Besor updates

Teamed up with Itay Herling this morning for a quick tour of the Besor stream. The morning started well enough with a shy Water Rail and a Spotted Crake.

I'd been complaining about the lack of harriers this autumn (only one so far on the Nir Oz fields where there should have been a steady passage) so this Pallid Harrier was a welcome (record shot) sight. However, numbers are vastly down on last year. What's going on?

Itay spotted a Sparrowhawk harassing the Jackdaws.

Reeds have overgrown much of the water fringes making it great habitat but we only saw singles of Sedge and Reed Warblers - should have been many more. We moved upstream a bit to check out a site that was productive last winter but it too was overgrown. Once again, only a single Reed Warbler. Superb views of the ever-lovely Kingfisher though.

Lots of Whinchats about as per the last few weeks. Ditto Red-backed Shrikes - we must have seen 30+ juvs this morning.

Fewer Masked Shrikes though.

Small numbers of larks in the fields - mainly Sky with a few Short-toed. Once again, the lack of numbers is odd and rather worrying. Willow Warblers usually come through in huge numbers but there's only been a trickle this year.

Finally, from the Nir Oz fields, a rather late Lesser Grey Shrike.

Nir Oz and Besor updates

Suddenly migration has picked up tempo and birds are everywhere. Here're a few pics of some of the local birds. Starting in reverse chronology, this morning's walk with Suki turned up some stunning Red-footed Falcons.

I was moving around the tree to try and get a better angle when I heard the angry calls of the local Hoodies. Looked up and the falcon was coming by me fast before it flew off across the fields.

Shrikes there are aplenty. Huge numbers of Red-backed. A few adults

 but mostly juveniles.

A long staying Lesser Grey Shrike - this bird has been on the same wire for nearly two weeks. I tried getting photos from the car but every time I stopped it flew off. Yesterday I simply walked up underneath it and it didn't seem to care.

Redstarts passing through - very pretty birds.

As usual, large numbers of Spotted Flycatchers,

as well as quite a few (rather pale) Whinchats.

Checked out the puddle at Besor yesterday morning. Impressed by the numbers of Bluethroats - here're some photos of two of the most confiding ones.

Several Grey Herons but, strangely, no Purple Herons.

Many Kingfishers - once again, reasonably confiding.

A very frustrating Little Crake that kept its head behind the vegetation while the rest of it was in the open. 

A Little Ringed Plover,

 and a young Roller still not as colourful as its parents.

Finally some bad news - found this injured juvenile Little Bittern. It doesn't seem able to use it's legs or wings so possibly it was hit by a car. I'll take it to the vet tomorrow and see what the situation is but I suspect it'll be a one-way trip for it. Such a shame.

Nir Oz updates

It's been a quiet late summer/early autumn for me. Not much birding done at all. Lesser-grey Shrikes came through on schedule but this year were even warier than usual and wouldn't allow any approach with a camera. Ditto Golden Orioles - yesterday I saw three flitting about the tree tops as I got into my car. They flew off as soon as I raised my camera.... Good numbers of juv Red-backed Shrikes through too and a group of Arabian Babblers in the area made a nice note. Yesterday also brought some excitement with a great Eleonora's Falcon (third seen around the kibbutz in the six years we've lived here) seen as I walked my dog around the fields. I went back later with my camera and got a couple of pics of a falcon that shot out of the trees and flew off against the light.

I thought this was the bird but on closer inspection found it to be a male Red-footed Falcon.

There are a smattering of Levant Sparrowhawks around. Ever wary (the local Hooded Crows and Jays keep them from being too comfortable), but occasionally one appreciates my stalking efforts and sits still enough for a photo or two.

And the ever photogenic Black-eared Wheatear.

Finally, so many Bee-eaters around - these were resting on the ground near some bee hives - too full to fly?

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters

The Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters are back. I first saw the first ones a couple of weeks ago and this year their migration is decidedly different. Firstly, I'm seeing them in the mornings rather than evenings and secondly I've seen them at the Nir Oz sewage pool. First time here. Numbers seem to be down too but that may be because they are passing through on a broader front.

A BCB from a couple of days ago.

And more from the Besor Reservoir this morning.

A young Black-shouldered Kite seen fence bars. Good to see juveniles around.

Cattle Egret - many of these, Little Egrets, Night and Grey Herons and a single Spoonbill on the Besor puddle.

Young Night Heron.

Lots of Red-rumped swallows hawking for insects - lovely birds but so difficult to get good shots of.

And a Whiskered Tern passing through.