12 May 2012

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Kalloni Saltpans © Steve Dudley

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater! What a stunner. Seen by quite a few birds. Fewer things reported as many British birders left today (best part of two planes) and far fewer birders arriving for this week.

Weather - Bright with scatter cloud and afternoon showers. Light NE breeze. 28C. 

Day trips - see here.

Don't drive down the riverssee here.

Petrol/Deiselsee here.

Other newssee here.


BIRD NEWS

Achladeri & Kruper's Nuthatch
The young have fledged! Good luck finding the family in coming days. There are two other pairs in this area for you to find too!

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands
BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER - a single bird with Bee-eaters at the pumping station in SW corner of pans 1730-1910h. All the bee-eaters went to roost between the pans and Tsiknias River and I suggest looking around the pumping station and the area to the NW of here tomorrow
Gull-billed Tern 17
White-winged Tern 16
Whiskered Tern 2
Ruddy Shelduck 4
Squacco Heron 1
Great White Egret 2
Little Egret 17
Grey Heron 5
Temminck's Stint 1
White Stork 1
Black Stork 2
Greenshank 1
Ruff 110+
Little Stint 65+
Ringed Plover 13

Tsiknias River
Spotted Crake 1 just north of upper ford where single wire crosses river viewed from west side
Little Bittern 2
Red-throated Pipit 1
Quail 1 (seen!)
Bee-eater 20+
Short-toed Lark

Christou River
Marsh Sandpiper 1

Skala Kallonis
Mediterranean Gull 2 adults in harbour
Little Bittern 1 on pool
Whiskered Tern 1 on pool

Platania
Red-footed Falcon 1

Kavaki
Marsh Warbler 1
Ruppell's Warbler, etc

Skala Eresou
Night-heron 1

Sigri / Faneromeni
SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 near irrigation wheels before the beach road turn
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Meladia Valley
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Lesser Kestrel

Papiana
Scops Owl 2 - in same eucalyptus tree by black gates on other side of road from the school (up towards the green and blue waste bins). look for the cut off trunk in the middle of the tree- one bird immediately below the cur off trunk when viewed from the black gates and another bird above when viewed from other side of road
Long-eared Owl - adult by nest with 2 chicks in largest eucalyptus tree by field with the black horse (on school side of road)
Eleonora's Falcon 2 over
NOTE - this is a residential area. Please park with care, respect the privacy of local residents and beware traffic on the road - one birders was knocked over here last week!