Quest for a Banded newt
If you do follow/have seen my observations recently, you can very clearly tell I am trying to start off my 2017 bioblitz on a bang, and find the Southern banded newt, Ommatotriton vittatus, a species believed to be extirpated from Jordan. I have been going to the King talal dam and Ajloun to attempt to find one, but have turned up nothing but a few other amazing species on the bioblitz. Even though I will go back to said localities during spring and summer, it is unlikely I will find a newt at those temperatures. We may go back to the dam tomorrow (And possibly Dibeen forest reserve) and try one last time to find one, but I would still like some pointers of what, when and where to look for said newts, even though I already know a vast majority of their behavior. Thanks for reading, and I'll just leave the photos of each time I went here, so you can see the variety of wildlife there:
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Hovering above the dam
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
It may be the same one I saw attack and kill a Laughing dove
Photos / Sounds
What
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
On my list, extremely happy about seeing one
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Crane (Grus grus)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
A group of three was flying overhead. You can tell it's a type of stork by the wing shape, and the small amount of head you can see being outstretched by said birds
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Killing and eating a Laughing dove. It dramatically flew over my father, landed, and promptly started disabling the dove
Photos / Sounds
What
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Being eaten by an Eurasian sparrowhawk
Photos / Sounds
What
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
A feather I collected once the Sparrowhawk flew away with its prey. I have it in a plastic bag so it doesn't get lost
Photos / Sounds
What
Domestic Cat (Felis catus)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
I don't truly know, but this is most likely the species these prints belong to
Photos / Sounds
What
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Perching in front of the river
Photos / Sounds
What
Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
A male and female. The male is on the left, and the female is directly to the right of the male
Photos / Sounds
What
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
With a Gray wagtail
Photos / Sounds
What
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
With a White wagtail
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
I have no clue, either a pair of Rock pigeons, Eurasian collared doves, or Turtle doves
Photos / Sounds
What
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Behind a fence
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
One of my favorite birds, happy and lucky to see one
Photos / Sounds
What
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Seen on the way to Aljoun forest reserve
Photos / Sounds
What
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
On the road into the reserve
Photos / Sounds
What
Woodlouse Spider (Dysdera crocata)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Underneath a flipped rock
Photos / Sounds
What
Mantises (Order Mantodea)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
On my father's glove
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-capped Jay (Garrulus glandarius ssp. atricapillus)Observer
cliygh-and-mia
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-capped Jay (Garrulus glandarius ssp. atricapillus)Observer
cliygh-and-mia
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)Observer
cliygh-and-miaDescription
Some good outdoor shots
Comments
I am very interested in this. Your profile says that you currently live in the US. Do you still come to Jordan? I had really like for us to do something together, since I live in Amman and I did some wildlife exploration myself.
No, we have moved back to the USA, and I don't think we'd come back other than a day trip to Wadi Rum or the Aqaba Bird Observatory. I do know we likely would visit Israel if that is a possibility. Again, sorry.
-Xavier
Add a Comment