Once again I had a couple of hours before work so this morning I looked in at the Urim fields. They have been desperately quiet recently but Shachar Shalev said he'd seen the Sociable flock as well as a couple of Saker.
Quickly found the Sociables - great birds and a welcome part of my birding diary. Eleven were rather skittish but one didn't seem to mind the car and posed beautifully.
Driving off to look for Saker I saw a couple of Eastern Imperial Eagles perched on the pylons.
I found a distant Saker but it flew off to hunt. Following it I disturbed a young Eastern Imperial Eagle. It landed in the same field as the Saker and I had a wonderful moment when both birds were in (distant) view.
I made a circuitous route back to the Saker pylon, pausing to watch these Starling murmurations - the ball shapes were the least interesting but sometimes one has to put the camera down and just enjoy the view.
The Saker was back and I was fully rewarded with incredible views.
Thought it was off again. . . .
. . . but no, just turning round.
Views of this endangered and majestic falcon don't get much better!
Finally, a Long-legged Buzzard not taking to wing at the first sign of stopping the car
and an confding Red-throated Pipit. Common winter birds and usually ignored but they really are worth a look. Stunning!
And a surprise visit from a flock of Pelicans.
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