591" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyoav.perlman%2Fvideos%2F1070675120892215%2F&show_text=true&width=267&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="267"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-57732489142838831532024-02-08T15:05:00.005+00:002024-02-08T16:44:29.491+00:00White Wagtail mystery<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In May-June 2019 (pre-covid, pre-war, another era) I led a <a href="https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/">Rockjumper </a>tour to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan (read the tour report <a href="https://app.rockjumperbirding.com/sites/rockjumper/attachments/9/Trip%20Report%20-%20RBL%20Kazakhstan%20&%20Uzbekistan%20-%20Best%20of%20Central%20Asia%202019.pdf">here</a>). Our first morning session was spent in the mountains above Tashkent. We drove up to Hotel Beldersay and birded the forested slopes above the hotel. It was a brilliant morning, the scenery was stunning with the backdrop of snow-capped mountains and lush valleys. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV_xIq7jiP_YrSxArMyDktlCXa7NtwMDlaIrX18PbeZqlVvJhHrkr1wBMSOEJNRy3Lxtc57EdKOMdT9UgI1aqSX6d9D03CfSPlsPvopU4McI6reDrYEKxb11QhV_PCkRGfGH3nPOA4c1tkTpfLzELX-YJfLXzowbQ1DoktD9ORcAGNFbF2p4JXvNGwJ0/s4000/IMG_20190517_133316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV_xIq7jiP_YrSxArMyDktlCXa7NtwMDlaIrX18PbeZqlVvJhHrkr1wBMSOEJNRy3Lxtc57EdKOMdT9UgI1aqSX6d9D03CfSPlsPvopU4McI6reDrYEKxb11QhV_PCkRGfGH3nPOA4c1tkTpfLzELX-YJfLXzowbQ1DoktD9ORcAGNFbF2p4JXvNGwJ0/w400-h225/IMG_20190517_133316.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Birding was exciting, as expected for a first morning in a new destination, in fact a whirlwind of new and beautiful birds. Our excellent local guide Timur and I worked hard, picking up new birds continuously and showing them to our clients. Highlights from that morning included White-winged Woodpecker, White-capped Bunting, Yellow-breasted (Azure) and Turkestan (Great) Tit, and a flyover Red-footed or Amur Falcon - both would be rarities for Uzbekistan. Check my eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S56389318">here</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because I enjoy studying geographical variation of familiar birds, I was facinated by <i>golzii </i>Common Nightingale and <i>althaea </i>Lesser Whitethroat. I also paid attention to White Wagtails up there. There were several wagtails in the hotel gardens, busy in breeding activity including song and display. Several individuals looked like typical Masked Wagtails - <i>Motacilla alba personata,</i> with a pale grey mantle, and a clear-cut contrast between the black nape and grey mantle. I like Masked Wagtails very much as they are a distinct taxon that is a rare vagrant to Israel, most recently in <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/02/clean-up.html">February 2023</a>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Masked Wagtail <i>Motacilla alba personata</i>, Hotel Beldersay, Uzbekistan, 17 May 2019</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L0kbfNH5oKxKQYt2wnPBLDlbzhAKk4rFVlBXVLwi8PoOey-Ff2W7vBn3KEp970_gzQQ7dA4A4tYv81oZavXvqFQJfgrQLRY49LdK72d7a-AH4CFQOAGP4tt-ck7hjT9g8DBNySTs158_hzgA7CWgdtKOepS4VhRSoZ1WZSDhy_MWMDzYq_BAe0I9zBw/s1200/masked%20wagtail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L0kbfNH5oKxKQYt2wnPBLDlbzhAKk4rFVlBXVLwi8PoOey-Ff2W7vBn3KEp970_gzQQ7dA4A4tYv81oZavXvqFQJfgrQLRY49LdK72d7a-AH4CFQOAGP4tt-ck7hjT9g8DBNySTs158_hzgA7CWgdtKOepS4VhRSoZ1WZSDhy_MWMDzYq_BAe0I9zBw/w400-h267/masked%20wagtail.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other wagtails up there were distinctly different. They had very dark, almost black backs. In fact, the upper back was concolorous with the black nape, lacking the clear contrast of <i>personata</i>. There seems to be some variation between the individuals I saw, perhaps individual variation or related to different light conditions or photo/editing artefacts. Yet this dark mantle, lacking contrast or unclear contrast, is consistent and apparent in all the photos I kept.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White Wagtail ssp. <i>Motacilla alba ssp.</i>, Hotel Beldersay, Uzbekistan, 17 May 2019</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrGp3MZG4H4yyprjf6sYraVlO-Z-zjz3HWqTza2NniV-LAeGGm71dmeKJ-2Xxs9UTzOHkGSA7qbNNMM97fdR-eb311YNed0_GiDdmkG1uvgol6NjJfYqOpiX7eKO3YpItGlsTXmkoviGH93IB6UMWfJXBiZ1evridJ16MSg4C3sWc96IOUO4wbWHAsXs/s1200/himalayan%20white%20wagtail2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrGp3MZG4H4yyprjf6sYraVlO-Z-zjz3HWqTza2NniV-LAeGGm71dmeKJ-2Xxs9UTzOHkGSA7qbNNMM97fdR-eb311YNed0_GiDdmkG1uvgol6NjJfYqOpiX7eKO3YpItGlsTXmkoviGH93IB6UMWfJXBiZ1evridJ16MSg4C3sWc96IOUO4wbWHAsXs/w400-h266/himalayan%20white%20wagtail2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9JY54Y_89swIhW2CuEsn4t2uAJTEE4F6f2B44Jnk1RSJgBQ_9IXv2RD0j3fEG96rs-OzIyecd7XeLpghTIrhti2_l_ZuHWeRPr8jLAgReQlzWO84cSVEzpXsbJ3bHF2Hi0kPK05nIAb2kIibPibFz09Sr2n5Emwks-aGwVOuCSrAKxBIS5Y5fj2_22o/s1200/himalayan%20white%20wagtail3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9JY54Y_89swIhW2CuEsn4t2uAJTEE4F6f2B44Jnk1RSJgBQ_9IXv2RD0j3fEG96rs-OzIyecd7XeLpghTIrhti2_l_ZuHWeRPr8jLAgReQlzWO84cSVEzpXsbJ3bHF2Hi0kPK05nIAb2kIibPibFz09Sr2n5Emwks-aGwVOuCSrAKxBIS5Y5fj2_22o/w400-h266/himalayan%20white%20wagtail3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z80uFobsXBNZxikb1fqW8YeZagIgigF0Z4_xC34AalCDYYOcm_M9AeHiQ_0c16ZV87Xfda2U3Zy0o2tzSYxK-nVovZV8fk7bWJ5hYRozjNsGuT6xKkBm08mVXJfqdKlCBOac5J7qvdn6IjUU5GUhvcH5wyU9OShIAsD6anf5at8zsO3N8Pqm6fKuU-c/s1200/himalayan%20white%20wagtail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z80uFobsXBNZxikb1fqW8YeZagIgigF0Z4_xC34AalCDYYOcm_M9AeHiQ_0c16ZV87Xfda2U3Zy0o2tzSYxK-nVovZV8fk7bWJ5hYRozjNsGuT6xKkBm08mVXJfqdKlCBOac5J7qvdn6IjUU5GUhvcH5wyU9OShIAsD6anf5at8zsO3N8Pqm6fKuU-c/w400-h266/himalayan%20white%20wagtail.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyone who has led tours knows how intense the work is. Indeed, I was very busy that morning and eBirded in haste, entering a wrong subspecies for these strange wagtails - Black-backed. Of course had I looked up White Wagtails subspecies properly this mistake would have been prevented, but I didn't. My bad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fast forward to yesterday, I received an email from eBird, rightly questioning my observation of White Wagtail (</span>Black-backed)<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Clearly the subspecies I noted was incorrect, so I edited the checklist and for the time being I left these wagtails without a subspecies. This is where it's getting interesting. Today I did look at different White Wagtail taxa and their ranges. Curiously, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">alboides - </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Hodgson's' White Wagtail, looks superficially similar to the Uzbekistan birds I photographed, but its mantle is proper black all the way down, unlike the birds I saw in Uzbekistan that had dark grey backs. Or is it? Looking at <a href="https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=whiwag6&mediaType=photo&sort=rating_rank_desc"><i>alboides </i>images on eBird</a>, most have proper black backs, like <a href="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/42266251">this one</a>, while quite a few birds have dark grey backs, not dissimilar to the birds I photographed, like <a href="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/204159361">this one</a>. Looking at this gallery, surely there is some confusion in separation between <i>personata </i>and <i>alboides</i>, especially on their wintering grounds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found on eBird another image of a dark-mantled bird from Hotel Beldersay, a few days before I visited there - possibly one of the individuals I had:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="359" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/161565771/embed" width="320"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe this one also is dark-backed, from Tashkent City, but the light conditions are harsh and there might be some contrast between nape and mantle:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="316" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/447529171/embed" width="320"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to </span><a href="https://species.birds.cornell.edu/bow/species/whiwag/cur/systematics#subsp" style="font-family: inherit;">Birds of the World</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">alboides </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is '</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: inherit;">Partly resident in southern China and northern Laos, west to northern Myanmar and northeastern Pakistan'. The <a href="https://ebird.org/map/whiwag6">eBird map</a> looks like this:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JL6yUzseMEX6VKMYI9jyXOvorOiGV2TTILugBRgTqOWHga7NjcCe0Ax_5WCOijhsGVjrwDP9U2SvqqAycmBwRoNOG7hRY_YHRu2YwbPXb-iZ3ZP3nFZAr0jdU3eOfgWEAMnw7T1FDIwCOroazC3jUJGQ-9J3nwUoJCLZWOpzS6JnE_5OKLYox8_CM3Q/s992/ebird%20map.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="992" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JL6yUzseMEX6VKMYI9jyXOvorOiGV2TTILugBRgTqOWHga7NjcCe0Ax_5WCOijhsGVjrwDP9U2SvqqAycmBwRoNOG7hRY_YHRu2YwbPXb-iZ3ZP3nFZAr0jdU3eOfgWEAMnw7T1FDIwCOroazC3jUJGQ-9J3nwUoJCLZWOpzS6JnE_5OKLYox8_CM3Q/w400-h236/ebird%20map.PNG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwabdiEojp_cenDkrFSnZmAveGCaQGtGbUmCxpguCvHWTPwgInxrjErkCFdb0oeP_zCdpTzeKzNl-LYSZhQrtD0yFKlLfN0_8xAy_lGzFCZOm8heOGA6EQxaG5dlRwxObd87r-rrGIZT5Y9Ati00r75mhf6wQ_bqN5W9jjoHzsXvzpo8Qm1QcqCYTF_RM/s912/semenov%20map.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="912" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwabdiEojp_cenDkrFSnZmAveGCaQGtGbUmCxpguCvHWTPwgInxrjErkCFdb0oeP_zCdpTzeKzNl-LYSZhQrtD0yFKlLfN0_8xAy_lGzFCZOm8heOGA6EQxaG5dlRwxObd87r-rrGIZT5Y9Ati00r75mhf6wQ_bqN5W9jjoHzsXvzpo8Qm1QcqCYTF_RM/w400-h289/semenov%20map.PNG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Fira Sans, Droid Sans, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif" style="color: #232323;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Fira Sans, Droid Sans, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: #232323;"><span>The map above of White Wagtail subspecies distributions was extracted from a <a href="https://communities.springernature.com/posts/curious-plumage-the-genetic-basis-of-white-wagtail-plumage-is-simple-but-complicated">cool article</a> based on a study by <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jeb.13305">Semenov et al. (2018)</a>. The bottom line of the study (if I understand correctly) is that despite very little genetic variation, different White Wagtail subspecies show highly distinctive morphologies. What is relevant for me, at this moment, is the 'holistic' range map of different taxa, which apparently overlaps with the eBird map (based on actual observations). Both range maps don't show an extension of <i>alboides </i>into Uzbekistan. However, compared to other parts of the world, that region </span></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="color: #232323;">of Central Asia </span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="color: #232323;">between Pakistan and Uzbekistan is somewhat understudied. I can imagine an extension of <i>alboides </i>northwest through Tajikistan towards Uzbekistan that went undetected. Certainly, Tajikistan is an under-birded country. Looking through White Wagtail photos on <a href="https://media.ebird.org/catalog?taxonCode=whiwag&regionCode=TJ">eBird from Tajikistan</a>, I couldn't find any photos that clearly show dark-backed individuals. </span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="color: #232323;">It is interesting that I saw two distinctively different plumages of White Wagtails breeding at the same location. I present here a very hypothetical speculation: Perhaps, if <i>personata </i>and <i>alboides </i>do get in contact somewhere in that region, birds produced from that mix could look like the birds I photographed? This could explain the intermediate mantle pattern. Or perhaps there is an east-west cline from black-backed <i>alboides </i>in the east to pale-backed <i>personata</i> in the west, and everything in between? Surely, deeper study needs to be conducted to understand what is happening here - my speculations are totally tentative, based on nothing. Proper documentation across the proposed contact zone, DNA material collection and analysis are some directions to be explored. In any case, using the late Martin Garner's phrase, always learning! I am very happy to learn from people with more experience than me and different insights - looking forward to hearing from you.</span></p></span></span><p></p>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-20880388835661607802024-02-02T09:58:00.002+00:002024-02-02T10:04:04.369+00:00Ma'agan Michael<p>On Wednesday I had a day at Ma'agan Michael with meetings and stuff. I had little time for birding before and between and after the meetings. I'm still hoping to get Great Shearwater this winter - my IL bogey bird (nine records...) therefore I spend any time I can scanning the sea. That early morning at MM the wind was blowing from the wrong direction and there was lots of rain, so seawatching conditions weren't good. But the sea and the skies and the rainbow were dramatic and beautiful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_x1Or59-1BcQ-3zdB0FnUs9xxardScdW0nt0zovMMN20dDu3cCaTZkjqDVDTaHhA2dpwrJlM3oqsBno3tzydutVh5M36QztCENjBS3kxz2V2_9iqkmzVAgKbOuGg0m9ObZ2NpX7d04I-IAT9smwGZMA7Xqvw2icrfWoRYHpduIkc4vOnP7zbtsN0ueyw/s3000/1706814364066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="3000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_x1Or59-1BcQ-3zdB0FnUs9xxardScdW0nt0zovMMN20dDu3cCaTZkjqDVDTaHhA2dpwrJlM3oqsBno3tzydutVh5M36QztCENjBS3kxz2V2_9iqkmzVAgKbOuGg0m9ObZ2NpX7d04I-IAT9smwGZMA7Xqvw2icrfWoRYHpduIkc4vOnP7zbtsN0ueyw/w400-h254/1706814364066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Because I had nothing better to do I spent my time checking gull legs. All I could find were two Slender-bills ringed by Yosef in Atlit. This one was ringed in April 2020.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="333" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/614268977/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>With Sandwich Terns:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/614269114/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>Pallas's Gulls are developing their black hood and are looking damn sexy:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/614269005/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>Later my team joined me and me met up with a TV crew. We dragged them seawatching with us which was fun in the masochistic way:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ4orpwVlInNLDQsjLjfiSTA4eqOYQRld8fiAsOktVYM18b-pv9r89fvI0lUo-IpcOvSrSPH-lqZuM4pokDma1nw4ekftGWYHHJhTW-KdFeeEJRdI3QARh97NjmaRyKeplAsy8yth03TGagyRczoVAoryZCBwW6rrIFDVulhKGJD7VDciMi5AI_NZ1ls/s4640/1706867041968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3488" data-original-width="4640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ4orpwVlInNLDQsjLjfiSTA4eqOYQRld8fiAsOktVYM18b-pv9r89fvI0lUo-IpcOvSrSPH-lqZuM4pokDma1nw4ekftGWYHHJhTW-KdFeeEJRdI3QARh97NjmaRyKeplAsy8yth03TGagyRczoVAoryZCBwW6rrIFDVulhKGJD7VDciMi5AI_NZ1ls/w400-h301/1706867041968.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The sea didn't improve much birdwise, still we had a couple of Med Gulls, a Parasitic Jaeger and an Arctic Skua.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mediterranean Gull</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ko4Ac8F6kHLbGug0QL4_5E-LDK5BWXnW7QWiitzLxlvGQU6tUGnzRe3JEZF94hiQq7zAUWMa13iGL1x5G5ECZfJpGgiBNLjUR1F9C1HA-sEz3ij8o-XKMurDFyvEjx0rpF-R5BGKa_6utbXphUF05DOCCjM6Q1chR1SS5tHxFF_wDy0-0TwStNhz77I/s2000/mediterranean%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ko4Ac8F6kHLbGug0QL4_5E-LDK5BWXnW7QWiitzLxlvGQU6tUGnzRe3JEZF94hiQq7zAUWMa13iGL1x5G5ECZfJpGgiBNLjUR1F9C1HA-sEz3ij8o-XKMurDFyvEjx0rpF-R5BGKa_6utbXphUF05DOCCjM6Q1chR1SS5tHxFF_wDy0-0TwStNhz77I/w400-h266/mediterranean%20gull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parasarctic Jaekua</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RIpjOxGM8aMufRfGlMYCDhVF7y59MbJUWtF4JN1mudKPyyLCrSA6V7zlsYKGPGKzNc7wBVZfhFmLKKy8kyiCRWOjJPpYVw8m8CQA8B5HhPSW174wbxeprGU1acKeXdlwilb48XnDKCJ1vyHgDpEkg9ekjlCIahhQGi2SwA6iA9A8OQmrwkHiMpmJyxQ/s2000/parasitic%20jaeger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RIpjOxGM8aMufRfGlMYCDhVF7y59MbJUWtF4JN1mudKPyyLCrSA6V7zlsYKGPGKzNc7wBVZfhFmLKKy8kyiCRWOjJPpYVw8m8CQA8B5HhPSW174wbxeprGU1acKeXdlwilb48XnDKCJ1vyHgDpEkg9ekjlCIahhQGi2SwA6iA9A8OQmrwkHiMpmJyxQ/w400-h266/parasitic%20jaeger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Over the sand dunes flew around many swallows hawking for insects. One bird almost gave us a heart attack until we figured out it is a partially-leucistic Barn Swallow:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgHTOOyvrzXELm2uXv9_GDmEB2Zvf5An1VRezlXCHcqgbXJvaXTLABcnAyhgrxn0ebKddV7_N3BPv_SMMGHT_2_nwKNSqWjfEya3RikfwKcTDGPkxqcsxZ8k2QlRy-JL6j5xrPlrdRJn0R5Z8EU7AC_BXxGT5PIx8fpJnVuRL-pprWN3ly6aOIi-VS-U/s2000/leucistic%20barn%20swallow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgHTOOyvrzXELm2uXv9_GDmEB2Zvf5An1VRezlXCHcqgbXJvaXTLABcnAyhgrxn0ebKddV7_N3BPv_SMMGHT_2_nwKNSqWjfEya3RikfwKcTDGPkxqcsxZ8k2QlRy-JL6j5xrPlrdRJn0R5Z8EU7AC_BXxGT5PIx8fpJnVuRL-pprWN3ly6aOIi-VS-U/w400-h266/leucistic%20barn%20swallow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In one of the fishponds four Little Gulls were hanging out. They are such adorable birds, these wee gulls, with their little bills. The adult plumage is very attractive with that dark underwing:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqnww8k2m3i7zQBL3YI_8ZGtJdc1SEVt9iDYeeCjRBBfEAbgTMARBwhaT9vpqTBoCBcdFGzyCukvQp-t8dONjuGY-CLQCkMh9PXXu_nqt9VC9Zkjc09w0LMrxjwpxkY8n72t5j_DT4a9mmGcT5yHgwQgQOo6r84zzjYiwqev5jtnB1p74ul7obvuCFkI/s2000/little%20gull1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqnww8k2m3i7zQBL3YI_8ZGtJdc1SEVt9iDYeeCjRBBfEAbgTMARBwhaT9vpqTBoCBcdFGzyCukvQp-t8dONjuGY-CLQCkMh9PXXu_nqt9VC9Zkjc09w0LMrxjwpxkY8n72t5j_DT4a9mmGcT5yHgwQgQOo6r84zzjYiwqev5jtnB1p74ul7obvuCFkI/w400-h266/little%20gull1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n3bL0XDz0jow2DBg1Tl0sGQcmHn7IFsJoF4aVjQVhCBOSCMFPmEPbj4ExZE1e8N-IZudt-33TH0WdSRIn7Xd56rPRwMss-qErxEjaJ1mg-HJhTfau-_mHXwuWLVxU2XTfLhi_5mcdctAt_6aGd-V9XIfqekJdVOtA_ea5M1pWSqVujKi_dWpu1EA_uI/s2000/little%20gull2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n3bL0XDz0jow2DBg1Tl0sGQcmHn7IFsJoF4aVjQVhCBOSCMFPmEPbj4ExZE1e8N-IZudt-33TH0WdSRIn7Xd56rPRwMss-qErxEjaJ1mg-HJhTfau-_mHXwuWLVxU2XTfLhi_5mcdctAt_6aGd-V9XIfqekJdVOtA_ea5M1pWSqVujKi_dWpu1EA_uI/w400-h266/little%20gull2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those snowy wingtips 💗</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVxu5mvQIk7jG2tfqvtKAngm3blL4pj0eKjzZsFhbuzGWFebCns3KlqI_OPDKWh1DC0tyw6RoGCjQG5QbBUReHZbFAtxfz6_TjfnQfjNmYUv7XTNwlBQMVARDbiXVpyXdZAW1egezadMCnnqKSFTMmH-YB6lLHAF5v8YMIdIifUNmFx9Yduni-S79V8U/s2000/little%20gull3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVxu5mvQIk7jG2tfqvtKAngm3blL4pj0eKjzZsFhbuzGWFebCns3KlqI_OPDKWh1DC0tyw6RoGCjQG5QbBUReHZbFAtxfz6_TjfnQfjNmYUv7XTNwlBQMVARDbiXVpyXdZAW1egezadMCnnqKSFTMmH-YB6lLHAF5v8YMIdIifUNmFx9Yduni-S79V8U/w400-h266/little%20gull3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtp2MiBdcAga8PNAyFoldyBr28e1jLcnFc0bJl61afPbLmKB12gdxTrhvYHbIQKqhDisGfVRZcRbg07b-EhHNEpHZ2WWkpR9zNa2Xe-1i9Uimck98ZdD6LwodXeKXOgULXuKkbIFwXOCOzuu2H1-M7gflZAQ7IIPy-KScSRnQOowyngPpPDV3C8VutP4/s2000/little%20gull4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtp2MiBdcAga8PNAyFoldyBr28e1jLcnFc0bJl61afPbLmKB12gdxTrhvYHbIQKqhDisGfVRZcRbg07b-EhHNEpHZ2WWkpR9zNa2Xe-1i9Uimck98ZdD6LwodXeKXOgULXuKkbIFwXOCOzuu2H1-M7gflZAQ7IIPy-KScSRnQOowyngPpPDV3C8VutP4/w400-h266/little%20gull4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I find the first plumage very beautiful too</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJuNICJ3w9-h9SfS6gWsiFxP20hoHHNdzmxEn3B1mtUHS9w1_8QI7NtRbd2GUymnS6I8IM1V22YIjAv0aXqc2E60h-EZp5ICVoEJ04kYRv0F8LfRsGywQimq9ryUgqZ2phHUYFgRc0VTnQcVMa2DkpEZ1B1jKqhWgS_IoRyT-XE89kK7Cm8N17VU_0Hc/s2000/little%20gull5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJuNICJ3w9-h9SfS6gWsiFxP20hoHHNdzmxEn3B1mtUHS9w1_8QI7NtRbd2GUymnS6I8IM1V22YIjAv0aXqc2E60h-EZp5ICVoEJ04kYRv0F8LfRsGywQimq9ryUgqZ2phHUYFgRc0VTnQcVMa2DkpEZ1B1jKqhWgS_IoRyT-XE89kK7Cm8N17VU_0Hc/w400-h266/little%20gull5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9daTOlJNFl1eGDYdHNBC6QA5T5fo0n6-W3R-9ds22BTAY08GpqlPem7I51nPYR-wyNw1MYct-HRIOSk9C4D6R7FfQfdrgtZxC1gsqOGEVLOwx52PWTbo0yoihlaLWljj19NAAijAhJngUZHRCk5uk5Cqab_YlZ5FM5vSh41yIH_GFAxp1-YfBvFYBn_s/s2000/little%20gull6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9daTOlJNFl1eGDYdHNBC6QA5T5fo0n6-W3R-9ds22BTAY08GpqlPem7I51nPYR-wyNw1MYct-HRIOSk9C4D6R7FfQfdrgtZxC1gsqOGEVLOwx52PWTbo0yoihlaLWljj19NAAijAhJngUZHRCk5uk5Cqab_YlZ5FM5vSh41yIH_GFAxp1-YfBvFYBn_s/w400-h266/little%20gull6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fluttering over the water like a Wilson's Storm-Petrel</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yhzKbuUAWSxd8r5oeGWpXjl_VZjD4BEdV_a0YlfxquPJxc7QjSESe00aAL_NbVXsZtsQ-BK34C7a-tjFYByU1_mzmcE1Cp1lPbBMrq9z197rlxkagvQllgp6nAelhnVDfqEROO7OqHIm6VYfWPe_7PPhIBbwTL0G5hy9j0nNIm25mzk2iR1qlNH5EJs/s2000/little%20gull7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yhzKbuUAWSxd8r5oeGWpXjl_VZjD4BEdV_a0YlfxquPJxc7QjSESe00aAL_NbVXsZtsQ-BK34C7a-tjFYByU1_mzmcE1Cp1lPbBMrq9z197rlxkagvQllgp6nAelhnVDfqEROO7OqHIm6VYfWPe_7PPhIBbwTL0G5hy9j0nNIm25mzk2iR1qlNH5EJs/w400-h266/little%20gull7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_26RMfxNAUh_9lfqVjzF6jWaKGuBYcRYPdGp2VUntS20sqoNpJ9qyKcQ3hnqoxImKCEpFzolB5r37kF0Bx9EnnpH4C47-8dcVswEej_CWGbk-V-GGWhhIfHttDJrjf3q4ITjBTlSXo3Nt94hCY7Wc0Pz9obzeTcmQJrcoU-xp2xc7e64PiSty13SAC4/s2000/little%20gull8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_26RMfxNAUh_9lfqVjzF6jWaKGuBYcRYPdGp2VUntS20sqoNpJ9qyKcQ3hnqoxImKCEpFzolB5r37kF0Bx9EnnpH4C47-8dcVswEej_CWGbk-V-GGWhhIfHttDJrjf3q4ITjBTlSXo3Nt94hCY7Wc0Pz9obzeTcmQJrcoU-xp2xc7e64PiSty13SAC4/w400-h266/little%20gull8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-17474598335472205212024-01-27T20:41:00.005+00:002024-01-27T20:41:56.366+00:00Scope or camera<p>This morning I went seawatching with Piki, Rony, Yotam and Sharon. The wind maps looked promising, there was little rain in the forecast so our hopes were high. We arrived at the seawatching spot south of Jaffa, and very quickly realised that even though the wind was excellent, blowing from the correct direction in good force, the sea was quite empty. Well there were gulls, and some more gulls, but we were after proper pelagic species. After a long time we had our first and only Yelkouan Shearwater, then a Peregrine flew over, and we were getting a bit underwhekmed. But we kept on scanning, periodically escaping from torrential rain showers into the car. After a long while Piki shouts: storm-petrel! It took us all a long time to get on it, during which Piki said he thought it was 'something else'. Eventually we all got on it, quickly realising it was a very small storm-petrel, with a large white rump, flying with a very light, buoyant flight action, very different from the powerful shearwater-like flight of Leach's (we all had clear memories from <a href="https://www.birds.org.il/en/article/Yoav-Perlman-Leachs-Storm-Petrel-February-2023">Storm Barbara</a> last year). I think I was the first to call it European Storm-Petrel. We then had great scope views of it as it passed south in quite a slow flight at medium distance, keeping low between the big waves. We talked to each other, pointing out the ID features we could get. We saw the square-ended tail, but I was struggling to see the 'smoking-gun' feature, the white underwing bar. I then faced the eternal dilemma for seawatching. My camera was at hand, but the bird was already flying away. Should I switch to the camera, fire off a few horrible shots that may or may not even show the bird? Or stick to the scope and use the final possible view of the bird before it disappears to get that underwing pattern? I opted for the scope, knowing that European Storm-Petrel is still a big rarity in Israel and a good photo would be important, but that smoking-gun feature is even more important. Then the bird banked properly, showing us it's beautiful white underwing bar - bingo! A few more wing flaps and it was gone, disappeared south. We jumped in the air, and hugged - it was an Israeli tick for all of us, a much-wanted one, one that was on our radar for a long time. </p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Smiling faces of birders who have just seen their first European Storm-Petrel in Israel! Thanks for the pic <a href="https://twitter.com/IshPiki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IshPiki</a> <a href="https://t.co/a6ePrDukoS">pic.twitter.com/a6ePrDukoS</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1751159887080333408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p></p><p>News of more storm-petrels from other seawathcing spots kept coming in, those that were identified were Leach's. We had very brief views of a storm-petrel sp. but couldn't get anything on it. A few Arctic Skuas went past and it was time for us to leave, wet and cold but super stoked and happy.</p><p>eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S159880277">here</a>.</p><p>The only photo I did get, a Peregrine:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1uG71fxHMyiEQSmCGMcI3UC9sn90m_vLvaeHTHD2PXe_y2gzoZb7GR22T-PBfokDFUe-leQjjrzV1aVG9DnTBgrKEeJA6vquyTMVw_dWCZi1pHHsX3UShOK6UocvvO2gh0jQ3tE5cXcI2QUNIxZcvEHNGuz7bhl8nwiSBTTtnd5lfKI-45UbwvGYmJw/s2000/peregrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1uG71fxHMyiEQSmCGMcI3UC9sn90m_vLvaeHTHD2PXe_y2gzoZb7GR22T-PBfokDFUe-leQjjrzV1aVG9DnTBgrKEeJA6vquyTMVw_dWCZi1pHHsX3UShOK6UocvvO2gh0jQ3tE5cXcI2QUNIxZcvEHNGuz7bhl8nwiSBTTtnd5lfKI-45UbwvGYmJw/w400-h266/peregrine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-16501776323828071442024-01-10T04:55:00.004+00:002024-01-11T15:44:17.241+00:00Uvda Valley<p>Nice morning yesterday in Uvda Valley. The habitat looks promising - earlier rains produced a fresh, lush carpet of annuals. Surely this area will attract many migrants soon and support good breeding populations. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgPt01FgPDcjn3djWZftav5Rk605h1eIAvXUL0EH2_HO50OdO1INV4uobpYN-5sSwDea_DnB-qknvtaRZBr02qhGBnZ18WAlWnx7yWk2qeHhkUmtkolA5gxMEO4J1EW_vyauBCRWE8UzCXYrf_Z1XTlqfkH4QDhqYMbxU4Q-elh3ELFpy9WnaJdm6JBg/s3000/uvda.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="3000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgPt01FgPDcjn3djWZftav5Rk605h1eIAvXUL0EH2_HO50OdO1INV4uobpYN-5sSwDea_DnB-qknvtaRZBr02qhGBnZ18WAlWnx7yWk2qeHhkUmtkolA5gxMEO4J1EW_vyauBCRWE8UzCXYrf_Z1XTlqfkH4QDhqYMbxU4Q-elh3ELFpy9WnaJdm6JBg/w400-h240/uvda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There were lots of mammals on the plains when I arrived in the half-dark. Dozens of Asian Will Ass and a few Dorcas Gazelle were enjoying the tasty grass. This is the start of the rutting season now, and the gazelles were active. These two males were playing around:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJXr6l4ic9N6BBUr2CGI6v_NrFz48TUOh7T55tNDdfrtoBRIYXck1K7Gybo2Hfisbn0ktwMAr1yzPhtr2xDw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Then everything went quiet - a majestic Arabian Wolf trotted across the plains. It was a beautiful female, in thick winter coat. Breathtaking.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aLpeAQduK8h7siVW1IL3U1dDBu4RIZPHpt5xYl-5a-sleW0DrUpZJeOgypMtHV1VshpuZ70J1e66QZ0C1djnrfPCk0DS5Cbnc8i-SfybgJmG0wNGNqmGuzXW8eVIfIbHab-i4JMpieO8MPn5LdRpRZ-f4yPXzwovs-bZmE2ZP_4mirvpZXSlifJlklg/s2000/wolf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aLpeAQduK8h7siVW1IL3U1dDBu4RIZPHpt5xYl-5a-sleW0DrUpZJeOgypMtHV1VshpuZ70J1e66QZ0C1djnrfPCk0DS5Cbnc8i-SfybgJmG0wNGNqmGuzXW8eVIfIbHab-i4JMpieO8MPn5LdRpRZ-f4yPXzwovs-bZmE2ZP_4mirvpZXSlifJlklg/w400-h266/wolf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I was after the Pied Wheatear that had been found by Avner a few days ago. Pied Wheatear is a good rarity in Israel during migration - it's just about annual. Spring 2012 will always be remembered for the huge extended arrival of Pied and Cyprus Wheatears in southern Israel - they were everywhere! Luckily, the late and still sorely missed Martin Garner was here to enjoy the exceptional birding - check <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2012/03/eilat-festival-update-day-5-wheatear.html">this old blogpost</a> for example. In any case, I am not aware of any previous winter records of Pied Wheatear in Israel - they should be much farther south now, in South East Africa. I was very keen to study this plumage that I am not very familiar with. The bird was showing very well, certainly enjoying the early arthropod productivity developing now. It kept picking up insects all the time I was watching it, foraging very actively. What an interesting, subtle bird. Warmer-toned than I had expected it to be. Still showing a solid dark mantle and faint mottling on breast.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIPByZEeS07P0CBIZMGb-wSZubGlwmCFdWwQW6Rdl6H__Y_stlpvR5I05wn9sig7Mzt-ljWGGS6g9XQc9ChbzSVyHVexb60ktSSgrDWpkPI7PO8hf9lY_BVzZ8L3vfjx__7I9WHCBiuJclyXGP7J_DaeJ8CWSFqrz8NpLv_JFv8oliazf_wcI9CXgBFE/s2000/pied%20wheatear1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIPByZEeS07P0CBIZMGb-wSZubGlwmCFdWwQW6Rdl6H__Y_stlpvR5I05wn9sig7Mzt-ljWGGS6g9XQc9ChbzSVyHVexb60ktSSgrDWpkPI7PO8hf9lY_BVzZ8L3vfjx__7I9WHCBiuJclyXGP7J_DaeJ8CWSFqrz8NpLv_JFv8oliazf_wcI9CXgBFE/w400-h266/pied%20wheatear1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ol5HBCWSZQ6IibJ3kCR1Dvw1jt987SyrIsQpMQ7OmP3KWOCR_dfMPZ0t2rdRSAU0DxwXgFuypu0vjJfaNWnEus43ETTyy6M3WPZ-r_cVrmZAhCI_3Rrg38juRaOu9HSyrZ_OJNi0goNicCRV_ywkvV87vM59SxGK9tuckN1ScmYC51s4PElwr8HAsTE/s2000/pied%20wheatear2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ol5HBCWSZQ6IibJ3kCR1Dvw1jt987SyrIsQpMQ7OmP3KWOCR_dfMPZ0t2rdRSAU0DxwXgFuypu0vjJfaNWnEus43ETTyy6M3WPZ-r_cVrmZAhCI_3Rrg38juRaOu9HSyrZ_OJNi0goNicCRV_ywkvV87vM59SxGK9tuckN1ScmYC51s4PElwr8HAsTE/w400-h266/pied%20wheatear2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zopdOwH03eGpoWXl4MHr9GnCrckn3zdeQ4tkAP4qhyphenhyphenXJOvvyk47KlK9OpBFWdKLW-d7ZHdJwl9AU9ZX95EjZxByX8DgzIgsYXD1Gj4By_tHRbuw1sCIqBVhWMcQHX1IY0gmeKPhTDZORZaSU101HxJ_2FER0_oAE3harW9cK9sNtHoZGfr7RULeiBh4/s2000/pied%20wheatear3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zopdOwH03eGpoWXl4MHr9GnCrckn3zdeQ4tkAP4qhyphenhyphenXJOvvyk47KlK9OpBFWdKLW-d7ZHdJwl9AU9ZX95EjZxByX8DgzIgsYXD1Gj4By_tHRbuw1sCIqBVhWMcQHX1IY0gmeKPhTDZORZaSU101HxJ_2FER0_oAE3harW9cK9sNtHoZGfr7RULeiBh4/w400-h266/pied%20wheatear3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFC8fqDMPL3eOgCfEekQSVmcZzs4Pv6FiVtUKB3px6gn4o0yWDv6ZGi0_EW5iVfdi-vgjTREMcOt1CAyFKD3S9mkMMT45MAV-HLKvmhP0u7TRv95jrlBUdHKQ8E3wBO5iHBQwaQ_1rrtvGxl9A45dvv_52VBJZn056a-6xcJvDW93aqInV76bDt2P5hM/s2000/pied%20wheatear4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFC8fqDMPL3eOgCfEekQSVmcZzs4Pv6FiVtUKB3px6gn4o0yWDv6ZGi0_EW5iVfdi-vgjTREMcOt1CAyFKD3S9mkMMT45MAV-HLKvmhP0u7TRv95jrlBUdHKQ8E3wBO5iHBQwaQ_1rrtvGxl9A45dvv_52VBJZn056a-6xcJvDW93aqInV76bDt2P5hM/w400-h266/pied%20wheatear4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Avner also found nearby another Menetries's Warbler - it seems to be a good winter for them. How many more are lurking out in the desert undetected? Compared to the <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S157464630">performing Nahal Ketura bird</a>, this one is a real nightmare. During the time I watched it I had only a couple of brief views. It was also pretty quiet, hardly called at all. My poor photos demonstrate that.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oC8g3HeQgpK7Lu7J3mRLkoOycUV82ZH6j4dp5w3-ofqqWB-qenCbxORILyHrMa8L93axekgZvVguPN_tDV-PvzzNhQANn813IlF7kYGBQH5uGnfL9DJIJk6FwvnA0WIZhTnjD71_mm49XABkwW6SIxeljSoNaHUQu10cmJeiUjF_p2wHqWvTdpKWOjE/s1200/menetries's%20warbler1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oC8g3HeQgpK7Lu7J3mRLkoOycUV82ZH6j4dp5w3-ofqqWB-qenCbxORILyHrMa8L93axekgZvVguPN_tDV-PvzzNhQANn813IlF7kYGBQH5uGnfL9DJIJk6FwvnA0WIZhTnjD71_mm49XABkwW6SIxeljSoNaHUQu10cmJeiUjF_p2wHqWvTdpKWOjE/w400-h266/menetries's%20warbler1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8H9ZUfdNzjwBW2R57oxDHqNgRsUH9HTPiDUUziMaarIhKgBgCd5DdPJ_9qXOogxtS-VD2lWyXOqUdBO1GfRUPBC5yIGJFx9UZMwAdPMLl6CeVCPJAEBPFTvuyqiBTrlFIINvgk7L_xk-rRkAOv_7N2E-j85XAHv_ah0VnHWQNB67gyRTBoQ0ET3mQZM/s2000/menetries's%20warbler2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8H9ZUfdNzjwBW2R57oxDHqNgRsUH9HTPiDUUziMaarIhKgBgCd5DdPJ_9qXOogxtS-VD2lWyXOqUdBO1GfRUPBC5yIGJFx9UZMwAdPMLl6CeVCPJAEBPFTvuyqiBTrlFIINvgk7L_xk-rRkAOv_7N2E-j85XAHv_ah0VnHWQNB67gyRTBoQ0ET3mQZM/w400-h266/menetries's%20warbler2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="398" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/613318855/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>There were lots of birds moving around - big numbers of Spotted Sandgrouse filled the air with their flight calls, some Temminck's and Bar-tailed Larks busy feeding and getting prepared for breeding, Desert Wheatear, Tawny Pipits, stonking male Pallid Harrier cruised over the plains - good fun and an excellent morning overall. eBird checklists with pied and menetries's <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S158489981">here </a>and <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S158490971">here</a>.