A few Collared Flycatchers in a small arrival

Yesterday (5th April) was our last day at Cape Tenaro this year, we were able to achieve only partial coverage (the route to the lighthouse, upper Kokinoghia, Beehive Pass, Paliros and Porto Kagio) before we left. This was enough to establish there had been a small arrival despite the good weather, it seems reasonable to assume that with clear skies and very light winds the majority of birds passed overhead to better habitat further up the Mani or inland. Nightingale was again the dominant species, with smaller numbers of Redstarts, Whinchats, Black-eared Wheatears and a few Pied and Collared Flycatchers. Overall a really enjoyable morning's birding in great weather. 

Totals for the (half) day were: 4 Quail, 3+ Bee-eater, 4 Hoopoe, 2 Wryneck, 1 Wood Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 13 Subalpine Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 1 Ruppell's Warbler, 8 Redstart, 18 Nightingale, 5 Whinchat, 15 Black-eared Wheatear, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Isabelline Wheatear, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Collared Flycatcher, 3 Red-throated Pipit, 10 Tree Pipit, 6 Ortolan Bunting and 1 Cretzschmar's Bunting.

Lighthouse - 1 Black-eared Wheatear and 3 Swallows seen to come in off the sea. On the path approaching the lighthouse there were also 1 Wryneck, 1 Hoopoe, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Nightingale, 1 Whinchat, and 1 Pied Flycatcher all presumably recent arrivals. There were also at least 6 dolphins riding the bow wave of a passing container ship (not just the 3 mentioned in a tweet).

Raptors - 1 Kestrel at Paliros

Weather - calm or variable 1-2, clear and sunny, some haze restricting visibility

A male Collared Flycatcher at Porto Kagio - 5th April 2016

There was a small arrival of Black-eared Wheatears, this one looks very white in bright sunlight at Paliros

A view of Porto Kagio bay from Paliros

Some summary posts to follow over the next week.