The Birds & Wildlife on the Greek island of Kos

Just returned from a very enjoyable holiday to Kos, from Tuesday 16th to Tues 23rd September 2014 one of the eastern Dodanese Greek islands off the southern coast of Turkey. On Wednesday 17th after the rep had told us about all the excursions were walking back in the hot sunshine and just by the pool on the path ahead were there was a pool of water, incredibly, a Snake was drinking from here, when it saw us it froze, I dashed back to the hotel room, grabbed my camera and took some pictures before it quickly slid off behind some bikes in a corner to shelter, it was a superb Black Whip Snake. We also saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth flying around too. A Sardinian Warbler was seen in bushes on the left side of the hotel at the front. Going to Tigaki Salt Lake, we noticed a few Red- veined Darters and a group of 19 Greater Flamingoes, with 1 juvenile amongst them. Walking around the scrubby area, I saw 5 Red- backed Shrikes, 5 Whinchat and 3 Plain Tiger butterflies flying around. Also seen on the Salt pans were a group of 4 Ringed Plover. In the evening around the hotel, I was delighted to see another Red- backed Shrike on a distant bush and the chortling sound of Bee- Eaters revealed around 8 flying around as ever, rainbow coloured birds. As night fell, I saw a Preying Mantis, sat next to the outside door of someone else's room next door but one from us. On Thursday 18th going to Kos looking at the archaeological sites no Lizards seen, but at Kos castle by a particularly large expense of wall a Starry Agama Lizard seen and a Yellow Wagtail sp heard only as it flew over. Up to 3 Swallowtail butterflies seen here by a grassy area. In the evening at the hotel, I first noticed a Hummingbird Hawk Moth perched on a smoke alarm in the hotel cocktail bar, which didn't move from there for the rest of the week. On the Boat trip to several islands, 11 Cory's Shearwaters seen plus several Yellow- legged Herring Gulls, Shags and on the island several Rock Grayling butterflies and Southern Meadow Browns. On Saturday we explored the Magic Beach and saw a large 4 foot long Grey Lizard that ran round to a cylindrical hole in the middle of a sand bank. It was later seen perched just outside the hole and I managed some distant shots. When we visited later it was seen at another cylindrical hole nearby. Several Red- veined Darters and Rock Grayling butterflies seen too. On Sunday 21st, the North wind had died down and we visited the abandoned village of Old Pyli, up to 4 Wall Lizards seen including a confiding individual close to the path, that was well photographed. At the top, it was wonderful to see 2 Black Stork soaring overhead, at Zia, 1 Common Buzzard flew overhead. and Great Tit and Coal Tit heard here too. In the evening it was great to see first 1 Green Toad by the rim edge of the hotel eastern path with 3 at the very end and another 1 further along, totally 5 Green Toads, I noticed one move towards an insect and the tongue shot out caught it and swallowed it. On Monday 22nd September, early morning at the hotel by a back hedgerow a Mediterranean Skipper and Holly Blue type butterfly seen. At Psaldi Salt Lake a Spotted flycatcher seen in the tamarisks plus 19 adult Greater Flamingoes At another abandoned village, a Clouded Yellow butterfly seen.(the juvenile had disappeared and replaced by an adult. 5 Crested Larks seen including a very confiding singing individual at the side of the road. At Magic Beach, the Lizard was seen again plus a Hoopoe flew over the road as we just turned off the main road. By the Agios Stephanos Basilica temple by the beach, 7 Starry Agamas and they all were very photogenic posing on the side and top of the wall sometimes just inches away!. At Kalimnos 31 Bee- eaters flew around on the way back, were seen on the mount overlooking an impressive vista looking down to a village countryside. In the evening, 2 Green Toads seen along the Eastern path of the Hotel, 1 Preying Mantis briefly landed on my arm then on the ground. 1 Gecko and then a Turkish Gecko seen too. There were 3 Wall Lizards seen- 1 with a Gecko at the Hotel front. On Tuesday 23rd September, a bigger foot long Wall Lizard seen by the eastern hedgerow of the Hotel plus around 5 Starry Agamas along the front. Whilst around 8 Swallows, a House Martin, 2 Alpine Swifts flew over the front of the Hotel. Finally a Chiff- Chaff heard and a Sardinian Warbler were seen.

