MY BIRDWATCHING HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY 2003

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6th FEB.   At Neo Chorio.  A dark phase booted eagle circled low down over the garden giving us lovely views worth taking in as the light phase is much commoner here.

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8th FEB.  At Afrata.  A group of 3 honey buzzards were hopefully quartering a bare and wind swept hillside in search of food.

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12th FEB. At Neo Chorio.  A pair of steppe buzzards were vigorously harrying a common buzzard that was carrying food, probably a lizard.

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13th Feb.  Above a local estuary.  a flock of 50+ sand martins battled the elements and a distant wader hunched forlornly in the driving rain, the light was too poor for identification.

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14th Feb.  At Sirilli.  A pair of swallows.

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15th Feb.  Near the Rodopou peninsula.  Along the motorway we saw a pair of light phase booted eagles circling together with a pair of short toed eagles.
                  At Rokka.  An early female lesser kestrel was beating up the village sparrow population while a pair of griffon vultures went into a nest hole and stayed there.  Another soared over only a few metres above us.  An adult bonellis eagle perched in a tree at the edge of the village no doubt waiting for an unwary chicken to show itself. 
                  At Trialonia.  There were a pair of bonellis eagles getting in a tangle over airspace with a buzzard and a raven.

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16th Feb.  At Neo Chorio.  Another pair of steppe buzzards were again harrying one of our local buzzards which again must have been carrying food. For ten minutes there was a lot of dive-bombing, vigorous wheeling and lots of calling back and forth between them.

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21st Feb.   On the nearby coast.  A flock of 30+ red throated pipits; a flock of 20+ white wagtails; an early female ruff; and then another flock of red throated pipits, this time 9.

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26th.Feb.  At Gavalahori.  There was a single steppe buzzard.
                   At Ano Vouves. There was an immature bonellis eagle and a pair of dark phase booted eagles, the latter being well beaten up by a local common buzzard.
                   At Kandanos.  A flock of 30+ starlings perched on the telegraph wires just to haunt me!  (See previous diaries for my feelings about the vulgarity of Sternus vulgaris!).

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27th Feb.  Near the coast.  There was a light phase booted eagle.
                   At Kalidonia.  There was another light phase booted eagle.
                   At Topolia.  A griffon vulture and an adult golden eagle soared over the village while a late blackcap sang heartily in some welcome sunshine.  Further on we found a pair of imperial eagles in fourth year plumage and were thrilled to see a bearded vulture - though were not certain about its age as the light was poor by then.  

Moving yet again on we found an adult bonellis eagle at one of their nest sites and then a pair of short toed eagles.  At the nest site both adult bearded vultures flew high and fast past the site and quickly moved away.  We later thought we could see an adult at the nest but visibility was very poor, it could have just been vegetation in the way.  At almost three kilometres you need good light and no wind to use a powerful telescope effectively!  While watching, a male blue rock thrush entertained us with dribbles of song.  On the way back we found another bearded vulture, this one in 4-5th year plumage and only just beginning to develop the red colour characteristic of adults in the western end of the island.  A pair of honey buzzards completed a good trip out.

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28th Feb.  In the area of Topolia.  Looking for the imperial eagles again we found one very close to where we saw them yesterday.  In closer view this was in probably 4th year plumage and the left wing was moulting several primary feathers.  We did not see the right wing clearly.  Moving on we found a steppe buzzard and a male goshawk before having lovely views of a pair of lanner falcons.  While one quickly dived and circled the other was content to perch on a crag and watch the world go by and was still there thirty minutes later.  While watching these a griffon vulture; an adult bonellis eagle and several alpine swifts came into view.  We also saw a pair of ravens; a group of three honey buzzards; a flock of 8 early yellow wagtails and several small flocks of house martins and swallows.

And a few final words for February..... What a frustrating month February turned out to be!  With improving eyesight I was itching to get out and make up for lost time but the weather was having none of it.  Nearly every day it poured with rain all day long and when it rains here it is of the deluge type.  All sorts of damage to roads, bridges and properties. Nearly all the people we know have had water coming into their houses.  Some have even had to move in with friends as cascades of water ruin their furniture and short out the electrical systems.

The large raptors are nesting already.  We will have to go again to the bearded vulture nest site as I have a sinking feeling about them.  By now they should have a chick in the nest so at least one of the adults should be protecting it at all times. To see both adults sail by and show no interest in the nest was perhaps ominous.  We can live in hope.

The appearance of the odd wader; flocks of pipits; martins, swallows and wagtails shows migration is getting going.  Once this atrocious weather improves we are looking forward to some good trips and seeing again old friends like the lesser grey shrikes, bee-eaters and golden orioles.

My profound thanks to all those who have been rooting for me and sent their best wishes for my eyesight to improve.  I can drive with confidence now and while the small birds remain vague blurs, the larger ones are getting easier.  I can see well enough to appreciate the finer points of separating steppe buzzard from common buzzard – steppe are smaller, lighter with narrower wings that are not well rounded at the tips and showing fingers.  They are usually much lighter in colour.

My ‘right hand man’ is pleased as she can relax a bit and enjoy the views instead of shepherding me around and pointing the birds out to me though she still shouts at me when I start looking at birds when driving.  My eyes must be a lot better if I have started doing that again!

Editor: Preparation of the forthcoming review a of very recent book by another Cretan ornithologist which contains some superb photographs, is progressing. Following a meeting here with the author we have permission to include a photo gallery.  Watch this space - and of course the 'Books and Good Reading' page.
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