LESVOS | BIRDING | ΛEΣBOΣ

Lesvos Birding 2012 day trips - update!

2012-01-13T19:19:00.001Z

Come and enjoy the real Lesvos with Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley!

I announced the finalised dates for next years day trips a month ago, and I'm thrilled that so many of you have already booked your stay on the island and are keen to book your places with me.

The first two weeks, 22 April to 5 May 2012, are already proving very popular with places booking up very quickly and some days already full up. Still plenty of places on the 6 - 18 May dates.

So, if you haven't booked your places yet, hurry! I'll flag up dates which are filling up on the day trips page - see here.

Bird news - December 2011 summary

2012-01-13T19:17:00.001Z

All records from Terry Robinson.

Ruddy Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 12 on 26th

Common Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 42 on 30th

Mallard - Vouvaris River max. 14 on 27th

Great Crested Grebe - off Polichnitos Saltpans max. 537 on 12th

Yelkouan Shearwater - off Polichnitos Saltpans 2 on 30th

Greater Flamingo - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 112 on 30th; 25 Mesa on 27th

Black Stork - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 on 6th

Grey Heron - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 on 6th

Great White Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 22 on 26th

Little Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 from 11th-27th

Great Cormorant - off Polichnitos Saltpans max. 2578 on 6 Dec

Shag - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 43 on 13th

Hen Harrier - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout throughout

Sparrowhawk - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Buzzard - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Long-legged Buzzard - 1 Almyropotamos River (Vatera) on 11th; 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 20th

Peregrine - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14th

Water Rail - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd

Avocet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 21 on 1st

Common Ringed Plover - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 81 on 10th

Eurasian Curlew - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Redshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 22 on 1 Dec

Common Greenshank - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 8th-9th

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 30 on 21st

Dunlin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 133 on 19th

Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 113 on 19th

Black-headed Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 18 on 31st

Mediterranean Gull - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 31st

Sandwich Tern - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 30th

Common Kingfisher - 1 Almyropotamos River (Vatera) on 11th

Chiffchaff - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 on 27th

Blackcap - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 11th

Sardinian Warbler - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Wren - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Starling - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 449 on 16th

Blackbird - Polichnitos Saltpans nax. 46 on 11th

Song Thrush - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 13 on 11th

Robin - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Black Redstart - 1-4 Polichnitos Saltpans max. throughout

Common Stonechat - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 10 on 25th

House Sparrow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 26 on 18th

White Wagtail - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Meadow Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 18 on 28th

Chaffinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 188 on 5 Dec

Serin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 302 on 25th

Greenfinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 21 on 24th

Goldfinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 33 on 22nd

Linnet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on 28th

Corn Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 98 on 17th

Cirl Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 5 on 12th & 27th

Reed Bunting - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Bird news - November 2011 summary

2011-12-06T10:01:00.001Z

Ruddy Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 16 on 3rd

Common Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 37 on 8th

Mallard - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 22 on 9th

Common Teal - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 27th

Great Crested Grebe - off Polichnitos Saltpans max. 34 on 30th

Greater Flamingo - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 323 on 18th

Black Stork - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 7 on 12th-14th

Grey Heron - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 21 on 16th

Great White Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 29 on 16th

Little Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 2nd-8th

Great Cormorant - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 77 on 18th

Shag - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 16 on 2nd

Merlin - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 24th

Peregrine - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on several dates

Hen Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout with 2 on 9th

Sparrowhawk - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Buzzard - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Long-legged Buzzard - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 4th and 27th

COMMON CRANE - Polichnitos Saltpans 6 on 14th and 1 on 19th

Avocet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 25 on 23rd

Lapwing - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 13th-16th and 5 on 29th

Grey Plover - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans up to 4 throughout

Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 126 on 5th

Eurasian Curlew - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th

Common Snipe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 15th and 23rd

Common Redshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 90 on 22nd

Common Greenshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 18 on 2nd

Common Sandpiper - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans to 22nd

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 50 on 13th

Dunlin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 245 on 10th

Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 97 on 28th

Black-headed Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 830 on 2nd

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans up to 15th

Little Gull - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd-17th

Common Kingfisher - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 18th and 21st

Red-backed Shrike - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 7th

Chiffchaff - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 11 on 2nd

Blackcap - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 8th, 9th and 28th

Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7th

Sardinian Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 8 on 5th

Wren - 1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Starling - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 232 on 16th

Song Thrush - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on 23rd

Mistle Thrush - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 19th

Robin - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Black Redstart - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 14 on 6th

Common Stonechat - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 20 on 1st

House Sparrow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 37 on 7th

Dunnock - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 7th and 20th

White Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 41 on 7th

Grey Wagtail - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 1st

Meadow Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 7 on 16th

Water Pipit - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans up to 9th

Chaffinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 358 on 7th

Serin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 102 on 20th

Greenfinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 29 on 30th

Goldfinch - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 34 on 9th

Linnet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 49 on 15th

Corn Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 218 on 4th

Cirl Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 8th

Reed Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 5 on 10th

All records Terry Robinson

Lesvos Birding 2012 day trips - update!

2011-11-07T17:16:00.001Z

Come and enjoy the real Lesvos with Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley!

I only announced the finalised dates for next years day trips a few weeks back, and you guys aren't slow are you?!

I'm thrilled that so many of your have already booked your stay on the island and are keen to book your places on my trips. The first two weeks, 22 April to 5 May 2012, are already proving very popular with places booking up very quickly. Still plenty of places on the 6 - 18 May dates.

So, if you haven't booked your places yet, hurry! I'll flag up dates which are filling up on the day trips page - see here.

