Birdwatching Archives

Paul Smiths Diaries 2001/2007

Welcome to the bird watching archives of the Paul Smith's Diary page.  If you are keen to find out about bird-life in NW Crete then read on - there are now well over four year's of diary highlights now recorded! 

Paul's diary highlights are an accurate reflection of his bird watching in NW Crete and give an accurate picture of what can be seen here; when a visit may well be attractive to you.  You can find most of the locations he mentions on any decent map of Crete.

 

AUGUST 2001 Eagles; Vultures; Kestrels; Sandpipers; Kingfishers - even 2 Jackdaws among a whole list of spottings.....      
SEPTEMBER 2001 Falcons; Storks; Herons; Honey Buzzards; - even the odd Robin.
OCTOBER 2001 A "Thin" month by Paul's standards looks anything but........         
NOVEMBER 2001 Winter storms keep Paul indoors - some of the time! 
DECEMBER 2001 Winter storms keep Paul indoors - most of the time! 
JANUARY 2002 Agia reservoir on 13th January makes Paul's day.... 
FEBRUARY 2002 Spring brings a little zest to Paul's February watching... 
MARCH 2002 After 3 years Paul sees his first dunnock. 
APRIL 2002 Five new sites.  Migration brings falcons, bee eaters herons, egrets.....
MAY 2002 Eagles, Kestrels, Falcons - but Paul can't find a lesser grey shrike...
JUNE 2002 Eleonoras Falcons at Dusk, but the Scops owls seem to be gone....
JULY 2002 A plethora - but Paul's highlight is the long legged buzzard!
AUGUST 2002 Migration is well underway...............
SEPTEMBER 2002 Black storks; caspian terns; identification and.... want to lend a hand?
OCTOBER 2002 A bearded vulture; barn owls on poles and unusually, Jackdaws.....
NOVEMBER 2002 A problem with his vision, Paul changes his tune to birdsong!
DECEMBER 2002 A highlight - a cattle egret - but tawny owl really is a hoot - a cockerel !
JANUARY 2003 Barn owls demand closer attention - not a lot of sleep for Paul....
FEBRUARY 2003 Atrocious weather - but the 27th & 28th find some large raptors.
MARCH 2003 A birdwatchers bonanza - the coast; Omalos; Rodopos - even at home...
APRIL 2003 After the worst winter - this may well be the best month ever..........
MAY 2003 Speeding falcons and swifts make Paul spill his pipe tobacco..........
JUNE 2003 Brimstone butterflies & Horseshoe bats, but the birds stay home in June...
JULY 2003 A quiet month - it leaves Paul wondering about this years migrations...
AUGUST 2003 14 plus sites; 41 plus bird varieties; the first honey buzzard of Autumn.
SEPTEMBER 2003 An enjoyable month - scops owls back and more lesser spotted eagles..
OCTOBER 2003 A good month, but the Omalos plateau obviously takes Paul's Oscars!
NOVEMBER 2003 Dormice, ostrich and juggernaughts can't spoil another good month!
DECEMBER 2003 Imperial eagles perhaps.. But partridges in pear trees & penguins?!
JANUARY 2004 Cold. Wet. Influenza. But wasn't the day at Agia Reservoir something..
FEBRUARY 2004 Slow start. Rapid acceleration and a very excellent Feb 24th..... 
MARCH 2004 Garaged scops owl a highlight, but Paul's wife 'spots' the crakes!....
APRIL 2004 Eagles and hawks may be.. But April 4 brings an adult greater flamingo!
MAY 2004 Not the best month.  Toffee the cat finds owls a bite too far.........!!
JUNE 2004 Good wine, and - a bearded vulture enters Paul's valley - real treasure!
JULY 2004 Short toed eagles and serenading doves, but Paul has a poor month...
AUGUST 2004 Along the coast...  few Jet fighters now .. the coast is Paul's oyster!
SEPTEMBER 2004 At least 50 different bird varieties in an exciting month.  Friends Visit.
OCTOBER 2004 Eagles; storks and great white egrets make the month.  But a wryneck?..
NOVEMBER 2004 Disappointing month.  But Paul's final comments hold a ray of sunlight..
DECEMBER 2004 Quiet month - but Paul's ray of sunlight now a bearded vulture chick! Possible first sighting - pallas reed bunting; plus December bee eaters!
JANUARY 2005 Eagles; Vultures; birds galore, yet in the mountains Paul finds more...
FEBRUARY 2005 Finches; gold & green a few, but eye-browed thrushes? Right there too.
MARCH 2005 20 different species; 3 types of eagle; and a rose coloured starling...
APRIL 2005 An interesting month; but the expected migration turns into a flop...
MAY 2005 Hospital balcony, coastal rest, Paul continues with his quest... And gets a decent month!!
JUNE 2005 Paul is seriously indisposed.  Han and Inger bring a superb first effort.
JULY 2005 The maestro returns. A little chafed at the edges, but back. Welcome!
AUGUST 2005 Two firsts for Paul..! A little crank and a citrine wagtail..! On form.....
SEPTEMBER 2005 Swallows; house martins; herons; eagles; buzzards; more. A good month!
OCTOBER 2005 Paul finally gets to see a real little crake. Plus more good watching!
NOVEMBER 2005 Eagles!  No wintering imperials yet but the golden eagles display...
DECEMBER 2005 A dud month for Paul.  But what a year he has delivered.....
JANUARY 2006 A wet start but 17 species - Eagles; Vultures and first Whinchat 2006.
FEBRUARY 2006 On the coast sorting 'those little brown jobs' - but what a time he had!
MARCH 2006 Paul's very first bluethroat. Wagtails white, pied and yellow. Plus! plus!
APRIL 2006 Flying lemons, Spotted eagles. 1 weasle & Maybe 40 + bird varieties...
MAY 2006 Superb! Too many to list! And Anton Duijnhouwer makes a child smile...
JUNE 2006 Quiet month leads Paul to ponder environmental matters.  Good Birds...
JULY 2006 15 locations.  Eagles, harriers, hoopoes, herons..  Plus Paul's first Levant sparrow hawk.
AUGUST 2006 Usual favourites take a back seat as Paul spots a narrow billed curlew...
SEPTEMBER 2006 Bumper migration under way - and Paul's brother checks him out!!
OCTOBER 2006 Starlings bring bad memories, but egrets and others chase them away...
NOVEMBER 2006 Superb! Weather & birding; Paul Smith & right-hand man at their best...
DECEMBER 2006 Christmas weather & a quiet month.  But the partridges still end up on Paul's plate!!
JANUARY 2007 New Year. Two new locations. 50+ different birds. A very fine January!
FEBRUARY 2007 Lots of birds! Superb! But the egrets and herons are not around yet....
MARCH 2007 A good month. Migration +++. Nice birds, but Paul is a little pessimistic..
APRIL 2007 Around 50 species! Including eagles; hawks and a maturing vulture... Nice!
MAY 2007 Spur ringed plover! Fan tailed warbler! But Paul notes builder problems...
JUNE 2007 Ostriches? Camels? Tigers? Parrots and Toucans? Definitely not Guinness!!
JULY 2007 A look back at previous July sightings as Paul succumbs to hospitals and heat...
AUGUST 2007 Paul's apolgies! For providing more sighting whilst unwell.. Plus
SEPTEMBER 2007 Paul Smith's legacy - his final page before his death.....
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