Snowfinch – Alpine Accentor

Several times i made an effort to reach the altitudes where the strictly alpine species live and breed. Last Saturday was the first time i managed to reach the right place in the right time. At the high attitudes of more than 2300-2350 m i was surrounded for more than five hours by an impressive flock of Snowfinches (Montifringilla nivalis).

Below you can see how beautiful bird is the Snowfinch, especially when in display flight.

Alpine Accentors were also residents of these altitudes. Additionally the habitat seemed good for Wallcreeper and she probably live there although i didn’t manage to spot any.

This was for sure one of my more exciting birding experience.

28/5/2016

Rough Legged Buzzard

Two weeks ago i visited Evros prefecture which is one of the best places in Europe for birding.

I went there with George and Peter two fellow Nature photographers and we had some great chances to take some nice Wildlife photos.
The highlight, by far, was 2 Buteo lagopus individuals (Χιονογερακίνα) which was my first observation of this species.
Above you can see two photos of the juvenile.

And at the last two photos you can see the adult male.

6/2/2016.

Calonectris diomedea

Cory’s Shearwater flying aside the boat in a summer day with complete lack of wind.
I was very glad that my photo was first at the recent summer greek wildlife competition.

15/7/2015.

Common Crosbill

Loxia curvirostra (Σταυρομύτης) with it’s specialized beak structure, is one of the more interesting species of the greek conifer forests.

His heavy bill with crossed tips is a great tool used to open cones and extracting seeds.

Status in Europe

6/6/2015

Pandion haliaetus

These are photos of two different Ospreys taken last April at the vast wetlands of northern Greece,

8-9/4/2015

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Dadia national park is laying at Evros perfecture at the SE edge of Europe. This area in addition with Evros estuaries are maybe the best areas in our continent to observe raptors (and not only), as nearly all of the European species (diurnal and nocturnal) can be observed there during a year.

Aquila (clanga) pomarina (Κραυγαετός) is a summer visitor, breeding in Dadia and although declining still in Least concern category.

14/4/2015.

Monticola solitarius

Four months ago i was very lucky to be among a Blue Rock Thrush (Γαλαζοκότσυφας) galore.

This species breeds in the most representative Mediterranean coastal environment.

Mountain slopes with low vegetation are usually his preference.

The males are impressively colored with this bold azure blue.

22/3/2015

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

Female Marsh Harriers are the most common raptors of greek wetlands. In winter in vast wetlands there can be found dozens of them.

This is a female individual except if it’s a case of a “homosexual” male. In this species sometimes males could be very similar to females as to have an advantage by accessing the females more easily without “fighting” with the other males.

28/3/2015.

White-winged Black Tern

One of the more spectacular birds to watch and photograph are the Terns !

Unlike Sterna Terns, Chlidonias (here Chlidonias leucopterus-Αργυρογλάρονο) genre prefer to hunt insects or small fishes, flying smoothly with sudden changes of direction. Sometimes they dive vertically from low height above water.

10/5/2015.

Wryneck

Jynx torquilla (Στραβολαίμης) it’s a very distinctive Woodpecker species, as instead of the other European woodpeckers, it makes a long distance migration, coming from Africa every spring. Although it’s not a rarity, it’s always a great observation in the field and much more in an urban area.

29/3/2015.

Blackcap (female)

Sylvia atricapilla (Μαυροσκούφης) is not at all a rarity but it’s always a challenge to photograph this Warbler, especially the female which is one of my favorite ones ! It must be no more than 2 times i managed more than decent photos of this usually well hidden in the dense foliage warbler .

Kittywake

3 months ago i had my first observation of a 1CY Rissa tridactyla (Τριδάχτυλος Γλάρος). It was found among several Black Headed Gulls. When we approached to assure that it was a Kittiwake and not another Black Headed Gull we were very lucky that while all the Gulls took off, only the Kittiwake landed again, on exactly the same place, after no more than 1 minute. So we enjoyed a great session with many many photos !

14/12/2014

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus – Βραχοκιρκίνεζο

Bar tailed Godwit

Low angle photo of a Limosa lapponica (Θαλασσολιμόζα) a Wader species which appears in Greece in very small numbers mainly during autumn migration.

22/09/2014

Baillon’s Crake

Porzana pusilla is a beautiful – as all Crakes are – but very secretive bird. Usually moves in the dense reeds playing hide and seek with a birdwatcher.

If staying silent and motionless even in a semi hidden position and if having some patience she could appear in the open for a while.

15/11/2014