Samos Day 7 & 8: Last Few Days

On Wednesday 26th September, back at the Honeypot site, 10 Swallows seen flying distantly over the mountain, plus a distant flying male Blue Rock Thrush flew onto a distant wire. By the side of the road by some short grass a Wall Lizard would run out and climb up a grass stem look at me and then run back into the grass. back at Potami Beach, we parked just past the Cafe del Mund and walking though the path way, I saw the 2 Stripe- necked Terrapins on their rock in the middle of the stream again. Meadow Browns and both Lang's ST Blues and LT Blues seen again. The Garden Warbler seen by the tall trees by the stream was joined by a male Blackcap. 6 Willow Emerald Damselflies seen this time by the fence and stream, again showing well. A large black and white moth settling under a leaf proved to be a Jersey Tiger Moth, posed nicely (another new moth species), this is the species seen in their thousands in the erroneously named Valley of the Butterflies on Rhodes! Back on the beach, A large 10 inch Starry Agama perched on the top of a corner of a curved wall and quickly disappeared never to be seen again. Walking along a path between some houses and the RT Pipit field. I suddenly heard a "pphlatt" and it looked like a large green stick had been thrown onto the wall, it wasn't that, it was an impressive Balkan Green Lizard, a big Lizard, at least a foot long, very green and they were always appear abruptly out of nowhere, reminding me of Cato (hilariously played by Burt Kwourk in the brilliantly funny Inspector Clouseau films) suddenly appearing and attacking the hapless Clouseau (superbly played by Peter Sellers, it cracks me up every time!) the Balkan Green Lizard (NOT Cato!) quickly ran along the wall away from and leapt into a back garden. Also here were 2 mating Rock Graylings the back of the wings touching they would land briefly before flying again further along the path, garden or the field. Over a large Conifer wood, an Eleonora's Falcon flew by plus a large accipter that proved to be a Goshawk. Back at Potaki Beach on the final evening, the male Red- backed Shrike showed well again on the wires and the fence and after it flew of its own volition, to hunt in a different area (where I skilfully managed to get my big Chevrolet American hire car stuck, the right back wheel on a foot tall mound of sand and the left back wheel on a foot dip pit). Trying the gears only spewed up sand. Fortunately however, I had noted a foot square patch of carpet and placing it behind the left wheel provided enough traction for the wheels to reverse and free! We also saw the Shrike very briefly, very close feeding in some vegetation by the side of the road, it chose to perch on a fence running parallel to the road just 4 feet away, amazingly close just as luck would have it a car passed scaring it off, just I was about to get the shot, typical! By the Harbour, 2 YL Herring Gulls seen, one on the dock then joined one on the sea, plus 2 Hooded Crows distantly on the harbour wall. The weird beastie was outside the front door again with its probiscus was sucking the juices out of poor unfortunate leafbug upturned on its back. Later checking proved the predator to be the appropriately named Red Assassin bug (Rhinocoris iracundus) Walking into Pythagorian in the dark, 3, 6 inch long Cylinder Millipedes seen, one on a wall and 2 on the pavement. Plus, just past the lakes by the grassy area, 3 excellent Brown Preying Mantis, "Mantis religiosa" seen hunting for insects on the pavement. As usual, really tricky to photograph especially in the dark, just lit by the street light and when I was lying flat on the pavement to get some pics I had a concerned lady cyclist ask me if I was alright! Final morning, Thursday 27th September, a quick visit by the grassy field with the horse in it. A Fan- tailed Warbler seen by a reedy/ scrubby area and flew away, 3 Collared Doves (this species seen everywhere), 4 Crested Larks in the field, plus by the man made Lake, 2 White Wagtails fed. Also seen during the holiday about 4 Nosed Grasshoppers, always odd looking creatues, in grassy areas and many c30 Red- winged Grasshoppers. By the weedy area, 2 Whinchats flew away and perched on the fence. Finally, 2 Hooded Crows seen. I promise to post some pics soon & I hope to post back again in the UK but I currently suffering from a foot infection and can barely walk!