A DVD Guide to Birdwatching in Europe

2011-11-07T17:15:00.001Z

Filmed & Narrated by Paul Doherty
Bird Images
£17.95

Available from Bird Images - click here

Running time 3 hrs 15 mins

Bird species covered: 255 plus numerous landscapes, insects, etc.

Featuring

The Netherlands – February

Eilat, Israel – March

Extramadura, Spain - April

Pyrenees, Spain - April

Lesvos, Greece – April

Central Finland – June

North Norway – June

Eastern Poland - May

Falsterbo, Sweden – October

Northern Israel - October

This is the latest in Paul Doherty's 'Birdwatching Guides'. His promotional blurb states 'Rather than put out a succession of DVDs (Birdwatching in Poland, Lesvos etc) we felt that people would appreciate the much lower cost of having footage from some of the very best European sites condensed onto one DVD.'

Lesvos, quite rightly, features on this DVD as one of Europe's premier birding destinations and it receives 33 minutes (10% of the running time). In this time you get to see footage for a total of 68 species (and some species you see more than once) filmed at seven (although I would break this down to 12 individual sites) of the main sites across the centre and west of the island. There is also footage of other wildlife.

As you would expect, the footage of birds is variable. There is nothing of poor quality with quality ranging from good to excellent. Some of my personal faves being a singing and displaying rufous Bush-robin, Glossy Ibis and marsh terns - these epitomise Lesvos in spring for me - and the footage of a singing Olive-tree Warbler is fantastic. But its really being picky since so much of the footage is simply brilliant in terms of clarity or showing behaviour (the displaying Goshawk is not crystal clear but is great to see). Some footage is brief, but some sections provide lengthy studies of the bird and some of the simple narration includes very good identification pointers (e.g. female Collared Flycatcher) and is provided over the 'natural' soundtrack of birdsong and other surrounding noises (some natural, some not). You can even watch the whole thing without narration and simply sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of Lesvos in spring.

Overall this presents a very good feel for a spring week on Lesvos. It introduces not only some of the more typical, likely-to-be-seen species (I'd say only several species are difficult to see) but also some of the many differing landscapes. It also shows you that its not all blue skies and wall to wall sun - just look at the Squacco Heron and Flamingo footage to see the reality of a Lesvos spring squal! All should help you plan for the trip not only in terms knowledge, but also giving you an indication of terrain and weather to help you pack the right clothing! What guides (be they DVDs, books, or internet sites) can't accurately provide is the 'buzz' of migration, the rush of a fall of migrants with birds in every bush, but this DVD should whet the would-be-visitors appetite very nicely.

Species included (in order of appearance) - the few species in ( ) are 'background' to other species: Common Nightingale, Black-headed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Black Stork, Purple Heron, Red-backed Shrike, Red-footed Falcon, Corn Bunting, Black-headed (Yellow) Wagtail, Red-throated Pipit, Rufous Bush-robin, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, (Grey Heron), Ruddy Shelduck, Garganey, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Whiskered Tern, White-winged (Black) Tern, Common Tern, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, (Moorhen), Little Bittern, Little Crake, Baillon's Crake, Scops Owl, Subalpine Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Cirl Bunting, Ruppell's Warbler, Kruper's Nuthatch, Masked Shrike, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk, Honey-buzzard, Hen Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, Roller, Golden Oriole, Pied Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Lesser Kestrel, Long-legged Buzzard, Little Stint, Scopoli's (Cory's) Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Cinereous Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear, Lesser Grey Shrike, Little Owl, Olive-tree Warbler, Jay, Orphean Warbler, Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch.

Sites covered: Skala Kallonis, Tskinias River, Alykes Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans, Metochi Lake, Soumouria ('Scops Copse'), Kavaki, Achladeri, Faneromeni, Meladia (river ford, fig grove and chapel), Ipsilou and Platania.

Other wildlife includes Starred Agama (Lizard), Levant Marsh Frog, butterflies inc. Persian Meadow Brown and Eastern Festoon, Owl-fly, Thread (-winged) Lacewing, Southern Emerald Damselfly.

And don't be put off by the other areas covered! There's more stunning birds, wildlife and scenery on the other 90% of the DVD which will soon have you wanting to go to all these places too! Just go once you've been to Lesvos.

Bird news - October 2011 summary

2011-11-03T11:10:00.004Z

Ruddy Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans present max. 27 on 30th

Common Shelduck - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on 31st

Mallard - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 10 on 15th

Teal - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 14 on 15th

Greater Flamingo - Polichnitos Saltpans max.215 on 30th

Black Stork - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 15th; Kalloni Saltpans max. 12 on 3rd

Spoonbill - 9 Polichnitos Saltpans 16th-17th

Grey Heron - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 13 on 18th

Great White Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 11 on 25th-31st

DALMATIAN PELICAN - 4 Kalloni Saltpans on 3rd (Terry Robinson)

Shag - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 13 on 26th

Osprey - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 5th

Merlin - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 18th

Peregrine - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans on 23rd

Stone-curlew - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd - 8th

Black-winged Stilt - Polichnitos Saltpans 1-2 throughout

Lapwing - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 21st

Grey Plover - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans up to 4 throughout

Little Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 -2 to 22nd

Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 115 on 22nd

Eurasian Curlew - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 3rd

Common Snipe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 8th

Common Redshank - Polichnitos Saltpans 130 on 7th

Common Greenshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 36 on 19th

Wood Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 22nd

Common Sandpiper - up to Polichnitos Saltpans to 17th

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 44 on 7th

Dunlin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 16 on 30th

Ruff - 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 22nd

Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 102 on 8th

Black-headed Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 603 on 22nd

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on 24th

Mediterranean Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 1 - 4 throughout

