1^st Dec.  At Neo Chorio. A goldcrest was very busy feeding on insects attracted to orange blossom on a tree just outside the lounge window. Talk about an armchair bird watcher!

3^rd Dec.  Along the Coast. Were stonechats; white wagtails; whinchats; and a marsh harrier.

4^th Dec.   At Sirili. A group of 3 honey buzzards circled for a while before drifting south – it is very late for migrants! On the coast a very lively male sparrow hawk delighted us as it sped along just above the ground in pursuit of anything edible.

8^th Dec.  Along the Coast. The usual mix of  stonechats, whinchats and white wagtails - plus a single moorhen; a marsh harrier; a flock of 6+ meadow pipits;  and then another male sparrow hawk, which must have been a different one from the 4^th as is was nearly 5 kilometers away . They are mainly winter visitors here in large numbers though there is a breeding population as well.
 

 9^th Dec. At Neo Chorio. Just to prove the point, a male sparrow hawk hunted through the garden at home, ten kilometers inland from the coast.

14^th Dec. At Chania. Proving the point still further there was a female sparrow hawk hunting in the grounds of Chania hospital, so the pair of white wagtails kept a low profile. On the way back home a pair of booted eagles circled over the national highway.

15^th Dec. On the Coast. A lovely pair of booted eagles circling very low down, just above our heads.
                 At Nembros. A female sparrow hawk took advantage of the lovely sunny weather to soar and display in wanting to attract a mate.

23^rd Dec. At Neo Chorio. We spotted a red kite that slowly headed south along the valley.
                 Back on the coast. A rough legged buzzard; a marsh harrier; a flock of 12+ serin; a single moorhen; and a male reed bunting.

27^th Dec. At Neo Chorio. What must by now be a temporary resident male sparrow hawk tried its luck at the numbers of small birds attracted to the insects feeding on the orange blossom – blackcaps; sardinian warblers; a male great tit; several blue tits; and even the only second dunnock we have seen on the island in 8 years. Overhead a single booted eagle supervised what was going on.

29^th Dec. On the Coast. We were surprised when a flock of 20+ ruff flew up and out to sea, followed moments later by a flock of 21 ferruginous ducks. Flocks of 10+ and 5+ meadow pipits; a marsh harrier; some stonechats; and black redstarts kept us amused despite the inclement weather.

31^st Dec. At Neo Chorio. Very appropriately, a barn owl flew up onto our house roof at dusk to help us see the New Year in.