Subalpine Warblers - Har Amasa

This spring has been extraordinary for Subalpine Warblers. 14 reported from Har Amasa and environs yesterday! Too tempting an opportunity to miss so Itay Herling and I met early this morning to try our luck. Har Amasa was even more productive than two weeks ago. We found seven Subalpines, huge numbers of Ruppell's Warblers, ditto Cretzschmar's Buntings. Spectacled, Sardinian, Scrub and Orphean warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Redstarts, both Rockthrushes, Lesser Spotted, Steppe and Short-toed Eagles, the flock of Lesser Kestrels, Long-billed Pipits, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Cuckoo and Quail. A truly memorable morning's birding.

Subalpine Warblers

Ruppell's Warblers

Spectacled Warblers

Cretzschmar's Buntings

Whitethroat

Woodchat Shrike (first of the year for me)

Lesser Spotted and Steppe Eagles

A second wave of blooms. . . .

Cinereous Buntings

A great morning's birding today in the company of Avner Rinot and David Kotter.

This week is the week for Cinereous Bunting passage on the Gilboa. I've never been able to catch up with these enigmatic and delightful birds until now.
Below are a selection of photos from today. Possibly up to six individuals here. Avner and David found eight this morning including one seminowi. Interestingly only one female was seen - the rest were males.

 

Not in focus but two buntings and a Long-billed Pipit in the same frame

Other birds were Cretzscmar's Buntings (many),

Long-billed Pipits,

Masses of Lesser Kestrels - about 35-40,

Blue Roc Thrush,

Great Spotted Eagle (with Pallid Swift for scale),

White Storks (many),

Osprey, many Lesser Whitethroats, Olivaceous Warblers, Chiffchaffs, lots of butterflies,

and some wonderful flora.

Mountain Gazelle

Many thanks for a wonderful time today Avner and David.