A dank & wet Corton

Having just 45 minutes this morning before work, along at the entrance a female Blackcap was seen. The whole area was sodden wet and dank with grey skies that only brightened up at 8.40am just as I was leaving. There was further evidence of fly tipping, which is such a problem here with a double mattress recently dumped on the track (if this inconsiderate people take the time to dump it here they've walked 30 yards down the track to why can't they dispose of it properly at the Haddenham road refuse dump??) By the copse along the old rail track by the last southern sycamore, a calling Pied Flycatcher flew out and round the corner to the bare "HBuzzard" tree.

Checking Corton old sewage works, I was running out of time but saw a female Wheatear fly up to the fence and 6 Sky Lark fly out the stubble field north of the works. In the field just west of here, 3 Robins seen and 11 Siskin flew west.

Opposite Corton ex-MOD track, a heron stood sentinel in the field.

In the evening, a tractor was spraying the stubble fields disturbing several 4 Sky larks, & the female Wheatear was seen again on the sewage works and 6 turnstones on the groynes by the sea. Finally, a female Reed Bunting flew up from the track in the grass field and flew to the northern most hedge.

Bluetail Gone

Sadly, the star bird of the autumn (so far!) in Lowestoft, was a 1 day only bird, the RF Bluetail had departed, no sign this morning. 2 Brambling and 5 Siskin flew overthe field just east of Corton church. there were still 3 Robins in this hedge line.

At Great Yarmouth Cemetary in the south section, seeing both John H and Peter C also looking for migrants, we saw several Robins, Song Thrushes and 1 constantly calling Redstart which flew out of a group of bushes. 

At Great Yarmouth Library, a Chiff- Chaff called in bushes behind the Library.

This evening in the garden I heard a Redstart call in the field at the back of the garden but sadly not seen.

Ring Ouzels & Red-flanked Bluetail

A look around Gunton Old Rail Track this morning before work revealed a male and female Blackcap in bushes at the bottom of the Pitch & Putt course by brambles. On the ORT, 2 Goldcrest heard, again many Song Thrush at least 30 and 30 Robin too, "takking" constantly. Another male Blackcap and a female Ring Ouzel flew north along the ORT.

Walking back at the bottom of Dip farm pitch and putt, I raised my bins and saw a fine male Ring Ouzel, fine bird with white crescent on it's breast, lemon- yellow bill and silvery wings perched and facing left on a large bramble bush voraciously eating blackberries. No sooner had I seen it than it flew off.

Arriving at Gorleston Library from the car park, I heard and saw a fine group of 10 calling Bramblings fly north.

A call from James B saw me at Corton lunchtime watching the row of trees, especially the sallows that I had looked at the previous evening for over 1/2 an hour!!! I had seen many Robins and there were still around 5 present but James picked up the excellent Red- flanked Bluetail and I saw this stunning bird which flew down to low branches and even the ground on the edge of Sallows bordering the edge of the green field just west of Corton Old Sewage works. Robin-like though smaller with cream throat, a little orange on the flanks (1st winter or female bird) and stunning blue tail. It showed very well on the edge of the tree line flitting about and perched on low branches. Other visitors, included Ricky F, James W & Andrew E. I visited later in the evening (straight after work), a small crowd was present including LGRE, Richard W, Dick & Ali R and Richard S and the Bluetail was still showing well on the edge of the trees favouring the lower tree branches and even flying out onto the grass on occasions. 10 Siskin flew over, whilst a Reed Warbler was seen in some tamarisk, Brambling also seen flying over.

As I walked back from the old sewage works back down the track to the road, a large grey warbler with white outer- tail feathers flew right into sycamore and brambles in perfect unison with a Song Thrush, a possible Barred Warbler but it disappeared from view and I couldn't wait as I had to return to work.

A 6pm trip to Gorleston Beacon Park, giving both James B & Rob Wil a lift and followed by LGRE, also driving a Corsa (!) chasing after Ian S's RT Pipit seen an hour earlier led to the usual dip, I've never seen any of his rarities (no inference on Ian's bird finding/ID abilities which are excellent, just on my luck on twitching his birds!) 

