Summary - Monday 8th April
Despite the dreadful weather to start this proved to be an absolutely cracking days birding with the best variety of species so far recorded. Warblers in particular could be seen bush hopping northwards once the rain stopped, Whitethroat and Willow Warblers were the two most obvious species; there was a particularly noteworthy concentration of 35 Whitethroats in the fields at Mianes.
The small raptor passage today was also varied with 6 Marsh Harriers, single stunning male Pallid and Montagu's Harriers and two Kestrels.
Following the recent wet weather the ancient baths on the way to the lighthouse are now full and there was a Green Toad calling from there in the afternoon.
Despite the dreadful weather to start this proved to be an absolutely cracking days birding with the best variety of species so far recorded. Warblers in particular could be seen bush hopping northwards once the rain stopped, Whitethroat and Willow Warblers were the two most obvious species; there was a particularly noteworthy concentration of 35 Whitethroats in the fields at Mianes.
The small raptor passage today was also varied with 6 Marsh Harriers, single stunning male Pallid and Montagu's Harriers and two Kestrels.
Following the recent wet weather the ancient baths on the way to the lighthouse are now full and there was a Green Toad calling from there in the afternoon.
Grounded Migrants: 24 Hoopoe, 3 Wryneck, 14 Short-toed Lark, 10 Golden Oriole, 19 Woodchat Shrike, 31 Willow Warbler, 14 Wood Warbler, 14 Subalpine Warbler, 67 Whitethroat, 1 Garden Warbler, 28 Blackcap, 2 Great Reed Warbler, 9 Whinchat, 13 Black-eared Wheatear, 17 Northern Wheatear, 68 Nightingale, 11 Redstart, 28 Pied Flycatcher, 15 Collared Flycatcher, 19 Tawny Pipit, 18 Tree Pipit, 4 Ortolan Bunting
Visible Passage: 35 Turtle Dove (mostly flushed from olive groves), 44 Swallow, including 30 roosting on wires at Kokinoghia for a time.
Raptors: 6 Marsh Harriers, single stunning male Pallid and Montagu's Harriers and two Kestrels, all flew north. Given the focus on looking for grounded migrants we suspect more birds of prey were missed.
Ringing Totals: 1 Hoopoe, 1 Wryneck, 13 Pied Fly, 4 Collared Fly, 2 Nightingale, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Wood Warbler, 3 Subalpine Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Redstart and 1 Robin.
Overall Total: 35 birds ringed from 94m of nets.
Weather: Overcsat with continuous rain until 10.00, then showers. Wind SW or WSW4-6. Showers finished about 11.30, then dry to 15.30, when more showers and increasing wind W5-6. Overcast with the odd, tiny patch of blue sky in the afternoon.
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| Hoopoe sheltering from the rain in a Kokinoghia olive grove |
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| Wryneck - one of two seen on 'Pipit Plateau' today |
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| Marsh Harrier heading north at Kokinoghia |
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| One of a flock of 4 Ortolan Buntings seen above Kokinoghia |
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| Woodchat Shrike by the road to Kokinoghia |
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| Green Toad at Mianes |
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