Jodelle and Dick came from Seattle, USA and had a half day to spend birding with
Greece Bird Tours.
Schinias National Park
was the place we decided to visit as it always “offers” many different species.
On the way to Schinias
NP, we had a brief stop close to Rafina Port where a small stream flows in to
the sea and a few species can be seen. Our first bird of the day (apart from
the very common Magpie, Eurasian Collared
Dove and House Sparrow), was a White Wagtail, one of the many we saw
that day.
A Kingfisher offered us very close views of its characteristic way of fishing and
perching on a tree just a few meters from us. A flock of Chaffinches with some
Goldfinches were concentrated in another tree nearby. Birds were keep coming
and we had very good views of Little Egret, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel etc.
We left Rafina port
behind and after another short stop to a bakery for taking some traditional
Greek pies, we went straight to Schinias NP. It was clear from the beginning
that small birds would . So, dozens of Chaffinches,
Goldfinches, Serins, Corn Buntings, Meadow Pipits and a few Greenfinches were
everywhere.In the small water pools we saw Eurasian Teals, Mallards and a lone
Redshank.
 |
| White Wagtail |
An impressive spectacle
was two Eurasian Marsh Harriers flushing a flock of more
than 65 Grey Herons!
 |
| Marsh Harrier |
Our last stop was at
the Olympic Rowing Center where we saw more new species for the day like
Cormorant, Water Pipit, Crested Lark, Black-necked Grebe etc. The second
highlight for the day was a Pygmy Cormorant, a species we rarely see so south
in Greece.
 |
| Pygmy Cormorant |
BIRD TRIP
CHECKLIST
Mallard
|
(Eurasian) Wigeon
|
(Eurasian) Teal
|
Little Grebe
|
Black-necked Grebe
|
Great Cormorant
|
Pygmy Cormorant
|
Little Egret
|
Grey Heron
|
(Western) Marsh Harrier
|
Common Buzzard
|
(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk
|
(Common) Kestrel
|
Moorhen
|
Coot
|
Black-winged Stilt
|
(Common) Redshank
|
Black-headed Gull
|
Yellow-legged Gull
|
Collared Dove
|
Kingfisher
|
Crested Lark
|
Woodlark
|
Meadow Pipit
|
Water Pipit
|
White Wagtail
|
(Winter) Wren
|
(European) Robin
|
Black Redstart
|
(Common) Stonechat
|
Song Thrush
|
(Common) Blackbird
|
Blackcap
|
Sardinian Warbler
|
Cetti's Warbler
|
(Common) Chiffchaf
|
Great Tit
|
(Eurasian) Jay
|
Magpie
|
Hooded Crow
|
Raven
|
(Common) Starling
|
House Sparrow
|
(Eurasian) Tree Sparrow
|
Chaffinch
|
(European) Goldfinch
|
(European) Greenfinch
|
(European) Serin
|
Hawfinch
|
Cirl Bunting
|
Corn Bunting
|
