NOVEMBER 2007.. REPORT FROM KISSAMOS BAY
AREA
The following listed birds were seen
daily throughout October and are not
listed in the daily reports. Hooded
Crow, Italian Sparrow, Buzzard, Collared
Dove, Rock Dove, Crested Lark,
Blackbird, Goldfinch, Sardinian Warbler,
Raven, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Tit.
The highlight of our birding here so
far… a GREATER SAND PLOVER was present
for several days mid month . All the
relevant details sent to the rarities
committee of Hellenic Ornithological
Society in Athens. On the 30th
November HOS confirmed acceptance of the
report.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
- GREATER SAND PLOVER
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
GREATER SAND PLOVER
This months downer was seeing a local
shooting a rare species for Crete in the
form of Golden Plover. With at least
three seen killed.
The Booted and Short-toed Eagles made
their appearance a few weeks later than
last year and we saw the first Booted on
the third and the first Short-toed on
the fourth and a second on the 21st.
Only the two birds seen here this year,
a disappointment to last year when
several hunted around the house for a
few weeks.
The fourth was good day with a Honey
Buzzard and our first sighting of a
single Starling plus two more on the
tenth, with larger flocks than we have
seen before on odd days with max 100+ on
one day.
Lammergeier again showed throughout the
month with two birds displaying. Our
most views to date.
A juv. Golden Eagle on the 5th,
8th and 15th.
A
BLACK STORK
on the 8th.
Increasing numbers of Stonechat and
Black Redstart appearing this month.
Also later in the month….Blackcaps.
A small flock [16] Golden Plover mid
month.
The last Eleonora’s Falcon were seen on
the 15th
A male Hen Harrier showed briefly as it
headed north onto Gramvousa on the 29th.
Heavy rain on the sixth stopped any real
birding and the first snows appeared on
the White Mountains [Lefki Ori] on the
2nd, disappearing just as quickly before
a greater covering took place on the 22nd,
after yet more high winds and torrential
rain. Temperatures dropped towards the
end of the month
FLOWERS
Almond blossom appeared on the trees on
the 24th.
Friars Cowl (
Arisarum vulgare ) in flower
26th
Barbary Nut (
Gynandiris sisyrinchium )leaf
everywhere flowers due February
The first Anemone’s ( **Anemone
coronaria ) and ( *Anemone
pavonina )appeared on the
**27th and *30th
DIARY
1st
Stonechat, Robin, Eleonora’s Falcon 3,
Whitethroat, Griffon Vultures 7,
Cormorant 1,
Chaffinch, Woodlark, Sparrowhawk 1,
Greenfinch, Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel,
Barn Owl.
2nd
Stonechat , Robin ++, Greenfinch,
Cetti’s Warbler, Black Redstart,
Lammergeier 2 at 1119hrs for
45 minutes then again at 1552hrs,
Woodlark,
Eleonora’s Falcon 1, Kestrel,
Whitethroat, Griffon Vulture 6,
Cormorant 1. Along the coast and fields
below the house Corn Bunting, Linnet,
Black Redstart, 3, Hooded Crow,
Yellow-legged Gull, Blue Rock Thrush 2,
Common Sandpiper 1, Collared Dove,
Goldfinch, Crested Lark, Isabelline
Wheatear, Stonechat, White Wagtail, Grey
Wagtail.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
- First snow on Lefki Ori
3rd
Buzzard 3, Robin ++, Black Redstart 1,
Great Tit ++, quite a few more seen
today, Goldfinch +++ , Stonechat 1,
Lammergeier 2, 1120-1125hrs,
Italian Sparrow ++, Cetti’s Warbler,
Griffon Vulture 1 @1600hrs. Kestrel 2,
Woodlark, Raven 4, dark morph Booted
Eagle.
4th
Stonechat, Robin, Chaffinch, Cetti’s
Warbler,
Lammergeier 1 @0923-0955hrs
then 2 birds from 1100hrs until 1615
flying and displaying together. Kestrel
a pair hunted the area for most of the
day. Woodlark, Black Redstart, Blue Tit,
pale morph
Booted
Eagle 2,
Buzzard 3, Short-toed Eagle 1023hrs.
Golden Eagle 2,juvs.at 1115 &1222hrs
together with Sparrowhawk 1,
Eleonora’s Falcon and the
Kestrel. Blue Rock Thrush. Bonelli’s
Eagle 2, 1520-1645hrs with both landing
on the rocks and continually harassed by
a pair of Raven . Serin 2, Peregrine
Falcon.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
- Booted Eagle
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
- Short-toed Eagle
5th
Cetti’s Warbler, Robin ++, Blue Rock
Thrush , Blue Tit, Corn Bunting,
Greenfinch, Stonechat, Buzzard 2, Willow
Warbler, Woodlark, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel
2, Griffon Vulture 1,
Golden
Eagle 1 1223hrs,
Lammergeier 2, 1233-1243hrs.
