Philip is an English birdwatcher who came to Athens in February and wanted to go birding along with his wife. They did not want to start very early so the pick up time was set at 08.30. The first destination of the trip was Schinias National Park and we first visited the Olympic Rowing Center where we saw a Red-crested Pochard, lots of Ferruginous Ducks and the Pygmy Cormorant that overwinters in the site. There were also lots of Shovelers, Common Pochards, grebes (Little, Black-necked and Great Crested) and hundreds of Coots.
We also saw Penduline Tits, lots of finches, pipits and wagtails and other passerines.
We left the rowing center and drove through the central marsh, looking for Moustached Warblers. We managed to find two birds, along with lots of Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings.
The total count was 53 species, seen and heard. Not bad at all, for a February tour!
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| Red-crested Pochard |
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| Penduline Tit |
On our way back from Schinias, we looked for Chukar Partridges on Mt Penteli. We managed two find two flocks of these rather wary birds.
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| Chukar Partridge |
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| Philip, looking for Chukars on Mt Penteli |
TRIP CHECKLIST
Chukar
Shoveler
Wigeon
Red-crested Pochard
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Pygmy Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Egret
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Water Rail
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Collared Dove
Kestrel
Magpie
Jay
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Penduline Tit
Rock Nuthatch
Wren
Cetti's Warbler
Chiffchaff
Moustached Warbler
Zitting Cisticola
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Robin
Black Redstart
Stonechat
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit
Reed Bunting
Cirl Bunting
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Serin
Linnet
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
