Tuesday 31 March 2015

A Fall and Raptor Passage too

Today (31st March) saw a really varied mix of migration with a fall, some northward passage, raptor arrivals and as well as a couple of species passing offshore.

The dominant species was Subalpine Warbler with 143 recorded, there was also 7 Hoopoe, 16 Wryneck, 36 Blackcap, 6 Robin, 11 Song Thrush, 32 Nightingale, 13 Black-eared Wheatear and 5 Spanish Sparrow.

At the lighthouse an adult Gannet flew west just before midday followed soon after by a flock of 40 Oystercatcher heading east. In addition 2 Stone-curlew were seen coming in from the sea.

Northern Gannet flying west past Cape Tenaro lighthouse - 31st March 2015

There was a steady movement of raptors all morning with almost half of the birds counted seen coming in off the sea at the lighthouse, totals for the day were: 9 Marsh Harrier, 16 Kestrel and 6 Lesser Kestrel (the latter includes 3 birds present above Kokinoghia for their third day).

The bird of the day was a Richard's Pipit heard at the lighthouse and then relocated on 'pipit plateau', where it briefly gave good views and was heard giving its distinctive 'schreeep' call several times.

Richard's Pipit on pipit plateau

First arrivals for the year were a Common Sandpiper in Porto Sternes, an Orphean Warbler at Koureli and a Savi's Warbler singing below Beehive Pass.

Other birds of note included 5 Hawfinch at Koureli (and 4 of these later at Paliros) and the continuing presence of at least 9 Isabelline Wheatear (the majority on pipit plateau).

Hawfinch at Paliros - 31st March 2015

Weather: there had been some rain overnight and it was still heavily overcast at first light. Clearing from 08.00 with clear blue skies from 10.00 for the rest of the day. Wind west or west-south-west all day.

 

 

Monday 30 March 2015

A few new arrivals....

Monday 30th March has seen a few new arrivals with the first Bee-eater of the year heard flying north over Koginoghia and 2 Cretzschmar's Buntings on a road above Marmari.

An Osprey flying north just inland from the lighthouse was one of only 5 raptors seen today, the others being 2 Marsh Harriers flying north and 2 of yesterday's Lesser Kestrels still present on wires above Kokinoghia.

There were still at least 5 Isabelline Wheatears present and the European Golden Plover was present for its fourth day in the 'swallow hollow' close to the lighthouse path.

European Golden Plover

While the numbers of most migrants had declined a few, notably 12 Wryneck and 10 Hoopoe, had increased; given the windy conditions this probably represented a small arrival. Totals for selected other species were: 3 Quail, 2 Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, 19 Blackcap, 74 Subalpine Warbler and 20 Nightingale.

The only other bird of note was a Crag Martin feeding with other hirundines along the slopes of the mountain.

Isabelline Wheatear near Gerolimenas (the birds on the headland have eluded the camera)

Harriers, a Plover and Hirundines

The 29th March saw another day of good raptor passage with a steady movement of Marsh Harriers all morning from when we first arrived (a little late) at the headland just after 08.00, with the last birds seen just before 13.30. This total includes several birds seen coming in off the sea at the lighthouse late morning. The final total was 25. There were also 4 Lesser Kestrel and 2 Kestrel. Late on a solitary ringtail Hen Harrier was seen feeding over the mountain.

A Marsh Harrier on the 'Narrows'


Lesser Kestrel at Kokinoghia

Other events of note was the presence of a European Golden Plover on 'pipit plateau', this presumably the same bird that was seen but not heard two days ago. A more thorough search of 'pipit plateau' today yielded no less than 10 Isabelline Wheatear (with additional singles at Koureli and Beehive Pass), this is an impressive total given we have only seen two birds in earlier years (2003 and 2010).

Day totals for other species were: 10 Common Swift, 9 Hoopoe, 8 Wryneck, 200 Swallow, 53 House Martin, 48 Red-rumped Swalllow (a new record count), 12 Whitethroat, 102 Subalpine Warbler, 4 Great Reed Warbler, 30 Nightingale, 7 Black Redstart, 7 Redstart and 18 Northern Wheatear.

