Crete Birding

                                         APRIL 2013

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30th April

Weather....0900....24.3°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 1% high ....Wind NW 2... 1016mb ....Sunny

Today our highlight was another new species for us on Crete, a Long-eared Owl, we went to meet up with Nikos in Chania at 5pm and he showed us where he had found one, we were really lucky and had some good views. Our Crete species list now stands at 235 .

Also lots of bee-eaters over early this morning, we watched as they hunted nearby and were themselves hunted by a couple of Eleonora's Falcons.

Kaliviani List....Blackbird....Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler.... Woodchat Shrike.... Chaffinch.... Yellow-legged Gull....Hooded Crow....Cetti's Warbler.... Marsh Harrier.... Bee-eater 55+.... Common Buzzard 5.... Griffon vulture 1.... Swift....Alpine Swift....Barn Swallow.... Greenfinch... House Martin....Eleonora's Falcon....Hobby....Little Egret....Scops Owl....Barn Owl....

Chania list....common Buzzard....Yellow-legged Gull....Moorhen.... Yellow Wagtail....Serin....     Italian Sparrow ....Swift....Blackbird....Blackcap....Hoopoe....Long-eared Owl

                                             Long-eared Owl ....Asio otus

            

         

           

           

           

          

          

                                               Hoopoe...Upupa epops

         

           It has been an excellent month with three new species for us , one the rarer                                       Blue-cheeked Bee-eater and the Short and Long-eared Owls !!!

29th April

Weather....0900....25.2°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 5% high ....Wind NW  1... 1015mb ....Sunny

A Barn Owl again woke us at 4am hunting very near. A Golden Oriole was spotted in a nearby tree after its lovely fluty call alerted us to its presence otherwise it was a fairly quiet and very hot day .

Kaliviani List.... Barn Owl....Scops Owl....Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler....Woodchat Shrike 5....  Yellow-legged Gull....Hooded Crow....Bee-eater 18....Common Buzzard 3....Golden Oriole 1.  Marsh Harrier 1....Swift .....Alpine Swift....Barn Swallow....House Martin.....Italian Sparrow... Chaffinch....Greenfinch....Collared Dove

28th April

Weather....0900....23.2°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 10%....Wind 0...1013mb Sunny

Our first Honey Buzzard passed through today with at least three seen. A male and female Montagu's harrier and two marsh harriers. A nice sighting of two Eleonora's falcon and on the beach a Squacco Heron and Little Egret with a sprinkling of Little Ringed Plover

Kaliviani List.... Great Tit....Woodchat Shrike....Italian Sparrow.... Golden Oriole.... Swift.... Yellow-legged Gull....Marsh harrier 2....Montagu's Harrier 2....Alpine Swift...Honey Buzzard 4 Eleonora's Falcon .... House Martin....Barn Swallow....Red-rumped Swallow.... Greenfinch.... Griffon Vulture 6.... Collared Dove....Stonechat ....Shag 2....Bee-eater....Little Egret.... Squacco Heron ....Little Ringed Plover....Scops Owl

                                         Marsh Harrier ....Circus aeruginosus

         

                                  Honey Buzzard....Pernis apivorus

             

27th April

Weather....0900....26.9°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0%....Wind 0...1014 mb Sunny

Kaliviani List....Woodchat Shrike 3.... Hooded Crow....Chaffinch....Italian Sparrow....Shag Sardinian Warbler...Golden Oriole ....Barn Swallow....House Martin....Red-rumped Swallow... Marsh Harrier 1 ....Common Buzzard 11....Yellow-legged Gull 20+.... Collared Dove.... Eleonora's Falcon....Blackbird....Cetti's Warbler....Whitethroat....Pied Flycatcher....Blackcap.... Swift....Alpine Swift....Montagu's Harrier....Bee-eater....Little Egret 1....Red-footed Falcon 1m.. Crested Lark.... Little Egret....Greenfinch....Scops Owl

In the harrier roost tonight , just one Marsh Harrier seen ! the place is alive with Scops Owl though 

                                Montagu's Harrier....Circus pygargus 

          

                             Unknown insect, cannot find anything in our books !

           

26th April

Weather....0900....23.6°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0%....Wind N 1...1018mb Sunny

Highlight of the day a couple of Black stork flew up just north of us and headed out onto the peninsula a nice sighting we do not see many of these.

Our first sighting of the season of turtle dove. 

The harriers continue to roost nearby with two marsh and two montagu's seen last night others probably in the longer grass  ! 

Kaliviani list....Woodchat Shrike....Chaffinch....Common Buzzard 3....Hooded Crow....Swift.... Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler....House Martin....Italian Sparrow.... Black Stork 2....Blackbird.... Alpine Swift.... Booted Eagle, dark....Stonechat....Barn Swallow....Red-rumped Swallow.... Raven ....Turtle Dove....Chukar....Golden Oriole...Shag....Crested Lark....Bee-eater.... Montagu's Harrier 2....Marsh Harrier 3.... Scops Owl....Barn Owl

                                             Black Stork.... Ciconia nigra

Not the best images, they were fairly distant when I got the shot  

           

25th April

Weather...0900....20.0°C....Sea, choppy....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 10% ....Wind NE 1-2m/s 1016mb  sunshine

Once again the eastern Imperial eagle puts in an appearance this bird we think is one of the three first seen on the 11th . Also a (I think) Goshawk pale and dark morph Booted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier and Sparrowhawk. Twenty species between 0900-1000.

