Crete Birding

                                          BLOG 2011

20th September

DUE TO VERY SLOW INTERNET SPEEDS WE ARE SORRY THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO THE UPDATE TODAY. HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW...

IT SEEMS WE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS PAGE SO WE WILL START ANOTHER WHILST WE WORK TO HOPEFULLY CLEAR THE PROBLEM.

CLICK ON THE NEW TAG ON THE LEFT SIDEBAR     "BLOG SEPTEMBER 20TH 2011>>>"

19th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.9oC....Cloud 0...Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0.... 1010mb.... Noon temp 29.4oC,wind  0-1.9N

 A quiet day with light winds and very humid, few small birds were to be found. Around midday we found the probable reason why an Eleonora's Falcon was present and whilst taking pictures of this the 2cy bonelli's eagle suddenly appeared right in front of our veranda, closer than the juvenile on the 10th and even with the lens pulled back from 500 down to 200mm the bird still filled the fram. It was onlt present for one and a half minutes but the most fantastic views once again some pictures here and we have added some more into the "Raptor album"

Todays list....Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard....Woodlark....Crested Lark....Goldfinch Northern Wheatear....Stonechat....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow ....Sardinian Warbler Blackbird....Chukar....Raven....Collared Dove....Rock Dove ....Bonelli's Eagle....Eleonora's Falcon .

            Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae/Hooded Crow ...Corvus corone cornix

               

                                       Eleonora's Falcon.....Falco eleonorae

                           

                                          Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata 2cy  

            

           

               Sixteen more images of this bird and the Eleonora's in the Raptor album

18th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.5oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0.8-3.6m/s.... 1008mb Noon temp 27.6oC.. wind increased gusting 3.0-7.2m/s

Todays Highlights....Once again we had the company of the two young bonelli's eagles. Whilst busy indoors we were alerted to their presence on several occasions through the morning by the calling of buzzards, ravens and a kestrel. The buzzards get quite agitated and soar quite high calling, occasionally having a stoop at them, the raven , well that just calls noisily and circles below, whilst the kestrel gives it all its got and dives in from all directions, all quite entertaining as the bonelli's hang in the wind then stoop into the feral pigeons feeding nearby. The younger bird joined the 2cy for about 2 minutes before departing to the garrigue covered hills a couple of km south of us.

A couple of Marsh Harriers  came in off the sea at 1pm rose up on the hill nearby, circling several times gaining height before heading south, they were only in sight for about a minute.

We watched also at 1pm as a group of 39 Little Egret arrived low across the middle of the bay from the north and headed towards the harbour, they then proceeded to fly up and down without landing until  6pm when they headed out once more to the centre of the bay, headed north then soared gaining height, then flew into the east over Rhodapou. This happens with all the flocks of egrets we have seen, they arrive midday, then keep flying around the west side of the bay before departing in the evening, they do not stop to rest or feed, so we presume they are testing and waiting for the right conditions to carry them on their way.

As we were watching the egrets in the distance, a kingfisher shot past the north east facing front balcony around the south side of the house and carried on over the hills to the west coast, we have had this once before, a nice sight as we are a few hundred metres from the coast.

Todays species.....Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard....Spotted Flycatcher....Woodlark.... Crested Lark....Collared Dove....Rock Dove....Blue Rock Thrush....Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler....Spanish Sparrow.... Italian Sparrow....Raven....Kestrel....Red-backed Shrike....Bonelli's Eagle 2....Griffon Vulture 2....Marsh Harrier 2....Little Egret 39....Kingfisher Northern Wheatear....Wood warbler....Willow Warbler.

                                         2cy Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

           

            

                                                   Mobbed by the kestrel      

            

             About to dive into the feral pigeons feeding on the slopes behind the house              

                            

17th September 2011

 Late picture by and © Nikos Samaritakis at Agyia this afternoon at 430pm

                                     Great Bittern.... Botaurus stellaris

                         

 

Weather....0900....28.2oC....Cloud 3%....Visibility 10 miles....Wind N 1.6m/s.... 1010mb.... Noon temp 27.7oC,wind increased 5.7 gusting to 12.4m/s

A large flock of Little Egret was spotted just before noon, we estimated 80-90, but when we counted from a photo there were 123 !!! just shows how deceiving a large group can be, the image below still does not give the impression of that number. All our birding was done up until noon as the wind had increased making it impossible to spot the smaller species. The 2cy Bonelli's was spotted briefly again as it hunted the crags.

0730-1200 Kaliviani list.... Kestrel 2....Hooded Crow....Raven....Spotted Flycatcher....Greenfinch....Goldfinch....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Common Buzzard Great Tit....Griffon Vulture 1....Bee-eaters (heard)....Little Egret 123....Bonelli's Eagle.... Chaffinch....red-backed Shrike....Collared Dove....Rock Dove

                   The flock of 123 Little Egret..... Egretta garzetta in Kissamos Bay

            

                             Report and 3 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

SOME LATE MORNING PICS FROM MORONIS...ADD TO THE PHOTO LIST ....L.R.PLOVER, COMMON SANDPIPER, RAVEN, JUVENILE NIGHT-HERON, STRIPE-NECKED TERRAPIN (I THOUGHT WATER WAS TOO POLLUTED FOR FROGS AND THEM,
BUT FEW SEEN FARTHER UP RIVER ALONG WITH AN INTRODUCED AMERICAN RED-EARED TERRAPIN)...

                                              Little Egret....Egretta garzetta

             

                                         Ringed Plover.....Charadrius hiaticula

              

                                           Grey Heron....Ardea cinerea

              

16th September 2011

Weather....0900....29.3oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0.... 1010mb.... Noon temp 28.7oC

Little Egret and a single Marsh Harrier migrating, The 2cy Bonelli's Eagle continues to fly in the area but has not returned to its usual roost after two men were seen hunting rock doves very near the roost the last three evenings.

Kalivini species list ....Little Egret 14....Marsh Harrier 1juv....Blue Rock Thrush....Italian Sparrow....Spanish sparrow....Blackbird....Sardinian Warbler....Hooded Crow ....Common Buzzard 2....Crested lark....Woodlark....Chukar....Spotted Flycatcher....Greenfinch.... Icterine Warbler....Collared Dove....Turtle Dove....Rock Dove....Red-backed Shrike....Bonelli's Eagle 2cy ....Northern Wheatear....Woodchat Shrike....Kestrel....Stonechat....Barn Owl....Scops Owl.

                                Sardinian Warbler....Sylvia melanocephala

         

15th September 2011

Weather....0900....30.4oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-7.5-4m/s.... 1010mb.... Noon temp 29.9oC

More Marsh Harrier and our first Sparrowhawk to arrive, Lots of Spotted Flycatcher, and small warblers. Large flocks of both Italian and Spanish Sparrow perhaps 1000+ in the lower fields.

 Todays species.....Spotted Flycatcher 10+....Common Buzzard 4.... Hooded Crow....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Woodlark....Crested Lark....Bonelli's Eagle.... Goldfinch.... Greenfinch....Willow Warbler...Sardinian Warbler....Red-backed Shrike....Woodchat Shrike Great Tit....Collared Dove....Rock Dove....Whitethroat....Icterine Warbler....Wood Warbler Marsh Harrier 3....Sparrowhawk....Raven....Yellow-legged Gull....Eleonora's Falcon

                 two of the migrating   Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus

     

                        

                                            Sparrowhawk....Accipter nisus

              

 Three images by and © Viv Walker from Agyia

Large Tadpole between 10-15cm long believed to be from the large American Bullfrog that were released into the lake some time ago, Viv also states that there are a number of Koi ( goldfish ) that have been released there also !!!!!!!!

        

                                        Whiskered Tern....Chlidonias hybrida 

        

        

 

14th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.2oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 1.5-4m/s.... 1010mb.... Noon temp 29.6oC

A very quiet day today the usual species seen, we can add our first sighting of an immature autumn Whitethroat which paid a visit to one of the small water stations we have  dotted about. Six griffon vultures flew north very high onto the peninsula and a peregrine falcon hunted locally.

A bit of a milestone tonight as we hit 3006 images on the site and 3004 visitors from 55 countries since 28th October 2010

Report from Alan added to yesterdays 13th news

                               Common Whitethroat.....Sylvia communis

                  

                       

 Some images by and © Harry Lough from a visit to Agyia lake on Monday evening

                                    Spotted Flycatcher....Muscicapa striata

        

         

                                       Whiskered Tern....Chlidonias hybrida

         

                                           Great Egret....Casmerodius albus

         

                                        Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus

          

                                       Wood Sandpiper....Tringa glareola

         

13th September 2011

Weather....0900....29.3oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 1.6m/s NE....1010mb.... Noon temp 30.3oC ....wind increased 5-9.3m/s N

No sign of any bonelli's eagles today, the 2cy never returned to its roost last night and up until 7pm has not appeared tonight. Judging by the amount of droppings underneath it has used the same place for some weeks, we will let you know when it returns.Have just noticed a Blue Rock Thrush has staked a claim on the perch tonight!

I keep forgetting to put it on , our tagged Griffon Vulture (96) seen on the 5th was found exhausted a few years back and after rehabilitation was released at Roka village not far from here in the autumn of 2009, its nice to see that it is looking well and still survives.

Highlights today ....Our first autumn Harrier migrants seen , with two Marsh Harrier north of us early this morning 0730 and a ring tailed, possibly a Montagu's Harrier at 12noon, that flew in off the sea and went at a good speed south, possibly in Africa now !!! 

A flock of Bee-eater was heard but we failed to locate them , usually at this time of year they go over high and fast.

A Kestrel mixed it with the local Hooded Crow mob  both today and yesterday,  some pics below.

Todays species.....Marsh Harrier 2 ....Crested Lark....Woodlark....Hooded Crow....Northern Wheatear....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow...Goldfinch....Barn Swallow3....Red-rumped Swallow 7....Common Buzzard 6....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Chaffinch....Sardinian Warbler 6....Blue Rock Thrush 10....Greenfinch 4....Spotted Flycatcher 1....Skylark 1.... possible Montagau's Harrier 1....Eleonora's Falcon 2....Red-backed Shrike 2....Kestrel 2.... Blackbird 1....Bee-eaters (heard)....Peregrine Falcon 1....White Wagtail 2...Scops Owl

 

   Kestrel....Falco tinnunculus and Hooded Crow....Corvus cornix from today and yesterday

      

              

              

           


Report and six images by and © Alan Hargrave

We had a drive out today, touring areas between Voukoulies and Kandanos, and west of Deliana.  Little to report really, with plenty of spotted flycatcher, red-rumped swallows and northern wheatears, with a few common buzzard, griffons and blue rock thrush.

But today was "bee-eater heaven".  We lost count, but three main sightings had about 30 birds in each, flying low and often perched on wires or tree-tops.  Some images attached, with one poor photo, which just shows difference between adult and juvenile of this species.  While we picnicked, just managed shot of a two-tailed pasha butterfly, and mid-afternoon, a view from high above Deliana Gorge - the deep "V" of the gorge towards the bottom of the photo.
Called in at Agia on our return.  About 8 wood sandpipers flying low during our stay.  At least 6 kingfishers, a female little bittern and the juvenile whiskered tern is still there.

                                              Bee-eater....Merops apiaster

                       

                            

                       

                                     Whiskered Tern....Chlidonias hybrida                 

                         

                                                    Two-tailed Pasha

                        

                                                      Deliana Gorge

               

12th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.2oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 1.6-4m/s.... 1011mb.... Noon temp 29.3oC

Kaliviani ....Woodlark....Skylark....Greenfinch....Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard....Blue Rock Thrush....Goldfinch....Blackbird....Sardinian Warbler....Italian Sparrow....Woodchat Shrike Stonechat....Raven....Yellow-legged Gull....Eleonora's Falcon....Turtle Dove....Kestrel..... Griffon Vulture....Bonelli's Eagle 1 juv.....Spanish Sparrow....Northern Wheatear....Scops Owl

No pictures from us today....

From Nikos , AN EVENING PIC OF A PART OF THE 5.000+ ROOST OF BARN SWALLOWS IN THE OLD TOWN OF RETHYMNO CITY...AN AMAZING SIGHTING... PROBABLY WAITING FOR THE NORTHERN WIND

Image by and © Nikos Samaritakis

               

 

From Alan's weekend....

A weekend at home until we went for a walk early this evening.  We returned to the foothills of the Lefka Ori again, generally behind Embrosneros.  
As we drove into the hills we heard bee-eaters above.  Margaret counted about 30 birds, while I stood there with my camera swirling around trying to focus one in the camera!
They're never easy are they, unless perched on a wire.  As we walked we encountered many spotted flycatchers and red-backed shrikes - we haven't seen so many adult males of the latter so far this year, but managed a photo of one this evening.  Two wood warblers also seen briefly and a couple of female/juvenile northern wheatears.  
A pair of jays kept surprising us with close flypasts, making photos impossible.  Later, as we drove past the Georgioupoli Viewpoint, Margaret noticed some little egrets roosting in a tree; c25 of them -
I reversed and took a picture in fading light.  Finally, at home, an adult Egyptian grasshopper spread out on our wall.  Have also included a view from our walk, looking across to Akrotiri.

Six images by and © Alan Hargrave

                                          Bee-eater....Merops apiaster

                       

                   

                                         Little Egret....Egretta garzetta

       

                                  Red-backed Shrike....Lanius collurio

                   

                           Egyptian Grasshopper....Anacridium aegyptium

                         

                                                          Akrotiri

11th September 2011

Great Bonelli's Eagle sightings this morning of 1x juvenile,  1x 2/3cy,    2x adults, more with images tonight

Weather....0900....28.9oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0....1012mb.... Noon temp 29.4oC ....wind increased to 13m/s N

We think we will end up doing a daily Bonelli's diary at this rate, superb views for over two hours of the two young birds, the younger was observed with a full crop, later we spotted two adults flying north of us they landed several  times when the 1st year bird headed to them, later one adult was seen flying south after the 1st year bird, the 2/3cy bird came back late afternoon to its usual roost. below are a number of images taken this morning, some are blurred either due to me shaking or the heat haze I'll leave you to decide !

Other species today ....Woodlark....Common Buzzard....Greenfinch....Sardinian Warbler Italian Sparrow....Hooded Crow....Great Tit....Red-backed Shrike....Blue Rock Thrush ....Raven.... Crested Lark....Skylark....Eleonora's Falcon....Kestrel....Griffon Vulture 6+1 Peregrine Falcon Turtle Dove....Collared Dove....Rock Dove....Northern Wheatear....Spanish Sparrow..Blackbird Scops Owl....Barn Owl, we also had one unidentified bird that may have been a Nightingale , the view was very brief so not too sure .

                                         Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

           The wind was strong enough for this 2cy bird to hang in the air on a wind perch

 The juvenile arrives with a full crop and a Raven in tow  

 

                               The 2cy bird spots the juvenile and stoops down 

                         

                     

 Another stoop across the face of Gramvousa 

 

                                     The two birds race around the valley just north of us

                The following images are of them interacting for over half an hour

 

 

 

 

 

                              

                         

We hope we have not bored you, we feel privileged to have witnessed such a great display by these beautiful raptors, with probably only 80 breeding pairs in Greece, 800+pairs  in Europe, four in our patch putting on a show like this is extremely rare. 

10th September 2011

Weather....0900....29.0oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 10 miles....Wind 0.... 1011mb.... Noon temp 29.6oC ....wind increased to 4m/s N

As is always the way, you have visitors like yesterday and see few birds then the next day it all happens. Like today some good new autumn migrant species ...Pintails 300+ across the bay, some Grey herons and Little Egrets, but what we had hoped for yesterday, a close up Bonelli's, happened today, when the juvenile bird had three passes across the front of the house, the first only 10 metres away which we nearly missed (no photos though) the third pass was 40+ metres away and we managed to get some images, later we watched as the slightly older bird again returned to its roost.  The Cicadas are getting even more silent which enables us to hear lots more species like the Woodlark which are now all about us.

