Last day in Israel (so far) 25.4.2012

We started our last morning very early because we had permission to join ringing session in Agamon Hula.
We arrived to the gate about 5 a clock and soon Jani Vastamäki and Hula Ringing station leader Dotan came.
Only one car was allowed to drive in so we all jumped in Dotans Car. 10minute drive and we were at ringing place. Jani and Dotan opened nets and we wait first lights for the day. In darkness we heard many species of birds but nothing new for our trip-list, mostly Reed Warblers and Great-Reed Warblers were singing.
First round at the nets gave us few Reed Warblers and that was almost everything. Quickly guys put rings to the birds and then Dotan served very good local Coffee. When sun rise´d birds were more active and second round gave us few Blackcaps, Reed Warblers, Great-Reed Warblers,Yellow-vented Bulbul and Cetti´s Warbler.

Yellow-vented Bulbul weighing.

Cetti´s Warbler was hand-tick for me. 

Mostly birds what we catch were Reed warblers and no rarities this time. Common White-Throat was last rounds new bird. Savi´s Warbler were singing behing the bushes but we didn´t get it to the net.
We had 4 hours nice time with guys and then Dotan gave us a ride to place where Black-Winged Kite should spend days. We jumped out of car quickly and somebody found amazing Kite sitting on a tree!! This was our last new specie for our trip-list and specie number 241! Also Kite was new Israeli tick for me of course.

Black-Winged Kite.

Soon Dotan took us back to the car and then out of the area. This was very nice morning, thank you Dotan and Jani for this opportunity to join you.
After we get back to the car, we drove straight back to the hotel and breakfast. 12. a clock we gave our hotel keys and left from the hotel.
Then we almost straightly drove to Tel-Aviv. We had to gave back our car and then start 6hour waiting in airport.
We had maybe the best Israel trip ever. 241 species wasn´t maximum and we miss few easy species like Dead-sea Sparrow, Spectacled Warbler, Rock Sparrow, Red-backed Shrike and so on..
I think 250-260 species is possible to see in two weeks if you have luck and many fresh eyes.
Best birds of this trip were, Crested Honey Buzzard, White-throated Robin, White-cheeked Tern, Cinereus Bunting, Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Black-Winged Kite and Crimson-winged Finch.

Thank you Jände and Esko for amazing company, Thank you Roni, Yotam, Teun, Christian, Bram, Jonathan, Barak, all people in Eilat Ringing Station and all people who some how influenced our trip. We asked earlier From Yoav Perlman about some species so thank you for that.
Hope to get back soon.
My Israeli tick are now 312 so there is still room for few species.
I got 9 lifers and Long-billed Pipit was number 500 on my Western Palearctic list. Number is no 506.

Over and out.

-Tomppa-

Nizzana magic, 24.4.2012

We started little bit before 6 and our first target was Macqueen´s Bustard. Our only notes for the Bustard was Hadoram Shirihais book with quite old info. We had 2 Bustards in same area 2008 but now we didn´t know is this a right place.
We drove some road and some times we stopped to watch desert with telescopes. The road ended soon and we had to turn back... In Hadoram Shirihais book, there is one good Bustard place, so we dropped Jände there and continued something like 1,5km with Esko. I put my telescope on and start to look. After hmmm.. maybe 1min i noticed huge Bustard walking in the desert!! Bird was male and these were my best views ever of this specie! We had 3 birds in Kuwait last December, but very far away. Esko found bird also and together we admired the bird. We called Jände and told him that we found Bustard and then we went to get him back to the car. Soon we noticed that we are almost late in the fish-ponds.
We drove straightly to the ponds and there was next amazing show! About 300 White Pelicans were sitting in one pool! We took few photos first and then went little bit closer. Pelicans started to be nervous and when we jumped out of the car, flock jumped in the air. You can imagine when 300 15kg heavy birds take a leave same time!

Pelicans saw us! 

"Quickly, up in the air!" 

It took about 5min when all the birds were in flight. One of greatest nature events what i have ever seen.
Place was also weird, middle of the desert where is only few water places and there sits so huge flock.
Also few species of Sand Grouses were present. First flock was Black-bellied Sand Grouses and soon after that, one Pin-Tailed Sand Grouse flew with Black-Bellies.
We were of course hoping to see Crowned Sad Grouses, but only flock of 4 Spotted Sand Grouse showed to us.
Still can´t be sad, 3 species of these superb birds were more than i believed.

