Fieldfare reflection

Yesterday while spending some time at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, I enjoyed great views of a pretty Fieldfare that came in for a drink at the pond. At the far end of the pond, it was just too distant for proper photography. With a cluttered background, the only pleasing option for photography was to utilize the reflection from the pond.

With a local friend

Fieldfare is quite scarce in Israel, and not often such showy individuals allow quality time.

Wheatear-fest

This morning I birded with Meidad in the far south. We started birding the purple patch of Upper Wadi Hayun, which is practically the northern end of Ovda Valley. This section of the valley is lush and green after some rain a few weeks ago.

This productivity attracts caterpillar-eating birds, and indeed wheatear densities were exceptionally high. White-crowned, Mourning and Black-tailed (AKA Blackstart) Wheatears were present in unusually big numbers. Among the rare wheatears, first up was the Kurdish Wheatear found a few days ago, a fine 1cy male. Very nice plumage, but he didn't want to play ball. When we first found him, he flew towards us, as if checking whether we had mealworms on offer. We didn't, so he kept his distance and was usually in a bad angle. Yet, a great bird to watch.

Only a short way up the wadi we had a Basalt Wheatear, one of three currently present in Ovda Valley. Like Mr. Kurdish, he was disappointed that we did not provide any free protein, and punished us with relatively distant views and very skittish behaviour. Unlike some previous Basalt Wheatear fashion-show experiences (see here for example), this guy (he was singing) did not allow me proper photography. 

Note the diagnostic pale tips to primary coverts:

I got some semi-decent flight shots though, demonstrating the white wing flashes (especially prominent on underwing) and full terminal tail band. Quality bird, rubbish photographer.

Not too many birds besides the wheatear bonanza. Asian Desert Warbler, Fieldfare and Merlin worth noting. eBird checklist here.

We then continued to check the central Ovda valley, near the 'black hills' Somewhat quieter, but some Temminck's and Bar-tailed Larks were nice. On the way home checked the lower section of Wadi Hayun, where it meets the Arava valley. It was pretty damn quiet there (eBird checklist here), with another Asian Desert Warbler being one of the few birds seen.

Thanks to Meidad for a great day.

Sibe Accentor

Like half of the UK, I left home early with my Norwich mates Dave, Phil and Mikee and headed towards Spurn. Thanks to road closures on the A16 we got there about an hour after dawn. During the first hour when we were still on the road there was positive news of the bird but negative news about the scene - the words 'henious' and 'carnage' were used by some people on site broadcasting back to us. But when we got there we found the scene exceptionally well run by Spurn Bird Observatory staff and volunteers. We got on the bird quickly and it showed so well, as mega rarities always should. What a stunning little bird.

It was in fact a lifer for me - I guess for many others too.  At first the light was poor, so after we had our first satisfying views we decided to do some birding and return later if the light improves. Birding at Spurn was not easy today. An estimated 1400 birders dispersed into the limited birding sites of the peninsula. I felt rather claustrophobic with all the birders around. But it was fabulous nonetheless. The were tons of birds about - constant movement of birds in the air and on the ground. Mainly thrushes - literally thousands of Redwing (including Icelandics) and Song Thrushes, smaller numbers of Fieldfare and few Ring Ouzels. Some fields were just carpeted with thrushes. Many hundreds of Goldcrests and Robins in the bushes too.

 I love Fieldfares

There was a good choice of other juicy rarities about - Several Dusky Warblers, Pallas's Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, a few Little Buntings. But I tried to stay away from the CROWDS and avoided seeing those rarities. I didn't see much myself but enjoyed birding very much. We did have what might have been a new Little Bunting, and heard one Yellow-browed Warbler, added Sibe Chiffchaff, Firecrest and Shore Lark, not bad.
Before heading back home rather early we went for seconds of the accentor - much fewer people and I could invest just a little more in photography. Light was still shit and the bird wasn't really posing. It showed down to 5 m but was constantly feeding on the ground and never posed nicely like the Shetland bird. But I really can't complain. A great bird, and this October is a special month to be remembered.
Good to meet lots of friends on site - in fact the entire Birdfair was there. And I wanted to thank again the stellar team of Spurn Bird Observatory for their excellent job making sure that the bird is not disturbed (it didn't bother about humans at all) and that all visitors left satisfied.

The queue

The bird was in this garden in the back

Fieldfares and other bits and pieces

Drove around a bit over the last couple of days and collected some nice stuff along the way. Yesterday at Ashdod not too many gulls or shorebirds, and nothing exciting among them. Single Greater Spotted Eagle and Short-toed Eagle (late!) were nice. These two female Mountain Gazelles showed me their butts as they sped away from my car. Are they being poached in that area? They were very very shy.


Later drove to Segula to look for the Fieldfare trio found by Re'a the previous day. The first look produced nothing, but after a short lunch break found them feeding quite relaxed on the lawn. They really let me approach - I never had such good views in Israel. These guys must have come from a village or town somewhere (in Russia?) - their tame behaviour suggested that. Great to see these Israeli rarities - hopefully we will have a good winter for them (and for their black-throated cousin tooo...)

This morning I was ringing at my local site in Ashdod. It was pretty good with many chiffies, Blackcaps, Bluethroats and Robins. A couple of Spanish Sparrows were nice, and this Moustached Warbler was my first for the season. Other birds about were a Reed Bunting flying around and dodging my nets, and several Water Rails heard calling.

Moustached Warbler

Spanish Sparrow

A short afternoon visit to Tsor'a didn't produce much. This female Stonechat posed nicely against the light:

And this late Isabelline Wheatear was pretty in the warm afternoon light: