tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135485842024-03-29T13:03:04.994+02:00Greece Bird Tours | Birding and Wildlife Tours in Athens and Central Greece since 2003.Greece Bird Tours organizes tailor made private Birding, Wildlife and Nature tours, around Athens and Central Greece. Since 2003 we offer the best birding trips, private wildlife watching tours, herping trips (reptiles and amphibians) for all nature lovers. Bird & wildlife photography tours are also provided.
Greece is ideal for birding, wildlife and nature trips as a crossroad of Europe, Asia and Africa. Book your next birding holiday in Greece, with the best local bird guides.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger703125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-79071568577076881362024-03-26T09:50:00.001+02:002024-03-26T09:50:18.755+02:00Trip Report: Athens birding tour, March 24th <h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trip Report: Athens birding tour, March 24th </span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today we organized a trip for Jane R., an avid birder from Twisp WA, who had several target species and gave us a real challenge to try and find them. Read here a full trip report of our succesful birding tour around Athens.</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since the pick up point was from her accommodation in Koukaki area, we started our day with Tritsis Metropolitan Park, the biggest urban park in Athens. Right after our arrival we saw the first Barn Swallows, <b>Hoopoes</b> and singing Cetti's Warbler. At the artifical lakes we had great views of Penduline Tits and White Wagtails, as well as <b>Sardinian Warblers</b> in the nearby bushes.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kR7c4EhOzeyyXaV8IH7X7UGkB3zYAipuNUkbWB4a_-fSkmFXKeXe_qqrPDpWLKsFwobnAOJ-EVis7HDv2fPmxMyPQZcHjntkwwbaeJ6sgEU114fuFMFXc4-tUsgkRgE78uS83_9CauwNeDBfRjwY7YXx1R638SPNbfhDnRXDIu3Z4hnIL3FM/s3938/scops-owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="scops-owl-athens" border="0" data-original-height="3938" data-original-width="2610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kR7c4EhOzeyyXaV8IH7X7UGkB3zYAipuNUkbWB4a_-fSkmFXKeXe_qqrPDpWLKsFwobnAOJ-EVis7HDv2fPmxMyPQZcHjntkwwbaeJ6sgEU114fuFMFXc4-tUsgkRgE78uS83_9CauwNeDBfRjwY7YXx1R638SPNbfhDnRXDIu3Z4hnIL3FM/w265-h400/scops-owl.jpg" title="Scops Owl at the biggest Athens park" width="265" /></a><br />The stunning <b>Scops Owl</b>, hidden in the pine foliage</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The highlight of the day was at the are with the pine trees. A roosting <b>Scops Owl</b>, a bird that is very rarely seen during the day, was perching on a pine tree just a few meters away from us! Scops Owl breed all around Athens area, they can be heard during summer nights, but try finding them... it is almost impossible at day time.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Alexandrine Parakeets</b> and <b>Rose-ringed Parakeets</b> are also seen at the park. Serins, Goldfinches, Coal Tits and Great Tits were recorded, together with Common Kestrel, Chiffchaffs, Night Herons, Black-headed Gulls.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_atJ3Qbzt7lYBrc9UKpfY5yUUsM0-3yPngZ90RchAgaR13j20XhWv7OFksxQFoWa22UEnmPH9jrtGqkqLaIYnwAQWrKVesLe-vQBmA4YV7eKmYXyiQc6pCRN9WhNPuSHlQBenICVWkX7KYgTumy2Z_HMXXST9WAqFrVUon3yHVrgcAngeYCn/s4640/Alexandrine-parakeet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alexandrine-parakeet" border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="2610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_atJ3Qbzt7lYBrc9UKpfY5yUUsM0-3yPngZ90RchAgaR13j20XhWv7OFksxQFoWa22UEnmPH9jrtGqkqLaIYnwAQWrKVesLe-vQBmA4YV7eKmYXyiQc6pCRN9WhNPuSHlQBenICVWkX7KYgTumy2Z_HMXXST9WAqFrVUon3yHVrgcAngeYCn/w225-h400/Alexandrine-parakeet.jpg" title="Alexandrine Parakeet" width="225" /></a><br /><b>Alexandrine Parakeet</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After spending the first hour at the park, we headed north to Oropos Lagoon, one of the largest wetlands around the city. <b>Black-winged Stilts </b>have recently arrived and they were establishing their territories. He had nice views of impressive Flamingos, Sandwich Terns, Shovelers and Mallards. Jane's targets were also Little Egret, Kentish Plover, we managed to get those two pretty easily. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBqe3prhgc1RB7NlyliPvTMEb9yg24iMk0EKDNSflqFCc8P9cA7beWgDQ2JoljTZTJg0L-egqJJ0yblsnRJFxAyPqGYxzN4EEAkKQdiNQX0RDAZRNrAbWOmtpGfWfgKuNYmZbeN8-hPdTawT0RCd5n4RtdRumRlAvoVAF5hWyjNg0vnvgyQOj/s2746/black-winged-stilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black-winged-stilt" border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="2450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBqe3prhgc1RB7NlyliPvTMEb9yg24iMk0EKDNSflqFCc8P9cA7beWgDQ2JoljTZTJg0L-egqJJ0yblsnRJFxAyPqGYxzN4EEAkKQdiNQX0RDAZRNrAbWOmtpGfWfgKuNYmZbeN8-hPdTawT0RCd5n4RtdRumRlAvoVAF5hWyjNg0vnvgyQOj/w358-h400/black-winged-stilt.jpg" title="Black-winged Stilt" width="358" /></a><br /><b>Black-winged Stilt</b> at Oropos Lagoon</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUtgk2MJx9qoRVIZu06kdVQvZWLf7bzRndWA-SWhbDdI89ty-4MyBj1q1NtOkOqtg2GtkBbLVAjKj8o8w1kaG2rQVDJjeSBd31-V4BMURQDIHosdzzdJpuMiym6DxrHBcNjWdurVdr-Xa4PvvHP9yRoaosAA9QjipWP98ckD-qwms9Agih6_e/s3217/flamingo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="greater-flamingo" border="0" data-original-height="3217" data-original-width="2390" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUtgk2MJx9qoRVIZu06kdVQvZWLf7bzRndWA-SWhbDdI89ty-4MyBj1q1NtOkOqtg2GtkBbLVAjKj8o8w1kaG2rQVDJjeSBd31-V4BMURQDIHosdzzdJpuMiym6DxrHBcNjWdurVdr-Xa4PvvHP9yRoaosAA9QjipWP98ckD-qwms9Agih6_e/w298-h400/flamingo.jpg" title="Greater Flamingos" width="298" /></a><br /><b>Greater Flamingos</b><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8T4XdgRqqE80dP8tiI_8F5-ZPpkk4Y8aBwYVjioQv1-HCo36g_EqSdm9YHgl5YZEJ-2ORiwnH3jlayoaex66OB6op8B6p8aDwe2V3qouahGfAGPD_TkDpiyqhW-8r0x5rOAyqjGBDONTmjmBr9yCLZsQkYCLJm8UduNOt1gKaJyM6pYsqNax/s2703/kentish-plover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kentish-plover" border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="2568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8T4XdgRqqE80dP8tiI_8F5-ZPpkk4Y8aBwYVjioQv1-HCo36g_EqSdm9YHgl5YZEJ-2ORiwnH3jlayoaex66OB6op8B6p8aDwe2V3qouahGfAGPD_TkDpiyqhW-8r0x5rOAyqjGBDONTmjmBr9yCLZsQkYCLJm8UduNOt1gKaJyM6pYsqNax/w380-h400/kentish-plover.jpg" title="Kentish Plover" width="380" /></a><br /><b>Kentish Plovers</b> are residents at Oropos Lagoon<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Among the flocks of Dunlins, Little Stints, and Black-bellied Plovers, we spotted a polvet that looks smaller, more light color: it was a <b>Golden Plover</b>, a highlight bird for Attica region. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjWZHqAqbMlZKFuw5tZ2omvQMKUJQ3QdsW13WeCOr60_TstKD2-5kX-k0Wj2TFh4D-ZKH-TZLd0VPlqDTDJKKOWkpLUPv84lGpqwuqHWxPGkk02VIfuavhqx1lxnGpTntRerT0mwx1vxpuIjG_Rm8i2pI65pheDbdHAJbSIbzv4u0R6wtNvLR/s2610/plovers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2454" data-original-width="2610" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjWZHqAqbMlZKFuw5tZ2omvQMKUJQ3QdsW13WeCOr60_TstKD2-5kX-k0Wj2TFh4D-ZKH-TZLd0VPlqDTDJKKOWkpLUPv84lGpqwuqHWxPGkk02VIfuavhqx1lxnGpTntRerT0mwx1vxpuIjG_Rm8i2pI65pheDbdHAJbSIbzv4u0R6wtNvLR/s320/plovers.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />A <b>Golden Plover </b>next to a group <br />of Black-bellied Plovers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We move to Asopos river, where we spotted a <b>Kingfisher</b>, another lifer for Jane, however the bird did not gave us too many chances to enjoy, flying fast between the reeds. Later on, our final destination was Avlona hills, in an attempt to find colorful <b>Cirl Bunting</b>. Indeed, we tryied hard but finally managed to see the birds, a couple of males with striking yellow-black pattern. Finally, we spotted a nice singing <b>Eastern Subalpine Warbler</b>, next to the little chapel of Avlona.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overall we saw the following 62 species during our birdwatching tour around Athens.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mute Swans<br />Greater Flamingo<br />Mallard<br />Shoveler<br />Moorhen<br />Coot<br />Greylag Goose (feral)<br />Muscovy Dusk (feral)<br />Little Egret<br />Great White Egret<br />Black-crowned Night Heron<br />Eurasian Curlew<br />Black-winged Stilt<br />Little Stint<br />Ringed Plover<br />Kentish Plover<br />Black-bellied Plover<br />Golden Plover<br />Redshank<br />Sandwich Tern<br />Black-headed Gull<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Alexandrine Parakeet<br />Ring-necked Parakeet<br />Common Kestrel<br />Marsh Harrier<br />Common Buzzard<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Collared Dove<br />Hooded Crow<br />Magpie<br />Scops Owl<br />Hoopoe<br />Barn Swallow<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />Great Tit<br />Coal Tit<br />Long-tailed Tit<br />Penduline Tit<br />Zitting Cisticola<br />Crested Lark<br />Eurasian Robin<br />Stonechat<br />White Wagtail<br />Water Pipit<br />Red-throated Pipit<br />Meadow Pipit<br />White Wagtail<br />Zitting Cisticola<br />Blackcap<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Eastern Subalpine Warbler<br />Siskin<br />Serin<br />Goldfinch<br />Greenfinch<br />Cirl Bunting</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comOropioi 190 15, Greece38.3032384 23.75488149.9930045638211524 -11.401368600000001 66.613472236178836 58.9111314tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-66386475551736315472024-03-13T14:31:00.002+02:002024-03-13T14:31:33.127+02:00Athens recent birding highlight: Bluethroat <h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For years, the Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) was a nemesis bird for the majority of Athenian birders. The very few birds recorded were either shy or stayed for a brief period of time and birds were either immature or had worn, post-breeding plumage. </span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnrT5H1YqLaYfTLf3FbJ6jkmesorfw-N6wGlHnUZOj3fJceKUWDFBXPbZHLLJgZtJCG1Qdqpn4_1U5c4xM_heukkLq25DOQmDWanASAHEJvQxnEB2xeuEYbzlpArdiWRxALnF2KdTqejR2vc9yHmsKJ0j-tW1FhtFiRNrJ5a_BtS5s6kO2Vc/s3954/IMG_0133-topaz-enhance-1.9x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="singing-bluethroat-athens" border="0" data-original-height="3043" data-original-width="3954" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnrT5H1YqLaYfTLf3FbJ6jkmesorfw-N6wGlHnUZOj3fJceKUWDFBXPbZHLLJgZtJCG1Qdqpn4_1U5c4xM_heukkLq25DOQmDWanASAHEJvQxnEB2xeuEYbzlpArdiWRxALnF2KdTqejR2vc9yHmsKJ0j-tW1FhtFiRNrJ5a_BtS5s6kO2Vc/w400-h308/IMG_0133-topaz-enhance-1.9x.jpg" title="Singing Bluethroat around Athens" width="400" /></a><br />A striking singing Bluethroat, at Vravrona wetland</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This all changed, however, last week when a striking male was found at <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/vravrona-wetland.html">Vravrona Wetland</a>, on March 10th 2024; not only did it expose itself easily, it also started singing, something noone had ever experienced before. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIevf7oomywCm7fRNa2KzONBwot6pTO2SvVGDOmUmzpPwTkiM5cknwctgSUQ9kiCcufdh1KDmmUwT93EawtipMS7wg4saPkA1FGzIuUr1E6OtfNU767pr7Fmgj7ji-YRHR8ij4YvGyrCMcP106vgS8aLHfpBtBdFGMksvstF2eT08OchnIloo/s2692/IMG_9972_2-topaz-sharpen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bluethroat-luscinia-svecica" border="0" data-original-height="2692" data-original-width="2071" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIevf7oomywCm7fRNa2KzONBwot6pTO2SvVGDOmUmzpPwTkiM5cknwctgSUQ9kiCcufdh1KDmmUwT93EawtipMS7wg4saPkA1FGzIuUr1E6OtfNU767pr7Fmgj7ji-YRHR8ij4YvGyrCMcP106vgS8aLHfpBtBdFGMksvstF2eT08OchnIloo/w308-h400/IMG_9972_2-topaz-sharpen.jpg" title="Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)" width="308" /></a><br />Bluethroat at Vravrona Wetland</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Lefteris Stavrakashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096870350390009945noreply@blogger.comVravrona 190 03, Greece37.9191474 24.01166359.6089135638211545 -11.144586499999999 66.229381236178853 59.1679135tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-88705915348411627382024-03-08T23:04:00.002+02:002024-03-08T23:04:46.292+02:00Athens Birding Tour, Spring 2024<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Athens Birding Tour, March 2nd-3rd 2024</span></h1><h3 style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a brief account of our weekend birdwatching expedition around Athens in March. With the arrival of the first spring migrants, including the Isabelline Wheatear, Great Spotted Cuckoo, and Black-headed Wagtails, alongside lingering winter residents like the Firecrest, Black Redstart, and Eastern Yellow Wagtail (a first record for Greece), our anticipation was high.</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1P6y90sNLCKZRun_8FX2Xk6YAr8E7YI2xlCfcdGSfTPFitWTJxDSlP_PuoIbh7eSmQZHW4YEYzKyyKm5ER2NjXeiqd7h0jIr966VY71RqMXOANwJ94MS6fRsgeB5XmNRHuheFFhIzsZEzCiuZJPikF9Ap7sFK96Jd9fGe_nhR1Af76Oe2x1V/s1667/black-headed-gull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><img alt="black-headed-gull" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1667" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1P6y90sNLCKZRun_8FX2Xk6YAr8E7YI2xlCfcdGSfTPFitWTJxDSlP_PuoIbh7eSmQZHW4YEYzKyyKm5ER2NjXeiqd7h0jIr966VY71RqMXOANwJ94MS6fRsgeB5XmNRHuheFFhIzsZEzCiuZJPikF9Ap7sFK96Jd9fGe_nhR1Af76Oe2x1V/w400-h259/black-headed-gull.JPG" title="Black-headed Gull at Tritsis Park" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Black-headed Gull at Tritsis Park</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfAinHoURTcBStBZfWiMpruJ8tpP4cdc2AGoZ3di2v8d-BOAlgj6_wJTSKdDoXOZVtdrNxtQ1JJ1wSDmK6T0E26vTiXxx6NmN8fbq6LB8MOC2DnZw3BJIMjxLx01wZiNaB_4lHFGWSB4NvJMaSDp1EPDxfDgfVv3IDcmYMV_V4N5DRBA6RML/s1620/alexandrine-parakeet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><img alt="alexandrine-parakeets" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfAinHoURTcBStBZfWiMpruJ8tpP4cdc2AGoZ3di2v8d-BOAlgj6_wJTSKdDoXOZVtdrNxtQ1JJ1wSDmK6T0E26vTiXxx6NmN8fbq6LB8MOC2DnZw3BJIMjxLx01wZiNaB_4lHFGWSB4NvJMaSDp1EPDxfDgfVv3IDcmYMV_V4N5DRBA6RML/w400-h266/alexandrine-parakeet.JPG" title="Alexandrine Parakeets" width="400" /></a><br />Alexandrine Parakeets at Tritsis Park</span></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We commenced our journey on Saturday, March 2nd at Tritsis Metropolitan Park. The tranquility of the early morning made birdwatching a delightful and serene experience. Along the banks of the large lake, we spotted Black-headed Gulls, Mallards, Teal, and Cormorants. The small colony of nesting Night Herons was also active. Around the park, we encountered numerous pairs of Rose-ringed Parakeets and Alexandrine Parakeets, busy constructing their nests. Among the olive orchards, we observed flocks of Chaffinches and Goldfinches while hearing the melodious calls of Firecrests, Sardinian Warblers, and Song Thrushes.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vuoWGf1Tz9n0660vNWwntN-q2cybzcm5PNDpq1Q1J49fsIpCI2INv51g_-SQWLe3log1rwLKATkRh-fsEBfK2nWJSsp67gYgbynzuFWdAFRwM2D2TTxY3ZW3r5zRIxvpdPJKkMbZSk8wn_KNi7RsEy6Pq20tMPqJiPt4ca9EKW1jmxIz_0TR/s1620/coal-tit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coal-tit" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vuoWGf1Tz9n0660vNWwntN-q2cybzcm5PNDpq1Q1J49fsIpCI2INv51g_-SQWLe3log1rwLKATkRh-fsEBfK2nWJSsp67gYgbynzuFWdAFRwM2D2TTxY3ZW3r5zRIxvpdPJKkMbZSk8wn_KNi7RsEy6Pq20tMPqJiPt4ca9EKW1jmxIz_0TR/w400-h266/coal-tit.JPG" title="Coat Tit" width="400" /></a>
Coat Tit</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZyqP05KbaJB7JUWHWYEobL69ZIt7urqZhflnNOKZufUZm4MTxPRYOlEwDO8tQC3kYanQdLgcBGBWmyImGQ8LoGDSyyLMFnKkAJ-9YhjkBVlLSBx2j77v9GN0fcIwfYXDWYWl6MiTPL5VD8LjsJcwMANsFWlV-zffPBCX-f3S5SdcELftW7ZH/s1620/firecrest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="firecrest" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZyqP05KbaJB7JUWHWYEobL69ZIt7urqZhflnNOKZufUZm4MTxPRYOlEwDO8tQC3kYanQdLgcBGBWmyImGQ8LoGDSyyLMFnKkAJ-9YhjkBVlLSBx2j77v9GN0fcIwfYXDWYWl6MiTPL5VD8LjsJcwMANsFWlV-zffPBCX-f3S5SdcELftW7ZH/w400-h266/firecrest.JPG" title="Firecrest" width="400" /></a>
Firecrest</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPAyREiaZJgL1KwOuu29pFoddRZd1RviCS39miUii96Fjui7x4BgBAMTa3XlSkqHD39g-2DrvFp1EJAhVDLKki7p8wMEwThyphenhyphenXt9-nfssms43WLSUVOxz0P0-UNCKgr_m81flMBxzgZNV1F8oGam0VMEcdNaYsTDVIJGN_RLvEx385misGhKn/s1080/hooded-crow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hooded-crows" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPAyREiaZJgL1KwOuu29pFoddRZd1RviCS39miUii96Fjui7x4BgBAMTa3XlSkqHD39g-2DrvFp1EJAhVDLKki7p8wMEwThyphenhyphenXt9-nfssms43WLSUVOxz0P0-UNCKgr_m81flMBxzgZNV1F8oGam0VMEcdNaYsTDVIJGN_RLvEx385misGhKn/w266-h400/hooded-crow.JPG" title="Hooded Crows" width="266" /></a>
Hooded Crows</span></div><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our journey then took us eastward to Spata fields, where we hoped to catch sight of the first spring migrants. Although we heard the distinctive calls of Great Spotted Cuckoos, we were unable to get a clear view of them. However, we were delighted by the presence of three Isabelline Wheatears, undoubtedly a highlight sighting for Athens. Serins, Zitting Cisticolas, and Goldfinches accompanied us along the fields, along with Stonechats, Sardinian Warblers, Eurasian Jays, and Robins.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EVnT8S5YCJZ9phMH9QRBZ2CLq6mFOxuvXtpq4qThKOdeV0JKf0PTPX56kRvooktbaqinPscMx3oRu-C3GXwnq2oJZV9a_hZ_Vhq_aeAGUPHbPoAWbcfXlzPYedYZKISff9UpdS_tjoashqJzXPx_3t-pf3VVNW8i3RuWXOu-PAOSJZTDP6q2/s1620/isabelline-wheatear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="isabelline-wheatear-oenanthe-isabellina" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EVnT8S5YCJZ9phMH9QRBZ2CLq6mFOxuvXtpq4qThKOdeV0JKf0PTPX56kRvooktbaqinPscMx3oRu-C3GXwnq2oJZV9a_hZ_Vhq_aeAGUPHbPoAWbcfXlzPYedYZKISff9UpdS_tjoashqJzXPx_3t-pf3VVNW8i3RuWXOu-PAOSJZTDP6q2/w400-h266/isabelline-wheatear.JPG" title="Isabelline Wheatear" width="400" /></a>
Isabelline Wheatear, a special migrant
at Spata fields</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPliNEASjS9yP93to_xOyndHjBW9LGDL2X4Jt8xVOoL3jyFR7XdZFjXPGMubtm3__9MFPSb3SENAWI0LKQH9fU_0Juo9AmgOl1yu9bK5ze3XC2x5uno743m2qiHKKbLikSz1M0RCGB72Uz5dKUNb7GRMMUmkpO86BxDXii-gtC4mIFmOUSk_cT/s1837/white-wagtail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="white-wagtail" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1837" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPliNEASjS9yP93to_xOyndHjBW9LGDL2X4Jt8xVOoL3jyFR7XdZFjXPGMubtm3__9MFPSb3SENAWI0LKQH9fU_0Juo9AmgOl1yu9bK5ze3XC2x5uno743m2qiHKKbLikSz1M0RCGB72Uz5dKUNb7GRMMUmkpO86BxDXii-gtC4mIFmOUSk_cT/w400-h235/white-wagtail.JPG" title="White Wagtail" width="400" /></a>
White Wagtail</span></div><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoA_-sgusf_MjVbjqiyCvwB8YU1FpfUNB7gaiSaGKjy18ufwcMj8He8FhCQWZLRH92dnMKdL-8i-5bsRPgtvpwF61VrBjSfp0vPn1fS8fJA5VXweMU-I6NTd1O7cFHRKUjeD8YoJj78sJM9ZWMmsTNTs9OO9fEvtfmTcT4cIA0YVOj7Ba0PdX/s1620/himantoglossum-robertianum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Giant-Orchid-Himantoglossum-robertianum" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoA_-sgusf_MjVbjqiyCvwB8YU1FpfUNB7gaiSaGKjy18ufwcMj8He8FhCQWZLRH92dnMKdL-8i-5bsRPgtvpwF61VrBjSfp0vPn1fS8fJA5VXweMU-I6NTd1O7cFHRKUjeD8YoJj78sJM9ZWMmsTNTs9OO9fEvtfmTcT4cIA0YVOj7Ba0PdX/w400-h266/himantoglossum-robertianum.JPG" title="Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum)" width="400" /></a>
Giant Orchid (<i>Himantoglossum robertianum</i>)</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With limited time on Saturday, we saved the rest of Eastern Attica for Sunday. We arrived early at a small park within Schinias National Park, known as a breeding ground for Great Spotted Cuckoos. This time, we were fortunate to spot two or three birds, exhibiting playful behavior as they attempted to settle on Magpies' nests to lay their eggs. Two Hoopoes flew swiftly before us, marking the first sightings of the year.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next destination was the Olympic Rowing Center, where the resident population of Ferruginous Ducks thrives around the wetlands, making it a significant bird area for Athens. Surprisingly, we encountered only a few raptors, including a Marsh Harrier, several Common Kestrels, and a Sparrowhawk. Reed Buntings seemed to be departing the area, with only one striking male spotted.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1P8ptfvGKQYATC8tVgs7BG494fN_wcK3k2_l5WOT7ROTMp7F-eQ_3C-rdg8UM_nZ1zKIgnWejHoQhd_NnQrjUJXT9ArCQlfHTxdcM3bQATMgr5MwdfP2zZVVX79XeZbCBxHRAZ0tRt6ko5Z89dhxXHN5m1OST6hZcjB2dSXBnDw9NKjswTHj/s1728/sardinian-warbler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sardinian-Warbler" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1728" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1P8ptfvGKQYATC8tVgs7BG494fN_wcK3k2_l5WOT7ROTMp7F-eQ_3C-rdg8UM_nZ1zKIgnWejHoQhd_NnQrjUJXT9ArCQlfHTxdcM3bQATMgr5MwdfP2zZVVX79XeZbCBxHRAZ0tRt6ko5Z89dhxXHN5m1OST6hZcjB2dSXBnDw9NKjswTHj/w400-h250/sardinian-warbler.JPG" title="Sardinian Warbler" width="400" /></a>
Sardinian Warbler</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGga2qkSr1pYDUSu4pgOdgtCypl7Kfzsn8EwgpvTRZZmX3dzBYnrJ1Zs2fECK9mtkf_FDUmAx1YQEDVfP8oTb2jFF9SmR1sR5BF6CvLtExfUlVXIjv2HOJkz-LGSJrJUIItuJE_ZnyKC8upPTq6ga-uq9B_lNaagxUYG28TxZ3P4poRUbgJrU/s1728/mallard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mallard" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1728" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGga2qkSr1pYDUSu4pgOdgtCypl7Kfzsn8EwgpvTRZZmX3dzBYnrJ1Zs2fECK9mtkf_FDUmAx1YQEDVfP8oTb2jFF9SmR1sR5BF6CvLtExfUlVXIjv2HOJkz-LGSJrJUIItuJE_ZnyKC8upPTq6ga-uq9B_lNaagxUYG28TxZ3P4poRUbgJrU/w400-h250/mallard.JPG" title="mallard" width="400" /></a>
Mallard</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It turned out to be a day dominated by wagtails, as we observed three species from this family of birds. The most abundant were the wintering White Wagtails, complemented by sightings of the first Black-headed Wagtails and the Eastern Yellow Wagtail, a recent 1st record for Greece established a couple of months ago.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to birds, the trip offered glimpses of wild orchids, with blooming Giant Orchids (Himantoglossum robertianum) adorning the pine forest. Upon closer inspection, we also discovered Sawfly Orchids (Ophrys tenthredinifera) and Horseshoe Bee Orchids (Ophrys ferrum-equinum) scattered on the ground.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQk2uTXSQ_ilblVxvpVCi8I6Mmkons32ocowtdN0tx2140VpGxyFjxMvQUWN0LOXiZCwXWE-Mnnto4jE4grWp2aIUaPXLOiZ_KDg3G2oXzFFwuxciZCtIYMJnjyl0NI1HdiwBNOustIdAOfXdNjf1i6Y_dea9Ni0DGYNhMMFVyMlGTScaW8Mw/s1080/giant-orchid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum)" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQk2uTXSQ_ilblVxvpVCi8I6Mmkons32ocowtdN0tx2140VpGxyFjxMvQUWN0LOXiZCwXWE-Mnnto4jE4grWp2aIUaPXLOiZ_KDg3G2oXzFFwuxciZCtIYMJnjyl0NI1HdiwBNOustIdAOfXdNjf1i6Y_dea9Ni0DGYNhMMFVyMlGTScaW8Mw/w266-h400/giant-orchid.JPG" title="Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum)" width="266" /></a>
Giant Orchid (<i>Himantoglossum robertianum</i>)
</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, our excitement was tempered by the encounter with an injured Little Owl. The frightened bird sought refuge in a pile of wood near the main bird observatory. Fortunately, one of the women in our group had extensive experience in rescuing wild birds from her work at a rehabilitation center. We quickly located a cardboard box and transported the bird to the rescue center, hoping for its eventual recovery.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bird List, March 2nd & 3rd</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mallard<br />Eurasian Teal<br />Ferruginous Duck<br />Little Grebe<br />Feral Pigeon<br />Collared Dove<br />Great Spotted Cuckoo<br />Hoopoe<br />Moorhen<br />Coot<br />Black-winged Stilt<br />Black-headed Gull<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Rose-ringed Parakeet<br />Alexandrine Parakeet<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Hooded Crow<br />Magpie<br />Common Kestrel<br />Common Buzzard<br />Sparrowhawk<br />Little Owl<br />Penduline Tit<br />Blue Tit<br />Great Tit<br />Crested Lark<br />Zitting Cisticola<br />Chiffchaff<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Blackcap<br />Firecrest<br />Starling<br />Robin<br />Blackbird<br />Sond Thrush<br />Isabelline Wheatear<br />Stonechat<br />Grey Wagtail<br />White Wagtail<br />Black-headed Wagtail<br />Eastern Yellow Wagtail<br />Meadon Pipit<br />Chaffinch<br />Goldfinch<br />Serin<br />Corn Bunting<br />Reed Bunting</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comSchinias 190 07, Greece38.1510588 24.00393939.8408249638211558 -11.152310700000001 66.461292636178854 59.1601893tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-70534698409923493732024-02-21T10:35:00.002+02:002024-02-21T10:35:34.585+02:00MEGA Rarity: Olive-backed Pipit, new for Greece<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">First Record of <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b> in Greece, February 2nd, 2024</span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVDd-uCHB99LddFcYo_ZP0bOZJyGn0N-7mhhVYr-bAAaiKuRbwyQAU_boDJdPbP8XCIe7rqyTrK0fjQO4zNeeahSQavbJLMsQ7-nIOqYv2Oxqlrv_GjFuy8PLTm7K0fjKYBvBGykG2BwH0ryE6XwJEohWWh5s5a6KG1WzgY1CBmVWWCxbGio6mQ/s3950/olive-backed-pipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Olive-tree-pipits" border="0" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="3950" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVDd-uCHB99LddFcYo_ZP0bOZJyGn0N-7mhhVYr-bAAaiKuRbwyQAU_boDJdPbP8XCIe7rqyTrK0fjQO4zNeeahSQavbJLMsQ7-nIOqYv2Oxqlrv_GjFuy8PLTm7K0fjKYBvBGykG2BwH0ryE6XwJEohWWh5s5a6KG1WzgY1CBmVWWCxbGio6mQ/w400-h308/olive-backed-pipit.jpg" title="Olive-tree-pipits" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Olive-tree Pipits </b>(<i>Anthus hodgsoni</i>), a new record for Greece</span></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another addition to Greece's avian records emerges with the recent sighting of <b>Olive-backed Pipit</b> (<i>Anthus hodgsoni</i>), following the recent discovery of the <b><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/10/mega-rarity-sabines-gull-at-lake.html">Sabine's Gull </a></b>(Kerkini, October 2nd) and the <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/12/new-species-for-greece-eastern-yellow.html"><b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> </a>(Schinias, Attica, December 29th).</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This time, two individuals of the <b>Olive-tree Pipit </b>were observed for the first time in our country, in a forest in Ioannina on February 2nd. Naturally, the news spread instantly, so the team of Greece Bird Tours run for this challenging twitch.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As birdwatchers, bird photographers and birding tours continue to increase in number, so too will the list of bird species observed in Greece expand.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comIoannina, Greece39.665028800000009 20.853746611.354794963821163 -14.302503399999999 67.975262636178854 56.0099966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-47171586917242658682024-02-21T10:15:00.002+02:002024-02-21T10:17:26.541+02:00Δασοκελάδα: νέος είδος πουλιού για την Ελλάδα!<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Πρώτη πανελλήνια καταγραφή Δασοκελάδας, Φεβρουάριος 2024</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOTClXMb-jzNz4ciRE-e2JIl1SSD6YUg5nHgeQmwxXr_LDrj9xFB4q8JJubFBXNhn5MWkJVxQ4KvgicLNzIMdYTz9_FnmTqUBKKPSdXV0vanhBUUkuob3PbiZkYGFxBRGB3w2O3_7WGJX_7zN0fknA3qRc-XEbJDZ3kRF0EVgnAnfOYvA0uNutw/s3950/anthus-hodgsoni_greece.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="dasokelada-anthus-hodgsoni" border="0" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="3950" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOTClXMb-jzNz4ciRE-e2JIl1SSD6YUg5nHgeQmwxXr_LDrj9xFB4q8JJubFBXNhn5MWkJVxQ4KvgicLNzIMdYTz9_FnmTqUBKKPSdXV0vanhBUUkuob3PbiZkYGFxBRGB3w2O3_7WGJX_7zN0fknA3qRc-XEbJDZ3kRF0EVgnAnfOYvA0uNutw/w400-h308/anthus-hodgsoni_greece.jpg" title="Δασοκελάδα (Anthus hodgsoni) στα Γιάννενα" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Δασοκελάδες</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><b> </b>(</span><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Anthus hodgsoni</i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)<br />Πρώτη καταγραφή για την Ελλάδα!</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Μία ακόμα καταγραφή ενός <b>νέου είδους για την Ελλάδα</b>, έρχεται να προστεθεί μετά τον πρόσφατο <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/10/mega-rarity-sabines-gull-at-lake.html">Χελιδονόγλαρο </a>(Κερκίνη, 2 Οκτωβρίου) και την <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/12/new-species-for-greece-eastern-yellow.html">Ανατολική Κιτρινοσουσουράδα</a> (Σχινιάς Αττικής, 29 Δεκεμβρίου). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Αυτή τη φορά 2 άτομα από το είδος <b>Δασοκελάδα</b> (<i>Anthus hodgsoni</i>) παρατηρήθηκαν για πρώτη φορά στη χώρα μας σε δάσος των Ιωαννίνων στις 2 Φεβρουαρίου. Όπως ήταν φυσικό, τα νέα διαδόθηκαν γρήγορα, και οι συνεργάτες της Greece Bird Tours έσπευσαν να αποθανατίσουν φωτογραφικά το νέο αυτό είδος για την περιοχή μας. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Όσο αυξάνονται οι παρατηρητές πουλιών και φωτογράφοι πουλιών, τόσο η λίστα με τα είδη πουλιών της Ελλάδας θα μεγαλώνει. </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Σπύρος Σκαρέας</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comIoannina, Greece39.665028800000009 20.853746611.354794963821163 -14.302503399999999 67.975262636178854 56.0099966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-75154835954292098892024-01-29T10:33:00.001+02:002024-01-30T08:45:48.273+02:00Παρατήρηση πουλιών στον Ωρωπό<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Εκδρομή birdwatching στην Αττική</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Ερωδιοί, πάπιες, αρπακτικά και φλαμίγκο, σε μ</span>όλις 45 λεπτά από το κέντρο της Αθήνας. Η λιμνοθάλασσα Ωρωπού είναι ιδανικός προορισμός για μία ημερήσια εκδρομή για παρατήρηση πουλιών κοντά στην μεγαλούπολη. Δείτε παρακάτω πόσο όμορφα μπορεί να εξελιχθεί μία τέτοια πρωινή βόλτα, ειδικά όταν υπάρχει καλή παρέα και θετική διάθεση!</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfd0YpIc9iqRmoHZR33fqML7ov8L7fEKUA9aooBwYoY9BPUlkvqlimbHFm4TCGBZ8dKI11R7u5rw88K8tBJOpUG8qBYyPlil06NPouDOctq_lFuhBuirJNQPPuNpw-NUoRsSe3k9XKINqky6dRmyvtJ63bOWKMzKU53joAFnbCV415Kq5nAJlEQ/s3402/paratirisi-poylion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="paratirisi-poulion-oropos" border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="3402" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfd0YpIc9iqRmoHZR33fqML7ov8L7fEKUA9aooBwYoY9BPUlkvqlimbHFm4TCGBZ8dKI11R7u5rw88K8tBJOpUG8qBYyPlil06NPouDOctq_lFuhBuirJNQPPuNpw-NUoRsSe3k9XKINqky6dRmyvtJ63bOWKMzKU53joAFnbCV415Kq5nAJlEQ/w400-h233/paratirisi-poylion.jpg" title="Παρατήρηση πουλιών στον Ωρωπό" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Παρατήρηση πουλιών</b> στη Λιμνοθάλασσα Ωρωπού</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ξεκινήσαμε λοιπόν από τη Σκάλα Ωρωπού, το μικρό λιμάνι που συνδέει την Αττική με την Ερέτρια της Εύβοιας. Το σημείο είναι εξαιρετικό για να παρατηρήσουμε διάφορα είδη γλάρων. Αρχικά μελετήσαμε τους <b>Καστανοκέφαλους Γλάρους</b>, σε σύγκριση με τους πιο γνωστούς και κοινούς <b>Ασημόγλαρους</b>. Τα πουλιά αυτά συχνάζουν κοντά στο λιμάνι και η παρατήρησή τους είναι πολύ εύκολη. Στην παραλία που ξεκινά λίγο παρακάτω, είδαμε και ένα 3ο είδος γλάρου, τον <b>Μαυροκέφαλο</b>, που ξεχωρίζει με μία πιο προσεκτική ματιά από τον <b>Καστανοκέφαλο</b>.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTXLj_PAxD7n8R8cv5__fKK5PHYHqP_ubVGV8mYOIbIUsjFFIXbZ0ja33IEbnw0ODnyCR_MMZuJRg1CoNDKqdCJo2rn1rFwX-ToOsX7dcGjArvovv4TVi6XxitrNnkJRJXIA11aCh04Nl9Dun1uK1fMIxncrqct2-v5JIK_4ICze6DjjQYBz4RQ/s1600/kastanokefalos-glaros.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kastanokefalos-glaros" border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTXLj_PAxD7n8R8cv5__fKK5PHYHqP_ubVGV8mYOIbIUsjFFIXbZ0ja33IEbnw0ODnyCR_MMZuJRg1CoNDKqdCJo2rn1rFwX-ToOsX7dcGjArvovv4TVi6XxitrNnkJRJXIA11aCh04Nl9Dun1uK1fMIxncrqct2-v5JIK_4ICze6DjjQYBz4RQ/w400-h266/kastanokefalos-glaros.jpg" title="Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος εν πτήση" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος </b>σε χαμηλή πτήση πάνω από το νερό</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXXlBS2mupI7M9sY_vV3AqIKmYVtSC42K-uJ-Xjvh3sK2I6a5XF4FbGBwroRXVQcOdyIATh36tun_t4Ur9ON7BgbfLcsiHwpBFr6nGInXhm7m-6pHNxghUsySCEwrniKqR-zD_7FUW0bS-wz22-C48iSREEXkcDmWiNwCZk8Z7xV4qdOc9bxAwQ/s1440/kastakefalos-glaros.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kastanokefaloi-glaroi" border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXXlBS2mupI7M9sY_vV3AqIKmYVtSC42K-uJ-Xjvh3sK2I6a5XF4FbGBwroRXVQcOdyIATh36tun_t4Ur9ON7BgbfLcsiHwpBFr6nGInXhm7m-6pHNxghUsySCEwrniKqR-zD_7FUW0bS-wz22-C48iSREEXkcDmWiNwCZk8Z7xV4qdOc9bxAwQ/w400-h301/kastakefalos-glaros.jpg" title="Καστανοκέφαλοι Γλάροι στη Σκάλα Ωρωπού" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Καστανοκέφαλοι Γλάροι</b> στη Σκάλα Ωρωπού</span><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2VTdo2ggUhIMZCVjwuNkzZ4i_Gq8sDIneahrZ8X4lYY7nO4jjFcWfGHSiMEMHNUz78V6PdciA-HAbBDHU57srtQrPevygjvZermg6kE4-bAzGE0tg0lLDqNTySgaKKNYcTSlP1WDIwei1KTrJQlJ3LA7RgICY_-uxLglhnHFdnnrsurMjMnw6w/s1440/flamingo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="flamigos-ptisi" border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2VTdo2ggUhIMZCVjwuNkzZ4i_Gq8sDIneahrZ8X4lYY7nO4jjFcWfGHSiMEMHNUz78V6PdciA-HAbBDHU57srtQrPevygjvZermg6kE4-bAzGE0tg0lLDqNTySgaKKNYcTSlP1WDIwei1KTrJQlJ3LA7RgICY_-uxLglhnHFdnnrsurMjMnw6w/w400-h301/flamingo.jpg" title="Φλαμίνγκο σε πτήση" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Φοινικόπτερα</b> σε πτήση</span><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHdL-0AqZ7_9mWZ6-hHHoZdJ2aY6DX7921pHedGcclvacvcHU9Jxi6kFJKaRvSSKEIbeb7r1THobF82g8cYLz_HeSvpRuQztFKXf_S7iV63wQfMwkdWt0keaj02yeuXaWyOIkiMftFmpEJWqgMAgAYevJkaZI9rf6IrtGfkOykmQjAhmYdSUGeQ/s1600/kirkiria.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kirkiria-zeygari" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHdL-0AqZ7_9mWZ6-hHHoZdJ2aY6DX7921pHedGcclvacvcHU9Jxi6kFJKaRvSSKEIbeb7r1THobF82g8cYLz_HeSvpRuQztFKXf_S7iV63wQfMwkdWt0keaj02yeuXaWyOIkiMftFmpEJWqgMAgAYevJkaZI9rf6IrtGfkOykmQjAhmYdSUGeQ/w300-h400/kirkiria.jpg" title="Ζευγάρι Κιρκίρια" width="300" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ένα ζευγάρι <b>Κιρκίρια</b><br />Θηλυκό (αριστερά), Αρσενικό (δεξιά)</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Συνεχίσαμε στο ανατολικό τμήμα του υγροτόπου, όπου τα αλμυρίκια παρέχουν καταφύγιο σε κάθε λογής μικρόπουλα όπως <b>Κοκκινολαίμηδες, Δενδροφυλλοσκόπους, Καλόγερους</b>, και άλλα. Στις διπλανές καλαμιές καταγράψαμε <b>Κιστικόλη</b>, μία <b>Γερακίνα</b> που είχε διαλέξει να σταθεί τους μεγάλους ευκαλύπτους, <b>Καρδερίνες </b>και <b>Σπίνους</b>. Είχαμε επίσης την ευκαιρία να διακρίνουμε τις διαφορές <b>Νεροκελάδας</b> και <b>Λιβαδοκελάδας</b>, όπως και τις 2 σουσουράδες της εποχής, τη <b>Λευκοσουσουράδα</b> και <b>Σταχτοσουρουράδα</b>. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHPlv2mikCUZABmeH1AcYMeTl98R1Ct6M7L36SA8OPkDKXgQ9n9M4UApNGy2rKopRFvrP3cV-ZKoHhiHxKdXpFEAPbJaz8-eSjRc-83ULG75M6Y3vTJqo-PtFQHYthCuWLS9RWPXOK9UnY04IhVhrE-PD-rG3BYLwkSQRVkEzjhXFid-XxW6Ozw/s1600/oropos-lagoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fotografisi-poylion" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHPlv2mikCUZABmeH1AcYMeTl98R1Ct6M7L36SA8OPkDKXgQ9n9M4UApNGy2rKopRFvrP3cV-ZKoHhiHxKdXpFEAPbJaz8-eSjRc-83ULG75M6Y3vTJqo-PtFQHYthCuWLS9RWPXOK9UnY04IhVhrE-PD-rG3BYLwkSQRVkEzjhXFid-XxW6Ozw/w400-h300/oropos-lagoon.jpg" title="Φωτογράφιση πουλιών" width="400" /></a><br />Φωτογραφίζοντας πουλιά στη Λιμνοθάλασσα Ωρωπού</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIb6fsRrP3GKCbveqPWDkj41fW92c6bWoZqkLIzrvkeaCFJz4kMEduXov-7sYgeIyk_a7_YZ7F5gjPWOWVyZQ6cYr4AOXHBSN0V7nhYV8mWtFqSCUBJLHNVVgBQ2etPKqYQayWOvXbc77j0uMcm-3BQelLBoh8JL9-eMqweruMGJRARiz5MQW_Q/s1440/kirkiri.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kirkiria-papies" border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIb6fsRrP3GKCbveqPWDkj41fW92c6bWoZqkLIzrvkeaCFJz4kMEduXov-7sYgeIyk_a7_YZ7F5gjPWOWVyZQ6cYr4AOXHBSN0V7nhYV8mWtFqSCUBJLHNVVgBQ2etPKqYQayWOvXbc77j0uMcm-3BQelLBoh8JL9-eMqweruMGJRARiz5MQW_Q/w400-h301/kirkiri.jpg" title="Κιρκίρι, ένα μικρόσωμο είδος πάπιας" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Κικρίρια,</b> ένα μικρόσωμο είδος πάπιας</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Περπατώντας περισσότερο προς τη λιμνοθάλασσα, τα <b>Κιρκίρια</b> έμοιαζαν ανενόχλητα, καθώς έχουν συνηθίσει την έντονη ανθρώπινη παρουσία. Κοιτάζοντας προσεκτικά στη θάλασσα, ένας γλάρος έμοιαζε λίγο διαφορετικός από τους <b>Καστανοκέφαλους</b>: ήταν ο πιο δυσεύρετος και σχετικά σπανιότερος <b>Λεπτόραμφος Γλάρος</b>, που το χειμώνα συχνάζει στην περιοχή. Ένα πραγματικά πανέμορφο είδος γλάρου που μας έδωσε την ευκαιρία να δούμε καλά με το τηλεσκόπιο, ένα απαραίτητο εργαλείο για την <b>παρατήρηση πουλιών</b>. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Η συνέχεια στην καρδιά της λιμνοθάλασσας ήταν ακόμα πιο εντυπωσιακή. Ένα κοπάδι από Φοινικόπτερα (τα γνωστά μας Φλαμίνγκο) έκαναν εντυπωσιακές εναέριες φιγούρες, πετώντας πάνω από το νερό. Το θέαμα ήταν πραγματικά μαγικό, το χρώμα αυτών των πουλιών και το ανάλαφρο πέταγμά τους τα κάνει μοναδικά. Ανάμεσά τους εκτός από <b>Κιρκίρια</b> υπήρχαν <b>Σφυριχτάρια</b>, <b>Χουλιαρόπαπιες, Πρασινοκέφαλες πάπιες, Βαρβάρες </b>και πολλά παρυδάτια πουλιά όπως <b>Κοκκινοσκέλης, Πρασινοσκέλης, Λασποσκαλίδρες</b>. Επίσης αμέτρητοι ερωδιοί, κυρίως <b>Σταχτοτσικνιάδες, Αργυροτσικνιάδες</b>, και μικροί <b>Λευκοτσικνιάδες</b>. Κατά μήκος της ακτής παρατηρήσαμε διάφορα είδη από μικρότερα παρυδάτια όπως <b>Αργυροπούλι, Χαλικοκυλιστής, Θαλασσοσφυριχτής</b>, και μία ανέμελη <b>Τουρλίδα</b> με το πελώριο κυρτό ράμφος να αναζητά τροφή στο μαλακό έδαφος. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N3YXB1RNfyXCGwTgcfHat6mmE2W789lmm1h9SVc6oOPPt85WERIXkM8JWBnEMmq1gR355gVK37RpKIeJuoW-P_kUTAA8rL31sgl5i-b2YfwOltoWczbYeRevH6F7g_rViaylabchzg9mq5j9LRkzAJMohWH-dAsdm_JBYvictc7hdUIBC1s6rg/s1600/flamingos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="flamingos" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_N3YXB1RNfyXCGwTgcfHat6mmE2W789lmm1h9SVc6oOPPt85WERIXkM8JWBnEMmq1gR355gVK37RpKIeJuoW-P_kUTAA8rL31sgl5i-b2YfwOltoWczbYeRevH6F7g_rViaylabchzg9mq5j9LRkzAJMohWH-dAsdm_JBYvictc7hdUIBC1s6rg/w300-h400/flamingos.jpg" title="Φλαμινγκο στον Ωρωπό" width="300" /></a><br /><b>Φοινικόπτερα (Φλαμίνγκο)</b> στη θάλασσα</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXUHef25a4EIfVmhm7LeVT1qrYu3dvXr51GRaIejU8hcYsinDwupLisREX2hxygVHgGO2i78yG_3y6P4pner9BaARLkdFZbgNRfa1IeENx7w9fMD53vyKa5ZBi8Qq_E23nyhMWBhKQTDuL9eeHGv5x7NoOFo1XTAVTPXItO0_GXEgG89_kJ4kBQ/s1600/tourlida.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="toyrlida" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXUHef25a4EIfVmhm7LeVT1qrYu3dvXr51GRaIejU8hcYsinDwupLisREX2hxygVHgGO2i78yG_3y6P4pner9BaARLkdFZbgNRfa1IeENx7w9fMD53vyKa5ZBi8Qq_E23nyhMWBhKQTDuL9eeHGv5x7NoOFo1XTAVTPXItO0_GXEgG89_kJ4kBQ/w300-h400/tourlida.jpg" title="Τουρλίδα μέσα από τηλεσκόπιο" width="300" /></a><br /><b>Τουρλίδα </b>μέσα από φακό του τηλεσκόπιου<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QJcJv475aDoSulSrfj3OA8nt6kNMzeTiFY7jCW-yz99uRUaHv5nBp73GVmeSoyS-B06tjAY9SvtehLSp4mAFZg2ULaULGGzWCv5D94HIfVbuzFlgCLI79WSQvKJpXlBpEZjQsLSWrO615hn8xzH-Qf5vxXHxhvt_rS4lGcg0ApdzjgtlnY2cPw/s1600/kirkiria.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QJcJv475aDoSulSrfj3OA8nt6kNMzeTiFY7jCW-yz99uRUaHv5nBp73GVmeSoyS-B06tjAY9SvtehLSp4mAFZg2ULaULGGzWCv5D94HIfVbuzFlgCLI79WSQvKJpXlBpEZjQsLSWrO615hn8xzH-Qf5vxXHxhvt_rS4lGcg0ApdzjgtlnY2cPw/s320/kirkiria.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Έτσι σε ένα ευχάριστο πρωινό στη λιμνοθάλασσα Ωρωπού, αναγνωρίσαμε 46 είδη πουλιών, και καταφέραμε πολλά από αυτά να τα φωτογραφίσουμε, είτε με φωτογραφικές μηχανές, είτε με κινητό τηλέφωνο μέσα από το τηλεσκόπιο. Κι όλα αυτά σε μόνο 3 ώρες </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25UwviAe67Vzerc7BsHzcmCFEzcPDtOdYQPoo5y6HM1XRCBahYLQn8jNcZcy84t8aJS7bYA8a_S_cg_eETHQGW7WF4i3Sd4GJ8nOLyezG4oNVvMq1zEqWZEb5y1iMrK3Q7zPTDKn9_I8OJTpdmUn8EIjCNSdzm96J4-oNWfpAL-G15XPtErVqkQ/s1600/greece-bird-tours-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="paratirites-poulion" border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25UwviAe67Vzerc7BsHzcmCFEzcPDtOdYQPoo5y6HM1XRCBahYLQn8jNcZcy84t8aJS7bYA8a_S_cg_eETHQGW7WF4i3Sd4GJ8nOLyezG4oNVvMq1zEqWZEb5y1iMrK3Q7zPTDKn9_I8OJTpdmUn8EIjCNSdzm96J4-oNWfpAL-G15XPtErVqkQ/w400-h300/greece-bird-tours-2.jpg" title="Παρατηρητές πουλιών" width="400" /></a><br />Παρατηρητές πουλιών εν δράση</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Η παρέα έδωσε ραντεβού για μία επόμενη εξόρμηση για <b>παρατήρηση πουλιών</b> σε διαφορετική περιοχή της Αττικής! Μείνετε συντονισμένοι!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Κορμοράνος<br />Νανοβουτηχτάρι<br />Βαρβάρα</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Κιρκίρι</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Πρασινοκέφαλη πάπια<br />Σφυριχτάρι<br />Χουλιαρόπαπια<br />Λευκοτσικνιάς<br />Αργυροτσικνιάς<br />Σταχτοτσικνιάς<br />Φοινικόπτερο<br />Γερακίνα<br />Βραχοκιρκίνεζο<br />Αργυροπούλι<br />Λασποσκαλίδρα<br />Θαλασσοσφυριχτής<br />Αμμοσφυριχτής<br />Χαλικοκυλιστής<br />Κοκκινοσκέλης<br />Πρασινοσκέλης<br />Ασημόγλαρος<br />Καστανοκέφαλος Γλάρος<br />Μαυροκέφαλος Γλάρος<br />Λεπτόραμφος Γλάρος<br />Χειμωνογλάρονο<br />Αγριοπερίστερο<br />Δεκαοχτούρα<br />Καρακάξα<br />Κατσουλιέρης<br />Σταχτοκουρούνα<br />Λιβαδοκελάδα<br />Νεροκελάδα<br />Σταχτοσουσουράδα<br />Λευκοσουσουράδα<br />Καλόγερος<br />Ψευταηδόνι (ήχος)<br />Δενδροφυλλοσκόπος<br />Μαυροτσιροβάκος (ήχος)<br />Μαυροσκούφης (ήχος)<br />Κιστικόλη<br />Κοκκινολαίμης<br />Μαυρολαίμης<br />Σπίνος<br />Καρδερίνα<br />Καλαμοτσίχλονο</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Σπύρος Σκαρέας</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comOropioi 190 15, Greece38.3032384 23.75488149.9930045638211524 -11.401368600000001 66.613472236178836 58.9111314tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-20169733558301953162023-12-01T12:00:00.002+02:002023-12-15T14:13:52.799+02:00New species for Greece: Eastern Yellow Wagtail<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1st record for Greece: Eastern Yellow Wagtail (<span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Motacilla tschutschensis</i>) at Schinias National Park</span></span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This autumn, we had another first record for Greece, after <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/10/mega-rarity-sabines-gull-at-lake.html">Sabine's Gull at Lake Kerkini</a>. This time, it was a rare wagatail, at Schinias National Park, a few km from the center of Athens. Read here the full twitching story.
