Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Migration gathers pace

Highlights - 6th April

Although there were only modest numbers of migrants about it felt that there was more happening today - with birds in some of the bushes, pipits and wagtails in the open areas, a marked arrival of wheatears and a small movement of raptors (kestrel just reached double figures).

We also logged  several firsts for the year: Bee-eater, Great Reed Warbler and an early Garden Warbler.

Grounded Migrants: the lighter winds allowed a few birds in and made those that were still here easier to see. 'Chats' in particular had a good day with 17 Whinchat, 24 Redstart, 3 Isabelline Wheatear, 16 Northern Wheatear and 27 Black-eared Wheatear. There was an increase in flycatchers with 9 Pied and 5 Collared. Subalpine Warblers are still the dominant warbler species, 60 were counted. Other birds in improved  numbers: 17 Hoopoe and 10 Wryneck.

There were several firsts for the year including the first party of Bee-eaters heard heading north over Porto Kagio, the first Garden Warbler (caught and ringed) and the first 8 Great Reed Warblers, five of which were in the gardens at Porto Kagio.

Visible Passage: Swallows stole the show with 190 logged, there were a few flavas, including a party of 7 late afternoon, and another respectable showing of 23 Tawny Pipi and a good count of 46 Tree Pipit.

Raptors: the best day yet with 10 Kestrel, 1 Montagu's Harrier and a harrier sp

Bird Ringing: another good session saw 80 new birds ringed: 13 Blackcap, 13 Subalpine, 9 Whitethroat, 8 Willow Warbler, 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Tree Pipit, 3 Nightingale, 3 Collared Flycatcher, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Wryneck, 2 Eastern Orphean Warbler, 2 Redstart, 2 Robin, 2 Wood Warbler and single Ortolans Bunting, Linnet, Song Thrush, Linnet, Hoopoe, Ruppell's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff and an early Garden Warbler.

Weather: The first calm (well almost calm) day in over a week. Winds light N or NE, hazy with moderate to fair visibility

Other Wildlife: the most unexpected today was of a Whinchat trying to devour a Worm Snake, it eventually gave up and the snake provided a photo opportunity before slithering into cover

Eastern Orphean Warbler - one of two ringed today

Wryneck at ‘swallow hollow’

Swallow at Porto Sternes - part of a major arrival today

Toothed Orchid on the path to the Lighthouse

Worm Snake near Paliros 

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