Another Bird Blog: Bee Eater

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Καλές μέρες. Part One.

Yes. It has been a while.

May 4th 2026 at 0200 hours. Tiny taxi skidded across the IPhone screen, over the bridge, through the village, heading our way. Five minutes later headlight beams turned the corner to illuminate our luggage waiting patiently on the darkened driveway. Howard loaded our gear, spun the car around and headed off the way he came and then towards the M55. Destination Manchester Airport and flight Jet2 LS1729 to Greece.

Taxi drivers meet many varied people and it's no secret that they like to chat, sharing news and views on life. Most have a good handle on the pulse of Joe Public and are not shy to share their own opinions. When I mentioned my dislike of football, my fear of the coming World Cup but my love of cricket Howard changed tack and moved to the state of Britain, a subject close to the heart of 99% of his passengers of recent months all of whom have apparently suffered from symptoms of cold rage. By Terminal 2 Howard and I had solved all the world's problems and agreed the right way forward would be to not pay a TV licence and to never, ever buy a newspaper. The lively discussion allowed Sue to grab a a little snooze.

Howard disembarked us at the Jet2 end of Terminal 2 where a phalanx of friendly red-tailored youngsters greeted and sorted us in double quick time. It’s no wonder we dumped TUI years ago to now find that Jet2 overall service is superior in most respects; Germanic efficiency is not as it was whereby whole Facebook Groups are devoted to the subject of customer complaints and TUI’s misfortunes.

Jet2

Reading flight boards is an exercise and education in the geography of deciphering letter codes of sometimes distant, often nearby destinations. We noted that EGPD is not an airport in Egypt but Aberdeen Airport Scotland and that KACT, Waco in Texas USA was not for us. Lower down the unending display we found it – the mystery that JSI = Skiathos with the message “Wait in Lounge”. So we did just that while taking our respective morning pills with a cup of very expensive lukewarm coffee.

Manchester Airport May 2026

As we flew east to the warmth and sun of Greece The Alps below were blanketed in snow, a seemingly icy wilderness where people spend holidays falling over and breaking limbs. It’s all good harmless fun but not for us.

The plane manoeuvred lower as it passed over Northern Thessaloniki towards the tiny island of Skiathos marooned in the Aegean Sea some 250 miles north of Athens. Arriving from an easterly direction with the sound of landing gear slowly unwinding we passed close to the island of Skopelos on our right and Skiathos Town almost directly below. Plane spotters would be waiting for us. The hobby is very similar to Birding 2026 but a little more dangerous when stood behind an Airbus about to take off.

Plane Spotters Skiathos

Skiathos, Greece

Lumps in the throat formed as we thumped onto unyielding tarmac and the air brakes kicked in with a vengeance. We were back to beloved Skiathos for 19 days and 19 nights.

Without the nonsense of EES we passed quickly through airport necessities. A smile, a “kalispera”,a stamp in a passport, grab the waiting cases and off we trotted into the waiting sunshine. In their infinite wisdom Skiathos had weeks ago decided that during busy arrivals and departure times they would dispense with rules from the Brussels commissariat and instead use a common sense approach in allowing innocent travellers and waiting businesses to enjoy their times and Euros together.

Maria was waiting with the Jimny, a newish vehicle in a khaki colour that Magda had earmarked for us when she discovered my own purchase of a JB74 in late 2025. While no colour match for my metallic blue Jimny, the khaki shade fitted the bill to blend into the rugged Skiathos landscape. During our stay we would meet more JB74s, a cool car, blue or khaki.

Jimny x 2

Jimny UK

Jimny loaded up we hit the road with a dash and then a splash of water, orange juice, fresh strawberries, butter, Greek yoghurt, a bottle of ouzo and other essentials from Slaventis supermarket along the Ring Road. Slaventis has real live people serving at real food counters. Fish, cheeses, fresh meat, fruit & veg that can be picked and chosen from display by a customer to their own requirements Hand it to a staff member to weigh and ticket followed by a cheery “efcharistó” from both is a civilised way of shopping. Not your average Tesco experience.

Slaventis Skiathos

Just twenty minutes later and after negotiating Skiathos’ single roundabout we took in coast road views to eventually drive into The Almira car park where Anna waited for us at the hotel entrance with hugs and kisses while asking why we were late.

Aghia Paraskevi. Next stop Troulos

When Anna clocked the bulging supermarket bags she knew the score. Within minutes we had the best room ever in the hotel. A private bungalow room aptly numbered 101 with grassy space for two sunbeds, table and chairs and probably anything we asked for. There was a view of the hotel grounds, bar and swimming pools, and over the back an unkempt field with Barn Swallows, Red-rumped Swallows, Swifts, a resident Little Egret, Night Heron, Grey Heron. One morning came a couple of late migratory Bee Eaters plus a gang of rather lazy sheep that lived on site. For now!

Night Heron

Red-rumped Swallow

Little Egret

Almira Hotel

Bee Eaters

Our long-standing friends Anna Mathinou and husband George (Giorgios) Diolettas run the most amazing hotel and attached Restaurant Oregano. The grounds and rooms are immaculately maintained by a superb team of friendly people who appear to love Anna and George as much as we do.

