Both contenders for birds of the trip, Steppe Eagles (above) and Steppe Buzzards (below) were happily a feature of every day and in a variety of settings and sites - huge movements through the Eilat mountains, kettles over the desert and processions up the valley were all impressive and memorable, but for context and backdrop, the active migration of both species low over the hotel against clear blue skies in downtown Eilat has to be one of the abiding memories of the week. It happened regularly, but the movement which kicked off just as Dan and I opened the car doors after he'd picked me up from the nearby airport was one to savour - no time to even lift my suitcase before the flood began, and the perfect curtain-opener to a migration show that takes a lot of beating.
