Had a week at the north end of Corfu with the family in mid-August. It was very hot, but the north end is surprisingly green with plenty of trees (a mix of olive groves, Holm Oaks etc) under which you can find a bit of shade. With temperatures approaching 40C, birding was restricted to early mornings only. Only one new bird, Western Rock Nuthatch, four of which were seen bouncing about on the boulders on the slope just down from the monastery at the summit of Mount Pantokrater (pic below).
A few notable southeastern European birds, including Eastern Olivaceous and Eastern Subalpine Warblers and Lesser Grey Shrikes, but my biggest highlight was the several hundred Alpine Swifts tearing noisily around the rooftops in Corfu (Kerkira) Old Town, one evening, which was fantastic. The noise from these birds was incredible and at dusk a kettle of perhaps 500 birds gathered in a swirling cloud over the city. This made up for the melancholy I felt for missing my two Swiftlings fledge back home, which would have happened around the 12th. The best site I found was Souvara Pond near the northeastern tip of the island.
This held a few breeding and passage waders and was surrounded by reedbeds containing Great Reed and Cetti's Warblers. The surrounding olive groves and scrub contained plenty of warblers, Nightingales and shrikes and was enjoyable birding. I would love to revisit this area in the spring, as I suspect it is heaving with migrants and singing summer visitors. Maybe next year!
Mega Alpine Swifts!
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