Bulletin 11:01 Rare Birds in Israel

In this bulletin about rare birds in Israel, we provide an up-to-date account of all records evaluated by the Israeli Rarities and Distribution Committee since the previous bulletin in April 2016. Most records in this bulletin are of recent rarities recorded primarily during 2016 to 2018, including five new species for Israel - Barnacle Goose, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Atlantic Puffin, Asian House Martin and Arctic Warbler. Some older reports are covered in this bulletin as well.

For each accepted records full details are provided. For observations that could not be accepted, basic details on the date and location are included. In addition, we provide information on species that will no longer be evaluated by the IRDC.


Section 1: Records accepted to category A
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

• Winter 2016/17 brought an excellent trio of records of this rare grebe, not recorded since 1993:
• • 1, Ein Hamifratz, 10-Nov-2016 until at least 15-Nov-2016 (Daniel Melamed et al.). Photographed. 3rd record.
  • 1, Maayan Zvi, 15-Dec-2016 until at least 18-Dec-2016 (Ruthy Talmor Blank et al.). Photographed. 4th record.
  • 1, Kfar Ruppin, 3-Jan-2017 until at least 14-Jan-2017 (Galit Moshe et al.). Photographed. 5th record.

European Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus)

• 2 individuals, at sea about 10 km off Haifa, 24-Oct-2016 (Hadoram Shirihai, Meidad Goren et al.). Photographed. 6th record.

Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)

• Still extremely rare. However, two records off Eilat in consecutive summers, of multiple individuals, indicate that this species might be more regular in the Gulf of Aqaba.
• • 1, Deep Sea Eilat, 12-Sep-2016 to 13-Sep-2016 (Noam Weiss et al.). Photographed. 2nd record.
  • 2, Deep Sea Eilat, 12-Sep-2017 to 15-Sep-2017 (Itai Shanni, Re'a Shaish et al.). Photographed. 3rd record.

	Wilson's Storm-Petrel  (Oceanites oceanicus)
	Deep Sea Eilat, Sep/2016 (© Amit Cohen)

Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis)

• This species is probably regular in the Gulf of Aqaba almost year-round, as indicated by multiple records at sea and also from land.
• • 1, possibly 2, Deep Sea Eilat, 12-Sep-2016 to 13-Sep-2016 (Noam Weiss et al.). Photographed. 7th record.
  • 1, Deep Sea Eilat, 11-Jun-2017 (Noam Weiss). Photographed. 8th record.
  • 1, Deep Sea Eilat, 15-Jul-2017 (Noam Weiss, Re'a Shaish, Yaron Charka). Photographed. 9th record.
  • 2, Deep Sea Eilat, 12-Sep-2017 to 15-Sep-2017 (Itai Shanni, Re'a Shaish et al.). Photographed. 10th record.

Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)

• Several immature roamed around northern Israel during 2017 and 2018.
• • 1 immature, Neve Eitan, Bet Shean valley, 9-Apr-2017 - 26-Apr-2017 (Tuvia Kahn et al.). Photographed. 9th for Israel.
  • 1 immature, Yerucham Lake, 30-May-2017 - 25-Aug-2017 (Eran Banker, Tuvia Kahn et al.). Photographed. 10th record.
  • 1 immature, Ein Hamifratz, Zvulun Valley, 9-Jun-2017 (Itai Shimshon). Photographed. 11th record. Possibly Bet Shean valley bird that roamed?
  • 1 immature, Gesher Fishponds, 18-May-2018 (Eran Banker et al.). Photographed. 12th record.
  • 1 immature, Hula Nature Reserve, 27-Aug-2018 - 28-Sep-2018 (David Rezek et al.). Photographed. 13th record.

