Spring Migration & desert specialities:
Israel is one of the world's finest migration hotspots, with millions of northbound Storks and Raptors passing through. Countless passerines also find the many Date Palms & Wadis around Eilat and the Arava Valley an irresistible place to rest and feed, and with these come the regular discovery of rare and exciting vagrants. Add to that the many Middle Eastern specialities found here such as Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Blackstart, Arabian Warbler and Palestine Sunbird plus a handful of African species including Namaqua Dove, Hoopoe Lark and Brown-necked Raven, and it's clear we're in for a great tour. Comfortable Accommodation and a favourable climate both add to Israel's popularity as a top birding destination.

Day 1
Meet at the airport for our flight direct to Tel Aviv and transfer to our first base, a charming kibbutz in the heart of the Negev Desert where we spend one night. We will have time for some birding in and around the Kibbutz which acts as a green oasis in this otherwise arid landscape, hopefully picking up a few migrants as well as some of the commoner desert species before dark.

Day 2
An early start is required this morning to ensure being in place at dawn to look for displaying McQueen's Bustard. We also stand a good chance of Cream-coloured Courser, while sandgrouse are well represented with Spotted, Crowned, Pin-tailed and Black-bellied all present. Other possible birds may include Chukar, Mourning & Desert Wheatears, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Spectacled, Scrub & Desert Warblers, Desert Finch and Brown-necked Raven. While Golden Eagle is a rare resident and Lesser Spotted Eagle and Pallid Harrier both pass through the area. Later we'll travel through some remarkable desert scenery towards the Dead Sea, with the possibility of adding Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Bonelli's Eagle and Lanner Falcon. A few stops will be made along the way giving further opportunities for birding before arriving at our next base, the beautiful Kibbutz Ein Gedi, where we stay for one night. From here we'll have a short journey into the desert at night in search of Hume's Owl, with a selection of mammals also possible.

Day 3
Today we'll awake in the beautiful Kibbutz Ein Gedi, overlooking the Dead Sea the lowest point on the planet. We start with a pre breakfast walk around the Kibbutz, which houses an impressive Botanical Garden acting as a magnet for passing migrants. After breakfast we'll explore this region at leisure. We'll visit an impressive gorge nearby which is home to Striated Bunting. While other specialities of the area include Dead Sea Sparrow, Tristram's Starling and the distinctive Fan-tailed Raven. The whole area can be good for raptor migration, while storks and cranes often gather. We shall have some time for those who want to have a dip in the Dead Sea. We'll then make a start on the journey south to Eilat, visiting some of the many pools at the southern end of the Dead Sea on the way where Spotted, Little and Baillon's Crakes are possible, along with Clamorous Reed Warbler and White-breasted Kingfisher. As night falls we will be escorted to a secret location in search of Nubian Nightjar, one of the rarest birds in the Western Palearctic. Finally we'll reach Eilat where we are based for the remainder of our stay.

Days 4-7
Our itinerary for the next four days will be flexible in order to take full advantage of the ever changing patterns in weather, bird migration and habitat. This includes daily birding excursions to the most rewarding sites in and around Eilat, which is home to such targets as Spur-winged Lapwing, Laughing Dove, Namaqua Dove, Little Green Bee-eater, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Graceful Prinia, Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, Indian Silverbill and House Crow. One evening, we will look for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse at a regular drinking site. While the North Beach, which is in easy walking distance from our hotel should produce Striated Heron, Western Reef-egret and White-eyed Gull, with Pied Kingfisher, Pallas's and Armenian Gulls also possible along with other rarities such as Brown Booby or Bridled Tern.

At the southern end of the Arava Valley and the very northern tip of the Red Sea, Eilat is ideally situated to witness thousands of migrants that pass through each Spring. Wryneck, Red-throated & Tawny Pipits, Citrine Wagtail, Bluethroat, Black-eared & Isabelline Wheatears, Rüppell's, Eastern Orphean & Eastern Bonelli's Warblers, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Masked Shrike and both Cretzschmar's & Ortolan Buntings are just a few of the more regular species that turn up. There's also a long list of rarities, which are frequently observed here, and in recent years have included Egyptian Nightjar, Buff-bellied Pipit, Oriental Skylark, Bimaculated & Thick Billed Larks, Black Bush-robin, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Grey Hypocolios and Cinereous Buntings.

Raptor migration is one of the highlights here and as the day warms up we'll head into the mountains to one of the many watch points where Black Kite and Steppe Buzzards will start passing overhead, a number of which may be quite low giving excellent views. On a good day we may see literally thousands of them, often accompanied by smaller numbers of Steppe Eagles & Long-legged Buzzards as well as the occasional Short-toed and Booted Eagle. With a little luck, we may even add Eastern Imperial or Spotted Eagle. These mountains and the steep wadis within them are also home to White-crowned Black and Hooded Wheatears, Sand Partridge, Desert Lark, Blackstart and Trumpeter Finch, we may even find a late Sinai Rosefinch which winter in the area.

We'll also visit a selection of wetland habitats including saltpans, sewage lagoons, canals and pools. Here Greater Flamingo will be a conspicuous bird, while Ruddy Shelduck and Slender-billed Gulls are likely. The air can be alive with hirundines and swifts including Pallid and Alpine Swifts, Red-rumped Swallow and Rock Martin. Waders will also feature heavily and should include Little Stint, Ruff, Wood & Marsh Sandpipers, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover and Greater Sandplover. Amongst these many rarities have turned up over the years, including Terek & Broad-billed Sandpiper, Caspian Plover and White-tailed Lapwing.

Other areas of interest in the Arava Valley include acacia scrub and desert, famous for its larks with Short-toed, Crested & Bar-tailed all likely and with luck maybe even Hoopoe, Temminck's Horned or Dunns. We'll also visit the settlement area of Yotvata, which over the years has earned a reputation for first-class birding, and comes complete with an excellent air-conditioned restaurant. It is probably the best site locally for the elusive Arabian Warbler, which is endemic to the Red Sea basin. We may also find Quail, Barbary Falcon, Hoopoe and European Bea-eater, while rarities are regularly recorded, including Black Bush Robin amongst others.

Day 8
We'll have a few hours birding locally in the morning, searching through the newly arrived migrants or perhaps one last attempt at a difficult species that has so far eluded us. Or for those who wish, time to just relax by the pool or do a little shopping. We'll then head to Eilat airport for an internal flight back to Tel Aviv for our flight home, concluding what will surely be a very rewarding trip.

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