Evrota Delta

text and more  images to follow

Common Tree Frog

Spotted Redshank with Black-winged Stilts

First Ringing Recovery

During the winter we received news of our first ringing recovery. It was a Pied Flycatcher, it was ringed 24 April 2018 and found dead near Zurich in Switzerland 125 days later on 28 August after flying into a window. 

This location is 1677km northwest of Cape Tenaro.

Given the date of recovery the bird was probably on its autumn migration when it died.

We even have a picture of the unfortunate bird: 

Spring 2018 Summary

It was an interesting year, although we didn’t have any large falls until the end of the second week there were a good variety of species and excellent raptor passage. Highlights included:

• Two Greek rarities: Western Bonelli's Warbler and Lesser Short-toed Lark
• Six new bird species were added to the Cape Tenaro list: Western Bonelli's Warbler, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Lanner Falcon, Little Crake, Short-eared Owl and Skylark.
• There was an exceptionally good raptor passage, the overall numbers were the best we have yet recorded. The total of 20 Pallid Harriers is of particular note.
• There was a notable fall of flycatchers on 24th April when 144 Pied and 65 Collared were recorded.
• A number of other scarce migrants for the headland were also logged, these included Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Green Sandpiper and Red-backed Shrike (only the second spring record for Cape Tenaro).
• A Golden Jackal photographed by a camera trap was the first record for the headland.

Raptor Passage 2018

Our visit this year yielded the best raptor passsage we’ve so far recorded.

The table provides a summary of the migrant raptors seen from 12 to 25 April 2018.

Species	Number
Honey-buzzard	1
Buzzard Sp.	1
Marsh Harrier	20
Hen Harrier	1
Montagu’s Harrier	20
Pallid Harrier	20
Harrier Sp.	23
Sparrowhawk	3
Lesser Kestrel	10
Kestrel	88
Kestrel Sp	39
Red-footed Falcon	6
Hobby	3
Eleonora’s Falcon	3
Small Falcon Sp.	15
Lanner	1
Total	254

Bird Ringing 2018

Here is the list of birds ringed during 12-25 April 2018

Species	Number Ringed
Wryneck	6
Turtle Dove	1
Cuckoo	1
Hoopoe	1
Tree Pipit	1
Golden Oriole	1
Woodchat Shrike	7
Blackbird	1
Nightingale	24
Whinchat	11
Redstart	6
Willow Warbler	5
Wood Warbler	16
Western Bonelli’s Warbler	1
Whitethroat	73
Garden Warbler	13
Blackcap	2
Sardinian Warbler	1
Rüppell’s Warbler	1
Subalpine Warbler	2
Sedge Warbler	21
Great Reed Warbler	3
Savi’s Warbler	1
Icterine Warbler	1
Sombre Tit	1
Pied Flycatcher	67
Collared Flycatcher	23
Spotted Flycatcher	1
Corn Bunting	1
Total	295

Western Bonelli’s Warbler at Cape Tenaro

On the first day of ringing this year we trapped a Bonelli’s Warbler. The appearance and measurements of the bird suggested that it was a Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) rather than an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus orientalis). Unfortunately these measurements were inconclusive so we were unclear as to the birds exact identity. While the bird was being ringed it lost a few very small body feathers, these were retained and have recently been the subject of a DNA test.
The results confirm that the bird was definitely a Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli). This is only the 3rd record for Greece and the first record for the mainland (the two earlier records were both on Antikythira).

Western Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) - 13th April 2018 

Camera Trap Surprises

For the last four days of our visit we set up a camera trap in the bottom of one of the gullies on the headland. There was a vague hope that it might produce a sighting of a skulking species such as a crake. It ended up recording 3 species of birds Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher and Wryneck, however the biggest surprise was the image of the back half of a large mammal, on close examination this proved to be a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus). We’ve seen these north of the headland around Gerolimenas and Kita but not this far south. 

Wryneck caught by the camera trap

Golden Jackal  (Canis aureus) - Cape Tenaro Headland - 22nd April 2018

More Flycatchers - Our Last Day - 25th April 2018

Today was our last full day on the headland and only partial coverage was achieved due to the need to take down the mistnets and then head off to Athens for flights home. All of the team had departed the headland by 13.00.
There was another good arrival of flycatchers with 32 Collared, 52 Pied and 25 Spotted, given some areas of the headland (Mianes and Marmari) were not covered at all totals are likely to have been even higher. 
There was a decent movement of House Martin, most of which flew north at Paliros in a single loose flock of 50 birds. 

Grounded Migrants: Other grounded migrants included 2 Hoopoe, 3 Golden Oriole,16 Woodchat Shrike, 20 Wood Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler, a late Blackcap, 5 Great Reed Warbler, 2 Icterine Warbler, 11 Whinchat, 2 Redstart and 2 Nightingale.

Visible Passage: 32 Turtle Dove, 54 Bee-eater, 64 House Martin and 3 Sand Martin.

Raptors: an adult male Montagu's Harrier, 1Marsh Harrier, 6 Kestrel and 4 Kestrel Sp.

Bird Ringing: 1 Golden Oriole, 1 Woodchat Shrike, 1 Wood Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Great Reed Warbler, 12 Pied Flycatcher, 5 Collared Flycatcher.

Overall Total: 27 birds ringed from 93m of nets.

Weather: NNW 5/6, clear skies and good visibility.

Collared Flycatcher near Koureli

Female Redstart at Koureli

The beach at the head of Vathi Bay below Koureli

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) near Koureli