Mavrokolympos, Arodes and Avakas

Taking our mince pies out with us today, we travelled through the Mavrokolympus dam area to get to the Akoursos road, on the way we spotted the male Finsch's Wheatear. Hoping to see some raptors on the way up to Akoursos did not materialise. It was not until we got near Arodes that we saw our first, a pair of adult Bonelli's Eagle.

   Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata)

Having a couple of hours to spare, we decided to walk up to the narrowest section of the Avakas Gorge only. On arriving at a location before that we decided to wait as we had seen and photographed a Wallcreeper here in February, being a good location Dave waited with the camera while Jan went a little further, on arriving just before the narrowest section she spotted a Wallcreeper. Ten minutes later a couple came down and gave Dave a message to go further up, on proceeding we established that the bird was disturbed by this couple coming down. This cant be helped as this is the narrowest part of the gorge and although quiet this afternoon, any movement through this section will result in the bird flying elsewhere. Next time Jan will have a camera with her! Photograph below taken earlier last month but from further up the gorge.

 Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)

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Dave and Jan