Sandwich Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 12 on 4th

Turtle Dove - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 1st

Red-backed Shrike - 1 -4 Polichnitos Saltpans to 20th

Sand Martin - 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 4th

Barn Swallow - Polichnitos Saltpans 35 on 11th and 15 on 12th

Willow Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans max. max. 17 on 8th and present to 23rd

Blackcap - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 6th, 3 on 20th, 4 on 21st and and 1 on 23rd

Common Whitethroat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 6th

Sardinian Warbler - 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 31st

Black Redstart - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 8 on 31st

Whinchat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans to 28th

Common Stonechat - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 16 on 31st

Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 7th and present to 22nd

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans to 21st

House Sparrow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 131 on 14th

White Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 13 on 10th and present to 20th

Yellow Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 37 on 16 Sept

Tawny Pipit - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans to 4th

Meadow Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 on 18th

Water Pipit - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 29th

Serin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 32 on 19th

Linnet - 2 - 3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Corn Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 203 on 22nd

Cirl Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans 3-4 throughout

All records Terry Robinson

Lesvos Birding 2012 day trips - update!

2011-11-03T10:18:00.001Z

Come and enjoy the real Lesvos with Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley!

I only announced the finalised dates for next years day trips a few weeks back, and you guys aren't slow are you?!

I'm thrilled that so many of your have already booked your stay on the island and are keen to book your places on my trips. The first week, 22 - 27 April 2012, is already proving very popular with places booking up very quickly.

So, if you haven't booked your places yet, hurry! I'll flag up dates which are filling up on the day trips page - see here.

Lesvos Birding 2012 day trips - book now!

2011-11-03T10:17:00.001Z

23 day trips running between 22 April and 18 May - read on!

Book early!
85% places for my 2011 day trips booked up by the end of January 2011.

Day trips with Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley

I am the only guide to offer day trips to independent birders visiting the island and by popular demand I am extending my day trips to cover four weeks in spring 2012. The itinerary of trips will ensure I reach all the regular favourite and major sites as well as the more far flung corners of the island including some of my favourite nooks and crannies. Lesvos Birding caters for all birding abilities.

In total I am offering 23 day trips covering the main areas of the Gulf of Kalloni, the far west and the north of the island between 22 April and 4 May searching for key species such as Krüper’s Nuthatch, Cinereous Bunting, Rüppell’s Warbler, other breeding species, wetland specialties and of course, migrants. Full details below - keep reading!

This is an excellent way for independent birders to join others to share the Lesvos Birding experience, see new sites, new species and maybe reach areas of the island you wouldn’t venture to yourself.

What's included: all day trips include transport (start/end at Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis), fuel, a taverna lunch, and the guiding services of Steve Dudley. Start/finish times as indicated.

Destinations: sites listed in each excursion are an indication of the area to be visited. Not all sites listed may be visited and routes may vary to those advertised depending on the birding on the day. Not all the species listed may be seen!

Numbers: minimum number of clients is 3. Max group size 7.

How to book: advance booking is recommended. See individual trips below. Select Book now and email me with the details of the excursions you wish to take part in.

Payment: bookings in advance (up to 6 April 2012) will require full payment. UK customers are asked to pay by cheque, non-UK customers can pay by PayPal or International Bank Transfer (latter incurs additional charges). Bookings taken on the island from 21 April 2012 (if any places still available) will require cash payment in Euros.

Lunch: all day trips include a full taverna lunch at one of my favourite tavernas around the island - often enjoyed just as much as the birding! All tastes are catered for, but seafood and fish are Lesvos specialties and usually enjoyed by Lesvos Birding groups. Let me introduce you to new flavours and smells of real Lesvos cuisine, but you’re welcome to an omelet if you want one!

Breakfast: since some participants may have to leave their hotel to get to Skala Kallonis before their own hotel starts serving breakfast, my day trippers can enjoy a buffet breakfast at the Pasiphae Hotel for a very reasonable €5 per person.

A testimonial from some previous happy day-trippers. Stan and Angela spent a day out west (Lardia Valley, Ipsilou, Sigri) with me in September 2010.

Hi Steve, I just wanted to say how much Angela and I enjoyed the day we spent with you on Lesbos recently. We found the day to be really enjoyable, entertaining and very instructive. You are an inspiration, and, as a result of our day with you, we have resolved to try to improve our birding knowledge and skills. Keep up the good work, and we hope to see you again on Lesbos, perhaps in the Spring.

Best wishes, Stan (Lancashire, UK)

Terms and conditions

------------------------------------------------------------

SUNDAY, 22 April 2012
THE GULF OF KALLONI

Metochi, Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 22/04)

08.30 – 19.30

A full day searching for migrants around the main Gulf of Kalloni wetland sites plus breeding species such as Krüper’s Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Masked Shrike and other woodland species in Achladeri Forest.

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Only one place left!

MONDAY, 23 April 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST
Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 23/04)
08.30 – 19.30
A full day searching for migrants and resident specialties in the west. Species we will look for inc. breeding Cinereous Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Chukar, Blue Rock-thrush, Rock Nuthatch, Crag Martin; migrant passerines inc. shrikes, warblers, flycatchers, etc.; raptors inc. Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, harriers, Lesser Kestrel and other migrant falcons (inc. Eleonora’s).
€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Just one place left!