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-66699724482193073912023-12-31T14:52:00.002+00:002023-12-31T14:52:26.522+00:00Best of 2023 - special review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3eiE3oMpj8_z0a2HTbOixx74uiO5QLjh08ErxLXf_i5mzAUiSFxhWfSQqELv-IDssDeUpixHAqFGOJKfQW9oEivxV_zDgetWm1BwaV9puvK1sfSlwVaZOPMQP1EAgLHTKKdrs9JeiEHtLejKV0f2D2AZrgK9z3epbtgdd-ZT140NfRtW-fUvmq9lrgQ/s3000/2023%20best%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3eiE3oMpj8_z0a2HTbOixx74uiO5QLjh08ErxLXf_i5mzAUiSFxhWfSQqELv-IDssDeUpixHAqFGOJKfQW9oEivxV_zDgetWm1BwaV9puvK1sfSlwVaZOPMQP1EAgLHTKKdrs9JeiEHtLejKV0f2D2AZrgK9z3epbtgdd-ZT140NfRtW-fUvmq9lrgQ/w400-h266/2023%20best%20collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>On October 7th a war broke between Israel and Hamas. I have refrained from writing directly about the war, here and on my social media channels. However, the war certainly affected my life, directly and as part of a national trauma. The horror is so deep that I struggle to remember life before the war. When I browsed through the images I took during 2023, selecting those that would be displayed in this traditional annual summary, distant memories of innocent birding came back to me. Memories of birding without being alert (the wrong kind of alert), without the sounds of sirens and explosions in the background, without the heavy weight of grief and tension and a wounded heart. Looking back, the nine months of the year before the war weren't bad at all, actually pretty awesome. Even during the war, between family and work, I continued birding as hard as I could - nature healing at its purest. In this special summary, and this year it really is special, I will look back at the highlights of my birding year, in Israel and overseas. Here we go:<div><br /></div><div><b>Birding in Israel</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This year I was birding at full speed, as always. I didn't try to do a Big Year, but I did my best to see as many birds as possible without doing a proper Big Year. Does that comprehend? I'm not sure. I was out and about all the time, trying to enjoy what Israel has to offer. In 2023 I saw 391 species, which is a pretty good total I reckon. Less than in my 2021 Big Year effort (402), this is my second best annual total, so I am pleased with what I saw. </div><div>Of course, eBird shapes my mode of birding considerably. I am keeping my birding streak - last week I celebrated a nice milestone of five years of consecutive birding (see below). In 2023 I submitted 600 checklists, and uploaded to Macaulay Library 407 photos, 47 sound recordings and 92 videos. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2023 I had four IL lifers. I saw a Black-faced Bunting in February at Ma'ayan Zvi, and a <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/08/interesting-whimbrel-with-some-pro.html">Booted Warbler in August in Ma'agan Michael</a>. I got good views of both but didn't get any photos of either, sadly. Hey, a tick is a tick. Another two IL ticks were Gray-headed Swamphen (I actually did see one in 2002 but it wasn't accepted by IRDC) in HaMa'apil in October, and perhaps the cherry on the top of my birding cake - <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/12/pacific-diver-loon.html">Pacific Diver on December 30th, yesterday</a>! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610058189/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwfqhyphenhyphenR5Zwhw5Q7OPYHvXBqoQ5UDmGkiQuSkwqIRHtgFUTAIALQE4kxB5SPgImIE82HEAh16DoYZH_eZDmI0mI4MvrdN2-8rrGGcObmYIf_X3Vt3Ycoqi5Rb31JujXIOUUfhzi5hyFY0eAuELcJLAXJcoNKJuBkTsdZEnCMynl-8-wT3LYmbzVtTmwLQ/s3000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwfqhyphenhyphenR5Zwhw5Q7OPYHvXBqoQ5UDmGkiQuSkwqIRHtgFUTAIALQE4kxB5SPgImIE82HEAh16DoYZH_eZDmI0mI4MvrdN2-8rrGGcObmYIf_X3Vt3Ycoqi5Rb31JujXIOUUfhzi5hyFY0eAuELcJLAXJcoNKJuBkTsdZEnCMynl-8-wT3LYmbzVtTmwLQ/w400-h266/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There were lots of other great bird during the year. First rarity of the year was a Pied Bushchat near Maor in the Heffer Valley:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x1elLB3bpHwe5m_SJ_5nSn8C4vaF5q9yx7GiTO9Ke8I78ySJrB9Wjq3LQzHD0ivrb2pcE4rJwr0hPIBybZRK6BmpDKCUWRDWVC3VlqPecs8cfvPlhPHCSLyNEQ0I2ltLX2TlDbjeF4Vu8rZHnPl6earuuEENyRV8lDSb1PVEAVtwbSMVSl3H1QU50Fo/s1200/pied%20bushchat3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x1elLB3bpHwe5m_SJ_5nSn8C4vaF5q9yx7GiTO9Ke8I78ySJrB9Wjq3LQzHD0ivrb2pcE4rJwr0hPIBybZRK6BmpDKCUWRDWVC3VlqPecs8cfvPlhPHCSLyNEQ0I2ltLX2TlDbjeF4Vu8rZHnPl6earuuEENyRV8lDSb1PVEAVtwbSMVSl3H1QU50Fo/w400-h266/pied%20bushchat3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>A proper winter storm that received the tempting name 'Barbara' brought in to our shores phenomenal numbers of Leach's Storm-Petrel, among other seabirds - great fun. February 8th was their peak - <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/02/leachsmania.html">I saw 61 in less than two hours off Palmachim</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaK7uJMjD27B57jJQ_EuJwq-2LdNLRU3r3gr2hkm3wpybHcVv2IrcDCVWXvjDU4D1qB0m_hwBjwd93IgSnmX7zuXpmeJsE_r4P0Qy_tjReKyiV1PJ_zkVgPWM-PEhOwj9OqcgEHOh4YHVRU-n0vuIrxIuByvYyW0dcloDCrrm8HqchQvaao5hyphenhyphenThHB9s/s1500/%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9F%20%D7%90%D7%98%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaK7uJMjD27B57jJQ_EuJwq-2LdNLRU3r3gr2hkm3wpybHcVv2IrcDCVWXvjDU4D1qB0m_hwBjwd93IgSnmX7zuXpmeJsE_r4P0Qy_tjReKyiV1PJ_zkVgPWM-PEhOwj9OqcgEHOh4YHVRU-n0vuIrxIuByvYyW0dcloDCrrm8HqchQvaao5hyphenhyphenThHB9s/w400-h266/%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9F%20%D7%90%D7%98%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One storm-petrel I captured on video created a bit of a debate on its identity - I left it storm-petrel sp., for the time being:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="357" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/532920861/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>A Three-banded Plover was found in the Jizreel Valley in February. On the way to Kfar Ruppin for work I made a quick detour to watch it - it's probably one of the wide-ranging long-staying individuals that roamed in northern Israel - possibly the same individual that was seen in <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S150583154">Georgia recently</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnvTt5el_HtKuWy-dj8sPAnZaAkVJ88HMKnv9GahknxdssB07DkIUuTJduB3_HLL6kex5o65A7qPt1R3EGdc53BgXUnu4JqUj1oD6UGeJec07SNLXk-Y6R3Tv_yhwYrZVhbA-n96SXWQzjmsjEox9K3sSHrmaHaXbz7x3FweQ5yDJZVVD0ftPyTsxRZI/s2000/three-banded%20plover1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnvTt5el_HtKuWy-dj8sPAnZaAkVJ88HMKnv9GahknxdssB07DkIUuTJduB3_HLL6kex5o65A7qPt1R3EGdc53BgXUnu4JqUj1oD6UGeJec07SNLXk-Y6R3Tv_yhwYrZVhbA-n96SXWQzjmsjEox9K3sSHrmaHaXbz7x3FweQ5yDJZVVD0ftPyTsxRZI/w400-h266/three-banded%20plover1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a beautiful morning in Hazore'a fishponds, that provided beautiful views of Black Francolins, not rare but certainly stunning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vFBFwvWCRGK9_SzVmEf7Q76DoMycfYJ-16yZYeF39tfVom8kl9y-e3NPRI0U4xXVu4blitivu-yGXB4OZFXhOVIvxpYiG0kSPlOTW3lIKxfSj8T20OrjN6IKbduwOaSlbsGUrhr1GGGPqQNLww4otM24PYDE0_MMGQaoKdf4lYUvcg23hol-PFrvfaM/s2000/black%20francolin1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vFBFwvWCRGK9_SzVmEf7Q76DoMycfYJ-16yZYeF39tfVom8kl9y-e3NPRI0U4xXVu4blitivu-yGXB4OZFXhOVIvxpYiG0kSPlOTW3lIKxfSj8T20OrjN6IKbduwOaSlbsGUrhr1GGGPqQNLww4otM24PYDE0_MMGQaoKdf4lYUvcg23hol-PFrvfaM/w400-h266/black%20francolin1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Masked Wagtail was another stunner in late February, not a full species but a very distinctive subspecies - my 2nd ever in Israel. This one frequented a beach car park in Maagan Michael, utilizing the garbage bin leftovers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTDyhEVV3BqyYE-P5vx-NHr7rZhk0_2l6LCe65cWIBLV_muo7ocq0V9WyEsCc0kSRlUxVgwkvUWRAx0EyMJ_I-ry1JD72BJPILQaxnADqNG7j3h8r2swmkNQDyAP5n9lCp8GQwyxRu641Uyr4X322DYwtU3YqqMVXmpecMH4c9rq4mDBiAuY55LbdB4A/s2000/masked%20wagtail1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTDyhEVV3BqyYE-P5vx-NHr7rZhk0_2l6LCe65cWIBLV_muo7ocq0V9WyEsCc0kSRlUxVgwkvUWRAx0EyMJ_I-ry1JD72BJPILQaxnADqNG7j3h8r2swmkNQDyAP5n9lCp8GQwyxRu641Uyr4X322DYwtU3YqqMVXmpecMH4c9rq4mDBiAuY55LbdB4A/w400-h266/masked%20wagtail1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Then spring sprang and migration picked up. Such a thrill every year to watch the returning migrants. R<span style="font-family: inherit;">ü</span>ppell's Warbler is one of those spring migrants that makes me smile the most.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4ISw4rYwSfVwgboD19xPrZMq81xe8wdHrYUtqLdFFILBhOQT3_IUEYwDZwP_FSNIWgb-aCYU8LebeP2V0OdK-Ltb_L9j-ysl02IsfDsmaiVtxcSBRwVWaXY91Zzpuv_h3hWTT1diI38jy1RMM36gVztaxBqoR5LnOsXAh4OGzlmoM-dA7vazwNk3qmM/s2000/ruppell's%20warbler6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4ISw4rYwSfVwgboD19xPrZMq81xe8wdHrYUtqLdFFILBhOQT3_IUEYwDZwP_FSNIWgb-aCYU8LebeP2V0OdK-Ltb_L9j-ysl02IsfDsmaiVtxcSBRwVWaXY91Zzpuv_h3hWTT1diI38jy1RMM36gVztaxBqoR5LnOsXAh4OGzlmoM-dA7vazwNk3qmM/w400-h266/ruppell's%20warbler6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Eilat Birding Festival followed by Champions of the Flyway provided me with an <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/03/eilat-bird-festival-and-champions-of.html">action-packed week of non-stop birding</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR86gsyYU1p_lLwey_q4ilCDMa0hZchJn1gMMF9Z9QDYQSuIv59ocqyRKueMd7YJkPyTLsb22dL_MQQPStlJbjnppPFlzyDPtiTvnjRVaaaB1eMib8w-9Z1eaeGPKwEMW9Uo3iYKPMfFwNjLmskHXNApUfeUrVKItEz2Vy6Q5wnfpX09zNYj8_5n-I11E/s3000/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR86gsyYU1p_lLwey_q4ilCDMa0hZchJn1gMMF9Z9QDYQSuIv59ocqyRKueMd7YJkPyTLsb22dL_MQQPStlJbjnppPFlzyDPtiTvnjRVaaaB1eMib8w-9Z1eaeGPKwEMW9Uo3iYKPMfFwNjLmskHXNApUfeUrVKItEz2Vy6Q5wnfpX09zNYj8_5n-I11E/w400-h266/collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My mate Mark stayed over for a few days after COTF. Our time together was brightened up by this lovely Semicollared Flycatcher in Ashkelon:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNAT6-hhTT6fTuvlEdKhgEQnkxdhTQiVHvEGHhCxAekh1iRXXvHr3SCR23K_xPuInmqtesqZ43njnCQam7ClYcsx12GuF788LxctTYZ_WEIdWcOBkZliaJIbpUVgI1ASLTF_agzmin8jXUBz75ijvY3gOLn7jNAMaZp6V7IbSXRNe1Kpugf265-Gluz4/s2000/semicollared%20flycatcher2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNAT6-hhTT6fTuvlEdKhgEQnkxdhTQiVHvEGHhCxAekh1iRXXvHr3SCR23K_xPuInmqtesqZ43njnCQam7ClYcsx12GuF788LxctTYZ_WEIdWcOBkZliaJIbpUVgI1ASLTF_agzmin8jXUBz75ijvY3gOLn7jNAMaZp6V7IbSXRNe1Kpugf265-Gluz4/w400-h266/semicollared%20flycatcher2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that I am director of BirdLife Israel I have all the good reasons to travel down to Eilat frequently, to visit Noam Weiss and the team of Eilat Birding Center. This sacrifice provides me with fantastic birding opportunity. In early May I got this photo of European Bee-eater - one of my favourite photos of the year:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNb3VLOHX4k0SqKkcRybEtW3hTK7d-ha0r0A3cVqOlRoNbQGj9ew2qMsEt8s5MILWsjD6O383305mgzBdGyiqEFx79dxOMz1tc0-XMRkfmtakLyDDWKkVCeNyd1g2k6lX283oy5ofhkrVgqMyJOaXwiFgWgILubWpKQtblHGvuXcbVynvE-_e2L-v2fDs/s2000/european%20bee-eater6_ed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNb3VLOHX4k0SqKkcRybEtW3hTK7d-ha0r0A3cVqOlRoNbQGj9ew2qMsEt8s5MILWsjD6O383305mgzBdGyiqEFx79dxOMz1tc0-XMRkfmtakLyDDWKkVCeNyd1g2k6lX283oy5ofhkrVgqMyJOaXwiFgWgILubWpKQtblHGvuXcbVynvE-_e2L-v2fDs/w300-h400/european%20bee-eater6_ed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My office is in Tel Aviv. It location offers me with opportunities to explore the environs and enjoy some of the wildlife in the metropolin. Golden Jackals are abundant in Hayarkon Park, they are very tame and offer great photo opps.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodddFtAnV0oVIhQx9sU4MHI2_cUig2QqYU0SXzZorN419Nc8tutwBf5AQwX0Y8DZlWRDhfw3DJx7V5Au194q_j4DxwFJlF5GomgqMTRjMFV-3v0-E2L8u8jx0ZFp_O5qDmmOurixvixOM7OyuA2tb9q954Mj4aN5pHfnJzUcMpMGfuL0VNu1-e0Fl60c/s2000/golden%20jackal4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodddFtAnV0oVIhQx9sU4MHI2_cUig2QqYU0SXzZorN419Nc8tutwBf5AQwX0Y8DZlWRDhfw3DJx7V5Au194q_j4DxwFJlF5GomgqMTRjMFV-3v0-E2L8u8jx0ZFp_O5qDmmOurixvixOM7OyuA2tb9q954Mj4aN5pHfnJzUcMpMGfuL0VNu1-e0Fl60c/w400-h266/golden%20jackal4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A mega-rare Mediterranean Monk Seal frequented a busy Tel Aviv beach in May and attracted hordes of nature enthusiasts and the general public too. It became so popular that it was named Julia. <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/05/oh-julia.html">It was a mammal lifer for me</a>.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-enR5WJrPbq4c46gdTRO0J-xO3yTKtIjqVruuJoHOJO-qs7x62RJLMAhz_ZDoZtIxcAtyzWvmlq6306q8tRymAyQGREPkZzsIHC08bO00aPS5O1oULSEVCacz_IHNTBZh8qGJoviWCV_2d9YFZs3KdJk-FIZgWUDsv0CVO-6gUSeIE8DGW8pd7PrpTpU/s2000/mediterranean%20monk%20seal1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-enR5WJrPbq4c46gdTRO0J-xO3yTKtIjqVruuJoHOJO-qs7x62RJLMAhz_ZDoZtIxcAtyzWvmlq6306q8tRymAyQGREPkZzsIHC08bO00aPS5O1oULSEVCacz_IHNTBZh8qGJoviWCV_2d9YFZs3KdJk-FIZgWUDsv0CVO-6gUSeIE8DGW8pd7PrpTpU/w400-h266/mediterranean%20monk%20seal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UfvwdbYW6C0yoAy8BBAqAlwXinWYfjBM76WtzTrjsIeDicRFLwtLYvuM__ftzoKs37YpNLVCIHEiXeMHYNToAmSltETGas8qPulHHs9CUfTXkZvgMmxS_ltc2NVmJG0Jg9S6Flukcv-eIKb257HKNVf98Kg6m5JBbKY8PigogsGnIjUoRgVAqroCxZQ/s4000/1684177421325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UfvwdbYW6C0yoAy8BBAqAlwXinWYfjBM76WtzTrjsIeDicRFLwtLYvuM__ftzoKs37YpNLVCIHEiXeMHYNToAmSltETGas8qPulHHs9CUfTXkZvgMmxS_ltc2NVmJG0Jg9S6Flukcv-eIKb257HKNVf98Kg6m5JBbKY8PigogsGnIjUoRgVAqroCxZQ/w400-h180/1684177421325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Keeping an eBird checklist and birding streak requires significant effort. I did my best to maximize my effort within a 10km radius from my house. However, there are some great birding sites just outside of the 10km radius, suitable for a pre-work morning session for streak maintenance and enjoyable birding. Kfar Harif reservoir is one of those sites. It hosts in summer breeding Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robins that are in serious decline in central Israel.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrfz3MptmW6eJc3xA9OYL2fFcRXm6nVtUeA2dkyvWdxSIgNEDX2995hJuyzveI-7FePouoIV2lJV5asdwq-bhyOeJh-pRQthQNjJ3zBG_Ka2R-A34e3Og5aCPNlSoozucV6sOwfmr5Rv4qwW_IBiaA62oyAOr8i1Wv_EtsUBpglomaAa3gjuoyUiMzaM/s2000/rufous-tailed%20scrub-robin4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrfz3MptmW6eJc3xA9OYL2fFcRXm6nVtUeA2dkyvWdxSIgNEDX2995hJuyzveI-7FePouoIV2lJV5asdwq-bhyOeJh-pRQthQNjJ3zBG_Ka2R-A34e3Og5aCPNlSoozucV6sOwfmr5Rv4qwW_IBiaA62oyAOr8i1Wv_EtsUBpglomaAa3gjuoyUiMzaM/w400-h266/rufous-tailed%20scrub-robin4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A trip up north in late May for some work on Mt. Hermon happened in perfect timing to be present when Yosef Kiat ringed this Chestnut-shouldered Petronia. They returned to breed in the Golan Heights again this summer - <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/05/theyre-back.html">it seems that we have a new regularly breeding bird species in Israel</a>. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9Y_WRvSSB4zYyrvwVHLbuHhixHzp9hV4LYL1yM8cgCTsK1yylT-oifojXo4TLd08e-7HxNvDikZiPbdvFhDEVacrrwj5w-XM9z7nKfV-Ch5mpBtgKvgrj2Vgr_Aoi6CqcC1MIY-IAt-OfODdWVi74JF30z3q_dzz7G-zCW76AGaKm1bMdeyinxzqR7s/s2000/yellow-throated%20sparrow2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9Y_WRvSSB4zYyrvwVHLbuHhixHzp9hV4LYL1yM8cgCTsK1yylT-oifojXo4TLd08e-7HxNvDikZiPbdvFhDEVacrrwj5w-XM9z7nKfV-Ch5mpBtgKvgrj2Vgr_Aoi6CqcC1MIY-IAt-OfODdWVi74JF30z3q_dzz7G-zCW76AGaKm1bMdeyinxzqR7s/w400-h266/yellow-throated%20sparrow2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rony Livne generated a very local twitch in late June - <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/06/local-basra.html">Basra Reed-Warbler in Kfar Menachem</a> - 12 km from home...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6npa3SxIBTMx7rcaevPdVZ6VdiBkjcjJJ94Ye5WvEyqb2hbCezkN88Iw-viHhgBmjr4UP913xETi2LsrroIcny1Qu4TemTvygmD88GatQNSwOmFaC4T7djwzszSHZIGau4HNN0cPYe368zQ_MBjYrcDTYPcO5EPMpFjLuKuzwGn8TlefUKaFeGqLnJaM/s2000/basra%20reed-warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6npa3SxIBTMx7rcaevPdVZ6VdiBkjcjJJ94Ye5WvEyqb2hbCezkN88Iw-viHhgBmjr4UP913xETi2LsrroIcny1Qu4TemTvygmD88GatQNSwOmFaC4T7djwzszSHZIGau4HNN0cPYe368zQ_MBjYrcDTYPcO5EPMpFjLuKuzwGn8TlefUKaFeGqLnJaM/w266-h400/basra%20reed-warbler.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another good reason for me to travel down to Eilat is to develop my boys' scuba diving skills. One might call it a win-win situation. A couple of combined scuba diving and birding trips in summer were much appreciated because it is a wonderful time for seabirding. The sea was boiling with fish, and the birds had a great time. In this picture there's a Bridled Tern with White-cheeked and Common Terns, and an Arctic Tern somewhere in there too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rYzYac6v0dyTfasUDrDYFDvysQSpGP_iwh3v3yCyVNNfeNK4FS37AwXOt-3xYhbj8jNOXazr5Zke2pfL9TxaInQgbixl0sGMBPlaSoV8S_opRksVaSkJRvmBYUfC2VfmRBtDkEqp5O734lxeMVGv0Oq45VVuN7KHIT41jdzxWgYbDBBixPE029n16Fs/s2000/bridled%20tern1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rYzYac6v0dyTfasUDrDYFDvysQSpGP_iwh3v3yCyVNNfeNK4FS37AwXOt-3xYhbj8jNOXazr5Zke2pfL9TxaInQgbixl0sGMBPlaSoV8S_opRksVaSkJRvmBYUfC2VfmRBtDkEqp5O734lxeMVGv0Oq45VVuN7KHIT41jdzxWgYbDBBixPE029n16Fs/w400-h266/bridled%20tern1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A monitoring pelagic with Noam and INPA team into the gulf was fun because I got good photos of Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF3LAPKiV6gcRfVuwub4XP_zFjkd2U31RLGq77GjkVjP3lfspWvPCIipKnmwh-JAJW2bHLDu3LAD_3ccdSA_Tbdd3qa4ampP_ajlRwiwl9HdDuJ4ia7RqviLAVy5kdBtS12rbOvfJIj0b7XckzlTWPqiOl8pH3YXDlb1J8Xbhsv4BbPiD3jlQHT3-QQs/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF3LAPKiV6gcRfVuwub4XP_zFjkd2U31RLGq77GjkVjP3lfspWvPCIipKnmwh-JAJW2bHLDu3LAD_3ccdSA_Tbdd3qa4ampP_ajlRwiwl9HdDuJ4ia7RqviLAVy5kdBtS12rbOvfJIj0b7XckzlTWPqiOl8pH3YXDlb1J8Xbhsv4BbPiD3jlQHT3-QQs/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I highly appreciate the Eilat locals - White-eyed Gull and Striated Heron:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB-igLkYOpC632C2tk5cuO7PqoyKcD8yhkhplY0ghDBHnn8ZA5sqK7urCw_HckaBEAtdubtHSHG4VPHYB2w2JNE2ocs7Lt9AwOJm6YluHBO7bEpbj7i6pRHelz8mntKo_RAFDSnFYrPpigCILG-KswTmXTnrEbEM5X2VTn8pGnCqkVUzRW0l5xNc_X14/s2000/white-eyed%20gull3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMB-igLkYOpC632C2tk5cuO7PqoyKcD8yhkhplY0ghDBHnn8ZA5sqK7urCw_HckaBEAtdubtHSHG4VPHYB2w2JNE2ocs7Lt9AwOJm6YluHBO7bEpbj7i6pRHelz8mntKo_RAFDSnFYrPpigCILG-KswTmXTnrEbEM5X2VTn8pGnCqkVUzRW0l5xNc_X14/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJWr2lYllU-feDoyVavlLGI4CU0rJWzmkorE2MeHgq8w5cGA2eM_Qwx59sZRrVLly4WIpFu9kp_mIudcCRxaWOXEw6hAooqHSULEUX2KjsIrKULORuXfzJ-MkcVwa4hLtlbtQK2JtpD09jpyOmRXtCokYab8jHacI7H0Vn0JRFsw71Ns1Q7t9Z-YWdho/s2000/striated%20heron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJWr2lYllU-feDoyVavlLGI4CU0rJWzmkorE2MeHgq8w5cGA2eM_Qwx59sZRrVLly4WIpFu9kp_mIudcCRxaWOXEw6hAooqHSULEUX2KjsIrKULORuXfzJ-MkcVwa4hLtlbtQK2JtpD09jpyOmRXtCokYab8jHacI7H0Vn0JRFsw71Ns1Q7t9Z-YWdho/w400-h266/striated%20heron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was autumn and shorebirds started moving south. <a href="https://ebird.org/hotspot/L11969449">Yavne 1 ponds</a> are probably the best shorebirds site in central Israel, only 13 km from home. In this pic, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Ringed Plover, Redshank and Teal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhgxBeT5zZyZegMiiqzBBZjfi28hsyuyUfibRnSQLs3dyJNlufAqZ5-3k75AwbbtHBMKJRuOnJEYiAMucXsb3LnkhBEuyNAZx9vkARC1XIIdXI1S8s-zJYogQGqtHATL1PDRemL4NqRKOjgnAiJeRROPFeoaxEvt2XC2gQ_yAfI3-Y_0kfAGmPs0wbOU/s4000/dunlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="4000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhgxBeT5zZyZegMiiqzBBZjfi28hsyuyUfibRnSQLs3dyJNlufAqZ5-3k75AwbbtHBMKJRuOnJEYiAMucXsb3LnkhBEuyNAZx9vkARC1XIIdXI1S8s-zJYogQGqtHATL1PDRemL4NqRKOjgnAiJeRROPFeoaxEvt2XC2gQ_yAfI3-Y_0kfAGmPs0wbOU/w400-h266/dunlin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While searching for the Booted Warbler found by Igal in Maagan Michael in late August, a small group of Whimbrel flew past, including this interesting individual that <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/08/interesting-whimbrel-with-some-pro.html">showed features close to the enigmatic taxon <i>alboxillaris</i></a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This morning I was in Ma'agan Michael, connecting with Booted Warbler, IL tick for me. While searching for it, Amir Balaban and I had this Whimbrel quartet fly by. I snapped some shots of them. Could the rear one be alboxillaris? Not sure it's quite white and clean enough<a href="https://twitter.com/_OSME?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_OSME</a> <a href="https://t.co/6YSTnemdU2">pic.twitter.com/6YSTnemdU2</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1695477874558378399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In September migration picked up nicely, and <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/09/autumn-fall.html">I absorbed it all in</a>. Looking back, it was a wonderful, innocent month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggMgpF9HK8mKJQ4HbX53UPC-CjUYnpOSOIxZUizTn_SeSg2_D5ly4WEGJSzeTz_UK1puiAPMp1zGHJklxj4BBzc0E1Ncj1k84pBlmiUSzP6EIUo-MBYx_k-y_qgvOc-Nx8-QGE9p1V_3Abb_egeYhNvWeHc6ieVc178yjl8sfYHCyk1eYSRck3p21HY8/s4500/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggMgpF9HK8mKJQ4HbX53UPC-CjUYnpOSOIxZUizTn_SeSg2_D5ly4WEGJSzeTz_UK1puiAPMp1zGHJklxj4BBzc0E1Ncj1k84pBlmiUSzP6EIUo-MBYx_k-y_qgvOc-Nx8-QGE9p1V_3Abb_egeYhNvWeHc6ieVc178yjl8sfYHCyk1eYSRck3p21HY8/w400-h266/collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In early October I flew to Kenya (more on this below). Then the war broke, and the rest of october was very gloomy. I did maintain my eBird streak, but struggled hard to elevate myself to travel farther. The Gray-headed Swamphen in HaMa'apil was on the first birding excursion that Piki and I did after the war broke. That part of the country was the only safe place to be, more or less. Thanks Piki for this pic.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_Byv85Pr1kG6x1WqyS22EpNBiZbg5zM7izpyxU6oVPv0S3cE_9hdLAh6eR9gRwZh4MyswiRZL_sr5S51cVyemq5dNixXelgrggx-7JX8-ItnlliXzfaMhNWmGR77U9bfaypk6V8JuyCxgV_98SPHhHuNTQ4RoEzHNV_IawoHAEKnzOrCbUAEZpUbwN0/s2000/1S6A4033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_Byv85Pr1kG6x1WqyS22EpNBiZbg5zM7izpyxU6oVPv0S3cE_9hdLAh6eR9gRwZh4MyswiRZL_sr5S51cVyemq5dNixXelgrggx-7JX8-ItnlliXzfaMhNWmGR77U9bfaypk6V8JuyCxgV_98SPHhHuNTQ4RoEzHNV_IawoHAEKnzOrCbUAEZpUbwN0/w400-h266/1S6A4033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In November birding picked up considerably. More and more birders heading out, where it was possible, and started finding good bird. As mentioned before, it is totally crazy to go birding when there are explosions and sirens in the background. This Red Phalarope in Ma'agan Michael was typically obliging:<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkMQzHKbEJlmUCHQwR5tjVqoQmqX7Q-Pgials-yqRElAMsAMIYie37NN9COqkYsoNao5B20FWR3nod0XWRCnbnKisNyOO83wVkTK-vL6rrMFQLGkgiNuujP2O0sVBGBEJEK7Y5rm-uuYZxkAawBKB3Uy9n4GY7cVk0g8sRPHNKmNVqCPLOEoyrTeJWG8/s2000/red%20phalarope4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkMQzHKbEJlmUCHQwR5tjVqoQmqX7Q-Pgials-yqRElAMsAMIYie37NN9COqkYsoNao5B20FWR3nod0XWRCnbnKisNyOO83wVkTK-vL6rrMFQLGkgiNuujP2O0sVBGBEJEK7Y5rm-uuYZxkAawBKB3Uy9n4GY7cVk0g8sRPHNKmNVqCPLOEoyrTeJWG8/w400-h266/red%20phalarope4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This Red-breasted Merganser was the first of a relatively nice winter arrival along the Mediterranean Coast. This one was very close to the Lebanese border - we were quickly escorted out by security forces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9meyS208jSDJKtaiTfZAmxc2xeO0nrHT_UkgzFGc_LqsgKQNEVb1I-MsCMvom9j0-O46OcYSAdTbIi8yNyWzVYN7oWJxGFb1PWq5uqShCDhqbxJNCvgpQQXWINhyUV4R3sHpMoKwOKG7pJIQd87lvCX52yobP-EZ5u60FRG9od9hI9cUhbkDfwf1Hz1Y/s2000/red-breasted%20merganser2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9meyS208jSDJKtaiTfZAmxc2xeO0nrHT_UkgzFGc_LqsgKQNEVb1I-MsCMvom9j0-O46OcYSAdTbIi8yNyWzVYN7oWJxGFb1PWq5uqShCDhqbxJNCvgpQQXWINhyUV4R3sHpMoKwOKG7pJIQd87lvCX52yobP-EZ5u60FRG9od9hI9cUhbkDfwf1Hz1Y/w400-h266/red-breasted%20merganser2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kfar Ruppin fishponds were excellent all autumn, attracting huge numbers of birds, including this sweetie Lesser White-fronted Goose. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Iv1u4ZeRAjEtO26SZqzwcOG1YxUYwNTsLF27gtDBgER5h7WIYDMI3wlBHvEQmF8WOaWXvCtDWf1-bD1_DXXr_ouN3vh0rBYcA5iIuMXbFZ_50cPzT3gqKOsCKmTVggg4wwhKRKllrbGyYQpca2H4qZwr7xcWZK03MUehwlBYoT7yThrsTA7KcJ8u6A/s2000/lesser%20white-fronted%20goose1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Iv1u4ZeRAjEtO26SZqzwcOG1YxUYwNTsLF27gtDBgER5h7WIYDMI3wlBHvEQmF8WOaWXvCtDWf1-bD1_DXXr_ouN3vh0rBYcA5iIuMXbFZ_50cPzT3gqKOsCKmTVggg4wwhKRKllrbGyYQpca2H4qZwr7xcWZK03MUehwlBYoT7yThrsTA7KcJ8u6A/w400-h266/lesser%20white-fronted%20goose1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Red-necked Phalarope normally don't overwinter in Israel, so this individual overwintering at Ma'agan Michael deserved lying in the mud for.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNle9rnF-hT6GgnU4MtnZQIbsYCrHAAiCrz73cHPxnxBcKJ7st1YA7jp5OusCY6exJrRQID_oibisheymtJ_pahedV18zIHdEtr3H58c-Ssq1KxzBpF_oPaxlvSUSA__kphZd3R0ZIi8cofB9JIaGW15k2cbRJUWSHbmW8yDtOSDeZQZKGdS1bClgnH0/s2000/red-necked%20phalarope2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNle9rnF-hT6GgnU4MtnZQIbsYCrHAAiCrz73cHPxnxBcKJ7st1YA7jp5OusCY6exJrRQID_oibisheymtJ_pahedV18zIHdEtr3H58c-Ssq1KxzBpF_oPaxlvSUSA__kphZd3R0ZIi8cofB9JIaGW15k2cbRJUWSHbmW8yDtOSDeZQZKGdS1bClgnH0/w400-h266/red-necked%20phalarope2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>What I thought would be the final quality bird of the year was this Basalt Wheatear in the Arava Valley. With this fine bird I <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/12/five-years.html">celebrated five years of consecutive birding.</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWevzgTLJhyphenhyphenVzPQWAhDlCqoU3ZggPHQVHhBsMZSBFzaJCl96LxjV0vLOaW97bsGk_4tS5_cmzMji2Y8c6rvuLpvUF8nP83CHvudvCjp6hdCye3CEyzppDMiP2BX9EBzeUnFwhyphenhyphen87ySv5J_paTme-f6L273ggzCTny_tm2KcmDqx77JCGfKAlCIBqpyxN8/s2000/basalt%20wheatear6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWevzgTLJhyphenhyphenVzPQWAhDlCqoU3ZggPHQVHhBsMZSBFzaJCl96LxjV0vLOaW97bsGk_4tS5_cmzMji2Y8c6rvuLpvUF8nP83CHvudvCjp6hdCye3CEyzppDMiP2BX9EBzeUnFwhyphenhyphen87ySv5J_paTme-f6L273ggzCTny_tm2KcmDqx77JCGfKAlCIBqpyxN8/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/12/pacific-diver-loon.html">final push on December 30th</a> was super successful with finding the Pacific Diver, and adding Menetries's Warbler. The final new bird for 2023 was a stupid one I hadn't noticed not seeing yet - Crowned Sandgrouse. Like finding a 50 quid note in your trousers pocket after laundry.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EmBOfWRNIyyXdmpieoIsFCklma-ssrj6_0kOqyQuTcPbf8A4aVFNauMhIFtAzKYWy4SAQvOVsOvPUWRHTnb_GBz3oGprMGuUAFSsfT-34WhvYp-2E-YSfd6pl5GD8dotjicmo04W5dKWw6vWL9NZnR00tKgF4OSHh8BuOn_VMC_ybctjo7ieqVZlKfk/s2000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EmBOfWRNIyyXdmpieoIsFCklma-ssrj6_0kOqyQuTcPbf8A4aVFNauMhIFtAzKYWy4SAQvOVsOvPUWRHTnb_GBz3oGprMGuUAFSsfT-34WhvYp-2E-YSfd6pl5GD8dotjicmo04W5dKWw6vWL9NZnR00tKgF4OSHh8BuOn_VMC_ybctjo7ieqVZlKfk/w400-h266/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="398" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612837660/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>10K birding</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2023 I invested as much as I can in the birding sites within a 10 km radius from my home in Mazkeret Batya. There are several sites within walking distance from home, that I check frequently. <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/01/bamba.html">My beloved dog and birding companion Bamba passed away in late January</a>. After her passing, it felt very weird to walk these sites without Bamba. As a result, my birding effort in the local sites diminished a bit. Since we adopted our new dog, Lola, in early November, my morning birding walks regained enthusiasm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bamba - I miss you so much</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdr_ZMaZx_5rGTxteaJzu75q_7KqYlRD_SOKYPCTT909Jyzm0uU3vZqbPj7oR7eZ7gsTig7qcr1_IXtau_0X1QVYdpwo6zW6JlStFR6W7-M08mC22RihmVup_LupozB_7VYqABPe1zCk6fJLZ7uoUVcWYZhkABYG500ecwIbXGZEEtQxIDvj1P5QMCTQ/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-03-06%20at%2015.16.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdr_ZMaZx_5rGTxteaJzu75q_7KqYlRD_SOKYPCTT909Jyzm0uU3vZqbPj7oR7eZ7gsTig7qcr1_IXtau_0X1QVYdpwo6zW6JlStFR6W7-M08mC22RihmVup_LupozB_7VYqABPe1zCk6fJLZ7uoUVcWYZhkABYG500ecwIbXGZEEtQxIDvj1P5QMCTQ/w400-h225/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-03-06%20at%2015.16.20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lola - you fill my heart with joy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6nrYigf2as-bpsi14unzyOvxX-5qeHZZG3lLkxOELYSv7jUBk3NSXVbbJxvEwv7azg3mdaMA3WKAaZ4I20Pb8M2FQoPWBoHjtxNXsJ1RJ3tEjMg9nm9sYmnJGO_ypU1VlTzsPSR8vtsJ_ogLYfK9Vi1kSA6pRrPKUgLqQaEBGJnLAn9sgnwWS15g36U/s2000/lola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6nrYigf2as-bpsi14unzyOvxX-5qeHZZG3lLkxOELYSv7jUBk3NSXVbbJxvEwv7azg3mdaMA3WKAaZ4I20Pb8M2FQoPWBoHjtxNXsJ1RJ3tEjMg9nm9sYmnJGO_ypU1VlTzsPSR8vtsJ_ogLYfK9Vi1kSA6pRrPKUgLqQaEBGJnLAn9sgnwWS15g36U/w400-h266/lola.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nahal Ekron, the stream that runs through my town, is the site I visit most. In 2023 I submitted from there 67 checklists. The all-time site list is now on 200. In 2023 I added six species. No proper rarities this year, just the ordinary, enjoyable stuff. Here's a part of the eBird bar chart produced from my observations at this site:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGyC1YZJCornZO2IUgjH5k2omf_UbCFOJeGMe7Vv12xfZzxRr_AAUlonEz0fGKIfk7EeaXpW18Eg3JzOnCwhm4hzR2ECU9er4lJihuPGsASCj3UQqQwIzh3VD7PfPpiqGLLFvlvtKTNKRIJgI88M5T3V5NkB0-DOu0kzxdIR3qsCviqlk9-FzqIC5i6U/s1089/Capture.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1089" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGyC1YZJCornZO2IUgjH5k2omf_UbCFOJeGMe7Vv12xfZzxRr_AAUlonEz0fGKIfk7EeaXpW18Eg3JzOnCwhm4hzR2ECU9er4lJihuPGsASCj3UQqQwIzh3VD7PfPpiqGLLFvlvtKTNKRIJgI88M5T3V5NkB0-DOu0kzxdIR3qsCviqlk9-FzqIC5i6U/w400-h294/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bit farther afield, within a radius of 10 km from home, Hulda Reservoir is a fantastic site. Piki and I have a Saturday morning tradition to walk around the reservoir. It really is wonderful there, year-round.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLaNTSEiriyP8W2RlDGuysv9sBKl5IvsHs3KQ_JCSyUMh42ECh0kODivgXn2efUkuvaQXPYU9ZYtHU2VIVeukUJepqUDW7yeI23GYKI-X5nhyrWFr27bhZj5KTU6fCwGxP2bi_0Y3fMsasi-cAMtW47ZYXXmnq2i1lc3ywTm5-IxD1l1BMCU7c_l2EHs/s2500/hulda.