<br /></span></h3><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On November 25th 2023, a group of birders was observing a flock of Meadow and Water Pipit at the Rowing Center of Schinias National Park. Among them, a single bird that looked like a Yellow Wagtail. It's sound was slightly different from the common migrant. After several recordings and further analysis, the bird was officially identified at a <b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i>Motacilla tschutschensis</i>), an extremely rare visitor in Europe and first record for Greece.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxr0jD31I3zzhmjsrVWbtdljD3PX7luaiup3bBjcOUL2Gb9uTIUWINlsHUr8XIBRwj5R3bwfWDW1MAui_FrirO0Ly0zfmSbfU_8zDroYY0_Y6NSjCqhSnUrx4iwuuD7zSauVyzzJPTXggCMlQXGRxmI1z5JsN1aEyBISWHN_JZTC06uDDQgwc/s1200/Motacilla-tschutschensis-2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Eastern-Yellow-Wagtail-Motacilla-tschutschensis" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxr0jD31I3zzhmjsrVWbtdljD3PX7luaiup3bBjcOUL2Gb9uTIUWINlsHUr8XIBRwj5R3bwfWDW1MAui_FrirO0Ly0zfmSbfU_8zDroYY0_Y6NSjCqhSnUrx4iwuuD7zSauVyzzJPTXggCMlQXGRxmI1z5JsN1aEyBISWHN_JZTC06uDDQgwc/w400-h266/Motacilla-tschutschensis-2.JPG" title="Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Schinias National Park" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Motacilla tschutschensis</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">)<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14px;">at Schinias National Park</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The news were spread instantly between birders from all over the country. A few days ago, we had the chance to see and photography the bird. Despite the shyness in the beginning, the bird seemed pretty cooperative, let us approach in relatively close distance, so we managed to take a few memorable shots.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhn2vUJ8dyE2SGTFZ623Hmz3wziYhPIpcpnKOQ5yLlba-ZG0P8kXxhcwq7kS5qfLSGfpmBINvKdfmbwdAQvxPgVr3G7HuPADa_jjTUITpLLLQds4BcgG7BMP6F6LyTGoZGoNRCpF8qFCWNvTEYsX5FhXHjeUIECNtXUQNBmNMWWdjGPMZsJG7/s1200/Motacilla-tschutschensis-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="eastern-yellow-wagtails-Eastern-Yellow-Wagtail-tschutschensis" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhn2vUJ8dyE2SGTFZ623Hmz3wziYhPIpcpnKOQ5yLlba-ZG0P8kXxhcwq7kS5qfLSGfpmBINvKdfmbwdAQvxPgVr3G7HuPADa_jjTUITpLLLQds4BcgG7BMP6F6LyTGoZGoNRCpF8qFCWNvTEYsX5FhXHjeUIECNtXUQNBmNMWWdjGPMZsJG7/w400-h266/Motacilla-tschutschensis-1.JPG" title="Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Motacilla tschutschensis</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Schinias National Park</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> breeds is North East Russia and migrates south to south Asia and Australia. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SbUcRZK_2nJTffHNFS6ylNrGrdbSktF3wykGXMET_ikgNuH8OWBg-VrvQtcmTPoM51XMLp34T9an7kcDccZYz9O4EOKAzZQxnvSzWw35nAbr-2m9UI4k3S77XOrmaF79G5A3H84XG9H8jP645LpaXxuzdLH9-pnkgjpIqi9Q5Ib9hC1yuViA/s1200/Motacilla-tschutschensis-3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Eastern-Yellow-Wagtail-Motacilla-tschutschensis" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SbUcRZK_2nJTffHNFS6ylNrGrdbSktF3wykGXMET_ikgNuH8OWBg-VrvQtcmTPoM51XMLp34T9an7kcDccZYz9O4EOKAzZQxnvSzWw35nAbr-2m9UI4k3S77XOrmaF79G5A3H84XG9H8jP645LpaXxuzdLH9-pnkgjpIqi9Q5Ib9hC1yuViA/w400-h266/Motacilla-tschutschensis-3.JPG" title="Eastern yellow wagtail at Schinias National Park" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Eastern Yellow Wagtail</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Motacilla tschutschensis</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Schinias National Park</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span></span></b></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE<br /><a href="mailto:greecebirdtours@gmail.com">greecebirdtours@gmail.com</a><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br />All sightings available at my<span> </span><a href="https://ebird.org/profile/ODUyODQ5/GR">eBird profile</a></span></p></div><p></p>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comSchinias National Park, Greece38.1532418 24.03096089.8430079638211581 -11.125289200000001 66.463475636178856 59.1872108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-88241957079925990602023-11-26T12:53:00.003+02:002023-11-26T12:53:22.231+02:00Lesvos Birding Tours 2024 schedule<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lesvos 2024 private birding tours</span></h1><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Birding in Lesvos</b> during spring migration is a lifetime experience. We offer private guided bird tours in the island, based on your target species, your pace, your birding knowledge. Special tours for bird and wildlife photographers.</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCcmNsrXqnbI8qyqok4x_p1IGpPfya8cVhz8_QikN5pZW8rj0NAQhxMpInn6ao_tpphBKpapVoEDS4H59bc9D0BTJOYhhWoeUsTDPL6laRi10tww90-S_5WxxHwXVqogPsSgq6tVhKIBlcSZN053OrvxavMR55xZx9IKKN6C4nlIU237KPw/s2000/IMG_7744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-headed Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCcmNsrXqnbI8qyqok4x_p1IGpPfya8cVhz8_QikN5pZW8rj0NAQhxMpInn6ao_tpphBKpapVoEDS4H59bc9D0BTJOYhhWoeUsTDPL6laRi10tww90-S_5WxxHwXVqogPsSgq6tVhKIBlcSZN053OrvxavMR55xZx9IKKN6C4nlIU237KPw/w400-h266/IMG_7744.JPG" title="Black-headed Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" width="400" /></a><br />Black-headed Bunting at Tsiknias River<br /> Skalla Kallonis, Lesvos</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We organize private, tailor made birding, bird photography and wildlife tours in Lesvos Island, for </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">2-4 persons</b><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For groups up to 6 persons, special conditions apply, since we suggest the group to be </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">already formed by our visitors</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (we prefer do not combine separate birders together in the same trip).</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For 2024, we have the following dates available (updated 23/11/2024):<br /><br />May 2nd - May 10th </span></h4><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">June 3rd - June 9th</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read here the Trip Reports from our <b>Lesvos 2023 birding tours</b><br /><b><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-1.html">Day 1</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birdwatching-tour-2023-day-2.html">Day 2</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/07/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-4.html">Day 4</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/08/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-5.html">Day 5</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read here Trip Reports from our <b>Lesvos 2022 birding tours</b><br /></span><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2022/05/lesvos-birdwatching-trip-2022-part-i.html"><b>Day 1</b></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2022/06/lesvos-birdwatching-trip-2022-part-ii.html"><b>Day 2</b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2022/07/birding-in-lesvos-2022-trip-report-of.html"><b>Day 3</b></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvlGTyaUAMiQuykFIQhjkcPoa0e-GLIERFAiJWTpbt6w-HzmsVbpg3saHCKNjt58TbWVMoJDE8O0c3JlHNNAI7i5myVgkEnvRUxPvoITenloITyR_IY3bZ1vl4vWmc95R0rNVFWC6H1lHjGYV7oyOH5pLIDUVaYnpgDM3fYTEKa8YNsQPxfOF/s1200/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bird-photographers-lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvlGTyaUAMiQuykFIQhjkcPoa0e-GLIERFAiJWTpbt6w-HzmsVbpg3saHCKNjt58TbWVMoJDE8O0c3JlHNNAI7i5myVgkEnvRUxPvoITenloITyR_IY3bZ1vl4vWmc95R0rNVFWC6H1lHjGYV7oyOH5pLIDUVaYnpgDM3fYTEKa8YNsQPxfOF/w400-h299/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-2.jpg" title="Bird photographers Lesvos" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXCpdALtRlWRSzn8CkXdekerp4JEcsSREEG4whSc1E3YZ4O3IWDOki-E-8Ou9OuXwWN_Tstx64uEq1Bwrgfc8An1PFL8Ve3vrtyFxnmbRoVGqRU8Wv29C631Mf4U-af7UEHfBzhbfpZcC8vsSQ_r7AduWj3YuYsU4eeygPFin78rSxmB14oLt/s400/IMG-20230429-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birders-selfie-lesvos-2023" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXCpdALtRlWRSzn8CkXdekerp4JEcsSREEG4whSc1E3YZ4O3IWDOki-E-8Ou9OuXwWN_Tstx64uEq1Bwrgfc8An1PFL8Ve3vrtyFxnmbRoVGqRU8Wv29C631Mf4U-af7UEHfBzhbfpZcC8vsSQ_r7AduWj3YuYsU4eeygPFin78rSxmB14oLt/w400-h300/IMG-20230429-WA0001.jpg" title="Birders selfie Lesvos 2023" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9-ia4gWS950NpDCPDXX30eo9fsJ7fgk4LdZ5XZv_AGnccfKbHfaNEry0_7EDH29Ths5nXBcCPGqx9ivtnaQwHcswyLKN4GQZbUS_5mPBEtY_Su7FvxTNDFOIVE8erNyZRJi9uZvOdtgs99ttKwDQj3J1RONX0J4Ls8Gjanjd5Ug_-DYfLgOE/s1200/Lesvos-Bird-Photography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="car-bird-hide" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="898" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9-ia4gWS950NpDCPDXX30eo9fsJ7fgk4LdZ5XZv_AGnccfKbHfaNEry0_7EDH29Ths5nXBcCPGqx9ivtnaQwHcswyLKN4GQZbUS_5mPBEtY_Su7FvxTNDFOIVE8erNyZRJi9uZvOdtgs99ttKwDQj3J1RONX0J4Ls8Gjanjd5Ug_-DYfLgOE/w299-h400/Lesvos-Bird-Photography.jpg" title="Car bird hide" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuuGcPwGW3i8OGczeNVnMWw1QsLpeVuNzakovLjQxZBYP7uDZNR38Pc-jrzhF2FtdNSE5GJ3JFFaKxqgXNu2ggHzW0pM1WLfGjC-OsJt0x8mv3ZPKS52tc22an5FdBvzqb55h8sc6AivkoRLLPoIOEX3Hnf1HvFNNi39FFLOHFDVgc6Xr5pvk/s1200/Lesvos-birders-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lesvos-bird-photographers" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuuGcPwGW3i8OGczeNVnMWw1QsLpeVuNzakovLjQxZBYP7uDZNR38Pc-jrzhF2FtdNSE5GJ3JFFaKxqgXNu2ggHzW0pM1WLfGjC-OsJt0x8mv3ZPKS52tc22an5FdBvzqb55h8sc6AivkoRLLPoIOEX3Hnf1HvFNNi39FFLOHFDVgc6Xr5pvk/w400-h300/Lesvos-birders-3.jpg" title="Lesvos Bird Photographers" width="400" /></a></div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></h4></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS_WZh43f8CKmlcRWzM7EJP_dn9K2Xx_OE9Zfq4Z57gsHDt_chS-eS6LAoVsMjQVRdNTxeParWPXn3NvrU5bPW_pHn9SdV6iFID7FU_jsLQMrooDpEGcM8HcSDwWYyc_P8cnpZsDxsF30Y2hXS7l8CILK-5Iw8dtOguZIYmrGEIxBCr1bpw/s2000/Cinereous%20Bunting%20Lesvos.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kruepper's Nuthatch LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UDbahNUuIyoFInZQvacZYNWN-6pAXoaujY0AmCbNigPAJEXp_32SwZk5sdemxVGOEiTrxnB2eOBgI-N2JFV2EhLjMBHoJ-_QB4Wpdnanon7c8IsDb5dfEKNI-XBCc13XHk7dZ36u6VQhBLYjYM8nCayt8-USSYI2fqFTO9fCEErtf0Bv8A/w133-h200/Kruepper's%20Nuthatch%20Lesvos.JPG" title="Kruepper's Nuthatch LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" width="133" /></span><img alt="Cinereous Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS_WZh43f8CKmlcRWzM7EJP_dn9K2Xx_OE9Zfq4Z57gsHDt_chS-eS6LAoVsMjQVRdNTxeParWPXn3NvrU5bPW_pHn9SdV6iFID7FU_jsLQMrooDpEGcM8HcSDwWYyc_P8cnpZsDxsF30Y2hXS7l8CILK-5Iw8dtOguZIYmrGEIxBCr1bpw/w200-h133/Cinereous%20Bunting%20Lesvos.JPG" title="Cinereous Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o2acqcQN-0hb-AoaaKGHLsSrmEiyldFG_eVgcp9qyt9oJZj6SQ3AcKKNZZ-IrLCJzcgzByGqM3sLoLkCVIosabLa6UCnUiOsa6XtzDYPdGKmfwBPrh6KwYEqu49MknDyZO52sZgfHlqd-OSBTKKbWcp6qNTlC-0RJweFoNRNSZp_91E3xQ/s2000/IMG_2181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masked Shrike LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o2acqcQN-0hb-AoaaKGHLsSrmEiyldFG_eVgcp9qyt9oJZj6SQ3AcKKNZZ-IrLCJzcgzByGqM3sLoLkCVIosabLa6UCnUiOsa6XtzDYPdGKmfwBPrh6KwYEqu49MknDyZO52sZgfHlqd-OSBTKKbWcp6qNTlC-0RJweFoNRNSZp_91E3xQ/w200-h133/IMG_2181.JPG" title="Masked Shrike LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" width="200" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvBz-Hn60hFHTumdj745dcP8QzxU2q5F7IiDqPe_gMu2Z8mkted50iPyfBkMTTCvk1JteZLIMWUnd5sbprdU6JoSdp8py7IbOJck2If-DF5yfhykutqezq5-l6PjOVvbRLE6w-gUgOPF9KqsB_yu6jlAd-lCZxdVA9cJNQqtJZ2aMf1XB2A/s2000/EMBCAE-4013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Cretzschmar's Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvBz-Hn60hFHTumdj745dcP8QzxU2q5F7IiDqPe_gMu2Z8mkted50iPyfBkMTTCvk1JteZLIMWUnd5sbprdU6JoSdp8py7IbOJck2If-DF5yfhykutqezq5-l6PjOVvbRLE6w-gUgOPF9KqsB_yu6jlAd-lCZxdVA9cJNQqtJZ2aMf1XB2A/w200-h133/EMBCAE-4013.JPG" title="Cretzschmar's Bunting LESVOS GREECE BIRDING" width="200" /></span></a></div></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p></span>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comSkala Kallonis, Greece39.2062272 26.210650710.895993363821155 -8.9455993000000014 67.516461036178839 61.3669007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-45421090283343670962023-11-26T12:28:00.005+02:002023-11-26T12:31:08.058+02:00Kerkini Birding Tours 2024<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lake Kerkini 2024 schedule - Private Birding Tours</span></h1><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;">Birding and wildife watching in Lake Kerkini is memorable experience than every birder shoud live at least once. Enjoy your next birding holiday in the most breathtaking natural reserve of Northern Greece, where Dalmatian Pelicans & Pygmy Cormorants thrive together with more than 300 species of birds, not to mention mammals and reptiles. </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmywKa5EkJFl1NtE0bcQ2G6Ilc-dWev-sIrDawfHnLEcv3KiCLsC6sGgwfpoD0mI-Fg8kyMZ1Tg1St7wF3l4FauLdTj6Aq2Qj6MPVDgthD_N3rHukpSp0Yf6JVoPc4m8xhb4K8IrKHvxHWMKOkLu5wies4bpBOcWZq8QCiENvW-nZEd3L-D3Rnbg/s1200/dalmatian-pelicans-kerkini.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dalmatian-pelican-flying" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmywKa5EkJFl1NtE0bcQ2G6Ilc-dWev-sIrDawfHnLEcv3KiCLsC6sGgwfpoD0mI-Fg8kyMZ1Tg1St7wF3l4FauLdTj6Aq2Qj6MPVDgthD_N3rHukpSp0Yf6JVoPc4m8xhb4K8IrKHvxHWMKOkLu5wies4bpBOcWZq8QCiENvW-nZEd3L-D3Rnbg/w400-h266/dalmatian-pelicans-kerkini.JPG" title="Dalmatian Pelicans flying at Lake Kerkini" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Dalmatian Pelicans</b> (<i>Pelecanus crispus</i>) at Lake Kerkini</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For 2024, we have the following dates available (updated 23/11/2024):<br /><br /></span></h4><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May 2nd - May 10th <br />June 3rd - June 9th</span></h4></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We organize private, tailor made birding, bird photography and wildlife tours in Lake Kerkini, for <b>2-4 persons</b>. <br />For groups up to 6 persons, special conditions apply, since we suggest the group to be <b>already formed by our visitors</b> (we prefer do not combine separate birders together in the same trip).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWEv46L6JAUw5ZHSdPk7zoZkSKiKPxLv7UGBEoDreD3qAdlcc9Z0txEjstqY-N9-bfequ4ZDw8doKWMKKxk4vrk6rst4dDQLAE7qiXtfl7OmImLOeE2GqPzi-oAS2GBP4N85Wxtj9loDzStMnD40CWGwer6gBKctOQi2tzqEtvVwRW6ZhymgV6Q/s1200/lake-kerkini-birding.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lake-kerkini" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWEv46L6JAUw5ZHSdPk7zoZkSKiKPxLv7UGBEoDreD3qAdlcc9Z0txEjstqY-N9-bfequ4ZDw8doKWMKKxk4vrk6rst4dDQLAE7qiXtfl7OmImLOeE2GqPzi-oAS2GBP4N85Wxtj9loDzStMnD40CWGwer6gBKctOQi2tzqEtvVwRW6ZhymgV6Q/w400-h266/lake-kerkini-birding.JPG" title="Lake Kerkini and Mt Belles" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Snowcapped Mt Belles at seen from the</span><br style="font-family: verdana;" /><span style="font-family: verdana;">eastern embarkment of Lake Kerkini</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you are a birdwatcher, bird photographer or simply wildlife and nature enthousiast, all you have to do is let us know your target species and your available dates, and we will come up with the appropriate itinerary for you.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Levant-Sparrowhawk" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9wcOShRtq_M7b7wwQRRtr9G7Z3RXvUCmxJ5hXdOQ9JuEUEsZ8I6olTag2uDIxkg6Hd-aTUwEpqfo54ze9KEr63L1F7gossAovOWhJ9k42e79F7c9f7DIBcinCESp02FT51_6qbPCNbBgCE0z2MIzlJXuQg-3y9l1Eu8XYgok8q-uEiJ4Yrv7qQ/w400-h266/Levant-Sparrowhawk-Kerkini.JPG" title="Levant Sparrowhawk" width="400" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Levant Sparrowhawk</b> (<i>Accipiter brevipes</i>) is breeding<br />every summer at Lake Kerkini </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZAEXx5XTuBFqj7t8HhZIc7_5nvVcu0xPziDqmwVg9TsjRRFB5eDtQZgRCl4B0b9USH_45IoAmGdo-_4b-LDjA6JFKglk50Dgc6M-8Sieqr7v_R_27PDAFMDmFi6HyQxRC5Z8ixXhjXDD0xbRm7uqTVi3NPOlrp2Z9EfrP_R9AgTlBGcVDGkv5Q/s1200/bee-eater-kerkini.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bee-eater-catching-dragonfly" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZAEXx5XTuBFqj7t8HhZIc7_5nvVcu0xPziDqmwVg9TsjRRFB5eDtQZgRCl4B0b9USH_45IoAmGdo-_4b-LDjA6JFKglk50Dgc6M-8Sieqr7v_R_27PDAFMDmFi6HyQxRC5Z8ixXhjXDD0xbRm7uqTVi3NPOlrp2Z9EfrP_R9AgTlBGcVDGkv5Q/w400-h266/bee-eater-kerkini.JPG" title="Bee-eater catching dragonfly" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="text-align: left;">Bee-eater</b><span style="text-align: left;"> (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Merops apiaster</i><span style="text-align: left;">) catching a dragonfly</span></span></div>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comKerkini 620 55, Greece41.216921 23.084993712.906687163821154 -12.071256300000002 69.527154836178852 58.2412437tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-12753299767880958082023-11-22T14:11:00.000+02:002023-11-22T14:11:30.850+02:00Bird photography tour: Raptors Project, Nov 18th 2023<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bird photography tour around Athens: Raptors Project, Nov 18th 2023</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Photographing birds of prey is always challenging. Read here about our recent private bird tour for an american bird photographer who wanted to spent the day photoshooting birds of prey and local birds of interest.</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiULOUutl7fuvm8ECyRIlH7LrKPVpXXyZWZCCYU3Uu-uKq4goUESP7cmDX67uS3UkybK4Prr-B4gLt9ODyb8bqQj6ML7N68o3hmmWvfmRXSIBKgJML9DVpyzLx0QBGQpWZs_tISrMKm-gaL45S_rBAoV-4JV8DgYUVLeiSWYoTnvcBtoR1qX_51w/s1500/common-buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="common-buzzard-flying" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiULOUutl7fuvm8ECyRIlH7LrKPVpXXyZWZCCYU3Uu-uKq4goUESP7cmDX67uS3UkybK4Prr-B4gLt9ODyb8bqQj6ML7N68o3hmmWvfmRXSIBKgJML9DVpyzLx0QBGQpWZs_tISrMKm-gaL45S_rBAoV-4JV8DgYUVLeiSWYoTnvcBtoR1qX_51w/w400-h266/common-buzzard.jpg" title="Common Buzzard flying" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Common Buzzard</b> (<i>Buteo buteo</i>) - Γερακίνα<br />flying att Kopaida plains</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scott Tattu is an avid bird photographer from New York city, that visited Athens and wanted to photograph as many birds of prey as possible. Since migration was at its end, we focused on local resident species and chose Central Greece, Viotia in particular, as a close by destination for the day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since Scott was staying in downtown, we started in the biggest urban city park, Tritsis Metropolitan Park, at Ilion, west Athens. The place is very quiet in the mornings, and it is a good starting point, where you can get easily photograph some resident or overwintering european species. We enjoyed great shots of Kingfisher, Chaffinches, Robins and other small passerines. We briefly saw Penduline Tits, but sadly did not manage to take any pictures. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSf7CiPmUIf2xbocBEqEhG4fJje1CfFpxUEIGGu-nZ6yQRojXrTKDQLsQ8E16phtwHCvIz4SscWW7AZDQ3wV0uInAlfyD_RFlJCtpmgjDSbTlBaAbPBH2Lo9IZG9nqV6XPEhMfK5D1qe3A89HTTQ8bQ9NBkxUs8JpdUYfqC-Yh7LuybTK-FVWKw/s1500/kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kingfisher-perching" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSf7CiPmUIf2xbocBEqEhG4fJje1CfFpxUEIGGu-nZ6yQRojXrTKDQLsQ8E16phtwHCvIz4SscWW7AZDQ3wV0uInAlfyD_RFlJCtpmgjDSbTlBaAbPBH2Lo9IZG9nqV6XPEhMfK5D1qe3A89HTTQ8bQ9NBkxUs8JpdUYfqC-Yh7LuybTK-FVWKw/w400-h266/kingfisher.jpg" title="Kingfisher" width="400" /></a><br />Striking <b>Kingfisher</b> (<i>Alcedo atthis</i>) - Αλκυόνη<br />wating for its prey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp301dWO72hRWzdvFQS8CONuFbsROv2Ub5g6U9RH1kyh0ZSJfLxtmOZwm_w2IU-AzujDUWJ1-yJgP6rPlJtlsbjcHot6RWdJl3bCLGZDupprPCP6_sltGSyQfUp_31bGwZx5OzoxHwAO2gxE5AsqmucEzpRhQpVkgc_ZAhAh0h7P2-NcCHoR1IFg/s1500/rose-ringed-parakeet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rose-ringed-parakeet" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp301dWO72hRWzdvFQS8CONuFbsROv2Ub5g6U9RH1kyh0ZSJfLxtmOZwm_w2IU-AzujDUWJ1-yJgP6rPlJtlsbjcHot6RWdJl3bCLGZDupprPCP6_sltGSyQfUp_31bGwZx5OzoxHwAO2gxE5AsqmucEzpRhQpVkgc_ZAhAh0h7P2-NcCHoR1IFg/w400-h266/rose-ringed-parakeet.jpg" title="Rose-ringed Parakeet" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Rose-ringed Parakeet</b> (<i>Psitacula krammeri</i>) - Δακτυλιδολαίμης Ψιττακίσκος<br />are residents at Tritis Metropolitan Park</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HwO9B-0u1wbLKJ-69bCyGpNKWPej1xLb5rmIb-3tTeVhsR6JV0jrmwU2ge4vlt0T76QPCURFypIKCWbjTPGik4vnelDh83ZRxes-h1DRSlLbvl2D5LYL-52-WTdxRu1e6Rq-3FvBfhZu1lOndKEAKa1P4MgkPnuGRCvjAK2MtouBfwDC82D-VQ/s1500/little-grebe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="little-grebe" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HwO9B-0u1wbLKJ-69bCyGpNKWPej1xLb5rmIb-3tTeVhsR6JV0jrmwU2ge4vlt0T76QPCURFypIKCWbjTPGik4vnelDh83ZRxes-h1DRSlLbvl2D5LYL-52-WTdxRu1e6Rq-3FvBfhZu1lOndKEAKa1P4MgkPnuGRCvjAK2MtouBfwDC82D-VQ/w400-h266/little-grebe.jpg" title="Little Grebe" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Little Grebe</b> (<i>Tachybaptus ruficolis</i>) - Νανοβουτηχτάρι <br />enjoying the parks' water reservoirs</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXntGAVy63XFdAswYTNQ-X5FNg-ClFdBR3dUWrkWgcM_yh_t_YXxOH7NCReeoksAHHhgKsaiWpK_r1f5vhEpbuhhE7Swx-vVmJ_No9R7CBQnDFyNBrszOQq9onI665xCkTwwIw28SWSkOTqEOnED_9CQldKu3lkynurF_MNnwIN9_Jmg9kLahG8w/s1500/chaffinch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chaffinch" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXntGAVy63XFdAswYTNQ-X5FNg-ClFdBR3dUWrkWgcM_yh_t_YXxOH7NCReeoksAHHhgKsaiWpK_r1f5vhEpbuhhE7Swx-vVmJ_No9R7CBQnDFyNBrszOQq9onI665xCkTwwIw28SWSkOTqEOnED_9CQldKu3lkynurF_MNnwIN9_Jmg9kLahG8w/w400-h266/chaffinch.jpg" title="Chaffinch" width="400" /></a><br />Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - Σπίνος<br />looking for seeds</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDR4FOPqceUJOIQ429XP3eFev1YkPNjJPs-EUVRWYyo5Fd1iF3MZWMYYbwHCdner52iHXUWoZWURB05vywDi-W29WY_fngUXqSVEB3pJUZ3o5kG_gxAF6m9K2RKIRO3Zjxz7YW3ybD2Cl4RpXqH5llgfLKvQKoU2VoAbpf1kUEaTcTwp5LiCYgw/s1500/eurasian-robin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="robin-kokkinolaimis" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDR4FOPqceUJOIQ429XP3eFev1YkPNjJPs-EUVRWYyo5Fd1iF3MZWMYYbwHCdner52iHXUWoZWURB05vywDi-W29WY_fngUXqSVEB3pJUZ3o5kG_gxAF6m9K2RKIRO3Zjxz7YW3ybD2Cl4RpXqH5llgfLKvQKoU2VoAbpf1kUEaTcTwp5LiCYgw/w400-h266/eurasian-robin.jpg" title="Robin - Κοκκινολαίμης" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eurasian Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - Κοκκινολαίμης</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After an hour of birding and bird photography at the park, he headed north, to Oropos Lagoon. The area offers great views of waders, ducks and small passerines. However, it was too early for any wintering ducks, so we spent some time with Flamingos, Dunlins, Kentish Plovers, Black Redstarts, Goldfinches, Grey Plovers. </span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd8nEXmirEqp2YnzbSAd0UpErHFtzxheBeqv4eDyUaa920_fShrQctb8T4H2FK_kTylpTowrNpci8sKKaR0uHWVkvJbZK6rBiALZhk97CGHYVyUx6RdZUtkq6LRWdH2Y23CgPmkDN2SzRuKtym2MKYOTe08MTuX2UXfn3T7w81Ib5G1lTxbIwFg/s1500/flamingo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="greater-flamingo" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd8nEXmirEqp2YnzbSAd0UpErHFtzxheBeqv4eDyUaa920_fShrQctb8T4H2FK_kTylpTowrNpci8sKKaR0uHWVkvJbZK6rBiALZhk97CGHYVyUx6RdZUtkq6LRWdH2Y23CgPmkDN2SzRuKtym2MKYOTe08MTuX2UXfn3T7w81Ib5G1lTxbIwFg/w400-h266/flamingo.jpg" title="greater flamingo" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Flamingos</b> (<i>Phoenicopterus ruber</i>) - Φοινικόπτερα</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Oropos lagoon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7OaiQmQ1gCAgY2UAq9qjLPkz6NRLf2hK46yADn99m1C0FxM4Qcx2819EtB0yJn-tNpODrwTDcvxfElFCOmexqJzHIGcB8wjwRj9pcIAmi92YRUP979kXVCaLb4WCbuvyLwycfYUdRKdaMezIXeQYTE5CDQUjSskFirIskb8GhDtNTB2wOjoMzQ/s1500/dunlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="dunlin-calidris-alpine" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7OaiQmQ1gCAgY2UAq9qjLPkz6NRLf2hK46yADn99m1C0FxM4Qcx2819EtB0yJn-tNpODrwTDcvxfElFCOmexqJzHIGcB8wjwRj9pcIAmi92YRUP979kXVCaLb4WCbuvyLwycfYUdRKdaMezIXeQYTE5CDQUjSskFirIskb8GhDtNTB2wOjoMzQ/w400-h266/dunlin.jpg" title="Dunlin" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Dunlin</b> (<i>Calidris alpina</i>) - Λασποσκαλίδρα<br />in winter plumage</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxpSD2_3tKoZ4DEJY1nHOUAGJrgUbQS59_taRqS0wUhBWKnBFDHBAHVO3UsAeHbpzvd-JCl7GChBqHjORjkNUelChBdj2RHFZwzBzFkOBKmAuepvx4Ql26UAzwshdDmJVCHcjuX4xXwBsmNipSwnv2SdoIKkkuEmvn2y2yzGBYyyflonTSlbu5w/s4640/bird-photography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bird-photography-from-car" border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="4640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxpSD2_3tKoZ4DEJY1nHOUAGJrgUbQS59_taRqS0wUhBWKnBFDHBAHVO3UsAeHbpzvd-JCl7GChBqHjORjkNUelChBdj2RHFZwzBzFkOBKmAuepvx4Ql26UAzwshdDmJVCHcjuX4xXwBsmNipSwnv2SdoIKkkuEmvn2y2yzGBYyyflonTSlbu5w/w400-h180/bird-photography.jpg" title="Bird Photography from the car" width="400" /></a><br />Using the car as hide is often a very succesful technique of camouflage <br />in order to photograph birds and other wildlife</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCX6sjsB8wIZNf2fRkiQtmO5C57S875Qzp81uEr1dy9jN0r5wcxsS-goo5FHeN0-66olMR8jI8gnIz3hRbtj_zg2s-OZVWUr4NKtDiMUjiV2BAbdqPMz_1Su7n3Dw4tYOGoSufkubwIQht-BjNj6quonCiUnhGb7WA2y0nB14wKixeQMOKZx6Gg/s1500/goldfinch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="goldfinch-kadrerina" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCX6sjsB8wIZNf2fRkiQtmO5C57S875Qzp81uEr1dy9jN0r5wcxsS-goo5FHeN0-66olMR8jI8gnIz3hRbtj_zg2s-OZVWUr4NKtDiMUjiV2BAbdqPMz_1Su7n3Dw4tYOGoSufkubwIQht-BjNj6quonCiUnhGb7WA2y0nB14wKixeQMOKZx6Gg/w400-h266/goldfinch.jpg" title="Goldfinch" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - Καρδερίνα at Oropos Lagoon</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our main destination was Kopaida plains, north of the town of Thebes. The whole area is planted with cotton, whey, clover, corn and the fields are usually full of rodents, lizards, small birds, which makes it excellent habitat for raptors. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JqaR8Xi_-BadFzBggH156DD1DbRKdTPyHEI_94ycaWjus94nCLiVE2ZY8ZETwQVXJSEaZ9oMDGo3NaGzunvsHGXuLFNbB0_M00CvvBlDjK32JeaRKnrSMdq711Q0QTO9EPjhyx2y0wRgnezhslYn5RXzxX6bZqnxcAPGVYkrBd4VsYh7xT2B9Q/s1500/blue-rock-thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue-rock-thrush" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JqaR8Xi_-BadFzBggH156DD1DbRKdTPyHEI_94ycaWjus94nCLiVE2ZY8ZETwQVXJSEaZ9oMDGo3NaGzunvsHGXuLFNbB0_M00CvvBlDjK32JeaRKnrSMdq711Q0QTO9EPjhyx2y0wRgnezhslYn5RXzxX6bZqnxcAPGVYkrBd4VsYh7xT2B9Q/w400-h266/blue-rock-thrush.jpg" title="Blue Rock Thrush" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Blue Rock Thrush</b> (<i>Monticolla solitarius</i>) - Γαλαζοκότσυφας<br />a resident bird of Greece</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had excellent views of Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, as well as some resident birds like Blue Rock Thrush, Jackdaws. Other birds of interest were Meadow Pipits, Northern Lapwings, and a unexpected small group of Black Storks. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiJZbOaIlt9lgp-yNvylW2w4LEs1TOyPdFUoPSHPdp4vFKopEWUT9PXXQhdX4fFhjhByPxhHsxXpljmP9P1qggO57BrxR9Lm_IWjXprpCeBSnRv7h6e3g22GxcdzRNRWJxtEGrHtf3y6oyhTpUujj1uf6XvRWPSUTWYNx5f-yJeFQQlrD76JTEQ/s1500/buzzard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Common-buzzard" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiJZbOaIlt9lgp-yNvylW2w4LEs1TOyPdFUoPSHPdp4vFKopEWUT9PXXQhdX4fFhjhByPxhHsxXpljmP9P1qggO57BrxR9Lm_IWjXprpCeBSnRv7h6e3g22GxcdzRNRWJxtEGrHtf3y6oyhTpUujj1uf6XvRWPSUTWYNx5f-yJeFQQlrD76JTEQ/w400-h266/buzzard.jpg" title="Common Buzzard" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Commo Buzzard </b>(<i>Buteo buteo</i>) - Γερακίνα</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe8Csi_kqTE-fqVFyCJX0BWcG3zJzzhInaPW133IHNPX4HgSAf1_sYTg1r5MWsg1K6GwOCw01CnRBLYGP1Hgdhz8Zik_nkkxAzwYMkWxnrHFFjVfiHWY74TmbLtREDA6UPpv4o92gGzMexbDSESYw0RzW6znI9TkVPW0i7tyZ9nfwF6CMZ2KvrQ/s1500/common-kestrel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Common-Kestrel-portrait-flight" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe8Csi_kqTE-fqVFyCJX0BWcG3zJzzhInaPW133IHNPX4HgSAf1_sYTg1r5MWsg1K6GwOCw01CnRBLYGP1Hgdhz8Zik_nkkxAzwYMkWxnrHFFjVfiHWY74TmbLtREDA6UPpv4o92gGzMexbDSESYw0RzW6znI9TkVPW0i7tyZ9nfwF6CMZ2KvrQ/w400-h266/common-kestrel.jpg" title="Common Kestrel" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Common Kestrel</b> (<i>Falco tinnunculus</i>) - Βραχοκιρκίνεζο<br />portrait in flight, a very dificult shot</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRIKKmz_VXQP_uxFKFEDYK6exQTVW2w5g0J56qd_lC8hZ2GLOoyoL_jzeJEFXz4ZNul1rs1lh3UDyK8M0i-I8fhPa3e7GHEOmlk0h_Md5_OSeKjsLrK-4sq6k6ZiCdkCejqHxK7B34bS9I0xmXt4j56UqJCV-toxc2Zt4kkLDM335CcevDTVZZg/s1500/kestrel-flight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Common Kestrel" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRIKKmz_VXQP_uxFKFEDYK6exQTVW2w5g0J56qd_lC8hZ2GLOoyoL_jzeJEFXz4ZNul1rs1lh3UDyK8M0i-I8fhPa3e7GHEOmlk0h_Md5_OSeKjsLrK-4sq6k6ZiCdkCejqHxK7B34bS9I0xmXt4j56UqJCV-toxc2Zt4kkLDM335CcevDTVZZg/w400-h266/kestrel-flight.jpg" title="Common Kestrel" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Common Kestrel </b>hovering</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0W3_lwa1y9E9yLewzSC3jKme69bcVdMHYMn_CkSueVWVkOvM3S3WQ6-9lZRG7sFHtJQ7qfJEovYqIje21HMmbtipb7nhFCNyboMFbeIW9nnlnyORPEEULPZfWC-7yBjJNCku5XA5bc_ScdlNfXaG96K_quIXPJ08OuKYeFnazolQivKztTsyKA/s1500/kestrel-sitting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Common-kestrel" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0W3_lwa1y9E9yLewzSC3jKme69bcVdMHYMn_CkSueVWVkOvM3S3WQ6-9lZRG7sFHtJQ7qfJEovYqIje21HMmbtipb7nhFCNyboMFbeIW9nnlnyORPEEULPZfWC-7yBjJNCku5XA5bc_ScdlNfXaG96K_quIXPJ08OuKYeFnazolQivKztTsyKA/w400-h266/kestrel-sitting.jpg" title="Common Kestrel" width="400" /></a><br />Common Kestrel</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHo6BjuoMI4IV9gL-KN-hKgtHYrMPAeddz3yljPx36kJHuG2TOoGSwflGbNeOHnOkfFZpceL0NexfFAHJNz2-p5wow7RNbBJsOEcYC0LHFVKcAg1ReeG2C59qLFW5gQY7gVL6bFHcfcv-36aEVznyvn2OnphEl0Xl4kYDHKtXEy2A9Jo4KE5csw/s1500/meadow-pipit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meadow-pipit" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHo6BjuoMI4IV9gL-KN-hKgtHYrMPAeddz3yljPx36kJHuG2TOoGSwflGbNeOHnOkfFZpceL0NexfFAHJNz2-p5wow7RNbBJsOEcYC0LHFVKcAg1ReeG2C59qLFW5gQY7gVL6bFHcfcv-36aEVznyvn2OnphEl0Xl4kYDHKtXEy2A9Jo4KE5csw/w400-h266/meadow-pipit.jpg" title="Meadow Pipit" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Meadow Pipit</b> (<i>Anthus campestris</i>) - Λιβαδοκελάδα</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufJVh5tQGtZscGRg36ZGmcCR82wKL2S9QsgHy4ZrhvegPZ_Q09jZY7GQLzPX8GZFmuFXtvWqqMXDDgQGxEOHxzLdeVOAw_eaqJESayZxzjZqo2sf4ojrXWol7CMAW7Eb1uFm_ZynfOuJVjOSfsdLhbIrxgpYnY5LkFcqIQI2JbKKqaWzye4QK1g/s1500/northern-lapwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Northern-lapwing-vanellus" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufJVh5tQGtZscGRg36ZGmcCR82wKL2S9QsgHy4ZrhvegPZ_Q09jZY7GQLzPX8GZFmuFXtvWqqMXDDgQGxEOHxzLdeVOAw_eaqJESayZxzjZqo2sf4ojrXWol7CMAW7Eb1uFm_ZynfOuJVjOSfsdLhbIrxgpYnY5LkFcqIQI2JbKKqaWzye4QK1g/w400-h266/northern-lapwing.jpg" title="Northern Lapwing" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Northern Lapwing</b> (<b>Vanellus vanellus</b>) - Καλημάνες</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The full <b>bird list</b> of the day, Nov 18th 2023</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mallard<br />Green-winged Teal<br />Greater Flamingo<br />Little Grebe<br />Feral Pigeon<br />Collared Dove<br />Moorhen</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dunlin<br />Little Egret<br />Great White Egret<br />Grey Heron<br />Turnstone<br />Kentish Plover<br />Ringed Plover<br />Grey Plover<br />Redshank<br />Greenshank<br />Mediterranean Gull<br />Black-headed Bull<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Black Stork<br />Greater Cormorant<br />Common Buzzard<br />Long-legged Buzzard<br />Common Kestrel<br />Meadow Pipit<br />Water Pipit<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Blackcap<br />Chiffachaff<br />Magpie<br />Jay<br />Hooded Crow<br />Jackdaw<br />Blue Tit<br />Great Tit<br />Penduline tit</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wren<br />Crested Lark</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Starling<br />Song Thrush<br />Blackbird<br />Black Redstart<br />Blue Rock Thrush<br />Stonechat<br />House Sparrow</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tree Sparrow<br />Goldfinch<br />Linnet<br />Siskin<br />Corn Bunting</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comAliartos 320 01, Greece38.3741418 23.106000738.158764647008447 22.831342496875 38.589518952991547 23.380658903125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-22691449281355366642023-11-21T14:05:00.001+02:002023-11-21T14:05:36.670+02:00Rarity Alert: Snow Bunting at Axios Delta, Thessaloniki<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Birding break in Northern Greece, Nov 14th 2023</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week we had the chance to escape from our local patches and birding tours, since a very rare visitor arrived in Axios Delta. Lefteris from Greece Bird Tours was there, here's his report from his twitching story!