1 Long-eared Owl                                                2 Spur-winged Plover                                                       3 Isabelline Shrike

Here I present a small selection of Photgraphs which I took while working on the Northern Valleys Raptor Migration Survey in Northern Israel. Due to having to count thousands of raptors each day there was not much time for taking photographs and most were taken on my days off or early in the morning/late evening. More detailed accounts of the survey by Jonathan Meyrav can be seen via the links here -
Sections 1 2 3 4

   4  Ring-necked Parakeet                                                   5  Stone Curlew                                            6 Pied Kingfisher  

The survey is an excellent experience and it is well worth taking part though obviously some experience of identifying the various raptors is essential. Most birds fly very high over the survey posts making identification and counting quite difficult, though sometimes good views are possible especially in the early morning, when raptors are leaving their overnight roosts. The Levant Sparrowhawk in photo 9 for example was one of a small group which were roosting in the small trees alongside one of the survey posts. I saw a total of at least 28 species of raptor during my time in Israel.

                                                         7 Blackstart                                                    8  Yellow-vented Bulbul                                                 9 Levant Sparrowhawk

Numbers of raptors counted on the survey vary from year to year, taking Honey Buzzard for example an average total is something over 300,000, though in some years over half a million are counted passing though the area. An average of almost 69,000 Lesser Spotted Eagles and 45,000 Levant Sparrowhawks also migrate over the area. Large numbers of many other species of raptor pass through the survey area as well as large numbers of White Pelicans and Black and White Storks. For more details about birds counted on the survey see the excellent article in British Birds Vol 97 (2004) No.4.

                                              10 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater                                 11  Little Green Bee-eater                                                          12 Bee-eater 

Many birds were present around Kfar Ruppin where the survey team is based, thanks to the wide variety of habitats there which include many fish ponds, turf fields, alfalfa fields Date Palm plantations and many mature trees around the Kibbutz itself. The whole area is a magnet for birds with "common" resident species such as all three Kingfishers, Pygmy Cormorant, Spur-winged Plovers, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Graceful Prinia and Clamorous Reed Warbler etc. Huge numbers of migrants pour through the area and these include many rarities. As the Alfalfa fields are cut they become full of huge flocks of Tawny Pipits, Red-throated Pipits and clouds of Eastern "Yellow" Wagtails as well as smaller numbers of Richards Pipits. Rarities include regular Sociable Lapwing, Isabelline Shrikes, Pacific Golden Plover and even several Pintail Snipe in recent years.
The area offers excellent birding and is well worth visiting even if you dont want to join the Raptor Survey. Kfar Ruppin has its own website that provides a lot of useful information about the area and this can can be viewed via the link here

                                                13 Red-breasted Flycatcher                                14  Black-winged Pratincole                                             15 Black-winged Pratincole

After the survey finished several of us went to the Negev and Southern Dead Sea for a couple of days which enabled me to photograph a few of the southern specialities. On returning back to Kfar Ruppin I had several days of excellent birding in the area before returning home. I hope to eventually complete a fuller account and checklist of the entire trip. If you have any questions about joining the survey or any other aspect of the area please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help if possible.

                                                      16 Mourning Wheatear                                                  17 Red-backed Shrike                                                           18 Bluethroat

Thanks to the Survey Team for an excellent and very enjoyable time in Israel.

                                                       19 Spanish Sparrow                                          20 Arabian Babbler                                                            21 Short-toed Eagle

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