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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AndyPF" data-source="post: 1885123" data-attributes="member: 88381">Kefalonia, 9 July to 24 JulyDavidg,Just got back from family summer holiday in the same area: Spartia, south kefalonia. I really enjoy my birdwatching (but this is never primary hols objective just a little something for me to get thrilled about around the villa or travelling about the island). I especially like to spy species that are rare in UK (ie. I can really identify them easily - other species I try to log all relevant details then match back at home). I would say, to use a footy analogy, that I'm League 1 compared to your Prem League creds and birdlisting skills. However, the following were all firsts for me: Woodchat Shrike (saw many times around villa not timid), Hoopoe (lots of times - spectacular but timid), Bee-eaters (hundreds on fone lines and noisily dashing around villas - almost prehistoric looking), possible Nightjar (rushed off from the pool area when I  disturbed it early one evening - thought it was Merlin at first - very fleeting glimpse) - but I've saved the biggest and best to last: Short-toed Eagles daily over villas and shrubland. Interestingly, a week earlier there'd been a wildfire which had destroyed a hundred acres-ish close to the villa and this had dramatically effected the insect and reptile populations close by - was amazed when I got home to read that STEs follow fires!! Saw daily Stonechat as well.Unfortunately, my birding skills do not allow me to identify stuff unless it's obvious or I can get decent look - eg. there were lots of hirondelles but couldn't distinguish species other than common swallows and house martins.Did see the loggerheads in the bay at Argostoli - fantastic. Better go back to the bird books cos' love to see Cirl and Ortolans next time around and also try to ID the falcons in the valleys. Also, thought I saw a harrier but too fleeting to be certain - any ideas on the falcons or harrier types around Klismata??I too thought Kefalonia was beautiful on all levels and because of my amateur status I got a lot of birding thrills from there as well.Andy.</blockquote>

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