I had fun looking out the window (and standing on the balcony) from the apartment where we stayed in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Beit Shemesh seems to be a combination of urban with rural. I heard roosters crying on my first morning in Israel – they were up at 4 am. Watching birds in Beit Shemesh is not as exciting as watching them in the Hula Valley or in Eilat, but I enjoyed the show.
The sparrows don’t look that different than our sparrows in New Jersey.
This photo of pigeons on a roof can give you a bit of an idea of how the urban buildings are right next to the rural countryside.
Oooh, I got this pigeon in flight!
I got to see this etrog on a tree in my friend’s backyard. It’s too bad I didn’t have a chance to take photos from her balcony – she lives on top of a high hill in Beit Shemesh, so you can see all around from up high.
I think this is the edge of Ramat Beit Shemesh. There are several sections to the city – it’s grown a lot in the past twenty years.
From this photo of apartment buildings, you can see what I mean by urban.
I believe this is where the roosters live, right outside Beit Shemesh in this farm.
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You caught some great shots of the birds looking out the window. It does look urban but nice seeing the trees that makes a big difference in areas that have grown.
Israel has such variety when it comes to trees – Ma’alot, which I hope to post about later this summer, has tons of trees. Some neighborhoods, like Har Nof in Jerusalem, have barely a tree.
I saw some pretty purple trees in bloom in both Beit Shemesh and Ma’alot – if I could only remember what they were called …
Looks like a house sparrow! A terrific views!
Yup, and thanks!
I love the bird photos, especially the pigeon in flight. The landscape reminds me a lot of the “high desert” in CA, on the northeastern edge of Los Angeles County, about 75 miles from Los Angeles.
Great photos! Thanks for sharing them!
I enjoy the comparison to CA.
Great capture of the pigeon flying! It’s always so interesting to me to see other parts of the world. I’ve never before seen an etrog. I’m off to Google it.
Vicky, Jews use an etrog (along with a lulav, a palm branch) on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Great lighting on lovely photos!
I took the photos either early in the morning or later in the day – perhaps that accounts for the lighting being “great.”
Hello leora, I enjoyed birding with you! It nice seeing birds from around the world. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!
I will try to post Ma’alot next week – birds there were a bit more varied. More sparrows, however.
Oh my goodness… You are a birder!!……these are great photos Leora… I would love to visit Israel…. But I will visit via your posts…. Thank you for linking into Nature Notes…. Michelle
Oh, Michelle, if you were well enough to go, you would have a fun time. So much to see – history and nature.
I like how you note that the sparrows looked just like the ones in NJ. It’s just one of the many small ways that travel humbles us.
Shalom Leora! Those look like the dry hills of Southern California in the background; I remember thinking the topography in Israel sometimes matches that where I come from on my brief visits there. The last time was 18 years ago already, wow. Just wanted to say hello. You are a long way from New Jersey at the moment!