Spring update - 20 April 2012

Sharing your bird news when on the island - see here
Spring migrant news
Glossy Ibis, Polichnitos Saltpans, 30 Mar 12 © Terry Robinson


Records Terry Robinson (via OrnithTopos) unless otherwise stated.


MENETRIES'S WARBLER
A male was seen and photographed at Kavai on 12 April (L Starnini). See photos on the HRC site here. This is the first record for Lesvos and Greece. It was seen here.


APRIL
Squacco Heron - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3 & 7 Apr
Booted Eagle  - 1 reported 17 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Pallid Harrier  - 1 reported 16 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Red-footed Falcon - fem Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Little Crake  - up to Skala Kallonis Pool and up to 5 Metochi Lake (Reg Thorpe)
Marsh Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Common Sandpiper  1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7 Apr
Temminck's Stint - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Common Tern  - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Alpine Swift  - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 9 Apr
Common Swift  - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 12 Apr
Scops Owl  - 1 present at Soumouria Scops Copse (Reg Thorpe)
Sand Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Red-rumped Swallow  - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Masked Shrike  - present Achladeri from 17 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Common Whitethroat  - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler  - 3 Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Whinchat  - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Apr
Black-eared Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans 10 on 2 Apr
Collared Flycatcher  - several Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
CITRINE WAGTAIL  - male Polichnitos Saltpans 13 Apr
Tawny Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans up to 7 on 3 Apr


Ortolan Bunring (17 Apr) and Whinchat (18 Apr) also reported but no site details.


Kruper's Nuthatch vocal in Achladeri Forest picnic site but not appeared to have settled yet (18 Apr). 


MARCH
Garganey - 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th, 20 Kalloni Saltpans 25 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Yelkouan Shearwateter - Polichnitos Saltpans max 1852 on 19 Mar
Great Crested Grebe Polichnitos Saltpans max 285 on 18 Mar
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar
Black Stork - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 20 Mar
Glossy Ibis - 27 nr Kalloni Saltpans 16 Mar (Eleni Galinou); 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th with 3 there from 30th
Squacco Heron - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Purple Heron - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Spoonbill - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 28 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Little Crake - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Booted Eagle - 1 Potamia Valley 26 Mar (Anja Hoff), 1 nr Efthalou 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Marsh Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 20 Mar
Hen Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans still
Grey Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 - 31 Mar
Common Ringed Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar
Little Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans from 11 Mar
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Ruff - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans small numbers since 9 Mar 
Pallid Swift - birds seen Mytilini from 21 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Scops Owl - 1-3 birds heard Mytilini from 20 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Hoopoe - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar
Woodchat Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans from 25 Mar
Barn SwallowPolichnitos Saltpans from 20 Mar
House Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Short-toed Lark - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Fan-tailed Warbler - 1 Dipi Larisos from 26 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Dipi Larisos from 26 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Subalpine Warbler - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Ruppell's Warbler - Kavaki 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Willow Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans from 26 Mar
Blackcap - Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar, Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Black-eared Wheatear - Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Isabelline Wheatear - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Yellow Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans from 18 Mar
Tawny Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans from 14 Mar

Cretzschmar's Bunting - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)

Ortolan Bunting - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)


Also remaining winter migrants in and around Polichnitos Saltpans include Green Sandpiper, Skylark, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.


Spring water levels

Skala Kallonis Pool, 27 March 2012 © Vasilis El. Vogiatzis

The winter has seen average levels of rainfall and there are many season pools in the usual areas around the Kalloni area. But fine weather since mid-March is already seeing these pools water levels drop. Lets hope they get topped up before we all get out there.

I know its been raining hard up to at least 18 April and all season pools are flooded and should now be at levels to see standing water in to May.

Early spring migrants

Glossy Ibis, near Kalloni Saltpans © Eleni Galinou

All records Terry Robinson (via OrnithTopos) unless otherwise stated.