At Martham Library calling Coal Tit heard.

 

Fall of migrants

The weekend's strong north/ north-west winds and incessant rain meant that I decided to do a brief seawatch before work from Baker's Score at Corton. In a 20 minute seawatch I saw 7 Gannets flying south (2 adults and 5 sub- adults), 2 Divers seen on the sea one indeterminate (too far out to conclusively say) and 1 Red- throated Diver, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (1 adult winter and 1 second winter) flew north and close in and over the cliff and the caravan park.

A Redstart flew away from the caravan park bush.

Leaving work as I drove down Lowestoft road at Gorleston, I saw a Wheatear perched on an advertising hoarding.

After work, I decided to check out Corton where the grassy field between the churchyard and the old sewage works sported up to 30 Song Thrushes on the grass as well as 2 Redwing. Most of the Song thrushes I saw here were a noticably a cold- grey brown appearance, I assume continental birds.  Robins were everywhere, around 30 seen or heard (constantly "takking") in this area alone.

On the North Denes, Gunton Dunes revealed 2  and 3 meadow Pipits as well as 1 Reed Bunting which flew onto a bramble bush and perched briefly as well as a group of 5 Reed Buntings flushed by Rob Wil's dog! They flew up and over Warren House Wood.

With daylight at a premium and the light fading fast, I decided to drive to the top of the Oval.

A good decision, as walking down a calling Pied Flycatcher alighted momentarily on a bare tree before flying off. Looking on the Oval, a Redstart flew south from the NW corner.

Seawatch Success (at last!)

Arriving at Ness Point today at 9am, seeing Rob Win & Andrew E, I arrived just in time to watch a reasonably close immature Long- tailed Skua 1/2 way out (before the buoys) it flew north with a bouncy tern-like flight low over the water, at one point it broke away and flew high to harry a small group of Common terns flying south. It then carried on flying north. watched for around 2 minutes, it was typically a cold grey- brown appearance above with barring on upper rump and uppertail coverts showing a scaly effect. It's rear end was long and tapering and blunt central tail projection. Significantly it showed no white on the dark primaries, the secondaries were dark too. It had a darker brown head and underparts showed cold greyish areas with darker breast band and paler belly and throat. The undertail coverts were barred too. A great bird and good views too!

We were joined by OFB, Chris M and especially nice to see Neville S. Other birds seen during a two hour seawatch included a dark Arctic Skua with white wing flashes flying low over the water, a Purple Sandpiper, a group of 1 Knot and 1 Dunlin, a further group of 5 Dunlin, 6 singleton Red throated Divers, a group of 11 Common Scoter (2 males, 9 females), a single Common Scoter and a further 4 Common scoter, a cumultattive tally of 20 Gannets including a group of 5 flying very close past us (all the Gannets were immatures save for 3 sub- adults), 3 single auks, 2 single Mediterranean Gulls (1st winter and 2nd winter birds), 8 Little Gulls including a group of 3 (1 imm, 2 adults) and 5 (3 adults, 2 immatures). All these birds flew north.

Next stop was Hamilton Dock, where it was especially pleasing to see 2 female Common Eiders in the channel plus a Common Tern between Hamilton Dock and the harbour. OFB also saw a Cormorant in the dock, whilst I was pleased to see a Common Seal surface on 2 occasions before it disappeared.

A walk around the Oval, included 6 Long-tailed Tits in the Sycamores behind it. Amongst a group of Gulls including Black- headed (5), Herring (3), Lesser Black- backed (2), was the usual adult Yellow- Legged Gull. 5 Pied Wagtail were around the cricket practice area. Whilst on the seaward side of the Oval, dog walkers flushed a close Wheatear that alighted close to me for a split second before flying north. Work on this area of the North Denes to get it ready for a fixed caravan site has begun and has lead to the demolition of the old toilet/ shower block & sadly the removal of the large Tamarisk bushes by Tooke's old shop which was fenced off (repairs or demolition?)

