Crete Birding

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28th August

Good numbers of honey Buzzard continue to pass over Antikyhira with 269 logged yesterday !!!

 67 Images have been added to the gallery "UK & Europe" on page 3 and 4

 Antikythira are now including the species at ringing camp at the following Migration Antikythira of note another 123 honey buzzard and a Montagu's Harrier. Lesser Whitethroat and Icterine warbler

Nikos had a productive trip to Asteroussia, where he remembers seeing ....             2 Kestrel...1 Peregrine Falcon...1 Honey Buzzard...3 Black Kite...25 Griffon Vulture 2 Montagu's Harrier....6 Common Buzzard ....2 Bonelli's Eagle....2 Rock Dove....     5 Alpine Swift....1 Wryneck....5 Red-backed Shrike...1 Woodchat Shrike....               45 Chough....8 Hooded Crow...25 Raven....1 Great Tit...1 Blue Tit..50 Barn Swallow 10 Crag Martin...6 Crested Lark..8 Stonechat..2 Icterine Warbler..1 Willow Warbler 3 Sardinian Warbler...1 White Wagtail....20 Northern Wheatear....2 Blackbird....      4 Black-eared Wheatear....2 Blue Rock Thrush   2 Spotted Flycatcher....                 30 Goldfinch....20 Italian Sparrow....

Alan reports a large flock 70+ Herons, several km. out, off Giorgopouli.

 

 

 

 

27th August

From Alan at Giorgopouli....Pygmy Cormorant was showing well. While there, a flypast of 25 Purple Heron with one Glossy Ibis "attached" to the flock.  It was comical watching the herons flap serenely, while the glossy was in manic mode keeping up with them!  Must be a tired bird by now.

 

Three images by and copyright Alan Hargrave 

                                       Glossy Ibis leading Purple Heron flock

                      

                                             Purple Heron .....Ardea purpurea

                      

                                  Pygmy Cormorant....Phalacrocorax pygmeus

                               

 

 

 

 

26th August

Not too much happening by the look of it , hardly a report from the weekend !!!!

Nikos reports  from Agyia reservoir... Unfortunately the water level has risen and the muddy banks have disappeared... That is bad news for avian biodiversity during the autumn migration... [This will be the local authority letting water in rather than natural filling !!!! Colin]

Alan sends an image that seems to be causing some doubt on the species, I guess its a juvenile Subalpine Warbler !

Photo by and copyright Alan Hargrave

                                          Subalpine Warbler....Sylvia Cantillans 

                      

Passing through Antikythira  over 267 Honey Buzzard in the last two days ......Any sightings on Crete ?

 

I am posting this link HERE to show once again the carnage that results from no consultation and the placing of wind turbines in the wrong places. 

24th August

From Alan....Pygmy Cormorant can still be seen at Giorgopouli water....male eclipse Shoveler and Garganey also showing well

                                                       Shoveler and Garganey 

                       

 

94 Honey buzzard through Antikythira today. still no sightings on Crete.

23rd August

From Alan.....Small group of Garganey have arrived at Georgioupoli Lake, plus a male Shoveller in eclipse plumage

Griffon Vultures reported at various locations,  Giouchtas near Iraklio. One low over packed beach at hotel in Agyias Nikolas and at Geropotamus near Rethymnon.

Little Ringed Plover at Gerani

Pallid Harrier Geropotamus, may be the same individual that was over Antikythira a couple of days ago 

From Nikos at Agyia....Garganey....Shoveler....Ferruginous Duck 3 1male,2 female... Black kite 

141 Honey buzzard were sighted on Antikythira today. No reports as yet from Crete, are they all continuing down the west coast ? Also another Egyptian Vulture that's three now in as many days, again no sightings on Crete !!

22nd August

From Nikos at, I guess, Agyia ........Raptors not that active today, so I did a little waterfowl count... 10 Mallard....4 Teals....4 Garganeys....1 Common Pochard....1 Ferruginous Duck... Waders come and go, this time it was Green Sandpipers outnumbering the rest... Spotted flycatchers still around too...

21st August

 Link to http://blogs.ornithologiki.gr/osa/?m=201308 to find out what is headed Crete's way. The raptor count on Antikythira is now up and runnning with early sighting of Egyptian Vulture and good numbers of Honey Buzzard. Many of these birds will head down the west coast and may not be seen but some head inland and may linger a while. 