Species....Woodlark.....Goldfinch....Hooded Crow....Stonechat....Blue Rock thrush....Chaffinch.....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Greenfinch....Bonelli's Eagle 2cy (at roost am and pm )and juvenile at 430pm  ....Red-backed Shrike....Woodchat Shrike....Turtle Dove....Great Tit....Crested Lark....Grey Heron 3....Pintail 300+....Little Egret 20....Yellow-legged Gull....Kestrel....Raven....Spotted Flycatcher....Blackbird.....Scops Owl....Barn Owl

 

                                          Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

    

      

           

 

                                        Red-backed Shrike....Lanius collurio

                           

A few images from and © Alan Hargrave all from the last week

                                      Jersey Tiger....Euplagia quadripunctaria           

                           

                                   Stripe-necked Terrapin....Mauremys rivulata

   

                                              Large White....Pieris brassica

                           

                                         Carpenter Bee....Xylocopa  violacea

                  

 

9th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.6oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0,.... 1000mb.... Noon temp 30.1oC

Harry and Pam came for a visit and as always the way only a few birds, a pair of "possible" golden oriole flew through shortly before they arrived  but the sighting was brief, so we cannot be sure. Several sightings through the day of our 2 or 3cy Bonelli's eagle, we later watched as  it flew high in from the south and dived straight onto its roost a fantastic sight and confirmed that its not the juvenile that is staying. Late evening as Sue took a walk with Mia she  heard  a small group of Night Heron  fly south.

Birds for the day....Stonechat....Sardinian Warbler.... Blue Rock Thrush.... Greenfinch.... Hooded Crow....Goldfinch....Italian Sparrow ....Red-backed Shrike....Rock Dove....Crested Lark....Skylark....Woodlark....Spanish Sparrow....Blackbird....Raven....Great Tit....barn swallow....Common Buzzard 6....Spotted Flycatcher....Bonelli's Eagle....Woodchat Shrike....Scops Owl....Barn Owl....Night Heron.

                      Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata 2or 3rd cy  returning to roost site

      

                                           heading off south in the afternoon

                 

                   Bonelli's Eagle being mobbed by a Common Buzzard, note sizes !

                              

                a couple of Common Buzzard....Buteo buteo   in various stages of moult               

              

         

                   

                                             Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae

               

 Two images from and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                        Whiskered Tern ...Childonias hybrida

             

                                                          Argyrodes sps

               

8th September 2011

Weather....0900....26.7oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 8 miles....Wind 1.5-2.1 m/s NE,.... 1000mb.... Noon temp 27.5oC

After last nights storm we hoped for a few raptors to be milling about this morning , however it was not to be the only migrants to be seen were 40 odd Little Egret along the coast.

Our local Buzzard had a set too late afternoon as one appeared with a snake , three others came from nowhere and set about it trying to steal it , some images below

Kaliviani Species....Common Buzzard 6....Hooded Crow 30+....Woodlark 10+....Red-backed Shrike....Woodchat Shrike.... Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow 200+....Greenfinch....blue Rock Thrush....Crested lark....Rock Dove.... Eleonora's Falcon 4....Griffon Vulture 7....Great Tit....Skylark....Goldfinch....Blackbird....Collared Dove....Sardinian Warbler....Northern Wheatear....Stonechat....Little Egret 40.... Raven

                                         Griffon Vulture....Gyps fulvus

      

                             Common Buzzard ....Buteo buteo three after snake

               

           

                                        Eleonora's Falcon.....Falco eleonorae 

      

                                           Little Egret ....Egretta garzetta 

          

                                         Red-backed Shrike....Lanius collurio            

                          

                                                         and in flight

        

 

7th September 2011

Hopefully we will be able to update the blog later tonight , but at present (1730hrs)we have our first autumnal thunderstorm fast approaching from the north, hopefully with some migrants racing south in front of it....

Well the storm passed through at 7pm, the first rain since May !! only a light shower really, which brought 14 little egrets racing through the bay on the front of it, also a moulting adult peregrine falcon. Earlier a Garden Warbler, otherwise a fairly quiet day.

Weather....0900....27.8oC....Cloud 0% (increased over the day.)...Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-4.6 m/s NE,.... 1013mb.... Noon temp 28.3oC ...Rain Thunder/lightning 1730 onwards

kaliviani Species....Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard 2....Crested lark....Skylark.... Goldfinch....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Rock Dove....Sardinian Warbler....Woodchat Shrike....Blue Rock Thrush 4....Garden Warbler....Greenfinch....Red-backed Shrike.... Raven ....Kestrel....Turtle Dove....Chukar 2....Collared Dove....Peregrine Falcon....Little Egret 14....Bonelli's Eagle 1

                                       Woodchat Shrike.....Lanius senator

                          

                                              Crested Lark....Galerida cristata

                 

 

We have some nice pictures from Alan of a juvenile Whiskered Tern seen  today at Agyia unfortunately internet speeds are really slow and we are unable to upload any images tonight hopefully we will add them tomorrow along with a few images for the 3rd which Alan has also emailed to us

Seven images by and c Alan Hargrave

Whiskered Tern....Childonias hybrida

     

                      

                   

                                         Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae

                        

                                         The following three taken on the 3rd 

A trip down to the "turnstones" beach with grandson, Alex, proved fruitful.We were there for an hour. First sightings were purple herons x 3 and grey herons x2 in a small tree, and little-ringed plovers x5.  
Out at sea c100 pintails flying low and fast.  We then found about 30 squacco herons amongst the reeds along the little river.  Some were disturbed and joined the other herons in the tree.  Considering there was some human activity around today, we were quite pleased with what we saw.

Back home and Margaret was on our front balcony watching bee-eaters - our first of the autumn migration.  In all about 15 birds, noisily hunting across the valley.  
I am hoping they may be roosting nearby, and that we may see them again in the morning.  Meanwhile, only one image obtained, just before dusk.                             

 

                                                an evening Bee-eater

                          

                                       Part of a large flock of Squacco herons

                          

                                                              Pintail

 

6th September 2011

Weather....0900....28.8oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-6.8 m/s N,.... 1018mb.... Noon temp 30.9oC

Well this is getting to be a great month for close up raptors, whilst having lunch a juvenile Golden Eagle ( not the same bird as on the 1st ) soared up from beside the small church just 60 metres away and north of us heading directly for us, as usual camera inside so a mad dash, by then the bird had gained height but we had great views as it circled for 5 minutes before heading off south.                                                                                                 Thirty species today with Woodlark being heard now that the cicadas are getting quieter, a single Great Egret flew out onto the peninsul. Our now local Bonelli's did not disappoint and has been seen on two occasions in flight and tonight returned to its roost.

Species....Blue Rock Thrush 3... Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Crested Lark....Sardinian Warbler....Woodlark....Common Buzzard 6....Hooded Crow 30+....Woodchat Shrike 2....Great Tit....Goldfinch.....Turtle Dove 2....Stonechat 3....Northern Wheatear....Italian Sparrow....Great Egret 1....Eleonora's Falcon 4....Barn swallow....Red-rumped Swallow....Hoopoe 1....Bonelli's Eagle....Golden Eagle....Peregrine Falcon....Yellow-legged Gull....Red-backed Shrike.... Spotted Flycatcher.... Greenfinch....Skylark....Blackbird....Kestrel....Spanish Sparrow.    

                                           Golden Eagle....Aquila chrysaetos        

       

                           

     

The little church 50-60 metres north of us where the griffon vulture came through from the left yesterday and the golden Eagle from the right today

            

                                        Red-backed Shrike....Lanius Collurio

                         

                                          Common Buzzard....Buteo buteo

                         

                                          Peregrine Falcon....Falco peregrinus

             

5th September 2011

Some pictures and news from Harry Lough......Eleonoras Falcon,Purple Herons taken at Agia on Friday, and a Red-backed Shrike taken at Georgiopolis Sunday

images by and © Harry Lough

        

        

        

From Alan Hargrave

Belatedly, a record of Sundays sightings - all during an hour's walk from the house at about 6 pm., which takes me towards the rear of Georgioupoli Viewpoint.Spotted flycatcher, red-backed shrike male and female, wood sandpiper,common snipe, yellow wagtail, bee-eaters x 6, alpine swifts x 5, housemartins, golden oriole male in fast low flight, wryneck.  Latter found very unexpectedly, whilst focussing on a red-backed shrike.
Many photos taken during the walk (wryneck was distant and cryptic against the backdrop of tree bark.).  A couple of photos for you of that, and an alpine swift.

                        

                                 Wryneck on left and red-backed Shrike to the right

                          

Our news from Kaliviani.....

Todays Weather....0900....28.7oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-6.2m/s N,.... 1017mb....Noon temp 28.0oC

Weekend news....Saturday was much the same as Friday all the usual birds seen, strong winds kept birds to a minimum on Sunday, however a possible 3 Pallid Swift appeared and 6 Griffon Vultures once again came across very low from Nio horio direction, they cruised into the strong wind low across our olive grove which is set on a lower terrace than the house and were at kitchen window level, I unfortunately missed them as I was inside , Sue was outside and she said they came lower than ever over her head and although scary the immence size could be felt when seeing them at this range, not a new experience them flying close but it always feels like it at the time !!!

and today......Eleonora's Falcon activity is stepping up, with possibly 12 birds seen today as they hunted over the hills, 18 Little Egret were noted flying up and down the coast and Cory's Shearwater were again present close inshore. Sue had gone for a swim and it was my turn today to get a Griffon scary moment as one lifted up from behind the small church set fifty metres above us, we never saw this bird arrive so it must have been sat  there from early morning. At roof level it headed for the house... I was sat on the veranda watching the juvenile Bonelli's Eagle, I grabbed the camera and knocked off a couple of shots and found that this bird is another tagged one ( Black 96 ) Information on the sighting has been sent to Heraklion and when we get some history of this bird we will post it on here. Our juvenile Bonelli's Eagle continues to use the same roost which gives us good views albeit through the scope.

Species for today....hooded crow....sardinian warbler....rock Dove....Raven....Common Buzzard....Red-rumped Swallow ....Skylark....Collared Dove....Crested Lark....Barn Swallow....Eleonora's Falcon....Goldfinch....Griffon Vulture 3+1....Bonelli's Eagle 1...Little Egret....Cory's Shearwater Woodchat Shrike....Hoopoe....Turtle Dove...Barn Owl....Scops Owl 

 

                         

                    

3rd September 2011

Weather....0900....28.3oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-3.9 m/s N,.... 1013mb.... Noon temp 30.2oC

Just received the following from Viv walker.........Went across to Lake Agias on 31 August for lunch. It was really quiet with even very few coots and water still high. My camera was firmly in its bag (with the short lens on it) when this
bittern crossed the path and went down along the side of the reeds to a 'water run-off' just below where the wooden fence starts on the way to the bridge. I could not believe my eyes and by the time I got my camera and changed the lens I could only get two hurried photos. This ones shows the area where it was going down the slope.
 
We also saw an Elenora's falcon - it did not hang around and was harried by the usual suspects - the crows. Nothing else to report.

Thank you Viv a great sighting, good that you managed a picture too !

                                     Bittern....Botaurus stellaris

             

2nd September 2011

Weather....0900....29.3oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 15 miles....Wind 0-0.9 m/s N,.... 1014mb.... Noon temp 30.3oC

Todays highlights ......Bonelli's Eagle X2, first our juvenile from yesterday.....Sue was headed to town and as we went to the car there it was slowly moving alongside the house towards the bay, no more than 20-30mtrs away, it moved across the front then down the other side and off towards Nio Horio. I had time to get indoors and onto the front veranda and get the following pictures..... Our closest and most fantastic views of a Bonelli's to date.  Later in the afternoon an about 320pm a second bird was seen a possible 2 or 3 cy bird it moved slowly our way from the hills of the peninsula circled a couple of times before overflying the house as it headed south.                A single Black Kite and several ragged Common Buzzard were seen as they passed through, a Peregrine Falcon and several Eleonora's were hunting nearby in the afternoon.

No other news the same species as yesterday were seen today and we have also added 4 extra species to yesterdays news the gull I missed off ,the others after the blog closed, the Nightjar was a great spot as it flew very close across the front of the house at dusk. Also a further report from Alan with some pictures

                                           Bonelli's Eagle .....Aquila fasciata    

                                  The juvenile we have been seeing for a while

           

                                                

                         

        

                   

        

         

                 

             

                                                  The 2 or 3cy individual   

          

      

           

               

1st September 2011

Weather....0900....27.7oC....Cloud 1%....Visibility 6 miles....Wind 0.3-1.9m/s N.... 1014mb.... Noon temp 28.5oC

A photo from Alan actually taken on the 30th August , he noticed a Ringed Plover with the Kentish Plover.    

   

From Alan today....Margaret and I re-visited an area beyond Embrosneros this evening, just for a walk in the foothills.  Historically we never saw much here, but today our sightings were; blue rock thrush male and female on wire, northern and black-eared wheatears, numerous spotted flycatcher, many jays, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, chaffinch, red-backed shrike, wood warbler and great reed warbler.  The last bird announced its presence but gave me no time to locate it in my camera.  The wood warbler played hide-and-seek with me - two images for the record, as we have only seen this species in April before.

                            

                            

Earlier today at home, small flocks of alpine swift were disturbed by a pale morph Eleonora's. (several pics not worth publishing).  One of our local common buzzards flew past - a better photo of that.

                           
Report from grandson, Alex, that the mute swan has returned to Kalivaki beach area.  I will check it out soon to see if it's the same ringed one.

 

 

Highlights from home.....A Golden Eagle was seen coming over the high ridge of Gramvousa it headed towards our way but veered off  before it got to us, good views though as it circled several times before heading off towards Falasarna. Our other good find was the Bonelli's Eagle of yesterday, we watched it land last night and this morning was still at its roost site until 10am, it was seen to dive onto some rock doves before heading off. Later in the afternoon we heard a commotion from several Common buzzard and found the Bonelli's was flying beneath them near the back of the house, problem was, we were looking into the sun which was slightly above and behind the bird so pictures are not too good , the heat haze also did us no favours, but it was a nice close flyby of the juvenile we have been seeing. This evening we have watched as it has returned to the same roost site several times, it gets distracted by the rock doves and is seen going into dives from its perch and a little later returning to preen. We hope that it will stay there.... maybe its new territory !!!                  Also sat out this morning with our cup of tea at 0730 we spotted a pair of Red-backed shrike, a Woodchat Shrike and a Lesser Grey Shrike, all sat within 30 metres of each other  a nice way to start the day !! later a Woodchat shrike was seen with three juveniles pestering for food, we have noticed these juveniles around and they even pester the Sardinian Warblers for food !

Kaliviani today....Blackbird....Red-backed Shrike2....Woodchat Shrike 8....Lesser Grey Shrike 1....Hooded Crow 20+....Crested Lark 50+....Goldfinch 30+....Italian Sparrow....Greta Tit 3 Sardinian Warbler 4....Greenfinch 5....Northern Wheatear 6....Rock Dove ....Bonelli's Eagle 1 juv ....Common Buzzard 5....Blue Rock Thrush 3....Raven 10+....Kestrel 2....Griffon Vulture 6 Peregrine Falcon 2....Eleonora's falcon 2....Hoopoe 1....seen after closed blog, Yellow-legged gull....Nightjar 1 ....Barn Owl.... Scops Owl

 

                                         Golden Eagle ....Aquila chrysaetos

            

                                              Bonelli's Eagle....Aquila fasciata

           

               

                    

                   

31st August 2011

Weather....0900....29.2oC....Cloud 60%....Visibility 10 miles....Wind 2-4m/s NWxW,.... 1013mb.... Noon temp 29.9oC

 A quiet day today with the wind shifting more to the west, we only had one migrant through and high at that, a Marsh Harrier . The juvenile peregrine continues its hunting in the area.

Species.....Hooded Crow....Italian Sparrow....Greenfinch....Barn Swallow.... Rock Dove....Red-backed Shrike....Woodchat Shrike....Common Buzzard....Spotted Flycatcher....Collared Dove....Raven....Goldfinch....Stonechat....Crested Lark....Northern Wheatear....Sardinian Warbler....Spanish Sparrow....Lesser Grey Shrike....Blue Rock Thrush....Griffon Vulture....Peregrine Falcon....Marsh Harrier....Great Tit....Barn Owl

 

                                       Marsh Harrier....Circus aeruginosus 

           

                                       Spotted Flycatcher....Muscicapa striata     

                           

                                          Woodchat Shrike....Lanius senator 

                           

         

30th August 2011

Weather....0900....28.4oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-2.7m/s NNW.... 1012mb.... Noon temp 27.5oC

We could not get online last night, yesterday's report is now added below this.