Mega Empidonax Flycatcher (but which one?) on Blakeney Point

A Mega alert which I first found out by looking at BirdGuides and confirmed on Suffolk BINS at 1.15pm alerted me to the amazing news that incredibly an American "Empidonax" Flycatcher had been seen in the Plantation on Blakeney Point, North Norfolk. Empidonax Flycatchers are notoriously difficult to identify in the field. Ringing around most Premier League (or should that be the Ryman League) Lowestoft birders were following the fortunes of their beloved Lowestoft FC down at Stratford in Essex, where are your priorities boys??

Finally managing to give a lift to Ricky F, we made our way up to the Point, parking at the Cley Beach car park. 

We then started at 3.40pm, what was the most arduous 3 miles walk I have ever undertaken, we were battling force 9 Northerly winds blasting right at us as we trudged along the seemingly never ending shingle ridge towards the tip of the point. The shingle made you feel you were taking a stride forward but slipping half a stride back! The weather threw everything at us from heavy rain, to "hard as nails" hail that stung your eyes incessantly, but doggedly we finally trudged our way dragging our bedraggled soaked carcasses to the Plantation after about an hour's walk!

It was good to see both Paul N & the Dereham boys in the near distance as we neared the Plantation and they gave us the thumb's up!

A group of around 70 birders were standing inland of the Plantation and I saw John H & Ian M briefly, Baz H very kindly said we needed to go on the left hand side of the group if we wanted to see the bird. It was also nice to see regular correspondent Paul W as well.

After 15 minutes a shout went up and I picked up the bird 4 foot of the ground perched on a branch just left of the main trunk of a Sycamore tree. A stunning bird, it had it's back to us showing a grey- green back with 2 white wing bars and thick creamy- white tertial edges were clearly discernable. It looked large headed and had a grey-green head and white complete eye-ring as it looked to the right.

I watched this stunning bird for 2 minutes before it flew back and out of sight.

After 20 minutes a shout went up where it had flown over to a smaller sycamore tree behind some Lupins. It was seen again just above the Lupins by the tree trunk but frustratingly some sycamore leaves in the foreground completely obscured bird at the angle I was and I didn't see it on this occasion, although I did see a shape fly down.

Finally at 6pm, another shout went up, it was just right of the sycamore in a bare bush. It then flew and perched right out on a horizontal branch in full view (very close to some fence posts within the plantation) for around 2 minutes, sadly the final 1/2 minutes was marred by some heavy rain. The bird was perched facing left and showed a yellowish wash on the breast and white belly with a white throat and also with a noticable darker greyish left breast side. Again an absolute stunner of a bird!

With these features, some are calling it a "probable" Yellow- bellied Flycatcher. I don't think Willow or Alder Flycatcher, should be ruled out, the pictures I have seen tonight on the web and my observation make me lean towards this latter pair. Whether it will be ever specifically identified I don't know, trapping it is the only answer but the weather conditions and concern for the safety of the bird may rule this option out. I'm not sure, Whatever it is, it's a first for me and for Norfolk! Very sadly, I can show you no shots of the bird due to the poor weather conditions and brief views of the bird.

Other people at the twitch included LGRE as always selflessly shouting directions and getting people onto the bird, the Suffolk contingent included Matthew D, Craig F, Nick A & Roy M.

By now, I was beginning to shiver (the effects of being soaked through and the strong wind) and Rick and I decided to leave. On the way back I saw 1 and then a group of 3 Dunlin which called as they flew on the beach. As the light was beginning to fail, we encountered an injured Common Seal pup on the beach which was manhandled by LGRE's friend & moved into cover. The Seal pup sadly had a bloody foot and the Seal rescue service were called.

Finally in the pitch black, after what seemed an eternity, but must have been around an hour I met Rick back at the car park and we drove back home.

Norfolk's now had a Red- breasted Nuthatch and an Empidonax Flycatcher but still no Red- eyed Vireo (my favourite bird (excluding the Owls), you know why!) Maybe I'll find one in Great Yarmouth Cemetary!

