Israel

Southern Israel Trip Report

(21/3/2000 – 3/4/2000)

Peter Jones

Introduction:

Having visited Northern Israel on two occasions and reading of other people’s trip reports, I was keen to have a holiday in the South of Israel. The list of potential new species for me to find was in the 70’s! and the guarantee of good weather ensured that I would have pllenty of opportunities for photographs. This trip report highlights the logistics of my visit, useful information on Southern Israel’s best birdwatching sites, and the full list of species that I saw throughout the holiday.

General information:

Flight: Britannia Airlines. Was good in both directions.

Car Hire: Booked with Suncars, Local rep: Thrifty.. Total disaster here unfortunately: The car was not delivered to Ovda Airport as stated in booking details, leaving me to either pay some airport officials to give me a lift to Lotan or spend the night in the desert (Ovda Airport is not open 24 hours). I also had to make my own way to Eilat the next day to collect the car. Was told of airport transport fees that were not mentioned in the original booking. These were waived! I am currently awaiting compensation from Suncars / Thrifty.

Accommodation: Entire holiday was spent in Kibbutz Lotan some 50km north of Eilat. Kibbutz was situated in a great area for birdwatching, and some good species such as Bimaculated Lark, Trumpeter Finch, Rufous Bush Robin and Wryneck were seen and photographed around the Kibbutz. Rooms were basic but good, hot water all the time, Food was ok, and facilities were good. A bomb shelter has been converted into a birders’ base for exchange of info., Beer and Internet facilities which were very useful for keeping in touch with loved ones!

Also, at the Kibbutz was a notice board of recent sightings.

Getting by in Southern Israel:

Southern Israel Population:

Apart from Eilat and Be’er Sheva, there is a very small population in Southern Israel. This was refreshing in that the roads were almost deserted, but you have to think ahead as petrol stations, banks etc were few and far between.

I also had difficulty buying fuel with Credit cards on more than one occasion.

Military presence:

Nizzana was the only site with a very heavy military presence. I was quizzed about my activities but the soldiers were reasonable enough. A sure-fire way to get rid of them is to offer to show them your field guide of the area’s species!

Border:

Need to be careful of straying into border areas. These are well marked but I very nearly ended up closer to Jordan than I should have been on one occasion.

No-go areas:

Minefields and Firing ranges are clearly signposted, but I did speak to 2 people who had missed the signs and strayed into a field so beware.

The Sites

Eilat North Beach:

An unlikely looking venue, but good birds are here, even between the holidaymakers (e.g. Red-Throated Pipit, Squacco heron) and lots of good species are seen offshore and overhead.

Although Western Reef heron and Striated Heron appear on most trip reports, these 2 species are by no means guaranteed. They are present in the offshore fishponds but I didn’t manage to see Striated heron, and could not differentiate the Reef Herons from Little Egrets at the long range. Fortunately the Reef Herons were present on the lagoon just inland (North West) of the north beach. Recommend this area is visited, as the Reef Herons can be seen superbly on the island.

Switzerland Park:

The current ringing station and nature reserve. Can be reached from the tracks north of the north beach, and also from the road off Route 90 signposted Jordan border. Look for signs to “Ringing station” and “Plant a tree”. The International birdwatching centre is now based in the petrol station on the other side of route 90 from here.

Route 90, Km20:

Worth driving round this large complex of reservoirs for waders, wildfowl, and also migrants in the surrounding area. This was the only place were I saw Dead Sea Sparrow. The area tends to get incredibly busy with birdwatchers though!

Route 90, Km33:

Was good for Larks although they took some searching. Found Bar-Tailed Desert Lark here, and Hoopoe Lark, but it took 2 early morning visits. This venue has been halved in recent years due to agricultural expansion, and the numbers of birdwatchers walking off into the larks’ breeding area was depressing, and may well result in a deterioration of this site. I saw all the species really well from the main track.

I’d imagine that this site would be impossible in the midday / afternoon due to the heat.

Route 90, Km37

Fields to east of route 90 just north of KM37 post

A Caspian Plover was the attraction here. I failed to find the bird on at least 2 visits, but the area still had some good birds, and raptor migration was often apparent overhead.

Route 90, Km40:

I visited this area at the beginning of the holiday (leave route 90 (East) at km40). At the end of the track I turned right and didn’t find a great deal. Had I turned left I would have eventually found a farm building and some superb, underwatched habitat (Mainly fields, and scrub). By the second week, this area had Cinereous Bunting, Pale Rock Sparrow, Montagu’s Harrier, Little Swift, Lesser Short toed lark, Ortolan, and Blue Rock Thrush.

