Having driven 39 km around the Urim farmland two days previously in a failed attempt to see Sociable Lapwing, we were determined to connect with this species, which was highly desired by both of us. Thankfully, we only needed to drive 10 km this time – we eventually spotted a group of five in a ploughed field.
This Critically Endangered lapwing has declined markedly as a winter visitor to the north-west Negev, where Urim has traditionally been the hot-spot. Apart from the odd vagrant in western Europe, it is a very localised wintering species in the WP. We took our time enjoying good views before we explored the area a little more.
As on our previous visit to Urim, there were 1,000 or more Common Cranes spread out on the greener fields, along with heaps of doves and pigeons, corvids and larks (including a small group of Calandra Larks).
Such a bounty attracts prey, naturally, and during our two trips to Urim we scored no fewer than nine raptor species. The Saker Falcon from two days prior highlighted then – this time it was an imposing adult Eastern Imperial Eagle. A true beast, it sat ominously on a powerline surveying the area, allowing us to soak up the classic adult imperial eagle golden sheen to the neck and head, white patch on the shoulder and – when it flew – dark underwing coverts.
More than contented, we headed north. Our aim was to get to the Beit She'an Valley by the afternoon, but we decided to stop off in the suburbs of Tel-Aviv on the way in an effort to connect with Striated Heron. We dipped at Rosh Tzippor in Yarkon Park, before exploring the main parts of the park incuding the Yarkon River.
Both Common and White-breasted Kingfishers showed well beside the various small ponds and sheltered stretches of the river.
Sam is generally repulsed by anything category C, so I'd kept the presence of the above species at Yarkon Park quiet: Vinous-breasted Starling. Certainly for the more dedicated WP lister, this introduced South-East Asian native is self-sustaining in Tel-Aviv, though not increasing much and is pretty localised. Thus, a useful WP tick. There was a bit of a category C theme to the park to be honest, with Monk and Ring-necked Parakeets and many Common Mynas also seen.
In the same area of scrub was a somewhat more iconic WP species – this second-year Masked Shrike. Not on the radar at all, it seems it was wintering and was in fact a lifer for me. However, the setting, naff views (into the light) and general great difference from an adult male somewhat tempered the moment. We dipped Striated Heron, but not particularly bothered by this we ploughed on to our final destination.
The drive into the Beit She'an Valley was pretty awesome. Sights we hadn't seen all week soon greeted us – masses of cormorants, pelicans, herons, egrets, gulls and raptors amid a seas of green. We stopped off at Nir David Fishponds, where we'd have a couple of hours of birding before dusk. This superb sub-adult Spotted Eagle greeted us at the entrance gate. Ever since clapping eyes on the beautiful drawing of one perched in a marsh in Collins Bird Guide, this species has caught my imagination and was a big factor behind my 2017 trip to Poland. We were treated to no fewer than eight over Nir David Fishponds. I could watch them for days ...
What a beast. Pygmy Cormorants were swirling overhead, too, along with Black Kites, Marsh Harriers, gulls and much more.
I don't think any gull, certainly in the WP, beats these absolute brutes. Thankfully, most of the adult Pallas's Gulls were in full summer attire and looked totally awesome. Another real favourite species of mine and a lifer for Sam. The commonest gull was Armenian, with two adult Baltic Gulls logged too. The fishponds were great, with hundreds of herons, egrets, Eurasian Spoonbills and Glossy Ibises, along with more than 1,000 Swallows.
The final day dawned with a Black-winged Kite hovering in front of the Jordanian mountains. We had one main target today, along with a couple of minor ones, but mainly we wanted to enjoy the superb birding on offer.
Dead Sea Sparrow proved fairly easy to find in the Beit She'an Valley, often tucked in with House and Spanish Sparrows.
There was a constant procession of things like Eurasian Spoonbill and Great Egret overhead.
Some hard work around an area of renowned alfalfa fields near Kfar Ruppin eventually produced our quarry, a much desired WP species. The above Oriental Skylark, albeit briefly, provided us with the full works: its striking call (usually the key ID feature), the buffy (not gleaming white, as in Eurasian Skylark) edges to the outer tail feathers (which can be seen nicely in the third shot) and even the stretched neck move, as showing in image two. Despite not being with Eurasians, it was clearly slighter and you can see why it has another name of Small Skylark. Only wintering in a few sites in Israel and Kuwait, I was pleased to get this in the bag.
Kfar Ruppin Fishponds is one of the most famous sites in Israel, with a wonderful cast of wintering birds to its name and a good track record for regional megas (including the only WP occurence of Ethiopian Swallow). Black Storks were common ...
... And so to were Pygmy Cormorants, even if they had to sometimes share their rafts with the odd Coot or Pied Kingfisher. We slowly ambled around the patchwork of water bodies, farmland and scrub, drawing up a wonderful list of species. Clamorous Reed Warbler was my last lifer of the trip, and other highlights included Booted Eagle, a flock of Desert Finches and several Quails.
Great White Pelicans cruised overhead, along with huge feeding flocks of Black-headed Gulls.
Some 40% or so of the Swallows we logged had a striking copper/golden colour to their underwing coverts, breast and undertail coverts, suggestive of the transitiva ('Levant') form.
Both Black-winged Kite and Cattle Egret were common, the latter coming to inspect our parked car as we watched an atricapillus Jay.
A family of Egyptian Mongoose were seen briefly. Golden Jackals were common.
Having doggedly checked every European Stonechat during the trip, we were pleased to finally spot this striking Siberian Stonechat near the aforementioned alfalfa fields.
A visit to Tirat Zvi Fishponds allowed me to get my fix of gulling. Armenian Gull was by far the commonest large gull species, though most groups held a few Pallas’s Gulls too.
Eventually a couple of first-winter Baltic Gulls were found in one group ...
... Which also held three Caspian Gulls, an adult and two first-winters (one of which is above).
There were three adult-type Baltics too, this one seemingly contemplating its terribly long journey back to southern Sweden.
Passerines in the area included coutellii Water Pipits and more Dead Sea Sparrows.
There were tonnes of herons and egrets throughout, with the top picture reflective of most fishponds in the Beit She'an Valley.
Finally, not long before we had to head for the airport, potentially the find of the trip ... this very striking kite wafted overhead and we both suggested Black-eared Kite at the time. Our knowledge of this form in the WP was limited to say the least. As it happens, hybrids of the nominate migrans and lineatus (Black-eared) are scarce but regular in east Israel. This bird, however, may prove to be pure (very rare in Israel, though common in winter in Kuwait). The contrast between the belly and vent isn't ideal, but I remain in conversation with Yoav Perlman and Dick Forsman about this beast, though I can't imagine anything conclusive will be achieved from my shots.
An educational end to a trip full of learning. Bar Striated Heron and some species that weren't available (i.e. Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse), we cleaned up on our targets amid some first-class birding. Israel in winter is highly recommended.
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