The Pela breakfast bird list went up by one this morning
with a Pygmy Cormorant circling from the west and then made a straight line towards
the Tsiknias over town. I suspect that
it had been on the old hidden Potamia reservoir. It was a good way to start the day!
We had arranged to meet Alison and so headed over the top
with a brief stop at the Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint where there was nothing but
a fine view and four Ravens and then up to Kavaki for another look. It was quiet once again although I did hear
Chukar and have a Short-toed Lark fly over but there was nothing out to sea
once again.
 |
| Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint |
 |
| Kavaki view |
A Hoopoe flew along the Petra seafront and a Long-lgeed Buzzard
was up above Anoxos and after our catch up we headed back along the coast into
darkening skies. A half hour stop at
Argennos saw me get onto seven Honey
Buzzard and three Marsh Harrier almost in one kettle as they overtopped Mount
Leptimnos but after that there was nothing bar the tumbling Ravens.
 |
| Argennos and Turkey |
Back on the KSP there were three Curlew Sandpipers with the
50 Avocets in the south-west corner but nothing else so a tea break was
required until the early evening when we headed back out onto Loutzaria once
again. A similar sweet of birds but with
a definite increase in Red-backed Shrikes (14) and Tree Pipits (four).
 |
| Can you have too many Red-backed Shrikes? |
Down at the Racecourse – Alykes beach I could not re-find the
potential ‘longipes’ Oystercatcher but six Teal and Shoveler were new on the
beach and there were also five Curlew and two Grey Plovers. The two Lesser Grey Shrikes had been joined
by two stunning juvenile Woodchats and four Red-backs and the Tawny Pipit was
still striding around.
 |
| Common Redshank - but not one of the curious long billed, longer legged ones that I saw yesterday and on previous autumn trips |
 |
| Great Egret |
A total 23 Sandwich Terns came in to the pans to roost and
in the good light I could see very nicely into the south-east corner where the Dalmatian
Pelicans now numbered 24 and I am still sure that there was a juvenile Great
White Pelican loosely with them. I need
to drag my backside out of bed and get down there early doors when the light is
at its best and the birds at their most active.
I could also see four Black Storks and now eight Great Egrets.
Back through Loutzaria adding a fine male Common Redstart
with an exceptionally bright rump and tail and a suggestion of a white wing
panel consorting with Northern Wheatears, Whinchats, flava Wagtails, Willow Warblers
and a delightful if somewhat insipid Hoopoe but any day than ends with one of
these enigmatic birds is a good day indeed.
 |
| Common Redstart (ACV) |
 |
| Common Redstart |
 |
| Common Redstart - quite striking |
 |
| Whinchat (ACV) |
 |
| Hoopoe |
No comments:
Post a Comment