TUESDAY, 24 APRIL 2012
THE NORTH
Metochi, Kavaki, Perasma Reservoir, North Coast, Napi Valley, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 24/04)

08.30 – 19.30

A full day starting at the Gulf of Kalloni, heading north towards Molivos in search of Rüppell’s Warbler, Blue Rock-thrush, Crag Martin and coastal migrants, a search around some of the northern areas in search of migrants, returning via the Napi Valley to spend the evening looking for wetland species around Kalloni Saltpans. An outside chance of Scops Owl today too!
€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Sorry, full up.

wednesday, 25 APRIL 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 25/04)

08.30 – 19.30

A full day searching for migrants and resident specialties in the west. Species we will look for inc. breeding Cinereous Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Chukar, Blue Rock-thrush, Rock Nuthatch, Crag Martin; migrant passerines inc. shrikes, warblers, flycatchers, etc.; raptors inc. Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, harriers, Lesser Kestrel and other migrant falcons (inc. Eleonora’s).

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Sorry, full up.

THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 26/04)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Sorry, full up.

friday, 27 APRIL 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 27/04)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

saturday, 28 april 2012 - sorry no day trip today

sunday, 29 APRIL 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 29/04)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

monday, 30 APRIL 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Metochi, Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 30/04)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Only two places left!

tuesday, 1 may 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 01/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Only three places left!

wednesday, 2 may 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 02/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

thursday, 3 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 03/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Only three places left!

friday, 4 May 2012

THE NORTH

Metochi, Kavaki, Perasma Reservoir, North Coast, Napi Valley, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 04/05)

08.30 – 19.30

SATURDAY, 5 May 2012 - SORRY NO DAY TRIP TODAY

SUNDAY, 6 may 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 06/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

MONDAY, 7 may 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Metochi, Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 07/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 08/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 09/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

THURSDAY, 10 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 10/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

FRIDAY, 11 MAY 2012

THE NORTH

Metochi, Kavaki, Perasma Reservoir, North Coast, Napi Valley, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 11/05)

08.30 – 19.30

SATURDAY, 12 MAY 2012 - SORRY NO DAY TRIP TODAY

SUNDAY, 13 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 13/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

MONDAY, 14 MAY 2012

THE NORTH

Metochi, Kavaki, Perasma Reservoir, North Coast, Napi Valley, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 14/05)

08.30 – 19.30

TUESDAY, 15 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 15/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

wednesday, 16 MAY 2012 - SORRY NO DAY TRIP TODAY

THURSDAY, 17 MAY 2012

THE WILD, WILD, WEST

Lardia Valley, Ipsilou area, Sigri area, Meladia Valley (ref. 17/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012

THE GULF OF KALLONI

Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri Forest, Alikoudi Pool, Polichnitos Saltpans, Mesa Wetlands, Kalloni Saltpans (ref. 18/05)

08.30 – 19.30

€80 / £70 inc. taverna lunch. Book now. Filling up!

E&OE

Bird news - September 2011 summary

2011-10-03T11:34:00.001+01:00

Bar-tailed Godwit, Tsiknias River 30 Aug to 7 Sept at least

Ruddy Shelduck - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 10 - 13 Sept

Common Shelduck - Kalloni Saltpans max. 50 on 21 Sept; Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 18 Sept

Mallard - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 21 Sept

Pintail - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 - 21 Sept

Teal - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7 - 30 Sept

Little Grebe - Potamia Reservoir max. 61 on 19 Sept

Black-necked Grebe - 1 off Tsiknias River mouth19 Sept

Greater Flamingo - Kalloni Saltpans max. 200 on 21 Sept; Polichnitos Saltpans max.100 on 16 Sept

Black Stork - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 15 on 29 Sept; Kalloni Saltpans 9 on 21 Sept; Tsiknias River 1 on 4 - 18 Sept

White Stork - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 1 - 2 Sept

Spoonbill - 2 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept

Little Bittern - 1 Metochi Lake 20 Sept

Grey Heron - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 14 on 18 Sept; Christou (Kameras) River max. 40 on 17 Sept

Great White Egret - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 -3 throughout Sept; max. 6 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept

WHITE PELICAN - 1 circling over Tsiknias River 17 Sept; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept (both Dave Riley & Andrea Jackson)

Great Cormorant - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4 on 23 Sept

Shag - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 26 Sept

Honey-buzzard - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Sept; 22 Palia Vigla 20 Sept

Osprey - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept

Short-toed Eagle - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7 - 10 Sept; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 16 Sept; 1 Palia Vigla 20 - 21 Sept

Marsh Harrier - Polichnitos Saltpans 2 on 14 Sept and 1 on 19th; 1 Palia Vigla 20 Sept; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept;

Montagu's Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3 Sept

Common Buzzard - Tsiknias River max. 5 on 4 Sept

Red-footed Falcon - Palia Vigla - 7 on 20th and 50 on 21st; 15 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept; 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 24 Sept

Eleonora's Falcon - 1 Potamia Reservoir 7 Sept; 1 Palia Vigla 21 Sept; 1 Skala Kallonis 22 Sept

Hobby - 1 Palia Vigla and 2 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept

Water Rail - 1 Metochi Lake 20 Sept

Stone-curlew - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans 15 - 29 Sept: up to 15 Christou (Kamares) River 15 - 22 Sept

Black-winged Stilt - Polichnitos Saltpans 83 on 1 Sept dropping to 1 by 30 Sept

Avocet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 12 on 4 Sept; Kalloni Saltpans max. 400 on 21 Sept

