Last days I spent on Mt. Hermon. This is a highest and northernmost
point in Israel – its peak is over 2200 m; the result of this is a combination
of breeding species of southern Europe, like Lesser Whitethroat and Eastern
Orphean Warbler with Mediterranean and more eastern or Balkan specialties like
Upcher's Warbler and Syrian Serin.
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| Rock Nuthatch - juveniles |
On Thursday-Friday we performed our first session of the CES
project there. We work in a drinking site and most birds caught were
seed-eaters. The total was 164 birds: 'semirufus' Black Redstart (1),
Blackbird (2), Common Bulbul (1), Blackcap (2), Common Whitethroat (15), Lesser
Whitethroat (11), Eastern Orphean Warbler (2), Upcher's Warbler (1), Woodchat
Shrike (2), Sombre Tit (3), Great Tit (5), Rock Nuthatch (3), Linnet (66),
Goldfinch (16), Greenfinch (1), Syrian Serin (11), House Sparrow (12), Rock
Bunting (5) and Corn Bunting (2).
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| Adult Common Whitethroat after partial post-breeding moult |
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| Sombre Tit |
Recently, during the SPNI breeding bird survey of the mountain,
discovered a small population of breeding Chiffchaffs were discovered in one
specific wadi; this is more than 500 km from the southern known population of
any species / subspecies of the Chiffchaff complex. To obtain more data on
those birds we ringed on Sunday at this site. We caught 3 individuals together
with a nice variety of typical woodland species.
Later on that day we colour-ringed western Rock Nuthatches as part
of a research by Amir Ben-Dov; we ringed 7 individuals in 4 separate
territories. All adults started their post-breeding complete moult already.
Thanks to Nadav, Francis, Amir and all other participants in the
Hermon ringing.