Phylloscopus collybita (Δεντροφυλλοσκόπος – Common Chiffchaff)

Alcedo atthis (Αλκυόνη – Common Kingfisher)

At last it happened.The impressive Hawfinch, a species notoriously difficult to see was posing at the top of a cypress in a clear sight. It can reach a strength more than 50 kgr with its powerful conical bill !

19/12.

Rock pigeon is the ancestor of the feral dove and is not at all easy to observe it. Since December 2008, a small population has been observed several times at Schinias national park.

12/12.

This bad quality photo, is my first observation – and the reason i’m publishing it – of a Great Grey Shrike, a rare visitor in southern Greece. This individual is probably the algeriensis subspecies. Its the second consecutive year that this species appears at Schinias national park. Could be the same individual, which found appropriate habitat for wintering.

12/12.

The blue arrow

Livaria 28/8/2009.

Elikonas – Orhomenos – Elikonas 1/12.

Along the road which connects Kastro with Orhomenos, there is a steep slope where i observed remarkable raptor numbers. Nearly 10 Buteo buteo (photo), 5-7 Falco tinnunculus & 2 Falco peregrinus.
I’m not experienced on this, but the reason of the missing wing in the photo, does not seem to be moulting. Was it a hunter’s shot, just for fun ?

Elikonas mountain 1/12.

Teppes de Verbois 7/8.

Anthus pratensis -Λιβαδοκελάδα – Meadow Pipit

The identification of this Buteo maybe needs a further searching. A possible Buteo lagopus ?
Jura mountains 3/8.

Accipiter nisus (Ξεφτέρι – Sparrowhawk) adult female.

Accipiter nisus juv (Ξεφτέρι – Sparrowhawk)

The Caretakers network of Hellenic Ornithological Society is still spreading and now it can cover more than 60 IBA out of 196. It is a volunteer based network, so anyone interested in the conservation & protection of natural environment and biodiversity is welcome.

Lake Trichonida 14-15/11.