SPUR-WINGED PLOVER - 2 juvs Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Sept (Terry Robinson)

Grey Plover - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans 25 - 28 Sept

Common Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 on 28 Sept

Little Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans 2-5 throughout; 4 Kalloni Saltpans 22 Sept

Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 97 on 19 Sept

Black-tailed Godwit - 1 - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 1 - 8 Sept

Bar-tailed Godwit - 1 - 2 Tsiknias River 30 Aug to 7 Sept (photo: Dave Dickson)

Eurasian Curlew - 1 Tsiknias River 4 Sept; 1 off beach at Kalloni Saltpans 17 Sept

Common Snipe - 1 Metochi Lake 20 Sept

Common Redshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 138 on 20 Sept; Kalloni Saltpans max. 45 on 16 Sept

Marsh Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Sept; 6 Kalloni Saltpans 16 Sept; 1 Tsiknias River 17 & 21 Sept

Common Greenshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 22 on 15 Sept; 8 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept; 1 Tsiknias River 11, 17 & 21 Sept

Wood Sandpiper - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans 1 - 21 Sept; 2 Tsiknias River 16 & 22 Sept

Common Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 28 Sept; 1 Tsiknias River 11 Sept; 2 Potamia River 18 Sept

Turnstone - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4 on 2 Sept

Sanderling - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 11 Sept

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 34 on 29 Sept; 20 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept

Temminck's Stint - 2 Kalloni Saltpans 3 Sept

Dunlin - 30 Kalloni Saltpans 21 Sept; Polichnitos Saltpans max. 13 on 30 Sept

Curlew Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 15 on 2 Sept

Ruff - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Sept

Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 378 on 4 Sept

Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 Tsiknias River mouth 16 Sept

Black-headed Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 153 on 20 Sept; 30 Tsiknias River mouth 16 Sept

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - 1 - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 1 - 5 Sept

Mediterranean Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 11 on 14 Sept; 20 Tsiknias River mouth 16 Sept

Sandwich Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 29 on 5 Sept; 15 Tsiknias River mouth 16 Sept

Common Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on Sept

Little Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 10 on 7 Sept

Turtle Dove - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 7 on 7 Sept

Roller - 2 Tsiknias River 1 - 22 Sept

Common Kingfisher - singles Polichnitos Saltpans, Christou (Kameras( River, Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans and Potamia River

Common Bee-eater - 91 Tsiknias River and 20 Metochi 16 Sept

Hoopoe - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans up to 10 Sept; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 17 Sept

WRYNECK - 1 Tsiknias River 8 Sept (Dave Dickson); 1 Skala Kallonis 19 - 21 Sept (Dave Riley & Andrea Jackson)

Red-backed Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 5 9 Sept

Lesser Grey Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4 on 12 Sept; 1 Lotzaria 17 & 22 Sept

Woodchat Shrike - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans up to 14 Sept; 1 Potamia Valley 19 Sept

Masked Shrike - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 25 Sept

Sand Martin - singles Polichnitos Saltpans max15 & 28 Sept

Barn Swallow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 107 on 5 Sept

Red-rumped Swallow - 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 9 Sept

House Martin - 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 8 Sept

Olivaceous Warbler - singles Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River 17 & 22 Sept

Willow Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 22 on 16 Sept

Blackcap - 1 Skala Kallonis 17 Sept

Common Whitethroat - 1 - 3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 5 Sept; 1 Tsiknias River 18 Sept; 1 Potamia Valley 19 Sept

Whinchat - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 17 Sept

Common Stonechat - 1-5 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Northern Wheatear - up to 7 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Black-eared Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans 2 on 3rd and 1 on 14 Sept

Spotted Flycatcher - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 9 Sept

House Sparrow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 146 on 14 Sept

White Wagtail - 1 -5 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Yellow Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 37 on 16 Sept

Grey Wagtail - 1 Tsiknias Rover 20 Sept

Tawny Pipit - 1 -2 Polichnitos Saltpans 11 - 30 Sept; 1 Lotzaria 17 Sept

Tree Pipit - 1 Almyropotamos River 11 Sept

Early Sept 11 sightings

2011-09-10T10:47:00.002+01:00

Bar-tailed Godwit, Tsiknias River 30 - Aug to 7 Sept at least

I'm getting regular news from Terry Robinson at Polichnitos Saltpans where he's had a good smattering of waders passing through during the first week, 2 Slender-billed Gulls and small numbers of shrikes, warblers and chats.

The only other notable sighting was the above Bar-tailed Godwit which spent at least a week at the Tsiknias River mouth.

Daily sightings (when I have news) are posted on the Lesvos Birders Facebook page.

Bird news - August 2011 summary

2011-09-04T15:45:00.002+01:00

One of the months highlights were two records (of three birds) of Red-necked Phalarope including this juvenile at Polichnitos Saltpans on 26 August © Terry Robinson

Common Shelduck - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 1 Aug; 10 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Mallard - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 1 Aug and 2 on 11 Aug

Shoveler - 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 18 Aug

Pintail - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 22 - 28 Aug

Garganey - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 5 on 28 Aug; 13 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Teal - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 15 Aug

Greater Flamingo - Kalloni Saltpans max. 100 on 10 Aug

Black Stork - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 7 on 24 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 23 on 10 Aug; Tsiknias River max. 4 on 10 Aug; Christou (Kamares) River max. 12 on 10 Aug; 1 Mesa Wetlands 10 Aug

White Stork - 1 Tsiknias River 10 & 16 Aug

Grey Heron - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 11 on 25 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 27 on 10 Aug