A good day for migrants....Our highlights at Kaliviani ...being woken at 4am by two Barn Owls that sounded so close, they were sat on our bedroom veranda wall !!!! Our first Blue Rock Thrush since our return....Honey Buzzards, a pale morph Booted Eagle, very high Black Kite, Bonelli's Eagle and a large flock of 100+ Alpine Swifts  and Woodchat Shrike again in good numbers, a single Shag.

Our species list for the day....35....Barn Owl....Spotted Flycatcher....Great Tit....Hooded Crow....Sardinian Warbler....Blue Tit....Stonechat....Crested lark....Lesser Grey Shrike....Woodchat Shrike 10+....Barn Swallow....Northern Wheatear....Italian Sparrow.... Spanish Sparrow 50+ flocks ....Blackbird....Goldfinch....Common Buzzard 6....Isabelline Wheatear....Red-backed Shrike....Blue Rock Thrush.... Shag.... Kestrel.... Peregrine Falcon....Hoopoe....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Yellow-legged gull....Eleonora's Falcon....Griffon Vulture 3....Raven 2....Honey Buzzard 12+6....Alpine Swift 100+....Black Kite 3....Bonelli's Eagle, hunting then perched on the rocks of Gramvousa.... Scops Owl.... Barn Owl (as I type this our two from this morning are visual, noisy and close by !!!)

                                    Juvenile Peregrine Falcon....Falco peregrinus

              

                             Honey Buzzard....Pernis apivorus with peregrine falcon

                                                         Some of the 18 Honey Buzzard....Pernis apivorus  

                

                    

                 

             

                    

                                                  Booted Eagle....Aquila pennata

             

                                    Juvenile red-backed Shrike....Lanius collurio

                  

 

From Alan today near Gorgioupoli........

Kentish plover were part of a flock which included little-ringed plovers and I think one ringed plover.When they flew,they separated into their own species - that was handy!

Earlier, with grandson Alex, we saw another flock of 20 purple herons, which circulated around us for all of our time there.  Then a flock of c70 glossy ibis out to sea, which never came close to the shore.  
Finally, the birds that were flying low over the sea recently, were seen again.  This time we were closer, and at times they soared into massive flocks over the bay.  Quite a sight.  
looking at the photos I believe they were pintail - long necks and tails.

Six images by and  © Alan Hargrave

 


                                     Kentish Plover....Charadrius alexandrinus

 

                

 

                                                      Pintail....Anus acuta 

                            

          

                                           Glossy Ibis....Plegadis falcinellus

 

29th August 2011

Weather....0900....27.2oC....Cloud 30%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 2-5.9m/s N,.... 1011mb.... Noon temp 27.5oC

Highlights today at Kaliviani....10+ Woodchat Shrike around the house entertained for the late evening watching them rising vertical to take large insects before returning to their observation perch and an Eleonora's Falcon mixed it with several hooded Crows for over an hour with great skill it chased and was chased between the eucayptus trees. An Isabelline Wheatear was a nice sighting in lower fields.

Other species... Crested Lark....Italian Sparrow....Hooded Crow 20+....Common Buzzard 4....Sardinian Warbler....Goldfinch....Woodchat Shrike 10+....Chukar 2....Red-backed Shrike 2....Raven 5....Lesser grey Shrike 1....Spotted Flycatcher 2....Stonechat 1....Turtle Dove....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Great Tit....Kestrel....Black-eared Wheatear.... Isabelline Wheatear.... Northern Wheatear....Eleonora's Falcon....Yellow-legged Gull....Spanish Sparrow 300+ (flocks of up to 50 gathered to roost in the trees).... Barn Owl.... Scops Owl

                                      Eleonora's Falcon ....Falco eleonorae

            

                           Eleonora's Falcon ....Falco eleonorae ,hawking insects    

            

                                       Juvenile Goldfinch....Carduelis carduelis

                           

                                       Woodchat Shrike....Lanius senator 

                

                                           

                                   Juvenile Woodchat Shrike....Lanius senator

            

 

From Nikos .....TOOK A NON-BIRDER FRIEND TO OMALOS THIS MORNING... JUST RETURNED FROM WALKING BEYOND THE SCREE UP TO THE RIDGE WHERE VIEW OF TRIPITI GORGE IS POSSIBLE...
NO ATTEMPT FOR GIGILOS PEAK MADE THOUGH (2 MORE HOURS NEEDED)...HAD A FEW RAINDROPS, THEN SWEAT... WE DIDN'T STAY MUCH, BASICALLY WE WENT UP AND THEN DOWN, SO FEW GOOD PICS BETWEEN WALKING... LAMMERGEIER AT HIS FAVOURITE SPOT

 Four images by  and © Nikos Samaritakis                                 

                                     Lammergeier....Gypaetus barbatus

             

                                            Griffon Vulture....Gyps fulvus

             

                                        Alpine Chough....Pyrrhocorax graculus    

             

                                        Cretan wild goat....capra aegagrus creticus   

              

 

From Alan....

The same stretch of beach beyond Kavros was productive again today.  This time a flock of c30 little egrets with one glossy ibis amongst them was seen from the National Highway, as we went out for a drive. 
The drive was only memorable for the fact that we saw nothing worth mentioning!  We decided to investigate the beach where the little egrets were seen earlier, as Margaret thought she saw them come down - possibly to the little rivermouth.  They weren't there, but instead c70-80 purple herons, with a few greys too.  About 20 were perched in small trees, but as we disturbed them (from distance), we counted over 70 taking off. 

Three images by and © Alan Hargrave

On our return home, we had our first sighting from the house of lesser grey shrike.  This takes our total of species viewed from our house to 73.

                                  Migrating Purple and Grey Heron taking a rest  

    

                                           Purple Heron....Ardea purpurea

       

                

 

 

 

28th August 2011

Weather....0900....27oC....Cloud 50%....Visibility 15 miles....Wind 4-7m/s N,.... 1015mb.... Noon temp 28.6oC

Kaliviani list...

We woke this morning to silence !!! well not quite as we could hear the bird song, there was not a sound from the millions of Cicada's, they slowly started at about 0930 but seem to have lost their force and hopefully we will see the last of them for this year in a couple of weeks

Ist Spotted Flycatcher today... Great Tit....Common Buzzard....Sardinian Warbler....Kestrel....Barn Swallow....Raven....Griffon Vulture5+2+3....Woodchat Shrike....Goldfinch....Rock Dove....Crested Lark....Italian Sprrow....Collared Dove....Stonechat

                                       Spotted Flycatcher....Muscicapa striata

                           

A hedgehog scuttled across our gravel late afternoon and we found a rather nice moth in one of the bedrooms

                               Hedgehog.....Erinaceus concolor ssp. nesotes

               

                                         The Passenger....Dysgonia algira

                                 also added in the "Butterflies and Moths" album

               

                                                  And a Grasshopper  

                  

27th August 2011

Weather....0900....25.6oC....Cloud 70%....Visibility 10 miles....Wind 4.6-5.7m/s N,.... 1013mb.... Noon temp 27oC

 Todays Kaliviani list....Again not much I'm afraid

Once again we had a good view of the juvenile Bonelli's Eagle as it flew slightly north of us.... Stonechat....Griffon Vulture, four seperate visits through the day 6-4-4-7....Rock Dove....Hooded Crow....Raven....Common Buzzard....Barn Swallow....Italian Sparrow....Crested Lark....Woodchat Shrike....Kestrel....Sardinian Warbler....Great Tit....Cory's Shearwater....Collared Dove....Barn Owl.

 From Alan at Gorgioupoli....

2 images by and  Alan Hargrave

Had a walk from the house this afternoon - broadly towards the back of the Georgioupoli Viewpoint.  Have to cross a ford, which had surprising depth of water for this time of year, and found banded demoiselles there.  They were all male and captured one with wings open.

                    


This walk has been a long time favourite of mine- birds seen on it today were Italian sparrow, hooded crow, blackbird, Sardinian warbler, stonechat, blue tit, common buzzard, wood sandpiper, common sandpiper, little stint, spotted flycatcher, crested lark, yellow wagtail, and red-backed shrike.  Then, another lesser grey shrike and a hoopoe - first hoopoe of the autumn for me.

 

                                            Hoopoe....Upupa epops

            

 

26th August 2011

Weather....0900....28.2oC....Cloud 2%....Visibility 15 miles....Wind3-8.4m/s N, 4 .... 1011mb.... Noon temp 28.3oC

At home Sue did a stirling job on her own as I was laid up with a bad back, a trip with Nikos had to be cancelled but we hope to get out and about soon.

Kaliviani....Sardinian Warbler....Blackbird....Black-eared Wheatear....Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard....Rock Dove....Peregrine Falcon....Barn Swallow....Woodchat Shrike....Griffon Vulture 6....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Cretsed lark....Eleonora's Falcon....Little Egret 34 patrolling up and down the bay looking for a suitable roost site.

From Nikos.....At Tavronitis river now nearly dry,

          A picture of one of five Purple Heron....Ardea purpurea  ©  Nikos Samaritakis

             

 

From Alan and Margaret.....

25th, - Margaret and I hired a jeep and took grandson Alex to the mountain refuge (Toubotos Prinos) on southern slopes of Psiloritis.  Hopeful of improving on photos of short-toed treecreepers meant this was a frustrating day.  I had one good view (2 seconds!), and "they" had about 6 between them.  We had split up around our picnic site.  Lots of fritillary about; most being the one below, which after research we believe to be silver-washed fritillary (argynnis paphia), but happy for another opinion.( Silver washed it is... Colin ) Large, fast and restless, I couldn't get closer than about 2 metres.

Four images by and © Alan Hargrave

                      Silver-washed Fritillary ....argynnis paphia on its favourite thistle          

                            

                   

 

26th.  Took a lone trip to Drapanos Head in hope of finding lesser grey shrike.  After several red-backed, found one!  I think this is a first winter bird - photo taken at about 60-80 metres; the nearest I could get.

                                        Lesser Grey Shrike....Lanius minor

                         


As luck would have it, a look at Kalivaki this afternoon revealed another lesser grey.  Distant photos to start with, but then it landed on an overhead cable right above me.  So, a better image than earlier today.  Turnstones appear to have moved on.


                                         Lesser Grey Shrike....Lanius minor

                          

25th August 2011

Weather....0900....29.7oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 4.3-9.1m/s N....1011mb Noon temp 28.4oC

Some news and images from Nikos,  first some images from a few days away 23rd/24th at Mount Kofinas

 5 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                 Golden Eagle ....Aquila chrysaetos at Mount Kofinas

               

                                            Raven....Corvus corax at Mount Kofinas

               

                                                          Mount Kofinas

        

                                                 Griffons on mount Kofinas

        

                          Tagged Griffon Vulture ....Gyps fulvus at Prassianos Gorge

            

25th from Nikos.............A VOLUNTEER CLEANING PROJECT JUST TOOK PLACE AT MORONIS.. ONCE AGAIN...BIRDS DRIVEN AWAY: COMMON SANDPIPERS,GREY HERON,MALE RUFF...

Whilst from us at home here at Kaliviani...Barn Owl....Goldfinch....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Crested Lark....Great Tit....Hooded Crow....Northern Wheatear....Kestrel 4, being harrassed by H. Crows....Raven....Woodchat Shrike 3....Griffon Vulture 1+4+1....Black-eared Wheatear 1.... Collared Dove....Rock Dove....Sardinian Warbler....Lesser Grey Shrike 1....       Scops Owl.

We had a long look at the four kestrel in the hope of lesser's but they were not to be.

                                  Black-eared Wheatear....Oenanthe hispanica

               

       

Todays highlight was the sudden appearance right overhead of a Golden Eagle, after a morning scanning the horizons for raptors where from and why does one always appear from nowhere and also at not to great a height , a grab for the camera gave a picture of a fast disappearing bird !!!

                                        Golden Eagle....Aquila chrysaetos

 

         

24th August 2011

Weather....0900....29.5oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 0-3.5 E, later N, 4 gusting to 7.7m/s ....1015mb.... Noon temp 30.9oC

Todays species......Hoodedd Crow 14....Great Tit 3....Blue Tit 2....Woodchat Shrike 3....Bee-eater 6....Common Buzzard 3....Peregrine Falcon 1....Raven 100+ south ridges soaring together....Northern Wheatear 1....Black-eared Wheatear 1...Italian Sparrow....Eleonora's Falcon 5....Bonelli's Eagle 1 juv....Barn Swallow....Crested Lark....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Cory's Shearwater 30-40....Yellow-legged Gull 3....Goldfinch....Griffon vulture 3 distant over southern ridges....Blackbird 2....Spanish Sparrow 50+....Sardinian Warbler 2

Our Hooded Crow numbers slowly increasing , a wonderful sighting as 100+ Ravens gather over the ridges to the south of us and we are woken to the call of the Bee-eater again. Later looking out over the bay its good to once again spot lots of Cory's Sheatwater busily feeding.

                        Pale throated Black-eared Wheatear ....Oenanthe hispanica

               

           

                                         Hooded Crow ....Corvus cornix  

                

Some news from Alan and Margaret from the last three days......

21st...Just back from a short, but very productive visit to a quiet beach between Kavros and Petres.  Birds seen include glossy ibis, grey heron, little egret, squacco heron, redshank, common sandpiper, little stint, and my first Crete turnstones

22nd....Margaret and I re-visited the beach beyond Kavros this afternoon.  Fewer species today - a couple of common sandpipers, three little-ringed plovers, singles of grey heron and little egret.  Then we found the turnstones again - five in all, busily working the stony beach.  Finally we had our first whimbrel since the one at Moronis years ago.  Flying fast around the bay, mainly distant, until it came in much closer (photo), before coming right over our heads at about 20 metres.  A good hour spent with an opportunity to photograph a small clump of sea daffodil too.

During the day and early evening we have seen at least eight red-backed shrikes; a mixture of adult and juvenile.   Lastly, a woodchat presented itself.  This was first we have noticed with large pale grey areas on the mantle back, and now realise we have possibly never seen an adult female.  Seems unlikely, but the grey areas were a first for us.

23rd....A few images from yesterday.  Margaret's accompanying me for another look at the beach this evening.

There were six turnstones in all  - I think all juvenile.  The redshanks were an interesting display - as you can see, there's one upside down!  Distant sightings of what I thought were little stints, turned out to be common sandpipers.  One of my shots also included a sandwich tern.  There was just one glossy amongst about ten squacco - unfortunately those shots were against the sun.
                                         9 Images by and © Alan Hargrave                                               

                                      Glossy Ibis.....Plegadis falcinellus silhouette
                           
                                          Glossy Ibis and 5 Squacco Heron                                                                       Could they be the five that passed by kissamos on the 18th ??

                           

                 Redshank ....Tringa totanus note the bottom right bird in inverted flight 

   

                                   Wimbrel ....Numenius phaeopus    near kavros

           

                                      Turnstones .....Arenaria interpres

             

 

              

                     

                                     Sea Daffodil....Pancratium maritimum

              

23rd August 2011

Weather....0900....29.0oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 3-4.6m/s NE....1018mb Noon temp 30.1oC

Highlights of the day....Our first sighting of Loggerhead Turtle....carreta carretta from the house, a large adult was sighted at 5pm about 100 metres offshore whilst we were watching good numbers of Cory's Shearwater, six groups, maxmum flock numbers 20, feeding across the bay with singles coming close to the beach, these are the largest numbers we have seen from home. Bee-eater, Turtle Dove and Hoopoe moving through.

Species List....Lesser Grey Shrike 1....Woodchat Shrike 3....Spanish Sparrow 50+....Crested Lark 20+....Common Buzzard 3....Sardinian Warbler 3....Raven 30-40+....Italian Sparrow 20+....Barn Swallow 5....Stonechat 1....Kestrel 1....Griffon Vulture 11+2....Rock Dove ....Bee-eater 4....Turtle Dove 2.... Collared Dove 4....Hoopoe 1....Great Tit 3....Cory's Shearwater aprrox 60....Yellow-legged Gull 1....Goldfinch 20+

Loggerhead Turtle 1.... Wall Lizard 4....Grayling and Scarce Swallowtail butterflies

22nd August 2011

Weather....0900....28.4oC....Cloud 40%....Visibility 12 miles....Wind 0.3 gusting to 7.1m/s NE to E.... 1015mb Noon temp 31.1oC

First black Kite of the autumn migration flies with several Common Buzzard heading south, fairly high.

An adult Bonelli's Eagle sighted a short way north of the house gave good views, and the Lesser grey shrikes are still present.

