[FXM]

Hi Folks,

I'm heading to Israel again. Three nights up in the Golan when I'll also drop into the Valley to Visit Hula. Then five nights (six days) in the Bet Shean when I'll visit the fish ponds and agricultural areas nearby.

In theory it's a relatively quiet time but in my opinion there's never a quiet time in Israel.

I'm breaking new ground by taking a laptop so (hopefully) I'll be able to keep you updated.

Cheers

Frank

[Paul Higson]

I think people have taken a laptop to Israel before Frank . . . . .

[Bubbs]

Originally Posted by Paul Higson

I think people have taken a laptop to Israel before Frank . . . . .

And if you need any accommodation near the Hula, try nearby Ramot Naftali. Lovely people with fab B and B's.

[FXM]

Nice one Paul. Thanks for the tip Bubbs. Appreciated.

[Bubbs]

Come on Frank. Boot that laptop up

I wonder where you are staying?

John.

[Paul Higson]

I believe that Franks lap top is PINK- what the Israeli security folk made of it doesn't bear thinking . . . .

[Bubbs]

A pink laptop???? Little wonder the Israeli authorities are questioning him

[Paul Higson]

I am sure Frank will have said something along the lines of - "I borrowed it from a friend at works daughter . . . your Honour. "

[MSA]

..give the poor bloke a chance, he only arrived there today!

I'm looking forward to this thread, I've been intending to visit N Israel for a long time now, and maybe this will give me the push I need to actually do something about it.

[Paul Higson]

I've been giving him a chance for nearly 50 years . . . . .

[FXM]

Hi Folks,

This is the first opportunity I've had to connect so sorry about that. I can't connect to wi-fi from my room and now I've found somewhere, El Rom Cafe, I've only got a few mins before they close so I'll update things later. Hope they've got wi-fi and Kfar Ruppin.

Managed a tick today: Black-winged Kite at the Hula. Lots of other good birds to report on later.

The pink laptop saga began at Humberside Airport. Was asked to open my bag and I got a strange look when they saw it. Security looked at it and then looked at me and said 'nice shade of pink Sir.'. Me or the laptop?

More later.

Cheers.

Frank

[Paul Higson]

At least they called you Sir - not Ms . . . .

[Bubbs]

Hi Frank, Thanks for the private PM. Not sure if you have stayed in the Beit Shean area before but the kibbutz 'Neve Eitan' has good basic accommodation. If you need the phone number of Albér and Esther close to the Hula give me a call.

John.

[FXM]

Monday 27 Feb.

Good sleep and feeling fresh I spent the first 1.5 hrs having a wander around the Kibbutz. Nothing different but still plenty to enjoy. Feel like I've got to be on my toes as you never know what might turn up. Hawfinches are common here, at the moment at least, but coming from East Yorkshire I'm not that familiar with their calls. Quite a variety being used and often fooling me.

E. Jay Common
Hawfinch 35+
C. Buzzard 1-2
C. Kestrel 6+
Hooded Crow C
Jackdaw
Blackbird C
Robin 3-4
Wren 3-4 H
House Sparrow C
Chaffinch C
Linnet C
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
White Wagtail
Black Redstart 1
Chukkar 5+
Chiffchaff 1
Syrian Woodpecker
Palestine Sunbird


Drove towards Hermon. Very busy with skiers and snow sightseers. Car park was full. Never seen so many people here.

Road down from Hermon and Nimrod
Blackbird
Chaffinch
Long-legged Buzzard 1
E. Serin
W. Rock Nuthatch
Fincsh's Wheatear or Mourning 1. Probably former. Only brief view.
Stonechat
Corn Bunting
Sombre Tit 2
Chukkar 2
accipiter 1 - looked like a sparrowhawk


Mt baron Area - near El Rom
Woodlark
Corn Bunting

Large Dam nearby and pools and scrub
Spotted Redshank 1
Great Egret
C. Buzzard
E. Kestrel
Stonechat
Robin
Blackbird
Spectacled Bulbul - recorded virtually everywhere
Wren
orn Bunting
Spur-winged Plover
N. Lapwing
Mallard
Teal
Wigeon


That's all folks.