Eleonora’s Falcon 1303.
6th
Stormy weather today with heavy rain and
temp drop along with a trip to Chania .
Robin. !! + the usual regulars.
CHANIA … Buzzard several, pale morph
Booted
Eagles 2 hunted over the
outskirts of the town , Black Redstart,
Raven 20+, Blackbird and kestrel.
7th
Stonechat, Griffon Vulture 7, dark morph
Booted Eagle 1, 1100hrs,
Robin, Woodlark, Goldfinch, Cetti’s
Warbler, Chaffinch and a pale morph
Booted
Eagle.
On the coast road to Kissamos….
Black Redstart, Crested lark, Collared
Dove , Yellow-legged Gull, Linnet, Blue
Rock Thrush, Corn Bunting, Common
Sandpiper, White and Grey Wagtail.
8th
The first snow seen on the White
mountains [Lefki Ori] today,
Robin +, Chaffinch, Stonechat, Our first
sighting from the house of a Starling ,
Linnet, Corn Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler,
Blue Tit , Sparrowhawk , Kestrel, Black
Redstart, Griffon Vultures 7,
Lammergeier 2 +
Golden
Eagle, 1 juv 1047-1100 flying
together.
At 1135 a single
Black
Stork headed south ahead of
a weather front . Redstart,
Honey Buzzard 1 + 4 Buzzard,
Sparrowhawk 1, Barn Owl .
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Golden Eagle (top) and Lammergeier
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
sequence
of
shots of Lammergeier
displaying
9th
Redstart, Robin +, Chaffinch, Blue Tit,
Stonechat, Sparrowhawk ,Kestrel, Black
Redstart numbers increasing , Short-toed
Eagle 1155hrs.
And on the coast below.
Crested Lark, Kingfisher 2, Stonechat +
+, Willow Warbler several, Meadow Pipit
+ +, Yellow-legged Gull, Linnet + +,
Black redstart + +, Blue Rock Thrush ,
Collared Dove, Corn Bunting +.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Crested Lark
10th
Another stormy day, very heavy rain and
gusts of 9-10 Beaufort,
Stonechat, Black Redstart, Starling 2,
Kestrel, White Wagtail, Black Redstart.
11th
Greenfinch, Robin, Willow Warbler,
Sparrowhawk 1, Griffon Vulture 1, Black
Redstart, Blue Tit, Garden Warbler,
Eastern Hedgehog
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Snow on the mountains
12th
Stonechat, Robin, White Wagtail,
Woodlark,
Lammergeier 1 in morning and
pair in afternoon, Kestrel, Black
Redstart.
Around Kissamos and east beach area….Golden
Plover 12,
GREATER SAND
PLOVER 1..Linnet + + +,
Goldfinch + +. Starling 100+ flock,
Kestrel 2, Stonechat +, Crested Lark + +
, Hooded Crow, Black Redstart + +, White
wagtail +, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit,
Red-throated Pipit, Collared Dove, Black
Headed Gull 6, Robin, Willow Warbler,
Blackbird.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Greater Sand Plover
13th
Lammergeier 2,
Stonechat, Starling 14, Great Tit,
Chaffinch, Robin, Greenfinch, Black
Redstart, Linnet,
GREATER
SAND PLOVER 1, Golden Plover 9,
Kestrel 1, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler.
A trip along the coast to Viglia for
closer observations of the G/S Plover,
we saw, Kingfisher 1,
Golden
Plover 12, GREATER SAND PLOVER 1,
Corn Bunting, Goldfinch, Black Redstart,
Kestrel 1, Serin 2, Linnet +,
Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove , Blue
Rock Thrush, Willow Warbler.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Golden Plovers and Greater Sand
Plover (at rear)
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Corn Bunting
14th
Lammergeier 2
landed with , Griffons 10, Stonechat,
Great Tit, Robin, Willow Warbler,
Blackbird, Linnet + + +, juv Cormorant,
Greenfinch, Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush,
Chaffinch,
Golden
Plover 15, Dunlin 1, Shag 1,
Black Redstart, Corn Bunting, White
wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Blue Tit .