Species list ....Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler....Hooded Crow....Rock Dove....Crested lark....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow 100+ flock....Woodchat Shrike 2....Stonechat.... Common Buzzard 11....Griffon Vulture 2+5 flying high off Gramvousa....Raven....Black Kite.... Bonelli's Eagle....Goldfinch....Lesser Grey Shrike....Eleonora's Falcon

21st August 2011

Weather....0900....29.2oC....Cloud 0%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 2.2-4.6m/s N....1015mb  Noon temp 32.3oC

We were hoping to spot a few migrating raptors today the winds seemed favourable but we were out of luck, best sighting of the day Lesser Grey shrike of which we had two, taking insects from the nearby fences , they stayed all day and gave great views along with the Woodchat Shrike.

 Species.... Raven 8....Griffon Vulture 6....Woodchat Shrike 3....Sardinian Warbler....Eleonora's Falcon 4....Barn Swallow 24....Lesser Grey Shrike 2....Common Buzzard 2....Hooded Crow....Goldfinch....Rock Dove....Great Tit....Collared Dove....Crested lark....Italian Sparrow....Spanish Sparrow....Kestrel.

 

                    The first Lesser Grey Shrike....Lanius minor  gave fantastic views

               

                  

               Woodchat Shrike.....Lanius senator  same individual, different perches

                        

                        

                                The other lesser Grey Shrike....Lanius minor

         

                                    Thanks to Nikos for the ID on this insect, its a

                                       Red Assasin Bug...Rhinocoris iracundus

           

                        Nikos weekend pictures from the eastern end of the island

                                        4 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                         Little Stint....Calidris minuta at Elouda   

              

                                      Little Egret....Egretta garzetta   at Elouda

              

 Exceptional views can be obtained from the National Road at Selinari Gorge of the resident  Griffon Vultures....Gyps fulvus                                 

           

                                      Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae  at Sitia

               

20th August 2011

Weather....0900....27.6oC....Cloud 5%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 4 gusting to 10.6m/s  N 1016mb   Noon temp 30.1oC

 A very quiet day with really strong winds, the only thing to note was 6 Griffon Vultures really low over the house heading onto Gramvousa, as we were working out front of the house they took us by surprise so no pics today !!!

Species list....Raven....Woodchat Shrike....Griffon Vulture....Eleonora's Falcon....Goldfinch....Sardinian Warbler....Italian Sparrow....Collared Dove....Crested Lark. Peregrine Falcon....Rock Dove 

19th August 2011

Weather....0900....30.0oC....Cloud 1%....Visibility 20 miles....Wind 4m/s gusting to 9.6m/s N 1017mb   Noon temp 31.2oC

Moderate winds this morning sgave some new autumn migrants....  Several large flocks 30+ Spanish Sparrow, a possible harrier and Aquila were seen briefly, we are unable to offer a positive I.D but have a feeling the Harrier was a Marsh and the aquila a Lesser Spotted Eagle. The juv Bonelli's Eagle appeared twice and a group of 5 griffons made several appearances. A Peregrine Falcon was spotted numerous times chasing the Rock Doves without any success and Eleonora's Falcons.

Todays species....Hooded Crow....Raven....Goldfinch....Italian Sparrow....Common Buzzard....Eleonora's Falcon....Kestrel....Griffon Vulture....Spanish Sparrow....Bonelli's Eagle....Peregrine Falcon....Woodchat Shrike....Crested Lark....Rock Dove....Collared Dove Blackbird....Sardinian Warbler....Turtle Dove

                                        Griffon Vulture....Gyps fulvus

                 1and 2 same bird, 3 another of the 5 that flew close to the house

               

            

            

                           Yet another Common Buzzard ....Buteo buteo

             

                                                   Raven....Corvus corax

                  

 

From Alan....

The are flocks of birds which spend time endlessly flying low over the water in Almyros Bay, Georgioupoli. The first "batch" arrived yesterday, flying low, then settling on the water flying again, and so on.  They are further out to sea than I would like! - and hence I'm having difficulty identifying them, or even guessing.  One photo from yesterday may suggest pintail, but could they be garganey, gadwall, or even shearwater???  
We will monitor over the next few days to see if we get clearer , and closer, views.

In the meantime, any guesses from anyone? Is there anyone in the vicinity with a good scope who could enlighten us ?

Went to Agia yesterday for sunrise - attached image of Geese and little grebe is the only record of my visit. 

 

It was interrupted by a big dog (doberman cross?) barking and making its presence felt - I was nuzzled constantly.  Only stayed 20 minutes, but saw three little stints,
two kingfishers, female little bittern, and first grey wagtail since last winter.

                      Last image a female chaffinch coming to a bowl for a drink  

          

18th August 2011

OK a favour.....

Since October 2010 we have had over 2700 visit from 46 countries to this site.

If those visitors each signed and passed on the link below to the preservation of the Amazon in Brazil, we could make a difference....

In two days, threatened indigenous people will lead tens of thousands on the streets of Brazil in a massive call to Save the Amazon.

New changes to Brazil's forest laws could open large parts of the Amazon to complete destruction, but a strong global outcry now could make a difference and persuade President Dilma to veto the changes.

Over 1,108,000 of us have joined the global campaign -- lets reach one and a half million now. Sign the petition below and send this to everyone -- our numbers will be boldly displayed on banners at the front of the march.

                      Please copy and paste the link below into your browser

                      http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_amazon_a/96.php

                                                    THANK YOU

 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Weather....0900....30.6oC....Cloud 0....Visibility 18 miles....Wind 0.6 increasing to 4.5 occasionally gusting 9.4m/s N ...1015mb   Noon temp 29.8oC

We kept a good eye on the sea today, its around this time that we start seeing Egrets etc passing through, we were not disappointed At 12pm we spotted 40+ Little Egret moving south, they went straight over the harbour and towards Kissamos. A litttle later we watched a small group of 5 Squacco Herons as they circled low over the bay, they were there for about an hour before we lost them as they moved towards Rhodapou. Other migrants, a few pairs of Turtle Dove passed through, some resting near the house before resuming their move south.

We will be on the look out for Black Kite, Booted Eagle  and Honey Buzzard, all should be passing through about next week.

Of note there were no sightings of Woodchat Shrike today, they are usually close to the house taking out the cicadas !

Todays species....Hooded Crow....Crested Lark....Sardinian Warbler....Alpine Swift....Common Buzzard 3....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Black-eared Wheatear....Northern Wheatear....Turtle Dove....Little Egret 40+....Stonechat....Squacco Heron 5....Goldfinch.... Raven 20+....Italian Sparrow....Barn Swallow....Scops Owl ,,,,   Cat Snake

17th August 2011

Weather....0900....31.2oC....Cloud 0....Visibility 18 miles....Wind 3.8m/s N ...1013mb   Noon temp 30.8oC

Highlight today was a Pallid Swift ( the first definate seen from the house) taking on an Eleonora's Falcon.

Other species....Hooded Crow....Great Tit....Sardinian Warbler....Rock Dove....Alpine Swift 20+....Barn Swallow....Common Buzzard 6.... Woodchat Shrike 1....Raven 20+....Kestrel 2....Crested Lark 20+....Eleonora's Falcon....Pallid Swift....Swift....Italian Sparrow....scops Owl....Barn Owl

           Pallid Swift ....Apus pallidus, braving it with Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae  

             

                             dark phase Eleonora's Falcon ....Falco eleonorae

                

16th August 2011

Weather....0900....30.4oC....Cloud 0....Visibility 18 miles....Wind 0....1014mb....Noon temp32.6oC

Little about today, most of the usual species...Great Tit....Hooded Crow....Black-eared Wheatear....Red-rumped Swallow....Woodchat Shrike....Sardinian Warbler....Barn Swallow....Collared Dove....Goldfinch....Rock Dove....Eleonora's Falcon....Alpine Swift....Raven....Peregrine Falcon....Common Buzzard....Cory's Shearwater....Kestrel....Northern Wheatear....Scops Owl.

                                              yet another Buteo !!!

           

 

Nikos did not make Gigilos.....I DIDN'T DO GIGILOS AFTER ALL..WALKED SKALOTI GORGE (NORTHEAST OF FRANGOCASTELLO) INSTEAD... KESTREL, CHUKARS, PEREGRINE, GRIFFONS BUT NO GOOD PICS .

And from Alan.....  

We are getting daily visits to the garden by olivaceous warblers - two images attached are an improvement on previous ones.  

A single tawny pipit at Drapanos Head today - an otherwise unproductive trip there.

At the Viewpoint yesterday we had our first kingfisher arrival.  These were scarce earlier this year.  Also two garganey present, which may be the same two (not a pair?)  that were there throughout May.

3 images by and © Alan Hargrave

                                      Olivaceous Warbler....Hippolais pallida

                  

                

                                              Garganey....Anus querquedula

                  

15th August 2011

Weather....0900....30.6oC....Cloud 0....visibility 20 miles....wind, 0-2.6m/s N....1113mb Noon temp, 31.3oC   

Twenty nine species from the house today, the highlights were a Golden Eagle  seen over the ridges of Gramvousa at 0845. Our first Red-backed Shrike of the year, 4 Cory's Shearwater, 40+ Raven fly over the house after watching them gather inland, they headed our way and onto Gramvousa. Alpine Swift in large numbers again coming close. At about 530pm, 2 Hoopoe shot past the front balcony heading south.

Todays list....Sardinian Warbler....Chaffinch....Eleonora's falcon 6....Hooded Crow 9.    Common Buzzard 4....Rock Dove 20+....Golden Eagle 1....Woodchat shrike 4....Alpine Swift 60+....Barn Swallow 20+....Swift 7....Great Tit 4.... House Martin 3....Kestrel 2.... Red-backed Shrike 1...Yellow-legged Gull 2....Red-rumped Swallow 2....Crested Lark 15+    Raven 40+....Griffon Vulture 4....Goldfinch 30+....Cory's Shearwater 4....Hoopoe 2.... Collared Dove 2....Stonechat 1....Black-eared Wheatear 2....Northern Wheatear 1....       Scops owl.... Barn Owl

                                      Golden Eagle....Aquila chrysaetos

         

                                         Eleonora's Falcon....Falco eleonorae

            

                                              Alpine Swift....Apus melba

             

      

     

 

                                         Red-backed Shrike....Lanius collurio

                          

                                             Stonechat....Saxicola torquata

                           

                                                                Darter

                            

14th August 2011

Weather....0900....28.7oC.... Cloud 0%....visibility 20 miles ....Wind 1-2m/s NE 1012mb.... Noon temp 29.4oC

Bee-eaters were once again present around the house on several occasions throughout the day, incredibly close at times but if they spotted us they moved away.

Woodchat Shrike 4 adult 1 juv....Hooded Crow....Italian Sparrow....Goldfinch....              Common Buzzard....Black-eared Wheatear....Eleonora's Falcon 4....Griffon Vulture 7....   Kestrel 1....Barn Swallow....House Martin....Greenfinch....Raven 60+....Chaffinch....Great Tit Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Peregrine Falcon....Bee-eater....Scops Owl....Barn Owl....    


Cretan Hare... an unusual in the day  was seen running along a low stone wall north of the house.

We have also added a report from Nikos at the end of yesterdays report

 

                                                  Merops apiaster

                         

Sorry for yet another Buteo shot but they are a beautiful bird, always present and come really close, I can't resist another picture, and every one has a different plumage

       

                       Anacridium aegyptium was feeding on yellow hibiscus flowers

               

13th August 2011

Weather....0900....28.4oC.... cloud 1%....visibility 20 miles ....Wind E 0-4.2m/s E.... 1011mb Noon temp 29.4oC

The highlight so far today.... the eight Bee-eaters are still present and were flying close to the front veranda this morning, I arrived with the camera just too late as they flew over the house and towards Falasarna.!

Sardinian Warbler....Hooded Crow....Bee-eater 8....Stonechat....Black-eared Wheatear.... Woodchat Shrike....Raven....Common Buzzard....Italian Sparrow....House Sparrow....

ON SUNDAY MORNING NIKOS WILL WALK THE PATH TO GIGILOS..

Fingers crossed for good weather , bird sightings and photos....take care up there both you !!

For those that do not know Gigilos, it's the high peak opposite the entrance to Samaria Gorge, there is a path which climbs above the higher of the two tavernas then drops across the scree to the other side of the gorge with another climb to the exposed peak, where stunning all round views are possible.

Thats the news up to noon, later we had a close pass by of the juvenile Bonelli's Eagle, perhaps 100 metres off and slighly higher than the house, it flew with the rocks screening it, so only managed a picture as it gained height and flew onto Gramvousa.

Other species were.... Crested Lark....Barn Swallow....Goldfinch....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Yellow-legged Gull....Greenfinch....Griffon Vulture 2

                                                 Oenanthe hispanica

             

                                                         Buteo buteo

       

                 

                                                          Aquila fasciata

          

 A report from Nikos....

AT AGYIA JUST THE SAME, NOTHING AT MORONIS, BUT TAVRONITIS BETTER THAN USUAL...THE END OF THE BREEDING SEASON GAVE 20+ L.R.PLOVERS - ADULTS AND JUVENILES..SPOTTED REDSHANK,WOOD SANDPIPER AND A PURPLE HERON ALSO SEEN...             

 A couple of images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                    Ardea purpurea

        

                                                   Ochlodes venatus

               

12th August 2011

Weather....0900....27.6oC.... Cloud 40%....visibility 20 miles ....Wind  0-1.2m/s NE 1014mb.... Noon temp 27.0oC

Raven 20+ headed onto Gramvousa....Common Buzzard....Goldfinch....Eleonora's Falcon....Hooded Crow....Rock Dove....kestrel....Italian Sparrow....Black-eared Wheatear.... Collared Dove....Bee-eater (heard)....Yellow-legged Gull....Barn owl....Scops Owl


MANOS AND TASOS VISITED AGYIA AND SAW CROWS MOBBING A PASSING ROLLER!

11th August 2011

Weather...0900....26.8oC....Cloud 100%....Visibility 4 miles....Wind 4-6.5m/s NE ....1011mb

Noon temp 26.4oC. There was some light rain in the afternoon to the east of us in the Gorgopouli area

Due to the weather conditions we did little birding, of note 12 Griffon Vulture were  seen over Gramvousa high ridges

10th August 2011

Weather....0900....29.7oC.... cloud 0....visibility 6 miles ....Wind E 0-1.2m/s.... 1010mb Noon temp 31.8oC 

Bee-eaters were heard in the morning and the same eight  were again seen at yesterdays location at 8pm. Our family of Woodchat Shrike are now all feeding for themselves one occasionally chasing an adult for food. A Barn Owl flew very close to the front veranda, calling as it passed at 9pm.

Work around the house kept us at home again so another Kaliviani list....

Great Tit....Rock Dove.... Common Buzzard....Italian Sparrow....Peregrine Falcon....Alpine Swift....Kestrel....Bee-eater....Woodchat Shrike....Greenfinch....Barn Swallow.... Raven.... Hooded Crow....Eleonora's Falcon....Crested Lark....Goldfinch....Stonechat....Northern Wheatear....Black-eared Wheatear....Barn Owl....Scops Owl

                                                  Oenanthe hispanica

          

                                               Lanius senator juvenile  

              

9th August 2011

Weather...0900....27.7oC....cloud 0....visibility 20 miles....wind E later N 3-4m/s....1012mb
Noon temp, 31.1oC

Todays highlights......large numbers of Alpine Swift hunting around and close to the house for most of the morning. An Eleonora's falcon chasing a probable crested lark which managed to evade capture and tonight at 8pm a small flock of 8 Bee-eaters came in off the sea, fed for a short while before choosing a large nearby tree to roost in, hopefully we will get to hear them in the morning before the cicadas drown out all birdsong.

Todays home list from Kaliviani ....

Hooded Crow 8....Raven 3....Eleonora's Falcon 3....Goldfinch....Sardinian Warbler 1 Woodchat Shrike 3....Great Tit 4....Common Buzzard 3 ....Barn Swallow 8....Greenfinch 2..Swift               Alpine Swift 50+....House Martin 14....Red-rumped Swallow 3....Griffon Vulture 9.... Crested Lark 20+.... Bee-eater 8....Hoopoe 1....Collared Dove....Northern Wheatear 1....Stonechat 1 Italian Sparrow....Scops owl....Barn Owl

 

                A few shots of the Apus melba hunting around the house today

 

            

           

             

                        Buteo buteo two of our local birds enjoying the strong winds

           

         

                                Falco eleonorae after unsuccessful chase of lark

    

             

NEWS FOM ALAN .......

