Ceryle rudis rudis (syriacus) - 
Pied Kingfisher 
פרפור עקוד 
tarka halkapó (Eliat, IBRCE, Lake Anita)
● IBRCE = International Birding and Research Center Eilat, Eilat, Israel. A great starting point for birding in Eilat. So far about 350 bird species have been found here.
● I saw the Pied Kingfisher only two times in the area in the week given, once at the sewage canal dike, once at the lagoons of IBRCE. (Map is at the very end of the page.)
● Females have a single broken band (like this one here), males have two continuous parallel bands across their breast.
● This bird is about twice the size of our Common Kingfisher in its all dimensions.
● Contested ssp syriacus: lives in Turkey, Syria and Levant, generally larger than the sub-Saharan nominate in warmer climates, but not yet widely accepted as a ssp taxon, it is merged into the nominate (source).
● Unfortunately, during my week in Eilat I didn't find the White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), but I've heard that others have seen it here and there (KM19, Yotvata, Ezuz), so the species must be present.
Egretta gularis schistacea - Western Reef-Heron לבנית ים-סוף zátonykócsag (Eilat, North Beach)
● The only one I found was perched on a fence on North Beach shortly before sunset, at the mouth of the canal where it is said that it used to hunt fish here.
● Slate gray morphs are super easy to identify. White morphs can be very similar to its closest relative, the Little Egret: the latter has a little bit shorter, thinner based and fully dark bill. The bill of the Reef Heron is always slightly curved downward like a sabre (Collins Bird Guide, 2nd Ed. p82). Legs of Reef Heron are more variable than those of the Little Egret, with more color variation and more greenish tone.
● Ssp schistacea: the eastern subspecies lives from the Red Sea to India (nominate lives in W Africa).
● Other European heron species in the Eilat region: Little Egret and Gray Heron are common everywhere, Black-crowned Night-Heron and Squacco Heron are also present everywhere but in lower numbers, all others are also occur, but rarely (Great Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis). No Cattle Egret was seen this time, it is definitely around (eBird), but more common in the North.
● It seemed a general phenomenon that herons gathered here around this hotspot before sunset. They probably spend the nights in the nearby palm plantations.
● Regarding one of the herons passing by in an evening at North Beach, I suspected Chinese Pond-Heron (Ardeola bacchus), as it had already been in the region of Eilat not so long ago (source). Finally it turned out that it was not, but a strange dark-headed Squacco Heron, according to the expert's reply, Chinese Pond-Heron should have a dark rufous and unstreaked head and pale bill. ➤
Hydroprogne caspia - Caspian Tern שחפית כספית lócsér (Eilat, IBRCE, Lake Anita)
● Another nightmare for the fish also cruises over the waters, ...on its wingspan of 1.4 meters.
● Seen many times around IBRCE lagoons and salt pans.
● Other tern species were scarce this time: only a few Sandwich Tern (T. sandvicensis) at South Beach and a few Gull-billed Tern (G. nilotica) at IBRCE salt pans came up.
Tylosurus charom - Red Sea Houndfish חניתן דו-ימי tengeri csőröscsuka (Eilat, South Beach, Underwater Observatory)
● Large amount of bait fish form dense schools near the sea surface. They are some sort of sardines, I guess. ➤
● This yet another predator lurks underwater a few meters away from the school.
● Red Sea Houndfish is ~1 m long and weighs ~1.5 kg.
Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus - White-eyed Gull שחף לבן עין pápaszemes sirály (Eilat, North Beach)
● Not so easy to find them as I thought. During the day they mostly fish in the open waters of the sea, they can be seen near the coast more often in the evening.
● The species is endemic to the Red Sea and to the Gulf of Aden, and only vagrant in others seas. Breeds in small undisturbed islands (Siyal) in the southern part of the Red Sea.
● White-eyed Gulls are hard to find, but easy to identify. Other gulls of the region are easier to find, but - as usual - harder to identify. Here are some local and authentic ID guides: Gulls of Israel, Gulls of Iran.
Other medium sized gulls:
● Armenian Gull (L. armenicus) can be found here and there in low numbers around North Beach. 2 adults and about 10 young-subadult birds were seen altogether. Mostly 2nd and 3rd CY birds were passing by in loose groups mixed with young Caspian Gulls in the evening. Subad Armenian in small pic here. ➤
● I wanted to, but I had no luck to the uncommon Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii), it may occur in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Large gulls:
● In theory, Caspian Gull (L. cacchinans), Yellow-legged Gull (L. michahellis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus) are common in Eilat in March. Some of them passed by at North and South Beach, but not that much, mostly young birds in their odd colors... So far, I managed to identify some Caspian and Armenian Gulls, and a single Yellow-legged Gull. Also found a dark adult Lesser Black-backed Gull which could be heuglini, but it was too far away, so it remained L. fuscus fuscus.
Small gulls:
● Black-headed Gull (C. ridibundus) is the most common everywhere. Slender-billed Gull (C. genei) is second on this list. Large flocks fish in North Beach and in KM20. ➤
● North Beach also had now a single Common Gull (L. canus) in the company of Slender-billed Gulls.
Vanellus spinosus - Spur-winged Lapwing סיקסק tüskés bíbic (Eilat, IBRCE)
● True to its lapwing nature, it is noisy, territorial, but really attractive.
● Can be agressive against anything near its nest or hatchlings. Its loud rushes are enough most of the time to chase away any animal, the spurs in its wings are primarily for deterrence.
● Each wing has a small but pointed spur at its frontal side of the wrist (Source of the drawing). ➤
● Common everywhere near any bodies of water.
Alopochen aegyptica - Egyptian Goose יאורית מצרית nílusi lúd (Eilat, North Beach, New Marina)
● Category C species, but new to me. Two Egyptian Geese accompanied a lost Lesser White-fronted Goose here, they were just strolling around at the bay called New Marina.
Anser erythropus - Lesser White-fronted Goose אווז קטן kis lilik
● It could be a stray bird in this place, according to a local source this goose species is a rare vagrant in Israel in winter.
● Perhaps this bird should belong to the Central Asian population of its species breeding in N Siberia, wintering in Iraq-Iran. I don't know, but this is the closest wintering base of the species (~1100 km). (source of map)
Canis aureus syriacus - Syrian Jackal תן סורי aranysakál (Eilat, IBRCE)
● Photo was taken early in the morning (5:50 AM) at the entrance of a drain near the lakes. As far as I could see, they come out of their hideouts twice a day and 2-3 jackals were present during these raids (maybe they were a family). At dawn and dusk, they sneaked out of the canal drains and head to the lakes to hunt.
