Thank You about Your answer Dave.
The trip was really enjoyable. I write short notes of species we saw and places we visited. I had 2 week trip with my family, so it included also other activities. We stayed in Parga which is nice and beautiful village.
It was not a surpirse, that warblers were difficult to find from the bushes. They were not singing this time of year. Some unidentified calls were heard almost everywhere.
Therefore we had an idea to concentrate to raptros and wetland-birds. The main idea was not see as many species as possible. We liked to to have relaxing day trips and see some nice species from our point of view. I did day trips with my 16 year old son. My wife and 4 year old daughter was taking part to second trip to Rodia area and Dodoni.
The most intresting birding places we visited:
Rodia area: Huge wetland area in the noth-west part of the Amvarikos Gulf
Koronissia: Road to Koronisia village in the north part of Amvarikos Gulf
Sagiada: Sagiada wetland is north from Igoumenitsa
Ammoudia: Wetland 15km south from Parga
Morfi: Wetland 5 km from Parga
Varka: Valley near Vikos and Monodendri village
Meteora: Famous monastery area in Kalambaka
Souli road: Road from Glyki to to valley behind the mountain
Dodoni: Archeological site near Ioannina
Rodia area is really intresting place to visit. If someone is planning to go to West Greece, I recommed to contact via email to Rodia Wetland center (
http://www.rodiawetlands.gr/english.html) for getting information. They are making also boat trips to see for example dalmatian pelicans.
We did not have enough time to visit all the places we planned before the trip. The most productive area we missed could have been Kestrini wetland between Igoumenitsa and Sagiada.
The following list includes the most intresting species we saw:
Garganey: Rodia area 2, Sagiada 1
Ferruginous Duck: Rodia area 12
Little Grebe: Rodia area +5, Ammoudia +5
Cory's Shearwater: Parga 2
Pygmy Cormorant: Rodia area +10
Great White Pelican: Rodia area, Koronissia +10, Sagiada 2
Dalmatian Pelican: Rodia area 2, Koronissia +10, Sagiada 5
Unidentified pelican: Koronissia +15, Sagiada 3
Little Bittern: Ammoudia +5, Rodia area +5
Night Heron: Rodia area 9, Sagiada 6
Squacco Heron: Rodia area +50
Little Egret: Ammoudia 2, Rodia area +100, Sagiada +70
Great Egret: Near Rodia tower 9, Sagiada 1
Grey Heron: Morfi 10-15, Ammoudia +10, Rodia area +10
Purple Heron: Morfi 1, Ammoudia 2, Rodia area +2
Black Stork: Rodia area 1, Meteora 1
White Stork: Nests and birds could be seen almost everywhere in countryside
Glossy Ibis: Rodia area 4, Sagiada +50
Eurasian Spoonbill: Rodia area 42, Sagiada 22
European Honey Buzzard: Quite common
Egyptian Vulture: Mountain north from Rodia area
Eurasian Griffon Vulture: Souli road +6
Short-toed Eagle: Souli road +5
Western Marsh Harrier: Morfi 1, Strongili (near Rodia)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk: Parga 2
Levant Sparrowhawk: Kipi 1
Common Buzzard: Common
Long-legged Buzzard: Souli road 2
Golden Eagle: Souli road 1
Eastern Imperial Eagle: Rodia area 1
Bonellis Eagle: Hills East from Ammoudia 1
Lesser Kestrel: Souli road 1, Parga 1, Varka 2
Common Kestrel: Common
Eurasian Hobby: Rodia area 1
Water Rail: Ammoudia 1
Common Moorhen. Morfi 2, Ammoudia +10. Rodia area +10
Eurasian Coot: Ammoudia +10, Rodia area +10
Black-winged Stilt: Rodia area: +20, Sagiada +10
Black-winged Pratincole: Sagiada 1
Kentish Plover: Sagiada 4
Whimbrel: Sagiada 1
Eurasian Curlew: Sagiada +20
Common Redshank: Sagiada 3
Common Greenshank: Sagiada 1
Green Sandpiper: Sagiada 1
Gull-billed Tern: Koronissia: 2
Common Tern: Koronissia: +10, Sagiada +10
Little Tern: Koronissia: 4, Sagiada +30
Common Woodpigeon: Rodia area (near tower)
Tawny Owl: Parga: 1adult + 2-3 young ones calling
European Nightjar: Parga 1 every night from hotel balcony
Eurasian Hoopoe: Ammoudia 1
Sand Martin: Kipi +10
Yellow Wagtail: Sagiada 4
Grey Wagtail: Souli/Acheron river 4
White Wagtail: road to Meteora 1, Parga 2
Common Nightingale. Dodoni 1
Whinchat : Varka (near Monodendri) 1
Common Stonechat: Varka (near Monodendri) 2
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler: Parga 1, Rodia tower 1
Sardinian warbler: Rodia tower 1
Bearded Reedling: Rodia area 6
Long-tailed Tit: Kipi 5
Sombre Tit: Monodendri 2
Western Rock Nuthatch: Meteora 4, Vikos 2
Eurasian Penduline Tit: Rodia area 2
Eurasian Golden Oriole: Dodoni 1, Kipi 1
Red-backed Shrike: Varka (near Monodendri) 2, Souli road 1
Lesser Grey Shrike: Varka (near Monodendri) 1
Alpine/Yellow-billed Chough: Monodendri 40-50
Red-billed Chough: Souli road 1
Bearded Reedling: Rodia area 6
Long-tailed Tit: Kipi 5
The following species were sawn or heard in several places and the amount was not calculated:
Crested Lark
Eurasian Crag Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House Martin
Black-eared Wheatear
European Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Subalpilne warbler
Cetti's warbler
Fan-tailed warbler
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Black-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Cirl Bunting
Some of the species (for example the most common ones) are mot included to the list above.
Three species of snakes and lizzards were also photographed. Identification will be done when I have time enough
The places were wonderful in June. I wonder what could be seen in early May or September?
Jari