</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Snow Buntings</b> <i>(Plectrophenax nivalis)</i> are always a welcome vagrant to Greek birders; their striking white plumage and their calm temper, allowing very close encounters, render this small passerine especially attractive to regular birders and twitchers alike. This year, a single individual was spotted close to Axios Delta, one of its favourite spots as it has been recorded several times in the past in this area. This bird was very tame (as expected), being too busy feeding that it paid absolutely no attention to birdwatchers, the only time it was looking up was when other birds flew overhead. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqtMiYdgvZiScHPN1t02dJUMCJN66J408zWQgT2rXJ9OWYusaWFO41hwlgSaQbF1uIj9zIWbtgCpPOvwhgWJ_Wjk35nOouppenOkwE_MPqoj6OWxdxmyI8BVyTro9AK8l_G5qmj__wygNw_hJHfEFZNxpCVoJvVYKRLDPnyJUdlPjqKR5h_0/s2317/IMG_8148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snow-Bunting-Axios-Delta" border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="2317" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqtMiYdgvZiScHPN1t02dJUMCJN66J408zWQgT2rXJ9OWYusaWFO41hwlgSaQbF1uIj9zIWbtgCpPOvwhgWJ_Wjk35nOouppenOkwE_MPqoj6OWxdxmyI8BVyTro9AK8l_G5qmj__wygNw_hJHfEFZNxpCVoJvVYKRLDPnyJUdlPjqKR5h_0/w400-h308/IMG_8148.jpg" title="Snow Bunting - Χιονοτσίχλονο at Axios Delta" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Snow Bunting</b> - <i>Χιονοτσίχλονο</i><br />at Axios Delta, Thessaloniki</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYC5ew2OM37Z7GviaSbsrH22jM3pzcrvRSnd81pdYLMzk91rozVPGu9b03wtqp4M26RTE1XzbG243oa4grUI7fSSe5f9jBdPuQHs-z3xz3MHMjOOtPS93KC9Rq7lbBz_Y-e_b73lHL6NA96ipb1WYcRFbmbxJwB-fttK9QwEDs_coIF9xO1A/s2362/IMG_8690.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snow-Bunting-Axios-Delta" border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2362" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYC5ew2OM37Z7GviaSbsrH22jM3pzcrvRSnd81pdYLMzk91rozVPGu9b03wtqp4M26RTE1XzbG243oa4grUI7fSSe5f9jBdPuQHs-z3xz3MHMjOOtPS93KC9Rq7lbBz_Y-e_b73lHL6NA96ipb1WYcRFbmbxJwB-fttK9QwEDs_coIF9xO1A/w400-h308/IMG_8690.jpg" title="Snow Bunting - Χιονοτσίχλονο at Axios Delta, Thessaloniki" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Snow Bunting </b><i>- Χιονοτσίχλονο</i><br />at Axios Delta, Thessaloniki</span></div>Lefteris Stavrakashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096870350390009945noreply@blogger.comAxios 573 00, Greece40.616667 22.68333312.306433163821154 -12.472916999999999 68.926900836178845 57.839583000000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-8028546593841417662023-11-14T10:30:00.004+02:002024-01-29T09:14:47.125+02:00Εκδρομές Παρατήρησης Πουλιών για όλους<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Παρατήρηση Πουλιών: Μία δραστηριότητα που κάνει την ψυχή να πετά!</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFcpm3DYkbXhxP0KB5hZdyw6G1EiboFlQSgyVaxIw-7FoPWxj1BIGXY37qjVK1BLZYrA0PJ6O6mxYplZQ_VyN6jJJGxOS2Ytz0s1YFDfZn50k0HsCVQF5FT2XyVA0SlGdGx4zOD4UCEC80ZbYktzFlHE_MJQw-P5IEG16A9tHNUCX_c0KD1Lt_w/s1200/KALAMOKANAS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kalamokanas-psarevei" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFcpm3DYkbXhxP0KB5hZdyw6G1EiboFlQSgyVaxIw-7FoPWxj1BIGXY37qjVK1BLZYrA0PJ6O6mxYplZQ_VyN6jJJGxOS2Ytz0s1YFDfZn50k0HsCVQF5FT2XyVA0SlGdGx4zOD4UCEC80ZbYktzFlHE_MJQw-P5IEG16A9tHNUCX_c0KD1Lt_w/w400-h266/KALAMOKANAS.JPG" title="Καλαμοκανάς ψαρεύει στο Εθνικό Πάρκο Σχινιά" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Καλαμοκανάς </b>(<i>Himantopus himantopus</i>)<br />ψαρεύει στο Εθνικό Πάρκο Σχινιά - Μαραθώνα</span></div></div><p></p><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;">Κάθε χρόνο, οργανώνουμε <u>εκδρομές για Παρατήρηση Πουλιών</u> και άγριας φύσης κυρίως γύρω από την Αθήνα αλλά και στην υπόλοιπη Ελλάδα, τόσο για μεμονωμένους επισκέπτες, όσο και για μικρές ευέλικτες ομάδες, σχολεία, κτλ.</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ειδικά για τις <b>σχολικές εκδρομές</b>, αυτές αφορούν κυρίως περιοχές γύρω από την Αθήνα και ειδικότερα την Ανατολική Αττική. Τα παιδιά μπορούν να παρατηρήσουν τα πουλιά με τηλεσκόπια </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">επίγειας παρατήρησης</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">και απλά κυάλια. Μέσα από την <b>παρατήρηση πουλιών</b>, οι μικροί μαθητές:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> μαθαίνουν την αναγνώριση διαφορετικών ειδών πουλιών<br />- εξασκούν την όραση και την ακοή τους, που τους βοηθούν στην αναγνώριση των ειδών <br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">- αναγνωρίζουν τη σημασία της φυσικής πανίδας και χλωρίδας σε ένα ισορροπημένο οικοσύστημα<br />- απολαμβάνουν την άγρια φύση γύρω από τις αστικές περιοχές που κατοικούν<br />- αντιλαμβάνονται τις αλλαγές των εποχών, των χρωμάτων της φύσης, τις μεταβολές του καιρού<br />- συναγωνίζονται για το ποιά ομάδα θα δεί τα περισσότερα πουλιά, ή το σπανιότερο<br />- μπορούν να εξασκήσουν το φωτογραφικό τους ταλέντο, αποτυπώνοντας την όλη εμπειρία τους σε φωτογραφίες ή βίντεο<br />- θα είναι αυτοί που θα αποτελέσουν αύριο τους μελλοντικούς επιστήμονες που θα μελετήσουν και θα αναδείξουν το φυσικό πλούτο της χώρας μας</span></p><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpKGMECZY83ot2C5ZSrwVRGs_X-xlEjIDL0Zx0dorCzgQRSsV8mKkpWkfPRXX7EgE2889fQvURkdMDHTL3giWe9-y9iNeu_kLDs7FIK1GhGXdyGaQhONUuMI95ZlK-qkwun6eQfIkChcEQF773v5hL0I3zRTZCX0afzDC98HaW4NPbDpjaFuv5Q/s1200/KASTANOKEFALOI-GLAROI.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kastanokefaloi-glaroi" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpKGMECZY83ot2C5ZSrwVRGs_X-xlEjIDL0Zx0dorCzgQRSsV8mKkpWkfPRXX7EgE2889fQvURkdMDHTL3giWe9-y9iNeu_kLDs7FIK1GhGXdyGaQhONUuMI95ZlK-qkwun6eQfIkChcEQF773v5hL0I3zRTZCX0afzDC98HaW4NPbDpjaFuv5Q/w400-h266/KASTANOKEFALOI-GLAROI.JPG" title="Καστανοκέφαλοι Γλάροι" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Καστανοκέφαλοι Γλάροι</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="text-align: left;">(<i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus</i>)</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">καθρεφτίζονται στο νερό</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2QJooenY594ULE8YkkFoOw6guJahS5tXvNUM9foRI_WAruthUdQ7Oc-naowhQ6XT8WtfzQFVWbBvnmNnHPkdwAGVraNBBZnbINhSawoQONWBSaGnf-s8jMFt2QbG4HsA2Eon9_BncPtkguBxANvNYrpqfWUmG9PxEZz01I4cEPyN2r5_wErlbw/s1200/MELISSOFAGOS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="melissofagos-troei-entomo" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2QJooenY594ULE8YkkFoOw6guJahS5tXvNUM9foRI_WAruthUdQ7Oc-naowhQ6XT8WtfzQFVWbBvnmNnHPkdwAGVraNBBZnbINhSawoQONWBSaGnf-s8jMFt2QbG4HsA2Eon9_BncPtkguBxANvNYrpqfWUmG9PxEZz01I4cEPyN2r5_wErlbw/w400-h266/MELISSOFAGOS.JPG" title="Μελισσοφάγος με έντομο στο στόμο" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ο πολύχρωμος </span>Μελισσοφάγος</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> (<i>Merops apiaster</i>)<br />με λεία στο στόμα</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></h3><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;">Οι βασικότεροι προορισμοί είναι:</span></h3><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">ΓΥΡΩ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΑΘΗΝΑ</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/schinias-national-park.html">Εθνικό Πάρκο Σχινιά - Μαραθώνα</a><br />- <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/oropos-lagoon.html">Λιμνοθάλασσα Ωρωπού</a><br />- <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/mt-hymettus.html">Όρος Υμηττός</a><br />- <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/mt-parnitha.html">Εθνικός Δρυμός Πάρνηθας</a><br />- Πάρκο Περιβαλλοντικής Ευαισθητοποίησης "Αντώνης Τρίτσης" - Ίλιον<br />- Υγρότοπος Βραυρώνας<br />- Υγρότοπος Αρτέμιδας<br />- Μεγάλο Ρέμα Ραφήνας<br /><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">ΥΠΟΛΟΙΠΗ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>- <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/messolonghi-lagoons.html">Εθνικό Πάρκο Μεσολογγίου - Αιτωλικού</a><br />- Λίμνη Κερκίνη<br /></span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA30NoYVJ7AOpwu0ggxyzROe9PxXV2PW1Za1Co8-WJVNiB9RJ1-uPLi4EOu8tXLAyH8uRmWi3MAezgSCTZFyUSVHlt37-JomirVpPbzXEFfRjQXMOfsZ1yH7mSk6TS_MCuUbbue_FHWUCaFv9nSMNFlkDjchHELfZrbTEW1nAnlGFnN3QW0iUNg/s1000/BRAHOKIRKINEZO.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vraxokirkinezo" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="677" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVA30NoYVJ7AOpwu0ggxyzROe9PxXV2PW1Za1Co8-WJVNiB9RJ1-uPLi4EOu8tXLAyH8uRmWi3MAezgSCTZFyUSVHlt37-JomirVpPbzXEFfRjQXMOfsZ1yH7mSk6TS_MCuUbbue_FHWUCaFv9nSMNFlkDjchHELfZrbTEW1nAnlGFnN3QW0iUNg/w271-h400/BRAHOKIRKINEZO.JPG" title="Βραχοκιρκίνεζο σε αμπελώνα στα Σπάτα" width="271" /></a><br /><b>Βραχοκιρκίνεζο</b> <i>(Falco tinnunculus)</i> ξαποσταίνει πάνω<br />σε κλήμα στα Σπάτα</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAEaq5rcIIRFyBUrnr910wpPGjeAt-S0w_sH_Q6vQ9I_lSMGlUcQMLVMu_MzGMIMeAAnmqZYxHsrOGkAFXlUImXKFUhV-cFpJQ6eUssD3HpsC9jNrQ7jF_Fk8IqhstFuqIGuXm4272ENfTzARPmkYPHL_Z-4mS66_CdFxm2vuH4IP3n6YPjj3WQ/s1000/GKIONIS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="gkionis-kimatai" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAEaq5rcIIRFyBUrnr910wpPGjeAt-S0w_sH_Q6vQ9I_lSMGlUcQMLVMu_MzGMIMeAAnmqZYxHsrOGkAFXlUImXKFUhV-cFpJQ6eUssD3HpsC9jNrQ7jF_Fk8IqhstFuqIGuXm4272ENfTzARPmkYPHL_Z-4mS66_CdFxm2vuH4IP3n6YPjj3WQ/w266-h400/GKIONIS.JPG" title="Γκιώνης κοιμάται στη Λέσβο" width="266" /></a><br /><b>Γκιώνης</b> <i>(Otus scops)</i> ανασηκώνει τα "αυτιά" του,<br />δείχνοντας την ανησυχία του</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCQyo3OvhJzCzNZ_pwWG2j5nQFTXCF2-Q9Cdy-rhEtcRDgW5Lm17wiKS8S6lT1bc11qRrH_IutyEK1tEDzrc5exo36ZYqp4tUidyoSDmdL9VyAGoT18LLFMwxptaX9zTpTfEeiZyyFkyBXvdRQV0bqCWm2rGSUXtVrFTOGWkIDVqwWJCmVhUc4g/s1000/KOYKOYBAGIA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="koukouvagia" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCQyo3OvhJzCzNZ_pwWG2j5nQFTXCF2-Q9Cdy-rhEtcRDgW5Lm17wiKS8S6lT1bc11qRrH_IutyEK1tEDzrc5exo36ZYqp4tUidyoSDmdL9VyAGoT18LLFMwxptaX9zTpTfEeiZyyFkyBXvdRQV0bqCWm2rGSUXtVrFTOGWkIDVqwWJCmVhUc4g/w266-h400/KOYKOYBAGIA.JPG" title="Κουκουβάγια με ορθάνοιχτα μάτια" width="266" /></a><br />Το βλέμμα της<b> Κουκουβάγιας</b> <i>(Athenae nuctua)</i> είναι<br />πάντοτε διαπεραστικό!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></b></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">Γιατί πουλιά;</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί είναι πανέμορφα<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί πετούν!<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί είναι παντού, στις πόλεις, στα δάση, στους υγροτόπους<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί κάθε εποχή έχει τους δικούς της φτερωτούς επισκέπτες<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί η προσμονή και η καταγραφή ενός νέου είδος δεν μπορεί να συγκριθεί και να περιγραφεί με λόγια<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί με την παρατήρησή τους εκτιμούμε και προστατεύουμε περισσότερο το φυσικό μας περιβάλλον που βρίσκεται σε κίνδυνο<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί είναι η κατεξοχήν "πράσινη" δραστηριότητα - χόμπι<br /></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span><i>Γιατί η επαφή με την άγρια φύση αποκτά ουσία, γίνεται πάθος και καθημερινότητα</i></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9eEkrUqT5Bx7EwNIT2X-MvSgooGmN3sTx2X1nhPv9Z4KTVA-HX19j75Vuwj6d3aw29kdxAvqaOw_sNUxe6zOM1krngUAKTUnW-cRe90QXVGMePMtPj_UAxP0RMKDc3EB0sEWhUEPp5sIgigRb2v2dc3TGjnfGoTJ9n4SPK6Mzthok-wXiNtCuQ/s1200/PELARGOS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pelargoi" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9eEkrUqT5Bx7EwNIT2X-MvSgooGmN3sTx2X1nhPv9Z4KTVA-HX19j75Vuwj6d3aw29kdxAvqaOw_sNUxe6zOM1krngUAKTUnW-cRe90QXVGMePMtPj_UAxP0RMKDc3EB0sEWhUEPp5sIgigRb2v2dc3TGjnfGoTJ9n4SPK6Mzthok-wXiNtCuQ/w400-h266/PELARGOS.JPG" title="Πελαργοί στην Κωπαϊδα" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Λευκοπελαργοί</b> <i>(Ciconia ciconia)</i> σε αναζήτηση τροφής<br />στην πεδιάδα της Κωπαϊδας</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHiDdgW8i1yji4ZzPXAtknvZm0s2KD_Uqk79veBOn5joPAFzthEpXMV0x5UXDEyxyAQvcn0Vz5Q4oSEcl9HoZWDdfMqFMi9uUHrou1A1MJyN6aDDhL76vo7qzLVaRVC6aLdE7C5s-4kWdmbF9UZ6NMEU1iMeVsthEva0U2tSWZm7bl10gvmOJuA/s1000/TSALAPETEINOS-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tsalapeteinos" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHiDdgW8i1yji4ZzPXAtknvZm0s2KD_Uqk79veBOn5joPAFzthEpXMV0x5UXDEyxyAQvcn0Vz5Q4oSEcl9HoZWDdfMqFMi9uUHrou1A1MJyN6aDDhL76vo7qzLVaRVC6aLdE7C5s-4kWdmbF9UZ6NMEU1iMeVsthEva0U2tSWZm7bl10gvmOJuA/w266-h400/TSALAPETEINOS-1.JPG" title="Τσαλαπετεινός με λεία στο στόμα" width="266" /></a><br /><b>Τσαλαπεινός</b> <i>(Upupa epops)</i> που μόλις έχεις πιάσει<br />μία αράχνη για λιχουδιά</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsQwJDQvbbTeTJ2Pj3wuFXu2aEiUsSujL7Mux_ps-YzAaAeF5d_IQ4eltYMFG2bTr2xajiHA1u3v0iQB_QQCQ8zECb42AC1-19TmHSd_xs1E6IeDBGwgXq1xivrFXoHReO1-5p14wPAEMQUx5XVxoA8EhUk1DuJCOISXqAJU8lb_8-QaDKaL_Ww/s1200/XELIDONIA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="xelidonia" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsQwJDQvbbTeTJ2Pj3wuFXu2aEiUsSujL7Mux_ps-YzAaAeF5d_IQ4eltYMFG2bTr2xajiHA1u3v0iQB_QQCQ8zECb42AC1-19TmHSd_xs1E6IeDBGwgXq1xivrFXoHReO1-5p14wPAEMQUx5XVxoA8EhUk1DuJCOISXqAJU8lb_8-QaDKaL_Ww/w400-h266/XELIDONIA.JPG" title="Σταυλοχελίδονα πάνω σε αμπέλι" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Σταυλοχελίδονα</b> <i>(Hirundo rustica)</i> σε αμπελώνες στα Μεσόγεια</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h3 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας στο <a href="mailto:greecebirdtours@gmail.com">greecebirdtours@gmail.com</a> ή συμπληρώστε τη <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/contact-us.html">Φόρμα Επικοινωνίας</a></span></h3></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comAthens, Greece37.9838096 23.72753889.6735757638211552 -11.428711199999999 66.294043436178839 58.883788800000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-88832822572938271942023-11-13T13:23:00.001+02:002023-11-13T13:23:22.887+02:00Rafina Port Layover: Birding tours in Attica Riviera<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rafina Port Layover: Take a birding break before your Andros, Tinos or Mykonos holiday!</span></h1><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Are you going to be waiting at Rafina port for your ferry to Andros, Tinos or Mykonos? Here's is a great opportunity to discover Athens wildlife and birdfauna, only a few minutes drive from your ship dock! </span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV9-JTsPy9ErhZvJ9fFH3ne9nMzNUTfphAuqR_HqUSh7mjQrpZQFKz4iAdu-kBo8-4ISyL4TB7UxvLNIXzZ6hmQg3gOfR1bfGX82QLz5bPCk6iGrsia4SwCHx89mDqg3_N8ET7tP5C2_jCxrZcL_0Qp0QLmPx_0m72oPMyIC-SnrhbTOBIBvx6A/s3264/Rafina%20birding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birders-rafina-stream" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieV9-JTsPy9ErhZvJ9fFH3ne9nMzNUTfphAuqR_HqUSh7mjQrpZQFKz4iAdu-kBo8-4ISyL4TB7UxvLNIXzZ6hmQg3gOfR1bfGX82QLz5bPCk6iGrsia4SwCHx89mDqg3_N8ET7tP5C2_jCxrZcL_0Qp0QLmPx_0m72oPMyIC-SnrhbTOBIBvx6A/w400-h300/Rafina%20birding.jpg" title="Birders at Rafina's Stream" width="400" /></a><br />Birders on the bridge or Rafina's Stream</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Rafina Port</b> is ideally sited in the eastern part of Attica, an area known as Attica Riviera. The eastern side of Mesogea plains is rich in avifauna as well as reptiles, wild orchids, and beautiful landscapes. Even during a 1 or 2 hour port layover, a visitor could take advantage of our private, tailored made trips and enjoy birdwatching and bird photography, while visiting some of the most spectacular archeological sites of Attica.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8-PbJhYMiCYBM55xLdB1jUI_Kp-fzgtbdALxHn1_E56FqOp67fudo5U0ciJFz7-amo1VZtUshSv0ZdZ7TQDcZBCvhb9eeVi2ztsgYwiSWkGjY1gEMe7GDFkyNpfvcQPl4ynUD4wsNJif6iiPxf7_BuhLOEknBtNUhhsNVkAZzTWdKRwBJiwp/s1200/ALCATT-3994.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kingfisher-perched-at-Rafina-Stream" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8-PbJhYMiCYBM55xLdB1jUI_Kp-fzgtbdALxHn1_E56FqOp67fudo5U0ciJFz7-amo1VZtUshSv0ZdZ7TQDcZBCvhb9eeVi2ztsgYwiSWkGjY1gEMe7GDFkyNpfvcQPl4ynUD4wsNJif6iiPxf7_BuhLOEknBtNUhhsNVkAZzTWdKRwBJiwp/w400-h266/ALCATT-3994.JPG" title="Kingfisher perched on concrete at Rafina Stream" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Kingfisher (Αλκυόνη)</b> is perched on concrete<br />This colorful bird is resident at Rafina's stream</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBPDTkPbAl7PFrK_9-vqr5FTf2r524rgXhrhvztPOnnHUOZB9PPSqnrW-D-VEYsPuA-AcpfUiOCsug-ILA1_kWFDtOgxNZ5gfgWpKecGN8bMpWvmPsPPEOPMkX0R72v7QesnDOhSrVKIimZrDzZwIGCCiabaTlUwhG1AR2xCdYzRk0Ir3Ix9Q/s1200/IMG_9885.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rafina-stream-river-mouth" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBPDTkPbAl7PFrK_9-vqr5FTf2r524rgXhrhvztPOnnHUOZB9PPSqnrW-D-VEYsPuA-AcpfUiOCsug-ILA1_kWFDtOgxNZ5gfgWpKecGN8bMpWvmPsPPEOPMkX0R72v7QesnDOhSrVKIimZrDzZwIGCCiabaTlUwhG1AR2xCdYzRk0Ir3Ix9Q/w400-h266/IMG_9885.JPG" title="Rafina's Stream river mouth" width="400" /></a><br />A panoramic view of the <b>Rafina's stream</b> rivermouth,<br />at Karamanlis Park</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Resident birds of the nearby stream include Shag, Moorhen, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Cetti's Warbler, Goldfinch. In winter, several species of gulls visit the port of Rafina, such as Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, even the more rare Slender-billed Gull.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa5i-Vt_HDajwNAJbKNFTm6rHAb5moItwWFlftz2Vz3eCrNLcYNWuiJwMWVU_nnZJ1p2an8kVUOYs6MgHh3Nvf0o0QnLbcbIbOnFe2JJxZadMxQJzB3dVk8g9JYkIrGhOo_2ORhoacJ5yi6mtZar1GWo-Pi4UOO8OfB-YMcEWEJ9r7GJV4L5y/s1200/IMG_6807.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-headed-gulls-moults" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa5i-Vt_HDajwNAJbKNFTm6rHAb5moItwWFlftz2Vz3eCrNLcYNWuiJwMWVU_nnZJ1p2an8kVUOYs6MgHh3Nvf0o0QnLbcbIbOnFe2JJxZadMxQJzB3dVk8g9JYkIrGhOo_2ORhoacJ5yi6mtZar1GWo-Pi4UOO8OfB-YMcEWEJ9r7GJV4L5y/w400-h266/IMG_6807.JPG" title="Black-headed Gulls of different ages" width="400" /></a><br />A great location to compare plumage of different ages<br />in Black-headed Gulls (Καστανοκέφαλοι Γλάροι) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qBie_54BLrRQz7gLp2QTlMeivE22zyxvWzUTRpjR-ZqP5Q53MZkBtFQVuqhnw4loEECJ3CrLTOy56nCpxIQvLouA9w7XTceFcreOUHPtA84aIZm9wyaNn-8QtuaMIA8nMfblr0R75xH0DqnXpqR39hif7Wm0bFu2d3vZJFQCV6uV47L8QoMJ/s1200/IMG_7008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slender-billed-Gulls" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qBie_54BLrRQz7gLp2QTlMeivE22zyxvWzUTRpjR-ZqP5Q53MZkBtFQVuqhnw4loEECJ3CrLTOy56nCpxIQvLouA9w7XTceFcreOUHPtA84aIZm9wyaNn-8QtuaMIA8nMfblr0R75xH0DqnXpqR39hif7Wm0bFu2d3vZJFQCV6uV47L8QoMJ/w400-h266/IMG_7008.JPG" title="Slender-billed Gulls at Rafina Port" width="400" /></a><br />Slender-billed Gulls are among the winter visitotr a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Rafina Port</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apart from the birdwatching part, the area's beaches are worth visiting during the summer. Small fish taverna's, caffeterias and bars are found around the port. If you have some more time to spend waiting for your Andros or Mykonos ferry, we could take a 20 min drive to the Temple of Artemis in Vravrona, together with the Archeological Museum of Vravrona. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwhOuY0MJ5JsKYT95c0CtUveyMCyuXUu-dEl26DoxLM2W_ZMQbsmFAe63OyAeKsg1RDpmCXbCod3IXs_fPatE4bkojrr-wpkwSMkvzsH2z4bpB2c5gMo73NMLDRq-xhFSb0xAY6VdiMSJjjWvGsEdtOAaKwY0C4L9EC0WtAc7uvlAFxo5G9EQ/s1200/IMG_1457.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Temple-of-Artemis-Vravrona" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwhOuY0MJ5JsKYT95c0CtUveyMCyuXUu-dEl26DoxLM2W_ZMQbsmFAe63OyAeKsg1RDpmCXbCod3IXs_fPatE4bkojrr-wpkwSMkvzsH2z4bpB2c5gMo73NMLDRq-xhFSb0xAY6VdiMSJjjWvGsEdtOAaKwY0C4L9EC0WtAc7uvlAFxo5G9EQ/w400-h266/IMG_1457.JPG" title="Temple of Artemis in Vravrona" width="400" /></a><br />Temple of Artemis in Vravrona</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you are lucky enough, you might be able to enjoy unobtructed views of <b>Little Owls</b> that are living in the area and often use the Temple of Artemis as their residence! This species was the sacred bird of goddess Athena, thus its scientific/latin name (Athenae noctua) derives from the greek goddess of wisdom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKm2J2T1ZxjbGJLikuSNA5Jmn9ByA1FeBk8VfWaJTiEDFhS77xjpHk8IYplrpHXVvvRDO01rwbMYxUzwJXjOe_x46TCxcyKeHs263UCcnWIzc1ZYQh34BsWgoJTmKIF1p7ehADFtFbucKko0SMEYwcmfun4xIzqM7M9eLu_s71SQ3dYw2JkV-YA/s2603/IMG_20230325_205004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little-owls-on-temple-of-artemis-vravrona" border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="2603" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKm2J2T1ZxjbGJLikuSNA5Jmn9ByA1FeBk8VfWaJTiEDFhS77xjpHk8IYplrpHXVvvRDO01rwbMYxUzwJXjOe_x46TCxcyKeHs263UCcnWIzc1ZYQh34BsWgoJTmKIF1p7ehADFtFbucKko0SMEYwcmfun4xIzqM7M9eLu_s71SQ3dYw2JkV-YA/w400-h340/IMG_20230325_205004.jpg" title="Little Owls on the temple of Artemis, Vravrona" width="400" /></a><br />A pair of <b>Little Owls (Κουκουβάγιες) </b>on the <br />Temple of Artemis, at Vravrona</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comRafina 190 09, Greece38.0234457 24.00592419.713211863821158 -11.150325899999999 66.333679536178849 59.1621741tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-45070219888276166522023-10-19T20:05:00.000+03:002023-10-19T20:05:00.048+03:00Athens birding tour for Chiara Talia<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Birding tour for Chiara Talia was full of surprises!</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's is a trip report from our recent guided birding tour around Athens for <a href="https://www.chiaratalia.com/" target="_blank">Chiara Talia</a>, an Italian freelance bird and wildlife photographer, bird-related contect creator and birdwatching enthousiast, living in Belgium. </span></h3><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVpIjTkg9IbqCZZQV-Vi3zM9MoHIO3xwFm0_-4gdxbAWWBBK5H9x0SJtTbiAmphyphenhyphenwnb1_zkTA79_-V9SE9eL8ECGX-rP7GPO-9qQlGQWGEd9i8neeAt1vNl_UxhpL1I_EJ3cadr0nnOfa5a3jDCEMP3mhCc2oLVeu33VeFSfFqzLlwF-V9SZP/s1439/red-backed-shrike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-backed Shrike, juvenile" border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1439" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVpIjTkg9IbqCZZQV-Vi3zM9MoHIO3xwFm0_-4gdxbAWWBBK5H9x0SJtTbiAmphyphenhyphenwnb1_zkTA79_-V9SE9eL8ECGX-rP7GPO-9qQlGQWGEd9i8neeAt1vNl_UxhpL1I_EJ3cadr0nnOfa5a3jDCEMP3mhCc2oLVeu33VeFSfFqzLlwF-V9SZP/w400-h279/red-backed-shrike.jpg" title="Portrait of Red-backed Shrike" width="400" /></a><br />Close us portrait of Red-backed Shrike (<i>Lanius collurio</i>) - Αετομάχος<br /><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Chiara Talia</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Proudly followed by 18k dedicated birders in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chiaratalia_birds/" target="_blank">instagram</a>, Chiara is very active in all social media, giving online wildlife photography lectures, creating useful bird photography youtube videos and instagram reels. We organized a half day trip around Athens, focusing on her target species list, which contained several, hard-to-find lifers.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We headed to the north-east part of Attica, Erythres plains, and started birding early in the morning, after enjoying a mocchiato espresso at a local bakery. The first birds we saw were hundreds of hirundines that were getting ready for the long migration trip. Sitting on roadside electricity wires, we could photography Barn Swallows, Sand Martins, and a single Red-rumped Swallow, the first today's lifer for Chiara! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DWKhzgn-cIvxMkoWoZqvtAzQwrwGxoa67KVtHE_AgzgnmnBzCiURFwayOyqxBiwlIex7XHbpeogItggVU8B2X1d0RFQvW2I11Te-WKzsBEQyxEZ_D5ZYOhad4lBldQiDf1-8S12cBR7qvlGMUg6B_jjbTMxH-yNPCVk5CRa9q3EGvCfXOiWu/s1920/red-rumped-swallow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-rumped-Swallow-on-wire" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DWKhzgn-cIvxMkoWoZqvtAzQwrwGxoa67KVtHE_AgzgnmnBzCiURFwayOyqxBiwlIex7XHbpeogItggVU8B2X1d0RFQvW2I11Te-WKzsBEQyxEZ_D5ZYOhad4lBldQiDf1-8S12cBR7qvlGMUg6B_jjbTMxH-yNPCVk5CRa9q3EGvCfXOiWu/w400-h320/red-rumped-swallow.jpg" title="Red-rumped Swallow on wire" width="400" /></a><br />Red-rumped Swallow (<i>Cecropis daurica</i>) - Μιλτοχελίδονο on wire<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Photo by Chiara Talia</span></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few meters away, was the first surprise for the day: an impressive <b>Short-toed Snake Eagle</b> sitting on a huge rock at the edge of a cliff. What a sighting! The bird offered us a few seconds for photography, and then it dissappeared flying over the hill.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We drove a few hundred meters away, to one of our usual stops. Among the dozens of Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, Blackcaps, Cirl Buntings, Great Tit, we saw the second highlight for the day, and lifer for Chiara: <b>Red-breasted Flycatcher</b>!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu23lgOhhIzPp7xI-d0R4QashKgflrqQrxL1sAYmivfVJU-reLF7RAop9GMVy4AjPwoz9mYvl6fpPuV0IphQEALBnBnKJevULt5djMZJ6QMTCsvc0vzPUgzFPmQC8usIR_yBnncDtiRAGvsyHo9F-0UGtv_e-sqCLG4zkKJsIuUAbPNZKWZdGW/s1348/red-breasted-flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-breasted-Flycatcher" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1348" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu23lgOhhIzPp7xI-d0R4QashKgflrqQrxL1sAYmivfVJU-reLF7RAop9GMVy4AjPwoz9mYvl6fpPuV0IphQEALBnBnKJevULt5djMZJ6QMTCsvc0vzPUgzFPmQC8usIR_yBnncDtiRAGvsyHo9F-0UGtv_e-sqCLG4zkKJsIuUAbPNZKWZdGW/w400-h270/red-breasted-flycatcher.jpg" title="Red-breasted Flycatcher" width="400" /></a><br />Red-breasted Flycatcher (<i>Ficedula parva</i>) - Νανομυγοχάφτης<br /><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Chiara Talia</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We stayed in that particular spot for more than one hour, waiting for Sombre Tits, but unfortunately we could not see or hear any. Meanwhile, a flock of <b>Honey Buzzards</b> flew over us, also 3 <b>Lesser Kestrels</b>, a Peregrine Falcon and a couple of Common Buzzards. It seemed that fall migration was still under way. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next stop was the small querry at the east part of Erythres plains. <b>Western Rock Nuthatches</b> breed there is good numbers, so we took some nice photos of the birds singing. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCh-QccPW5iYgpj86bEI8UfrlOBGavFTJjDpNMwF4oAfFI_pYrKP9-TuDQbS7uAbx41cgXVaWAmsO1Z5k1QBhC3o03-OZQ2UGBiI8NULxTsSvhNXO-k8Az822kK5nLboS-FFqtyzY3VIyFF4FFsElri5hgkKLgWzbuGLHVYPyDr3YjtpqogykU/s702/Sitta-neumayer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Western-Rock-Nuthatch" border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="702" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCh-QccPW5iYgpj86bEI8UfrlOBGavFTJjDpNMwF4oAfFI_pYrKP9-TuDQbS7uAbx41cgXVaWAmsO1Z5k1QBhC3o03-OZQ2UGBiI8NULxTsSvhNXO-k8Az822kK5nLboS-FFqtyzY3VIyFF4FFsElri5hgkKLgWzbuGLHVYPyDr3YjtpqogykU/w400-h275/Sitta-neumayer.jpg" title="Western-Rock-Nuthatch" width="400" /></a><br />Western Rock Nuthatch (<i>Sitta neumayer</i>) - Βραχοτσομπανάκος<br /><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Chiara Talia</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We also saw a single Eastern Black-Eared Wheatear, a few Linnets, some tame Red-backed Shrikes. Suddenly, two raptors were soaring over our heads, that looked larger than Common Buzzards: they were a couple of <b>Long-legged Buzzards</b>, probably a pair displaying around the rocky terrain. We took great photos of the flying birds of prey, and we had the chance to admire them for quite a few minutes. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDdPDsnFNtxu8Mb113rvM3EzVP1o9Yth4W2mTae8CmSgBgEQw5KtFrpIjSOsx9kOYHdvL-gqkdbbSgSlzDRpuo-YhixVTPX-6yKPQ5C3Ow0UPcEvwXWMwTBol_7QCMVk813WGkwxRhqiTdft6jdUSeD0DwVaH9vWRrgghNTydyXHlEt7G0D8D/s904/Long-legged-Buzzard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long-legged-Buzzard-flying" border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="904" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDdPDsnFNtxu8Mb113rvM3EzVP1o9Yth4W2mTae8CmSgBgEQw5KtFrpIjSOsx9kOYHdvL-gqkdbbSgSlzDRpuo-YhixVTPX-6yKPQ5C3Ow0UPcEvwXWMwTBol_7QCMVk813WGkwxRhqiTdft6jdUSeD0DwVaH9vWRrgghNTydyXHlEt7G0D8D/w400-h266/Long-legged-Buzzard.jpg" title="Long-legged Buzzard flying" width="400" /></a><br />Long-legged Buzzard (<i>Buteo rufinus</i>) - Αετογερακίνα<br /> <span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Chiara Talia</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The surprises were not over for today: far away in the clouded sky, shadows of two huge birds were noticed. We used the spotting scope for better views: <b>Griffon Vultures</b>! The species is not breeding in Central Greece, but there are a few sightings every year, mostly during autumn, of individual wondering birds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Walking around Asopos River, among the tall willow trees, we had a glimpse of <b>Syrian Woodpecker</b>, another lifer for Chiara. We also heard <b>Wryneck</b> calling a few times from different locations, Bee-eaters, Ravens, and a few Yellow Wagtails.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrURJCcaZarXrsBT7EmHur9FLjuMbzihXvqNvXWa3Mu7Rv08Jt7XiCaJBFd6yWxoblxkXcXOPu1wzTtTFKehChvHjRvlhA7z1sOFxmM-nu-iSxsm7gyacs4pIRtEfd16B3nmvyFIRGSS1B_shgfJJL7fxqDadbQUq_JkRBUu_A0ftLfXcwy29/s1200/chiara-talia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chiara-talia-birding-athens" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrURJCcaZarXrsBT7EmHur9FLjuMbzihXvqNvXWa3Mu7Rv08Jt7XiCaJBFd6yWxoblxkXcXOPu1wzTtTFKehChvHjRvlhA7z1sOFxmM-nu-iSxsm7gyacs4pIRtEfd16B3nmvyFIRGSS1B_shgfJJL7fxqDadbQUq_JkRBUu_A0ftLfXcwy29/w400-h400/chiara-talia.jpg" title="Chiara and Spyros birding in Athens" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chiara and Spyros during the Athens birding trip</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Overall we saw 46 species of birds a</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">nd had an unforgettable day outdoors, enjoying birding and bird photography</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>BIRD LIST for September 30th 2023</b><br /><br />Griffon Vulture<br />Short-toed Snake Eagle<br />Common Buzzard<br />Long-legged Buzzard<br />Common Kestrel<br />Lesser Kestrel<br />Peregrine Falcon<br />European Honey Buzzard<br />Bee-eater<br />Common Swift<br />Barn Swallow<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />Sand Martin<br />Rock Pigeon<br />Collared Dove<br />Wryneck<br />Red-backed Shrike<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Magpie<br />Hooded Crow<br />Syrian Woodpecker<br />Common Raven<br />Blue Tit<br />Great Tit<br />Crested Lark<br />Willow Warbler<br />Chiffachaff<br />Blackcap<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Western Rock Nuthatch<br />Eurasian Blackbird<br />Spotted Flycatcher<br />Common Redstart<br />European Stonechat<br />Northern Wheater<br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br />House Sparrow<br />Grey Wagtail<br />Yellow Wagtail<br />Linnet<br />Goldfinch<br />Corn Bunting<br />Cirl Bunting</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comErythres 190 08, Greece38.2174124 23.32214039.9071785638211551 -11.834109699999999 66.527646236178839 58.4783903tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-4852300828526901882023-10-19T07:38:00.003+03:002023-11-29T22:03:19.779+02:00MEGA Rarity: Sabine's Gull at Lake Kerkini, Greece<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1st record for Greece: Sabine's Gull at Lake Kerkini!</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The very first confirmed Sabine's Gull in Greece was reported at Lake Kekini on October 2nd, 2023. Greece Bird Tours was there, so here are some photos of the twitched bird!