Purple Heron - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 & 24 Aug

Great White Egret - 5 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug; 2 Mesa Wetlands 10 Aug

DALMATIAN PELICAN - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 8-10 Aug at least (Eleni Galinou et al)

Great Cormorant - Kalloni Saltpans max. 31 on 10 Aug; 1 Mesa Wetlands 10 Aug; 1 Vouvaris River mouth 10 Aug

Peregrine Falcon - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 25 Aug

Short-toed Eagle - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 25 Aug

Montagu's Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 29 Aug

Common Buzzard - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 3 Aug

Stone-curlew - 2 Christou (Kamares) River 10 Aug

Black-winged Stilt - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 123 on 1 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 74 on 10 Aug

Avocet - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 32 on 20 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 490 on 10 Aug

Common Ringed Plover - 2-3 Polichnitos Saltpans 26-27 Aug

Little Ringed Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans 2-4 throughout; 2 Tsiknias River to 10 Aug; 3 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Kentish Plover - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 71 on 26 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 64 on 10 Aug

Black-tailed Godwit - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 27-29 Aug

Eurasian Curlew - 8 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug; 1 Tsiknias River 16 Aug

Spotted Redshank - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Common Redshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 79 on 30 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 153 on 10 Aug

Marsh Sandpiper - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 24 Aug

Common Greenshank - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 24 on 19 Aug; 3 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug; 3 Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Green Sandpiper - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 12 Aug with 1 there 13 Aug

Wood Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 16 on 6 Aug; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug; 2 Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Common Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4 on 26 Aug; singles Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Turnstone - Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on 24 Aug, 2 on 28 Aug and 4 on 31 Aug

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 38 on 17 Aug; 7 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug; 2 Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Temminck's Stint - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Dunlin - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 15-29 Aug

Curlew Sandpiper - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 9 on 1 Aug

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 29-31 Aug (Terry Robinson)

Ruff - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 5 on 12 Aug

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 2 Kalloni Saltpans 16 Aug (Oivind Egeland); 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Aug (photo: Terry Robinson)

Yellow-legged Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 569 on 27 Aug

Black-headed Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 15 on 26 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 45 on 10 Aug

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug (Eleni Galinou)

Mediterranean Gull - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 23 on 25 Aug; 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Sandwich Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 31 on 18 & 27 Aug; 2 Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Common Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 47 on 13 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 38 on 10 Aug; 32 Tsiknias River 10 Aug

Little Tern - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 31 on 22 Aug; Kalloni Saltpans max. 27 on 10 Aug

Turtle Dove - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 14 on 19 Aug

Common Swift - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 14 Aug

European Bee-eater - present Tsiknias River to at least 16 Aug

Hoopoe - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout; 2 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

European Nightjar - 1 Skala Polichnitou 5 Aug

Red-backed Shrike - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19-30 Aug

Lesser Grey Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 3 on 28 Aug

Woodchat Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 10 on 13 Aug

Masked Shrike - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 10 Aug

Red-rumped Swallow - singles Polichnitos Saltpans 5 & 16 Aug

House Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 19 on 11 Aug

Olivaceous Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 4 on 8 Aug

Willow Warbler - 1-4 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Whitethroat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Whinchat - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Stonechat - 1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Northern Wheatear - 1-4 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Black-eared Wheatear - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 31 Aug

House Sparrow - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 165 on 23 Aug

White Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 6 29-31 Aug

Yellow Wagtail - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 15 on 31 Aug

Tawny Pipit - singles Polichnitos Saltpans 19 & 22 Aug with 2 on 31 Aug

Corn Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 25 on 27 Aug

Cretzschmar's Bunting - Polichnitos Saltpans 3 on 17 Aug and 1 21-22 Aug

Another Red-necked Phalarope

2011-08-27T11:52:00.004+01:00

High winds brought this juvenile Red-necked Phalarope in to Polichnitos Saltpans on 26 August. Photo © Terry Robinson

Bird news

2011-08-23T19:28:00.002+01:00

Two Red-necked Phalaropes reported from Kallonis Saltpans on 16 August where the Dalmatian Pelican was still present on 10 Aug along with a Slender-billed Gull on the same date.

Passage/returning waterbirds seen in recent weeks include Shoveler, Pintail, Gargane, Teal, Purple Heron, Spotted Redshank, Green, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and Ruff.

Red-backed, Lesser Grey, Woodchat and Masked Shrikes all seen so far this month and Cretzschmar's Bunting still present this morning around Polichnitos Saltpans where there is also a Tawny Pipit (since 19th).

I'll do a full monthly round up at the months end and will post more interesting bird news as and when I get it from now on for those of you going out there this autumn.

Please remember to sends me your records if you are there this autumn. Sorry I won't make it myself.

Birdfair 2011

2011-08-22T13:01:00.005+01:00

Just a quick Hi! and thanks to all those Lesvos birders who stopped to chat over Birdfair weekend. Its quite amazing just how many have been to the island over the years.

Birdfair was an opportunity to show Thomas Cook around and finalise a few things for the 2012 spring birder flights. For updates see here.

Please keep in touch over ahead of the 2012 season - via this website, email, Twitter or Facebook.

Finally, for all those enquiring, I'll be posting my itinerary of spring day trips shortly. Promise!

Summer fires

2011-08-05T12:08:00.003+01:00

The hot season is open Lesvos and as usual there's been the usual run of fires across the island. The biggest started yesterday and is still blazing today with an area of open grassland and olive groves above Nifida (near Polichnitos) going up in smoke. The photos here taken by Terry Robinson from his house shows the fire being tackled by a fire-fighting plane.