	Pink-backed Pelican  (Pelecanus rufescens)
	Yerucham Lake, Summer/2017 (© Rony Livne)

Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)

• The species is now considered an almost annual, regular rare to very rare summer visitor. IRDC will not evaluate records of this species anymore.
• • 1 immature, Neve Ur, Jordan Valley, 5-Mar-2016 (Israel Sade et al.). Photographed. 26th record.
  • 1 immature, Bet Shean and Harod valleys, 9-Jul-2017 to 30-Jul-2017 (Ofir Lotan et al.). Photographed. 27th record.
  • 1 immature, Agamon Hula, 6-May-2018 to 9-May-2018 (Moti Charter et al.). Photographed. 28th record.

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)

• 1, KM20 saltpans, Eilat, 4-Mar-2018 to at least 27-Apr-2018 (Gaidis Grandāns et al.). Photographed. 3rd record. Both previous records were from this site, most recently in 2014/15.

Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)

• 1 first-winter, Agamon Hula, 25-Nov-2018 to 8-Feb-2019 (Hanokh Seif et al.). Photographed. 1st record.

	Barnacle Goose  (Branta leucopsis)
	Agamon Hula, Feb/2019 (© Yoav Perlman)

Lesser White-fronted Goose(Anser erythropus)

• 2, Maoz Haim, Bet Shan Valley, 31-Oct-2016 to 26-Nov-2016 (Niv Bessor et al.). Photographed. 7th record.
• 1 immature, Hula Valley, 25-Dec-2016 to 20-Mar-2017 (Hamudi Musa Heib et al.). Photographed. 8th record.
• 1 immature, IBRCE Eilat, 3-Jan-2018 - 25-Mar-2018 (Re'a Shaish et al.). Photographed. 9th record. Returned in November 2018, and commuted between Eilat and Aqaba, accompanying two Egyptian Geese, until at least July 2019.

	Lesser White-fronted Goose  (Anser erythropus)
	Maoz Haim, Autumn/2016 (© Amit Cohen)

Bean Goose (Anser fabalis)

• 1, Agamon Hula and adjacent Hula Valley, 8-Dec-2016 to 18-Feb-2017 (Hagai Hochman, Yuval Dax et al.). Photographed. 5th record. Taxonomy of all Bean Goose records in Israel still requires clarification.

	Bean Goose  (Anser fabalis)
	Hula Valley, Winter/2016 (© Yuval Dax)

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

• 2 birds, KM19 sewage pond, Eilat, 9-Dec-2016 to 16-Dec-2016 (Shachar Shalev et al.). Photographed. 19th record.

Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

• 1 immature, Golan Heights, 15-Nov-2016 to 14-Jan-2017 (Eran Banker et al.). Photographed.

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

• 1 3cy, Gvulot, 14-Jul-2016 to 9-Aug-2016 (Olga Chagina, Barak Granit et al.). Photographed. 6th record.

Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)

• 1, Eilat Mts. 5-Feb-2018 (Ragnar Smith). Photographed. Has become extremely rare.

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

• In addition to the long-staying individual that roamed mainly in the southern Judean Plains between January 2015 and March 2017, four more individuals were recorded:
• • 1 immature, migrating over Eilat Mts., 9-May-2016 (Joachim Bertrands et al.). Photographed. 10th record.
  • 1 juvenile, migrating over Rehaniya, Galilee, 15-May-2017 (Roy Hazan). Photographed. 11th record.
  • 1 immature, IBRCE, Eilat, and southern Arava, 13-Feb-2018 to 7-Apr-2018 (Gaidis Grandāns, S. Gorransson et al.). Photographed. 12th record.
  • 1 immature, Eilat, 10-Apr-2019 to 20-Apr-2019 (Tapani Lilja et al.). Photographed. 13th record.

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)

• 1, KM19 sewage ponds, Eilat, 18-Jul-2018 to at least 7-Sep-2018 (Shachar Shalev et al.). Photographed. 3rd record.