● The howling of the jackals from afar, somewhere at the lakes of IBRCE after dusk (21.03.2023):
● I was also lucky to see an Arabian Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica) at another drain of the IBRCE area, but it was very quick and escaped from my photo shoot. It was much grayer and slimmer than the European Red Fox.
● The big dream, to see a Striped Hyena, remained a dream.
Merops cyanophrys cyanophrys - Arabian Green Bee-eater שרקרק גמדי arab gyurgyalag (Eilat, Eilat Mountains, Wadi Ya'el)
● A fairly common bird around, but not in high numbers. Mostly hunts alone or in pairs, they are not as gregarious and talkative as our European Bee-eaters.
● I didn't see any sign of the other two - rather vagrant - Merops species in the region (M. apiaster, M. persicus).
Cinnyris osea osea - Palestine Sunbird צופית בוהקת jerikói nektármadár (Eilat, Holland Park)
➤ Not only an exotic and beautyful tiny bird, but also a songbird. ➤
● Males are shiny metallic and iridescent bluish green, and purple on their breast. Females and juvenile birds are not shiny and simple greyish brown.
● Quite easy to find them in parks, groves, where its favorite fuel, the Acacia strap flower thrives, which is a parasitic plant of acacia trees. As acacia trees and their parasites are common, so are sunbirds also common. Sometimes also feeds on nectar of other tubular and funnel shaped flowers, but Strap flower is the most abundant source of food here.
● Seeds of the parasite plant are spread by the droppings of birds, mainly the White-spectacled
Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos). The way of spreading is analogous to that of its European relative, the mistletoe, which is spread by thrushes: the sticky seed sticks to a branch and the mistletoe takes haustoria into the tree. The same is the case here with the Strap flower and the Acacia. As a result a confused mess of branches, leaves, flowers, pods, fruits of the 2 plant species seen all over the foliage (+1 Lesser Whitethroat (C. c. curruca)). ➤
● The 2 plants in this relationship:
- Vachellia tortilis - Umbrella Thorn Acacia, ernyőakácia
- Loranthus (Plicosepalus) acaciae - Acacia Strap Flower, vörös fakín
● Some say, the striking red blooming of the parasites on the acacia tree may have inspired the biblical burning lace bush, as it usually blossoms suddenly and simultaneously after sudden rains. ➤
Pycnonotus xanthopygos - White-spectacled Bulbul בולבול צהוב-שת pápaszemes bülbül
(Eilat, Southern Date Palm Plantation)
● One of the most common birds around Eilat.
● Also known as Yellow-vented Bulbul.
● An intelligent looking and gregarious bird.
● Often found in small flocks or in pairs looking for food and while constantly chatting. ➤
● Not an invasive species, but native from S-Turkey to S-Arabia (some sources consider it invasive in Turkey).
● Not a category C species in Israel!
Argya squamiceps squamiceps - Arabian Babbler זנבן ערבי arab rigótimália (Eilat, Holland Park)
● An interesting-looking bird that lives an interesting and vibrant gregarious life.
● Babblers mostly move in small groups, these little communal societies are consist of a breeding pair and their subordinates organized in some sort of hierarchy (about 3-10 birds altogether). They help the pair hatch eggs, feed the hatchlings, clean the nest or each other, defend the territory from predators or from other groups, and perform many other tasks. Most of the time, we only observe the sentinel bird of a group operating nearby, just like on this pic above.
● Genetically, they belong to the Timaliidae family of the Sylvioidea superfamily. Based on behavioral and morphologyical similarities, I thought that their closest relatives in our fauna were the genera Panurus and Aegithalos, but the results of phylogenetic studies are contradictory, so I could not find any evidence for this theory.
● Females have full black eyes, males have brownish iris.
Onychognatus tristramii - Tristram's Starling טריסטרמית ים המלח fuvolázó fényseregély (Eilat, Holland Park)
● Another gregarious bird of the groves. Also called Tristram's Grackle or Dead Sea Starling. Males are shiny black, females are a more modest brown. Both sexes display very nice orange panels on their wings in flight.
● They are often seen on a certain tree species: Salvadora persica - Mustard tree or Toothbrush tree. Its tiny sweet spicy berries are not only a treat for many local birds, but also for humans as it can be used in many ways (Source).
● Starlings' social voices are nice melodic whistles ➤
● They are omnivores and sometimes they even groom ectoparasites from the hides of Nubian Ibexes in a mutualistic relationship, like oxpeckers do on large mammals in Africa. Some say, Bedouin people of the region knew exact locations where their camels were driven to get cleaned by hungry groups of Tristram's Starlings (Source).
● Here is a very good video about this behaviour by Amir Balaban. I also strongly recommend his whole YouTube channel: The Wildlife Channel. Not only birds but hyenas, caracals, wolves, jungle cats, porcupines, etc, etc. Simply amazing footages...
Capra ibex nubiana - Nubian Ibex יעל נובי núbiai kőszáli kecske (Eilat, Wadi Ya'el)
● Found one big male resting and peacefully ruminating alone on the top of a ridge in Eilat Mountains, and a group of females
and their calves on the slopes of Nahal Zin, Midreshet Ben Gurion. Latter group was apparently not afraid of tourists (they were too close for me to take a picture of them together...). ➤
● The curved horn of an adult male is about 1 m long.
● Males weigh about 50-70 kg, females weigh about half of that.
Lanius isabellinus isabellinus - Isabelline Shrike חנקן ערבות pusztai gébics (Eilat, Eilat Harbour, Northern Gate)
● Also called Daurian Shrike.
● Breeds in Central Asia.
● Seen only once in this week perched on the fence of the harbour.
● A common migrant in autumn in Israel, but rarer in spring.
● Attached gif here is harshly compressed, find the superb original file in this link.
● And here are a bunch of cool other migration gifs of other birds from these authors!
Lanius nubicus - Masked Shrike חנקן נובי álarcos gébics (Ezuz, Be'erotayim Grove)
● One of the most elegant looking shrikes.
● Prefers more vegetated areas for hunt (orchards, gardens, groves).
● Seen twice: first at Northern Plantations, second in Be'erotayim Grove.
● Mostly migratory in Southern Israel, can be seen here often in spring and less often in autumn.
Chlamydotis macqueenii - MacQueen's Bustard חוברה מדברית pettyes túzok (Nitzana, Ezuz Road, KM7)
● The famous but very strange courtship dance of the male bustard.
