Bauke is a Dutch guy who loves birds and Greece. Two years ago he birded with us on a two day trip to Messolonghi Lagoon and Mt Parnassos and now he came back to Greece for more! His wish list included the Great Spotted Eagle and the Moustached Warbler, both winter visitos to Schinias National Park. That's why we decided to spend the whole day there and enjoy the birdlife of Athens' most important freshwater wetland.
We started looking fot the skulky Moustached Warbler at the extensive marshes. We managed to find at least five birds and Bauke got some really good views of the bird! Along with these, we saw an overwintering Black-winged Stilt (a very rare sight), a Spotted Redshank and dozens of waterfowl: two Greylag Geese (rare winter visitors to Athens), Shovelers, Teals, Mallards, Pintails and the endangered Ferruginous Ducks.
When we arrived at the Olympic Rowing Center, we looked for more waterfowl and we managed to see more than 20 Red-crested Pochards, another interesting sight, along with more than 40 Pochards!
It was noon and we still hadn't seen the king of the marsh, the Great Spotted Eagle. We moved back to the heart of the wetland, looking at the sky. And there it was! The impressive raptor passed over, making a few circles above us and then it vanished....
It was another great day of birding; we saw some 60 species and had a really great time! We thank Bauke for choosing to bird with us again and we're looking forward to seeing him again in spring!
We started looking fot the skulky Moustached Warbler at the extensive marshes. We managed to find at least five birds and Bauke got some really good views of the bird! Along with these, we saw an overwintering Black-winged Stilt (a very rare sight), a Spotted Redshank and dozens of waterfowl: two Greylag Geese (rare winter visitors to Athens), Shovelers, Teals, Mallards, Pintails and the endangered Ferruginous Ducks.
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| Shovelers and Teals |
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| Greylag Geese and Pintails |
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Male Red-crested Pochard |
It was noon and we still hadn't seen the king of the marsh, the Great Spotted Eagle. We moved back to the heart of the wetland, looking at the sky. And there it was! The impressive raptor passed over, making a few circles above us and then it vanished....
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| Bauke, looking for the eagle |
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| Great Spotted Eagle |
It was another great day of birding; we saw some 60 species and had a really great time! We thank Bauke for choosing to bird with us again and we're looking forward to seeing him again in spring!
TRIP CHECKLIST
Greylag Goose
Mute Swan
Common Shelduck
Eurasian Widgeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Red-crested Pochard
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Great Cormorant
Greater Spotted Eagle
Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Water Rail
Eurasian Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Kestrel
Eurasian Magpie
Hooded Crow
Woodlark
Eurasian Skylark
Crested Lark
Eurasian Crag Martin
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Eurasian Wren
Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Moustached Warbler
Eurasian Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
European Robin
Black Redstart
European Stonechat
Eurasian Blackbird
Song Thrush
Dunnock
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Cirl Bunting
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
European Serin
House Sparrow
