Snakes

Sadly most of the snakes we saw were dead on the road, according to one local they should be run over as they are deadly, I did try to educate him differently but snakes have a bad rep unfortunately.

I have been unable to id these yet.

The green snake (Montpelier?) allowed me to pass it as it laid by the roadside, reverse up and then take a picture but as soon as I stepped out from behind the car I became a danger and it vanished into thin air.

Little bittern

This juvenile had no fear of us at all, quite happy to fish at less than four feet distance, it had to be wary of the hordes of European pond terrapins that shared these waters at Metochi lake, they were quite capable of biting off a toe or two.

Jay

One of a pair that graced the hotel Aegeon grounds in Skala Kalloni, our base for the fortnight.

Great reed warbler

This bird was giving fantastic views at Skala Eressou............as long as you stayed in the car.

Rufous bush robin

These birds were right in the middle of courtship, displaying and mating and seemingly oblivious to us.

Broad bodied chaser

This is one of many species of dragonfly we encountered, I just wish I knew more about them.

Greenfinch

Once again the car made a great hide to watch as this fine male delicately picked thistle seeds from the roadside.

Bee eaters

Colourful and real posers, a photographers dream, this pair were happy for me to be parked twenty feet from them and carried on with their mating rituals.

Crested lark

Everywhere one goes in the lowlands one finds these larks, singing from perches and also whilst flying over their territory, and they are so confiding, I drove out of our hotel early one morning and there was one asleep at the side of the road, I drove past it two feet away (carefully) and did not disturb it at all!

Ruff

These were one of the few remaining species of small waders still on passage by the third week in May, the early morning light gave wonderful reflections.

Subalpine warbler

Another colourful Greek songster, happy to belt out his song from the top of a tree.

Olivaceous warbler

These are very common anywhere around water with some scrub alongside, and by using the car as a hide, they are very confiding, no great beauties but nice little songsters.

Grass snake

Just as I was driving away from a very quiet Cavenham heath, with no stone curlews or wood larks to be seen, this grass snake appeared in the middle of the track, I quickly stopped and jumped out in time to stop the snake without alarming it too much and then leisurely took about thirty pictures, it certainly looked to be in beautiful condition. I put the camera back into the car and went back for a closer look through my bin's and found it had vanished, probably into a rabbit hole.

Reed warbler

This obliging individual popped up next to the hide at Lackford lakes, about the only way to get close to them without a floating hide!