The following seven images by and © Alan Hargrave

Had a day at home today, but managed a few images I can share with you.


Early today we had a male blackcap with a party of young house sparrows, and then another visit by an olivaceous warbler.  It came a few days ago, but photos were all from behind - these are a little better. 

                                                     Hippolais pallida

                   

                   

 Apart from two meadow pipits in the olive grove opposite, not much happened then until evening, when five turtle doves landed in a tree opposite the house.  Unfortunately, they moved on immediately when a truck went by playing loud music!

This evening the wind dropped and it became very humid.  Insects were low and the hirundines were out in force.  Around the house we had both swallows and house martins in varying numbers, and a couple of alpine swifts at dusk.  What we hadn't witnessed before were swallows landing on our mulberry trees and feeding on insects there.  Both barn and red-rumped did this.

                                                     Hirundo daurica

                          

                                                      Delichon urbica

                           

                                                    Hirundo rustica

                    

 Finally, we found Egyptian grasshopper nymphs in the garden today - brown and green varieties.

                                                    Anacridium aegyptium

                     

                    

8th August 2011

Weather....0900....30.2oC.... cloud 0....visibility 20 miles (horizon)....Wind N, 3 gusting 7m/s 1011mb ....Noon temp 32.9oC

Nothing much of note today a few species from Kaliviani .....

 Common Buzzard 2....Goldfinch 6....Woodchat shrike 3....Eleonora's Falcon 2....Collared Dove 1....Rock Dove 6....Hooded Crow 6....Red-rumped Swallow 1.... Raven 3....Kestrel 1 Swift 2....Yellow-legged Gull 2juv....Crested lark....Italian Sparrow....Scops Owl....Barn Owl....

A young weasel perhaps half the size of an adult was seen in our courtyard garden.

At 0830 we left for a look at Agyia ....

Pochard 1....Little Grebe....Coot....Moorhen....Squacco Heron 1....Wood Sandpiper 3 Greenshank 1.... Common buzzard 1....Eleonora's Falcon 2....Italian Sparrow....House Sparrow....Collared Dove....

No photos today, hopefully more tomorrow.

7th August 2011

Weather....0900....28.2oC.... cloud 0....visibility 20 miles (horizon)....Wind E, 3 gusting 6m/s....1015mb ....Noon temp 32.5oC

A good day today with Nikos spending most of the day with us, we notch up 25 species and all from the front veranda....

We had seven species of raptor,a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle made an appearance on three occasions, and a distant (2km) Lammergeier twice.

Just after lunch a large shadow passed by, we were amazed to find two Griffon Vultures heading for the house and very low, with another higher which had cast the shadow, if we had not been there they may just have landed on the roof !! 

The last bird of the day at 820pm ( apart from the owls ) a Hoopoe flying south fast off Gramvousa was a nice sighting, we do not see many in the summer here at Kaliviani.

Species for the day......

Common Buzzard 5....Barn Swallow....Hooded Crow....Crested lark....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Raven 14.....Griffon Vulture 3+5+1+3....Woodchat Shrike....Bonelli's Eagle.... Eleonora's Falcon....Crag Martin....Kestrel....Goldfinch....Lammergeier....Peregrine Falcon....Greenfinch....Turtle Dove (seen by Nikos)....Great Tit....Stonechat....Italian Sparrow Northern Wheatear....Hoopoe....Scops Owl....Barn Owl.

 

                                   The lovely fresh juvenile Aquila fasciata

      

      When the local buzzards are high and noisy we usually find a larger raptor nearby  

          

       

          

                                                      Falco eleonorae                                                    

            

                                          Gyps fulvus heading for the house

               

            

         

                           Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus ,above the ridges at 2km

        

                                               Cropped from above image

            

6th August 2011

Weather....0900....29.9oC.... cloud 0....visibility 20 miles (horizon)....Wind NE, 3-6m/s....1015mb ....Noon temp 32.7oC

 Todays bird list from Kaliviani....

Common Buzzard 4....Great Tit....Eleonora's Falcon....Kestrel 2....Griffon Vulture 12....Rock Dove....Collared Dove....Hooded Crow....Barn Swallow....Woodchat Shrike....Red-rumped Swallow....Bonelli's Eagle 1 juv....Turtle Dove 2....Crested Lark....Black-eared Wheatear.... Stonechat....Scops Owl.

No bird images today we had a hunt for insects in the garden instead

                                                      Tylopsis liliifolia

               

                                                Nymphal skin of Cicada orni

                

                                                         Ameles decolor    

                

5th August 2011

Weather....0900....29.1oC.... cloud 0....visibility 20 miles (horizon)....Wind N, 2.3m/s....1014mb ....Noon temp 30.1oC

Todays Kaliviani list.... Great Tit 3....Italian Sparrow 20+....Goldfinch 5....Common Buzzard 4....Swift 10+....Raven 3....Barn Swallow 20+....Eleonora's Falcom 5....Chaffinch 1....Greenfinch 2....Stonechat 1....Rock Dove 20+....Alpine Swift 100+....Woodchat Shrike 5 Red-rumped Swallow 2....Crested Lark 10+....Collared Dove 2....Northern Wheatear 1 juv.... Peregrine Falcon 1....Blackbird....Scops Owl

Todays highlights, the groups of swifts and swallows hunting around the area and a party of five Woodchat Shrikes (3 juv and 2 adults ) that kept us entertained for a few hours, the parent birds catching cicadas and passing them onto the young.

                                                          Apus melba                                                

          

                                 Three of the Buteo buteo over the house today

              

      

          

                                         Adult and juvenile Lanius senator                                           

  The parent flew to one youngster then promptly took off and gave the cicada to its sibling !!

                      

              

                   

                                                   Another unknown coccon

                             

                                                      Anacridium aegyptium

                

                                                ??? Misumena vatia  female

                   

                                             Ameles spallanzania female

               

4th August 2011

Weather.....0900....28.1oC: Scattered cloud: visibility 15-20 miles: 1015mb: wind N 3-4 Beaufort. Noon temp 29.7oC.

Local Common Buzzard seen nearby flying with large snake (probably a Balkan Whip snake) which was taken to the same ledge that the bat was eaten on a few nights ago !!

Other sightings, Sardinian Warbler....Great Tit.... Crested Lark....Elenora's Falcon 0845-throughout the day, 5 sightings....Peregrine Falcon 2....Rock Dove....Hooded Crow....Raven 2....Common Buzzard 3....Griffon Vulture 3....Collared Dove.... Goldfinch....  Woodchat Shrike 1 male... Blackbird....Stonechat 2 male....Scops Owl ....and a Weasel, lots of Scarce Swallowtails about today along with a few Hummingbird Hawkmoths. 

                            Gyps fulvus over the house, heading onto peninsula

     

                             Worn looking Gyps fulvus as it heads onto Gramvousa

         

                              Gyps fulvus and Corus corax flying north onto Gramvousa

         

                               Not too good a picture of todays Falco peregrinus

          

                                                  Buteo buteo with snake

 

                       About the size of a golfball, some sort of wasp cocoon maybe !!

              

 News from Alan and Margaret from Agyia yesterday also there a male Little Bittern and a light and dark phase Eleonora's Falcon.

Picture of one of the Eleonora's Falcons hovering over the lake at Agyia, by and © Alan Hargrave.

                           

From Nikos.....

ADD TO AGYIA: NIGHT HERON,SQUACCO HERON, GREY HERON, GARGANEY, WOOD AND COMMON SANDPIPERS,GREENSHANK,GLOSSY IBIS, POCHARD,BUZZARD,ELEONORA'S, MALLARD, GREBE,COOT,MOORHEN,GULL...OH! MANOS HAS A PIC FROM YESTERDAY OF TWO ELEONORA'S GOING AFTER A BLUE-WHITE BUDGERIGAR...IT ESCAPED!

3rd August 2011

Weather....0900hrs... 28oC...Scattered cloud...visibility 20 miles....wind 3B East....1015mb

Good numbers of Eleonora's Falcon hunting nearby and Griffon vultures again today...

Kaliviani list....Kestrel 2 at 0815...Rock Dove 20+....Eleonora's Falcon 6 between 0800-1030 both light and dark morphed and juveniles....Peregrine Falcon 1030...Hooded Crow....Common Buzzard 4 at 0945.... Griffon Vulture 5 over the house at 1025....raven 2 at 1030....Goldfinch....Barn swallow....Crested lark....Sardinian Warbler....Collared Dove....Italian Sparrow....Yellow-legged Gull 1....Scops Owl

                                      All images today are from the house

                                              Falco Eleonorae juvenile

 

                                        Falco Eleonorae adult light morph

    

                                         Falco Eleonorae  adult dark morph

        

                                    Falco  Eleonorae adult light morph

 

                                                           Buteo buteo

      

                                                         Corvus corax

       

                                                        Gyps fulvus

       

                                                    Columba livia

      

News from Alan about the Gorgopoli Pelican and a short report ....

 
We had a large flock migrating through here last Friday (29th). Although they were about 2kms from the house, my photo has between 800 and 1,000 birds in it.  Identification not confirmed, but believe they were probably pintails.

Had a drive out on Sunday late afternoon (31st) and found an ortolan among small flock of linnets and goldfinches feeding on seed heads near Asfendou. Further on, we stopped at road's highest point. Margaret noticed a big bird gliding along a ridge high above us. Before we could identify,it landed. It stayed perched and I managed some distant pics - it was a Bonelli's Eagle, all previous sightings have been in-flight, so pleased with this even though quality is iffy.

                                         Image by and © Alan Hargrave

                                                     Aquila fasciata

                        

Our pelican news was very distressing. We heard about it three days after the event, so, second hand, we can only relay what we were told. A few local youths, worse the wear for drink, poured raki into the bird, before breaking its bill  (or wing?), and kicking it. Believe a leg was broken too. Understand this was all witnessed by a local fisherman - not sure if he was on hand to intervene or not.  As far as we have been told, the youths are not being prosecuted, but a local Dutch lady is "taking up the case".

As disgusting as these act were, the pelican had recently gained confidence with "the village", and was often seen flying low along narrow streets, landing in front of cars and people - it would have been an accident waiting to happen.  Not sure what the attraction was with the village itself, as only the fishermen along the quayside fed it.  A sorry story.

Can't wait for autumn migration to get going.......

                                     

                        

The latest news on the Pelican from Viv......

I thought you might be interested in the extract below from "Avrio" and the details given for Helen's blog about Apokoronous politics and events.
Helen blogs that 'Christina' (as the vets have enlightened everybody that the pelican is a girl!) is doing well and is likely to be released in northern Greece.
It was not very nice to hear of something like this. The pelican gave a lot of people simple pleasure.
Viv
 
Extract:
‘Christos’ the Pelican
Those of you who have visited Georgioupolis will no doubt have come across Christos the pelican, who brought a touch of the exotic to the village.
Unbelievably, Christos was attacked last weekend and seriously injured.
He is now recovering in "Alkioni", the Aegean wildlife hospital on the island
of Paros.
You can read more about this story on Helen Peters-Papadogianni’s blog: dated Monday 21st onwards

http//www.apokoronasourhome.blogspot.com

Thanks to both Viv and Alan for the update, lets hope that "Christina" makes a full recovery and enjoys a better life in northern Greece.

Meanwhile Nikos reports that Manos has sighted a Glossy Ibis at Agyia today.

2nd August 2011

Weather.....0900....32.6oC: Scattered cloud: visibility 20 miles: 1013mb: wind 0 increased to 3 Beaufort.

Although distant over Gramvousa todays highlight, 3 Bonelli's Eagles displayed over the high ridges for some ten minutes.

Hooded Crow 6, Raven 5, Sardinian Warbler 3, Italian Sparrow, Rock dove, Eleonora's Falcon 2, Peregrine Falcon 1, Griffon Vulture at various times 4+ 2+7, Common Buzzard 2, Barn Swallow 3, Goldfinch 9, Crested Lark 20+, Collared Dove 2.

News as it happens ...just finishing this evenings news at 2030hrs and Sue spotted a small bat fly off from nearby roost, I was just going for the camera as there is just enough light to catch a picture and out of nowhere our resident peregrine Falcon swooped in and caught the bat, taking it to a nearby ledge to be dispatched, leaving us speechless we just looked at each other before Sue spoke....."too slow with the camera again then " !! and Scops Owls are now calling as darkness falls on another day.

 

1st August 2011

Our first day of semi birding after several months away, we managed some images !

Todays sightings from house,Kaliviani.... Common Buzzard 5, Collared Dove 2 , Rock Dove 10+, Crested lark 30+, Goldfinch 20+, Great Tit 3, Blackbird 1, Hooded Crow 2, Italian sparrow flock of 50+, Northern Wheatear 1, 1 adult and 3 juv.Woodchat Shrike, Eleonora's Falcon 2 dark morph, one with full crop had been hunting birds, Crag Martin 50+, Swift 50+, Alpine swift 50+, Greenfinch 3, Stonechat 1 juv, Peregrine Falcon 1, Raven 2,  Sardinian Warbler 2, Scops Owl several heard.

Some of our images from today......

                                                Juvenile Lanius senator

              

                                                        Falco eleonorae

        

                                    One of our local resident Buteo buteo

           

                                                  Juv.Saxicola torquata

              

 

Birds seen from house yesterday ...Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Eleonora's Falcon, stonechat, Rock dove, Crested lark, Yellow-legged Gull, Italian Sparrow, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Raven, Black-eared Wheatear, Hooded Crow, Barn Owl, Scops Owl.

News from Nikos...

DID AGYIA YESTERDAY BUT NO BIRD PICS...
ELEONORA'S, POCHARD, MALLARD, GREY HERON, SQUACCO, COMMON AND WOOD SANDPIPER AND THE FIRST KINGFISHER SEEN !

SATURDAY........

LARGE AREA BURNED DOWN BETWEEN KEDROS AND SIDERONTAS MOUNTAINS EAST OF PREVELI..MOSTLY LOW BUSH AND OLIVES... COPTER PUTTING OUT THE LAST FLAMING BARKS...

                      

 

 

BAD NEWS FOR GEORGIOUPOLIS PELICAN...VLACHOS TOLD ME THEY TOOK THE BIRD IN ATHENS FOR TREATMENT...DON'T KNOW MORE...

MORE BAD NEWS FROM SAKOULIS...GOLDEN EAGLE HAD WIND TURBINE ACCIDENT AT APOPIGADI AREA NORTH OF SOUGIA...STATE UNKNOWN...

                                                Columba palumbus

       

                                              Streptopelia turtur

       

                                A rather nice image with a difference of a Cicada

                         

 

4th July 2011

2 images by and © Alan Hargrave

                                                             Cicada

                 

                                    Scarce Swallowtail.....Iphiclides podialirius

       

15th July 2011

SPENT AN HOUR AT AGYIA YESTERDAY...LAKE JUST RECENTLY STOPPED OVERFLOWING...
BUZZARD,ELEONORA'S,SQUACCO,2 WOOD SANDPIPERS,COMMON POCHARD PAIR(!) ETC...

2 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                         Hirundo rustica feeding young at Agyia

   

   

 

16th July 2011

A warm welcome to our newest site member Iko from Israel, thank you for joining, glad that you found us and we hope you enjoy the site.

We will be adding a further album in the gallery section shortly to enable outside contributors to add their own images from Crete, these will be in keeping with the site and limited to the wildlife of the island.

Another section opening will be trip reports and birding lists from those visiting the island, so if you wish to contribute then please email us, The Hellenic Ornithological Society logs into the site and all information will be of great help to their records.

All contributions will be credited accordingly. If you have any records from your trips we would love to hear from you....  

More news from Nikos...............JUST RETURNED FROM LAFONISI...A LOT OF PEOPLE,GULLS AND LARKS...ON THE SHORELINE - BESIDES RED CORAL SAND- YOU COULD SEE MILLIONS OF WASHED OUT BUGS OR PERHAPS ZOOPLANCTON..THOSE IN TURN ATTRACTED FISH...I ATTACH A FEW PICS...

4 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis 

  

 

 

8th July 2011

 A mid week report from Alan.......

Margaret and I visited Omalos and Agia yesterday [7th]. Fairly hot here now, but at Omalos an acceptable 26c. No birds worth mentioning there until we took the road past the pools where we encountered a flock of c30 red-billed choughs. We haven't seen them on the plateau in high summer before, but some were juveniles being fed by parents near the water's edge, with one bird drinking next to the single yellow-legged gull there. In the same area, a juvenile whinchat posed for us, and a tawny pipit likewise.

