BIRD OF THE DAY - KRUPER'S NUTHATCH
KRUPER'S NUTHATCH (PHOTO BY STEPHEN LEES)
It got hotter still today and there was hardly a breeze, so we took it very leisurely and kept mainly to woodland birding.
We set off from the hotel at 8am and drove directly to Achladeri to the pine woods where the Kruper's Nuthatch breeds. After a short walk into the forest we found a beautiful Woodlark, it was carrying food for its young.
WOODLARK
We also saw Cirl Bunting and we heard a Common Cuckoo. We worked our way deeper into the wood until eventually we found a Kruper's Nuthatch, it was also carrying food, we watched it drop down to a nest hole (see picture above) where we all enjoyed great views. Whilst watching the Nuthatch we found a pair of Short-toed Treecreepers which were feeding in nearby trees.
From Achladeri we drove up the mountains to Dimitrios where we spent some time looking for more woodland species we also stopped for coffee. Species found included: Serin, Wren, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Short-toed Eagle, Common Buzzard and Long-legged Buzzard.
SERIN
At Vaterea we had a great time on the bridge over the Alimortopatos
River just west of this lovely seaside town. Just below the bridge on
the concrete wier we found a superb Citrine Wagtail, a Little Stint, a
Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
We drove a short way upriver and took lunch by a ford where we watched both House and Spanish Sparrows bathing with Goldfinch and Black-headed Bunting. Whilst eating our food an Olivaceous Warbler sang from a nearby bush and a Little Bittern flew across the reeds.
At the small headland at Agios Fokos we saw both Yelkouan's and Scolopi's Shearwaters out in the bay, European Shag on the rocks and on the land we watched Sardinian Warblers, Whinchat, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and more Black-headed Buntings.
We headed back to Kalloni at 4pm making a brief stop at Makara Marshes where we saw a couple of Purple Herons, Squacco Heron, Ruddy Shelduck and a Little Grebe. Our tour of the Salt Pans finished off the day, we saw many of the usual species and added Marsh Sandpiper to our trip list. Last port of call was the mouth of the Tsiknias river where two Oystercatchers were joined by aRuddy Turnstone which was also a new species for the trip. We finshed at 7pm - it was a long day but it we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
No comments:
Post a Comment