Birding Athens Tour, June 2023: Raptors and summer specials

Two custom made birdwatching tours were organized during the first week of June. The first one for a wildlife photographer from Taiwan and the next one for a couple of US birders from Fairbanks, Alaska! As temperatures start to raise, most wetlands around Athens have less shorebirds than any time of the year. It is time to hit the north and west side of Athens, with a slight extention to Voetia and Kopaida Plains. Some of the most striking species breed in these area, and this is the best time of the year for a birding and bird photograpy trip.

White Storks at Kopaida Plains

During the first trip, we mainly visited Kopaida fields. At our first main stop we were thrilled to watch a big flock of 12 White Storks feeding in the fields. There beautiful species is closely connected with humans as it lives and nests in small villaged and towns.

White Storks wondering at Kopaida fields

Red is the color of spring

We also had the chance to enjoy several birds of prey. Firstly the powerful Eleonorae's Falcon, a raptor that overwinters in Madagaskar and come to Greece every summer to breed. Actually, Greece hosts more than 80% of the world breeding population of Eleonorae's Falcons!

A totaly black Eleonorae's Falcon, against contrast light

We also saw a couple of Short-toed Snake Eagles. Since this raptor is often hovering (very rare for eagles!), we could take pictures but also watch the bird's behavior with the spotting scope. Apart from Common Buzzards, we also saw several Long-legged Buzzard, a scarce resident species which is a target one for many birders visiting Greece, as it is not easily in the rest of Europe.

A Short-toed Snake Eagle among the clouds

Long-legged Buzzard: A resident raptor

One of the mst colorful species we saw was the Black-headed Bunting. Striking yellow breast, black head and rusty brownish back, this bunting overwinters in India and breeds every year in Greece. It's song is the most recognisable summer sound around vineyards and other cultivated areas of Central and Northern Greece. Another unique singer, is the Common Nightingale, found usually close to streams and green vegetation (poplar, willow, etc). Despite singing very loud, it is often really hard to see or even take a picture of it.

Singing Black-headed Bunting

Common Nightingale singing loud

A Little Owl is always fun to watch. This cute species of owl was perching close to an electricity pole, and the first impression was than the eyes were too dark.... Well, we were fooled: that was the back side of the bird! The V-shaped marking on the back of the head mimics eyes to prevent predators attacking from behind. So after a few seconds, the head turned 180 degrees, and then we could see the real face of the bird, with striking yellow eyes. What a surprise!

Little Owl: back view!

... and here's is my real face

Kopaida plains and the surrounding hills is home for some of the most wanted birds than most birders seek when visiting Athens and Greece in general. During this trip, we also encountered the rare Sombre Tit, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Eastern Olivaceous Warblers

Here's is the bird list from this two days birdwatching tour at the northern parts of Athens

Collared Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
White Stork
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Squacco Heron
Short-toed Eagle
Eleonorae's Falcon
Common Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Hoopoe
Bee-eater
Golden Oriole
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Little Owl
Magpie
Hooded Crow
Raven
Sombre Tit
Great Tit
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Subalpine Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Great Reed Warbler
Barn Swallow
House Martin
Red-rumped Swallow
Western Rock Nuthatch
Stonechat
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Black-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Cirl Bunting