World Trip Reports
Kos, Greece August 2005
Not really a birding trip per se but it was a good chance to see those southern european species which are scarce in our area. Upon arriving on the island at 8pm it was already getting dark but a couple of species were seen early. Hundreds of collard doves on every wire going and a large pale bellied raptor hunting over some fields-possibly a Short-toed Eagle but no definite ID as it was half light. My first definite lifer came in the form of Hooded Crow. Managed to avoid them on my trip to Scotland last year 
Sparrows were buzzing around my resort- unfortuantely of the House variety-I looked all week and not 1 spanish sparrow. The first morning (Sunday 7th) i got up early to reserve the sunbeds (i only play the game!). Went for a walk around Psalidi Wetlands- a slight misnomer as not a drop of water anywhere. Walking around the shingle beach i saw another lifer- Yellow-legged Gull. Not very exciting but hey- no complaints. Also saw a couple of "mediterreanean" Shag. A few birds passing through low over the sea at some distance had me curious but i was to sort them out later in the week. 3 Charadrius plovers- possibly Kentish were spooked by local fishermen as i walked round. Would have been another lifer if i could have held on to them! Quite a few larks were in the dunes- mostly Crested Larks and a mystery lark. Initially i thought Short-toed Lark as i looked in the field but after looking through my bird guide very confused. The bird had a short stout bill and chose to run more than fly. It was of similiar size to the crested larks but when it did fly reminded me of a turdus thrush. It had an obvious very pale eye-stripe on a pale head and had an almost totally clean breast but for some slight markings at the top. The wings at rest were extremely rufous with no obvious field marks but looked too red to be s-t Lark. The tail had a large black terminal band. Any ideas? Anyway got to the reserve and saw 4 Bee-eaters, glorious birds and another new lifer. Walking back i saw a smart Scops Owl keeping an eye on my from its branch. Also shockingly enough i saw my first Yellow Wagtail- a female of indeterminate race, possibly feldegg but not commiting. Not a bad effort for a 40 minute stroll. Plenty of hooded crows and Jackdaws about with a few magpies also. Also Barn Swallow and House Martin were buzzing regularly about. On the Monda my girlfriend and I went to cycled to a thermal spa along the coast of the island up and down some spectacular road. On the way only 3 species of bird were noted- Common Swift, Alpine Swift and Woodchat Shrike. 2 more lifers- not gonna argue with that. The rest of the trip was quite quiet with repeats of the previous birds mostly but i did add many Cory's Shearwaters whilst taking my early morning strolls- obviously the birds i had seen on the first day- an unidentifiable warbler in the reeds at the wetland a Subalpine Warbler that had come in off and was sat in the only tree near the beach. Tiny little blighter and took ages to see- could hear him/her but only fleeting glimpses. The only other sighting of note was of a Peregrine chasing pigeons one evening whilst i was drinking cocktails on the sea front in Kos Town. Was a little gutted because i was going to have a proper day birding only to be unable to hire a moped because me and the missus had forgot our driving licences. Not a bad week though and got 10 lifers plus a possible 3 or 4 others. Im really intrigued by the lark. Also got delayed by 71 hours returning so got a further 3 days all inclusive-not too bad!
Sounds like a good place to consider since it wasn't even a birding trip. Thanks for sharing it with us.