● Not the best video for sure, it was a too large distance... Set video quality to HD1080 for more details, please.
● This really bad picture turned out to be the best of the series I made, as the bird remained still very far away, and the image is heavily cropped. Anyway, I don't have a photo to save the situation... ➤
● There were 5-10 other birds in the site, but they were even further away on the ridge of a distant hill.
● MacQueen's Bustards can be found in the deserts of the Negev but guidance is highly recommended into Nitzana, which is a well-established and well-tested easy way by the staff of IBRCE from Eilat (during their migration event).
● Today it is a separate species, it used to be the macqueenii subspecies of the C. undulata - called the 'Asian Houbara'.
● The blind in Nitzana, Ezuz Road, KM7 is made of two abandoned train cars in the middle of the desert. The Ottoman Empire built here military railway in 1916. After their defeat by the British in 1917, two train cars and some track left for a memorial site (Mitzpe Hobarot), nowadays it also serves as a research blind of the MacQueen's Bustards.
● Sinai and Israel is the westernmost border of their distribution area. Unfortunately, they are illegally or partly legally hunted in many countries (most of them in Pakistan). There was/is many sophisticated ways to do this: by hunting falcons, by guns from camel backs or en masse from jeeps as a competition.
● As the populations seemed to be collapsing everywhere, some Arab countries took steps to protect the remnants of the species. Or in other countries, at least the hunting was suspended for a while...
Cursorius cursor cursor - Cream-colored Courser רץ מדבר futómadár (Nitzana, Ezuz Road, KM7)
● There were 15-20 birds scattered around the bustard-blind site, mostly far away, but we hit the jackpot with a bird suddenly passing by.
● Its flight reveals a little better that it is related to the pratincoles.
Uromastyx aegyptia aegyptia - Egyptian Mastigure חרדון צב מצוי egyiptomi tüskésfarkú gyík (IBRCE, Mastigure Reserve)
● A 80 cm long vegan monster, weighs about 3 kg.
● Lives in desert habitats, usually hiding in its 10-20 m long underground burrow.
● The easiest way to find these giant lizards is the Mastigure Reserve at the IBRCE, called Desert Dragons' Land, as they are basking in the sun around noon.
● Uromastyx means whip-tailed. Their strong spiny tail is for defence, mainly against canids and larger birds of prey. Allegedly they flick and swing their tails to scare off predators or use it to block the entrance of their burrows.
Oena capensis capensis - Namaqua Dove תורית זנבנית álarcos gerle (Eliat, Northern Plantations)
● Seen only once in the week, these doves are not nearly as common here as I tought.
● The hotspot advised everywhere - the border fence at Eilat canal - was empty this time, finally found a pair quickly passing by at Northern Plantations, near KM19. (Ok true, that's not far from the fence either.)
● The Namaquas are a South African people, the Latin name 'capensis' also refers this geographical region. Namaqua doves live throughout Africa, mainly in savannas and semi-deserts. Southern Israel is the northernmost point of their range.
● Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis) is common, but Cat C. ➤
Str. s. cambayensis is known to have been introduced from S Asia and category C in Israel. Some sources only dispute (1), others clearly rule out (2) the natural origin of all ssp of Laughing Dove in Israel.
● Other doves are also common as elsewhere (Str. decaocto), a single Turtle Dove (Str. turtur) was only heard In Yotvata. In theory, Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) are also present in Israel, but I did not find any of them, only Ferals were everywhere, even in the mountainous regions around Eilat.
Ammomanes deserti isabellinus - Desert Lark עפרוני מדבר sivatagi pacsirta (Eilat, Mount Yehoram, Eastern Campsite)
● Found the species many times around Eilat, always in desert habitats.
● They are hardly afraid of human proximity.
● After a while it's easy to recognize by the large lark-type bill and by the 'ground-level' behaviour of their little loose flocks as they looking for insects and seeds.
● There are 3 subspecies in Israel, based on geographical descriptions, I think this should be isabellinus.
Ammomanes cinctura arenicolor - Bar-tailed Lark עפרוני חכלילי homoki pacsirta (Eilat Mountanis, Nahal Netafim Campsite)
● Similar to the Desert Lark, but also differs in many features.
● Tiny bill, dark tail, faint colors, light pale supercilium.
● Seen only once from the Nahal Netafim Campsite on a steep mountain side, and unfortunately it was not close. It arrived with a little flock of desert larks, but it searched a little separately from them on the rock wall. Most of the desert larks landed on the ground. After a minute they left the valley all together.
Melanocorypha bimaculata (rufescens) - Bimaculated Lark עפרוני פסגות hegyi kalandrapacsirta (Eilat, Holland Park)
● Seen only once and only for a glance as it quickly passed by.
● A robust lark with a large bill. Strong and almost white supercilium, striking black double markings on its neck (='bimaculata'). Looks quite similar to Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra).
● Differentiation of Bimaculated and Calandra Lark (Collins Bird Guide, 2nd Ed p254):
- The tail of the BL is shorter, its bill is somewhat longer and stronger.
- CL has a white trailing edge on its wings. ➤➤ No white trailing on BL.
- CL's underwing is dark, almost black. ➤➤ BL's underwing is brownish-grayish.
- Tail of CL is bordered in white on all sides and tip. ➤➤ BL has a terminal white band at the tip of the tail only.
- BL has strong and dark lines before and through its eyes. ➤➤ CL has only faint lines here.
● There are 2 subspecies in Israel with overlapping distribution ranges, and both are migratory, so it's not an option to identify this flying bird here correctly... (Source1, Source2): ssp rufescens is more Southwestern and ssp bimaculata (nominate) is more Northeastern in the range. Rufescens is darker in general in coloration. In this particular observation I would vote for rufescens because my AERC TAC checklist favors rufescens in the Levant area, but I'm not experienced at all to tell them apart, so any comment is greatly appreciated...
Ptyonoprogne obsoleta obsoleta - Pale Crag Martin סנונית מדבר halvány sivatagi szirtifecske (Eilat, South Beach)
● Seen many times in small numbers, mainly near to steep rocky walls or cliffs (they build their mud nests on these). One large flock of about 50 birds were hunting termite swarmers in Northern Plantations.
