Rolling Stones....

First of all, Plaese- Make sure not to get near nesting birds/chicks, especially not for watching them oר photographing them. There are enough threats on them without these close encounters! In none of the images nearing the chicks was done for this purpose.

Resting Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון

As days go by at Eilat and summer is as hot as usual, we start to see how nature overcomes the damage of the floods. It took few days till the water level dropped enough so the Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון were able to restore their nests in the middle of the salt pond and lay new eggs. It took no longer than 25 days, we were doing the weekly afternoon count with some of our kind volunteers, when we noticed 3 stones rolling towards the water. It wasn't stones but 3 tiny chicks who have just hatched. The adult Stilt was still seated on the top of the rock, seem to be proud but paralyzed. It didn't follow its chicks, it only watched them from above.

On the next morning, when walking around the IBRCE Park I saw the big happy family with an extra chick- the reason for the adult's stagnant sitting last night! They were observed while swimming towards shore. It is hard to say how many nests there were and how many are successful but in the highest count we counted 7 nests and now we know about 3 families at least, most of them are only with a single chick. Is it possible that due to the delayed breeding, because of the flood that washed away almost hatching eggs, it is now too hot for them? Hard to tell but we'll keep on following!

Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון

Black Winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus תמירון

In the meantime we enjoy also good numbers of birds at the Northern Beach of Eilat as described so well at Yoav Perlman's Blog.

Yael Lehnardt

Head Ringer & Guide, IBRCE

A little more of the local atmosphere

Also the reeds are starting all over again-
breking the amazingly strong clay layer made by the flood
Note the footprints of Stone Curlews Burhinus oedicnemus כרוון

Not only feathers

Golden Spiny Mouse Acomys russatus קוצן זהוב
By Liri Koplevitch 'צולם ע"י לירי קופלביץ

Pools & Pulls

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. 

Spur winged Plover Vanellus spinosus סיקסק

 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.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus דרור בית

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!

Arabian Babblers's Turdoides squamiceps זנבן

Yael Lehnardt

Head Ringer & Guide, IBRCE

Not Only Feathers

Happy Hare ארנבת מאושרת