Kaliviani list.... Great Tit....Woodchat Shrike....House Martin....Hooded Crow.... Common Buzzard 3 +12 ....Chaffinch.... Sand Martin....Goldfinch....Barn Swallow....Raven.... Shag   Red-rumped Swallow.... Italian Sparrow....Sparrowhawk 2..... Yellow-legged Gull....Swift.... Cetti's Warbler....Blackbird....Sardinian Warbler....Marsh Harrier 3....Kestrel...Alpine Swift....Pallid Swift....Montagu's Harrier 2....Booted eagle 2.... Eastern Imperial Eagle 1.... Crested Lark.... Red-footed Falcon 1m.... Corn Bunting.....Scops Owl....Barn Owl               

                                      Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus                                  

         

          

                                         Montagu's Harrier.....Circus pygargus

         

                                   Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca

           

                                          Booted Eagle....Aquila pennata

     Pale morph    

            

      Dark morph

         

            

                                         Sparrowhawk....Accipiter nisus

         

           

                                       Raven.... Corvus corax

            

                               Corn Bunting....Miliaria calandra 

             

                                     Red-footed Falcon....Falco vespertinus

                             

      Please note this bird only flew when a motorcycle went past I did not put it up !!

        

 

From Alan....images from Alan can be found on our Facebook page

Early morning visit to Agia; 7°c when I arrived! - nothing unusual, but good variety. Heard golden orioles, but not spotted. Birds seen included common sand, wood sand, little egret, little bittern, squacco heron, night heron, grey heron, black-winged stilt, little crake, reed warbler, sedge warbler, blackcap, marsh harrier. No duck species. Plenty of hirundines once the morning had warmed up

 

From Harry....images from Harry can also be found on our Facebook page

Quick visit to the estuary at Tavronitis as we drove past,Little Egret,Redshank,Kestrel

and Night Heron present.

24th April

Weather....0900....20.5°C....Sea, choppy....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 5%....Wind S2...1020mb Sunny

A great day 29 species , including Osprey came up from the sea towards the house and looked like it was going to land and eat its catch, but it was disturbed by a motorcyclist !!! Booted Eagle, 4 male Montagu's Harrier and  7 Marsh harrier , that's the most of both species in the spring migrants roost area we have seen A total of 11 Marsh Harrier sightings through the day as some passed through. Good numbers of hirundines along with swift species. A single Bee-eater was heard we hoped for the rarer but found a lone apiaster . An Eastern Imperial Eagle showed again. 

 

Kaliviani List.....Scops Owl....Barn Owl.... Woodchat shrike....Great Tit....Italian Sparrow.... Common buzzard 2+ 12 heading north....Bee-eater 1.... Swift....Alpine Swift....Pallid Swift.... House Martin....Barn Swallow....Red-rumped Swallow....Osprey....Marsh Harrier 11....Raven... Booted Eagle 1 pale morph....Blue Rock Thrush....Chaffinch....Yellow-legged Gull.... Blackbird Collared Dove....Sardinian Warbler.... Cetti's Warbler....Red-footed Falcon 1.... Whinchat 2.... Montagu's Harrier 4....Kestrel 1....Pied Flycatcher 2....

                                            Osprey....Pandion haliaetus 

         

           

                                   Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca

                

 Being pursued by a raven, shows topside of bird

          

                                           Bee-eater....Merops apiaster

         

                                 Marsh Harrier ....Circus aeruginosus

             

23rd April

Weather....0900....20.2°C....Sea, light chop....Vis 15 Miles....Cloud 95% high wispy....Wind 1-2m/s S...1016mb hazy sunshine

The Eastern Imperial  Eagle still hanging around , spotted rising from gramvousa and circling with 6 buteos at 1030am. Check ed photosd this is another bird , so that makes six individuals this spring !!!

Highlight was a group of five Marsh harrier (1 male) and a male and female Montagu's Harrier that appeared at dusk looking to roost nearby  

Kaliviani species....Barn Owl....Scops Owl....Great Tit.... Woodchat Shrike....Chaffinch....Raven Common Buzzard 16....Sardinian Warbler....Italian Sparrow....Cetti's Warbler.... Blackbird.... Swift....Alpine Swift....Pallid Swift....House Martin....Red-rumped Swallow....Marsh Harrier 1f.. Montagu's Harrier 1m....Yellow-legged Gull....Eastern Imperial Eagle....Bee-eater 12....Pallid Swift.... Red-footed Falcon 12.... Purple heron 1....Shag 3....Collared Dove

 

                           Eastern Imperial Eagle ....Aquila heliaca 

           

                                        Marsh Harrier ...Circus aeruginosus

             With snake !

             

22nd April

Weather....0900....19.7°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0....Wind 0...1013mb Sunny

 Woke early (0430)to the sounds of the area, Scops , Barn and Little Owl all very close, laying awake the dawn chorus cut in ....beautiful sounds of Golden Oriole, Woodchat shrike, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blackbird, Italian sparrows chatting away , daylight revealed mirror calm sea, no wind a couple of Marsh Harriers a sparrowhawk a single common buzzard lots of Swift, Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, 4 male Golden Oiole. Bee-eater...   House Martin....Red-footed Falcon 5....Collared Dove....Sardinian Warbler.... Sparrowhawk 1 Montagu's Harrier 1m 1f....Scops Owl and Barn Owl calling just outside our bedroom at 11pm

                                          Sparrowhawk...Accipiter nisus 

       

                                Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus

               

                            Montagu's Harrier....Circus pygargus

              Female 

            

            

           

              Male

            

            

          

             

21st April

Weather....0900....20.2°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0....Wind 0...1013mb Sunny

The eastern Imperial eagle seems to have stayed overnight we spotted it again today , along with a nice adult male Pallid Harrier. We also had  a large flock of Swifts, sallows and martins all day around the house we even managed to spot a few Pallid Swifts. At night, Scops, Barn and Little Owl could all be heard at one point.