An influx of Spotted flycatchers seem to have arrived also.

Nikos at Agyia reports things are much the same, so some good sightings to be had there with Purple Heron arriving along with willow Warbler and a male Pochard. The lower water levels always produce good birds here in the autumn

Alan reports 60+ wood sandpipers flying in a very loose flock over Georgioupoli Lake early evening.

Pics by and C Alan hargrave

                                           Wood Sandpiper.... Tringa glareola

                                                                      

20th August

Photo copyright Alan Hargrave

                                           Lesser Grey Shrike....Lanius minor 

                                         

17th August

A group of 39 Glossy Ibis seen by Alan over and near to Almyros Bay, Georgioupoli 

From Nikos at Tavronitis estuary: 2 Common Buzzard....Yellow-legged Gull.... Green Sandpiper....3 Wood Sandpiper....2 Garganey....Hoopoe....Grey Heron ....    7 Purple herons (a couple of juveniles too)...

15th August

 A young Whinchat was seen at Moronis estuary 

Agyia..............24 Night Heron...3 Little Egret...3 Grey Heron...Common Buzzard Eleonora's Falcon....Osprey....Booted Eagle...Kingfisher....Mallard....Garganey Common Sandpiper....Green Sandpiper....Wood Sandpipers....Ruff....Coot....  Marsh Sandpiper....Moorhen....Little Grebe

Near Rethymnon.....Raven....Buzzard.... Booted Eagle....Turtle Dove.....Sardinian Warbler....Woodchat Shrike....Golden Eagle.... Olivacious Warbler....Griffon Vulture

14th August

A Wryneck at the German War Cemetery Malaeme 

Near Rethymnon Raven (30+)....Booted Eagle....4+ Eleonora's Falcon....

13th August

From our friend Roy Magnussen, now back on Crete after his little detour to Kythira......

Had the luck to get the wild Nikos Samaritakis to take me for an afternoon trip to Agia lake today.  Marsh sandpiper.....Sedge Warbler and Great Reed Warbler.... Cetti's Warbler .... Eastern Olivaceus Warbler Eleonora's Falcon....Common Buzzard.... Little Egret....Night Herons.... 20+ Yellow Wagtail .... 4 Garganey . Mute Swan.... ?2 kingfishers....3 Grey Heron....Alpine Swift....White Wagtail.... Barn Swallow.... Common Sandpiper....Wood Sandpiper....Green Sandpiper.... Red-rumped Swallow....tits ands finches

12th August

Marc's last visit to Agyia before he flies home, a dawn visit........................ Marsh Sandpiper....          12 Wood Sandpiper. ....2 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler....2 Night Heron....Red rumped Swallow....Alpine Swift ....2 Garganey making it a peaceful and enjoyable last visit.

An amazing flock of Wood Sandpipers flew along the coast just west of Chania at lunchtime today- difficult to count but must have been 200 birds, Marc.

Many thanks Marc for all the reports, looking forward to seeing your whole trip list ! A safe and pleasant flight home.....

8-11th August

A big thanks to Marc now at the end of his holiday for all the reports to the Facebook page in the last few weeks. Really enjoyed seeing what we were missing Marc !!!!

 

From Roy 11th August on Kythira...............                                                           "2 short-toed eagles on the southside of Kythira. Seemed as they tried to migrate, so watch out on Crete".

 

Some great views of the Crossbills that were found near Chora sfakia by Roy Magnussen and Phillipa Dean on the 5th August.

A number of juveniles also, are these a breeding population on Crete? we hope so !!!

Alan then Nikos visited the area and after much hiking found small numbers ............

 "8-12 birds perhaps, treecreeper and wryneck heard, distant hobby also seen" /Nikos

Photos by and c Nikos Samaritakis. 11th August

                                              Common Crossbill....Loxia curvirostra

                          

                           

                          

 Photo by and c Alan Hargrave, 10th August

                          

 

Marc Hughes reports 

11th    Samaria /Omalos /Agyia                                                                              Couple of highlights today. A superb adult Lammergeir showed well early on near the top of the Samaria Gorge, while on the way home a stop at Agia Lake produced a lovely Marsh Sandpiper!