Fire-plane taking on water from the Gulf of Kalloni

Peggy Sue gets a friend!

2011-08-03T10:22:00.006+01:00

Peggy Sue (on one leg in the foreground) with her new friend Stélla. Photo by Lesvos Wildlife Hospital

Skala Kallonis has a new resident. A second White Pelican which was found clipped and captive at Pérama. After being taken to the Lesvos Wildlife Hospital she was released at Skala Kallonis where she and, and long-time resident Peggy Sue soon found one another. Named Stélla by the hospital, she was aged at around 2 years old. The hospital named Peggy Sue 'Pelly' but I've called her Peggy Sue for over 10 years without knowing that! So Peggy Sue she stays for me.

What will happen to the two of them? Will Stélla lead Peggy Sue astray? Away?

Stélla (foreground) and Peggy Sue in Skala Kallonis harbour. Photo by Lesvos Wildlife Hospital

2012 birding holidays

2011-07-12T15:33:00.005+01:00

I'll post all details for the 2012 season here by the end of September. I will be on the island from Saturday 21 April to at least 5 May.

To give you an idea of what we did in spring 2011, see here.

There and Back? A celebration of bird migration

2011-07-08T17:48:00.006+01:00

Edited by Andy Brown & Michael Warren

The latest Langford Press ‘wildlife in art’ title looks at bird migration as a means to promote the ongoing slaughter of migrants on the Mediterranean island of Malta.

Thirty-nine authors have contributed written essays to accompany the array of fabulous artwork (more of which below). The essays provide individual insights in to different challenges facing the migrants themselves and those trying to conserve them. These contributions cover migration, including insects, from around the world with articles covering North America songbirds, Nearctic vagrants to Europe, many contributions from Europe (about 40% of the book) with a main section on Malta itself (20% of the book), Africa – the winter destination for most of Europe’s migrants, southern hemisphere seabirds and the UK – around a quarter of the book to our own islands looking at many different passage, summer and winter migrants. Within these I have contributed an essay on Lesvos highlighting the migration bonanza of the island, the continued occurrence of illegal poaching and the role of birding tourism. The essays themselves are all very different. It would have been easy to have edited these in to a house style, but their individuality compliments the individuality of the artwork and together they work in capturing the fascination we have with migration, the sheer joy of experiencing it, the perils faced by our migrant species and a clear ray of sunlight in our battle against the illegal hunting of them.

As good the essays are, they are however merely dressing for the main interest of this ‘art’ book. Thirty-nine artists have contributed artwork including some of my personal favourites (Carry Akroyd, Michael Warren, Greg Poole, Chris Rose – to name but a few). The mix of artists and their differing styles adds to the success of the book. I find that titles of this size can easily appear ‘samey’ if illustrated by a single artist. Using so many contributors allows each to shine in their own individual interest. Its not difficult to pick out some shining examples of this – Mike Henry’s sketches of Honey-buzzards, Greg Poole’s abstract pieces, Bruce Pearson’s Arctic sketches, Barry Van Dusen’s Neartic watercolours – I could easily go on. Singularly, many are fabulous, collectively this is an outstanding collection of works. And like many of the Langford Press titles, it’s a pleasure to simply pick up and dip in to every now and then, letting the artwork speak their individual stories as you flick through.

There are a few caption, typos and capitalization errors, but don’t let that detract from what is a magnificent celebration of bird migration and a title which easily compliments the many others in the Langford Press stable.

Top Birding Sites of Europe

2011-07-05T17:47:00.010+01:00

Dominic Couzens

New Holland, 2011 | Hbk, 192pp | inc. CD with vocalisations of 60 species | ISBN 978-1-84773-767-0 | £22.99

This new title comes hot on the heels of Dominic Couzen’s Top 100 Birding Sites of the World (2008) and following a similar format it covers 30 sites across Europe. These are chosen to represent the (author's) best birding sites across our continent and cover such well-known and long-time favourites such as North Norfolk, the Camargue in France and the Coto Doñana in Spain, as well as relatively new (in terms as accessibility) areas such as Svalbard in the Arctic. Including within the mix is Lesvos. I’ll review the book as a whole but use Lesvos as means to gauge accuracy (since I know a thing or two about the island!).

Each of the 30 sites are covered by their own chapters of six pages each which begin with a summary box which details habitat, key species and best time of year to visit. A written account of the site describes the main features, geographical background and more detailed information about the more interesting bird species to be found (including some interesting, and at times a little quirky, facts). Each chapter is illustrated with a number of, very often, sumptuous, colour photos showing landscapes, habitats and key birds of interest.

Each of the sites is ranked for birding quality, but this rank appears only once at the beginning of each site chapter – a list somewhere listing the sites 1 to 30 would have been interesting. Lesvos comes third (the Danube Delta and the Coto Doñana). Not bad!

Included with the book is a CD containing recordings of the calls and songs of 60 species – two for each site – for Lesvos this includes the two main specialties Krüper’s Nuthatch and Cinereous Bunting. I’m not sure how useful this will actually be for many readers as most of these can be easily found elsewhere (including the internet) for those who are really interested.

This book is not a detailed site guide, nor does it pretend to be. It’s aimed more at inspiring people to travel to new areas within Europe. In this respect it works brilliantly. Most of the sites will be familiar but putting them in a European context will allow those familiar with only a few of the sites to see how the other sites rank and therefore give some indication of comparable interest.

