Birding Trip in Athens: Half-day April 8th 2023
David and Simon are two Spanish birders that came to Athens to enjoy the city but also its rich birdlife. They had only half a day to spend but that proved to be more than enough to explore most of the birding hotspots.
The first place to visit was Mt Parnitha, the richest mountain of Athens in terms of avifauna. We easily saw all our targets: Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Sombre Tit, Cretzschmar's Bunting.
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| Cretzschmar's Bunting |
We quickly moved to the northern part of the mountain to look for Rock Nuthatches and Eastern Orphean Warblers; both were enjoyed, especially the latter.
Next stop was Oropos Lagoon, for breeding Yellow Wagtails. We found several males singing and at the same time, a small group of Red-throated Pipits gave us stunning views.
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| Red-throated Pipit |
There was still time to look for the Ruppell's Warbler. We headed to Mt Hymettus and managed to find a striking male in no time.
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| Ruppell's Warbler |
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| Selfie after a highly successful trip |
At the end, 50 species were recorded during a very productive half-day birdwatching trip during which we managed to see all of the target birds!
TRIP CHECKLIST for April 8th, 2023
Chukar
Greater Flamingo
Black-winged Stilt
Kentish Plover
Common Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Yellow-legged Gull
Little Egret
Short-toed Snake-Eagle
Eurasian Scops-Owl
Eurasian Kestrel
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Magpie
Hooded Crow
Coal Tit
Sombre Tit
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Zitting Cisticola
Common Reed Warbler
Barn Swallow
Common House-Martin
Wood Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Eurasian Blackcap
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Ruppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Common Firecrest
Western Rock Nuthatch
Song Thrush
Eurasian Blackbird
European Robin
Common Nightingale
Collared Flycatcher
Black Redstart
European Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Western Yellow Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
Eurasian Linnet
European Goldfinch
Cirl Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
