| Back in Crete for the Spring Migration |
| Since the last diary entry we had to return to the UK for a couple of
weeks and have moved to what we hope will be a long term residency
at Provarma. Time has been in short supply, and the following
just a brief roundup of highlights. |
| 26th Jan - Georgioupolis Lake - 150+coot, 20 Moorhen, 2
Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 pair of Wigeon, 1 pair Ferruginous
Duck and I Red Darter sp. Dragonfly. |
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2nd Feb - Returning from Milia with A&M we witnessed gathering of 100+ ravens |
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(Above) Some of a gathering of 100+
Ravens |
| 13th Feb - Just along our lane there are good views to the
mountains. Scanning these I was watching several Buzzards,
highlighted by the snow, when I noticed a larger bird with long neat
wings soar amongst them and watched it for some time, resting my
binoculars on a fence to try to get a better image at one stage. It
glided most of the way past me perhaps over Kefalas. It appeared
dark, but at one stage I saw a white breast area. It had a long
outstretched head and neck with legs stretched out behind. A
telescope would probably have clinched an identification, but I will
have to, (because of the distance) put it down as a probable Black
Stork. (This would be an early date). |
| 17th Feb - 6th March - UK |
| 7th March - Hooded Crows gathering nest material |
| 8th March - 10.15am Hoopoe seen briefly on power
line from one of our windows. pm. We were invited to R&S's garden to see some of the 15 species of orchid they have recorded there. Full report in the plant section later, but for now, photo of Giant Orchid below: |
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(Above) Giant Orchid - Barlia
robertiana |
| 9th March - Went to see Lupins near Xirosterni (below) |
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| 11th March - 12 noon approx, Black Kite low over the sea
past Kalives.
(Had report from a lady in LIDL's Hania Car Park of a pair wintering
above Plaka, if you read this please supply more info) |
| 12th March - Two Alpine Swifts over our Vamos
patch, small flock House Martins near Georgipoupolis, and at the
lake, 1 Grey Heron, a red (common) darter dragonfly and more
surprisingly a few Blue Tailed Damselflies. Lake Kournas - 170+ Black-necked Grebe, 50+ Little Grebe and at approx 2.30pm small bat hunting near lake. Red Admiral and Painted Lady butterflies seen. 5pm over local patch House Martins and Crag Martins feeding together. |
| 13th March - 7 Ravens in dispute over local patch? One
incidence of talon locked freefall cart wheeling display. |
| 15th March - First Swallow sighting a single bird
over Nippos. |
| 16th March - Two Humming Bird Hawk moths in Duliana area.
Over Nippos large flock of Swifts with a few Alpine Swifts and the
same Swallow? Scops Owl calling at dusk at Lisardi. |
| 17th March - Trip with A&M to the Amari Valley. We
sighted a flock of mixed herons flying steadily through the
mountains (almost certainly visible migration). Long range sighting
but perhaps Grey Herons and Little Egrets. Later we watched an
interaction between five Hooded Crows and a female Sparrowhawk, did
she loose her temper, at any rate feathers flew! |
| 19th March - Stilos River at the church site, a new species of Damselfly for me, Common Winter Damselfly, a species that, unusually, hibernates in adult form. |
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(Above) Common Winter Damselfly
Sympecma fusca |
| 22nd March - Photographed this Hoopoe (through car windscreen) along our lane. |
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(Above) Hoopoe Upupa epops |
| 24th March - Petres Rivermouth: Three Little
Ringed Plovers, One Common Sandpiper, a Little Egret and Swallowtail
Butterfly.. Petres Gorge: At least three sitting Griffon Vultures, One feeding young. Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel and 69 Jackdaws also recorded. On way home along hillside south of Vamos a gathering of feeding Alpine Swifts, Swifts, Swallows and House Martins |
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(Above) Swallowtail Butterfly |
| 27th March - Most days hold a surprise and today's was not only the heat, but because we abandoned a longer walk in the heat we found these tulips on our patch. |
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| 29th March - A long drive today, along the north coast to
Rethimno, to the South Coast via the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, along the
south coast returning via the Imbros road home to Vamos. Kourtaliotiko Gorge: Griffon Vultures, Ravens, Buzzards, Blue Rock Thrush and Jackdaws. Near the south coast we had good views of a Chukar through telescope. A pair of Bonelli's Eagles circled east of the Imbros Gorge. |
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(Above) Chuckar Alectoris chukar |