[FXM]

Tuesday 28 Feb.
Weather: Storm is predicted to arrive today so I'll have to see what materialises. Cold but pleasant start. Cloud 2/8 but nearby Mt Hermon seems to be suffering. Light wind F3 gusting4.

Good sleep and feeling fresh I spent the first 1.5 hrs having a wander around the Kibbutz. Nothing different but still plenty to enjoy. Feel like I've got to be on my toes as you never know what might turn up. Hawfinches are common here, at the moment at least, but coming from East Yorkshire I'm not that familiar with their calls. Quite a variety being used and often fooling me.

Hawfinch Common
Greenfinch C
Goldfinch C
Chaffinch C
Linnet C
Robin 2-3
Wren 3 H
Blackbird C
Great Tit 6+
House Sparrow C
Jay C
Hooded Crow C
C. Kestrel several pairs.
Syrian Woodpecker easily seen and heard.
Spectacled Bulbul C
Laughing Dove C
Collared Dove C
Feral Pigeon C
Crested Lark C
Common Buzzard 1 H
Palestine Sunbird seen and heard regularly.

Quick coffee and then down the road into the Hula Valley. Called in at Lehavot Ha'bashan fish ponds for just over an hour. Weather pleasant. Noticeably warmer than up in the Golan unsurprisingly.

Chiffchaff several singing
Reed Warbler one seen and heard in song.
Pygmy Cormorant 10+
Great Cormorant 5+
Grey Heron C
Night Heron small roost.
Great Egret C
Little Egret C
Cattle Egret 30+ on road down
Water Pipit C
White Wagtail C
Grey Wagtail single
C. Coot c.200
Moorhen c.20
Smyrna Kingfisher 6-8
Pied Kingfisher 8+
Meadow Pipit 2+
Red-throated Pipit 1 H
C. Teal 20+
Shoveler 10+
Gadwall 10+
Mallard C
Little Grebe C
Green Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Hen Harrier female
Rose-ringed Parakeet 8+
Common Buzzard 2-3
Graceful Warbler C
Northern Lapwing 25+ in fields
Spur-winged Plover C
Barn Swallow 20+
Common Swift 15+

To the Agamon Hula Reserve.
Target = Black-winged Kite... again.

BLACK-WINGED KITE: single bird seen perched with prey item of some sort on the east side of the reserve. Adult bird. Excellent and an Israel 'tick'.

Booted Eagle single pale morph.
E. Imperial Eagle single first year.
Spotted Eagle 5-6. Still find these tricky from distance to separate from Lesser-spotted.
Black Kite 10+
Marsh Harrier 15+
C. Kestrel a few pairs.
Cetti's Warbler several singing.
Chiffchaff 3-4
Barn Swallow C
Common Crane 000s
White Pelican a few seen
Penduline Tit several heard. 1-2 seen.
E. Starling a few
Ruff 6+
Wigeon 60+
Black Stork 1+
Glossy Ibis 20+
Common Snipe 3+
Meadow Pipit 3+

Many birds on the reserve once again. Just about all species noted at Lehavot Ha'bashan were present once again but in much greater numbers. Busy with visitors again but not a problem. I could see rain to the north and sure enough there was a 20 minute downpour. Thankfully I was picked up by a golf buggy and transported to the cafe area for a nice sandwich and cappucchino.

Headed back up to El Rom and had a wander to last light but nothing new to add. A good days birding.

More later.

[FXM]

Wednesday 29 Feb
Bad weather has arrived at the Golan. Rain, sleet and cold. Managed a little birding however ansd saw some really nice display from Calandra Larks at nearby Baron Junction heading towards Syria.

Heading off to Kfar Ruppin very shortly.

Cheers

[FXM]

Wednesday 29th Continued.
Drove south along the 98 across the top of the Golan. Weather was pretty poor for the most part which meant I couldn't bird and the views were ruined.

By the time I arrived at Kfar Ruppin the winds were very strong with many branches blown down. When the rain picked up strongly again the winds dropped. Plenty of Black Kites close to the Kibbutz.

Checked into my room and headed for the Kibbutz Fish Ponds. Very nice selection of birds:

Ruff
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Avocet
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Dunlin
Little Stint
C. Snipe
Black-winged Stilt
White Wagtail
Bluethroat
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Jay
Blackbird
Black-headed Gull
Armenian Gull - need to check these closely. Different ages present
Black Stork
Grey Heron
Black Kite
Jackdaw
Great Egret
Little Egret

Done this from memory so probably missed off a few.