Today's list Kaliviani...Scops Owl.... Woodchat Shrike 4.... Great Tit 3.... Chaffinch.... Crested Lark.... Blackbird.... Raven....Swift.... Alpine Swift... House Martin.... Barn Swallow.... Pallid Harrier 1 male.... Common buzzard 3.... Sardinian Warbler.... Red-footed Falcon 20+.... Shag 2.... Eastern Imperial Eagle 1.... Red-rumped Swallow.... Yellow-legged Gull.... Italian Sparrow.... Bee-eater 50+....Scops Owl....Barn Owl....Little Owl

                          Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca

          

                                  Pallid Harrier....Circus macrourus

          

                                  Pallid Swift....Apus pallidus

           

                                                  Swift...Apus apus

                         

                                        Alpine Swift....Apus melba

         

                          

From Harry who visited Irini Gorge....Pied Flycatcher(m&f),Griffon Vulture, Wren,

Chaffinch, Great Tit, Short-toed Lark,Short- toed Treecreeper,Redstart,Jay.

Images are on our facebook page .... 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cretebirding/356753481111926/?comment_id=357028291084445¬if_t=group_comment_reply

From Viv.......6 wood sandpipers at Lake Agias yesterday at the bridge and the springs and this bird was on its own at the pump house. It looked different and legs were clearly green. Is it a green?

 We did not get a picture with this email when it gets to us we will post here !

Also at Agias were marsh harrier (female), at least 6 grey herons, 6 little egret, 2 squacco herons, 2 little crake and swifts. 

Incidentally the orchids (jersey orchid and serapias) are in flower at 
Agias - on the opposite side of the path at the gate to last year.

Tavronitis River had over 30 common sandpipers on Thursday and one 
greenshank. Red-footed falcon came through on Friday (max I saw was 18) 
and some are still here today.

 

 

 

20th April

Weather....0900....19.7°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles....Cloud 90%....Wind N 1....1012mb Mostly sunny

Along the beach road, Black-winged Stilt 1....Stonechat....Goldfinch....Purple Heron 4....       Red-footed Falcon 30+

It appears the Scops Owl likes our place, as for the third night it stays close by noisily calling. Late morning  a few raptors headed north including an Eastern Imperial Eagle.

Kaliviani .... Scops Owl.... Woodchat Shrike....Italian Sparrow....Barn Swallow.... Cetti's Warbler  Swift.... Corn Bunting....Sardinian Warbler.... Chaffinch.... Alpine Swift..... House Martin.... Red-footed Falcon.... Eastern Imperial Eagle 1....Common Buzzard 3....Crested Lark....Raven Tree Pipit.... Marsh Harrier

                                  Eastern imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca 

       

19th April

Weather....0900....18.8°C....Sea, rough....Vis 20 miles....Cloud 70%....Wind N 6-10m/s....1012mb mostly sunny

Red-footed falcons still around but lots flying by and heading off north singly,otherwise it has been a fairly quiet day , no harriers. Another single eleonora's Falcon. In the afternoon took a walk around the fields to get in among those falcons  they are really very tolerant and good views are always there with species. A Scops Owl at 0430 this morning woke family visitors as it sat on the balcony wall, right outside their room !

Kaliviani list ....Red-footed Falcon ...50 + spotted from house but probably more.... Woodchat Shrike 3.... Sardinian Warbler.... Common Buzzard 3....Chaffinch....Great Tit.... Kestrel.... Raven.... Goldfinch.... Alpine Swift....Swift....Barn Swallow.... Eleonora's Falcon.... Pied Flycatcher.

Fields and coast walk.... Whinchat....Stonechat....Cetti's Warbler....Common Sandpiper.... Chaffinch.... Little Ringed Plover....Yellow-legged Gull....Crested Lark.... Greenfinch.... Sardinian Warbler.... Red-footed Falcon 30+.... Common Buzzard 1....Kestrel 1.... Goldfinch

                                         Woodchat Shrike.... Lanius senator

        

                                     Red-footed Falcon....Falco vespertinus

       

         

         

               

          

             

             

        

            

        

          

                                       Lulworth Skipper....Thymelicus action.

              

                                   Silver-washed Fritillary.....Argynnis paphia

        

18th April

Weather....0900....18.5°C....Sea, rough....Vis 20 miles....Wind N 4-8m/s....Cloud 80%.... 1014mb sunny intervals

We awoke to find red-footed falcons all around , around 300 in the Kaliviani basin. In the afternoon a trip down to the beach , we found them sitting on the beach , the road the water sprinkler systems and the electric wires a wonderful sight some will be around for a few days,  a chance again to see these beautiful falcons in action.

Kaliviani species....Yellow-legged gull....Red-footed Falcon.... Italian Sparrow...Hoopoe 2.... Hooded Crow.... Griffon Vulture 2.... Great Tit....Sparrowhawk 1....Peregrine Falcon 1....Eleonora's Falcon 1.... Blackbird.... Woodchat Shrike 2....Marsh harrier 6, 3 m.... Kestrel 1 Lesser Kestrel 13...Sardinian Warbler.... Montagu's Harrier....

