May 2004 - second half

Eyal Shochat

Starting from the End: G. Ottens reported an African Darter at Kibutz Geinosar Beach (Lake Kineret which is the See of Galilee), 31/5. This is the first record since 1957, when the wintering population gone extinct due to the draining of Lake Antioch, Turkey.

In Gamla (Golan heights), a Black Vulture was present throughout 24/5. All together 3 different individuals were seen during May (V. de Boer).

Around the lake of Galilee there were 625 Pygmy Cormorants on 20/5, including two breeding colonies. Otherwise 7 Little Bitterns and 50 Whiskered Terns (A. Mayrose et al.).

Around northern Jordan River there were two families of Coots with chicks on 23/5 (U. Paz), and a pair of White Wagtails on 29/5 (L. Kislev). E. Bartov had 12 Rose-coloured Starlings at his backyard in Sede Izhak (Emek Hefer) between 19-21/5.

	Rose-coloured Starling (Sturnus roseus)

	Hefer valley, 20-MAY

There was one Broad-billed Sandpiper at Ma'agan Michael on 19/5/04 (D. Roitemberg) and two on 29/5 (Y. Perelman).

In Jerusalem, the sixth River Warbler for the season was caught on 18/5, with seven Barred Warblers on the same day (G. Perelman et al.). On 29/5 a female Common Rosefinch was ringed.

The first colony of House Martin (eight nests) for the Greater Tel Aviv area was found in Yahud in mid May (Netanel Yarkoni). So far this species was found breeding only in eastern and southern Israel. A female Namaqua Dove near Lehavim on 20/5 was the third ever to Beer-Sheva area, and the second in less than a month (E. Vanunu).

In Eilat there were one Borad-billed Sandpiper and 11 Sooty Shearwaters on 22/5 (N. Sapir).