 

Fly Agarics

Lunchtime on Thursday 23rd September (1.15- 1.50pm) saw me belatedly visiting a local woodland area, with the recent warm and muggy summery weather in the hope of locating Adders basking (see the April 2010 posts) in the warm September sun. Sadly, the weather had deteriorated and grey clouds led to light rain.

In the end, I didn't leave the car park area, as I found a circle of 5 wonderful Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushrooms. 

I have kept the location secret as they are in a publicly accessible site & I do not wish them to be collected.

A warning for those hoping to get a hallucinogenic high from them, they are not the so called magic mushrooms. These mushrooms could be poisonous if ingested and cause serious health problems! 

They had red rounded tops with white speckles on them. They were under a big Pine tree but sadly the area they were in was literally soiled by dog excrement and 2 empty beer bottles & broken glass strewn about, absolutely vile and disgusting! Why can't some people respect their natural environment?

Choosing where I stood, very carefully I photographed several of the Fly Agarics, but badly cut my finger, probably on some broken glass as the blood was flowing profusely. I finally managed to stem the flow of blood and complete the photography. As I was about to leave, a confiding Common Frog leapt into view at the base of the tree and posed nicely for photo's. I then had to leave as my time was up!

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An Evening at Benacre

Monday the 20th August saw Jenny and I walking down to Benacre Broad on a balmy late summer's evening. Very little was seen from the hide save for 300+ Greylag Geese at the back and both Knot (winter plumage) and Common Sandpiper feeding on the Broad/ beach edge and Little Grebe on the Broad too. A walk back along the cliffs revealed a male Common Scoter close in on the sea, which sadly was constantly preening its bedraggled looking flight feathers which must have been oiled.

A Hobby, Wasp Spiders & Martins

Taking a trip up to Sheringham so Jenny could witness the impressive 1940's weekend, where many people are dressed in 1940's costume (the event is centered around the historic steam railway station and Sheringham High street) you'd think would limit my wildlife watching. Not a bit of it! as I saw an excellent Hobby on the drive up hawking over Rollesby Broad. 

Ignoring the very tempting temptation to nip across to Cley NWT reserve, we came back via Horsey NT car park and I soon found 2 female Wasp Spiders very easily in the "meadow" and photographed them. These colourful spiders with yellow, black and white banded abdomens, are around 2 inches long (the larger females); have spread across from southern Europe and can be difficult to find (see yesterdays entry at Hen reedbeds reserve), unless you know exactly where they are. It also helps if other people have searched the area before you as was the case here at Horsey) and the disturbed grass is an easy pointer to where the Spiders were.

This evening up to 4 House martins were still flying over the house, so they've not gone yet, finally a Stock Dove flew south low over the garden.

Winterton Early start

An early start at Winterton, had me meeting Peter C, having first heard a Coal Tit in his garden, we made our way onto the Dunes and in a dip close to the houses just north of Beach road and we soon saw the fine adult male Red- backed Shrike that showed quite well in bushes around here perching in a rosehip bushes and on top of a bramble bush. A fine bird with grey head, black mask and reddish brown back and a slight pink flush on its breast. Occasionally the Shrike would disappear amongst the brambles behaving more like a Warbler, before finally showing again and I managed to retrace my steps and crawl up the top of the ridge and take a few pics where the Shrike posed quite nicely for me, although I would have prefered to have been a little closer.

Meanwhile along Beach road, a Tree Sparrow showed well briefly amongst some House Sparrows. walking south along the Dunes, near the beach we saw lots of hirundines, swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins flew around both south and north. It reminded me that they were on the move the House Martins have left the nests under out house eaves (sad to see them disappear but all 3 nests were used and were very successful raising several broods and just 2 chicks were lost found dead on the drive during the summer) on Thursday 16th and just 2 House Martins were seen flying over the garden on Friday 17th We didn't see the hoped for Laplands, but a fine Hobby whizzed past and north and out of sight.

In the dunes, a Wheatear flew past us and south rounded off a fine early morning trip to Winterton today.

