MY BIRDWATCHING HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST 2003
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And a few final words for August..... An interesting month with lots to see as migration picked up. Despite the heat of August we managed to see quite a lot and were pleased to share our birds with another reader of this site, Mr. John Donnelly who came with us several times and was very impressed with the birds about. We hope he took back
happy memories of bird life on Crete and look forward to his coming back in the not too distant future. Now to that darned barn owl. I went out onto our lower patio during a late night power cut to look at the stars – they were truly amazing to see without any light pollution. I just happened to be looking down the garden as a juvenile barn owl flew up which mistook me for a good place to perch as it stretched out its talons and came in to land. For a millisecond I had visions of world fame if I could catch it and ring it – the first person to ever catch a free flying barn owl by hand and then release it unharmed. Fat chance! Being the coward I am I ducked and the talons raked through my hair before the bird flew up onto our pergola and hissed at me for being such a softie! For now, good watching. Paul Smith. |
Editor: The review a of very recent book by another Cretan ornithologist - which contains some superb photographs, is on site. The review is linked to a photo gallery - with kind permission from the author Anastasios Sakoulis. Have a look at the review in Books and Good Reading pages. |