March 2017 - Golan Heights

We got a tip from a guy at a bookstore that the ruins at Gamla, in the Golan Heights, were pretty cool. I had just finished reading in "The Jewish War" about the siege of what Josephus calls "Gamala," and it was a pretty amazing battle. So we went to see the ruins of the town destroyed by Vespasian, which in modern days is also a bird sanctuary?!? It was pretty perfect.

A griffon vulture, tagged either 593 or S93	A Palestine sunbird	A cage with young griffon vultures that are acclimating to the site
A griffon vulture, tagged either 593 or S93	A Palestine sunbird	A cage with young griffon vultures that are acclimating to the site
A white spectacled bulbul	Wildflowers!	All the hills covered in wildflowers
A white spectacled bulbul	Wildflowers!	All the hills covered in wildflowers
The valley surrounding the ancient city of Gamala	Deep in the valley is the Gamla waterfall, tallest in Israel	A short-toed eagle
The valley surrounding the ancient city of Gamala	Deep in the valley is the Gamla waterfall, tallest in Israel	A short-toed eagle
A second griffon vulture. His tag identifies him as S89 or 589, I guess making him an older brother to the first.	The ancient city of Gamala! Sitting on a mountain shaped like a camel's back.	Common agama on the trail down to the ruins
A second griffon vulture. His tag identifies him as S89 or 589, I guess making him an older brother to the first.	The ancient city of Gamala! Sitting on a mountain shaped like a camel's back.	Common agama on the trail down to the ruins
The hills are covered in wildflowers	A model of the Roman stonethrowers that were used here
The hills are covered in wildflowers	A model of the Roman stonethrowers that were used here
The hole in the wall where the Romans broke through with their battering ram	A synagogue with a view!	The synagogue
The hole in the wall where the Romans broke through with their battering ram	A synagogue with a view!	The synagogue
	The ground in many areas is covered in pottery shards	Remnants of a mill
	The ground in many areas is covered in pottery shards	Remnants of a mill
An oil press
An oil press
Wildflowers along the hills, and in the back the ridge where Vespasian was camped		The top of the city
Wildflowers along the hills, and in the back the ridge where Vespasian was camped		The top of the city
		A fan-footed gecko
		A fan-footed gecko
A still-plastered ritual bath		A circular tower undermined by the Romans
A still-plastered ritual bath		A circular tower undermined by the Romans
	I invented a lens-cap holder using duct tape that works really well	A great tit
	I invented a lens-cap holder using duct tape that works really well	A great tit
At the end of the day we started to see rock hyrax
At the end of the day we started to see rock hyrax
Another great tit blowing in the wind	A third griffon vulture, this one untagged
Another great tit blowing in the wind	A third griffon vulture, this one untagged
	An Egyptian vulture, as ugly a bird as I've seen
	An Egyptian vulture, as ugly a bird as I've seen
On the way out, some leftover machinery from the Six Day War
On the way out, some leftover machinery from the Six Day War