Rogue Kingfisher!

Sunday 14 September, 2 Wheatear down Hamilton road on waste ground just N of road, 1 Wheatear on sea wall and then rocks at Ness Pt. At Net posts, a Wheatear on grass and amazingly a Kingfisher heard and then seen flying north over sea wall then headed west over the net posts and my head and appeared to go South again over Whapload road!

Wryneck

On Sat 6 Sept at Benacre sluice, a Wryneck not seen briefly for 7 sec but wait it after 3 hours showed quite well feeding in grass just south off copse by Pit. Up to 4 Hobby flew overhead calling soaring just over our heads, 2 Buzzard also and 10 Wheatear seen here too.

Track to Radar Lodge

On Wednesday 3rd September, after work at a very sunny track along Radar Lodge, together with Danny P, a Spotted Flycatcher perched at the side of some trees and tall weeds either side of the track ahead. A more elusive Pied Flycatche was seen around the Sycamores & Whimbrel heard too.

Elusive Critters!

A before work visit to Corton OSW on Friday 29th August failed to reveal any birds hardly surprising when I only had 10 minutes! Another visit at lunchtime was more successful and dead on 12 noon, I could see bird as soon as I got there, the excellent juvenile Red- backed Shrike perched on the north - eastern end of the wires. It perched here for all of 1 minute, before it disappeared and I could not refine it despite much searching. A Whinchat flew from the compound and disappeared in the middle of the beet field again never to be seen again. An evening trip to Southwold old Sewage works was disappointing, a great spot but in a 2 and a half hour vigil, no sign of the Greenish, a really elusive bird and not seen since 5.20pm apparently, (I arrived soon after) whatsoever by me, although a bird that flew across the path and into a tree late on, looked interesting but we couldn't relocate it. Best bird seen was a Swift that flew past us and west and several 5 Chiff- Chaffs. A fine Southern Hawker patrolled the pathway and flew around me curiously, also flying around were 20 Migrant Hawkers continuing their recent influx.

Pied Fly saves the day!

Corton was devoid of any migrant birds, this afternoon, Wednesday 27th August, by the sewage pond a mating pair of Migrant Hawkers all curled up on a tree branch would have made a stunning shot had I had my camera. an immature Green Woodpecker seen, a Blue & Speckled Wood butterflies and loads of Migrant Hawkers. Good to bump into Chris M & Peter N. We decided to look for the Pied Flys found by James at Gunton. By the Dip Farm Football pitch in the north- east corner flycatching and flitting about in a Hawthorne bush exactly as James described, I first saw the Pied Flycatcher fly out and then back into the bush after Peter N had whistled us over after he had refund it. I next saw it perched at the back of the bush showing the white in the wing. It then flycatcher and then perched so its head could be seen well and then the whole bird was seen out in the open briefly before it flew left top a Holm Oak and out of sight. A Robin, Chaffinch were also in or around this bush and we were joined by Nick B and then an immature Green Woodpecker flew to the edge of the field by the fence too. Several Migrant Hawkers were seen here too. A look around Gunton warren revealed the usual dubious characters but sadly no birds.

Garden Visitors

Over the Bank Holiday weekend we made the best of the appalling weather, 2 Chiff- Chaff were seen around the back of the garden and just over the fence, a male Migrant Hawker was seen on the rare occasions flitting around it wasn't raining and on Monday a juvenile Herring Gull got forced down into the garden with the heavy rain and when the rain abated it didn't appear to want to leave the garden, Cosmo, our cat, didn't know what to make of it either and I herded the Gull sheep dog style (stressing it a little as it vomited twice a horrible bread mixture!) down the passageway and to the front garden and onto the road, I stayed with it until it decided to run down the road and finally launch itself into the air and freedom!