Volunteering at Antikythira

 The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) today and Reed (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Marsh (Acrocephalus palustris) and Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) from yesterday are the new species in our nets.

 The first Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) of the season is flying a few hundreds feet above A.B.O

Scops Owl (Otus scops), Red-Breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), and Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) the new species in the mistnets today.

Few birds today as well, Song Trush (Turdus philomelos), and Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) the new species of the day.

  Very few birds for our first ringing attempt. Six different species were caught today out of nine birds in total. Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Icterine Warbler (Hipollais icterina), Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca), Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

In a small islet north of Antikythira, Eleonora’s Falcons (Falco eleonorae) defending their colony from 2 Ravens ( Corvus corax).

Migration is still a bit slow in Antikythira for all species but Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) which are already passing by in flocks of 10 to 40 birds. In the first photos you see part of a bigger flock while in the last an Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is mobbing one of them in a quite convincing way.

The Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus caught at our nets on April 19th, 2008(http://blogs.ornithologiki.gr/osa/?p=162) was ringed 294 days (years 9 months 20 days) ago on Ventes Ragas, Silute, Lithuania. We are really grateful to the Greek and the Lithuania ringing Centers for their quick response. We hope for more recaptures during the coming migration period.