Trip Report: Athens birding tour, March 24th 

Today we organized a trip for Jane R., an avid birder from Twisp WA, who had several target species and gave us a real challenge to try and find them. Read here a full trip report of our succesful birding tour around Athens.

Since the pick up point was from her accommodation in Koukaki area, we started our day with Tritsis Metropolitan Park, the biggest urban park in Athens. Right after our arrival we saw the first Barn Swallows, Hoopoes and singing Cetti's Warbler. At the artifical lakes we had great views of Penduline Tits and White Wagtails, as well as Sardinian Warblers in the nearby bushes.

The stunning Scops Owl, hidden in the pine foliage

The highlight of the day was at the are with the pine trees. A roosting Scops Owl, a bird that is very rarely seen during the day, was perching on a pine tree just a few meters away from us! Scops Owl breed all around Athens area, they can be heard during summer nights, but try finding them... it is almost impossible at day time.

Alexandrine Parakeets and Rose-ringed Parakeets are also seen at the park. Serins, Goldfinches, Coal Tits and Great Tits were recorded, together with Common Kestrel, Chiffchaffs, Night Herons, Black-headed Gulls.

Alexandrine Parakeet

After spending the first hour at the park, we headed north to Oropos Lagoon, one of the largest wetlands around the city. Black-winged Stilts have recently arrived and they were establishing their territories. He had nice views of impressive Flamingos, Sandwich Terns, Shovelers and Mallards. Jane's targets were also Little Egret, Kentish Plover, we managed to get those two pretty easily. 

Black-winged Stilt at Oropos Lagoon

Greater Flamingos

Kentish Plovers are residents at Oropos Lagoon

Among the flocks of Dunlins, Little Stints, and Black-bellied Plovers, we spotted a polvet that looks smaller, more light color: it was a Golden Plover, a highlight bird for Attica region. 

A Golden Plover next to a group
of Black-bellied Plovers

We move to Asopos river, where we spotted a Kingfisher, another lifer for Jane, however the bird did not gave us too many chances to enjoy, flying fast between the reeds. Later on, our final destination was Avlona hills, in an attempt to find colorful Cirl Bunting. Indeed, we tryied hard but finally managed to see the birds, a couple of males with striking yellow-black pattern. Finally, we spotted a nice singing Eastern Subalpine Warbler, next to the little chapel of Avlona.

Overall we saw the following 62 species during our birdwatching tour around Athens.

Mute Swans
Greater Flamingo
Mallard
Shoveler
Moorhen
Coot
Greylag Goose (feral)
Muscovy Dusk (feral)
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Eurasian Curlew
Black-winged Stilt
Little Stint
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Golden Plover
Redshank
Sandwich Tern
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Alexandrine Parakeet
Ring-necked Parakeet
Common Kestrel
Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Jay
Collared Dove
Hooded Crow
Magpie
Scops Owl
Hoopoe
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Penduline Tit
Zitting Cisticola
Crested Lark
Eurasian Robin
Stonechat
White Wagtail
Water Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Meadow Pipit
White Wagtail
Zitting Cisticola
Blackcap
Cetti's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Siskin
Serin
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Cirl Bunting