Birdwatching trip to Mt Parnassos: The best way to cope in a heatwave

Birdwatching trip to Mt Parnassos: July 22nd 2023

As Greece is hit by a very intense and enduring heatwave, Jonas' request for a bird tour on Saturday, July 22nd seemed to be unattainable. Nevertheless, for every problem there is a solution and the simplest one was to go birding on Mt Parnassos, one of Central Greece's most beautiful mountains. 

We started early enough to avoid the heat of Athens and reached Kopaida Plain for a couple of hours of birding. Bee-eaters, Syrian Woodpeckers, Lesser Grey Shrikes, Sombre Tits and Rock Nuthatches were some of the birds we enjoyed seeing. 

Sombre Tit

Rock Nuthatch on a cypress at Kopaida

When the temperature rose, it was time to move higher and escape the heat in the shady forests of Mt Parnassos. Despite the season (post breeding for most species), we managed to find Short-toed Eagles, Rock Buntings, Firecrests, several finches, Lesser Whitethroats, White-backed and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers (heard only). 

No matter the heat, forests always provide shady shelters.
St Nicholas chapel at Varko plateau, Mt Parnassos

Short-toed Snake Eagle perching on Greek Fir 

Rock Bunting on the tree line of Mt Parnassos

Spotting birds on Mt Parnassos

Moving higher up to the alpine zone, we looked for birds like the Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, the Tawny Pipit and the Alpine Chough. We saw them all, together with dozens of Northern Wheatears and, to our surprise, a pair of Golden Eagles, majestically soaring while looking for prey. At 2.100 meters, the temperature never rose higher than 30 degrees C and a cool breeze made conditions even beter. 

Panoramic view of Mt Parnassos
as seen from below Liakoura Peak. 

While driving back to Athens, we realized how hot it was in the plains; at 18.30 hours, the temperature was 41 degrees Celcius (106 Farenheit). That was a complete win-win situation, enjoying birds at the coolest area of the region!

TRIP CHECKLIST

Common Quail

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Pallid Swift

Short-toed Snake-Eagle

Golden Eagle

Common Buzzard

Eurasian Hoopoe

European Bee-eater

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

White-backed Woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker

Eurasian Green Woodpecker

Eurasian Kestrel

Red-backed Shrike

Lesser Gray Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Eurasian Jay

Eurasian Magpie

Yellow-billed Chough

Eurasian Jackdaw

Hooded Crow

Coal Tit

Sombre Tit

Great Tit

Crested Lark

Eurasian Crag-Martin

Barn Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

Common House-Martin

Lesser Whitethroat

Sardinian Warbler

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

Common Firecrest

Eurasian Nuthatch

Western Rock Nuthatch

Eurasian Wren

Eurasian Blackbird

European Robin

Common Nightingale

Black Redstart

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush

Blue Rock-Thrush

European Stonechat

Northern Wheatear

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

House Sparrow

Tawny Pipit

Common Chaffinch

European Greenfinch

Eurasian Linnet

European Goldfinch

European Serin

Black-headed Bunting

Rock Bunting

Cirl Bunting