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)

• Two astonishing simultaneous records only few kilometers from each other:
• • 1 2cy , near Kiryat Gat, 4-Feb-2016 to 25-Mar-2016 (Irad Solnik, Yoav Perlman et al.). Photographed. 3rd record. Often associated with the resident Bateleur...
  • 1 3cy, Kedma, 16-Feb-2016 to 23-Feb-2016 (Nissim Primo et al.). Photographed. 4th record.

	Rough-legged Buzzard  (Buteo lagopus)
	Kiryat Gat, Feb-2016 (© Barak Granit)

Great Bustard (Otis tarda)

• 1 male, Hayogev, Jizreel valley, 12-Dec-2015 to 14-Dec-2015 (Asaf Sasson et al.). Photographed. 8th record.

Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)

• Two classic records, maintaining its non-twitchable reputation by lingering for up to 15 minutes.
• • 1, North Beach, Eilat, 7-May-2016 (Eric Didner, Pierre-André Crochet et al.). Photographed. 5th record.
  • 3, North Beach, Eilat, 10-May-2018 (Re'a Shaish, Noam Weiss, Frank Moffat, Ohad Sherer). Photographed. 6th record.

	Dromas ardeola  (Crab Plover)
	Eilat, 10-May-2018 (© Frank Moffat)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

• Two records in the same winter, after 15 years of absence.
• • 1, Kfar Blum, Hula Valley, 13-Nov-2017 to 18-Nov-2017 (Yadin Porat et al.). Photographed. 3rd record.
  • 1, Afikim, Jordan Valley, 12-Jan-2018 to 16-Feb-2018 (Yahel Porat et al.). Photographed. 4th record.

	Red-wattled Lapwing  (Vanellus indicus)
	Kfar Blum, Nov-2017 (© Lior Kislev)

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

• 1, Gan Shmuel, 17-Sep-2017 to 26-Sep-2017 (David Kotter, Irad Solnik et al.). Photographed. 14th record.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis)

• 1 1cy, Ga'ash turf fields, 24-Oct-2018 to 26-Oct-2018 (Gal Sherbelis et al.). Photographed. 1st record. A long-awaited addition to the national list.

	Buff-breasted Sandpiper  (Calidris subruficollis)
	Ga'ash turf fields, Oct-2018 (© Lior Kislev)

Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura)

• 1, Einot Tzukim NR, Dead Sea, 12-Oct-2018 (Ron Haran, Rafi Paz). Photographed. 11th record.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

• Well-deserved after the first and only record in 1984. 2nd record.
• • 1, KM20 saltpans, Eilat, 22-Apr-2017 to 26-Apr-2017 (Petro Pynnönen, et al.). Photographed.
    

	Long-billed Dowitcher  (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
	KM20 saltpans, Eilat, Apr-2017 (© Micky Laloum)

Dowitcher sp. (Limnodromus sp.)

• • 1 1st-winter, Ma'ayan Zvi and Nakhsholim, Carmel Coast, 15-Oct-2017 to 27-Nov-2017 (Arnau Sebe Pedros et al.). Photographed.
    Although the consensus was of a Long-billed (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Short-billed (Limnodromus griseus) could not be ruled out.

	Dowitcher sp.  (Limnodromus sp.)
	Carmel Coast, OCT-2017 (© Meir Levy)

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

• 1 found dead, Bustan Hagalil, northern Mediterranean Coast 15-Sep-2018 (P. Shilo). Photographed. 1st for Israel. This bird was accepted to Category A despite a doubt about the location of its decease.

	Atlantic Puffin  (Fratercula arctica)
	Bustan Hagalil, Mediterranean Coast, Sep-2018 (© Ella Shila)

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

• Four more records of this regular Asian vagrant, two in typical autumn dates and two rather surprising spring records:
• • 1 ssp. meena, Einot Gibton, Coastal Plains, 5-May-2016 (Ron Haran). Photographed. 13th record.
  • 1 1cy meena, Agamon Hula, 12-Oct-2016 to 13-Oct-2016 (Yochai Koren, Shai Agmon). Photographed. 14th record.
  • 1 ssp. meena, Yotvata, 17-Apr-2018 (Frank Moffat et al.). Photographed. 15th record.
  • 1 1cy, Ga'ash turf fields, 31-Oct-2018 (Avi Livne). Photographed. 16th record. Subspecies unclear.

Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus)

• 1 1cy, Maagan Michael, 16-Dec-2016 to 27-Dec-2016 (Barak Granit, Tomer Landsberger et al.). Photographed. 1st for Israel and 2nd for WP.

	Asian House Martin  (Delichon dasypus)
	Maagan Michael, Mediterranean Coast, Dec-2016 (© Barak Granit)

Blyth's Pipit (Anthus godlewskii)

• Still extremely rare in Israel, but there have been several spring records at this site that might be representing wintering birds that only got discovered late in the season.
• • 1, Arsuf, 19-Mar-2016 (Oree Efroni Naor et al.). Photographed. 5th record.
  • 1, Arsuf, 11-Mar-2017 to 16-Apr-2017 (Itamar Gurfinkel, Eliraz Dvir et al.). Photographed. 6th record.

	Blyth's Pipit  (Anthus godlewskii)
	Arsuf, Mediterranean Coast, Mar-2017 (© Amit Cohen)

Masked Wagtail (Motacilla alba personata)

• 1 male, Southern Dead Sea, 23-Mar-2016 to 25-Mar-2016 (Marc Guyt et al.). Photographed. 3rd record of this distinctive Central Asian subspecies.

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris)

• 1, Mt. Arbel, 30-Dec-2015 to 9-Jan-2016 (Lior Kislev et al.). Photographed. First since 2005

Basalt Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens warriae)

• Eight records of this taxon. Two winters (2016/7 and 2017/8) had multiple individuals, some of them returning. These records indicate that Basalt Wheatear is a regular winter visitor to southern Israel.
• • 1 2cy male, KM94, Arava 12-Jan-2016 (Lior Kislev et al.). Photographed. 7th record.
  • 1, Amram Pillars, 1-Jan-2017 to mid February 2017 (Benjamin Steffen, Kerstin Menke et al.). Photographed. 8th record. Returned in winter 2017/18.
  • 1, Beer Ora, 5-Jan-2017 to late February 2017. (Itai Shanni et al.). Photographed. 9th record. This individual returned in winter 2017/18.
  • 1, Uvda Valley, 17-Jan-2017 to late February 2017 (Oded Ovadia et al.). Photographed. 10th record.
  • 1, Beer Ora, 16-Feb-2017 (David Kotter et al.). Photographed. 11th record.
  • 1, Eilat Mts., 3-Feb-2017 to 7-Feb-2017 (IBRCE team). Photographed. 12th record.
  • 1, Uvda Valley, 28-Oct-2017 to 16-Feb-2018 (Dani & Sarit Tabak et al.). Photographed. 13th record.
  • 1, Uvda Valley, 14-Nov-2018 to January 2019 (Lior Kislev et al). Photographed. 14th record.

Persian Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)

• 1 2cy male, Har Amasa, 10-Mar-2018 to 2-Apr-2018 (Igal Milchteich, David Raved et al.). Photographed. 2nd record. Ringed, DNA confirmed. Returned in next winter, from 8-Nov-18 to early April 2019.

	Persian Wheatear  (Oenanthe chrysopygia)
	Har Amasa, Mar-2018 (© Yoav Perlman)

Red-rumped Wheatear (Oenanthe moesta)

• Two records in the same winter, after almost 30 years of absence.
• • 1 female, Uvda Valley, 21-Oct-2017 to 18-Feb-2018 (Shachar Shalev, Jani Vastamäki et al.). Photographed. 5th record. Most probably the same individual was seen at the same site on 2-Nov-18 but did not linger.
  • 2 (male and female), KM94, Arava, 4-Nov-2017 to 15-Feb-2018 (Shachar Shalev et al.). Photographed. 6th record.

