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 “Agamon Poleg” into Waze.

Interactive map of the area:

And here is a map of Agamon Poleg:

Map of Agamon Poleg
Map of Agamon Poleg

And here is a closeup map of the lake area:

Map of Agamon Poleg
Map of Agamon Poleg

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

Track

You can use the following suggested tracks 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 starting cycling or hiking at the Eucalyptus grove 1.3 km to the 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 to Agamon Poleg.

Parking at Agamon Poleg
Parking at Agamon Poleg

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 located in the parking lot near the lake. They are usually open on weekends, and you can find additional details on their Facebook page.

Cart at the Lake
Cart at the Lake

Loop Trail at Agamon Poleg

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

Loop Trail at Agamon Poleg
Loop Trail at Agamon Poleg

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.

StoryWalk Project
StoryWalk Project

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 garbage with you.
Rules at Agamon Poleg
Rules at Agamon Poleg

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

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

And here is a panorama from that viewpoint:

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

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

Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg
Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg

At each lookout, you can find explanation signs.

Flora at Agamon Poleg
Flora at Agamon Poleg

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.

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

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

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

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

An Island in the Heart of Swamps
An Island in the Heart of Swamps
The trail at Agamon Poleg
The trail at Agamon Poleg

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

The Creation of Agamon Poleg
The Creation of Agamon Poleg
Flora at Agamon Poleg
Flora at Agamon Poleg

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

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg
Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg and Wingate Institute
Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg and Wingate Institute

The trail and Netanya:

The trail at Agamon Poleg
The trail at Agamon Poleg

Birds

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

Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg
Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg

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).

Eurasian coot
Eurasian coot

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

View from the Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg
View from the Wooden Lookout at Agamon Poleg

In this viewpoint, you can see signs of various animals found here.

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

There are primarily birds, but you can also find other animals like Nutria (Coypu).

Agamon Poleg
Agamon Poleg

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

White wagtail
White wagtail
Common Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Cattle egret
Cattle egret
Cattle egret
Cattle egret

Additional Birdwatching Places

If you love birds, check out the following places:

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: And if you have any questions then check out Useful Information For Tourists To Israel.  
Did not find what you were looking for? Leave a comment below, and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Lev Tsimbler

Lev from israel-in-photos.com. You can contact me at hi@israel-in-photos.com

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