Thanasis Tsafonis

Birding & bird photography enthusiast | Birding guide based in Greece 🇬🇷 | Ebird profile:

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

This Black-winged Pratincole was the Greek rarity finding of this week. Found on May 10 by S. Zogaris at Spata flooded fields near Athens International Airport. This was the 4th record for Attica region & approximately the 33rd for Greece.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Ended April with a White-tailed Lapwing twitch, first found by Iordan Hristov at Evros Delta National Park, presumably the 20th record for Greece. A full day around the national park produced 120 species.

Full list here:
https://t.co/Ck1YcAaw26

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Other difficult and scarce migrants for Greece observed during the Rhodes trip were a Baillon’s Crake and a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.

Full trip report here:
https://t.co/bzwWennqu5

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

MEGA!
1st record for Greece!

Chasing after the recent southeastern winds for potential vagrants really paid off!

Cyprus Wheatear, Rhodes island, Greece

Reduced white rump (ending at central tertials), short primary projection & recorded song confirm ID compared to Pied.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Southwestern Peloponnese birding weekend, ending on a perfect note with this immature Eurasian Dotterel at Messini.

Full trip report here:
https://t.co/DNB3dcE6bf

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

A MEGA for Greece!

A male Spectacled Warbler was found yesterday at Methoni Castle, Southwestern Greece by L. Cornacchia, following the extensive western winds of the previous days. Today, a number of birders twitched the national rarity which was still present in the area.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Most exciting migrant sightings in Cape Tainaro this afternoon included one Short-eared Owl and two Richard’s Pipits.

High numbers of Eastern Subalpine Warblers were seen. Rüppell’s Warblers, Wrynecks, Isabelline & Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were some of the other migrants.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Migration in full swing at Spata fields near Athens International Airport.

Dotterel, Spur-winged Lapwing, Pallid Harrier, Lesser Kestrels, Savi’s Warbler, Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh & Spotted Sandpipers, Garganeys, Great Spotted Cuckoo and many more.

https://t.co/1Pa6xyjZ3r

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

What a fascinating winter it’s been for Short-eared Owls in Greece!
Different wintering groups have been found across Thessaly, Epirus and Central Macedonia.

This individual was spotted at Amvrakikos Wetlands National Park.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

This Wolf was the most exciting sighting of the weekend at Lake Kerkini NP. The wintering Laughing Dove was still there and one Oriental Turtle Dove was at its usual wintering spot.

Full trip report here: https://t.co/5lba7C3PLu

Photo: George Papadomanolakis

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

@scoopwibbler @JohnBanak Yes, Lesvos is a really unique place with such biodiversity in one place and a really great spring birding experience.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

It’s been two months since our trip to Georgia in October. Our number one target was the Caucasian Snowcock, and we were extremely lucky to get some exciting views during our hike toward the Gergeti Glacier.

Full trip report with more photos here:

https://t.co/9lnNGYZtWo

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

@scoopwibbler @JohnBanak Georgia is a beautiful place, I totally recommend the Caucasian parts if you never been before. Yes of course I do this kind of guides in Greece. For more details you can contact me at [email protected]

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

In terms of mammals, the most exciting records during our Georgia trip were numerous Goitered Gazelles, a colony of Libyan Jirds, and a Caucasian Lynx that had just finished hunting some East Caucasian Turs.

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

@bromerzz Congrats! Great record!

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

Given the time of year, five Marsh Sandpipers, a Temminck's Stint and a Purple Heron were the most notable observations from a day trip around Messolonghi Lagoons NP in Western Greece on November 30.

Full trip report here:
https://t.co/5uuR78xpDa

[Thanasis Tsafonis @t_tsafonis]

On Nov 21, E. Scheuermann discovered an American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) on Lemnos island and reported it on Ebird — the 1st record for Greece!
A great opportunity for a twitch and a chance to visit an island I’d never been to before.

https://t.co/OsQSH4Vudz