South Crete

Both seen in Martsalo, in the cliffs of southern Crete, end of August.

81. Great tit
This is clearly a male because of the bright plumage. It usually doesn't migrate. Its diet consists of insects in the summer, plus berries, seeds and fruit in the more harsh seasons.

80. Rock Partridge
Beautiful birds which are decling in parts due to over-hunting. Though, they are found in very hilly -not very approachable- countries, they lay quite a lot of eggs (up to 20) and they manage to hold their population until now.

Hooded crow

I am now in Heraklion, Crete, the largest island of Greece. I will be staying for a long time in beautiful Crete, so most photos coming up will be of birds of the south-east part of the Balkans. Discover Crete with me!

Hooded crow

From the city of Heraklion, Crete.

More

Other beautiful birds found in abundance in Iceland.

beautiful European Starlings

domestic pigeons (or Rock doves)

Mallard ducks 

male digging in the water

female

Massive ravens

79. Eurasian Blackbird (Blackbird/Common Blackbird)

78. Meadow pipit

77. Herring Gull

Tens of gulls in Tjorn lake.

From Reykjavik, first days of June.

Cliffs

A lot of gulls and auks among the cliffs and over the ocean near Reykjavik, socializing and laying eggs.

Reykjavik. First 10 days of June.

More birds from Iceland

Twelve more species below!

76. Icelandic chicken

Special breed of free range chicken that lay colorful eggs all year long in Reykjavik, and feed humans. They were brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the 9th century and they are rare outside of the country.

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75. Tufted duck

Very similar to the Lesser Scaup, seen before in Ohio. It also has small differences from the Greater Scaup and Ring-necked duck. The black and white ones are the males while the females are dark brown with pale feathers. Seen in Ellidavatn and Tjorn lake, first days of June.

 male and female

74. Redwing

A thrush, which -to me- is almost identical to the American Robin, except for its markings on the chest! Seen all around Reykjavik, first days of June.

carrying a meal

73. Whooped swan

Seen in lake Tjorn, June 2nd-6th.

Below you can see a -not very clear- photo of a Whimbrel (no 72). Seen near lake Ellidavatn, June 3rd.

71. Eurasian Wigeon

Only a male, seen near lake Ellidavatn, June 3rd.

70. Eurasian Oystercatcher

It can open oysters with its beak, though oysters are not a big part of its diet. Seen in BSI central station, Reykjavik, June 1st.

69. White wagtail

This small bird seen in Iceland migrates to Africa in winter. Seen in Tjorn lake and other places in the town of Reykjavik, first days of June.

68. Black-tailed Godwit

Wiki says that during breeding this bird's beak is yellow-orange on the base and dark on the tip. See pictures below. Seen near lake Ellidavatn, June 3rd.

 Redwing at the back left for size comparison

67. Eurasian Golden Plover (or European Golden Plover)

Seen near lake Ellidavatn, June 3rd.

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66. Graylag goose

The ancestor of domesticated geese in Europe and North America. Seen all around Reykjavik, June 1st-7th.

65. Common Eider

One of the largest and most beautiful ducks in the northern hemisphere. Its feathers were used a lot for filling pillows in the past. Seen in almost every lake in Reykjavik, in Vik village, and in the harbour of Reykjavik, first days of June.

male in Tjorn lake

 male Eider and Lesser Black-backed gull in Tjorn

 weird neck

male and female fighting the waves

 females bathing

Last but not least... I have one and only one picture of only the head of a Northern gannet (no 64 )! I hope it counts! From far away I thought it was some guillemot. Seen from a boat an hour away from the harbour of Reykjavik, June 7th.

Can you see it?