Got greedy and tried to get closer to the waders. Could feel the wheels spinning and the car swerving in the mud. Panicked a little and just kept going then had to stop. Back tracked and only just got out. Left the muddy tracks behing but brought plenty back on the car and my boots. Better wait until weather improves.

Sorry, but it looks like things went a little crazy and Sunday 26th seems to have vanished and been duplicated by Tuesday 27th. Was using a template and copying and pasting but I sensed it might have gone wrong. I'll re post Sunday when I get a chance.

Bad news at Kfar Ruppin in that wi-fi wont connect from the rooms; maybe from outside... in the rain! Er no thanks. Tried the office and can't connect there either so I'm borrowing the office PC. I'll take it from here.

Hopefully more to come. If not I'll do a better job from home on my return. Sorry about this.

Cheers for now.

Frank

[RonW]

I was in Israel last week and managed to get in some bird/animal spotting. Even to an inexperienced birder like me there was so much to see.

The forecast says you'll have a couple of rainy days, but hopefully you'll have dry spells to go birdwatching. And isn't the Hermon nice and white this time?

have fun!

[FXM]

Thursday 1st March
I'm at Tuvia's so I'm borrowing his PC.

Overcast, grey, damp, raining, cold but with light winds from SW. Up and out 0645 - 0915 to Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds via the Cemetery.

Black Francolin - usually easy to see around here. 3-4
Chiffchaff

Black Stork 10+
Pallas's Gull 3+
Armenian Gull - common
Black-headed Gull - very common
Redshank
Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Bl-w Stilt
Spur-w Plover
Little Stint
Dunlin
Ruff
Black Stork 12
Spoonbill - 1
Avocet

Similar selection to previous day.

Decided to head to north fish ponds but problem with car. Ended up at Budget offices in Afula about 50kms west. Exchanged for some sort of large Mitsubishi thing - an upgrade apparently with just 28500kms on the clock but it's big, cumbersome and feels old (don't say it Paul).

Went to the Harod Valley reservoirs and ponds. Very good. 1200 - 1445.
Black Francolin 2+
Chiffchaff -a few
Black Stork 80+
Pallas's Gull 5+
Armenian Gull - common
Black-headed Gull - very common
Redshank
Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Bl-w Stilt
Spur-w Plover
Green Sandpiper
Ruff
Spoonbill - 6+
Grey Heron - common
G Cormorant - common
Pygmy Cormorant
Little Egret
Great Egret
Tufted Duck 8+
C. Swift - 00s
Barn Swallow - 00s
Black Kite - 25+
Marsh Harrier 20+
Great Spotted Eagle 5
Osprey - 1
E. Kingfisher - 1h
Smyrna
Pied Kingfisher
Red- t Pipit
Water Pipit
Clamorous Reed Warbler - h

Lots of birds in this area. An excellent place. Just a small sample of what's around. Fantastic for raptors.

Back to Tel Yosef junction for a coffee and falafel. Teamed up with Tuvia here and we headed to Mt. Giboa.

E. Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Corn Bunting
Linnet
Chukkar
Black Redstart
Southern Grey Shrike
Sardinian Warbler
C. Kestrel
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
C. Swift
Despite the very poor weather early on and the issue with the car this was an excellent days birding.

Got out of El Rom just in time as the roads are blocked with snow. Hermon is closed due to heavy snowfalls. The roads around Ein Gedi are closed due to flash flooding. Saw the snows and it would be great to see the desert floods. Maybe tomorrow. I came here to witness birding in the norh during the winter months and I'm certainly experiencing that.

As I said earlier I'll re post Sunday 26th. It's on my desktop on the laptop.

Cheers for now.

