August in the Sun - Part 1 Crete

Not many North Wales posts this month I'm afraid as I've been on my travels as many of the regular contributors have. The first few weeks of the month I spent in western Crete with the family. Based in Chania we travelled west and south from here seeing many species. I concentrated my efforts each day on Agia Lake, the only major freshwater lake in the far west. Here are a few of the main species seen during my visit and a few photos:- - adult Lammergeier seen at the Samaria Gorge - 200+ Wood Sandpipers daily with up to 70 at Agia Lake and 200 along the coast. One melanistic type (picture below) - 12+ Eleanora's Falcons at the Lake - 3 juv Little Crake at the Lake - Marsh Sandpiper at the Lake - Ruff, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpipers at the Lake - Night and Squacco Herons at the Lake - Osprey at the Lake - Golden Eagles and Bonelli's Eagles in the White Mountains - Eastern Olivacious Warbler seen at several locations. Also met some great locals including Nikos who is a great photographer and very helpful with local species. A few birds and butterflies taken in Crete earlier this month......

Good numbers of Alpine Swifts seen on the move - upwards of 100+ in flocks

Eleanora's gave great displays chasing dragonflies and hirundines

Three juvenile Little Crakes were present at Agia Lake

This Squacco Heron was a right show off for most of the fortnight

A couple of beautiful Cretian butterflies.

A strange Wood Sandpiper got me going for a while, seen here with a Hooded Crow. It was either melanistic or was heavily oiled. Seemed to be in good health though.