February 2006

Tomer Landsberger

February is a transitional period between winter and spring. The departure of wintering species, such as Ducks, Gulls and Cranes coresponds with the arrival of early spring migrants such as Warblers, Steppe Eagles and some Waders.

Despite its reputation as the anti-climax of the Israeli winter, this years February was relatively productive. Best bird was probably a Persian Wheatear found at east Samaria during a Raptor nesting survey conducted by the INPA.

Below is a summary featuring the most interesting observations from this month, based on reports from the ISRABIRDNET mailing list and other sources.

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus): 1 off Jaffa port, 16/Feb (T. Landsberger).

Greylag Goose (Anser anser rubrirostris): 6 at Ma’ayan Tzvi fishponds, 17/Feb onwards (Y. Livne et al.), appearently first observed at Jan 15th (Y. Eshbol); 2 still present at Gesher fishponds, 16/Feb (D. Porat).

Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus): at least 1 sighted on several occassions at Sde Boqer and the Ramon crater; 1 at Golan heights, 24/Feb (D. Porat, A. Ohad).

	Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

	Sede Boqer, 15-FEB

Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus): near Revivim, 35 on 06/Feb (I. Tsurim, A. Ohayun) and over 50 on 10/Feb (I. Tsurim, Y. Perlman, R. Livne); 35 at Shivta National park, 17/Feb (A. Meyrose, O. Hatzofe, A. Ben-David).

	Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)

	Revivim fields, 10-FEB

White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus): 1 at the IBRC Eilat, 28/Fed (J. Meyrav).

Knot (Calidris canutus): 1 at Acre north beach, present since September, last seen on 26/Feb (S. Haham).

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus): 1 at Acre shore, present since January, last seen on 26/Feb (S. Haham).

Kittiwake (Rissa trydactila): 1 1st winter off Eilat’s north beach, present since December, last seen on 14/Feb (J. Meyrav).

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus): a roost of about 1,000 near kibbutz Dalia, Ramot Menashe, 03/Feb (Y. Dax).

Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cincturus): at the Meyshar, 9 on 03/Feb (E. Banker) and up to 13 on the 18th (A. Ben Dov, E. Dvir, T. Landsberger).

Temminck’s Horned Lark (Eremophila bilopha): at the Meyshar, 8 on the 03/Feb (E. Banker) and up to 15 on the 18th (A. Ben Dov, E. Dvir, T. Landsberger); 30 at Shivta National park, 17/Feb (A. Meyrose, O. Hatzofe, A. Ben-David).

Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes): 1 at the Meyshar, 03/Feb onwards (E. Banker et al.).

	Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)

	Ha'Meyshar, 18-FEB

Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens japonicus): 2 at Yotvata’s circular field, present since January, last seen on 15/Feb (J. Meyrav).

White-crowned Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga): 1 at Ga’ash region, HaSharon coast, 20/Feb (Y. Wasserlauf). This species has never been recorded outside the Arava, Negev and Dead Sea deserts, were it is a fairly common resident.

Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna): 1 male at wadi Zananier, east Samaria, 28/Feb (A. Mayrose, O. Hatzofe et al.).

	Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna)

	East Samaria, 28-FEB

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris): 24 at Bnei Atarot, Dan region, 18/Feb (A. Weiler). There are very few obs of that species this winter.

Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena): 1 observed at wadi Mishmar on the 12th, north of this species usual range (P. Geffen).

Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus): 1 at Ye’elim holiday village, Yotvata, present since December, last seen on 26/Feb (J. Meyrav).

Hume’s Warbler (Phylloscopus humei): 1 present since Jan 14th at the garden of Mitzpe Ramon hotel (G. Kirwan et al); 1 at Neot Semadar's date plantation, 15th onwards (J. Meyrav, L. Ziv)

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus): 1 adult at Km 19 area near Eilat, 08/Feb (W. Puyk); 1 over-wintering at the Hula reflooded area (A. Geffen, Y. Perlman et al.).