Yotvata Holiday village

Arabian Warbler is still present here, and although I didn’t realise at the time, I was extremely lucky to find one so easily (within 30 minutes). Most birders failed to see this species in one of its last sites in Israel. Large Acacia trees south of holiday village is worth searching, Holiday village also has an abundance of migrants (including a superb male Semi-collared Flycatcher when I was there.)

Yotvata Sewage Farm

Situated about 200yds south of the holiday village reached via a track. This was also a good site with several short visits made during the holiday. This was were I saw a Great Snipe showing extremely well, and also male Citrine Wagtail. Unfortunately towards the end of the stay, the sewage pond area was getting a lot of disturbance from birdwatchers entering the pools, probably looking to flush a Great Snipe (?!). Again this was totally selfish, as the majority of birds in the area were flushed as a result, and birds could be seen really well from the track around the sewage farm.

Kibbutz Lotan

A good area to be based. The Kibbutz has an abundance of very tame birds migrating through, and there is a reserve just south of the Kibbutz that looks like it will get better and better as the vegetation matures. The fields to the north (Turn right off Route 90 about 2 km north of Kibbutz Lotan onto a track) were really good throughout my visit. Look for black muckheaps and puddles that were a magnet for migrants.

Shizzafon Sewage Farm

Crowned Sandgrouse are the main attraction at this site. During the second week, I made several morning visits to try and see the birds. Here are my findings:

  • Sewage ponds are fenced off and visible just south of the turn off for Kibbutz Shizzafon.
  • Sandgrouse apparently feed in area just south of sewage ponds, there is also a ditch along here.
  • Best viewing is from the car to increase chance of them landing.
  • Sandgrouse were arriving anywhere between 7:15am and 8:45am.
  • The Sandgrouse have an alternative drinking site in the area, but this does not have public access.
  • Sandgrouse are not very reliable at this site.. in 4 visits, the best I managed were 2 flying in but disturbed by a Barbary Falcon, and ~30 flying high overhead on a separate occasion.
  • The Sewage ponds area also has some good birds, and is worth a quick look around outside of the sandgrouse feeding times.

Shizzafon Alfalfa fields

Turn right at mini roundabout at entrance to kibbutz. There were several good birds here including Syrian Serin and a Male Rock Thrush.

Neot Hakkikar:

The best fishponds were off the minor road to En Timor and Neot Hakkikar. Turn left off the road at a pink and white fish farm sign. Best Pond is the overgrown one. I sat down under a bush down the bank and was lucky enough to see a Moustached Warbler feeding very close to me and a Little Crake in the reed beds.

En Gedi

I only visited the south reserve of the two reserves at En Gedi. I saw everything that I wanted to see by 8am (Sand Partridge, Fan-Tailed Raven and a nice Male Cyprus Warbler). The car park of the holiday village nearby had lots of Grackles.

Hint: Apparently this place gets incredibly hot.. If you plan to go here, arrive early, or late (?) in the day, and if possible visit this place on a day when the weather is expected to be lousy in Eilat / Nizanna.

(I left at 9am and already it was starting to get really hot.)

En Advat

This was a spectacular gorge with a few species not present in the Eilat area (Bonelli’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture) Access is not allowed after 4pm, but you can re-enter after the warden has left the area to listen for owls from the viewpoint. No Eagle Owls were there this year.

Nizzana

This site is very well documented. One additional thing I found was that Bustards especially were fairly easy to see in the early morning and late afternoon at Km8 past the fenced off airfield.. The sandbanks are the perimeters of firing ranges, so it is best to view from the roadside here!

Eilat Mountains

Parking areas near Mount Yoash were good for viewing Raptors and Storks passing through.. Once the ground heated up after about 9am, the birds disappeared high into the sky.

Eilat Water Pumping station

The Lichenstein’s Sandgrouse drinking site. Birds come in at dusk to a drinking pool (actually a very fine trickle of water coming from a hosepipe) east of the fenced off areas. When I visited, the birds came in and were seen well by a dozen or so birders sitting behind the boulders between the fenced off areas. Again, this area has good birds in the surrounding area, and is worth a visit outside the Sandgrouse times. I saw my only House Bunting here.

The Birds:

Migrating Species

Throughout the 2 weeks Lesser Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Steppe Buzzards were by far the most numerous migrants in the area. All three species were constantly being seen at all locations visited. Other species which were abundant throughout the trip but in smaller numbers included Bluethroat, Blackcap, Black Kite, Northern Wheatears and Black-eared Wheatears, Red-Throated Pipits, Ortolan Buntings and Yellow Wagtails.

Many other species were seen migrating throughout the holiday, the first week I saw small numbers of Rupell’s Warbler, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Cyprus Warbler.

The second week was good for Orphean warbler, Steppe eagle, Booted Eagle.