Yesterday's Collared Flycatcher was again present in the bushes at Windy Gap (at Paliros) and had been joined by the first Pied Flycatcher (a male) of the spring.

A flock of 30+ terns flew east past the lighthouse but were very distant and eluded specific identification.

Sunday 29 March 2015

Subalpine Warblers and Black Redstarts

There was another good arrival yesterday (Saturday 28th March). Once again Subalpine Warblers were the dominant species with 149 logged, there was also a good showing of 10 Black Redstart, with half of these on and around the buildings at Paliros. Notable counts for other species were: 15 Wryneck, 13 Chiffchaff, 32 Blackcap, 23 Nightingale and the first Collared Flycatcher of the season (a male at Paliros).

Tree Pipit at Marmari - 28th March 2015

Raptor passage was more limited with singles of Marsh Harrier and Lesser Kestrel and 5 Kestrel.

Oddities included no less than 7 Isabelline Wheatear (all on 'pipit plateau'), presumably a product of Thursday's south-easterly gale, 2 Hooded Crow (rarer than Blue-cheeked Bee-eater on the headland in Spring !!) and 3 Crag Martin (our first headland record since 2003).

Friday 27 March 2015

Harriers and Subalpine Warblers

Yesterday (Friday 27th) saw a really good arrival as well as a decent raptor passage. Strong east or south-east winds had been blowing across the eastern Mediterranean and had left a covering of Saharan dust on vehicles overnight, generally a promising sign for a migrant arrival.

Small birds were present from early on and there was a really good variety present, the dominant species was Subalpine Warbler with 93. There were also 19 Hoopoe, 8 Wryneck, 30 Short-toed Lark, 2 Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 22 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler, 4 Great Reed Warbler, 8 Robin, 22 Nightingale, 6 Black Redstart, 9 Common Redstart, 3 Isabelline Wheatear, 34 Northern Wheatear, 17 Song Thrush, 230 flava Wagtail, 7 Tawny Pipit and 11 Tree Pipit. Finally 2 Purple Heron were flushed from a garden at Koureli.

Northern Wheatear at Cape Tenaro

Raptors had clearly also arrived overnight and started to move as the weather improved, with perched birds seen taking to the wing from the ridge south-west of Kokinoghia. The most abundant species was Marsh Harrier with 44 heading north however there were also 3 very smart adult Pallid Harriers, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and 9 Kestrel.

Following the gale there was also a strong movement of shearwaters, presumably heading back east having been displaced westwards By the do bad weather. A 15 minute sample count revealed 72 Scopoli's and 39 Yelkouan Shearwaters heading east.

Weather: calm to start and overcast, rain showers early morning then gradually clearing, wind freshening to South-westerly force 5 to 6 later.

 

Wet and Windy

Following our arrival in Greece there had been heavy overnight rain; heavy showers and occasional heavy downpours continued throughout the next day (Thursday 26th). En route to Cape Tenaro we spent the morning of the 26th birdwatching in the Evrota delta, a reasonable selection of birds were seen including Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron and Little Egret. The highlight however was one small area of fields with both bare ground and a clover crop this contained at least 800 flava Wagtails as well as 2 Northern Wheatears, a single Black-eared Wheatear, 3 Isabelline Wheatears and an early Whinchat (a stunning male).

The end of the afternoon was spent on the Cape Tenaro headland, in contrast to the delta this was blasted by strong easterly winds. In the more sheltered areas at Marmari we saw 18 Song Thrush, 14 Subalpine Warblers and 9 Chiffchaffs.

 

 

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Raptor Migration in 2014

A rather belated summary of raptor migration from our 12 days of observations in 2014 (26 April to 7 May inclusive);


Species
Number Seen
Honey-buzzard
1
Marsh Harrier
7
Montagu’s Harrier
3
Lesser Kestrel
4
Kestrel
18
Hobby
3
Eleonora’s Falcon
1
Falcon Sp
2
 
 
Total
39