                                       Red-footed Falcon....Falco vespertinus

                             

         

 

                

         

        

17th April

Weather....0900....17.9°C....Sea, rough....Vis 10 miles....Wind NNE 12m/s....Cloud 100% ... 1015mb sunny intervals

Harriers still moving through, this morning a male Montagu's and Marsh hunted the lower fields and this afternoon an Osprey passed close to the house carrying a fish it had just pulled from the sea  a wonderful encounter luckily caught in the less than 30 seconds it was in view. Nights are really noisy as a Scops Owl, or two !!!! settle on the greenery in the courtyard, nice for us but for family staying at the moment !!!!

                                   Osprey ....Pandion haliaetus 

         

               

From Alan.... We have just returned from a brilliant day down on the south coast at Kokkinos Pirgos (lagoon area), where we had a flock of 16 gull-billed terns.  (also spotted redshank, black-tailed godwit, curlew sandpiper, poss temminck's stint, then a distant lammergier on the way home!!)

                                    Gull-billed Tern.... Gelochelidon nilotica

15th April

Nothing much from us this weekend as we were busy with family visiting. Although we did keep an eye to the sky !! We did however spot an Eleonora's Falcon on Sunday afternoon and Nikos told us he saw three over Aktrotiri. Nice to see them back here and looking forward to them soon hunting over the house. Still Harriers around, we had four hunting the lower fields in the mornings and Alan et al have been searching the area north of Chania (Akrotiri) and found some Red-footed Falcons and a male Montagu's Harrier. Hopefully we will get our usual fall of RFF's in the Kaliviani area soon.

Photos by and © Alan Hargrave     

                                   Montagu's Harrier....Circus pygargus

           

               

           

          

                                          Red-footed Falcon....Falco vespertinus

             

12th April

Weather....0900....21.4°C... Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0....Wind 0....1013mb

Species Kaliviani....Barn Swallow.... Chaffinch....Cetti's Warbler....Sand Martin.... Tree Pipit     Yellow-legged Gull....Italian Sparrow....Collared Dove....Marsh Harrier 2 male.... Shag 4.... Common Buzzard 10....Pied Flycatcher....Alpine Swift....House Martin....Whinchat.... Whitethroat.... Lesser Kestrel....Tawny Pipit....Isabelline Wheatear....Hoopoe....Scops Owl

                                     Balkan Whip Snake....Coluber gemonensis

        

11th April

Weather....0900...21.6°C...Sea, calm....Vis 20 Miles....Cloud 0....Wind S 2m/s....1012mb

From the house this morning, Kaliviani. ..... Woodchat Shrike 2 pairs, Chaffinch, Cetti's Warbler, Yellow-legged Gull, Barn Swallow, Common Buzzard 13, Blackbird 6, Sardinian Warbler 4, Shag 5, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swift, Marsh Harrier 2, Linnet, Sparrowhawk 2, Subalpine Warbler 1, Griffon Vulture 1, Great Tit, Collared Dove, Alpine Swift. Scops Owl

From 1030-1700 we walked into the hills of Gramvousa to the west of the house. Lots of raptors today, by far the best count we have had in April.....150+ Common and Steppe Buzzard, Eastern Imperial Eagle ? 3 , Levant Sparrowhawk 1, Sparrowhawk 7, Goshawk 1, Booted Eagle, 2 pale morphs, Marsh Harrier 3, Kestrel 2, Griffon Vulture 1, Peregrine Falcon 2, Bee-eater 3 groups total 60+, Black-eared Wheatear 8, Northern Wheatear 2, Yellow Wagtail 50+ one flock, Red-throated Pipit 1, Tree Pipit 6, Tawny Pipit 1, Pied Flycatcher 3, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Alpine Swift 20+, Swift 10+, House Martin 100+, Sand Martin 100+, Barn Swallow 100+, Sardinian Warbler 3, Woodchat Shrike 2, Cretzschmar's Bunting 1, Blackbird 7, Cetti's Warbler 1, Blue Rock Thrush 1, Shag 2, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Raven 4, Hooded Crow 1, Blue Rock Thrush 1

                      Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca     Bird 1, I think subadult ?

               

                           

                                 Bird 2

               

                               Bird 3, with common Buzzard

        

                                            Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

        

        One of the 150+ Common Buzzard....Buteo buteo ,bird behind is a sparrowhawk

             

                                       Cretzschmar's Bunting....Emberiza caesia

              

10th April

Weather....0900....20.7°C...Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles....Cloud 10%...Wind W 2m/s....1012mb

 It was a good day for raptors in our area today . Eleven different species. Common Buzzard, Griffon Vulture, Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Booted Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Eagle........................................ Other species, Chaffinch, Hooded Crow, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Yellow-legged Gull, Bee-eater, Italian Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Woodchat Shrike, Tree pipit, Squacco Heron, Shag, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Little Ringed Plover, Northern Wheatear, Nightingale, Sand Martin, Swift, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Short-toed Lark.

                                          Montagu's Harrier....Circus pygargus

             

                                    Corn Bunting....Emberiza (Milaria)  calandra

         

                                            Kestrel....Falco tinnunculus                              

            

                                           Lesser Kestrel....Falco naumanni  female

           

           

 Male

          

        

    

          

              

                                              Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus

      

                                                Pallid Harrier....Circus macrourus

                

                                               Spotted Eagle....Aquila clanga

         

                                           Sparrowhawk....Accipiter nisus

                

                                  Shag....Phalacrocorax aristotelis sp desmarestii

         

                                                 Whinchat....Saxicola rubetra

                            

                                         Yellow-legged Gull....Larus michahellis

         

 From Alan...............

