Birding sites on Crete (1 Viewer)

[Extreme Birder]

Off to Crete next week, and will be staying in Chania. Have looked at a few trip reports on the web, but they are either vague or reasonably old. If anyone has any good sites that they know in the area, I would be very grateful. It's not a birding holiday as such, but I'm hoping to put some time aside. I'd really like to see Lammergier if I can.
Cheers in advance.

 

[Mike Richardson]

Off to Crete next week, and will be staying in Chania. Have looked at a few trip reports on the web, but they are either vague or reasonably old. If anyone has any good sites that they know in the area, I would be very grateful. It's not a birding holiday as such, but I'm hoping to put some time aside. I'd really like to see Lammergier if I can.
Cheers in advance.

Hi mate,
Was in crete for a week last September. It was more of a holiday with my non-birding girlfriend, although we did hire a car and visit a couple of half decent bird sites.

A Bird Watching Guide to Crete (2001) by Stephanie Coghlan is worth considering. It contains details of many birding sites, although I found directions to the given sites confusing (Doesn't take much to confuse me when driving abroad!).

One place I would certainly recommend is the Bramiana Reservoir near Ierapetra (South Coast). Great for birds such as Eleanora's Falcon, waders and waterfowl.

The Lassithi Plateau is supposed to be good for Lammergeier, although I had to make do with Golden Eagle, Raven and plenty of Griffon Vultures. The road up to the Plateau from Stalis/Malia has plenty of view points where it is possible to park-up and scan for raptors.

As a relatively new birdwatcher, I did find the birding on Crete quite hard compared to other countries I've visited. Common Buzzard, Stonechat and Sardinian Warbler seemed to be the most numerous birds on the island.

Good luck with your Lammergeier, and enjoy Crete

 

[lark o'dell]

indeed enjoy your trip chris

 

[Extreme Birder]

Thanks guys, I'll certainly try the sites you suggest. I have a car hired for the second week, so I should be able to visit them. A drive up to the mountains is on the agenda, along with a bit of gorge walking and a few visits to Minoan sites. I've been given some 'time off' to go birding by my partner - early in the morning before she gets up! Although, if we're in the mountains, and I happen to see a Lammergier.......

 

[Touty]

Off to Crete next week, and will be staying in Chania. Have looked at a few trip reports on the web, but they are either vague or reasonably old. If anyone has any good sites that they know in the area, I would be very grateful. It's not a birding holiday as such, but I'm hoping to put some time aside. I'd really like to see Lammergier if I can.
Cheers in advance.

In July '91 I saw Lammergeiers dropping bones on the mountain above the hotel at the head of the Samarian Gorge (southern coast). I've heard that the pair are still there though the Cretan population is now down to 4 pairs and 10 - 12 birds in total.

 

[Extreme Birder]

In July '91 I saw Lammergeiers dropping bones on the mountain above the hotel at the head of the Samarian Gorge (southern coast). I've heard that the pair are still there though the Cretan population is now down to 4 pairs and 10 - 12 birds in total.

I'm hoping to walk that gorge. I didn't realise that the population was that low though. Is there a reason for the decline? How many pairs has it dropped from?

 

[Touty]

I'm hoping to walk that gorge. I didn't realise that the population was that low though. Is there a reason for the decline? How many pairs has it dropped from?

Down from 8 or 9 pairs twenty years ago. One of my former students from Crete did a good literature search and talked to locals. The usual suspects: poison, ready access to guns (especially small calibre rifles for rabbit shooting) and the utter indifference of the Cretans towards nature and the environment. Newly independent birds seem to come off worst as they wander around and eventually meet up with someone nasty.

A friend who is a world authority on Lammergeirs and helped organise the Austrian reintroduction programme visited Crete and found the EU-funded visitor centre to promote and aid Lammergeir conservation on the island in a state of complete abandon and neglect after EU funding finished. No local or national funds were forthcoming. This was some years ago so perhaps things have changed for the better.

 

[Extreme Birder]

Down from 8 or 9 pairs twenty years ago. One of my former students from Crete did a good literature search and talked to locals. The usual suspects: poison, ready access to guns (especially small calibre rifles for rabbit shooting) and the utter indifference of the Cretans towards nature and the environment. Newly independent birds seem to come off worst as they wander around and eventually meet up with someone nasty.

A friend who is a world authority on Lammergeirs and helped organise the Austrian reintroduction programme visited Crete and found the EU-funded visitor centre to promote and aid Lammergeir conservation on the island in a state of complete abandon and neglect after EU funding finished. No local or national funds were forthcoming. This was some years ago so perhaps things have changed for the better.

Another depressing situation! It's a shame when people don't appreciate what they've got. I guess the population is rarely naturally augmented by birds from the continent. Where was the visitor centre? I might pay it a visit if I get chance, and report back.

 

[Touty]

Another depressing situation! It's a shame when people don't appreciate what they've got. I guess the population is rarely naturally augmented by birds from the continent. Where was the visitor centre? I might pay it a visit if I get chance, and report back.

Not more than 1 pair on mainland Greece. Maybe even none. I have no idea where the visitor centre is. I see the project finished in 2002.

 

[Mike Richardson]

I think I saw some kind of visitor centre dedicated to the Lammergier on the Lassithi Plateau circular road. I'm sorry I don't remember the actual place name, although I do recall it was near a church. Anyhow, the centre was closed at the time and did not display opening hours or any sign of life.
Its unfortunate that the Lammergier is still persecuted in Crete. Think about the amount of tourist dollars the bird could potentially generate for the island.

 

[Extreme Birder]

Returned from Crete a few weeks ago, but haven't had chance to post an update.

Didn't see any Lammergiers, unfortunately. In fact there weren't many birds about at all, although this could have been due to the time of year. I was disturbed by the complete lack of concearn the locals had towards the environment though!

 

[birdline]

From Crete

Returned from Crete a few weeks ago, but haven't had chance to post an update.

Didn't see any Lammergiers, unfortunately. In fact there weren't many birds about at all, although this could have been due to the time of year. I was disturbed by the complete lack of concearn the locals had towards the environment though!

Please see my website www.cretewww.com especially the links page on Bearded Vulture GPS, and as you will see plenty of birds on Crete at times

 

[Mike Richardson]

Please see my website www.cretewww.com especially the links page on Bearded Vulture GPS, and as you will see plenty of birds on Crete at times

Great website Birdline. Saved it to my favorites as it will be useful for my next visit to Crete.

 

[Russh]

Off to Crete next week, and will be staying in Chania. Have looked at a few trip reports on the web, but they are either vague or reasonably old. If anyone has any good sites that they know in the area, I would be very grateful. It's not a birding holiday as such, but I'm hoping to put some time aside. I'd really like to see Lammergier if I can.
Cheers in advance.

Went years and years ago .Was too youg to hire a car so stayed around he resort of Plakias on the South coast was excelent for migrants (mid April) with loads of godd habitat around.Don't know what its like now with development etc but may be worth a look.Theres a steep gorge above the town where we saw Lammergeier,golden eagle & chukar on the hills.May be worth a look....

 

[ruggiel]

I was in Crete for holiday last week and has a single birding opportunity: I visited Roza's Gorges close to Avlou where I saw Griffon Vultures and Ravens. This is indeed to report I got a nice view of Western Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) which is supposed to be very rare on the island accordingly to http://www.cretewww.com/birds/list.htm.

Sorry no photo. Date July 4th 2017.
Anyone got new records ?
The species is not included not in HBW Alive Atlas neither in EBCC atlas of European breeding birds.