</span></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4OcIzP4xumPJrN_LIcvMrSIJBgU8m5sXBD3TupDvSgvxsUHwODnBhtDU2P1wBzFyeq_yK_nDhYJw0pwDSVNHuBKM-fyuN8Z98YE4EgyytOkOO5afsTwhbaS8WcXGOcA3VmTBrzlOv4FayBL28geoM4Z6siYq7uQ9jnMOZHxg__PqXZ2EYhQ/s2001/Sabine.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Sabine's Gull at Lake Kerkini" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2001" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4OcIzP4xumPJrN_LIcvMrSIJBgU8m5sXBD3TupDvSgvxsUHwODnBhtDU2P1wBzFyeq_yK_nDhYJw0pwDSVNHuBKM-fyuN8Z98YE4EgyytOkOO5afsTwhbaS8WcXGOcA3VmTBrzlOv4FayBL28geoM4Z6siYq7uQ9jnMOZHxg__PqXZ2EYhQ/w400-h266/Sabine.JPG" title="Sabine's Gull at Lake Kerkini" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sabine's Gull</b> (<i>Xema sabini</i>) - Χελιδονόγλαρος<br />at Lake Kerkini</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">The bird was first spotted by Adrian Eisen Rupp, a German ornithologist and avid birder. On October 2nd 2023 he digiscoped an individual among hundreds of Black-headed Gulls at Lithotopos, at the southern tip of Lake Kerkini.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">He rapidly spread the word and dozens of Greek and foreign birdwatchers visited the lake to try their luck on this very rare gull. Fortunately, the bird retained its summer plumage and it was sticking out among the other gulls, as it was the only gull with black head. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbe3oA0x_74aT28_s23RPPhw_KdYQjWe9N37t5kc4mfiQhVeOYktxsGYH4ndzvRZhDRreqgXVQFlpoo0SB3YCXlzSbKlxx4EXZcxR9E76R3qhgqslZl3SqO6fYSIrdO4VfzUh6UN2R8VGjQTIRf5ewSMQSTeMr8_Ukfz_E03tqTW_lXKJuuc/s2001/IMG_2497.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sabine's Gull among Black-headed Gulls" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2001" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbe3oA0x_74aT28_s23RPPhw_KdYQjWe9N37t5kc4mfiQhVeOYktxsGYH4ndzvRZhDRreqgXVQFlpoo0SB3YCXlzSbKlxx4EXZcxR9E76R3qhgqslZl3SqO6fYSIrdO4VfzUh6UN2R8VGjQTIRf5ewSMQSTeMr8_Ukfz_E03tqTW_lXKJuuc/w400-h266/IMG_2497.JPG" title="Sabine's Gull among Black-headed Gulls" width="400" /></a><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sabine's Gull</b> is sticking out because of smaller size and black-head <br />(no Black-headed Gull had actually any black on its head) <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgkc7Ok_gdVWD44TPYv0mQPnOnijJGKMmcuZEGaRNywJ0OVJP_5n2plkRzvl_zLto3Jw3zrqRa9g8LxDWamrqsbH6MxQedQMB17ptf0PRvpQcdGEo49cCkHTCEC0k8D1nZHH9WntV753qQNNxQTBcs2aJOJ0nyZRQfc64PL61-zk7W6yI29s/s2001/IMG_2674.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Sabine's Gull flying" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2001" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgkc7Ok_gdVWD44TPYv0mQPnOnijJGKMmcuZEGaRNywJ0OVJP_5n2plkRzvl_zLto3Jw3zrqRa9g8LxDWamrqsbH6MxQedQMB17ptf0PRvpQcdGEo49cCkHTCEC0k8D1nZHH9WntV753qQNNxQTBcs2aJOJ0nyZRQfc64PL61-zk7W6yI29s/w400-h266/IMG_2674.JPG" title="Sabine's Gull flying" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sabine's Gull</b> (<i>Xema sabini</i>) - Χελιδονόγλαρος<br />Wing pattern and swallowish tail are also solid ID features</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lefteris Stavrakashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096870350390009945noreply@blogger.comLake Kerkini, Kerkini 620 55, Greece41.21 23.1312.899766163821155 -12.026250000000001 69.520233836178846 58.286249999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-14495355188730111072023-10-05T13:24:00.000+03:002023-10-05T13:24:32.672+03:00Birding Tour and Owl watching, Sept 24th 2023<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Birding Tour around Athens, Sept 24th 2023</span></h1><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We organized a private custom made trip for a couple of young German birders, from Dresden, who wanted to see some new lifers and possibly photographing them. Since most of the wetland species here are also common in Germany, we decided to search in more mediterranean habitats, such as locations with rocky hills with macchia vegetation. These areas are home of the most interesting species in our regions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First we started from <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/mt-hymettus.html">Mt Hymettus</a>, way before sunrise, in order to see the special resident of the area, a target species for most visiting birders in Athens: the cryptic <b>Scops Owl</b>. This bird is highly active, we can listen to it all night in various areas around the city. On the othe hand, it is so hard to see it, you really need to be very lucky and actually try before the first monring light. So here we were, at 6am, waiting for any signs of movement. First we heard Robins, then Blackbirds, and then ... the Scops Owl! A bird flushed and remained exposed for a few seconds beside a cypress tree. It was enough time to take a few shots, without flash, in very high ISO. The first lifer for our visiting birders was already achieved!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTEkXM3q21MPFFmBDi6tEL-8HiiRDSMidPPLICNCIxfiu26BHEw55f7EjNK0HaxOS2tgi_XhYQJTKglZV0vveLq0Tkx1jEStqSh5MySIWom9junSGT6MzAkhu6R8Oyfo67L40gInwr1U5mihqiTvEU7-BgFQWhevUTWtDmKuiGRgfrm2WhI1axw/s1500/Scops-Owl.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Scops-Owl" border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTEkXM3q21MPFFmBDi6tEL-8HiiRDSMidPPLICNCIxfiu26BHEw55f7EjNK0HaxOS2tgi_XhYQJTKglZV0vveLq0Tkx1jEStqSh5MySIWom9junSGT6MzAkhu6R8Oyfo67L40gInwr1U5mihqiTvEU7-BgFQWhevUTWtDmKuiGRgfrm2WhI1axw/w400-h263/Scops-Owl.JPG" title="Scops Owl at Hymettus Mt, Athens" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scops Owl (<i>Otus scops</i>), Γκιώνης<br />before sunrise at Mt Hymettus, Athens</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore we headed towards the north part of Attica. A short stop at Inoi, to enjoy the ancient Inoi Tower proved to be very exciting. A Little Owl was standing between the rock and bricks of this ancient tower, built around 4th century B.C. Fortunately, we could get out of the car and take some nice shots of the birds that is probably nesting somewhere very close to the ruins. It seems that this location can be also added to the <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/birding-history-culture.html">Birding, History & Culture tours</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquNEKBsxLQQVHYMhD5VpG6Rpjs-xBYugVfutnz0WiHjKIXO5OQAs6HhO2_7JdGmTFiOfCJxx-dqoROWiPVMrgxuiX5X78zP1pYBGW4JGdzEbJhbEOdFx8V-rWFJOfWlruA9pkUu_E1H3lWUgYpOpkLeUaE_DkhAn4_NBt6e7TUlwN37Dyrx6izg/s1200/Little-Owl.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Little-owl-on-tower" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1200" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquNEKBsxLQQVHYMhD5VpG6Rpjs-xBYugVfutnz0WiHjKIXO5OQAs6HhO2_7JdGmTFiOfCJxx-dqoROWiPVMrgxuiX5X78zP1pYBGW4JGdzEbJhbEOdFx8V-rWFJOfWlruA9pkUu_E1H3lWUgYpOpkLeUaE_DkhAn4_NBt6e7TUlwN37Dyrx6izg/w400-h295/Little-Owl.JPG" title="Little Owl at Inoi Tower" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Little Owl (<i>Athena noctuae</i>) Κουκουβάγια<br />at Inoi Tower</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We continued driving further west and started looking for birds in <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/p/erythres-plains.html">Erythres plains</a>. An Osprey was the first bird of prey we saw, and surprisingly this species was recorder for the first time in the area. Certainly, a raptor so closely related to water was not expected above cotton fields, however we were at the peak of fall migration, so anything could happen! A few minutes later, here comes the first Short-toed Snake Eagle of the day and a few minutes later a small flock of Lesser Kestrels departing.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqsnZlPPg15dF6HLypcBC_boRT8koenIduwA9qfT0MsPaKotgeX4ladVVGPMO7mkKAqbmif_feJr0tI5PgTy5Vtb2vxPVlxb1iHRQiEgwoGjTkzXGPdFmAaD2-8AZ3pu4HdJi7U4Dr4oza3w7SPao66q8zWa4aQvWYo4KQ6SW8QfK61iTNFN5ag/s1843/Osprey.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Osprey" border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1843" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqsnZlPPg15dF6HLypcBC_boRT8koenIduwA9qfT0MsPaKotgeX4ladVVGPMO7mkKAqbmif_feJr0tI5PgTy5Vtb2vxPVlxb1iHRQiEgwoGjTkzXGPdFmAaD2-8AZ3pu4HdJi7U4Dr4oza3w7SPao66q8zWa4aQvWYo4KQ6SW8QfK61iTNFN5ag/w400-h285/Osprey.JPG" title="Osprey" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Osprey (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>) Ψαραετός <br />over Erythres fields, Athens</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1HUcpSdhIIhs7smRTTALZxVAywoZiLPC4AZtldfXiCTtfDA6L_WFDcKxdpZ4RvY6bL4bGCElC5I0FkCpowV1bPeneUUQZSQn74WewS6fIsUtwNwVCbXEgrWi5mc1FXWMmYBb5BnEK1vToIvJ_iCLEl0vQPqiSSh4Uoapd_aBGChGoPynCgPEBA/s2008/Short-toed-Snake-Eagle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Short-toed-snake-eagle" border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="2008" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1HUcpSdhIIhs7smRTTALZxVAywoZiLPC4AZtldfXiCTtfDA6L_WFDcKxdpZ4RvY6bL4bGCElC5I0FkCpowV1bPeneUUQZSQn74WewS6fIsUtwNwVCbXEgrWi5mc1FXWMmYBb5BnEK1vToIvJ_iCLEl0vQPqiSSh4Uoapd_aBGChGoPynCgPEBA/w400-h272/Short-toed-Snake-Eagle.JPG" title="Short-toed Snake Eagle flying" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Short-toed Eagle (<i>Circaetus gallicus</i>) <br />soaring over Erythres </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The area around the rocky hills proved to be highly productive, with dozens of Spotted Flycatchers, Red-bached Shrikes, Willow Warblers. We also saw three more lifers that breed in the area: Blue Rock Thrush, Western Rock Nuthatch and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvQYHVBsv4yaoHafR36ZYjNT7r0cggzqrIlhydMpVHLRIBEXLZaiUiSxEYQn57XsVcw5KYdudAaTxWe7BuKtzA-FVKme8rRD_igZYLy85RIbFuICoh9nUXXoHgMh4f3nFH8mpK4VyVHns39wNWx6n_EHVMIeK-icmbZ2h0avfjp0Yel3xPuVRVQ/s1255/Blue-rock-thrush.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="blue-rck-thrush" border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="662" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvQYHVBsv4yaoHafR36ZYjNT7r0cggzqrIlhydMpVHLRIBEXLZaiUiSxEYQn57XsVcw5KYdudAaTxWe7BuKtzA-FVKme8rRD_igZYLy85RIbFuICoh9nUXXoHgMh4f3nFH8mpK4VyVHns39wNWx6n_EHVMIeK-icmbZ2h0avfjp0Yel3xPuVRVQ/w211-h400/Blue-rock-thrush.JPG" title="Blue-rock-thursh on the rocks" width="211" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blue Rock Thrush (<i>Monticola solitarius</i>) Γαλαζοκότσυφας<br />perching on the rocks</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2zPVoPSfoxMY9l4ut5tJWvQVeAevOhVbkQZ2xUAXb2n02E5gjRDeP8hLuGH2GcrGH60uvNWnUNJBAG6kxFfbWNc9UhmsIKWwxIm4enRcQvPbVhR_wPFmnQMfbxtwtLekT1qYFSQ3h0QizceKi4PxaJrFDbi-w_CPJQZnwAB3Gclvn8LJKBUvGg/s1200/Spotted-Flycatcher.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Spotted-Flycatcher" border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1200" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2zPVoPSfoxMY9l4ut5tJWvQVeAevOhVbkQZ2xUAXb2n02E5gjRDeP8hLuGH2GcrGH60uvNWnUNJBAG6kxFfbWNc9UhmsIKWwxIm4enRcQvPbVhR_wPFmnQMfbxtwtLekT1qYFSQ3h0QizceKi4PxaJrFDbi-w_CPJQZnwAB3Gclvn8LJKBUvGg/w400-h261/Spotted-Flycatcher.JPG" title="Spotted Flycatcher" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spotted Flycatcher (<i>Muscicapa striata</i>) Σταχτομυγοχάφτης</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrmOr4oHD92jnHFHbpgwAyTLxIN0mJjoJ9zufWdhWx6ll-R5Xdn4s7tdgMtOhKg_B4gjE4ufa91g3IYDBR4euWOp2LIMzJ5_tYz-AzHIKhkFgHr6nejEu7YGe8pP5aiT-NlygbQQGF359ysj99TlGSHrNYAOoTbcWFaMrCuOnNJrfV6O0U-MUVQ/s1259/red-backed-shrike.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="red-backed-shrike" border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1259" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrmOr4oHD92jnHFHbpgwAyTLxIN0mJjoJ9zufWdhWx6ll-R5Xdn4s7tdgMtOhKg_B4gjE4ufa91g3IYDBR4euWOp2LIMzJ5_tYz-AzHIKhkFgHr6nejEu7YGe8pP5aiT-NlygbQQGF359ysj99TlGSHrNYAOoTbcWFaMrCuOnNJrfV6O0U-MUVQ/w400-h275/red-backed-shrike.JPG" title="Red-backed Shrike" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Red-backed Shrike (<i>Lanius collurio</i>) Αετομάχος</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKxgO4M1EtsOTQ-QuuEfgJ8xDo_MiYg3MGpWT6KjNUjKuHK6i9GM2dnyCS67oJvsKSLzBwgIeJSp59gW1iO0Fe_7jRDwqVCy7EDimuEmHmjF3cqn_nvLNI7yxzODnslUJiA7aBMlhL0TMxcOZPJXYGzMfwIRcmr_5Lcq7BS8R5vE4lxWFYu7H2Q/s1200/Wasp-spider-Agriope.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1200" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKxgO4M1EtsOTQ-QuuEfgJ8xDo_MiYg3MGpWT6KjNUjKuHK6i9GM2dnyCS67oJvsKSLzBwgIeJSp59gW1iO0Fe_7jRDwqVCy7EDimuEmHmjF3cqn_nvLNI7yxzODnslUJiA7aBMlhL0TMxcOZPJXYGzMfwIRcmr_5Lcq7BS8R5vE4lxWFYu7H2Q/w400-h305/Wasp-spider-Agriope.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wasp Spider <i>Argiope bruennicki</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On our way back to Athens, we stopped at Spata fields, in search for some more lifers. Indeed we managed to get good views of migrating Whinchats, Willow Warblers, and resident Zitting Cisticolas, along with Crested Larks, Cirl Buntings.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W0wZ1aCX0HPeqkD52QC0OroGRHPKc8Cgerd6TpQ8fqGiYxnVNm1X9imG7rep2Tc2KR5UEOfV7xDAsDdlQHWf-YD4E0Okj_W9tf7npdTvZnhC9NMaB8jEDzsfGAnFVTexMjuZQIAfhnD_s9XJrq2YcinzXRxhX2jzcW2J87mvxMr3EVf9KX6TNw/s1226/whinchat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1226" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_W0wZ1aCX0HPeqkD52QC0OroGRHPKc8Cgerd6TpQ8fqGiYxnVNm1X9imG7rep2Tc2KR5UEOfV7xDAsDdlQHWf-YD4E0Okj_W9tf7npdTvZnhC9NMaB8jEDzsfGAnFVTexMjuZQIAfhnD_s9XJrq2YcinzXRxhX2jzcW2J87mvxMr3EVf9KX6TNw/w400-h246/whinchat.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whinchat (<i>Saxicola ruberta</i>) Καστανολαίμης<br />at Spata fields, Athens</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcoYrJeZ5atGAZXPq1tcOsqBk-ncqTdQbANlS0rk6F3KwlaIupVG_Ba0NBz226fNJdqGLicPkhYMeUbkXZpBe3-ycNBkFhQtRH2tuDZtHWThGGOY54PFnpBSkSBSsJEZzarZkeN2ndDukZ_O_oooxwYUFzpwnGC-9CTfNpfEQeZ8xZwbIbD1ygw/s1200/willow-warbler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcoYrJeZ5atGAZXPq1tcOsqBk-ncqTdQbANlS0rk6F3KwlaIupVG_Ba0NBz226fNJdqGLicPkhYMeUbkXZpBe3-ycNBkFhQtRH2tuDZtHWThGGOY54PFnpBSkSBSsJEZzarZkeN2ndDukZ_O_oooxwYUFzpwnGC-9CTfNpfEQeZ8xZwbIbD1ygw/w400-h284/willow-warbler.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Willow Warbler (<i>Phylloscopus trochilus</i>) Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">at Spata fields, Athens</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAOcoNmmvRTuQj5u7S79_53HhE3tpFEEWUEO6tzYVwNfohefYKit9dETaRu322rrf4hGpDYqf-8IumQgNoHRZmjW3WIOAXKeaDQGKeXP8HIgelf6R81a2BcOUzj3qXmX3o8cwD9pVXLfF-0k5yEckv-qX_rgV3JndPOz1Har4J_AdRqb4dNoqHA/s1943/Zitting-cisticola.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1943" data-original-width="1366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAOcoNmmvRTuQj5u7S79_53HhE3tpFEEWUEO6tzYVwNfohefYKit9dETaRu322rrf4hGpDYqf-8IumQgNoHRZmjW3WIOAXKeaDQGKeXP8HIgelf6R81a2BcOUzj3qXmX3o8cwD9pVXLfF-0k5yEckv-qX_rgV3JndPOz1Har4J_AdRqb4dNoqHA/w281-h400/Zitting-cisticola.JPG" width="281" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Always playful Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) Κιστικόλη</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod7XBzN7ggwFA_2-IyDaxqO9TDdrCXBea5-JTf3VK9r94kA97h57UWzEr-pQyAulo6IHj9Pxsolp0qSrvCF5QyEGPM9G5hHR7ZQQHKGypfNC-DOmSbWw1jc5M3MIh4S50svVK-wTvDLhk7mkmA3i4z9RY_wCUp6wAXUYTb5xoRa8tJ3fpSLRvrQ/s1221/Buteo-buteo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1221" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgod7XBzN7ggwFA_2-IyDaxqO9TDdrCXBea5-JTf3VK9r94kA97h57UWzEr-pQyAulo6IHj9Pxsolp0qSrvCF5QyEGPM9G5hHR7ZQQHKGypfNC-DOmSbWw1jc5M3MIh4S50svVK-wTvDLhk7mkmA3i4z9RY_wCUp6wAXUYTb5xoRa8tJ3fpSLRvrQ/w400-h278/Buteo-buteo.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) Γερακίνα</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>BIRD LIST for Sept 24th, 2023</b><br /><br />Common Buzzard<br />Marsh Harrier<br />Osprey<br />Short-toed Snake Eagle<br />Lesser Kestrel<br />Common Kestrel<br />Sand Martin<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />House Martin<br />Barn Swallow<br />Magpie<br />Jay<br />Hooded Crow<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Little Owl<br />Scops Owl<br />Red-backed Shrike<br />Spotted Flycatcher<br />Redstart<br />Blue Rock Thrush<br />Blackbird<br />Whinchat<br />Stonechat<br />Redstart<br />Robin<br />Great Tit<br />Crested Lark</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">House Sparrow<br />Grey Wagtail<br />Willow Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Zitting Cisticola<br />Western Rock Nuthatch<br />Goldfinch<br />Linnet<br />Cirl Bunting</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comErythres 190 08, Greece38.2174124 23.32214039.9071785638211551 -11.834109699999999 66.527646236178839 58.4783903tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-58475527852439528902023-09-11T07:57:00.004+03:002023-10-11T10:44:23.486+03:00Birding Holiday 2024: Northern Greece<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Northern Greece 2024 Birding Holiday: From Lake Kerkini to Evros Delta & Dadia Forest</span></h1><h3><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enjoy a 14 day birdwatching experience at one of the most unspoiled birding areas of Europe: the northern part of Greece. From the unbeatable Lake Kerkini to Dadia Forest (Europe's richest raptors area), this trip covers the most important natural reserves of southeastern Europe. We have included most Ramsar protected areas, like Porto Lagos, Lake Vistonida, Gallikos & Axios Delta, Evros Delta combined with untouched mountains, such as Mt Pageo, home of stunning alpine avifaune. Lake Ismarida is another hidden gem that we will explore, an area often overlooked by most birding tour operators. This is a lifetime birdwatching and bird photography experience!</span></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEXaJSFpVct1UKW-MQnjszDQ11iY1o-Q1JCRN5Pfzme2HfavuEn88cWSK9ToPfoUsvbkOoF_EgH15kAaHOQ7QwoiWWfXrr6PXej99txBSb97pAWqN6ubKP3YLWw2sljgauUHDCk1dZoGFYynrpG7CiETq-Kvkf-2cptme_0HDXlq7-ngZxQOOPg/s1200/bee-eater-Spyros-Skareas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bee-eater" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEXaJSFpVct1UKW-MQnjszDQ11iY1o-Q1JCRN5Pfzme2HfavuEn88cWSK9ToPfoUsvbkOoF_EgH15kAaHOQ7QwoiWWfXrr6PXej99txBSb97pAWqN6ubKP3YLWw2sljgauUHDCk1dZoGFYynrpG7CiETq-Kvkf-2cptme_0HDXlq7-ngZxQOOPg/w400-h266/bee-eater-Spyros-Skareas.JPG" title="Bee-eater" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Bee-eater</b>, one of the most colorful birds of Greece</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tour Dates: <b>May 6th - 19th, 2024</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Departs: Thessaloniki<br />Returns: Alexandroupoli<br />Tour Size: Limited to 12 participants</span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This 2 week all inclusive birdwatching adventure is mainly organized with Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours, one of the biggest worldwide birding travel agencies, from Austin Texas. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;">Founded in 1976, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) is among the most respected birding and nature tourism companies in the world.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> <br />We already run a very succesful 2022 Northern Greece trip, so this time we added special locations of overwelming natural beauty and more hours of easy pace birding.<br />We will provide our extensive birding knowledge, as our local bird guide will accompany the group 24/7. Our 20+ years of birding experience in the area, together with VENT elite services, both guarantee an unforgettable nature encounter.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">CALL FOR INTEREST OR ANY QUESTIONS: Please email us at <a href="mailto:greecebirdtours@gmail.com "><b>greecebirdtours@gmail.com </b></a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The birding should be exceptional, and we expect encounters with a range of wonderful birds including Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black and White storks, Pygmy Cormorant, Great White and Dalmatian pelicans, Purple Heron, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Syrian and Black woodpeckers, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed and Masked shrikes, Sombre Tit, Eurasian Penduline-Tit, Calandra Lark, Bearded Reedling, Olive-tree Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, and Isabelline Wheatear among many others.<br />Overall, we expect a birding list of more than 200 species!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sites to be visited<br /><b>Gallikos & Axios River Delta, Kalochori Lagoon, Lake Kerkini (4 days), Mt Paggeo, Porto Lagos, Thracian Lagoon, Lake Ismarida (2 days), Lake Vistonida, Evros Delta (2 days), Dadia forest (2 days)</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Greece Bird Tourshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09003800163153264528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-71308312751492857392023-08-21T10:53:00.003+03:002023-08-21T10:53:50.599+03:00Lesvos Birding Tour 2023: Day 5<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lesvos Birding Tour 2023: Day 5th Trip Report</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our last day of 2023 birdwatching tour in the island of Lesvos. Read here trip reports from <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-1.html">Day 1</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birdwatching-tour-2023-day-2.html">Day 2</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/07/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-4.html">Day 4 </a></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzFweYZ2LmMzTrhzg7EUl0Um4oDPxEg1-W601qfSF5uFIMzC6_B2wmyL1aYIipZFXjQIoB5lSHkU-fsjFQJQboSDMyqPW8VyGgdAWYb_U8EEENtz7FSwm2U0TwFH60A8cYJyx8Y0LKigmbuNQpo7wC92i7hDmuW9RXjknFe3HO9Uq9RauycFN/s1200/Otus_scops_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scops Owl roosting in foliage" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzFweYZ2LmMzTrhzg7EUl0Um4oDPxEg1-W601qfSF5uFIMzC6_B2wmyL1aYIipZFXjQIoB5lSHkU-fsjFQJQboSDMyqPW8VyGgdAWYb_U8EEENtz7FSwm2U0TwFH60A8cYJyx8Y0LKigmbuNQpo7wC92i7hDmuW9RXjknFe3HO9Uq9RauycFN/w400-h266/Otus_scops_LESVOS.jpg" title="Scops Owl (Otus Scops) roosting in filiage" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Scops Owl </b>roosting in foliage<br />Lesvos is one of the best places in the world to enjoy <br />great views of this species, even during day time</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Day 5. A few more remaining lifers</span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We had an
early wake up again, since there were reports of Baillon’s Crake at Metochi
Lake. Despite the fact that we stayed there for almost 2 hours, the bird did
not show up. We only saw a female Little Crake, a couple of Little Bittern and
the expected Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Black-headed Bunting, Masked Shrike. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcWu_-uIZulXOE39nK8HFZ43L9oOFhlsozxDxX4sYNeiy_JczNvpcYIsevWBSnO1pq7mb50d25Yw-wT3zxVdVla-MSPaoTC7Il5-ez-Yuys_0h45WP-dMFDjvFplvpbrlN8cSpF0Qkvhwm_cA8LBU0fkKX-SzW6saVtmAMNgd-3yrmtL0uRpw/s1346/Little-Bittern-Lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Bittern hidden in reeds" border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1346" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcWu_-uIZulXOE39nK8HFZ43L9oOFhlsozxDxX4sYNeiy_JczNvpcYIsevWBSnO1pq7mb50d25Yw-wT3zxVdVla-MSPaoTC7Il5-ez-Yuys_0h45WP-dMFDjvFplvpbrlN8cSpF0Qkvhwm_cA8LBU0fkKX-SzW6saVtmAMNgd-3yrmtL0uRpw/w400-h266/Little-Bittern-Lesvos.jpg" title="Little Bittern hidden in reeds" width="400" /></a><br />Little Bittern hidden at Metochi Lake</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rG-POqveOklgGi1XJv40buY2bMfCrb9v51d1x85Sv5TCBahwOBAa3LGJkLrAZED5fQQDU35dt_F6__GYpwAAqmMwyy3Jv9B1tSkC2SGh3MdnC0GibdsRJGj40lQpn4HZo8InhND_5_b6tl2Wh2Wa_7cqCarCnCDChBWoYYTJ3TwTlmuy7Zr6/s1200/Little-Crake-Lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Crake at Lake Metochi" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rG-POqveOklgGi1XJv40buY2bMfCrb9v51d1x85Sv5TCBahwOBAa3LGJkLrAZED5fQQDU35dt_F6__GYpwAAqmMwyy3Jv9B1tSkC2SGh3MdnC0GibdsRJGj40lQpn4HZo8InhND_5_b6tl2Wh2Wa_7cqCarCnCDChBWoYYTJ3TwTlmuy7Zr6/w400-h266/Little-Crake-Lesvos.jpg" title="Little Crake at Lake Metochi" width="400" /></a><br />Little Crake at Lake Metochi, a common spring migrant<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivflw4G861aSOjYt-G-9GTvM1o0JN1cJeu_hub6RCoV5q3H7sLVBwRoanw6Fg3Y-IUsKMc7sQDULUAUifaAoJMhJ3YHKi0JfRXWfHXjAjN1edKx2xTmcJYaKrIV8w44imOXvmrKJEnmMx6jpPe8U0iosUfT2YikxkwvI08qmMPJBf3gbVlLJE/s1200/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birdwatching at Lake Metochi, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivflw4G861aSOjYt-G-9GTvM1o0JN1cJeu_hub6RCoV5q3H7sLVBwRoanw6Fg3Y-IUsKMc7sQDULUAUifaAoJMhJ3YHKi0JfRXWfHXjAjN1edKx2xTmcJYaKrIV8w44imOXvmrKJEnmMx6jpPe8U0iosUfT2YikxkwvI08qmMPJBf3gbVlLJE/w400-h299/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-1.jpg" title="Birdwatching at Lake Metochi, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />A typical birdwatching morning at Lake Metochi<br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our next stop was Filia forest, an old Oak forest north of Kallonis. Eastern
Bonelli’s Warblers were singing and displaying, and we thought it was one of
the easiest lifers to achieve to far. Everyone enjoyed very good views of the
birds, while shooting hundreds of photos.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7IfTohGC0wNc9N1PGFjKpxBsFvnyjaFGluodbGwo4bkEu5henIHAxtCMx8VXDs6weTyauVZuGzBYIDcSeCLfRCBJPc4stdmsDMAYqLMMFVIM44J3isOnGwSVDgIiYiU-4xj1nNeYb_URiFn7ocdxXqsb8Yin1SDhu8jhZJUV-QWlXgj2yC-G/s3300/Phylloscopus-orientalis-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Bonelli's Warbler singing at Filia" border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="3300" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7IfTohGC0wNc9N1PGFjKpxBsFvnyjaFGluodbGwo4bkEu5henIHAxtCMx8VXDs6weTyauVZuGzBYIDcSeCLfRCBJPc4stdmsDMAYqLMMFVIM44J3isOnGwSVDgIiYiU-4xj1nNeYb_URiFn7ocdxXqsb8Yin1SDhu8jhZJUV-QWlXgj2yC-G/w400-h266/Phylloscopus-orientalis-LESVOS.jpg" title="Eastern Bonelli's Warbler singing at Filia" width="400" /></a><br />Eastern Bonelli's Warbler singing at Filia oak forest<br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YTh1GHRMNUnPPm6kG5RhI4FpJ8DE-a63FXNnfgfXkjVGVNbS2oBTYiR1AtWyRSuw116uIT3ECGaObygiaeXUyy82rzaHlRIYVfv3_pb5X-2CR2_17Ox20n1hoXx9_K6hwg_xg-7j-b24MSvewxWrBb6PM8C1uEqaLc6hKFS9tMaGfPkaGi6x/s1200/Phylloscopus_orientalis-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Portrait of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YTh1GHRMNUnPPm6kG5RhI4FpJ8DE-a63FXNnfgfXkjVGVNbS2oBTYiR1AtWyRSuw116uIT3ECGaObygiaeXUyy82rzaHlRIYVfv3_pb5X-2CR2_17Ox20n1hoXx9_K6hwg_xg-7j-b24MSvewxWrBb6PM8C1uEqaLc6hKFS9tMaGfPkaGi6x/w400-h266/Phylloscopus_orientalis-LESVOS.jpg" title="Portrait of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler" width="400" /></a><br />A nice portrait of Portrait of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o3-MrzMflx4bnYM3i_RSaRDWuwh4NYHG37HYNbMyDt8M99A5Ycju9q0IVuqt1DoNO6oDE6RTzTTlp6dtJwdviQrLzWxlgB3MBfjiwmQGP3Q_V_83I2JvwzCOVaK5-3GnyxT4SPdksrXqXrmHTZ0jMHlz6XamqANYVAeWvmZ3lVSCKZhonCSK/s2000/Black-headed-Bunting-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)" border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o3-MrzMflx4bnYM3i_RSaRDWuwh4NYHG37HYNbMyDt8M99A5Ycju9q0IVuqt1DoNO6oDE6RTzTTlp6dtJwdviQrLzWxlgB3MBfjiwmQGP3Q_V_83I2JvwzCOVaK5-3GnyxT4SPdksrXqXrmHTZ0jMHlz6XamqANYVAeWvmZ3lVSCKZhonCSK/w400-h266/Black-headed-Bunting-LESVOS.jpg" title="Black headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)" width="400" /></a><br />Black headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) are breeding in Lesvos</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkEqJIkwWUqgDBXjyONgv9Il5QKMSIUWnZxu8ZCpFZhVhb7TvnTdpC1RozzQjiVFKK5GLJ_VUGUUD5XJr0CE6kMXT7UToLNqT--1VvEvyP8mThtzVMeqnDQJruqQ6lQ7A14pWrM38MPhTGZiSiS1eOKUL4PIMKN0v6zfH8-68sL5V_8OJ6ubP/s1200/Red-rumped-Swallow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-rumped Swallow carrying nest material" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkEqJIkwWUqgDBXjyONgv9Il5QKMSIUWnZxu8ZCpFZhVhb7TvnTdpC1RozzQjiVFKK5GLJ_VUGUUD5XJr0CE6kMXT7UToLNqT--1VvEvyP8mThtzVMeqnDQJruqQ6lQ7A14pWrM38MPhTGZiSiS1eOKUL4PIMKN0v6zfH8-68sL5V_8OJ6ubP/w400-h266/Red-rumped-Swallow.jpg" title="Red-rumped Swallow carrying nest material" width="400" /></a><br />Red-rumped Swallow carrying nest material</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDmPyEXfhum1n6YDEv37eXZdFiF6KL3PL_cd3OQrtOjxMfem3ww4Jg6T8GL5g8SxAoEQtNfCvysp9R8ejaKxa03c-1vmbidRGA4nG6JWHYNzl2S1yGmdd75GhZ34uk9TZw7EAQJrHc1z0KLTH2rTyhYLdLMQoI0wm--7Mt7LJPsMA0e6AOn3N/s1200/spur-winged-plover-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spur-winged Plover at Kalloni area" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDmPyEXfhum1n6YDEv37eXZdFiF6KL3PL_cd3OQrtOjxMfem3ww4Jg6T8GL5g8SxAoEQtNfCvysp9R8ejaKxa03c-1vmbidRGA4nG6JWHYNzl2S1yGmdd75GhZ34uk9TZw7EAQJrHc1z0KLTH2rTyhYLdLMQoI0wm--7Mt7LJPsMA0e6AOn3N/w400-h266/spur-winged-plover-lesvos.jpg" title="Spur-winged Plover at Kalloni area" width="400" /></a><br />Spur-winged Plovers are scarce srping visitors</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWK4Ca81FhXo-FhVqgF9a1GpEEPnrGqyHrMe75VTgb9YgpJYbSnuTxIy7lZjSU5HtqcuAo6t57kTQ0CWuHk3jb15JwcTmKPUdD4ohFXxJWHXOFaEYPlzW1uPNygcNzK4KHQs2LdfFdWgCRWAe6PeZenSTomcgK7uSPuArX5TaoCDWUqQ7SY/s1200/Lesvos-birders-coffee-break.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coffee break for bird photographers" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWK4Ca81FhXo-FhVqgF9a1GpEEPnrGqyHrMe75VTgb9YgpJYbSnuTxIy7lZjSU5HtqcuAo6t57kTQ0CWuHk3jb15JwcTmKPUdD4ohFXxJWHXOFaEYPlzW1uPNygcNzK4KHQs2LdfFdWgCRWAe6PeZenSTomcgK7uSPuArX5TaoCDWUqQ7SY/w400-h299/Lesvos-birders-coffee-break.jpg" title="Coffee break for bird photographers" width="400" /></a><br />Coffee break for bird photographers</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We decided
to explore the Lardia Gorge, so we made a few stops before and after the
picturesque town of Vatousa. Raven, Peregrine Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard and
Blue Rock Thrush were among the highlights of the area, while small groups of
Crag Martins were flying above us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkDQXmlRYjNJoSQpA2FqJhd4IkJbeGq1uc40cUXNDr7jyQIr3isXDHTnmGzB0MekM6YuKpAz_3IRgHatZyDerQ5SQ1EOIq53XBB-3ivrmxEgpK00d3e7wwZ08p9u_R1xfero7Jj3x2RX9cJ6sT3NC_Sbm3Us7VNQIttHGQKSAqkw61NKf1qml/s1200/Little-Owl-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Owl on the rocks" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkDQXmlRYjNJoSQpA2FqJhd4IkJbeGq1uc40cUXNDr7jyQIr3isXDHTnmGzB0MekM6YuKpAz_3IRgHatZyDerQ5SQ1EOIq53XBB-3ivrmxEgpK00d3e7wwZ08p9u_R1xfero7Jj3x2RX9cJ6sT3NC_Sbm3Us7VNQIttHGQKSAqkw61NKf1qml/w400-h266/Little-Owl-LESVOS.jpg" title="Little Owl on the rocks" width="400" /></a><br />Little Owl on the rocks of Eressos<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9deS0AcQsIJuZZaNgzt5ut1cAqop1Tq8wH2HkZm1mW88MONX1_No_sw5NJdMDImLzUJVfJgj22llG8R3mfkfNraHbPta0_RIG8KKMTwC9ELwTK3TuE7CqETO3uD-P_QrfR6B3U2ViJAvBBoWscBxYdbh4UwSAzQZCYKu_MsLOxlTILa2d0-4/s1800/Great-spotted-cuckoo-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Spotted Cuckoo at Kalloni Saltpans" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9deS0AcQsIJuZZaNgzt5ut1cAqop1Tq8wH2HkZm1mW88MONX1_No_sw5NJdMDImLzUJVfJgj22llG8R3mfkfNraHbPta0_RIG8KKMTwC9ELwTK3TuE7CqETO3uD-P_QrfR6B3U2ViJAvBBoWscBxYdbh4UwSAzQZCYKu_MsLOxlTILa2d0-4/w266-h400/Great-spotted-cuckoo-lesvos.jpg" title="Great Spotted Cuckoo at Kalloni Saltpans" width="266" /></a><br />Only a few Great Spotted Cuckoos breed in Lesvos every year</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWjoCqnkaS_05Q_8q2IB9_1RboRjHjn2MqvSVL7LYnV5L7hi24wJFBn1xVcoNuK4uDxqeSXacboBpZyYNMhUJ44DpokCoaV3Hh_qTSgeYfZO4ex70mCZZH0QCONtdYktpSxEEUlmX3ClxmvtymMDFGPnFllOOqVdm-57p3-pdYsFmgRXgnhA/s1200/Lesvos-birders-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bird photographers ready for the next challenge" border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1200" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWjoCqnkaS_05Q_8q2IB9_1RboRjHjn2MqvSVL7LYnV5L7hi24wJFBn1xVcoNuK4uDxqeSXacboBpZyYNMhUJ44DpokCoaV3Hh_qTSgeYfZO4ex70mCZZH0QCONtdYktpSxEEUlmX3ClxmvtymMDFGPnFllOOqVdm-57p3-pdYsFmgRXgnhA/w400-h281/Lesvos-birders-1.jpg" title="Bird photographers ready for the next challenge" width="400" /></a><br />Bird photographers ready for the next challenge, <br />after succesfully found the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler<br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our final
destination for the day was Sigri and Faneromeni area. We saw the scattered
flocks of Turtle Doves and a beautiful Eleonorae’s Falcon. However, the big
highlight of the area was waiting in the fig orchards: a singing Rufous Bush
Chat (aka Rufous Scrub Robin) made its best performance with its melodic song.
