Marsh Harrier (Καλαμόκιρκος - Circus aeruginosus)

Little Egret (Λευκοτσικνιάς - Egretta garzetta)

Goldfinch (Καρδερίνα -Carduelis carduelis)

Montagu's Harriers have seemed to gone but Lesser Grey Shrikes, Red-backed Shrikes and Black headed Buntings are the new arrivals

Ruddy Shelduck ( Καστανόπαπια - Tadorna ferruginea)

Was seen yesterday above Spata.

Montagu's Harrier (Λιβαδόκιρκος - Circus pygargus)

Collared Pratincole (Νεροχελίδονο - Glareola pratincola)

Montagu's Harrier (Λιβαδόκιρκος - Circus pygargus)

At least 10-15 Montagu's Harriers were around today. Most of them male.
Also the first Turtle Doves of the year were seen today.

Pallid Harrier (Στεπόκιρκος - Circus macrourus)

Adult male Pallid Harriers that were seen at the end of March and beginning of April seem to have gone. Now mainly adult female and juvenile pallid harriers are around.Also the first 4 red-footed falcons were seen on Monday.

Greenfinch (Φλώρος - Carduelis chloris)

Glossy Ibis (Χαλκόκοτα- Plegadis falcinellus)

Glossy Ibis are still around. 26 were seen the day before yesterday.

4th Attica Bird Race

We managed to record 41 species at the airport area. Here are some:
Marsh Harrier, Pallid Ηarrier, Squacco Heron, Redshank, Ruff, Little Stint,Green and Wood Sandpiper, Stone Curlew, Collared Pranticole, Hoopoe, Black-eared Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Woodshat Shrike, Little Owl

Osprey ( Ψαραετός - Pandion haliaetus)

An Osprey and 2 Pallid Harriers above Spata were the highlights of the day.

Marsh Harrier (Καλαμόκιρκος - Circus aeruginosus)

Yesterday 3 Harrier species (Marsh, Hen and Pallid) were observed in relatively large numbers.
Today all of them had gone.

Little Ringed Plover (Ποταμοσφυριχτής - Charadrius dubius)

Many have arrived since last week...

Glossy Ibis (Χαλκόκοτα- Plegadis falcinellus)

New arrivals today. Glossy Ibis (aprox. 20), Black-winged Stilt(12), Ruff(10-15), Yellow Wagtail, Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Redshank, Swift

Stone Curlew (Πετροτουρλίδα - Burhinus oedicnemus)

A couple of Stone Curlews were seen today at the area where last year in late May they were seen breeding.Unfortunately I did not manage to get a decent picture but the observation itself was satisfactory. Nice to see them back.

Golden Plover (Βροχοπούλι - Pluvialis apricaria)

The Ruffs are gone but a Golden Plover is the new arrival. It was observed alone earlier in the day. I thought Golden Plovers are shy birds however this was not the case with this one.Very calm and approachable allowing me to get close enough for a few shots

Ruff (Μαχητής - Philomachus pugnax)

Also couple of Ruffs arrived today.

Wheatear (Σταχτοπετροκλής - Oenanthe oenanthe)

The first Whetears of the season were observed today around Spata.

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Κισσόκουκος - Clamator glandarious)

I think today it moved on....

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Κισσόκουκος - Clamator glandarious)

An unusual bird was seen earlier today. At first I thought it was a magpie but after I was sure it was something I had never seen again. Getting close was not very difficult as the bird seemed to be very calm. It was feeding non stop just in front of me mainly eating caterpillars which it found with remarkable capability.

Shoveler (Χουλιαρόπαπια - Anas clypeata)

This male one was observed yesterday among three Teals.

Kestrel (Βραχοκιρκίνεζο - Falco tinnunculus)

Its amazing how they can spot such small creatures in thick grass

Corn Bunting (Τσιφτάς - Miliaria calandra)

Teal (Κιρκίρι - Anas creca)

Small flock of teals has been around for a while. Here is a couple of them.

