Keen eyed readers will note how the header picture changed. I swopped the Glasson Dock Common Tern for a Skiathos Yellow Wagtail.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) is familiar to British birders but throughout Europe there are many overlapping races and intergrades of Yellow Wagtail, whereby literally dozens of races and sub-species have been described. This makes identification and assignation difficult, especially at migration time in Central Europe in the case of juveniles like the one shown.
I'm thinking that the header bird, the one below, may be Motacilla flava beema, also known as Sykes’ Wagtail, especially since other Yellow Wagtails I saw fitted the same criteria. Yellow wag experts out there may wish to comment?
I'm thinking that the header bird, the one below, may be Motacilla flava beema, also known as Sykes’ Wagtail, especially since other Yellow Wagtails I saw fitted the same criteria. Yellow wag experts out there may wish to comment?
Yellow Wagtail
Otherwise, birding on Skiathos Island proved rather unexciting during very hot, clear weather and wall-to-wall sunshine – not the best conditions for dropping migrants onto an off-shore island. So I returned home with very few bird pictures.
We saw lots of Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails, Red-rumped Swallows and Barn Swallows, together with Buzzards, Willow Warblers, Kingfishers and the inevitable Eleonora’s Falcons. Unlike other years Red-backed Shrikes were few and far between where by locals told of a long hot summer where a successful breeding season may have finished early.
Spotted Flycatcher
Red-backed Shrike
A developing storm on our last day saw thousands of Red-rumped Swallows overhead as they descended below cloud level to escape the incoming turbulence. We left Skitahos just in time because since we returned home Cyclone Zorba laid waste to a number of places on the Peloponnese mainland including parts of Athens.
There was a knock-on effect to Skiathos where we heard that tourists out to enjoy the last week of the Skiathos season have had a pretty raw deal from cloud, rain and wind.
Today, Sunday, from Skiathos. "The main road is closed at Acropolis, at Kolios and at Troulos due to flooding and water escaping from the mountain into the sea. Power disruptions due to the weather. 102 mm of rain today to add to the 53 mm of Saturday."
Nonetheless we asked the lovely Anna to reserve our room for next year as we have no reason to doubt the question of “Why Skiathos?”.
Today, Sunday, from Skiathos. "The main road is closed at Acropolis, at Kolios and at Troulos due to flooding and water escaping from the mountain into the sea. Power disruptions due to the weather. 102 mm of rain today to add to the 53 mm of Saturday."
Nonetheless we asked the lovely Anna to reserve our room for next year as we have no reason to doubt the question of “Why Skiathos?”.
Why Skiathos?
Skiathos Town
No Name Gyros
Big Aselinos Beach
Skiathos
Skiathos donkey
Bourtzi Skiathos
Ouzo
Yes, we will be back. And very soon.
So will Another Bird Blog with more news, views and photos.
Linking this post to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.
A bit of rain will do te soil good!
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely take a chance on going back (but since we live in Florida half the year and own a small home there, you probably already might guess that we're willing to take chances on braving weather events!). The birds you did see sound lovely to me, but of course nothing like what you consider a good day. But oh my goodness those blue skies and that water and the quaint and clean-looking town and that (what was that last picture again?)..... yup, we'd definitely go back there (if only we could go for the first time!0
ReplyDeleteSo now we have the real goods. You go for the Ouzo, and the Cava, and the Retsina, and the souvlaki, and that morning coffee you show so often with decadent treats, and the moussaka, and the Greek salad. I declare that birding has nothing to do with it!
ReplyDeleteThe wagtails always confuse me!!! Looks a good spot to me for a holiday so long as the weather holds but that is always in the hand of the Gods! Enjoy the coming week, cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteYou're in such a beautiful place - lovely!
ReplyDeleteEven with no sightings I imagine you would still have a very enjoyable holiday.
ReplyDeleteOf course your bird photos are super...and the scenes/scenery wonderful! Also, why NOT return...you only live once!!
ReplyDeleteI am not a birder at all but I do appreciate your photos. However I am about to put Skiathos on my bucket list. Great report.
ReplyDeleteI had noticed the header change, but thanks for explaining. And, as they say, timing is everything!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, what a treat to be part of your visit to Skiathos island. It;s interesting how much I learn from a learned birder such as you. I only realized today that the Yellow Wagtail that occurs right down from east to southern Africa, is a non-breeding migrant in my country. I've never seen one here although Grant and I saw it in Tanzania. Ditto the Red-backed Shrike. I saw mine for the first time in the Nubian desert, North Africa, in 2010! And never seen one here in Southern Africa. Thanks for your informative and interesting posts always. Have a great day. Jo
ReplyDeleteA great looking Red-backed Shrike Phil, and thanks for the info on the Thrush. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI did notice the change in your header, another lovely photograph by the way -but appreciated the explanation.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the birds, and all the other wonderful views, of Skiathos, I can see why you've already booked to return.
Have a good week
All the best Jan
Nice shots and Skiathos looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteGreek islands have a relaxing atmosphere, together with good food.
ReplyDeleteYour new header is very pretty. I captured some type of yellow Wagtail myself last week in Italy along a small river.
Have a nice week!
Hello, beautiful birds and photos. Love the new header. Skiathos must be a beautiful place for you to keep returning. Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteI envy your trips as I am stuck home rebuilding
ReplyDelete