ISRAEL FEBRUARY 2004 NEWS UPDATE From: James P. Smith

A passage of 147 Steppe Eagles in just one hour over the Eilat mountains on 5th February was a sure sign that spring migration was gathering momentum. From the 6th, Common and Pallid Swifts were noted flying north along the Arava Valley, including a tremendous movement of 500 Pallid Swifts at Yotvata on the 12th, when there were also 40 early House Martins, plus Tawny Pipit, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Quail, and two Temminck's Larks all at the same location.

The 18th produced the first Thick-billed Lark of the year at Beer Ora. Although this individual was only seen flying over, prospects for another good lark spring were emphasized by further sightings of Temminck's Larks with five on the 20th and one on the 21st, in the high desert plains well north of Eilat.

A Red-rumped Swallow flew north at Eilat on 19th, whilst an attractive area of desert north of Lotan produced five Asian Desert Warblers, seven Common Whitethroats, 35 Trumpeter Finch, four Isabelline Wheatears, a Syrian Serin, and a Lesser Short-toed Lark all on 21st! Several Cyprus Warblers have also been found passing through the Acacia wadis, including some singing males.

Long staying mid-winter rarities remained in the south with a Steppe Grey Shrike and Buff-bellied Pipit at Samar, Hume's Warbler at Lotan, Yellow-browed Warbler at Yotvata, and Daurian Shrike at Eilat all being seen through to mid-month. The winter's third Brown Booby was present at Eilat through to the 3rd, and differed in plumage characters to the two immatures recorded there in early January.

On 17th February we made the long haul up to Northern Israel to search for a previously reported Dalmatian Pelican, which was just the 8th record for the country. Although we missed this one we did have a fabulous day, seeing some 'classic' northern species along the way including Great White Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck (37), Marbled Duck (30+), Great Spotted Eagle, Black Francolin, Armenian Gull, Calandra Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Clamorous Reed Warbler, and Serin, not to mention huge numbers of wintering Common Cranes (c.15,000) in the Hula Valley plus Fan-tailed Ravens and a House Bunting by the Dead Sea.

However, the last hour of our northern day did go out on a very high note when we found a perched Black Vulture and relocated the Great Bustard which had been missing in the Golan Heights for about two weeks. The bustard looked majestic strolling across a flower-filled meadow with the snow capped peak of Mount Hermon in the background. A fine way in which to observe one of Israel's rarest species with just four previous records!

Another update on Israel's latest birding news will appear towards the the middle of March.