Bird watching on Tilos

Tilos is one of the best Greek islands for those who are interested in birds. Just Antikythera, Lesbos and Crete attracts more birdwatchers than Tilos (to my knowledge). One reason why there are so many birds on Tilos is that the municipality has banned all forms of hunting, something they are, as far as I know, unique about in Greece.

The advantage to watch birds on Tilos compared to Lesbos and Crete, is that the island is so small. You do not need to drive around to see the birds, it is enough with short hikes, or to sit on the balcony and watch. I have seen many rare species from the balcony at Annas Studios. Bonelli's Eagle, Eleonora's Falcon, Long-Legged Buzzard, Eurasian Hoopoe, Blue Rock Thrush and Sardinian Warbler are just some of the species I have seen from the balcony when I have eaten breakfast. A complete species list of the birds I have seen on Tilos are linked further down one the page.

Watching birds with a glass of wine on the balcony also works.

Bird watching with breakfast on a balcony at Annas Studios in Livadia.

The best time to watch birds is in spring and autumn when many migratory birds pass Tilos. But there are also plenty of birds other times of the year. Bonelli's Eagle is a very rare bird of prey that you have a great opportunity to see on Tilos. Two pairs are breeding on the island. (Some say that there are four breeding pairs.) Eleonora's Falcon (also rare) is common on Tilos. One must almost be blind to miss it.

Eleonora's falcon is a character bird on Tilos. The picture is from Megalo Chorio.

Buteo rufinus above the church of Panagia Politissa in Livadia.

I have heard from many people that they have only seen crows and pigeons on Tilos. It is not surprising, because there are plenty of Hooded Crows and Eurasian Collared Doves on the island, especially in Livadia. Do you want to be sure to see a lot of birds, it is best to leave Livadia. A plus is if you are equipped with a binoculars, otherwise it is, of course, not as easy to determine the species, even if it is possible sometimes.

There are a lot of hooded crows on Tilos.

And there are a lot of Eurasian Collared Doves on Tilos.

Good places for bird watching are in and around Mikro Chorio, along the way to Skafi beach, the whole valley of Eristos, and in Gera. Raptors are everywhere, just look up.

Bird watching outside Mikro Chorio.

Bird watching in Mikro Chorio.

Three really great places for birds of prey are at the Monastery of Agios Pandeleimon, around Gera, and at the large dam below Megalo Chorio. Once I have counted to seventeen Eleonora's Falcons at the dam, they were there to drink water.

Bird watching with views. In the background you see Livadia.

My "Happy Place" when it comes to bird watching is at the small chapel of Agios Ioannis.

I usually end the morning's bird watching with lunch at Omonia in Livadia.

On the small island of Vrachonisida the rare bird Audouin's gull breeds.

I like watching birds but I'm terrible at photographing birds. I do my best but the result is rarely good. You have seen some of my bird pictures from Tilos further up the page and here are a few more.

Black-eared Wheatear in the uninhabited village of Gera.

Squacco Heron in Livadia.

Blue Rock Thrush along the way to Lethra beach.

Woodchat Shrike above Skafi beach.

Bee Eaters in Livadia.

Little Egret in Agios Stefanos.

One of many cute Chukar Partridge on Tilos stands by the red arrow.

Sardinian Warbler is very difficult to photograph because it rarely sits still.

However, the peacocks at Plaka beach are easy to photograph. :-)

There are plenty of lizards on Tilos and they are much easier to photograph than birds.

Birds we saw at Tilos during a week in April:

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