Athens Birding Tours: Aug 6th 2022

Trip report from an early August guided trip around Athens for a solo female traveller from Tacoma WA. 

Marissa is studying archeology in Athens and loves birdwatching at her local patch, Tacoma Washington. We recently organized a summer half day trip aroung Athens, in order for her to become more familiar with european bird species. We decided to visit areas that still hold enough water for passing waders, as well as some rocky parts in order to get some breeding residents.

Our fist location we visited was Oropos Lagoon, at the northen part of Attica. Just before arriving at the lagoon, I spotted a big falcon, seeming too dark to be a Kestrel. Indeed, after coming out of the car, we had the luck to see a beautiful Eleonorae's Falcon...what a bird to start the day! Lots of hirundines were also flying around, including House Martins and Barn Swallows, Common and Pallid Swifts.

Reaching the wetland, Black-winged Stilts were there breeding all summer, so he enjoyed very close views of this delicate wader. We could easily see the young and adult birds, looking for food in the shallow waters

Black-winged Stilt at Oropos Lagoon

Several Kentish Plovers were running around the coast, some of them with recenlty flegded young. Two Greater Flamingos and several Little Ringed Plovers were at the east part of the lagoon, together with Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Redshanks.

Oropos Lagoon, an important wetland of Athens

Nearby, a flock of gulls, most of them Mediterranean Gulls, mixed with Black-headed and Yellow-legged. On a tiny islet, Little Terns and a Common Tern were ready to take off. Zitting Cisticolas here heard from all over the place.

Red-rumped Swallow at Oropos Lagoon

After a couple of hours birdwatching around Oropos Lagoon, we headed to the north side of Mt Parnitha, around the small town of Avlona. The area is excellent for Blue Rock Thrush and Rock Nuthatch, as well as Raven and Common Kestrel. Indeed, two pairs of Common Kestrels were feeding their young, at the rocky area close to the town. 

Rocky slopes of Avlona hills

Cirl Bunting were seen too, together with Great Tits, Red-rumped Swallows and Crested Larks. 

Happy to be in shade for a while,
during a hot summer birding day around Athens

The full bird list for the morning of August 6th, 2022

Greater Flamingo

Shag

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Eleonorae's Falcon

Common Kestrel 

Kentish plover

Little Ringed Plover
Green Sandpiper

Redshank

Greenshank

Little Stint

Common Tern

Mediterranean gull

Yellow legged Gull

Black headed gull

Common Swift

Pallid Swift

House Martins

Barn Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow 

Collared Dove

Feral Pigeon 

Hooded Crow

Magpie

Black headed Wagtail
Crested Lark

Blue Rock Thrush 

Great Tit

Zitting Cisticola

Sardinian Warbler 

House Sparrow 

Cirl Bunting