● Other swallow species were represented by Common House-Martin (D. urbicum), Barn Swallow (H. rustica) and Western Red-rumped Swallow (C. daurica rufula). None of them are scarce in Israel. ➤
● Barn Swallow has 3 subspecies in the region: rustica is mainly migrant, transitiva is breeder, savigni is rare vagrant from Egypt. Ssp rustica was common, transitiva much less common but also widespread around Eilat in this week (latter is in small pic). ➤
LEFT - Apus apus apus - Common Swift סיס חומות sarlósfecske (Eilat, IBRCE)
● As its name says, common. In Israel too.
MIDDLE - Apus apus pekinensis - Eastern Common Swift 'pekinensis' סיס חומות (kínai) sarlósfecske (Eilat, IBRCE)
● According to the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai, 1996), 10% of spring migrant Common Swifts are A. a. pekinensis in Eastern and Southern Israel, with a peak in March-April. Shirihai classified this subspecies as 'quite common' at this time of the year (this huge book is not available online, but the quoted statement can be read in this article). A local birding webpage also confirms the presence of this subspecies in Israel in spring.
● These birds are not A. pallidus because their general body color is as dark as a Common Swift, except their heads. Body, wing and tail structures are also common-swift-types.
● These birds are not A. a. apus because of the pale forehead, the underwing is contrasted to the color of the body color, the saddle is contrasted to the color of the wings, eyes are also contrasted on the pale head. Head of juvenile A. a. apus is darker and more striped (latter is maybe a bad field marker).
● I only saw these two birds in this plumage, they moved strictly together but separetly from others. All other swifts anywhere else were 'normal type'.
RIGHT - Apus pallidus pallidus - Pale Swift סיס חוורוור halvány sarlósfecske (Eilat, IBRCE)
● Stocky build of the body, pale colors, contrasted eyes, scaly underparts, less sickle-shaped wings.
● The nominate ssp is dominant in Israel.
Rhinotermitidae - subterranean termite טרמיטים תת קרקעיים (Eilat, Sewage Canal Dike)
● Termite identification is not easy... I think, these are some sort of Coptotermes sp. Maybe C. gestroi (Asian Subterranean Termite).
● They were swarming from the ground of the dike: many workers, alate swarmers and a few youngster larvae surfaced from their tunnels. No soldiers were in these recon teams (and this is not good, because termite differentiation is based on morphology of the head of the soldiers). 2-3 swarming hotspots were along the dike.
● There were some swarming at Northern Plantations too.
● Probably dangerous pests, but many birds around were very happy with them. ➤
Monticola solitarius solitarius - Blue Rock-Thrush צוקית בודדת kék kövirigó (Ezuz, Be'erotayim Grove)
● Only seen once, in a rocky valley very close to the village of Ezuz (see pointer link above).
● 2 subspecies is present in Israel: the nominate solitarius (Europe - Turkey - Caucasus - Levant) and longirostris (Iraq - Iran - Turkmenistan - Afghanistan).
Prinia gracilis palaestinae - Graceful Prinia פשוש karcsú prínia (Eilat, Holland Park)
● According to the suggestion of a recent research, the species P. gracilis should be divided into two new species. Based on morphological, audiological and genetical data two groups (southwestern P. gracilis, northeastern P. lepida) can be clearly separated from each other. Geographical isolation is also evident (except maybe the ssp hufufae). ➤
● Ssp palaestinae: From Syria to NW Arabia (including Southern Israel), excluding the Mediterranean coastline. Paler colors and well-defined subterminal tail bands.
● Ssp deltae is widespread in Israel, but in the Negev and the central and northern parts of the country. Ssp palestinae is resident in the South.
● A very common bird around. It is also very easy to find them because they behaves conspicuously, as they always sing perching on top of bushes or trees.
● Song of the Graceful Prinia: ➤
Scotocerca inquieta inquieta - Streaked Scrub Warbler מדברון csíkos prínia (Eilat, Wadi Ya'el)
● Much rarer than the other prinia species. Seen only once and only for a few minutes in the dry canyon Wadi Ya'el, a rocky desert habitat with some scrubs.
● A very fast and restless little bird, moreover, it is also really elusive. I'm really proud of this lame picture.
Phylloscopus orientalis - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler עלווית לבנת-בטן balkáni füzike (Eilat, Wadi Ya'el)
● Resembles the Common Chiffchaff (P. collybita), the most abundant warbler of the region, but differs in many markers:
- EBW has pale colors (especially on face). ➤➤ CC is much browner and darker in general.
- EBW has very clear white underparts. ➤➤ Beige in CC.
- EBW has striking greenish-yellowish wing panels and rump with this same color (see small pic on the right). ➤➤ Wing panels are brownish, rump has no distinctive color in CC.
- Call of EBW is a sharp 'chip' (XC). ➤➤ Call of CC is a rising whistle (XC).
● Common Chiffchaff was common everywhere in the region. E-Bonelli's Warbler was also present in most of the sites, but scarce and at most 1-2 birds. It is not difficult to tell them apart in the field by the striking color of the wing and tail and the white underparts, if these marks are visible at all among the dense vegetation.
● Western Bonelli's Warbler (P. bonelli) habits W-Europe and W-Mediterraneum until Austria-Italy. Range of the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler (P. orientalis) starts here and ends in Iran-Oman.
Curruca crassirostris crassirostris - Eastern Orphean Warbler סבכי חורש vastagcsőrű (balkáni) poszáta
(Eilat, Holland Park)
● Pale iris gives the adult birds a frightened face expression, young birds have full black eyes. Females and juveniles have paler head and reddish underparts, more brownish upperparts.
● Almost only 2 Curruca species were dominant everywhere: Lesser Whitethroat (C. c. curruca) and C. c. crassirostris. After a while it was easier to differentiate the scarce E-Orphean Warbler by its large bill from the very abundant Lesser Whitethroat.
● Curruca species in the region: Lesser Whitethroat (C. curruca) is really in every bush everywhere. Blackcap (S. atricapilla), Greater Whitethroat (S. communis) and Cyprus Warbler (C. melanothorax) are migrants and not so hard to find them in spring, occasionally in larger numbers. I think, frequency of these warblers was something like this in this week: C. curruca > C. crassirostris > C. ruppeli > C. communis > others. I didn't see a single C. melanothorax. It is worth to mention that this order can be completely different in another weeks during migration, their groups migrate mostly in hard-to-predict waves, influenced by a network of many interrelated factors (date, wheather, food and water sources, etc.).
