Despite some "bad" weather we have been out and about this month.

14th February - on south coast near Triopetra our first ever Crete sighting of cormorant in adult courtship plumage - see photo below.

Photo by and © A&M 

We are seeing an increasing number of cormorants around the north and south coasts.  Our trip was sparce as far as birds were concerned, even the griffons were noticeable by their absence.

23rd February - Moronis River, Souda.  Having dropped off friends at the airport, we stopped off for a quick look around the nature reserve.  No whimbrel or redshank this time, but can report 4 little egrets, plus one great white egret all seen along the beach near the War Cemetery.

25th February - Lake Kournas.  A walk along the lakeside gave us views of kingfisher, grey heron, little grebe.  Then, out in the middle of the lake, two flocks of black-necked grebes, c200, and a single great crested grebe amongst them. My camera can't do justice to birds this far away, but for the record I've attached one where both species can be identified. See below:

Photo by and © A&M

We thought the recent cold snap (with snow) would show up something different, but so far nothing.  For the record, as of today, all common winter visitors still here in good numbers, including starlings, song thrush, black redstart and robin.

List from a one and a half hour walk walk on the 27th, in the Georgioupolis area:

house sparrow
chaffinch
greenfinch
goldfinch
serin (many heard in nearby conifers)
robin
chiffchaff
willow warbler (first this year)
meadow pipit
great tit
black redstart
blackbird
stonechat
blackcap (male)
sardinian warbler
cetti's warbler (very close, but unseen)
collared dove (now seeing these everywhere we travel)
 
and specifically in Georgioupolis Water area:
crag martin (4)
hooded crow (8)
common buzzard (3)
kestrel
marsh harrier
raven (2)
coot (2,000,000) Joke
moorhen (6)
little grebe (3)
common snipe
cormorant (juvenile)
grey heron (first this year in local area)
yellow-legged gull