It was not very close for great pictures, but everybody had clear views of the
bird that just arrived from Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfJWpew3BRWWuuJoYUtolEbRtDarMHmntTJMbLlCP9jU-wgkRDqjG03ISHI0K35nn10QW16k97hi4qptGWjCvY93G1sTf0JfBRJzeylReeBNwjrlHMRHFA7Dn_iEYMPes0OTY36CQlCVrKRwUYeZqdQm7xiVAQ5CoHKNIqCJO-S_CJ-x7Mh3s/s1200/rock-sparrow-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rock Sparrow nesting" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfJWpew3BRWWuuJoYUtolEbRtDarMHmntTJMbLlCP9jU-wgkRDqjG03ISHI0K35nn10QW16k97hi4qptGWjCvY93G1sTf0JfBRJzeylReeBNwjrlHMRHFA7Dn_iEYMPes0OTY36CQlCVrKRwUYeZqdQm7xiVAQ5CoHKNIqCJO-S_CJ-x7Mh3s/w400-h266/rock-sparrow-lesvos.jpg" title="Rock Sparrow nesting" width="400" /></a><br />Rock Sparrow nesting<br /></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Fully
satisfied from the day, we drove back from Eressos, finding a couple of more
new birds, like Woodlarks, Linnets and Cirl Buntings, Sombre Tit<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCjogKCZZ_46jFeEcDu-uvq74WbfumIqiYwpW0OpM2huC1XAsR_JJjWYplKtUCY806kSMv3CjnLIVKB4StpjVwaa2quHdZDE2HwUw2kvrEA8wVcwAnett147eVCjaBREsPjcRuMBuTwUMgy5m6yykLYkUer8PhL5ie1ZWcG0qXKbS55I8OqpU/s1500/Cinereous-Bunting-Lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cinereous Bunting carrying food" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCjogKCZZ_46jFeEcDu-uvq74WbfumIqiYwpW0OpM2huC1XAsR_JJjWYplKtUCY806kSMv3CjnLIVKB4StpjVwaa2quHdZDE2HwUw2kvrEA8wVcwAnett147eVCjaBREsPjcRuMBuTwUMgy5m6yykLYkUer8PhL5ie1ZWcG0qXKbS55I8OqpU/w400-h266/Cinereous-Bunting-Lesvos.jpg" title="Cinereous Bunting carrying food" width="400" /></a><br />Cinereous Bunting carrying food<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjAgmr34Q0YpIimFlqeIjSVBDmWbvF0W0alKq0b5mcmVSMhThyrva1xTark2Iw_Bk7z23t3K77gpjvSdU6EflmNaCdEqOZ7WoCnjd3gjAca3p9n_p6iTC5vYiPxfdIuc4be1oyETaJMtDhXZ7lqlZroJQap6feEL9VZTO1PsXtj5sFMKbc_Ba/s1200/Parus_lugubris_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sombre Tit portrait" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjAgmr34Q0YpIimFlqeIjSVBDmWbvF0W0alKq0b5mcmVSMhThyrva1xTark2Iw_Bk7z23t3K77gpjvSdU6EflmNaCdEqOZ7WoCnjd3gjAca3p9n_p6iTC5vYiPxfdIuc4be1oyETaJMtDhXZ7lqlZroJQap6feEL9VZTO1PsXtj5sFMKbc_Ba/w400-h266/Parus_lugubris_LESVOS.jpg" title="Sombre Tit portrait" width="400" /></a><br />Sombre Tit portrait<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBBNoirlZbmQddMCAsv-3bEZp8T1ZvXwiLgXAnbIHnvCzIwV3mjbTxNNZwZVbZGwQghibIWO2GTOlgEYmFzKDyId_2LWsBtwoxWQOBZVEGSeHndA7MACp73DZifIEVzbTh4q3NS97wtPqbztjVeivCsLaLpC9IriIenhRnaqpVnB873dtW_0/s1200/Lesvos-birders-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Selfie of bird photographers" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBBNoirlZbmQddMCAsv-3bEZp8T1ZvXwiLgXAnbIHnvCzIwV3mjbTxNNZwZVbZGwQghibIWO2GTOlgEYmFzKDyId_2LWsBtwoxWQOBZVEGSeHndA7MACp73DZifIEVzbTh4q3NS97wtPqbztjVeivCsLaLpC9IriIenhRnaqpVnB873dtW_0/w400-h300/Lesvos-birders-3.jpg" title="Selfie of bird photographers" width="400" /></a><br />Happy bird photographers, after a long day of photoshooting<br /></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comLesbos, Greece39.2645095 26.277707310.954275663821157 -8.8785427 67.574743336178841 61.4339573tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-63567600973138877972023-07-27T11:25:00.005+03:002023-07-28T12:34:52.462+03:00Birdwatching trip to Mt Parnassos: The best way to cope in a heatwave<div style="text-align: left;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Birdwatching trip to Mt Parnassos: July 22nd 2023</span></h1><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As Greece is hit by a very intense and enduring heatwave, Jonas' request for a bird tour on Saturday, July 22nd seemed to be unattainable. Nevertheless, for every problem there is a solution and the simplest one was to go birding on Mt Parnassos, one of Central Greece's most beautiful mountains. </span></h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We started early enough to avoid the heat of Athens and reached Kopaida Plain for a couple of hours of birding. <b>Bee-eaters, Syrian Woodpeckers, Lesser Grey Shrikes, Sombre Tits</b> and <b>Rock Nuthatches</b> were some of the birds we enjoyed seeing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6a9PUttLTaEPHVGUtLgj7AzeGdKQhkAAEHx68iEHyNxZooKxReaZ6rORFfo9OSvEWr1DkNhE1FatTRa4vXuEx1p-mY14iskAdy3I4C5eGA_yT2LsHDfNazTzTWfSqUP6-o_cVT59Znj7AzSxrfBzZL2bUFQjndPk9kL7gGaFyjBa05VsGF4/s2041/Sombre_Tit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Sombre Tit at Kopaida plains" border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="2041" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6a9PUttLTaEPHVGUtLgj7AzeGdKQhkAAEHx68iEHyNxZooKxReaZ6rORFfo9OSvEWr1DkNhE1FatTRa4vXuEx1p-mY14iskAdy3I4C5eGA_yT2LsHDfNazTzTWfSqUP6-o_cVT59Znj7AzSxrfBzZL2bUFQjndPk9kL7gGaFyjBa05VsGF4/w400-h308/Sombre_Tit.jpg" title="Sombre Tit at Kopaida plains" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Sombre Tit</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3KY0Ze7IN-pYxad6BgGuKKixXQ-ZpfQWZgNa3v-fiWsYLIrW8WIn8cNvA15hz34_XfnLEliq6aG8CpRqUj4vQrU52u8ob9YEWQACxzIa2dZ8ErfvssFzFxgytbaMi3EgRkmDdKvPDMLgbJigyqHPkQgh3O-svJfyBv5mwt1gSq59RLOUMzE/s1842/Rock%20Nuthatch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Rock_Nuthatch_on_cypress_at_Kopaida" border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1842" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3KY0Ze7IN-pYxad6BgGuKKixXQ-ZpfQWZgNa3v-fiWsYLIrW8WIn8cNvA15hz34_XfnLEliq6aG8CpRqUj4vQrU52u8ob9YEWQACxzIa2dZ8ErfvssFzFxgytbaMi3EgRkmDdKvPDMLgbJigyqHPkQgh3O-svJfyBv5mwt1gSq59RLOUMzE/w400-h308/Rock%20Nuthatch.jpg" title="Rock Nuthatch on a cypress at Kopaida" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>Rock Nuthatch </b>on a cypress at Kopaida</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the temperature rose, it was time to move higher and escape the heat in the shady forests of Mt Parnassos. Despite the season (post breeding for most species), we managed to find <b>Short-toed Eagles, </b><b>Rock Buntings, Firecrests, </b>several finches, <b>Lesser Whitethroats, White-backed </b>and <b>Middle Spotted Woodpeckers </b>(heard only). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6-UZNqX-ca9Fbw7xmtfGh63GXapls5ZYMv9vau2LpvnRwnFY5inX-PhFL2kZJXLNdw88Swpgz3Ik33B72vhqL17yfEqnNgyD7UEOWQt3hUCPskkR6xQQVruf5y0lYB6HDnQd6KIkTy0G5T8csqSjaK6ZjFbI-u7UhFJpaOyV2inRxe7CU7A/s2040/357130022_2253707641484778_3023356371546167019_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="St_Nicholas_chapel_at_Mt_Parnassos" border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="2040" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6-UZNqX-ca9Fbw7xmtfGh63GXapls5ZYMv9vau2LpvnRwnFY5inX-PhFL2kZJXLNdw88Swpgz3Ik33B72vhqL17yfEqnNgyD7UEOWQt3hUCPskkR6xQQVruf5y0lYB6HDnQd6KIkTy0G5T8csqSjaK6ZjFbI-u7UhFJpaOyV2inRxe7CU7A/w400-h225/357130022_2253707641484778_3023356371546167019_n.jpg" title="St Nicholas chapel at Varko plateau, Mt Parnassos" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No matter the heat, forests always provide shady shelters. <br />St Nicholas chapel at Varko plateau, Mt Parnassos</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotZdwu7BWs--s6NuTsiUZ_zSXtmkc93XAMekqQVSLpblfqGguG4ow4FyUZh5yOmH5lZWIAflbsgK8bt3j3J693fyiGy5T4wyV_PyB2xZGtgIOngSgfUTfTDBoB4bQ_CyZKf0hHCq6F8bx5EpCs2lt3C5oqxaBMxzEzND1zpbG7OEANiX7iAw/s2309/Short-toed%20Eagle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Short_toed_Eagle_perching_on_fir_tree" border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="2309" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotZdwu7BWs--s6NuTsiUZ_zSXtmkc93XAMekqQVSLpblfqGguG4ow4FyUZh5yOmH5lZWIAflbsgK8bt3j3J693fyiGy5T4wyV_PyB2xZGtgIOngSgfUTfTDBoB4bQ_CyZKf0hHCq6F8bx5EpCs2lt3C5oqxaBMxzEzND1zpbG7OEANiX7iAw/w400-h308/Short-toed%20Eagle.jpg" title="Short-toed Snake Eagle perching on fir tree" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>Short-toed Snake Eagle </b>perching on Greek Fir</span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaAZ6FFWlV6WDuMFQ1RBnqxE2zNyeJrQtpBsjkWr_J2Lo6wAiA3GD8awHBpHNkp2g8W8HTn901xyzvDWWFczzpzIVbCP9wlbTO25ErrpvvMPJVLOxBV2_hfWL99rHidB6Wv_s24AuUvNwdMhYl4Y69tivaz0J_FW0Lvg81ZdAZsi5uuXiWIk/s2346/Rock%20Bunting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1805" data-original-width="2346" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaAZ6FFWlV6WDuMFQ1RBnqxE2zNyeJrQtpBsjkWr_J2Lo6wAiA3GD8awHBpHNkp2g8W8HTn901xyzvDWWFczzpzIVbCP9wlbTO25ErrpvvMPJVLOxBV2_hfWL99rHidB6Wv_s24AuUvNwdMhYl4Y69tivaz0J_FW0Lvg81ZdAZsi5uuXiWIk/w400-h308/Rock%20Bunting.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Rock Bunting </b>on the tree line of Mt Parnassos</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90iog13NFBEcQYcQJu739YvqSzsNvwRYsG96uDwtVrhp6DxYpljW3cMivvVMU83GKetaV1FJ_zP9BwrdJHRjj70VzU0c0FtYHhRbgkYgHXSSiW41S4LFi-P6zIDEygk0OXwFzfFyZAUOG_DY5WLTmjqprRQX6qJ09iN_6hA5LIe4YGcOXIPw/s4080/IMG_20230722_115546492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spotting_birds_at_Mt Parnassos" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="2296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90iog13NFBEcQYcQJu739YvqSzsNvwRYsG96uDwtVrhp6DxYpljW3cMivvVMU83GKetaV1FJ_zP9BwrdJHRjj70VzU0c0FtYHhRbgkYgHXSSiW41S4LFi-P6zIDEygk0OXwFzfFyZAUOG_DY5WLTmjqprRQX6qJ09iN_6hA5LIe4YGcOXIPw/w225-h400/IMG_20230722_115546492.jpg" title="Spotting birds at Mt Parnassos" width="225" /></a><br /><span>Spotting birds on <b>Mt Parnassos</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moving higher up to the alpine zone, we looked for birds like the <b>Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush</b>, the <b>Tawny Pipit </b>and the <b>Alpine Chough</b>. We saw them all, together with dozens of <b>Northern Wheatears </b>and, to our surprise, a pair of <b>Golden Eagles</b>, majestically soaring while looking for prey. At 2.100 meters, the temperature never rose higher than 30 degrees C and a cool breeze made conditions even beter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu46-aAcTIIE6ejdU3GJ_ti52tFrbj5FxCOEq2hlCqhfUPspHSyNmtyCeIK8PMKTBM1xiJ9bXDEKz2zRD0vaT1wb2RF6U4J8ylfAFlr1_5vz3dtIjVBEbvknbUzhq-b9ECTNwOw4ybkVuobFgGEQ3rRaNtskPP8z5Sx3xkK9-RSLDDFFTt3c/s4080/IMG_20230722_135007228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panoramic_view_of_Mt_Parnassos" border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="4080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfu46-aAcTIIE6ejdU3GJ_ti52tFrbj5FxCOEq2hlCqhfUPspHSyNmtyCeIK8PMKTBM1xiJ9bXDEKz2zRD0vaT1wb2RF6U4J8ylfAFlr1_5vz3dtIjVBEbvknbUzhq-b9ECTNwOw4ybkVuobFgGEQ3rRaNtskPP8z5Sx3xkK9-RSLDDFFTt3c/w400-h225/IMG_20230722_135007228.jpg" title="Panoramic view of Mt Parnassos" width="400" /></a><br /><span>Panoramic view of <b>Mt Parnassos</b><br />as seen from below Liakoura Peak. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While driving back to Athens, we realized how hot it was in the plains; at 18.30 hours, the temperature was 41 degrees Celcius (106 Farenheit). That was a complete win-win situation, enjoying birds at the coolest area of the region!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span>TRIP CHECKLIST</span></b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 220px;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common Quail<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Collared-Dove<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Pallid Swift<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Short-toed Snake-Eagle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Golden Eagle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common Buzzard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Hoopoe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Bee-eater<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Middle Spotted Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>White-backed Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Syrian Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Green Woodpecker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Kestrel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Red-backed Shrike<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Lesser Gray Shrike<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Woodchat Shrike<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Jay<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Magpie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Yellow-billed Chough<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Jackdaw<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Hooded Crow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Coal Tit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Sombre Tit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Great Tit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Crested Lark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Crag-Martin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Barn Swallow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Red-rumped Swallow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common House-Martin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Lesser Whitethroat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Sardinian Warbler<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eastern Subalpine Warbler<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common Firecrest<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Nuthatch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Western Rock Nuthatch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Wren<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Blackbird<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Robin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common Nightingale<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Black Redstart<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Blue Rock-Thrush<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Stonechat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Northern Wheatear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 45;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>House Sparrow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 46;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Tawny Pipit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 47;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Common Chaffinch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 48;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Greenfinch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 49;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Eurasian Linnet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 50;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Goldfinch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 51;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>European Serin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 52;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Black-headed Bunting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 53;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Rock Bunting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 54; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 165pt;" valign="bottom" width="220">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>Cirl Bunting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><br /></div></div>Lefteris Stavrakashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12096870350390009945noreply@blogger.comParnassus, Tithorea 350 15, Greece38.5355555 22.621666610.225321663821155 -12.534583399999999 66.845789336178854 57.7779166tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-86466323155898481002023-07-26T13:53:00.002+03:002023-07-27T20:54:16.587+03:00Lesvos Birding Tour 2023: Day 4<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lesvos Trip Report, Day 4: Photographing the MEGA-lifers</span></h1><h3><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A trip report our fourth birding day in the island of Lesvos. Today we are looking for some Mega-lifers, i.e. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the birds that most birders in Lesvos are looking for every year. These species require deep knowledge of their behavior and habitats, lots of patience, as well as a great amount of luck.</span></h3><div><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read here the trips reports from <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-1.html">Day 1</a>, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birdwatching-tour-2023-day-2.html">Day 2</a>, Day 5</span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvb2tXPEQcOxl95UVIZIqUNE5msVuSTIK4U8IR0BZD2rGhpaS1lcf9_juVLGLzq_HjVzxgf5iui5-nkMo_FDLBPaO91BXKWQbvlj3THa93iaUJazWnvIou6VfBIZoeIzWllPz9_xX3tXSoTAiyNnc77AjsBWpBCwbrEEgl_rOuFml-4FuItA/s1200/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Italian birders photographing Rueppel's Warblers at Haramida" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvb2tXPEQcOxl95UVIZIqUNE5msVuSTIK4U8IR0BZD2rGhpaS1lcf9_juVLGLzq_HjVzxgf5iui5-nkMo_FDLBPaO91BXKWQbvlj3THa93iaUJazWnvIou6VfBIZoeIzWllPz9_xX3tXSoTAiyNnc77AjsBWpBCwbrEEgl_rOuFml-4FuItA/w400-h299/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-1.jpg" title="Italian birders photographing Rueppel's Warblers at Haramida" width="400" /></span></a><br />Our small group of birders photographing Rueppell's Warblers<br />at the east part of Lesvos island </span></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3lNrKW-YW1SixBZiH3Jd0ILNdRFKps5NP28lJZNP8kE71Qth32hOPtY9nThn72vc4G_7dqg975qGJtnAGkLGrpQN10e8wduKVdSR0RzpZEhkzeyKHmVc5x8F32d11z7xaDOGgs-UiTNH6MFJ6ppjicyKmkcCTkXDJrmtxF9OTQE-kCHe0nhOb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3lNrKW-YW1SixBZiH3Jd0ILNdRFKps5NP28lJZNP8kE71Qth32hOPtY9nThn72vc4G_7dqg975qGJtnAGkLGrpQN10e8wduKVdSR0RzpZEhkzeyKHmVc5x8F32d11z7xaDOGgs-UiTNH6MFJ6ppjicyKmkcCTkXDJrmtxF9OTQE-kCHe0nhOb=w400-h266" title="Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley" width="400" /></a><br />Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley</span></div></div><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We had to
change our vehicle to a larger one, in order to guide 5 Italian bird
photographers that were visiting the island for the first time. Since Italy has
very similar birds species, they wanted to see and photograph some Lesvos
special ones, which were all lifers for the member of our group. So we had two
days available to look for <b>Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Kruper’s
Nuthatch, Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush, Rufous Bush Chat, Isabelline
Wheatear, Olive-tree Warbler, Rueppell’s Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler,
Cinereous Bunting, Cretzscmar’s Bunting</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We started
from the least visited part of the island, the eastern coast. After destroyed
by mass fires a few years ago, it is now home for some of the most wanted
species: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rueppell’s Warbler</b>. A few
minutes after arriving at the right locations, we saw several birds that we
singing in very close distance. BINGO! One of our most important targets was
already seen and photographed. Nearby we observed pairs of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cretzschmar’s Buntings</b>, Sardinian Warblers and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eastern Black-eared Wheatears</b>. As soon as we were leaving the area,
a pair of Chukars crossed the road and stayed for a while in a nearby field.
Another lifer for some of the group, and a few opportunities to take some more
nice bird photos.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6grxIvw_ycYCMXjr25Y0XqIpW24dAeqAuFviZaPV8Y6cNyIBIOU83Fchg40-elKXWnXWlgxRZ5WVAVr6o8W2jyDIDXVTobZtx4hNxjAVPVDa7KfftzE5tcLcGJvLbVvrgyE60dU_LM5R3v5Nkyu1cKEp3nxLAK1JToP5bOgttpC9rJR1NYkL_/s2213/Ruppells_Warbler_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rueppell's Warbler at Haramida LESVOS" border="0" data-original-height="1661" data-original-width="2213" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6grxIvw_ycYCMXjr25Y0XqIpW24dAeqAuFviZaPV8Y6cNyIBIOU83Fchg40-elKXWnXWlgxRZ5WVAVr6o8W2jyDIDXVTobZtx4hNxjAVPVDa7KfftzE5tcLcGJvLbVvrgyE60dU_LM5R3v5Nkyu1cKEp3nxLAK1JToP5bOgttpC9rJR1NYkL_/w400-h300/Ruppells_Warbler_LESVOS.jpg" title="Rueppell's Warbler at Haramida LESVOS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Rueppell's Warbler</b> at Haramida</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg271qp3a1BSrQO0S7IbMhQfgxhHGs_aQFrBkZ_rP2ae3_qfUlpoEUr850rlGLz4u7ruO-fckSezARmKsURL4GkUkcox69k1GFmRIUApj6-bhGByBBsEbBUAUgnsgfbLrF8vgQXc7BkNFuH7ZT6ub8vZ5LUOJ_gxSEMtcleT3cp2DQ1_J6Ud8qh/s1500/emberiza-caesia-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cretzschmar's Bunting singing at Haramida LESVOS" border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg271qp3a1BSrQO0S7IbMhQfgxhHGs_aQFrBkZ_rP2ae3_qfUlpoEUr850rlGLz4u7ruO-fckSezARmKsURL4GkUkcox69k1GFmRIUApj6-bhGByBBsEbBUAUgnsgfbLrF8vgQXc7BkNFuH7ZT6ub8vZ5LUOJ_gxSEMtcleT3cp2DQ1_J6Ud8qh/w400-h266/emberiza-caesia-lesvos.jpg" title="Cretzschmar's Bunting singing at Haramida LESVOS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Cretzschmar's Bunting</b> singing at Haramida</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLgIBEarpT7Mwd9r6I0234tK1cFTVOb89Ug8J9Q_FA7p7tN2kjfu_Qox0ehzfFgm6O7zx6f4BZtjs8TZg9vXpc71N1-V9TCVkmOJewYbrCINS3y67YSbAEd5g5TC1rJXR_qInVxCA4WL984hzzhR_eRK5VjuhXH-rNUdOcukA3WEUjE4YEvVW/s1200/Alectoris_Chukar_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chukar in blossom fields at Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLgIBEarpT7Mwd9r6I0234tK1cFTVOb89Ug8J9Q_FA7p7tN2kjfu_Qox0ehzfFgm6O7zx6f4BZtjs8TZg9vXpc71N1-V9TCVkmOJewYbrCINS3y67YSbAEd5g5TC1rJXR_qInVxCA4WL984hzzhR_eRK5VjuhXH-rNUdOcukA3WEUjE4YEvVW/w400-h300/Alectoris_Chukar_LESVOS.jpg" title="Chukar in blossom fields at Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Chukar</b> in blossom grounds near the sea at Haramida</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Laughing Doves</b> have started breeding in
the island the last 5 year, so this was another lifer for members of our group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small village of Loutra is one of the
most reliable places to find nesting pairs. We managed to see the nest with the
chicks, but the parents seemed to be out in search for food. A few minutes
later, we saw the parents hopping from one electric pole to the other, landing
finally at the next, on a window next to the road. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjhgjz3Skb37cRZXH261IPw_2Zs4PmxNImpK3cOBaxQb8ZzVdf4xIyIrv4k5eC-gDTBhw78WhN85JYuH9tZRcL137J3fBWynDzFNAmqTt2j7n217bRow0GYcPLeF2yzArDbX-aBcBz5liwQAjXEZSfYtl8ZM1YRlcFYI8KaBC52qc2PEJGRXT/s1200/Streptopelia_orientalis_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Laughind Doves breed in Loutsa Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjhgjz3Skb37cRZXH261IPw_2Zs4PmxNImpK3cOBaxQb8ZzVdf4xIyIrv4k5eC-gDTBhw78WhN85JYuH9tZRcL137J3fBWynDzFNAmqTt2j7n217bRow0GYcPLeF2yzArDbX-aBcBz5liwQAjXEZSfYtl8ZM1YRlcFYI8KaBC52qc2PEJGRXT/w400-h300/Streptopelia_orientalis_LESVOS.jpg" title="Laughind Doves breed in Loutsa Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Laughind Doves</b> breed in Loutsa Lesvos</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
taking an Italian espresso at the village of Loutsa, we drove west towards
Polychnitos. We were looking for another Lesvos highlight and target species
for all birders that visit annually the island: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kruepper’s Nuthatch</b>. Lesvos is the only location in Europe that
this species is thriving, especially around the pine forests of Agiasos and
Achladeri area. We searched for more than 1 hour between the pine trees, only
listening to Short-toed Treecreepers and Chaffinches. Suddenly, a very loud and
characteristic call of the birds made us alert and after a few minutes we
managed to clearly see more than 3 birds. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdofedmlnk2fr1AHld-Op4hDGl90-tPDsx3iCObe2-9kV-uVxgKy0q3mN0Xq3v00b2dwITUqoogft67F2FO7sBqRIsdR73oDkRz_SwZ4AMdk5e7fVkHdzenPqP7tdETH9-wpPqaPGy7p5nEQ7-VGTfcvZyfBk31_XTUPbJHCN8o2YQE-BZKCXQ/s1200/sitta-kruperi-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kruepper's Nuthatch on pine tree, at Achladeri Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdofedmlnk2fr1AHld-Op4hDGl90-tPDsx3iCObe2-9kV-uVxgKy0q3mN0Xq3v00b2dwITUqoogft67F2FO7sBqRIsdR73oDkRz_SwZ4AMdk5e7fVkHdzenPqP7tdETH9-wpPqaPGy7p5nEQ7-VGTfcvZyfBk31_XTUPbJHCN8o2YQE-BZKCXQ/w400-h266/sitta-kruperi-lesvos.jpg" title="Kruepper's Nuthatch on pine tree, at Achladeri Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Krupper's Nuthatch</b> on pine tree, at Achladeri<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv3r3OfjNoqKGMThX9cbjolPoRvVeYDvSGzoMICKn-ByhH1bOyiEcGDfp3llk1boWVVQ7u-yWqh_2Lj1ESgmNFHDQQXpdxxPhPVqFFRD-ZtgXojtbCuy-x5iX9nDVP9j1eUkDJ_z2yimH0kIIra4wZrD9EhjTKELmFIXagRIhiFnbfE9UT3R8/s1200/krueppers-nuthatch-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Profile of Kruepper's Nuthatch at Achladeri Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVv3r3OfjNoqKGMThX9cbjolPoRvVeYDvSGzoMICKn-ByhH1bOyiEcGDfp3llk1boWVVQ7u-yWqh_2Lj1ESgmNFHDQQXpdxxPhPVqFFRD-ZtgXojtbCuy-x5iX9nDVP9j1eUkDJ_z2yimH0kIIra4wZrD9EhjTKELmFIXagRIhiFnbfE9UT3R8/w400-h266/krueppers-nuthatch-lesvos.jpg" title="Profile of Kruepper's Nuthatch at Achladeri Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Profile of <b>Krupper's Nuthatch</b> at Achladeri </div></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next
big lifer was the elusive <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Olive-tree
Warbler</b>. There are several reliable site for this bird, however finding it
and actually photographic it has always been a major task. This year, we
decided to search the area around Potamia Valley, close to Kalloni. This vast
area of olive orchards is ideal for this warbler. Indeed we found at least 3
birds and enjoyed hundreds of photographic “clicks”. Other species we saw in
the area were Turtle Doves, Masked Shrikes and Middle-spotted Woodpeckers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpdkmZfOrfINiXVx73l66eTvrg90sw1ZvV8n51U1PlklsetRdg9fZkd_kXDNX3yf5UWM_GPlnq5XwSuGAet_YiuAhxtQWBaMQM-AkwpPhVVHHIC1Imfmijra3WaC3Dr8ET-UDMg8w88mJMm5kM_JOLsKIf-uc0ycnDflBaCyA_J2sBAgZJseh/s1500/Hippolais-olivetorum-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpdkmZfOrfINiXVx73l66eTvrg90sw1ZvV8n51U1PlklsetRdg9fZkd_kXDNX3yf5UWM_GPlnq5XwSuGAet_YiuAhxtQWBaMQM-AkwpPhVVHHIC1Imfmijra3WaC3Dr8ET-UDMg8w88mJMm5kM_JOLsKIf-uc0ycnDflBaCyA_J2sBAgZJseh/w400-h266/Hippolais-olivetorum-lesvos.jpg" title="Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Olive-tree Warbler</b> at Potamia Valley<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgI5aahc7sH_Fo-hQFBA7W7JbJnXscBWCtk_Y1Y6mN3e7-eD_a7nPDjE71hwab1umFa-u4ZetW1CgQ_yfMBpaTP423PTXYx17tgdMQGPq4WFXxEkDnBAVYqounolQmdkV4-3ZxzhTUXTLBwqjKbZpxpSFbi-I2XyPhD4kcNNEuqdceXLDIH0F/s1500/olive-tree-warbler-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Singing Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgI5aahc7sH_Fo-hQFBA7W7JbJnXscBWCtk_Y1Y6mN3e7-eD_a7nPDjE71hwab1umFa-u4ZetW1CgQ_yfMBpaTP423PTXYx17tgdMQGPq4WFXxEkDnBAVYqounolQmdkV4-3ZxzhTUXTLBwqjKbZpxpSFbi-I2XyPhD4kcNNEuqdceXLDIH0F/w400-h266/olive-tree-warbler-lesvos.jpg" title="Singing Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Olive-tree Warbler </b>at Potamia Valley</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">No time for
lunch, just a pick-nick in the area under the tree canopy and soon we were
heading to Parakoila, a steep rocky area west of Kalloni. We were lucky to see
a pair of Common Cuckoos displaying and a few more Eastern-Black-eared
Wheatears. The place was particularly chosen for the breeding Sombre Tit, a
bird that we did not find the previous days and it was another important lifer
for most birders of the team. Driving up the rocky road, close to a Shepard’s
shed, we saw 2 Sombre Tits, very active ones indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFUL5gS8Sutuh2PyZgG-M3hsCif9NMkXsmfc2hTbng9L8HID3Y1Gm7gl5h6pki_EQvj4mZ_746CeyHM1y9VGbJgaAoRrHovyh6BZ52Qg1Py5RmDtyG_6W49W_1KiUiVMolzyyY90oMR3nDDMZXA0Vnk4hsLvefdKqUyhAqjlx9hKG_e52oDoi/s1500/Eastern-black-eared-Wheatear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear on rusty wire" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFUL5gS8Sutuh2PyZgG-M3hsCif9NMkXsmfc2hTbng9L8HID3Y1Gm7gl5h6pki_EQvj4mZ_746CeyHM1y9VGbJgaAoRrHovyh6BZ52Qg1Py5RmDtyG_6W49W_1KiUiVMolzyyY90oMR3nDDMZXA0Vnk4hsLvefdKqUyhAqjlx9hKG_e52oDoi/w400-h266/Eastern-black-eared-Wheatear.jpg" title="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear on rusty wire" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Eastern Black-eared Wheatear</b> on rusty wire </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTmNemc1mYvVX7aEYh7LjbA1BGt3qP6iGE4VHRZCjQiqTQwHsMiVszOinTEuRSBp2h-HhWTmMJOImDbtruQauuJP5Sh6qJXvuyuFhfQMINlV9I7SHlOsSRQpm7eE6neFav7G1F1fNIXKSuxaHPix21uHqbkjNE5Zt0zAHtTCri_2t04wr61lM/s1500/Lanius-nubicus-Lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTmNemc1mYvVX7aEYh7LjbA1BGt3qP6iGE4VHRZCjQiqTQwHsMiVszOinTEuRSBp2h-HhWTmMJOImDbtruQauuJP5Sh6qJXvuyuFhfQMINlV9I7SHlOsSRQpm7eE6neFav7G1F1fNIXKSuxaHPix21uHqbkjNE5Zt0zAHtTCri_2t04wr61lM/w400-h266/Lanius-nubicus-Lesvos.jpg" title="Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Masked Shrike</b> on rusty wire at Potamia Valley</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxwBvC1Vn3N3b-lb-2VdWcA4A96GZ0OXCmar6WvL9HKFOLqWmgpi6LCIZrcPK2qVVmwCvheTxKejVxrLzH7vKZO6VMSXiYQ_89DujwTp47cbDJI_yyS6dbVnHqveU8uCtfdwqeN07ayESbTpDiyiktUVP5jBSELTO-JWbXhuDMswWJCEz1y7J/s1200/Otus_scops_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scops Owl roosting in foliage at Lesvos island" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxwBvC1Vn3N3b-lb-2VdWcA4A96GZ0OXCmar6WvL9HKFOLqWmgpi6LCIZrcPK2qVVmwCvheTxKejVxrLzH7vKZO6VMSXiYQ_89DujwTp47cbDJI_yyS6dbVnHqveU8uCtfdwqeN07ayESbTpDiyiktUVP5jBSELTO-JWbXhuDMswWJCEz1y7J/w400-h266/Otus_scops_LESVOS.jpg" title="Scops Owl roosting in foliage at Lesvos island" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Scops Owl</b> roosting in foliage during day time<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh4f3o4PI2kZMKZAIDwgnG4Y_ZDqplUZEaz9sBh9WBlwpb5j4gzPwdFXf7tki2WlH4qG2t_uzwvxLA4l_7eR2W-l5dmKDHVOGPkWiSsw_vR0OE1YBAOt17Y6r5DnDNtH6b1kqIMAF5MFuiOypUYwqWJSGKnPC5bEwBt1zP2yX23_pa0Yul4dh/s1500/rock-nuthatch-lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rock Nuthatch" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh4f3o4PI2kZMKZAIDwgnG4Y_ZDqplUZEaz9sBh9WBlwpb5j4gzPwdFXf7tki2WlH4qG2t_uzwvxLA4l_7eR2W-l5dmKDHVOGPkWiSsw_vR0OE1YBAOt17Y6r5DnDNtH6b1kqIMAF5MFuiOypUYwqWJSGKnPC5bEwBt1zP2yX23_pa0Yul4dh/w400-h266/rock-nuthatch-lesvos.jpg" title="Rock Nuthatch" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Rock Nuthatch</b> breeds in several areas at Lesvos island<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kLvenI-lXReaf2LcFffiTQHhajELSjQkx4iA4iXFvfzmUay0JWfSFQsNbcq--qSKb7NkyEJWXi7uEpLf7Il5P92zEDWFKSew5CE2rrfJKMxy9Z5y22OOjwV4TxxLPK_YaWJIYf0-gZEFiBwb9HOiECQ4sAhg9VDYemz_VCCQyiqwl34Hj5HA/s1200/Short-toed-snake-Eagle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Short-toed Snake Eagle" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kLvenI-lXReaf2LcFffiTQHhajELSjQkx4iA4iXFvfzmUay0JWfSFQsNbcq--qSKb7NkyEJWXi7uEpLf7Il5P92zEDWFKSew5CE2rrfJKMxy9Z5y22OOjwV4TxxLPK_YaWJIYf0-gZEFiBwb9HOiECQ4sAhg9VDYemz_VCCQyiqwl34Hj5HA/w400-h266/Short-toed-snake-Eagle.jpg" title="Short-toed Snake Eagle" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Short-toed Snake Eagle</b><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5sBn8UgHUcZVO7cjMJA7UCWgJC2BlN2euAl2-GGPJYtV2cSP213kFXEwB8FkhYJRshIt_ZKs4Lfl69yTDtbMfvyOXi86_el2-SR5ftacV5OIJqq1y0Hc0kVWZjRpfzokNKfchEZmBeEB3je84YGp4oqoMxiiQb-sMAJ9f11zRBMI0d5aJZQ/s1200/bakery_skala-kallonis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taxiarchis Bakery at Skalla Kallonis" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="898" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5sBn8UgHUcZVO7cjMJA7UCWgJC2BlN2euAl2-GGPJYtV2cSP213kFXEwB8FkhYJRshIt_ZKs4Lfl69yTDtbMfvyOXi86_el2-SR5ftacV5OIJqq1y0Hc0kVWZjRpfzokNKfchEZmBeEB3je84YGp4oqoMxiiQb-sMAJ9f11zRBMI0d5aJZQ/w299-h400/bakery_skala-kallonis.jpg" title="Taxiarchis Bakery at Skalla Kallonis" width="299" /></a><br />Taxiarchis Bakery at Skalla Kallonis, <br />a must visit for early-wakeup birders as well as local hangover teens</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvb2tXPEQcOxl95UVIZIqUNE5msVuSTIK4U8IR0BZD2rGhpaS1lcf9_juVLGLzq_HjVzxgf5iui5-nkMo_FDLBPaO91BXKWQbvlj3THa93iaUJazWnvIou6VfBIZoeIzWllPz9_xX3tXSoTAiyNnc77AjsBWpBCwbrEEgl_rOuFml-4FuItA/s1200/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Italian birders photographing Rueppel's Warblers at Haramida" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvb2tXPEQcOxl95UVIZIqUNE5msVuSTIK4U8IR0BZD2rGhpaS1lcf9_juVLGLzq_HjVzxgf5iui5-nkMo_FDLBPaO91BXKWQbvlj3THa93iaUJazWnvIou6VfBIZoeIzWllPz9_xX3tXSoTAiyNnc77AjsBWpBCwbrEEgl_rOuFml-4FuItA/w400-h299/Lesvos-Bird-Photographers-1.jpg" title="Italian birders photographing Rueppel's Warblers at Haramida" width="400" /></a><br />Italian birders photographing Rueppell's Warblers </span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was late
afternoon, so a last visit at Kalloni Saltpans was required, to get as many
photos as possible during the “golden hours”. Cold beer and excellent seafood at
Dionysos Taverna proved to be the best ending in a highly successful birding
day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTwm3l7GjLCri4JsNTtexVOVRS2n82_YD6A8x14KlLBSX7egsd0XIEoOPJIhbmQpvfapL1oQiTRpapXKOY2kCj_OPGmVcvFF4Lwx2y2VumY1wauE0pw7xYqCgcbEB9cS2xspXdAqZYtCUYg_zRgD5AzWye_0GIptC6xTn69jpQeXwnRxOayA/s1200/Sardines-lesvos-food.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grilled Sardines is one of Kalloni's specialties" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTwm3l7GjLCri4JsNTtexVOVRS2n82_YD6A8x14KlLBSX7egsd0XIEoOPJIhbmQpvfapL1oQiTRpapXKOY2kCj_OPGmVcvFF4Lwx2y2VumY1wauE0pw7xYqCgcbEB9cS2xspXdAqZYtCUYg_zRgD5AzWye_0GIptC6xTn69jpQeXwnRxOayA/w400-h299/Sardines-lesvos-food.jpg" title="Grilled Sardines is one of Kalloni's specialties" width="400" /></a><br />Grilled Sardines is one of Kalloni's specialties </span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnNTR2BsXbpSjibK-AiTZ9WVin1ZYrV_K_NxrqEUUMQxXfJywM_HyuDU3wIQge1ChZy5BiIyeZUztfDHiRLWyUwdTc5oxgVBKOQVtofYhjf7QW3VVGM13b8L32NOuVxSRAgv-n2fLXZioDHPe8V0omX4stUttEb8TGMkQZJq4NLE0J5uhqZg/s1200/Dakos-lesvos-food.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Dakos Salad at Dionysos Taverna, Skalla Kallonis" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnNTR2BsXbpSjibK-AiTZ9WVin1ZYrV_K_NxrqEUUMQxXfJywM_HyuDU3wIQge1ChZy5BiIyeZUztfDHiRLWyUwdTc5oxgVBKOQVtofYhjf7QW3VVGM13b8L32NOuVxSRAgv-n2fLXZioDHPe8V0omX4stUttEb8TGMkQZJq4NLE0J5uhqZg/w400-h299/Dakos-lesvos-food.jpg" title="Cretan-style Dakos Salad at Dionysos Taverna, Skalla Kallonis" width="400" /></span></a><br />Cretan-style Dakos Salad at Dionysos Taverna, Skalla Kallonis</div></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comLesbos, Greece39.2645095 26.277707310.954275663821157 -8.8785427 67.574743336178841 61.4339573tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-10440355098093404792023-06-19T19:44:00.003+03:002023-06-19T19:44:43.500+03:00Birdwatching Athens: the undiscovered wild west <h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Athens Bird Tour: Colorful target species during June 9th 2023 day trip</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On June 9th we organized a full day bird trip for a couple of birders from New Hamshire, and an evolutionary biologist J.D. Curlis (IG: @zardy-party) from the University of Michigan. John has already visited Greece last autumn (read here the relevant <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2022/10/birding-in-athens-sept-24th-trip-report.html">Trip Report</a>), so now he had a new target species list that created a challenge for us. We tried to combined different habitats, during a very warm day of June, especially the west and north parts of Athens.</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTImKcojASQ5JUrLeSoQ9Y49HPJWtjwUE2c6hRRWcza6iDqMDdqXUrOkNCL-TYr7b-sI7AwSlgk08y-s1mEip0FtQ6Nv85Q7mJfdnKfsY2W7z1zaRNNfohPZGWKWoP0eEWSUc05y6GZGKvwtsiWU88a0ah_656Y970bWJ8ellSAsp3QDKfzA/s1500/Rueppells-Warbler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rueppells-warbler-athens" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTImKcojASQ5JUrLeSoQ9Y49HPJWtjwUE2c6hRRWcza6iDqMDdqXUrOkNCL-TYr7b-sI7AwSlgk08y-s1mEip0FtQ6Nv85Q7mJfdnKfsY2W7z1zaRNNfohPZGWKWoP0eEWSUc05y6GZGKvwtsiWU88a0ah_656Y970bWJ8ellSAsp3QDKfzA/w400-h266/Rueppells-Warbler.JPG" title="Rueppell's Warbler" width="400" /></a><br />A target species for most birders, the iconic <b>Rueppell's Warbler</b><br />was seen at our visit at Hymettus Mt ridge<br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXOA-mk4mD_qa9y-WYilucKHkKuDkZppc5S8uTtLzllMwhqLZChsmHDkToGeAAGkwEsaBqoXsUZxlDypMgASUGNCbhMT5OQmljKyiUyBoRYeFPQXTCtk6Ws7BMMYo-iULEz40dZ2P-cS4Uog5EFiLzWpS_225J_U8ket0Q8g0jH_LgOXU32s/s1209/Asopos-bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Asopos-river-stone-bridge" border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1209" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXOA-mk4mD_qa9y-WYilucKHkKuDkZppc5S8uTtLzllMwhqLZChsmHDkToGeAAGkwEsaBqoXsUZxlDypMgASUGNCbhMT5OQmljKyiUyBoRYeFPQXTCtk6Ws7BMMYo-iULEz40dZ2P-cS4Uog5EFiLzWpS_225J_U8ket0Q8g0jH_LgOXU32s/w400-h223/Asopos-bridge.jpg" title="Stone bridge at Asopos River" width="400" /></a><br />Stone bridge at Asopos River</span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since our morning meeting was at Katehaki Metro Station, we started birding at Kesariani Aesthetic forest of Hymettus Mt, just 5 min drive from the metro station. The first birds we saw were Eurasian Jays, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and a beautiful Common Kestrel perching on a tall Cypress tree. We also enjoyed the playfull Great Tits, together with breeding Firecrests, which were lifers for the visiting birders. Another birds of interest was the Cirl Bunting, that we managed to see later on. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIOwLO32LOSs9pR-mAXQKwALEGP94hPW-EIuGOSRLsSGopkH2pezMZN4vS0UfGatbT29mBaaj5QMZMc91KvdHBp027zKL4Yd7KycVobkZJgyMSzB89aXzrOdL0Yt9EGiOu22j4LRpWd5vYOwY8IGh1VnmIBb3mSjqs8FoeWOfI8jaa2ortPg/s1500/Eurasian-Jay.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eurasian-Jay-Athens" border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1500" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIOwLO32LOSs9pR-mAXQKwALEGP94hPW-EIuGOSRLsSGopkH2pezMZN4vS0UfGatbT29mBaaj5QMZMc91KvdHBp027zKL4Yd7KycVobkZJgyMSzB89aXzrOdL0Yt9EGiOu22j4LRpWd5vYOwY8IGh1VnmIBb3mSjqs8FoeWOfI8jaa2ortPg/w400-h264/Eurasian-Jay.JPG" title="Eurasian Jay" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Eurasian Jay</b> around Kesariani Monastery<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6awDIH7owjAOJUrNasY1tts2qAsDPjj6lk6fh-dJa_JKfyhBY3bR25hbfLg3TheInyObZnDvbRILFsqN7LfgU5ssav-DZmhDPwe1JAJ6XdNfWderAgyhiPPlp8MxPB4ILlaIVErO9lbW9Gnjy2MEDjuDDtTbEkbcYsxQRYbNemIrh02a-M8/s1182/Firecrest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Firecrest-regulus-ignicapilla" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1182" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6awDIH7owjAOJUrNasY1tts2qAsDPjj6lk6fh-dJa_JKfyhBY3bR25hbfLg3TheInyObZnDvbRILFsqN7LfgU5ssav-DZmhDPwe1JAJ6XdNfWderAgyhiPPlp8MxPB4ILlaIVErO9lbW9Gnjy2MEDjuDDtTbEkbcYsxQRYbNemIrh02a-M8/w400-h339/Firecrest.JPG" title="Firecrest" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Firecrest</b>, a tiny playful bird<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then we moved towards the summit of Hymettus Mt, and had excellent views of Rueppell's Warblers. This species breeds in the western slopes of the mountain and is active until the temperature get really high. John took a lot of great pictures of the bird on different Kermes Oaks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GbClhFaR61epYi3c3lQQi8R_haQzGEsJosEN5MO84a4MlqZm_-mLCYobUFbT9z7ioc24GHXYQeKtdYQTsGoBC_8aM9WuOq72nHjIjCyYs-dGxo-SxUnOfRqsYqbsJrDvjlIJQUZJHx0d067rIdnU57FysCiA6H0bfW7t-XfjdFHfUv37DNc/s1499/curruca-cantillans.