	Red-rumped Wheatear  (Oenanthe moesta)
	Uvda Valley, Mar-2017 (© Yoav Perlman)

Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)

• Four records, including the first twitchable one:
• • 1 ringed, Agamon Hula, 24-Aug-2016 (Yosef Kiat, Yotam Lenard et al.). Photographed. 12th record.
  • 1, singing, Wadi Kelt, 26-Mar-2017 to 29-Mar-2017 (Yossi Goldreich et al.). Photographed. 13th record, and first live field record.
  • 1 ringed, Midreshet Ben Gurion,17-Aug-2018 (Darren Burns et al.). Photographed. 14th record.
  • 1 ringed, Yeruham, 10-May-2019 (Rony Livne et al.). Photographed. 15th record.

	Common Grasshopper Warbler  (Locustella naevia)
	Yeruham, May-2019 (© Rony Livne)

Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)

• 1 ringed, IBRCE Eilat, 8-May-2016 (Noam Weiss et al.). Photographed. 11th record.
• 1 ringed, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 25-Apr-2017 (Darren Burns). Photographed. 12th record.

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)

• After the short breeding events in Hula Valley 2006-2008, this species returned to its previous status as a very rare vagrant.
• • 1 ringed, IBRCE Eilat, 8-May-2018 to 11-May-2018 (Re'a Shaish, Noam Weiss et al.). Photographed.

Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus)

• 1 ringed, Ma'ayan Zvi, 16-Oct-2018 (Yosef Kiat et al.). Photographed. 8th record.

Green Warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus)

• 1 ringed, Jerusalem Bird Observatory, 10-Jun-2018 (Eilon Gur, et al.). Photographed. 8th record. Second June record, following one ringed at Ashdod in 2011.

Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)

• 1 ringed, IBRCE, Eilat, 23-Sep-2018 (Kylynn Clare, Liviu Parau, Noam Weiss et al.). Photographed. 1st for Israel. ID confirmed by DNA. Sadly not seen subsequently in the field.

	Arctic Warbler  (Phylloscopus borealis)
	IBRCE, Eilat, Sep-2018 (© Noam Weiss)

Pallas's Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus)

• Two records of this Asian gem.
• • 1 ringed, Yerucham Lake, 28-Oct-2016 to 1-Nov-2016 (Rony Livne et al.). Photographed. 4th record.
  • 1, Ein Gedi, 26-Jan-2017 to 17-Mar-2017 (Jack Noordhuizen et al.). Photographed. 5th record.

	Pallas's Warbler  (Phylloscopus proregulus)
	Ein Gedi, Feb-2018 (© Barak Granit)

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)

• Two records, possibly of the same individual.
• • 1 2cy male, Ovda Valley, 21-Mar-2018 to 22-Mar-2018 (Hadoram Shirihai, Guy Kirwan et al.). Photographed.
  • 1 2cy male, Yotvata, 24-Mar-2018 - 28-Mar-2018 (Yoav Perlman et al.). Photographed.

Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)

• • 1 1cy, ringed, IBRCE Eilat, 11-Sep-2017 to 16-Sep-2017 (Ohad Sherer et al.). Photographed. 5th record.
  • 1 1cy, Mitzpe Shalem, 30-Sep-2017 (Kochav Levi). Photographed. 6th record.

	Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow  (Petronia xanthocollis)
	IBRCE, Eilat, Sep-2017 (© Barak Granit)

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

• 3, Mt. Herzl, Jerusalem, 19-Nov-2016 to at least 27-Nov-2016 (Avner Rinot et al.). Photographed.

Section 2:1; Records not accepted

The following reports were not accepted because the identification was not fully established. This was most often due to a lack of adequate documentation or, more rarely, that the information contradicted the identification of the species being claimed.


Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) - adult, KM20 saltpans, Eilat. 9th March 2017.

Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) - North Beach, Eilat. 31st July 2015

Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) - North Beach, Eilat, from 16-Jun-2018.

Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis) - North Beach, Eilat 19th Jun-2017.

Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis) - Mediterranean Sea, off Haifa. 12-Jun-2017.

Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis) - South Beach, Eilat 8-May-2016.

Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma monorhis) - North Beach, Eilat 6-Feb-2018.

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) Agamon Ha'Hula, 12-13 Oct-2016.

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) Yotvata, Eilot region, 12-Sep-2018.

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) Jaffa Port. 18-Jan-2016.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) - 2, SW of Ovda Airport. 22-Mar-2017.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) - near Kiryat Gat. 05-Oct-2012. Photographed.

Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta) - IBRCE Eilat. 25-Feb-2018. Photographed.

Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) - North Beach, Eilat. 15-Jul-2016.

Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) - IBRCE Eilat. 2-Mar-2018.

Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus) - Jerusalem Bird Observatory. 16-Nov-2010.

Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) - 2cy female, Jerusalem Bird Observatory. 27-Apr-2007.

Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) - 2cy female, Jerusalem Bird Observatory. 3-May-2011.

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis) - 1, Kfar Ruppin, 31-Mar-1999.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) - Eilat. 27-Mar-19. Photographed.

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) - female, Neot Smadar, Eilot region. 27-Apr-2018.

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) - Be'er Ora, Eilot region. 28-Mar-18.




Section 2:2;
The following supplementary list is composed of four reports which the IRDC found to be unacceptable but might have otherwise furnished records of three new species to Israel.

Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) - IBRCE Eilat. 2-Mar-2018. This intriguing report received a lot of attention on social media but from the IRDC's perspective it lacked the documentation required to secure a National first. The circumstances (not photographed), observation details, and description did not fully rule out other swift species, especially an aberrant Common Swift.

Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) - 2cy female, Jerusalem Bird Observatory. 27-Apr-2007 and 2cy female, Jerusalem Bird Observatory. 3-May-2011. Although both birds were photographed in the hand, the IRDC could not to accept them for the following reasons; 1) dark/black-billed Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva are not exceptionally rare; 2) 2cy female Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva in spring can show cold plumage tones overall requiring extreme caution and raising the bar of identification requirements for claims of vagrant Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla). In this respect, neither of the two birds in question were heard calling, nor was any material taken at the scene for DNA analysis. In addition, the 2007 bird lacked jet-black upper-tail coverts. Israel is still waiting for its first, unambiguous Taiga Flycatcher.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) - Eilat. 27-Mar-19. Photographed. A fascinating sole observer report of a shrike seen only very briefly on the outskirts of Eilat. The IRDC carefully examined the two photographs provided but concluded that the detail within the images did not fully meet the criteria required to establish an identification of a National first. Moreover, the photographs revealed some features that may contradict an identification of Brown Shrike.



Section 2:3;
The following list includes records in which the identification was established but that a (former) captive origin couldn't be ruled out;

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha) - Iddan area, Northern Arava. Jan 2015 - Apr 2016 at least.

Arabian Golden Sparrow (Passer euchlorus) - adult male IBRCE, Eilat. 4-Aug to 29-Nov-2016.

Magpie (Pica pica) - Kfar Etzion, Judea. 3-Jun-1994.



Section 3:1; Species removed from the Israeli List

Saunders's Tern (Sternula saundersi) - The complexity and diversity within Little Tern plumages has been thoroughly studied in Israel and neighboring countries in recent years and as such, the IRDC decided to treat all previous and future Israeli claims of this species with extreme caution. A review of all historical records in Israel revealed that this species has been inadequately documented in the past and that none of the previous reports rule out a variation within Little Tern (Sternula albifrons), especially the variation in the upper-tail colour and the difference between Saunders's Terns and Little Terns of the Eastern Mediterranean.






Committee Members: Avner Cohen, Barak Granit, James P. Smith, Yoav Perlman and Yosef Kiat.