 At Agia we saw the little grebe by its nest revealing one egg. A small flock of c15 wood sandpipers flew around the lake and settled on the far side. Finally, many dragonflies seen at close range, including the good-looking violet dropwing male. Some pictures attached.

7 images by and © Alan Hargrave

                               Tachybaptus ruficollis, near its nest

       

                                                  Anthus campestris

                    

                                                    Violet Dropwing

            

                                                Juvenile Saxicola rubetra

                       

                                                     Tringa glareola

                                                    Pyrrhocorax pyrrocorax

     

                                  Pyrrhocorax pyrrocorax and  Larus cachinnans

3rd July 2011

Nikos news today from  Agyia.....

SAW A FLOCK OF 120 WOOD SANDPIPERS ..THEY CIRCLED FOR SOME TIME BUT FOUND NO SAFE DRY LAND...WATER LEVEL STILL HIGH AND RESERVOIR OVERFLOWING...THEN THE FLOCK SPLIT IN TWO THANKS TO A PEREGRINE'S DIVE...AND MOVED SOUTHWEST...ONE DISTANT SQUACCO TO ADD, EARLY COOTS HAVING SECOND BROOD AND GREBE'S NEST JUST NEXT TO THE PUMP STATION....
 
  4 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

            

            

            

                      

 

Saturday 2nd from Nikos in the Sfakia region..............

 3 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                CLOUDS AT ASFENDOU GORGE LOOKING SOUTH TO THE LIBYAN SEA...

     

                                                  SCOPS OWL AT ANOPOLI..

    

                                         JUVENILE SCOPS OWL AT ANOPOLI..

                   

and from Alan on the 1st................

First stop was Prassanos Gorge where a few griffons were around using the thermals. Next stop was Potamon Dam, which was "full" of yellow-legged gulls and a few dragonflies - I think they were all common darters. Finally we ate at the newly refurbished taverna at Antonis Gorge entrance (excellent food and lots of shade). A quick walk into the gorge and two nests found practically side by side - house sparrow italiae, and jackdaw. Both obliged with a photo.

6 images by and © Alan Hargrave

                                                         Gyps fulvus

     

                                                      Common Darter

    

                                              Passer domesticus ssp italiae

              

                                                        Corvus monedula

        

2nd 

There are still two glossies at the Georgioupoli Viewpoint, and couldn't resist another tree sparrow pic from our balcony.

                                                   Plegadis falcinellus  

                                                   Passer montanus

        

 

1st July 2011

A sighting of a Black Tern at Aygia on the 27th June by Viv Walker.

We went across to Lake Agias on 27th June just before coming home and it was very quiet with a big number of gulls, coots and moorhens but no squacco herons, egrets, grey herons or anything else I could see.  This tern was there.  It was quite a distance away but looked quite different to the whiskered terns that were there earlier in the year with a very
dark body, black bill and grey upper and lower wings.  I identified it as a black tern.

We also had a juvenile Blackcap visit the garden the other day......Viv.

Viv also sent in an image of a young Coot and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

 4 images by and © Viv Walker

                                        Black Tern.... Chlidonias niger

  

   

                                                        Young Moorhen

      

                                         Juvenile yellow-legged Gull at Agyia

       

29th June 2011

 Some images from Nikos taken last week at Deliana Gorge

3 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                    Cyclosa conica

     

                                                           Gyps fulvus

            

                                                      Solenopsis minuta

    

A couple of reports and some images from Alan

 25th June .....I haven't given much attention to sparrows here in Crete - they always seem to be house or Italian. Tree sparrows had only been seen at distance, until I noticed one on next door's tv aerial! I have been watching it chirping away for the last few days, and then yesterday it was joined by its mate. They both flew into a gap in the roof tiles, but didn't stay long there, so not yet sure if they are nesting. A couple of images of the bird on the aerial.     

 2 images by and © Alan hargrave

        

    

 

26th June....Word got round that "our" local white pelican has discovered the square in Georgioupoli and frequents one of the bars!

We were down there today, when the bird arrived and immediately walked towards the same bar it has been frequenting for several days now. It sits beside one of the tables, and occasionally walks into the building. It is not fazed by people around it. It arrived here nearly 3 years ago, and is "looked after" by locals, especially the fishermen. Not ideal, but it doesn't seem stressed by its suroundings and flies around locally two or three times daily. Its companion, the mute swan, appears to be on another sabbatical, like this time last year.

image by and © Alan hargrave

 

25th June 2011

This report from Alan Hargrave should have been included in the report for the 20th, unfortunately due to internet problems we have only just received it. Thank you Alan, sorry it never got online earlier ............
 
Just back from a quick look at the Georgopouli Viewpoint and water level now low. Singles of wood sandpiper and little ringed plover sighted, plus at least three of the glossy ibis still in residence. Large flock of swifts swirling around, some definitely paler, probable pallid, but no photos this time.

Yesterday evening (18th), while watering the garden, a large buzzard glided over with wings arched downwards. It came right over the house, and I had the camera to hand. Unfortunately, I forgot I had taken a picture of a butterfly an hour before, and the camera was still set on macro, when I snapped the buzzard. A blurred picture resulted - would have been my best honey buzzard picture to date! Earlier, I had taken many photos of fledgling barn swallows being fed on wires around the house. Three images below showing the next stage of feeding after the "at nest" photos a few days ago.
 
                3 Lovely images of young Barn Swallow begging and being fed.
                                      Images by and © Alan hargrave


               
 
               

20th June 2011

News From Nikos (Sunday) ...........MANAGED TO SEE THE FOLLOWING BREEDERS (JUST ONES WORTH MENTIONING) IN THE TYMBAKI - MATALA - AGIOFARAGGO TRIANGLE: GRIFFONS (6+), PEREGRINE (1), LESSER KESTRELS (4+), BEE EATERS (2), TURTLE DOVES (2), WOOD PIGEONS (2), KESTRELS, BUZZARDS ETC...

 3 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                      Apus melba

        

                                                        Buteo buteo  

          

                                                       Falco naumanni

      

 

14th June 2011

Thanks very much to Viv Walker for the following report.....

We went to Lake Agias yesterday (15 June) as we had seen 3 Eleonara's
falcons over the house in the morning, with one the day before and 3 the                           day before that and thought we might see them at the lake.  We didn't!
 
We did see 6 Squacco herons doing their best to feed despite the high
water levels, 2 Little egret (8 is the most we have seen this year). 
The yellow-legged gulls now have juveniles with them and there are
several new broods of coots, being carefully hidden by their parents. 
The coots seem to have done well this year so far as we have seen
several pairs with two and three sub-adult chicks that are big enough to
be independent.

                                   image by and © Viv Walker

     
 
We had 2 treats though - the first was a juvenile night heron
determinedly hiding in the reeds by the bridge until a wedding group
taking photographs scared it out and I got two (not very good) photos of
it flying off. 

                                        image by and © Viv Walker  

       

                                       image by and © Viv Walker
    

    

The second was a stripe-necked terrapin that was out on the path by the
sewage works.  It was still damp and covered with weed and boy, can they
move! I never thought about it but they must be like their big cousins
and nest on dry land.  They may be being forced further out because of
the water levels.   

                                      image by and © Viv Walker

     



We had a nice time watching crag martins as well as Alan.  We were
at the Tzani cave on Omalos and they were not nearly as accomodating and
stayed in the dark at the cave entrance most of the time.  Views were
good but photos not!  Incidentallly it was 19C there and 26C on the
coast.  We were foundered. Nothing much else on the plateau - I think
the cold and the cloud possibly contributed.  The dam is not finished yet.
Viv

14th June 2011

Five images from Nikos on a trip up to Omalos plateau today....

5 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                     Garrulus glandarius

                                                         Lullula arborea

    

                                                     Anthus campestris     

  

                                                       Emberiza cirlus

 

                                                           Species ???  

     

13th June 2011

 

 Three reports over the last weekend from Alan.....

After some lovely views of barn swallow chicks with previous report, I feel I have gone one better with crag martin chicks this time. Like the recent jackdaw picture, these birds were at nest in the St. Antonis Gorge. The chicks had moved away from the actual nest onto a nearby ledge at a cave entrance - there were five in all. A parent bird was also resting nearby, allowing me further photos. Hot and very windy here at present! (12th)

                                 Three images by and  © Alan Hargrave

       

 

We still have four glossy ibis at Georgioupoli Viewpoint - they are almost hidden from view. There is one point along the road where you can just get one of them in a photo, so attached here. To get all four seen from the usual viewing place, I would need to borrow your camera!

                                        Image by and  © Alan Hargrave   

        

There is much swallow activity with young birds at the nests. Near Vamos Post Office today, I captured some pictures of the chicks impatiently waiting for food.

 

                             Three Images by and  © Alan Hargrave

 

            

   

 

Obviously not too much to crow about this month, but we are still hearing, and occasionally seeing, a male blackcap at this time of year - for the second year running. I always thought these were winter visitors and migrants? Anyway, just managed a picture of one opposite our house - for the record at least.

                                       Image by and  © Alan Hargrave

            

 From Nikos......

WENT DOWN THE SNAKE ROAD FROM KALLIKRATIS AND WALKED INTO ONE OF THE MANY GORGES NORTH OF FRANGOKASTELLO... NOT MUCH FRIENDS...3 GRIFFON ROOSTS-NESTS (10+ BIRDS SEEN),BUZZARD,KESTREL,PEREGRINE,ORTOLAN,WHEATEARS,LINNETS AND NIGHT HERON AT FRANGOKASTELLO MARSHES.

 

                                  Four images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                          Peregrines

                                                      Freyeria throchylus

                                                              Gyps fulvus

                                                    Podarcis cretensis

8th June 2011

Thanks to Viv Walker for the following.....

You are right - it is very hot (and sticky) here and everything has
quietened down but we had a lovely view over our house this morning of
over 100 alpine swifts flying in a thermal and catching flying bugs (big
enough to be seen in our binoculars but no idea what they were unless
maybe ants/termites, which can be quite big). They were accompanied by
5 (maybe 6) hobbies also catching the bugs. The hobbies ranged further
and did not stick so closely together as the swifts.

There was another 'thermal' of yellow-legged gulls and they were
catching the bugs as well.

Pity for the bugs but we had a fascinating 30 minutes or so.

All the cattle egrets seem to have left Tavronitis - we had 2 as late as
the end of May. There is still a lot of water in Lake Agias and the
Tavronitis River is still breaking through to the sea.

Viv

6th June 2011

With warm weather over the weekend, and temperatures set to increase on Wednesday ... predicted about 35oC for the island... it looks like all the regular contributors have headed for the beach over the weekend and I am afraid there are no reports of  birding. It looks like summer has arrived and things will be slowing down now but we hope to keep you informed of anything of interest as spring migration comes to an end once again. we will also be adding pictures to the galleries over the summer months so keep a look out for update news on those.

1st June 2011

Kalo Mina Friends.....below is a report from last Sunday by Alan

 We have friends holidaying locally, and today we took them to the Prassanos and St. Antonis Gorges. At Prassanos, the griffons seemed interested in our presence and gave us some good views, but not in the numbers we have come to expect at this time of year. High above us a pair of Bonelli's eagles circled briefly before we moved on. At St. Antonis a late spotted flycatcher was seen amongst dozens of house sparrows, and above the church in the rock there, I noticed a jackdaw return to a noisy nest in the rockface. I hung around for a while and captured one of the adults birds just before it entered the nest hole....Alan

Jackdaws are very few on Crete with only a few localised colonies, so its always a pleasure to see these inquisitive and mischievous birds......Colin

                                          Image by and © Alan Hargrave

         

 

 

29th May 2011

NEWS FROM NIKOS..............HAD A GOOD DAY UP AT OMALOS AND AGYIA
SAW DISTANT LAMMY,2 GOLDEN EAGLES,BUZZARD,KESTREL,ELEONORA'S,GRIFFONS AND HONEY BUZZARD...AT AGYIA LESS TODAY,JUST 2 PURPLE HERONS WORTH MENTIONING...

 5 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                       Golden Eagle

                                                           Ortolan

                                                          Honey Buzzard

                                                    Emperor Dragonfly

28th May 2011

From Nikos........TWO STORKS TODAY AT AGYIA,TWO HONEY BUZZARDS,PURPLE-GREY-SQUACCO HERON AND LITTLE EGRET,RUFF AND WOOD SANDPIPER,BUZZARD,KESTREL ETC...  Three images by and © Nikos Samaritakis.....

 

          

 

Three images and report from Alan .....a Yellow-legged Gull with a nice flatfish supper, a Squacco Heron....always good photo opportunities with this species and an excellent capture of a possible Pallid Swift.

23rd May There are still some glossy ibis at the Georgioupoli Viewpoint, but with water levels higher than ever, they have resorted to perching on dead tree branches overhanging the water - guess they will be gone soon. The squacco picture attached, was taken near the rivermouth at Georgioupoli. I watched it for some time, but it caught nothing from the deep water below it, whereas y-l gulls were successful - flying past with fish in their beaks; a poor quality photo only of that.

Three images by and © Alan Hargrave

 

 

 

22rd May 2011

News from Nikos.........

DID THE DRIVE GEORGIOUPOLIS-KOURTALIOTIS-KARE-PRASSIANO TODAY 21st..NO GOOD PICS BUT GOT MY 196TH...HOBBY!
4 IBISES AT GEORGIOUPOLI,BONELLI'S AT KOURTALIOTIS,ELEONORA'S AND SPARROWHAWK AT KARE AND HOBBY,PEREGRINE AT PRASSIANO...

Five images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                            

 

 

19th May 2011

Apologies to Nikos re his Citrine Wagtail on the 3rd April, the picture is now added under that date!!!

Report from Viv at Agyia

We were at Lake Agias yesterday and despite over 200 yellow-legged gulls
we saw 3 Little Bittern, 3 Little Egret, two Squacco Herons, a pair of
Mallards, one Ferruginous Duck (as usual very fond of going into the
reeds), one Grey Heron and 3 waders - 2 Wood Sandpipers and one Ruff.
The weed mats are beginning to develop on the lake so we may see more
waders over the next weeks.

We had a very short glimpse of a dark crake but not enough for
identification. The show was stolen however by the sparrows - the males
seemed content to hunt dragonflies but one female was catching fish. I
have to admit I have never seen this. It was really amazing she was
using the perch by the pump-house that the kingfishers use and beating
the fish against the concrete when she caught them. Fascinating. I have
attached a photo of a male with a dragonfly - the ones of the female are
not so clear.

We have asked Viv for an image of the female with fish having not seen this either. Nikos has seen them taking the dragoflies but not fishing....looks like a busy weekend for people trying to get images of the Fish Sparrow ! Viv has kindly sent images...many thanks Viv

Must say that it would be interesting to see its fishing methods, lets hope that there will be some pictures forthcoming of it in the act of catching a fish

OK, three images from Viv of the fish catching sparrow, Viv.... a nice sighting, well done for getting pictures.

                               image one on the perch prior to catching fish

                                  image two with fish in its bill on dam wall

                                          image three bashing the fish

                                          images by and © Viv Walker

 

 

 

                                  One of the dragonfly catching sparrows

                                         image by and © Viv walker

                                                 Ferruginous duck

16th May 2011

 From Nikos........ADD TO VIV'S LIST FOR AGYIA...GREY HERON,2 COMMON SANDPIPERS,2 BUZZARDS,1 VULPINUS,PEREGRINE AND ELEONORA'S...TERNS AND STINT GONE BUT MALLARD PAIR SEEN(PERHAPS BIRDS FROM LAST YEAR'S BROOD BECAUSE MALE'S HEAD NOT FULLY GLOSSY-GREEN)!

From Viv Walker

16th May There are Little Ringed Plovers on the beach at Tavronitis - photo is a
bit far away but the brilliant eye-ring and head marking is clear. There
are considerable numbers of goldfinch and Sardinian warblers with some
stonechats. Crested larks are also here and we still see 2 of the Cattle
Egrets.
There is a field of poppies in with a potato crop at Kamisiana and it
is stunning. The poppies have been brilliant this year - they are
everywhere and in big numbers but rarely a field full like this.