Rodopos, a productive day.  First bird was a  ? female pallid harrier that surprised us and I didn't get good photos.  Further on the peninsula, an obliging subalpine warbler and then good, but distant, views of pied and collared flycatcher, both males, sparrowhawk and whinchat.  We also had glimpses of female Ruppell's warbler, a single hoopoe and later a noisy flock of high flying bee-eaters.  But the highlight was a juvenile Eastern imperial eagle - a new bird for us.  It hung above us momentarily, before gliding away.

We had earlier decided to make the detour to Akrotiri on our way home, and the day got better.  No new birds, but sightings of female hen harrier, male Montague's harrier, a migrating flock of c.20 marsh harriers, and then two red-footed falcons.  We think one of the harriers may have been a pallid female - if so we had all four circus species in less than an hour!

                                               Hen Harrier....Circus cyaneus

                     

                                      Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca

         

                                             ? Pallid Harrier....Circus macrourus

               

                                           Montagu's Harrier....Circus pygargus

        

                                     Red-footed Falcon....Falco vespertinus

                      

                           

                                       Kestrel left , Red-footed Falcon right

                                             Subalpine Warbler....Sylvia cantillans

                   

9th April

Weather....0900....19.5°C...Sea calm....Vis 20 miles.... Cloud 60%....Wind W 2-5m/s ... 1011mb Sunny intervals

A rest day sort of today catching up on emails and doing the blog. If you have emailed me in the last couple of days you should hopefully get a reply by tonight , if not please give me a nudge !!!

Blog for the last four days is now complete 

Its been a busy few days, we have met some very nice people who have shared our little patch of Crete with us. 

My camera or lens has started to play up. Given that its gone round the clock several times I suppose it should not come as a shock. As seen by the last few images I cannot get it to autofocus properly plus a few other problems , so will strip it down and see what I can find. 

So not really a birding day but a few things to report.

Our list for today 0830-0900... Collared Dove.... Chaffinch....Great Tit.... Common Buzzard 1+5+13.... Woodchat Shrike 3....Barn Swallow....Griffon Vulture 1 ...Blackbird....Cetti's Warbler.... Marsh Harrier 1m 1f.... Bee-eaters (heard)....Sparrowhawks 2 ....Italian Sparrow....Crested Lark....    Shag 1....Yellow-legged Gull 3.... Hooded Crow....Sardinian  Warbler .

8th April

Weather....0730....14.6°C....Sea choopy....Vis 3 miles....Cloud 100%....Wind 12-15m/s gusting to 30m/s....1001mb.... Cloud cleared and wind eased around midday  giving a few sunny intervals

We made a late start due to the weather. With rain and wind it looked like it was going to be a non bird day. We started by collecting young Charlie a very keen birder from the UK who we had promised a day out with us. Our route for the day was the western approach to Omalos from the Sougia road,departing the plateau via Laki birding mainly in the plateau areas.The day started slowly but Charlie soon started doing the spotting!!!! Hen Harrier 1 ,3 Marsh Harrier  circling over a ridge as they headed north, Lammergeier 1 adult, Golden Eagle 1 adult !!!!! and so it went on . Charlie gained himself six lifers out of the total 41 species we managed. A really enjoyable day, with a very enthusiastic birder. Thanks Charlie it was a real pleasure to meet you .

Our list for the day....Hen Harrier 1 female, Marsh Harrier 2 male 1 female, Golden Eagle adult, Lammergeier adult, Common Buzzard, Griffon Vulture 15 +, Raven, Hooded Crow, Chough 3, Northern Wheatear 20+, Black-eared Wheatear 1, Stonechat, Woodchat Shrike 9, Linnet, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Woodlark, Crested Lark, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Blackcap, Jay, Blackbird, Chukar, Common Sandpiper, Spanish Sparrow, Italian Sparrow, Whitethroat, Yellow-legged Gull, Wood Pigeon, Rock Dove, Collared Dove, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Sardinian Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Whinchat, House Martin, Yellow Wagtail. Plus four Black-winged Stilts we saw at Kolibari on route and scops Owl at home

                                           Lammergeier....Gypaetus barbatus

     

                                      Golden Eagle....Aquila chrysaetos

     

                                    Sage-leaved Cistus....Cistus salvifolius

                            

                                          Yellow Asphodel ....Asphodeline lutea

                             

                               Burnt Candyruft....  Aethionema saxitile ssp creticum           

                              

                                                Hoary Cress....Cardaria draba

 

                                        French Lavender....Lavendula stoechas

                           

                                       Rock Lettuce....Petromerula pennata

                            

7th April

Weather....25.1°C...Sea rough....Vis 3 miles...Cloud 0....Wind S 16+m/s....994mb. By 0930 it had clouded up wind had increased . Late pm thunderstorms

We arranged to meet up with Adam again, he has been wandering around our patch birding and not quite made the trip out onto the peninsula, so as it was his last day, his ferry departing at 6pm. we ventured with him out onto the peninsula, though the winds were very high we decided we would still try our little migrant hotspot. It turned out to be quite a day. Two Crete rarities in one day was quite something.

On the way to pick him up we caught site of a bird flying just above the beach which turned out to be a Short-eared Owl (12th recorded for the island) . After a days not too fruitful birding we took Adam back to his hotel and said we would wait for him.  and take him to the ferry a few hundred metres away. While he was packing we scanned the local area and found the bird that has eluded us for some years Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. We called Adam from his room and together we watched this beautiful liitle bird as it flew after bees from a nearby wire fence for a short while, before it flew off inland.