Later in the morning a look around the North Denes revealed nothing.

In the afternoon, I looked around the Hen reedbeds not seeing anything or the hoped for Wasp spiders so I took pics of Grasshoppers.

At Southwold harbour (where I saw several confiding young Starlings were moulting from their immature plumage to adult winter plumage) Dunwich beach car park, I couldn't see the hoped for King Eider, but there was a raft of 21 Common Scoter on the sea just south of Dunwich Beach car park. In the distance through my telescope looking south, I could see a crowd of birders standing on the cliff of Dunwich Beach car park and arriving at Dunwich NT, I joined the crowd including Roy M & saw the rather distant King Eider just south of their on the sea probably directly out from the entrance to Minsmere East hide.

On Blythburgh estuary, I saw a few waders, as well as the usual Redshank, Curlew & including 7 closer Knot (all winter plumage), many Dunlin and more distant singletons of both Avocet & Spotted Redshank.

Two Garganey

Two female Garganey were seen at Leathes Ham early this morning at around 8.30am. 

They were just in front of the island in the middle. Initially separated the two females joined each other on the water. Whether they are wild birds are not is debatable, i didn't see the legs to check for rings and the situation is clouded by the release of captive birds around the Flixton gravel pits area near Bungay. A Teal was seen also.

Greylag Geese

Hearing the distinctive calls of Greylag Geese had me leaping out of bed this morning and I was just in time to see the classic "V" formation of 35 Greylag Geese flying south- west over Fallowfields and the Parkhill Hotel grounds another new species seen from the present garden. 

"K"racking King Eider

After a disappointing look around Kessingland beach and Benacre Pits where the only birds seen were 3 Wheatear, around the sluice area plus 5 Meadow Pipits, 10 Pied Wagtails, 2 Skylark and 2 Little Grbe on the pit. There was no Lap Bunting & the waders at the pool on the North Beach had been flushed by a dog and I scoped some waders flying off, so no chance of seeing the hoped for Little Stint.

A small Copper butterfly on the beach played very "hard to get" and escaped the hoped for obligatory photograph. 2 singleton Sky Lark flew up from my feet. It was especially disappointing to get a message at 12 noon to say a King Eider had been seen off Kessingland that morning. An hour and a half of looking at Kessingland & Benacre revealed nothing.

All this was turned on its head when I received a BINS message to say a King Eider had been seen off the Minsmere North Wall late afternoon and I received a lift from OFB. We headed for Dunwich National Trust cliff and as we entered we saw birders running across the road to the northern cliff area. Parking in a small car park, I ran across the heather and saw a few birders non the cliff scoping the bird, I quickly set up my scope and saw the bird, a cracking eclipse plumaged 1st summer drake King Eider, complete with orange knob at base of the bill bill, dark back with distinctive black scapular "sails" and paler breast. 

6 Pintail also flew south over the sea.

I also noticed that the bird was drifting initially south (then later north) therefore staying in the same area the whole time and incredibly it was close inshore. I was keen to get pictures but I was confronted by a  fairly steep cliff but I carefully made my way down without losing my footing and I ran across the beach to reach the throng of birders including Nick B, Jon E, Andrew E, Rob Wil & Rob Win amongst others. Steve P, Dick W & Ali R also arrived. I rattled other many shots before realising that I needed to plus the exposure by at least 1 1/2 or all the way as advised by pro photographers present to make out any colouration on the plumage and avoid silhouette shots only. The bird drifted and preened and then finally fell asleep. The sun came out briefly illuminating the bird proving better for photography. A splendid addition to my Suffolk list, the bird being an addition to the Suffolk list. Making my way back (to avoid the steep cliff climb) up some steps through the confusing and seemingly exitless Cliff House caravan park, I saw and photographed an immature Wood Pigeon. 

This is the 4th King Eider I have seen following sighting off Scolt Head, Titchwell in Norfolk and an adult male in stunning plumage on the Ythan estuary near Aberdeen in Scotland.

