Birding tour around Athens: Oct 28th 2022
Winter is just around the corner, but the weather is still excellent for a full day birding tour around Athens. A Tawny Owl was definately the highlight of the day!
We started our trip from Mt Parnitha. After the first steap turns, we stopped at an area with Oak trees. Robins and Blackbirds were heard from everywhere. Firecrests were very active, as well as Cirl Buntings Coal Tits and Great Tits.
Suddenly we heard a familiar sound: a Tawny Owl calling! It took us more than half an hour to find it. A striking Tawny Owl, sitting fearless on a Cephalonian Fir tree. What a sighting!
We couldn't get enough watching the bird, perching and turning the head almost 360degrees. We managed to record a videos with a mobile phone, with the use of the spotting scope: It might not be a highest quality wildlife video footage, however it really captures the moments
Impressive Tawny Owl twisting its head almost 360degrees
We headed towards Mpafi Refuge, a nice place to rest for hikers (and birders!). After a morning cup of coffee, we continued our birding adventure. Firecrests and Coal Tits were around the trees of the refuge! Great Tits and Robins everywhere.
Singing Cirl Bunting
A cute Coal Tit
Great Tit on a fir tree
Grey Plover at Oropos Lagoon
Robin at Mt Parnitha
Cretan Chamois at Mt Parnitha
After a great morning, we headed north to Oropos Lagoon. The Flamingos are now more than 20 birds, while more Great White Egrets are arriving. Kentish Plovers were very active, while Redshanks and Grey Plovers gave us a lot of photographic opportunities. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was still there, as well as Slender-billed Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls, and 2 Spoonbills
Redshank beside the sea, at Oropos Lagoon
Kentish Plover running at the seashore, at Oropos Lagoon
with Mt Pendeli in the backround
Overall we saw 45 species, here is the full bird list
Green-winged Teal
Greater Flamingo
Rock Pigeon
Collared Dove
Grey Plover
Kentish Plover
Ringed Plover
Bar-tailed Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Little Stint
Greenshank
Redshank
Slender-billed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Sandwich Tern
Great Cormorant
Grey Heron
Great White Egret
Little Egret
Spoonbill
Common Buzzard
Tawny Owl
Kingfisher
Eurasian Kestrel
Eurasian Jay
Magpie
Hooded Crow
Raven
Coat Tit
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Chiffchaff
Firecrest
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Stonechat
House Sparrow
Water Pipit
Chaffinch
Cirl Bunting
Spyros Skareas
Bird Guide and Certified Tour Leader
Athens, GREECE
All sightings available at my eBird profile
