Around Beit-Shean Valley (inc. Kfar Rupin and mt Gilboa)

About two hours drive north-east of Tel-Aviv airport, at the intersection of the Rift and the Northern Valleys, lies one of the most interesting birding areas of Israel. Its location along the major migratory flyways and on the border between the Mediterranean and desert climate zones makes this place an extraordinary place for migrants as well as both African and Asian vagrants.

What to expect?

The Beit Shean Valley is one of the best places for autumn migration and wintering birds in the country.
Literally, tens of thousands of wetland birds, spending the winter in the many fishponds and reservoirs scattered around the valley. Among the 360 species which have been recorded here one can expect to see Pygmy Cormorant (hundreds), White Pelican, Black and White Storks (hundreds), Great white Egret (thousands), Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck, White-headed Duck, White-tailed Eagle (rare), Pallid Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Black Francolin, Pallas's Gull (about 1200 birds), Caspian, Armenian and Siberian Gulls, White-breasted and Pied Kingfishers, Syrian Woodpecker, Oriental Skylark, Richard's Pipit, Long-billed Pipit (mt Gilboa), Buff-bellied Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, Siberian Stonechat, Finsch's Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush (mt gilboa), Clamorous Reed Warbler, Moustached Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Isabelline Shrike, Southern Grey Shrike, Dead Sea Sparrow, Desert Finch and Indian Silverbill.

Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) and Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The valley is also one of the two main Israeli wintering places of Little Bustard and Sociable Plover. Kfar Rupin is also the best and only place in the WP where Pin-tailed Snipe is recorded almost annually (between September and December). During November there is a good chance for Dotterel, Pacific Golden Plover and Steppe Grey Shrike and even Kittlitz's Plovers have been recorded here several times.