A good day at Minsmere

Today I drove to Minsmere hoping the goodies that had been there most of the week would stay. The Wryneck was seen straight away at the North bushes feeding by a patch of bell heather at the back of the grassy area. A Redstart was also seen perched in a small tree here too.

Walking east down the path, just past the bend we looked south and saw the excellent immature Red- backed Shrike perched in a small triangular bush, it did several flying sorties and later on caught a beetle and flew back to the bush to devour it.

Walking along the beach, I saw 3 Whimbrel and a Bar- tailed Godwit flying south just south of the Public hide, I saw Matthew D photographing something and walking slowly and carefully up to him, he pointed out the 2 Lapland Buntings just in front of him barely 15 feet away! This is the sort of birding I really like; walking up to the birds seeing them instantly and even getting close to some for a chance of a spot of photography. 

The birds were feeding around some small sea Cabbage and I was able to obtain several shots as the birds were most confiding, as is sometimes the case with this species.

walking to the sluice bushes, surely the Barred wouldn't be this easy? It wasn't.

After an hour looking, in the pleasant company of Chris M & Peter N, we didn't see it and I joined Roy H and his wife as we had a look within the Sluice bushes again no luck, but as Roy played a recording of the Barred warbler song at the back of the sluice bushes, we caught a glimpse of a large warbler (I didn't get any colouration or plumage on it) which flew over and into the bush just south of where we were needless to say we didn't see it again, it may have been the Barred Warbler?

My luck was running out, as a look on the east Scrape following a male Sparrowhawk whizzing through low and heading in a north- westerly direction "spooked" the birds and I failed to spot the Little Stint that had been showing earlier although we did see Avocet, 2 Common sandpiper and 4 winter- plumaged Knot that flew south. A walk back enabled us to see the Red- backed Shrike again and the Wryneck from the concessionary path running though the North bushes where I also saw a very tame pheasant, Rabbit, Speckled Wood and a Lesser Whitethroat.

In the garden late afternoon we heard and saw 2 Chiff- Chaffs, a female Common Darter rested on a towel on the washing line and later in the evening a Migrant Hawker briefly whizzed around the garden.

Not a lot at Corton!

A walk around Corton new sewage works on Thursday 9th September after work revealed no migrants whatsoever. At Corton old Sewage works, a Redstart seen very briefly as was a calling Chiff- Chaff by the fence perimeter, a Pied Flycatcher seen for a split second fling around the base of a Pine. 

A Snipe flew out of the field stubble and flew high west as I walked down the path to look out to sea. Whilst 2 flying Common Sandpipers flew north, stopping briefly to alight on one off the groynes.

Up to 32 House Martins flying over the garden perhaps their preparing to leave?

Kefalonia Turtles & Insects

Tuesday 7th September

Just back from a week's holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia, next door to Zakynthos (or Zante) and South of Corfu, it forms part of the Ionian islands. Kefalonia is perhaps best known for the novel and movie; Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

We experienced changeable weather conditions with strong north- west winds on the first 2 days and stormy weather and a rainstorm on the day, Saturday  of our boat trip looking for Dolphins, needless to say we didn't see any. The rest of the week was fine and sunny.

On Wednesday 1st September, a trip to Old Scala revealed 2 fine Red- rumped swallows flying overhead and an Icterine Warbler flying to an Olive tree. An eastern Rock Grayling posed well on the rocks. At Katelios by the newly constructed harbour 3 Red- rumped Swallows flew over as did a House Martin. Around the bush a Hummingbird Hawk moth probed the flowers. Round the back of the village, 3 Two- tailed Pashas, stunning butterflies flew round a garden and a fig tree.

Finally locating the Katelios Turtle Conservation project group on Mounda Beach, I was able to witness them excavating a recently erupted Turtle nest. They found many opened egg cases (proof that the Turtles had broken out of the nest and hopefully reached the sea), sadly 4 dead baby Turtles and 1 hatchling which was still alive and it eventually made its way down to the sea.