Looking from the house we thought the
Greater Sand Plover was with the Golden
Plover but a quick drive down to check
revealed it was in fact a Dunlin there
was no sign of the GSP.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Dunlin and Golden Plover
15th
Lammergeier 2,
GOLDEN EAGLE 1, Robin,
Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Black Redstart,
Stonechat, Griffon Vulture 10,
ELEONORA’S FALCON 2, Golden Plover 16,
Corn Bunting, Linnet, Meadow
Pipit,
GREATER
SAND PLOVER 1, Cetti’s
Warbler. Cretan Hare.
Along the beach …..again for closer
views of
Golden
Plover, we found 16with the
GREATER SAND PLOVER 1 we were
lucky to spot this delightful bird again
it having moved some way off and on its
own in a large area of rocks.
Yellow-legged Gull 1+ 1 juv,
Black-headed Gull 4, Kingfisher 1,
Buzzard, Kestrel, Stonechat, Linnet,
Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Crested Lark ,
Hooded Crow, Collared Dove, White
Wagtail, Black Redstart, Raven, Corn
Bunting.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Golden Plover
16th
Lammergeier 1,with
Griffon Vulture 2 , a little later there
were
2 Lammergeier flying with Golden Eagle 1.
Shortly after a further 6 Griffon
Vultures joined the in. Golden Plover
16, Crag Martin 2, Blue Tit, Bonelli’s
Eagle, Stonechat, Linnet, Corn Bunting,
Kestrel 3, Robin, Black Redstart,
Sparrowhawk.
At 1145 we heard a shot from the beach
area and observed a Cretan shooting at
the Golden Plover . On going down to him
he was seen to have shot three of these
birds [ rarities on Crete although
common on the mainland ] A phone call to
the Greek Ornithological Society for
advice and with the information we then
called the Forestry service…..after that
we continued to patrol the beach daily
and against normal practice we
frightened the birds away from this area
, we would like to think we saved a few
as the same man was seen to come down to
the beach but on seeing us turned around
, we continued to see several of the
birds in different locations for the
next few days and luckily stormy weather
stopped them landing at the exposed area
they first were seen at.
On this visit to the beach we saw
Starling , Sand Martin 4, Cormorant,
Kingfisher, Italian Sparrow, as darkness
fell a Barn Owl, bats and a Scops Owl
was heard calling.
17th
With 6/7 Beaufort winds …..we saw Hooded
Crow 20+, Robin, Greenfinch, Stonechat,
Woodlark, White Wagtail, Blue Rock
Thrush, Griffon Vulture 1,
Golden
Plover 9 were observed on the
beach which had us on a walk in that
area where we found only 5 Golden Plover
the rest having moved into the
agricultural fields the
GREATER
SAND PLOVER was again found
on another area of rocks along with
Kingfisher 2… Black Redstart, White
Wagtail, Crested lark and Stonechat.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Golden Plover flight
18th
Another stormy day produced Black
Redstart, Stonechat, the
GREATER
SAND PLOVER could just be
seen with the scope entailing another
trip down to the beach later,
Greenfinch, Robin, Linnet.
On the beach we saw Kingfisher 1, Golden
Plover 12, GREATER SAND PLOVER 1,
Stonechat, Willow warbler, Black
Redstart, Goldfinch, Hooded Crow, Great
Tit, Yellow-legged Gull, Greenfinch ,
Crested Lark.
19th
Griffon Vulture 2, Kestrel, Stonechat,
Chaffinch, Corn Bunting, White
Wagtail…..whilst on the
coast…Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher,
Golden Plover 2, Sandwich Tern 4, Meadow
Pipit, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Stonechat,
White Wagtail, Italian Sparrow, Collared
Dove, Goldfinch.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Sandwich Tern
20th
Black Redstart, Stonechat, a later walk
onto Gramvousa, Willow Warbler,
Goldfinch, Stonechat, Cormorant, Black
Redstart, Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush,
Bonelli’s Eagle 1, Griffon Vulture 1,
Yellow-legged Gull, Robin, Linnet, White
Wagtail +.
21st
No birding at home today we decided on a
trip to Maronis River, Souda Bay and
Akrotiri Peninsula.
As e departed on our trip we saw Buzzard
4, and a
Short-toed Eagle…
At the three
locations,
f.
