Hula Valley

About two and a half hours drive from Tel-Aviv airport brings you to the Hula Valley. Nestled between the Galilee and the Golan Heights, along the Rift Valley, north of the Sea of Galilee, this long and narrow depression, along with its numerous fish-farms and reservoirs, provides exceptional winter-birding opportunities, e specially for raptors and wetland birds.

What to expect?
This spectacular birding spot presents one of the highest concentrations of wintering birds in the Western Palearctic. Hundreds of White Pelicans, thousands of Herons and Egrets, 15-30 thousand Cranes, Pygmy Cormorants, Marbled Teals, Ruddy Shelducks, and thousands of other wetland birds are filling the lake, the fishponds and the fields around.


Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

It provides good wintering grounds for many raptors, and is well known for its diverse and dense Eagle populations. Here, it is possible to see Greater Spotted, Lesser-spotted, Imperial (tens of both), Steppe, White-tailed, Golden, Booted and Bonelli's Eagles, together with Cinereous and Griffon Vultures, Pallid Harrier, tens of Marsh, Hen (and sometimes Montague's) Harriers, Merlins, and Pergrines, all in one day. Saker and Lanner are also possible, and even Lammergeiers are seen here during some winters. Apart for the raptors, there are many passerines around. These include Moustached and Clamorous Reed Warblers, Citrine Wagtail, Richard's, Red-throated and Buff-bellied Pipits, Oriental Skylark, Isabelline Shrike and Siberian Stonechats. 2-5 Sociable Plovers are seen in most winters. This place is truly a must for the visiting and local birders.