Touring Israel with a tour guide

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael The pelican Every autumn, thousands of pelicans pass through the Hula Valley on their migration south. The valley provides an important stopover where they can rest & feed before continuing their journey. Watching them glide low over the water, then plunge their enormous bills into it to scoop up fish, never gets old. That expandable throat pouch is an impressive piece of natural engineering! And when they take to the skies, it’s quite a sight. These magnificent birds are just one of the many reasons we love exploring Israel’s natural world. Some of the best moments on our tours are the ones you can’t plan for - but never forget. 🌿 Want to experience the pelican migration for yourself? Get in touch to plan your visit to the Hula Valley. 👇 📩 imagineisraelenquiries@gmail.com 📱 Phone/WhatsApp: +972 54 239 0412 🌐 https://imagineisrael-tours.com/ #Pelicans #HulaValley #BirdMigration #Birdwatching #WildlifePhotography #IsraelNature...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) Every autumn, these small, elegant falcons travel from their breeding grounds in eastern Europe & Central Asia to spend the winter in southern Africa. And Israel lies along their migration route! Fun facts: *Males have slate-grey plumage, bright red legs & a red undertail. *Red-footed Falcons often migrate in flocks. *Their journey can take them across the Mediterranean & Sahara to the African savannahs. Sadly, their global population is declining, with habitat loss among the threats they face. Their journey is staggering: from their breeding grounds, they cross the Mediterranean & then the Sahara before reaching the savannahs of southern Africa by November. Some tracking studies have shown they can cover 6,000 km across the Sahara in a matter of weeks . Sadly, this vulnerable species is declining due to habitat loss & pesticides on its breeding grounds, & hunting along its ...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael Israel’s Marbled Stingrays Just this month, dozens of Marbled Stingrays were spotted gathering in shallow water off Shavei Zion Beach in the Western Galilee. Could it have been a courtship gathering? 🥽 Did you know? Rays are close relatives of sharks. Both have skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. The Marbled Stingray is critically endangered in the Mediterranean. Rosh Hanikra & Palmahim are among the places where divers & snorkellers may encounter rays. If you spot one: admire it from a distance. Never chase, touch or disturb a ray, & keep your fins off the seabed. Have you ever been snorkelling in Israel's waters? If not, book us for an unimaginable underwater adventure! 👇 📩 imagineisraelenquiries@gmail.com 📲 Phone/WhatsApp: +972 54 2390412 🌐 https://imagineisrael-tours.com/ #IsraelNature #RaysOfIsrael #MarineConservation #MediterraneanSea #WildlifeIsrael #SnorkelingIsrael #RoshHanikra #VisitIsrael  ...

#ImagineIraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael Simon says: "Let's discover the Painted Lady butterfly" (נמפית החורשף) One of nature's most astonishing journeys happens right over our heads in Israel. The Painted Lady is the world's longest-distance butterfly migrant, traveling from Africa to the Arctic & back in an intergenerational relay. Why they matter: Every few years, millions of these butterflies sweep through Israel in spring, heading north from Africa. They don't survive the round trip, but their offspring do, continuing the cycle. In 2019, an estimated 10 million crossed into Israel in a single migration event. They arrive in Israel to refuel on spring flowers before continuing toward Cyprus, Turkey & eventually Europe. The peak window is typically mid-April to mid-May. They're remarkably resilient; in drought years, they adapt by relying on human-planted gardens & farms. Quick facts: • Each butterfly lives a maximum of 5 weeks & ca...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael 🐈‍⬛ The swamp cat It’s called the swamp cat, reed cat or jungle cat, but in Hebrew, it’s חתול ביצות (chatul bitzot). Meet Felis chaus, one of Israel’s most elusive wild cats! Despite its name, it doesn’t need a jungle. It prefers places with water & plenty of cover, including reed beds, riverbanks, streams & fish ponds. You might find it around the Hula Valley or along Israel’s rivers, but spotting one is another matter entirely! 🌿 Here’s a surprise: the jungle cats of the Middle East are generally larger than their eastern relatives. A male can weigh up to 13–14 kg, considerably bigger than your average moggy! 🐈 Long legs, large pointed ears & excellent hunting skills make this cat perfectly adapted to life in the wild. It catches rodents, birds & fish & it’s a capable swimmer, too. But there’s a serious side to this story. Although the species is listed as Least Concern globally, it is classified as Vulnerable in ...

#ImagineIsraelTours #SimonOsterTourGuideIsrael 🐦‍⬛ The hooded crow Look up in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa or even parts of the Negev & you’ll probably spot one! The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) is one of Israel’s most familiar birds, with its distinctive grey body, black head, wings & tail. Its Hebrew name is עורב אפור (orev afur) - literally, “grey crow”. And clever? Absolutely! Crows can learn, solve problems & recognise individual people. They’re also experts at finding food wherever humans leave it lying around. Bins, picnic leftovers… nothing is quite safe! 😉 Bold, noisy & wonderfully adaptable, hooded crows are familiar sights in Israel’s parks, towns & countryside. They’re here throughout the year, making them an easy bird to spot, even if you’ve never tried birdwatching before. Next time you see one, take a moment to watch. That bird investigating your picnic might be more observant than you think! Want to meet Israel's wildlife up close? Get in touch ...