Woodchat Shrike
After arriving late evening back at the Perlmans in Mazkeret Batya (about two-thirds of the way up the country, not far inland from Tel Aviv), day eleven (31st March) began with a birding session with Yoav in local mixed woodland and farmland, and continued with Amity and I heading for the hills a little west of town - specifically Tzor'a Ridge, a rocky, lush, wildflower-strewn area of higher ground overlooking farmland, towns and villages.
'Combover' Jay - everywhere in the north
A beautiful view and lots to enjoy, from numerous Short-toed Eagles (below) to many butterflies, Lesser Kestrels, Alpine Swifts, warblers and more.
Day twelve - 1st April - began (naturally) with another early birding session, this time further afield, with Yoav and I joined by the legendary Piki (finally we meet!) for a session on the coast; our destination was Ashkelon National Park, which we birded for a few enjoyable hours from shortly after dawn.
The most productive area was the scrubby, scruffy 'wasteland' immediately outside the NP gate, which was full of migrants including purring Turtle Doves (below), Semi-collared Flycatcher (above), warblers, Bluethroat, Wrynecks and more.
Within the NP, migrants were more thinly scattered and a little underwhelming (by local standards), but there was still plenty to go at - this was coastal Israel in spring, after all - and among the highlights, a minimum of 15 Common Nightingales, calling and singing from almost every thicket, were a real treat.
A lovely afternoon spent feasting at Adva's parents concluded our time in the area, followed by a drive to the 'true' North - beyond Nazareth, the Sea of Gallilee and up into the Hula Valley, where our last two days and nights of the trip would be spent.
Hoopoe (above), Black Francolin (below)
We arrived at our good friend and all round conservation legend Nadav's place up near the Hula late on - but not too late for a hasty razz around the Hula Agamon at dusk, just as huge numbers of birds descended all around us and into their myriad roosting sites..... countless swarms of Cranes, White Storks, Black Kites (below), Swifts, hirundines and more swirled around us, and it was a joy just to soak it up.
One of dozens of Night-herons coming into roost at the Hula Agamon
A slow drive around the reserve's tracks before heading home in the hope of seeing Jungle Cat was wonderfully successful - we'd an animal trotting nonchalantly ahead of us several times, with perfect, long views before it meandered into the deeper cover.... a quality end to another great day!
'Combover' Jay - everywhere in the north
