Birdwatching Athens: birding weekend March 25th-26th

Greece Bird Tours organized a tailor made birding trip around various locations in Athens, for canadian birder Burke Korol, from Toronto. Burke had an extensive life list of 2900 species and was seeking some of the countries specialties. We managed to find about 60-65% of the desired species, only missing some later arrivals.
The first day we started from Oropos Lagoon, were there were plenty of waders, ducks and raptors. We enjoyed 3 Kentish Plovers on the beach, Little Ringed Plovers, Marsh Sandpipers, a few Black-headed Wagtails, and some Cirl Buntings.

Cirl Bunting at Oropos Lagoon, Athens

 We continued at towards Marathon area, and started birdwatching aroung Schinias National Park. A Little Owl was sitting on the road next to the main road, so Burke had very good views and took some nice photos. Other highlights in the marshes were a Spotted Crake, Ferruginous Ducks, Blue Rock Thrush in the surrounding hills, and a few Red-rumped Swallows.

Black-headed Wagtail at Schinias National Park, Athens

We really wanted to see Sombre Tit, so we headed north, to Grammatiko fields. We managed to have good views of a few birds that we singing between the olive orchards.

Sombre Tit at Grammatiko, Athens

 

 We made another stop at Pendeli Mt were we have excellent views of recently arrived Subalpine Warblers. Also, a Raven was soaring around the rocky summits, mobbed by Common Kestrels and Common Buzzards.

Raven at Pendeli Mt, Athens

 Our next day started with Kesariani Monastery. Sparrowhawk, Wood Warbler, Coal Tit, Sardinian Warblers and Cirl Bunting were the most interesting sightings. Since Burke was interested in both flora and fauna of Athens, we both loved to see Marginated Tortoises that seemed very active!

Marginated Tortoises in Athens

We drove up to the summit of Hymettus Mt looking for Rueppell's Warbler. Although it was rather early for their arrival, we saw 3 birds at an altitude of 850m, very close to the top of the mountain. A few Subalpine Warblers were singing from the bushes, along with Sardinian Warblers.

Rueppell's Warbler in Hymettus Mt, Athens

Our last location for the bird trip was Vravrona Estuary, east from Athens International Airport. We were lucky to see numerous flocks of Yelkouan Shearwaters, a total of about 200 birds. Together with them, we also saw 3 Cory's Shearwaters and a Shag, all being lifers for Burke! Close to the paved little bridge of Erasinos stream, we had a Little Crake, chased by two Water Rails.

Little Crake at Vravrona, Athens

Our last stop next to the archeological site of Artemis Temple, did not bring us Penduline Tit that we were looking for, but a very curious and rather tame Stoat that responding to our pishing sounds!

A very friendly Stoat at Vravrona, Athens

Burke from Toronto, birding with Greece Bird Tours

Here's is the Bird List (87 species )for the two days birding around Athens

Cory's Shearwater

Yelkouan Shearwater

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Great Cormorant

Shag

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Great White Egret

Flamingo
Mute Swan

Mallard

Garganey

Shoveler

Teal

Pintail

Shelduck

Ferruginous Duck

Little Crake

Spotted Crake

Water Rail

Moorhen

Coot

Sparrowhawk

Common Buzzard

Common Kestrel
Marsh Harrier

Northern Harrier
Grey Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Kentish Plover

Curlew

Black-winged Stilt

Snipe

Redshank

Marsh Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Little Stint

Dunlin

Ruff

Yellow-legged Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Sandwich Tern

Collared Dove

Jay

Mapgie

Hoopoe 

Little Owl

Common Swift

House Martin

Barn Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

 Meadow Pipit

Tree Pipit

Water Pipit

Crested Lark

Black-headed Wagtail

White Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Rock Nuthatch

Stonechat

Northern Wheatear

Blue Rock Thrush

Blackbird

Raven

Great Tit

Coat Tit

Zitting Cisticola

Blackcap

Cetti's Warbler

Chiffchaff

Wood Warbler

Sardinian Warbler

Rueppell's Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Serin

House Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Corn Bunting

Cirl Bunting