Several Rarities were present during the stay. These birds were present for a few days at the same site, and were fairly easy to catch up with. This trip I saw the following rare migrants:

Semi-collared Flycatcher
Bridled Tern
White-Tailed Plover
Caspian Plover
Cinereous Bunting
Pale Rock Sparrow

The Highlight for me being a winter plumaged Caspian Plover which I found just north of Kibbutz Lotan.

Other rarities in the area during my stay, which I did not see, included:

Olive Backed Pipit
White-Throated Robin
Temminck’s Lark
Thick-billed Lark
Yellow Browed Warbler
Booted warbler

Virtually all of the migrant species were constantly feeding and were incredibly easy to approach and photograph. This was another highlight of this trip.

2 species worthy of a mention to British Birdwatchers especially are Quail and Little Crake. These secretive species were both seen incredibly well during the holiday. Quail were numerous around Eilat especially at Switzerland Park. Little Crake was seen at the Neot Hakkikar Fishponds which I believe is a regular site for this species.

Israel Specialities / Desert Species

With the exception of Sinai Rosefinch, Spotted and Black-bellied sandgrouse (Which I saw with the help of Kibbutz Lotan tour guides), and Nubian Nightjar (which I saw, albeit briefly, on a Hadoram Shirihai tour), I managed to see a great many of the Desert Species and Eilat specialities by visiting the well-known sites around Eilat and the Negev desert. Due to the nomadic lifestyle of many of these species it is far more enjoyable to spend time in the desert searching for these species yourself than going after previously recorded sightings. Several species were fairly easy to find including Desert Lark, Trumpeter Finch, Blackstart, Desert Finch, Mourning Wheatear. Other species such as Scrub Warbler, Sand Partridge and Hooded Wheatear required a little luck, and I only found small numbers of these birds. Birds such as Cream Coloured Courser, Houbara Bustard, Bar-tailed and Hoopoe Lark were all found easy enough at the well-documented sites.

Systematic List

Below is a complete list of all species seen during my trip (160 species):

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Recorded at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
c.12 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
c.40 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.
c.10 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
c.10 at Eilat North Beach on 25/03/2000.

Western Reef-egret (Egretta gularis [garzetta])
c.4 at Eilat North Beach on 30/03/2000.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
5 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 25/03/2000.

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
30 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
40 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
c.2000 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
c.20 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
c.100 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 28/03/2000.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
c.100 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.

Black Kite [sp] (Milvus migrans)
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

Black Kite (Milvus migrans migrans)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
3 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
2 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.

Eurasian Griffon-vulture (Gyps fulvus)
c.10 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus gallicus)
Recorded at En Advat on 24/03/2000.
2 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.

Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus cyaneus)
1 male at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
1 male at Eilat North Beach on 27/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 28/03/2000.
1 male at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
1 male at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus)
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
4 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
c.2000 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.
3 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 30/03/2000.
4 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
1 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.
1 juvenile at Route 90 – Km20 on 26/03/2000.
1 juvenile at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 30/03/2000.

Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
1 juvenile at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.

Bonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus)
2 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.

Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 26/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
1 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 03/04/2000.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)
1 male at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides [peregrinus])
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.

Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi)
2 , including 1 male at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
1 at Amram’s Pillars on 26/03/2000.

Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
3 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km37 on 01/04/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km37 on 02/04/2000.

Little Crake (Porzana parva)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
6 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
2 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.

Common Crane (Grus grus)
5 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
2 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
c.5 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
5 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)
c.4 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)
6 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
2 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.
1 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
3 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus)
1 adult summer at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.
1 adult winter at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 03/04/2000.

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
6 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
3 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
4 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

Great Snipe (Gallinago media)
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 28/03/2000.

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 01/04/2000.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 25/03/2000.

Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 26/03/2000.

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 25/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.

White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)
c.10 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
4 at Eilat North Beach on 25/03/2000.

Lesser Black-backed Gull [sp] (Larus fuscus)
1 at Eilat North Beach on 25/03/2000.
Plus Several flocks migrating through Arava Valley.

Great Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus)
1 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
4 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
10 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 27/03/2000.

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)
4 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
3 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
3 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
1 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 25/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 27/03/2000.

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
3 adult winter at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.

Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus)
1 at Eilat North Beach on 22/03/2000.
1 at Eilat North Beach on 27/03/2000.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
12 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
c.12 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)
6 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronatus)
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 01/04/2000.
c.34 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles lichtensteinii)
17 , including 5 males at Eilat Water Pumping station on 21/03/2000.

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 22/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 23/03/2000.

Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 22/03/2000.

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
2 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 25/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

Nubian Nightjar (Caprimulgus nubicus)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 25/03/2000.

Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
2 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.

Common Swift (Apus apus)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Little Swift (Apus affinis)
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.
4 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
6 at Route 90 – Km20 on 26/03/2000.
2 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.
6 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km37 on 01/04/2000.

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cincturus [phoenicurus])
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
4 at Route 90 – Km33 on 28/03/2000.

Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)
2 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.
2 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.
2 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.
2 at Amram’s Pillars on 26/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km33 on 28/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 28/03/2000.

Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km37 on 02/04/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 03/04/2000.

Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla [cinerea])
c.20 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
3 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
10 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
c.6 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.
3 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 03/04/2000.

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)
2 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 23/03/2000.
c.6 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
3 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
2 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 03/04/2000.

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
4 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Eurasian Crag-martin (Hirundo rupestris)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Pale Crag-martin (Hirundo obsoleta [fuligula])
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
4 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
1 at Eilat Mountains on 25/03/2000.

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

House Martin (Delichon urbica)
c.4 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
3 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.
1 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
1 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.
c.10 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
c.4 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.
3 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 28/03/2000.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
2 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
1 male at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.

Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava)
1 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg)
c.4 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.
c.4 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.

White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos [barbatus])
3 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 22/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin [sp] (Cercotrichas galactotes)
2 at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Recorded at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 25/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 27/03/2000.

(Bluethroat Red-spotted (Luscinia svecica svecica))
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.

(Bluethroat White-spotted (Luscinia svecica cyanecula))
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.

Common Redstart [sp] (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.

(Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus))
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.

(Eastern Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus))
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.

Blackstart (Cercomela melanura)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
3 at Eilat Water Pumping station on 21/03/2000.
2 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata torquata)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.

White-crowned Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga)
1 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.
1 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.
2 at Amram’s Pillars on 26/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
c.4 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
3 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 23/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.

Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens)
2 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon on 03/04/2000.

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 22/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 25/03/2000.

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000. Status, P, ?.

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 23/03/2000.

Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush (Monticola saxatilis)
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.

Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 02/04/2000.

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Streaked Scrub-warbler (Scotocerca inquieta)
1 at En Advat on 24/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 02/04/2000.

Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 25/03/2000.

Clamorous Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 22/03/2000.
2 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
3 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
2 at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
c.12 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
c.6 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
1 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
3 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.
3 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 31/03/2000.

Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis)
3 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.
3 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 30/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena)
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 22/03/2000.

Rüppell’s Warbler (Sylvia rueppelli)
1 male at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Holiday village on 22/03/2000.

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
1 male at Route 90 – Km40 on 21/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 23/03/2000.

Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax [melanocephala])
1 male at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
1 male at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at Eilat Water Pumping station on 21/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
2 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.

Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli orientalis)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.
1 at Neot Hakkikar Fishponds on 23/03/2000.
1 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.

Semi-collared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata [albicollis])
1 male at Yotvata Holiday village on 31/03/2000.

Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps)
3 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.

Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor meridionalis)
1 at Nizzana on 29/03/2000.

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km33 on 23/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 27/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km37 on 01/04/2000.

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
1 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.
1 at Switzerland Park, Eilat on 22/03/2000.

House Crow (Corvus splendens)
2 at Eilat North Beach on 21/03/2000.

Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
2 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.

Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus)
3 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.

Tristram’s Starling (Onychognathus tristramii)
2 at Eilat Water Pumping station on 21/03/2000.
c.50 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
c.6 at Kibbutz Lotan – Kibbutz on 21/03/2000.
c.10 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis [domesticus])
c.20 at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus)
3 male at Route 90 – Km20 on 22/03/2000.

Pale Rock-sparrow (Carpospiza brachydactyla)
2 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km40 on 02/04/2000.

Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus [serinus])
1 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.

European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
3 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis carduelis)
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.

Trumpeter Finch (Rhodopechys githaginea)
2 at Shizzafon on 23/03/2000.
2 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 23/03/2000.
2 at Shizzafon Sewage Farm on 27/03/2000.
4 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 30/03/2000.
2 at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Desert Finch (Rhodopechys obsoleta)
8 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Route 90 – Km37 on 02/04/2000.

Sinai Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus)
2 at Amram’s Pillars on 26/03/2000.

Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea)
1 male at Route 90 – Km40 on 01/04/2000.

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at En Gedi on 24/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
1 at Yotvata Water Treatment Works on 28/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 30/03/2000.

Cretzschmar’s Bunting (Emberiza caesia)
1 male at Kibbutz Lotan – South Reserve on 22/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 26/03/2000.
1 at Kibbutz Lotan – North Fields on 30/03/2000.

House Bunting (Emberiza striolata)
1 at Eilat Water Pumping station on 21/03/2000.