More Israeli ticks!

After some peak days with 600 birds it is slowing down clearly with less new birds and many recaptures. Today we had 250 new birds and lots of recaptures. It is nice to have some relaxing during the morning, and not ring ring ring! A new and recap Scops Owl were found in the mistnets this morning.  Today saw a clear increase in shrikes with about 6 Woodchat Shrikes and 3 Masked Shrikes, there was an increase in Nightingales as well. Also, we ringed the 2nd Great Reed Warbler of the season. More noteworthy birds ringed were 4 Ortolan Buntings.

 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) , adult male. Wonderful male!

Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

After ringing we headed to the datepalms to look for the Olive-backed Pipit that has been avioding us for quite a while now. It didn't take long before Roni found an Olive-backed Pipit! A life bird! The bird is moulting heavily so it is not a real beauty. Nevertheless an Israeli tick.

Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), ugly bird!

Balkan Warbler (Phylloscopus orientalis), lots of them around in the Date Palms.

 Quite a few Semi-collared Flycatchers (Fidecula semitorquata) around, showing well.

This individual was a bit odd looking, with very little white near the bill and no white on the median coverts. Tail pattern was good for Semi-collared Fly. Hybrid?

After this visit we went to the SPNI Field School south of Eilat, near the coral reef. A Yellow-browed Warbler has been lingering around here for a few days now. It didn't take us long to relocate the bird. So this is what a spring bird looks like! Ugly!

Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)