Dogs in the desert?

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"Dogs are permitted in the national park only when leashed.
Do not release your dog!"

The breathtaking view from the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute at Sde Boker in the Negev.

Down in the canyon is Ein Avdat National Park.

Information about the park is here. 
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(Linking to signs, signs and  Camera Critters.)

Eagles riding thermals

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So there we were, in the spectacular Ein Avdat canyon, a part of the great wadi Nahal Tzin!

Having water all year round, Ein Avdat is a real oasis in the hot dry desert, a watering spot for birds and other animals and a magnet for hikers.
The path in Ein Avdat National Park is part of the Israel National Trail. 
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Our group had come for Shishi Zioni, the monthly program at Midreshet Sde Boker; and last Friday guide and bird expert Meidad Goren lectured about migrations and led us into the canyon.
We watched two fledgling humming birds in a bush and flocks of rock pigeons flying around.
We listened to the Tristram's Grackles' shrill cries.
One small chutspah-dik bird flew so close past by head I instinctively "ducked."

But most exciting was when a big Bonelli's Eagle, aka  Hieraaetus fasciatus or עיט ניצי
 hopped off the cliff and took to the air!

Then two other big raptors joined it in flight!
Click on the photo once and then once again to see all three.

With binoculars we could soon see them above Kibbutz Sde Boker.
They had caught a thermal and were circling upwards in the column's warm air. 
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(See also my post about ibex in Ein Avdat.)
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(Linking to Camera Critters and Weekend Reflections.)
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Beginner's luck

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Early Friday morning I went to the monthly program of Ben Gurion Heritage Institute at Kibbutz Sde Boker.
Before his lecture about bird migration our guide, Meidad Goren, took us down into the spectacular Ein Avdat canyon to watch birds.
It was my first visit and I was very excited.
I was even excited about the hairpin curves of the steep road that led down to the valley floor and to the entrance to the nature reserve.

I was snapping pictures from the bus window at every turn.
Only back home, looking at the downloaded photos, did I suddenly see animals in the center of this one!
What luck!
A baby ibex trying to get up behind mama ibex on the top of a narrow ridge, right there in the middle of nowhere!

You'll have to click on the photo, and then once again, to get it large enough to see the sweet mountain goats.

If ibex come near you inside the canyon, do not feed them.

Oh, and also "do not annoy the wild animals."
: )

(Linking to Camera Critters and to Signs, signs.)

See more about ibex at http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.il/2013/11/ibex-free-and-friendly.html
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