Bird photography tour: Raptors Project, Nov 18th 2023

Bird photography tour around Athens: Raptors Project, Nov 18th 2023

Photographing birds of prey is always challenging. Read here about our recent private bird tour for an american bird photographer who wanted to spent the day photoshooting birds of prey and local birds of interest.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Γερακίνα
flying att Kopaida plains

Scott Tattu is an avid bird photographer from New York city, that visited Athens and wanted to photograph as many birds of prey as possible. Since migration was at its end, we focused on local resident species and chose Central Greece, Viotia in particular, as a close by destination for the day.

Since Scott was staying in downtown, we started in the biggest urban city park, Tritsis Metropolitan Park, at Ilion, west Athens. The place is very quiet in the mornings, and it is a good starting point, where you can get easily photograph some resident or overwintering european species. We enjoyed great shots of Kingfisher, Chaffinches, Robins and other small passerines. We briefly saw Penduline Tits, but sadly did not manage to take any pictures. 

Striking Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - Αλκυόνη
wating for its prey

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psitacula krammeri) - Δακτυλιδολαίμης Ψιττακίσκος
are residents at Tritis Metropolitan Park

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficolis) - Νανοβουτηχτάρι
enjoying the parks' water reservoirs

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) - Σπίνος
looking for seeds

Eurasian Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - Κοκκινολαίμης

After an hour of birding and bird photography at the park, he headed north, to Oropos Lagoon. The area offers great views of waders, ducks and small passerines. However, it was too early for any wintering ducks, so we spent some time with Flamingos, Dunlins, Kentish Plovers, Black Redstarts, Goldfinches, Grey Plovers. 

Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) - Φοινικόπτερα

at Oropos lagoon

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) - Λασποσκαλίδρα
in winter plumage

Using the car as hide is often a very succesful technique of camouflage
in order to photograph birds and other wildlife

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - Καρδερίνα at Oropos Lagoon

Our main destination was Kopaida plains, north of the town of Thebes. The whole area is planted with cotton, whey, clover, corn and the fields are usually full of rodents, lizards, small birds, which makes it excellent habitat for raptors. 

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticolla solitarius) - Γαλαζοκότσυφας
a resident bird of Greece

We had excellent views of Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, as well as some resident birds like Blue Rock Thrush, Jackdaws. Other birds of interest were Meadow Pipits, Northern Lapwings, and a unexpected small group of Black Storks. 

Commo Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Γερακίνα

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - Βραχοκιρκίνεζο
portrait in flight, a very dificult shot

Common Kestrel hovering

Common Kestrel

Meadow Pipit (Anthus campestris) - Λιβαδοκελάδα

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - Καλημάνες

The full bird list of the day, Nov 18th 2023

Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Greater Flamingo
Little Grebe
Feral Pigeon
Collared Dove
Moorhen

Dunlin
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Turnstone
Kentish Plover
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Redshank
Greenshank
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Bull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black Stork
Greater Cormorant
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Kestrel
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit
Sardinian Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffachaff
Magpie
Jay
Hooded Crow
Jackdaw
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Penduline tit

Wren
Crested Lark

Starling
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Black Redstart
Blue Rock Thrush
Stonechat
House Sparrow

Tree Sparrow
Goldfinch
Linnet
Siskin
Corn Bunting