A week in Israel, 5 targets, 5 ticks....eventually

So, having saved the dosh for Nubian Nightjar (see 'Thayer's Gull') it was off to the Holy Land for a week's twitching. Sunday's target species were the two plastic Cat Cs near Tel Aviv, Vinous-breasted Starling and Nanday Parakeet. Thunder, lightning and VERY heavy rain put paid to them so it was off to the Dead Sea to try and retrieve the day with the Nightjar. Finding our guest house locked and being totally ripped off for a few bits of bread and beer added to our crap day 1 and light rain seemed to put the nightjar out of our reach too but it was all to turn good. Fantastic views of the Nightjar and of Desert Eagle Owl was a highlight ranking alongside any in the last 30 years birding... Incredible... thanks Yoav!

























The rest of the week was set aside for the wintering Oriental Honey Buzzard and Small Skylark, a more regular winterer. These both proved much easier than expected and the lark was a real education, a fantastic 'birders bird' if you know what I mean.



Back to TA for Starlings and Parrot, which proved almost no problem in the much improved weather and two days to spare.



Chose Hula for the first, an inspired choice as it coincided with about 10,000 Cranes setting off on their return to Europe - quite a spectacle! Thw wintering Demoiselle had the decency to hang around long enough for us to see too:-)



Last day at various fish ponds around Keffar Ruppin (poor) and Bet She'an (fantastic) allowed us superb views of GBH Gulls and confusing nightmares with lots of 1st winter white-headed gulls... just how do you split Caspians from Armenians at that age?