Red-crested pochard (Φερεντίνι - Netta rufina)

Haven't posted any pictures for a while . Taking decent pictures in current weather conditions is not easy. This picture was taken last year in January. 12 Red-crested pochards were around for at least a month .

White Wagtail (Λευκοσουσουράδα - Motacilla alba)

Chaffinch (Σπίνος - Fringilla coelebs)

Adult male in winter plumage.Very common this time of year.

Kestrel (Βραχοκιρκίνεζο - Falco tinnunculus)

Buzzard (Γερακίνα - Buteo buteo)

Little Owl (Κουκουβάγια- Athene noctua)

Lapwing (Καλημάνα - Vanellus vanellus)

Usually they form flocks but this one was alone.
I don't get to see them very often here and most of the times I couldn't get close enough to get a decent picture. Luckily this time it didn't seem to mind and managed to get fairly close.

Peregrine (Πετρίτης - Falco peregrinus)

Red-backed Shrike (Αετομάχος - Lanius collurio)

Willow Warbler (Θαμνοφυλλοσκόπος - Phylloscopus trochilus)

Willow Warblers are also very common

Spotted Flycatcher (Σταχτομυγοχάφτης - Muscicapa striata)

Flycatchers are still around...

Lesser Grey Shrike (Σταχτοκεφαλάς - Lanious minor)

I wonder how this happened?

Stonechat (Μαυρολαίμης - Saxicola torquata)

Starling (Ψαρόνι - Sturnus vulgaris)

The first few starlings appeared around Spata a few days ago

Kestrel (Βραχοκιρκίνεζο - Falco tinnunculus)

Since my camera was out of use for a while I'm posting a picture of a Kestrel taken in June. Currenlty Kestrels are very common around the Spata area.

Black-Eared Wheatear (Ασπροκωλίνα - Oenanthe hispanica)

Several male ones have been observed the last couple of weeks. The picture bellow is taken in June. At this time of year their plumage is more yellow-ochre rather than white.

Little Owl (Κουκουβάγια - Athene noctua)

Loads of information about owls at http://www.owlpages.com

White Stork (Λευκός Πελαργός - Ciconia ciconia)

A spectacular moment today at 08.00 am. 152 migrating white storks observed near Spata moving towards Markopoulo. Probably had stayed the night somewhere in the area and in the morning headed towards the South. It is known that most White Storks when migrating use two basic paths: Gibraltar and Vosporous. However it seems that smaller flocks must pass through the Peloponnese and Crete. Probably this was one of them. More information about White Stork migration at http://www.ornithologiki.gr/ekdp/ciconia/gr/pelargos/index.htm

Unfortunately I wasn't prepared for such a moment and didn't manage to get a picture.

Picture by Lior Kislev

Spotted Flycatcher (Σταχτομυγοχάφτης - Muscicapa striata)

Seen several the last few days.

Wheatear (Σταχτοπετροκλης - Oenanthe oenanthe)

Another bird that is seen in large numbers the last week or so.

Stonechat (Mαυρολαίμης - Saxicola torquata)

Observed much more frequently the last few days. Picture of a male one bellow

Lesser Grey Shrike (Σταχτοκεφαλάς - Lanius minor)

I see them fairly frequently the last few days. I think the one bellow is a juvenile due to slightly barred crown and the lack of black on forehead.

Τσαλαπετεινός (Hoopoe - Upupa epops)

I have tried many times to get a picture of a Hoopoe with its crest erected. However since they only erect it for less than a second when landing and rarely at other moments my attempts always failed. Here is a picture which I finally managed to shoot at an unexpected moment.

Φιδαετός (Short-toed Eagle - Circaetus gallicus)

Schinias wetland has basically dried out. Not many birds observed at my last visit.

Κοκκινοκεφαλάς (Woodchat Shrike - Lanious senator)

A male Woodchat Shrike. Plenty of them around Athens. Usually bold and easy to approach