ISRAEL Autumn 8–15 November 2010 Leader: James P. Smith

Although our recent and very successful tours have focused on spring, Israel has some of the best autumn birding anywhere in the WP region with Eastern Imperial Eagle, Saker Falcon, Striated Scops-owl, Oriental Skylark, Asian Buff-bellied Pipit, Finsch’s Wheatear, Cyprus and Asian Desert Warblers, Syrian Serin and Sinai Rosefinch found more easily at this time of year than in spring. In addition, we’ll spend time with an established and celebrated background of resident bird species, some of which will be flocking at this season. Given a little luck, there may be a chance of Brown Booby on the Red Sea, a lingering Sooty Falcon anywhere in the Arava Valley, or perhaps a Cinereous Vulture in the Central Negev. This is also a great time for seeing rare birds in Israel which in recent years have included Intermediate Egret, Verreaux’s Eagle, Red-wattled Lapwing, American Golden-plover, Oriental Turtle-dove, Grey Hypocolius, Ménétries’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Radde’s Accentor, Pied Stonechat, Red-tailed (Kurdish) Wheatear, Dunn’s Lark, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia and Rustic Bunting.

Day 1 Morning flight from a London airport to Ovda and transfer to our hotel in Eilat for 3 nights.

Days 2–3 We start both days with a flexible itinerary exploring Eilat and the Southern Arava Valley. Well-known locations such as the north beach, Eilot fields and date palms, salt pools at km20 and Eilat Mountains will all be visited over the forthcoming days. Further north, first-rate birding opportunities exist at various sites and we’ll try to visit as many of these locations as possible. Amongst our most sought after species will be Striated Scops-owl (Eurasian Scops-owl is possible too), Namaqua Dove, Greater Hoopoe-lark, Oriental Skylark, Cyprus Warbler, Asian Buff-bellied Pipit and Sinai Rosefinch. Residents should include Striated Heron, Western Reef-heron, Barbary Falcon, White-eyed Gull, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Pied Kingfisher, Little Green Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Lark, Rock Martin, Blackstart, White-crowned Black and Hooded Wheatears, Graceful Prinia, Scrub and Arabian Warblers, Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, House Crow, Brown-necked Raven, Indian Silverbill, Dead Sea Sparrow and Trumpeter and Desert Finches. The latter can appear in large mixed flocks at this season, often with European Greenfinchs, Common Chaffinchs and a few Bramblings and Siskins if it’s an invasion year. We will spend at least one morning in the Eilat Mountains watching Steppe Eagles and other raptors migrating, whilst in recent years Greater Spotted and Bonelli’s Eagles have been a regular feature at Eilat’s sewage pools. At least one evening will be dedicated to searching for Hume’s Owl, perhaps the most charismatic of Israel’s desert birds, whilst another evening will be spent at a Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse drinking hole. Nights in Eilat.

Day 4 We leave Eilat early with a packed breakfast, heading out for a two-day adventure into the Negev desert. Birding our way across the Negev we shall search for species such as Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse, (Eastern) Mourning and Desert Wheatears, Eurasian Griffon, Syrian Serin, and Desert Finch. Interesting mammals often encountered on the drive could include Asian Wild Ass, Dorcas Gazelle, Wolf and even Striped Hyena (now rather rare). The vast agricultural fields between Ofaqim and Urim are key at this season and we’ll spend some time here before moving on to our first night at Kibbutz Gevulot. Target birds will include Eastern Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Saker and Lanner Falcons, Pallid Harrier, Cream-coloured Courser, Common Crane, Sociable Lapwing, Eurasian Dotterel, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Finsch’s Wheatear. Large flocks of Eurasian Skylarks with some Calandra Larks should be present at this time with an outside chance of Bimaculated Lark and Oriental Skylark. The real spectacle here though will be the raptors, with hundreds of birds constantly on view including a spectacular roost of up to 3,000 Black Kites. Indeed, it’s possible that we may see over thirty different raptor species during our week in Southern Israel. The Kibbutz is good for owls and we have a decent chance of seeing Barn and Long-eared Owls. Two nights at Kibbutz Gevulot.

Day 5 This morning we leave early and visit Nizzana with the hope of seeing Macqueen’s Bustard, which may be present in small flocks at this time of year. Black-bellied, Spotted and possibly Crowned Sandgrouse may be seen at favoured drinking spots. Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard and ‘Desert’ Little Owl should be present, whilst an interesting selection of passerines could include Southern Grey Shrike, Scrub, Spectacled and Asian Desert Warblers and Finsch’s, (Eastern) Mourning and Desert Wheatears. Returning for lunch, we may check several large fields en route that can be good for further sandgrouse, coursers and bustards. Back at the Kibbutz, the grounds can be good for ‘winter’ finches sometimes including Hawfinch in irruption years. Recently arrived wintering Bluethroats will be lurking in the Kibbutz gardens alongside migrant Common Redstarts and Common Chiffchaffs. We’ll also make sure we find the resident Eurasin Thick-knees, Syrian Woodpeckers and Eurasian Hoopoes. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent in the huge agricultural fields between Ze’elim and Urim enjoying the fantastic raptor spectacle (including all four species of harrier!), and catching up with any species missed on the previous afternoon. We shall also visit a nearby wadi where wetland species including rails, crakes, Clamorous Reed-warbler, Moustached Warbler and all three kingfishers (including White-breasted) are possible. Evening meal and night at Gevulot.

Day 6 The day will begin with optional pre-breakfast birding before a traditionally satisfying Kibbutz breakfast. Sadly, we have to move on from delightful Kibbutz Gevulot and head for the southern Judean hills to search for Long-billed Pipit. Other possibilities here include Black Redstart, Woodlark and European Serin. We then begin the spectacular drive east through the Judean desert towards the Dead Sea, stopping for any notable birds along the way. These may include Sand Partridge, Desert Lark, Hooded and White-crowned Black Wheatears. Once at the Dead Sea we’ll focus on the Ein Gedi area where we should encounter Fan-tailed Raven, Tristram’s Starling and possibly Cyprus and Spectacled Warblers, Dead Sea Sparrow and House (Striated) Bunting. We’ll close the day in the Southern Dead Sea region where our main quarry will be Nubian Nightjar. Sooty Falcon is a remote possibility at dusk. From here we have a long drive back to Eilat but will stop for a break on the way before reaching our hotel in late evening. Night in Eilat.

Day 7 We usually leave the last whole day of the tour completely open to catch up with any species that may we may have missed, or to chase any recently reported rarities. This may also be an ideal opportunity for those wanting a relaxed day to visit the Under Water Observatory, snorkel on Coral Beach or to visit the extensive shopping centres in Eilat. Night in Eilat.

Day 8 We may have time for a last full morning in the field before returning to the hotel for a shower and lunch before the flight home in late afternoon.

General Information Though afternoons can be hot, as high as 30ºC, early mornings can be chilly. As well as a sun hat you will need a warm layer or two. Rain is also a possibility in November and mornings in the high Negev can be distinctly cold at times. This is a desert climate and it's essential to drink plenty, so a water bottle is a good idea. There are no compulsory health requirements and most of the area is pleasantly insect-free. Walking is generally easy, although in the heat of the day it can sometimes be tiring. Some walks along the wadis need a little extra effort. Visas are not necessary. The areas we are visiting are entirely safe but do be prepared for extra security measures at the airport, which is perfectly normal for travel in and out of Israel. The itinerary is designed to be flexible in order to accommodate changes in weather patterns, bird migration and habitat changes.

Group size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 7; maximum group size: 8 with 1 leader, 14 with 2 leaders.

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