Various birds of prey

In a similar manner to passerines, bird of prey migration never really got going while we were in Israel. That said, Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites were still very much in evidence and, on one day, we did encounter a pretty strong movement of birds in the Dead Sea. Scattered among the buzzards and kites were Steppe, Lesser Spotted, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, Ospreys, Marsh Harriers and the the odd Egyptian Vulture.

Pale phase Booted Eagle

Short-toed Eagles

On our final day, we visited a reservoir to the south of Tel Aviv to look for White-headed Ducks. Adjacent to the reservoir was a quite hideous-smelling dump that was crawling with Black Kites and White Storks. Friends had seen a White-tailed Eagle here a couple of days previously and so, when Dan picked up a large raptor approaching, we assumed this would be it. But no - it was a Black Vulture!

The bird soon drifted off to the north, passing these White Storks and providing a reminder of its mighty size as it did so...