As 2018 is just starting, i wanna wish all my friends and colleagues a happy new year and great birding this year.
The first day of 2018 began here in Israel with some rain. Hope it will continue and we will have anough rain throughout winter.
Attaching an excellent pic that was taken by my friend Ron Haran while birding together in the western Negev a couple of weeks ago.

As i was trying to decide which bird described winter for me, i had chozen the elegant and beautiful Sociable Lapwing which can be seen now at the western Negev. 
​That Plover species consider to be rare in Israel, yet permanent and can be seen almost each year during winter, mainly in the western Negev (but not only).
Similar to other Lapwings- it has 3 colours while flying and is very elegant.
Its population had decline dramatically during the last decade, estimation of only 11,000 birds remain.
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Had a couple of tours that september. The Autumn migration is evident, especially up north in the Hula and Beit shean valleys.
Attached below is a word document with a birding List of what i have seen on 2 tours during september. enjoy. 

Had a few tours, mainly in southern Israel during that March- April.
Attached is a short description of a 5 day tour with 2 birders from Holand. It was written by one of them (Erwin). In addition- attached below is a checklist for the tour.
​​"In March 2017, Carmel took us on a 6 days birding tour trough the south of Israel. On the first day we were picked up at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. After having a very good lunch we did stop In Jerusalem to vist the Sacher Park. We did continue driving towards the daed see to spend our first night over there. Before closing the first day we did even hear the very rare hume’s tawny owl! The next morning we started with visiting an interesting drinking pool to see the cretzschmar's bunting and striolated bunting coming to drink. We continued our tour and spend 2 days in and around Eilat. What a great place and what a beautiful bird species. Also the birding migration was on it’s top peak which is a fantastic spectacle. Special species like green bee-eater, rüppels warbler, sand partridge, steppe eagle, citrine wagtail, striated heron, streaked scrub warbler, masked shrike, hooded wheatear and lichtenstein sandgrouse were seen during these days in Eilat. On our way to the Nizzana area, we did stop in a lark area to look for the rare greater hoopoe-lark. We did found a beautiful couple and this was even for Carmel a lifer! The last 2 days, we spend in the Nizzana area were we did visit several habitats. This resulted in estonishing species like macqueen’s bustard, cream-colored courser, barbary falcon, crowned sandgrouse and spotted sandgrouse."

Went in quite a stormy weather (mainly for the first day) to bird in northern israel with a couple of birders from Alaska which were a great company. Despite the weather we saw a nice variety of birds, though i really want the spring to start and bring with him a better weather and, of course, lots of migrating birds.
​Attached below is a bird list from the tour.

Birded today with an American birder. Apart from strong eastern wind the weather was good.
Nice birds up north, lots of wintering raptors were around such as Greater spotted eagle, black winged kite, Black vulture and griffon vulture are just some examples.
​Attached is a bird list from today.

Went Birding with a couple from the UK and their grandchildren in a sunny, but a bit cold day down south. The weather was good, the company was excellent and i do think every one enjoyed the day.
We started at Ein Avda, birding a bit along the Wadi and saw: Griffon vultue, bonelli's eagle and a long legged buzzard.In addition, some of the more common deseert birds around.
From the wadi we continue towards Yeruham lake and the western Negev area- it was, again, very nice and the birds worth mentioning are: Imperial eagles, sociable lapwings and beside those many others, more common birds to that season. A great day birding outside.

Had another 2 great days up north with an avid and friendly birder. We saw quite a lot of birds- the Northern part of israel is now full with birds. Unfortunately we didnt see the Lammergeier (maybe next time....).
After beeing up north for a couple of days we went to the Negev to see some of the unique desert birds such as the crowned sandgrouses and some raptors in the western negev- we manage to see a couple of peregrine falcons and some imperiel eagles.
All in all a very good 3 days birding.
Attached is a list of birds that have been seen during the 3 day tour.

Went for a 1 day tour up north with an avid Birder, comes originally from Germany.
We had an excellent day:  birding with perfect weather, and also tasting wines at vinyards in the Golan heights.
The birds worth mentioning, as i see it, were a couple of Black Vultures at Gamla nature reserve.