Frank

[FXM]

Friday 2nd March
To Kfar Baruch Reservoir first 0730 - 1130 but I also returned 1500 - 1700.. Highlights:

E. Imperial Eagle - 2 first year birds. Superb.
Marsh Harrier - 6+
Black Kite - numerous
Long-legged Buzzard - 1-2
Common Buzzard - 2+
C. Kestrel - several
E. Sparrowhawk - 1
White-headed Duck - 9
Marbled Teal - 8
White Pelican - 21
Greater Flamingo - 10
Common Crane - c.175
Marsh Sandpiper - 20+
Ruff - c.350
Little Stint - c.30
Ringed Plover - 1
Spotted Redshank
Redshank - c.15
N. Lapwing - .40
Spur-w Plover -common
Greenshank - 2+
Black-winged Stilt
Skylark
Crested Lark
Red-throated Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Little Grebe - c.60
Black-necked Grebe - 3+
E. Starling - c.50
Cetti's Warbler
C. Swift
Barn Swallow
House Martin - 2+
Gadwall
C. Teal
Shoveler
Pintail
Mallard
Wigeon
Tufted Duck c.80
White Stork - c.90
Common Snipe - 2-3

[FXM]

Sunday 26 Feb.
Arrived Tel Aviv 0230 after unremarkable flight. Probably took about 45 mins or less to get through Passport Control, collect bag and pick up courtesy bus to Budget Office. Argument taking place when I arrived so wasn't looking good. Anyway, using patience and with a smile on my face, as a valued regular user I was given an upgrade to a new silver Ford Fiesta automatic; quite different from the fiestas I used to drive a few years back.

Was heading north by 0340. Clear run all the way up route 6 then east towards Tiberias then north up the 90 to the Hula.

Arrived at the gates just before 0600 ready to pile in except that it doesn't open until 0900 during week days.

Teamed up with a couple from Israel and headed the short distance to Lehavot Ha'bashan fish ponds. Got asked to leave the ponds on the north side by a gun weilding local - used to scare off fish loving birds. Headed to the ponds across the road and spent a very enjoyable couple of hours there.

Weather: Clear blues skies 2/8.Cool start but quite warm by 1000ish - fleece not needed. Light winds F2-3; can't remember the direction.

C. Teal 30+
Shoveler 25+
Gadwall 10+
Wigeon 2+
Ferruginous Duck - 1 male.
Mallard - C
Little Grebe - C
Coot - C
Moorhen 10+
Northern Lapwing 50+ in fields.
Spur-winged Plover c.30
Green Sandpiper 1-2
Common Sandpiper 1
Osprey - 1
Great Spotted Eagle 3+
C. Kestrel 3-4
Black Kite 1+
Pygmy Cormorant 12+
Great Cormorant 1-2
Grey Heron 40+
Night Heron small roost.
Great Egret 6+
Little Egret c.30
Black Stork c.40
Glossy Ibis 1+
Smyrna 3+
Pied Kingfisher 2+
E. Kingfisher 1 H
Hooded Crow C
Jackdaw 50+
C.Swift c.10
Barn Swallow c.30
Cetti's Warbler 10+
Chiffchaff 6+ in song.
White Wagtail C
Chaffinch - C
Great Tit 2+
Water Pipit 30+
Red-throated Pipit 3+
Tree Pipit 2+ (OBP??)
Skylark ??
Crested Lark C
Marsh Harrier 2 female
House Sparrow C
Y-vented Bulbul C
Rose-ringed Parakeet 8+
Common Buzzard 2-3
Graceful Warbler C

Headed to the Agamon Hula Reserve about 10 minutes or so down the road on the 90. I'm not one for targetting species but... target = Black-winged Kite... and all the other goodies of course of which there are plenty.

Failed to see the Kite(s).

Booted Eagle single pale morph.
E. Imperial Eagle single first year.
Great Spotted Eagle 5-6.
Black Kite 10+
Marsh Harrier 15+
C. Kestrel a few pairs.
Cetti's Warbler several singing.
Chiffchaff 3-4
Barn Swallow C
Common Crane 000s
White Pelican a few seen
Penduline Tit several heard. 1-2 seen.
E. Starling a few
Ruff 6+
Wigeon 60+
Black Stork 1+
Glossy Ibis 20+
Common Snipe 3+
Meadow Pipit 3+

A tiring day but plenty of good birds.

[FXM]

Tuesday 5th March.
Back at Amsterdam Airport after a very good trip. I'll update things a little later. Firstly an apology for the poor report. Couldn't get online at El Rom except during birding hours and couldn'y get online at all at Kfar Ruppin unless I was prepared to use the office PC and once again only during birding hours. Real time error plus some user error while trying to play catch up only made things worse so I had to give up trying in the end. I'll try and summarise the trip later. It was very good. Winter weather: there was loads of it. Wintering birds there were plenty and spring migration had begun. So a good combination. Visited quite a few new sites and areas which were all very good.

