Yesterday morning I worked in Wadi Bet Arif, very close to Ben Gurion airport. I had a productive morning – lovey spring atmosphere with flowers, beautiful weather, good breeding activity and fine migration.
Among the priority breeding species, Long-billed Pipit was most prominent – it’s song was a continuous soundtrack of my walk.
One of my favourite breeding birds; quality.
I managed to read the ring of this one – ringed by Yosef in 2016.
Other priority species, summer migrants, were present still in low densities:
Woodchat Shrike, singing softly
Blonde Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
After 08:00, typically, Sylvias woke up and showed in fair numbers and decent diversity. Star was Rueppell’s Warbler – I had four including two males that were super showy. Smashing birds.
Lovely site – so close to the populated center of the country, yet such quality habitat, mammals and birds.
Mountain Gazelles
Looking west towards the Big Smoke – Tel Aviv in the distance
Yoav Perlman
I have been birding since the age of 9, and from the age of 15 I started working professionally in birding. I have been working for the Israeli Ornithological Center since 1998. I was a member of the Israeli rarities committee between 2001 - 2007. I have an MSc in Ecology from the Ben Gurion University. I did my research on the ecology of Nubian Nightjars in Israel, and spent hundreds of nights with these fascinating birds. I lead tours in Israel, and especially focus on Nubian Nightjars obviously. I traveled and birded Asia extensively, and also Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and North America. I am married to my lovely wife Adva and father to two sons - Uri and Noam, and one daughter - Libby. Currently I live in Norwich, where I am starting a PhD project at UEA.
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