ISRAEL

Israel is one of the world's finest migration hotspots, especially for raptors, storks and songbirds. Millions of northbound migrants find the vegetation around Eilat and the Arava Valley an irresistible place to stop and feed on their long journey. Many Middle Eastern specialities reach the edge of their range here overlapping in range with some African species such as Namaqua Dove. Extra-limital vagrants are discovered here with some regularity, and the comfortable conditions and favourable climate all add to Israel's popularity as a top birding destination. With our new itinerary this is a tour not to be missed.

Day 1 Early morning flight from a London airport to Tel Aviv where we pick up our minibuses and make the four-hour transfer to Eilat where we will be based for the next five nights.

Days 2–3 We start both days with a flexible itinerary exploring Eilat and the Southern Arava Valley. Well-known locations such as the north beach, Eilot fields and date palms, salt pools at km20 and Eilat Mountains will all be visited. Further north, first-rate birding opportunities exist at many sites and we'll try to visit as many of these locations as possible. Amongst our most sought after species will be Striated Scops-owl (Eurasian Scops-owl is possible too), Namaqua Dove, Greater Hoopoe-lark, Oriental Skylark, Cyprus Warbler, Asian Buff-bellied Pipit and Sinai Rosefinch. Residents should include Striated Heron (rare), Western Reef-heron, Barbary Falcon, White-eyed Gull, Pied Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Lark, Rock Martin, Blackstart, Eastern Mourning, White-tailed and Hooded Wheatears, Graceful Prinia, Streaked Scrub-warbler, Arabian Warbler, Arabian Babbler, Palestine Sunbird, House Crow, Brown-necked Raven, Indian Silverbill, Dead Sea Sparrow and Trumpeter and Desert Finches. The latter sometimes appears in large mixed flocks, often with European Greenfinches, Common Chaffinches and perhaps a few Bramblings and Eurasian Siskins if it happens to be an invasion year. We will spend at least one morning in the Eilat Mountains watching Steppe Eagles and other raptors migrating whilst in recent years Greater Spotted and Bonelli's Eagles have featured at Eilat's sewage pools. At least one evening will be dedicated to searching for Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse at a regular drinking hole. Migrants should include Redstarts, Bluethroats, Sardinian Warblers and Chiffchaffs in good numbers, whilst the fields could support good numbers larks including Thick-billed, Temminck's, Lesser and Greater Short-toed Larks and possibly a rarity such as the male Black-crowned Sparrow-lark we saw in November 2010.

Day 4 We head north along the Arava Valley towards the Dead Sea with a packed breakfast birding en-route. We may see Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Bonelli's Eagle and Lanner Falcon along the way whilst desert residents may include Sand Partridge, Desert Lark and Arabian Babbler. A special stop will be made for the scarce and often aloof Red Sea (Arabian) Warbler. By midday we will have reached Ein Gedi by the Dead Sea, famed for its natural springs, therapeutic minerals and bathing beach as well as the numerous spectacular gorges in the area. Time will provided for a (optional!) dip in the Dead Sea! The distinctive Fan-tailed Raven is common here and one can also find Brown-necked and the rarer Common Raven. Birds such as Sand Partridge, Little Green Bee-eater and Tristram's Starling are used to people and maybe very approachable – great for photographers! In the immediate surroundings White-breasted Kingfisher, Cyprus and Spectacled Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Indian Silverbill, Sinai Rosefinch and House (Striolated) Bunting are all possible. We'll close the day in the Southern Dead Sea region where our focus will turn to two of the most sought after species in the region – Hume's Owl and Nubian Nightjar. Both occur in restricted areas and require the presence of a permitted guide. Our evening meal will be taken on the way back to Eilat as we'll arrive at the hotel too late for dinner.

Day 5 A flexible day designed to revisit any sites for species that we may have missed, or, alternatively to follow up on reports from the local hotlines of new birds found. November is renowned for producing rarities in the Eilat region and we should be prepared to chase species such as Red-wattled Lapwing, Oriental Turtle Dove, Hypocolius and Dunn's Lark should they turn up. A repeat visit to the North beach could also be worthwhile especially on a southern wind, conditions which produced a Brown Booby in November 2010.

