25 September 2014: a last hour or so at Cagliari lagoons, Sardinia.

Our last full day in Sardinia, but another hour or so was spent at the lagoons for my benefit. Yesterday we had a flock of Cattle Egret in with cattle. This morning they were on the edge of the lagoon and took to the air as soon as they saw us.

 A solitary Black Winged Stilt

 

 A Greenshank

 

 Just as we popped our heads over the next bank. we saw a fcouple of families of Black Necked Grebe. We had seen them before but they had always been distant. These, however, were very close to shore though as you can see thye started to move away quite quickly - another first for me.

 The Greenshank again

 this time flying past a Flamingo

This pair of Little Egret were walking about towards each other, standing tall and "talking" - presumably some form of bondin?

 More Greater Flamingo

 and the Greenshank back again

 A Hooded Crow scouring under the trees

 and a solitary Common Sandpiper (thanks for the ID Marianne).

 A small wader flying in - possible Little Stint.(thanks for the ID Marianne).

 More small waders on the divides between the lagoons - Ringed Plover and Dunlin?(thanks for the ID Marianne).

 One last flying Flamingo

 and one last Buzzard

before we hit town and put the camera away for this holiday.

24 September 2014: another hour round Cagliari lagoons, Sardinia.

The birding part of the day was spent around the lagoons at Cagliari, this time with some very good light. Vry pleased to get a nicely coloured Greater Flamingo fly by and show off its black ad pink.

 After making several trips to Frampton on Severn earlier in the year to try and snap a distant solitary Cattle Egret, I was delighted to find a flock in with cattle as a bonus.

 Out popped yet another Marsh Harrier - almost as many in one week in Sardinnia as in 3 years of retirement in the UK(-:).

 To cap te morning off, a Great White Egret.

23 September 2014: a day trip to the island of Sant' Antioco, Sardinia.

A day trip to the island of Sant' Antioco to partake of its history and culture, but with a couple of birding stops on the way. The first stop saw us walking alongside the Lago di Monte Prano -  a man made lake but plenty of wildlife shrubbery and trees and far enough away from people.
Lots of these very red Chasers about though I haven't identified them yet. Grateful if anyone can help.

 Common Buzzard flew over

 A kind of Grasshopper.

At first I thought this was the Buzzard back but it turned out to be a Marsh Harrier, one of several we saw in the area.

Always a flock of goldfinch about.

 A Sparrowhawk flew over

and another Marsh Harrier appeared.

Further on we came across a Wheatear a

and a pair of Stonechat.

 

  and a last red chaser.

 After that we carried on to Sant'Antioco and stopped to grab a couple of shots of Flamingo

 and a fish in the canal.

 Then it was into town for the museum, history and culture part of the day. Just as we left the archeological museum I couldn't resist this Male Kestrel in the setting sun.

22 September 2014: Southern Sardinia

Not the best shots of Greater Flamingo taken during the week, but the best grouop shots - taken at dusk on a very still pool with good reflection.

21 September: Near Domus de Maria, Southern Sardinnia.

On the return from a trip to the west coast, we saw several of these at dusk over high ground looking for a  roost - Male Marsh Harrier for the first two and probable Marsh Harrier for the rest(thanks for the ID Marianne). Record shots only I'm afraid.