Rhodes 4-17 May 2000

The following is a list of bird species seen during a two week family holiday to Rhodes. Birding time was extremely limited and a couple of sites mentioned in other reports were not visited. A full report will follow when time permits.

Scopoli's Shearwater	3 SW past Rhodes Harbour 10/5.
Shag	1 near St Paul's Bay 16/5, 2-3 near Kritina Castle/Kamares Scala 9/5.
Little Egret	Singles seen at most rivers with water along east coast. 2 flying north at Kamiros 5/5. At least 2 along river near Paradisi airport 17/5.
Squacco Heron	1 Charaki most of the time, 2 on 4/5, 1 or 2 at river bridge between Appolakia and the reservoir 7/5, 1 Gadouras Bridge 8/5.
Grey Heron	2 Appolakia Reservoir 7/5, 8 on offshore islet near St Paul's Bay 16/5.
Purple Heron	1 Gadouras River 6/5 and 10/5, 1 flying over Charaki 15/5
Night Heron	1 imm. Gadouras Bridge 8/5. 1 imm. over Charaki Bay 12/5.
Buzzard	1 over near Saint Nectaris 5/5.
Long-legged Buzzard	Common. Seen daily mostly singles but up to 3 at times.
Sparrowhawk	1 at Apollakia Reservoir 7/5.
Marsh Harrier	1 f at Gadouras mouth 6/5, 1f and 1 imm near Koskinou 14/5.
Montagu's Harrier	1 ringtail at Gadouras mouth 6/5. 1 ringtail at Charaki 8/5 not separated from Pallid.
Peregrine	1 on the "Navarone" cliffs between Lindos and Pefkos 16/5
Eleanora's Falcon	Seen daily most places. Sometimes in small flocks around Charaki and 8 together at Appolakia river mouth 7/5. Mostly dark phase.
Hobby	1 in off the sea at Charaki 8/5. Not seen well and could have been a pale-phase Eleanora's.
Red-footed Falcon	6 between Charaki and Agathi 4/5.
Lesser Kestrel	At least 4 hunting the ridge behind Lindos View 14/5, 1flying into Lindos Acropolis 6/5, 1 at Kalithies 8/5.
Kestrel	2 at Apollokia River Mouth 7/5. Singles Charaki 4/5, 15/5, Kamiros 5/5, Gadouras 6/5.
Quail	1 flushed near Gadouras mouth 6/5.
Demoiselle Crane	1 Gadouras 10/5 and again just east of Malona same day (6th for Greece).
Moorhen	2 Gadouras mouth 6/5.
Ringed Plover	2 Afandou river mouth 14/5.
Little Ringed Plover	Up to 2 at Charaki and up to 4 at Gadouras throughout.
Turnstone	1 Gadouras 8/5.
Curlew Sandpiper	Up to 2 at Charaki throughout, 1 Gadouras Bridge 10/5.
Sanderling	2 Gadouras Bridge 8/5.
Little Stint	Up to 2 at Charaki and up to 2 at Goudouras throughout. 4 south at Saroni13/5, 1 Afandou River mouth 14/5.
Temminck's Stint	1 Charaki 4/5, 1 Gadouras Mouth 10/5.
Ruff	1 Gadouras Bridge 10/5, 1 Afandou River mouth 14/5.
Greenshank	1 Charaki 8/5, 16/5.
Wood Sandpiper	1 Charaki river 5/5, 14/5, 16/5, 3 Gadouras Bridge 8/5, 2 Gadouras Bridge 10/5, 2 Afandou River mouth 14/5.
Common Sandpiper	1 Charaki river 4/5, 6/5, 2 Gadouras river 6/5, 1 Charaki Bay 13-14/5, 2 Afandou River mouth 14/5.
Marsh Sandpiper	1 at river bridge between Appolakia and the reservoir 7/5.
Stone Curlew	2 near Gadouras mouth 10/5.
Audouin's Gull	1 ad Kamiros Scala 9/5, up to 8 Rhodes Harbour 11/5, 1 prob ad Prasonisi 12/5, 1 ad Saroni 13/5, 1 or 2 Ixia Bay 14/5.
Yellow-legged Gull	Seen daily in numbers along most coasts. Up to 80 (possibly more at times) roosting along Gadouras River. Large numbers moving SW past Kamiros Scala 9/5.
White-winged Black Tern	The majority of a party of 8 marsh terns off Rhodes Harbour 10/5
Whiskered Tern	A few of a party of 8 marsh terns off Rhodes Harbour 10/5, 1 Charaki Bay 16/5.
Rock Dove	Small flocks noted Gadouras, Afandou, Appolakia river mouth, Lindos, Kritina Castle.
Stock Dove	I remember seeing 1 or 2 but failed to note details
Woodpigeon	1 Valley of the Butterflies 13/5, 1 or 2 across the main road east of Malona.
Collared Dove	Common along the east coast but scarce at Charaki (2 on12/5)
Turtle Dove	Common mainly around wooded hills.
Scop's Owl	1 male calling near the river in Charaki 11/5
