Birdwatching report Hvar Island: May - October 2024.

Reading Steve Jones' report earlier this year, keen birdwatcher Tomislav Sjekloća was inspired to check out the Dračevica pond and other parts of Hvar, and we are delighted he has shared his sightings with us.

Blue Rock Thrush near Fortica in Hvar Town Blue Rock Thrush near Fortica in Hvar Town Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

"This was my second Summer working in the city of Hvar and this year I spent much more time exploring Hvar island birds, so I thought I'd share my experiences with you as they might be useful for the readers who are interested in birds. A few days ago I saw a post from the birdwatching couple who visited the island in September, and also another one from Mr. Steve Jones about his report from April/May. Unfortunately, I didn't see his post earlier, but it seems we both visited Dračevica on the same day (May 6th) and even saw some of the same birds (Temminck's Stint, Glossy Ibis etc.). However, Mr. Jones' posts from previous years helped a lot as that was how I discovered Dračevica.

Temminck's Stint among Wood Sandpipers. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

This post is based on about 15 visits to Dračevica and Starogradsko polje (including airport field) but I also visited some other places on the island in different times of the year (Dol, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Fortica, Sveta Nedjelja, Sveti Nikola, Malo Grablje, Motokit, Floriana park etc.). I will include the most interesting details and photos along with the complete list of the birds I managed to see (and confirm) on the island. The total was 65 species but there were some I could hear but didn't see so I didn't include those (such as Scops Owl and Cuckoo).

Squacco Heron and Glossy Ibis. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

Dračevica was definitely more interesting to visit in the Spring when the water level was high. During my first visit to the pond (May 4th) I saw a Glossy Ibis and a Squacco Heron and managed to take a photo with both present. There were also 4 Wood Sandpipers and 3 Turtle Doves.

Turtle Dove. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

Two days later there was a group of 15 Wood Sandpipers wth one Temminck's Stint among them. On the same day I saw a lot of Bee-eaters resting on power lines near the pond.

Bee-Eaters. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

A week later I saw 2 Ruffs at the pond and one European Roller nearby which was my first time seeing this beautiful bird.

Ruffs at Dračevica. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
European Roller. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

On the May 19th there were a Grey Heron and a Little Egret, along with some Alpine Swifts. At the beginning of June I discovered 2 Green Sandpipers at the pond.

Grey Heron at Dračevica. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Little Egret. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Alpine Swifts. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Green Sandpiper. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

Some of the other interesting sightings: Spanish Sparrows in Vorba Park in Stari Grad, Blue Rock Thrush below Fortica in Hvar, Short-toed Snake Eagle in Starogradsko polje during Summer, a flock of Eurasian Spoonbills flying over Jelsa on September 30th, Common Kingfisher at one of the coves in the Floriana Park area...

Spanish Sparrow at Vorba. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Short-Toed Snake Eagle. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Eurasian Spoonbills over Jelsa. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Kingfisher. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Red-Backed Shrike. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Subalpine Warbler. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća
Woodchat Shrike. Photo: Tomislav Sjekloća

The complete list of birds seen on the island between May and October 2024:

  1. Sterna hirundo – Common Tern – Crvenokljuna čigra

  2. Larus michahellis – Yellow-legged Gull – Galeb klaukavac

  3. Corvus cornix – Hodded Crow – Siva vrana

  4. Columba livia – Rock Pigeon – Divlji golub

  5. Streptopelia decaocto – Collared Dove – Gugutka

  6. Turdus merula – Blackbird – Kos

  7. Passer domesticus – House Sparrow – Vrabac

  8. Passer hispaniolensis – Spanish Sparrow – Španjolski vrabac

  9. Oriolus oriolus – Golden Oriole - Vuga

  10. Fringilla coelebs – Common Chaffinch – Zeba

  11. Hirundo rustica – Barn Swallow – Lastavica

  12. Delichon urbicum – House Martin – Piljak

  13. Luscinia megarhynchos – Common Nightingale – Slavuj

  14. Serinus serinus – Serin – Žutarica

  15. Sylvia cantillans – Subalpine Warbler – Bjelobrka grmuša

  16. Ardeola ralloides – Squacco Heron – Žuta čaplja

  17. Plegadis falcinellus – Glossy Ibis – Blistavi ibis

  18. Tringa glareola – Wood Sandpiper – Prutka migavica

  19. Streptopelia turtur – Turtle Dove – Grlica

  20. Emberiza cirlus – Cirl Bunting – Crnogrla strnadica

  21. Phasianus colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant – fazan

  22. Parus major – Great Tit – Velika sjenica

  23. Lanius senator – Woodchat Shrike – Riđoglavi svračak

  24. Lanius collurio – Red-backed Shrike – Rusi svračak

  25. Calidris temmincki – Temminck's Stint – Sijedi žalar

  26. Apus melba – Alpine Swift – Bijela čiopa

  27. Apus apus – Swift – Crna čiopa

  28. Apus pallidus – Pallid swift – Smeđa čiopa

  29. Merops apiaster – European Bee-eater – Pčelarica

  30. Saxicola rubetra – Whinchat – Smeđoglavi batić

  31. Saxicola rubicola – Stonechat – Crnoglavi batić

  32. Motacilla flava – Yellow Wagtail – Žuta pastirica

  33. Motacilla alba – White Wagtail – Bijela pastirica

  34. Linaria cannabina – Common Linnet – Juričica

  35. Monticola solitarius – Blue Rock Thrush – Modrokos

  36. Chloris chloris – Greenfinch – Zelendur

  37. Calidris pugnax – Ruff – Pršljivac

  38. Coracias garrulus – European Roller – Zlatovrana

  39. Upupa epops – Eurasian Hoopoe – Pupavac

  40. Muscicapa striata – Spotted Flycatcher – Siva muharica

  41. Buteo buteo – Common Buzzard – Škanjac

  42. Accipiter nisus – Eurasian Sparrowhawk – Kobac

  43. Falco tinnunculus – Common Kestrel – Vjetruša

  44. Sylvia atricapilla – Blackcap – Crnokapa grmuša

  45. Sylvia melanoephala – Sardinian Warbler – Crnoglava grmuša

  46. Erithacus rubecula – European Robin – Crvendać

  47. Ardea cinerea – Grey Heron – Siva čaplja

  48. Egretta Garzetta – Little Egret – Mala bijela čaplja

  49. Tringa ochropus – Green Sandpiper – Crnokrila prutka

  50. Gulosis aristotelis – European Shag – Morski vranac

  51. Corvus corax – Raven – Gavran

  52. Circaetus gallicus – Short-toed Snake Eagle – Zmijar

  53. Platalea leucorodia – Eurasian Spoonbill – Žličarka

  54. Phylloscopus trochilus – Willow Warbler – Brezov zviždak

  55. Phylloscopus collybita – Common Chiffchaff – Zviždak

  56. Sylvia communis – Common Whitethroat – Grmuša pjenica

  57. Sturnus vulgaris – Common Starling – Čvorak

  58. Oenanthe oenanthe – Northern Wheatear – Sivkasta bjeloguza

  59. Regulus ignicapilla – Common Firecrest – Vatroglavi kraljić

  60. Alcedo atthis – Common Kingfisher – Vodomar

  61. Phoenicurus ochruros – Black Redstart – Mrka crvenrepka

  62. Lullula arborea – Woodlark – Ševa krunica

  63. Anthus pratensis – Meadow Pipit – Livadna trepteljka

  64. Prunella modularis – Dunnock – Sivi popić

  65. Troglodytes troglodytes – Eurasian Wren – Palčić

© Tomislav Sjekloća, May – October 2024.

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