One (major) down side was a problem with the first car, the nice Ford Fiesta, that I ended up having to swap in Afula. Apparently the Budget mechanics found some damage to the underside so I dread to think what I've been charged for that. At 0130 hrs at Tel Aviv airport I didn't feel I was in a strong position to discuss things. Don't even know how I might have caused it. Certainly didn't hit anything but there was plenty of mud on the roads and around the Kibbutz tracks. Oh well.

Cheers

Frank

[FXM]

Saturday 3rd March
Haifa Seawatch - the Eastern Mediterranean

Myself and Tuvia went to the legendary eastern Med to see if our luck was in.

Pretty quiet really although there was a decent movement of duck heading north involving c.600 Shoveler and N. Pintail and a few C. Teal. Also 8+ N. Gannet, 2 Arctic Skua and 5 Yelkuen Shearwater including a rather small individual.

Also a few Pallas's Gulls inc a stunner in breeding plumage, c.10 Slender-biller Gulls in striking pink breeding plumage, 3 Baltic Gulls, c.20 Sandwich Terns, several Armenian Gulls and a few Great Cormorants. Unfortunately most of the activity was too far out to identify. Sardinian Warblers were in the surrounding srubby areas.

Headed inland to Kfar Baruch Reservoir. It was holding good numbers of waders in the weadows adjacent to the res.

Kfar Baruch Reservoir
White-headed Duck 2+
Marbled Teal - good views of one in flight.
Ruddy Shelduck c.40 in fields to the south.
Common Crane 2
White Stork 8
White Pelican 2
Greater Flamingo 11
Shoveler
Teal
Coot
Pintail
Gadwall
Wigeon
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
ruff c.850
Marsh Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
C. Redshank
Little Stint
Green Sandpiper
Crested Lark
Isabelline Wheatear single
White Wagtail
C. Stonechat
B. Swallow
Great Tit
Chiffchaff
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
C. Kestrel 4+
C. Buzzard 4
Long-legged Buzzard 2
Marsh Harrier inc single dark morph
Great Spotted Eagle single
E. Imperial Eagle single 1st year
C. Snipe 3
Black-winged Stilt
Robin
Great Spotted Cuckoo

Headed a little further east to some more reservoirs and a sewage works:

Little Stint c.40
Spotted Redshank 2
C. Redshank 4
Marsh Sandpiper 7
Green Sandpiper 2
Wood Sandpiper 1
Jack Snipe 1
Ruff c.25
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit
Red-throated Pipit

Continued eastwards and up to the Tel Yisrael viewpoint in the Gilboa Mtns:

Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 4 males
Robin1
Chaffinch 2
C. Kestrel 2
Chukkar 2
B. Swallow
C. Swift

More to follow.

Cheers

Frank

[FXM]

Sunday 4th March
Weather: windy f4 gusting 5. A little windier than yesterday but slightly warmer.. Cloud 4/8 but varying to 7/8 at times. Just a couple of light showers but there were plenty of threatening skies very nearby. Just missed them thankfully. Remained like this pretty much all day.

General:less raptors around and less waders early moring but still plenty of Ruff. Excellent Common Crane migration: c.1400 vocal birds heading north in varying sized flocks. Could hear them from miles away.


Kfar Ruppin 0615 - 0915
Pallas's Gull - several small groups. Probably saw over 125 during the day including some superb breeding plumaged birds.
Greater Spotted Eagle 2
Black-headed Gull - perhaps 000+
Armenian Gull - common
Green Sandpiper - single
Common Sandpiper - 2+
Avocet
Clamorous Reed Warbler - several heard
Black Stork
Marsh Harrier


Kibbutz Tirat Tsvi 0945-1200
Pallas's Gull c.75 in single group plus 4-5 small groups totalling about c.25
Common Crane c.1400 north in 4-5 groups mid-morning.
Citrine Wagtail - one probably heard only unfortunately.
G. Flamingo 2
E. Spoonbill - single

