Well worth the wait!

For over last 15+ years every winter some of my friends, or me, would say; this spring we are really going to Israël! And for some reason we never did. We went all over the world, but we never ever went to Israël. And each year we said it again. It became a practical joke amongst us and our friends. Nobody took it serieus anymore.

Different destinations, security problems in Israël, intifada, rocket attacks on Israël, buying houses, just forgetting to go, reports of dwingling numbers of migrating birds. All reasons not to go.
And this we finally miraculasly did. Arjan van Egmond called if we would be going to Israël this year. I said yes. Arjan booked and within a few weeks we were standing in Eilat!

In the '80's and '90's Eilat was the place to go for (European) birdwatchers. Many many Millions of birds pass through the Eilat area and the combination of all kinds of tired migrants feeding in small parks, huge visible (raptor) migration and special desert species made it a birder's pelgrimage. But the numbers of birds dwelled, security problems rised and birds and birders stayed away.

The last few years the number of birders slightly increased, but reports of huge numbers of grounded migrants were few.

And then it was 2012. How different it was this year. Eilat had a rise to its former glory! Migrants were pooring all over the place. Small parks were full of tired migrants. Everywhere there were quails, pipits, wagtails, chats and warblers. Raptor migration was stunning with every day many 1000's of Steppe Buzzards flying low over the mountains. It was said that it was the best spring in many years, maybe even the best spring ever according to the locals.

So now we know why we waited for 15+ years - we just had to be there at the best spring in decades!

A few images taken from this trip - still editing!

Vittata Pied Wheatear

Semi-collared Flycatcher

Rock Thrush

Red-throated Pipit

Beema Yellow Wagtail

Black-headed Wagtail

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Egyptian Nightjar

Egyptian Nightjar

Grey-headed Wagtail

Nubian Nightjar

Red-throated Pipit

Tenerife

We zijn twee weken naar Tenerife geweest, even heerlijk naar de zon. Je gaat als vogelaar natuurlijk wel achter de specialiteiten aan. Dit betekent dat je opzoek moet naar Blauwe vink, Pimpelmees, Tjiftjaf, Berthelots pieper en nog een handjevol soorten. Het eiland herbergt niet alleen maar wat leuke vogelsoorten die endemisch zijn voor de Canarische archipel. Het zou zonde zijn als je die andere specialiteiten van deze eilandengroep, aan je voorbij laten gaan. Er komen op de Canarische eilanden ook nog een paar leuke vlindersoorten voor die je nergens anders tegen kan komen.

Oranje luzernevlinder - Colias crocea

Canarische cleopatra - Gonepteryx cleobule

Als je dan toch met lijstjes bezig bent kun je die ook niet laten liggen. Voor mijn libellenlijstje, viel er niet veel te halen. Op Tenerife komt maar een Libel voor, die je op het vaste land van Afrika of Europa niet zult tegenkomen. Het is een soort die nauw verwant is aan de bruinrode heidelibel (Sympetrum striolatum). Omdat deze libel op de canarische eilanden voor komt hebben ze hem maar Eilandheidelibel genoemd (Sympetrum nigrifemur).

Eilandheidelibel - Sympetrum nigrifemur

Grote keizerlibel - Anax imperator 

Epauletoeverlibel - Orthetrum chrysostigma

Het eiland herbergt ook een bijzonder mooie plantengemeenschap. Ook hier in zijn soorten te vinden die je buiten deze eilandengroep nergens anders kunt aantreffen. Vooral bij de succulente planten zijn erg mooie soorten te vinden.

Aeonium tabuliforme

Je treft binnen de plantengemeenschap niet alleen inheemse soorten aan, maar ook planten uit totaal andere windstreken, zoals het Slaapmutsje (Eschscholzia californica). Een plant uit Californie, die op Tenerife de wegbermen oranje kleuren. Ook de Bermuda-buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae) is niet inheems, maar wel erg mooi.

 

Bermuda-buttercup - Oxalis pes-caprae

Slaapmutsje - Eschscholzia californica

Kortom voor iedereen die iets meer dan alleen vogels wil zien heeft Tenerife genoeg te bieden om je natuurhart sneller te laten kloppen.  

Marokko in het voorjaar

In 2011 zijn Anja en ik begin mei naar Marokko geweest, auto gehuurd in Casablanca en 9 dagen rondgetrokken. Via Marrakesh en Ouarzazate zijn we gereden naar de mooie woestijnduinen van Erg Chebbi, dicht bij de grens van Algerije.

Wij begonnen onze trip in de Atlas, mooi weer en besneeuwde toppen

Atlas gebergte

Typische bewoner van de hooggelegen gebieden is de Strandleeuwerik

Water is er niet in overvloed dus ieder klein meer herbergt veel vogels, uiteraard nu in de broedtijd erg actief en opvallend

Steltkluut

Marmereend

Maar zoals gezegd is water zeldzaam en kom je ook veel vogels tegen in de onherbergzame gebieden in het binnenland

De groene Bijeneter hier genietend van de zon, in de ochtend was het in dit jaargetijde nog erg koud

Van de 8 soorten tapuiten die we hebben gezien, hier de Woestijntapuit

En een roepend vrouwtje Roodstuittapuit

En dicht in de buurt van haar een ons scherp in de gaten houdend mannetje Roodstuittapuit

Een van de soorten welke wij erg graag wilden zien was de Temmincks Strandleeuwerik, mooie schutkleur als ze door de steenwoestijn lopen, moeilijk te ontdekken maar gelukkig was het in deze tijd dat ze veel zongen en voor zonsopskomst hoorde je ze al overal zingen bij Boumalne.

