Volunteering at Antikythira

Yellow Wagtails (Motacilla flava, Κιτρινοσουσουράδα) are not trapped often in our nets but today was one of those days! Apart from that it was a little bit calmer comparing to previous day in the end we trapped more that 70 birds. The two most abundant species were  Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος)  and Garden Warbler […]

The most common species were the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος) followed by the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβάκος) and the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο).  Some delayed juveniles Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos, Αηδόνι) are around the last couple of days while today some Whinchats (Saxicola rubetra, Καστανολαίμης) reappeared in fair numbers (they peaked the previous […]

From today and for about a week bird ringing are going to take place at three islands, Gavdos Antikythira and Strofadia. It is not for a lot but it is the first step to establish a bird ringing monitoring network during spring migration in Greece.  We hope that during the coming years there will be […]

The number of Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Δασοφυλλοσκόπος) is more or less stable from the time it first appeared but today it made a small peak and they were the most abundant species trapped. As yesterday Sand Martins (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο) were around feeding in the trapping site and we got a fair amount of […]

Sand Martins (Riparia riparia, Οχθοχελίδονο) were all around the place today along with some Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica, Σταβλοχελίδονο) and a few House Martins (Delichon urbicum, Λευκοχελίδονο) and all three species were trapped. A small peak of Whitethroats (Sylvia communis, Θαμνοτσιροβάκος) took place today. In the seven hours of the constant effort ringing we manage […]

A Garden warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβακος). Even though it is the species we have ringed most in ABO, we rarely get birds with foreign rings on them while none of our birds have been found elsewhere.

A Garden warbler (Sylvia borin, Κηποτσιροβακος) today! Not only because of the bird with the Italian ring (see previous post) but also as it was clearly the most abundant species today. Apart from the Superiors a second small waves of Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Φοινίκουρος) arrived today while the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης) were also […]

It has been really busy at the ringing table the last week with more than 100 birds at the ringing table! This morning we got our first Bee-eater (Merops apiaster, Μελισσοφάγος). While we were ringing it Jean noticed that that a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Βραχοκιρκίνεζο) fell into the nets so we had some extra excitement […]

Today we trapped this Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Φοινίκουρος) with an odd (closed) ring. According to the fact that the it is a closed metal ring and it does not have an proper inscription we have no clue what it is. If you have any suspicions on what it could be please inform us.

An impressive wave of Collared Flycatchers (Ficedula albicolis, Κρικομυγοχάφτης) arrived to the island today! It is the day with the most Collared Flycatchers we have had in the island the last 5 years (in total around 50). Most of the birds were females. During the first net round, apart from the Collared Flycatchers we had […]