Kfar Baruch Reservoir 1230-1430ish
The water level continues to rise. I'm led to believe it drops over the weekend and then rises again for the next few days. Straight after the weenend would be good I think: more mud exposed. Less birds around here generally but still:

Ruff c.350
Marsh Sandpiper 10+
C. Redshank 9
C. Snipe 4
Ringed Plover 1+
Little Stint 2+
White Wagtail
Bluethroat 1
Little Grebe
C. Shoveler
Pintail
Teal
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
E. Starling c.75
C. Buzzard 3+
C. Kestrel 3
E. Sparrowhawk 1
Barn Swallow
C. Swift
Graceful Prinia
Isabelline Wheatear - single
Chaffinch 5
C. Stonechat 2+
Goldfinch 20+
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Spur-winged Plover
Water Pipit
Smyrna
Pied Kingfisher

Tel Yosef Reservoirs 1450-1545

Black-headed Gull c.800
Tufted Duck c55
C. Coot - common
Teal
Pintail
G. Cormorant
G. Egret
L. Egret
B. Swallow
C. Swift
Black Kite
C. Kestrel
E. Spoonbill - single
Black Stork 2+
Smyrna
Pied Kingfisher

Ha'shita Sewage 155-1630
Ruff c.275
Green Sandpiper 1
Wood Sandpiper 1
House Sparrow c.60
White Wagtail
Coot
Moorhen
Spur-winged Plover
Chiffchaff 2
B. Swallow
C. Swift
Black Kite

Kfar Ruppin - to last light
C. Crane c.78 north
Little Stint
Kentish Plover
Dunlin
C. Redshank
Avocet
Ringed Plover
E. Spoonbill
Black Stork

A good days birding.

[FXM]

Monday 5th March
Very pleasant day. Sun shining, no wind. Took until the last day for decent weather but I came to experience winter birding in the north and I certainly got plenty of that.

Kfar Ruppin Fish Ponds & the Ringing Station Area:
Black-tailed Godwit 9
C. Redshank c.50
C. Sandpiper 2+
Avocet 11+
Marsh harrier - female
Black Stork 12+
Pallas's Gull 2
Black-headed Gull c.500
C. Coot - 00s
Grey Heron c.45
Great Egret - several
C. Teal 20+
Armenian Gull - common
Caspin Gull - what looked like a possible
Cetti's Warbler - several heard
Chiffchaff - several heard
Clamorous Reed Warbler - several heard
Ospre - single
Black Kite - several
Spanish Sparrow - c.75
L.Whitethroat - 4-5 heard
Quail - 1-2 calling

Plus all the 'regulars'. First real signs of spring migrants arriving.

Departed Kfar Ruppin around 0930 and headed towrds Tuvia's place. Picked him up and headed into the eastern end of the Gilboa Mountains running along the southern side of the Harod Valley. The peaks here are 450m asl and the water flows east into the Be'it Shean Valley at -250m bsl.

The Giboa Mtns are a real treasure and probably little visited by foreign birders but they are special. Very scenic with several breeding species such as Long-billed Pipit and Short-toed Eagle, Lots of fantastic butterflies, the mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise and probably the most famous - the endemic Gilboa Iris.

Includes Birds seen at upper and lower elevations:

Fincsh's Wheatear - single
C. Whitethroat - several singing
Southern Grey Shrike - at least two pairs
Corn Bunting - quite common.
Palestine Sunbird - seemd strange seeing this up here but I'm not sure why.
Blue Rock Thrush - male
Quail - several calling
Short-toed Eagle - three birds including display.
Long-legged Buzzard - single.
Hen Harrier - female.
Black Redstart - 4 - 5
Long-billed Pipit - at least 5 singing and displaying males.
Woodchat Shrike - single
Lesser Kestel - male and female
C. Stonechat - 20+
Sardinian Warbler - common.
Great Spotted Cuckoo - single.
Great Spotted Eagle - 2
Chaffinch
Jay
Hooded Crow
C. Swift
E. Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Cattle Egret c.50

Butterflies incl.
Swallowtail
Orange Tip
Mtn. Gazelle c.20
lizzard sp.
tortoise c.25

After some food at the Ha'shita Junction I thanked Tuvia very much for his help, and his great company and began my journey south to Tel Aviv.

More to follow.