This was a very late autumn holiday to Kato Gouves in Crete for a sunshine break. Kato Gouves is a few miles to the east of the capital, Iraklio (Heraklion). We stayed in the all-inclusive family-run Kalia Beach hotel (very good) by the seaside, during the last week it was open. Bird-wise it was rather quiet, Eleanora’s Falcon being the best bird locally (200 pairs nest on the nearby island of Nissos Dia a few miles offshore). Sardinian Warbler was ubiquitous, found in any scrubby area or patch of vegetation, no matter how small. Black Redstart and Stonechat were the other common urban birds, along with Buzzard.
The nearest birding hotspot was the Aposelemis River, about a mile east of where we stayed. I couldn’t find the Gouves lagoon, nor the Creta Sun Hotel it is located near. I walked to the river several times. Crested Lark was common on the saltpans. The best bird was a very late Black-eared Wheatear; a Little Crake I found predated not really counting. Kingfisher was seen every time, and were also often along the seashore. A Grey Heron took a Balkan Whip Snake on one visit. Striped-necked Terrapin were in the river and pools. Dragonflies such as Broad Scarlet, Violet Dropwing and Lesser Emperor were present, and a few butterflies (Swallowtail, Plain Tiger, Mallow Skipper, Eastern Bath White) feeding on a common late-flowering shrubby yellow daisy (Stinking Inula).
We also did a couple of bus tours in the local area. Visiting a pottery up in the hills at Anopolis I saw four Booted Eagles soaring above a ridge. Two Woodlark were also found here. East of Malia, we went past the monastery of St George Selanaris, in a deep gorge. Griffon Vultures were easily seen here above the cliffs. On Spinalonga, an island off Elounda, a Blue Rock Thrush perched on a boulder while we had our guided walk around this former leper island. This tour was very good, with a swim in the sea off Kolkitha and a bbq also included. An Audouin’s Gull visited the boat, along with numerous fish, to feed on scraps. 42 species in a week, a relaxing holiday in the sunshine, and still warm enough to go swimming in the sea!
Feral Pigeon Gouves 23-Oct
Collared Dove Gouves 23-Oct
Stonechat Gouves 23-Oct
Hooded Crow Gouves 23-Oct
Sardinian Warbler Gouves 23-Oct
Great Tit Gouves 23-Oct
Yellow-legged Gull Gouves 23-Oct
Eleanora's Falcon Gouves 23-Oct
House Sparrow Gouves 23-Oct
Starling Gouves 23-Oct
Grey Heron Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Little Egret Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Buzzard Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Swallow Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Black-eared Wheatear Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Chiffchaff Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Blackbird Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Crested Lark Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Redshank Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Snipe Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Moorhen Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Coot Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Goldfinch Aposemelis River 23-Oct
White Wagtail Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Kingfisher Aposemelis River 23-Oct
Great Black-backed Gull Gouves 24-Oct
Greenfinch Gouves 24-Oct
Chaffinch Gouves 24-Oct
Black Redstart Gouves 24-Oct
Kestrel Gouves 24-Oct
Booted Eagle Anopolis 24-Oct
Woodlark Anopolis 24-Oct
Linnet Gouves 25-Oct
Blackcap Gouves 25-Oct
Mallard Aposemelis River 25-Oct
Sparrowhawk Iraklios 26-Oct
Raven Iraklios 26-Oct
Griffon Vulture Selenari Gorge 27-Oct
Shag Spinalonga 27-Oct
Blue Rock Thrush Spinalonga 27-Oct
Audouin's Gull Kolokitha 27-Oct
Black-headed Gull Agios Nikolas 27-Oct
Butterflies
Swallowtail
Large White
Small White
Eastern Bath White
Plain Tiger
Clouded Yellow
Long-tailed Blue
Common Blue
Mallow Skipper
Brown Argus
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Dragonflies
Small Bluetail
Lesser Emperor
Emperor
Red-veined Darter
Broad Scarlet
Violet Dropwing
Ocellated Skink
Balkan Whip Snake
Striped-necked Terrapin
Cheers
George
28.10
Agia Lake, Marsh Harrier 1 female
Georgioupoli Dam , Ferruginous Duck 1 male
29.10
Georgioupoli Dam, Pygmy Cormorant 1, Ferruginous Duck 2 males
Armeni (S Rethimno) Short-toed Eagle 1
Kourtikalioti Gorge (S. Koxare)
Griffon Vulture >= 5 , Crag Martin 2
Moronis. Common Sandpiper 1, Little Ringed Plover 1 juv
30.10
Agia Lake. Mute Swan 1 male, Ferruginous Duck 8 (4 males), Spotted Eagle 1
Samarias Gorge entrance
Chough (?) 30-40 circling higher and higher, all of them with Yellow beaks (not so long), sound more like Chough than Alpine Chough (as described in the book) New to me! Do you think it could have been Choughs? {Bo, Alpine Chough are present in Crete its a possibility ....Colin} Crag Martin 5-10
31.10
Agia Lake. Ferruginous Ducks, Pochard 2 males, Tufted Duck 1 pair, Pintail 1 female, Spotted Eagle 1
Falassarna. Kingfisher 1
Agia Lake, Gadwall 1 male
1.11
Moronis. Great white Egret 1, Little Egret 1, Little Ringed Plover 1 juv, Redshank 1
Kingfisher 1
Georgioupoli Dam. Pygmy Cormorant 1
Frangokaselli. Starling 6
2.11
Moronis
Great white Egret 1
Little Egret 1
Grey Heron 1
Greenshank 1 (on my photo the beak is to thick to be a Marsh sandpiper but it had no ”tju-tju-tju” sound as they usually have) Little Ringed Plover 1 juv
Kourtikalioti Gorge. Griffon Vulture >= 5, Raven 1
Georgioupoli Dam. Pygmy Cormorant 1
3.11
Moronis. Little Egret 1, Grey Heron 1
Greenshank 1 (on my photo the beak is to thick to be a Marsh sandpiper but it had no ”tju-tju-tju” sound as they usually have, but it hadn’t the neat “cap” that marsh sandpiper have in winter) Little Ringed Plover 1 juv, Kingfisher 1 Common Snipe 2, Common sandpiper 1, Redshank 1, Little Ringed Plover 1 juv