One of my favourites

[Tweety Gee]

Took this picture in Mitzpeh Ramon, Israel. These birds tend to be fairly fearless and take a great interest when you show up. Obviously this one is used to people because there is a restaurant, but I saw some in the desert and they always come up to have a good look at what you are doing

[Chocky]

Nice capture

[rolf]

Yes, nice capture TG, any idea what it is? Looks like a cross between a Starling and a Nutcracker.

[Tweety Gee]

The clue is in the picture name

I am pretty sure it is a black wheatear, Oenanthe leucura. In Hebrew their name is Sal'it, which means roughly rockbird or similar.

[rolf]

Well strangely enough, I had looked at the White tailed Wheatear, but didn't see a picture of the Black Wheatear.

[Merlin]

Not an easy one TG as it could be a Black Wheatear which can be confused with an immature White-crowned Black Wheatear which doesn't have a white crown at all until it becomes an adult. The answer is in the tail markings but these need to be seen well.

Need to have a closer look at this one.


Pete.

[Tweety Gee]

Here is another picture of this bird, maybe it will show some more clues

[Merlin]

Based on the 'heavy' bill I'm going more positively for Black Wheatear. The first image is by far better than this second one TG.


Pete.

[topper]

Never mind the bird

Just look at that backdrop, I love going through Mitzpe Ramon, it is the equivalent of driving down from Manchester to the white cliffs of Dover but there is no sea at the bottom just the flat plains that lead to the Arava. The road down the cliff face beats any Swiss mountain road I have driven up or down.

Forgot to mention, the birds hand around there for the chips which are so bad there people throw them away in disgust.

[Tweety Gee]

Never mind the bird

Just look at that backdrop, I love going through Mitzpe Ramon, it is the equivalent of driving down from Manchester to the white cliffs of Dover but there is no sea at the bottom just the flat plains that lead to the Arava. The road down the cliff face beats any Swiss mountain road I have driven up or down.

Forgot to mention, the birds hand around there for the chips which are so bad there people throw them away in disgust.

Lol I used to live there...love the crater. I am not sure about the chips, the restaurant at the top now belongs to a guy I know - and his food is ok. The only thing I did not like is that the portions were way too big, it is such a waste.

But back to birds

[topper]

Yes I am going back to when my kids were kids, Adam is now 24 so would be a while ago... as you say back to the birds