Israel Birds Part 02_06 afternoon tea to Eilat

Day 05

Once we had finished on the plain, we motored south to Eilat. We sidetracked/doubled back to get a glimpse of an Egyptian Goose then decided to cut across from the motorway to the world famous Pools of Eilat. A 4WD would have been better value so we ditched the bus and walked across country to the Pool KM20. These pools are part of the waste water treatment of Eilat. They are essential to the existence of ponds and lakes which provide sustenance and habitat for the small migratory birds and, of course, the birds which prey upon them and ensure the existence of the IBRC.

On our way across to KM20, I managed to espy a Eurasian Thick-knee (Stone-curlew) chick which someone walking in front of me just missed stepping on. Talk about cryptic. I shouted for us all to stop, which we did, and those who were within a foot of the bird could not see it despite me precisely describing its position! Parents were not to be seen.

Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus

We soon reached the ponds and a smorgasbord it proved to be.

 Northern Shoveler Anas clypteata

Northern Pintail Anas acuta

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopteriformes roseus

Melanotic bird in the middle. Well known resident.

Black-winged Stilt Himanoptus himanoptus

Name stolen from Australia in 2018.
We now have the Pied Stilt or White-headed Stilt!

 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Little Stint Calidris minuta

 Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Slender-billed Gull Chroiocephalus genei

This is a USAF plane landing on the runway of the King Hussein International Airport in Jordan. It is literally only 2 kilometres from where we were standing with the border in between. Close enough.

To Australians, for whom going to another country involves some sort of meaningful travel (plane or boat), it is a lesson in the fragility of the relationships in this part of the world and how countries are rubbing shoulders with each other geographically, religiously and culturally how and borders move with conflict resolution, over-riding religious and cultural connections!