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2500" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLaNTSEiriyP8W2RlDGuysv9sBKl5IvsHs3KQ_JCSyUMh42ECh0kODivgXn2efUkuvaQXPYU9ZYtHU2VIVeukUJepqUDW7yeI23GYKI-X5nhyrWFr27bhZj5KTU6fCwGxP2bi_0Y3fMsasi-cAMtW47ZYXXmnq2i1lc3ywTm5-IxD1l1BMCU7c_l2EHs/w400-h170/hulda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/06/local-pgp.html">Pacific Golden-Plover</a> - found not by us! On a weekday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx64ZWmLTHMn76i_4nB469YWxsbjQV0WB4I5-aIpft0P-elSX0QF0CGvTvHnr7Gbd_fkSduS3ahFF4pzbu5-Kt9krbtVfDx-ureE0F4_xieJogRApnZwRY7tsr8kfdW6gvRTLNBKC-epk2cROBBJdzky0e92oDcP5q4wCarzlAVEndlNU4JkVMcnszZ4/s2000/pacific%20golden-plover1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx64ZWmLTHMn76i_4nB469YWxsbjQV0WB4I5-aIpft0P-elSX0QF0CGvTvHnr7Gbd_fkSduS3ahFF4pzbu5-Kt9krbtVfDx-ureE0F4_xieJogRApnZwRY7tsr8kfdW6gvRTLNBKC-epk2cROBBJdzky0e92oDcP5q4wCarzlAVEndlNU4JkVMcnszZ4/w400-h266/pacific%20golden-plover1_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A beautiful Eurasian Hobby that got stuck in November and didn't migrate - probably because of its damaged eye:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOJgfq_uAFGSp6OSn4vVHJBOa4WCzkuzqe_lM-gFKf_82NzL5MQx9hMEHuuj4T7kYMMl9UCJdsc49HoTjnjLnceKm2SS18LD-4Gsfg1xSUToyxLK-glqSb5OgIwvRXv3S8EVPjWL9FLWrvFVBkbUFNbXudREnPR_L6CxgBfrQlnRydeGvIbHLi4Lnfeo/s4000/hobby1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOJgfq_uAFGSp6OSn4vVHJBOa4WCzkuzqe_lM-gFKf_82NzL5MQx9hMEHuuj4T7kYMMl9UCJdsc49HoTjnjLnceKm2SS18LD-4Gsfg1xSUToyxLK-glqSb5OgIwvRXv3S8EVPjWL9FLWrvFVBkbUFNbXudREnPR_L6CxgBfrQlnRydeGvIbHLi4Lnfeo/w300-h400/hobby1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Fieldwork</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With my job as director of BirdLife Israel, fieldwork is much less an integral part of my work. However, I try to do as much fieldwork as I can, because I can contribute that way and spend more time with my team, because I am good at it, and because I enjoy it very much. Fieldwork brings me to wonderful parts of the country and I see good birds that way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steppe Gray Shrike found during MacQueen's Bustard work in the Negev with Meidad</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZT65GOZSuBciM2UwMYP1-RpJp9ctdBXEzz8Tra9prYnvBvoXM-V7L8GAo85hPRpWK17RllnVU7CPzdmDk0cAcqzVH3jXB2SqIJzu8wjQKSdPdmPN_TQtAPXOH34MAtARq0OGrZsg8qd5NpVwFe-Vxe9GPKJP5zaRPsrvKbRPerLAZz7brr4Hvx_zmKo/s2000/steppe%20gray%20shrike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZT65GOZSuBciM2UwMYP1-RpJp9ctdBXEzz8Tra9prYnvBvoXM-V7L8GAo85hPRpWK17RllnVU7CPzdmDk0cAcqzVH3jXB2SqIJzu8wjQKSdPdmPN_TQtAPXOH34MAtARq0OGrZsg8qd5NpVwFe-Vxe9GPKJP5zaRPsrvKbRPerLAZz7brr4Hvx_zmKo/w400-h266/steppe%20gray%20shrike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Asian Wild Ass also during MacQueen's Bustard work in the Negev</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZaRRhzbN5NkgwP4_BXGMmOvHyaPerhz0nTHfseL1oIrd4iVBjOwcg0E_wm7d22Elkx3y566pj9j5MyfpbGw9zH9EjdDd6istKf8Rekom6zBilCt2uFdL_L5Zt4VaPpE7Pd6wZLEJ73BPV8zvGLoeQfd82uyTCeky_vnW9YqOBaXRGZ-X4rJEqWe2uoA/s2000/onager2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZaRRhzbN5NkgwP4_BXGMmOvHyaPerhz0nTHfseL1oIrd4iVBjOwcg0E_wm7d22Elkx3y566pj9j5MyfpbGw9zH9EjdDd6istKf8Rekom6zBilCt2uFdL_L5Zt4VaPpE7Pd6wZLEJ73BPV8zvGLoeQfd82uyTCeky_vnW9YqOBaXRGZ-X4rJEqWe2uoA/w400-h266/onager2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eurasian Dotterel during breeding bird survey in the Negev</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH_L4FCzZvo9y8SglZ5hmuB0rIH-ImtaNGr3jThCOQiRxenISg3AVftu-Pkpwr7KsrevL0qWWOdZglMWiBI_C3mAZ03q0-fja9htsGkUtPnW_enRw2NM__evP_v-5IqprPqoyXoiJLINZmZ6-z2N4zlEGe9EVYKvEuxLNN0s3WwQnTYmX73nXr3VTFyM/s2000/dotterel10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH_L4FCzZvo9y8SglZ5hmuB0rIH-ImtaNGr3jThCOQiRxenISg3AVftu-Pkpwr7KsrevL0qWWOdZglMWiBI_C3mAZ03q0-fja9htsGkUtPnW_enRw2NM__evP_v-5IqprPqoyXoiJLINZmZ6-z2N4zlEGe9EVYKvEuxLNN0s3WwQnTYmX73nXr3VTFyM/w400-h266/dotterel10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mourning Wheatear during breeding bird survey in the Negev</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRPFOPaKYs2ThSM-LHbRawFWrd9CvjzFhAG2om7G5y33H3_BLLaRQmVxTxT1jlOCL-tLkkrcOzG1QnMvySqBfHfxLNNvu_ilD9x7yi4h2giPIMzW9NaQWTgTc2WKV9GHxdSulNurf7AqHEzW9LkuexzbYxxEZfNWh2cKqt7y1CAWIIe0FulEdyLOvgL8/s2000/mourning%20wheatear2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRPFOPaKYs2ThSM-LHbRawFWrd9CvjzFhAG2om7G5y33H3_BLLaRQmVxTxT1jlOCL-tLkkrcOzG1QnMvySqBfHfxLNNvu_ilD9x7yi4h2giPIMzW9NaQWTgTc2WKV9GHxdSulNurf7AqHEzW9LkuexzbYxxEZfNWh2cKqt7y1CAWIIe0FulEdyLOvgL8/w400-h266/mourning%20wheatear2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I keep up with the summer census of breeding Nubian Nightjar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERlZJCd6aJpn5VIk-ZK7T6In7BSt3vFwWf0eRrCUPKi5euqaldqn6jgiUapdyGKIQBDLI91PjDvbsjznt5vuLruklcCsrRfE93hLjZQxIi-bzTrSy8naplfLew6yXivbs25H53IukY_69vTvr0bdgVa3EvfzC5PGUhUGPh0u5S8TUbUuiQkVPl1C9G_8/s2000/nubian%20nightjar%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERlZJCd6aJpn5VIk-ZK7T6In7BSt3vFwWf0eRrCUPKi5euqaldqn6jgiUapdyGKIQBDLI91PjDvbsjznt5vuLruklcCsrRfE93hLjZQxIi-bzTrSy8naplfLew6yXivbs25H53IukY_69vTvr0bdgVa3EvfzC5PGUhUGPh0u5S8TUbUuiQkVPl1C9G_8/w400-h266/nubian%20nightjar%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breeding Upcher's Warbler during breeding bird survey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYJpw9kj3Mnw2SCx8j4s51lye4MiGl4phs8P2XBDzZeRyyPC6CHYWOq7veyliESnPIPdZ-V0HSLQkyBSMk9014BTf9kjVTMDJgkPl2nYLQ8_ENME9r4GqHoaAeancXyU6E8H9WSIvVGE62TS5lQltqu0B_jvbu5brD0xDsjhE8D08imDgTWw4HqYGLL4/s2000/upcher's%20warbler2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYJpw9kj3Mnw2SCx8j4s51lye4MiGl4phs8P2XBDzZeRyyPC6CHYWOq7veyliESnPIPdZ-V0HSLQkyBSMk9014BTf9kjVTMDJgkPl2nYLQ8_ENME9r4GqHoaAeancXyU6E8H9WSIvVGE62TS5lQltqu0B_jvbu5brD0xDsjhE8D08imDgTWw4HqYGLL4/w400-h266/upcher's%20warbler2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second year of tagging European Turtle-Doves - details <a href="https://www.birds.org.il/en/blog/id/47/3279">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM90AAVNp0FLeaOVZv_-x-sXZtXMETwl7utI-qVObyHzITdR_6cwr9o7BrcqlNQ4I1C-uYdJIjESX1QnXPsXnYpv-ij9k2Y_XgzaEwL3Sbdg9FUONl0dIz0nxHZWL5mUbtHODpeGdvjJm2r4JFxnJyFpLuCP3w8dnhFx6d0gUEwYFgieyG5XN6iH79wFk/s2000/OA5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM90AAVNp0FLeaOVZv_-x-sXZtXMETwl7utI-qVObyHzITdR_6cwr9o7BrcqlNQ4I1C-uYdJIjESX1QnXPsXnYpv-ij9k2Y_XgzaEwL3Sbdg9FUONl0dIz0nxHZWL5mUbtHODpeGdvjJm2r4JFxnJyFpLuCP3w8dnhFx6d0gUEwYFgieyG5XN6iH79wFk/w400-h266/OA5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I ring at the Nili & David Jerusalem Bird Observatory once or twice a month. I love it there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Barred Warbler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkI85oGk5OAWp-Kmq4v3sADGIyv9jcRrIofcZlrjTB30Cu9Q9Ig5PbfZ09YH4hnE69zwUJ14UzCw4eBPa958e0_c0OwKU23Tz7K1ZEsmz8l3al1HSqNlKFIYw2FyYrWEAtU464iys7EI7qv0GMviYXNc_cQFEPyw3DuAalYMw-hT52k-F6minezwcu-Kk/s2000/barred%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkI85oGk5OAWp-Kmq4v3sADGIyv9jcRrIofcZlrjTB30Cu9Q9Ig5PbfZ09YH4hnE69zwUJ14UzCw4eBPa958e0_c0OwKU23Tz7K1ZEsmz8l3al1HSqNlKFIYw2FyYrWEAtU464iys7EI7qv0GMviYXNc_cQFEPyw3DuAalYMw-hT52k-F6minezwcu-Kk/w400-h266/barred%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Olive-Tree Warbler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnliZ329mSdKf691TyrZzuInvoULrTJjhVQWSOl5o7C0_WgWBk5a2JL77eT65Sft2WTM7tTapsPVhNUEYEqOpsZhY83DgIlVTc2NNg60C-qFlmw8XxfJ4ue3r7iNxX02EUOE3SpavN2-3IXCRzPJkk5YAeFQrXaYgUgXL2JIsoWFjXCGpvCSu3bkK_g7A/s2000/olive-tree%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnliZ329mSdKf691TyrZzuInvoULrTJjhVQWSOl5o7C0_WgWBk5a2JL77eT65Sft2WTM7tTapsPVhNUEYEqOpsZhY83DgIlVTc2NNg60C-qFlmw8XxfJ4ue3r7iNxX02EUOE3SpavN2-3IXCRzPJkk5YAeFQrXaYgUgXL2JIsoWFjXCGpvCSu3bkK_g7A/w300-h400/olive-tree%20warbler.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hawfinch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GwgteUq2YIP5h7qwQmD1O1LpfSdmc1JglJ9Hag4eOgvUv3ffA_bps9ypFBASPKzVSaYryTrdjiQ5jNzBJQzuprpCsOQdB1kDnuxHfxlzM0ZfXxZvWX2K_magdyiSOKNWiIzWEhEM1qCs2ACrKzBlwAQHT82u8MQ6hzdScNZUl6oGyBQYWZQ565hruTY/s2000/hawfinch2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GwgteUq2YIP5h7qwQmD1O1LpfSdmc1JglJ9Hag4eOgvUv3ffA_bps9ypFBASPKzVSaYryTrdjiQ5jNzBJQzuprpCsOQdB1kDnuxHfxlzM0ZfXxZvWX2K_magdyiSOKNWiIzWEhEM1qCs2ACrKzBlwAQHT82u8MQ6hzdScNZUl6oGyBQYWZQ565hruTY/w300-h400/hawfinch2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Global birding</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2023 I travelled outside of Israel three times. I attended <a href="https://globalbirdfair.org/">Global BirdFair</a> at Rutland in July. It was great fun being part of this amazing global community. I was very proud to present, with Alen, our conservation work, with an emphasis on regional and cross-border work. How naïve we were back then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With my friends Tim Appleton and Dale Forbes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3g0XyJ0tWtP7A_qHLmCeTHKS5t0qQwtqUfjO8BoS0syW7MMPdpY4z616hqPltnnpvtkNLsT2ZX0Ld65urPYdl_BePbhyEy7Yl1oGXr8HlvOm4uK1lj-lySYnyhikPX_gtEL2bw0WdHXvl-2oAacPYWiO5Ue3UFR1T1b9emTaCVopFftAlM6oB_53prg/s4000/1690803137541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3g0XyJ0tWtP7A_qHLmCeTHKS5t0qQwtqUfjO8BoS0syW7MMPdpY4z616hqPltnnpvtkNLsT2ZX0Ld65urPYdl_BePbhyEy7Yl1oGXr8HlvOm4uK1lj-lySYnyhikPX_gtEL2bw0WdHXvl-2oAacPYWiO5Ue3UFR1T1b9emTaCVopFftAlM6oB_53prg/w400-h180/1690803137541.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The birdfair weekend was followed by a couple of days of meetings in London, and a brief visit to Norwich and Norfolk. I casually added a WP tick - in fact I saw two Lesser Scaups, one in Grafham Water and another in Norwich. Check my eBird trip report <a href="https://ebird.org/tripreport/146508">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best duck</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIy0baCcBFHZSNlQpVKTIcec3poXT0XhE4iRbard61QildU7GlWkmdqF3G0cWEXLku5nbArd4bYUzmWs5L8-WCo3xgeEivjC2gD-WqviKgLvBJAVFCXs2ixInhnpwKUJ_OEdIHGg87n_YX6HJ9zj5a0FqAbsR7lLXXpq3yLM-rZ25h7OFxlP_2HeCBPo/s2000/mandarin3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIy0baCcBFHZSNlQpVKTIcec3poXT0XhE4iRbard61QildU7GlWkmdqF3G0cWEXLku5nbArd4bYUzmWs5L8-WCo3xgeEivjC2gD-WqviKgLvBJAVFCXs2ixInhnpwKUJ_OEdIHGg87n_YX6HJ9zj5a0FqAbsR7lLXXpq3yLM-rZ25h7OFxlP_2HeCBPo/w400-h266/mandarin3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="434" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/595960671/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In August I travelled to Catlunya, Spain with my family. We met up with the Chittendens and had a fab time up in the Pyrenees, with Citril Finch, Lammergeier and lots of cool birds breeding in and near the garden of the villa where we were staying. eBird trip report <a href="https://ebird.org/tripreport/155356">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Citril Finch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwTTE1W2a4iLhM6WupmwaMXla3-Lx61VPwcJdppCz02alDnqkZK9JVg0bwAGugRtB51sw6fj34V62HzH-eEsw5C58tbu_CqSyXGHMjUF8KvoABXHEC7GEddZECnecc3CQTM_jwt1MGE9BWQJOA0kFQGo2qdSxYlHkXUszFT4pIeBoJj-Ak9iLwhEJ3FA/s2000/citril%20finch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwTTE1W2a4iLhM6WupmwaMXla3-Lx61VPwcJdppCz02alDnqkZK9JVg0bwAGugRtB51sw6fj34V62HzH-eEsw5C58tbu_CqSyXGHMjUF8KvoABXHEC7GEddZECnecc3CQTM_jwt1MGE9BWQJOA0kFQGo2qdSxYlHkXUszFT4pIeBoJj-Ak9iLwhEJ3FA/w400-h266/citril%20finch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crossbill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yA4JNB2vkYTggij6tkM7_mR4NI4pxtztTX0kCAvjEx0PSVlo2dVrnH-cySPm1HdP9OcoAzRR0Uf1jltfUgoELumZ2TvcuoAPEoZqvfIfmDDCAGYmc5lPgM36qVRu9jpI-t8oSz8a3lvUmtbOpo-HGmeWXob67mds2GJQ0uXFHGfBmVq3ZWwO9EogKhg/s2000/crossbill2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yA4JNB2vkYTggij6tkM7_mR4NI4pxtztTX0kCAvjEx0PSVlo2dVrnH-cySPm1HdP9OcoAzRR0Uf1jltfUgoELumZ2TvcuoAPEoZqvfIfmDDCAGYmc5lPgM36qVRu9jpI-t8oSz8a3lvUmtbOpo-HGmeWXob67mds2GJQ0uXFHGfBmVq3ZWwO9EogKhg/w400-h266/crossbill2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In October I headed over to Africa, to lead two tours on behalf of <a href="https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/">Rockjumper Birding Tours</a> - first in Kenya, then in Tanzania. I was really excited to return to Africa and to guiding, after a long covid-forced break. On the second day of the Kenya tour the war broke. I was on the phone with my wife all the time, and it was horrific. Rockjumper arranged a replacement guide, and I flew out of Nairobi when the tour arrived there after the first week. I was very disappointed to miss the second half of the tour into western Kenya - Kakamega, Kisumu and Masai Mara, and to miss the Tanzania tour. I am hugely thankful to Rockjumper for supporting me when I needed their support the most. I am also very appreciative of the supportive spirit I received from the tour clients. In any case, during the week I did spend with the tour we saw lots of incredible birds and mammals. We started in Arabuko-Sokoke forest, where we scored big time with mega views of Sokoke Scops-Owl and Sokoke Pipit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What. A. Bird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxNbPBK0yngDMoL3b7rCe6QivEkcpOG3UNjOy6942-pG1swrNvCJHrjdmr07H6t-3xtjbKgbJv2KAYLCRnZJrUMD-V31fbBOz21dJmsf3yejh6Te-lGyeWmo9C1SmyLmxm6RdBPPXB1yTO7aFXFyURIP0x7ISeORX0Iz-OXRMzOIJNrXUtXZ8XWnixcI/s3000/sokoke%20scops%20owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxNbPBK0yngDMoL3b7rCe6QivEkcpOG3UNjOy6942-pG1swrNvCJHrjdmr07H6t-3xtjbKgbJv2KAYLCRnZJrUMD-V31fbBOz21dJmsf3yejh6Te-lGyeWmo9C1SmyLmxm6RdBPPXB1yTO7aFXFyURIP0x7ISeORX0Iz-OXRMzOIJNrXUtXZ8XWnixcI/w266-h400/sokoke%20scops%20owl.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTfRAlQxeAA_L-6zVhyBb5Uw-oGwYqxYVJlmoc6QCcm4VBNy-IM1MBuQZGufkgwXnr9JI9GoIhqUBEzmj7usb5CF9HWP2N36hWG6VY0t21LR56tW6TRSre1gXZCtVTu9xa44w4_lMYg074rtQMq-020XqoQoEKVb-hv8JFOjdvkIOA-SOuBuv-37QDwg/s2000/sokoke%20pipit1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTfRAlQxeAA_L-6zVhyBb5Uw-oGwYqxYVJlmoc6QCcm4VBNy-IM1MBuQZGufkgwXnr9JI9GoIhqUBEzmj7usb5CF9HWP2N36hWG6VY0t21LR56tW6TRSre1gXZCtVTu9xa44w4_lMYg074rtQMq-020XqoQoEKVb-hv8JFOjdvkIOA-SOuBuv-37QDwg/w400-h266/sokoke%20pipit1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also spent time on the coast, where we enjoyed some specialties - Sooty Gull, Crab-Plover and Golden Palm Weaver.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDncVNLzBkjMo-6b6nxEgQ1ypK6WtxlXCxMrdMv1jP6F00hLUmfELrjt7eWQ_ZTxVbf77B-McyKEmapyFHLd6mZt3Vn3s6NMroiAyn4M5-5HMRjKI49H-OvrZZ6yCoWcj99QShxpW7Qf9cjTTv7DvX8dDsAu6gQKcnFdSEJWrVjSSJmD7Uf9NPZBkLrgc/s2000/sooty%20gull1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDncVNLzBkjMo-6b6nxEgQ1ypK6WtxlXCxMrdMv1jP6F00hLUmfELrjt7eWQ_ZTxVbf77B-McyKEmapyFHLd6mZt3Vn3s6NMroiAyn4M5-5HMRjKI49H-OvrZZ6yCoWcj99QShxpW7Qf9cjTTv7DvX8dDsAu6gQKcnFdSEJWrVjSSJmD7Uf9NPZBkLrgc/w400-h266/sooty%20gull1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917932/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYG1f-uSQVvq-02YjNnKCHSplShG03u2-7ai-2Y4StR2YsJM0GlH8xwe0qGGzD91sQBze_16RBQnpwPQLgUyXw0nuiVyC-fOFYfdPWWpJRWzfE6qBhCz8xpEZP4x7gteIG1tynscwMc7bzW3szIdJlBFGUGixZbc_8vqIr_9piAvP_iUyMiBRPyA0BUk/s2000/african%20palm%20weaver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYG1f-uSQVvq-02YjNnKCHSplShG03u2-7ai-2Y4StR2YsJM0GlH8xwe0qGGzD91sQBze_16RBQnpwPQLgUyXw0nuiVyC-fOFYfdPWWpJRWzfE6qBhCz8xpEZP4x7gteIG1tynscwMc7bzW3szIdJlBFGUGixZbc_8vqIr_9piAvP_iUyMiBRPyA0BUk/w400-h266/african%20palm%20weaver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We drove through Tsavo East via Taita hills to Tsavo West. We saw so many fabulous birds and mammals. Not easy to choose the highlights, so please check the <a href="https://app.rockjumperbirding.com/sites/rockjumper/attachments/3/_Trip%20Report%20-%20AF%20RBL%20-%20Kenya%20-%20Highlights%20I%202023_1.pdf">trip report on Rockjumper website</a>, and <a href="https://ebird.org/tripreport/161878">eBird trip report</a>. With 491 bird species, and 44 mammal species seen, it was an excellent tour without doubt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bizarre, giraffe-necked Gerenuk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbI1hj8Tdz4N3BNlrc0_kjaER0mcLxLY_YMQSXRtC6hEtI6pzB9YEbEgZZgeepZ87D60mqBJOXFxw1lzZvlLpWNVk6ZhjXII3AEMAFgvHJgWNnpaFtGf3WS6fyw5wJYQMBJX0CkilLpNihzcuQzQWn5m6IDsXTD6YrAAnULl8DQJ_nui9DvRDDvhAZhc/s3000/gerenuk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1404" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbI1hj8Tdz4N3BNlrc0_kjaER0mcLxLY_YMQSXRtC6hEtI6pzB9YEbEgZZgeepZ87D60mqBJOXFxw1lzZvlLpWNVk6ZhjXII3AEMAFgvHJgWNnpaFtGf3WS6fyw5wJYQMBJX0CkilLpNihzcuQzQWn5m6IDsXTD6YrAAnULl8DQJ_nui9DvRDDvhAZhc/w188-h400/gerenuk.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunset in Tsavo West</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnW2wgObjXRsUMs7WKElb7BNp4dbEbbdHW_a8dpIcbkEkYPWPMt0zqpTwQYSmAUlv4BaJfRMmXk_lpNYzB5BOirxQ48uP1h2o7QFWE2damEEh9lPUpdKg-IhWy-rRn2_Vmjrvsxg_iOxKCH3g90GT5iigMGGTI4rykNjXlfJIdZ1BqC7X3tFuwn_qZbM/s2250/giraffe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnW2wgObjXRsUMs7WKElb7BNp4dbEbbdHW_a8dpIcbkEkYPWPMt0zqpTwQYSmAUlv4BaJfRMmXk_lpNYzB5BOirxQ48uP1h2o7QFWE2damEEh9lPUpdKg-IhWy-rRn2_Vmjrvsxg_iOxKCH3g90GT5iigMGGTI4rykNjXlfJIdZ1BqC7X3tFuwn_qZbM/w266-h400/giraffe.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Somali Bunting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBojfkdprkwHsjZbSy0fEdn1U32HfAZ03lFdcKlpXvkLdDNLHjOPp5kSlGUdr1sKGLEHZfZvI6RhJX1ng3E5qLoBXpakmlAoL0Si_oirbjIE19sqrv12g4SJ_4MNd2vhmPh-Nuw6pEdO0PkQ98tw8XWd9Tl2srnvttd9mQWrSZ_1F1WoX3yVl8ULBWlo/s2000/somali%20bunting2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBojfkdprkwHsjZbSy0fEdn1U32HfAZ03lFdcKlpXvkLdDNLHjOPp5kSlGUdr1sKGLEHZfZvI6RhJX1ng3E5qLoBXpakmlAoL0Si_oirbjIE19sqrv12g4SJ_4MNd2vhmPh-Nuw6pEdO0PkQ98tw8XWd9Tl2srnvttd9mQWrSZ_1F1WoX3yVl8ULBWlo/w400-h266/somali%20bunting2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feather details of a Vulturine Guineafowl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TlKHCcRtdhgV8Nu3ksAyfIt_OUeNI8_SUtdJNaoKDkOwVhsKevTpAUIfn2U3nzsa-zMuA-8zNPsy6HzH6FYOJ1EmulL_ERwctbSwvhgfpTIiHBqOGGqtKov5iuPscaxF-LqtKXgX-CPypq6vi3g6qj6D75Ei3p98ZJghT8Jw2W-4bPeaT3wiXfuKoXo/s2000/vulturine%20guineafowl1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TlKHCcRtdhgV8Nu3ksAyfIt_OUeNI8_SUtdJNaoKDkOwVhsKevTpAUIfn2U3nzsa-zMuA-8zNPsy6HzH6FYOJ1EmulL_ERwctbSwvhgfpTIiHBqOGGqtKov5iuPscaxF-LqtKXgX-CPypq6vi3g6qj6D75Ei3p98ZJghT8Jw2W-4bPeaT3wiXfuKoXo/w400-h266/vulturine%20guineafowl1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The magnificent Golden-breasted Starling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMipBiB59OiQe05XCILyHezztlfJtg8Ah7FcevoP7D_7F-5B5gt4-UjtAZaJADrKgM3GacBetDIoRfn8N3zDT-fcBU2E48c_nAHXu67iEovOpjXMBNFcGgaS10IlcOJUnBIS0Zwonjxvhu7UwOP7B4UGoG22eJaW-4ncfVfGKFnBEj7iWaauJrxs55rY/s2000/golden-breasted%20starling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMipBiB59OiQe05XCILyHezztlfJtg8Ah7FcevoP7D_7F-5B5gt4-UjtAZaJADrKgM3GacBetDIoRfn8N3zDT-fcBU2E48c_nAHXu67iEovOpjXMBNFcGgaS10IlcOJUnBIS0Zwonjxvhu7UwOP7B4UGoG22eJaW-4ncfVfGKFnBEj7iWaauJrxs55rY/w400-h266/golden-breasted%20starling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way back home I got stuck in Addis Ababa for 24 hours due to cancelled flights (Hamas were shooting missiles towards Ben Gurion airport). It was <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/10/global-big-day-in-ethiopia.html">Global Big Day, so I did my best to add some Ethiopian endemics and Abyssinian birds to the global list</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ethiopia 🇪🇹with <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yoavperlman</a> <br />Yoav is a truly dedicated bird conservationist<br />Still making sure he contributes to help gather data for <a href="https://twitter.com/Team_eBird?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Team_eBird</a> which is all used by <a href="https://twitter.com/BirdLife_News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BirdLife_News</a> to support their global conservation work<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/birdsuniteourworld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#birdsuniteourworld</a><a href="https://twitter.com/_OSME?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_OSME</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JMeyrav?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JMeyrav</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SPNI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPNI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NatureIsrael?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NatureIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zyy1zCb3Yh">pic.twitter.com/Zyy1zCb3Yh</a></p>— Global Birding (@global_birding) <a href="https://twitter.com/global_birding/status/1713117067379958019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethiopian Cisticola</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yXSWb_RflT6KkOsB0zRkhCGZ-5rPwoJf1H-2hvzWGhMhAE2PWU5bTH-KC43uzt0KCiJ9l3CzNTbtwRxWVe54Y3Qvn148DHKu_GgBUfV-NIIJaQ6AF6IL9k2LqtHq0Qt8uJMgjoYiY1FgEcAbm_KdXZ7qQIJIHCWznbjCtIl8emqZ8wi7YGKaQCKFD8I/s2000/rattling%20cisticola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yXSWb_RflT6KkOsB0zRkhCGZ-5rPwoJf1H-2hvzWGhMhAE2PWU5bTH-KC43uzt0KCiJ9l3CzNTbtwRxWVe54Y3Qvn148DHKu_GgBUfV-NIIJaQ6AF6IL9k2LqtHq0Qt8uJMgjoYiY1FgEcAbm_KdXZ7qQIJIHCWznbjCtIl8emqZ8wi7YGKaQCKFD8I/w400-h266/rattling%20cisticola.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abyssinian Thrush</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn8U8p4VTfWqBq4eVUx2QrgzNBoKc-okifotX_KqfF0q6B0laA98jyQjaiXyia289CDBlUIiGXBQXH7S9V38iU5jqEaWTidc0tGK4xe-6J1VZyK0joVSGDiEFvsxzT2Ofd6QNhumo8gv9tAghrsVERNnPEb3GrXrPSHQG7793d5E-3v0rvEmvqRDXG94/s2000/abyssinian%20thrush1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn8U8p4VTfWqBq4eVUx2QrgzNBoKc-okifotX_KqfF0q6B0laA98jyQjaiXyia289CDBlUIiGXBQXH7S9V38iU5jqEaWTidc0tGK4xe-6J1VZyK0joVSGDiEFvsxzT2Ofd6QNhumo8gv9tAghrsVERNnPEb3GrXrPSHQG7793d5E-3v0rvEmvqRDXG94/w400-h266/abyssinian%20thrush1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG49HvkErAkmTlIn7m2PzS1rEeA0kyhqh0aNeYTUaTYZJU_9_cG7anpMCOJ4EtQfvbA6xsXJpkTxgUS29wa_O4D38ZLaFHeb_oZ_-m7y9lyxG7pp6b3C8T78X8CjlGJ_hGKJ7OqOyymzr1wxb_Z4lBpvFj-oLvOSToD3QjuHUXY5sP0WWRYrHGE2pUNc8/s2000/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG49HvkErAkmTlIn7m2PzS1rEeA0kyhqh0aNeYTUaTYZJU_9_cG7anpMCOJ4EtQfvbA6xsXJpkTxgUS29wa_O4D38ZLaFHeb_oZ_-m7y9lyxG7pp6b3C8T78X8CjlGJ_hGKJ7OqOyymzr1wxb_Z4lBpvFj-oLvOSToD3QjuHUXY5sP0WWRYrHGE2pUNc8/w400-h266/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Summary, new year resolutions and thanks</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you enjoyed this annual summary. Certainly, it was one hell of a year. So many amazing things happened but what a catastrophic year eventually. I do hope that 2024 will be better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What will I be doing in 2024? I will not bird all over, as hard as I did in 2023. I plan to focus on the 10 km radius around my house. I will try to see as many bird species as possible within this radius. Will I succeed in not doing another national Big Year? I also have a few international trips planned - fingers crossed that the security condition here won't compromise these plans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I send here my deepest love to my family - my wife Adva, and my kids Uri, Noam and Libby. Your support and good spirits mean the world to me. Thank you. Thank you to the large number of friends who go birding with me - Piki, Rony, Jonathan, Arad, Amir and so many more. Special thanks to my team at BirdLife Israel who share lots of birding time with me - at and around fieldwork: Meidad, Nadav, Yotam and Yotam, Alen, Ofri, Noam and Yuval. Thanks to <a href="https://www.swarovskioptik.com/int/en/birding">Swarovski Optik</a> that keep supporting me and provide me with the best optics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, special thanks to all my supporters, followers, readers, in Israel and all over the world. Your support is so important to me. Much appreciated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wish all of us a great 2024! Happy New Year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-88842402965813941192023-12-30T21:33:00.002+00:002023-12-30T21:33:18.630+00:00Pacific Diver-Loon!<p>Wow what a whirlwind of a day. Getting towards the end of the year, it's money time... I decided to go for one last push before the year ends and add a few species to my non-Big-Year list (check my special annual review tomorrow). Several quality birds accumulated near Eilat, waiting for me. With the news of a diver/loon found yesterday, the temptation was too powerful. It was a go. I teamed up with Rony and Arad. We left just after midnight. First part of the night was spent looking successfully for Pharaoh Eagle-Owl - we had wonderful views of a vocal male. Our next nocturnal target was Egyptian Nightjar in Yotvata. Despite being observed there in recent days we had no luck - maybe because it was very cold and pretty windy when we searched there. </p><p>Anyway, we got to Hashalom Lagoon off North Beach in Eilat at dawn. Very quickly we spotted the diver swimming quietly in the lagoon. Forgive me Americans, it's diver from now on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcSx5xzEtaLYXbj1tgrhsTCGQK8F5P7cg4FkUv7jCFoBSRNgbjuGDHiuFgNjX1ak2UybQd6vn150zZFRYdZ86fz8Ktuhiqxmcc6lEDSfxQEpZuInan58t15mCuWM3pthzvN9YdM8CosuP0kFtKuxFh1LHetvGHVrd5Br_zntu6GsBsByqCdIpdudkJOo/s3000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%91%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%AA%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2631" data-original-width="3000" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcSx5xzEtaLYXbj1tgrhsTCGQK8F5P7cg4FkUv7jCFoBSRNgbjuGDHiuFgNjX1ak2UybQd6vn150zZFRYdZ86fz8Ktuhiqxmcc6lEDSfxQEpZuInan58t15mCuWM3pthzvN9YdM8CosuP0kFtKuxFh1LHetvGHVrd5Br_zntu6GsBsByqCdIpdudkJOo/w400-h351/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%91%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%AA%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I got my scope on it, having in mind that yesterday it was identified as Black-throated Diver by Moshe Neeman who found it. But hey, the flanks are all dark - no rear flank white patch... And is this a chinstrap? Nah, can't be. Or can it?<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612838473/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Then the penny dropped and it all kicked in. Pacific Diver!!! Potentially the first for Israel, and what an astonishing record. Because of the enormity of the record, and lack of sufficient experience with both species, I was cautious about releasing the news too quickly. We alerted the Eilat birders, and within a few minutes several local birders joined us. We all watched it very well, swimming and diving for food. We all agreed that it always looked good for pacific, rather small and stocky, weak-billed, pale hindneck, and when it dove it showed the dark line separating the white vent from the white belly. The chinstrap looked stronger and weaker, depending on the angle. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHYE7q9KLb7I8xQZZ8KiBxApn2TWIWv2QzoiG2UgaVFhhjzBqGBgDhjDodJzhEJTja0fLNUw_DWZ4d_CY9uBFsA5oMnXqlm_699ONpTjIJwx5i_mAcrnNgEoHNkhlVi0CD7prrn4gNquYj-Q4Yop73P9NML1obsPbO5ptTtZPBLRzjk4-b9Mw7uv1oAI/s3000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHYE7q9KLb7I8xQZZ8KiBxApn2TWIWv2QzoiG2UgaVFhhjzBqGBgDhjDodJzhEJTja0fLNUw_DWZ4d_CY9uBFsA5oMnXqlm_699ONpTjIJwx5i_mAcrnNgEoHNkhlVi0CD7prrn4gNquYj-Q4Yop73P9NML1obsPbO5ptTtZPBLRzjk4-b9Mw7uv1oAI/w400-h266/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEAN7PcIxko3ftuf0nO6cNGi3EeDCE6Y5YnusZk_hHPXYhX5MhwU6h-bXoZ3Q4vxPu4DFYJV52xqp57K7Lb75Nb2yN2v0EmCmbl2Wt8XsxdVdjx4pqhXTKepoQVmzETfFPc4vh3cIdMKniyrE-rnS2gbIpJwMqb1h-cRqJsqcR1zTOPmu81VE9ib7DYk/s2000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEAN7PcIxko3ftuf0nO6cNGi3EeDCE6Y5YnusZk_hHPXYhX5MhwU6h-bXoZ3Q4vxPu4DFYJV52xqp57K7Lb75Nb2yN2v0EmCmbl2Wt8XsxdVdjx4pqhXTKepoQVmzETfFPc4vh3cIdMKniyrE-rnS2gbIpJwMqb1h-cRqJsqcR1zTOPmu81VE9ib7DYk/w400-h266/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interestingly it was loosely associating with an Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin in the lagoon:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqg9WsXhfGhbGmLjQPMjcs-KhboHUjr_z7Q2uxRKtX-js6p8TkZXuow9XOsxMig5zOWgmRCao8-IX97AbdZHArwbISHoIsUYiBwX7eNnBC4dzTpWOP6HD5zwsBXWnikA7LKrbFJ8_fSGXaTwctSEaHp8OAGAPidMR8OowuGTSZYkUIN32MjsNFxiJIBi0/s2000/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A2%D7%9D%20%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9F%20%D7%9E%D7%92%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%9F%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqg9WsXhfGhbGmLjQPMjcs-KhboHUjr_z7Q2uxRKtX-js6p8TkZXuow9XOsxMig5zOWgmRCao8-IX97AbdZHArwbISHoIsUYiBwX7eNnBC4dzTpWOP6HD5zwsBXWnikA7LKrbFJ8_fSGXaTwctSEaHp8OAGAPidMR8OowuGTSZYkUIN32MjsNFxiJIBi0/s320/%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%9F%20%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%99%20%D7%A2%D7%9D%20%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9F%20%D7%9E%D7%92%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%9F%20%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D%20%D7%99%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91%20%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo by Shachar Shalev of the vent bar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW4j9kbVOljsN4x2Wp8lt4qCz_zdytVRus0snDvNkZzbFk39_2pJh3ZNYpTItWCaJ0rW0_3E_BfhzJjBohhCgUHOmZeM1WNdmhY2njl1bsm8JwCQcpmzKNrfY_hOajNK1h4QY9MeUrCVLLfQAy-AZmGmXRWZXelCNMXscPpyKO4LfAjjb-Hy_btvN6ZU/s1080/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-12-30%20at%2020.57.32.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1080" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW4j9kbVOljsN4x2Wp8lt4qCz_zdytVRus0snDvNkZzbFk39_2pJh3ZNYpTItWCaJ0rW0_3E_BfhzJjBohhCgUHOmZeM1WNdmhY2njl1bsm8JwCQcpmzKNrfY_hOajNK1h4QY9MeUrCVLLfQAy-AZmGmXRWZXelCNMXscPpyKO4LfAjjb-Hy_btvN6ZU/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-12-30%20at%2020.57.32.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>With positive feedback coming to us from experts in N America and Europe, I released the news nationally, still with an astrix. Later on during the day a global consensus has developed, agreeing that this is the first Pacific Diver for Israel!</div><div><br /></div><div>Highly elated after this great find, we continued to Nahal Ketura. Rotem Avisar found a male Menetries's Warbler there about a week ago. As soon as we started birding the site I heard it call, and very quickly we had lovely views of a 1cy male Menetries's Warbler. It showed really well and was very vocal, even singing a bit. My photos don't do it justice - it showed exceptionally well. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysj8Wb-_5YQ77FN3LXzrb09_KIorBDNXdht6452ZCsmZG5DqYMfi1UXhPpf1it7NOo5TCWq2H6Qg0exyo0uUMTBV8K4A3Mbr5X6rePmH7okzghbspnSo6tpEmgQ4yWYxwhO4mOboC69MgBCYT2AIU-7WPVdukAwmJeUneRJ71QmlvLDLy4SRaF3kOio/s2000/menetries's%20warbler1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKysj8Wb-_5YQ77FN3LXzrb09_KIorBDNXdht6452ZCsmZG5DqYMfi1UXhPpf1it7NOo5TCWq2H6Qg0exyo0uUMTBV8K4A3Mbr5X6rePmH7okzghbspnSo6tpEmgQ4yWYxwhO4mOboC69MgBCYT2AIU-7WPVdukAwmJeUneRJ71QmlvLDLy4SRaF3kOio/s320/menetries's%20warbler1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK22AbZ9EBkQjxrmYUs_Lc0m_6l2H_c7g7icOxloP3HCc0JHkCLrwLYGa6FYxLX7ScMpQg6PNUnvWGvJ5wZSKEoa0MyoZUnGq5W9hUJMZwoc4HdvbK0JMOzpHRLlgGnmN5yXPGl2juPEvK1_uvl_BFmXN6FXPDIqizgtbDG98snMwQOgcCOyOm6HvMTk/s2000/menetries's%20warbler2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK22AbZ9EBkQjxrmYUs_Lc0m_6l2H_c7g7icOxloP3HCc0JHkCLrwLYGa6FYxLX7ScMpQg6PNUnvWGvJ5wZSKEoa0MyoZUnGq5W9hUJMZwoc4HdvbK0JMOzpHRLlgGnmN5yXPGl2juPEvK1_uvl_BFmXN6FXPDIqizgtbDG98snMwQOgcCOyOm6HvMTk/s320/menetries's%20warbler2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ504ozXC4OtlW8-6yhELoFsUD2gSLk0EsiQqj8vTTOqSJdEmtiFDqL3brkfKRhIrOkI0a_EHX6zd5DdHb3LEnqIon0-eQY1ZBgjlGoQ0PNVad341Z8HwrFapd1AlMy6aMEx-3AG4eW8PMP_rILR2O9XELZ2G90hXBj921XnW43JMgAyBByU7bUvF14A/s2000/menetries's%20warbler3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJ504ozXC4OtlW8-6yhELoFsUD2gSLk0EsiQqj8vTTOqSJdEmtiFDqL3brkfKRhIrOkI0a_EHX6zd5DdHb3LEnqIon0-eQY1ZBgjlGoQ0PNVad341Z8HwrFapd1AlMy6aMEx-3AG4eW8PMP_rILR2O9XELZ2G90hXBj921XnW43JMgAyBByU7bUvF14A/s320/menetries's%20warbler3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I especially enjoyed listening to its subtle song:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="398" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612837659/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="398" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612837660/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>And then it was back home - by lunchtime! Thanks to Rony and Arad for a great day out. </div><div>See you tomorrow in my annual review - should be fun.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-32016163153583628842023-12-22T14:30:00.000+00:002023-12-22T14:30:32.590+00:00Five years<p>Yesterday was a pretty big day for me. I celebrated five years of eBird checklist streak: for the past five years I have been out birding every day. 1825 consecutive days of eBirding, in which I went out birding every day. The last day that I didn't go birding was the 22nd of December 2018. eBird's rules for checklist streak are pretty fluid regarding the effort. I set myself a standard of daily meaningful birding, i.e. at least 30 minutes in proper birding mode, with binoculars around neck. I am pretty proud of this streak - during those five years my checklist streak was threatened by war, pandemic, eye injury, long flights. I endured all and somehow managed to keep going every day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kudos to my mate Dubi Shapiro for his stunning image appearing on eBird front page yesterday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9Z1vtCwTkuJI1PTbqnTMoHB6h8LAeODxAgLrXWr7c6ByNl_XtwShkkzzTNXJGowXqksRyZFrgYAFUyKCb-D-PGZTqblsji4F47T8DgKlVhdEunI7VO-mvf9onvcWpXdZA7tFEKUd-9MrHQ-In1t4kRAc8osctluuxocjTPzzDmjYVxbTHcRjhxztU1c/s1541/five%20years.