With the chance of squeezing in a little more birding,
everyone was ready in good time for our departure to the airport. Jim and Jacqui took Andrea and our luggage as
it would never have fitted in the van and followed us to Charamidia.
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| Goodbye Kalloni Gulf |
It was glorious and flat calm and the views across to the
Turkish island to the south the clearest I have ever seen. Yelkouan Shearwaters
glided close to the surface and a mystery cetacean was followed. It was certainly not a Bottle-nosed Dolphin
and actually felt like a Harbour Porpoise although it would appear that they
are incredibly scarce in the far eastern Med.
Three Honey Buzzards circled above the ridge and thankfully the
Ruppell’s Warbler did the decent thing and gave a good couple of views on top
of the pines including some energetic display flighting. Sardinian and Eastern Subalpine Warblers and
the obliging Cretzschmar’s Bunting made for a fine finale to the Oriole Birding
adventure.
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| Ruppell’s Warbler - Toby Carter. His crew were next to the tree when it landed above them |
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| Sardinian Warbler |
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| Cretzschmar’s Bunting |
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| Cretzschmar’s Bunting |
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| Cretzschmar’s Bunting - not sure why they are so obliging here! |
Only one notable was missing – Chukar and what should happen
but just like the previous Sunday one walked across the road in front of the
van as we drove up the hill on the final stretch to the airport to a resounding
cheer from the back! We checked in and went and watched the sea for a while
before boarding our slightly delayed flight home. I have a sneaky feeling that most of the crew will be back again.
Antio Lesvos.
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