October,November

6th October 

Two or more night herons about around sunset, calling and flying over cistern area and Pistacio area.  One mobbed by a number of falcons (kestrels?)  flying about that area.

Lately.. masked shrike about, heard, seen.  A few days ago over acacia north east valley road bend, edge neighbourhood two alpine swifts circling about hawking, quite high ,  then noticed swallows hawking lower, closer to the acacia and a few bee-eaters joined in.. we've been hearing and seeing them last few days ,  could not see the insects they were getting but must have been quite a few.

about half a dozen gazelle in Pistacias a couple of days ago, Akiva noticed some minor sparring amongst sub adults.  Hyrax activity varies, some days not one to be seen, others veritable mass family outings.

Hoodies, jackdaws active generally, house sparrows heard about gardens and some sunbird activity,  Syrian woodpeckers still quite vocal but less so than in previous month,  quite a bit of jay noise today. Blackbird settling to roost calls heard a couple of days ago, hadn't heard those in a while either.

15th Oct

Sdei Terumot pool .. late morning,   at least 5 pied kingfishers in group on near fence, noisy, interacting, grey heron edge across water, little egret hunting across, several spur winged plovers.. a number of storks soaring a little to north.  On way back landfill near Tirzah reservoir an egret, a number of white storks landed, a few black kites about.  bee-eaters heard, 

16 th Oct

Akiva noticed a couple of white wagtails in town, noticed significent side diffs between them. Haven't seen or heard any in neighbourhood yet.   bats noticed in forest and edge lately, just singles

NOVEMBER

12th November

Trip to Malkishua .. lots of robins there, singing and foraging.  Sardinian warblers (?) glimpsed here and there.. spotted flycatcher on diagonal wire going in..

Sede Trumot.. lots of cormorants in bare tree cafe side of water.. several large, dark adult great, lower down in tree lots much smaller.. pygmy? seemed about half size of greats.. wouldn't have thought immatures that much smaller.. 20 plus in all.. at least half a dozen grey herons mostly on higher branches or flying about , edge of pool near the outlet two little egrets  , further over a great white. spur winged plovers about. black kite flying about above.. calls of graceful warbler.

Bird of day, lifer in fact.. on wire by beginning of dirt road heading  towards Tirzah reservoir 3 little green bee-eaters , further along, murmuration of starlings.. 1000 plus many settled on wires.. many looked immature.. great white egrets by landfill , also collared doves, laughing doves, stonechat, and spur winged plovers about.

Mifgash HaBikah,, sparrows, spur winged plovers, white wagtails.

two dogs near there.. interesting breed.. grey, as large as german shepherds but broader headed, magnificent , black edged ears even slightly tufted, one more so than other looked partly wild but not wolves or jackals.. wolf blood in them?

Moshe reported.. lots of young vipers seen about Malkishua lately.. described animal as like cross betw cat and fox stealing egg from duck enclosure.. colour and build suggested mongoose. We also noticed red admiral by there.

Akiva noticed first autumn crocus near Montefiore's windmill , in watered lawn last week, none in our neighbourhood yet.  and lots more white wagtails in town appeared to be signif larger race than those seen in Neve Yaakov with more extensive white on them.