Summer is here. In most of the days temperature rises over 38C but some brave birds are still around. Not only surviving but also raising the next generation. It's time to sit next to the nearest pool with a cold shake. Surprisingly we are birding around instead... Ringing some fledglings from time to time.
In the past two weeks most of the puddles created by the flood dried out, the Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון started breeding creating new nests and laying new eggs (for the moment, there are 9 nests at the IBRCE Park). Only one nests survived the flood and one chick is seen around. The Spur winged Plovers Vanellus spinosus סיקסק are more lucky, their nests are not on the water but a bit further away, three young families are feeding around. One chick is already carrying a ring proudly.
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| Spur winged Plover Vanellus spinosus סיקסק |
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| At K20 Salt Ponds there are about 15 younge Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus חופמי אלכסנדרי |
In addition to the breeders, a flock of over 100 Slender Billed Gulls Larus genei שחף צר מקור are summering in the salt ponds, pretty high number. In the whole region there are about 500 all together.
Passerine-wise, migration has ended yet some insane birds are here with us: Last Golden Orioles Oriolus oriolus זהבן are like yellow flashes in the heat, one late Olive Tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum שיחנית זית is SINGING every morning in front of the closed ringin station and some last Blackaps Sylvia atricapilla סבכי שחור כיפה are singing around randomly.
It's also fledging time- flocks of juvenile House Sparrows Passer domesticus דרור בית are all over the place, Bulbuls Pycnonotus xanthopygos בולבול are chattering non stop and the Namaqua Dove Oena capensis תורית זנבנית is still laying on eggs while only the male is seen from time to time.
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| House Sparrow Passer domesticus דרור בית |
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| No Namaqua Dove's fledglings yet Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis צוצלת |
On the 21st of May I traveled to Hatzeva Field School Birdwatching Center to help with ringing Arabian Babblers's Turdoides squamiceps זנבן chicks (as part of an amazing research project conducted there over 3 decades). It was a great experience!
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| Arabian Babblers's Turdoides squamiceps זנבן |
Yael Lehnardt
Head Ringer & Guide, IBRCE
Not Only Feathers
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| Happy Hare ארנבת מאושרת |
Not only surviving but also raising the next generation. It's time to sit next to the nearest pool with a cold shake.pool service nj
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