Negev Highlands

A trip to the Negev Highlands this morning was rewarded with a mix of birds and mammals - not too many of either but great views which made up for the lack of numbers. The weather was unusually cool for mid-May and it was very pleasant to be out. Zero passage of migrants but many Black-bellied Sandgrouse around,

this one landing confidingly close (for a Sandgrouse).

This pigeon ending up as a meal for a Long-legged Buzzard . . . .

A single Crowned Sandgrouse flew over calling.

Mammals included a group of Wild Ass, difficult to spot these - they easily disappear on a hillside,

except in silhouette, (Monarch of the Wadi),

a Ruppell's Fox (running up this wadi - too quick to grab a pic), and a superb male Nubian Ibex taking it easy on the stones.

Black-headed Bunting

Great morning at Sde Boqer. First off, I saw my first Striped Hyena attempting to cross the road on my way to work. A beautiful beast. It scarpered before I could park and get my camera.

Bird of the Month (for me at least) was found by Darren Burns in the nets this morning. A female Black-headed Bunting! This is the first ringing record at Sde Boqer since May 2008. A great find.

Quite a few species ringed today including Marsh Warbler and Barred Warbler, Crested Lark, Masked Shrike. The tail-end of migration definitely has a few surprises left!

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Ok, so not as exciting as some of the other birdy stuff happening here but a good garden tick for me.

Great Spotted Cuckoo, fast approaching adulthood but still begging from its 'parents'. Nice gape . . .

 . . . more?

Great Reed Warbler

Went to Ha Besor again this morning - the sounds of rustling reed beds and running water are all too rare around here so it is always a pleasure visit this wadi. No crakes this time but plenty of other migrants around. Still a lot of Collared Flycatchers going through (or staying and fattening up), Spotted Flycatchers, masses of Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and Nightingales (both sorts). It seems to have been an excellent year for Collareds and Nightingales. The reed beds were very noisy with Clamorous Reed Warblers and a few Great Reed Warblers (below)

as well as the usual Reed and Cetti's (below).

It was starting to get hot and very insecty so I headed home via the HaBesor - Park Eshkol track. Great to see Roller back for the summer - wonderfully exotic birds,

and a few Woodchat Shrike.

Once again HaBesor did not disappoint.

Ha Besor migrants

Took a quick trip to Ha Besor this morning. Great to see so many migrants coming through. First off was an overflying Spotted Eagle,

followed by three Spotted Crakes in the channel below the damn - the water level is just right for them now (the light was terrible so it's back to record shots).

A Greenshank was feeding amongst the Black-winged Stilts and various sandpipers. Large numbers of Reed and Sedge Warblers around and lots of Nightingales calling from the undergrowth.

My first NW Negev White Pelican (still in winter plumage) flew past and my first Kingfisher of the year flicked along the edge of the reeds by the main reservoir. Very many Common Swifts and Hirundines (Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow and House Martin) overflew, dipping down to the water occasionally to drink. Three Marsh Harriers quartered the reed beds. 

Inspired by the thought of more Harriers I returned home via the Urim - Re'im road )one more Marsh and one Hen Harrier) but the high spot of the morning was a scattered flock of five Roller near Tel Gamma.

 

Nightingales: Luscinia luscinia and Luscinia megarhyncos

Productive nets this morning. Plenty of the usuals but it was good to have both Nightingale and Thrush Nightingale to compare.

First is Thrush Nightingale (Lus lus), faint eye ring, yellow gape line, big the difference in alula with this and Nightingale,

and Nightingale (Lus meg) much more distinct eye ring and less contrasty alula,

back view of both (Lus lus followed by Lus meg), note the contrast between darker grey back and rufous tail of the Thrush Nightingale

and the (comparative) lack of contrast between back and tail in this Nightingale.

Front view of both, (Lus lus followed by Lus meg) the pale throat of the Thrush Nightingale framed by a stripe,  breast mottled,

but the Nightingale is a much 'cleaner' bird with little mottling on the breast,

and the undertail coverts of both, dark tips to some undertail coverts  (Lus lus followed by Lus meg).

 

And for dessert, we had a fall of Wood Warblers, 3 in the nets so there are probably many more around! These are truly stunning little warblers and a real joy to see, both in and out of the hand.

Flycatchers

Black and white flycatchers can be tricky. This is a juv male Pied.

Not difficult if you see the white forehead patch and the very small white tick on the wing.

This makes a good summary photo - forehead patch, wing bar and tick showing nicely.

Female black-and-white flycatchers can be more than a bit confusing. Unless you have them in the hand that is. This lovely female Collared Flycatcher is quite distinctive. Large club shaped white wing patch extending to the edge of the wing.

Grey rump contrasting with black tail.

Easy to see when the birds are in the hand but field id when they are flitting about in trees is a different matter . . . .

Finished the day with a really nice Balkan Warbler.