Volunteering at Antikythira

Most of the birds have already moved northwards! Birds that are mainly passing this time of the year are Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος) and Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης). The possible Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca, Καστανοστριτσίδα) is still around and was retrapped, so we had the possibility to have another look at it.  The bird of the day  was not trapped at the nets. It was found injured at the ground by Tara, who picked it up and brought it at the ringing table just before the first net round. Thanks to Tara we could have a close look at an Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae, Μαυροπετρίτης) from a close range. The birds is strong and seems to have a wing problem.  We hope it will recover until our departure.

Other species trapped:

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος), Sand Martin (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο), Eurasian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Καλαμοποταμίδα).

Obviously it was too windy yesterday to open nets!

Martin had a feeling that we would have a special bird today and indeed we got! So we believe that we got a Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca, Καστανοστριτσίδα). If it is arouved by the Rarity committee this will be the second of the species recored in Greeace. We will keep you updated!

At the second photo you can see it compared to an ), Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida, Ωχροστριτσίδα)

A nice sunny day today with 75 birds in total. The most abundant species was the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης) and the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος).  We also trapped some Black Redstarts (Phoenicurus ochruros, Καρβουνιάρης) and a Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator, Κοκκινοκεφαλάς) we had not seen for a while.

Other species trapped:

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, Σταβλοχελίδονο), Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum, Λευκοχελίδονο), Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca, Καστανοστριτσίδα; maybe! se next post), Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida, Ωχροστριτσίδα), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Σχοινοποταμίδα),  Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Καλαμοποταμίδα), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis, Χωραφοσπουργίτης)

A new ringing species for this season today. Every year we get some Marsh Warblers (Acrocephalus palustris, Βαλτοποταμίδα) and today was one of those days. In fact we had a small come back of Acrocephalus warblers white some Sedge Warblers (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Σχοινοποταμίδα) and Eurasian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Καλαμοποταμίδα).

Other species trapped:

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, Σταβλοχελίδονο), Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum, Λευκοχελίδονο), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra, Καστανολαίμης), Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida, Ωχροστριτσίδα), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης), European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca, Μαυρομυγοχάφτης), Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis, Χωραφοσπουργίτης)

Another day with bad weather!

The good weather did not last for long.  After a few net rounds the wind started building up, so we had to stop ringing. Anyhow we had fun as during the first net rounds we trapped among others, two European Nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus, Γιδοβύζι) and some Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis, Χωραφοσπουργίτης). Even if we did not trap for long it is evident that the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης) is the most abundant species. Every second bird that is moving in the field, is a  Spotted Flycatcher.

Other specicies trapped today:

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur, Τρυγόνι), Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Καλαμοποταμίδα), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra, Καστανολαίμης), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Τσιχλοποταμίδα), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator, Κοκκινοκεφαλάς)

At last the weather changed and we managed to carry on a hole ringing session. Not only did we open nets but we also had some pretty birds! During first net round we had a European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus, Γιδοβύζι), some Eurasian Golden Orioles (Oriolus oriolus, Συκοφάγος) and a Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio, Αετομάχος). The bird of the day though, was a female Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala, Αμπελουργός). A lots of Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae, Μαυροπετρίτης) over the ringing valley but they never fly low enough to be trapped. At least they gave us a good opportunity to have a good look at them. In total 45 birds trapped:

Other species trapped :

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, Σταβλοχελίδονο), Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Καλαμοποταμίδα), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Τσιχλοποταμίδα), Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα), Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis, Θαμνοτσιροβάκος), Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος), Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης), Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis, Κρικομυγοχάφτης), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Φοινίκουρος)

A couple of days ago Mr Andreas brought us a racing Pigeon he was able to trap by hand at Potamos.  According to its close ring, the Pigeon is from Malta. We had a close look at the bird and we decided that it is healthy and was  release, after we gave it some water. It stayed with us for a couple of net rounds and then it decided to join our neighbor’s Hens where free food was provided. Apparently according to the locals, quite often racing Pigeons from Malta end up in Antikythira, this one is the fifth for this year.

The prediction was bad, but we hoped that we could open the nets at least for one net round, but in vain….