.........
On our return we drove up the bridge at Potamia Valley. This track to the bridge was very rocky in places but when we drove to the left of the bridge we had to turn back quite soon as the road deteriorated quickly. And on the right of the river part of the track had been washed away by heavy rain in January/February this year. And even on foot we had to turn back after a while as the track vanished altogether and a detour was made through an olive grove. But this valley is a delight. The banks had masses of flowers - yellow, red, purple, blue. In fact we noticed this year that there was so much more colour in the fields and hedgerows than the same time last year.
On Friday we went back the Kruper's site for short toed treecreeper which again we didn't see. Saw another nuthatch though, again feeding fledged young. Drove on past the army camp, passing 3 fields absolutely awash with poppies.
On Saturday we drove to Petra again and had the Ruppell's warbler this time. At Petra dam had orphean warbler. Drove up the bendy, steep road to Petri and walked out of the village where again the flowers at the side of the track were beautiful.
On Sunday on the saltpans were big flocks of little stint and ruff, bee eaters, wood sandpiper on the 'wet' field that is rapidly drying. Then drove again to the Roman bridge but instead of turning back we followed the track past the bridge though olive groves and fields and eventually came out on the top road near the 'bandstand' between Petra & Kalloni. The road was a bit rough in places but quite OK with care. Later went to the Napi Valley 'valley' again and a new bird there for us was a woodlark in a tree! On the way in we'd passed a surly looking man in a car with a large telephoto lens aimed over the field and it had camouflage material draped over it. He didn't acknowledge our presence even though there was only about a foot between us so certainly didn't invite a question as to what he was looking at! I feel safe writing this as such an unfriendly person can't possibly be a member of the BF!! Hope he didn't get what he was after.
Very hot today - the tavernas in the square were full of families and children treating themselves. We ate salad and beer at the Enigma with the company of a little crippled dog curled up under our table.
On Monday, saltpans again then fill up with petrol. I'm sure the man on the pumps thinks we're running a black market in petrol - we fill up every 3 days or so. Went to Vatera today, via Achladeri and Politnitos (?) Vatera has come on a lot in the last few years. It even has a splendid new sign at the junction! There are some up-and coming tavernas to the left of the junction but our favourite is the one to the right - the last one before you reach the river mouth, I think. (On the way here, we passed through a village with a white stork in its nest on a chimney). After inspecting the river mouth where there were 3 little egrets and a little bittern we drove carefully past another army camp to the ancient chapel of Diosynes (?)There were swallows everywhere and two hoopoe in an olive grove. All round the chapel on the top of the cliffs by the sea, purple statice was growing everywhere and looked stunning.
On the way back we tried for treecreeper again but the army was now in residence in the woods so we retreated.
On Tuesday there was a spur winged plover on the saltpans and a dozen rose-coloured starlings had arrived the previous day. Then to Ipsalou monastery again. Had cinereous bunting, stonechat, rock nuthatch and brilliant views of the rock sparrow singing, showing his yellow spot and hefty bill. As we drove back Bob spotted a treecreeper (at last!)
Wednesday to the saltpans for the last time. Big numbers of little stint and some dunlin, wood sandpiper and ruff. Then up the hillside past the grain silos again where we had bush robin and lots of corn bunting feeding young on the fences. We moved a big tortoise onto the safety of the shrubbery at the side of the track. Then had little crake at the inland lake
....cont
Fantastic. Keep going!