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AUGUST
2009
REPORT
FROM KISSAMOS BAY AREA
From the
beginning of the month fairly large numbers of Barn Swallow moving
south.
A report
Roy Magnuson, of Lammergeier and Firecrest seen at Samaria Gorge on
the 1st.
From Nikos,
also on the 1st , The Lapwing still present at Tavronitis
along with, Wood and Common Sandpiper, 15-20 Little Ringed Plover,
Hoopoe, Grey Heron and a male Little Crake.
Great
views of a Lesser Grey Shrike at home on the 7th.
12th
Sea Daffodils in flower
A trip out
on the 14th gives us a nice surprise Lammergeier
sighting.
16th
great Lammergeier sightings with Nikos. Also at home on 28th
Black Kite
on the 18th & 20th
Booted
Eagle pale morph 20th
More
tagged and ringed Griffons .
Flocks of
Little Egret on the 15th [16] & 24th [ 50+] &
31st [15+55]
7th
A
Lesser Grey Shrike perched nearby stayed for the morning
allowing some time to study it
Lesser Grey Shrike
- photo by and © C&S
Lesser Grey Shrike in flight
- photo by and © C&S
8th
Not much
happening today except for upwards of thirty Hooded Crows as they
perched along our electric wire
Hooded Crows on our electric wire
- photo by and © C&S
9th
We had six
Ravens on the slope behind the house taking it in turns chasing the
sheep up and down the hill, it was an amazing sight watching this
team as they seemed to be enjoying themselves irritating the sheep.
Ravens rounding up sheep !!!
- photo by and © C&S
10th
A trip to
the harbour at kissamos to have a look at a rather pricy looking
luxury yacht had us looking at a pair of juvenile Mediterranean
Gulls.
Mediterranean Gull juv.
- photo by and © C&S
Mediterranean Gull juv. in flight
- photo by and © C&S
Mediterranean Gull juv.
- photo by and © C&S
When we arrived home, a close up Griffon vulture as it flew past the
house onto Gramvousa joining several other birds feeding on the
slopes nearby.
Close up from the house of Griffon Vulture
- photo by and © C&S
13th
Hooded
Crows take to the air around the house today
Hooded Crow in flight
- photo by and © C&S
14th
We go for
an early walk into Deliana Gorge. We have not been feeling too good
for a few days and needed to get out. We got to the gorge for 08.30
and walked to the church midway in before returning and watching the
Griffons return to their roost. High above and heading southeast a
subadult Lammergeier flew over.
We
only had a small lens on the camera so no Lammergeier, shot of a
spider instead
Argiope lobata
- photo by and © C&S
16th
Agia Lake and Omalos, great views of Lammergeier again
with Nikos + Golden Eagle distant, 50 species seen.
We
birded the lake then the plateau up onto Kalergi then the entrance
to the gorge
Argiope bruennichi
- photo by and © C&S
Argiope bruennichi
- photo by and © C&S
Dragonfly
- Sympetrum fonscolombei - Red-veined Darter
- photo by and © C&S
Woodchat Shrike on Omalos plateau
- photo by and © C&S
Sue
spotted a Lammergeier fly low over the gorge entrance and fly off
following the road down to the plateau only to return some minutes
later along with its mate , both of them carrying sticks , the first
headed down into the gorge the second headed across the gorge and
sat for some minutes in a hole in the mountainside, brilliant views
these were our best and closest sightings yet of this species.
The first Lammergeier
- photo by and © C&S
The second Lammergeier 100 metres behind its mate
- photo by and © C&S
The second again
- photo by and © C&S
The hole where one landed
- photo by and © C&S
Yellow Wagtail
- photo by and © C&S
18th
We had
another tagged Griffon Vulture over the house today in amongst 21
others
Tagged Griffon Vulture number 54
- photo by and © C&S
Egyptian Cricket
- photo by and © C&S
20th
Booted
Eagle over today pursued by a single Raven, followed half an hour
later by two Black kites that circled a few times before continuing
south
Booted Eagle being harassed by a Raven
- photo by and © C&S
The two Black Kites travelling close together as they migrate south
- photo by and © C&S
One of the Black Kites
- photo by and © C&S
21st
Another ringed Griffon Vulture over the house; we seem to
be seeing a lot more these days.
The Ringed Griffon Vulture
- photo by and © C&S
23rd A Peregrine Falcon flew nearby and did several
stoops into the flocks of Goldfinch, but with no success.
Peregrine Falcon
- photo by and © C&S
23
Goldfinch, Red-backed Shrike and Common Buzzard around all day
giving good views.
Goldfinch
- photo by and © C&S
Juvenile Red-backed Shrike
- photo by and © C&S
Common Buzzard
- photo by and © C&S
24th
More Common Buzzard close views, also Little Egret flock
fly along the coast and our local Hooded Crows rest a while in
nearby scrub
Common Buzzard
- photo by and © C&S
Migrating Little Egret
- photo by and © C&S
Hooded Crows
- photo by and © C&S
27th
A trip to Prassanos Gorge with Alan and Margaret gave us
fantastic views, thanks both for showing us this great place to view
the Griffons, we then went on to Potamo Dam, the first time we have
visited this site, when the plants, the water life and levels settle
this will be a place of great potential, no doubt Alan and Margaret
will visit more than us and will post their findings ….for our visit
we had lots of Barn Swallow, 1 Little Egret, 3 Little Grebe, Coot in
small numbers, Kingfisher 2, Common Buzzard, Raven, Hooded Crow and
Crag Martin.
Griffon at Prassanos
Gorge
- photo by and © C&S
29th and 30th Lots of Red-backed Shrike
around at the moment enabling a few images. Also what we think may
be a Dark Bush Cricket….Pholidoptera griseoaptera
Dark Bush Cricket….Pholidoptera griseoaptera
- photo by and © C&S
? juvenile or 1st winter Red-backed Shrike
- photo by and © C&S
Male red-backed Shrike
- photo by and © C&S
September
will see us home for only a few days, we will be off to Antikythera
for three weeks for the autumn raptor migration count with the
Hellenic Ornithological Society.
We will do a
short report from
Crete and of course an Antikythera report.
Have a good
September and good birding
Colin and Sue
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