We remembered when George and Anna adopted the Almira in 2017. The old place, then known as The Beltsios was run-down, neglected, the subject of serious family squabbles and not in demand by discerning tourists. It became something of a dump, in danger of falling apart at the seams. At the time Anna worked at Skiathos Town Hall, George was Bank Manager of the Alpha Bank in Skiathos Town when they quit their jobs at similar times to adopt what they saw as a business opportunity and chance to achieve something extraordinary.

Anna Mathinou

George Diolettas

Entrepreneurship. It’s a word and a characteristic no longer admired or encouraged in Britain, now ignored in favour of punishing those who look to better their own and the lives of their family, to provide work, employ others and to make a creative, happy society for the good of all.

No, our useless UK government and politicians can only investigate and introduce ways for us to pay yet more taxes, destroy initiative, success and enterprise and to then waste the money on ill thought schemes that no one wants or ever voted for.

George showed me his PC record, photos of the work that he, his brother and Anna did to bring the hotel back to life. They became painters, plumbers, joiners, builders, electricians and anything they could turn a hand to learn. As the pages of the screen turned, so the transformation followed, proof on record for all to see. The Hotel Almira with The Oregano is now a leading light of the Skiathos holiday and Tourist Trail, admired by locals and holiday makers alike as Anna and George go from strength to strength.

Here’s a few pictures of the brilliant team at Hotel Almira and the lovely, welcoming hotel created by George and Anna.

Hotel Almira, Troulos, Skiathos

Joanna. Hotel Almira, Troulos, Skiathos

Hotel Almira, Troulos, Skiathos

George and VIP Guest May 2026

"Kalimera" Hotel Almira, Troulos, Skiathos

Oregano Restaurant, Troulos, Skiathos

Oregano Bar & Restaurant, Troulos, Skiathos

Oregano Restaurant, Troulos, Skiathos

You can contact Anna and George direct or book a stay in Skiathos through Jet2.

Happy Days. Part Two with more views and birds later. Stay tuned.

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Back To The Future

Yes, it’s true. Following public demand Another Bird Blog is back. Click the Pics. You know the drill.

Four months later and following a number of stuttering, lethargic attempts I hit the keyboard to bring an update on the trials and tribulations of an ageing ringer, birder and photographer.

It all began in December last with arthritis of a dodgy ankle that kicked in during a brutal morning at Oakenclough, unsavoury conditions that continued into 2024 with the wild and windy weather of January to May inclusive. Weather “experts” paid to promote dodgy data told us that May was “dry and very warm” but high energy bills and nearby flooded fields advised otherwise.

Seeing again our Greek friends and experiencing Philoxenia in early May became Priority Number One. The pain, hurt and sheer torment of TUI and Terminal Two of Manchester Airport is not something to recommend but the thought of two weeks of Greek hospitality, Greek food and Ouzo saw us through the anguish as we finally landed at JSI, Greece some seven hours after leaving FY6.

TUI

Our Jimny awaited whereby a detour from the airport to Slaventis Supermarket provided the essentials for the first afternoon and evening in Skiathos - orange juice, 6-pack water, ouzo and Metaxa, not necessarily in that order.

Slaventis, Skiathos

Slaventis' Ouzos

Room Number 4 at Dream House was ready as our hosts the charming Efie and dad Kostas poured us a glass of ice-cold Fix, a brew that tasted like beer, not gnat piss. We swapped hugs and kisses then unpacked for tomorrow.

Efie and Kostas

Fix

Dream House (Spiti Oneiro)

It was early May, when many migrant birds have already passed though Greece on their way to Northernmost Europe. March and April is the peak but as in Britain some linger while waifs, strays and residents entertain the few birders in evidence - one whole and a partly reluctant sun-loving Sue in our case.

The list is not huge but included a number of mouth watering possibilities for birders struggling back in wet and windy UK – Bee Eaters, Hobby, Marsh Warbler, Red-rumped and Common Swallows, Nightingale, Scops Owl, Little Owl, Little Bittern, Night Heron, Tawny Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Yellow Wagtails, Wheatears and Spot Flys etc, etc.

Bee Eater

Black-crowned Night Heron

The travelling laptop tells a mixed tale of sunny, lazy days and recalcitrant birds. Not in any particular order but a taste, a feel of Skiathos.

Skiathos Town

The Greek flag together with symbols of Greece its culture and history are widespread. To mock Greece is to invite public opprobrium and worse. "Philoxenia" - φῐλοξενῐ́ᾱ meaning "friend to a stranger” is about much more than a warm welcome; it is a complex moral code with deep roots in Greek culture and Greek daily life.

Meanwhile in Western Europe and seemingly also in the US, there is an epidemic of cultural dementia coupled with a desire to obliterate our history and values. The Greek people don’t fall for such communist inspired claptrap.

Mylos Taverna

A quiet coffee morning in Papadiamantis Street

Early May at The Bourtzi

Feeding ducks

The Bourtzi

From The Boatyard

The Boatyard

Mylos Taverna

From Mylos

Sleeping in Skiathos

European Shag

Grey Heron

Yellow-legged Gulls

Out and About

Red-backed Shrike

Red-rumped Swallow

Whinchat

Night Heron and Little Bittern

Night Heron

It was three weeks later when deleting rubbish photos that I found the two herons just yards apart. I caught up with secretive Little Bitterns at other locations.