Black-Bellied Sand Grouses. Mostly males.

After ponds we gave a try for Cream-coloured Coursers. Jände had some notes from Spanish trip-report and we found the right road. After we were drove about 7km i saw Courser very near to the road! We stopped and same time 3 Coursers were running away from us! Such a great birds. We got few photos of birds with Esko and everybody were super happy.

Cream-coloured Coursers! 

After Coursers we drove back to the hotel and after quick breakfast we left.
Rest of the day was mostly driving to the north. We make little sea-watch in Ashdod but nothing interesting there. After Ashdod we make huge fatal mistake... We some how drove to Tel-Aviv suburb and then the heavy traffic started.. It took about 1,5h to get out there. Everybody was little bit frustrated..
About 8 a clock in evening we arrived to Zafed and we took first hotel we found. It was amazing 5*****+ hotel! Price was huge but room was perfect. Maybe coolest and best hotel where im ever been!
Great day with lots of great desert birds.

-Tomppa-

Last eilat and Nizzana, 23.4.2012

We had quick sea-watch before the ringing station. It wasn´t waste of time because we had 1summer White-Cheeked Tern sitting on a buoy! I took some photos trough my telescope but not any goof of course. My phone scoping skills must be rusty.
About 7 a clock we arrived to the station and there was nobody. Tzadok was there and he told us that everybody went to the nets. So we wait and soon the Dutch came with the first birds.
Jände and Esko walked around and i was sitting with the ringers. Most of the birds were of course Blackcaps but there was also few Garden Warblers.  Lesser Whitethroats, Sand Martin and Barn Swallows were numerous.
First Turtle Dove was also captured on first round and that was new ringing tick for the Dutch guys.

Yotam show´s how Wryneck gets food. 

Happy Dutch guys with Turtle Dove.

Later i went to the Heligoland traps witch Teun and Bram. We had two Levant Sparrowhawk, Little Crake, Masked Shrike and some other common birds. Same time somebody had Squakko Heron from some trap. Nice!
I must thank Roni, Yotam, Teun, Bram Christian and others. With you guys our trip was better.

Levant is somehow better than NonLevant. 

Funny looking Squakko Heron. 

We left about 10.30 because we had breakfast at our hotel. Then we packed our bags and quickly checked km19 and km20 pools. Best birds were Bar-tailed Godvit and Collared Pratincole.
Rest of the day were driving to Nizzana, not many birds were seen but best was adult Peregrine Falcon witch we saw at Nizzana fishponds.
We got room at the Nizzana fieldschool.

Magnificent Peregrine.

Best bird for the day was clearly White-cheeked Tern. It was lifer for all of us.

Bird of the day! 

Best

-Tomppa-

Last full day in Eilat 22.4

We started at the beach. When i raised out from the car i heard familiar voice. Jonathan Meyrav was there with huge group of local birders. It was nice to meet him after long time. Sea was quite dead so after Jonathan and group left, we decided to check public side of ringing station.
When we arrived there, raptors had nice moving and hard wind make them fly very low. Also flock of 3 Golden Orioles flew over us.

Nice looking Honey Buzzard.

Golden Oriole.

After this we went to km19 pools and there was lots of birds. Few White-winged Terns, Whiskered Terns, Squakko Herons, Night Herons and about 300 Ruffs.
We drove road witch was backside of the pool and there we found badly injured female Marsh Harrier.
Bird had only one wing! I don´t know what has happened but it was in very bad shape.
Esko caught it and we thought that best option is that we give it to the ringing station.
Quickly we drove back tot the station and people was surprised when i showed Harried for them.
They took the bird and same time we were super lucky. Ringers had female Cyprus Warbler in bag and it was a lifer for me!! Super situation. We took some photos of Levant Sparrowhawk also.
Same time i agreed with the ringers that we will come the next morning to visit the station.

Whiskered Tern at the km19 pool.

Cyprus Warbler female.

Handsome Levant Sparrowhawk Male.

One was in flight also.

Soon we found our selves again at the km20 pools. Jonathan was there with he´s group but this time nothing super special there. Best birds were Collared Pratincole and Broad-billed Sandpipers.
At this part of our trip, we decided to take first afternoon when we don´t watch birds. I had at least 2h nap and next time when i woke up, we drove to the km19 pool where is famous Lichtestein´s Sandgrouse drinking spot.
We wait about an hour but birds never shoved up...
After this we had dinner and then back to bed.

-Tomppa-