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Posts
First, an apology for all those missing pictures from this beautiful island! I'm sorry, but I don't have time to take many photos when I am working with groups, and I don't have time in the evenings to process those I do take and prepare for the web. It gets tiring working days from 0615-0030h most days! Also, no one sends me any photos either! So here is a photo of a very obliging Black Stork at the Kalloni Saltpans taken this evening. Photo © Steve DudleyFollowing a thunderous night with torrential rain, today was cool with very low cloud and rain most of the day, sometimes torrential.
Unfortunately, the expected mass downing of migrants with the rain didn't happen. The central area was very, very quiet but the west faired a little better with more Black-headed Buntings, Hoopoes and Red-back-shrikes (the first now belatedly reported for yesterday). Still waiting for Bee-eaters and many go home tomorrow afternoon! Flycatcher numbers greatly down and first day for some time that no Semi-collared Flys have been reported (see here).
Common Nightingales are not Bush-robins - lots of birds seen feeding in open areas being reported as Rufous Bush-robin. Please check birds carefully - not all rufous-coloured birds feeding around rocks and in fields etc are Bush-robins (in fact, none of them are so far!).
Complaints - alas, more complaints about several photographers who appear to care very little for the birds, their habitats and the rest of us on the island. More reports of fences being climbed, entering areas where they shouldn't be, harassing tired pratincoles, blocking tracks with their cars - I could go on. Lets hope these individuals are going home tomorrow and fingers crossed we don't get any more like them next week. Its not just photographers, one minibus of birders were seen walking through fields to view one pool in Lotzaria, going where they shouldn't be and flushing birds from the pool in the process. There's little we can do other than make our feelings plain and hope they won't continue their bad habits.
What many may not realise is that many of these areas are protected sites (Natura 2000 sites). Hunting has recently been banned here and the hunters are less than happy and are looking at excuses to prove that birders and photographers do as much disturbance as they do and because of this they should be allowed to resume their hunting. Please don't be ignorant enough to give them the ammunition they need to press their case for resumption of hunting.
Environment Centre - please visit the centre. Apart from fascinating displays about the Kalloni area and its wildlife, geology etc, they need our support. The centre is on the edge of Skala Kallonis. Walk down the side of the bakery by the mini soccer pitch, along the the track with the channel on your left and houses on your right towards the Tsiknias River. The centre is the last building (pink - you cant miss it!). Only a small sign on the gate (the main sign blew away in the winter!). Open hours are 0900-1300 and 1800-2100. Thanks.
To the birds!
Tsiknias River - PENDULINE TIT fem (opposite the canopy at river mouth), Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 3, Whiskered Tern 2, Grey Plover 6, Whimbrel 1, Eurasian Curlew 1, Golden Oriole 1, Bee-eater 1, Hen Harrier 1.
Napi Valley - Olive-tree Warbler pr present at the barrier site below Mavria. Please park sensibly in this area and take care when viewing the site from the road by the barriers.
Upper Tsiknias River - Eleonora's falcon 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Black-headed Bunting.
Faneromeni - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Black Kite 1, Red-backed Shrike 2, Black-headed Bunting.
Meladia Valley - Great Spotted Cuckoo 1 (nr small chapel at Eresos end of track).
Sigri Old Sanatorium - Black-headed Bunting 15.
Kalloni Saltpans (and area) - Barred Warbler 1 (by south hide), Whiskered Tern 86, White-winged Black Tern 30+, Gull-billed Tern 1, Red-footed Falcon 2 males, Teminck's Stint 3, Little Stint 130, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Ruddy Shelduck 35. Alykes Wetlands Pallid Harrier 1, Red-throated Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 2, Ruff 100+.
Lotzaria - Red-footed Falcon male, Curlew Sandpiper 7, Dunlin 66.
Parakoila Marsh - Little Bittern male.
Makara - Squacco Heron 1, Lesser Kestrel 3, Alpine Swift 6 (around Garbias Island). Sadly, the beach pool has been completely filled in here.
Kalami Marsh - Glossy Ibis 90+, Purple Heron 1.
Metochi Lake - Little Crake 5, Little Bittern 2, Golden Oriole 1, Masked Shrike 1.
Achladeri - confirmation that the pr nr the white building have deserted the stump used for the last three years. Birds still present in the forest here. Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 8 (between Achladeri and Vouvaris River).
Soumouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 1 in tree by green wheelie bin.