Two new species to add to our Crete list ,we have now seen 234 species on the island and a great 145 species seen from our house.

Kaliviani List....Yellow-legged Gull....Chaffinch....Sardinian Warbler...Blackbird... Goldfinch Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard ....Hoopoe

Beach,Gramvousa and the area towards the port...Short-eared Owl....Alpine Swift...Swift.... Barn Swallow.... Chaffinch....Italian Sparrow....Yellow Wagtail....Little Ringed Plover..... Kestrel...Blue Rock Thrush.... Common Buzzard.... Northern Wheatear....Stonechat.... Black-eared Wheatear....Whinchat....Woodchat Shrike....Whitethroat....White Wagtail.... Sparrowhawk....Goldfinch....Blue-cheeked Bee-eater....Spanish Sparrow....Common Sandpiper

                                          Short-eared Owl....Asio flammeus

          

           

    

                                 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater ....Merops persicus

                                     Seven aside corn buntings as escort !!!!

     

        

    

             

6th April

Weather....0900...27.9°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles...Cloud 30%...wind S 6-7m/s gusting 13 1008mb  Wind and cloud increased from the East

We met up with Adam who contacted us after he was stuck on Crete due to a strike on the ferry to Antikythira where he was heading to do bird ringing at the HOS observatory.

We set off along the coast heading east checking most of the sites that we know on the way to Agyia, it was pretty windy along the coasts but small birds could be seen feeding in the grasses, we ventured onto Rhodapou peninsula , we found a rocky bank full of fossils and whilst Rodapou lacked small birds we had a great sighting of an Eastern Imperial Eagle. On the way to Agyia we called in at the coastal area of Kolibari , we found a small river with a good number of birds. We stopped there for a while, Harry and Pam arrived told us not to bother with Tavronitis river there was nothing there !! ( this site gets less and less birds each year ) so we made straight for Aygia. Another good days birding and thanks to Adam for his company and another set of eyes.

 Kaliviani list....Great Tit....Chaffinch....Sardinian Warbler....Yellow-legged Gull 100+ 50+ fields....Hooded Crow....Shag....Black-eared Wheatear..Common Buzzard 2..Hen Harrier 1 f... Sparrowhawk....Woodchat Shrike....Marsh Harrier 1....Black Kite 1....Barn Swallow.... Alpine Swift.... Scops Owl....

Coast....Yellow-legged Gull....Short-toed Lark.... Whinchat....Northern Wheatear.... Little Ringed Plover....Common Sandpiper....Common Buzzard.... Crested Lark.... Spanish Sparrow....

Rhodopou....Griffon Vulture 5.... Common Buzzard 3....Blue Rock Thrush....Linnet.... Black-eared Wheatear....  Pied Flycatcher....  Goldfinch.... Kestrel 2.... Sparrowhawk.... Crested Lark....Great Tit.... Northern Wheatear....Raven....Eastern Imperial Eagle....Blackbird.. Stonechat....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow.... Common Sandpiper.... Chaffinch.... Greenfinch 

Kolibari .... Black-headed Gull 1.... Yellow-legged Gull....Sedge Warbler....Great Tit...Ruff 2 Black-winged Stilt 4.... Wood Sandpiper....Common Sandpiper....Green Sandpiper.... Little Ringed Plover 2.... Grey Wagtail.... 

Agyia.... Coot ....Moorhen....Little Grebe.... Little Egret....Night Heron... Grey Heron.... Wigeon..... Shoveler....Teal.... Ferruginus Duck....Tufted Duck.... Mallard.... Gadwall.... Cormorant.... Yellow-legged Gull....Booted Eagle 2, 1 pale....  Serin....Tree Pipit.... Meadow Pipit.... Blackcap....Cetti's Warbler.... Sedge Warbler.... Yellow Wagtail.... Black-winged Stilt.... Swift.... Alpine Swift....Barn Swallow....Sand Martin

                              Black-headed Gull....Chroicocephalus ridibundus

               

                                     Blue Rock Thrush....Monticola solitarius

            

                                    Black-winged Stilt....Himantopus himantopus

               

                                     Common Sandpiper....Actitis hypoleucos

            

                                     Eastern Imperial Eagle....Aquila heliaca

       

                  Fossils on rock bank at side of road at 183 metres above sea level

           

                                       Little Ringed Plover....Charadrius dubius

         

                                                  Ruff....Philomachus pugnax

         

                                      Sardinian Warbler....Sylvia melanocephala

                             

                                       Spanish Sparrow....Passer hispaniolensis

       

                                   Short-toed Lark....Calandrella bracgydactyla

              

                                                Tree Pipit....Anthus trivialis

             

                                         Wood Sandpiper.....Tringa glareola

        

                                        Yellow Bartsia ....Parentucellia viscosa

                           

                                        Sage-leaved Cistus.... Cistus salvifolius

 

                                        Cretan Sowbread....Cyclamen creticum

         

                                            Eastern Serapias....Serapia orientalis

                             

 

From Mike Puxley...Thanks Mike

Today on head of peninsula n of Plaka had:
Peregrine 2
Raven 2
Scopoli's shearwater 4
Whinchat
B.e. wheatear 5
Northern wheatear 2
Woodlark 2
Alpine swift 20
Woodchat shrike
Plus kestrel, blue rock thrush, white wagtail, shag, usual finches, crested lark, linnet and others.

At mouth of small stream at Kalame little ringed plover and great reed warbler still.