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Subalpine-warbler" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1499" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GbClhFaR61epYi3c3lQQi8R_haQzGEsJosEN5MO84a4MlqZm_-mLCYobUFbT9z7ioc24GHXYQeKtdYQTsGoBC_8aM9WuOq72nHjIjCyYs-dGxo-SxUnOfRqsYqbsJrDvjlIJQUZJHx0d067rIdnU57FysCiA6H0bfW7t-XfjdFHfUv37DNc/w400-h266/curruca-cantillans.JPG" title="Subalpine Warbler" width="400" /></a><br />Subalpine Warbler<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9odZylmMe248yxnRsK6V9WzsuspTmsQcl4xSI6xKWCbqTawp1aqMuU0dnFdFpUGTayUsucp9i0LsZC0QfG6-P5QhDHjLfuyZit3-hGNUq7MJTONYS14HgdQ_w1EftEPRwCyBPOzOPd84T6pFnIR4QYWW-bZY8E7iralWyLPWuy1A4iblshhc/s1500/Cirl-bunting.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cirl-bunting-male" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9odZylmMe248yxnRsK6V9WzsuspTmsQcl4xSI6xKWCbqTawp1aqMuU0dnFdFpUGTayUsucp9i0LsZC0QfG6-P5QhDHjLfuyZit3-hGNUq7MJTONYS14HgdQ_w1EftEPRwCyBPOzOPd84T6pFnIR4QYWW-bZY8E7iralWyLPWuy1A4iblshhc/w400-h266/Cirl-bunting.JPG" title="Male Cirl Bunting at Mt Hymettus" width="400" /></a><br />Male Cirl Bunting at Mt Hymettus<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTImKcojASQ5JUrLeSoQ9Y49HPJWtjwUE2c6hRRWcza6iDqMDdqXUrOkNCL-TYr7b-sI7AwSlgk08y-s1mEip0FtQ6Nv85Q7mJfdnKfsY2W7z1zaRNNfohPZGWKWoP0eEWSUc05y6GZGKvwtsiWU88a0ah_656Y970bWJ8ellSAsp3QDKfzA/s1500/Rueppells-Warbler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rueppells-warbler-athens" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTImKcojASQ5JUrLeSoQ9Y49HPJWtjwUE2c6hRRWcza6iDqMDdqXUrOkNCL-TYr7b-sI7AwSlgk08y-s1mEip0FtQ6Nv85Q7mJfdnKfsY2W7z1zaRNNfohPZGWKWoP0eEWSUc05y6GZGKvwtsiWU88a0ah_656Y970bWJ8ellSAsp3QDKfzA/w400-h266/Rueppells-Warbler.JPG" title="Rueppell's Warbler" width="400" /></a><br />Singing Rueppell's Warbler at My Hymettus<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then we headed west towards Tritsis Metropolitan Park. This is indeed an big (for the standards of Athens) urban park, with various micro-habitats, so it atrracts several species of birds during the summer. Rose-ringed Parakeets and Alexandrine Parakeets are breeding there, always fun to watch. <br />But the most increadible sighting was over the two big lakes of the parks. Hundreds of Alpine Swifts, together with a few Common Swifts and Barn Swallows were sweeping the air, screaming and making dives over the water level, in order to catch flying insects. They were so loud and noisy, and so numerous, trully an unforgettable spectacle. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DjEFVyB5EI07glphhBxv2qEv9aIBAfIBw4mfKjsyJMEn5grVurS6I_W2u6aOkk9iqmqAX9gTEE3Y_dpEt08pqVeF8YIyKX_m2OvI8ZE0WCV1wRQrejB6yrAZ-OwoIguzFUGBhFY9Af2ZfoCBCNCMOGYh6kMz4vKeKMcA19NGko175KMtNvQ/s1500/alpine-swift.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alpine-swifts-apus-melba" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DjEFVyB5EI07glphhBxv2qEv9aIBAfIBw4mfKjsyJMEn5grVurS6I_W2u6aOkk9iqmqAX9gTEE3Y_dpEt08pqVeF8YIyKX_m2OvI8ZE0WCV1wRQrejB6yrAZ-OwoIguzFUGBhFY9Af2ZfoCBCNCMOGYh6kMz4vKeKMcA19NGko175KMtNvQ/w400-h266/alpine-swift.JPG" title="Alpine Swifts" width="400" /></a><br />Alpine Swifts </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgykkyR-WTn-qq-gzOOFXNgNkULQyy0a6Emg-vq-z9Ox6t1lS_F84uHuSSZnthWoup0m_2e2BK-RL6I7VeBeZ46W8hU7UVsN1HmOewAl_BhBFnQbWjls7F7G-NDjuf06jjiATVpaFoijEc379wGhmxWHwGpNUXfEbgYraxbaZX0lCAW_rhTOQ/s1500/alexandrine-parakeet.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alexandrine-parakeet" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgykkyR-WTn-qq-gzOOFXNgNkULQyy0a6Emg-vq-z9Ox6t1lS_F84uHuSSZnthWoup0m_2e2BK-RL6I7VeBeZ46W8hU7UVsN1HmOewAl_BhBFnQbWjls7F7G-NDjuf06jjiATVpaFoijEc379wGhmxWHwGpNUXfEbgYraxbaZX0lCAW_rhTOQ/w400-h266/alexandrine-parakeet.JPG" title="Alexandine Parakeet" width="400" /></a><br />Alexandine Parakeet have stablished colonies<br />at Tritsis Metropolitan Park </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the small islet of one lake we saw two Black-crowned Night Herons and nearby an unexpected Squaco Heron, a beautiful bird of creamy colour. Moorhens, Mallards, Cetti's Warblers were also recorded. The highlight species of the park was definately the Hoopoe. We chased a couple of birds, playing hide and seak among the olive trees and pine trees. That was another big lifer for our visitors and a target species to photograph for John, who spent some time getting wondeful shots with his DSLR camera.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo4g4L3h09559MUnUrclZ1Y0hhmah4RF1aIB7J9S2ZeOKljRiWeYSmkAYf5PgXNxdhAc6Ug3dXcR4C9lb3Ex7iXro9faCOogsU6n331aWHbth7YORdihT6Wks94ujQVri80cVrElk1uF743-UoPikh83ez-xOu8XrqERCG1yvqjwh8b4ZMzI/s1499/night-heron.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="night-herons-nyctocorax" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1499" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo4g4L3h09559MUnUrclZ1Y0hhmah4RF1aIB7J9S2ZeOKljRiWeYSmkAYf5PgXNxdhAc6Ug3dXcR4C9lb3Ex7iXro9faCOogsU6n331aWHbth7YORdihT6Wks94ujQVri80cVrElk1uF743-UoPikh83ez-xOu8XrqERCG1yvqjwh8b4ZMzI/w400-h266/night-heron.JPG" title="Night Herons" width="400" /></a><br />Night Herons </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVa7SiMAai_GDUjxfj7TSd0rbEKs-TBRf0DzaZJhAMUnpgtRN481fOXdmmzQqz_5LJc_ztzrNVxXNYg7R9E9mgCoj-aWVu_5g8c6Hl5q5SSqy75aJv2aKg98WxAVOvGsMklNfIci9wblCqkQidikTW8Wfx_R57uiDck_PUzJUER_IaJuH49c/s1500/squacco-heron.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Squacco Heron" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVa7SiMAai_GDUjxfj7TSd0rbEKs-TBRf0DzaZJhAMUnpgtRN481fOXdmmzQqz_5LJc_ztzrNVxXNYg7R9E9mgCoj-aWVu_5g8c6Hl5q5SSqy75aJv2aKg98WxAVOvGsMklNfIci9wblCqkQidikTW8Wfx_R57uiDck_PUzJUER_IaJuH49c/w400-h266/squacco-heron.JPG" title="A well hidden Squacco Heron" width="400" /></a><br />A well hidden Squacco Heron </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the first couple of birders had to leave for sightseeing tour of Acropolis and other historical sights of Athens, we continued our trip with John. After having an increadibly tasty greek gyros street food, we headed east, arriving at Erythres village after 45 min easy drive. We began our birding experience by admiring the immense White Stork's nest in the main church of the village. We saw one parent and 3 chicks, but later on, we saw a total of 3 adults and 3 young birds. This is the highest number of birds ever recorded in this popular nest! We even saw the adult birds cluttering loud, performing a romantic couple dance. We could stay there for the whole day, enjoying these unique birds.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRjt9JJm8ug3xnaqwKzY9hu_R2X_nj_3519zXVjPlZuPP854Ly4znsTsea_f4dsRb96gPKqDtdDX9BYNJn0gKBYxUgBO6NvgcdmE-UZZjtj1Cc0BrX_ivug8tNrWP5qy_D2bFpPMDgGCDcGxxUuZV54fXhfpldAzVQhCenG1-GpujXkk4Bos/s1500/white-stork-pair.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="white-storks-nest" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRjt9JJm8ug3xnaqwKzY9hu_R2X_nj_3519zXVjPlZuPP854Ly4znsTsea_f4dsRb96gPKqDtdDX9BYNJn0gKBYxUgBO6NvgcdmE-UZZjtj1Cc0BrX_ivug8tNrWP5qy_D2bFpPMDgGCDcGxxUuZV54fXhfpldAzVQhCenG1-GpujXkk4Bos/w400-h266/white-stork-pair.JPG" title="White Storks nest" width="400" /></a><br />A pair of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vLU1OuIdGYQRqnWcUyKUS3FnpuEqal_OvCBbZ3dXk1h3g_UVSz7CggO0swsZbCy-Ts9tUF_mxuYaGtrjFZll4ZeRIjPk08k13OM5BRtj2MWMu5663am1ynHqxSdlTAUrjOgowjj5svmHMAfG7UjFujBNGXxPsPqctV7QuZ-1be3ITip1OVQ/s1500/white-stork-nest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="White-Storks-nestlings" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vLU1OuIdGYQRqnWcUyKUS3FnpuEqal_OvCBbZ3dXk1h3g_UVSz7CggO0swsZbCy-Ts9tUF_mxuYaGtrjFZll4ZeRIjPk08k13OM5BRtj2MWMu5663am1ynHqxSdlTAUrjOgowjj5svmHMAfG7UjFujBNGXxPsPqctV7QuZ-1be3ITip1OVQ/w400-h266/white-stork-nest.JPG" title="White Stork nestlings" width="400" /></a><br />White Storks with young birds in the nest<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-newu0v2cI8g9hQIedZxq8BepNBL6n0UtDDSBCBGRQ9y59JpInBl3yV3gJpCPs8xt7D1OlBhpvod6Youf0bunVtnTZ_1vZWGuX406CrASUloToyTUr4f6pVtkyjeFNm8XN5TM7GXJsPhzHqnKoLqpcOcC50JDk_vZmjmxMzOnKhzVCDrfEI/s1500/spanish-sparrow.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spanish-sparrow-nest" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-newu0v2cI8g9hQIedZxq8BepNBL6n0UtDDSBCBGRQ9y59JpInBl3yV3gJpCPs8xt7D1OlBhpvod6Youf0bunVtnTZ_1vZWGuX406CrASUloToyTUr4f6pVtkyjeFNm8XN5TM7GXJsPhzHqnKoLqpcOcC50JDk_vZmjmxMzOnKhzVCDrfEI/w400-h266/spanish-sparrow.JPG" title="Spanish Sparrow nest" width="400" /></a><br />Spanish Sparrow nest </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwA5gPxw5KbeFkBc-ZKfGgYCjUjeGsbt69XHW5e4CPRawjS7__6mEsNSD3MmKuOf-oyAggiiBuYIIPIQ1LItW3cbJbHAqZacGLK0gdsQd6xHI-V7UeVC9aOqfpUMg5HMZCGsh8UHjMptUtkOP_J_K6Dr8uFdnxS0PgIX0-vLKOwdHuF9jOzo/s1500/barn-swallow-nest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="barn-swallow-nest-building" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwA5gPxw5KbeFkBc-ZKfGgYCjUjeGsbt69XHW5e4CPRawjS7__6mEsNSD3MmKuOf-oyAggiiBuYIIPIQ1LItW3cbJbHAqZacGLK0gdsQd6xHI-V7UeVC9aOqfpUMg5HMZCGsh8UHjMptUtkOP_J_K6Dr8uFdnxS0PgIX0-vLKOwdHuF9jOzo/w400-h266/barn-swallow-nest.JPG" title="Barn Swallow nest Building" width="400" /></a><br />Barn Swallow nest building </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D3Z21uNhzWLe-Z1VSmtACdc3bylLQ1Qt9HSIqmUDy5pEvJtGWsYwGt0Z4kOF5X_S5w5Gv3eCw9C18-G3efHsOy7A683VhDGMeMZ9fPf2ROKrC__e-Z07OplSvuUDl8BNKSLPj0pH-85rA95UfKglslOzmhrXR7wGWHnVVt-umSwRgUyYo20/s1500/erythres-plains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="erythres-plain-panoramic" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D3Z21uNhzWLe-Z1VSmtACdc3bylLQ1Qt9HSIqmUDy5pEvJtGWsYwGt0Z4kOF5X_S5w5Gv3eCw9C18-G3efHsOy7A683VhDGMeMZ9fPf2ROKrC__e-Z07OplSvuUDl8BNKSLPj0pH-85rA95UfKglslOzmhrXR7wGWHnVVt-umSwRgUyYo20/w400-h180/erythres-plains.jpg" title="Erythres plains panoramic view" width="400" /></a><br />Panoramic view of Erythres Plains<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Under the balconies of the nearby buidlings we found a lot of nest from House Martins and Barn Swallows. A few Red-rumped Swallows were flying too, but couldn't find their nests. So after hundreds of White Stork and hirundines pictures, we drove through Erythres plains. Black-headed Buntings were singing from every single vineyards, along with Corn Buntings and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers. Common Whitethroats and Subalpine Warblers were very active too. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_TD6FPLwV-6NwvrowMCbn-IIn1B2KXmDRjRiRjeX8QDnrYXGA6VFACIqTsjrbnP_hGEmrGs4n6wzP_0llNFpRTv5JxK9AFgSnd6SHJ4WTTAV1PLVd4XAkE5ccxDSYvg07FQ0BnrEWWfTT7UlHQU1yoXmarG3E6nRciEKrXUig7pyk96iRsc/s1000/little-owl.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little-owl-athena-noctua" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_TD6FPLwV-6NwvrowMCbn-IIn1B2KXmDRjRiRjeX8QDnrYXGA6VFACIqTsjrbnP_hGEmrGs4n6wzP_0llNFpRTv5JxK9AFgSnd6SHJ4WTTAV1PLVd4XAkE5ccxDSYvg07FQ0BnrEWWfTT7UlHQU1yoXmarG3E6nRciEKrXUig7pyk96iRsc/w266-h400/little-owl.JPG" title="Little Owl on wire" width="266" /></a><br />Little Owl on wire </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjIO_kiQo4G_pWKw1nDm8do5QjTT7N0tRSmEqqaEWr3egKnrc2MYUYtT39D3ciABl5lj6cPbolxUdZZBaoW8rSN2QUwwOK0j7Wd6RCh8rJg2ctEgfzFr_m_RLeVL8dZLAaJZNKwCizu5uNUF_xXpBSvr6Qvdi9LGeTF0pBiqwWyyffNCXTRM/s1500/black-headed-bunting-male.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black-headed-bunting-vineyard" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjIO_kiQo4G_pWKw1nDm8do5QjTT7N0tRSmEqqaEWr3egKnrc2MYUYtT39D3ciABl5lj6cPbolxUdZZBaoW8rSN2QUwwOK0j7Wd6RCh8rJg2ctEgfzFr_m_RLeVL8dZLAaJZNKwCizu5uNUF_xXpBSvr6Qvdi9LGeTF0pBiqwWyyffNCXTRM/w400-h266/black-headed-bunting-male.JPG" title="Black-headed Bunting in the vineyards" width="400" /></a><br />Black-headed Bunting in the vineyards </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJVk61z39x37EUzzN92QOdV7IRCz4OuBIledWgIdXVH27KZpNgkahS_KC1iGAkN77zKe5Fmvoc5kGGgnZmBkmUfavnnOkZAU3DvK9lROMIoB4JIHHb2sfKwcfEEzwBylRp3GZ0L-J2t0n7DpahP8rs7KUXerntHxYMAVvGRaamy64s9IY4yU/s1500/lesser-grey-shrike-lanius-minor.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lesser-grey-shrike-lanius-minor" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJVk61z39x37EUzzN92QOdV7IRCz4OuBIledWgIdXVH27KZpNgkahS_KC1iGAkN77zKe5Fmvoc5kGGgnZmBkmUfavnnOkZAU3DvK9lROMIoB4JIHHb2sfKwcfEEzwBylRp3GZ0L-J2t0n7DpahP8rs7KUXerntHxYMAVvGRaamy64s9IY4yU/w400-h266/lesser-grey-shrike-lanius-minor.JPG" title="Lesser Grey Shrike carrying food" width="400" /></a><br />Lesser Grey Shrike carrying food to the nest<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The old quarry was full f Easten Black-eared Wheatears and resident noisy Western Rock Nuthatches. A Peregrine Falcon flew over the quarry, a first record for us in the area. Other raptors included Short-toed Snake Eagles, Common Buzzards, Common Kestrels. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9n032FCAgDM0c-Og0gW1EKjO7pybygVAQJUCn3JOZx2JRB8UxKfAfExcxNuIw4DeI1PAHiTnVoOLj4IYK3aNuc9l_XI3bomxV3mb-OKYwZX2L4qTp3TVz_ZvPnGCoMeeoF-Xe0lE6_97eeY2Oxv2q0ibQJ0_jWxxg_Zj7YD1wpYyKrnyryU/s1500/rock-nuthatch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rock-Nuthatch" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9n032FCAgDM0c-Og0gW1EKjO7pybygVAQJUCn3JOZx2JRB8UxKfAfExcxNuIw4DeI1PAHiTnVoOLj4IYK3aNuc9l_XI3bomxV3mb-OKYwZX2L4qTp3TVz_ZvPnGCoMeeoF-Xe0lE6_97eeY2Oxv2q0ibQJ0_jWxxg_Zj7YD1wpYyKrnyryU/w400-h266/rock-nuthatch.JPG" title="Western Rock Nuthatch at the quarry" width="400" /></a><br />Western Rock Nuthatch at the quarry </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXQ4kDL4saang3sdLmADwf_JsT6-g2gBW6NCMVZFyckQ9RZA6y4QYDGQwZk1TWCRdtvGQfqTTFRftxkkbLmrftR-1TBUKzyA_-hcuY8UdQBjTElU6msvZD-TwXPQle_rXQIFaI3BfYshuHF_RA-7LETwT8RLxmo7IdAvyxDBZqy68gkx5p1g/s1000/oenanthe-hispanica.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern-black-eared-wheatear-oenanthe-melanoleuca" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXQ4kDL4saang3sdLmADwf_JsT6-g2gBW6NCMVZFyckQ9RZA6y4QYDGQwZk1TWCRdtvGQfqTTFRftxkkbLmrftR-1TBUKzyA_-hcuY8UdQBjTElU6msvZD-TwXPQle_rXQIFaI3BfYshuHF_RA-7LETwT8RLxmo7IdAvyxDBZqy68gkx5p1g/w266-h400/oenanthe-hispanica.JPG" title="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca)" width="266" /></a><br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca)<br /></span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our destination was the stone bridge of Asopos river, a few kilometers west from Erythres. This is the best area for Dragonflies around Athens, with several species in big numbers, including Demoiselle Blue, a stunning insect. Males have metallic blue colour, while females are green. <br />That was the best location to photograph Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and a striking female Black-headed Bunting that was posing well. Common Nightingales were very loud, but unfortunately we couldn't see any, all being well hidden in the willow trees and riparian vegetation. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7py78nJARQmRmXsp_IGkPXXDX44QooxDPq8KMyu_fF-U8kbn2z99llGwq5G2WpErk1LmconbKJKurLNMi8ocfElUJpDEw7-N0w4JD-RbF_Vl9j9IFBDXhHK8UUbD-cKS8lr9E9ZsEYK9ht3sRLYvdyBcGZjornfOM1W9tCTsY6i1OKH3emA/s1500/olivaceous-warbler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="olivaceous-warbler-iduna-pallida" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7py78nJARQmRmXsp_IGkPXXDX44QooxDPq8KMyu_fF-U8kbn2z99llGwq5G2WpErk1LmconbKJKurLNMi8ocfElUJpDEw7-N0w4JD-RbF_Vl9j9IFBDXhHK8UUbD-cKS8lr9E9ZsEYK9ht3sRLYvdyBcGZjornfOM1W9tCTsY6i1OKH3emA/w400-h266/olivaceous-warbler.JPG" title="Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)" width="400" /></a><br />Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XMEgdLMtOsl44RGCzzNPkMIsa4uRpSkgq7-RudSFBifWEnbe8NnrNtt3gi5KKt29ZHZX9CT3OUHg3m_aEqz4fw8klr3ucdW3004TuHkU5r65fZTgsCvZ_0E0BjapEr2HQLVAQ63H2RwGorxaRGMSZpjqsv6t0Dqs293rWd0grf5cGBMUCAg/s1500/female-black-headed-bunting.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-headed-bunting-female" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XMEgdLMtOsl44RGCzzNPkMIsa4uRpSkgq7-RudSFBifWEnbe8NnrNtt3gi5KKt29ZHZX9CT3OUHg3m_aEqz4fw8klr3ucdW3004TuHkU5r65fZTgsCvZ_0E0BjapEr2HQLVAQ63H2RwGorxaRGMSZpjqsv6t0Dqs293rWd0grf5cGBMUCAg/w400-h266/female-black-headed-bunting.JPG" title="Black-headed Bunting, female" width="400" /></a><br />Black-headed Bunting, female </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo: JD Curlis)</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04l4PbYez6ZI5zYM9HSa1m2yo_EyYlNlf3rIm2vFRQa9BVjNigNb5UAtuXxlGGdYVCMbks_PHxUwUA3Mw2Lntegs5hAZXE1FXFJsO_RHn5S2JJt_dZiINd0vAyeQl65EkCO5mkpdsokpiiPcV2DLNj1yOEuWHt20G9waXboesH0_ipZP_FFM/s1500/clover-field.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Clover-fields" border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="1500" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04l4PbYez6ZI5zYM9HSa1m2yo_EyYlNlf3rIm2vFRQa9BVjNigNb5UAtuXxlGGdYVCMbks_PHxUwUA3Mw2Lntegs5hAZXE1FXFJsO_RHn5S2JJt_dZiINd0vAyeQl65EkCO5mkpdsokpiiPcV2DLNj1yOEuWHt20G9waXboesH0_ipZP_FFM/w400-h255/clover-field.jpg" title="Clover-fields" width="400" /></a><br />Clover-fields<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGOMbFNoIxFQsZoeK9rnTE6bUaShcbL3BObrixgwiv0GFWeCGzZXQeBdaQ3DCBqOmxUcEmU4CywLt_xS5fO-gQuvNH2jeCZyi13Si35wveDB9t7GiWV4GPorAMG2svMtuLpaquCVsEul_e2cK4_jb0jG7eT1zFYHTiPxBF8Y08GO1RzXNYfc/s1500/bird-guide-athens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="birders-selife" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGOMbFNoIxFQsZoeK9rnTE6bUaShcbL3BObrixgwiv0GFWeCGzZXQeBdaQ3DCBqOmxUcEmU4CywLt_xS5fO-gQuvNH2jeCZyi13Si35wveDB9t7GiWV4GPorAMG2svMtuLpaquCVsEul_e2cK4_jb0jG7eT1zFYHTiPxBF8Y08GO1RzXNYfc/w400-h300/bird-guide-athens.jpg" title="Birder's selfie" width="400" /></a><br />Birder's selfie: Low quality, but lots of happiness<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the bird list for our birding trip, June 9th 2023</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chukar<br />Mallard</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Collared Dove<br />Common Swift<br />Alpine Swift<br />White Stork<br />Squacco Heron<br />Black-crowned Night Heron<br />Moorhen<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Short-toed Eagle<br />Common Kestrel<br />Peregrine Falcon<br />Common Buzzard<br />Alexandrine Parakeet<br />Ring-necked Parakeet<br />Hoopoe<br />Bee-eater<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Lesser Grey Shrike<br />Little Owl<br />Magpie<br />Hooded Crow<br />Great Tit<br />Eastern Olivaceous Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Subalpine Warbler<br />Rueppell's Warbler<br />Common Whitethroat<br />Firecrest<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Barn Swallow<br />House Martin<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />Western Rock Nuthatch<br />Nightingale<br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br />Blackbird<br />House Sparrow<br />Spanish Sparrow<br />Goldfinch<br />Linnet<br />Black-headed Bunting<br />Corn Bunting<br />Cirl Bunting</span></div><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br />All sightings available at my<span> </span><a href="https://ebird.org/profile/ODUyODQ5/GR">eBird profile</a></span></p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comAthens, Greece37.9838096 23.72753889.6735757638211552 -11.428711199999999 66.294043436178839 58.883788800000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-66736600963458449452023-06-12T16:52:00.000+03:002023-06-12T16:52:47.998+03:00Birding Athens Tour: Raptors and summer specials <h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Birding Athens Tour, June 2023: Raptors and summer specials </span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two custom made birdwatching tours were organized during the first week of June. The first one for a wildlife photographer from Taiwan and the next one for a couple of US birders from Fairbanks, Alaska! As temperatures start to raise, most wetlands around Athens have less shorebirds than any time of the year. It is time to hit the north and west side of Athens, with a slight extention to Voetia and Kopaida Plains. Some of the most striking species breed in these area, and this is the best time of the year for a birding and bird photograpy trip.</span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7RO5euINn1xyF7_sP84dmLRYVdAqSYovbh0GFjAX4ktJUJJm-ua_H4svH3slDWWH6LL1kYEQIdpeNpI7B8gxVxvp2byRV434biybOkTQR85Wy8ICgXAF-NReGnNDwSvifcp2qHnImkdvVD9OBq6eqICKer3TQ1qlTtCiRmm8RLvuL11hmaE/s1500/White-Stork-Ciconia.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="White-Storks-flying" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7RO5euINn1xyF7_sP84dmLRYVdAqSYovbh0GFjAX4ktJUJJm-ua_H4svH3slDWWH6LL1kYEQIdpeNpI7B8gxVxvp2byRV434biybOkTQR85Wy8ICgXAF-NReGnNDwSvifcp2qHnImkdvVD9OBq6eqICKer3TQ1qlTtCiRmm8RLvuL11hmaE/w400-h266/White-Stork-Ciconia.JPG" title="White Storks at Kopaida plains" width="400" /></a><br />White Storks at Kopaida Plains</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the first trip, we mainly visited Kopaida fields. At our first main stop we were thrilled to watch a big flock of 12 White Storks feeding in the fields. There beautiful species is closely connected with humans as it lives and nests in small villaged and towns. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Q2sFS7DRcrcNtRgY0taHBKnJmwTYRxGx1kC3P9Ic5Jz53YCGMndEjHaZQYWCPF7LYSljsFGpAq8FxJn3JZqVa_1dbl4-tIB3h5ePQfUT37x2X9gD7uN5LYrdoA76gxZ0McMitTERgiyJi8hcDfuQVz2yWz2AkWkZZmkTPKddcEydl8l0LA/s1500/White-Stork-Ciconia-ciconia.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="White-Storks-Central-Greece" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Q2sFS7DRcrcNtRgY0taHBKnJmwTYRxGx1kC3P9Ic5Jz53YCGMndEjHaZQYWCPF7LYSljsFGpAq8FxJn3JZqVa_1dbl4-tIB3h5ePQfUT37x2X9gD7uN5LYrdoA76gxZ0McMitTERgiyJi8hcDfuQVz2yWz2AkWkZZmkTPKddcEydl8l0LA/w400-h266/White-Stork-Ciconia-ciconia.JPG" title="White Storks wondering at Kopaida fields" width="400" /></a><br />White Storks wondering at Kopaida fields</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZDxP0DbjPmvy2I0YFb1X5wR6i8im-hH3GXgfqLyGIwMzWKQ6WY_FS8_VHHzQ0wBODqQQGBY0XRS3PJsYEfiK6fLibXRdNyrulibg3rFEfKY6_FSb_w8zTC9_DjN5pa4doPnSoY6EJXfs05rmoSa1NniTAhD0Q6d8VngjW9D-iMknNOr7TmI/s1500/Poppies-field.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Poppie-field-Greece" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZDxP0DbjPmvy2I0YFb1X5wR6i8im-hH3GXgfqLyGIwMzWKQ6WY_FS8_VHHzQ0wBODqQQGBY0XRS3PJsYEfiK6fLibXRdNyrulibg3rFEfKY6_FSb_w8zTC9_DjN5pa4doPnSoY6EJXfs05rmoSa1NniTAhD0Q6d8VngjW9D-iMknNOr7TmI/w400-h266/Poppies-field.JPG" title="Red poppies field" width="400" /></a><br />Red is the color of spring</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We also had the chance to enjoy several birds of prey. Firstly the powerful <b>Eleonorae's Falcon</b>, a raptor that overwinters in Madagaskar and come to Greece every summer to breed. Actually, Greece hosts more than 80% of the world breeding population of Eleonorae's Falcons!<br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe3b59p7miAGCaBguPnSUSZ9gK0XHIM73Tszdz2xae3NUUl7hAjlQgYgyU9EKskjMGg0euzh6NIHQpZpOWQXLFTbTw7UcmVqAiKT0Qqc0xHFk6_wEffhlJhdwyAbJwRGOhC14tsGyf3hOKx4u1FWGoTvpfTG8opakbyXyKDID57LYFyB3ipU/s1500/Eleonorae's%20Falcon.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eleonorae-Falcon" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe3b59p7miAGCaBguPnSUSZ9gK0XHIM73Tszdz2xae3NUUl7hAjlQgYgyU9EKskjMGg0euzh6NIHQpZpOWQXLFTbTw7UcmVqAiKT0Qqc0xHFk6_wEffhlJhdwyAbJwRGOhC14tsGyf3hOKx4u1FWGoTvpfTG8opakbyXyKDID57LYFyB3ipU/w400-h266/Eleonorae's%20Falcon.JPG" title="A totaly black Eleonorae's Falcon, against contrast light" width="400" /></a><br />A totaly black <b>Eleonorae's Falcon</b>, against contrast light<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We also saw a couple of <b>Short-toed Snake Eagles</b>. Since this raptor is often hovering (very rare for eagles!), we could take pictures but also watch the bird's behavior with the spotting scope. Apart from Common Buzzards, we also saw several <b>Long-legged Buzzard</b>, a scarce resident species which is a target one for many birders visiting Greece, as it is not easily in the rest of Europe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBO3EIcKTapII6f__UJqtAyqNa5svvt1iCTtE4BJbouyfBxx9OykxPJMXQRu303YCvaxIA3m1CoiMwciwThFMl6UyDOydUoOLrdeIQSHwR1vbjtNkOuBiFBCiPshjCWiSEqz_UkKz4VnGq4yTISy2xEebrunasO7f8qzwpun_RyidJq3Woj4/s1500/Short-toed-Eagle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Short-toed-Snake-Eagle" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBO3EIcKTapII6f__UJqtAyqNa5svvt1iCTtE4BJbouyfBxx9OykxPJMXQRu303YCvaxIA3m1CoiMwciwThFMl6UyDOydUoOLrdeIQSHwR1vbjtNkOuBiFBCiPshjCWiSEqz_UkKz4VnGq4yTISy2xEebrunasO7f8qzwpun_RyidJq3Woj4/w400-h266/Short-toed-Eagle.JPG" title="Short-toed Snake Eagle flying" width="400" /></a><br />A <b>Short-toed Snake Eagle</b> among the clouds</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJACMwpZvrGhu7jIovNp1sBDQBLyvujMSC3w_lsN1qUJ7_M8ovz_CG1IPOsk-QwpeRkku4JyYEqzDACoDUkJUzQ0yZox-d1ozGtB7uANPcIp6V7uruPjprj8Fq_uJwGGSZjX8fusgjSMMu9JfjR2DBlTCl2P3LfBi1BzImqEYv9v3hEOD0_k/s1500/Long-legged-Buzzard.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Long-legged-Buzzard" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJACMwpZvrGhu7jIovNp1sBDQBLyvujMSC3w_lsN1qUJ7_M8ovz_CG1IPOsk-QwpeRkku4JyYEqzDACoDUkJUzQ0yZox-d1ozGtB7uANPcIp6V7uruPjprj8Fq_uJwGGSZjX8fusgjSMMu9JfjR2DBlTCl2P3LfBi1BzImqEYv9v3hEOD0_k/w400-h266/Long-legged-Buzzard.JPG" title="Long-legged Buzzard at Kopaida fields" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Long-legged Buzzard</b>: A resident raptor</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the mst colorful species we saw was the <b>Black-headed Bunting</b>. Striking yellow breast, black head and rusty brownish back, this bunting overwinters in India and breeds every year in Greece. It's song is the most recognisable summer sound around vineyards and other cultivated areas of Central and Northern Greece. Another unique singer, is the Common Nightingale, found usually close to streams and green vegetation (poplar, willow, etc). Despite singing very loud, it is often really hard to see or even take a picture of it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvgTrEYaM_pyVEtXtmUjpED9DBRHVeOIqLQkROy-dY67ISVCcpyO5MdBJ27n-DESFQU-YXExv8cRIiLPSNxeZvPwyibMhTeQLJ7CQ1cAzNnYck4lLocPlahCClIfr9xoZv76M1KVHoas1z2WFCoJZmgVdRO8gwr6oT9Ya350uI77pxqP0F4/s1000/IMG_5602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-headed-Bunting" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvgTrEYaM_pyVEtXtmUjpED9DBRHVeOIqLQkROy-dY67ISVCcpyO5MdBJ27n-DESFQU-YXExv8cRIiLPSNxeZvPwyibMhTeQLJ7CQ1cAzNnYck4lLocPlahCClIfr9xoZv76M1KVHoas1z2WFCoJZmgVdRO8gwr6oT9Ya350uI77pxqP0F4/w266-h400/IMG_5602.JPG" title="Black-headed Bunting on olive tree" width="266" /></a><br />Singing <b>Black-headed Bunting</b><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h-dwiigETOp0WDqgRYTIbmjOaBEPgfvTtvYohcCv17xCxXMNSaxsXcUztwjpIPdxtwta_Lo9dVLmhWs7lR98NpEtcHPgMRcQtGC5-T8RgOWtUczzgt0wG-TAsu3-SKgkPnHggbk3Dulbplm_uwknciZFvRVIotg4DXEQFWZPmIJhzQY6Hqk/s1500/Nightingale.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nightingale-luscinia-megalorynchos" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h-dwiigETOp0WDqgRYTIbmjOaBEPgfvTtvYohcCv17xCxXMNSaxsXcUztwjpIPdxtwta_Lo9dVLmhWs7lR98NpEtcHPgMRcQtGC5-T8RgOWtUczzgt0wG-TAsu3-SKgkPnHggbk3Dulbplm_uwknciZFvRVIotg4DXEQFWZPmIJhzQY6Hqk/w400-h266/Nightingale.JPG" title="Common Nightingale singing loud" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Common Nightingale</b> singing loud<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A <b>Little Owl </b>is always fun to watch. This cute species of owl was perching close to an electricity pole, and the first impression was than the eyes were too dark.... Well, we were fooled: that was the back side of the bird! T<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">he V-shaped marking on the back of the head </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">mimics</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> eyes to prevent predators attacking from behind. So after a few seconds, the head turned 180 degrees, and then we could see the real face of the bird, with striking yellow eyes. What a surprise!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gPU7IQZXYTF4XxzK-nIs9CKzDvM2FlEM7_xpMAomnkmcupVuo_716Qiv1sYCSz8NJiA7dXMIcGLn0P23gxc7ytsnKdUdKW1AwVX_BLZyukbuPPbWTNAg6c2pthcNsULhoaesqFbhIfFiz_YBMpU6WiqM-JZX0FEv7U9iaPo83GwOaJWZb1Q/s1000/IMG_5611.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little-Owl-perching" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gPU7IQZXYTF4XxzK-nIs9CKzDvM2FlEM7_xpMAomnkmcupVuo_716Qiv1sYCSz8NJiA7dXMIcGLn0P23gxc7ytsnKdUdKW1AwVX_BLZyukbuPPbWTNAg6c2pthcNsULhoaesqFbhIfFiz_YBMpU6WiqM-JZX0FEv7U9iaPo83GwOaJWZb1Q/w266-h400/IMG_5611.JPG" title="Little Owl perching" width="266" /></a><br /><b>Little Owl</b>: back view!<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxSITQrRiY9GuHNgysz4_agrSkfveJ5yMSHJRN3PbIDyzKlzMKDJkBhhyvIHvtSeb6ovcFU_pPOnymD-3m53Q85Y6phoAdpYrmfIJAKg3_deDwtILRcQg8GSf3x1d5KOG-lF-CXEX9GaAj831YB8_HYz6by4RvAPqGB1QDDIW2p-roOlpNeY/s1000/Little-Owl.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little-owl-athena-noctua" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxSITQrRiY9GuHNgysz4_agrSkfveJ5yMSHJRN3PbIDyzKlzMKDJkBhhyvIHvtSeb6ovcFU_pPOnymD-3m53Q85Y6phoAdpYrmfIJAKg3_deDwtILRcQg8GSf3x1d5KOG-lF-CXEX9GaAj831YB8_HYz6by4RvAPqGB1QDDIW2p-roOlpNeY/w266-h400/Little-Owl.JPG" title="Little Owl perching on wire" width="266" /></a><br />... and here's is my real face</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kopaida plains and the surrounding hills is home for some of the most wanted birds than most birders seek when visiting Athens and Greece in general. During this trip, we also encountered the rare <b>Sombre Tit, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Eastern Olivaceous Warblers</b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's is the bird list from this two days <b>birdwatching tour</b> at the northern parts of Athens</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Collared Dove<br />Great Spotted Cuckoo<br />Common Cuckoo<br />Common Swift<br />Pallid Swift<br />Alpine Swift<br />White Stork<br />Grey Heron<br />Little Egret<br />Squacco Heron<br />Short-toed Eagle<br />Eleonorae's Falcon<br />Common Kestrel<br />Lesser Kestrel<br />Common Buzzard<br />Long-legged Buzzard<br />Hoopoe<br />Bee-eater<br />Golden Oriole<br />Red-backed Shrike<br />Lesser Grey Shrike<br />Woodchat Shrike<br />Little Owl<br />Magpie<br />Hooded Crow<br />Raven<br />Sombre Tit<br />Great Tit<br />Eastern Olivaceous Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Subalpine Warbler<br />Common Whitethroat<br />Great Reed Warbler<br />Barn Swallow<br />House Martin<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />Western Rock Nuthatch<br />Stonechat<br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br />Blackbird<br />House Sparrow<br />Spanish Sparrow<br />Greenfinch<br />Goldfinch<br />Linnet<br />Black-headed Bunting<br />Corn Bunting<br />Cirl Bunting</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br />All sightings available at my<span> </span><a href="https://ebird.org/profile/ODUyODQ5/GR">eBird profile</a></span></p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comAthens, Greece37.9838096 23.72753889.6735757638211552 -11.428711199999999 66.294043436178839 58.883788800000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-38847841834895736632023-05-31T21:17:00.000+03:002023-05-31T21:17:47.706+03:00Lesvos birdwatching tour 2023: Day 2 Trip Report<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: large;">LESVOS BIRDING DAY 2 Trip Report: A sunrise bonus birding and the wild-wild West</span></span></h2><p></p><h3><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lesvos is known worldwide for being one of the best European destinations to watch bird migration. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia and Africa blended with a great variety of habitats, make this Aegean island the perfect destination not only for birders and bird photographers, but for anyone that enjoys wildlife.</span></span></h3><h2 style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Read here about </span><a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birding-tour-2023-day-1.html">Day 1</a><o:p style="font-weight: normal;"></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigb2_7mDn7ticfjpHUs0R7CVj7DprLTMQnPyYTlEM9pHNk_sEr6wlMnnc9FqoiO3h8iGmpWQNybcBlSaUuOW55MWjuI-zq9GY23GRYjXiWSE1kwCT5ltsjmofUay80fk4nMGutnoBTPgAikzjQqQqOfa-PQelr6zIgiTsAijX_nir7yIYVqnM/s1200/eastern-black-eared-wheatear-LESVOS-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear at Sigri, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigb2_7mDn7ticfjpHUs0R7CVj7DprLTMQnPyYTlEM9pHNk_sEr6wlMnnc9FqoiO3h8iGmpWQNybcBlSaUuOW55MWjuI-zq9GY23GRYjXiWSE1kwCT5ltsjmofUay80fk4nMGutnoBTPgAikzjQqQqOfa-PQelr6zIgiTsAijX_nir7yIYVqnM/w400-h266/eastern-black-eared-wheatear-LESVOS-TOURS.jpg" title="An iconic species, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear" width="400" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />An iconic species, </span>Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">at Sigri, western Lesvos</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghenBQwyQyD8u3lcRIAWo89TN1ADnttD_Vx64eaHOzr45B9MiXjoNI1GoVQlfcr-Npz_8N7s8qq8Upb4aNMamlTEOu-hjQMH7DYvYd7ld2_wCVVCUYlHm6RH12MqsG1wOzRZpw9hD0g71Vikb_oM5IBAbujQYHdM5UPN73kbf41rK9eJWxuRU/s1200/cinereous-bunting-lesvos.jpg" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cinereous Bunting at Sigri Petrified Forest" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghenBQwyQyD8u3lcRIAWo89TN1ADnttD_Vx64eaHOzr45B9MiXjoNI1GoVQlfcr-Npz_8N7s8qq8Upb4aNMamlTEOu-hjQMH7DYvYd7ld2_wCVVCUYlHm6RH12MqsG1wOzRZpw9hD0g71Vikb_oM5IBAbujQYHdM5UPN73kbf41rK9eJWxuRU/w300-h400/cinereous-bunting-lesvos.jpg" title="Cinereous Bunting, the emblematic bird of western Lesvos" width="300" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Cinereous Bunting</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">, the emblematic bird <br />of western Lesvos</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">This day we
decided to take a</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">n early wake up and have a brief on-the-site breakfast at
Metochi Lake, a small lagoon a couple of km west of Skala Kallonis. This was
decided in order to spot some almost nocturnal birds, such as Little Bittern
and Little Crake, so our ordinary breakfast could easily wait until 9am. In was
an unforgettable experience: hundreds of Red-rumped Swallow, House Martins,
Barn Swallows, Sand Martin flying low over the calm waters, while we were
listening the melodic songs of Nightingales, Great Reed Warblers, Cetti’s
Warblers, Blackbirds, Masked Shrikes, Sombre Tits and Eastern Olivaceous
Warblers. We managed to see the Little Crake and a Spotted Crake too, while a
few Night Herons flew towards the surrounding hills.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4_9-BRPdOfAqUfLHT4SaBs7IqJw3BupLJ2VdwwL78eAbJkfTH-G0-CcQ9ttoHGOSHicdAhPIo-X9grbgw5-yJHUeWo7CfBt4XH7LH8AaRJMFq1pgXsnuvb10BTyue1Bbn1OB0tkT_Dm27gqV-M9wqHSYqpg96xDJdAQJUkrIO4Em8yVp_pQ/s1200/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birdwatchers at Metochi Lake, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4_9-BRPdOfAqUfLHT4SaBs7IqJw3BupLJ2VdwwL78eAbJkfTH-G0-CcQ9ttoHGOSHicdAhPIo-X9grbgw5-yJHUeWo7CfBt4XH7LH8AaRJMFq1pgXsnuvb10BTyue1Bbn1OB0tkT_Dm27gqV-M9wqHSYqpg96xDJdAQJUkrIO4Em8yVp_pQ/w400-h299/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-1.jpg" title="Birdwatchers at Metochi Lake, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />A typical spring morning at Metochi Lake</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFDS03i-zUpXrPaqIPelqw7lY6pG3NMk04JJFLEtrj_9jXTwrVEZ_dr9Nv14VBI-v6y5S5thRfITXCRW9P5Vkjg4nS0b3mBxRLsFPvutX91J9ki5HBHDz4TUHyJjH6cIYmPuEnz6j_E-wUvPi1Yi9DcwGiDOWowu7_vMY3_z4Y1mh_O1d54c/s1200/cettis-warbler_-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cetti's Warbler" border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFDS03i-zUpXrPaqIPelqw7lY6pG3NMk04JJFLEtrj_9jXTwrVEZ_dr9Nv14VBI-v6y5S5thRfITXCRW9P5Vkjg4nS0b3mBxRLsFPvutX91J9ki5HBHDz4TUHyJjH6cIYmPuEnz6j_E-wUvPi1Yi9DcwGiDOWowu7_vMY3_z4Y1mh_O1d54c/w400-h268/cettis-warbler_-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Cetti's Warbler at Metochi Lake" width="400" /></a><br /><span>Cetti's Warblers</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> are residents at Metochi Lake</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWifvIniL0z_zpTK-vfN7Js5Y3Odi-zzlznVueUHDj8Q2L6Zxn4-90HN5yJBX_4AsWULtuI3DCvQG7UT6z4TI6c3CHgGzzoheWkUSCutGxyFOwrcEiqas8pyDqPktCQYlrN17y5b79l7rykHyf49VUkIM4f44e7eW7lWnsmBKis0sI4yDimK0/s1200/corn-bunting_LESVOS.jpg" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><img alt="Corn Bunting at Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWifvIniL0z_zpTK-vfN7Js5Y3Odi-zzlznVueUHDj8Q2L6Zxn4-90HN5yJBX_4AsWULtuI3DCvQG7UT6z4TI6c3CHgGzzoheWkUSCutGxyFOwrcEiqas8pyDqPktCQYlrN17y5b79l7rykHyf49VUkIM4f44e7eW7lWnsmBKis0sI4yDimK0/w400-h266/corn-bunting_LESVOS.jpg" title="Corn Bunting at Metochi Lake, Lesvos" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Corn Bunting at Metochi Lake, Lesvos</span><br /></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hWQcnsMgZBEFEDElIG10bb46978PQnTt6NV0a3uyrp-scvirhA_I5VL7O_Xf742UiWjwoC5Q3q0noXV3Cw-rXsnu43LjFc182xZYcrvFw9bP5LD9teUWfyxAdLF_yRD9xkFUUuxM3f2pWaEseXWSf4mO72_0LUVzcoJnRK_V0QRgiBaL8rw/s1200/chukar-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chukar hidding behind rocks" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hWQcnsMgZBEFEDElIG10bb46978PQnTt6NV0a3uyrp-scvirhA_I5VL7O_Xf742UiWjwoC5Q3q0noXV3Cw-rXsnu43LjFc182xZYcrvFw9bP5LD9teUWfyxAdLF_yRD9xkFUUuxM3f2pWaEseXWSf4mO72_0LUVzcoJnRK_V0QRgiBaL8rw/w400-h266/chukar-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Chukar hidding behind rocks" width="400" /></a><br />Chukars<span style="font-weight: normal;"> are residents on Lesvos</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">and can be encountered in various locations on the island</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Moving back
to our hotels, we took breakfast and started driving towards the west part of
the island. The whole day would be dedicated to the “wild, wild West” part of
Lesvos, home of some of the rarest species of European birds. Our first stop
was Ispilou Monastery, right after Antissa town. The monastery is sited on the
top of a monolith-like hill, filled with Kermes Oak trees, a truly oasis for
migrant birds that have just arrived from the dry western part of the island.