Little Owl	1 male calling Charaki throughout.
Swift	Very common
Pallid Swift	Breeding in Rhodes old town around the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Art Museum. Small numbers seen elsewhere often in company of Common Swifts.
Alpine Swift	Common mainly around the coasts.
Bee-eater	Small colony breeding near Agathi Beach near Charaki, probably breeding in the river banks at Gadouras, small numbers along dry river SW of Appolakia. 11 in Charaki 4/5, 50+ in noisy swarms over Ancient Kamiros 5/5, 4 at Appolakia reservoir 7/5.
Roller	1 north end of Appolakia reservoir and 1 near the dam 7/5. 1 at a builders merchants near the army base on the road between Trianda and Pastida.
Hoopoe	1 singing Feraklos Castle, Charaki 15/5.
Short-toed Lark	1 near the Gadouras mouth 10/5
Crested Lark	Very common along the east coast
Sand Martin	Part of large passage of hirundines SW past Kamiros 5/5. 1 Trianda 10/5. Passage through Charaki evening 11/5.
Crag Martin	Breeding in small numbers at ??? square in Rhodes old town and the headland at Lindos. 3 at Charaki 5/5
Swallow	Common. Part of large passage of hirundines SW past Kamiros 5/5.
Red-rumped Swallow	Common especially Charaki area and Filerimos (Ialysos). Part of large passage of hirundines SW past Kamiros 5/5.
House Martin	Breeding in Charaki, Kamares Scala and Trianda, scarce elsewhere. Part of large passage of hirundines SW past Kamiros 5/5.
Pipit sp. (prob Tree)	1 Charaki river mouth 13/5
Tawny Pipit	1 near Gadouras mouth 8/5, 10/5, 1 Feraklos headland, Charaki 9/5.
Black-headed Wagtail	1 f. Charaki 4/5, 3 near Gadouras mouth 8/5, 2 m. 10/5.
White Wagtail	1 St Paul's Bay 6/5, 1 near Embona 9/5.
Woodchat Shrike	Common.
Jay	Singles seen regularly in wooded hills. 1 at Charaki 6/5.
Jackdaw	2 pos at Charaki.
Hooded Crow	Very Common
Raven	2 Kritina Castle 9/5, 2 Filerimos (Ialysos) 10/5, 1 near main road east of Malona 14/5.
Wren	Common in hilly woodland.
Whinchat	1 m 1 f Charaki 4/5, 1 at Charaki river mouth 6/5.
Stonechat	1 Appolakia river mouth 7/5, 1 Mandrikes 9/5.
Northern Wheatear	1 near Gadouras mouth 10/5.
Black-eared Wheatear	Common especially along east coast. Vast majority appear to be white throated. 1 male at Charaki showed characteristics of "hispanica".
Pied Wheatear	1 m singing Charaki 5/5.
Rufous Bush Chat	2 near gravel works seaward side of Gadouras Bridge 15/5.
Blackbird	1 Kamiros 5/5, 1 Filerimos 8/5, 1 or 2 singing Valley of the Butterflies 13/5
Nightingale	1 singing at Saint Nectaris 5/5
Blue Rock Thrush	Common along rocky coasts especially near Lindos
Reed Warbler	2 singing at Gadouras mouth 6/5.
Great Reed Warbler	1 singing from trees in Charaki 6/5. 1 singing near Gadouras mouth 6/5
Olivacious Warbler	Common along most rivers and in most woodland near water. Strong population at Monte Smith.
Orphean Warbler	1 silent male behind Lindos View 14/5, 16/5.
Whitethroat	1 in subsong Charaki 7/5.
Sardinian Warbler	Common in most suitable habitat.
Wood Warbler	1 silent bird at Saint Nectaris 5/5
Pied Flycatcher	1 f. Charaki 7/5.
Spotted Flycatcher	Saint Nectaris 5/5, Seven Springs 9/5,
Blue Tit	Common in wooded hills. Also seen Charaki and Gadouras.
House Sparrow	Common. Apparently all "domestica" types.
Spanish Sparrow	12 including 1 albino near Gadouras mouth 6/5.
Chaffinch	Fairly common in wooded hills
Greenfinch	Common
Goldfinch	3 along the road between Archipoli and Afandou 5/5
Linnet	1 Appolakia river mouth and 3 near Gennadi 7/5.
Black-headed Bunting	Common along east coast. Also a few elsewhere.
Corn Bunting	Common along east coast. Also a few elsewhere.

Surprised not to see Woodlark, Golden Oriole, Cetti's Warbler or Cretschmar's Bunting and very disappointed to dip Chuckar, yet again! Also I think this is the first place I have visited where Great Tit is absent!