15 May, 2011

Kos Part 2: 06/05/2011

Pre-breakfast visits to the saltpan always produced a good variety of waders.

Little Stint

The were at least three pairs of Ruddy Shelduck with chicks.

Ruddy Shelduck

We could not work out the access to the Psalidi wetlands, even though they were plainly visible from the road leading out of Kos town. This was to prove fortuitous as we then came across an Eleonora's Falcon, somewhat distantly, as it quartered the foothills with magnificent ease!

Eleonora's Falcon

We followed the coast road around the north of the island, and thus with the steep mountains climbing to our left. The paved road suddenly finishes and we cannot travel further. Here were a further four Eleonora's Falcon, wheatears, buntings and a Blue Rock Thrush. The Aegean Sea really is that blue !

Blue Rock Thrush

Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

The wind generally increased in the late afternoons and was, as previously stated, from a northerly quarter, and when viewing from the north-east end of  the 'alikes' the terns were feeding towards the observer straight in to the wind but with the sun more or less behind the birds. This proved a photographic challenge, but the results were pleasing. A small number of Black Tern would feed by gradually moving forward dipping on the surface of the lake until finally they would turn back and start over again. They did this numerous times seemingly unaware of  the camera.

Black Tern

Black Tern

Black Tern


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