We were sitting in a birding hide in Ezuz, waiting for sandgrouse. We heard a flock approaching, slowly approaching the hiding place in circles, vigilantly. After some time they came to drink. They were Crowned sandgrouse - extremely elegant and with mellow colors. The male on the right seemed to be on guard while several of the others drank. (The female on the left is more brownish and watered on the chest). But the visit lasted only a few seconds. Something happened and the whole herd quickly left. This was the only visit of sandgrouse during the day. The Crowned sandgrouse is faily common in a spotted desert area in northern Africa and in the Middle East. In Israel, the subspecies is called 'vastitas'.