Northern Israel Trip Report
(3/96 to /4/96)
Peter Jones
Introduction
This was my First visit to Israel. Approximately half of the holiday was devoted to birdwatching. I was based near Haifa, and visited several sites in the north of the Country.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
2 at Lake near Tsippori on 06/04/1996.
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
c.50 adult summer at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5 at Hula Reserve on 29/03/1996.
4 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
c.310 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996. Two distinct flocks arrived at main reservoir: 160, 150.
c.20 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
1 at Tiberius on 28/03/1996.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
1 at Lake Tiberius North West Shore on 28/03/1996.
1 adult at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996. Very Close at roadisde in bushes.
Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
1 adult at Lake Tiberius North West Shore on 28/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
5 c. 5 immature at Tiberius on 28/03/1996.
c.30 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996. Mixture of adults and Juvs. roosting in trees..
15 adult , immature at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
1 at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
c.50 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996. Large Flock overhead.
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
c.20 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
3 c. 1 adult at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
c.5 at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
3 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
Common Teal (Anas crecca)
6 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
c.10 c. 7 adult at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
c.10 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
c.100 at Hula Reserve on 29/03/1996.
Black Kite (Milvus migrans migrans)
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
4 adult at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
Eurasian Griffon-vulture (Gyps fulvus)
c.10 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus gallicus)
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
3 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
1 at Lake near Tsippori on 06/04/1996.
1 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
2 adult female at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
1 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus)
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
2 at Gomla on 28/03/1996. One in flight. One perched on a rock seen briefly from car.
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) (Probable)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996. Large, Uniformly dark eagle with long wings, quite long tail, neck, and Beak. Flew overhead very high..
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
2 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
1 at Hula Reserve on 29/03/1996. A dark phase Booted Eagle..
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
2 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
1 adult male at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
2 adult at En Afeq on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
1 heard at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
1 at Lake Tiberius North West Shore on 28/03/1996.
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
30 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
2 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
2 adult at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
1 at Lake near Tsippori on 06/04/1996.
Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
4 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996. Relatively tame birds showing well in fields (from car).
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
c.5 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
c.8 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
5 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
1 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996. Seen in flight only..
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Lake near Tsippori on 06/04/1996.
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
1 at Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
1 adult winter at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
2 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
2 adult summer at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
1 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Lake near Tsippori on 06/04/1996.
Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos)
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
c.50 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
30 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus [argentatus])
c.20 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Great Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus)
1 adult winter at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)
3 adult summer at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur)
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
1 adult at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
3 at Tiberius on 28/03/1996.
1 adult at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)
2, 1 adult female , 1 adult male at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
Heard Bet Oren Kibbutz on 27/03/1996.
c.4 1 adult female , 3 adult male heard at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Grotto Nr Lebanon Border on 02/04/1996.
c.5 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Common Swift (Apus apus)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Little Swift (Apus affinis)
c.20 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
c.20 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996. Status, L.
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
c.5 at Lake Tiberius North West Shore on 28/03/1996.
4 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
c.15 c. 8 adult female , c. 8 adult male at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
1 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
2 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
1 adult at Tiberius on 28/03/1996. Nesting above fire exit sign in restaurant. .
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
2 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
2 at Grotto Nr Lebanon Border on 02/04/1996.
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
c.10 c. 6 adult summer male at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
1 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
5 adult summer at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava flavissima)
c.15 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava flava)
c.5 adult summer at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg)
2 adult summer male at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos [barbatus])
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
2 at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Rufous-breasted Bush-robin (Tarsiger hyperythrus)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996. Skulking beneath bushes.
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
2 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)
1 adult male at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 adult male at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti)
1 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
1 heard at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
1 at Kefar Baruch Reservoir on 27/03/1996.
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
1 at En Afeq on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
1 at Hula Fishponds on 29/03/1996.
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
1 at Ma'agan Mikhael Fishponds on 01/04/1996.
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
1 heard at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Eurasian Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
2 at Hula Reserve on 29/03/1996.
Clamorous Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
1 at Lake Tiberius North West Shore on 28/03/1996.
Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida)
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
1 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
1 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
c.10 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
1 adult male at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
1 at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
Great Tit (Parus major)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
Palestine Sunbird (Nectarinia osea)
2, 1 adult female , 1 adult male at En Afeq on 27/03/1996. Status, L.
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
1 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
2, 1 adult female , 1 adult male at En Afeq on 02/04/1996.
1 adult female at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
1 at Wadi Ammud on 08/04/1996.
Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
2 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.
Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)
3, 1 adult female , 2 adult male at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
1 adult male at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 27/03/1996. The White-Faced Middle Eastern Race..
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 30/03/1996.
1 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 31/03/1996.
Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)
1 at Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
5 at Tiberius on 28/03/1996.
5 at Bet Oren Kibbutz on 04/04/1996.
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis [domesticus])
3 adult male at En Afeq on 27/03/1996.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
Northern Israel Miscellaneous from 27/03/1996 until 06/04/1996.
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
2 at Karkur Scrub on 03/04/1996.
Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)
1 at Gomla on 28/03/1996.