5th April

 

Weather....0900....20.7°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles....Cloud 1%....wind 0...1012mb Sunny

We had the company of Tim, Gill and Rosie for the day and took a birding trip onto Gramvousa. A good days birding, thank you for joining us.

Our first sighting of this seasons flycatchers, with a couple of male pied.  Good Bonelli's Eagle sighting with a pair flying fairly near, giving Tim brilliant scope views.

Kaliviani List.... Yellow-legged Gull 150+....Hooded Crow....Sardinian Warbler.... Chaffinch.... Sand Martin....Blackcap 10+....Whitethroat.... Woodchat Shrike 2....Cetti's Warbler.... Raven.... Great Tit.... Blackbird.... Goldfinch....Common Buzzard 40+ (One group of 20).... Kestrel.... Steppe Buzzard 2.... Bee-eater (heard)....Nightingale (heard).... Italian Sparrow....Shag 2.... Collared Dove 2.... Barn Swallow.... Little Egret....Alpine Swift....Sparrowhawk.... Linnet.... Griffon Vulture....Marsh Harrier....

Seen along the beach ...Whinchat.... Sedge Warbler.... Little Ringed Plover.... Little Egret.... Linnet

Gramvousa....Sardinian Warbler.... White Wagtail....Meadow Pipit.... Booted Eagle pale morph Little Egret....Yellow-legged Gull.... Barn Swallow....Nightingale 4.... Kestrel.... Sparrowhawk.... Redstart 2.... Wryneck 2....Willow Warbler 4.... Pied Flycatcher 2....Bonelli's Eagle 2.... Swift.... Common Buzzard 30....Hooded Crow.... Raven....Whitethroat 10+.... Spanish Sparrow.... Hoopoe 4 seprate sightings, maybe same bird.... Black-eared Wheatear....Linnet.... Chaffinch Northern Wheatear.... Greenfinch....Goldfinch....Stonechat....Woodchat Shrike.... Great Tit.... Chiffchaff

Cat Snake....Hedgehog....Hare ....Striped Hawkmoth

                                                    Wryneck....Jynx torquilla    

                 

                                               Whitethroat....Sylvia communis

               

                                    Spanish Sparrow....Passer hispaniolensis

                            

                                              Redstart.....Phoenicurus phoenicurus

          

                                              Pied Flycatcher....Ficedula hypoleuca

                                

                  

           

                                    Little Ringed Plover.....Charadrius dubius

              

                                           Little Egret.....Egretta garzetta

              

                                            Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

      

                                     Balkan Green Lizard.....Lacerta trilineata

         

From Alan.... At Drapanos Head and found male Ruppell's warblers singing in an area we expect to find them in at this time of year. Also in the area, northern and black-eared wheatears, with one posing nicely !

                                        Rüppell's Warbler....Sylvia rueppelli

                   

                          

                                    Black-eared Wheatear....Oenanthe hispanica

           

4th April

Weather....0900....18.2°C....Vis 20 miles....cloud 80%....Wind WNW 5m/s.... 1009mb sunny intervals

A nice close flyby of 50+ Bee-eaters late in the morning. 

We made our way onto Gramvousa this afternoon on the lookout for flycatchers, still nothing !!!! We met a nice family Charlie, Sam and Jess. Charlie a very keen young birder who today managed to get a few lifers.  A good afternoon out. Just before we met them we had a pale morph booted eagle fly up in front of us, it gave us good views until a couple of buteos saw it off.

Kaliviani list....Greenfinch....Barn Swallow.... Sparrowhawk....Sardinian Warbler.... Chaffinch Hooded Crow....  Cetti's Warbler.... Woodchat Shrike.... Yellow-legged Gull.... Kestrel....   Corn Bunting.... Common Buzzard.... Bee-eater 50>.... Griffon Vulture 1.... Great Tit.... Raven.... Hoopoe 2.... Meadow Pipit....Goldfinch

On Gramvousa..... Booted Eagle....Redstart....Wryneck....Black-eared Wheatear.... Shag 2.... Willow Warbler.... Chiffchaff.... Nightingale (heard)....Goldfinch ....Chaffinch.... Raven.... Crested Lark....Woodlark.... Bonelli's Eagle 2....Barn Swallow....Yellow-legged Gull....Kestrel

                                         Booted Eagle....Aquila pennata 

                               our view as it flew up from the road in front of us 

          

                       With a full crop we realised we may have disturbed it feeding

                

         

                    One of our distant Bonelli's Eagle ....Aquila fasciata

                   

                                         Redstart....Phoenicurus phoenicurus

                

                                   Northern Wheatear.... Oenanthe oenanthe

                  

                                               Kestrel....Falco tinnunculus

                      We think there is a faded yellow ring on the left leg of this bird

         

                                                    Serin....Serinus serinus

                 

                                             Crab Spider....Misumena vatia

            

                                                     Chrysolina cerealis

           

                                                  Bee species on lavender

                           

                                                    Gynandriris monophylla

                            

3rd April

 Weather....0900....18.4°C....Vis 15 miles....Cloud, 95%....Wind S 1000mb 3-5 m/s 

Nothing special from us today, 4 Kestrel  hunted in the lower fields , we watched at first from the house, with their hunting technique they were looking  very like F vespertinus but its a little early for them .....a trip down sorted that out, kestrel. Four together ! maybe F naumanni ? No.... wing formula and dark claws, sorted, tinnunculus .

