Summary - Tuesday 9th April
A challenging day's birding with the strong winds meaning there were few sheltered areas and migrants were hard to count. Despite that we managed a good mix of species the best of which was an adult White Stork flushed from rocks in Porto Sternes, it circled around before departing north up the east side of the headland.
The other notable event today were northward bound gangs of Spanish Sparrows, all seen before 10.00. These birds had presumably arrived late yesterday in the increasing wind. Migrating flocks of Spanish Sparrows almost always move through Cape Tenaro early to mid-afternoon , presumably having left Africa at dawn the same day. The total count of 470 birds is a new record day count for the headland.
Two Red-throated Pipit found in ‘Swallow Hollow' were the first of the year.
A challenging day's birding with the strong winds meaning there were few sheltered areas and migrants were hard to count. Despite that we managed a good mix of species the best of which was an adult White Stork flushed from rocks in Porto Sternes, it circled around before departing north up the east side of the headland.
The other notable event today were northward bound gangs of Spanish Sparrows, all seen before 10.00. These birds had presumably arrived late yesterday in the increasing wind. Migrating flocks of Spanish Sparrows almost always move through Cape Tenaro early to mid-afternoon , presumably having left Africa at dawn the same day. The total count of 470 birds is a new record day count for the headland.
Two Red-throated Pipit found in ‘Swallow Hollow' were the first of the year.
Grounded Migrants: 1 Quail, 19 Hoopoe, 2 Wryneck, 44 Short-toed Lark, 21 Woodchat Shrike, 10 Willow Warbler, 14 Subalpine Warbler, 22 Whitethroat, 3 Great Reed Warbler, 14 Whinchat, 13 Black-eared Wheatear, 19 Northern Wheatear, 1 Isabelline Wheatear, 22 Nightingale, 10 Redstart, 8 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Collared Flycatcher, 12 Tawny Pipit and 1 Cretzschmar’s Bunting.
Visible Passage: 1 White Stork, 470 Spanish Sparrow went north (see summary)
Raptors: 4 Montagu's and 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel. All four of the Montagu's spent some time hunting over the headland giving great views while they did so.
Bird Ringing: None, too windy
Weather: A windy day! Wind WNW 6-7 all day. Broken cloud to start, one heavy shower at 09.00. Patchy cloud after that with long sunny intervals.
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White Stork over Porto Sternes
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Ophrys ferriun-equinum (Horseshoe Ophrys) |
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| Willow Warbler on ‘Pipit Plateau’ |
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| A view of Vathi Bay and the road to Kokinoghia |
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