Ruppell's Warblers, Great Spotted Cuckoos, Blue Rock Thrushes and more!

Birding in Athens can be trully unforgettable in spring, when several hard-to-get species occur in specific areas. These are the birds that most foreign birders are looking for, being lifer species for most of them. Thus, the last weekend of March 2024 proved to be one of the most succesful birding weekends we ever organized, for a lucky family of birders from Malta.

A singing male Ruppell's Warbler
at Mt Hymettus, Athens

We started from Schinias National Park on of the most important birding areas of Greece, aiming to see Great Spotted Cuckoos. Despite the fact that we found them, we did not have great views of the birds. Probably a Little Owl was the hightlight of the area, always so thrilled to see one during daytime. So after a short visit to the Olympic Rowing Center for the Ferruginous Ducks and Woodchat Shrike, we headed towards Mt Pendeli. This is the second tallest peak (after Mt Parnitha), where we enjoyed wonderful views of Blue Rock Thrush, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, and singing Western Rock Nuthatch, a resident species.

Little Owl at Schinias National Park

Woodchat Shrike at Schinias National Park

Blue Rock Thrush at Mt Pendeli

The next location was Mt Hymmetus, where Ruppell's Warblers have just arrived and males started to establish their territories. Indeed, we spent a lot of time with singing males, so there was enough opportunities for close us pics of this elusive birds. Nearby we could also see Eastern Subalpine Warbler, that are usually arriving in mid March.

Male Ruppell's Warbler

Male Eastern Subalpine Warbler
at Mt Hymettus, Athens

After Mt Hymettus, we spent some time at Spata fields, where we saw a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos! This umistakable bird lays its eggs in the Magpies nest, so that the offsprings are brought up by the Magpies. We also saw Northern Wheatears and striking Black-headed Wagtails.

Great Spotted Cuckoo in flight

Black-headed Wagtail at Spata fields, Athens

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Northern Wheatear at Spata fields, Athens

Our last stop for the first day was Artemis Lagoon. Black-winged Stilts were seen easily, as well as Mute Swans, White Wagtails, Shovelers, Common Kestrels, Common Buzzards.