April 4th
What a nice day! All volunteers went to Nitzana to look for Macqueen's Bustards Chlamydotis undulata חוברה and the Israeli team enjoyed a good variation. 139 birds; a beautiful female Namaqua Dove Oena capensis תורית זנבנית.
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| Namaqua Dove Oena capensis תורית זנבנית |
April is the month of flycatchers in Israel. A nice wave of Collared Flycatchers Ficedula albicollis חטפית לבנת עורף and Semicollared Flycatchers Ficedula semitorquata חטפית טורקית proves April is here! Two males of Collared were ringed with joy.
The light was a little less cooperative though... Sorry.
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Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis חטפית לבנת עורף
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April 5th
93 is the daily total, with another wonderful NewForSeason- Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix עלוית ירוקה.
April 6th
A love story at the IBRCE with the right timing! For about a month there is a pair of Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus יאוריות מצריות at Anita Lake, IBRCE Park. In the last few days only one was seen around... sad, but not the end of the story! On the afternoon of the 6th, it came is a company- a Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax אנפת לילה who watched every step it did. The Goose couldn't move without it's new friend, not even a single step! That's definitely the most romantic episode of the spring so far (what can I do, all volunteers seem to be very relaxed this year).
We wish this nice couple lots of luck!
April 7th
A new wave of Common Whitethroats Sylvia communis סבכי קוצים is to be noted. Most of them are colourful, after partial pre-breeding moult= Eastern population. Clearly better than western ones.
Swallows seem to past in good numbers, just not when we set our nets to ring them when roosting. This flock was photographed right after breakfast, preparing the feathers for another long day of migration.
April 8th
HOT! First real hot day, at least for our European fellows. We still had a beautiful Scops Owl Otus scops שעיר מצוי and some of the common migrants.
In the mountains I had the great experience of guiding 36 kids participating "Young Birders Passover-camp" with over 400 Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo vulpinus עקב חורף מזרחי and even one Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus רחם very low overhead. All passed at around 9:00-9:45, very late in the morning for our low location, probably did so specially for the unbelievably excited kids.
April 9th
93 is the daily total, with another wonderful NewForSeason- Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix עלוית ירוקה.
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| Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix עלוית ירוקה By Bas Kok צולם ע"י באס קוק |
A love story at the IBRCE with the right timing! For about a month there is a pair of Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus יאוריות מצריות at Anita Lake, IBRCE Park. In the last few days only one was seen around... sad, but not the end of the story! On the afternoon of the 6th, it came is a company- a Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax אנפת לילה who watched every step it did. The Goose couldn't move without it's new friend, not even a single step! That's definitely the most romantic episode of the spring so far (what can I do, all volunteers seem to be very relaxed this year).
We wish this nice couple lots of luck!
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| Paparazzi! Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax אנפת לילה Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus יאורית מצרית |
A new wave of Common Whitethroats Sylvia communis סבכי קוצים is to be noted. Most of them are colourful, after partial pre-breeding moult= Eastern population. Clearly better than western ones.
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| Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis סבכי קוצים |
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| Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica סנוניות רפתות |
HOT! First real hot day, at least for our European fellows. We still had a beautiful Scops Owl Otus scops שעיר מצוי and some of the common migrants.
In the mountains I had the great experience of guiding 36 kids participating "Young Birders Passover-camp" with over 400 Steppe Buzzards Buteo buteo vulpinus עקב חורף מזרחי and even one Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus רחם very low overhead. All passed at around 9:00-9:45, very late in the morning for our low location, probably did so specially for the unbelievably excited kids.
April 9th
A warm morning, another one...
Not too many birds but lots pf people (filming a short movie about our beautiful ringing station) and researchers in search for birds with Ticks to learn about the diseases these birds might carry.
Among the 44 birds ringed first Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus קנית אירופית.
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| Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus קנית אירופית |
Yael Lehnardt
Head Ringer & Guide, IBRCE
A little more of the local atmosphere
On the 4th two Swedish ringers joined our lovely team: Christopher and Marten. Both are coming from Ottenby ringing station and will be here for the next three weeks.
On their first round we had three Sparrohawks Accipiter nisus נץ מצוי- 2 large females and one tiny colourful male.
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| Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter Nisus 2 Females and a male With two new Swedish volunteers- Christopher and Marten נץ מצוי- 2 נקבות וזכר עם שני מתנדבים שוודים חדשים- כריסטופר ומורטן |
Liked the Sparrowhak photo. What a size difference! (and what a killer is the small one...)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Barak