April 2004 - second half

Eyal Shochat

The best finding of the month is the first White-rumped Sandpiper for Israel, found by Daniel Gelbart at Ma'ayan Tzvi fishponds on the 26th.

	White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

	Ma'agan Michael, 26-APR

Other good birds were found throughout the country:
Northern Israel
A Black Vulture was seen at Gamla on the 26/4 (V. de Boer).Apart from the White-rump Ma’agan Michael held good numbers of other waders, including a few Broad-billed Sandpipers and a Red-necked Phalarope.

Central Israel
Sea-watching at Yaffo Port on the 16/4 yielded good numbers: 110 Cory’s Shearwaters and 12 Gannets (N. Sapir) A Hill (Pale Rock) Sparrow was seen north of Bet Nir on the 17/4 (E. Hadad). An unusual record for Jerusalem were three Pygmy Cormorants at the botanical gardens, 20/4 (S. darawshi).

Southern Israel
White-throated Robins continued show up into the second half of April. New individuals were noted from the Southern Arava (J. Meyrav, J. Aalto), as well as one from Be'er Sheva (18/4, Y. Perlman). Latest record from Machtesh Ramon, 20/4 (O. Hatzofe).
Semi Collared Flycatchers flood also didn't stop by the middle of the month: A few individuals were reported regularly from the Southern Arava at least until 27/4 (J. Meyrav). A Caspian Plover was seen at Yotvata on the 16/4 (J. Aalto) and on the 30/4 (E. Vanunu).
A female Menetries's Warbler was ringed at IBRC Eilat on the 19/4 and was still present 29/4.
The fist ever Great Black-headed Gull to Be'er Sheva was recorded on the 16/4 (R. Livne), quite an unusual inland record in the south. Another unusual record for Be'er Sheva are was a Namaqua Dove near Hatzerim on the 23/4 (D. Hawlena).
Hill (Pale Rock) Sparrows were seen in good numbers towards the end of the month: 50+ near Tzuk Tamrur, (Judean Desert) 26/4 (A. Tsairi), 12 at Ne'ot Smadar, 27/4 (J. Meyrav) while 36 were caught in IRBC Eilat on the 28/4 (R. Yosef).
Probably the best bird in the south this month was a Black-crowned Finch Lark found near Yotvata by J. Meyrav, on the 28/4. On the next day (29/4) a Thick-billed Lark was seen at the same location (E. Vanunu).

	Black-crowned Finch Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

	Yotvata, 28-APR

At Eilat north beach a White-checked Tern was seen on the 28/4 (P.A. Crochet et al.), in addition to other seabirds of the season: a Cory's Shearwater, a few Sooties and Skuas. Waders in the Southern Arava included an Oystercatcher and, as usual for the season a few Broad-billed Sandpipers and Red-necked Phalaropes (J. Meyrav and many others).
To finish the southern section, three Crested Honey Buzzards (22,000 non-crested) and an adult Verreaux's Eagle were seen in Eilat mountains on the 30/4 (J. Meyrav).