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News from the Swamp

June-July heat waves are just the teasers for August that is still ahead. Still, in most of the days we keep on ringing and monitoring bird populations in the area. The 'Agmon' Lake is filled with Black-winged Stilts, Marbled Duck ducklings, Little Egrets, Purple Herons. Few CommonTerns, Mallards, are also around and also some Black-tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshanks, Ruffs and other Tringa species that have been left behind.
But one of the most fascinating bird in the area at the moment (and that is of course my personal opinion) is the Collared Pratincole. This bird is known to breed in the Hula and every year when they arrive, it is a challenge to find their nests hide somewhere in the fields. this year they chose (again) peanut fields as their breeding grounds and driving around these fields can be a fascinating experience; birds hawking after insects, screaming and showing off with their elegant flight. Freshly fledged birds are mainly sitting still on the ground perfectly camouflaged or hiding between leafs of the peanuts.

But these are not the only good things around and surprises are always around in the Hula.
Yesterday, our ringing team (Yoav Perlman and Amit Gefen) together with some visitors, caught 2 Basra Reed Warblers Acrocephalus griseldis in one of the fish ponds on the eastern parts of the valley. Here is what Yoav has to say: 

"while ringing at the Lehavot Habashan fishponds, in the eastern part of the Hula valley. This ringing site is one of our regular sites, and is usually very productive in summer. The ringing team was in search for our scarce breeding species that are very rare at the Agmon itself, but perhaps more common in the northern and eastern fringes of the valley – Moustached and Great Reed Warblers. While netting and processing mainly Reed Warblers, a medium-large Acrocephalus flew into the nets, and after thorough examination, it was identified as Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis. The excitement was high, as this rare bird has never been found in the Hula valley before. The bird was photographed from all angles, including together with a Great Reed warbler which was caught at the same time.

A few minutes after the bird was released, another Basra Reed warbler was caught! We could not believe our luck, to have two of these great birds in one evening! This bird was photographed too, this time alongside a Clamorous Reed Warbler. We were also very pleased to ring a recently fledged Great Reed Warbler, still growing its wing and tail feathers, and another female with a brood patch, proving that this rare species bred in the near vicinity."

Basra Reed Warbler breeds in the marshes of southern Iraq, and is regarded by the IUCN as endangered, though it might be treated as critically endangered due to the massive destruction of its limited breeding habitat. The entire world population winter in East Africa. In Israel, it is a rare vagrant, with about 15 records to date, almost all from the Rift valley, mainly in May. These records are the latest ever in Israel, and in fact this was the first time that more than one individual was ever seen in Israel!
and one last note, the Western Reef Heron that was reported in our last update is now being re-examined and there are more than one referees that consider it to be an Hybrid of Little and Western Reef. If any of you have any idea and experience with Hybrids of that sort, we will be happy to hear your thoughts and comments at iochula@017.net.il

We hope that the heat won't get too harsh on us and that we will be able to keep on bringing more news from the field,
Itai and the Hula Birding Centre team.

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