Marsh Harrier, Great Tit + + +,
Blackbird 5, Song Thrush 1, Willow
Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Woodlark 3,
Crested Lark +, Stonechat, d.f Booted
Eagle 1, Kestrel 2, White Wagtail, Black
Redstart + +, Raven,
m. Blackcap 1, Meadow Pipit,
Kingfisher 3, Common Sandpiper 5,
Redshank 3, Great White Egret 1, Little
Egret 1, Cormorant 1, Coot 40+, Moorhen
5, Little Grebe 1, Italian Sparrow,
Robin + + +, we found a small flock of
Tree
Sparrow near a monastery,
along with a single Dunnock, Spotted
Flycatcher 1, Greenfinch + +, Goldfinch
+ +, Chaffinch, Linnet + +, Corn
bunting, Buzzard . A colony of 500+
Yellow-legged Gull on a small islet at
the entrance to Souda Bay.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Gulls a gathering
22nd
Robin, Great Tit,
Lammergeier 1, Black
Redstart, Sandwich Tern 1, Kingfisher,
Crested Lark, Stonechat, White Wagtail,
Cormorant 1,
Bonelli’s Eagle 2, Blue Rock
thrush 1, Woodlark.
23rd
Also a trip to Agia lake
Stonechat, Robin, Woodlark, Greenfinch,
Chaffinch, Kestrel 2, Cormorant 6,
Sparrowhawk, Willow Warbler, Griffon
Vulture, Linnet, Blue Rock Thrush.
On route to Lake …….Goldfinch + +, Blue
Rock Thrush, White Wagtail, Cormorant,
Starling 20, Crested Lark, Stonechat,
Golden Plover 1, Buzzard, Yellow-legged
Gull, Sandwich Tern 1.
At the lake…….Kingfisher 6 with great
close views as one repeated landed on a
steel girder two metres away from us
providing some of our best pictures yet.
Shoveler 14, Mallard 13, Tufted Duck 23,
Ferruginus Duck 6, Night Heron 1,
Moorhen 70+, Little Grebe 40+, Coot
400+, Pochard 20+, Wigeon 4,
Yellow-legged Gull 100+, Hobby 1,
Marsh
Harrier 2, 1
f,
I
juv m. Teal 10+, White
wagtail 1, Yellow Wagtail1, Cetti’s
Warbler heard, Starling 10, Stonechat,
Blackbird, Robin, Willow Warbler.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Kingfisher
24th
Robin, Stonechat, Greenfinch,
m & f
Blackcap+ +, Chaffinch, Great Tit,
Meadow Pipit, Black Redstart, Willow
Warbler,
Lammergeier 2, Blue Rock
Thrush, Blue Tit, d.f.
Booted
Eagle.
25th
Blue Rock Thrush 2, Robin + +,
Stonechat, Black Redstart, Sparrowhawk,
Greenfinch +, Willow Warbler, Great Tit,
Chaffinch ++, Blackcap +, Kestrel,
Cormorant 2, Linnet, White Wagtail,
Kingfisher, Hobby 1.
26TH
Not much birding today our car due its
Greek MOT ! apart from the usual daily
listed above we saw……… Linnet, Corn
Bunting, and a Cormorant in Chania
Harbour.
27th
Griffon Vulture 2, Robin + +, Goldfinch
+ +, Stonechat, Greenfinch, Peregrine
Falcon 1, d.f.
Booted
Eagle 1,Black Redstart,
Kingfisher.
Around Kissamos
Corn Bunting 40+, Linnet + +, Stonechat,
Black Redstart +,
Shag
1, Cormorant 1, Sandwich Tern 2,
Kingfisher 1, Common Sandpiper 2, White
Wagtail1, Yellow wagtail 1, Collared
Dove, Blue Rock Thrush, Meadow Pipit,
Yellow-legged Gull.
Bats .. The first Anemone in flower …two
days earlier than the first last year .
28th
Buzzard, 4 + 1 very pale bird, Robin +,
Griffon Vulture 1, Yellow-legged Gull
30+, Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti’s
Warbler ( heard ), Black Redstart,
Chaffinch, Willow Warbler.
29th
Hooded Crow 20+ Sparrowhawk, Corn
Bunting 100+, Goldfinch+, Peregrine
Falcon 2 put on a nice display as they
tumbled and grappled together before
heading south, Griffon Vultures 3,
Black Redstart, Robin, Greenfinch,
Chaffinch,
a male
Hen Harrier headed onto
Gramvousa giving a brief view. Buzzard
4, Raven 2, Stonechat, Bonelli’s Eagle
1, Blue Rock Thrush.
Ocellated Skink (
Chalcides ocellatus )
30th
Griffon Vulture 3, Goldfinch, Chaffinch,
Greenfinch, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk,
Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Black
Redstart,
Bonelli’s Eagle I adult and a sub adult,
Robin, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Meadow
Pipit…along the coast…Cormorant 1, Shag
1.
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Bonelli’s Eagle
Photo above
by and © Colin & Sue Turvey
-
Bonelli’s Eagle
And finally to finish off the month
………………………
Maybe Roy and Raye could come up with a
caption?
OK folks its not a Sparrowhawk