Agamon Poleg – Short Birding Family Trip around Lake Udim

Agamon Poleg (at Udim Quarry) is a small lake near Netanya. It offers an accessible loop trail around the lake with several lookouts.

Map

Agamon Poleg is situated near Udim. Thus it is also sometimes called Udim Lake. And the easiest way to get there is by entering its name into Waze.

Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit

Interactive map of the area:

And here is the map:

And here is a closeup map of the lake area:

Note: you can click on the map to enlarge it.

Trails

You can use the following suggested trails to explore Agamon Poleg (ordered by popularity).

• The length of the loop trail around the lake is 900 meters. And this is the most popular option. Moreover, you can use baby strollers at the loop trail.
• You can extend the loop trail by cycling or hiking from the Eucalyptus grove 1.3 km south of the lake (see the top map). Also, there are parking and several picnic tables in the Eucalyptus grove.
• Another option would be hiking to Park Yakum and Poleg Gateway Nature Reserve. It is about 1.3 km from the Roman gate. But since I did not see relevant trail markings, I would advise using a Hiking Map.

Entrance Fee

Free.

Opening Hours

Visiting is allowed only during the daytime.

Restrooms

None. Or at least I did not see any during my latest visit (November 2021).

Parking

Free parking is available on site, near the entrance.

Contact Information

Phone: 09-9596500
Email: moked@hof-hasharon.co.il

When to visit Agamon Poleg?

You can visit Agamon Poleg all year round. But if you want to maximize your visit and see birds, then you should:

• Visit either early in the morning or towards sunset: these are the hours when the birds are most active.
• Visit during autumn, winter, and spring – especially the migration season (usually October – November and March – April).

Cart at the Lake

Cart at the Lake is a food truck in the parking lot near the lake. They are usually open on weekends. You can find additional details on their Facebook page.

Loop Trail at Agamon Poleg

You can see the loop trail from the parking and hike in any direction.

But if you want to read a children’s story (which appears on twenty signs along the trail), you should turn right and walk till you see the following sign.

We walked in the opposite direction.

Here are several rules regarding Agamon Poleg:

• Entering into water is forbidden.
• Fishing and hunting are not allowed.
• Picking flowers is forbidden.
• Starting a fire is not allowed.
• You should take all your garbage with you.

There are several viewpoints around Agamon Poleg, and here is the first one:

And here is a panorama from that viewpoint:

You can see the wooden viewpoint in the middle and the parking at the right of the panorama.

At each lookout, you can find explanation signs.

The exciting thing is that most plants that grow here contain substances in their tissue that prevent most insects and mammals from eating them. The composition of the vegetation near the lookout point indicates that in the past, the hill was used as a grazing place for flocks of sheep and cattle.

And here is the same viewpoint, shot from another angle.

Most of the loop trail is an accessible dirt road (see photo below). Thus you can use baby strollers.

An Island in the Heart of Swamps

The situation today is a bit confusing. In the place where the Poleg reed is located, a hill surrounded by swamps once stood. The hill popped up like an island out of swamps.

The swamps of Nahal Poleg were formed because the valleys at our feet are high but slightly above sea level.
And the rainwater that seeps into the ground has nowhere to drain. In addition, the kurkar ridge to the west
blocks the path of Nahal Poleg to the sea. To improve water drainage, residents quarried in the area already in ancient times. They created a large gap in the kurkar ridge about 700 meters west of us.
The breach, known as the “Roman Gate,” lies south of Moshav Udim.

In the 1930s, the area was drained, but here and there a few plots that refused to dry. And they remain to this day as winter swamps. The winter swamps of Nahal Poleg are of enormous importance to the conservation of flora and fauna of the wet habitats on the coastal plain, which have become almost completely extinct.

Source: sign

Udim Quarry

Until the middle of the 20th century, you were able to continue from here and walk forward without any fear. In place of the deep pit in front of you, there was a small kurkar hill surrounded by swamps and cultivated fields.

In the 1950s, a kurkar quarry operated on this site. The quarry bit into the hill and dug deep until the groundwater level, exposing it to the world and creating a small freshwater lake.

The Sharon Drainage and Streams Authority, in collaboration with the Hof Hasharon Regional Council, has turned the lake and its surroundings into a place to preserve vegetation and animals from the natural world of coastal plain swamps.

Source: sign

From the second viewpoint, you can see the wooden lookout and Wingate Institute in the background.

Birds

After a short walk, you can reach the wooden lookout.

The other two observation points are located further away from the water. And the next photo is the best I could get (pair of Eurasian coots using a long lens – 500 mm).

Therefore, if you want to see or photograph birds, I suggest heading to the wooden lookout.

At this viewpoint you can see signs of various animals found here. There are primarily birds, but you can also find other animals like Nutria (Coypu).

And here are several photos of birds I saw by the wooden lookout.

Additional Birdwatching Places

If you love birds, check out the following places:

• My favorite places to see bird migration:
  • Agamon Hula
  • Viker Lookout
  • Pelican Migration in Emek Hefer
  • Flamingo Migration in Israel
• Lovely short family hikes to see birds:
  • Agamon Poleg – Short Birding Family Trip around Lake Udim
  • Agamon Hefer – Visitors Guide – Bird Watching Park near Netanya
  • Hod HaSharon Park – Park by Ecological Lake
  • Taninim Stream Nature Reserve
  • Hula Nature Reserve and Agamon Hula versus Hula Nature Reserve – Which one is Better?
  • Rosh Tzipor Birdwatching Center
  • Ein Afek Nature Reserve and Bird Ringing at Ein Afek Nature Reserve
• For people who love parrots:
  • Parrot Farm in Kfar Hess

Additionally, see Zoos and Aquariums in Israel‎ – Full Review (Overview of 30+ places)

Also, nearby you can visit Turtle Bridge at Alexander River.

Summary

Agamon Poleg is a lovely place for a family visit. The proximity to Israel’s center and the accessible loop trail are big pluses. And the main downside is that there is almost no shade along the track. Also, during our most recent visit, we did not see many birds (less than a typical visit to Hod HaSharon Park). Therefore, this place should probably be a second priority for birdwatchers.

Have you ever visited Agamon Poleg? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

That’s all for today, and I’ll see you in future travels!

Stay Tuned!

Additional Resources

Here are several resources that I created to help travelers:

• Trip Planner with Attractions and Itineraries is the page that will help you create your perfect travel route.
• What is the Best Time to visit Israel? To answer this question, we will consider the weather, prices, holidays, festivals, and more.
• Information and Tips for Tourists to Israel will answer the most common questions tourists have about Israel (including safety, passports, weather, currency, tipping, electricity, and much more).
• Israel National Parks and Nature Reserves include a complete list, top ten, map, tickets (Israel Pass, Matmon, combo), and campsites.
• If you are looking for things to do, here are the pages for Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sea Of Galilee, Akko (Acre), Eilat, Nazareth, Safed (Tzfat), and Makhtesh Ramon.