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Birding Report: July 2008

July's main birding attraction is usually the north beach, with twelve species of Terns regularly seen (Little, and occasionally Sounders, Sandwich, Gull billed, Common, Arctic, Caspian, Lesser Crested, Bridled, White Cheeked, and Black, White-Winged, and Whiskered Marsh Terns), White-eyed Gulls, Three species of Skuas, Sooty Shearwaters, and the Rare Red - billed Tropicbird.

Following the evacuation of the fish cages from the sea, we suffered a reduction in bird numbers. Still most of the species made their appearance but on fewer occasions and in smaller numbers. The Bridled Terns were seen briefly every other day with flocks up to six individuals, Lesser Crested Terns were seen four times during the month, and Little, Common, White Cheeked, and Caspians were seen regularly. Black and White-winged Marsh Terns were usually seen in the salt ponds. White-eyed Gull's numbers dropped, but they are still easily visible from the beach, and two Sooty Shearwaters were seen most of the days around the far buoys. The Mangrove Herons and the Western Reef Herons, move closer to the beach giving wonderful views.

 Now following rainless winter (only 2mm) the desert this year is far quieter that last year. White Crowned Wheatears and Hooded Wheatears can be seen only in specific areas. As for Falcons, the usual three pairs of the Barbary Falcon are still around and the pair of Lanners is in Elifaz also this year. Sooty Falcons suffered a great decrease in number this year. Of the seven pairs that bred between Timna and Eilat, we only saw one bird perched high on mount Amir (we are still looking). Egyptian Vultures seem to be having a good year with pairs at Amram's crater and Yotvata, and single ones in Timna. The Hume's Tawny Owls are calling loudly in the deep wadis bringing food to their fledglings.

 Autumn Migration has started with good numbers of Green, Wood, and Marsh Sandpipers, Redshanks, Little Ringed Plovers, and a few Stints. Olivaceous and Eastern Orphean Warblers, and Swallows are also moving south.

After the exciting spring we are holding our breath for a special autumn.

 Noam Weiss and the IBRCE staff