Northern Greece 2012 - Day 1 - Dadia Forest

Liz and I arrived in NE Greece yesterday and spent our first full day out in the Dadia Forest with, despite a big thunder and lightening storm at lunch time and overcast and cool weather through the afternoon, we racked up 15 species of raptor plus a host of other goodies.


Spur-winged Plover was a real surpise this morning less than five minutes from the hotel at Thermaria Pools near Tichero and Provatonas. I wonder how many records for the Dadia area there have been.

One of many Black Vultures seen today in the Dadia Forest.

Many butterflies around Dadia Forest today including this Black-veined White.

Our raptor list for today (very few birds on the wing midday to c.5pm due to thunderstorm and cool temps in afternoon) -

Black Vulture 6 at Dadia Centre (am) and 6+ at Kapsalo (pm)

Griffon Vulture 1 at Dadia Centre (am) and 1 at Kapsalo (pm) 

Egyptian Vulture 1 at Dadia Centre (am)  

Lesser Spotted Eagle 2

Short-toed Eagle 6+

Marsh Harrier 3

Honey-buzzard 1 male

Black Kite 1

Common Buzzard 3

Long-legged Buzzard 2

Levant Sparrowhawk 1

Goshawk 1

Peregrine 1

Hobby 1

Common Kestrel 5+