● The subspecies status of these birds is difficult to identify in the field as many ssp migrate through this bottleneck area between entire continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. For example, both C. curruca and C. communis have four migrating ssp each in Israel. However, in these cases the nominates are the most common migrants, all other ssp are present in smaller or larger quantities. Local birders and ringers can probably tell them apart based on external markings and the arrival dates of their migration waves.
Curruca ruppeli - Rüppell's Warbler סבכי שחור-גרון feketetorkú poszáta (Eilat, Holland Park)
● Just as elusive as all other Curruca species...
● Spelling of its names is a little bit confusing: ruppeli in Latin and Rüppell's in English.
● A migrant species in Israel, breeds in Greece-Turkey-Syria, winters in Middle Africa (Niger-Chad-Sudan). The peak of their frequency of occurrence in Eilat is in mid-March.
● Females don't have at all or have some spotted markings on their throat (small pic). ➤
● Completely white throated females and immatures look very similar to Sardinian Warbler (C. melanocephala), but there are differences: Rüppell's have more curved bill (especially upper culmen), longer tail, lighter underpart colorations, and Sardinian Warbler is more common in northern regions. Males of Cyprus Warbler (C. melanothorax) have an also spotted throat too, but they have the black cap and this is a very different kind of spotted appearance and their bellies are also spotted, females are mostly brown-grey.
Emberiza caesia - Cretzschmar's Bunting גיבתון אדום-מקור rozsdás sármány (Eilat, Holland Park)
● A little flock of 3 buntings was found in the shadow of a dense hedge.
● At first I thought they were Ortolan Buntings, but suddenly I noticed a bluish-gray headed adult male hiding in the thicket.
● Males are easy to identify.
● Females and juveniles differ from Ortolan Bunting (E. hortulana) only in certain tiny field markers (source):
- OB has yellowish-white eyering (but clear yellow on males). ➤➤ Clear white on all CBs.
- OB has a little bit more pointed and orange bill.
- OB has absolutely no bluish tinge on head or orangey tone on underparts.
- OB has reddish-brown outer fringes of tertials, ➤➤ CB has rusty-brown. (I hardly see the difference here...)
● I think, these color markers listed above are sometimes impossible to distinguish in the field.
Passer moabiticus moabiticus - Dead-Sea Sparrow דרור הירדן tamariszkuszveréb (Eilat, KM19)
● Found some suspicious birds here and there in this week around Eilat, but for sure a flock at KM19 were indeed Dead-Sea Sparrows. Females are not easy to distinguish at first sight on spot as they are similar to females of other sparrow species.
● Compared to other sparrows, Dead-Sea Sparrows have smaller body, smaller bill, their head seems smaller and the face looks a bit cuter. The clear yellow markings are not so easy to find on birds hiding in thicket.
● Like all other sparrow species, they are also gregarious, but Dead-Sea Sparrows hang out most of their time hiding in reeds and dense bushes near bodies of water.
● Plant in pic: Ochradenus baccatus - Taily Weed
Other sparrow species:
● Eilat region is dominated by two other sparrow species, the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus indicus) and the Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis transcaspicus). House Sparrow is maybe a bit more related to human environments, but both species can be found anywhere in large numbers, Dead-Sea Sparrow is not common in the region of Eilat. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is not present at all.
● Both House Sparrow and Spanish Sparrow has different subspecies here:
- P. domesticus indicus has much whiter face patches and underparts. Back is also paler brown. This ssp lives around Eilat and in S-Arava (source). Their distribution area, which begins here and in Arabia, extends all the way to Myanmar and Sri Lanka. (Photo (left) taken in Eilat, IBRCE) ➤
- P. domesticus biblicus has gray face patches and underparts, but still paler than the nominate and lives throughout Israel and in Northern and Central Negev. Its whole range is Turkey-Cyprus-Levant-Iran, this is the most prevalent House Sparrow ssp in the Middle-East. (Photo (right) taken in Ezuz) ➤
- P. hispaniolensis transcaspicus is also called the Eastern Spanish Sparrow, it has paler colors with less chestnut shade. Many sources emphasize the difference of only a small degree. This ssp lives from Asia Minor to Afghanistan. (Photo taken in Eilat, Sewage Canal Dike) ➤
Carpospiza brachydactyla - Pale Rockfinch דרורית קצרת-אצבעות halvány köviveréb (Eilat, Northern Plantations)
● Seen only once a single bird from afar and only for a few seconds in Northern Plantations (near KM19).
● Formerly called Petronia brachydactyla.
● According to a local source, the species in Israel is a rare migrant in autumn and locally fairly common (E-Israel) passage migrant in spring. Rarely also nests at Mount Hermon.
Poekilocerus bufonius - Black Cone-headed Grasshopper כושן ארסי (Eilat, IBRCE)
● Male on top, females are much larger in general.
● Highly toxic bugs as they mainly feed on a highly toxic plant, Giant Milkweed (Calotropis procera).
● Not just simply poisonous, but they are also able to spray two toxic fluid jets from their abdomen towards the enemy to a distance of ~50 cm (source). ➤
● The bug's Bedouin name is expressive, meaning “the one who sprays toxins onto girls’ faces". On the other hand, a few species of mammals (some desert hedgehogs) and some birds (quails, jays) tolerate their poison and are able to consume them (source).
Oenanthe melanura melanura - Blackstart שחור-זנב koromfarkú csuk (Holland Park)
● One of the most common songbirds in the region.
● Unafraid of human proximity, but often spreads its very nice dark brown tail feathers, which in other birds usually means negative emotions or displeasure.
● Common in every type of habitats, but can be found in even greater numbers in the more desolate and rocky mountainous regions.
● Its hunting style and niche is similar to our Chats in Europe. Perches on top of low scrubs and scans the nearby grass for insects.
● Recently renamed from Cercomela melanura, now it belongs to the genus Oenanthe along with its closest relatives, the Wheatears.
Oenanthe isabellina - Isabelline Wheatear סלעית ערבות pusztai hantmadár (Nitzana, Ezuz Road KM7)
● Can be found here and there, but numerous on the desolate plains of Nitzana and Ezuz.
● Sexes are similar. Both resembles to the female of Northern Wheatear, these are the main field markers of Isabelline Wheatear:
- taller body and posture, longer legs, shorter tail, black belt on tail is wider, bigger bill, the coloration is pale brown.
Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe - Northern Wheatear סלעית אירופית hantmadár (Eilat, Northern Plantations)
● A migrant bird in Israel, on its spring way towards Eurasia somewhere.