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9Z1vtCwTkuJI1PTbqnTMoHB6h8LAeODxAgLrXWr7c6ByNl_XtwShkkzzTNXJGowXqksRyZFrgYAFUyKCb-D-PGZTqblsji4F47T8DgKlVhdEunI7VO-mvf9onvcWpXdZA7tFEKUd-9MrHQ-In1t4kRAc8osctluuxocjTPzzDmjYVxbTHcRjhxztU1c/w280-h400/five%20years.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div><br /></div>To celebrate this special day, I wanted to go somewhere special. Can one celebrate during a war? Well, I can. I decided to go with Piki to Wadi Hemda in the Arava Valley, where a Basalt Wheatear has been present for a couple of weeks now. I spent many of those 1825 days of birding with Piki so it was very fitting to spend my anniversary together. We left very early to arrive on site at dawn. En route we encountered two beautiful Wolves by the roadside. My camera was in the back so thanks to Piki for sharing an image of this breathtaking beast of a hound. This one lost the tip of its tail, like my dog Lola (see below). In the back seat, Lola was very excited by the wolves. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfKqNWVMiYo5YR5hftyYOEBw-O0UTZs0-i2v4LvxiaoF2aFZkPKLftiX5ktiA65SIn6_XKSUh8yIQuid2ye_RBbM-Jome9Usi3xf1wDA5fB6T9qUD8Lxtdd-_JdBVf00SbP9ZK1fE8AxfIWUMuGojnYUV4AMS4ZuiAeB41vdi2tEbTJ4CEhL2sNmcJ3Y/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-12-21%20at%2018.50.29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfKqNWVMiYo5YR5hftyYOEBw-O0UTZs0-i2v4LvxiaoF2aFZkPKLftiX5ktiA65SIn6_XKSUh8yIQuid2ye_RBbM-Jome9Usi3xf1wDA5fB6T9qUD8Lxtdd-_JdBVf00SbP9ZK1fE8AxfIWUMuGojnYUV4AMS4ZuiAeB41vdi2tEbTJ4CEhL2sNmcJ3Y/w400-h266/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-12-21%20at%2018.50.29.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We arrived as planned just as the sun was rising over the mountains on the Jordanian side of the valley. In this image is my private wolf, Lola who is proving to be an excellent birding companion, just like her much-missed predecessor Bamba. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj928ZBF2-ZEMh8AaCIwzT3krYTHjMUx5f5bP2AAlsKw6Jjqx5hKKYxFWtyrzqejML5X6D3dUSSRRJUK1TYTANP3-BwchyrM8MTftbQT5R5ZLYRogrVAhlDkjP6EGOXsEe6SQAYsuRk6ShAhPxG36b3UrKiGC3V4gCJtrBneRFVhPlZUx8rBJ_O3ezC_S8/s2410/sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1807" data-original-width="2410" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj928ZBF2-ZEMh8AaCIwzT3krYTHjMUx5f5bP2AAlsKw6Jjqx5hKKYxFWtyrzqejML5X6D3dUSSRRJUK1TYTANP3-BwchyrM8MTftbQT5R5ZLYRogrVAhlDkjP6EGOXsEe6SQAYsuRk6ShAhPxG36b3UrKiGC3V4gCJtrBneRFVhPlZUx8rBJ_O3ezC_S8/w400-h300/sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We started searching for the wheatear all over the place. We checked every corner, bush and hill for a good couple of hours, no sign. Things were starting to look desolate, despite finding some nice birds during the search - several Greater Hoopoe-Larks, Asian Desert Warbler typically following a Desert Wheatear, and the remains of a dead Short-eared Owl.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7R03IoNsHIZIE_bViBW9Y4NuXa-5YLFuuKjUAIpDA1Bjy6sKqPLsTBJu7qQ4R7_rodSkUYR2XvFATTIM-WGEKYRZWr3ikHbw0xe28wXSDCQi1meoW6KFK6fr21c6Ic8OPPWzldAqxUwPqF8PS6iZ-RSDRLZi6y4QyCWpDimuK367YoAGL94Vnu94Mco/s2000/greater%20hoopoe-lark2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7R03IoNsHIZIE_bViBW9Y4NuXa-5YLFuuKjUAIpDA1Bjy6sKqPLsTBJu7qQ4R7_rodSkUYR2XvFATTIM-WGEKYRZWr3ikHbw0xe28wXSDCQi1meoW6KFK6fr21c6Ic8OPPWzldAqxUwPqF8PS6iZ-RSDRLZi6y4QyCWpDimuK367YoAGL94Vnu94Mco/w400-h266/greater%20hoopoe-lark2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFHT0MFxy-cWV5J8i-DEsMREWg1j3bQbJMMdwfhWOff90u4tAEbAtz6zLcsnPBiIZAxSCz9rJgz5qxVkj_Xv5SY7SXSk2qqEO5qQyt_SVEjm3YqIrU-fmYx0Gn9NAXaCLiI9zldHWjj_ZN66U5bhFKEfV9qDPrvQqdhbExTNIgBl1g-k53Yw_6O7i0fY/s2000/desert%20wheatear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFHT0MFxy-cWV5J8i-DEsMREWg1j3bQbJMMdwfhWOff90u4tAEbAtz6zLcsnPBiIZAxSCz9rJgz5qxVkj_Xv5SY7SXSk2qqEO5qQyt_SVEjm3YqIrU-fmYx0Gn9NAXaCLiI9zldHWjj_ZN66U5bhFKEfV9qDPrvQqdhbExTNIgBl1g-k53Yw_6O7i0fY/w400-h266/desert%20wheatear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4KL7sogNIGdPPO74vI3lWHv_NnyNVnTZpJjp_F6cBOQXeNBtVYA7OEvC1g7yA0B9RPsTw4Tv2nNqo7n57dfIwl5W8mUeGc1N7r0_dtnFsQm3WgNWm6o4az3Jv45K-Au6EWTMdiCFot0Or573uRkRNOfnRJLsu789z-tX2sK6jXbMwW7_OtyhlPvpwPQ/s2000/asian%20desert%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4KL7sogNIGdPPO74vI3lWHv_NnyNVnTZpJjp_F6cBOQXeNBtVYA7OEvC1g7yA0B9RPsTw4Tv2nNqo7n57dfIwl5W8mUeGc1N7r0_dtnFsQm3WgNWm6o4az3Jv45K-Au6EWTMdiCFot0Or573uRkRNOfnRJLsu789z-tX2sK6jXbMwW7_OtyhlPvpwPQ/w400-h266/asian%20desert%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Q3eToGkKfH0VPiZHOEoaumVat4w6IoqpsL7y3uvhrQLGJONLD545JFZQTgR_Pc2SnxgD3J9AAGeU1If3ulklnIwPfOHZlxVJ-xMSKYSbA8GTaPqX0lUKRT1xzgiLM74koRDcO5gIyZ5a4XJsWoerWXrjEUg739k9JxWtJ2Eem39CfLgNLnuR7JvxvY/s2000/short-eared%20owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Q3eToGkKfH0VPiZHOEoaumVat4w6IoqpsL7y3uvhrQLGJONLD545JFZQTgR_Pc2SnxgD3J9AAGeU1If3ulklnIwPfOHZlxVJ-xMSKYSbA8GTaPqX0lUKRT1xzgiLM74koRDcO5gIyZ5a4XJsWoerWXrjEUg739k9JxWtJ2Eem39CfLgNLnuR7JvxvY/w300-h400/short-eared%20owl.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Eventually, after a long search, we found the bird (on the other side of the road). We enjoyed wonderful views of it, foraging very actively. I have special feelings for the Basalt Wheatear. Whether it's a full species or a morph or a subspecies, it's a very special bird with a tiny population. After becoming quite regular in winter until 2020, it was totally absent for the two previous winters. So this bird was very welcome. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79re3U5CTSxj1B-UvCWhWR4bRjZyVCJ011Spf-H4l-PXd7sKm8gHHzMn5tI04jn_1ym90TA9namrPGVd1Oy713LTbNYeEIWScNvYMCDkamBfi8u6-UH0aOR1_qVfilMcfi9Kwtet2nHNXXdj9PpybtTAiG4Mbk-gZGNfAyuXu1Y5kjdscr0KF7qOHZDk/s2000/basalt%20wheatear3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79re3U5CTSxj1B-UvCWhWR4bRjZyVCJ011Spf-H4l-PXd7sKm8gHHzMn5tI04jn_1ym90TA9namrPGVd1Oy713LTbNYeEIWScNvYMCDkamBfi8u6-UH0aOR1_qVfilMcfi9Kwtet2nHNXXdj9PpybtTAiG4Mbk-gZGNfAyuXu1Y5kjdscr0KF7qOHZDk/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR8UrRehDLpL5oftXJvkHZYBstt_z7XE4OuUhV5LkSxX9Ce1sqaGKPLmmbjOWDVelkCLqLBDO7inzzcSnw2aXo04DeyQ3vlQhIt7R36QVMs39lCwztM6k7awlqrW5dVeRYUQgcx_uYvLB-dx5PmDUvb2TpHHxtKr0Z-a9cYMK8VgKgAQT5x-kUdwQ8Js/s2000/basalt%20wheatear5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR8UrRehDLpL5oftXJvkHZYBstt_z7XE4OuUhV5LkSxX9Ce1sqaGKPLmmbjOWDVelkCLqLBDO7inzzcSnw2aXo04DeyQ3vlQhIt7R36QVMs39lCwztM6k7awlqrW5dVeRYUQgcx_uYvLB-dx5PmDUvb2TpHHxtKr0Z-a9cYMK8VgKgAQT5x-kUdwQ8Js/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Depending on the light and angle it can look quite sooty brown</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nDE9NxPsI0QUmaPG8zP7jeQQUNzE0aWYRrSssIPADtvNBQnUdW5ktfu5DxNCzkGQfWv0Y4HiPRSu1Pux2-I8AKC5f049EIxhoNT1U_Zttp2LqlYpyYnPHr0gV93BQA74In44gYDHk4cpwCOEgtCtKLQNTEFuYxSMXnguh2Vs-0UAjS5R392mG03ZNCE/s2000/basalt%20wheatear8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nDE9NxPsI0QUmaPG8zP7jeQQUNzE0aWYRrSssIPADtvNBQnUdW5ktfu5DxNCzkGQfWv0Y4HiPRSu1Pux2-I8AKC5f049EIxhoNT1U_Zttp2LqlYpyYnPHr0gV93BQA74In44gYDHk4cpwCOEgtCtKLQNTEFuYxSMXnguh2Vs-0UAjS5R392mG03ZNCE/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In flight the whitish wing flashes show, as well as the complete terminal tail band</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxd4Nm0qlEybchf_0chFjYMYIfsUnvoHjDq6okaXSGehqY1RvWfIzUtZjik7CjH6oXC1Uv5IGj2M4BHny_I8f6-NJcOu6cT9vA39ht_k0r_8lmHtWmTiCAEurM7Jx1U2prGZwp9Gn9s6_NFvIRhwUPVI5umO3oaYL1u5bKd6Sck3lezLZ2KGXgZ4LuU8/s2000/basalt%20wheatear7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxd4Nm0qlEybchf_0chFjYMYIfsUnvoHjDq6okaXSGehqY1RvWfIzUtZjik7CjH6oXC1Uv5IGj2M4BHny_I8f6-NJcOu6cT9vA39ht_k0r_8lmHtWmTiCAEurM7Jx1U2prGZwp9Gn9s6_NFvIRhwUPVI5umO3oaYL1u5bKd6Sck3lezLZ2KGXgZ4LuU8/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv32Y3qv3JsuBMm-NjCCEdU3gLokzGt0B9oXviAKcBG-BCdk334svDqwQ49_MJTwwjDAdgFrpUMkbOJhuWQSttltm19jMyOcbRkmKWlBxh7xDS0IMBu8apgz5-ItLuaCdz4O7A6zRDUvVavDUyAHM32O1tFU_4L6tJf7jF81po01e8_DRagHSgDpxj5Rc/s2000/basalt%20wheatear9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv32Y3qv3JsuBMm-NjCCEdU3gLokzGt0B9oXviAKcBG-BCdk334svDqwQ49_MJTwwjDAdgFrpUMkbOJhuWQSttltm19jMyOcbRkmKWlBxh7xDS0IMBu8apgz5-ItLuaCdz4O7A6zRDUvVavDUyAHM32O1tFU_4L6tJf7jF81po01e8_DRagHSgDpxj5Rc/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/612515938/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yosef was there too, and later on he notified us that he had trapped the bird for his research. It was fascinating to watch the bird from up close - it was identified as a 1st-calendar female. The whitish tips to primary and carpal coverts are typical for a young Basalt Wheatear. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgfyOSvq7BpZQzHttrocwlRgIw2OpXW-TDth5Ys5N29riSzRwWaPiDlgcScFTsWMvwVxfnE_n1YSlgdl5JosZFnRLr5S6voAj-ofEyvRCa_sTsItsM1pHOZgTeIoNIYi_79FkzOsuMBBk8rmkSrhIWoDwygKhTAhGiZn4OnB5aEJJGxUx_D6Ba8P3xYM/s2000/basalt%20wheatear2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgfyOSvq7BpZQzHttrocwlRgIw2OpXW-TDth5Ys5N29riSzRwWaPiDlgcScFTsWMvwVxfnE_n1YSlgdl5JosZFnRLr5S6voAj-ofEyvRCa_sTsItsM1pHOZgTeIoNIYi_79FkzOsuMBBk8rmkSrhIWoDwygKhTAhGiZn4OnB5aEJJGxUx_D6Ba8P3xYM/w400-h266/basalt%20wheatear2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Note the partial moult, with replaced greater and lesser coverts and inner alula. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyxME09fjmuN3XhKArFjW74bHy9y0sGI_tRcun9fUDsy4CgNu_UBQpXW2_YPqzZNx464woIqGuko68AcnUszeoJJ8WYWETvwN5WqACKpO3nuWInY6Eexcfl7l93Hmgumc035RCE1pqjXKRwzAYSLR3HBEzgHS8F-wXHPHuaqpEyHhgUzwo8kOWmihb-M/s2000/basalt%20wheatear1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyxME09fjmuN3XhKArFjW74bHy9y0sGI_tRcun9fUDsy4CgNu_UBQpXW2_YPqzZNx464woIqGuko68AcnUszeoJJ8WYWETvwN5WqACKpO3nuWInY6Eexcfl7l93Hmgumc035RCE1pqjXKRwzAYSLR3HBEzgHS8F-wXHPHuaqpEyHhgUzwo8kOWmihb-M/w300-h400/basalt%20wheatear1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S156783921">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After enjoying this special wheatear we continued to Ovda Valley. One section of the valley experienced a massive flood last week, and was looking great. There were good numbers of common birds there, nothing special, just nice to be out in great weather, with fine company. eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S156786280">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Quick quiz: take five seconds and estimate how many Spanish Sparrows are in this flock:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchEh19V-GxohF4PMUz6Z6HlpgaTZlV3XE11zSlqJi-ye-1C6_5ICSZbOz7k6fXRJeVkNOiTq64aV97axqTSicE5HVlminDVr_0gn-8gF3szEL0zw9_3l3uhA4XkFyv6i3D2_L8bHy3xEkoKHyrh8W1kIGzf3H7QXiL64PQzQunPNYdhzjdIc9S1HapM/s2000/spanish%20sparrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchEh19V-GxohF4PMUz6Z6HlpgaTZlV3XE11zSlqJi-ye-1C6_5ICSZbOz7k6fXRJeVkNOiTq64aV97axqTSicE5HVlminDVr_0gn-8gF3szEL0zw9_3l3uhA4XkFyv6i3D2_L8bHy3xEkoKHyrh8W1kIGzf3H7QXiL64PQzQunPNYdhzjdIc9S1HapM/s320/spanish%20sparrows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Five years of <a href="https://twitter.com/Team_eBird?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Team_eBird</a> checklist streak! 1825 consecutive days of birding. Basalt Wheatear is a proper bird to celebrate. Here's to another five. Thanks Piki for the wolf pic <a href="https://t.co/LV3C59a9Cs">pic.twitter.com/LV3C59a9Cs</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1737782695290183912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's to another five years!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ObjtVdsV3I" width="320" youtube-src-id="2ObjtVdsV3I"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-92007834934131776582023-10-28T14:37:00.000+01:002023-10-28T14:37:34.007+01:00Kenya part 2 - into Tsavo East (October 9-10)<p>I won't write about the war</p><p>I can't write about the war</p><p>I can write about birds and wildlife</p><p>After we were done with the wonderful Arabuko-Sokoke forest (see <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2023/10/kenya-part-1-arabuko-sokoke-and-coast.html">previous post</a>), our <a href="https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/">Rockjumper</a> tour headed on October 9th towards Tsavo East National Park. First stop, on the northern side of Arabuko Sokoke forest reserve was at Jilore, a known site for the range-restricted (in Kenya) Zanzibar Red Bishop. It was a short stop, because we had a long day of driving ahead of us, yet it was a very enjoyable one. It was our first group birding session with common Kenyan farmland birds. We did find a large flock of the bishops, but they didn't pose very well for photos. It was also our first encounter with Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, hawking for flying insects from overhanging powerlines. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zanzibar Red Bishop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx92eQkvq2rXipbjCfxzpwH1naVdHJP0ansFXnzSRCk3hSj0ghMoUQloyUnGAwgILxdl-ubaAa2TeBDR9Dc1b3Pu8Sk_ySk2bTuRtM-m2k22FnOfUWYypl1XoOM1BF6U-QpgCwv-Uz7YskI6khMu_u5bPsRDertxSnfUMp9P36I2r8097NDAOXUKB3WEY/s2000/zanzibar%20red%20bishop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx92eQkvq2rXipbjCfxzpwH1naVdHJP0ansFXnzSRCk3hSj0ghMoUQloyUnGAwgILxdl-ubaAa2TeBDR9Dc1b3Pu8Sk_ySk2bTuRtM-m2k22FnOfUWYypl1XoOM1BF6U-QpgCwv-Uz7YskI6khMu_u5bPsRDertxSnfUMp9P36I2r8097NDAOXUKB3WEY/w400-h266/zanzibar%20red%20bishop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The drive along road C-103 heading to Sala Gate was actually really good. There were lots of great birds by and on the road. We made slow progress with all the eBirding...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35TiGz0oE7xDzYlTTgnIymKmd07sBe8PK_2L_AgvWEYgHK4sE0EkeSvVe4GHTBaDlostyyO2NootLQx0dxwkuYICApCqiGUFHWz40EdyBjS6_fRAfZy8-K91vZjszS6Al8-cny7yprfqCYnwdRzroRcbM8jeh_VSQZVK75e6x9QeE-UKQBUH687zrHXo/s774/Capture.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="774" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35TiGz0oE7xDzYlTTgnIymKmd07sBe8PK_2L_AgvWEYgHK4sE0EkeSvVe4GHTBaDlostyyO2NootLQx0dxwkuYICApCqiGUFHWz40EdyBjS6_fRAfZy8-K91vZjszS6Al8-cny7yprfqCYnwdRzroRcbM8jeh_VSQZVK75e6x9QeE-UKQBUH687zrHXo/w400-h284/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>There were lots of fun birds to stop and watch, including entertaining White Helmetshrike, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Eastern Paradise Whydah and the first stunning Golden-breasted Starlings.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White Helmetshrikes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFigMsg30VakG-MR6ZVZXyQ1UBWqUNClf1wfs8wa3Vq42BaPrA_e-Xwepe1SxVM0iZoXl7DM2qerrCOC4cqjpspmwFR3te1nc5i9nNSw3P5DZ5L-zTD7d2eE3fprvbI2sVepZqYrwYnjy9XKjR5spJt-Zu9UdnvNdvoAquvxXrQzBBI_ukVuxl3gWcKQ/s2000/white%20helmetshrike2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFigMsg30VakG-MR6ZVZXyQ1UBWqUNClf1wfs8wa3Vq42BaPrA_e-Xwepe1SxVM0iZoXl7DM2qerrCOC4cqjpspmwFR3te1nc5i9nNSw3P5DZ5L-zTD7d2eE3fprvbI2sVepZqYrwYnjy9XKjR5spJt-Zu9UdnvNdvoAquvxXrQzBBI_ukVuxl3gWcKQ/w400-h266/white%20helmetshrike2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCzOjDBtQ-D8_m0ZkMoTDhA9psDViKOSbG7wMWhXG5wdEa69IMK8cV_Ry2njZBH7AL3S2HyMUOvQdTvF3yvTCyDNZb4Weftkmk6Qq0L9inY39SX2A7eUImsnS_tmU9CZSfSTM8QaBEZ2X8EMbBZzWsD5j7eEJRDTPICUMoiMhenj6U41fG24Z3QmK1Rw/s2000/white%20helmetshrike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCzOjDBtQ-D8_m0ZkMoTDhA9psDViKOSbG7wMWhXG5wdEa69IMK8cV_Ry2njZBH7AL3S2HyMUOvQdTvF3yvTCyDNZb4Weftkmk6Qq0L9inY39SX2A7eUImsnS_tmU9CZSfSTM8QaBEZ2X8EMbBZzWsD5j7eEJRDTPICUMoiMhenj6U41fG24Z3QmK1Rw/w400-h266/white%20helmetshrike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse - subtle and beautiful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MNVqNLWHLfRYAD2HsCW20O6vCYC3f6wYHBc4WZy8jh8-9KtXjaGeXlBJRS3glVFZlyxwcHnTuzPz0lTdVKI3dU9JkcZtD90EVPyHsjzHjoey4yHVTo04H1Xetotk-WPLPmOwvbv7TGj8qtaQdpciHpwDD_OdFrG6bX91C8QSCzXvVI2i8jsH7Yy4r20/s2000/chestnut-bellied%20sandgrouse1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MNVqNLWHLfRYAD2HsCW20O6vCYC3f6wYHBc4WZy8jh8-9KtXjaGeXlBJRS3glVFZlyxwcHnTuzPz0lTdVKI3dU9JkcZtD90EVPyHsjzHjoey4yHVTo04H1Xetotk-WPLPmOwvbv7TGj8qtaQdpciHpwDD_OdFrG6bX91C8QSCzXvVI2i8jsH7Yy4r20/w400-h266/chestnut-bellied%20sandgrouse1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tail with a little bird attached to it (Eastern Paradise Whydah)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqVVUY8NZAvip1eduCc2WYcgnRRs-msprg7zU7pOYsxP0oQapmvYwcToN8HZmT7c7e4spSWcDrIqwgrHqs9k9aPawjkv-NfuaqosZ38rBtVRIl-B-O-lkE3INplIk3l_Dw-dIk8iyHLnmCtrBINJ5lqHaaNs9xjzesPH-du_5kBbi9L2FMSY3mfNwSS4/s2000/eastern%20paradise%20whydah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqVVUY8NZAvip1eduCc2WYcgnRRs-msprg7zU7pOYsxP0oQapmvYwcToN8HZmT7c7e4spSWcDrIqwgrHqs9k9aPawjkv-NfuaqosZ38rBtVRIl-B-O-lkE3INplIk3l_Dw-dIk8iyHLnmCtrBINJ5lqHaaNs9xjzesPH-du_5kBbi9L2FMSY3mfNwSS4/w400-h266/eastern%20paradise%20whydah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609918202/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div>In Tsavo East NP past Sala Gate the terrain became very dry and it was hot. As a result bird densities were rather low. We had to cross the park from east to west to reach our accommodation in Voi. The first half of the drive provided encounters with some typical dry-country birds, including Somali Bee-eater and Bunting, Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark and more.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Somali Bee-eater - poor photo of a quality bird!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtHn03gwPV4fkUMwcHsC59b4542JEzYv4UKlj9kzkScLqnIp1UYc24rNTOkr_bybfq3uIMI3PyapUQhi9qJ-txesm19DMwBjLTU-X6DPqc7Pw5HA9lX_QPjtMxZkPu53wqoUbvT6K2ZD1SaYJqgwyo4-HuLKrUMgsonPg9rVQQHRCaV1JWFSHAbIDkXE/s2000/somali%20bee-eater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtHn03gwPV4fkUMwcHsC59b4542JEzYv4UKlj9kzkScLqnIp1UYc24rNTOkr_bybfq3uIMI3PyapUQhi9qJ-txesm19DMwBjLTU-X6DPqc7Pw5HA9lX_QPjtMxZkPu53wqoUbvT6K2ZD1SaYJqgwyo4-HuLKrUMgsonPg9rVQQHRCaV1JWFSHAbIDkXE/w400-h266/somali%20bee-eater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kori Bustard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEVjWda2PTuOibl9fRbJyTmEkeYncOpZS0bD2r5hdeZRk26V_trJdgUwFovaisDiqvw9zMV8MaMAIGcPqvk7wLKKuti3KgNgypcsbiBec9Q4jjxG6Imi2MpMDe2AToCeegooAhrnalXFtBl7u0Sh3TKfg5GXaLqgXKHSHNhQyBN0mhlfOsnFybMI4O4I/s2000/kori%20bustard1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEVjWda2PTuOibl9fRbJyTmEkeYncOpZS0bD2r5hdeZRk26V_trJdgUwFovaisDiqvw9zMV8MaMAIGcPqvk7wLKKuti3KgNgypcsbiBec9Q4jjxG6Imi2MpMDe2AToCeegooAhrnalXFtBl7u0Sh3TKfg5GXaLqgXKHSHNhQyBN0mhlfOsnFybMI4O4I/w400-h266/kori%20bustard1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buff-crested Bustard was common</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qQ9iBKv-VYsOMWsBpkGz9hAaD91ECZENqsrOQvTLxsO01e_SoWHhmtGBpzsv3nQj6uNuJkWmPPl6gwLjWSB0-bf2B52OER4hdnR2dLU0M_fSRaGRHg34m7rAQ6t3NOADjVkJjoMN3BFM3u2vXu-nVFMmPuwQ239Kwze47xOC2v0iCV7nE1AJCoE_YLQ/s2000/buff-crested%20bustard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qQ9iBKv-VYsOMWsBpkGz9hAaD91ECZENqsrOQvTLxsO01e_SoWHhmtGBpzsv3nQj6uNuJkWmPPl6gwLjWSB0-bf2B52OER4hdnR2dLU0M_fSRaGRHg34m7rAQ6t3NOADjVkJjoMN3BFM3u2vXu-nVFMmPuwQ239Kwze47xOC2v0iCV7nE1AJCoE_YLQ/w400-h266/buff-crested%20bustard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chestnut-headed Sparrow-Lark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUi-gw464gz_6ODdoCz6H0Lsew_JkV9HZdJbnBBklxRCw4pfGQyhyY1ja8IAb-uCHR11p6nqK7iX9uKJ9xtcZTv3r5qdc8mYdxFhv8SZ5M_CMlvv6Xgfv25_-J0mIKsYoTPjvwAXdfIl1fn15JhLVwWRuyz9pBwMyxDrDt4kY8OwvdlgwQN3ZGyyk50o/s2000/chestnut-headed%20sparrow-lark2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUi-gw464gz_6ODdoCz6H0Lsew_JkV9HZdJbnBBklxRCw4pfGQyhyY1ja8IAb-uCHR11p6nqK7iX9uKJ9xtcZTv3r5qdc8mYdxFhv8SZ5M_CMlvv6Xgfv25_-J0mIKsYoTPjvwAXdfIl1fn15JhLVwWRuyz9pBwMyxDrDt4kY8OwvdlgwQN3ZGyyk50o/w400-h266/chestnut-headed%20sparrow-lark2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Von der Decken's Hornbill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK5Qj1fN9iJ3iOsu9dcbqBo89r2oMwAtLWPsIR61RNXORmSUA5DDmAum4E7RXqp2KhFlAXF11Wyj2DVYmPhajSvYnvk12KgYvfTTU5f5AhoVFaEeB1BkHdPVPbCuSIx1TPfT_W80Fo2UKbU1Yxnm_jtfk-ByFtxmM3EHrtG1fQAIGDGb4RdlaqUeD0_c/s2000/von%20der%20decken's%20hornbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK5Qj1fN9iJ3iOsu9dcbqBo89r2oMwAtLWPsIR61RNXORmSUA5DDmAum4E7RXqp2KhFlAXF11Wyj2DVYmPhajSvYnvk12KgYvfTTU5f5AhoVFaEeB1BkHdPVPbCuSIx1TPfT_W80Fo2UKbU1Yxnm_jtfk-ByFtxmM3EHrtG1fQAIGDGb4RdlaqUeD0_c/w400-h266/von%20der%20decken's%20hornbill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because of the habitat aridity there were few mammals in the eastern side of the park. We did encounter our first Gerenuks, such unique antelopes, the way they stand up to reach fresh acacia leaves with their long giraffe-like necks. Also out first Fringe-eared (Beisa) Oryx and Coke's Haartbeest.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gerenuk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6-a7yButeP-WvTfXXGnnAM75GUw2K27x4p_PmS5-WcQquiC_Wo4ptZstKlpN_oC075LE3GQiHzHKk1PouUjZbB6JIxrh3oxuDcCG7Wmg2z3je_7ogGh0Mvk410LEZ9lhJ5CWkUpk12HojzkZYkoLbzKeRVtAPr2vj6vcKrsBPUxCTJjlJa_la4MHwYs/s3000/gerenuk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1404" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6-a7yButeP-WvTfXXGnnAM75GUw2K27x4p_PmS5-WcQquiC_Wo4ptZstKlpN_oC075LE3GQiHzHKk1PouUjZbB6JIxrh3oxuDcCG7Wmg2z3je_7ogGh0Mvk410LEZ9lhJ5CWkUpk12HojzkZYkoLbzKeRVtAPr2vj6vcKrsBPUxCTJjlJa_la4MHwYs/w188-h400/gerenuk.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fringe-eared (Beisa) Oryx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO6ZiJKYMGsmULhmT547HXMd56zorn1TrtDptIVthwOQXRClrqMjG3Nwp1vTrGVnSBiEIXLC82uDj7UM8G5MFWR7tnBeBrPS_Bp5h_cw_2GcWwUTOy-_SfbAZuS3aRSAPgBpiZbFui7mq48a30RJ1llSa9pS1b4nSxzCelCy2OiGwpm-kEr8VVTW_Pkc/s2000/tufted-eared%20oryx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO6ZiJKYMGsmULhmT547HXMd56zorn1TrtDptIVthwOQXRClrqMjG3Nwp1vTrGVnSBiEIXLC82uDj7UM8G5MFWR7tnBeBrPS_Bp5h_cw_2GcWwUTOy-_SfbAZuS3aRSAPgBpiZbFui7mq48a30RJ1llSa9pS1b4nSxzCelCy2OiGwpm-kEr8VVTW_Pkc/w400-h266/tufted-eared%20oryx.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coke's Haartbeest</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP81piWgfvRorN0av5d4fCijgMr8AU5jnT0xy6Hnmud4sTVIOG6m0Ut00gVc9qLy4eFSJiM8Zsy0gJyBh2Sn5PIJzlN7wnOScsSBQ40c0EN-zlfnCwe4VGFfipEdNZHypie5i9GtER7vx2NYDlnnsjFmc-rdxTsQfab4BVfQafu6pBkboJsyJqka8zFc/s2000/hartebeest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP81piWgfvRorN0av5d4fCijgMr8AU5jnT0xy6Hnmud4sTVIOG6m0Ut00gVc9qLy4eFSJiM8Zsy0gJyBh2Sn5PIJzlN7wnOScsSBQ40c0EN-zlfnCwe4VGFfipEdNZHypie5i9GtER7vx2NYDlnnsjFmc-rdxTsQfab4BVfQafu6pBkboJsyJqka8zFc/w400-h266/hartebeest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The further west we made it in the park, towards Aruba Lodge and dam, mammal and bird densities increased. Elephants, Plains Zebras, Northern (Masai) Giraffes and many antelopes were frolicking in the lush vegetation around the dam. There were more cool African birds to be seen too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Southern Ground-Hornbill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-673fzSCnlMAXL0k6OiGLAINpkARa2wOXtQXJCvt4I7ZMyD3TVJ6id2g-Zc2fiA7T1JLIAafJ0IZLXAfkhJTfdMNteMga_zN9JCaOulDhGrj-U0mmXmtVxJFJ_NhcexO1WZ-x56uzW43fK29Q5ApQgIa8uKOrWuXorISNi88HlDgFePZQJUgRGwhD8/s2000/southern%20ground%20hornbill2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-673fzSCnlMAXL0k6OiGLAINpkARa2wOXtQXJCvt4I7ZMyD3TVJ6id2g-Zc2fiA7T1JLIAafJ0IZLXAfkhJTfdMNteMga_zN9JCaOulDhGrj-U0mmXmtVxJFJ_NhcexO1WZ-x56uzW43fK29Q5ApQgIa8uKOrWuXorISNi88HlDgFePZQJUgRGwhD8/w400-h266/southern%20ground%20hornbill2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kittlitz's Plovers were plentiful by the dam</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWUTJauYF9bgeh-zfb71saYkYDS0IY9do-wGCxSdyddFLfQWJP1b8KT8YRbrXNc1KeYUx0WGT80ZHjLQ83ha1WdaJCtxs0BHtQXqdBsTjENI_BHZIciI3Dyinrm0dl0vRl53bNarFB5myNLzEr-vdVvAFvxEun49h8D6zzY51lhbcfTQh7ZTxtcMGMsw/s2000/kittlitz's%20plover2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWUTJauYF9bgeh-zfb71saYkYDS0IY9do-wGCxSdyddFLfQWJP1b8KT8YRbrXNc1KeYUx0WGT80ZHjLQ83ha1WdaJCtxs0BHtQXqdBsTjENI_BHZIciI3Dyinrm0dl0vRl53bNarFB5myNLzEr-vdVvAFvxEun49h8D6zzY51lhbcfTQh7ZTxtcMGMsw/w400-h266/kittlitz's%20plover2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Working on the next gen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukaDmGnj6MeHDjD0BYlEhSnny9EmOTubmDRXWK2lzR7u5rV8RSHM2VSxUODkRtA1Sxbhcd2V6MVyUTm1swcxQ2fn7JSb8o3MqLqE-Tg_-SGJingHGahdESSxaDXBgY6WAtSlztzYY0ADfL5RQXCfV4MbAYPYJVvlxDTc_UBeTP0jwquxkJlQ9wnclAWE/s2000/kittlitz's%20plover1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukaDmGnj6MeHDjD0BYlEhSnny9EmOTubmDRXWK2lzR7u5rV8RSHM2VSxUODkRtA1Sxbhcd2V6MVyUTm1swcxQ2fn7JSb8o3MqLqE-Tg_-SGJingHGahdESSxaDXBgY6WAtSlztzYY0ADfL5RQXCfV4MbAYPYJVvlxDTc_UBeTP0jwquxkJlQ9wnclAWE/w400-h266/kittlitz's%20plover1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yellow-throated Spurfowl - stunning and common</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhAFDNLqfgcAJnWJ_K2E7n43y7xuQoUDXWQ5OONE2NEJsUeu3SxyfVfpLWWSXUEI67vxbniYJozduafTNbAEJ-Z2PnIvAXi4T9Iys_Uwp0_wK31HEqF4EdJ9wl24zQbfCG3K32O-K86KVyWfpGpnpLN_vTC993XHxyK0akdUj8n6_-BCSNfdUab7-XpI/s2000/yellow-necked%20spurfowl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhAFDNLqfgcAJnWJ_K2E7n43y7xuQoUDXWQ5OONE2NEJsUeu3SxyfVfpLWWSXUEI67vxbniYJozduafTNbAEJ-Z2PnIvAXi4T9Iys_Uwp0_wK31HEqF4EdJ9wl24zQbfCG3K32O-K86KVyWfpGpnpLN_vTC993XHxyK0akdUj8n6_-BCSNfdUab7-XpI/w400-h266/yellow-necked%20spurfowl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day (October 10th) was happily spent in the western section of Tsavo East and around our accommodation, Voi Safari Lodge. So many excellent birds, too many to mention. Lots of mammals too, including our first Lions, sleeping of course. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fischer's Starling - Carrying Nesting Material</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8IaEDYjfjF1aN7d0_sPRzh4oTn9vzhH-slKDHS6y56NInon5XXrbl23usZPT5LZJIHZMnZmto9UnrzK1xDRxXL6Vo-r9v0dt1J5ykc7SlrfMhD6IuQsn8mzq7pkoXRDhn1VLhUnaTDIwqVjhuU1TxsQuyy7-rhZSXxnugWqHHIPWQWhJxZSStzKWxIU/s2000/fischer's%20starling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8IaEDYjfjF1aN7d0_sPRzh4oTn9vzhH-slKDHS6y56NInon5XXrbl23usZPT5LZJIHZMnZmto9UnrzK1xDRxXL6Vo-r9v0dt1J5ykc7SlrfMhD6IuQsn8mzq7pkoXRDhn1VLhUnaTDIwqVjhuU1TxsQuyy7-rhZSXxnugWqHHIPWQWhJxZSStzKWxIU/w400-h266/fischer's%20starling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golden-breasted Starling - wow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YHVGbNILosrqhAySxHBAx3wTkLCN_sCV4PSJvKNhlBJJHiejFD53e6XZTwDNUKwSzHApVzQbVv-MO500d_K1bjfsT7wsSqSZ0kOr_ucCx4cGTeTHkljJ88zfAGmq2ETIdfdZrnnF4PO3Xa51hu0JZMip_JTB5RddXp8abVGUPQ7cu15WS_Ps_GJ_DAQ/s2000/golden-breasted%20starling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YHVGbNILosrqhAySxHBAx3wTkLCN_sCV4PSJvKNhlBJJHiejFD53e6XZTwDNUKwSzHApVzQbVv-MO500d_K1bjfsT7wsSqSZ0kOr_ucCx4cGTeTHkljJ88zfAGmq2ETIdfdZrnnF4PO3Xa51hu0JZMip_JTB5RddXp8abVGUPQ7cu15WS_Ps_GJ_DAQ/w400-h266/golden-breasted%20starling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More Stunnery</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUH8hdCmtfN3MouEd3GF3byooeDLagFouXP2qxCzVgIzdyS9QuZP4zKpJJL05f5LL-NuUVl1liaxJwDC6X__dHIe1NtqRzwlSvUVWx3kn4rlZ0sGdy3iZvDLEhQnuTd0p5WjVcG3rWvr3QdvmmdoZPHiUEApPBnOCARw3hSV7XfiX3zDJHhaQ9fr2O0w/s2000/golden-breasted%20starling3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUH8hdCmtfN3MouEd3GF3byooeDLagFouXP2qxCzVgIzdyS9QuZP4zKpJJL05f5LL-NuUVl1liaxJwDC6X__dHIe1NtqRzwlSvUVWx3kn4rlZ0sGdy3iZvDLEhQnuTd0p5WjVcG3rWvr3QdvmmdoZPHiUEApPBnOCARw3hSV7XfiX3zDJHhaQ9fr2O0w/w400-h266/golden-breasted%20starling3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hence the name: Blue-naped Mousebird</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3U1ZfbNYnUQskwEGIvVtgQpANLioSMvCEI0IKebr9bU9Y_G7EUfO4GOOlfVNecypFCTdKA9EpZuc8ohIbn6Pn8BO-dzUs9bp84Oiu8DerMsWqbahMaaLesPQGqu5cATkFrcpSZOXx_UXvCnRhkATwNJZOguLzu_sG-jPya7bYyzWMQtOoD9JLZnrdac/s2000/blue-naped%20mousebird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3U1ZfbNYnUQskwEGIvVtgQpANLioSMvCEI0IKebr9bU9Y_G7EUfO4GOOlfVNecypFCTdKA9EpZuc8ohIbn6Pn8BO-dzUs9bp84Oiu8DerMsWqbahMaaLesPQGqu5cATkFrcpSZOXx_UXvCnRhkATwNJZOguLzu_sG-jPya7bYyzWMQtOoD9JLZnrdac/w400-h266/blue-naped%20mousebird.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Taita Fiscal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFKVURuYZoQg91Dmi9y7hrFVtfvbZCw0IHy5Jhyphenhyphenl2qEjppK2cqcjv2dpFMxWOD_10t1YZ8n39w3RRqe8iRQwcFgRgexMX0cn7IDhwIjQFmbDXaT78bcls6oDWcyFYaQSqa-j8qVNIfTZeBnbr2bAoCw08PK2d6F8tox-eIfwQAml1Xqja2KFD0QKl-eE/s2000/taita%20fiscal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFKVURuYZoQg91Dmi9y7hrFVtfvbZCw0IHy5Jhyphenhyphenl2qEjppK2cqcjv2dpFMxWOD_10t1YZ8n39w3RRqe8iRQwcFgRgexMX0cn7IDhwIjQFmbDXaT78bcls6oDWcyFYaQSqa-j8qVNIfTZeBnbr2bAoCw08PK2d6F8tox-eIfwQAml1Xqja2KFD0QKl-eE/w400-h266/taita%20fiscal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Straw-tailed Whydah</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC20A2unCd4WB-DcUiUQExalpdfPotcuPdMbt9AN4WnUwtlPNusNJBYGoi1xHXg0fZSWwvQSKEQ-_HzNw1Gv1UIei3OxzPxsValW05jd9ZOv4RzwSZy08_y6AeQyt2rZG1YPkgUR6jDeVF3k4rIaW5VAVNa-btfumfEXB3VCQz_yWjENm1f9wn9owra3E/s2000/straw-tailed%20whydah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC20A2unCd4WB-DcUiUQExalpdfPotcuPdMbt9AN4WnUwtlPNusNJBYGoi1xHXg0fZSWwvQSKEQ-_HzNw1Gv1UIei3OxzPxsValW05jd9ZOv4RzwSZy08_y6AeQyt2rZG1YPkgUR6jDeVF3k4rIaW5VAVNa-btfumfEXB3VCQz_yWjENm1f9wn9owra3E/w400-h266/straw-tailed%20whydah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow. I love Petronias.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1KamxG1mthNu4QWnZJ-mCjuoPvu25CORV-6iPpMg8HyQtbLtwU80aM06P_a34fdbvCh5edJYwiuNzo2nwQpHhjtltY269UqIyL-4fGN__bwkcnUAnjlz3CB5bm09IZIHUEonvlDlTouODl7rQ5V2J0Ninup4i0UWNoo5UuGbrlLhWQAMvIj3ouK_Wmw/s2000/yellow-spotted%20bush%20sparrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1KamxG1mthNu4QWnZJ-mCjuoPvu25CORV-6iPpMg8HyQtbLtwU80aM06P_a34fdbvCh5edJYwiuNzo2nwQpHhjtltY269UqIyL-4fGN__bwkcnUAnjlz3CB5bm09IZIHUEonvlDlTouODl7rQ5V2J0Ninup4i0UWNoo5UuGbrlLhWQAMvIj3ouK_Wmw/w400-h266/yellow-spotted%20bush%20sparrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cut-throats in large flocks - quite unusual</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5yMsuS_K9Ce7fOasude10Tlv_yj-6E51fseqQypKPvgrzHqKjJ19xfNS19XhEoBclmGccLvo7E9Htri7TJIiA1_p2xMGGhS0K3T3I3CvevMdtYhAFzNl5tX9wbDio5JnAC_FImniaPASdQKtEhSKQeDHF2_OSkmuScpHiz-JRqDlMlGA6QXs740XeT8/s2000/cut-throat2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5yMsuS_K9Ce7fOasude10Tlv_yj-6E51fseqQypKPvgrzHqKjJ19xfNS19XhEoBclmGccLvo7E9Htri7TJIiA1_p2xMGGhS0K3T3I3CvevMdtYhAFzNl5tX9wbDio5JnAC_FImniaPASdQKtEhSKQeDHF2_OSkmuScpHiz-JRqDlMlGA6QXs740XeT8/w400-h266/cut-throat2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abyssinian Scimitarbill</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBLqeTMdxzzlOgz5RM6FkDR8Smq7p38B3Ry0iUuDMDy7Os6gC6rwyYYS63Q-vbBzcjXN9x5k501-7RzLjq1_NCQDuek8Rgtj8zND4cHK8dzsBUCJCzYzwg09hBP26wZrdJEUwXnNSNpdR1Vdfwpy1eLo8tgaSCvbdQP2hI1ULurKAX8RaCyqB41s7c04/s2000/abyssinian%20scimitarbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBLqeTMdxzzlOgz5RM6FkDR8Smq7p38B3Ry0iUuDMDy7Os6gC6rwyYYS63Q-vbBzcjXN9x5k501-7RzLjq1_NCQDuek8Rgtj8zND4cHK8dzsBUCJCzYzwg09hBP26wZrdJEUwXnNSNpdR1Vdfwpy1eLo8tgaSCvbdQP2hI1ULurKAX8RaCyqB41s7c04/w400-h266/abyssinian%20scimitarbill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two of the pride of Lionesses, with their heads up!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MMTy8gJ-INvtKFYWNi0hPWPVJgPUpBpGE14hAxiZ5y-elRGVVL_dGkR5BeyuHbfYuYnZ8Jd_IwKbL7Po-SSyjLG7878FyjLv0x3mSN89Piv3Ie2FvuJp7fzpSgwYv5WzLOlpVsvxO3oTis4nlkKXT6Qn-L4OCypiKuCDhLI_hQb1ueU3_3h_dyGWU_k/s2000/lion2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MMTy8gJ-INvtKFYWNi0hPWPVJgPUpBpGE14hAxiZ5y-elRGVVL_dGkR5BeyuHbfYuYnZ8Jd_IwKbL7Po-SSyjLG7878FyjLv0x3mSN89Piv3Ie2FvuJp7fzpSgwYv5WzLOlpVsvxO3oTis4nlkKXT6Qn-L4OCypiKuCDhLI_hQb1ueU3_3h_dyGWU_k/w400-h266/lion2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The lodge grounds and waterhole were excellent, with large numbers of animals coming in to enjoy a good splash. This theme of wildlife lodges with cool waterholes is a great feature of African safari trips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5KoerRSAisBsQbz5guqqkoHjNf5k6rRhXKla1U_Dn1Au9yyHsZQr2LkSKRGV-51SYMeXt5PwcnzBeJX3FFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The lodge gardens held several sunbirds, including this stunning male Black-bellied Sunbird (such an uninspiring name for a brilliant sunbird!) that waited for us in the carpark:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgvk0oSV0TqueKgslD1ZbArpGKdwUz6LcmUYpkxv7LjS6aMYa4evV8xNKmPVUfC7v49RxOxpq-GJTvSdJs8YTu0cOFO9g76I2QmzuoXegcEJDFt4jR3GtnJBItxPmXCRSH-QsTIbcoJPK1YuKBBzzBohaTrGSrGR4G7hslA5EWrp7-D1RNUf_7bnbgEE/s2000/black-bellied%20sunbird2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgvk0oSV0TqueKgslD1ZbArpGKdwUz6LcmUYpkxv7LjS6aMYa4evV8xNKmPVUfC7v49RxOxpq-GJTvSdJs8YTu0cOFO9g76I2QmzuoXegcEJDFt4jR3GtnJBItxPmXCRSH-QsTIbcoJPK1YuKBBzzBohaTrGSrGR4G7hslA5EWrp7-D1RNUf_7bnbgEE/w400-h266/black-bellied%20sunbird2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheujchTfF9ZE2EJ1QizdfCrPe9XXPVvbhI2e7986Dz8rc7BaujLdLPHcGghjO1bgHpfBJaDtre-yLlSGKTrBtyEfp7CfPBsdZcsHAW1679MgJPpYdlL1HM6bhh8cjf-4p1ifALJ3eAj1kpGdZwdynDZSFyJPr3sxlx1ybddyk5Es0a5tM7FZ82BdH7Kxg/s2000/black-bellied%20sunbird1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheujchTfF9ZE2EJ1QizdfCrPe9XXPVvbhI2e7986Dz8rc7BaujLdLPHcGghjO1bgHpfBJaDtre-yLlSGKTrBtyEfp7CfPBsdZcsHAW1679MgJPpYdlL1HM6bhh8cjf-4p1ifALJ3eAj1kpGdZwdynDZSFyJPr3sxlx1ybddyk5Es0a5tM7FZ82BdH7Kxg/w400-h266/black-bellied%20sunbird1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next stop - Taita Hills. Stay tuned!