Day 6 We leave Eilat early with a packed breakfast, heading out for a two-day adventure into the desert. Birding our way across the Negev we shall search for species such as Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse, Desert Wheatear, Syrian Serin, and Desert Finch. Interesting mammals often encountered on the drive could include Asian Wild Ass, Dorcas Gazelle, Wolf and even Striped Hyena (now rather rare). On reaching the far Western Negev, the vast agricultural fields between Ofaqim and Urim are key at this season. We'll spend some time here before moving on to our comfortable two-night stay at Kibbutz Gevulot. Target birds in this area will include Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Saker and Lanner Falcons, Pallid Harrier, Common Crane, Cream-coloured Courser, Sociable Lapwing, Eurasian Dotterel, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse and Finsch's Wheatear. Huge flocks of Eurasian Skylarks with some Calandra Larks should be present with an outside chance of Bimaculated Lark and Oriental Skylark. The real spectacle, however, will be the raptors with hundreds of birds constantly on view including a spectacular roost of up to 2,000 Black Kites. Indeed, it's possible that we may see over thirty different raptor species during our week in Southern Israel. The Kibbutz grounds are good for owls and we have a decent chance of seeing Barn and Long-eared Owls. Two nights at Kibbutz Gevulot.

Day 7 This morning we leave early and visit Nizzana with Macqueen's Bustard very much in mind and often present in small flocks at this time of year. Black-bellied, Spotted, Pin-tailed and Crowned Sandgrouse may be seen at a favoured drinking spot. Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Chukar and 'Desert' Little Owl should be present, whilst an interesting selection of passerines could include Southern Grey Shrike, Streaked Scrub-warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Asian Desert Warblers and Finsch's Wheatear. Returning for lunch, we may check several large fields en route that can be good for further sandgrouse, coursers and bustards. Back at the Kibbutz, the grounds can be good for 'winter' finches sometimes including Hawfinch in irruption years. Recently arrived wintering Bluethroats will be lurking in the Kibbutz gardens and rarities may be found such as the Yellow-browed Warbler we discovered in November 2010. Resident Eurasian Thick-knees, Syrian Woodpeckers, Eurasian Hoopoes and Common Mynas all add to the general excellence of birding here. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent in the huge agricultural fields between Ze'elim and Urim enjoying the fantastic raptor spectacle (possibly including all four species of harrier!), and catching up with any missing species. We shall also visit a nearby wadi where wetland species may include rails, crakes, Clamorous Reed-warbler, Moustached Warbler and all three possible kingfishers.

Day 8 The day will begin with optional pre-breakfast birding before a traditionally satisfying Kibbutz breakfast. Sadly, we have to move on from delightful Kibbutz Gevulot but we head for the southern Judean hills to search for Long-billed Pipit which can be found here in small numbers. Other possibilities include Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart, Woodlark, European Serin and the distinctive Middle Eastern race of Eurasian Jay before we return to Tel Aviv for our early evening flight back to London at the end of the tour.

General Information General Information Though afternoons can be hot, as high as 30°C, early mornings can be chilly. As well as a sun hat you will need a warm layer or two. Rain is a possibility in November and mornings in the Negev can be cold at times. This is a desert climate and it's essential to drink plenty, so a water bottle is a good idea. There are no compulsory health requirements and most of the area is pleasantly insect-free. Walking is generally easy, although in the heat of the day it can sometimes be tiring. Some walks along the wadis could be difficult underfoot and may need some extra effort. Visas are not necessary. The areas we are visiting are entirely safe but do be prepared for extra security measures at the airport, which is perfectly normal for travel in and out of Israel. The itinerary is designed to be flexible in order to accommodate changes in weather patterns, bird migration and habitat changes.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 8; maximum group size: 7 with 1 leader, 14 with 2 leaders.