Onderweg twee duiven die hun naam eer aan deden:

Tortelduiven 

Uiteindelijk gearriveerd bij Merzouga en daar de schitterende duinen in de woestijn, hier tegen zonsondergang

Maar weer heel andere kleuren voor zonsopkomst

om 6 uur klaar voor de expeditie door de woestijn, op zoek naar een van de laatste Kraagtrappen, helaas nog steeds vliegen er jagers in om deze schitterende en schuwe vogels af te schieten

Kraagtrap in de verte vanuit de auto

Met de unieke forse snavel, de Witbandleeuwerik

Zandwoestijn wisselt continu af met steenwoestijn

Sahelzandhoen

Zingende Woestijnvink

Terug in de bewoonde wereld, Putter nestmateriaal aan het verzamelen

En een op de uitkijk zittende Torenvalk

Schitterend land, veel impressies in zo'n korte tijd, prima te rijden met eigen vervoer en de meeste vogels zijn goed te vinden met alle lectuur en verslagen die voorhanden zijn.

Anja Nusse & Roy de Haas 

First for Israël

Vittata Pied Wheatear

On our last full day in Israël Arjan van Egmond and I decided to check the palmtrees around KM20, north of Eilat, for Dead Sea Sparrow. A species we hadn't find so far during our week stay. On arrival we split up and I checked all the rows in the plantage if there were sparrows feeding on the ground.
Not a single bird until I came across a Wheatear species standing 100+ meters inside the plantage, facing forward. It striked me as odd right away as it was all pale at it underparts, no black throath and breast, but it didn't look good for the usual suspect Black-eared Wheatear, as it had a black line connected with its black wings.

At that point it turned and, facing the other way and showing its upperparts, I was looking a 100% (Cyprus) Pied Wheatear.... But that species had a black throath and breast... It turned again and there was my prove that i was not hallucinating - its underparts where all pale. Remembering that there was a 'morph' called vittata that was suposed to have these features i looked around to find out where Arjan was. Where is he when you need him? (and his telescope!).

Arjan was standing 150 meters away, waving his hand - he had found Dead Sea Sparrow... darn. A quick run to the place where he was standing revealed a empty bush, the sparrows where gone.

I updated Arjan what I had seen and we rushed back, with the telescope, to the place where I had left the Wheatear alone. Gone of course, so we split up again checking the rows for the bird. After a few minuted Arjan relocated the bird and could be seen in the same few as a 'normal' Pied type Wheatear. This looked good!

As we had now idea how rare this bird was, we decided to call back-up. I called some Dutch Birders around and Arjan called a local birder, Yoav Perlman whom we met during a Nubian Nightjar excursion. His words coming through the phone where quite clear: "Marc is not allowed to leave the area until he has photographed the bird, it is a first for Israël!"
According to Hadoram Shirihai the Vittata Pied Wheatear is at least a subspieces and not a mere morph.

I needed no further encouragement, despite the wire fence, and I went in where the bird performed very well in the end.


Vittata Pied Wheatear

A new bird for Israël on our last day - a perfect ending to a perfect birding week! More about the birds of Eilat soon.

Finland in winter

A shot for seeing Northern light saw me and my dad arriving last week at Oulu airport. We had decided just 10 days earlier and soon we were off for a long weekend Northern Finland. Besides the Northern light there we more treasures hidden in the snow covered Taiga forest: Owls, Grouses, Golden Eagles, Jays, Tits & Dippers.


A White-throated Dipper in the dark


Arrangements where made through the company Finnature (www.finnature.fi), owned by AGAMI photographer Jari Peltomaki, and he had lined up some good memories.

First morning saw us outside a resort checking the trees around the building. A huge male Capercaillie had taken residence as well in the spa and used the trees around the resort as his diner table. Soon we had found the bird and waited untill it flew down to the ground where it perfomed subperb and amazingly unconcerened by all the attention. Despite the dull weather we had a great time and was able to get some shots worth keeping from the encounter.


Capercailie


Capercailie


Capercailie

Next morning we woke up in all white Kuusamo, a smallish city next to the Russian border surrounded by prestine Taiga forest, fairytail like due to the exteme snow conditions. What a beautiful place!

Here we ware taken in the hands of Olli, and soon we were off for our Owl quest. A majastic drive followed with snow/frost covered forest in all directions. Black Grouse, three Capercaillies and 25 Pine Grosbeaks where nice finds but one of our targets didn't gave in. Untill we received a phonecall that a bird was found and that is was cooperative! A 45 minute tense drive followed, we stopped and soon the bird was spotted it a tree trop. The mouse went out and within 1 minute a superb Hawk Owl grabbed the mouse just meters in front of us. A perfomance he repeated 6-7 more times. A superb bird in a superb setting!


Hunting Northern Hawk Owl


Last full day was Eagle day. We drove to a hill north of Kuusamo where we went up on a Snowscooter. After a while we came upon a small clearing where some hides where dugged in. In front of hides two places had bait for Golden Eagle and besides, on the feeders just in front of the hide birds as Woodpeckers, Jays and Tits performed well.


Siberian Jay

The plan for the day is simple: get in the hide, dress yourself warm (including sleeping bags covering your legs), put your lens outside the hide through a small pane, turn up the heather, photograph the woodpeckers, Jays and Tits untill a shadow appears. Then freeze, slowly select one of the baits and wait till the shadow drops on the ground. Wait a while then slowly start shooting, after 5 minutes the eagle is not weary anymore and you can do everything what you want again.

After an hour the female appears and then you have to be carefull again untill she has landed. Very simpel and a very humbling experience to be in such close quarters withe thea eagles for such a long period. And that includes the setting of the snow covered Taiga!


Golden Eagle


Golden Eagle

And the Northern light? Alas, we did not see it. Sun was not active at the moment we had clear skies. The evening we left Jari did photograph a nice display above Oulu area - we could have seen it from our Hotel balcony. Next time! I'll be back!