Evening Chorus

The open cistern is right under and in front of the huge pine tree at the edge of 'gazelle field' as seen from the old bunker. Perfect place for a 'water hole', the tree provides perches and shelter and the cistern provides much needed water. We intend to watch the cistern a little time each day to see what comes along.

Greater Spotted Cuckoo (creative commons)

just over 20 C (just under 70 ) approaching 70% humidity just after 7 p.m. ish to 7.40 ish WNW 9 knot plus but not felt much in valley this time. Best time for a nature walk (second to dawn) since we have little boys to feed and put to bed, obviously not fair to leave them with the teenage girls every evening. Still, once in a while it's doable and this evening we made an exception since husband had to be in town mid afternoon. It was worth it, the woods were buzzing with life.

Five gazelle grazing in gazelle field.. (at least.. visible at one time.. though I had impression there were more.. they were moving to and fro behind the trees.. very tantalizing. I believe there were two young in the group so then would be definitely at least six) 3 adult females plus one part grown, one (at least) quite young seemed to like "sproinging" to and fro. "Sproinging" is something many small antelopes do and it's a delightful thing to watch. They jump along on all four hooves at once for a few dozen metres or so to one side or another as if they have springs in their hooves. They look like they're bouncing along. The little one would graze with mom for a while, then jump on all four hooves at once playfully .. seemed just youthful high spirits- then return to grazing. I've seen the adults do it occasionally too in the past.

Turtle doves cooing everywhere

Hobbies. No sign.

Swifts group about 20 very low over valley road all around us, approaching within a few feet.. hunting flying bugs . def in the air, one nearly flew into my mouth

Greater spotted cuckoo (?) calls in grove to east of gazelle field

Bee-eater.. calls heard from north valley.. one individual noticed flying after bugs in air west end of gazelle field, probably others around in the north valley.. they're a very social species.. seldom one all alone. Watched him in flight for a while.. gorgeous colouration. There are two other species bee-eaters in Israel but I haven't seen them yet. They're mainly green with some blue but the European also has canary yellow and chestnut and is always a pleasure to see, and so graceful.

house sparrows: active everywhere

senegal doves: cooing and active in many locations

hooded crows: active all over mostly individuals

jackdaws: still apparently on vacation, not a 'kaa' or a glimpse anywhere

jays: active and vocal everywhere

feral pigeons: active in many locations.. one visited cistern

greenfinches: very active and singing like canaries all over the wood.. full chorus around sunset

blackbirds: song many locations

chukars: nothing

collared doves: some calls and coos

stone curlews: calls from north valley

sunbirds: calls from garden

graceful warblers: calls and song valley road and suitable habitats

syrian woodpeckers: silent

bulbuls: some calls

A few words about the insects we've been seeing lately. Butterflies are still busy.. Whites (Pieris or similar) (there were black and white patched around but their season seems to be over), still plenty Browns (Satyrids) a fritillary that looked like Melitaea phoebe a couple of days ago, very pretty, and also some small blues (Lycaenids).

Ants of every possible size and numerous black beetles, Adesmia or similar hunting on the road in the heat of the day, a variety of grasshoppers and probably much more we haven't noticed since we've been so busy looking for larger life.

Much later this evening on our walk we found a huge Cerambyx.. probably Cerambyx dux - a dark brown beetle with very long serrated antenna. These beetles are pests on fruit trees such as almond and apricot. Sadly husband did not have the camera.

Son found the scary looking Steatoda paykulliana (false widow spider ) at school.. a shiny red and black spider that he had the sense not to touch thanks to its warning colouration even though its not recorded as venomous.. always pays to be on the safe side. Ironically the real widow spiders here are all- black and look less scary.

The large black millipedes are all over as usual. They're so long and have so many legs I've counted up to ten waves of movement passing along the legs at one time.