November 2010

November report from Kissamos Bay Area

Two rarities to report this month ,on the 24^th 'Saxaul' Grey Shrike L. (e./m.) pallidirostris, a real rarity for Greece not just Crete, with only one previous record of pallidirostris.

Also a Gannet Morus bassanus. on the 25^th

Both these species were located just east of Kissamos , the shrike stayed for one day and the gannet was just a fly past.

We have had a fairly quiet month, harvesting our olives took priority !! only venturing to the lake at Agyia and Moronis and a trip to Gorgopoli to see the Slender-billed Gull that Alan found, after that we visited Lake Kournas on what was a very windy day and found a small group of 17 Black-necked Grebe

Highlights for the month were …Golden Eagle, two seen over the peninsula on several days of the month, along with Bonelli’s Eagle and Short-toed Eagle on the 5^th and 6^th.

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike also on the 6^th.

Booted eagles were also present on several days this month

On the 22^nd 2 Golden Eagles, Bonelli’s Eagle, Short-toed Eagle and a female Hen Harrier

On the 26^th 4 Curlew flew in front of the house before flying out of the bay heading north??

A superb male Hen Harrier ghosted past metres away from our front balcony.

Our Crete bird list now stands at 223 species

November species list… 77

Red-backed Shrike, Short-toed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Cetti’s Warbler, Hooded Crow, Chaffinch,
Sardinian Warbler, White Wagtail, Hen Harrier, Greenfinch, Italian Sparrow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Stonechat
Black Restart, Chiffchaff, Raven, Common Buzzard, Rock Dove, Great Tit, Crested Lark, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Spotted Flycatcher
Barn Swallow, Griffon Vulture, Crag Martin, Sparrowhawk, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Coot,
Moorhen, Little Egret, Great Egret, Serin, Starling, Grey Wagtail, Slender-billed Gull, Sedge Warbler, Pelican, Mute Swan,
Mallard, Kestrel, Collared Dove, Black-necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Goldfinch, Teal, Marsh Harrier, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Bonelli’s Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush, Peregrine Falcon, Shag, Blue Tit, Curlew, Gannet, Meadow Pipit, Saxaul Grey Shrike
Squacco Heron, Mediterranean Gull, Robin, Black-headed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Booted Eagle, Woodlark, Shoveler, Pochard, Garganey, Gadwall, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck

Some images from November, please note all images by and © C&S:

Anemone