</div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-73233772644433713032023-10-21T12:05:00.001+01:002023-10-21T12:09:00.532+01:00Kenya part 1 - Arabuko-Sokoke and coast, October 6-8<p>The first leg of our Rockjumper tour to Kenya took us to the east coast. We flew from Nairobi to Malindi, where me met our excellent driver-guide Lenard Korir. Already at the airport carpark we had Coastal Cisticola and Ethiopian Swallow, demonstrating how special this part of Kenya is. Without further ado we drove to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, where we met up with legendary Willy, our local guide. Practically the first bird we saw in birding mode was a stunning <b>African Wood-Owl</b>, day-roosting near the park headquarters. What a start!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917805/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>The first pre-lunch session in the park was amazing. The forest was full of good birds, including <b>Red-capped Robin-Chat, Narina Trogon</b>, several greenbuls. But the highlight was without doubt a breathtaking orange-morph <b>Sokoke Scops-owl</b>, expertly found by Willy in its day roost site. We couldn't have asked for a better start to our tour, enjoying an intimate encounter with this <a href="http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22688565">globally Endangered</a> beautiful Owl. I have seen it in the past, but this close encounter, at eye level, provided me and the clients with the best photo opp ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillkRjPjKKaxyA5Topo1mgpPeBvr7O1fdXHSmDSwug4VpKdjS8WZaoN2_9Sho8SPkG6GubUhmKmLXJ4sv9sE9CzOSvbx2brQ7_ffVE19eVohWDOsR_pC-XnEtc45H6nOuJ5ynfE01SV-JZcxlue9aqMAhVkb_7E7n9Yar6urhm7qxqgkK9_sTONoO0Ydc/s3000/sokoke%20scops%20owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillkRjPjKKaxyA5Topo1mgpPeBvr7O1fdXHSmDSwug4VpKdjS8WZaoN2_9Sho8SPkG6GubUhmKmLXJ4sv9sE9CzOSvbx2brQ7_ffVE19eVohWDOsR_pC-XnEtc45H6nOuJ5ynfE01SV-JZcxlue9aqMAhVkb_7E7n9Yar6urhm7qxqgkK9_sTONoO0Ydc/w266-h400/sokoke%20scops%20owl.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Over the next two days we spent much time in different sections of the forest. Forest birding is usually quite difficult, dependent on calls. Often the forest was very quiet, then suddenly we found a purple patch or a nice mixed feeding flock, and it felt like birding in a candy store. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVqYpAACcictGd0IIFRV2Ly3wHwQqQ6CiDMDcp0a7AdZ-YIowW6naDZRqFPVWL8zXP-rDnmYpN_g1I3tHU4_Qu_-hSCX4Rg9i0lXoTHg80OBq0LBxSzxNq-CPCGniyHyrk1b67XpY_d7eYxFg53CKd4iY-jHQHfinQlEX-QvBnyeZ8tKS_FcpYVxz0lc/s2500/forest%20birding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVqYpAACcictGd0IIFRV2Ly3wHwQqQ6CiDMDcp0a7AdZ-YIowW6naDZRqFPVWL8zXP-rDnmYpN_g1I3tHU4_Qu_-hSCX4Rg9i0lXoTHg80OBq0LBxSzxNq-CPCGniyHyrk1b67XpY_d7eYxFg53CKd4iY-jHQHfinQlEX-QvBnyeZ8tKS_FcpYVxz0lc/w400-h180/forest%20birding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Our main targets were the endemic or near-endemic species of Sokoke forest. The main target after the owl was the <a href="http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sokoke-pipit-anthus-sokokensis">globally Endangered</a> <b>Sokoke Pipit</b>. It took us a few attempts down different trails, until on our final morning we had a magical time with them. As soon as we stepped off the vehicle we heard their soft, high-pitched contact calls. Bingo!</div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610196044/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It took us a while to get good views of them - they were very shy, moving secretly between trees. Eventually we found a pair walking quietly on the dark forest floor. They walked down to few meters from us, to our complete awe. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8YYD51YZlkv-KGIzzIlDLxSUEwpP-zdPaHYiYueoH0KTbblssrA3HRXIcg7jb_zzXoxqRi-CyJxaWQLIn-h5lAaQ1d-WN41Ea9qHsni7T33fPKin0SzK-AsiVOy_dlqbtYARqrvpC19jwGsErcibt-bG1ib-f0dABcqtOgZK8-wSM0ENwpa15_eE_5E/s2000/sokoke%20pipit1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8YYD51YZlkv-KGIzzIlDLxSUEwpP-zdPaHYiYueoH0KTbblssrA3HRXIcg7jb_zzXoxqRi-CyJxaWQLIn-h5lAaQ1d-WN41Ea9qHsni7T33fPKin0SzK-AsiVOy_dlqbtYARqrvpC19jwGsErcibt-bG1ib-f0dABcqtOgZK8-wSM0ENwpa15_eE_5E/w400-h266/sokoke%20pipit1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHX3C5RTkJmZbNRxtBJKzzmwzSJeJntseATTUhXSauEoNX4BHC1JHT5SDDhzfZh6qpy3wr76htJ-tAg9A8aBmWxwSy2HhSlkvI2ic5uuvxobZ896xOOXoTsveDZBAeJbYqStdjrTolu5iY_PkoV0dy-JihJfhjpYXZAtCYtg3ny3VpxwjzWgyDAgGFvA/s2000/sokoke%20pipit2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHX3C5RTkJmZbNRxtBJKzzmwzSJeJntseATTUhXSauEoNX4BHC1JHT5SDDhzfZh6qpy3wr76htJ-tAg9A8aBmWxwSy2HhSlkvI2ic5uuvxobZ896xOOXoTsveDZBAeJbYqStdjrTolu5iY_PkoV0dy-JihJfhjpYXZAtCYtg3ny3VpxwjzWgyDAgGFvA/w400-h266/sokoke%20pipit2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The same site with the pipits had also a good number of another rare species, <b>Amani Sunbird</b>. We have seen them before but over there they performed really well, males and females. They are difficult to photograph...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS7ZgQKFOqR1rUBoC1mDdef9TC3kjHb6K0nlh1itbavQ6-ixWLR7YWQ3q2HZekdyrRUhIbykIcx4TlzfIjZY-4BdbX1Ax1Eoa1ABd9sPsTSTemOjMf8i42h0HLoDHM0XDxOVl_CQ-2JGkt2FqE8cJYw3DErFscU1VDZxcxCGiOhjxKDnztcR6kFlwoMQ/s2000/amani%20sunbird1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS7ZgQKFOqR1rUBoC1mDdef9TC3kjHb6K0nlh1itbavQ6-ixWLR7YWQ3q2HZekdyrRUhIbykIcx4TlzfIjZY-4BdbX1Ax1Eoa1ABd9sPsTSTemOjMf8i42h0HLoDHM0XDxOVl_CQ-2JGkt2FqE8cJYw3DErFscU1VDZxcxCGiOhjxKDnztcR6kFlwoMQ/w400-h266/amani%20sunbird1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The list of quality species we had over the days we spent in the Sokoke forest is too long. <b>Fischer's Turaco, Black-headed Apalis, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Scaly Babbler, Chestnut-fronted and Retz's Helmetshrikes, Scaly-throated</b> and <b>Pallid Honeyguides, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Malindi Pipit, Forbes-Watson's Swift, Mottled Spinetail, Fasciated Snake-Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Mombasa</b> and <b>Bearded Woodpeckers</b>, <b>Green Barbet</b> and <b>Green Tinkerbird</b> and more - really excellent haul for our three days there.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/610196281/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spotted Ground-Thrush (<a href="http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/spotted-ground-thrush-geokichla-guttata">globally Vulnerable</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvbCTU9etHfOW3us1OFEdB7DtE1yl8jB35bm-Ay6STAcQgkvCG6IvLZW0RE4C4smJKPDuCJ16e1NRIfR4w5605hSnvLJkcofJ1BeM3CWM-K1YXAZMl_QxvTplRH9gX04KvqjnN53-aMznxzf9DR3-e4rTop9aa0P55fpa2w3tUwETFP6SaJ-5DngJ_vI/s2000/spotted%20ground%20thrush2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvbCTU9etHfOW3us1OFEdB7DtE1yl8jB35bm-Ay6STAcQgkvCG6IvLZW0RE4C4smJKPDuCJ16e1NRIfR4w5605hSnvLJkcofJ1BeM3CWM-K1YXAZMl_QxvTplRH9gX04KvqjnN53-aMznxzf9DR3-e4rTop9aa0P55fpa2w3tUwETFP6SaJ-5DngJ_vI/w400-h266/spotted%20ground%20thrush2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black-headed Apalis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyHCvwD5EOMAyFx1DKe5tuS8aCb68mr4jYyIQOIPb5jlFXb8jobME7WKZQcrwd032ttsOU4NoUrKtRVhbyjdanj9NShz_z9K80N8Rsfw8LP_dbv2TAwGcJPBSX_kBqrDirwEV4nJF5fi6OczYHJ1qKTlHkmq8P0WvhjUXY6u5SKGyDeSbwP2VaUCmyLM/s2000/black-headed%20apalis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyHCvwD5EOMAyFx1DKe5tuS8aCb68mr4jYyIQOIPb5jlFXb8jobME7WKZQcrwd032ttsOU4NoUrKtRVhbyjdanj9NShz_z9K80N8Rsfw8LP_dbv2TAwGcJPBSX_kBqrDirwEV4nJF5fi6OczYHJ1qKTlHkmq8P0WvhjUXY6u5SKGyDeSbwP2VaUCmyLM/w400-h266/black-headed%20apalis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Malindi Pipit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E7iD47bWVlD07gthcT-qoWTmbbGRH3HFjNL0no8tIVuJ6r97wWGITWlMwUYaqNfGBnx1z3JRyGpqIhUd9sZW-uc2pNmBkOdJ5xqEdTHCVEV6YybKPw9uyTSRwEsRqIlraoUoNRXPuDjxTTfTThgdVtkSLmJ1b9I3AWQZ9YmhxNnsnYXX2btKB3uR2LA/s2000/malindi%20pipit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E7iD47bWVlD07gthcT-qoWTmbbGRH3HFjNL0no8tIVuJ6r97wWGITWlMwUYaqNfGBnx1z3JRyGpqIhUd9sZW-uc2pNmBkOdJ5xqEdTHCVEV6YybKPw9uyTSRwEsRqIlraoUoNRXPuDjxTTfTThgdVtkSLmJ1b9I3AWQZ9YmhxNnsnYXX2btKB3uR2LA/w400-h266/malindi%20pipit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mottled Spinetails and Forbes-Watson's Swifts were flying over the Elephant Swamp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dc1h0EsOQfFd5z7VTpWoKvdFL_MxGx1JkGSg7B9_HgnVLl56Z8kFvDmgL_Ar8pSqdKZmLFiQLDHVMoNEypRdvQ2qQgAZMgDez9UBEA9qWjteCQiJ9RNrRbkd4BN7weMprHaVKjJcus0rvTtSyudSwdhOq0kVl0cA4ItpYfPitXsqkevTMhyphenhyphen9k1qJUFg/s2000/mottled%20spinetail3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dc1h0EsOQfFd5z7VTpWoKvdFL_MxGx1JkGSg7B9_HgnVLl56Z8kFvDmgL_Ar8pSqdKZmLFiQLDHVMoNEypRdvQ2qQgAZMgDez9UBEA9qWjteCQiJ9RNrRbkd4BN7weMprHaVKjJcus0rvTtSyudSwdhOq0kVl0cA4ItpYfPitXsqkevTMhyphenhyphen9k1qJUFg/w400-h266/mottled%20spinetail3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fasciated (AKA Southern banded) Snake Eagle showed beautifully</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfCoz5TmF7J-e18J048E9cLLJaV1CGOQfaujgAENLDaZt_aXdreMNqymsEvNKSbNLNzZ8_i3wiOGLYyuhyjO83aMY82YrJFmdaMqbHtpdRa38USoPcAqQvkDggjgUu8Z-vvVspZ5Lqf9hH8lEuMu2BHXUZ1MrjNhkCWpp4l2hQlETZkRnsjBFTJqszEk/s2000/southern%20banded%20snake%20eagle1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfCoz5TmF7J-e18J048E9cLLJaV1CGOQfaujgAENLDaZt_aXdreMNqymsEvNKSbNLNzZ8_i3wiOGLYyuhyjO83aMY82YrJFmdaMqbHtpdRa38USoPcAqQvkDggjgUu8Z-vvVspZ5Lqf9hH8lEuMu2BHXUZ1MrjNhkCWpp4l2hQlETZkRnsjBFTJqszEk/w400-h266/southern%20banded%20snake%20eagle1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917901/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eastern Crested Guineafowl (recent three-way split)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr27b3jzkZK60y_a3ihhSHS7OTRhgII-zHl2YZUWxY67FJt5LMKxMvvWQPBLwwgFKE7z1w6F0W0sUpJL8q0_5hOY2cpnw7ILIYbvBmOeODXn_YZveI9MDTPWZf_h0HQA4SpGoYHzd-DAn2gG91jswT92ZryBcK37-r_UO4mcFphTqBuSR9_a6HBW7AFY0/s2000/eastern%20crested%20guineafowl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr27b3jzkZK60y_a3ihhSHS7OTRhgII-zHl2YZUWxY67FJt5LMKxMvvWQPBLwwgFKE7z1w6F0W0sUpJL8q0_5hOY2cpnw7ILIYbvBmOeODXn_YZveI9MDTPWZf_h0HQA4SpGoYHzd-DAn2gG91jswT92ZryBcK37-r_UO4mcFphTqBuSR9_a6HBW7AFY0/w400-h266/eastern%20crested%20guineafowl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917851/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White-browed Coucal - common and stunning show-off</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjo84-8QJt6ftp3z-0k_GCbEGsfGdJ319q-08WlzDY2OEgBHRKCkG4fL3KMTqwOxhF8uF7b0op3wmb9gdKqPPw4QN4TmeTrxPl-AO1c3XTAF5GBRXEcItYBfU5QXnXzzwfr-_EqR5fgvepo70PU7qpfO5wCk5t5WKivzosc91zskHdVBnqG6h19hZjD4/s2000/white-browed%20coucal2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjo84-8QJt6ftp3z-0k_GCbEGsfGdJ319q-08WlzDY2OEgBHRKCkG4fL3KMTqwOxhF8uF7b0op3wmb9gdKqPPw4QN4TmeTrxPl-AO1c3XTAF5GBRXEcItYBfU5QXnXzzwfr-_EqR5fgvepo70PU7qpfO5wCk5t5WKivzosc91zskHdVBnqG6h19hZjD4/s320/white-browed%20coucal2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917981/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Mammal watching in the forest isn't easy because of the thick cover. Still, we had <b>Suni </b>(small and rare forest antelope), <b>Golden-rumped Sengi</b> (Elephant-Shrew) and <b>Northern Lesser Galago</b> on a night drive we did.</div><div><br /></div><div>The coastal region provided excellent birding opportunities too. I have fond memories from the region, working with A-Rocha on exciting projects out of the Watamu Field Study Center. Mida Creek mudflats held huge numbers of shorebirds. The main attraction there was <b>Crab-Plover</b> of course - such unique and curious-looking quality shorebirds. Among the migrant shorebirds were <b>Greater </b>and <b>Tibetan Sand-plovers</b> and <b>Terek Sandpipers</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609917932/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Sabaki River Estuary held large numbers of gulls and terns. Most sought-after was <b>Sooty Gull </b>that showed in various plumages. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfXBwADNsIKg3KT8Kxp0lvcCIqWNAIpreVh97WGKAiPDHedcJSzIhxzj6SMYh86Y4-mJBYzI7l_VmF1Nu563Zk-AgT15njj2jO5KwI4ofQX5jkAM5x6UQFzOLjES3BlJyFF1iZnHveHIJKF5J55-Ou3RREbvmTDmGNZlmEC_3rKYk6T5xw4mK3g83SLo/s2000/sooty%20gull1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfXBwADNsIKg3KT8Kxp0lvcCIqWNAIpreVh97WGKAiPDHedcJSzIhxzj6SMYh86Y4-mJBYzI7l_VmF1Nu563Zk-AgT15njj2jO5KwI4ofQX5jkAM5x6UQFzOLjES3BlJyFF1iZnHveHIJKF5J55-Ou3RREbvmTDmGNZlmEC_3rKYk6T5xw4mK3g83SLo/w400-h266/sooty%20gull1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The tern concentration attracted quality species including <b>White-cheeked, Roseate </b>and <b>Great Crested</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/609918123/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed in Turtle Bay Resort, where there was an active breeding colony of <b>African-Golden </b>and <b>Golden Palm Weavers</b>. The walk between the rooms and dining hall couldn't have been more golden.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Golden Palm Weaver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IKeovEQCL6079SXlS1SwHSoyTRIdQPLSkpoDa_3VLdhkXFbSddBBs5fQjz1PJvnJyKFxyQnOzaWKdSYGerMHDQRQYuPWCpVHJDcXemmWWkLHRmulhBhWGdmQnLZQB7zEer1nTu3Ko4u9qtFlnAjGuSqQ8CUk_GTSv3405M_UVw6cVTRZAzqHjQIlmiQ/s2000/african%20palm%20weaver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IKeovEQCL6079SXlS1SwHSoyTRIdQPLSkpoDa_3VLdhkXFbSddBBs5fQjz1PJvnJyKFxyQnOzaWKdSYGerMHDQRQYuPWCpVHJDcXemmWWkLHRmulhBhWGdmQnLZQB7zEer1nTu3Ko4u9qtFlnAjGuSqQ8CUk_GTSv3405M_UVw6cVTRZAzqHjQIlmiQ/w400-h266/african%20palm%20weaver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">African Golden-Weaver</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs_0Ve-VvXIu40QlFAw_QwvAWX-t-TRr5f8JCQbwPRWjCsp2b3-ySnAfjb_Qa_xSPv5seSTk8PmcqTJ9gEx3uW7f2naLRWouA4WRYLrt8Vy-Sc4Oq8BhNJ14XJ6CMMOA5HBrhtAPCNqbmQ1edWqS-H539f8SCyXU7AJBM-RslWbt6mwrxqU7hMJTW9A0/s2000/african%20golden%20sparrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs_0Ve-VvXIu40QlFAw_QwvAWX-t-TRr5f8JCQbwPRWjCsp2b3-ySnAfjb_Qa_xSPv5seSTk8PmcqTJ9gEx3uW7f2naLRWouA4WRYLrt8Vy-Sc4Oq8BhNJ14XJ6CMMOA5HBrhtAPCNqbmQ1edWqS-H539f8SCyXU7AJBM-RslWbt6mwrxqU7hMJTW9A0/w400-h266/african%20golden%20sparrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Next up - Tsavo East NP!</div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-38984984459911813382023-10-17T14:58:00.014+01:002023-10-18T08:09:55.389+01:00Global Big Day in Ethiopia<p>I returned unexpectedly early from Africa on Sunday morning. Over the next few days/weeks I will share here stories and images from the main portion, a tour into the beautiful landscapes of Kenya I led for <a href="https://www.rockjumperbirding.com/">Rockjumper Birding Tours</a>. The first post will be about the tour aftermath. A day after the official start of the tour, a war broke in Israel. It wasn't easy to keep my head straight and focused on leading the tour, knowing that back home things are very tough and that my family wasn't safe. I had to shorten my trip and return home to my family. Rockjumper management were so supportive and helpful. Together with the excellent ground agent, <a href="https://www.cisticolatours.com/">Cisticola</a>, they arranged a replacement. The earliest I could leave the group was on Friday when we returned to Nairobi. It was sad saying goodbye to my group - they were all awesome and we had a great time together. I flew from Nairobi to Addis Ababa, hoping for a smooth connection back home to Tel Aviv. I flew with Ethiopian Airlines, one of the few foreign airlines that still flies to Israel, more or less. When I arrived in Addis Ababa I discovered that my onward flight to Tel Aviv had just been cancelled and postponed to the next day. I had 24 hours to kill in Addis. Actually, it was my first time in Addis city, outside of the airport, after many layovers that had allowed me only terminal window birding. </p><p>On Saturday, October 14th, it was <a href="https://ebird.org/news/october-big-day-2023">Global Big Day</a>, organised by <a href="https://ebird.org/home">eBird </a>and <a href="https://globalbirding.org/">Global Birding</a>. In recent years I have been very keen on doing proper big days on GBD. This time, outside of Israel, away from Kenya, I had to find something to do in Ethiopia. I consulted with <a href="https://ebird.org/hotspots">eBird Hotspots</a>, chatted with a few friends, and chose two birding sites not far from the airport. I was up with the birds and started the day with a good look out of a dirty window on the 6th floor of Skylight Hotel where Ethiopian Airlines put me up. First endemics out of the window included Wattled Ibis, Swainson's Sparrow, Brown-rumped Seedeater and White-collared Pigeon. eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S152127553">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVwtHxvZaKiN3ifGlnXhGo4BL6RRmWh28EJM48cE6xeEotm8QzCnQyEsAJQqHMBLDE_Y1cEPwTdZrplOwQwzIZGR02KRBbPiP8EdNhoTC25swDiMCRrpiRD-z0_sXJISfzlJg2hdGZ0g4FdjQUYKZTqYH0wMQHw0oGsEDb71yjxAZ2qJ8TUlppNZHkPs/s1599/461cbab7-a681-4e65-a568-362dd7041b81.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1599" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVwtHxvZaKiN3ifGlnXhGo4BL6RRmWh28EJM48cE6xeEotm8QzCnQyEsAJQqHMBLDE_Y1cEPwTdZrplOwQwzIZGR02KRBbPiP8EdNhoTC25swDiMCRrpiRD-z0_sXJISfzlJg2hdGZ0g4FdjQUYKZTqYH0wMQHw0oGsEDb71yjxAZ2qJ8TUlppNZHkPs/w400-h225/461cbab7-a681-4e65-a568-362dd7041b81.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was not permitted to leave the airport hotel without a visa (certainly not without a shirt), but nobody asked any questions at the door, so I just went for it. I caught a taxi that first took me to a patch of neglected land adjacent to a smelly sewage stream, known on eBird as <a href="https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1550646">Bole Airport Grasslands</a>. You can get the impression of the Addis-style urban birding site in the background of this video:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ethiopia 🇪🇹with <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yoavperlman</a> <br />Yoav is a truly dedicated bird conservationist<br />Still making sure he contributes to help gather data for <a href="https://twitter.com/Team_eBird?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Team_eBird</a> which is all used by <a href="https://twitter.com/BirdLife_News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BirdLife_News</a> to support their global conservation work<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/birdsuniteourworld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#birdsuniteourworld</a><a href="https://twitter.com/_OSME?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_OSME</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JMeyrav?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JMeyrav</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SPNI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPNI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NatureIsrael?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NatureIsrael</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zyy1zCb3Yh">pic.twitter.com/Zyy1zCb3Yh</a></p>— Global Birding (@global_birding) <a href="https://twitter.com/global_birding/status/1713117067379958019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />My driver Ibrahim insisted to escort me while birding - he said he was concerned over my safety. Very quickly the interaction between us changed. It was Ibrahim's first ever birding session, in fact the first ever contact with birds. Very quickly he started spotting birds by sight and sound - he was good! He was super keen for the remainder of our morning together and I think he really enjoyed it. Birding the airport patch was quite nice, dodging demonstrations of Africa's back yard, i.e. slums, poor people, animals, rubbish, sewage. I had a few good birds, including three more endemics - Ethiopian Cisticola, Thick-billed Raven and Black-winged Lovebird. Also Roguet's Rail was nice. It disappeared into the thick vegetation before I could get a photo of it. eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S152131856">here</a>.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brown-rumped Seedeater</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz94WwOtjyZshQc8J31JcA86xnP-xlwQAz3N9_pkfmbYBPWzJzn4jc2X9SbLRfhfpCLTI_SPGbMus1VyPAMExQW7ntpQqwGTb8_ZRUKOzbG4wrpV603xeGmS0yAJkKD80lHQ5Eh6xrRQ4wi35MGlRqmn1av5IKVHOjwnfNtyig_xrt665IQXJ_cjPBpA/s2000/brown-rumped%20seedeater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz94WwOtjyZshQc8J31JcA86xnP-xlwQAz3N9_pkfmbYBPWzJzn4jc2X9SbLRfhfpCLTI_SPGbMus1VyPAMExQW7ntpQqwGTb8_ZRUKOzbG4wrpV603xeGmS0yAJkKD80lHQ5Eh6xrRQ4wi35MGlRqmn1av5IKVHOjwnfNtyig_xrt665IQXJ_cjPBpA/w400-h266/brown-rumped%20seedeater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swainson's Sparrow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bCQxBGtakrUW_oMuz-wrN1HD9iN_6nN3VphH7Afa7_m3upvYSPftd_bxkusX0KFrVV-nVMIPKuqy2WKhbq2RpMqxxd7wIg5ki6IJGBt2YTT4f4JpUq4wbT3Jh30PyxrrdXSCO7RyRFxUvR0m2knis9E0tQIv_C5IfYu1IT15hVzYicJcrjfd0qLl9kg/s2000/parrot-billed%20sparrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bCQxBGtakrUW_oMuz-wrN1HD9iN_6nN3VphH7Afa7_m3upvYSPftd_bxkusX0KFrVV-nVMIPKuqy2WKhbq2RpMqxxd7wIg5ki6IJGBt2YTT4f4JpUq4wbT3Jh30PyxrrdXSCO7RyRFxUvR0m2knis9E0tQIv_C5IfYu1IT15hVzYicJcrjfd0qLl9kg/w400-h266/parrot-billed%20sparrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">African Citril</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUg42V27xHrwwT9lBwoYN9ZbWWvwTRh4BKJY6KBsH75-SqBC96RSuQwDRbfu44-YIJ86sGH43HBkp1QH1KjyT17pbTpl-Tlz6iELqkn2a0XR7UQuFtJQ7kvuuJA6wruCq2O0mrCy9vvPzKpRseVM_pih2jfEfJYRBWiPpgiTmH6Ec1vLXZE_pYtGLMwA/s2000/african%20citril.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUg42V27xHrwwT9lBwoYN9ZbWWvwTRh4BKJY6KBsH75-SqBC96RSuQwDRbfu44-YIJ86sGH43HBkp1QH1KjyT17pbTpl-Tlz6iELqkn2a0XR7UQuFtJQ7kvuuJA6wruCq2O0mrCy9vvPzKpRseVM_pih2jfEfJYRBWiPpgiTmH6Ec1vLXZE_pYtGLMwA/w400-h266/african%20citril.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Northern Fiscal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iTI5AAanEb3ve-KGf5vQHKrPuRiXG0V7jvTKh8hRU86yFrd82joIwBoKBtqupC76sjaNRYlZvNuS6I6I6ATfZ17A7tH7qyNKSvUMAaatroIRHYf4MXImau1qCeHpSeN3mPrAN2nOg_t1d7UZ5b_nSJt6CkL-_pDQPTxkHyYNAwiylv6XJFjmulQh_H4/s2000/northern%20fiscal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iTI5AAanEb3ve-KGf5vQHKrPuRiXG0V7jvTKh8hRU86yFrd82joIwBoKBtqupC76sjaNRYlZvNuS6I6I6ATfZ17A7tH7qyNKSvUMAaatroIRHYf4MXImau1qCeHpSeN3mPrAN2nOg_t1d7UZ5b_nSJt6CkL-_pDQPTxkHyYNAwiylv6XJFjmulQh_H4/w266-h400/northern%20fiscal.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ethiopian Cisticola (thanks Itai and Forrest for correcting my ID)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM3B1xpUFx6Q06BCoFcDd80KazNlwKpocbL_FknEFVRO_Tnjw2BkG9jwpJUIBcrxqaq2mn0Y47EC-itpPAxnbomCeFKjs4_3arGbnvMrP1TrsL-yOtWx6ZbC7xUlwDHM80feZoSlWZnvEHiThsRCtQAufs-ktREI6erfYR3M-0dth9zTiDw3MViF02pE/s2000/rattling%20cisticola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM3B1xpUFx6Q06BCoFcDd80KazNlwKpocbL_FknEFVRO_Tnjw2BkG9jwpJUIBcrxqaq2mn0Y47EC-itpPAxnbomCeFKjs4_3arGbnvMrP1TrsL-yOtWx6ZbC7xUlwDHM80feZoSlWZnvEHiThsRCtQAufs-ktREI6erfYR3M-0dth9zTiDw3MViF02pE/w400-h266/rattling%20cisticola.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isabelline Wheatear - one of several palearctic migrants I had during the morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTPGV_wwU0DhnetDMD7PYwVKg3HmhbxMh-84UaUPtrhBW9wVeeFc9toMOPAy2AmwQnV1cGa3GUjVTkQIZF23w_l0Tlm6Q_cp_2KRAXe-KkUS_09K1JCcT07UkMwxaeCiLK577nAA19fo9iQpy2UWF3fQx4oemZ-Kb9rHXZI8uwmzYruSK6k644uw796I/s2000/isabelline%20wheatear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTPGV_wwU0DhnetDMD7PYwVKg3HmhbxMh-84UaUPtrhBW9wVeeFc9toMOPAy2AmwQnV1cGa3GUjVTkQIZF23w_l0Tlm6Q_cp_2KRAXe-KkUS_09K1JCcT07UkMwxaeCiLK577nAA19fo9iQpy2UWF3fQx4oemZ-Kb9rHXZI8uwmzYruSK6k644uw796I/w400-h266/isabelline%20wheatear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our second birding site was in the gardens of <a href="https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3016220">Ghion Hotel</a> in central Addis. It's a well-established hotel, very different from other modern, synthetic hotels in Addis. The hotel grounds include spacious, quiet, beautiful and lush gardens. Again you can get an idea of the gardens and habitat in this photo:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="461" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyoav.perlman%2Fposts%2Fpfbid07LjMV3M4rXcf9koCHZ2asjuTkaopQmNfRkPoxsZa6LJpgT29dgfRnHXy6SysWTmbl&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed birding and photographing there, as some of the birds were very tame. eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S152134420">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abyssinian Thrush</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthosoxrmct67cj_5O7ySdP5w-7KjBjFpijqzVzMus0JfmVKO2hpAKkXPPKijzPAh_qXzafm57ZyHtnDmMEHRN_0A3YXNaBZTCPR9pufz13zg33pq2t7-T4e06ySOSuGhUz_3gcN96n5IBt-Q0Wa3slkbemQ1mnygawgXzarZa3NSrkD8WbcoyHBK1G78/s2000/abyssinian%20thrush1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthosoxrmct67cj_5O7ySdP5w-7KjBjFpijqzVzMus0JfmVKO2hpAKkXPPKijzPAh_qXzafm57ZyHtnDmMEHRN_0A3YXNaBZTCPR9pufz13zg33pq2t7-T4e06ySOSuGhUz_3gcN96n5IBt-Q0Wa3slkbemQ1mnygawgXzarZa3NSrkD8WbcoyHBK1G78/w400-h266/abyssinian%20thrush1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDTcQzUmCy3lF4spWxHwQuXb4wa75HakGcjaa8zmd9x7neUysVd4B7Bv2I1atH5iQ4EcAmoL4LrtzzpWNM35r46OPafhBp7eJ0FX0_LmVjDnJEpWfWhvc80I8H9tyXiRcw0HGFFcJlhjPY0HO95__JxGFaanDctiCyDiZ2E7ov2IDj0GeqRVaL2H718o/s2000/abyssinian%20thrush2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDTcQzUmCy3lF4spWxHwQuXb4wa75HakGcjaa8zmd9x7neUysVd4B7Bv2I1atH5iQ4EcAmoL4LrtzzpWNM35r46OPafhBp7eJ0FX0_LmVjDnJEpWfWhvc80I8H9tyXiRcw0HGFFcJlhjPY0HO95__JxGFaanDctiCyDiZ2E7ov2IDj0GeqRVaL2H718o/w400-h266/abyssinian%20thrush2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb433xkkEpWbhsk0GbH_TUuueEBm0WMN2T1PznesS4L0yFQJmaLnGEJfcRhRAJy6ckgW7ceDmaunSaYayqjYAi6ZmBbJc1o9UlWxBlucPEdzTyAnjStiVhmUsMQu_3edbKnygZ6f7YnPMNqVHY_u0GxigoNRiPnjUmeKG45jCoZqyl5b8ytNnOMVPOLc/s2000/abyssinian%20thrush3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb433xkkEpWbhsk0GbH_TUuueEBm0WMN2T1PznesS4L0yFQJmaLnGEJfcRhRAJy6ckgW7ceDmaunSaYayqjYAi6ZmBbJc1o9UlWxBlucPEdzTyAnjStiVhmUsMQu_3edbKnygZ6f7YnPMNqVHY_u0GxigoNRiPnjUmeKG45jCoZqyl5b8ytNnOMVPOLc/w400-h266/abyssinian%20thrush3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abyssinian Slaty-Flycatcher</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1ZfXzbu1zElHxosp3EIC4G7nGEwQioEKaskWwP2SZKPorhGaD44EMfL1UJ5BkWwxEzXnwEXIhQ2eXxdI2pCMHXcQA0j5GqwPkSz0feEmwxiNKYJ3cS487dVoPaCJgAkoBnPC0MoJzl25ePTVDoiu18Z-39zi1lUq38RURF2XKb_i2_Hrq4COKHAIthQ/s2000/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1ZfXzbu1zElHxosp3EIC4G7nGEwQioEKaskWwP2SZKPorhGaD44EMfL1UJ5BkWwxEzXnwEXIhQ2eXxdI2pCMHXcQA0j5GqwPkSz0feEmwxiNKYJ3cS487dVoPaCJgAkoBnPC0MoJzl25ePTVDoiu18Z-39zi1lUq38RURF2XKb_i2_Hrq4COKHAIthQ/w300-h400/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDdgmKPbe0wo4e3XbK4KtTCyMNpNRTWx42q3UAsMOvMyhjWdFw-3cyDvH3V_w7VzQyvKvUwom_aMKimVlQ6iu6D8mxKBXcxRzlPcTxQG5XABrae0hcXMBLSPZaejR1ifF94w1-oeTOPJjcbmzD3iAU68_pn8_u8378qqbb8LwVG4qBaBjswXSk6Q4cSA/s2000/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDdgmKPbe0wo4e3XbK4KtTCyMNpNRTWx42q3UAsMOvMyhjWdFw-3cyDvH3V_w7VzQyvKvUwom_aMKimVlQ6iu6D8mxKBXcxRzlPcTxQG5XABrae0hcXMBLSPZaejR1ifF94w1-oeTOPJjcbmzD3iAU68_pn8_u8378qqbb8LwVG4qBaBjswXSk6Q4cSA/w400-h266/abyssinian%20slaty%20flycatcher2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speckled Mousebird</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH5eXVFMM9kL2vyWYP_IsIfLOsAXkQt-W9o9u15iGNazAquvOMmZbzxzPqdUh-KomjpRlqZfcVp_oY02cbah67jNuD9wwAWthy0oR-0imO8HtRVzLiujupiySeJ2GErb6EyfiaVqtXkZSihvJjKaRufshAMEAjXiIHVp6tw07ugXPLq-eREKIGDwNmLo/s2000/speckled%20mousebird1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH5eXVFMM9kL2vyWYP_IsIfLOsAXkQt-W9o9u15iGNazAquvOMmZbzxzPqdUh-KomjpRlqZfcVp_oY02cbah67jNuD9wwAWthy0oR-0imO8HtRVzLiujupiySeJ2GErb6EyfiaVqtXkZSihvJjKaRufshAMEAjXiIHVp6tw07ugXPLq-eREKIGDwNmLo/w400-h266/speckled%20mousebird1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9wPkwAQV3g2WdsXFVxGZyHQPKcD7-Cs-Jv8f_DRXzHL0KJLyfpT67WaACsxOiSGHf6DB3YzTCuvwJBQ2hlxWFr0InVUSiF4eRswZ2qjAGtMP2n22ogq5GqlhV5y8MXLXQsEXyGJva4QgwXOmaJSgdDRhib_qcNgC4kAF58yHTw_NPSTP-NGqvUUbvNg/s2000/speckled%20mousebird2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9wPkwAQV3g2WdsXFVxGZyHQPKcD7-Cs-Jv8f_DRXzHL0KJLyfpT67WaACsxOiSGHf6DB3YzTCuvwJBQ2hlxWFr0InVUSiF4eRswZ2qjAGtMP2n22ogq5GqlhV5y8MXLXQsEXyGJva4QgwXOmaJSgdDRhib_qcNgC4kAF58yHTw_NPSTP-NGqvUUbvNg/w400-h266/speckled%20mousebird2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That concluded my big day effort in Ethiopia. I recorded a modest total of 47 species. I hope that I contributed something to the global effort. It was good fun anyway.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-16057405818560634782023-09-17T15:57:00.003+01:002023-09-17T16:00:39.689+01:00Autumn fall<p>It's been a while since I last posted here. Not for the lack of birding - with migration intensity peaking from day to day, I am out and about as much as I can, doing my best to take it all in. However, my motivation to photograph has dropped considerably, as did my motivation to blast social media with migration posts. Another flock of pelicans? Another shrike perched on a branch? Another flock of wagtails in the fields? Feels a bit pointless doesn't it? I mean, I am out, I enjoy the birds, I take some videos through my scope, I shoot the occasional photograph when I can find the energy to get the camera out of the backpack, and the bird actually waits. Still, my main motivation is just to bird as hard as I can in the limited time I have, to experience migration at its best and purest. Photography slows me down, as social media does. These photos here are more or less the only half-decent photos i got in recent weeks of daily birding. I did start doing this daily <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman">X/Twitter</a> thing about where my daily birding takes me and what makes me happy. That's fun, but that's the max I can do right now. This Twitter thing takes me very little time and effort. Maybe tomorrow I will find motivation to photograph more birds? And post more on social media, to connect people with nature an so on?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbeb8hdj7hR5q1QOeYZYai5Yrf6Dpqhiw1qUP-cH2VdsbwMo4b4Z4O0WXXqAKWgkH512PbRPdRdtJllcN5v4ktJkGLyboI9T2BeeP6i6VZxIC08FR3HQ6BPcwOy4zfZIFzBpfX2qGbH3J9t0XO--I891ES8AsDeLIuA62kk7ljtp4XiXB7_1d9E3-qcw/s4500/collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbeb8hdj7hR5q1QOeYZYai5Yrf6Dpqhiw1qUP-cH2VdsbwMo4b4Z4O0WXXqAKWgkH512PbRPdRdtJllcN5v4ktJkGLyboI9T2BeeP6i6VZxIC08FR3HQ6BPcwOy4zfZIFzBpfX2qGbH3J9t0XO--I891ES8AsDeLIuA62kk7ljtp4XiXB7_1d9E3-qcw/w400-h266/collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-72459881557500050432023-08-27T19:22:00.000+01:002023-08-27T19:22:11.191+01:00Interesting Whimbrel with some pro-alboaxillaris features, Ma'agan Michael, 26/August/2023<p>Yesterday (August 26th, 2023) I went to Ma'agan Michael to twitch the Booted Warbler that had been found there by Igal Siman Tov. It's only the 5th record for Israel, and the first twitchable, great find! It took some searching until I eventually saw it; it didn't preform as well as it did on previous days so no photos. Still, I saw it well enough to count for an IL bimbo, with supercilium and all. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="766" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Famir.bendov%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02m5P3DAjbatoFoK7Edxyx6m6agQEJYUu7qCJBnkVrjg7EGJ5GLaGbZiz79ymm8Dfml&show_text=true&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></p><p>However, this wasn't the most outstanding observation of that morning. While walking around with Amir Balaban in search of the skulking warbler, a quartet of Whimbrels flew by. Whimbrel is quite scarce in Israel, so without hesitation both of us rattled away with our cameras as they passed close, almost overhead. They flew by very fast, and both of us didn't get a chance to check them with our bins. Back home in the evening I downloaded the images to my computer, and noticed that one bird was unusual, the rear bird of the quartet. With the story of the <a href="https://wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/in-search-of-steppe-whimbrel/">once-though-extinct-now-super-rare Steppe Whimbrel</a> in my mind, I always check Whimbrel underwings here, and this one certainly caught my eye (alas not in the field). It has essentially white underwing coverts, and limited spotting on the axillaries. It's pectoral band is nicely developed, contrasting with the white belly. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXkriUCsKdUTCED7QCzrpOgHvJ9mDboES9QwQs7AdaQY-pn62ylwSTx8OirT1zMIjMEw_hlK1QCNbS9Kb9f7Tv6b5Tdvckc4FEh0uDll2bRV1tU6hlNfk0KFGdLKwU4ex5KY-AlPuscpefq6F-4vMgmy2sLQhYtkAE8f_sFSMGt3qBKwpMUcif-VMx4/s2000/whimbrel1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXkriUCsKdUTCED7QCzrpOgHvJ9mDboES9QwQs7AdaQY-pn62ylwSTx8OirT1zMIjMEw_hlK1QCNbS9Kb9f7Tv6b5Tdvckc4FEh0uDll2bRV1tU6hlNfk0KFGdLKwU4ex5KY-AlPuscpefq6F-4vMgmy2sLQhYtkAE8f_sFSMGt3qBKwpMUcif-VMx4/w400-h266/whimbrel1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwAnvCGV7WxBAPmgzcW4o_UF1H-pyXZ4DzjVvTlpmFsHfuKPeWuk5g92zujt2L9tEfRLqdRnJ-waWDH_uXAiTU47KwaebQwsC2zyhArilz-qBC597gGAt8nnChBlHjcPyVi9DFvnpHpvRqU5q_Ssq42K-8IEMb8uIJq2FdiIAgLu8gjTPEqes3tzdih4/s2000/whimbrel2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwAnvCGV7WxBAPmgzcW4o_UF1H-pyXZ4DzjVvTlpmFsHfuKPeWuk5g92zujt2L9tEfRLqdRnJ-waWDH_uXAiTU47KwaebQwsC2zyhArilz-qBC597gGAt8nnChBlHjcPyVi9DFvnpHpvRqU5q_Ssq42K-8IEMb8uIJq2FdiIAgLu8gjTPEqes3tzdih4/w400-h266/whimbrel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Because the group passed almost directly overhead, we got no photos of the upperparts. This is all I got:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH8CfN_eWjV4kdv4xSWaKNioYdyFvSoAks-MinrYfkvJKGaPoQ_eWyn1TZQx9LXQmQoEjXv-A1EsGXWPiRXIK4a165MyJyHIh0O8S_lvWGfSZcPF_Gb4kHOU6sEBpQKV0e0u86bHzrklrakmmHhVw3q8Y2757NCls-NSef6lqEpxzqmSZeGKf9JbYNr8/s1911/whimbrel3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1911" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH8CfN_eWjV4kdv4xSWaKNioYdyFvSoAks-MinrYfkvJKGaPoQ_eWyn1TZQx9LXQmQoEjXv-A1EsGXWPiRXIK4a165MyJyHIh0O8S_lvWGfSZcPF_Gb4kHOU6sEBpQKV0e0u86bHzrklrakmmHhVw3q8Y2757NCls-NSef6lqEpxzqmSZeGKf9JbYNr8/w400-h266/whimbrel3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I plonked these images on Twitter in the evening; by then Bangladesh-based Gary Allport had already gone to sleep:<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This morning I was in Ma'agan Michael, connecting with Booted Warbler, IL tick for me. While searching for it, Amir Balaban and I had this Whimbrel quartet fly by. I snapped some shots of them. Could the rear one be alboxillaris? Not sure it's quite white and clean enough<a href="https://twitter.com/_OSME?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_OSME</a> <a href="https://t.co/6YSTnemdU2">pic.twitter.com/6YSTnemdU2</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1695477874558378399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div>When Gary woke up in the morning he responded in length - thank you Gary! Gary agrees this is an interesting individual, with some pro-<i>alboxillaris </i>features, including the features mentioned above:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRin4eBaw0M74NFfZ_yulGyYkDiTda6vuSYHCOZyuC7KtmEjhgyEIv4jlSG41Bk0_zzDgOZTlCZjxexOD-QWFeYB5TUraQN49gciywLT2cXNhr_Xu6Orw-4jjxf0mNN7TcWnmvhpaLf_9JZO-e4hKI78ZxQyPmqxXgkz4XNjGkGcN-vqVM5_XMjAbHPa0/s1055/whimbrel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1055" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRin4eBaw0M74NFfZ_yulGyYkDiTda6vuSYHCOZyuC7KtmEjhgyEIv4jlSG41Bk0_zzDgOZTlCZjxexOD-QWFeYB5TUraQN49gciywLT2cXNhr_Xu6Orw-4jjxf0mNN7TcWnmvhpaLf_9JZO-e4hKI78ZxQyPmqxXgkz4XNjGkGcN-vqVM5_XMjAbHPa0/w400-h266/whimbrel4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The pattern on the outer web of 5th outermost primary with four evenly-spaced white spots is good for <i>alboxillaris</i>:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl26Jdz8TbdzGH-FBJfbPWOCvgwuWDwWCV8ql7-vzIJ-91sHHIiv5eYYSAHXyawTew1lZxegR06e6UYNrfPYi0PNFtnb9LTjqN9wpTtBLVVt0aS5tS3TXVvRI2-e6OJ9d5VJvhdRtSLpM75ydVOkjZn1_Zw222MPX_RtCNEibaElhv2y7Sz4NRre3c7N0/s1028/whimbrel5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1028" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl26Jdz8TbdzGH-FBJfbPWOCvgwuWDwWCV8ql7-vzIJ-91sHHIiv5eYYSAHXyawTew1lZxegR06e6UYNrfPYi0PNFtnb9LTjqN9wpTtBLVVt0aS5tS3TXVvRI2-e6OJ9d5VJvhdRtSLpM75ydVOkjZn1_Zw222MPX_RtCNEibaElhv2y7Sz4NRre3c7N0/w400-h266/whimbrel5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Few dark spots can be seen on the uppertail coverts but this side views isn't sufficient. Eventually the interim conclusion about this bird is that according to current knowledge of <i>alboxillaris </i>it's probably not good enough. There is too much spotting on the axillaries; the underwing coverts are not strikingly white enough; and the size and structure don't differ from the other nominate <i>phaeopus</i>, including bill length. With missing features like the rump and tail pattern, this bird will remain currently as an 'interesting bird'. However, this bird is a fresh juvenile. This plumage is poorly known in <i>alboxillaris </i>- only <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366740309_A_record_of_juvenile_Steppe_Whimbrel_Numenius_phaeopus_alboaxillaris_from_the_United_Arab_Emirates_2022_Sandgrouse_44_389-408">one documented individual</a> to my knowledge. Hopefully this bird hasn't moved on yet and it will be relocated in the next few days.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, it's worth keeping track of this Ma'agan Michael bird. Maybe in the future, with better knowledge of the amount of variation shown in juvenile <i>alboxillaris</i>, new insight could provide more confidence in retrospective identification of this individual.</div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-48559959911688053772023-08-24T20:45:00.003+01:002023-08-25T02:59:02.038+01:00Catalan holiday<p>Just got back from a family holiday in Catalunya. We spnt a week up in the Pyrenees, then a few days in Barcelona. We met up with our good friends the <a href="https://twitter.com/Birdline">Chittendens</a>, who drove in all the way from the UK. From a family perspective, it was a perfect holiday - stunning scenery, great activities, excellent food. Brownie points secured. Especially when these family activities include encounters with Lammergeiers and Dipper.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyar0Y3IdTbT3NKg4MHndMDgZjOKlYr7Q8_d6fe3vs_LsMbaOzR6kP3T62VbGl_zFiFyKHYaEIGLhG3py3aa7k3RlDY1TLuIisVcJWne58PnXaXMvhO8yvKkxswZOSm2FTS0GgM651ml1G9T_ipBvCUVI26fvNmj4GUEjlcpm15eBwakVNMOvyeBNNSNQ/s4000/1692899764710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyar0Y3IdTbT3NKg4MHndMDgZjOKlYr7Q8_d6fe3vs_LsMbaOzR6kP3T62VbGl_zFiFyKHYaEIGLhG3py3aa7k3RlDY1TLuIisVcJWne58PnXaXMvhO8yvKkxswZOSm2FTS0GgM651ml1G9T_ipBvCUVI26fvNmj4GUEjlcpm15eBwakVNMOvyeBNNSNQ/w400-h180/1692899764710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was enjoyable just to hang around in the garden, that was full of birds. Western Subalpine, Western Bonelli's and Melodious Warblers seem to have all bred there. Pied Flys, both redstarts, Crested Tits and Short-toed Treecreepers - quite good fun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Western Bonelli's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnFzhcE-0M8d1J8a-yAY2wwds-ROqCDJHysq-Mr0rCNQwyoz8U0X4K0hjacc-kgn-nBxxsajppvpvZlImSeL8Xcd8tLjeICv8CDr9ga6Zqo3Sglw0ZrlY0I_o16sSHyCchYNEqTOg2aI3Nrilf03CufkK4rIRkJE0DZ1LFUbNvlrSeNuTrLV4lIcpTkU/s2000/western%20bonelli's%20warbler1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnFzhcE-0M8d1J8a-yAY2wwds-ROqCDJHysq-Mr0rCNQwyoz8U0X4K0hjacc-kgn-nBxxsajppvpvZlImSeL8Xcd8tLjeICv8CDr9ga6Zqo3Sglw0ZrlY0I_o16sSHyCchYNEqTOg2aI3Nrilf03CufkK4rIRkJE0DZ1LFUbNvlrSeNuTrLV4lIcpTkU/w400-h266/western%20bonelli's%20warbler1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Western Subalpine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboU_R5YK6Z4b8YwhgxVE6ozDpOop-H_NoKBS_L-0-HvQPg6i5mRg9UFHJS-gnTwLgoWNIN15uiOLgD0uPR6RllIikwOijSK5JLWJrRauDyddXQcAqq1CpyLj26xHlhUuuAQ18YrHzezddN3tyw9kVa3hZOz0NeppprAsaYt5WHxP_H6lvBkQuDKq4CJI/s2000/western%20subalpine%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboU_R5YK6Z4b8YwhgxVE6ozDpOop-H_NoKBS_L-0-HvQPg6i5mRg9UFHJS-gnTwLgoWNIN15uiOLgD0uPR6RllIikwOijSK5JLWJrRauDyddXQcAqq1CpyLj26xHlhUuuAQ18YrHzezddN3tyw9kVa3hZOz0NeppprAsaYt5WHxP_H6lvBkQuDKq4CJI/w400-h266/western%20subalpine%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Short-toed Treecreeper always being a nightmare to photograph</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj841gbpe2ZnYTZzM7vw_h-0UZbjVje_496poXIZiwtxdW6J47lLiu8pfmdC_0ut3r27-oDNgdwFrXzwtm291Ftgf70DJAXLNHF4tPFrXUwy0ZWsIfhzKN8D5cDkYIQRRytDhUxGKjjcWR-MhojCfUK_XyhZJOwfJvt-yLY_FFPjDO1YRFoDw3CmrmYr0Q/s2000/short-toed%20treecreeper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj841gbpe2ZnYTZzM7vw_h-0UZbjVje_496poXIZiwtxdW6J47lLiu8pfmdC_0ut3r27-oDNgdwFrXzwtm291Ftgf70DJAXLNHF4tPFrXUwy0ZWsIfhzKN8D5cDkYIQRRytDhUxGKjjcWR-MhojCfUK_XyhZJOwfJvt-yLY_FFPjDO1YRFoDw3CmrmYr0Q/w300-h400/short-toed%20treecreeper.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Crested Tit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve2PYvD5yzYavP-4PCCsHOI8kFgxGJw5J76DYPqzdpKe35Ht9Fov-u02fSDGq4g3HeU-EN9mgHwFXEFnpwiYBkmMid0apFbToKXVjoiOqv41puqQuTEPfFuY804CVGCJ1FeUaAZUDDEaRUpyIvjeM2lDiV_wnCtJiE6_TTbU3hlu0IFlwlZTX6daRZaw/s2000/crested%20tit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve2PYvD5yzYavP-4PCCsHOI8kFgxGJw5J76DYPqzdpKe35Ht9Fov-u02fSDGq4g3HeU-EN9mgHwFXEFnpwiYBkmMid0apFbToKXVjoiOqv41puqQuTEPfFuY804CVGCJ1FeUaAZUDDEaRUpyIvjeM2lDiV_wnCtJiE6_TTbU3hlu0IFlwlZTX6daRZaw/w400-h266/crested%20tit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby Common Redstart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8WNmjHH2rhe3BtPOgJjpag3ZKqVov4GACv-D-ZlGlJYb0mPf_WC0G78EgQgMGRW5BW1aks2ylf5IS2Unn2fk03oR3W_PD_jH5g7DY623aoQo91QgBxTxSiSOo9BYFlyW0ACxVJbAMhCo8TNrELONql7WgXcsnVxQQw3UYHDkeoitbnZOIE4RxR_cr5I/s2000/common%20redstart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8WNmjHH2rhe3BtPOgJjpag3ZKqVov4GACv-D-ZlGlJYb0mPf_WC0G78EgQgMGRW5BW1aks2ylf5IS2Unn2fk03oR3W_PD_jH5g7DY623aoQo91QgBxTxSiSOo9BYFlyW0ACxVJbAMhCo8TNrELONql7WgXcsnVxQQw3UYHDkeoitbnZOIE4RxR_cr5I/w400-h266/common%20redstart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The garden was buzzing with butterflies, especially the unmown sections. I was using only my 400mm/f5.6 which isn't great for butterflies...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lang's Short-tiled Blue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeuO8EcawfgqOPPR6CtCm3criziCd6Zn590E3FfS7OHWLNnoX33cB79ZiEZwzQzT5cP0PnD131Gz65aAJnJmkp45rBaEgoWMtNYbioiWenlRAGg0fJtUq0orv6psyfaSx1UzGrwCKbJxsTicUuHRw_EybYHhFSrSVOJ28_mObRGUw8CNkwd2z8H3iiwI/s2000/blue1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeuO8EcawfgqOPPR6CtCm3criziCd6Zn590E3FfS7OHWLNnoX33cB79ZiEZwzQzT5cP0PnD131Gz65aAJnJmkp45rBaEgoWMtNYbioiWenlRAGg0fJtUq0orv6psyfaSx1UzGrwCKbJxsTicUuHRw_EybYHhFSrSVOJ28_mObRGUw8CNkwd2z8H3iiwI/w400-h266/blue1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chalkhill Blue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5clQwcmDgb4rewyO1a2_O1j8XLwfEhM98g1bz9EO0d5SMPy5F8JZxZ4ZbKsWoFTeliXX10XY1qzctQMChtt0l7BHzAynBUKRsj95sDoxtsIEP_DVEf7GcW6XPvmjt51OpsiCGlkq02nFWUYhWdpT-j-1HCoPbqkhATwbAGp7SlT1l59CynxjMvgz1EU/s2000/blue2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5clQwcmDgb4rewyO1a2_O1j8XLwfEhM98g1bz9EO0d5SMPy5F8JZxZ4ZbKsWoFTeliXX10XY1qzctQMChtt0l7BHzAynBUKRsj95sDoxtsIEP_DVEf7GcW6XPvmjt51OpsiCGlkq02nFWUYhWdpT-j-1HCoPbqkhATwbAGp7SlT1l59CynxjMvgz1EU/w400-h266/blue2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wall Brown on a wall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ90QW6dibAFnZ3Y5pXw2H0h4Yh3Ke34i4alxSPpszc9Haoxnn-QR4iygvjA_RAukN2mt3MxuR8NJ8p1f4eq_U6dT35ZKBMEvvwnyo7VQKHYfsYNLZHz4jogCnfKVuqBH0fi3_7Jw2lGHZJcIAw96RSitMA5y2nOhk2bAWyhJxKIa45J2-AXUjTZ2GZo8/s2000/wall%20brown.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ90QW6dibAFnZ3Y5pXw2H0h4Yh3Ke34i4alxSPpszc9Haoxnn-QR4iygvjA_RAukN2mt3MxuR8NJ8p1f4eq_U6dT35ZKBMEvvwnyo7VQKHYfsYNLZHz4jogCnfKVuqBH0fi3_7Jw2lGHZJcIAw96RSitMA5y2nOhk2bAWyhJxKIa45J2-AXUjTZ2GZo8/w400-h266/wall%20brown.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Life is good, drinking a cold cerveza while enjoying such views</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpDgJ4VeDksoPzTHa7Q8qifH1g2nFH52FOSCeIlpGlF_AaRta8IOSAt9z_kiaoZZSkwZVoLlrW2KEWZvu7omQxX3XmM92PT_b1vNNqU3UeihAvYzMBcvC616ZJXzsvQDv8lGkkeSFXJAsQKVzdxAaJoYwyBHXp4kxw3EF7UN_NsShdLbFlLJNznBisuc/s2000/horizon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpDgJ4VeDksoPzTHa7Q8qifH1g2nFH52FOSCeIlpGlF_AaRta8IOSAt9z_kiaoZZSkwZVoLlrW2KEWZvu7omQxX3XmM92PT_b1vNNqU3UeihAvYzMBcvC616ZJXzsvQDv8lGkkeSFXJAsQKVzdxAaJoYwyBHXp4kxw3EF7UN_NsShdLbFlLJNznBisuc/w400-h266/horizon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eNNs3O-rw0oskvfIuoDVW8gcTtFhoSRfijfWVHjMu3HlWYNwuGzLNYV4FPhYwmBcbzcKQZiebE5irXfe-Fh_LwQ_8YAfYBv7eaMQimhdPIx-z6g9KIBr3aV-WaZD25fTgwnK_9KLESnYQ_scqhOqYD-EH9Ks96S7nTb3pw9ZPQgI-OV2IevRJ6Z6Sio/s3264/1692899187874.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eNNs3O-rw0oskvfIuoDVW8gcTtFhoSRfijfWVHjMu3HlWYNwuGzLNYV4FPhYwmBcbzcKQZiebE5irXfe-Fh_LwQ_8YAfYBv7eaMQimhdPIx-z6g9KIBr3aV-WaZD25fTgwnK_9KLESnYQ_scqhOqYD-EH9Ks96S7nTb3pw9ZPQgI-OV2IevRJ6Z6Sio/w400-h180/1692899187874.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKcldrk-MZvQCdlP6EVTGaLHQxJKyLkUVpprEB3WOZu5po8YMLuMsTnIvcOvk8EqESrmMhYTN9cTzZIAKcaKKHl3XBDd-BDVgZtn-7QiuudRAtlc7X8Q9NfZefjnFLsbPHHToNPNDKUBTl5L94se5iYymrwXUER-OvRxrIJo4WKn6xsM-66Y9MshBgTg/s3264/1692899187856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKcldrk-MZvQCdlP6EVTGaLHQxJKyLkUVpprEB3WOZu5po8YMLuMsTnIvcOvk8EqESrmMhYTN9cTzZIAKcaKKHl3XBDd-BDVgZtn-7QiuudRAtlc7X8Q9NfZefjnFLsbPHHToNPNDKUBTl5L94se5iYymrwXUER-OvRxrIJo4WKn6xsM-66Y9MshBgTg/w400-h180/1692899187856.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My morning birding sessions were a bit challenging. Thanks to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_in_Spain#:~:text=In%201940%2C%20Francisco%20Franco%20changed,line%20with%20German%2Doccupied%20Europe.">Franco and his support of the Nazis in WW2</a>, it was dark until 7am! Therefore I had limited time for birding before the family activities began. I spent a couple of early mornings on Rasos de Peguera, the nearest ski resort. It wasn't high enough up there for proper mountain birds (1900 m), but certainly had this high-altitude feel, distinctly different from the mid-elevation village where we stayed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXhriVrtjdlMRKQ5dwmlO6_IIwz2ujaTpm5yp5YWsHguEukDOx4tTDMakiRSGJU3J1II-Oc9QEbaRYJoprhk5aJPtcFhgZDZ1QnwLh9WEfWxl3Qg2Qgh2nxs5MA_krYqQjOX3vIjXXeYOoO-vshdVkMrXNmFaf6r31MeYbSSAMdBIW-T4epAA6P1V8lo/s4000/1692899187838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXhriVrtjdlMRKQ5dwmlO6_IIwz2ujaTpm5yp5YWsHguEukDOx4tTDMakiRSGJU3J1II-Oc9QEbaRYJoprhk5aJPtcFhgZDZ1QnwLh9WEfWxl3Qg2Qgh2nxs5MA_krYqQjOX3vIjXXeYOoO-vshdVkMrXNmFaf6r31MeYbSSAMdBIW-T4epAA6P1V8lo/w400-h180/1692899187838.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most dominant birds up there were Crossbills - flocks were moving around noisily, some perched nicely. I enjoyed watching them in their different ages and plumages - they're not a bird I am very familiar with. In Israel they are very rare and irregular. Also in Norfolk they aren't too apparent. It was good to take in their flight calls and silhouettes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvBQE2y_HP0gznMgsfiOI54nwnpb1x4ZDVvvO6yIl5vl3iIKXXKn0iR1nW49gJ6iSMr_c4K9IW8s2KIxXPQ9UouQdXhI71qQ7KkumNomMWR2vMl3tcTCKlqP9XqKQcgwlyGyaRbZchsAOoSnBISACYaRKTlFVVAYUU4xuLSGsFBuAToVS2DsLZlrWdtI/s2000/crossbill1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvBQE2y_HP0gznMgsfiOI54nwnpb1x4ZDVvvO6yIl5vl3iIKXXKn0iR1nW49gJ6iSMr_c4K9IW8s2KIxXPQ9UouQdXhI71qQ7KkumNomMWR2vMl3tcTCKlqP9XqKQcgwlyGyaRbZchsAOoSnBISACYaRKTlFVVAYUU4xuLSGsFBuAToVS2DsLZlrWdtI/w400-h266/crossbill1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj16iGKMtOpSX9NTYIVuGXKHh-l1wBNDEp06Nqw9rUhtKnwiWDQU_vrl4IavE4CZggYUh8dIx2fVozIoKOE7KF__0eBTboUTXWBu7xQnO22bmPq4fqZIanrsb8hjMMIrAQIrADRS377wS7x9l80LV5sxSa-42KGJ4x5A2TrYMQtWAZqwQxccYZpNu8mMA/s2000/crossbill2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj16iGKMtOpSX9NTYIVuGXKHh-l1wBNDEp06Nqw9rUhtKnwiWDQU_vrl4IavE4CZggYUh8dIx2fVozIoKOE7KF__0eBTboUTXWBu7xQnO22bmPq4fqZIanrsb8hjMMIrAQIrADRS377wS7x9l80LV5sxSa-42KGJ4x5A2TrYMQtWAZqwQxccYZpNu8mMA/w400-h266/crossbill2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt6garvgq4gBDABAum3fh3mUz2g_q-wJIRwz6o806lwzzgyAYnYgIhxHGlx9P6CGN3_-rMnFetKWWfrrrHcZ5v1AEe73JcM8spzAokIbq7UeZZVCwFxvsdnsCiCbCz_UFBkNG2qkzi4cdaJJpsQQbavb5KVnRDuwuxwuGSgbc9eLPe8Dgzg_JFPUPvsQ/s2000/crossbill3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt6garvgq4gBDABAum3fh3mUz2g_q-wJIRwz6o806lwzzgyAYnYgIhxHGlx9P6CGN3_-rMnFetKWWfrrrHcZ5v1AEe73JcM8spzAokIbq7UeZZVCwFxvsdnsCiCbCz_UFBkNG2qkzi4cdaJJpsQQbavb5KVnRDuwuxwuGSgbc9eLPe8Dgzg_JFPUPvsQ/w400-h266/crossbill3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbEvuYc8W-_jKPTYlRXQrtdwcwAAsN-e7l6E0leF5pb64iQJ56VK4kOgP0AcQyhBE5vEnV_zBs9yKbWZnrFIGT1fVMe3g0qNNGFgVmMn5kLHMR_86ke62e0eYWijR-iD4e_YJrJhWhJnAGmU5s8-6Nd3nkhEKfmTE3osD4kDLv5VIXupLxrVi8F-7xc/s2000/crossbill2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KbEvuYc8W-_jKPTYlRXQrtdwcwAAsN-e7l6E0leF5pb64iQJ56VK4kOgP0AcQyhBE5vEnV_zBs9yKbWZnrFIGT1fVMe3g0qNNGFgVmMn5kLHMR_86ke62e0eYWijR-iD4e_YJrJhWhJnAGmU5s8-6Nd3nkhEKfmTE3osD4kDLv5VIXupLxrVi8F-7xc/w400-h266/crossbill2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFFiwjKTUAdeYyOf2gb37mdc4vfSFD3KfzKT6Ro7Ad2qoJHLSftF4SD2mpZ2iCe0FakmXn42NuoNIWi13xt5rv_gtjjxvahum7ZDBgn3S7ItowzSQbZfpEsMWCCJ8jEdkAzjiFbD8sKJkLlB-3gF5NzqLeeVYIKD3ebSC5GeyEJyvyGDNXclY2nlZs7k/s2000/crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFFiwjKTUAdeYyOf2gb37mdc4vfSFD3KfzKT6Ro7Ad2qoJHLSftF4SD2mpZ2iCe0FakmXn42NuoNIWi13xt5rv_gtjjxvahum7ZDBgn3S7ItowzSQbZfpEsMWCCJ8jEdkAzjiFbD8sKJkLlB-3gF5NzqLeeVYIKD3ebSC5GeyEJyvyGDNXclY2nlZs7k/w400-h266/crossbill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/604983521/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>Someone's ringing them up there - two of these random birds I photographed were ringed. <div>Another quality bird (for me) up there was Citril Finch. This is another species I haven't seen many times before, and never managed to photograph. Even this photo isn't great - at least it's something.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZSVtBo9LtmIrX7dCxKxI_vf6N0ykcudyMKk11rTPR6jfOQixTD1ViMcpelBOnodW76zPuULPU9BLsNA15uCbbWgId7K6yYFui1s_cSdBN-oZEZnvX5kFlUMMmN5sssYYwBfgW-sZ2Imp41FJO_X3p1_1n0CA2RjfR5mlAU8a6wVPUqHZTfNj1Az4DwQ/s2000/citril%20finch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZSVtBo9LtmIrX7dCxKxI_vf6N0ykcudyMKk11rTPR6jfOQixTD1ViMcpelBOnodW76zPuULPU9BLsNA15uCbbWgId7K6yYFui1s_cSdBN-oZEZnvX5kFlUMMmN5sssYYwBfgW-sZ2Imp41FJO_X3p1_1n0CA2RjfR5mlAU8a6wVPUqHZTfNj1Az4DwQ/w400-h266/citril%20finch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Butterflies were abundant there too, including many Grizzled Skippers and the magnificent Cardinal.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdtku72WEI3PRAeq0GSpzNHNwcDi1SIm7epeUvBFt0EjdJ-2hR1ZbkBnXHU4vfTzBGLiK4kFbQBpyDnQmvkTzvgA5jqI4U2qnIevsGe53u7QxcoUb9R2eOoT8h9SJSvbWwPYsxWzMU-3fcBtMudS7dAQHHNWYRKe7dLesFrJE2bZBku3YJbikZkZfTwc/s2000/skipper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdtku72WEI3PRAeq0GSpzNHNwcDi1SIm7epeUvBFt0EjdJ-2hR1ZbkBnXHU4vfTzBGLiK4kFbQBpyDnQmvkTzvgA5jqI4U2qnIevsGe53u7QxcoUb9R2eOoT8h9SJSvbWwPYsxWzMU-3fcBtMudS7dAQHHNWYRKe7dLesFrJE2bZBku3YJbikZkZfTwc/w400-h266/skipper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This photo was taken by my son Uri:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde_NIsphOiPsQwqrvFSbfX_FXqRPryFbB5mci3m1qLH_RK9SzisJr2QPgSL1KAQ_2FKJbeFUcC-sIu9Q7yxRKDN9SfozJ31AUVn5AG3fH3_FKj8ZuOSsDhws-Ljzevcp2RVigGc_xE4_eY7-ZH_T99riu7-Pp28g8z_qsZyEwyNtmvsaZ9D4DcbE1BC4/s2000/cardinal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhde_NIsphOiPsQwqrvFSbfX_FXqRPryFbB5mci3m1qLH_RK9SzisJr2QPgSL1KAQ_2FKJbeFUcC-sIu9Q7yxRKDN9SfozJ31AUVn5AG3fH3_FKj8ZuOSsDhws-Ljzevcp2RVigGc_xE4_eY7-ZH_T99riu7-Pp28g8z_qsZyEwyNtmvsaZ9D4DcbE1BC4/w400-h266/cardinal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pyrenean Chamoix</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeNePLT0NsenqvAYWEd4vfNVN1AadIo8SwZm9h2ZvniMEKhrXn8Nssrpcb4Oa-oZKfAaGYi19sQeNCUyRPQb78wGJrdfqXcEXjgcymrmyAd2mXkWOfz6edk-1U9YN2HExk5hxrymVXrXm3IUYu9g1oVTGLDfvaP_hNjG5Dp59DBRUmy9hJNASxMeb2ZA/s2000/roe%20deer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeNePLT0NsenqvAYWEd4vfNVN1AadIo8SwZm9h2ZvniMEKhrXn8Nssrpcb4Oa-oZKfAaGYi19sQeNCUyRPQb78wGJrdfqXcEXjgcymrmyAd2mXkWOfz6edk-1U9YN2HExk5hxrymVXrXm3IUYu9g1oVTGLDfvaP_hNjG5Dp59DBRUmy9hJNASxMeb2ZA/w400-h266/roe%20deer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was down to scorching-hot Barcelona. I acted like a stupid tourist for a bit, however typically while admiring the Segrada Familia I was more interested in the Peregrine flying above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQBx6WhdnJxUOXHpQ6bqjXJqQqZ-peIqlypZkwLVrqaLkoKXQSDD5G75g6rF5faDb0yZKbbaUPpcw-5YFc3gweYJrDh0QDiKx_vJQfTJMqEfRqiPpS6oqe1hU6BHJXB1iCctjWzjnQ5Oo5jpyb09MunsvIa_dClnjoBlLirxe9KxDm0Z-p7Pm5f8T8QM/s4640/1692899187819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="3488" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQBx6WhdnJxUOXHpQ6bqjXJqQqZ-peIqlypZkwLVrqaLkoKXQSDD5G75g6rF5faDb0yZKbbaUPpcw-5YFc3gweYJrDh0QDiKx_vJQfTJMqEfRqiPpS6oqe1hU6BHJXB1iCctjWzjnQ5Oo5jpyb09MunsvIa_dClnjoBlLirxe9KxDm0Z-p7Pm5f8T8QM/w301-h400/1692899187819.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of the city from <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parc Güell at 40 degrees</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWfazNOGFlcbWdX-CZS82AbsaJhUUEgNnqsFpRNaCPn-cB2MiNkn4I2HSBcRD0lOU1DwA1LL7GbYTimbbdVkCNobe5VuDeFULmluM4L2g1r6VL3wE6hQM4n5RbOLVYExREI5h6MEWgAfFqUUnA6lo2EfApt1S5VUtm6T9CF_CPHMUeEgoRmYCrFWvsAE/s3264/1692899187799.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWfazNOGFlcbWdX-CZS82AbsaJhUUEgNnqsFpRNaCPn-cB2MiNkn4I2HSBcRD0lOU1DwA1LL7GbYTimbbdVkCNobe5VuDeFULmluM4L2g1r6VL3wE6hQM4n5RbOLVYExREI5h6MEWgAfFqUUnA6lo2EfApt1S5VUtm6T9CF_CPHMUeEgoRmYCrFWvsAE/w400-h180/1692899187799.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The little birding I did in Barcelona was half productive. Annoyingly, Delta del Llobregat doesn't open up before 9am (!), when the heat was already unbearable. I did spend a relaxed and muy fun morning with my close friends <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rafaelarmadaphoto/">Rafa </a>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aledecolibri/">Alejandra</a> (Rafa - it's A-Le-Jand-Ra, OK?). Birding was nice, nothing too especial.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Audouin's Gull 8M95</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH8eK6VbmFWix6S1wFVf0mtjZbwwWG2s891jDANwY-zeMcD2M8m4jpVO4s8ILKrzsbye2bhBxYnClGhpK603xMPcUmC4GD6_tmonX5vRVV9Iqd70PDGx-NvONY0_LnZiMbKRkfdDRPiDASsjVOmhx-Od-D-WkAGz_NkmkK1MlTv_IYy30TYnoLVtF2pM/s2000/Audouin's%20Gull%208M95.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH8eK6VbmFWix6S1wFVf0mtjZbwwWG2s891jDANwY-zeMcD2M8m4jpVO4s8ILKrzsbye2bhBxYnClGhpK603xMPcUmC4GD6_tmonX5vRVV9Iqd70PDGx-NvONY0_LnZiMbKRkfdDRPiDASsjVOmhx-Od-D-WkAGz_NkmkK1MlTv_IYy30TYnoLVtF2pM/w400-h266/Audouin's%20Gull%208M95.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Even though I don't really do Category C birds, It would have been rude not to look for the small population of Black-rumped Waxbills that have taken up residence in <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parc del Turó del Putxet. So I did, to <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S147898912">maintain the checklist streak</a>. And Mitred Parakeets were abundant.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks to my family and to the Chittendens for all the fun we had together!</span></span></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-34140693807171684412023-08-10T21:51:00.000+01:002023-08-10T21:51:14.687+01:00Eilat<p>I spent the past week in Eilat. My younger son, Noam, did an open water diving course, and I was there to escort him. I joined his group for a dive today (Thursday). On other days, I dropped him and his mates off in the morning, and picked them up in the afternoon. In between I tried to work...<br />At this time of year, when the temperatures are so high and fall migration is just starting, all eyes are on the sea. Naturally, every morning I showed up on North Beach at first light. I enjoyed good birding action until I had to leave, too early, at 07:00. There was really nice activity around bait-balls or fish-boils that formed once or twice every morning. It was exciting to watch this. On August 7th I had six tern species going crazy over the bait-ball, picking up little fish pushed to the surface by predatory tuna: White-cheeked (the most numerous), Common, Arctic, Bridled, Lesser Crested and Caspian. In this photo, spot the Bridled Tern on the right:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eWFMUJO8lvapJanVwC9sB3nvNcNr_7hF4icAFUVnEnQEexlFzziVELs2tXIumtaw3rF3Tn8VEy_3TT8Q9OO_mFDGZelQd8lS6qWUtJ8-1WvssfhS9l1kZ7CBBYS3FUoPmRRrrjKOajrGidozvod49KwIGZ2JsKN5sNMFSUkGLIpMEgSCFWNeedPpRpY/s2000/bridled%20tern1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eWFMUJO8lvapJanVwC9sB3nvNcNr_7hF4icAFUVnEnQEexlFzziVELs2tXIumtaw3rF3Tn8VEy_3TT8Q9OO_mFDGZelQd8lS6qWUtJ8-1WvssfhS9l1kZ7CBBYS3FUoPmRRrrjKOajrGidozvod49KwIGZ2JsKN5sNMFSUkGLIpMEgSCFWNeedPpRpY/w400-h266/bridled%20tern1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Crazy scenes off North Beach, Eilat this morning. Dozens of White-cheeked Terns and White-eyed Gulls in a feeding frenzy over a fish boil. Bridled, Lesser Crested, Arctic, Common and Caspian Terns thrown in for good measure.<br />Digiscoped through <a href="https://twitter.com/SwarovskiOptik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwarovskiOptik</a> ATX85 <a href="https://t.co/eAh34G1tim">pic.twitter.com/eAh34G1tim</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1688548450722369536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I posted this video on social media, and it generated interest by our comms team. They pushed it and the 'story' featured quite well on national media. including in English <a href="https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-754044">here</a>. Sadly the editor google-translated the Hebrew text, which came out quite a mess. I did my best to help her edit. the results is somewhat awkward but OK I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">White-cheeked Tern numbers were really high - I counted over 100 together on Thursday morning. They were flying very actively back and forth across the gulf. I photographed these flying super-fast past me on their way back from a bait-ball feast, some carrying tiny fish in their bills. Note the recently-fledged juvenile - Noam Weiss says that they had a good breeding season.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrdehKd050YUjL6YOZItCJWjLLUktKf74FRPRdp69MHfsHP_jTDYFNxH0j2jZNwUTvfI4xLouZHlN8h39dUaedzryEihrD7ztk6aysj577nvdTHg05XmRsFkcms0yoEfhx_-tJkeUcLQpAMWwJWTXOwwVpH6-g60gQfQ2Yqe0_aEDqbWEUm5Wi6XoMTo/s2000/white-cheeked%20terns2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrdehKd050YUjL6YOZItCJWjLLUktKf74FRPRdp69MHfsHP_jTDYFNxH0j2jZNwUTvfI4xLouZHlN8h39dUaedzryEihrD7ztk6aysj577nvdTHg05XmRsFkcms0yoEfhx_-tJkeUcLQpAMWwJWTXOwwVpH6-g60gQfQ2Yqe0_aEDqbWEUm5Wi6XoMTo/w400-h266/white-cheeked%20terns2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtPdBA0JFjWUo0U-3oRbJnElLG9UbDc9m1SRcPNj6oTvP-fFDxvOT5QATEhTFXtGYowUcoODizFfBqdkgqAkjIHo73jhKp9rx-cWh8P3o_YtLdoP2EKsoDX1B0UqRIaJGx0LszyCtdwLtRlhUA829u3TJApSprnH303EgoC62DvTJnwgmgRzKnB2B49A/s2000/white-cheeked%20terns.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtPdBA0JFjWUo0U-3oRbJnElLG9UbDc9m1SRcPNj6oTvP-fFDxvOT5QATEhTFXtGYowUcoODizFfBqdkgqAkjIHo73jhKp9rx-cWh8P3o_YtLdoP2EKsoDX1B0UqRIaJGx0LszyCtdwLtRlhUA829u3TJApSprnH303EgoC62DvTJnwgmgRzKnB2B49A/w400-h266/white-cheeked%20terns.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was also glad to get my first sound recording of this seldom-recorded species:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="398" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601162341/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">White-eyed Gulls were present in large numbers too. Several landed on the beach to rest. The adult is a really neat bird IMO.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kgC2VTULi0QoN1k2X_UuFCoAVD6kfqFvG368t3CRBAQh83_lznZuP_z-gFFJYZi2wtIQMVnyn5uCH3UKqYlynGZQ5RC342ZKgnm2PHdw5j3R3LcgfPhJOs1EzfYlZ1zZz9o42k1sJUzQifMdA-GV0f5zWUb6VCruduinwwSDfkxqcBr5QFP9JGdcYgA/s2000/white-eyed%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kgC2VTULi0QoN1k2X_UuFCoAVD6kfqFvG368t3CRBAQh83_lznZuP_z-gFFJYZi2wtIQMVnyn5uCH3UKqYlynGZQ5RC342ZKgnm2PHdw5j3R3LcgfPhJOs1EzfYlZ1zZz9o42k1sJUzQifMdA-GV0f5zWUb6VCruduinwwSDfkxqcBr5QFP9JGdcYgA/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce6u0Aqg_Ucs1yyH8vjaK3B3CaivSHRp48CvFagsHIdMQ5qEbWC16qMDRAbp35v3kemi9pA8FKWFhJsYaBHZXJBD9uy5T5ET-jrzZktUw94kxiiYjAfq84WTiA2eujSi3fdBPq1WrQv3exzB9FD0P0N-n9Q8XH3fnIucGyyDC-jPteZeRxaZopBordxc/s2000/white-eyed%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce6u0Aqg_Ucs1yyH8vjaK3B3CaivSHRp48CvFagsHIdMQ5qEbWC16qMDRAbp35v3kemi9pA8FKWFhJsYaBHZXJBD9uy5T5ET-jrzZktUw94kxiiYjAfq84WTiA2eujSi3fdBPq1WrQv3exzB9FD0P0N-n9Q8XH3fnIucGyyDC-jPteZeRxaZopBordxc/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was interesting to see them catching flying insects, probably Chironomus midges that are abundant in the early morning.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601857011/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601857031/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>A Brown Booby was present for a short while one morning, perched on a distant border buoy. Note the Cory's Shearwater sailing past at the very beginning of the clip:<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/601858101/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another welcome visitor to 'my' bit of beach - Striated Heron, made in 2023.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ6vWXzAGm3-BjaMMFTLLqMD30P6e86LRwBRBk3uHkE-zctoEYO8O4HmBSVqi_2DlRCVC6atsO-FOW6lnm1HYDmexikd-0-YWoyU_G7R7SfL13vvwLpWXLdGevIl4iYSidaqcAlCT3gTr8jHVTc3gpbrsKngEiNkYGqJRUMUY5-6lfsvzupXNNXEa0rg/s2000/striated%20heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQ6vWXzAGm3-BjaMMFTLLqMD30P6e86LRwBRBk3uHkE-zctoEYO8O4HmBSVqi_2DlRCVC6atsO-FOW6lnm1HYDmexikd-0-YWoyU_G7R7SfL13vvwLpWXLdGevIl4iYSidaqcAlCT3gTr8jHVTc3gpbrsKngEiNkYGqJRUMUY5-6lfsvzupXNNXEa0rg/w400-h266/striated%20heron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On August 9th I joined the monthly pelagic monitoring trip organised by INPA and Eilat Birding Center. On the boat were Chen and Ofer from INPA, and Noam and Netanel from IBRCE. Expectations were high, after last month's trip yielded European and Wilson's Storm-Petrels. Our trip was a bit hard going, to be honest. For a couple of hours we didn't see a single bird. Eventually, two Swinhoe's Storm-Petrels arrived to check the slick. They flew up and down the slick for about 30 minutes and showed very well. I managed to get my best photos of the species to date. Note how extremely worn this individual is - incredible how it can still fly so well like this.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iDddlVmBW-8F6gJdunPpt3xJ7oMN2vSYtmNUR0jK4CNRgvP9mzGRyZivmDA-znMQtpDot6uaK35Tb4Xuz2naF8D_rGLAskjHd_HUm5nLNiakDieU0bZ4pkoRgD7kTclMEqSyckach7LryZ33zl7kE08kfAEWT722gzX2o2ibZfwyL5lRAA8xN9XASYY/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iDddlVmBW-8F6gJdunPpt3xJ7oMN2vSYtmNUR0jK4CNRgvP9mzGRyZivmDA-znMQtpDot6uaK35Tb4Xuz2naF8D_rGLAskjHd_HUm5nLNiakDieU0bZ4pkoRgD7kTclMEqSyckach7LryZ33zl7kE08kfAEWT722gzX2o2ibZfwyL5lRAA8xN9XASYY/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2EE4KiHJhid9XhV0OZl8YcqtiDX1YX6qvqRq_U43TreO1-mRzypMAR6YQdIqt7fTwIugJ0lejeU2xqGAsTtVSXyFrQO1b6f0uvwRGiVp30mF2RHQOIZEiLSW0mcCOaSRjoTFvpe3tLBP_sV6_lfAq3uQCzVuZ9U3ZQBErf9jWxbErtTrd5TLazyx-yM/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2EE4KiHJhid9XhV0OZl8YcqtiDX1YX6qvqRq_U43TreO1-mRzypMAR6YQdIqt7fTwIugJ0lejeU2xqGAsTtVSXyFrQO1b6f0uvwRGiVp30mF2RHQOIZEiLSW0mcCOaSRjoTFvpe3tLBP_sV6_lfAq3uQCzVuZ9U3ZQBErf9jWxbErtTrd5TLazyx-yM/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHLfOu1A3qZtkp9zj4ZskczY05KPiBZX_LgcNq_e0YSoMR1tKKx0G6fbsKSOURJ0LGE_nIjumcFzHuui6g5B8fjb281fqj8mSJhaFg5bgT-nY6SfHJNeColQv5PK_yKtJJRsBruNgzWIa1YDy499IToVgKhF3ZyiACJD1EKMdIH2ch_kdKQ73vUKQt8s/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHLfOu1A3qZtkp9zj4ZskczY05KPiBZX_LgcNq_e0YSoMR1tKKx0G6fbsKSOURJ0LGE_nIjumcFzHuui6g5B8fjb281fqj8mSJhaFg5bgT-nY6SfHJNeColQv5PK_yKtJJRsBruNgzWIa1YDy499IToVgKhF3ZyiACJD1EKMdIH2ch_kdKQ73vUKQt8s/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CPoZDKKIuOzQYOoWt1Mu_W7RWiZJryo2UMbiaEWlVS1TyM4gmf_1xGD-it3fJ1XSvuq89MglS-LeYHI8e6d1aqpJOXunYssXGohWpwl9G0p7om2WEBNlzHjFHvN-yGMuC8GHtA7RIqrNRnYnk0nsxuGH4bdA4LeKRMGMov5VV-LOCWLxiispp8FFb0U/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CPoZDKKIuOzQYOoWt1Mu_W7RWiZJryo2UMbiaEWlVS1TyM4gmf_1xGD-it3fJ1XSvuq89MglS-LeYHI8e6d1aqpJOXunYssXGohWpwl9G0p7om2WEBNlzHjFHvN-yGMuC8GHtA7RIqrNRnYnk0nsxuGH4bdA4LeKRMGMov5VV-LOCWLxiispp8FFb0U/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfqr3Rgd0bwyBZ32XezyjUGpzogtBm6to63Q5eZ40twst32obPpJH-SWsSugovFol632CHlV2yl18z7xwyzc7LCDuXUgCnqtutnsVGIuoNIEv4HpP_MbLfsFbj2hDe3hkjrwFgrgcB6JQ-4IbrEP1f5lUt8o4ylD_oqGorcEUfs5LzGdo2_dLG645Kk/s2000/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfqr3Rgd0bwyBZ32XezyjUGpzogtBm6to63Q5eZ40twst32obPpJH-SWsSugovFol632CHlV2yl18z7xwyzc7LCDuXUgCnqtutnsVGIuoNIEv4HpP_MbLfsFbj2hDe3hkjrwFgrgcB6JQ-4IbrEP1f5lUt8o4ylD_oqGorcEUfs5LzGdo2_dLG645Kk/w400-h266/swinhoe's%20storm-petrel5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Strange how times change. Only a decade ago, a pelagic trip with two Swinhoe's would be regarded as a huge success. Nowadays, that they have become so regular off Eilat, sometimes in quite large numbers, our result feels mediocre, almost disappointing. