ISRAEL MARCH 2004 NEWS UPDATE From: James P. Smith

One of the more important finds of the period was the discovery of a 'Persian' Mourning Wheatear at Mizpe Ramon in the Central Negev from 26th February. Although very like the local form of Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe l. lugens), subtle differences in plumage and shape allowed this bird to be picked out quite easily when feeding on the local soccer field. No live specimen of persica has been recorded in Israel to date, though there is an historical record of one 'collected' in the Jordan Valley in 1918. Of course, this record will be subject to acceptance by the national records committee. Subsequent trips to Mizpe Ramon to study this bird produced an exciting selection of incidental species including Hoopoe Lark, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Syrian Serin, Pale Rock Sparrow and Desert Finch.

The last days of February and the first days of March produced some unusually warm conditions (up to 35 degC) and a decent spell of south-easterly winds culminating in a southern storm on 4th March which produced the first major seabird record of the year. A Greater Crested Tern was present off Eilat north beach for just over an hour in late afternoon. This was just the 18th national record and a typically brief visit for a species that is not known to linger for too long at Eilat. Also, the previously reported wintering Brown Booby was seen on several dates in March.

On the 6th of March a cold front with heavy rain deposited the first major fall of the spring, with hundreds of migrants taking shelter in oases along the Southern Arava. Near Kibbutz Yahel there were up to 40 Tawny Pipits and 15 Bimaculated Larks as well as Woodchat Shrikes and Rüppell's Warblers,while closer to Eilat many Black-eared and Northern Wheatears were present and a Cyprus Wheatear was seen briefly near K19 fields. A outstanding flock of 17 Red-breasted Mergansers at Ein Evrona salt pools was the largest known number recorded in the Eilat area, though their stay was all too brief.

Four Namaqua Doves had returned to Lotan by the 10th of March and on the same date some 6,000 House Martins fed above the Yotvata fields in the largest single gathering ever seen in Israel. Ten Eastern Stonechats consisting of the forms variegata, maura and possibly armenica were also present at Yotvata, an outstanding record for one site. In fact the spring passage of these beautiful Stonechats has been the best that we can remember in recent years with many sites in the Arava holding two or three birds.

A puzzling ‘grey’ shrike that was discovered near Kibbutz Yahel on the 12th was much too pale for the local form of Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis aucheri) and appeared to show some characteristics closer to one of the forms Great Grey Shrike (L. excubitor). Hopefully the images will aid the identification process as there are very few records of Great Grey Shrikes in Israel, though Southern Grey is widespread and common. This elusive shrike was seen again on 15th and we were still unable to draw any conclusions on its identity.

Tremendous numbers of birds were present in the Yahel area over the 13th–15th March including over 30 Quail, 250 Lesser Whitethroats, 150 Chiffchaffs, 45 Tawny Pipits and 65 Cretzschmar’s Buntings with several Hen Harriers quartering the area. Highlights included a Great Reed Warbler, a male Ménétries's Warbler (a national rarity) and a beautiful male Armenian Stonechat. Also, the second Cyprus Wheatear of the spring was at Lotan during 13th–15th.

Finally, large numbers of Steppe Buzzards with some Steppe Eagles and other raptors, as well as Black-headed Yellow Wagtails arrived at Yotvata on 15th and two Redstarts of the form samamisicus were found. At least 200 Lesser Whitethroats and 150 Chiffchaffs were present here as well, but the best bird was a Desert Lesser Whitethroat which chose to feed alone in a large Acacia in Yotvata’s organic gardens.