January 2010

Re'a Shaish & Eyal Shochat

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

2012
March

2011
January

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata): One of the two birds found at Acre in December remained around the port and was seen till 16/1 (A. Ben Dov, R. Livne, A. Gancz, R. Segali, Y. Baser, Y. Wasserlauf, D. Gelbart).

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus grisues): A new Med sea record of at least 7 at Jaffa on 25/1 (B. Granit, A. Katan, A. Ben David, Y. Perlman, O. Horin)

Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea): One at Ashdod 2-6/1 (A. Ben Dov, Y. Perlman, R. Livne). One at Jaffa on 25/1 (B. Granit, A. Katan, A. Ben David, Y. Perlman, O. Horin).

	Cory’s Shearwater(Calonectris diomedea)

	Ashdod north beach. 2nd Janurary

Leach's Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma leucoroha): Eleven birds were seen during a storm at Jaffa port on 25/1 (B. Granit, A. Katan, A. Ben David, Y. Perlman, O. Horin). This species has not seen since 2003

Mangrove Heron (Butorides striatus ): One at Ma'agan Michael on 22/1 (C. Rozen).

White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons): Four at Shomrat reservoir 13-22/1 (A. Ben Dov, R. Segali, N. Yarkoni, S. Louria). Another 2 at Zohar reservoir on 15/1 (Y. Perlman).

Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina): A female at the lake of Galilee on 10/1 (B. Granit, E. Shochat).

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator): Two birds at K19 sewage ponds, Eilat, on 12/1 (S. Louria).

White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla): An immature bird over Zohar reservoir on 15/1 (Y. Perlman), was probably the same bird seen over Nachshon reservoir 8 days later (A. Gancz, R. Shaish, E. Dovrat, A. Weiler).

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis): One at Beit Nir on 13/1 (E. Hadad).

Saker (Falco cherrug): One at Urim on 2/1 (S. Alterman), and 11/1 (F. Argyle, O. Hatzofe).

Demmoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo): One wintering at the Hula, seen throughout January (I. Shani and others).

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius): Seven birds at Urim on 2/1 (R. Livne, E. Shochat). 10 birds at the same site on 11/1 (F. Argyle, O. Hatzofe).

Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus): One at Shlomi reservoir, Western Galilee on 15/1 (R. segali)., represents the first winter national record of this species.

Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii): Two first winter birds were seen, one at Maoz Haim, Beit Shean valley (2nd record to this area) on 10/1 (B. Granit, E. Shochat), and one at Ashdod on 13/1 (Y. Perlman).

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus): Up to 3 birds at Acre throughout January (A. Ben Dov). One off shore Ashdod 8/1 (A. Ben Dov R. Mizrachi, G. Shon, E. Shochat, R. Livne, Y. Perlman). One at Na'aman coast on 9/1 (R. Segali),

Common Gull (Larus canus): An adult bird at Ashdod on 6/1 (Y. Perelman, S. Haham, E. Dovrat, A. Ben Dov).

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus): The adult bird at Acre port was seen by many throughout January.

Black legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla): A young bird at Haifa on 19/1 (R. Segali).

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus ): One at Gal’on on 13/1 (E. Hadad). One was found wounded near Grofit and taken to rehabilitation on 7/1 (reported by O. Hatzofe).

Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens japonicus): 1-3 at Kalia on 8-12/1 (Y. Lehnardt, R. Haran, J. Meyrav, Y. Perlman). One at Ma’agan Michael on 22/1 (C. Rozen).

	Buff-bellied Pipit(Anthus rubescens japonicus)

	Kalia 12th January

Basalt Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens): A bird seen and photographed at Kfar Baruch (Jizrael valley) on 19/1 (U. Makover) probably belonged to this subspecies.

	Basalt Wheatear(Oenanthe lugens)

	Kfar Baruch reservior 19th January

Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna): 1-2 birds at Heftziba (around Mt. Gilboa) on 22/1 (S. Navot, A. Navot).

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti): A male at Ashdod shore, 6-8/1, represents the first winter record of this species in the coastal plains (Y. Perelman, S. Haham, E. Dovrat, A. Ben Dov, E. Shochat)

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus): Very rare in winter. One caught at the Hula ringing station on 24/1 (F. Argyle).

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus): A male at Tel Yodef, Bet Shean valley 8-16/1 (T. Kahn).

Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris): One at Heimar reservoir, Sedom, on 20/1 (E. Shochat).

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus): One Ringed at the Hula on 1/1 (F. Argyle). Three birds were also trapped and ringed at Tzora on 8/1, 15.1, and 22.1. On 29/1 three birds were caught at the same site and one was heard singing. (Y. Kiat). All birds were in juv. Plumage.

	Common Rosefinch(Carpodacus erythrinus)

	Tzora 22nd January

Pine Bunting (Embriza leucocephalos): One male at Birya 5-14/1 (Y. Wasserlauf).