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<\/a>Most prominent was Sardinian Warbler, several tens, including quite a few of the nominate subspecies. Among them we had at least 9 Cyprus Warblers. At first they weren’t easy to pin down, but eventually I managed to get some photos of a few. Still not the perfect photos I’m hoping for, but I guess they ain’t too shabby.<\/p>\n Cyprus Warbler, female<\/p>\n Also a couple each of Spectacled Warbler and Whitethroat.<\/p>\n Common Whitethroat<\/p>\n Tristram’s Starlings were present in some large flocks. One flock mobbed a passing Long-legged Buzzard. Others were just feeding on the baccatus fruit and other fruiting trees in the wadi. I find them uber-charismatic, despite being very common in this part of the country, including trash-bird behaviour at some tourist sites. They are most attractive when they fly, exposing their brilliant wing pattern:<\/p>\n We bumped into Shlomi, another Israeli birder. While exchanging information we spotted a large raptor soaring over the high cliffs:<\/p>\n Cinereous Vulture! What a pleasant surprise (though unknowingly at that moment it had been present for a couple of days at least):<\/p>\n We had a couple of Striolated Bunting flying high over the cliffs, and Shlomi told us of a waterhole up the wadi that they come down to drink in. We walked up there, sat down quietly for a few minutes and indeed a single bunting, a female, graced us with its beautiful presence:<\/p>\n Since my return from the UK, my appreciation for our local species, especially range-restricted species like Tristram’s Starling and Fan-tailed Raven, has increased. The aerobatic flight of the ravens, their unique high-pitched calls echoing off the mighty cliffs, is an epic symbol of the Judean Desert.<\/p>\n Fan-tailed Raven<\/p>\n On the way out we spent a couple of minutes with an oddly-plumaged Blackstart. I’m not sure whether it’s oil-stained or melanistic. In real life it felt much darker than how it looks in these images.<\/p>\n Golden Spiny Mouse – indeed golden and spiny<\/p>\n While there were saddeningly few Eurasian Griffons, it was nice to have a 3-vulture species morning, including Egyptian Vulture. There were first signs of soaring bird migration, with a northbound movement of Black Kites, first mini-flock of 8 White Storks and a single Black Stork. Soon it will be thousands.<\/p>\n Our next stop was Heimar Reservoir. We met up there with two Swiss friends, Martin and Michael. Another very pleasant surprise was a stonking male Daurian Shrike that hopped on the ugly fence surrounding the reservoir – what a beautiful bird:<\/p>\n Full frame<\/p>\n Crop<\/p>\n Getting the priorities right – at this location these could be ‘wild-type’ Rock Pigeons:<\/p>\n There was also a maurus Siberian Stonechat, Penduline Tit, Dead Sea Sparrows and some migrant hirundines – Red-rumped, Barn and House Martins.<\/p>\n Then we moved on down the road to Navit Pools. I don’t fully understand why, but this site is absolutely jam-packed with birds. Contrastingly, adjacent reservoirs are quite empty. Navit Pools had many hundreds of ducks, including 20 Fudge Ducks (they breed there), 4 African Swamphens and much more. Combine that with stunning scenery and one gets 47 minutes of fun.<\/p>\n