● In theory, there is another migrating (and sometimes breeding) ssp in Israel, the O. o. libanotica, which is paler, longer billed and has a narrower terminal tail band. I carefully looked through all my wheater photos from this week but I couldn't find anything like that.
Oenanthe melanoleuca - Eastern Black-eared Wheatear סלעית קיץ déli hantmadár (Ezuz, Be'erotayim Grove)
● Breeds in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
● Black mask and throat, black wings and tail, others are white with some beige shade.
● Sexual dimorphism is extreme, females are pale brownish, almost unicolor.
● Unlike females, males are easy to differentiate from its sister species, the Western Black-eared Wheatear (O. hispanica). Fortunately, this is only questionable in their overlapping ranges, such as in Italy, Sicily or Tunisia.
Oenanthe monacha - Hooded Wheatear סלעית נזירה csuklyás hantmadár (Eilat, Wadi Netafim)
● White cap, black nape, partially black breast, completely white belly.
● 2-3 birds found in a desolate stone desert area, they were hunting for dragonflies in the evening.
Oenanthe leucopyga (leucopyga/ernesti) - White-crowned Wheatear סלעית שחורת-בטן koronás hantmadár
(Eilat, cemetery)
● Adult (left): white cap, black nape, white rump, black belly.
● Juvenile (right): white rump, others black.
● Juvenile White-crowned Wheatear resembles a lot to the rare Basalt Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens warriae), but there are 3 main criteria for field identification (infos from Shachar Shalev):
- Side of the tail of WCW is white all along. ➤➤ End of the tail of BW is full black.
- Bill of the WCW is sturdier.
- Black of the belly of the WCW doesn't stretch beyond the legs. ➤➤ Black stretches a little bit beyond legs on BW.
● In theory, birds in S-Israel belongs to the ssp ernesti, but some sources debate its independency.
Orthetrum sabina - Slender Skimmer ריחופית חרוזה (Eilat, IBRCE)
● At the freshwater lagoons.
Luscinia svecica - Bluethroat כחול-החזה kékbegy
LEFT - ssp cyanecula: Eilat, IBRCE
RIGHT - ssp svecica: Yotvata, Sewage Ponds)
● L. s. cyanecula: the widespread ssp of Central Europe, white spot with blue-black-white-rusty color extensions.
● L. s. svecica: the nominate ssp from Northern Eurasia, red spot with blue-black-white-rusty color extensions.
● 5 ssp migrate in Israel (source).
● Here is a really nice summary image on the European bluethroats (source). ➤
Parus major terraesanctae
Somewhat paler upperparts, more orange in underparts, all yellow is more orange shade overall. Ssp of Levant. |
Phoenicurus ph. samamisicus
Nice photos... The presence of the white patch on primaries is not a sufficient criterion for the Ehrenberg's Redstart. Extended white patch on primaries, lack of white edges on inner primaries and extended black on throat are needed for a certain identification (source). From Balkan to Tajikistan. |
Anthus spinoletta coutellii
Ssp of area from Asia Minor to Iran. Pinkinsh-brownish shade on underparts, weak malar stripe. |
Lanius senator niloticus
White of the rump emerges to some extent on the tail, white underparts (except the buff on the flanks), larger white patch on primaries, females often have no black on face mask (source). From Cyprus to Iran. |
Euodice malabarica - Indian Silverbill כסוף-מקור הודי indiai ezüstcsőrűpinty (Eilat, Northern Plantations)
● Also called White-throated Munia.
● A close relative of the tropical estrilds (waxbills).
● Gregarious bird of plain grasslands and cultivated areas of South-Asia.
● Category C species in Israel.
● Not common, only seen two times around Eilat in this week.
Acridotheres tristis tristis - Common Myna מיינה מצויה pásztormejnó
(Nitzana, Ketsi'ot Junction to South, at a gas station)
● Invasive species in most continent from South-Asia (Category C in WP).
● Common Myna is in top 3 of the worst invasive bird species in the world (along with Common Starling and Red-vented Bulbul) (source). Extremely agressive against other birds in its territory, big threat to fruits and cereals, and reservoir of avian malaria.
● But also an intelligent bird, with one of the most advanced vocalization and "speaking" abilities.
● I saw them only in urban areas (on top of residential blocks, at parking lots, in city parks) and always in small groups.
Corvus splendens splendens - House Crow עורב הודי indiai varjú (Eilat, IBRCE)
● Invasive species from the Indian subcontinent. Category C in WP. Two subspecies (splendens and zugmayeri) are known as invasive along the coastlines of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and E-Africa. Ssp zugmayeri has a pale nape.
● Compared to European crows, their glossy bluish plumaged body is much slimmer shaped, their calls sound to me a bit shorter and a bit different. ➤
● In the late 19th century, House crows were introduced into many cities to reduce garbage problems or to solve agricultural and house pests. For example, house crows were known as active predators of rodents around houses (source). However, they do not only eat rodents but also all kind of small animals and household waste.
● Intelligent and highly social birds. They are not dependent on it, but - as opportunists - it is probably much more comfortable and profitable for them to live in human habitats.
● Common everywhere, mainly in urban and suburban areas.
● Other crow species were only represented by the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), but in very low numbers. Two SE-European ssp birds (C. c. sharpii) were seen in Mitzpe Ramon at a gas station (range: N- and Central Israel), and a single very pale bird in Eilat, South Beach, close to the Egyptian border. Probably it was the East Mediterranean Hooded Crow (C. c. pallescens), a much paler version of the species. ➤
I think nominate also has such pale morphs in Europe (maybe this is the general case here, but I only saw a single bird). I feel more difference in the shape of their face-neck shield and of the shortness of their cap.
Corvus ruficollis ruficollis - Brown-necked Raven עורב חום-עורף barnanyakú holló
(Eilat Mountains, Nahal Netafim Campsite)
● Seen only three times, at first a single bird in Eilat Mountains, later two flocks of 4-5 ravens around the plains of Nitzana.
● Not up close either time...
● In theory, on the way back from Nitzana, we had the chance to see the Middle-East subspecies of the Common Raven (Corvus corax laurencei) at Midreshet Ben Gurion (Nahal Zin), we saw their nests in distant rock crevices, but unfortunately they were not at home at that time.
Gazella dorcas - Dorcas gazelle צבי הנגב dorkászgazella (Eilat, Northern Plantations)
● Also called Ariel Gazelle, Negev Gazelle or Negev Deer.
● Arid and sparse groves with expanded plains are their favorable habitat which are less disturbed. Such a habitat is the western side of the road at Northern Plantations, near KM19.
