| 5th Dec. At Kamisiana. There was a kestrel and a flock of 5 meadow pipits.
At Rapaniana. There was a marsh harrier; a white wagtail; a grey wagtail; and a pair of stonechats.
On the beach at Tavronitis. There was a flock of 30+ meadow pipits.
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| 6th Dec. At Neo Chorio. We had superb views of a male goshawk as it soared over the garden for ten minutes.
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| 13th Dec. At Neo Chorio. A flock of 5 honey buzzards then later a steppe buzzard was being mobbed by a pair of local common buzzards.
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| 19th Dec. At Skoutolonas. We found an adult and a juvenile cattle egret feeding in a flooded field and also a female whinchat. Was the whinchat a wintering bird or a very early migrant? Do they winter on Crete? There is so much to find out about the birds here!
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| On the estuary at Tavronitis. We were very surprised to see a male mallard right out in the open in broad daylight – usually hunting pressure keeps them well out to sea during daylight and they come inland after dark.
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| 20th Dec. At Neo Chorio. There was a mad panic as a juvenile bonellis eagle suddenly swooped down and attacked two small kittens sunning themselves on our patio. Yowling with fear they and our two adult cats streaked for cover and the eagle went hungry.
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| On a trip into the mountains. We found 4 griffon vultures; a kestrel; a male goshawk; an adult bonellis eagle; a juvenile rough legged buzzard; an adult golden eagle; lots of ravens and a lovely adult imperial eagle. Imperial eagles winter on the island in very small numbers each year now although perhaps they have done so for a long time but no one was looking for them.
We also saw a pair of blue rock thrushes, the male already in full song.
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| 21st Dec. At Neo Chorio. The bonellis eagle was about again but went hunting further down the valley.
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| 22nd Dec. At Neo Chorio. The bonellis eagle was again around but this time an irate short toed eagle was mobbing it.
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| 25th Dec. At Neo Chorio. The lounge has been invaded by lots of robins, partridges in pear trees, even some avocets and six penguins!
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| 29th Dec. Down on the coast. A single grey heron braved the foul weather and tried to feed in a flooded field.
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| 30th Dec. At Neo Chorio. A mixed flock of 4 pallid swifts and at least 7 swallows fed over the valley.
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| 31st Dec. At Sirili. There was a single swallow.
At Kamisiana. There was a juvenile short-toed eagle while..
At Neo Chorio. A single common swift and a flock of 7+ crag martins circled for ages.
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