A Week Away.....

I have been back nearly a week now but we did go to Corfu for a short break last week, it was very relaxing and I was hoping I would find a few migrants, despite it not being a birding holiday. It was actually really slow for migrants until the last couple of days when a few raptors started to move south. Most of the activity for the raptors centred around a couple of short sessions, so much more was probably going on, the highlight was a smart young BONELLI'S EAGLE, not sure if it was migrating but it did head south. Next was a nice group of Harriers on the 6th Sept which included 3 male MONTAGU'S and 1 male PALLID, these were followed within the hour by several MARSH HARRIER, 1 OSPREY, 5 HONEY BUZZARDS and a couple of unidentified Falcons. A couple more Montagu's came through on the 7th and another Marsh plus a group of 8 assorted raptors! but too far away to identify. Other birds in the week included RED BACKED SHRIKE, BLUE ROCK THRUSH, SUBALPINE WARBLER, COMMON REDSTART, SARDINIAN WARBLER, RED RUMPED SWALLOW, ALPINE SWIFT and a WOOD WARBLER. As there weren't too many birds around I did look out for some insects and enjoyed a few butterflies and dragonflies, these included GERANIUM BRONZE, SCARCE SWALLOWTAIL, SOUTHERN COMMA, SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY, LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE plus a couple of other butterflies still to be identified, VIOLET DROPWING was the highlight for the dragonflies, the first I've seen although probably common in Corfu.
Here are a few holiday snaps........zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A view around Agios Gordios Corfu

Geranium Bronze

Violet Dropwing

Southern Comma

Blue Rock Thrush

Common Redstart

Scarce Swallowtail

Common Water Snake

A couple of walks at the castle this week have produced a few bits moving through with CHIFFCHAFF numbers were upto 15 yesterday and a WHINCHAT, REED WARBLER and a GREY WAGTAIL. This morning there were probably only 8-10 CHIFFCHAFF and 3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS. 5 SWALLOWS through this morning is the biggest count this week!!