                                           image by and © viv Walker

 

 

11 May saw 4 whiskered terns at Lake Agias with 4 Little Bittern flying
about and strutting their stuff. All provided excellent photo
opportunities. There were 2 Marsh Harriers flying above the reeds and
the goslings are down to 3 so it looks like there may be another failed
brood - just like last year. There was one Little Stint, one Little
Egret and the number of gulls were up. Whinchats are still about as well.
I have not seen a kingfisher at the Lake this year so far.

                                            image by and © viv Walker

 Thanks to Nikos for sharing these images .....more of Nikos photos can be found on http://www.flickr.com/photos/samaritakis

                                    image by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                       Tulip Cretica

                                     Alpine Accentor.... Prunella collaris

 

  

E

                                           Leopard Snake....Elaphe situla

 

14th May 2011

 We have added all the reports for April from Nikos, Manos, Viv and Harry......

8th May from Nikos

MY FIRST COMMON TERN AT KALAMAKI YESTERDAY...NO GOOD PIC BUT LIST AT 193 PHOTOGRAPHED!
TODAY I SHOWED MANOS THE LAMMY PAIR AT GIGILOS...TOO HIGH FOR COMFORT...
AT AGYIA...BAILLON'S CRAKE!

 

2nd May from Viv

I am just back from Lake Agias and I take
back everything I have said about the water being too high to see
anything! Our first surprise was a Little Bittern right out in the open
at the pump-house. It did not seem hugely bothered by the atttention we
were giving it but moved off when the birders swelled to 7 and then
'boomed' from the reeds. (Photo attached.) Next were 2 marsh
sandpipers, 3 Little Egret, one squacco heron, 2 little crakes and last,
but definitely not least, a night heron came out into the open at the
far side of the Lake. (Aren't scopes wonderful!)

This was followed by a whiskered tern (identifed by another birder) and
me checking my bird book. (I have a very poor photo taken from quite a
distance.) Then a marsh harrier quartered the reeds. (There are very
young goslings on the lake. They did not fare well last year - perhaps
better this.)

The coots are feeding young - some newly hatched and some well grown.
The moorhens are plentiful as well and the little grebe are squabbling.
A swallow allowed us really close - it was resting on the fence and 2
whinchat did the same slightly later.

Absolutely brilliant. And the cattle egret are still in Tavronitis.

Weather still very mixed with quite a lot of rain.

                                            image by and © viv Walker

30th April from Nikos

2 DISTANT LAMMY VIEWS (SAME?) AND 1 GOLDEN EAGLE TODAY AT OMALOS...POOLS FULL(OF WATER NOT BIRDS)...TULIPS EVERYWHERE!
THE USUALS + CHUKAR

 

25th April from Nikos

11 C.EGRET AND 11 R.F.FALCONS AT TAVRONITIS FIELDS.25/04/11

                                           Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

 

 

 

 

22nd April from Nikosat Falasarna and Gramvousa

Bee-eaters, Short-toed Lark, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher and Glossy Ibis

                                       Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

 

 

 

 

10th April from Nikos

Lesser Spotted Eagle and Stone Curlew

                                 images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

         

 

 

 9TH APRIL from VIV

There was a Northern Wheatear pair on the
foreshore day before yesterday. Also 2 ringed plovers and one little
plover and a kestrel. Alpine swifts have arrived and the number of
swallows is building (slowly). There was one hobby in the sky yesterday.
The cattle egrets are still here. As are white wagtails and yellow wagtails.
Omalos is very quiet - I saw 2 Griffon vultures very high. Anenomes and
lilies are well out though tulips are only beginning. The snow on the
mountains is disappearing very quickly.

                                   image by and © viv Walker

 

MORONIS LIST...8TH APRIL from Nikos
 
2 BUZZARDS
FEM MARSH HARRIER
2 STILT
GREENSHANK
REDSHANK
5 L.R.PLOVER
5 L.STINT
5 C.SANDPIPER
7 RUFF
5 MOORHEN
2 L.EGRET
7 NIGHT HERON
2 TREE SPARROW

 

4TH APRIL.....from VIV            

I hope you are all well. I had a good walk down to the beach this
morning. It started with good views of a Booted Eagle (pale morph)
being harassed by 2 crows to yellow and white wagtails and finally
cattle egrets flying over (12) and 4 in a field with sheep taking rides
on the animal's backs. They may find the sheep a bit small but they
still have 4 legs and eat grass!
I have attached a photo of a yellow wagtail - I think flava. . there were also feldegg in the group.

                                           image by and © viv Walker


The white wagtails were at the other end of the field.
The photos of the booted eagle are not good - it gained height very rapidly

                                          image by and © viv Walker

 

4TH APRIL from HARRY

Hi Colin, never got out over the weekend,lousy weather saturday and work to do
 sunday,had a run down to the river at Platanias tonight,
nothing at all,had a walk along the beach and spotted a hoopoe behind the hotels,on the way home spotted 3 red kites(juveniles I think)just as i was approaching Loutraki,another attempt,is this a moustached warbler??

                                       images by and © Harry Lough

 

 

 

 

 

3RD APRIL  from Nikos

 NOT MUCH HERE...AGYIA WATER IS MUDDY AFTER RAINS...2 SQUACCOS THERE, BOOTED EAGLE , MARSH HARRIER,  6-8 BUZZARDS, 6 L.EGRETS AT FLOODED FIELDS AROUND LAKE, G.R.WARBLER AND COOT BABIES

 MANOS HAD NIGHT AND PURPLE HERONS AT MORONIS

 BUT MY MORONIS LIST OF NON-PASSERINES + RAVEN AND CITRINE WAGTAIL IS:

 
 
Ardea cinerea                   Grey heron     

 
 
1

       

Egretta garzetta              Little egret

         

Buteo buteo              common buzzard

1

       

Gallinula chloropus    moorhen 6

6

       

Charadrius dubius    little ringed plover 6

6

       

Tringa totanus        redshank

1

       

Tringa nebularia   greenshank

1

       

Tringa glareola   wood sand

1

       

Actitis hypoleucos    common sand

8

       

Calidris minuta       little stint

3

       

Philomachus pugnax     ruff

1

       

Larus cachinnans      yellow legged gull

5

       

Larus ridibundus    b headed gull

3

       

Larus melanocephalus    med gull

1

       

Sterna sandvicensis       sandwich tern

2

       

Alcedo atthis     kingfisher

1

       

Corvus corax raven

2

       

Motacilla citreola   citrine wagtail

 

Burhinus oedicnemus ..... stone-curlew                                                                      4

1
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

     

                                       Citrine Wagtail.....motacilla citreola

                                        image by and © Nikos Samaritakis

30th March from Harry

Poor day at Omalos,very little to report,I have attached some photos
and have tried to identify them. Birds seen, Jay,Northern Wheatear,Griffon,Cuckoo(heard
but not seen)
Today red-rumped swallows outside my house(Loutraki)and
Blackcap at river(platanias)

                                            images by and © Harry Lough

 

 

 

 

 

30TH MARCH   from VIV

There were 11 Griffon vultures in Deliana Gorge today. The river is
flowing well and has to be crossed in 6 places for walkers - and for
those (like me) who do not like wet feet it is deep enough to cover
walking boots. Ravens were out as well - 4 of them.
There is a hoopee in the olive groves below the house - we have been
hearing it for a couple of days but saw it on our way back from the
gorge. Cattle egrets are still here as well.

29th March from Viv

There are still cattle egrets around Tavronitis - yesterday amongst the
sheep and today at Blue Bay apartments and following farmers ploughing
fields. There are also woodlarks and crested larks along the shore.
                                       image by and © viv Walker

 

 Lake Agias is very full with more water than I can ever remember seeing

flowing out under the bridge. There was not much to see - one shoveler
pair with the drake looking particularly resplendent; 3 Marsh harriers;
5 swallows; one ruff; one water rail and around 200 yellow-legged gulls
(more than I have ever seen). There were, of course, coots, waterhen and
little grebe. A number of the coots are sitting on nests so are more
difficult to see.

12th May 2011

We apologise for no reports since 28th March, this was due to no internet facilities. We are back online now and hope in the next few days to add all the reports from the island along with hopefully more great images. We will be accessing our emails shortly and if any replies are required we will get onto them right away please bear with us.

28th March 2011

News from Nikos yesterday at Moronis....15 Little Ringed Plover and the first sighting this year of Eleonora's Falcon.

For those interested in the little island of Antikythera situated a few miles north of gramvousa Crete, their spring blog is now up and running. see

http://blogs.ornithologiki.gr/osa/?m=201103

                                 Images by and © Harry Lough taken at Aygia

                               Sedge Warbler.... Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

      

      

                                     Yellow Wagtail....Motacilla flava, ssp feldegg

       

27th March 2011

A late entry under yesterdays blog from Alan Hargrave with five images of Flamingo, Marsh Sandpipers and possible Lesser Kestrel ......more later

26th March 2011

Thanks again to Nikos for the following report and images from Falasarna.............

GRIFFON, MARSH HARRIER PAIR, 2 BUZZARDS, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK
20 NIGHT HERONS, GREY HERON, LITTLE EGRET, GREENSHANK, MOORHEN, 6 Y.L.GULL
SHAG, SPOTTED REDSHANK, SPOTTED CRAKE, 3 LITTLE CRAKE PAIRS, 2 SNIPE
COMMON SANDPIPER, 6 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS, 2 RAVENS
2 SEDGE WARBLERS, 2 WHEATEAR, SAND MARTIN, BARN SWALLOW, ITALIAN SPARROW
MEADOW PIPIT, COLLARED DOVE, SARDINIAN WARBLER, STONECHAT, BLACKBIRD,     CRESTED LARK, CHIFFCHAFF, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, WHITE WAGTAIL, YELLOW WAGTAIL
...AND A FEW MORE THAT I FORGET!

                                        Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                                   Raven..... Corvus corax

            

                                       Night Heron....Nycticorax nycticorax

           

                                                Snipe....Gallinago gallinago

            

                                            Spotted Crake....Porzana porzan

            

                                    Little Ringed Plover....Charadrius dubius

             

                                             Common Buzzard....Buteo buteo

             

And.. Thank you to Alan and Margaret for the following......

Hi,
Had a day out with friends to an area on the south coast, at Kokkinos Pirgos (near Timbaki).  A temporary lake is formed during the winter and I thought it may be productive about now.  Birds seen were; greater flamingo (1), ruff (20), redshank (6), marsh sandpiper (2), black-winged stilt (4), and singles of little stint, little-ringed plover, grey heron, and little crake.

Whilst in the area, we watched three kestrels screaming around a disused building, which they were sometimes entering.  John and I believe they were lesser kestrels, but getting a photo was difficult with the sun against us.  Just one photo attached, which caught one bird with the building as background.  The underparts look much paler and less stripey than on common kestrel - see what you think, but it may not be a conclusive picture.
All the best,
Alan

                                         Greater Flamingo....Phoenicopterus ruber

                          

                 Redshank....Tringa totanus  and Marsh Sandpiper....Tringa stagnatilis

                

                                                  Ruff....Philomachus pugnax

                         

                                     Possible Lesser Kestrel....Falco naumanni

                          

25th March 2011

Two images from Nikos taken this morning ....followed by a afternoon trip up to Omalos.

                                     Images by and ©  Nikos Samaritakis

                                    Common snipe.....Gallinago gallinago

             

                                       Raven at nest site on a military tower  

             

 

At Omalos......

DISTANT GOLDEN EAGLE, GRIFFON VULTURE , COMMON BUZZARD, KESTREL, WOOD PIGEON, WRYNECK, GREEN SANDPIPER.    

                                               Golden Eagle at Omalos

            

24th March 2011

News from Nikos

MARSH HARRIER, BUZZARD, LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (HEARD), GREENSHANK, REDSHANK,    SPOTTED REDSHANK, COMMON SANDPIPER, KINGFISHER, CORMORANT, LITTLE.EGRET,
GREY HERON, YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, MEDITERRANEAN GULL, COOT, MOORHEN,
BLACK HEADED GULL, SANDWICH TERN, BLACK WINGED STILT.

                                          Images by and © Nikos Samritakis

                   

              

              

From Harry Lough.................

Hi, Been out and about a couple of times this week,besides the frost bite its been interesting, Osprey at Moronis Tuesday, I was there again this morning but did see it again, took a photo, no where near as good as Nikos !!.
Moved onto Agia, Booted Eagles, Marsh Harriers around.

Cheers Harry

                 Thanks to Harry for allowing us to reproduce his images on the blog

                                          Images by and © Harry Lough

                                                  Male Marsh Harrier

       

                                               Dark morph Booted eagle

       

                                                      Osprey at Moronis

       

      

22nd March 2011

NEWS FROM NIKOS ON THE EAST OF THE ISLAND

HELLO!........WE NOW AT AG.NIKOLAOS-LASITHI...INTERNET CONNECTION POOR,WEATHER EVEN WORSE...A LOT OF BIRDS AT ELOUDA ONLY ONE PIC. I'M AFRAID...TOO WINDY,CLOUDY...ARGGGG!
PINTAIL, GREY HERON, 2 L.EGRET, 2 COMMON SANDPIPERS, 3 WOOD SANDPIPERS, GREENSHANK, 5 L.R.PLOVER, 5 Y.L.GULL, 2 NIGHT HERONS, 2 N.WHEATEAR, LOT'S OF WAGTAILS 10+WHITE, 50+YELLOW...A GRIFFON IN NEST AND SEVERAL FLYING AT SELINARI...
IF WEATHER NOT MUCH BETTER TOMMOROW WE MIGHT CANCEL GOING FARTHER EAST AND HEAD HOME...CHEERS, NIKOS

                                        Image by and ©  Nikos Samaritakis

                                                    Pintail......Anus acuta

           

And from Alan and Margaret......

Nothing special, but another look at Kalivaki flooded meadows today, and now two greenshanks and three redshanks, partying in a small flock.  When they settled they made a nice group with two of each.  One greenshank looked particularly good in summer plumage, as per second photo.

At Kavros a small flock (three, maybe more) male marsh harriers seem to have roosted overnight after a very wet and stormy day yesterday.  One picture attached.

                                       Images by and © Alan Hargrave

                 Greenshank....Tringa nebularia and Redshank....Tringa totanus

                                           Greenshank.....Tringa nebularia

                   

                                        Marsh Harrier ....Circus aeruginosus             

                           

21st March 2011

More pictures from Nikos when he went to Georgopoli yesterday. Todays report is below....

                                         Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                         Wood Sandpiper....Tringa glareola

                         

                                       White Pelican....Pelicanus onocrotalus

            

                             Cormorant, Yellow legged Gull and Little Egret      

                     

                                                 Kingfisher....Alcedo atthis      

              

Today.........

PLANS KEEP CHANGING SINCE WEATHER REMAINS TOO BAD...WE CURRENTLY AT ARCHANES-HERACLION...MIGHT HEAD TO LASITHI IF IT GETS LESS RAINY...STOPPED AT SPILIA-SOUTH OF KNOSSOS TO CHECK THE JACKDAWS AND ALSO FOUND A DEAD SCOPS OWL... 

             

There are also ten more images added to the "UK and Europe" picture album on page three images 141-150.

19th March 2011

News from Alan and Margaret that a pair of Lesser Spotted Eagle passed over Kalivaki beach area near Gorgopoli.... 

A tatty one appeared first, quite low.  It made height quickly before I could get the camera ready, and was then joined by another.  They circled high up, interacting with each other, before heading north out to sea.
                                   

                                           Images by and © Alan Hargrave

                                     Lesser Spotted Eagle....Aquila pomarina

                        

                    

Nikos is off to Lasithi for four days and hopefully we will have some good sightings to report on Tuesday night. Meanwhile today at Moronis....Black-winged Stilt, 4 Redshank, 2 Ruff, Kingfisher, Little Egret 2, Common Buzzard, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Grey Heron, Coot 4, Moorhen 5, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper 2.....

                                       Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                      Black-tailed Godwit.....Limosa limosa

            

                                  Black-winged Stilt....Himantopus himantopus

                         

15th March 2011

News from nikos and Manos of 14 Cattle Egret in the fields near Tavronitis.