Garganey - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th
Glossy Ibis - 27 nr Kalloni Saltpans 16 Mar (Eleni Galinou); 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th 
Marsh Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 20 Mar
Little Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans from 11 Mar
Wood Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Ruff - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans small numbers since 9 Mar 
Hoopoe - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar
Woodchat Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans from 25 Mar
Barn SwallowPolichnitos Saltpans from 20 Mar
House Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Short-toed Lark - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Willow Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans from 10 Mar
Blackcap - Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar
Yellow Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans from 18 Mar
Tawny Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans from 14 Mar

Other records

Yelkouan Shearwateter - Polichnitos Saltpans max 1852 on 19 Mar
Great Crested Grebe - Polichnitos Saltpans max 285 on 18 Mar
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar
Black Stork - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 20 Mar
Hen Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 25 & 28 Mar
Grey Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 - 28 Mar
Common Ringed Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar

Also remianing winter migrants in and around Polichnitos Saltpans include Green Sandpiper, Skylark, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.

Bird news - February 2012 sightings


All records from Terry Robinson (via OrnithoTopos)

Ruddy Shelduck - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans
Common Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 18
Mallard - up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans
Shoveler - 1 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 8th
Black-throated Diver - 1 off Polichnitos Saltpans
Great Crested Grebe - off Polichnitos Saltpans max. 572
Black-necked Grebe - 1 off Polichnitos Saltpans
Yelkouan Shearwater - daily off Polichnitos Saltpans max. 10,000 on 25th
Greater Flamingo - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 86
Black Stork - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 8th
Grey Heron - up to 2 Polichnitos Saltpans, 2 Almyropotamos River (Vatera)
Great White Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19, 1  Almyropotamos River (Vatera)
Great Cormorant - max. 23 off Polichnitos Saltpans
Shag - up to 3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Hen Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Sparrowhawk - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans
Common Buzzard - up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans
Long-legged Buzzard - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Peregrine - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14th, 1 Almyropotamos River (Vatera) 26th
Avocet - up to 6 Polichnitos Saltpans
Lapwing - up to 9 Polichnitos Saltpans
Golden Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 17th and 15 on 28th
Grey Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 6th
Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 50
Common Snipe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd
Eurasian Curlew - up to 2 Polichnitos Saltpans
Common Redshank - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Green Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Little Stint - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans
Dunlin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 17
Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 250
Black-headed Gull - 1-5 Polichnitos Saltpans
Woodlark - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans
Skylark - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 77
Blackcap - up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout
Sardinian Warbler - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans; 1 Vourkos River mouth 26th
Common Starling - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 141
Song Thrush - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4
Robin - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans
Black Redstart - 1 Polichnitos Saltpan; 1 Vourkos River mouth 26th
Common Stonechat - up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans
Meadow Pipit - up to 28 Polichnitos Saltpans
Chaffinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 115
Serin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 122
Linnet - up to 17 Polichnitos Saltpans
Hawfinch - up to 3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Corn Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 66
Reed Bunting - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans

Lesvos Birds 2011


written and compiled by Steve Dudley


This, the third annual bird report for Lesvos, covering all species recorded on the island in 2011 plus some additional records from earlier years.

Running to 76 pages it covers over 250 species and includes many colour photographs and various updates on birding sites on the island and more general birding and visitor information.

As well as accounts for commoner species, records include details of the first Lesvos records of Spectacled Warbler and Greylag Goose; the third record (and fourth Greek record) of Finsch’s Wheatear; the third confirmed breeding record of Penduline Tit; the fifth record of Black-winged Pratincole; the second successive year to record Red-necked Phalarope; three White-throated Robins; plus records of Bar-tailed Godwit, Firecrest and Ring Ouzel. Also the first ever confirmed breeding of Mallard and Common Starling, and much, much more.

Lesvos Birds 2011 - Click here for PDF web version (via Scribd)


Lesvos Birds 2010 - Click here for PDF web version (via Scribd)


Lesvos Birds 2009 - Click here for PDF web version (via Scribd)