Raptor ringing expedition in southern Arava

I spent Sunday to Tuesday ringing raptors in the southern Arava, joined by my intrepid volunteers of Tzor'a Ringing Station: Carmel Zitronblat, Rafi Paz, Ron Efrat and Avishai Bar-On. We used Bal-Chatri traps, working in two teams in the agricultural fields of the southern Arava: Eilot, Samar, Elifaz, Yotveta, Lotan and Neot-Smadar. This was a very productive expedition that produced 52 raptors ringed: most were Steppe Buzzards (49), but also Levant Sparrowhawk (2) and Kestrel (1).

Levant Sparrowhawk - adult female

Steppe Buzzard - second year dark morph

The IBRCE has been putting effort on raptor ringing for many years now. This activity produced nice results about the migration of those species, See maps below. None of those birds ringed in Eilat and found elsewhere were recovered with the code 'alive, released by ringer', but were rather recovered in non-natural circumstances: shot, run-over, electrocuted, found dead or only found and the cause of death remains unknown.

One of the Steppe Buzzard caught in Samar was recaptured, it had been ringed at Eilot date plantations (29 km) on April 5^th and its weight decreased during this period by 90 g.  Most of those moribund buzzards have 'missed the train' and will not make it on time for the breeding season. They try to forage in the desert but most of them find little more than small insects and arthropods. Many of the buzzards teem with louses (Damalina spp.) and other parasites. It is known that birds in poor physiological state often have a serious parasite load. These disgusting creatures migrate with the buzzards from Africa to Europe carrying various viruses, and happily climb onto the hands of the ringer holding the buzzard.

In the field we witnessed an impressive wave of passerines, the most common species were Blackcap, Barn Swallow, Tree Pipit and Ortolan Bunting, but also many Bee-eaters, Sand Martins, Black-eared Wheatears, various flycatchers and Masked Shrikes.

We had little time for birding, especially around the hot hours of noon but we did see some nice birds: Montagu's Harrier - male, Osprey (2), Barbary Falcon, Broad-billed Sandpiper (4) and Red-necked Phalarope (35) in KM20 saltpans, White-winged Tern, Rock Thrush - male, Semi-collared Flycatcher - male in Samar and Golden Oriole - males (3) in some spots.

Ron with Levant Sparrowhawk

Rafi and Avishai with buzzards

Steppe Buzzard

Kestrel - female

Very late lunch

Many thanks to my partners in this session; Thanks also to the IBRCE team: Itai Shanni, Yotam Lenard and Tzadok Tzemach for providing us a base camp and more.

March summary

In my area, Tzor'a Valley, spring migration is less dramatic compared to southern Israel. Nevertheless, this March is more successful compared to previous years. The total is 516 birds from 39 species, another 191 birds were recaptured.

The most interesting species this month are Water Rail, Little Crake (first ringed in Tzor'a), Green Sandpiper (2), Moustached Warbler and Common Rosefinch.

Little Crake - female

Common Rosefinch - female

Migration is rather slow, but breeding is evident with more and more brood patches found on Reed, Clamorous-reed and Cetti's Warblers. The breeding birds have returned to their territories and produced some ancient and interesting recaptures (see table). Both male Little Bitterns ringed in August-September 2011 and recaptured together during territorial fights, are often heard giving their bark-like song in the early mornings.

Little Bittern - males

Recaptures - March

This Balkan Warbler is part of a nice and unusual wave of this species in our region. Until this year I had ringed only one (March 2008) and this March four individuals were ringed; their song and calls heard in Tamarisk bushes near our ringing spot.

Balkan Warbler

Water Rail

Common Whitethroat

Graceful Prinia - male

Spring migration

Last days I worked at JBO and Tzor'a Ringing Station and ringed at last a few true migrants. The first Eastern Orphean Warbler for the season - an adult female. First Whitethroats, most females, but all very interesting regarding ageing; Blackcaps, first Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler - I missed them for about four months.

Whitethroat - female

The wintering White Wagtails and Reed Bunting have become so beautiful by now; makes me wonder: why leave us when they are so beautiful, and return (in autumn) when they look so dull!?

This 2cy male Reed Bunting I ringed in November 2011 didn't look so attractive back then; I wish I could persuade it to stay and breed in Israel - so beautiful.

Reed Bunting - 2cy male

White Wagtail - male

Overhead migration included hundreds of Cranes and White Storks.

Reed Warbler

Greenfinch - adult female

Tzor'a birds - late February

Most of our recent ringing efforts were put towards the local White Wagtail roost. Our winter total is already up to 1100 individuals ringed. It's a relatively high effort for Israel, with the same effort on this species only 20-25 years ago. Now towards the spring migration the wagtails perform a partial moult, including tertials, inner GC and body feathers. Their plumage is more attractive with new and shiny feathers and black throat.

Around the reservoir the winter is still on. On Friday only 42 birds were caught with only local and wintering birds: Chiffchaffs, Chaffinches, Bluethroats, Moustached Warbler and local Cetti's Warblers. During this quiet morning we had time to prepare the area for spring migration by opening the old net rides. We also enjoyed some birding: Black-necked Grebe is not a common bird in our pond and this one gave long and close views.

Black-necked Grebe

Go on our way out of the area, in a muddy puddle we saw this 2cy Citrine Wagtail feeding with White Wagtails and Skylarks. This species is uncommon in Tzor'a Valley, until today only two were ringed.

Citrine Wagtail

Besides that Common Swift and first Barn Swallows gave a nice drinking show, later joined by migrant House Martin. Around the reservoir we heard some Water Rails and near our ringing table we had a Little Crake, also a nice bird for Tzor'a.

On Thursday we controlled a Penduline Tit in the wagtail roost, ringed at Nativ Ha'Lamed Hei (16 km) in December 2011. Earlier this week a ringed Spur-winged Lapwing was observed; it was also ringed at Nativ Ha'Lamed Hei, in 2009 (9 km).

White Wagtail: with (left) and without (right) black throat 

Active moult: tertials and inner GC growing

Thanks to Ezra Jasper for the help and images.

Regards from Poland

In April 2009 I ringed in one of an important stopover site in southern Israel, Neot-Smadar - just N of Eilat, about 200 km S of my regular area. It was a short but very productive ringing session, only three ringing actions (morning-evening-morning) produce about 1000 birds ringed. These included two foreign controls: Barn Swallow from Greece and Blackcap from Hungary, and another Blackcap from Eilat Ringing Station was recaptured. Last week I received another reminder to the importance of that site, as I received a report from Poland about another Blackcap that was found dead in eastern Poland - 2700 km N.

After a rainy week, I ringed on Friday (03/02). The catch included many Spectacled Bulbuls, 1 Starling, 3 Linnets and other winter birds.

Starling

Linnet