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 are 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. If we arrive before dark we'll spend some time 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 specialities such as Spectacled Bulbul, Laughing Dove and Palastine Sunbird.

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, Desert 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 Egyptian Vulture and Bonelli's Eagle. A few stops will be made along the way giving further opportunities for birding before arriving at our next base, overlooking the Dead Sea the lowest point on Earth. After checking into the hotel, where we stay for one night well visit a nearby wadi for wintering Sinai Rosefinch and Cyprus Warbler. After our evening meal we will head back out in search of Hume's Owl and Nubian Nightjar the latter now regarded to be the rarest breeding bird in the Western Palearctic.

Day 3
Today we'll start with a pre breakfast visit to an impressive gorge nearby which is home to Striolated Bunting, as well as Tristram's Starling and the distinctive Fan-tailed Raven. After breakfast we'll search for the regions other specialities including Dead Sea Sparrow and Clamorous Reed Warbler . We'll then make a start on the journey south to Eilat, depending on whats about and where, we'll either follw the Dead Sea south visiting some of the many pools at the southern end where Spotted, Little and Baillon's Crakes are possible, or we may head in land to look for wintering Syrian Serin or rare larks such as Bimaculated or Thick-billed. As night falls we'll search for nocturnal species including Egyptian Nightjar and Pharoh Eagle Owl, while mammals may include Fox and Jackel, in 2011 we even saw Strped Hyena. Finaly we 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, Namaqua Dove, Little Green Bee-eater, Graceful Prinia, Arabian Babbler, Indian Silverbill and House Crow. While the North Beach, which is in easy walking distance from our hotel should produce Mangrove Heron, Western Reef-egret and White-eyed Gull, with Pallas's and Armenian Gulls also possible along with other rarities such as Brown Booby or Bridled Tern. One evening we will also look for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse at a regular drinking site.

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 Buff-bellied Pipit, Oriental Skylark, 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 and Hooded Wheatears, Sand Partridge, Blackstart, Rock Martin and Trumpeter Finch.

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 and Red-rumped Swallow . 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, Temminck's & Bar-tailed all likely and maybe even Hoopoe 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 an optional pre-breakfast walk around one of Eilats parks, searching through the newly arrived migrants or perhaps one last attempt at a difficult species that has so far eluded us. After breakfast we make a start on the drive back to Tel Aviv, hopefully arriving with enough time spare to visit one of the cities parks where both White-breasted Kingfisher and Pied Kingfisher occur along with Common Myna and Ring-necked Parakeet, concluding what will surely be a very rewarding trip.