Winter birds

Cattle Egret, Polichnitos Saltpans, 14 Dec 08 © Terry Robinson

With only five recent records, this is the third Cattle Egret in a year with a bird near Sigri in Dec 07 and one near Tsiknias River in April 08.

With only Terry and Sue Robinson really active on the island in winter there are few records to report. Apart from the Cattle Egret above, Terry and Sue report the following -

At the end of November 08 still three Ruddy Shelducks on Polichnitos Saltpans, lots of Starlings and Corn Buntings around, and lots of Serins and Sardinian Warblers have moved in for the winter. No grebes in the Gulf of Kalloni yet though. We had the first real rains since May this weekend!

Mid-December 08 - The above Cattle Egret was seen along side Little and Great White Egrets! and Spotted Redshank on Polichnitos Saltpans on 14 Dec. 207 Cormorant and 620 Great Crested Grebes in the Gulf off Polichnitos Saltpans on the morning of 21 Dec chasing a shoals of fish right up the beach! Grey Heron and a Great White Egret joined in catching the fish in the shallows! Still 3 white storks over-wintering and a few waders. A couple of Reed Buntings have joined the Serins and Corn Buntings at Polichnitos Saltpans along with 4 Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits. Lots of Black Redstart, Stonechat and Sardinian Warblers, with Song Thrush, Robin and Wren, all now wintering around the Polichnitos Saltpans

1 Jan 09 - 4 Whooper Swans on the sea off Mesa.

Imm Goshawk, Polichnitos Saltpans, Nov 08 © Terry Robinson