Day 8: 2nd May:
A decidedly civilised day that started along
the coast at Skala Vasilikon in the hope that at long last we might catch up
with Olive Tree Warbler on one of these trips. Staying longer than the party
usually means that I do, but this is Sam’s 5th visit so we put in the effort
and got our reward and although the views were not great we did have three
birds singing at close quarters and with a bit of patience were able to work
out which trees he favoured and eventually get a view down that bright orange
gullet!
These particular groves were full of birds with at least
four pair of Masked Shrikes, Woodchat, Cirl and Black-headed Buntings, Middle
Spot Woody, Subalpine, Olivaceous and Orphean Warblers, Blackbirds, Tits and
Turtle Doves. It was magical and the
chorus was only occasionally broken by a passing car and the sounds of the
family pruning the olives in the adjacent grove.
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| This male Black-headed Bunting was sitting too close to my head for a better shot! |
The Alikoudi beach pool was still a little high with no small waders but a fine
Glossy Ibis preened in the sun and a Curlew called. the flowers around the edges were superb...
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Glossy Ibis |
We searched all the wires for a Roller but found nothing but
more Buntings and a smart male Red-backed Shrike. The Poly Pans were almost
devoid of birds so we retraced our steps and only stopped to rescue two
abandoned small puppies that we first saw three days ago but failed to catch.
This time a concerted effort saw both safely ensconced in a crate in the back
of the van for the journey back to the Pela where Thekla is helping to re-home
them in the Netherlands. I think this takes her total to 20 since October.
Anyway they are in good hands now.
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| Red-backed Shrike |
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| Red-backed Shrike |
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| This wonderfully marked Cormorant eluded my every attempt at a photo! |
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| Grumpy and a bit car sick but safe |
After depositing the puppies and having lunch we headed back out again and
north to Skala Sykamenias so that my party could see this pretty little seaside
village and of course evade the Parrot in Kavos cafe and have an ice cream before
trundling along the scenic if a little rougher north coast track.
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| Skala Sykamenias |
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| Icecream at Kavos Cafe |
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| Kate lounging - un-lizard like |
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| There was no molesting of guests this year... |
It may have
been quiet but the views across to Turkey are superb. The only signs of that
the great influx of people took place here now is the boat wreck still on the
point and the empty UN welcome camp. Three Yelkouan Shearwaters flapped east
but it was otherwise nothing but a pleasant drive.
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| Euphorbia scrub, the shipwreck and Turkey beyond |
There was even time at 5pm for the first and last swim of the holiday and
whilst rescuing Grasshoppers I heard the Yellow-legged Gulls kicking off and
immediately thought big raptor and sure enough an Osprey drifted into view with
said Gulls on its tail. Not too bad a bird from the pool!
Off for a last dinner at the Dionysos but there will still be time for a few hours birding
tomorrow before heading off to the airport.
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