Glimpse of a black kite near Arkadi Monastery last week.

27th Jan we visited Gortys (Roman ruins), south of Psiloritis.  At our picnic spot, we were surrounded by anenomes and many were like the photo attached - white with lilac inner, not the monochrome colours we usually see.

Photo by and © A&M

30th Jan we drove up to Omalos, mainly for the snowscape up there - the roads were clear but everywhere else was white - very pretty.  On the way down we made an obligatory stop at Aghia reservoir, and for the first time here, for us, saw two mute swans, one adult (photo attached), and one immature.  Unfortunately they were some way off.  Even further over we saw what we thought was a tern.  On closer inspection we watched it land on the water where two others were, later joined by a fourth - they were little gulls, which were also firsts for us here.  Other birds noted on the water were tufted duck, teal, little grebe, kingfisher, common sandpiper - all outnumbered by 100's of coots.  Around the reservoir, many chiffchaffs, crag martins, and the resident marsh harrier.

Photo by and © A&M

Yesterday, 1st Feb, we walked down to Kalivaki Beach near us.  Before we had even started, Margaret (Hawk Eye!) noticed a "bird" in a tree nearby with an unusual stance.  The second photo will show you what it was - not where you'd expect a rat!  During these winter months common sandpiper, cormorant, and kingfisher are always seen around our local beach, - usually blue rock thrush and marsh harrier also, but not yesterday.

Photo by and © A&M