raptor arrival

1st September.

Shorty before sunset a large dark bird crested the hill to the north and headed into the northern valley. At first I took it for a hoodie, then realized it was something else. Soon after, three more similar birds arrived and again made for those pines. Big brown jobs, raptors for sure but I wasn't sure which yet. They were the vanguard. We looked up to the north east to see a whole nice flock of about 80 of these magnificent birds coming in to land at a nice glide, probably on a leisurely descent from thermals high over the Jordan rift valley with a mind to roosting in the pines. We noticed smaller birds evacuate from that section of the woods, hastily moving over to make way. Some of the flock flew up the pine valley, dropping quickly into cover, others wheeled round and settled into the central area. We walked softly back up the central trail not wishing to disturb them but managed inadvertantly to spook a couple. They went lumbering under the canopy like aerial bears to look for a further and undisturbed perches.

When we got home we hit the Uzi Paz and the guide books to try to figure out exactly what they were. In the fading light it had been difficult to see markings and since they were coming in at a glide their tails and primaries were not fanned and their wings were angled stiffly to maintain control. They made it look easy. Honey buzzards were the most likely candidates in terms of timing and numbers though these seemed a lot darker and less barred. Of course that could simply have been the poor light. I'd have said regular buzzards from their underwing markings though according to Paz these normally return down the east side of the Jordan valley.

Earlier in the afternoon, just resting after lunch and about to plunge into some Robert Jordan fantasy, I heard a familiar chirrup in the Bauhinia. I couldn't see the bird from my window so went out into the garden, and there it was, baby blue right in the middle sitting on a perch and chirruping at me merrily, an escaped blue budgerigar. My son tried to catch it to bring it into our care but without success. Meanwhile apparently that cockatiel still roams, last heard a couple of days ago.

We noticed quite a few sick eucalyptus along dry trail. Major branches of one fell on the trail about a week ago but on looking more critically we noticed that many had dead or dying branches. One at the lookout corner is pretty much all dead. Sad. Many others seem healthy enough though. We wondered if there is a local bug bringing them down.

Gazelles 1 in pine grove to east of the cistern glimpsed briefly running through the trees. Chose to remain in deep cover there unfortunately, did not emerge to field.

hyrax activity around dens along valley road, plenty young about

Feral dogs some barking lately esp night

reptiles: Nice pale gecko noticed on the wall near the front door in the evening, Husband also found two baby geckoes in his bedroom, I can't imagine how they got in, he has screens and no holes we know of.

Wheatears: not sure.. calls from at least 3 around cistern but not seen

House sparrows and feral pigeons, around the buildings as usual

Senegal doves: in the Bauhinia and around street especially where bread is left.

Hooded crows: around as usual

Jays: foraging in woods and fields as usual, several visiting cistern to drink

Greenfinches: small flocks to and from trees by bunker, cistern and pine grove

Collared doves:quite a few around field, cistern euc

Stone curlews:brief call

Sunbirds: calls in cape honeysuckle by entrance

Syrian woodpeckers: calls

Yellow vented Bulbuls: calls in the garden especially in the evening

Great tits: calls in pines