2 May - Calandra Lark and Great Snipe


Calandra Lark, Alykes Weltands, 2 May 2013 
(Melanocorypha calandra) (Κοινή) Γαλιάντρα © Bob Buckler

A much better day with significantly more birds arriving including star bird, Calandra Lark (11th record for Lesvos), seen by quite a few this evening. Lots of waders and terns at Kalloni Saltpans plus a large arrival of Red-backed Shrikes and other passerines out west including two Red-breasted Flycatchers. Also a Great Snipe (unfortunately flushed by a photographer) and Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture and Black Kite all seen out west.

Petrified Forest
WHITE-THROATED ROBIN
One male seen 06.30 briefly and again 07.25 - 07.35. No news for rest of day.

We now have confirmation that we have two males and a female robin in the park. The males are holding territory close to one another and a female has been seen with the male near the concrete building. We are now treating this as a breeding attempt. Please therefore view only from the road and not from within the park to avoid disturbing them.

I've been told that the police are aware of misbehaviour here, including the use of recordings (illegal here) and are now going to be making patrols of the area, especially when the park is closed, to ensure that no one is using recordings or harassing the birds now they are presumed to be breeding. Please be sure to pass this message around.

It also means they are expected to hang around! Which is good news to those arriving today and next week.

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands
CALANDRA LARK 1 - 17.30 - 18.30 in sheep fields of Alykes Wetlands east of race track
Rufous Bush-robin 2 in beach tamarisks (view from shoreline, please don't walk through bushes)
White-winged Tern 47
Whiskered Tern 32
Sandwich Tern 2
Gull-billed Tern 5
Little Gull1 
Spoonbill 1
Glossy Ibis 2
Quail 1
Ruddy Shelduck 2
Red-throated Pipit 23
Tawny Pipit 2
Short-toed Lark 5
Collared Pratincole 2
Ruff 520
Temminck's Stint 3
Black-tailed Godwit 13
Curlew Sandpiper 21
Grey Plover 4
Spotted Redshank 2
Turnstone 1
Mallard 1
Common Starling 1

Sigri & Faneromeni area
GREAT SNIPE 1 lower ford (unfortunately flushed by a photographer so many people failed to see it)
Black Kite 2
Spotted Crake 1 (lower ford)
Wryneck 1
Citrine Wagtail 1
Roller 1
Red-backed Shrike 70+
Lesser Grey Shrike 4
Masked Shrike 1
Temminck's Stint 2
Wood Warbler 1
Bee-eater 5
Eleanora's Falcon 1
Nightjar 1 - same roosting branch for third day

Mt Ordimnos
GRIFFON VULTURE 1

Apothika
Booted Eagle 1

Meladia Valley
Red-breasted Flycatcher 2 (fem + 2CY male)
Ortolan Bunting 4
Roller 1
Purple Heron 1
Collared Flycatcher 1
Red-backed Shrike 30+
Spotted Flycatcher 40+
Ruddy Shelduck 1

Sigri Old Sanotroium
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1
Lesser Grey Shrike 3
Golden Oriole 2
Common Redstart 1

North Coast Track
Great Spotted Cuckoo 2

Molivos castle
Great Spotted Cuckoo 2
Collared Flycatcher 1

Ipsilou
Olive-tree Warbler 1
Red-footed Falcon 4
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2
Wood Warbler 1
Golden Oriole 2

Napi Valley
Honey-buzzard 1
Hawfinch 1 (Mavria)
Red-footed Falcon 1 (Mavria)

Metochi Lake
Night-heron 11
Little Crake 2
Little Bittern 9

Nr Skamioudi
Olive-tree Warbler 1

Konditsia Valley
Bee-eater 36 (20 over, 18 
Olive-tree Warbler 1
Track very poor in places - drive down with care!

Achalderi
Kruper's Nuthatch - female incubating and male visiting infrequently, expect to wait!

Kavaki
Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

Papiana
Scops Owl 
Long-eared Owl adult by nest with 3 young (same site as 2012)

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'
Scops Owl 5l. Please do not harass the birds!