"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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.