Whether conditions play a significant part in bird abundance in this specific
habitat. Rainfalls and windy conditions stop the bird’s journey and thus the
area become shelter for hundreds of flycatchers, chats and other passerines. On
the other hand, continuous days of good weather, result in mass departures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaciZMmWrThehYSuqQxXzHPceAeZQZFUp81joC-Ygg5Uo-sErgE8YFxy4UN1Cso_G5SnyyHD1uViBDES4xRt5gfJpA5F6MD3eXdyBOnhDlZ8d088CdHu92TIFL8-CxDyq9yVo1NKQFfyUbHcR-lF6OsMOvV--sVEF6c2uD3atts25de1IqIX4/s3499/Willow-warbler-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Willow Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery" border="0" data-original-height="2334" data-original-width="3499" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaciZMmWrThehYSuqQxXzHPceAeZQZFUp81joC-Ygg5Uo-sErgE8YFxy4UN1Cso_G5SnyyHD1uViBDES4xRt5gfJpA5F6MD3eXdyBOnhDlZ8d088CdHu92TIFL8-CxDyq9yVo1NKQFfyUbHcR-lF6OsMOvV--sVEF6c2uD3atts25de1IqIX4/w400-h266/Willow-warbler-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Willow Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Willow Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">a common spring migrant</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp6HUbSEsZuQON37WtCUK6N--C20pGnnW1oo8XnxrHg52a9A_bTwjXZUQL1bJOAI2qKk9aAioqPFtAwswRUxBN6S0wyQRBGyl_wmSpENJQ6JFB0kAmFt0YioJbkuoC2tGOsfR1cR7msFw5KPEXVXgtD421NCJaqgqIiwN-oyoW3hDDu1UbY8/s1200/eastern-subalpine-warbler-lesvos.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp6HUbSEsZuQON37WtCUK6N--C20pGnnW1oo8XnxrHg52a9A_bTwjXZUQL1bJOAI2qKk9aAioqPFtAwswRUxBN6S0wyQRBGyl_wmSpENJQ6JFB0kAmFt0YioJbkuoC2tGOsfR1cR7msFw5KPEXVXgtD421NCJaqgqIiwN-oyoW3hDDu1UbY8/w400-h300/eastern-subalpine-warbler-lesvos.jpg" title="Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery" width="400" /></a><br />Eastern Subalpine Warbler<span style="font-weight: 400;"> on oak tree<br />at Ipsilou Monastery</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Therefore,
we were not as lucky this year with Ipsilou Monastery. There has been a great
influx of birds just a few days before our arrival, because of a severe low
pressure system that resulted in thunderstorms. It was followed by 2-3 days of
sunshine, like the day of our visit, so there were very few birds present. A
few Willow Warblers, fortunately some Eastern Orphean and Subalpine Warblers.
The resident species were quite elusive too: Western Rock Nuthatch and Rock
Sparrow gave us only a handful of photographic opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeV7pushxOpikCYTbIZR4Tn6hjjui7tPlgaV_fCemlN1FxXoixBvmoHnFbcXeCaO0pjOY6o_RWcKPsCnWeishgmr0Hc198q3DnuxKaYgLB44ao8Kq_WrOv5X9rfW1lJjOxTMe3eWeKWC78X7XZWoxIPI2VO8DYohiSOd45wF9tRO1dF2_UtM/s2528/red-backed-shrike-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-backed Shrike at Ipsilou Monastery" border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2528" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeV7pushxOpikCYTbIZR4Tn6hjjui7tPlgaV_fCemlN1FxXoixBvmoHnFbcXeCaO0pjOY6o_RWcKPsCnWeishgmr0Hc198q3DnuxKaYgLB44ao8Kq_WrOv5X9rfW1lJjOxTMe3eWeKWC78X7XZWoxIPI2VO8DYohiSOd45wF9tRO1dF2_UtM/w400-h266/red-backed-shrike-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Male Red-backed Shrike at Ipsilou Monastery" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">An elusive </span>Red-backed Shrike<span style="font-weight: normal;"> at Ipsilou Monastery</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskDgY1ubvqdSnEi27B6u4DYglM5GE4PWuq5Mt10c-QGEJYJSvVBjNmcnmkc88r1pANC72fmDdBZJpZfbpP5dYM_HyDeAeX9QCpm17HlVC5T6Qi5z6gHamENEXuhWpMHKYBFyxkAIUCAASYRRGOVSbHaQl6SNvwiI2JfzoXf2Olv7VGU3b3ao/s4301/RAVEN-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Raven at Ipsilou Monastery" border="0" data-original-height="2869" data-original-width="4301" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskDgY1ubvqdSnEi27B6u4DYglM5GE4PWuq5Mt10c-QGEJYJSvVBjNmcnmkc88r1pANC72fmDdBZJpZfbpP5dYM_HyDeAeX9QCpm17HlVC5T6Qi5z6gHamENEXuhWpMHKYBFyxkAIUCAASYRRGOVSbHaQl6SNvwiI2JfzoXf2Olv7VGU3b3ao/w400-h266/RAVEN-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Raven in flight around Ipsilou Monastery" width="400" /></a><br />Raven<span style="font-weight: 400;"> in flight at Ipsilou Monastery. <br />Birds are nesting on the steap cliff</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Since the
area did not seem very productive (birdwatching speaking), we drove down to the
remote fishing village of Sigri for lunch. Remezzo is a family owned restaurant,
and has the best sea view of the area, serving delicious local recipes. A
refreshing local beer could not be denied during such a warm day. The west –
and wildest – part of the island was waiting!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhIZqr9--jLNmTf0KqcdzZvK9xeNrm0ZTdgBHhHs4rQxxumOgyw2m3-1XBBJL12YBwIjz8XRAqHjOuPdJHMGpX1gH5hRRafArZP3Jv2fcwpvQ_3NpJ6c2q7aJxjFVP1QvhncAxnobW2xTTNE5nAY62MPq9ZMEWTHAEoFPEZsdIXF_kcYFZLI/s1200/Lesvos-Sigri.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sigri village, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhIZqr9--jLNmTf0KqcdzZvK9xeNrm0ZTdgBHhHs4rQxxumOgyw2m3-1XBBJL12YBwIjz8XRAqHjOuPdJHMGpX1gH5hRRafArZP3Jv2fcwpvQ_3NpJ6c2q7aJxjFVP1QvhncAxnobW2xTTNE5nAY62MPq9ZMEWTHAEoFPEZsdIXF_kcYFZLI/w400-h299/Lesvos-Sigri.jpg" title="Sigri, a pittoresque fishing village of Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Sigri<span style="font-weight: 400;">, a pittoresque fishing village of Lesvos,<br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">as seen from Remezzo Taverna</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTKXLynXOvJgmtTyb3zSrpQoorBYgL22k_TyWljaoXTL_GF9DSiIJ9qdPgCQAIZO8XEVZDqc2oAWmoZt7UcSHzBfRojCL4jK8XRZQExlwqyCIl0rvVyW0SMEuvRSK2texF_X16OZuWEbo3g-WbC_1Unee5cgEIte5Z6Bq1sl27I6jzvLp2yI/s1200/eurasian-jackdaw-lesvos.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jackdaw catching a spider at Faneromeni, Sigri" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTKXLynXOvJgmtTyb3zSrpQoorBYgL22k_TyWljaoXTL_GF9DSiIJ9qdPgCQAIZO8XEVZDqc2oAWmoZt7UcSHzBfRojCL4jK8XRZQExlwqyCIl0rvVyW0SMEuvRSK2texF_X16OZuWEbo3g-WbC_1Unee5cgEIte5Z6Bq1sl27I6jzvLp2yI/w400-h266/eurasian-jackdaw-lesvos.jpg" title="Jackdaw catching a spider at Faneromeni, Sigri" width="400" /></a><br />Jackdaw <span style="font-weight: 400;">catching a spider at Faneromeni, Sigri</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKntrKnISK2SlAKpeyjPcchlRAlRJ_jSjA6rIWHozhVfeI5gTWK3Gf2nD07wTjtQ30Z40Q1-nry6KHKoLpzee9gyAaK0e6dhJAxkPh_DdZzgzEVyHjyc_DOx3M475OfsINGJKRvn4bh98NRl5gyzpFwr2tFUX8RO_0ZTczMO-J1k9b34tIN_4/s1200/Pseudopus-apodus-Lesvos-herping-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><img alt="Glass Lizard (Pseudopus adopus) at Sigri Sanatorium" border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1200" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKntrKnISK2SlAKpeyjPcchlRAlRJ_jSjA6rIWHozhVfeI5gTWK3Gf2nD07wTjtQ30Z40Q1-nry6KHKoLpzee9gyAaK0e6dhJAxkPh_DdZzgzEVyHjyc_DOx3M475OfsINGJKRvn4bh98NRl5gyzpFwr2tFUX8RO_0ZTczMO-J1k9b34tIN_4/w400-h244/Pseudopus-apodus-Lesvos-herping-2.jpg" title="Glass Lizard (Pseudopus adopus) at Sigri Sanatorium" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">A huge </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Glass Lizard </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">(<i>Pseudopus adopus</i>),<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">basking outside Sigri Sanatorium</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">We reached
Sigri Sanatorium were we spotted a huge Glass Lizard (<i>Pseupodus apodus</i>). It is
surprising how each year I always encounter this species, in this particular
area of the island, it almost seems like a pre-organized meeting. Around the
old building, he heard the characteristic sound of Chukars, while Long-legged
Buzards, Eleonorae’s Falcons, Lesser
Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons were hunting their preys. A small group of Golden Orioles passed
suddenly a few meters in front of us. The breeding Cinereous Bunting, one of
Lesvos highlight species, was present in many locations on our way. We firstly
saw the species during a short visit in the Petrified Forest, together with
Cretzschmar’s Buntings and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXcz3rBAwvsJEDBYW_bnr8uCoD4RiPYENpcV7fwQOVwE7YrdoEGKvSQFkp0zuiOs5rAvo_sFaiCFG5StghWMfdmYFHcyFkc5HJrqFdr3AFfPZNRK8h9FDmtJRmeIzacXcMgtN692ef5waQGY1npo1CB9cvh7PGh6t5URdr0q5b2nHe74uECU/s1200/cretzschmars-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cretzschmar's Bunting at Meladia Valley, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXcz3rBAwvsJEDBYW_bnr8uCoD4RiPYENpcV7fwQOVwE7YrdoEGKvSQFkp0zuiOs5rAvo_sFaiCFG5StghWMfdmYFHcyFkc5HJrqFdr3AFfPZNRK8h9FDmtJRmeIzacXcMgtN692ef5waQGY1npo1CB9cvh7PGh6t5URdr0q5b2nHe74uECU/w400-h268/cretzschmars-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Cretzschmar's Bunting at Meladia Valley, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Cretzschmar's Bunting<span style="font-weight: 400;"> at Meladia Valley, Lesvos</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWfyoDWuM4L8udChobnv_blUXg36hESDS_8xDQPr-dYYIgBR9V3oEYB4tMMLqDCU2PCl4EEnVxshfuggxASYtT4lbdkrluRkJu4jJGuso_DrU_CE-JSfwu0erUxT8xtMLZR3Rf0K8Kv_HGICvtAZV6s3ywvZwIpm3s6efje5w0IDB0roSNXc/s1200/cinereous-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cinereous Bunting at Sigri, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWfyoDWuM4L8udChobnv_blUXg36hESDS_8xDQPr-dYYIgBR9V3oEYB4tMMLqDCU2PCl4EEnVxshfuggxASYtT4lbdkrluRkJu4jJGuso_DrU_CE-JSfwu0erUxT8xtMLZR3Rf0K8Kv_HGICvtAZV6s3ywvZwIpm3s6efje5w0IDB0roSNXc/w400-h266/cinereous-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Cinereous Bunting at Sigri, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Western Lesvos is the only place in Europe <br />that </span>Cinereous Bunting<span style="font-weight: 400;"> is breeding succesfully</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oqbtmEQUksVvs1KAO7k67pgbh_JtyovY2cCY3JJ4hwzLnjCcikCAq2gii8K_vK1-sK5JGigQSkKpvMGzEopK7YNzF-44yO-knkLngcGMGzYVHoEjcT93GqejroLXpu3TpHPTJpGrhfZoCXrpyX44goEWeRnHedfHXRpZNP2Ls2R9EVMoFNk/s1200/cirl-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><img alt="Cirl Bunting at Meladia Valley, Sigri" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oqbtmEQUksVvs1KAO7k67pgbh_JtyovY2cCY3JJ4hwzLnjCcikCAq2gii8K_vK1-sK5JGigQSkKpvMGzEopK7YNzF-44yO-knkLngcGMGzYVHoEjcT93GqejroLXpu3TpHPTJpGrhfZoCXrpyX44goEWeRnHedfHXRpZNP2Ls2R9EVMoFNk/w400-h300/cirl-bunting-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Cirl Bunting at Meladia Valley, Sigri" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Cirl Bunting</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> at Meladia Valley, Sigri</span><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">We passed
through Meladia Valley were we saw a few more Eastern Orphean Warblers, the
emblematic Little Owl in its usual spot, small groups of Bee-eaters, Linnets
and pairs of breeding Isabelline Wheatears. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_2vyBDNfhNeAEBdz8iSw8QnE0SefQFk30MXd2rCoZtjWcm4W1b3ikyuJRTYq5V1L5pE2gUJDY2IQTubySXHACTnt2hlia9hn7Ah3dRJfCLWZTDFe1hZwB3popRBALMUEAbQyR-E3-w62Y7olWCrhQmgbtHAwx7yJkdtsNd7Q34Ta2TKgzEU/s1600/IMG-20230429-WA0001.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lesvos birdwatcher's selfie" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_2vyBDNfhNeAEBdz8iSw8QnE0SefQFk30MXd2rCoZtjWcm4W1b3ikyuJRTYq5V1L5pE2gUJDY2IQTubySXHACTnt2hlia9hn7Ah3dRJfCLWZTDFe1hZwB3popRBALMUEAbQyR-E3-w62Y7olWCrhQmgbtHAwx7yJkdtsNd7Q34Ta2TKgzEU/w400-h300/IMG-20230429-WA0001.jpg" title="Lesvos birdwatcher's selfie after a succesful day" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lesvos birdwatcher's selfie after a succesful day</span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We arrived
back at Skala Kallonis by 8pm. Despite our fatigue, we decided to visit the
Scops Owl site once more and we were rewarded by some bonus sightings of this
secretive owl. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gEdPD03YNLRAF-LeSDojk9FZGpGeWW68foKvpbrUBdcP097HYYLzd4aIn51xZ8n1bKhB3RLqA_-jZKae13L-JaleLHE21PZQ1ltWfZXYqiBr96YwZCXU5u2wHTASRryLiQnG5AXsggWq5JipUMsbWB6xJXdBVJZBpHpY5i1KnOx25OdD95U/s1200/Lesvos-Eressos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meladia Valley, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gEdPD03YNLRAF-LeSDojk9FZGpGeWW68foKvpbrUBdcP097HYYLzd4aIn51xZ8n1bKhB3RLqA_-jZKae13L-JaleLHE21PZQ1ltWfZXYqiBr96YwZCXU5u2wHTASRryLiQnG5AXsggWq5JipUMsbWB6xJXdBVJZBpHpY5i1KnOx25OdD95U/w400-h300/Lesvos-Eressos.jpg" title="Meladia Valley, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Leaving Meladia Valley after a full birding day</span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqZLD3xAX2RZBmrxTj8-Ru-Mt0CPGn3UsyNTQNxlzaU-AvYKsRN8fDjiLxvvS9Sz0bc4pgTyAAUwinW76EzNtE-mKBtwLA6WIyX9_Zc4vymZ4DwoEwJZDh-0g3oQfU7K5R03RC0zrMYhaajZ1AuwsWCYB2OGPXFgwUrrM32zUroMmHh_jjy8/s1200/Parakila-Lesvos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Parakila, a small village next to Skala Kallonis" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqZLD3xAX2RZBmrxTj8-Ru-Mt0CPGn3UsyNTQNxlzaU-AvYKsRN8fDjiLxvvS9Sz0bc4pgTyAAUwinW76EzNtE-mKBtwLA6WIyX9_Zc4vymZ4DwoEwJZDh-0g3oQfU7K5R03RC0zrMYhaajZ1AuwsWCYB2OGPXFgwUrrM32zUroMmHh_jjy8/w400-h299/Parakila-Lesvos.jpg" title="Parakila, a small village next to Skala Kallonis" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Parakila, a small panoramic village next to Skala Kallonis</span><br /></div></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The <b>bird list</b> of our second day Lesvos birdwatching tour:<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ruddy Shelduck<br />Greater Flamingo<br />Little Grebe<br />Collared Dove<br />Great Spotted Cuckoo<br />Common Cuckoo<br />Moorhen<br />Coot<br />Wood Sandpiper<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Great Cormorant<br />Little Bittern<br />Little Egret<br />Short-toed Eagle<br />Montagu's Harrier<br />Marsh Harrier<br />Long-legged Buzzard<br />Common Buzzard<br />Scops Owl<br />Little Owl<br />Hoopoe<br />Bee-eater<br />Lesser Kestrel<br />Common Kestrel<br />Red-footed Falcon<br />Eleonorae's Falcon<br />Golden Oriole<br />Red-backed Shrike<br />Masked Shrike<br />Woodchat Shrike<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Eurasian Jackdaw<br />Hooded Crow<br />Common Raven<br />Blue Tit<br />Woodlark<br />Ctesred Lark<br />Eastern Olivaceous Warbler<br />Sedge Warbler<br />Common Reed Warbler<br />Sand Martin<br />Barn Swallow<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />House Martin<br />Willow Warbler<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Eastern Orphean Warbler<br />Sardinian Warbler<br />Eastern Subalpine Warbler<br />Rock Nuthatch<br />Blackbird<br />Nightingale<br />Collared Flycatcher<br />Whichat<br />Stonechat<br />Northern Wheatear<br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br />Isabelline Wheatear<br />House Sparrow<br />Rock Sparrow<br />Chaffinch<br />Linnet<br />Serin<br />Black-headed Bunting<br />Corn Bunting<br />Cinereous Bunting<br />Cretzschmar's Bunting<br /><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Mammals:</b> Red Fox, Persian Squirrel, Hedgehog (RIP)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b>Amphibians and Reptiles:</b> Levant Water Frog, Balkan Pond Turtle, Starred Agama, Balkan Green Lizard, Snake-eyed Skink, Glass Lizard</span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name='more'></a><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><br />All sightings available at my <a href="https://ebird.org/profile/ODUyODQ5/GR">eBird profile</a></span></p></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--more--></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-32787730425513720092023-05-31T09:33:00.001+03:002023-05-31T21:21:37.257+03:00Lesvos Birding Tour 2023: Day 1<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">LESVOS BIRDING TOUR 2023: Day 1 Trip Report </span></span></b></h2><p>
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lesvos is known worldwide for being one of the best European destinations to watch bird
migration. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia and Africa blended with
a great variety of habitats, make this Aegean island the perfect destination not
only for birders and bird photographers, but for anyone that enjoys wildlife. </span></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsYo5jRBFU0fWgwTkH0xdYBsL_fDF-rqM47NQUJlMYD6UAPmjGSCVS4dIpOjLxlHkGzHph0hyUljinONSv7bQj8UwmG80zb19fN8055KzMCL01SUepDhG0swOxo0eB37jjZWJAlDZoKX5ieU0irFmEoAIdl78TB6ZeUtQmahAELuluf7Wkpc/s1200/black-headed-bunting-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-headed Bunting in Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1148" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsYo5jRBFU0fWgwTkH0xdYBsL_fDF-rqM47NQUJlMYD6UAPmjGSCVS4dIpOjLxlHkGzHph0hyUljinONSv7bQj8UwmG80zb19fN8055KzMCL01SUepDhG0swOxo0eB37jjZWJAlDZoKX5ieU0irFmEoAIdl78TB6ZeUtQmahAELuluf7Wkpc/w383-h400/black-headed-bunting-LESVOS.jpg" title="Black-headed Bunting in Lesvos" width="383" /></a><br /><b>Black-headed Buntings</b> are among the target species <br />for most birders in Lesvos. </div></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this
year we organized a 6 day birdwatching trip around the island, during the last
week of April. We visited the most important bird areas of the island, and
tasted the delicious local cuisine, mostly sea food and local recipes. A group
of US birders and photographers joined us during the first days, while a vivid
team of Italian bird photographers and wildlife enthusiasts followed the next
couple of days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were based in
Pasiphae Hotel at Skala Kallonis and had lunch or dinner at Dionysos Taverna by
the sea. Vehicle hirings were arranged with Tsalis Car Rental as usual, being
the most reliable car rental company of Lesvos. A special mention to Apostolis
Traditional Bakery at Skala Kallonis, providing every fresh bread every day,
handmade apple pies, greek style bagels (aka “koulouria”) and other goodies
that were bought early in the morning and kept us alive during the long days of
our birding adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpFHEEAhd-gGfmkveD886dqLjCTxE3TpikJ5eppnQgyQm11xPxZIqN0OTZLnx_qefl4qizfapMjvxAihj2RZBMLA8d0ldzpIen5uOqsoaLgFQ0AVwsFfsqy602cJA4qA5UiYcEHmPuOhpxOuqeTwM50y9nceZ5-DvaZotd3um4pwpYVdHAMI/s1200/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birdwatchers at Metochi Lake, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpFHEEAhd-gGfmkveD886dqLjCTxE3TpikJ5eppnQgyQm11xPxZIqN0OTZLnx_qefl4qizfapMjvxAihj2RZBMLA8d0ldzpIen5uOqsoaLgFQ0AVwsFfsqy602cJA4qA5UiYcEHmPuOhpxOuqeTwM50y9nceZ5-DvaZotd3um4pwpYVdHAMI/w400-h299/birdwatching-Lesvos-Metochi-2.jpg" title="Birdwatchers at Metochi Lake, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Birdwatchers at Metochi Lake, Lesvos<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscU7IGXAN9O0ZbkJa7WsubkWwKGDXHlgLnCAkwmmurADct4CPtA2-rdpUFe1TZ5-wg58Q3Agqg5KYZKbk7oB5JEu1PuNlkLkdJgbH_vFxYW9Bhfi7ctdtjUrhLcSDS1a160Pf9MtTJzyViGmbshpfzddbRT7F2HenmRYt-yJsQEoUaOZltks/s1200/european-bee-eater_52923732476_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bee-eaters at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscU7IGXAN9O0ZbkJa7WsubkWwKGDXHlgLnCAkwmmurADct4CPtA2-rdpUFe1TZ5-wg58Q3Agqg5KYZKbk7oB5JEu1PuNlkLkdJgbH_vFxYW9Bhfi7ctdtjUrhLcSDS1a160Pf9MtTJzyViGmbshpfzddbRT7F2HenmRYt-yJsQEoUaOZltks/w400-h266/european-bee-eater_52923732476_o.jpg" title="Bee-eaters perching at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Bee-eaters</b> at Tsiknias River, Lesvos</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As an
overview, winter of 2023 was extremely hot and dry in Greece, which resulted in
a severe reduction of water in most reserves on the island. Especially the wetlands
around Skala Kallonis area were lacking water, so shorebirds and any bird
related to wetlands (terns, herons, etc) were significantly fewer compared with
previous year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, the
rocky and more deserted part of Lesvos was full of small passerines, a very
rich avifauna in species of buntings, shrikes, warblers, chats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoRJY4f80dvJakLBVq4OLpP5rSpCjQsSWO1oMAzo63dKWuEZz1EVjlCA5lZWan8h9ybG06SMUBfsUKI7D6O5-w4gHT2VeqdzYyNQZPR4uo13AW-ebAYp9jS40WSiUUuuogXuZ2x3ZRp7M_26OaShPdRP3W3RVPQX6WHfGNj1lsr91eDkOsz0/s1200/ruffs-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Shorebirds in flight at Kalloni Wetlands, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoRJY4f80dvJakLBVq4OLpP5rSpCjQsSWO1oMAzo63dKWuEZz1EVjlCA5lZWan8h9ybG06SMUBfsUKI7D6O5-w4gHT2VeqdzYyNQZPR4uo13AW-ebAYp9jS40WSiUUuuogXuZ2x3ZRp7M_26OaShPdRP3W3RVPQX6WHfGNj1lsr91eDkOsz0/w400-h225/ruffs-LESVOS.jpg" title="Shorebirds in flight at Kalloni Wetlands, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Shorebirds in flight at Kalloni Wetlands, Lesvos</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Day 1:
Kalloni area and the north coast </b><br />
Locations visited: Tsiknias River, Kalloni Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans, Christou
River, Keramia village, Napi Valley, Madamados, Potamia valley, Agia Paraksevi
and minor sites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We woke up
early in the morning from the loud calls of Nightingales and Eastern Olivaceous
Warbler around the hotels “Pasiphae” and “Aeolian Gea”. After so many years
birding in Lesvos I have concluded that the best location to start a bird trip
in the island in Tsiknias River. Nothing beats the morning sounds of
Black-headed Buntings, singing together with all <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Acrocephalus</i> warblers, and in the meantime dozens of Bee-eaters sweeping
the sky or perching in the riparian vegetation. What a start! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year
hundreds of hirundines, especially Sand Martins and Barn Swallows were flying
over Tsiknias River, since the rest part of Kalloni wetlands was relatively
dryer. It was not long until we got the first Black Stork feeding close to the
river lower ford. Nearby, a small flock of Glossy Ibises was feeding between
the reeds, along with Common Snipe, Wood Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers,
Black-winged Stilts. Magical! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkbxL5HY1Ye7y2IM483NAG-2ZzxNHUV83YVQcR99RIS4SGi5xQ6-fL4apVZjYDdoZvJIVoAsqs0uH_bPsD8CuuTGABritNxeXURlZ1CAKy3YhjqTOmekdrLzI52yrd7NSU_Aql_6CsCxTlVOcNpC2lhiqxxLAEffC4QzeVBtzeuRTa-eVexY/s1200/Sand-martins-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sand Martins on migration, Lesvos Island" border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1200" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkbxL5HY1Ye7y2IM483NAG-2ZzxNHUV83YVQcR99RIS4SGi5xQ6-fL4apVZjYDdoZvJIVoAsqs0uH_bPsD8CuuTGABritNxeXURlZ1CAKy3YhjqTOmekdrLzI52yrd7NSU_Aql_6CsCxTlVOcNpC2lhiqxxLAEffC4QzeVBtzeuRTa-eVexY/w400-h246/Sand-martins-LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Sand Martins on migration, Lesvos Island" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Sand Martins </b>on migration, Tsiknias River<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJbWLtVYU0DOYrk1a2DAC3exrOXKUEQXtCwdIe9yUMnSNa7ZeweynCvda9U53UFXOUY-c9qzirvWNkOgec-kR3jNhIGy7gNPVSm86eOgGdbGEuJ-CRuxZ9-XNz2O5yTdXWEpy_420spa5vaz4nNS8xi_L0aoxY470PN8UbyPYbbbPCYSb3VA/s1200/black-stork--LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black Stork at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJbWLtVYU0DOYrk1a2DAC3exrOXKUEQXtCwdIe9yUMnSNa7ZeweynCvda9U53UFXOUY-c9qzirvWNkOgec-kR3jNhIGy7gNPVSm86eOgGdbGEuJ-CRuxZ9-XNz2O5yTdXWEpy_420spa5vaz4nNS8xi_L0aoxY470PN8UbyPYbbbPCYSb3VA/w400-h266/black-stork--LESVOS-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Black Stork at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Black Stork</b> at Tsiknias River<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj6PpPdT2jYpgGDoqUBZEqh-UphFFqJS4DBOTW_M6ckRy5GiniGe3DBrmRC-akJe-PbaRm2eNUQNd4a0x4AguwDl6IwPSTCkF1tXnNb63MunPw2H29QvGPx5ahYCU_NISPD8wTFjt3G6Utofe4m-0ivW0ukiER1pj02Rrj99uUL7UKXOD2gQ/s1200/glossy-ibis-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Glossy Ibis at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj6PpPdT2jYpgGDoqUBZEqh-UphFFqJS4DBOTW_M6ckRy5GiniGe3DBrmRC-akJe-PbaRm2eNUQNd4a0x4AguwDl6IwPSTCkF1tXnNb63MunPw2H29QvGPx5ahYCU_NISPD8wTFjt3G6Utofe4m-0ivW0ukiER1pj02Rrj99uUL7UKXOD2gQ/w400-h268/glossy-ibis-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="A colorful Glossy Ibis at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />A colorful <b>Glossy Ibis</b> at Tsiknias River, Lesvos<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ-M1mk92xoqj8pMfPYHTM8hNuKPGBmyjjEwwfE-6pIXIefOP3kulSs-5rEVNbqzPmki3o_TNfZY_l7ThvYrbseixA411nHWxs0w6h07h8t6wuVhwzqCgH8rxfilRnTW-GfJdB5V0M76xqjHEAv3rTZjDPnXA1-SSFMzQWXN8xg0sYVF0KOI/s1200/black-winged-stilt-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black-winged Stilt at Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ-M1mk92xoqj8pMfPYHTM8hNuKPGBmyjjEwwfE-6pIXIefOP3kulSs-5rEVNbqzPmki3o_TNfZY_l7ThvYrbseixA411nHWxs0w6h07h8t6wuVhwzqCgH8rxfilRnTW-GfJdB5V0M76xqjHEAv3rTZjDPnXA1-SSFMzQWXN8xg0sYVF0KOI/w400-h300/black-winged-stilt-LESVOS.jpg" title="Black-winged Stilt at Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Black-winged Stilt</b> at Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Earlier in
the week there were reports for a Spotted Crake in the area. Indeed we managed
to see it, not far from the river bank, and had some great looks of this
cryptic species. Another surprise was nearby too: a more secretive bird, a Jack
Snipe! This species of snipe has a very peculiar behavior, being completely
invisible when is slightly stressed. When it is more relaxed and starts
feeding, it bounces up and down continuously in a truly unique way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovC-krRI4GRNjxpv_wxA9S8gtt7BHZzcGRZcTvF89IdsbOPW6hdU__RsZ5XDOPtBV4lW-BfYagaEnLAmlMN24laovURoloL4nR2au_P5wkcz3I4ziLQf46ht6RN9amURZqas7-iSxZNhzogBPcJ0gZepYkGbDpYV32xzBicDg1cGEdRgMw_o/s1200/jack-snipe-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jack Snipe hidding at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovC-krRI4GRNjxpv_wxA9S8gtt7BHZzcGRZcTvF89IdsbOPW6hdU__RsZ5XDOPtBV4lW-BfYagaEnLAmlMN24laovURoloL4nR2au_P5wkcz3I4ziLQf46ht6RN9amURZqas7-iSxZNhzogBPcJ0gZepYkGbDpYV32xzBicDg1cGEdRgMw_o/w400-h266/jack-snipe-LESVOS.jpg" title="A cryptic Jack Snipe at Tsiknias River, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />A cryptic <b>Jack Snipe</b> at Tsiknias River, Lesvos</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX2jT-4cDom5uVNvhYbnpLZYXZasbQThRkNgceHx5_Zxrv-eCgMQ0aZrZeCrp4shjI0pBPPiSrTBBR5Bm2V8lPa0Nl7ewdeaxn1At5us65GsrGiDG1vLFAfrPe1uifREAm077fIgJPRpIZtEmykXQKTH7Fchoer8HJkvvMouI_irVn7SQMQc/s1200/Kalloni-spring-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming fields in Kalloni, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX2jT-4cDom5uVNvhYbnpLZYXZasbQThRkNgceHx5_Zxrv-eCgMQ0aZrZeCrp4shjI0pBPPiSrTBBR5Bm2V8lPa0Nl7ewdeaxn1At5us65GsrGiDG1vLFAfrPe1uifREAm077fIgJPRpIZtEmykXQKTH7Fchoer8HJkvvMouI_irVn7SQMQc/w400-h299/Kalloni-spring-2.jpg" title="Blooming fields in Kalloni, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />Blooming fields in Kalloni, Lesvos</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMH5UfMtBgpgZVJGe8Sjiwx7YKkxOrIqejdb7MjiQ7L-WKkEMwAsDXcwE12rk4UaBmOUGq8dkUoy8Y-2J4-48DAbxLwIarPV6_vk2ttIXqnHGYmUsUWoJJMP4o2LXPL0_Wo4pSizPMYlX7BcxHs4IRq25KFOT6-y7_-g7i69G-T8KozbPhRQ/s2829/Red-footed-falcon-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-footed Falcon at Lotzaria track, Kalloni" border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2829" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMH5UfMtBgpgZVJGe8Sjiwx7YKkxOrIqejdb7MjiQ7L-WKkEMwAsDXcwE12rk4UaBmOUGq8dkUoy8Y-2J4-48DAbxLwIarPV6_vk2ttIXqnHGYmUsUWoJJMP4o2LXPL0_Wo4pSizPMYlX7BcxHs4IRq25KFOT6-y7_-g7i69G-T8KozbPhRQ/w400-h266/Red-footed-falcon-LESVOS.jpg" title="Red-footed Falcon hovering at Lotzaria track, Kalloni" width="400" /></a><br />Male <b>Red-footed Falcon </b>hovering at Lotzaria track, Kalloni<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spent
quite a lot of time enjoying the feeding techniques of the Bee-eaters. These
striking birds are annual spring migrant and breeders, and are considered one
of the most photogenic species on the island. Another highlight at Tsiknias
River was the immense flocks of Spanish Sparrow close to the river mouth. They
were so noisy, moving from tamarisks to the group and back, probably more than
a few hundred birds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASNs_40BsabNuwj3qR0ICpYxqFWhNwrsK1Fk1D-_RzbZyLN-U2fMOtbodKupZVAJBBBI4Zi2jHrP3WTR4jcBtLMUC-xHCWM1u4eIArdZIl3kfQdlAbQN16P95-VWfbtF2PM2E5r23IYFVUzd4snuD-zFdjHKjVusyIRrH3VQkodoDmPrZxC8/s2612/european-bee-eater-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bee-eaters on wire at Tsiknias River" border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="2612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASNs_40BsabNuwj3qR0ICpYxqFWhNwrsK1Fk1D-_RzbZyLN-U2fMOtbodKupZVAJBBBI4Zi2jHrP3WTR4jcBtLMUC-xHCWM1u4eIArdZIl3kfQdlAbQN16P95-VWfbtF2PM2E5r23IYFVUzd4snuD-zFdjHKjVusyIRrH3VQkodoDmPrZxC8/w400-h266/european-bee-eater-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Bee-eaters on wire at Tsiknias River" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Bee-eaters</b> on wire at Tsiknias River<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pkYSEpl2c1UsQfxQk3VZAovl6AZrAR_BkOlZNuzYYxYhPMt_9It3LJ6FpsQcs6qbFZ7dh6fvT0LvRt_I9ljDl6R2dkxucAN17m1tNdUc21xBl0t2HR4MwvdevK9EqqOjs1AVwmerVdBdRHhlBHuOHUppWs3QFd92ku06d4fkOk6Ho-IdF68/s1200/european-bee-eater_LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bee-eater with prey at Tsiknias River" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pkYSEpl2c1UsQfxQk3VZAovl6AZrAR_BkOlZNuzYYxYhPMt_9It3LJ6FpsQcs6qbFZ7dh6fvT0LvRt_I9ljDl6R2dkxucAN17m1tNdUc21xBl0t2HR4MwvdevK9EqqOjs1AVwmerVdBdRHhlBHuOHUppWs3QFd92ku06d4fkOk6Ho-IdF68/w400-h225/european-bee-eater_LESVOS.jpg" title="Bee-eater with prey at Tsiknias River" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Bee-eater</b> with insect prey at Tsiknias River</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcb9XTaDcmRqQSPz3mxpX6J1RUDN7olvkorjv5RpNXpQ4tajzyDdi5oc1k1t1MYRKeCrMNP-Di9Hdg2_ou6zYlSlSxYiKLPOCA98ZrD9HcW7R6bWb-oaRx2NrpXt0xiXl8uyCH_dkkeTCSJHgAjuDnS8jO2cllomLfmLvw6Ghr5uTDSbuRSo/s1200/spanish-sparrow-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spanish Sparrow at Tsiknias River mouth" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcb9XTaDcmRqQSPz3mxpX6J1RUDN7olvkorjv5RpNXpQ4tajzyDdi5oc1k1t1MYRKeCrMNP-Di9Hdg2_ou6zYlSlSxYiKLPOCA98ZrD9HcW7R6bWb-oaRx2NrpXt0xiXl8uyCH_dkkeTCSJHgAjuDnS8jO2cllomLfmLvw6Ghr5uTDSbuRSo/w400-h266/spanish-sparrow-LESVOS.jpg" title="Spanish Sparrow at Tsiknias River mouth" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Spanish Sparrow</b> on bloomed Tamarisks <br />at Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our next
stop was the area around Kalloni Saltpans. It includes Lotzaria track, the
abandoned horse-race track, and the surrounding fields. We briefly saw a female
Montagu’s Harrier, but had very good views of Ruddy Shelducks, Greater
Flamingos, Pied Avocets, Curlew Sandpipers, and the colorful Red-throated
Pipits. We used the observation towers a few times, in order to have a more
panoramic view and be able to enjoy the whole wetland area from a more elevated
point. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsw33Lu4P4gIrkPHh4jkAswpapt9Kp7oRHFIi1vFvcDUhjkQdHLUFVwFaFMZ6CD0nMLujn07ZkcD4ylV7lQ2ro9ECNvv-I9fRnw-dbo0Y_I8koJHVRUmmF4FJ32IbZaSqYsxueyxB5VTluxplq4vWb1QmzntHJmMQLzpr5HzkOx7EFVQBSJw/s1200/ruddy-shelduck-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ruddy Shelduck in colorful backround" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsw33Lu4P4gIrkPHh4jkAswpapt9Kp7oRHFIi1vFvcDUhjkQdHLUFVwFaFMZ6CD0nMLujn07ZkcD4ylV7lQ2ro9ECNvv-I9fRnw-dbo0Y_I8koJHVRUmmF4FJ32IbZaSqYsxueyxB5VTluxplq4vWb1QmzntHJmMQLzpr5HzkOx7EFVQBSJw/w400-h266/ruddy-shelduck-LESVOS.jpg" title="Ruddy Shelduck in colorful backround" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Ruddy Shelduck</b>, a stunning species of waterfowl<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtOQu3BEsHiznDQNwCX6offmDKNOYqg2QjpWmPReWt41r6tXLnznmnPQF646bPCbkUdHpAXIEwJm8mTr5YtvyS7stFrYXlhWWHWtN-gDL3rkn1dOPXMCXCOgI_SqcK14slK3DZhsjSqQbSOvFCpKyvuJlyXbBrnzoS1yt35rSr1zRtMVscWc/s1200/red-throated-pipit-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Red-throated Pipit at Kalloni horsetrack" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtOQu3BEsHiznDQNwCX6offmDKNOYqg2QjpWmPReWt41r6tXLnznmnPQF646bPCbkUdHpAXIEwJm8mTr5YtvyS7stFrYXlhWWHWtN-gDL3rkn1dOPXMCXCOgI_SqcK14slK3DZhsjSqQbSOvFCpKyvuJlyXbBrnzoS1yt35rSr1zRtMVscWc/w400-h266/red-throated-pipit-LESVOS.jpg" title="Red-throated Pipit at Kalloni horsetrack" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Red-throated Pipit</b> at Kalloni horsetrack<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3in-RU4Z43PMrFF19kDwC5jLe0_XUBZstx_fV_KzFEQdoDHdcMSGPA3wTlT5X2uUT3IxucWGW3M1192l3bOBflj7yGWpC3xcJXV2nVn9Cr5Cu8tgQGmfFvio6g270h_eNeaaddvyefSZ9CPLXjuyUQu7IQ_gOO3ukC-ZftOjs_s3VkMaZtNM/s1200/greater-flamingos-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flamingo at Kalloni Wetlands, Lesvos" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3in-RU4Z43PMrFF19kDwC5jLe0_XUBZstx_fV_KzFEQdoDHdcMSGPA3wTlT5X2uUT3IxucWGW3M1192l3bOBflj7yGWpC3xcJXV2nVn9Cr5Cu8tgQGmfFvio6g270h_eNeaaddvyefSZ9CPLXjuyUQu7IQ_gOO3ukC-ZftOjs_s3VkMaZtNM/w400-h300/greater-flamingos-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Flamingo at Kalloni Wetlands, Lesvos" width="400" /></a><br />"The pink Daltons": <b>Flamingos</b> in perpective<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfcUsOUl4MD1mijRCGWYBy1wvUE31mY7y1C86Yf5P4f9tVNe3Z0LBwl1US7hvb82-jxzg2vUKmw3kzNtK6nyoy0RkxtFYJBVVWav-E5tbSNPvnG-C5R4FUNWlmrkeW2trDvddJu7YPJhr050RdvbRH0E3CIh5ioMAWOTnsYiqjmLiJsSIRVU/s1200/bird-observatory-kalloni.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kalloni Bird observatory" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfcUsOUl4MD1mijRCGWYBy1wvUE31mY7y1C86Yf5P4f9tVNe3Z0LBwl1US7hvb82-jxzg2vUKmw3kzNtK6nyoy0RkxtFYJBVVWav-E5tbSNPvnG-C5R4FUNWlmrkeW2trDvddJu7YPJhr050RdvbRH0E3CIh5ioMAWOTnsYiqjmLiJsSIRVU/w400-h299/bird-observatory-kalloni.jpg" title="Kalloni Bird observatory" width="400" /></a><br />Kalloni Bird observatory<br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lunch at
Dionysos taverna at the pitoresque harbor of Skala Kallonis, was a big
temptation that we could not resist. Excellent sea food by the calm sea, served
with cold, Greek micro-brewery beer. We decided not to have a dessert, instead
we headed at Keramia in search of the breeding Scops Owl. We found a single
bird covered from the eucalyptus canopy, but managed to see a couple of more
during the next days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODSn1VPU5tTq3lK9uM1hGNGq8sLP7tdqfWF20JB3ZdOgTKNBJpH9uAXKicoIlG4zEtRyXnsEq1VqGkl_0JT313qMqHKU_4nvMJRPLyZYLgNPF7UyBIfBCfE3rsScM8ZLsVka-w6GIbrOV0rQzD9zw1HugoH8PTkiQWz3XVhV4T_NueBM2NDI/s1200/eurasian-scops-owl-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scops Owl at Keramia village, Skala Kallonis" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODSn1VPU5tTq3lK9uM1hGNGq8sLP7tdqfWF20JB3ZdOgTKNBJpH9uAXKicoIlG4zEtRyXnsEq1VqGkl_0JT313qMqHKU_4nvMJRPLyZYLgNPF7UyBIfBCfE3rsScM8ZLsVka-w6GIbrOV0rQzD9zw1HugoH8PTkiQWz3XVhV4T_NueBM2NDI/w381-h400/eurasian-scops-owl-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Scops Owl at Keramia village, Skala Kallonis" width="381" /></a><br /><b>Scops Owl</b> at Keramia village, Skala Kallonis</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was time
to hit the north coast, so we drove a few minutes towards Napi Valley. I just
love this big area of olive orchards, mixed with oak trees, in a rocky terrain.
