Uvda Valley is one of the prime locations for watching larks and other desert specialties in Israel. A wide and sometimes fertile plain surrounded by arid hills attracts plenty of wandering species, alongside winter visitors, migrants and residents. When germinating annuals, caterpillars or beetles are abundant after good winter rains, the desert nomads take advantage of these ephemeral resources and fill the plain with song. The best season to visit is usually late autumn to early spring, but as nomadic species move frequently over varying spatial scales, it is hard to predict. The valley and its surroundings also hold a very rich archeological compound with hundreds of sites related to ancient agriculture and spiritual shrines.

Key species: 
Winter and spring – Temminck's, Thick-billed (uncommon), Hoopoe (uncommon), and Dunn's (rare) Lark, Desert, Mourning, and the very rare Basalt Wheatear, Desert and Spectacled Warbler, Tawny Pipit, and Pallid and  Montagu's Harrier.
Year round - Trumpeter Finch, Cream-colored Courser, Crowned & Spotted Sandgrouse, Bar-tailed Lark, and Southern Grey Shrike. 

Important facts and logistics:
A paved road branching southeast from Rd. 12 leading to Shaharut and to Uvda air force base dissects Uvda Valley. The vastness of the area makes it hard to find the current "hot-spot". Driving along the road and stopping for a scan (both sides of the road) every couple of hundred meters is a good strategy. The plain is exposed to the sun and gets quite hot during midday, but winter mornings can start at below freezing temperatures. Keep away from the military fence. Parts of the plain were used (but not anymore) as firing zones, thus old ammunition is scattered around - do not approach or touch any suspicious object. Uvda Valley is remote, therefore we recommend packing water and food (though the nearby Neot Smadar junction Coffee and Rest stop could be a good alternative).
Despite not being a nature reserve, this habitat is frequently used as a breeding area by many of desert species, thus respect the fragile desert habitat by staying only on marked trails and avoid lengthy disturbance.  East of the paved road is Tsukey Shayarot Narure Reserve, and you are only allowed on marked trails. A campground situated in Wadi Kasuy will allow an early start.   

The location of the site on Google Map in the following link >>>