                                              Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                               Cattle Egret......Bulbulcus ibis

              

 

 

 

              

              

13th March 2011

More news from Nikos..... TODAY IT WAS MORONIS-GIORGIOUPOLI-PRASSIANO...
NOTHING GOOD AT MORONIS,VERY LOW TIDE,GOOD HABITAT BUT PERHAPS ALSO ALONG MOST OF CRETAN SHORELINE OR TOO MUCH DISTURBANCE...AT GIORGIOUPOLIS AT LEAST TWO GARGANEY FEMALES-IMMATURES,2 CORMORANT...AND A GODWIT! (THE SAME BIRD ?? ) CLOSER THIS TIME. AT PRASSIANO GORGE TWENTY GRIFFONS,KESTREL,THREE BUZZARDS, WOODPIGEON AND CHUKAR...POTAMOI DAM POOR TOO...
                                        Images by and © Nikos Samaritakis                        

                                   Two lovely images of the Black-tailed Godwit        

              

             

                                                     Griffon Vulture

                          

12th March 2011

Another good report from Nikos and yet again another good bird( Limosa limosa ) to his list of photographed birds on Crete (189 )

Todays birds were seen on Rhodopu  and Gramvousa peninsulas and at Falasarna.....

Little Egret, Shag, Kestrel 4, Griffon Vulture 4, Marsh Harrier 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Common Buzzard 6, Bonelli's Eagle 1, Little Crake 2, Little Ringed Plover 5, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Yellow-legged Gull 10, Rock Dove 6, Collared Dove 10, Hoopoe 1, Hooded Crow 10, Raven 4, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Barn Swallow, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Cetti's Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff, Sardinian Warbler, Starling 8, Blackbird, Songthrush 1, Robin 1, Black Redstart, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, House( Italian ) Sparrow, White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail 1, Tawny Pipit 2, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch.

                                          Black-tailed Godwit.....Limosa limosa

             

                                                Sub adult Marsh Harrier

             

                                         Northern Wheatear 

             

                                                         Grey Heron 

                       

10th March 2011

More news of migrants arriving from Nikos
 
WELL,WE FINALLY SAW SOME BLUE DOWN HERE! AND THE PURE WHITE MOUNTAINS WITH THE FRESH SNOW AGAINST IT WAS EVEN PRETTIER!
VERY COLD THOUGH,WENT FOR A LATE AFTERNOON AGYIA BUT COULD BARELY HOLD THE CAMERA! THAT,THE RUST ON MY HANDS !! AND THE SPEED OF SWALLOWS MADE IT HARD FOR GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY...STILL...THE FEW COMMON SWIFTS,HOUSE MARTINS,BARN SWALLOWS,SAND MARTINS AND MANY CRAG MARTINS WERE A LOVELY SIGHT! ALSO AT AGYIA:BUZZARD,PAIR OF MARSH HARRIER, PAIR OF LITTLE CRAKE, WHITE WAGTAIL, REED BUNTING, LINNETS, STONECHATS, THE DUCKS, COOTS AND MOORHEN AND ALSO A LITTLE EGRET AND FIVE GREY HERONS...MANOS HAD EARLIER TOLD ME OF A NIGHT HERON AT MORONIS...

                                          Images © Nikos Samaritakis

             

              

            

             

             

             

8th March 2011

The first Swift Apus apus seen by nikos today as it battled against gale force northerly winds.

Eight more images added to the UK/Europe album on page three. Pictures 133-140.

06th March 2011

We are still searching for and adding images from the past into various albums ....today there are nine new images on page 3 in the "UK and Europe" album in the Picture Galleries, pics.124-132, Treecreeper and Goldcrest.

Bad weather is still arriving on Crete, rain,cloud and temps between 5oC in the mountains and 15oC at sea level. wind from the north west, it has once again not been a good week for birding, hopefully some good reports will be coming soon.

With the weather about to get worse Nikos had a quick trip around Kolymbari, Agia, Moronis and Tavronitis he managed a few pictures but found very few birds. Thanks again Nikos for the report.

                                        Six images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

 

                                      

            

                               Little Ringed Plover....Charadrius dubius  At kolymbari

             

                                    Crested Lark ....Galerida cristata At kolymbari     

             

                                         Stonechat....Saxicola torquata at Agia

             

                                          Linnet....Carduelis cannabina  at Agia  

                         

                                         Chiffchaff.... Phylloscopus collybita at Agia

              

23rd February 2011

New link added for Walter Schoen's, Butterflies and Moths of Europe....see links page

Another butterfly picture added in the "Butterflies and Moths of Crete" album, photo 111 and two new Bluethroat images in the " Birds of Crete " gallery, images 232/233

19th February 2011

On the 17th  Nikos was informed of a Little Gull at Agia, thanks again Nikos  

                                          Image by and © Nikos samaritakis

                                           Little Gull.... hydrocoloeus minutus

               

13th February 2011

Fifteen new images added to the "UK and Europe" picture album ....Red Kites, Snow Buntings, Harris Hawk and White-crowned Sparrow

12th February 2011

                                Sparrowhawk....Accipiter nisus from Nikos today

                

 

 

6th February 2011

                           Another brilliant find by Nikos and a picture too......

                                                today  06/02/2011

                                        GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO  

 

         AT ΚΟΜΒΟΣ ΚΛΑΔΙΣΣΟΥ (KLADISSOS RIVER - WEST END OF CHANIA CITY)

                    Great Spotted Cuckoo....Clamator Glandarius....ΚΙΣΣΟΚΟΥΚΟΣ

            

 

Saturday .......Weather conditions still poor cloudy, rain and wind,with no good birding opportunities, a trip to Moronis produced to usual species and although no raptors were to be seen they were probably present

Common Sandpiper 1, Greenshank 1, Redshank 3, Little Ringed Plover 3, Moorhen 10+, Coot 20+, Kingfisher1, Great Egret 1, Little Egret 1, Grey Heron 1, Cormorant 2, Sandwich Tern 1, Yellow-legged Gull 10+, Black-headed Gull 10+

Lovely picture as well from Nikos of a pair of Cormorant in breeding plumage, the one on the right isstruggling to swallow its meal !!

                                     Image by and © Nikos Samaritakis  

                                      Cormorant....Phalacrocorax carbo

                          

1st February 2011

Three new images posted in the Butterflies and Moths of Crete album, see"Picture galleries"

31st January 2011

A very dismal weekend, the weather made for staying in rather than birding! Nikos went out for lunch though with family at Therisso. Whilst having a fresh air moment !!! (ciggie break really) he managed to see a single Griffon Vulture and an immature Golden Eagle, he even managed a picture...............

                                           Golden Eagle.....Aquila Chrysaetos

                 

24th January 2011

An update of previous sightings of Pectoral Sandpiper in Greece, Thanks to Nikos Samaritakis for the following information.

SIGHTINGS: 5
 
1.BRAMIANA RESERVOIR (1 BIRD)
2.GALLIKOS ESTUARY (1 BIRD, AUTUMN 2007)
3.AXIOS - GALLIKOS ESTUARIES (2 AND 1 BIRDS, AUTUMN 2008)
4.POLYCHNITOS SALT PANS, LESBOS (1 BIRD, AUTUMN 2008)
5.ALMYROS ESTUARY - GIORGIOUPOLI (1 BIRD, JANUARY 2011)

 

22nd January 2011

     PECTORAL SANDPIPER -CALIDRIS MELANOTOS - ΘΩΡΑΚΩΤΗ ΣΚΑΛΙΔΡΑ

Seen today by Nikos and Sakoulis at Giorgioupolis who are helping the HOS with mid winter counts at......AGYIA,MORONIS,GIORGIOUPOLIS AND KOURNAS. .  excellent find and pictures, well done both of you, thankyou for the report.

Only 6 or 7 sightings of this species seen in Greece 2007 to present.

THE USUAL SPECIES SEEN, NOTABLE ARE BOOTED EAGLE AT AGYIA AND GIORGIOUPOLIS, GREEN SANDPIPER AT GIORGIOUPOLIS,4 B.N.GREBES AT MORONIS(DISTANT)

  You may wish to see more of Nikos fantastic images from Crete at

                      http://www.flickr.com/photos/samaritakis/

 

                           Thanks to Nikos for the following six images taken today

              Pectoral sandpiper -Calidris Melanotos ΡΑΒΔΩΤΗ ΣΚΑΛΙΔΡΑ 

              

              

                          

 

                                    Pale morph Booted Eagle at Giorgioupolis

            

                                                Greenshank at Moronis

            

                                  Sparrowhawk and Hooded Crow at  Moronis

            

17th January 2011

We took a trip to the French Alps last week and have added 30 images in the Europe album of no less than three Lammergeier along with a Golden Eagle seen soaring over the main road to Frejus Tunnel. We watched them for an hour and a half as they swooped over Alpine Ibex (steinbock) - Capra Ibex, maybe with the idea to lure them over the edge, two sub adult Lammergeier were also talon grappling and then seen mating. Several large flocks 400+ Alpine Chough swooping over the road and feeding nearby was another highlight....some not too distant images taken in very bad light will be added. 

Thanks to Nikos for the following images, taken on route, Imbros, Sfakia, Aredena, Frangokastello, kourtaliotis...

                                   Six images by and © Nikos Samaritakis

                                   Blue Rock Thrush....Monticola solitarius

            

            

                                                   Serin....Serinus serinus

             

                                           Shag..... Phalacrocorax aristotilis

            

                                       Griffon Vulture carrying nesting material

             

                                           Kestrel....Tinnunculus tinnunculus

              

7th January 2011

Weather 0800.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 10 miles, wind... N light, cloud...20%, 10.3oC, 1028mb

So much for having a break !!!! we could not resist another weekday entry as a Golden Eagle flies over the house from the peninsula and heads inland.  

                                       Golden Eagle....Aqila chrysaetos

    

All species from home today .... Black Redstart 4, Common Buzzard 3, Yellow-legged Gull, Hooded Crow mobbing a Booted Eagle (pale morph) , Raven 2, Great Tit 6, Linnet, Robin 2, Chiffchaff 1, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Sardinian Warbler 4, Crag Martin 8, Golden Eagle 1, Blue Rock Thrush1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Kestre 1l, Griffon Vulture 1

6th January 2011

Weather 0815.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 10miles, wind... 2E light, cloud...90%, 11.5oC, 1022mb.

A bit special today for the larger raptors over Kaliviani.... We spot a single Bonelli's Eagle, a juvenile, as it heads in from the south and out onto Gramvousa, a little later a pair of adults head out too. Four Common Buzzard attract our attention as they call noisily overhead and in from the southwest comes a Golden Eagle being harrassed by a Raven, it soon lost the Raven but was then seen by the 3 Bonelli's which constantly harrassed it , they all disappeared out onto the peninsula. three Griffon Vultures then rose up and headed west, one turning SE and flew over the house in the direction of the gorge we visited a couple of days ago. At lunchtime a Booted Eagle hunted nearby and we watched as it made a couple of stoops into nearby olive groves, we think it was the same bird that visited yesterday. no smaller raptors though !


Other species.... The Great Tit from yesterday started early this morning and we were woken before full light by its tap tapping at the water tank on the roof ! Lots of Linnet, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Hooded Crow, Yellow-legged Gull, Sardinian Warbler, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Crested Lark, Robin and Blue Tit.

                                                       Booted Eagle

               

                            Booted Eagle (Gramvousa peninsula in the background)

             

                          One of the four common Buzzard seen over the house

       

                 Six images of the Golden Eagle being mobbed by the Bonelli's Eagles

             

         

 

          

         

       

We are going to take a break during the weekdays and will update the blog at weekends for the next few weeks, if you wish to get notification on updates then why not become a member, there is a box on the home page with only a few details required. 

5th January 2011

Weather 0815.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 6 miles, wind... NE light, cloud...75%, 11.7oC, 1020mb

Kaliviani species....Yellow-legged Gull, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Sardinian Warbler, Crag Martin, Black Redstart, Hooded Crow, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Blue Rock Thrush, Booted Eagle pale morph 1, Common Buzzard 2, Grey Heron 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Crested Lark, Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Shag 1.

The Booted Eagle arrived at 1140 and looked like yesterday's bird seen near Kissamos. A Great Tit spent much of the day at our solar water tank on the roof  ! we first heard what can only be described as a woodpecker drumming,  a slow climb to the roof  and it was found to be pecking at a reflection of itself ! on and off for six hours we heard the drumming sound. It scolded us every time we came outside and can only think it was defending territory.

    

                                    Booted Eagle soaring over the house                    

            

                                                 The noisy Great Tit

                       

                                                 female Black Redstart 

              

                        Crag Martin one of thirty feeding over and around the house

           

4th January 2011

Weather 0830.....

Sea...rough, visibility... 6-8miles, wind... 2-4B N, cloud...100% rain showers 13.7oC, 1014mb.

We went out again with our visitor to Crete, this time for an afternoon visit to Deliana Gorge, with the hope of seeing griffon vultures. We were not disappointed !.

Before setting off we had the following species at home....Greenfinch, Yellow-legged Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Common buzzard, Stonechat, Chaffinch, Hooded Crow, Crested Lark and White Wagtail.

On route we had great views of a pale morph Booted Eagle being mobbed by three Hooded Crows, it circled near to the road for several minutes before slowly heading in a southerly direction taking the crows with it. Also on route Cetti's Warbler, Italian Sparrow, Linnet and Collared Dove.

At Deliana very few other species, Raven , Blue Rock Thrush, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Common Buzzard and a glimpse of a unknown falcon.

The highlight was the griffons, we had three great hours watching them as they flew onto the sides of the gorge collecting twigs and grasses for their nests, ten in all were seen, whilst the best of the day  was watching a pair noisily mating, we have heard squabbling noises before but the noise whilst mating was amazing, a really harsh grating/grunting as it echoed off the gorge walls even got Mia's attention !!. A fanastic afternoon.

Thank you to our fellow birder for the company we hope you have a great time at Kerkini, northern Greece.

 

3rd January 2011

Weather 0700.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 8miles, wind... 0, cloud...90%, 12.9oC, 1010mb rain showers

We braved the rain showers and a visiting birder braved the day out with us. We met in Chania and proceeded to Moronis where we found ..... Great Egret 1,Little Egret 1,  Cormorant 7, Redshank 2, Greenshank 1, Little Ringed Plover 6, Common Sandpiper 2, Yellow-legged Gull, Sandwich Tern 1, Linnet, Kingfisher 1, Coot, Moorhen, Italian Sparrow, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Great Crested Grebe.

We moved on to Agyia where we were pleased to find after much searching,a single Black-necked Grebe still present, other species, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Kingfisher, Coot, Moorhen, Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Yellow-legged Gull, kingfisher, Cormorant 4, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Robin, Cetti's Warbler, Hooded Crow, Starling...(several hundred came in to roost )  Stonechat, Chiffchaff,  Chaffinch and Crag Martin

Late morning and we headed for Omalos plateau, the weather started to deteriorate and once again we had no luck with the raptors, a single Kestrel and Common buzzard were the only ones seen, other species were thin on the ground also, Blue Rock Thrush, Cirl Bunting, Water Pipit, Raven, Hooded Crow, Goldfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Italian Sparrow, Jay, Stonechat, Robin.

We returned to Agia late afternoon, PM birds are included in the above Agia list

Species at home before leaving... A Black Redstart, Blackbird and Crested Lark.

A total of 53 species for the day. No photographs, the big lens was playing up again and the Greenshank pictures were not good enough to put on here !!!

 

2nd January 2011

Weather 0830.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 8miles, wind... 2B SSW, cloud...90% rain showers 14oC, 1015mb

A nice sighting this morning of a Marsh Harrier that flew in from the south straight over the house and headed north out to sea, we watched it until it disappeared occasionally circling to gain height,  an early migrant ? Later a Bonelli's Eagle was spotted sat on the ridge, shortly after sighting it flew off and hunted along the ridges. All day, small mixed goldfinch and Linnet flocks excitedly chattering away landing in nearby bamboo and feeding on seed heads in the next field.

Other home species....Common Buzzard, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Crested Lark, Yellow-legged Gull, Sardinian Warbler, Shag, Stonchat, Kestrel, Cormorant, Blue Rock Thrush, Robin, Black Redstart, Little Egret, Griffon Vulture, Crag Martin, Rock Dove, White Wagtail, collared Dove....23 species

                        

                       Small mixed Linnet and Goldfinch flocks were about all day

    

            

1st January 2011

 

      

The first bird of the year.... Peregrine Falcon, a great start, later a Bonelli's Eagle high over the ridges of the peninsula .

Weather 0830.....

Sea...calm, visibility... 8miles, wind... 0, cloud...90%, 11.9oC, 1020mb

All the usual species.... Hooded Crow, Yellow-legged Gull, Stonechat, Linnet, Great Tit, Sardinian Warbler, Shag, Common Buzzard, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Rock Thrush, Robin