                                                 Kestrel.... Falco tinnunculus

         

            

Kaliviani list.... Griffon Vulture 4....Chaffinch....Sardinian Warbler....Shag 2....Hooded Crow.... Yellow-legged Gull.... Barn Swallow.... Goldfinch....Linnet....Sparrowhawk.... Kestrel 4....  Little Ringed Plover.... Corn Bunting....Collared Dove.......Greenfinch....Cetti's Warbler....       Crested Lark....Stonechat....Nightingale

From Alan

Today - Agia, Omalos and Greleska Refuge area.  A flock of eight night herons flew over Agia during our visit, two black-winged stilts at the water's edge near the pump house, and a single common sandpiper at the weir.  Otherwise, all the "usual" species on the water with hirundines filling the air, including sand martins.  We also found a baby terrapin/turtle on the perimeter path, which was photographed and then placed in a safer area.

                                 Black-winged Stilt....Himantopus himantopus

                

                          (Black-crowned) Night Heron ....Nyctocorax nyctocorax  

      

                                                    Stripe-mecked Terrapin

          

On Omalos, ( 10°C! ) a single wood sandpiper, two green sandpipers and water pipits by the ponds.  In the same area, about three whitethroat, northern and black-eared wheatears, linnets and woodlark.  During our drive round we also had two hoopoe, some jays, and cirl bunting.  Plenty of tulips out in the south eastern quarter of the plateau - some with anenomes. 

             

We made a brief drive up to the end of the tarmac at Greleska, where we saw our only griffons of the day.  A large eagle gliding over at height gave us food for thought.  John and I both felt this may have been an Eastern imperial.  However, after putting some poor images on Birdforum, it's probably a golden, which we have seen several times before in this area.  Finally, we found a few examples of orchis quadripunctata - the only site we know to find this species.

             

2nd April

Weather....0900....17.6°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles....Cloud 100%....wind 0....1010mb Cloudy.  Winds increased at 1300hrs  and by 1500 it was blowing 16-18m/s S, bringing another sandstorm.  the temp had risen to 26°C 

Kaliviani list....Yellow-legged Gull 150+ rafting just offshore....Greenfinch....Great Tit.... Marsh Harrier 2 1m 1f ....Hooded Crow....Chaffinch ....Common Buzzard 5.... Blackbird....Shag1.... Hen Harrier 1m....Sardinian Warbler....Barn Swallow....Swift.

When the wind increased most birds took cover and little was to be seen . Hopefully after those strong southerly winds tomorrow may bring a few migrants in !

                                              Hen Harrier ....Circus cyaneus 

       

From Alan....

High winds today, and very little about for us in this area.  After a drive round, flocks of yellow wagtails and a distant male harrier almost sums it up.  However, I had a quick look at Georgioupoli Viewpoint and to my surprise found the pygmy cormorant.  I thought it had moved on after not seeing it for a full month.  Plumage is changing - less white under the "chin", but more speckly elsewhere.

                                  Pygmy Cormorant.....Phalacrocorax pygmeus

             

1st April

Weather....0900....17.1°C....Sea, calm....Vis 20 miles.... Cloud 70%....Wind W2-3m/s 1010mb Mostly cloudy

              Several images added to the 31st March, blog 

We again had the pleasure to take Cathy and Daniel out looking for birds/flowers and butterflys. We went off onto Gramvousa and found a good 33 species of bird, very little in the way of flowers and butterflies as the wind increased bringing a chill on the air. We had great views of Wood, Rüppell's and Eastern Bonelli's Warblers and Wryneck.                           We arrived back at the house just in time to find a group of 10> Eurpean Bee-eater perched and flying from our telephone wire, a good few seasonal firsts today !!! A short walk along a track near the house we found Marsh Frog and Dappled white butterfly, plenty of part eaten fresh water crab , but no live ones !!

Kaliviani List ....Blackbird....Great Tit....Italian Sparrow....Barn Swallow....Sardinian Warbler.... Hooded Crow.... Tree Pipit....Common Buzzard 3, plus 40> migrating....Sparrowhawk 2.... Goldfinch.... Red-rumped Swallow....Greenfinch....Shag ....Scops Owl.

Gramvousa....Chiffchaff....Rüppell's Warbler.... Wryneck....Serin....Hoopoe....Stonechat.... Kestrel.... Raven....Northern Wheatear....Black-eared Wheatear....Woodchat Shrike.... Shag Blue Rock Thrush.... Crested Lark....Italian Sparrow....Meadow Pipit....Tree Pipit.... Great Tit.... Whitethroat....Hooded Crow....Nightingale....Eastern Bonelli's Warbler....Goldfinch.... Linnet... Sardinian Warbler.... Chaffinch....Wood Warbler....Yellow-legged Gull....Rock Dove.... Chukar. Woodlark....White Wagtail....Blackbird....

                                         Rüppell's Warbler.....Sylvia rueppelli

             

          

             

                                                         ?  Female...... back is dark with no contrasting white tertials, but the male was also lacking, they had both been bathing which may explain it !!

               

                 

              

                                                  Wryneck....Jynx torquilla

                             

                                            Woodchat Shrike.....Lanius senator

         

                                          Wood Warbler....Phylloscopus sibilatrix

              

                                  Eastern Bonelli's Warbler....Phylloscopus orientalis

                 

              

                              

                                       Blue Rock Thrush....Monticola solitarius

         

                                                       Serin....Serinus serinus

                              

                                               Meadow Pipit....Anthus pratensis

                  

                                              Bee-eater....Merops apiaster

             

                                            Dappled White....Euchloe ausonia

                

                                        Cretan Marsh Frog....Rana cretensis