Birding in Hula Valley. 15.4.2012

We started little bit later than yesterday, but still very early we arrived to Hula Lake.
First birds were Great Reed Warbler, Chifchaf, Clamorous Reed Warbler. There were also many Nutrias feeding along the road and in the water. After little walking, we get to the first observation tower. There were many Reed Warblers, and our interest focused at one bigger bird. It had some Basra Reed Warbler! Esko got some photos but because RAW-photos, we couldn´t watch those... So we post some photos later.
We continued walking and when i was walking on a bridge, i scared some pale ducks in to the flight. After some cursing i saw ducks again in same spot and i really like what i saw! Marbled Teals!! Flock of 3 Marbleds were swimming and i got some phone scoupped photos of those.

Marbled Teals! 

After those magnificent ducks we walked to the bigger lake and there was 4 more! So 7 birds total.
Then we decided to get back where the weird reed-warbler was. This time there was Little Bittern! Again i use my magnificent cell phone and here is some pick. We leave Hula after this.

Little Bittern hiding.

Bee Eaters and Dove.

Next place where we visited was Pizza place near Hula, i tell you guys, this was good stuff!
After huge pizza we went to the Gamla reserve. Just after i slammed car door we saw two Egyptian Vultures hoovering above us and soon there was also two Short-toed Snake Eagles.
We walked to Vulture watching point and there was some birds in the air. At least 3 Griffon Vultures, 3 Egyptian Vultures, 5 Short-toed Snake Eagles. Esko got some good photos and i of course got some bad photos. Later 2 Bonelli´s Eagles landed on the cliff quite far away. Here is some pics from Gamla..

Bonelli´s Eagle far away.

Shot-toad Snake Eagle far away.

Here is one little bit closer.

After we left Gamla, we checked some areas near by. There was so hot some times that i thought i will lose my mind. Let´s see how i can handle Eilat... :)
As you can see, im now professional Phone Scoupper. If you want some tips just call my almost free number 0600 123 123. 93Euros / Min + Taxes. Jep jep.. Funny.
Oh, there comes to days car problem:

2. Air-condition SUCKS! Today was +31c what will happen when we arrived to Eilat!?!?

Best.

-Tomppa-

Mt. Hermon and other stuff. 14.4.2012

We started today at Mt. Hermon. Before that we had about hour drive and we checked few places along the way.
First longer stop was in Neve Ativ. As soon as we got out off the car, we noticed at least 4 Syrian Woodpeckers! I had few photos and it´s really different looking than Great-Spotted Woodpecker.
First we all walked around the area together. Actually hole place was first little disappointment..
We saw something like 15 Rose-Ringed Parakeets, Samamisicus Redstart, few Sardinian Warblers and so on..
After we get back to our car, everybody walked their own directions. I started from Redstart place and i saw the bird again. When i was watching it, i noticed other, much bigger bird near of it. First i was like "what the F**k is that" but then i realized, White-Throated Irania!!!! Lifer for me of course.. Sadly it was female so not that bright and good looking... Something like 12seconds after i found the bird, some guy with he´s stupid dog came and flushed the bird... I called to Jände and he and Esko came to look fot it. It not longer showed up...
Soon after this cool bird we continued our drive.

Syrian Woodpecker.

Red-rumped Swallows sitting.

Noisy stupid green bird.

Quite quick we arrived to the mountain and after payments we were sitting in a skiing lift. Landscapes were super looking and it was little bit scary to sit high in the lift.
We saw first Rock Buntings from the lifts and after 10minutes we were at the top.
Our main target this time was Crimson-winged Finch. We started to walk downhill and there was still lots of snow left. As you can ques, there was very few birds... We were, however, at an altitude of 2224m.
This number was in Hadoram Shirihais book.
First birds on slopes was super looking Semirufus Black Redstarts. Male bird if so exotic. I didn´t bring my camera there because i had my telescope so no bird photos this time. after 30min, we found more Mountain Buntings and Black Redstarts. I was thinking that we´re not going to see those Finches... This time i was wrong, luckily. Soon Jände or Esko found flock of 4 birds flying. Birds went to the bushes and we didn´t saw those anymore... Fortunately on the place were flock was, there was one bird left! And it really was Crimson-winged Finch! Second lifer for me today! Walking was really worth the effort!

Walking in snow.

After we get back to the car, we tried to find Sombre Tit, but we had no succeed.
Mt. Hermon took mostly of our day so we just drove around the places in little area.
Best sightings were something like Turtle Dove, Great-Spotted Eagle, Purple Heron, Great Cormorant and many Bee eaters.
Here is some photos from later day.

Goldfinch.

Woodchat Shrike. Phone scouped!! 

White Storks we common.

So, two lifers, lots of birds and great fun with the guys. Tomorrow we are going to Hula, so there is possibility to get some new species.
Out total species count is no 100. it´s crappy number....
Oh, almost forgot.. I write every day one problem of our rental car. Here it goes.

1. It´s Fiat.

best.

-Tomppa-

First day in Israel. 13.4.2012

I arrived this morning at the Tel-Aviv airport with Jände and Esko. After security checks and other garbage, we get our car and started our journey.
First birds were Common Mynas, Palm Doves and Yellow-vented Bulbuls of course. Today i´m too tired to tell everything but we watch birds in many places, like Mghan Michael, "jersey valley", Meron Mountain and so on.

Maghan Michael highlights were flock of Mongooses and many Night Herons. Mostly place was empty and silence. Graceful Prinia was maybe the commonest one..

Pied Kingfisher. We saw something like 25 birds.

Common Mynah.

Mongoose guy.

Adult Night Heron. Such a great looking bird.

This one wasn´t so lucky.. :( 

After Maghan Michael we drove to the Jersey Valley, witch is not the right name to this place but i don´t remember it...
Highlights were 12 Short-toed snake Eagles, 2 Great-spotted Cuckoo. We saw good numbers of Kestrels and Black Kites. Also 15 White Storks were flying over the fields.

Great-spotted Cuckoos are super birds!

Some ugly guy.

Last place was Meron Mountain, and this visit was actually only a place checking visit. There is maybe few pairs of Olive-three Warblers later, so it´s important to know where the place is.
Of course we didn´t saw these magical birds this time. but place was not empty.
Maybe 20 Black Birds were singing and one Sardinian Warbler were also active.

Total specie count is something like 83 but i check it later and tomorrow i put some numbers.
More pics and good jokes and bad stuff later tomorrow.

Best.

-Tomppa-

Finally success! 4.4.2012

Today i decided to go to Viikki where Great Grey Owl has been many days.
If you had read my blog before, you can see that i didn´t make it last time.
I promised to Sarina that i pick up her at work and give her a ride to Pasila train station. I did my duty and after that i started to drive toward Viikki.
I parked my car and quickly checked feeding place near parking lot. After few Black Birds and Blue Tits i continued my walking to the place where bird was seen earlier today. I met few birders and they gave me info that bird is sitting on the lowest tree branch very near by.
I reach the place soon and i saw the Owl sitting.
I went little bit closer and start to take photos.

Nice face.

Super bird!

Face again.

So finally SUCCESS! This was lifer for me so i was very happy!
After i enjoy this moment with Owl about 10minutes and gave it to sleep on.
I was little bit worried also. Bird let out a really close, just checked me and then turned it´s head..
Hope it can prey on and everything is okay in other ways. Many Owls died when they migrate to the south.

Best.

-Tomppa-