We spent 9 February back in the centre of the island revisiting some of the birding sites around Kalloni, but also making our first visit to the Achladeri Forest on the eastern side of the Gulf of Kalloni (5 on the map). However, before we drove south we did some being around our apartment and had good views of a Black-cheeked Wheatear. We also saw a Great Tit, which is a very common bird at home.
We first visited the area around the ford across the Tsiknias river east of Kalloni, which is always productive for birds. On the river banks were Common Reed Warbler, Little Bittern and Western Yellow Wagtail, while the low bushes held a colourful Eurasian Bee-eater.
Next we drove down to Achladeri Forest, which is a well-known birding destination on the island, being most famous as the best place to see Krueper’s Nuthatch. This species has a very limited range that only extend from eastern Greece, through the coastal areas of Turkey to the very west of Russia. Other birds seen in the forest included European Greenfinch and Common Chaffinch.
Today we had lunch in Skala Kalloni at the Caprice Restaurant on the beachfront.
For some final birding for the day we went back to the salt pans to the east of Skala Kalloni. There we saw a White Stork, which was a new bird for the trip, and also had views of Common Terns fishing in the pans, Greater Flamingo and the inevitable Crested Lark.