On Thursday 2nd September, a trip to Avithos lake revealead a singing Cetti's warbler (heard only), 2 Silver washed Fritillaries flying around the fence-bushes and a few Clouded yellows, bathed in sunshine and 6 Brown Argos, Sooty Coppers by the short grass where I had parked the car.

At Sami, along the seafront as we were having lunch we counted 6 Two-tailed Pashas flying south past us. At the bushes area, a further 3 Two-tailed Pashas seen, plus a Sage Skipper and Lesser Purple Emperors. Whilst overhead a flock of 12 Alpine Swifts flew north.

At antisami beach, by the wasp traps (drink bottles filled with a small amount of Honey), they attracted 3 Two- tailed Pashas using the long probiscuses to drink the honey.

On Friday 3rd September, a trip to the capital Argostoli, included an early morning trip to the harbour, the fishermen were in harbour on the boars gutting the fish they had caught which in turn famously attracts Loggerhead turtles and we saw 2 full grown adults, 1 male (with a curled tail!) and a female. watching these Turtles at close range (within a few feet!) was the highlight of the holiday and it was wonderful to watch these glorious creatures swim so gracefully in the sea and break the surface to breathe and eat fish titbits. Both were seen together on several occasions.

A trip back to Mounda beach, Jenny went swimming and I looked around the watery outlet by the Marina Bay hotel and saw a very obliging Wall Lizard, 4 Southern skimmers and by the bushes on the beach, 5 Lang's Short- tailed Blue, 2 Long-tailed Blue, 3 Painted Ladies, a Skipper sp and a Marbled White flew briefly into a bush. Whilst a Spotted Flycatcher perched on top a bush briefly.

On Saturday 4th September, the boat trip revealed very little save for a Turtle in the harbour again and 2 Grey Herons. Afterwards a large eagle seen over distant mountains looked like a Golden Eagle.

On Sunday 5th September, a trip up to the highest point of the island Mount Einos, was so far the most productive birding of the trip, it revealed a Cirl Bunting flying over the road and a Wheatear by the circular concrete martello tower type constuction. Taking the track to the radar station revealed a further wheatear, a pair of striking Black- eared Wheatears and a male Stonechat. Travelling down I heard a Firecrest.

Back at Antisami, Jenny going swimming again, I saw a female Woodchat Shrike on a fence as we were driving in, Two-tailed Pashas again by the wasp traps and several Grasshoppers and a Lesser Purple Emperor. That night walking back to the Crystal Palace hotel at Scala, on the steps up to the hotel I saw a big Bush Cricket sp.

On Monday 6th September, looking from the balcony of the hotel, we saw up to 5 calling Crested larks, 2 Wheatear on a sand spoil. At the back field of Katelios, a Red- backed Shrike flew from the wire to distant bushes, an Olivaceous warbler flew into an olive tree. 2 Blue- headed Yellow wagtails flew out of the field and there were 2 Yellow- legged gulls in the harbour.

At Mounda beach, a Mediterranean Skipper, 2 Clouded Yellows, a Grasshopper sp on a back track and a Buzzard seen.

Back at Scala in the early evening, 2 separate Cory's shearwaters seen flying out to sea, 11 Yellow wagtails flew out of a field and a male Woodchat Shrike seen perched on top of a mound in a field. Walking back to the hotel, a fine Preying mantis was seen on one of the light posts by the path leading back to the hotel. 

Our last day Tuesday 7th September, an early morning walk around the maquis around the hotel revealed 5 swallow flying past, then a female Sparrowhawk, a Hare that almost ran up to me before scampering off,

Sardinian warbler, Spotted flycatcher and a gunshot revealed 1 flying Chukar and I was sprayed by stones (I was being shot at!!!) walking away, a further gunshot revealed another flying Chukar, further stones spraying past me (shot again, pellets!!!) and a male Blue Rock Thrush that flew away. a female Red- backed Shrike perched on a distant bush. Crested Lark and Whinchat also seen.

Back at the hotel, a Bush Cricket sp seen on the door jamb, it was well photo'd!

Driving back to the airport near Katelios we saw a further Woodchat Shrike by the roadside.