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Away from the gulf, there wasn't too much to see. KM20 saltpans held decent numbers of shorebirds. best of the bunch was a Terek Sandpiper. Noam and I had an Olive-Tree Warbler during a meeting in Neot Smadar.</div><p></p>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-58764896711066549452023-07-31T13:27:00.001+01:002023-07-31T13:28:40.480+01:00Global Birdfair and elsewhere in the UK<p>Sorry for the delayed update, in recent weeks I have been super busy, and also lost some motivation to photograph birds and especially to use social media. The combination of super hot weather my crazy country falling apart makes me want to dig a cool burrow and jump right in. As long as I can still bird in it... My birding is concentrated to super early morning sessions - later on it becomes unbearably hot and sticky. </p><p>I visited the UK earlier in July. The visit was focused on <a href="https://globalbirdfair.org/">Global Birdfair</a>, that happened in Rutland Showground during July 14-16. I am late to the party - so much has been written on social media about this event. So many selfies... I travelled there with Alen from my team, and we represented BirdLife Israel at this fantastic event. We promoted there our conservation work, including <a href="https://www.champions-of-the-flyway.com/">Champions of the Flyway</a>: The new project for COTF24 was launched - tackling illegal killing of birds in Tanzania, working with Nature Tanzania. How exciting!</p><p>The new Birdfair was a great success, in my opinion. Tim, Penny and their team managed to generate the hype, the buzz that was so distinctive in the 'old' British Birdfair. It felt very 'right' to be there - it certainly was THE place to be. Great to hang out with so many friends from all over the world. My selfie motivation has dwindled too, so not many photos from birdfair.</p><p>Damn it, it had to be done</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH0g5Y8hHcqpgSHgKU7yTsKW_NRwtnuzDUQ7nnf-HbmHWGsYbogjWoPJq3avGW9ybjbKX-vZX_v7HVp2rsCK_Mb0YGfkgg5mIMnZbeo8bYB23GcKuQI1qW8B5zlpZ7XxlX4fZnu62HUH8qBzxKLHnq7fb8GZlRdOh9w6UKAh3D-rJ2Nt7d_jFABo1luw/s4000/1690803137541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH0g5Y8hHcqpgSHgKU7yTsKW_NRwtnuzDUQ7nnf-HbmHWGsYbogjWoPJq3avGW9ybjbKX-vZX_v7HVp2rsCK_Mb0YGfkgg5mIMnZbeo8bYB23GcKuQI1qW8B5zlpZ7XxlX4fZnu62HUH8qBzxKLHnq7fb8GZlRdOh9w6UKAh3D-rJ2Nt7d_jFABo1luw/s320/1690803137541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I enjoyed the VR birding experience offered by the talented <a href="https://www.soundingwild.com/">Sounding Wild</a> brothers - very cool! Can't wait to get you guys down to Eilat for some reeeaaaal migration.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lN6DVIGBhNL9fFoOLpl6pxqYkQpwnI2gZv-nF2_g6j1dcognsI7-CezPRKp94wOmfAyxyItN0hftQd7T1oR4N3igQUBMInHMsHsiJSNfaQlHqTEmsBuR3kEdgCP3XAxaxUHXAZaS8LJSfomOslHgeNAh3aGSZf9JkrK_2x7tgtVy8__j-FNuniSSBI4/s4000/1690803137521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lN6DVIGBhNL9fFoOLpl6pxqYkQpwnI2gZv-nF2_g6j1dcognsI7-CezPRKp94wOmfAyxyItN0hftQd7T1oR4N3igQUBMInHMsHsiJSNfaQlHqTEmsBuR3kEdgCP3XAxaxUHXAZaS8LJSfomOslHgeNAh3aGSZf9JkrK_2x7tgtVy8__j-FNuniSSBI4/s320/1690803137521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Everyone complained about the weather. I loved it! Such a welcome respite from the heat in Israel. Good to see wetland restoration happening in real-time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_y20YQ_rs6zLIH-cWAsXvuFK7nszLGMW0fJMBfyNCcR1cfQJ-o6ymYRV4GKScXBAE1nqD0MqjPlVOoGrvvFR4Jq2giB9K35O-TlOkXmM09p7P2s_t_emMDDJ-ryNUhbWnWcaJ1qk6v_ENxCmTkuKxWwf2xTrVC69eN-a0RyQzElO6E60j42tFJiafyM/s4000/1690803137556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_y20YQ_rs6zLIH-cWAsXvuFK7nszLGMW0fJMBfyNCcR1cfQJ-o6ymYRV4GKScXBAE1nqD0MqjPlVOoGrvvFR4Jq2giB9K35O-TlOkXmM09p7P2s_t_emMDDJ-ryNUhbWnWcaJ1qk6v_ENxCmTkuKxWwf2xTrVC69eN-a0RyQzElO6E60j42tFJiafyM/s320/1690803137556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyuK2atrYrU_i8IamYZgnh-Jym3UClxkxAn4i8msgY-rKy6Njg1A9mFWhZdsSlEZzyqykb_cIaSpLM4SqFGhA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Of course, early morning birding had to be done. En route, Alen and I stopped at Grafham Water, where we were glad to relocate the Lesser Scaup that had gone missing for a few days. Too distant for photos but a welcome WP tick for me. Somehow I managed not to see one during my four years in the UK.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVN3EiYgaqB0d3Z-JGNQaxaishas1YAj3EFDVKecsYP09MQcObps7rauEgFFsrsQGCO1vOZVuu9vVnHUJMYr0Ny0vQi-rU4bFGF7zj1JWozFFKND8KP-Ud74-BCC4dU4J0Zon12L_3sfe0fd6PI0GqCkWdB8UNOx6_NluTTf4Fz1JxO5QUyIWs3kZKyE/s3264/1690804840660.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="3264" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVN3EiYgaqB0d3Z-JGNQaxaishas1YAj3EFDVKecsYP09MQcObps7rauEgFFsrsQGCO1vOZVuu9vVnHUJMYr0Ny0vQi-rU4bFGF7zj1JWozFFKND8KP-Ud74-BCC4dU4J0Zon12L_3sfe0fd6PI0GqCkWdB8UNOx6_NluTTf4Fz1JxO5QUyIWs3kZKyE/s320/1690804840660.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Birdfair morning sessions were dedicated to checking different Rutland Water hides - I actually enjoyed birding there quite much. I screwed up a possible Pec on July 16th, out of Dunlin hide. It was distant but looked good in the bins. By the time I got the baby scope on it, crows flushed it and it was lost.</p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I like it!<br />Enjoyed birding Rutland Water NR using this <a href="https://twitter.com/SwarovskiOptik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SwarovskiOptik</a> baby. Now heading to <a href="https://twitter.com/GlobalBirdfair?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GlobalBirdfair</a> - final day. <a href="https://twitter.com/Team_eBird?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Team_eBird</a> checklist streak secured. But who will be eBirder of Birdfair? <a href="https://t.co/16KlJS1V3l">pic.twitter.com/16KlJS1V3l</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1680501381101174785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p></p><p>Then Alen and I continued to London for two days of meetings with supporters there. The meetings went well. Early morning birding sessions were done in Totteridge Valley, not far from where I was staying, they were OK too. Firecrest was the best, Mandarin was a photo tick...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMlEATADTlozqatNbsyPyqb72y19mpkRXU_1hybZvQN_QXlJ5gNyvqH9chJDIyyiTREZWmYrODOz--gJ0U782G7-3q9GQr6GDoBZUwUWn_J6hQO3eh5Z2XtpuKBvKNe6B9YUbxI8TzmwK8J3lifIzmWHovDtJzT7je__b_lPQwvT3Z20sfZ-GmDtdCFs/s2000/mandarin3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMlEATADTlozqatNbsyPyqb72y19mpkRXU_1hybZvQN_QXlJ5gNyvqH9chJDIyyiTREZWmYrODOz--gJ0U782G7-3q9GQr6GDoBZUwUWn_J6hQO3eh5Z2XtpuKBvKNe6B9YUbxI8TzmwK8J3lifIzmWHovDtJzT7je__b_lPQwvT3Z20sfZ-GmDtdCFs/s320/mandarin3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqi60Tf45Cxzmm-sRdLGA_rCM-n5F18CVW7ZQnR2hFUmNH9gcapX7M1_NAQFrEh_VfAFLNCaspH0bRoYtV6xzp1Hy0i-FRtK0yKsDg7-lDP8yL4ePQj8ED9SjpAGrrggiqg4PZEmOXSnvUROkAy-9AeD4GB_iuuUiG8Wdv7LdeNKqguOExNK-kdNnsLU/s4000/1690804840647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqi60Tf45Cxzmm-sRdLGA_rCM-n5F18CVW7ZQnR2hFUmNH9gcapX7M1_NAQFrEh_VfAFLNCaspH0bRoYtV6xzp1Hy0i-FRtK0yKsDg7-lDP8yL4ePQj8ED9SjpAGrrggiqg4PZEmOXSnvUROkAy-9AeD4GB_iuuUiG8Wdv7LdeNKqguOExNK-kdNnsLU/s320/1690804840647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Then I went to Norwich, oh Norwich... A couple more days with friends, beach walk, birding and beer. Another Lesser Scaup on Colney Pits, again too distant for photos. Enjoy this Norwich soundscape - I appreciate Groppers. Haven't seen one in Israel yet - maybe this year?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="434" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/595960671/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Back home in Israel, migration is picking up, mostly shorebirds at the moment. See you again when I find the energy to pick the camera up.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-20344515564807157782023-06-30T10:36:00.004+01:002023-06-30T10:37:43.348+01:00Local Basra!<p>This summer keeps giving. Early morning streak-continuation birding, schoolrun, coffee in the garden with my wife, phone beeps: Rony Livne and his team had just caught a Basra Reed-Warbler at his site, Kfar Menachem!!! Conveniently it's a short drive away. I jumped in to the car and enjoyed this excellent bird just before it was released. Thanks Rony and the team!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC5iaik6Tt3FACgUwh3g6aQKhF30NFaXV0eEihGFCWDMv5x-XwMkf8JMJ8wx5lPUYV_GBSDdDn0xzaR3rza1ofEKpKWfh0_cq0CQ0fHSrxGmAie4PLT9uEWnfGM7BD1zaGck0Atr5mzjjY5c9nFICAZMLqAM9cyPyO7zFsQBW14RTVbioBpBfYFgVooU/s2000/basra%20reed-warbler2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioC5iaik6Tt3FACgUwh3g6aQKhF30NFaXV0eEihGFCWDMv5x-XwMkf8JMJ8wx5lPUYV_GBSDdDn0xzaR3rza1ofEKpKWfh0_cq0CQ0fHSrxGmAie4PLT9uEWnfGM7BD1zaGck0Atr5mzjjY5c9nFICAZMLqAM9cyPyO7zFsQBW14RTVbioBpBfYFgVooU/w400-h266/basra%20reed-warbler2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCuxXdrNDIQFd9BLGNTXzVZ0NGz_P8e9fneDufjhDu2-2YigZ1yKFIcjiNd_m1oX7aKhTuPT0Ju1YRbIF8HPllsDEBAXxVnl7A601EP85e_pSms06iPAHXpFOImOyCZp-GbiTw6pJua0vNgPtLzsOp-R3Z5Olk-U2Y2TME-gimR-gUPt0RL7eFvpXwck/s2000/basra%20reed-warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCuxXdrNDIQFd9BLGNTXzVZ0NGz_P8e9fneDufjhDu2-2YigZ1yKFIcjiNd_m1oX7aKhTuPT0Ju1YRbIF8HPllsDEBAXxVnl7A601EP85e_pSms06iPAHXpFOImOyCZp-GbiTw6pJua0vNgPtLzsOp-R3Z5Olk-U2Y2TME-gimR-gUPt0RL7eFvpXwck/w266-h400/basra%20reed-warbler.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p>I have a bit of history with this bird in Israel. In 2006, the late Amit Geffen and I worked together in Agamon Hula Ringing Station. When our accommodation shifted to kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, we looked for local afternoon ringing options. On our first afternoon session at the kibbutz's fishponds we caught three Basra Reed-Warblers (!), a recently-fledged young and two adults, a male and a female, both with physiological evidence for breeding (brood patch and swollen cloaca). This is a photo from July 4, 2006 - adult Basra Reed-Warbler on left, recently-fledged juvenile on right:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqZ4KKFBSgFQQksL_KlDTbS2WkDcwKVRz7Neu-jm7zdz5Ydrby-ixmVJct57HH-LXNghfuObRXAEByCOgGgo_rTxvFpwIj6kzW9SZeXlgf8VKL2UiQvftpVB5eg_pRtzRiltKeJ6AOTzTIp_QkNhhoWIog73nHD05OjdtspEbyHpwLjjLNiJcbL7KSiA/s2272/289569931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqZ4KKFBSgFQQksL_KlDTbS2WkDcwKVRz7Neu-jm7zdz5Ydrby-ixmVJct57HH-LXNghfuObRXAEByCOgGgo_rTxvFpwIj6kzW9SZeXlgf8VKL2UiQvftpVB5eg_pRtzRiltKeJ6AOTzTIp_QkNhhoWIog73nHD05OjdtspEbyHpwLjjLNiJcbL7KSiA/w400-h300/289569931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Over the next days we caught a couple more. This was the first breeding record in Israel of a bird that back then was a mega rarity in Israel, globally threatened and declining, and at that time unknown to breed away from the marshes of southern Iraq. Understandably, this breeding record generated some <a href="https://www.news1.co.il/Archive/001-D-105265-00.html?t=123153">interest</a>. Next year, in 2007, a few Basra Reeds returned to the site, but there were no signs of breeding. In 2008 only one individual was found, again without signs of breeding. This photo is from May 24, 2008:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYlI5fCtRDo4nnxAC3pkkZFcV2b_nHeZ_5wIJpoCuTFnYt3VL0Ud0NZBDhXlK-pkzGeYRiJULPqfGK-s2fubfe2RAowt4rdBcYhy_cmf30Gz5HIg-DrC7BeHY2kW2oQw6YBc33CBECCHBkJ4pSjDclYlOhOywsti4KzjR9TEvK5Zni0TQyDROqRC_hTA/s800/130678371.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYlI5fCtRDo4nnxAC3pkkZFcV2b_nHeZ_5wIJpoCuTFnYt3VL0Ud0NZBDhXlK-pkzGeYRiJULPqfGK-s2fubfe2RAowt4rdBcYhy_cmf30Gz5HIg-DrC7BeHY2kW2oQw6YBc33CBECCHBkJ4pSjDclYlOhOywsti4KzjR9TEvK5Zni0TQyDROqRC_hTA/w400-h300/130678371.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Since then, Basra Reed-Warbler has returned to its former rarity status in Israel, as a rare late-spring/summer migrant, just about annual. Almost all records involve birds trapped by ringers, in Eilat and northern valleys. Today's record is the first in central Israel.</p><p>Basra Reed-Warbler is globally <a href="http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/basra-reed-warbler-acrocephalus-griseldis">Endangered</a>. Though its global population trend may have stabilized during the 2000's, it seems to be undergoing population declines again as a result of habitat loss and the effects of climate change. Its core breeding area is in southern Iraq, and in recent years it was found breeding also in adjacent parts of Iran, and in Kuwait. Additionally, there were indications that it may be breeding along the Euphrates north into <a href="https://osme.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/I-Murdoch-Sandgrouse-34-2-Autumn-2012-compr.pdf">Syria </a>and even <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331478859_Endangered_Basra_Reed-warbler_Acrocephalus_griseldis_recorded_for_the_first_time_in_Turkey_Aves_Acrocephalidae">Turkey</a>. I would assume that birds migrating through Israel are heading to or from more northerly breeding grounds than S Iraq.</p><p>This photo is from the stunning <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2010/12/ringing-at-ngulia.html">Ngulia, Tsavo West NP, Kenya, December 7, 2010</a>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0NZXs_336qif3PS_ERZhKrqEISpbnWyTxdJ_V8NPpsz64ggyxCng_sQR-nkGsLCXnxMpS4pqOsHy1BkoJg9yOrQ88SZgkZtJyIvAEUCtK3_rrydY290rFukBFEXr7YTDr5fZEPoUw_TWbVVtXak_ykFo0IAqpXpMum9sTIFAstTIoty86AcNBPF08fY/s800/235900281.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="800" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0NZXs_336qif3PS_ERZhKrqEISpbnWyTxdJ_V8NPpsz64ggyxCng_sQR-nkGsLCXnxMpS4pqOsHy1BkoJg9yOrQ88SZgkZtJyIvAEUCtK3_rrydY290rFukBFEXr7YTDr5fZEPoUw_TWbVVtXak_ykFo0IAqpXpMum9sTIFAstTIoty86AcNBPF08fY/w400-h271/235900281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-33843892742475927992023-06-29T10:51:00.001+01:002023-06-29T10:51:07.205+01:00Local PGP<p>Yesterday Carmel Ravid found a stunning summer-plumaged Pacific Golden-Plover in Hulda Reservoir. This reservoir is few minutes from home, and is sort-of my local patch: <a href="https://twitter.com/IshPiki">Piki </a>and I have this Saturday morning tradition to bird the reservoir. I am also involved in the protection of the reservoir from future development planned there - tough challenge. In the meanwhile, it is a beautiful reservoir, especially during summer and autumn/fall when irrigation increases and water levels drop, exposing delicious mud to shorebirds. </p><p>Pacific Golden-Plover is a good rarity in Israel, perhaps 4-5 records annually. There's this <a href="http://www.yoavperlman.com/2020/09/pgp.html">one individual that's been returning to winter in Tel Aviv for six years now</a>, so it lost some of its rarity glory. However, being so close to home, and in such a stunning plumage, it would have been rude not to pay it a visit. I arrived there in the afternoon, beautiful light conditions, and the birds was there, showing wonderfully as it walked in the grass and down to the mud and water's edge. It was lovely to watch it feeding calmly, resting, preening, and interacting with other shorebirds that have already started their migration or post-breeding movement. I avoided disturbing the birds in the reservoir and kept my distance. I took this short video through my <a href="https://www.swarovskioptik.com/us/en/hunting/products/spotting-scopes/atx-stx-btx/atx-stx-btx-set/atx-spotting-scope-system">Swarovski Optik ATX85</a> from a long range - heat haze killed the quality a bit.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="342" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/589122831/embed" width="320"></iframe></p><p>Five points if you identify correctly all the bird calls in the background. At one point aircraft from a nearby airforce base flew by, most birds took off momentarily, include the golden plover. When it landed, I used the opportunity to photograph it's graey-brown underwings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHBMof7pAFYOz9sD2lte9OCXVb7MTgoQq56cC8zMlQUm--NWfA5-gY2xv06vwRxcD3ZxJQJSqk6Q2WHpuD8T1maXJ_s2Eqrf0AJTA-FVWfmseKaNf37nK_qJY9R56XYrc-itOAN7fESZld21z89B-jC-_U6UIwZjic_fbS1lUD311MSRelUEb8Ca0FLY/s1500/pacific%20golden-plover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHBMof7pAFYOz9sD2lte9OCXVb7MTgoQq56cC8zMlQUm--NWfA5-gY2xv06vwRxcD3ZxJQJSqk6Q2WHpuD8T1maXJ_s2Eqrf0AJTA-FVWfmseKaNf37nK_qJY9R56XYrc-itOAN7fESZld21z89B-jC-_U6UIwZjic_fbS1lUD311MSRelUEb8Ca0FLY/w400-h266/pacific%20golden-plover1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uncropped image showing the environment and nightbours</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSTdWxQXc0n7b7kT5hEEOF3NSYvA6LrC1v966Ntcnzpti68jgsFF0S_52YAmZLn4BaTwYduKmW4q--Ex6Dk745XjcIaPEsO-ZfeGoTcDL_2H-2GYv_X8ITrc481_3FH0FQpkxDTDX2-CJx2JJq4EpdK7EHBIoeVrcIDBC9Vi-j-jKCLH1nynPHD8Ppd4/s2000/pacific%20golden-plover1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSTdWxQXc0n7b7kT5hEEOF3NSYvA6LrC1v966Ntcnzpti68jgsFF0S_52YAmZLn4BaTwYduKmW4q--Ex6Dk745XjcIaPEsO-ZfeGoTcDL_2H-2GYv_X8ITrc481_3FH0FQpkxDTDX2-CJx2JJq4EpdK7EHBIoeVrcIDBC9Vi-j-jKCLH1nynPHD8Ppd4/w400-h266/pacific%20golden-plover1_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5abrgZNg1buDdAjskkJw5KIiomfKiBe7vyMs19WzlA9wypHpaHyq2-hdsknkRK9Vhg7BllmFtsr4K-WA5tKmvCgIlyZKUlrwEePXUi1B7alSxJRGDzZYNi3pXrqKYx_5zi3elmGY439Gd1t3wxxXEt4idNbguXBU7Qrv6IdfIZ1HxlG5QzsN2kIqKNOM/s1500/pacific%20golden-plover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5abrgZNg1buDdAjskkJw5KIiomfKiBe7vyMs19WzlA9wypHpaHyq2-hdsknkRK9Vhg7BllmFtsr4K-WA5tKmvCgIlyZKUlrwEePXUi1B7alSxJRGDzZYNi3pXrqKYx_5zi3elmGY439Gd1t3wxxXEt4idNbguXBU7Qrv6IdfIZ1HxlG5QzsN2kIqKNOM/w400-h266/pacific%20golden-plover2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hulda Reservoir - worth fighting for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ764oSLBLTNn42urYJlOBqY8BDF1d4tc5oQzUi5oLIWSpcq5vp0xfkS83_o80qoZPZN-s2tNQL-r7kZDSX5x5mGwY58_HUkOCx8fB51cCVKT2mNbtqTfHEiFDYY01eXTxxycxvy-CUWyuWJk41IuDSG17bnmuGSbA9CxlDqzu8ggJ4Fgi4n9ZGcvZw4/s2500/hulda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2500" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ764oSLBLTNn42urYJlOBqY8BDF1d4tc5oQzUi5oLIWSpcq5vp0xfkS83_o80qoZPZN-s2tNQL-r7kZDSX5x5mGwY58_HUkOCx8fB51cCVKT2mNbtqTfHEiFDYY01eXTxxycxvy-CUWyuWJk41IuDSG17bnmuGSbA9CxlDqzu8ggJ4Fgi4n9ZGcvZw4/w400-h170/hulda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/atlasilps/checklist/S142951641">here</a>.Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-35725146566678553132023-06-26T19:00:00.002+01:002023-06-26T19:00:31.049+01:00Eilat quicky<p>Yesterday I had a couple of important meetings in Eilat, leaving me with just enough time for birding after dawn and on the way back home. My main interest was in seawatching off north beach. Very early there was really nice activity at sea. Interestingly by 06:30 the sea became totally empty, and it felt OK to leave for the meetings - it was unlikely I would miss anything (who knows? Maybe my nemesis-bird, Crab Plover, flew by five minutes after my departure?). There were lots of terns at sea, including a 2cy Arctic Tern that has been around for a few days, three Bridled Terns and several White-cheeked Terns. Typical summer mix. Good scope views of the arctic, that spent most of its time behind the pier in Aqaba. I have seen many Arctic Terns in Israel but still don't have a photo of one. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White-cheeked Tern - adult</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C1LPFquwPjq4EKB35508_DLT7dOYk9nXloLBRZI5UsmqwVmOF_ukBzI85IqOhH9578Pmbas0K-tkuu0uiZY3DcG2esL4NCe_atFiZKGXmuiaipU_URdyZe6OY8gvrCM7jbWonC9dhzjoPm3DOAVYX2Ebzb-RK3G4JxNbIIDshNaSEtydLgekYzJQkks/s2000/white-cheeked%20tern1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_C1LPFquwPjq4EKB35508_DLT7dOYk9nXloLBRZI5UsmqwVmOF_ukBzI85IqOhH9578Pmbas0K-tkuu0uiZY3DcG2esL4NCe_atFiZKGXmuiaipU_URdyZe6OY8gvrCM7jbWonC9dhzjoPm3DOAVYX2Ebzb-RK3G4JxNbIIDshNaSEtydLgekYzJQkks/w400-h266/white-cheeked%20tern1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">White-cheeked Tern - young bird (I am not sure whether they breed according to northern hemisphere calendars)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSiU9e7hllgDKBHHX7HLq4wLV2ZUCXldN51yJyUG2pZAz7u5rS9yZCuDkEuOn84VyLjRbjy3vcKWTwwsCbvDCNcZmWgkGBYvAO19_DHv3Pj2YYmE02BryKsDIzUF1rexkmCUqo9QGOa5-Op4OtbyTYoQWjK7jKStRttHGYgVDq1KpcLYRlHNoA27TUso/s2000/white-cheeked%20tern2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSiU9e7hllgDKBHHX7HLq4wLV2ZUCXldN51yJyUG2pZAz7u5rS9yZCuDkEuOn84VyLjRbjy3vcKWTwwsCbvDCNcZmWgkGBYvAO19_DHv3Pj2YYmE02BryKsDIzUF1rexkmCUqo9QGOa5-Op4OtbyTYoQWjK7jKStRttHGYgVDq1KpcLYRlHNoA27TUso/w400-h266/white-cheeked%20tern2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>White-eyed Gull - one of Eilat's signature birds - quite a few flew around and two young birds perched briefly on some rocks, that are exposed at low tide.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVwCTG6MLKAGdfuscZ6X9iwmGE3F7H6M9Xcy2Px_-WrjHpwDld_aD28WUevjkiEB91kSlm0xLOsiISPQPHYQdjdJ1ulJL6Egw5HRqVTEfjzQgEnWr5sBAPsTGlWF_hS8ma9L0CNgG20TZdlrPEYIhZlgNP2upmJ1A4RcszeVI2CUdpzyZSwYdF2s8_Lw/s2000/white-eyed%20gull5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVwCTG6MLKAGdfuscZ6X9iwmGE3F7H6M9Xcy2Px_-WrjHpwDld_aD28WUevjkiEB91kSlm0xLOsiISPQPHYQdjdJ1ulJL6Egw5HRqVTEfjzQgEnWr5sBAPsTGlWF_hS8ma9L0CNgG20TZdlrPEYIhZlgNP2upmJ1A4RcszeVI2CUdpzyZSwYdF2s8_Lw/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr1pRZMkClQvh2CHz1CrfW3EIdH_uFTy83An23Od_lfoAvNjV4c8R4f0VDjFYiR23glQNojQdavwaorSpqMJ8HFVgWFNU-_1U11Ca4erGuBIzizeb8B7cXcxUcfgHNjwqvbhN7LTJco3GOBZXBXxN6CbCqI19TgB2ltDYCOEWUSLQyWtb6-tNdDh83wA/s2000/white-eyed%20gull6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr1pRZMkClQvh2CHz1CrfW3EIdH_uFTy83An23Od_lfoAvNjV4c8R4f0VDjFYiR23glQNojQdavwaorSpqMJ8HFVgWFNU-_1U11Ca4erGuBIzizeb8B7cXcxUcfgHNjwqvbhN7LTJco3GOBZXBXxN6CbCqI19TgB2ltDYCOEWUSLQyWtb6-tNdDh83wA/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVKT6999RA47wtOfDsr0TQjprKTBFtEx-qaYIgIiLatg9Viw8yNsY8UGCVTJfFVFZxRvIF9NEuRNRWIDGl7ICbPZh284Mg5FJtLc1-hicmzzrgLS1gKD37J39KPvxibminXSRv5dhl7BKy7TwmuG0UFt6-d2he8uhH3iU4b9s7hwLcd6YGbutjNLNuXA/s2000/white-eyed%20gull4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVKT6999RA47wtOfDsr0TQjprKTBFtEx-qaYIgIiLatg9Viw8yNsY8UGCVTJfFVFZxRvIF9NEuRNRWIDGl7ICbPZh284Mg5FJtLc1-hicmzzrgLS1gKD37J39KPvxibminXSRv5dhl7BKy7TwmuG0UFt6-d2he8uhH3iU4b9s7hwLcd6YGbutjNLNuXA/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsnvcAiwI3bJPibOdpDH5gd22FKwdRXIZ7xJ-V78KEFm3HFcjYlOLBjkCf1I3crPLOq_l8CBEHXBjKz_o_vQKG5mrhKMLbJbvHLeWr7-tjU4LB8dr1qJztj3JCcWYNBvG6z-tHcQS52Myv5Vd-dn81xzLR7pGcybWl-7p5k0dCnaYvGW8FLGZjUAdhLQ/s2000/white-eyed%20gull2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsnvcAiwI3bJPibOdpDH5gd22FKwdRXIZ7xJ-V78KEFm3HFcjYlOLBjkCf1I3crPLOq_l8CBEHXBjKz_o_vQKG5mrhKMLbJbvHLeWr7-tjU4LB8dr1qJztj3JCcWYNBvG6z-tHcQS52Myv5Vd-dn81xzLR7pGcybWl-7p5k0dCnaYvGW8FLGZjUAdhLQ/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHkKJQmJByrPVx2yn_DmmJae_x61swcXTo3gC9FZyhFdqnLLul3nmrdR_lLFGZ-HaEMwp7EvHDjqoS61Y2lqdxqVPLpXlYlGrTEYKbCae8mykrkHgl8Y4w8ZkDerqtBOhqhWopOS4EHD9ViKFhwVMaRwHyoB7rpsCvr9J9mQwokfgcSWMLAgnxU_kGAo/s2000/white-eyed%20gull3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHkKJQmJByrPVx2yn_DmmJae_x61swcXTo3gC9FZyhFdqnLLul3nmrdR_lLFGZ-HaEMwp7EvHDjqoS61Y2lqdxqVPLpXlYlGrTEYKbCae8mykrkHgl8Y4w8ZkDerqtBOhqhWopOS4EHD9ViKFhwVMaRwHyoB7rpsCvr9J9mQwokfgcSWMLAgnxU_kGAo/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdoZcZjXG1PhqmO5wc3XVlg7VGNx38lSVTleAHtoL-BEQ7fyMFSdLEiTdv2-nSg3o84Ojuy07Iy0_ei9pF4xraPte73mQaMGK5Pqq4JHsvawaq7ht93ZI72IknIA_EqxuExuAj2rSnLEPhG-wYvYRrYkZp6ziMqaGg4D3v2oMLQi5w2Zhef8o6qBh_-Y/s2000/white-eyed%20gull1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdoZcZjXG1PhqmO5wc3XVlg7VGNx38lSVTleAHtoL-BEQ7fyMFSdLEiTdv2-nSg3o84Ojuy07Iy0_ei9pF4xraPte73mQaMGK5Pqq4JHsvawaq7ht93ZI72IknIA_EqxuExuAj2rSnLEPhG-wYvYRrYkZp6ziMqaGg4D3v2oMLQi5w2Zhef8o6qBh_-Y/w400-h266/white-eyed%20gull1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Squacco Heron - common but always attractive, especially when coming in-off:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcJ0ZVFnXs8KxETrz1vZTgksEIxwoM8zDp4gGUOWdUKR7zzMeJ5ISBE-f-07n_0SPuLeoRD--N9D_0ZmSNmIq3xjYKgN11U02Tlb6rnMq6jGKfoeFV43SvvWRwBiH2iN4DVOdVMiveO1CTFocTlhbaud4cORZQjX57pmZJBDQ1dgF2B__WK0f2dhXAjU/s2000/squacco%20heron3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcJ0ZVFnXs8KxETrz1vZTgksEIxwoM8zDp4gGUOWdUKR7zzMeJ5ISBE-f-07n_0SPuLeoRD--N9D_0ZmSNmIq3xjYKgN11U02Tlb6rnMq6jGKfoeFV43SvvWRwBiH2iN4DVOdVMiveO1CTFocTlhbaud4cORZQjX57pmZJBDQ1dgF2B__WK0f2dhXAjU/w400-h266/squacco%20heron3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn38M7lbaVKfJhu3g5clhmAb0xbAmUJ8NdF_w7tp67iFz-EQ7RJlybv8tegKRP3iQ6DqioR92dLrpTTsuGVuyuzNn28s8HAM6AtKrgg_CZJmjYlfGPP8NN5U00YgjakLztzMoFFYOMrY9g5clEIHNA5c2QTkVnrhCnPLoxDn-pSR1CcX0fBdRnWV_66jw/s2000/squacco%20heron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn38M7lbaVKfJhu3g5clhmAb0xbAmUJ8NdF_w7tp67iFz-EQ7RJlybv8tegKRP3iQ6DqioR92dLrpTTsuGVuyuzNn28s8HAM6AtKrgg_CZJmjYlfGPP8NN5U00YgjakLztzMoFFYOMrY9g5clEIHNA5c2QTkVnrhCnPLoxDn-pSR1CcX0fBdRnWV_66jw/w400-h266/squacco%20heron1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwoiFMbPDMJna6Rfeu3NtSyC0uSfnH5VXhs-Mz8SN4_8Xjo2fBdoWMCxw-AEp7tbUIdyb0PA-u8DydgnI6h2MniqabXsk4WaVKWv60ekNnCTDnquzN7XGwAtIpWa_0Hw5JwxdHLALOSEPz1hkJSRmSE2hTtM82qoYvk_Zg_4p3cWBw9ORhGIK66gBGFo/s2000/squacco%20heron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwoiFMbPDMJna6Rfeu3NtSyC0uSfnH5VXhs-Mz8SN4_8Xjo2fBdoWMCxw-AEp7tbUIdyb0PA-u8DydgnI6h2MniqabXsk4WaVKWv60ekNnCTDnquzN7XGwAtIpWa_0Hw5JwxdHLALOSEPz1hkJSRmSE2hTtM82qoYvk_Zg_4p3cWBw9ORhGIK66gBGFo/w400-h266/squacco%20heron2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/atlasilps/checklist/S142621269">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way back home I stopped briefly in a nice Arava wadi, still (relatively) lush and green after the late-spring climate-change rain storms. The rain was very welcome by desert breeders. During the short time I was there, I saw several families of Bar-tailed and Temminck's Larks, flying around with their young. Great to witness that Thick-billed Lark bred again in Israel, successfully, perhaps not in high density but what a treat. I speculate that Thick-billed lark is one of the few species that benefit from Climate Change. In our region, climate change is expressed in more extreme weather. In Israel's desert regions, this translates into extreme storms developing in higher frequency and with higher energy. Once-every-50-years weather events happen almost every winter now. Nomadic larks like Thick-billed Lark utilise the high productivity patches created by these often very local downpours. In practice, since the first breeding was discovered by <a href="https://animalflight.haifa.ac.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Six_new_breeding_bird_species_in_Israel_during_1995-2002.pdf">Barak Granit in 1999</a>, this species has become regular, almost sedentary, and much more common, present almost year-round in the southern Negev and Arava in small numbers, and breeding almost every year. Exceptional breeding events occur when the winter storms arrive at the perfect timing and location, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297211306_Large-scale_breeding_of_Thick-billed_Lark_Dunn's_Lark_and_Pale_Rockfinch_in_southern_Israel_in_spring_2010">like in 2010</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad feeding young</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-BOJ6ez0SQGKbblKAGRNb5-VjprKns9tMXNrQdK4MkFPj4-EJz5k0xfxc5Xsj2IZb6CDG5emitrrecDWUUfaqYVWEKlblWh6tepK619bh_GeWURJeDEgeRWYDRzwdbaFFFtMUnWROW9X8-Xf93UGGGZXYwra7vm7tfuM-2u4ElwX4cDdyJwZiC9b0Hw/s2000/thick-billed%20lark3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-BOJ6ez0SQGKbblKAGRNb5-VjprKns9tMXNrQdK4MkFPj4-EJz5k0xfxc5Xsj2IZb6CDG5emitrrecDWUUfaqYVWEKlblWh6tepK619bh_GeWURJeDEgeRWYDRzwdbaFFFtMUnWROW9X8-Xf93UGGGZXYwra7vm7tfuM-2u4ElwX4cDdyJwZiC9b0Hw/w400-h266/thick-billed%20lark3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby Thick-billed Lark</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2z26ykEOONRL5Navu7BfWD9h2fZfe3B9bwNTjGjG46wqkaW5HGKI6_fquHdSsuS7XEs2XOKYyM4OHvQB_3J0ENw0nDJgPE-KOZET47oMi0Fza2OZu4XwK-EpmpcUgQY6mgnNRe4cmBlHZflUhgWZKzouxYXHt-Zazi-sxEy6Adm9GFWzT1ut831MK7U/s2000/thick-billed%20lark4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2z26ykEOONRL5Navu7BfWD9h2fZfe3B9bwNTjGjG46wqkaW5HGKI6_fquHdSsuS7XEs2XOKYyM4OHvQB_3J0ENw0nDJgPE-KOZET47oMi0Fza2OZu4XwK-EpmpcUgQY6mgnNRe4cmBlHZflUhgWZKzouxYXHt-Zazi-sxEy6Adm9GFWzT1ut831MK7U/w400-h266/thick-billed%20lark4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daddy is off to collect more food for its baby</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmfHT_XSxCEetufo-WuQoj6bH0IVramBoPlpMBCTQ9634FGWhJJYmIJcCAywHHPdwfNyn8O2zSOZ_pJF9bTKXgIO4Mp6y6AqKwlpxErw0Qpyy05aRK4vsYJynLWb7VSfy8_lxrV4Px1JaeTQI80-lxatK1H1Vn-qcPs3-n22VGrs7xpp009kk8bazmpE/s2000/thick-billed%20lark1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmfHT_XSxCEetufo-WuQoj6bH0IVramBoPlpMBCTQ9634FGWhJJYmIJcCAywHHPdwfNyn8O2zSOZ_pJF9bTKXgIO4Mp6y6AqKwlpxErw0Qpyy05aRK4vsYJynLWb7VSfy8_lxrV4Px1JaeTQI80-lxatK1H1Vn-qcPs3-n22VGrs7xpp009kk8bazmpE/w400-h266/thick-billed%20lark1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCEuS9JeDok3_683jX1AQbqVMtPE_HJqen-WDcpnx2o5qijLE-L9wNR7RSk_LdztZe9AvVpS3lxOO9Hd9auC4y3jqdWq8woC5Y7_XWMwrUTYPCBSKJcNVuUdzKiCYbq4OIrASqnH8JMWZVMlEDI1gaB6uDsVsg_NPAwnxtvjUIdO9an4woepWbQzWF_E/s2000/thick-billed%20lark2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCEuS9JeDok3_683jX1AQbqVMtPE_HJqen-WDcpnx2o5qijLE-L9wNR7RSk_LdztZe9AvVpS3lxOO9Hd9auC4y3jqdWq8woC5Y7_XWMwrUTYPCBSKJcNVuUdzKiCYbq4OIrASqnH8JMWZVMlEDI1gaB6uDsVsg_NPAwnxtvjUIdO9an4woepWbQzWF_E/w400-h266/thick-billed%20lark2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-28023063162772667802023-05-30T14:44:00.002+01:002023-05-30T14:52:38.439+01:00They're back!<p>Yesterday I spent the morning on Mt. Hermon, working there with INPA and Nadav to better protect the precious ecosystem of the mountain, threatened by further development by the military and the ski resort. It's incredible that one of Israel's most unique and precious ecosystems is only partially protected. Anyway, the gate leading up to the mountain opens up only at 07:30. What to do during the two hours of light before 07:30? I spent them along the Petroleum Road, in search of Yellow-throated Sparrows that had returned for another breeding season. When I arrived on site, I was happily surprised to find there <a href="https://yosef-kiat.weebly.com/">Yosef Kiat</a>, doing what he normally does... Perfect timing for me. We quickly saw a male sparrow singing high up on wires, and in no time it was in the hand, allowing close examination of its subtle but wonderful plumage.