MANDRAKI JETTY - VERONIA QUARRY - THE EAST BANK OF LAKE KERKINI
WEATHER: cloudy to start, sunny afternoon. Top temp 28C
What a magical start we had to the day, a visit to the Jetty at Mandraki. I can’t tell you enough of what a wonderful experience this is, the colours are amazing, it is so tranquil and yet birds sounds are coming from all directions and the movement is mesmerising. We stood on the Jetty in absolute awe, no-one spoke they just watched and listened, it was incredible a truly magical experience.
The view from the Jetty
Eventually we had to comment on the shear numbers of birds and vast flocks in front of our eyes: Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, Pelicans, Gulls, Terns, Grebes, Coots, Moorhens and the greatest number of Cormorants (Pygmy and Great) that you are ever likely to see.
White Pelicans taken by Dancho
We nailed down some Great Reed Warblers, we watched Night Herons, Squacco Herons, Purple Herons and Grey Herons and the number of Cormorants was mind boggling. We never moved from the spot for about an hour and eventually we had to leave for breakfast back at the hotel.
Great Reed Warbler, several of these were belting out thier morning chorus
Following our morning feast back at the hotel we boarded the bus and headed to the village of Vironia, just above the village in the hills lies an old quarry, it plays host to several breeding species and just below it an old oak woodland which supports another suite of birds.
A Syrian Woodpecker was calling as we stepped from the bus, we searched for it, but we got distracted by a Wood Warbler singing, which turned into a search for a singing Sombre Tit, we did catch up with the latter. Then a Levant Sparrowhawk called, we tracked it down, getting fleeting glimpses until it landed on a nest! In the meantime we found the nest hole of the Woodpecker, the male bird was finishing theconstruction of the hole.
Syrian Woodpecker
Walking around to an old Chapel we had more good views of the Sparrowhawk, we also saw Sombre Tit again, Cirl Bunting, Spanish Sparrow and distant views were had of both Black-eared Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush.
a flight shot of the Levant Sparrowhawk by Dancho
The cloud thickened and a few drops of rain came down, but not for long, Soon the sky brightened and it started to warm up. We walked towards the quarry seeing the Woodpecker once more and a Hoopoe was calling from a tall spruce tree. A few butterflies came out: we saw Queen-of-Spain Fritillary, Common and Holly Blue, Green Hairstreak, Painted Lady and a Common Swallowtail.
Sombre Tit
The walk up to the quarry produced a Subalpine Warbler and a Cirl Bunting and at the quarry we watched Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Ravens at their nest and another Blue Rock Thrush. Dancho found a Spotted Flycatcher as we watched Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. A few raptors came along the ridge high above us, we saw Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Common Kestel, Peregrine Falcon and more Ravens.
Queen of Spain Fritillary
We stopped in the village of Veronia for a coffee and to buy our picnic lunch, from there we drove to the Picnic site on the East Bank of the main Lake. We ate at some picnic tables whilst listening to Bee-eaters, Golden Orioles and an Olivaceous Warbler.
Our first walk was very productive the marsh areas were just as productive as the grass meadows. Dozens of Bee-eaters fed over the fields, many of which had nest holes in the low mounds of the meadow. Mark found a Lesser Grey Shrike, we saw Golden Oriole, Olivaceous Warbler, Masked and Red-backed Shrikes.
female Little Crake
In pools and pool shorelines we found two Little Crakes, a Little Bittern, lots of Squacco Herons, Pygmy Cormorants, Purple Herons, Spoonbills and a few common species. Two Common Cuckoos were also seen.
Squacco Heron in summer plumage showing off its blue bill and green lores
Then two hours of our birding was done along the raised East Bank where we had views of the eastern part of the lake and marsh on one side and wooded scrubland and open fields on the other.
Spur-winged Plover
We had a terrific time, the light was fantastic and the birds innumerable we added lots of new birds for the list including a few most wanted species and a couple of unexpected sightings. The Grey-headed Woodpecker was a great find, located by call by Dancho. We then found Spur-winged Plover (2) out on the marsh and some distant birds. Cattle Egret, Northern Lapwing and Baltic Gull. Guy the Guru then found a Hen Harrier, a ringtail which was picked up by myself and Dancho. The Grey-headed Woodpecker showed very well and stayed in view for quite a while, we saw a couple of Black Kites, more Buzzards, Marsh Harriers and one or two Falcons which were too far off to ID.
Grey-headed Woodpecker - a record shot
Icterine Warbler was a near miss, it was heard but not seen and a few other species got away, but all in all it was a fantastic day out with 70+ species on the day list. When we were on our balcony later a Scop’s Owl called from the trees just beyond the hotel boundary.