Abstract

We document the first systematic survey of the spring and autumn migration of raptors along the central-eastern Mediterranean flyway, from observations on Antikythira, in southern Greece. More raptors were observed in autumn than in spring, mainly due to the much greater autumn passage of adult Honey-buzzards Pernis apivorus. Results suggest that the entire Greek population of Black Kites Milvus migrans uses this flyway. Our observations of Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus suggest that adults breeding in southern and central Greece avoid Antikythira and follow a circuitous migration via the Bosporus or Dardanelles, while some juveniles in autumn appear to attempt a sea crossing via Crete to Libya.