Ruddy Shelduck

Found a pair of Ruddy Shelduck in the cow pens today. Rare winter visitors here and really pretty birds.

A Nir Oz tick for me.

Otherwise, it has been fairly quiet here. Not a huge amount of birding done due to other commitments but I did manage to see a Black-winged Kite near Ein Habesor so it looks as though this once-rare species has really expanded its range. I tried for the 110-strong flock of Dotterel a couple of weeks ago, without success. A consolation prize was this Pallid Harrier in a tree (haven't seen a harrier in a tree before).

The Jojoba reservoir is packed with Pochard with a smattering of Pintail, Teal, Ferruginous Duck and Black-necked Grebes amongst them. The Besor reservoir is full of water now but after the recent storms is rather empty of birds. This wild boar surprised me though (and I, it).