● 3 gazelles were seen here. They spotted me approaching on the road much much earlier and already tried to disappear when I finally discovered them. The 3 escaped in 2 directions: 1 fled alone and 2 together, I think the latter were a mother and her almost adult calf. ➤
● Both sexes have horns, but horns of males are thicker and ringed.
Pterocles lichtensteinii lichtensteinii - Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse קטה הודית csíkos pusztaityúk (Eilat, IBRCE)
● There is no photo here.
● Sounds were recorded at dusk in IBRCE next to a low water level canal. Unfortunately, the noise of the nearby road traffic can also be heard in the recording (some constant noise has been reduced by Audacity).
● I only saw for a moment the silhuette of a small flock of suspicious birds flying nearby, but due to near total darkness and inexperience, I was unable to identify them. They most probably arrived to the freshwater source of the canal with low-slope wall. Unfortunately, I couldn't find their landing place in the dark. A minute later they disappeared, and again I saw nothing... Luckily, the sound recording was already in progress.
- Yellow markings are the Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse(s), arrows point to normal calls, curly bracket at the end shows alarm calls of multiple birds.
- Red squares show Common Redshanks.
- Black square shows Black-winged Stilts.
- Green square points to a strange beep at 34 sec. I think, this is a Marsh Sandpiper.
● Based on the similarities to some XC recordings (XC163724, XC371177) it was possible to identify these mysterious voices. My recording was uploaded here: XC838756.
● Audio file was visualised by the spectral view mode of Audacity, and by some additional image modification programs (IrfanView, Gimp).
● The nominate ssp lives in the Levant region. According to a local source, it is mainly active at night and drinks after sunset and before sunrise.
● In Nitzana, at the bustard blind, our guide heard and identified the calls of some sandgrouses, but unfortunately we didn't find them. This other observation happened in the early morning hours at KM7.
Ammoperdix heyi heyi - Sand Partridge קורא מדברי fehérfülű sivatagifogoly (Eilat, Wadi Netafim)
● Seen 3 times in the week: twice around Eilat, once at Ezuz. Each time in hot and rocky dry scrublands.
● Resident along the the Red Sea and in the habitable parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Since these habitable desert lands are mostly unhabitable for humans, the populations of partridges are stable everywhere.
● The barred pattern is not part of their wings, wings are gray-sand colored and are hidden behind these ornamental feathers.
● Perhaps this barred plumage provides a very good mimicry in its environment of polygonal lines and shadows as it also breaks up the bird's shape, similar to warship camouflage, called dazzle painting.
● Sexually dimorphic: males have the chracteristic white ear patches, orange bill and nice brown-white striping on their sides, females only have modest hide colors. ➤
● They are able to fly but rarely do, they rather run for cover in dangerous situations.
Alectoris chukar sinaica - Chukar Partridge חוגלת סלעים csukár
(somewhere between Ezuz and Nitzana, exact location lost)
● ssp sinaica: lives in Sinai, Levant and Syria. Much paler and more sand colored.
● Seen only twice in the week, at first a flock of 10 birds on an empty soccer field in Mitzpe Ramon early in the morning, at the second time in Nitzana this single bird.
Athene noctua lilith - Little Owl כוס החורבות kuvik
● In the background perched on the highest rock (framed and enlarged from another photo of this series). Ssp lilith is much much lighter in color than our European nominate, this is the palest subspecies of all.
Buteo buteo vulpinus - Steppe Buzzard עקב מזרחי vörösfarkú egerészölyv (Eilat, KM19)
● The nominate (B. b. buteo) ssp rarely migrates over its southern range borders (Mediterraneum). B. b. vulpinus is a long-distance migrant, migrates from N- and NE-Europe to S-Africa and S-Asia, and back. These birds are the majority of migrating birds of prey in Eilat in spring, in some years they can be found in the order of hundreds of thousands. This quantity was not so large scale this week, loose groups of 10-20 birds were seen over the mountains each time, but they still made up the majority of the migratory raptors.
● Ssp vulpinus is not so polymorphic as nominate, there are two main types: ➤
- 'Normal' morph: more rufous than nominate, but similar patterns. Underwing pattern resembles Long-legged Buzzard (B. rufinus), but black carpal patch is also fainter (see big picture above). Tail is slightly barred. Head is darker than belly (opposite to B. rufinus).
- 'Rufous' morph: uniformly rufous body, wing pattern as in normal morph. Head is still darker than in Long-legged Buzzard (B. rufinus).
● Photos of both morphs were taken in Holland Park, Eilat.
● Here is a good source for differentiation of B. b. vulpinus and B. rufinus and their morphs.
Milvus migrans migrans - Black Kite דיה שחורה barna kánya (Eilat, KM19)
● The most numerous migratory raptor in this week. One evening a homogeneous, soaring flock of about 500 migrating black kites arrived above KM19. Some kites descended to the nearby palm plantation to roosting in. The majority of them moved on to North. No camera can capture such an event, the whole sky was full of kites passing over. ➤
Aquila nipalensis orientalis - Steppe Eagle עיט ערבות pusztai sas (Eilat Mountains, Nahal Shahmon)
● Ssp orientalis winters in Africa and Arabia, breeds in Kazakhstan, migrates across Israel two times a year. Their mass migration in spring is one of the main prides of the migration flyway in Eilat. Annually 20-30.000 birds pass over. The official best rush hours are between noon and 2PM around 10th of March, but it depends on many other factors, too.
● I was not so lucky, but about 20 birds were seen almost together in Nahal Shahmon on 18th of March, they followed an air corridor above the Eilat mountains in a very loose line in the early afternoon. The direction was from SW to NE. This corridor was also used by many other migratory raptors in the same direction this afternoon:
- a lot of Steppe Buzzards (B. buteo vulpinus)
- a single Long-legged Buzzard (B. rufinus rufinus)
- some Marsh Harriers (C. aeruginosus aeruginosus)
- one Lesser Spotted Eagle (C. pomarina pomarina)
- one Short-toed Snake Eagle (C. gallicus)
- one Booted Eagle (H. pennatus)
● This lookout point is not even mentioned anywhere, I just stumbled upon this site by accident. In contrast, a few days later, the sky above the world-famous Mount Yehoram Lookout was almost empty this time (maybe this is the main air corridor). I think, it's hard to predict.
● In other places around in this week there were some additional solo migrating Steppe Eagles, too.