As well as the Bearded Vulture which sailed across the approach road to the Gorge, a Golden Eagle, many Griffon Vultures, 2 Hoopoe, Corn Bunting, Jay and Blue Rock Thrush were the best of the rest. 

An influx of waders at the lake saw an increase to 45+ Wood Sandpipers and 30 Green Sandpipers while the Little Stint and juv Little Crake were still present. The Marsh Sandpiper was quite flighty but kept returning to the floating weed in the middle of the lake in the area of the small inlet about half way along. 2 super Kingfisher and a Badger in full daylight also seen!

10th      From Agyia                                                                                                           Wryneck....juvenile Little Crake. .... Apart from that, pretty much the same birds as the last few visits... 2 Garganey....Little Stint.... Eleanora's Falcon,....Night Heron....15 Wood Sandpipers.

9th     Imbros Gorge and on to the Aradin area                                                      Highlight was an 'aquila' Eagle as yet UID...Bonelli's Eagle....2 male Black eared Wheatear.... many Blue Rock Thrush....Griffon Vultures.... Northern Wheatears.....Hoopoe....5 Turtle Doves 

8th      Agyia

Much the same at Agia Lake this afternoon...Booted Eagle....2 Garganey....Little Stint....Little Ringed Plover...Night Heron....Eleanora's Falcon....Tree Sparrow ..... 22 Wood Sandpiper and similar numbers of Green Sandpiper.

 

7th August

Good numbers of Scopoli's Shearwater now being seen along the coast, some coming close in to feed.

Nikos reports a record number of Redshank at Moronis with 15 birds showing today !! 

5th August

Roy Magnussen spent two days in the Sfakia area.

Near Kormokopos cave.....Short-toed Treecreeper. At the cave 10-12 Crossbills, a few bluetits + several more common species....Raven....Golden Eagle. Today another one was seen, more or less crashing into the taverna at MarMara beach !!!

At Agyia.........Alpine Swift....Eleanora's Falcon... 60+ Wood Sandpiper....35+ Green Sandpiper...3 Ruff Little Stint...Common Snipe....6 Common Sandpiper....juvenile Little Crake pale morph Booted Eagle

Many thanks to Marc Hughes, Nikos Samaritakis  and Roy Magnussen for the reports over the last few days

 

4th August

This years young Griffon Vultures along with Bonelli's and Golden Eagle are all now taking to the air and good views should be available at all their known areas. If you're lucky you may even spot one of this years young Lammergeier !

At Agyia......

Garganey...Little Stint....Little Ringed Plover....Yellow Wagtails.....Little Crake....            Alpine Swifts.... Pallid Swift.... Common Swifts.... Eleanora's Falcon....Griffon Vulture..... Wood Sandpiper....Green Sandpiper....Night Heron.... Squacco Heron. 

3rd August

Water levels are higher today but still lower than in the last couple of years ....

The Osprey is still putting in an appearance giving great views to local and visiting birders. I may be wrong but I believe this could be the first bird to have stayed over the summer period !!!

At Agyia....Eleanora's Falcon....Alpine Swift....5 Night Heron....Little Ringed Plover.... Garganey ....2 juv Little Crake.... 10+ Wood Sandpiper....15+ Green Sandpiper....                  5 Common Sandpiper....Bee Eaters flew high over, calling  .....Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.... Tree Sparrow....Italian Sparrow

2nd August

At Elafonisis ......

Cory's Shearwaters .... 1 Common Redshank.... 1 Green Sandpiper.... Yellow-legged Gulls.... Northern Wheatear.... White Wagtail....Goldfinch. 

In the area of the White mountains.... 20 Griffon Vultures.... Golden Eagle.... Booted Eagle.... Common Buzzard.....Crag Martin....Alpine Swift.

1st August 

OK, so we are all up and running again, with great reports coming in from our friends on Crete and visiting birders. You can also see reports as they come in on our Facebook page.

With water levels at Agyia below the "normally" high mark a lot of waders are starting to appear on their autumn migration.

At Agyia...........    

Little Crake....2 Griffon Vultures...7 Eleanora's Falcons....1 pale morph Booted Eagle....           2 Common Buzzards.....1 male Ruff....13 Wood Sandpipers....40+ Green Sandpipers....           4 Common Sandpipers.... Squacco Heron.... Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.....Snipe                      2 Spotted Flycatcher....Reed Warbler. 

 

 

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