Sombre Tits and more: spring birding in Athens

Cretzscmar's Buntings, Sombre Tits and more: Birding in Athens, Spring 2024

Sombre Tits and Cretzscmar's Buntings we the remaining target species for our second day, on this weekend birding tour around Athens (read here about the first day trip report). We decided to explore the north part of Attica region, aiming for some special and hard to observe species. Read here the a short trip report. 

Mt Parnitha is the highest mountain close to Athens, its peak reaching 1600m altitude. The east part was heavily injured with forest fires after 2007, but the west and northern part remains relatively unspoiled. Arriving very early in the morning we had the joy to witness the Tawny Owl, a stunning nocturnal species of owl, living in the dense fir forest of Mt Parnitha. Our guests were so excited with the big highlight of that morning!

Tawny Owl, a stunning nucturnal owl
at Mt Parnitha, Athens

Cirl Bunting at Mt Parnitha, Athens

Around the first stop we made, we saw Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Cirl Bunting, Eastern Black-eared Wheatears. We also heard Firecrest, Chaffinches, Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbirds.
One of the days target was Sombre Tit. This elusive bird is found in Mt Parnitha in good numbers, but trying to find it is always very challenging, sometimes nervous breaking. This time we were lucky. A couple of birds were hopping from one branch to another, we even manage to get some descent photos of this species of tit with such a limited geographical distribution worldwide.

The next target was Cretzschmar's Bunting. The birds have just arrive a couple of day ago and the males were establishing their territories. Finding one proved to be the hardest tast of the birding weekend. We looked carefully in many known location, with no success. Finally, close to Bafi refuge, we clearly observer a singing pair and trying some distant photos. 

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Other species of interest that we saw that day were Ravens, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Coal Tits, Serins.
Our final destination was Asopos river at the northern part of Attica region. The area provides great habitat for migratory raptors as well as resident ones, like the Long-legged Buzzard. Unfortunately, we did not see this colorful buzzard, however we enjoyed an awesome pair of Black-crowned Night Herons!

Black-crowned Night Heron at Asopos River