Wildlife photographer Eldad Cohen Tzedek captured a rare sight in Tel Aviv’s Rosh Tzipor Birdwatching Center: a white-throated kingfisher expanding its menu with a massive frog and, in a first for the park, a speckled water snake.
“The highlight for me was seeing the kingfisher snatch a giant marsh frog,” Cohen-Tzedek said. “This catch shows its phenomenal vision and speed. These frogs typically live in freshwater habitats such as lakes, streams, and wetlands.”
A white-throated kingfisher
(Video: Eldad Cohen Tzedek)
Rosh Tzipor Park, located in the northern section of Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park at the meeting of the Ayalon and Yarkon rivers, covers about 32 dunams (8 acres). Shaped like a bird’s head, the park is a hub for birdwatching, education, and urban nature. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, it offers a rare green sanctuary in the city.
Since opening in 2018, the park has become a stopover for countless migrating birds. Among the kingfishers spotted are the white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), and pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). Israel’s location makes it a global migration crossroads, linking three continents.
(Video: Eldad Cohen Tzedek)
“In fact, Israel is like a bottleneck for migration,” said Liran Kaniel, manager of Rosh Tzipor Park. “Songbirds migrate at night and arrive here at dawn to rest and refuel. During the day, it’s possible to watch migrating raptors, pelicans, and storks.”
Cohen-Tzedek also documented a pair of common kingfishers locked in a fierce territorial battle, a seasonal phenomenon as the birds compete for temporary habitats along their route to Africa and South Asia.
“Dozens of kingfishers pass through during migration,” Kaniel said. “Only a few remain in winter, but the territorial fights are a vital part of their journey.”
In August, the park conducted five bird-banding sessions, tagging 29 common kingfishers to track their migration. “The numbers show fall migration is in full swing,” Kaniel said. “It’s also proof of the park’s capacity to sustain so much wildlife. With more amphibians, reptiles, and fruits available, the birds find abundant food to fuel their journey.”