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO4Ollj_pK-qM1Mx5yFjtpqgsMm_jnP07EEi6yCEUnt2bXimkIIXUjv0HyHdjJvK9QwSl4jbGWKQ21TryKY_aIagM2es8-KYJ8SSUqMRsUP4B-i7BkqDukCjO84j2MJWZeUQSXLKkAZpAUip8IoUznnToPE2ULvgQXb_eBNkTZDmMawrr7B9qqziT/s2000/yellow-throated%20sparrow4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO4Ollj_pK-qM1Mx5yFjtpqgsMm_jnP07EEi6yCEUnt2bXimkIIXUjv0HyHdjJvK9QwSl4jbGWKQ21TryKY_aIagM2es8-KYJ8SSUqMRsUP4B-i7BkqDukCjO84j2MJWZeUQSXLKkAZpAUip8IoUznnToPE2ULvgQXb_eBNkTZDmMawrr7B9qqziT/w400-h266/yellow-throated%20sparrow4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGUDJKIx1j3V-hQFocP6RABZ4FHN6BL3Z-sK2sBxKM59Khw-dWAcLC4YFS07cjqI-mDWyms3iW5Yy2rQskxcaNv8XTeNKejFkx57OfYTMrKr2m_3gmyfVfARVBLBMFwsUMh3h9ZSYRh-U12qCjCJvdyNyeSR88y95vlYcRWo2CFFSHjH076FS44hZ/s2000/yellow-throated%20sparrow2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGUDJKIx1j3V-hQFocP6RABZ4FHN6BL3Z-sK2sBxKM59Khw-dWAcLC4YFS07cjqI-mDWyms3iW5Yy2rQskxcaNv8XTeNKejFkx57OfYTMrKr2m_3gmyfVfARVBLBMFwsUMh3h9ZSYRh-U12qCjCJvdyNyeSR88y95vlYcRWo2CFFSHjH076FS44hZ/w400-h266/yellow-throated%20sparrow2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those long wings take the sparrows all the way to winter in India and back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMqA4BKttwFKHx7s0cKJfRDBp753_jX8hUAiLFusbA2yslLwdnZFfSyEdJ9S2P_qWudo2Ereamr_fkZ0Z_DoGWsIDFyKP39E3xfjcQpyo3MbsPzL3vtqQjC-LDBp0C212kkZwgrqDAjW10ku0fnp0jjWbjCfUwKIPKAIlmSXTbhQ8pkA1a-LhvYTU/s2000/yellow-throated%20sparrow3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMqA4BKttwFKHx7s0cKJfRDBp753_jX8hUAiLFusbA2yslLwdnZFfSyEdJ9S2P_qWudo2Ereamr_fkZ0Z_DoGWsIDFyKP39E3xfjcQpyo3MbsPzL3vtqQjC-LDBp0C212kkZwgrqDAjW10ku0fnp0jjWbjCfUwKIPKAIlmSXTbhQ8pkA1a-LhvYTU/w266-h400/yellow-throated%20sparrow3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Apart for this male, I saw his female, in fact a returning bird which had been ringed by Yosef last year, and another singing male. Yosef even sound recorded him or another nearby - subtle song too:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="220" scrolling="no" src="https://xeno-canto.org/805043/embed" width="340"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>It's great to see that the Yellow-throated Sparrows returned to breed. This is an exciting discovery, that last year's appearance wasn't a fleeting, temporary and sporadic event. Rather, this is apparently a new species added to Israel's breeding avifauna. Time to update those breeding range maps!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXQ5eD7RTNiWThizkEdi_9L8iXqAAo8kDOlkqx56J3K7PY3hkf5uPNEirJ3ei5nR9rCGkiqsOYIZ9dbU02sqKP5N6OWAHdqjcsLCZc4r8HmfeFlkyGTD5D9eTZfpeC5bR8N9-VEcYNegkQ-Q1sV4vTrAkbrAQz2BEOqSiNWwsispWUo2jSWbv-_Jx/s1233/map.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1233" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXQ5eD7RTNiWThizkEdi_9L8iXqAAo8kDOlkqx56J3K7PY3hkf5uPNEirJ3ei5nR9rCGkiqsOYIZ9dbU02sqKP5N6OWAHdqjcsLCZc4r8HmfeFlkyGTD5D9eTZfpeC5bR8N9-VEcYNegkQ-Q1sV4vTrAkbrAQz2BEOqSiNWwsispWUo2jSWbv-_Jx/w400-h268/map.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yellow-throated Sparrow distribution map from <a href="https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/chspet1/cur/introduction">Birds of the World</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Then it was up to Mt. Hermon. It felt very wintery up on the mountain - cold and overcast with slight drizzle. The lower, forested reaches of the mountains were packed with cool breeding birds, including Western Rock Nutjatch, Sombre Tit, Upcher's Warbler and Syrian Serin. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Upcher's Warbler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAibt88MBXw-rE_idBBlU0AVtT3afTQ4Sl8TJrGLcpck1_oRR1wJsJfQVo2inr7MfL_yNwAG0nEfTIjRZ8yjoH8F6kpJUico4qN13I4byWNEBJjAg1T3Xy8sFU28m9YWcfrWRe7LT96p271F1GtPeReR3k-mkCF3WMnAqSFW-kqSJV-yc1xz4-i4I1/s2000/upcher's%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAibt88MBXw-rE_idBBlU0AVtT3afTQ4Sl8TJrGLcpck1_oRR1wJsJfQVo2inr7MfL_yNwAG0nEfTIjRZ8yjoH8F6kpJUico4qN13I4byWNEBJjAg1T3Xy8sFU28m9YWcfrWRe7LT96p271F1GtPeReR3k-mkCF3WMnAqSFW-kqSJV-yc1xz4-i4I1/w400-h266/upcher's%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family party of Sombre tits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEwLEEdC4R1wX-vEiF0UWC4SIur72tLU9ExlOR4YvhBdzOqrBhIMwKRiClzoRskDDsvIP9s_k640vEKpkJW-GXnG01o93LroDaSI4g2rtkH1t1B_Z-D92Kv-yrrJsKi1hmXfn-jksNZJTp2lebMIxorBh3vIAHtg1hhgUQUdTSbxmrJvmVKNsUL9/s2000/sobre%20tit2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrEwLEEdC4R1wX-vEiF0UWC4SIur72tLU9ExlOR4YvhBdzOqrBhIMwKRiClzoRskDDsvIP9s_k640vEKpkJW-GXnG01o93LroDaSI4g2rtkH1t1B_Z-D92Kv-yrrJsKi1hmXfn-jksNZJTp2lebMIxorBh3vIAHtg1hhgUQUdTSbxmrJvmVKNsUL9/w400-h266/sobre%20tit2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Male Eastern Orphean Warbler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvV1jr_OQhEOFtS04LfJcZj7_qGnHORJmQy2vQmeiNIojueCc-tDAVhvY6cITrdoMapDKx8IWmfFwPSqg2lcMx1q2c9koOjC6yXFeWqJwE6M0VDesomdpfTPLxtFljys8CWg8Fvjk7KmWIHHl5QY3bcYg-EW8ivhrOxySwGR56kCvrzFE1JWWoFX-D/s2000/eastern%20orphean%20warbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvV1jr_OQhEOFtS04LfJcZj7_qGnHORJmQy2vQmeiNIojueCc-tDAVhvY6cITrdoMapDKx8IWmfFwPSqg2lcMx1q2c9koOjC6yXFeWqJwE6M0VDesomdpfTPLxtFljys8CWg8Fvjk7KmWIHHl5QY3bcYg-EW8ivhrOxySwGR56kCvrzFE1JWWoFX-D/w400-h266/eastern%20orphean%20warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="383" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/579142261/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By the time we made our way to the upper level of the mountain, the weather had cleared up and it became a glorious day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwky2zRFw6wYbALHuXv-Q-20TiZXfHbt-Ec32ukhDa89Ka0oql_y91ZkQbmhcFiGE8VzpMM8iCKMtD_KpeEh3kTGuGUtPu7AWoepo2Kne2JxM4sromMrd8c152z0sOomyh2BBew8C4fwYo9x5gZgC-VvnbeKIvqM7shewp4-2Ua4boG52XmGkse_Cy/s2500/1685437212992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwky2zRFw6wYbALHuXv-Q-20TiZXfHbt-Ec32ukhDa89Ka0oql_y91ZkQbmhcFiGE8VzpMM8iCKMtD_KpeEh3kTGuGUtPu7AWoepo2Kne2JxM4sromMrd8c152z0sOomyh2BBew8C4fwYo9x5gZgC-VvnbeKIvqM7shewp4-2Ua4boG52XmGkse_Cy/w400-h180/1685437212992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Birds were very active, and in the short time we were up there we saw almost all distinctive breeding species - White-throated Robin at three spots, Asian Crimson-winged Finches, Pale Rockfinch, Black-necklaced Horned Larks and even a pale-morph Eleonora's Falcon. Quite a productive birding session. I was busy so little time for photography, and the light was very harsh.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Horned Lark feeding on a small patch of dirty snow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWnZ0Ns27QrxNq2bzFmw_OB-CA4EKvFcj_ugA2cfxKossWuOW7-Jlr8NczzVGtPuXTWLCknUM_JmsGp5V8ut24fJUBlEXrUQ3KSDNdYU0Gf45uijdjMrAkCQPwQi5RK5RpuPxpaFeQGVonTRsb-KXCtC6upeAXNw9DwDRFrVBgFuYGT-CBtEMuvMT/s2000/horned%20lark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWnZ0Ns27QrxNq2bzFmw_OB-CA4EKvFcj_ugA2cfxKossWuOW7-Jlr8NczzVGtPuXTWLCknUM_JmsGp5V8ut24fJUBlEXrUQ3KSDNdYU0Gf45uijdjMrAkCQPwQi5RK5RpuPxpaFeQGVonTRsb-KXCtC6upeAXNw9DwDRFrVBgFuYGT-CBtEMuvMT/w400-h266/horned%20lark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wood Larks were hyperactive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMtGiHDyfJtVR5camacV24d3C1lk53QuMG_vyH2kwgx3NZSQj4qGhtd0yO6qaqUxyjvl3gCKgiSmKMZ0Zhp1QnzI5HJva_YX8SFC6vJMLNfwFRXIDLLc5FaC9uRwBXsqUqTnhccPNf1QwPjDmO1wnzObJ2hEH6x-g_nmrM40V7HCsRBPw-Kp7CEms/s2000/wood%20lark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMtGiHDyfJtVR5camacV24d3C1lk53QuMG_vyH2kwgx3NZSQj4qGhtd0yO6qaqUxyjvl3gCKgiSmKMZ0Zhp1QnzI5HJva_YX8SFC6vJMLNfwFRXIDLLc5FaC9uRwBXsqUqTnhccPNf1QwPjDmO1wnzObJ2hEH6x-g_nmrM40V7HCsRBPw-Kp7CEms/w400-h266/wood%20lark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-39241647280974225572023-05-15T20:40:00.006+01:002023-05-15T20:42:43.038+01:00Oh Julia<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days ago a female Mediterranean Monk Seal (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Monachus monachus</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) landed on a beach just south of Tel Aviv, in Jaffa. It is <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13653/117647375">globally Endangered</a>, with less than 700 individuals left in the world, mostly in Greece and Turkey. This is the third modern record in </span>Israel<span style="font-family: inherit;">, and the first accessible individual, so it caused huge interest nationally. It is a 16-year old female, identified according to her unique pattern of scars as an individual from Turkey, affectionately named 'Julia'. A barrier or fence was erected at a safe perimeter around her. Rangers from Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the police are guarding her 24/7. </span><a href="https://www.delphis.ngo/english" style="font-family: inherit;">Delphis</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, an NGO devoted to the conservation of marine mammals in Israel, organised a team and is using the opportunity to do important outreach with the huge crowds attracted.</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIWzguHKa8eTi2GolKA8Kv0WhpzgYR5dYFU417nP7vTe4_c4FYw5mNfImNbmwP7s-abWJgV3BwOg90s3BJHcUd99YOuTOcdz-EsqIj4PpXgOkhxq6Z27guxgMa5kxHdmj3PYYfZnfIvvYU7gmV1Y2wVXZAn3UbS28xiDRANz0_hoZQgnE0xiENpdE/s4000/1684177421325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIWzguHKa8eTi2GolKA8Kv0WhpzgYR5dYFU417nP7vTe4_c4FYw5mNfImNbmwP7s-abWJgV3BwOg90s3BJHcUd99YOuTOcdz-EsqIj4PpXgOkhxq6Z27guxgMa5kxHdmj3PYYfZnfIvvYU7gmV1Y2wVXZAn3UbS28xiDRANz0_hoZQgnE0xiENpdE/w400-h180/1684177421325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL--388-iT6TBr4aZf_QD9t6hCUkxnmPkVRndD_tsm5ZZ_PPCgMr8RaRwzTI0Tx0mDsJXoaqYc9Fxz9AIROnbOteLpvkkijCcikrITzIqdOqTWZLx12tguz4zIN-iU1IPk_Q56L_LFkHNEeLkOz-UYMYJOl_Z9L7CyPe5-tjSQF4qNIBm9-HFtQS6/s4000/1684177464304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL--388-iT6TBr4aZf_QD9t6hCUkxnmPkVRndD_tsm5ZZ_PPCgMr8RaRwzTI0Tx0mDsJXoaqYc9Fxz9AIROnbOteLpvkkijCcikrITzIqdOqTWZLx12tguz4zIN-iU1IPk_Q56L_LFkHNEeLkOz-UYMYJOl_Z9L7CyPe5-tjSQF4qNIBm9-HFtQS6/w400-h180/1684177464304.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div>I couldn't go until yesterday, but yesterday I went twice actually, in the morning with Piki and then again in the evening to broadcast live in a webinar we (BirdLife Israel) did - you can watch the recording on FB <a href="https://fb.watch/kygcLl_-UB/">here</a>. </div><div>It was wonderful and very emotional to see such a rare mammal in Israel - we don't have many marine mammals here, and it was my first Israeli seal. She did very little - she started her fur moult process so she is full of fat and just lying there on the beach, possibly for a few more days or even weeks. She turned around and sneezed a few times, that's the most action we saw of her.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXzZ7eL9jjtbswRaTLtNQJ_45OyDE9s5zun-51wH719aejffcuBTzmnJ-04xSR-pChUS8nHLMCzuoeJwLW7WgCoQruNX-b72dk-Jz2NbPF7SEov61SV6F2SHa89LuT-d-Z8YSoTNBme73u7OqtkhEFKEeZHXX7JoWmXEH1kIWw_fVH2qqGs36ntx/s2000/mediterranean%20monk%20seal1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiXzZ7eL9jjtbswRaTLtNQJ_45OyDE9s5zun-51wH719aejffcuBTzmnJ-04xSR-pChUS8nHLMCzuoeJwLW7WgCoQruNX-b72dk-Jz2NbPF7SEov61SV6F2SHa89LuT-d-Z8YSoTNBme73u7OqtkhEFKEeZHXX7JoWmXEH1kIWw_fVH2qqGs36ntx/w400-h266/mediterranean%20monk%20seal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuczd823DT5inwH6OTHkpWJhAE0Rx6fQJSsLckjBmxoP0ivjfu_QYy4Uh3UtUg80t2nwSifoLBiKMBDmdtK_4DMDly0GJr7z23Uq259TLr_SUEDweXMhxFF1SMy-VVXrbMNr8LLNLy8OnKJcXam7VGEdb9D-pu_aVF3YRgauS75tlp2LxexZFrQ62/s2000/mediterranean%20monk%20seal2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuczd823DT5inwH6OTHkpWJhAE0Rx6fQJSsLckjBmxoP0ivjfu_QYy4Uh3UtUg80t2nwSifoLBiKMBDmdtK_4DMDly0GJr7z23Uq259TLr_SUEDweXMhxFF1SMy-VVXrbMNr8LLNLy8OnKJcXam7VGEdb9D-pu_aVF3YRgauS75tlp2LxexZFrQ62/w400-h266/mediterranean%20monk%20seal2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm5bvk8uvtcQOH9ngAWZyPo6pP9OPOMEkbg_8_ZyqMyRutcb0cHZHthG2pUL5G9wo1Vont1s1_gout6aES4o1egnpENlf0MCuJpBZ3EF2_o1m8gLGvP8-tplsKh0hw4e5gAgfGvNoFLCkN4c-ey9MAQiXwjO4_jjUwmlAolaA1HBv7WoRyMu4gj1V/s2000/mediterranean%20monk%20seal3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm5bvk8uvtcQOH9ngAWZyPo6pP9OPOMEkbg_8_ZyqMyRutcb0cHZHthG2pUL5G9wo1Vont1s1_gout6aES4o1egnpENlf0MCuJpBZ3EF2_o1m8gLGvP8-tplsKh0hw4e5gAgfGvNoFLCkN4c-ey9MAQiXwjO4_jjUwmlAolaA1HBv7WoRyMu4gj1V/w400-h266/mediterranean%20monk%20seal3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='400' height='333' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyT3dL72DpcyINwXl7bRuO7dcmzifgBnhpgb6Nx7JYtHj-wlSKf2fBDhmIyA_ylkzaX2PvwDbhJ12waBOK9Hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Distant Cory's Shearwaters (Scopoli's I assume) were the only birds of note.</div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-45270347979209526612023-05-14T11:39:00.002+01:002023-05-14T12:59:14.721+01:00Global Big Day May 2023<p>Yesterday was Global Big Day, organised by <a href="https://ebird.org/home">eBird</a>, part of <a href="https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/">World Migratory Bird Day</a> and <a href="https://globalbirding.org/">Global Birding Weekend</a> events. It was an unusual big day for me, because for the first time in several years I didn't do a proper big day - I had a good reason though (see below). Also, our third team member Re'a made a bunk, so it was just Jonathan and me. We decided to spend the morning around birdy Kfar Ruppin - possibly the most productive place to spend a morning birding this time of year, when migration is dwindling here. Hey World Migratory Bird Day and eBird - please shift the date one week earlier (first weekend of May rather than second) so more southerly countries could enjoy good migration too. Thanks!</p><p>We left early, Jonathan did his story things, and we arrived at Kfar Ruppin nice and early, in time for a good coffee and fresh dawn birding. Kfar Ruppin fishponds, where we have our restoration project with the kibbutz, are so amazing. This specific reservoir has held low water levels, and amazing bird levels, for several months now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOTpmA_i6csAWrONgs7k2HUD7asMwohp6ax_JETQAvmF1DofxInssvHZmb25odVRE__Fb_pnT7dC6GAd98kh67ZIBTeJ6WzsfZk5lXQtJljcDelS3jyk9u5kPDiuJzpSeCLFWdxvMMiBZB8NEbi0FqZebIpOmnmjoQ7y3uYElmv-5MVod3B0oWLAT/s693/wake%20up.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="408" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOTpmA_i6csAWrONgs7k2HUD7asMwohp6ax_JETQAvmF1DofxInssvHZmb25odVRE__Fb_pnT7dC6GAd98kh67ZIBTeJ6WzsfZk5lXQtJljcDelS3jyk9u5kPDiuJzpSeCLFWdxvMMiBZB8NEbi0FqZebIpOmnmjoQ7y3uYElmv-5MVod3B0oWLAT/w235-h400/wake%20up.PNG" width="235" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZGmsWMZq7dcAjvJsscjRfq6qCf_GPnQqURq2A2a9f_ztNwkHocX_H01RNoftbc_3_HtROaryH8M-wb0fQs10vznkKJNILJpakhJYa94PvHBF1-toxhA11Tr_8-nxOgYR0giAK7RQ93d3qcVcfnQfZeMOCO8r-jLfLzrY0B3710QHpoC_2_7aYbh/s622/coffee.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZGmsWMZq7dcAjvJsscjRfq6qCf_GPnQqURq2A2a9f_ztNwkHocX_H01RNoftbc_3_HtROaryH8M-wb0fQs10vznkKJNILJpakhJYa94PvHBF1-toxhA11Tr_8-nxOgYR0giAK7RQ93d3qcVcfnQfZeMOCO8r-jLfLzrY0B3710QHpoC_2_7aYbh/w271-h400/coffee.PNG" width="271" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.swarovskioptik.com/int/en/birding">Swarovski Optik</a> gear put into good use</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweb9gEyrJfKNXTGEqWawcJ6285d1szloaN0Z5Vy2YMs5wUDN8CNv-Q7h6CvYe1ECALneqBP8Xulh-RPMioC2e7CHLqsRlnQXMB-YUBIYWtm249hlsWIamDnP_ZVzhyIyuMEvSYUfQsPW8L9xVIQVjp81aOTSxZLJdfLHvS-nHjAC-CBPT-QMA-oS0/s3054/jm2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3054" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweb9gEyrJfKNXTGEqWawcJ6285d1szloaN0Z5Vy2YMs5wUDN8CNv-Q7h6CvYe1ECALneqBP8Xulh-RPMioC2e7CHLqsRlnQXMB-YUBIYWtm249hlsWIamDnP_ZVzhyIyuMEvSYUfQsPW8L9xVIQVjp81aOTSxZLJdfLHvS-nHjAC-CBPT-QMA-oS0/w400-h236/jm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>That specific reservoir had so many birds, both in numbers and species richness - it was great to simply be there and take it all in. We bumped into another Jonathan, Yonatan Gordon, and his dad. Yonatan is a super keen, sharp-eyed and excellent teenaged birder - he already is a hotshot and will surely lead the Israel birding community in the future. Yonatan jumped into our car and joined us for the rest of the morning, while his dad got a couple of hours off... Back to the birds, the muddy edges had hundreds of shorebirds, mostly Little Stints and Ringed Plovers spiced up with Broad-billed, Curlew and Temminck's Sands; Whiskered and White-winged Terns flying gracefully over the water; Marbled and Ferruginous Ducks swimming; Little Crake, Little Bitterns and acros in the reeds. Bliss. Listen to the soundtrack in these rubbish videos I took.<div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/571285201/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/571283961/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>eBird checklist for Kfar Ruppin fishponds <a href="https://ebird.org/atlasilps/checklist/S137317276">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>We checked a few more sites around Kfar Ruppin, including our restored wetland at Amud Reservoir - good stuff there included singing Common Nightingales, and Rollers displaying over their breeding cliff. Check the background sound here too.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/571283081/embed" width="320"></iframe><br /><p>The morning ended too quickly and we had to drive back home, adding some random stuff on the way back. Our morning total was 97 species, poor for a big day but quite OK (I think) for a concentrated four-hour effort. Had we done a full big day, that would have been a decent start.</p><p>The reason I headed back so early, abruptly cutting short my big day effort, had to be dramatic. I headed back for the premiere of a new documentary movie, Observation Diary, part of the documentary movie festival <a href="https://www.docaviv.co.il/2023-en/films/observation-diary/">Doc Aviv</a>. It's a beautiful movie, created and directed by the talented Itay Marom. The movie follows the birding diaries of the late Amit Geffen, a young and talented birder whom I had the honour and pleasure to guide, mentor and work with until he passed away in 2007, at the tender age of 21. I was fortunate to participate in the movie, and there is even lovely footage of my late dog Bamba, out birding with me. Several friends - Nadav, Yael, Nimrod and others also take part in the movie. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0cxv_eByjoYzz-FGbXOALY9w-Q-E208gS1qCuHkZWvLCD6V6XWX7hJrO7DjoBam6P2Foe9-_29flgooqKG-VauqVn1I84WP88ZSFHEsoKMEaTaWPc7pvq5sX0syC5Er7Hrdoae5IeYRRgo_G5kUSlna6OMebNK9z5t_hq3OXHq1_4_W8-3HncQLv/s1895/docaviv.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1895" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0cxv_eByjoYzz-FGbXOALY9w-Q-E208gS1qCuHkZWvLCD6V6XWX7hJrO7DjoBam6P2Foe9-_29flgooqKG-VauqVn1I84WP88ZSFHEsoKMEaTaWPc7pvq5sX0syC5Er7Hrdoae5IeYRRgo_G5kUSlna6OMebNK9z5t_hq3OXHq1_4_W8-3HncQLv/w400-h183/docaviv.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><p>The premiere was awesome - it was a powerful experience, to share the experience with so many people. Everyone involved in the movie were very excited - I have so much appreciation and gratitude towards Itay, Idit and their team for giving me the opportunity to take part in such a beautiful project. This is Udi, Amit's dad, and me at the premiere - photo taken by my son Uri.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCFEYfyKn0k7Et8vEh_yEfQCdQXeb2v-nNtXT9HtI2ZtYdh7weKDssZlUGCV7IpCeR6L4RHQdc8oxcTjPbkSoK52WPFbzk1su9adawXMEMikUF_Pl5-KCRTJv-XMLOD5PAhOFQAoLvzhURuFo5BTu56j07cCI6iwbXnfAvV9b7x9ZRSm8n-gKgsME/s2862/1684059621526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="2862" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCFEYfyKn0k7Et8vEh_yEfQCdQXeb2v-nNtXT9HtI2ZtYdh7weKDssZlUGCV7IpCeR6L4RHQdc8oxcTjPbkSoK52WPFbzk1su9adawXMEMikUF_Pl5-KCRTJv-XMLOD5PAhOFQAoLvzhURuFo5BTu56j07cCI6iwbXnfAvV9b7x9ZRSm8n-gKgsME/w400-h235/1684059621526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-59963507405644461722023-05-05T13:45:00.001+01:002023-05-05T13:45:27.494+01:00My favourite bird?<p>I often get asked what is my favourite bird. As a professional birder, I find this question impossible to answer. I appreciate a Willow Warbler as much as I appreciate a Wandering Albatross. I find Garden Warbler to be a very pretty bird, just as pretty as a European Bee-eater. Trying to understand the unique ecological position of each and every species in the complex web of life on earth, every organism has its role and importance. Further, I think I comprehend some of the huge challenges birds are facing, whether they are long-distance migrants or residents. However, there are a few species that I have dedicated more time to study and understand them better, and protect them. Nubian Nightjar is one of those species. Not sure whether I can call it my favourite birds - certainly it's the bird species I know most intimately, and have invested most time on. Admittedly, it's a very fine bird.</p><p>Since I studied the Sdom Saltmarsh Nubian Nightjars for my MSc research at Ben Gurion University in 2004-2006, I have been deeply involved in the conservation of their habitat. I am very proud that as a result of a concentrated team effort, most of the remaining habitat of the species' stronghold, in Sdom Saltmarsh, has recently been declared as a nature reserve, and will remain protected forever, I hope. </p><p>My current job as director of BirdLife Israel includes significant managerial components. However, I kept some fieldwork components in my job, especially in projects or areas that are most important to me. Such is the Nubian Nightjar monitoring that I do every year around this period, around a full moon, trying to assess the population status of the threatened species. </p><p>Last night was part 1 of my monitoring effort in Sdom Saltmarsh. I headed down with Rotem, a keen young birder who is starting to work with us. Before dusk we had time for a quick look at Ashalim Reservoir. It was too dark for photography but the birds were active and it was fun. Seven African Swamphens, including two recently-fledged young, first families of Ferruginous Ducks, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, a large roost of Sand Martins - I love this site, even before the Sooty Falcons return.</p><p>After dusk we started working, counting nightjars that are super active when the moon is strong, like last night. Conditions were perfect - very powerful moonlight, warm temperatures, very still, good flying insect activity. We covered about half of the relevant habitat, and counted 71 vocal males! I cannot be certain that these 71 vocal males represent 71 active breeding territories - in fact we had visual contact with only a handful of nightjars. One of them did pose briefly - super nice. Check that superb rufous collar.</p><p>At some points we found a very high density - up to six birds vocalising around us. I will complete the second half of habitat soon to conclude the numbers for 2023. However, with the current density, I assume the numbers will be similar to the <a href="http://birds.org.il/en/article/article-yoav-perlman-nubian-nightjar-june-2020">high numbers recorded in 2020</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nubian Nightjar, Sdom Saltmarsh NR, Israel, 4 May 2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhiqkreZx_rdOhMFMMJxDtrKToaliqH7jHjz1x2yJ61ZWdPlqbDATP_NEJHxovz7d7DeImQR88Ek8HR3dFGJS-B4_nzVHdIokaZevtJCu3UkVPUYiUoN75J2p-cFWSDlnmABLnhbGeNSgXb3O2MguW7vDrIgykMMayK3mC8g27SadAs-tMJ8dwqwa/s2000/nubian%20nightjar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhiqkreZx_rdOhMFMMJxDtrKToaliqH7jHjz1x2yJ61ZWdPlqbDATP_NEJHxovz7d7DeImQR88Ek8HR3dFGJS-B4_nzVHdIokaZevtJCu3UkVPUYiUoN75J2p-cFWSDlnmABLnhbGeNSgXb3O2MguW7vDrIgykMMayK3mC8g27SadAs-tMJ8dwqwa/w400-h266/nubian%20nightjar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Other random birds we had during the night were singing Scops Owl, Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin and Little Bittern. We also encountered Porcupine, Wild Boar, Golden Jackal and Cape Hare.</p><p>Thanks Rotem for the hard work!</p>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2891403197049817523.post-68269735445618741302023-04-12T14:12:00.000+01:002023-04-12T14:12:29.397+01:00Recent stuff<p>It's peak spring migration here in Israel now. With unstable weather, birds are blown in different directions and it is exciting just to be out there and witness migration. I have nothing too major to report, but over the last few days some decent stuff accumulated on my hard drive that is worth sharing here.</p><p>Last Wednesday (April 5th) I had time only for a quick early-morning birding session. So I opted for a circuit of Hulda Reservoir with Piki - our regular shared session few minutes away from home. Piki always complains that I start too early, I always complain that he's lazy, eventually we meet halfway. That morning I had time to listen out for active migrants and cook coffee by the time Piki arrived. Birding expectations weren't huge because water levels at the reservoir are very high currently, meaning there's little space for mud-loving waterbirds. We were pleasantly surprised when two minutes after we started walking a small passerine jumped up from the path in front of us, gave a thin 'tick' call and perched on the fence. We both exclaimed simultaneously (more or less 😉) - Little Bunting! We rattled off a few quick photos:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtn4ByBhl8XQ-DgXQl0coQ0oFU-725TqTz_jveNGiVFgcfgsN6aDV1j76uS-lUYfCYxY5bYSH-xot-bz-IithVQfXH2mT2GBTRdSMXMs1zqjLo01gOe9KUibNpqAKJkmMXN3s9tRMISUrl9Rh9TDWFqrb2EaXZC7ofYF2SdUuTVdr1UgarRsNkPDG/s2000/little%20bunting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtn4ByBhl8XQ-DgXQl0coQ0oFU-725TqTz_jveNGiVFgcfgsN6aDV1j76uS-lUYfCYxY5bYSH-xot-bz-IithVQfXH2mT2GBTRdSMXMs1zqjLo01gOe9KUibNpqAKJkmMXN3s9tRMISUrl9Rh9TDWFqrb2EaXZC7ofYF2SdUuTVdr1UgarRsNkPDG/w400-h266/little%20bunting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Then the petite bunting flew past us and landed to forage on the path again for a couple of minutes before being chased off by a badass territorial Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (you can hear it singing in the background of the video below). The poor bunting flew up and away and we lost it far in the distance to the south, never to be seen again. Sweet.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="327" src="https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/553706541/embed" width="320"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Nice to have Turtle Doves back, already in display flight over their territories:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsPlLF5gr-7axe0a2ttXDG4k_V2LHjq7aAgW7X-PJkEVwIm9p43aFNXjBGFbWMbb7drzg8Auzw8_aZzLUXXJ3kouPjhXoQSifrm7vowwvUadMqKvsJnJdRdlziARkZ_USvC8jjOrOkQQ64YvKcu0Wy8JxPfqSJidOX6TYEl7C0roP9ph_8iGAA0Po/s2000/turtle%20dove1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsPlLF5gr-7axe0a2ttXDG4k_V2LHjq7aAgW7X-PJkEVwIm9p43aFNXjBGFbWMbb7drzg8Auzw8_aZzLUXXJ3kouPjhXoQSifrm7vowwvUadMqKvsJnJdRdlziARkZ_USvC8jjOrOkQQ64YvKcu0Wy8JxPfqSJidOX6TYEl7C0roP9ph_8iGAA0Po/w400-h266/turtle%20dove1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCj7q1ejBPPQ1LS4bC_6NOfQdeJqmOv0hemgnXTbgREA5bP_A269b30Ff3ZEIWGi-srvIjF9I_bJ2surHLlACy1h0LJK9Ku2voa5gYsE4xG9RopxN3jP0lAO-VRkin1DbDmB_UFO__8J7Aj3TzwJYPSJ-SzpmEw314grj2R2mCaP23-lQmXnpMeNC/s2000/turtle%20dove2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCj7q1ejBPPQ1LS4bC_6NOfQdeJqmOv0hemgnXTbgREA5bP_A269b30Ff3ZEIWGi-srvIjF9I_bJ2surHLlACy1h0LJK9Ku2voa5gYsE4xG9RopxN3jP0lAO-VRkin1DbDmB_UFO__8J7Aj3TzwJYPSJ-SzpmEw314grj2R2mCaP23-lQmXnpMeNC/w400-h266/turtle%20dove2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Eventually it was quite a productive morning - eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/atlasilps/checklist/S132742323">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>A weekend in Tel Aviv to celebrate my wife's birthday meant a couple of early-morning sessions in local Tel Aviv sites. Hatzuk beach was fairly quiet (eBird checklist <a href="https://ebird.org/atlasilps/checklist/S133015254">here</a>) but there's always interest in watching migrants on the edge of the big smoke. </div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">European Bee-eater cuteness and top-class wildlife narration, this morning in Tel Aviv. <a href="https://t.co/wwrx1YEijh">pic.twitter.com/wwrx1YEijh</a></p>— Yoav Perlman (@yoavperlman) <a href="https://twitter.com/yoavperlman/status/1644718099218702337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div>Next day I checked Hayarkon Park that runs through the city center, including Rosh Tzipor and the adjacent Rock Park. Rosh Tzipor held a Little Crake and a Little Bittern:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIJ-ABvGwFHUWNvwImWXzn1GuDKcrZaXBkYptUWintaYDA0FCYDmn4hCGQPWCuz4swTTZPbz5LnUSAJU6wGqQGpszTQWo0BaOLRt_sizbV5UWEat5GIucaeIIkGxmp73I9Xq-A_9xkqmPszjCfIAbIV5b0R13yFZyaNE5A0d8WGMh4azhvSdmILcF/s2000/little%20crake2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIJ-ABvGwFHUWNvwImWXzn1GuDKcrZaXBkYptUWintaYDA0FCYDmn4hCGQPWCuz4swTTZPbz5LnUSAJU6wGqQGpszTQWo0BaOLRt_sizbV5UWEat5GIucaeIIkGxmp73I9Xq-A_9xkqmPszjCfIAbIV5b0R13yFZyaNE5A0d8WGMh4azhvSdmILcF/w400-h266/little%20crake2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBJnQyACo-No4btQA9ssWkzPeVKUBMIQfMeTE0JFtCfuhBzvAWTJUBvvVw64knbSUxVa81eZXo9JGEexq8a05GTBsVnoDwRHYLk_8mKT_n7VsDkO8ZiT011Oon_gxcUe_2p84gHqLVEtlKz7VgBpsFauoP7kjCXfmg6GhIX3KBKlgtw3fF5M_gQrp/s2000/little%20bittern2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBJnQyACo-No4btQA9ssWkzPeVKUBMIQfMeTE0JFtCfuhBzvAWTJUBvvVw64knbSUxVa81eZXo9JGEexq8a05GTBsVnoDwRHYLk_8mKT_n7VsDkO8ZiT011Oon_gxcUe_2p84gHqLVEtlKz7VgBpsFauoP7kjCXfmg6GhIX3KBKlgtw3fF5M_gQrp/w400-h266/little%20bittern2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Common Kingfisher is the most cliché bird in the world, yet it is irresistible when posed nicely:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bz72wg5AXw4yC2eHrpA1lJbpUmdhuhScO-K0S4hFnRCTSpEmG0jnjzgfPRB59Tj3TYxmMqBKcLunTZoWTiJYPt-sjUCBA0V2p0CEzG2Z4lTeSj4_61hsla6d9lqof9XjY_TFk89RZs-vyCLRuyrcMefE8R250kmYU6Hc9kBpEjIQdPrGMC5k5U8g/s2000/kingfisher1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bz72wg5AXw4yC2eHrpA1lJbpUmdhuhScO-K0S4hFnRCTSpEmG0jnjzgfPRB59Tj3TYxmMqBKcLunTZoWTiJYPt-sjUCBA0V2p0CEzG2Z4lTeSj4_61hsla6d9lqof9XjY_TFk89RZs-vyCLRuyrcMefE8R250kmYU6Hc9kBpEjIQdPrGMC5k5U8g/w400-h266/kingfisher1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Golden Jackals are a prominent feature of Hayarkon Park. They are abundant there, and very accustomed to humans and their dogs - a somewhat surreal coexistence in the middle of the city.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingdmj6GOsJmJyAmmwaSw6MgWsXcIprYB3HjiSmJb0mNvSUOGXVlEBmWFgAu5ymVQnbegEwzekvtdT3xV8imEpUwHXX5WImYubUVB2iCbuveYS7BMBQToDnlUzUfD54_-h7fpujT2FMb3qQR9stNs92G0t-gk10rDWnMChaOTZdnXBRyyCKGkWcxNX/s2000/golden%20jackal1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingdmj6GOsJmJyAmmwaSw6MgWsXcIprYB3HjiSmJb0mNvSUOGXVlEBmWFgAu5ymVQnbegEwzekvtdT3xV8imEpUwHXX5WImYubUVB2iCbuveYS7BMBQToDnlUzUfD54_-h7fpujT2FMb3qQR9stNs92G0t-gk10rDWnMChaOTZdnXBRyyCKGkWcxNX/w400-h266/golden%20jackal1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one is called 'Sexy Ear'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJbL4sS3dJmqIqB6akJU7UZlSaEktjzSDZmjwLXaeluyL54HR36nhKAW89Yh9c0AHQaX2_dISbZK4RhBZOjmr12b97Ye8eb3chZKfw8TYf6sPOMsWV4YO1mg6n8UTxMI225O9KC5EPLc4D8OhtsxkKYbzH0oOG8YDJzWd1jafSv5vhyr2kYRzO8F/s2000/golden%20jackal2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJbL4sS3dJmqIqB6akJU7UZlSaEktjzSDZmjwLXaeluyL54HR36nhKAW89Yh9c0AHQaX2_dISbZK4RhBZOjmr12b97Ye8eb3chZKfw8TYf6sPOMsWV4YO1mg6n8UTxMI225O9KC5EPLc4D8OhtsxkKYbzH0oOG8YDJzWd1jafSv5vhyr2kYRzO8F/w400-h266/golden%20jackal2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf4iRo2dOE1OWlJArc-aFDB43G3qyiS4PbF0uxbqfgRkb4GhRPTXiMON7WDrqZx8zEGinS0z6fakWicSqbf2dLP3RjXAiTc0IiGQHml2B6vLOJBs8azmxzGVjhly4pN-yEmlLqFE7LJpJhDh4jcLS4xerRpwRC6ZFfY9U3Oh9arm57O5Be8b8uLXY/s2000/golden%20jackal3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf4iRo2dOE1OWlJArc-aFDB43G3qyiS4PbF0uxbqfgRkb4GhRPTXiMON7WDrqZx8zEGinS0z6fakWicSqbf2dLP3RjXAiTc0IiGQHml2B6vLOJBs8azmxzGVjhly4pN-yEmlLqFE7LJpJhDh4jcLS4xerRpwRC6ZFfY9U3Oh9arm57O5Be8b8uLXY/w400-h266/golden%20jackal3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yes, oh yes, right there... Ooohhh so gooood...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FVafpQgpVVUEJqxF96vJdEL2Ua_KnwljK5lhSta-O1zoIQmX8NmqI3BnYWrAqmaOzlzByk_pcu6Q573y4cSVGISH33PPbqgPn1SkU6aagCfc-F-dbR0TVys_-kxzNjOXY-SVRpa4D4BQKgiUu8CMbEFSIaKS-IjOfTcjqdJPS0ZPeyLyQucM2e9z/s2000/golden%20jackal4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FVafpQgpVVUEJqxF96vJdEL2Ua_KnwljK5lhSta-O1zoIQmX8NmqI3BnYWrAqmaOzlzByk_pcu6Q573y4cSVGISH33PPbqgPn1SkU6aagCfc-F-dbR0TVys_-kxzNjOXY-SVRpa4D4BQKgiUu8CMbEFSIaKS-IjOfTcjqdJPS0ZPeyLyQucM2e9z/w400-h266/golden%20jackal4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>On Monday I joined a large public event SPNI held up in the Golan Heights, promoting public action to halt disastrous plans that threaten the wild beauty of the Golan Heights. I picked up Nadav from his home in the Hula Valley. What can I do that the shortest way up to the Golan Heights drives through the fields north of the Agamon, where a Demoiselle Crane has been hanging around?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="453" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=338&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyoav.perlman%2Fvideos%2F573549657898091%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Yoav Perlmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573947203380265081noreply@blogger.com0