We enjoyed a very tame Eastern Black-eared Wheatear that was posing just for
us, only a few meters away from our car. An impressive Short-towed Eagle was
hovering up in the sky, together with Long-legged Buzzards. Eastern Olivaceous
Warblers and Sombre Tits were heard during all afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iy6XxTr5-qtYY2dX0Z1CyjuG7bWEH0zpkK3n22A88FXxnVmGI0rjEzYohouLnuCsKHiTnGQAmEsZbU_Eq7M3lyhXoThOBLKjQLjCA0R-u_5G9Hry1tOae7N_AbKKpdlyIrHYc7tmJXG_k2LtMeLTcuxb1pv9hRU2Bsldz3RHufJDVfGbOK0/s1200/eastern-black-eared-wheatear-LESVOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear at Napi Valley" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iy6XxTr5-qtYY2dX0Z1CyjuG7bWEH0zpkK3n22A88FXxnVmGI0rjEzYohouLnuCsKHiTnGQAmEsZbU_Eq7M3lyhXoThOBLKjQLjCA0R-u_5G9Hry1tOae7N_AbKKpdlyIrHYc7tmJXG_k2LtMeLTcuxb1pv9hRU2Bsldz3RHufJDVfGbOK0/w300-h400/eastern-black-eared-wheatear-LESVOS.jpg" title="Eastern Black-eared Wheatear at Napi Valley" width="300" /></a><br /><b>Eastern Black-eared Wheatear</b> at Napi Valley</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After 6pm,
we were reaching the “golden hour” of bird photography, so visiting the wetland
was a “must”. We had a panoramic view of most of Skala Kallonis lagoons, were
Pied Avocets were feeding among Greater Flamingos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small group of Spoonbills was present too,
being the last of wader we saw during this first superb day of birding.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCJTnfOAQZF_Ph6QGRt7JVMNc8ctD-EFwmepSL0OV4yHkwEKjEhuZiQ-jz63-hfWGotZLTRp5jpZ2PaKkEws7aIYbu6bCqXHn8rQ8CyOs43b-rcCeEvBBmfeAwqlgg5WaHMeN6fFaUJVt7H3i8bE0Mje4qKxGOpgbJS1BldWQ5jZeCPcsHwc/s2387/motacilla-feldegg-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Motacilla feldegg at Kalloni Salpans" border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="2387" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCJTnfOAQZF_Ph6QGRt7JVMNc8ctD-EFwmepSL0OV4yHkwEKjEhuZiQ-jz63-hfWGotZLTRp5jpZ2PaKkEws7aIYbu6bCqXHn8rQ8CyOs43b-rcCeEvBBmfeAwqlgg5WaHMeN6fFaUJVt7H3i8bE0Mje4qKxGOpgbJS1BldWQ5jZeCPcsHwc/w400-h266/motacilla-feldegg-GREECE-BIRD-TOURS.jpg" title="Motacilla feldegg at Kalloni Salpans" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Black-headed Wagtail</b> (Motacilla feldegg) <br />at Kalloni Saltpans<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5cLe3wb2bYWw85LHkI-HkjECbKV05jgKD4ae-UHxH6XYNB1hd60D44cMv6C3FRA7pO1c9TMpROkcCvHt-aaTkeqCYvOkbjsfNQLAz6_dIOwl9dFJcgxqlLSFpKzfrZJ7OWKQRFzAMIilrwsHFDgAGcsw2ygoev-rDV-Tf7Pqhgvh4WD41CM/s1200/squacco-heron_52924178163_o.jpg" style="font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Squacco Heron at Tsiknias River" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5cLe3wb2bYWw85LHkI-HkjECbKV05jgKD4ae-UHxH6XYNB1hd60D44cMv6C3FRA7pO1c9TMpROkcCvHt-aaTkeqCYvOkbjsfNQLAz6_dIOwl9dFJcgxqlLSFpKzfrZJ7OWKQRFzAMIilrwsHFDgAGcsw2ygoev-rDV-Tf7Pqhgvh4WD41CM/w400-h266/squacco-heron_52924178163_o.jpg" title="Squacco Heron at Tsiknias River" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Squacco Heron</b> just catched a fish<br />at Tsiknias River</span></p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63GAnHLJ-ZP4zykdHQzpbZ5INBE5qgFrYKeXEJ-Q1_TxHfPGfVDQgQtF9lo6yQZ6L6MhdDZQvISgvkitzWFpYL8yPNo_0A61rWdstVdL107FHLwtExrGWA2isl3GM6dDvTOOPbYiOWQ3hl2mPcES37s04IOSmTjKO43d0vac-lRz-B8RtcS0/s1200/birdwatching-Lesvos-Kalloni-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birdwatching at Kalloni Wetlands" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63GAnHLJ-ZP4zykdHQzpbZ5INBE5qgFrYKeXEJ-Q1_TxHfPGfVDQgQtF9lo6yQZ6L6MhdDZQvISgvkitzWFpYL8yPNo_0A61rWdstVdL107FHLwtExrGWA2isl3GM6dDvTOOPbYiOWQ3hl2mPcES37s04IOSmTjKO43d0vac-lRz-B8RtcS0/w400-h299/birdwatching-Lesvos-Kalloni-1.jpg" title="Birdwatching at Kalloni Wetlands" width="400" /></a><br />Birdwatching at Kalloni Wetlands<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsnrR00GBkGiDLCNBeL6b5qJH3nsl7kGy4pcXgv9UaGi6Vi7oS2ggv2dKqUa6zjvjAUujj2cDA3kriCcGCvepI5MPvs-G7Qm5e6me9W5Ien9pWEdKOcoWrXCQd805jjgFXv5xJmvb0GeesZGEPtDZIOuchQjPAhJvjYkwOHxt2MQ6nO7IgdQ/s1200/birdwatching-Lesvos-Kalloni-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birdphotography at Kalloni Wetlands" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsnrR00GBkGiDLCNBeL6b5qJH3nsl7kGy4pcXgv9UaGi6Vi7oS2ggv2dKqUa6zjvjAUujj2cDA3kriCcGCvepI5MPvs-G7Qm5e6me9W5Ien9pWEdKOcoWrXCQd805jjgFXv5xJmvb0GeesZGEPtDZIOuchQjPAhJvjYkwOHxt2MQ6nO7IgdQ/w400-h299/birdwatching-Lesvos-Kalloni-3.jpg" title="Birdphotography at Kalloni Wetlands" width="400" /></a><br />Birdphotography at Kalloni Wetlands</div></span><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">You may continue reading about our trip, <a href="https://www.greecebirdtours.com/2023/05/lesvos-birdwatching-tour-2023-day-2.html"><b>Day 2 Trip Report</b></a></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here is the bird list from Day 1</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ruddy Shelduck<br />Common Shelduck<br />Greater Flamingo<br />Collared Dove<br />Common Swift<br />Pallid Swift<br />Common Moorhen<br />Spotted Crake<br />Little Crake<br />Coot<br />Black-winged Stilt<br />Pied Avocet<br />Common Ringed Plover<br />Ruff<br />Curlew Sandpiper<br />Dunlin<br />Little Stint<br />Wood Sandpiper<br />Jack Snipe<br />Yellow-legged Gull<br />Common Tern<br />Sandwitch Tern<br />White-winger Black Tern<br />Black Stork<br />White Stork<br />Great Cormorant<br />European Shag<br />Little Egret<br />Glossy Ibis<br />Eurasian Spoonbill<br />Short-toed Eagle<br />Eurasian Sparrowhawk<br />Montagu's Harrier<br />Scops Owl<br />Hoopoe<br />Bee-eater<br />Middle-Spotted Woodpecker<br />Common Kestrel<br />Red-footed Falcon<br />Red-backed Shrike<br />Eurasian Jay<br />Hooded Crow<br />Common Raven<br />Blue Tit<br />Great Tit<br />Crested Lark<br />Eastern Olivaceous Warbler<br />Common Reed Warbler<br />Red-rumped Swallow<br />Barn Swallow<br />Sand Martin<br />House Martin<br />Cetti's Warbler<br />Eurasian Blackbird<br />Common Nightingale<br />Whinchat<br />Eastern Black-eared Wheatear<br />House Sparrow<br />Spaninsh Sparrow<br />Yellow Wagtail<br />Black-headed Wagtail<br />Red-throated Pipit<br />Common Chaffinch<br />European Greenfinch<br />European Goldfinch<br />Black-headed Bunting<br />Corn Bunting<br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />All sightings available at my <a href="https://ebird.org/profile/ODUyODQ5/GR">eBird profile</a></span></p></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comLesbos, Greece39.2645095 26.277707310.954275663821157 -8.8785427 67.574743336178841 61.4339573tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13548584.post-82623910279035004232023-05-17T09:24:00.003+03:002023-05-18T08:38:30.227+03:00Herping Peloponnese tour: April 14th<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Herping & Wildlife break: Peloponnese April 14th, 2023</span></h1><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We organized a short half day trip to southern Peloponnese for a couple of British herping enthusiasts that were taking their holidays in Mani area. So we spent a morning scanning the surrounding locations, looking for endemic lizards, amphibians and snakes. </span></h3><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtT6Friux5R4Oq63NJK_Szt9tSfxIsx7TRf36yQ9RAnBPRkRN_BSgdYobvjZUoI9TlvWc202X7XOKZ1zTy91RBOBKjvJuWBopDHCQnTaUVOiPCfLRMPYcpUonSLxNIzZNBeDs6q3qu7Fl9EFjsRs6GVpeezd30Opi2uyIl0uVVy9Uvytxwg8/s1500/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hellenolacerta_graeca_GREECEBIRDTOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtT6Friux5R4Oq63NJK_Szt9tSfxIsx7TRf36yQ9RAnBPRkRN_BSgdYobvjZUoI9TlvWc202X7XOKZ1zTy91RBOBKjvJuWBopDHCQnTaUVOiPCfLRMPYcpUonSLxNIzZNBeDs6q3qu7Fl9EFjsRs6GVpeezd30Opi2uyIl0uVVy9Uvytxwg8/w400-h266/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_3.JPG" title="Hellenolacerta_graeca_GREECEBIRDTOURS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>) is abundant <br />in many areas of Peloponnese</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mani is famous for its olive oil production, thus the prominent vegetation was olive trees, found particularly everywhere. The climate here is very mild in winter, so herpetofauna is usually active even in the coldest month, since temperatures rarely fall under 10-15 degreed celcius during the day. Of course, spring is the best time for a herping trip in Peloponnese, since nature is alive and wildlife is active!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqrN9wqI0NlRMMN7mE9RIUCfcKEgrrP32lozXh1YvnBwC4aIpz14i_zTBu3gPAV1KIIZJAlYTwLLSytVLpUtoCrm_k5ddIz55EVIr4_iRZrFlmZUGPPUEcOV9P_KlnMyQpw7SgQpRlhYkzLTZ8ZHBl5HSFUJsgzlbynbDewp-1OcdtgSWgcM/s2048/Mani-Peloponnese.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Mani-Peloponnese" border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqrN9wqI0NlRMMN7mE9RIUCfcKEgrrP32lozXh1YvnBwC4aIpz14i_zTBu3gPAV1KIIZJAlYTwLLSytVLpUtoCrm_k5ddIz55EVIr4_iRZrFlmZUGPPUEcOV9P_KlnMyQpw7SgQpRlhYkzLTZ8ZHBl5HSFUJsgzlbynbDewp-1OcdtgSWgcM/w400-h225/Mani-Peloponnese.jpg" title="Mani panoramic view" width="400" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">A breathtaking view of Messinian Mani Peninsula</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaJlZxOEskMtJ2uhOGCPzMPHcRTUCz2C-arh35F20yYhD7ln1bsnf3zxYkem7V0U9kNeb_fhaOwYmtCAjgXP3LHNnUo0fPhP5oCKFw3ZSUt8oSCpHzrmp_cl9GdFZiviTPhCRPmblDYkolzPHi1K1OppRVVaeuAzqNFuXoR48bKHR67ggkx4/s3264/Mani-olive-tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Olive-tree-Mani-Peloponnese" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaJlZxOEskMtJ2uhOGCPzMPHcRTUCz2C-arh35F20yYhD7ln1bsnf3zxYkem7V0U9kNeb_fhaOwYmtCAjgXP3LHNnUo0fPhP5oCKFw3ZSUt8oSCpHzrmp_cl9GdFZiviTPhCRPmblDYkolzPHi1K1OppRVVaeuAzqNFuXoR48bKHR67ggkx4/w400-h300/Mani-olive-tree.jpg" title="Olive tree at Mani Pelononnese" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Olive-trees grown literally on rocks at Mani</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We began looking for toads at a very reliable spot, where there is a spring of crystal water coming from Mt Taygetos. Like every year, we found Green Toads (Bufotes virides) in amplexus, and thousands of eggs and tadpoles of both Green Toad and Common Toad (Bufo bufo).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC9SDjJnE5BZ_IlE9B8MhwfFJlAMymte3lu44FBvR4JEaQICxaY7HZWs4FodBYyonkKD9OynBBDmA-TTV83eDyOmf3LsoI4v1v_JlFm7geo59snPOiWt08h_Nw5Kf6b2VIjNypDVcdkGJMXbRhlgRTSAmKh3Ls07OKffbIvi3iz2noaQyeJ8/s1500/Bufotes_viridis_Herping_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bufotes_virides_GREECE_BIRD_TOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitC9SDjJnE5BZ_IlE9B8MhwfFJlAMymte3lu44FBvR4JEaQICxaY7HZWs4FodBYyonkKD9OynBBDmA-TTV83eDyOmf3LsoI4v1v_JlFm7geo59snPOiWt08h_Nw5Kf6b2VIjNypDVcdkGJMXbRhlgRTSAmKh3Ls07OKffbIvi3iz2noaQyeJ8/w400-h266/Bufotes_viridis_Herping_Greece.JPG" title="Bufotes_virides_GREECE_BIRD_TOURS" width="400" /></a><br />Green Toads (Bufotes virides) in amplexus</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was not long before we found two endemic specialties, some of our target species, right at the same spot: <b style="text-align: center;">Greek Rock Lizard </b><span style="text-align: center;">(</span><i style="text-align: center;">Hellenolacerta graeca</i><span style="text-align: center;">) and <b>Peloponnese Wall Lizard</b> (<i>Podacris peloponnesiacus</i>) coming out from two rusty metal tubes, looking for the first sun rays of the day. What a sighting! Surprisingly, the Greek Rock Lizard seemes more active and playful, and started to drink water from the top part of another tube.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUEbcpVpZhr0X6GJulB0bqSxkMdB1yYGXJpgSfa-T5I2Gf2f7EO7v-JBrYTTqaBbG5tDlR0MlgrWMAOMieC-zzlZ6ZqmsrhmmJ6h9yqyiskN4pYtCdWpcd107GpaLvl7xKYQmnnFuz8XPzdAdnYCnUKNwNWiojigzye-WwN2FrGf0SqjHMk/s1500/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Hellenolacerta_graeca.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lizards_GREECE_BIRD_TOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUEbcpVpZhr0X6GJulB0bqSxkMdB1yYGXJpgSfa-T5I2Gf2f7EO7v-JBrYTTqaBbG5tDlR0MlgrWMAOMieC-zzlZ6ZqmsrhmmJ6h9yqyiskN4pYtCdWpcd107GpaLvl7xKYQmnnFuz8XPzdAdnYCnUKNwNWiojigzye-WwN2FrGf0SqjHMk/w400-h266/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Hellenolacerta_graeca.JPG" title="lizards_GREECE_BIRD_TOURS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>) top and <br /><b>Peloponnese Wall Lizard</b> (<i>Podacris peloponnesiacus</i>) below </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5weTBWHAktxHIeyd65SLUwIr9kUyGaqGH5XuN8dG0U0LrqTKQgrZhUYvzlkZhNjMAgcTdMtpRWbrGYAmKSpKt_J3ryVvczeOUl4GbZafeD1NMWL6eeLH6LJ8FCf0qxW4tR18SFGLc6yy-SrAoLMUHxq_tBhtK5BorIgxt80SYNREOfxo1h4/s1500/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5weTBWHAktxHIeyd65SLUwIr9kUyGaqGH5XuN8dG0U0LrqTKQgrZhUYvzlkZhNjMAgcTdMtpRWbrGYAmKSpKt_J3ryVvczeOUl4GbZafeD1NMWL6eeLH6LJ8FCf0qxW4tR18SFGLc6yy-SrAoLMUHxq_tBhtK5BorIgxt80SYNREOfxo1h4/s320/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_4.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />A thirsty<b> Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>)<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_5wgEMyvO4RM8KIEL4SjFdSEMnCWYGHVL-9kRGrdcudbrPqv6GGGZMF-4Xxo0rVKGumkJkWuPygBW2_qxc80fOEf6EKl706SanrHHNIrHHRjarF4P9Edkr44G2dVJlr6wqoz9XQ072-oU3ltSerBmiQ4q2ZyX9GcAHyigdQBaBZGRsRprzc/s1200/Kardamyli-Mani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Troupakis-Tower-Kardamyli" border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_5wgEMyvO4RM8KIEL4SjFdSEMnCWYGHVL-9kRGrdcudbrPqv6GGGZMF-4Xxo0rVKGumkJkWuPygBW2_qxc80fOEf6EKl706SanrHHNIrHHRjarF4P9Edkr44G2dVJlr6wqoz9XQ072-oU3ltSerBmiQ4q2ZyX9GcAHyigdQBaBZGRsRprzc/w400-h299/Kardamyli-Mani.jpg" title="Troupakis Tower at Kardamyli, Mani" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Troupakis Tower at Kardamyli, Mani</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH49iRAIYA7ZRqut3nJU5IINYuo4u8A931Q5nQHaadCi5i-eow0RKXRZBjwuP225qdQyPGCkS4L0aQWDmJvoNmS8AfYxjMrQK_0jjQ_kTGbyVGDtD-hm3PoXGRETpbUDb5HfW3fmQadtmlCNkPDwP9c8Ctrm4qK0xV8_5bwTCdI7VEO6bhtE/s1000/Taygetos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taygetos-Mani-peloponnese" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJH49iRAIYA7ZRqut3nJU5IINYuo4u8A931Q5nQHaadCi5i-eow0RKXRZBjwuP225qdQyPGCkS4L0aQWDmJvoNmS8AfYxjMrQK_0jjQ_kTGbyVGDtD-hm3PoXGRETpbUDb5HfW3fmQadtmlCNkPDwP9c8Ctrm4qK0xV8_5bwTCdI7VEO6bhtE/w400-h225/Taygetos.jpg" title="Mt Taygetos overlooking Mani Peninsula" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mt Taygetos overlooking endless olive orchards <br />at Mani Peninsula, Peloponnese</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After enjoying good views of both cloroful species of lizards, we drove higher up in the mountains, hoping some better pictures. We found a nice rocky slope and waited for some action. A <b>Nose-horned Viper</b> (<i>Vipera ammodytes</i>) was basking and gave us a few nice photos, until it run away between the olive trees. The area was full of <b>Greek Rock Lizards</b> and <b>Peloponnese Wall Lizards</b>, thus we had lots of fun observing their behavior and taking lots of nice photos.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGR_NbCSOqkaObL8QOrXe38hdgbKNQgSiEOhVIqtcJhm--BJHpXjqAFI3yKPAejArPbSCYsVUnYgVhCoJ_s4OHKETl3lOl7XL0qKH9Kyb7mLTveHdsbpG096YIKKlw6im8d7913ZZ0c4b2kSey_txTx7KNfSCa5lI7m-evlKOqL2kpSKUfwfA/s1500/VIPAMM-6315.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vipera_ammodytes_GREECEBIRDTOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGR_NbCSOqkaObL8QOrXe38hdgbKNQgSiEOhVIqtcJhm--BJHpXjqAFI3yKPAejArPbSCYsVUnYgVhCoJ_s4OHKETl3lOl7XL0qKH9Kyb7mLTveHdsbpG096YIKKlw6im8d7913ZZ0c4b2kSey_txTx7KNfSCa5lI7m-evlKOqL2kpSKUfwfA/w400-h266/VIPAMM-6315.JPG" title="Vipera_ammodytes_GREECEBIRDTOURS" width="400" /></a><br /><b style="text-align: left;">Nose-horned Viper</b><span style="text-align: left;"> (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Vipera ammodytes</i><span style="text-align: left;">)</span><br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HpWV6jz2Kd7Gd-MXHuDn-0WiOI3mXW77Qp26is5EfQTuNprmkQ1JVxCWDgR4Xx6cMe6J6kE4S2naOW2q8wjOklX1ty4ZJx8ZbNFYiDfe7qSvLgFloCxq6Iuty_nIGb-i2D430HGcBVXWshHwh3PaOjcShibD2gGdLEz3XmCFQeq5h4umRKM/s1500/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Herping_Greece_1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Podacris_peloponnesiacus_HERPING_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HpWV6jz2Kd7Gd-MXHuDn-0WiOI3mXW77Qp26is5EfQTuNprmkQ1JVxCWDgR4Xx6cMe6J6kE4S2naOW2q8wjOklX1ty4ZJx8ZbNFYiDfe7qSvLgFloCxq6Iuty_nIGb-i2D430HGcBVXWshHwh3PaOjcShibD2gGdLEz3XmCFQeq5h4umRKM/w400-h266/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Herping_Greece_1.JPG" title="Podacris_peloponnesiacus_HERPING_GREECE" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">A colorful male </span><b>Peloponnese Wall Lizard</b> (<i>Podacris peloponnesiacus</i>)<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6RjcoaNMol8XDK7H4Wo9EeY0e-7GilA4wphZ4szgQ6VZthN4-s7qD2msh_RVBoaHJiSJMRMam6HVCNhIrc3G6NKqtaqdHpzDEj4dWA_DYKw7hHgH82YzIs3h5uh7T9rmhklxY1tNfmDt66D_P3x_bhwwYg0GicA0Pd4rldkvRQdFlpWK7fU/s1500/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Herping_Greece_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Podacris_peloponnesiacus_HERPING_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6RjcoaNMol8XDK7H4Wo9EeY0e-7GilA4wphZ4szgQ6VZthN4-s7qD2msh_RVBoaHJiSJMRMam6HVCNhIrc3G6NKqtaqdHpzDEj4dWA_DYKw7hHgH82YzIs3h5uh7T9rmhklxY1tNfmDt66D_P3x_bhwwYg0GicA0Pd4rldkvRQdFlpWK7fU/w400-h266/Lacerta_peloponnesiaca_Herping_Greece_2.JPG" title="Podacris_peloponnesiacus_HERPING_GREECE" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Peloponnese Wall Lizard</b> (<i>Podacris peloponnesiacus)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We decided to drive all the way to the coast, in search for different habitats which proved to be quite productive too. A huge <b>Four-line Snake</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Elaphe quatuorlineata</i>) was found under a big pile of wood. A very docile animal, that we were glad we found it. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lnFharKUzrRhSuiOHGeSkGACg6XQHqdcGQcqWjjtEn_4d0CL83cNlUCs52MBRD-B6yd9ISyDy6EDm2yfmkbdMK1DgpJ2_wM4N4Gd83Xi9elbnH7zU_bWtO3NLOYGtr-of1SGBz-xHPToF0L6osrhWfCX3FGmEFkk65xaxpsskuvwO1964UI/s1500/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lnFharKUzrRhSuiOHGeSkGACg6XQHqdcGQcqWjjtEn_4d0CL83cNlUCs52MBRD-B6yd9ISyDy6EDm2yfmkbdMK1DgpJ2_wM4N4Gd83Xi9elbnH7zU_bWtO3NLOYGtr-of1SGBz-xHPToF0L6osrhWfCX3FGmEFkk65xaxpsskuvwO1964UI/w400-h266/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_1.JPG" title="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Four-line Snake</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i>Elaphe quatuorlineata</i>)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88-eX2_uQ38etGgLMGVK6FmrWjV0iAGephitRlxgLl_jM3tSe50a77CR_D3SG1XcztsSQxHwU_SlSwXBjvt74Db_HN0oRYR2GHXyyaDTID0zXyKwbclY53vpUMyeu1ne0meqIzbHUg9AfD7CxkE59YSOEe0icw6PkmHAZDPTIp492DAU5gBk/s1500/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88-eX2_uQ38etGgLMGVK6FmrWjV0iAGephitRlxgLl_jM3tSe50a77CR_D3SG1XcztsSQxHwU_SlSwXBjvt74Db_HN0oRYR2GHXyyaDTID0zXyKwbclY53vpUMyeu1ne0meqIzbHUg9AfD7CxkE59YSOEe0icw6PkmHAZDPTIp492DAU5gBk/w400-h266/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_2.JPG" title="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Four-line Snake</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i>Elaphe quatuorlineata</i>)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLqH405_0dOnnZfV48cBHZuOtDeApjecxhweOLU3zin4_-S9xmOpWyrQU-u_u6LWe580KW1K7W7w4BmmdJsXvhetBe4aN4ZlwUG2JxNfJvrNOH1zlWoSR1GG1mdxNTeYMTJdWzl_evAjN0z6yg5JYByQPUxgLLHZg334K3moDGFuFFlvZljU/s1500/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLqH405_0dOnnZfV48cBHZuOtDeApjecxhweOLU3zin4_-S9xmOpWyrQU-u_u6LWe580KW1K7W7w4BmmdJsXvhetBe4aN4ZlwUG2JxNfJvrNOH1zlWoSR1GG1mdxNTeYMTJdWzl_evAjN0z6yg5JYByQPUxgLLHZg334K3moDGFuFFlvZljU/w400-h266/Elaphe_quatorlineata_Herping_Greece_3.JPG" title="Elaphe_quatuorlineata_Herping_GREECE" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Four-line Snake</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><i>Elaphe quatuorlineata</i>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We saw an abundant building nearby, so we though about exporing it, looking for some more reptiles. On one of the walls we found a tiny <b>Meditarranean House Gecko</b> (<i>Hemidactylus turcicus</i>) climbing and disappearing in a few seconds in the roof. After searching a lot around the house, flipping anything possible, we met a <b>Leopard Snake </b>(<i>Zamenis situla</i>), a striking animal with such a colorful appearance. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dKdrQIXBK1erfwfljOMGLSZ33NSQiL7d1rq-4RdRXgDgjdq3UXocdFNAgBefZBu2-Mfr7v3VQQmmIvnVPC-2d7WFV8NXyp-PCeYICpU6F9iGrj0MxiSM0C4hvN9tnUb7pyOAOrzBQvMKLHgG2FgspcwBJz7uGDmmhafA6GaHPYE13Q0CHAs/s1000/Hemidactylus_turcicus_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hemidactylus_turcicus_HERPING_GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dKdrQIXBK1erfwfljOMGLSZ33NSQiL7d1rq-4RdRXgDgjdq3UXocdFNAgBefZBu2-Mfr7v3VQQmmIvnVPC-2d7WFV8NXyp-PCeYICpU6F9iGrj0MxiSM0C4hvN9tnUb7pyOAOrzBQvMKLHgG2FgspcwBJz7uGDmmhafA6GaHPYE13Q0CHAs/w266-h400/Hemidactylus_turcicus_Greece.JPG" title="Hemidactylus_turcicus_HERPING_GREECE" width="266" /></a><br />A very shy <span style="text-align: left;"><b>Meditarranean House Gecko</b> (<i>Hemidactylus turcicus</i>)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20r6oYEr7NST-C74ULKOpt9102pDHyue0aFc9rB1xk0QxVzZh60-3EyDHoOctjLl9X_Wazdz9zBCqT_vvRHxk48SzyV1jqVKrpEDPb9JKOv_Duv5DtGIv086MFixxW6jUqtu_prfJ1hdRzyn9cIvhp7PVZlOTNVRwWS_Lm6GHoWrSfWd4Pxw/s1200/Zamenis-situla_HERPING.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zamenis-situla_herping-greece" border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20r6oYEr7NST-C74ULKOpt9102pDHyue0aFc9rB1xk0QxVzZh60-3EyDHoOctjLl9X_Wazdz9zBCqT_vvRHxk48SzyV1jqVKrpEDPb9JKOv_Duv5DtGIv086MFixxW6jUqtu_prfJ1hdRzyn9cIvhp7PVZlOTNVRwWS_Lm6GHoWrSfWd4Pxw/w400-h258/Zamenis-situla_HERPING.jpg" title="Zamenis situla" width="400" /></a><br /><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Leopard Snake </b><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">(</span><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Zamenis situla</i><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo by I.Bisset, I.Brandley)</span></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_bz3SQfzChZEEv1bnP2R7DarkrddBcRetrM8HYLquMNy4BniEjrs5IiNhaaLMaFmSznXlnHY-qk0RgJ-6WqHMeeFXXn9IcB_FDPCcH402d7XrFq4V58V8idvdWYtMLTH6wEQUe5kjhb8jmcuuPfAooUjiKe9iF__daRFydyqr60BSfi5sbY/s1500/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hellenolacerta graeca GREECE BIRD TOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_bz3SQfzChZEEv1bnP2R7DarkrddBcRetrM8HYLquMNy4BniEjrs5IiNhaaLMaFmSznXlnHY-qk0RgJ-6WqHMeeFXXn9IcB_FDPCcH402d7XrFq4V58V8idvdWYtMLTH6wEQUe5kjhb8jmcuuPfAooUjiKe9iF__daRFydyqr60BSfi5sbY/w400-h266/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_1.JPG" title="Hellenolacerta graeca GREECE BIRD TOURS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>)<br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL6hOLy8ZONdgcI2Tkrd4-ye-LCwIkE7h508vgjgolmV3ApVW9iisuILvfe1BXpvujzyoPyNW_UVxp7XrCSqGs5y3DCwYk9No35ilY4qFOIBAXI8J6iOZ0MLssYqIa4tRrIij4yVEFIaWVLBZl51oln64rfRl4F9begY_RcBKXnZEt_64tCQ/s1500/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hellenolacerta graeca GREECE BIRD TOURS" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL6hOLy8ZONdgcI2Tkrd4-ye-LCwIkE7h508vgjgolmV3ApVW9iisuILvfe1BXpvujzyoPyNW_UVxp7XrCSqGs5y3DCwYk9No35ilY4qFOIBAXI8J6iOZ0MLssYqIa4tRrIij4yVEFIaWVLBZl51oln64rfRl4F9begY_RcBKXnZEt_64tCQ/w400-h266/Hellenolacerta_graeca_herping_Greece_2.JPG" title="Hellenolacerta graeca GREECE BIRD TOURS" width="400" /></a><br /><b>Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In general, we enjoyed wildlife at its best, lots of butteflies, wild orchids, dragonflies. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgm0_AB2KtlortzU7q2SNsEsbZ0JW0-AHrlsrIClX0-A1VK-HeQsWsc7t_OmI6UTvd2I1a-rKkN2RajV3bBgUXFWVWYXyb1ZQM2RHkpKyn3lTPh3_tDvSGg99jffHz7TGRV2Gbb0Gc8uMPJMivQo-QHLwPeMUXFHvqLef2mVTftR0acpJQls/s1500/Megascolia_maculata_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Megascolia maculata WILDLIFE GREECE" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgm0_AB2KtlortzU7q2SNsEsbZ0JW0-AHrlsrIClX0-A1VK-HeQsWsc7t_OmI6UTvd2I1a-rKkN2RajV3bBgUXFWVWYXyb1ZQM2RHkpKyn3lTPh3_tDvSGg99jffHz7TGRV2Gbb0Gc8uMPJMivQo-QHLwPeMUXFHvqLef2mVTftR0acpJQls/w400-h266/Megascolia_maculata_Greece.JPG" title="Megascolia maculata WILDLIFE GREECE" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #5f6368; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Mammoth Wasp</span><span style="color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"> (<i>Megascolia maculata</i>), a totally harmless lepidopteran</span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaOGrY5r3w9l0DOlCx2JwhIkW_2VJNpQ_sUNjud49TzPdi04oq9XGe7pUS3Vzia_pqo25YwZCnNvQaN0F5ieWSdVDzLIzPw9CS2M-yLbmQmxIdoiayMh1pmvEDfgtofUvMgScQvOgQSvBVPYDVQyRm59fdl3RErQpilDVdy2CMkfwOboXpy4/s1000/Ophrys_argolica_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaOGrY5r3w9l0DOlCx2JwhIkW_2VJNpQ_sUNjud49TzPdi04oq9XGe7pUS3Vzia_pqo25YwZCnNvQaN0F5ieWSdVDzLIzPw9CS2M-yLbmQmxIdoiayMh1pmvEDfgtofUvMgScQvOgQSvBVPYDVQyRm59fdl3RErQpilDVdy2CMkfwOboXpy4/w266-h400/Ophrys_argolica_Greece.JPG" width="266" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Argolian bee-orchid</b> (<i>Ophrys argolica</i>)</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlStrH11uyqfg3Zcqx8RrO3zwVMQPrAtV4REaAGwtcChTu8gFeyxARqn8mGQs2gtFER4spRDGXTJ9iVRbW4od99nZzFB5JN41g6BTxtCtuEwY7h306yxGlmXbfHTMjsWeQ4DVGx9HaHiwnq7NIxil9ygZf576bWKllBUPg840faykL_Dbvpvw/s1000/Orchis_italica_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlStrH11uyqfg3Zcqx8RrO3zwVMQPrAtV4REaAGwtcChTu8gFeyxARqn8mGQs2gtFER4spRDGXTJ9iVRbW4od99nZzFB5JN41g6BTxtCtuEwY7h306yxGlmXbfHTMjsWeQ4DVGx9HaHiwnq7NIxil9ygZf576bWKllBUPg840faykL_Dbvpvw/w266-h400/Orchis_italica_Greece.JPG" width="266" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Naked-man Orchid </b>(<i>Orchis italica</i>)</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9kEZ-n0zcvskay_tbehVZmxIfbvAF3R5D1OKPuGMkeLCUkxMBw1ip84vT2lozvF4srP7npJ7j4-Qey7d3Ji-qtp4kEbJXYD5z70BdyVRTVJ5x2jvzyt-Nj2mMikLygjyzCrVAE5OjIbV7r5M_r8XsuEEeUk61saKVeuMGP5Tqcvt3M-jgow/s1000/Anthocharis_cardamines_Greece.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9kEZ-n0zcvskay_tbehVZmxIfbvAF3R5D1OKPuGMkeLCUkxMBw1ip84vT2lozvF4srP7npJ7j4-Qey7d3Ji-qtp4kEbJXYD5z70BdyVRTVJ5x2jvzyt-Nj2mMikLygjyzCrVAE5OjIbV7r5M_r8XsuEEeUk61saKVeuMGP5Tqcvt3M-jgow/w266-h400/Anthocharis_cardamines_Greece.JPG" width="266" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Orange-tip Butterfly</b> (<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Anthocharis cardamines</i>)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The full reptile and amphibian list of our herping morning in Peloponnese:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Balkan Frog </b>(<i>Pelophylax kurtmuelleri</i>)<br /><b>Green Toad</b> (<i>Bufotes virides</i>)<br /><b>Common Toad</b> (<i>Bufo bufo</i>)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><b>Marginated Tortoise </b>(<i>Testudo marginata</i>)<br /><b>Meditarranean House Gecko</b> (<i>Hemidactylus turcicus</i>)</div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Greek Rock Lizard </b>(<i>Hellenolacerta graeca</i>) ENDEMIC SPECIES</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Balkan Green Lizard</b> (<i>Lacerta trilineata</i>)<br /><b>Peloponnese Wall Lizard</b> (<i>Podarcis peloponnesiaca)</i> ENDEMIC SPECIES<br /><b>European Snake-eyed Skink</b> (<i>Ablepharus kitaibelli</i>)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Leopard Snake </b>(<i>Zamenis situla</i>)<br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Four-line Snake</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Elaphe quatuorlineata</i>)</span></span><br /><b>Nose-horned Viper</b> (<i>Vipera ammodytes</i>)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name='more'></a><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Spyros Skareas</b><br />Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader<br />Athens, GREECE</span></p></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comKalamata 241 00, Greece37.0366386 22.11437168.7264047638211579 -13.041878400000002 65.346872436178842 57.2706216