● Young birds are easy to identify, the broad white longitudinal band in underwing is striking and evident. Adult birds are almost completely dark from below, but in most cases the primary and secondary feathers are similarily barred, this is a rare feature in other eagles. Anyway, their immense dimensions and their company in a migrating group can also help a lot...
Neophron percnopterus percnopterus - Egyptian Vulture רחם dögkeselyű (Sde Boker, Nahal Zin)
● The nominate ssp lives in the entire Mediterraneum and even beyond, all the way to Afghanistan.
● 2 birds were seen soaring and circling in the valley of Nahal Zin, an adult and a subadult.
● Protecting, monitoring, breeding, tracking, the main activities of Israel's national raptor protection system called 'The Spreading Wing Project'. Ein Avdat National Park and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are the key actors in the project.
Gyps fulvus fulvus - Eurasian Griffon Vulture נשר מקראי fakó keselyű (Sde Boker, Nahal Zin)
● Yellow beak, white collar and light brown plumage indicates it is an adult bird.
● 3 Griffon vultures were soaring above Nahal Zin at that time with 2 Egyptian vultures.
● According to its wing tag, this is K76. Tracking data are not public for well known reasons...
1. IBRCE (International Birding and Research Center Eilat): large and very diverse biome and very important hotspot for birding (salt pans, salt-mud groves, freshwater lagoons with reedbeds, scrublands, canals, hides, everything...).
2. Sewage Canal Dike: a straight canal lined by palm plantations all along to the Aqaba-bay.
3. North Beach: the Eastern part of this beach is less populated and the outlet of the canal lures here birds. In addition, this is the passage way from the sea to the plantations and back.
4. Holland Park: famous city park, irrigated, a very important hotspot for migrants.
5. Wadi Netafim: stone desert area between the feets of the Eilat Mountains and Kibbutz Eilot.
6. South Beach: a long sandy beach (mostly restricted) with some sea views and sea birds. And the southernmost point of Israel.
7. Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve: canyons and groves between mountains.
8. Mount Shahmon: a great lookout point for raptor migration (not shown on eBird as a hotspot). It is not high, rather just a steep hill close to the city.
9. Northern Fields: a dirt road lined by grape, date, palm and many other plantations from the East, and savanna-like desert groves from the West.
10. KM19: a (mostly...) fenced sewage pond and dense green reedbeds around with a diverse bird fauna, plantations and groves can also be found nearby, luring even more birds.
11. KM20: salt pans in the desert near the border of Jordan.
12. Eilat Mountains, Mount Yehoram, Upper Mountain Hawkwatch Site: famous raptor lookout point (almost empty this time).
13. Yotvata Sewage Ponds: as its name says, and proximity of Yotvata NP further increases the high diversity of fauna.
14. Nitzana, Ezuz Road KM7, Mitzpe Hobarot: A birdwatching hide in the desert made of two old train wagons, today the sanctuary habitat of the MacQueen's Bustards in the Negev.
15. Ezuz, Be'erotayim Grove: an oasis in the Negev with dry groves in valleys with some green forest patches with many birds.
16. Ben Gurion's Tomb National Park: a European-style dense and really green city park in the desert with many birds.
17. Ben Gurion Gravesite: amazing view of Nahal Zin and its vultures.
1. IBRCE |
2. Sewage Canal Dike |
3. North Beach |
4. Holland Park |
5. Wadi Netafim |
6. South Beach |
7. Eilat Mountains NR |
8. Mount Shahmon |
9. Northern Fields |
10. KM19 |
11. KM20 |
12. Mount Yehoram |
13. Yotvata NP |
14. Nitzana, The Negev |
15. Ezuz |
17. Nahal Zin |
Overall bird stats and infos:
● 135 bird species of category A were observed in the week, among them it meant for me 40 new species and 28 new subspecies in the Western Palearctic.
● In addition, 6 category C and 2 category B species were also seen.
● Eilat species list (15-21 March 2023)
● None of the birds were baited, set up or called in.
● Map pointer of the observations are accurate.
● In case of monotypic bird species, a third Latin name was not signed, otherwise always included.
● I used the Hebrew names based on Wikipedia. I noticed that in the Hebrew language, the Hebrew name covering the subspecies is not created, but only the binomial old Hebrew name is used and the third part of the name is written in quotation marks next to it in Latin letters. The situation is more confusing in the cases of new species recently slipt from other species, they seem to use the old name, i. e. Pale Crag Martin/Rock Martin. Probably it's not true in scientific platforms, but Wikipedia or Avibase were not sufficient in these cases.
General comments:
● At all border crossings of Israel, everyone is asked why they are coming and where they are going. Nature photography in designated sites can be an answer. A girl standing in front of me in the queue, who didn't say anything specific about the purpose of her trip - obviously she just came on vacation and had no special plans - was not allowed to enter without further questions.
● There are no entrance fees in the sites discussed above (except Underwater Observatory in South Beach).
● Nitzana-Ezuz-Sde Boker and Mount Yehoram-KM20-Yotvata were guided tours in a group, any other places were relatively easily accessible personally from the city of Eilat (mostly on foot or sometimes by bus) (car rental costs a bit high).
● Never plan too big, nature is always bigger and harsher than you think. Distances are always bigger in reality!
● Always be aware of military zones and equipment scattered throughout the country, as Israel is one of the strongest military powers in the world, and Israeli Army is constantly on alert.
● And just that leads to the Number One Rule of Trackers should never be ignored and cannot be overemphasized:
NEVER EVER LEAVE THE TRAILS BECASUE OF THE POSSIBLE MINES!
● And snakes and scorpions haven't even been mentioned yet...
Technical info:
● Wildlife pictures were taken with Canon EOS R7 and Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM.
● Many pictures were somewhat denoised or sharpened afterwards (Topaz Labs AI), cropping images and minor additional optimizations were made by IrfanvView and GIMP, and finally file sizes were reduced by the free online COMPRESS JPEG.
● Plants were identified by the famous and infamous Pl@ntNet.org online platform from cropped images. Only high percentage results have been accepted, but here can be problems, for sure...
Phoca.cz free flag icon bundle (16-12px) has been used at translation of names (source). Here, slightly adapted 13-10px dimensions and somewhat darkened versions were applied.
Hebrew language audio content is based on the Hebrew version of the free online FreeTTS (source), voice: "IL-Standard-B".
א Transliteration of Hebrew words was accomplished by the online 'Hebrew Transliteration 2.5.0, © Charles Loder 2023' (source).
Any comments or suggestions for corrections would be greatly appreciated.