I know Lesvos intimately and have also visited the other Greek site included, Dadia Forest in north-east Greece. So, what did I make of these accounts.

Firstly, to keep calling these places 'sites' is a little misleading. They are ‘areas’ and in some instances pretty large ones (Lesvos itself covers 1630 sq. km). The text for Levos is very accurate and up to date – several references can only have come from my own recent writings. I could nick-pick that birders don’t stay in Kalloni (but Skala Kallonis) and referring to Kalloni as being in the ‘centre north’ when its pretty much bang in the centre, but as I stated above, this is a book to inspire and the text and accompanying photos (Rüppell’s Warbler, Krüper’s Nuthatch, Eleanora’s Falcon, Cinereous Bunting and Citrine Wagtail) certainly convey how wonderful the island is for migration and the handful of otherwise difficult-to-see species in a European context (e.g. Rüppell’s Warbler, Krüper’s Nuthatch, Cinereous Bunting).

Dadia Forest (ranked 26/30) on the Greek-Bulgarian-Turkish border, sneaks in to the book clearly because of its raptors – 36 species recorded of which 21 species breed, including the rare Black Vulture (I saw 22 species in the forest area in just three days in spring 2011). It is quite simply an outstanding area and if raptors are not enough, other residents of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest include Olive-tree Warblers, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Ortolan Bunting, Sombre Tit, Syrian Woodpecker, shrikes, flycatchers and much more. Plus, the Evros Delta (not in the book) is just 20km away and Lake Kerkini (also not in the book) is a couple of hours drive away – makes for a great birding holiday destination. Again, the text and photos convey just how fabulous this area is for raptors in particular. The CD includes tracks for Masked Shrike and Black-headed Bunting.

My only real criticism is the major omission of a ‘further reading’ section for each site (not just Lesvos or the Dadia Forest). Each site could have done with a list of key books for the area (e.g. any site guides covering the area, Lesvos being covered by my own A birdwatching guide to Lesvos and north-east Greece covered by Steve Mills’ Birdwatching in Northern Greece) and key websites – some areas, such as Lesvos, have dedicated websites full of detailed information for the visiting birder. I really can’t understand why such an obvious section was left out.

A major criticism of myself is that I haven’t visited anywhere near enough of the sites in the book!

Book and DVD reviews

2011-07-05T17:18:00.008+01:00

I am frequently asked what books I use when I am on Lesvos, so this section is dedicated to letting you all know what I think about the various books which cover or touch on Lesvos in one way or the other. I'll keep adding as and when I can. In the absence of my own review I will sometimes link to other reviews.

BIRDS

Books and guides directly relevant to Lesvos.

A birdwatching guide to Lesvos. Steve Dudley. Arlequin Press, 2010. ISBN 978 1 905268 06 1. Sbk. £19.99.

Well, I'm not going to review my own book but you can see what others have said here.

Order here.

Collins Bird Guide. Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney & Dan Zetterstrom. HarperCollins, 2010 (2nd edition). ISBN 978 0 00 726814 6 (Sbk). £17.99 (Sbk).

Quite simply the best bird guide on the planet. Not without fault though, but you can download an errata here and read the BirdForum thread on this here.

Order here.

Top birdwatching sites in Europe. Dominic Couzens. New Holland, 2011. ISBN 978 1 84773 767 0. £22.99.

Read review. Order here.

A DVD guide to birdwatching in Europe. Paul Doherty. Bird Images, 2011. £17.95.
Read my review here. Order here.

BUTTERFLIES

Books and guides directly relevant to Lesvos.

Collins Butterfly Guide. Tom Tolman & Richard Lewington. HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 978 0007279777. Sbk. £17.99. 3rd edition.

Still my preferred field guide.

Order here.

DRAGONFLIES

Books and guides directly relevant to Lesvos.

The dragonflies of Lesbos. John Bowers. Friends of Lesbos, 2008. ISBN 978 960 930703. Sbk. £19.99

Read review.

Field guide to the dragonflies of Britain and Europe. Klaas-Douwe B Djikstra & Richard Lewington. British Wildlife Publishing, 2006. ISBN 0 953 1399 5 6. £20.00.

Quite simply the best dragonfly book for Europe.

Order here.

MORE GENERAL BIRD AND WILDLIFE

Books and guides covering a wider area but including Lesvos in some detail.

Greece: the land of diversity. Nikos Petrou. Hellenic Ornithological Society, 2011. ISBN 978 960 7197 19 1. (website)

Review to follow.

There and back? A celebration of bird migration. Edited by Andy Brown & Michael Warren. Langford Press, 2011. ISBN 978 1 904078 37 1. £50.00.

Read my review here. British Birds review here.

Order here.

2012 charter flight/package updates

2011-06-17T16:32:00.029+01:00

25 November 2011 – 2012 Thomas Cook update

Thomas Cook - is your holiday safe?

In a word, yes. Thomas Cook are ABTA bonded and all bookings are fully protected. This should also put your mind at rest if you are yet to book, as you will be protected.

Thomas Cook have been hit with problems to specific destinations (mainly N Africa and Thailand), and as a global brand the problems have arose from outside the UK (mainly from within Europe).

Thomas Cook has experienced a major drop in share value on the stock market, but this in itself should not cause alarm. They are still fully functioning and open for business as usual. They will be undergoing major restructuring at the behest of their lenders (the banks) who have already appointed Ernst & Young as special advisors to Thomas Cook, a sure indication that restructuring will take place to safeguard the future of Thomas Cook.

04 August 2011 – 2012 Thomas Cook update

Booking your April 2012 package with Thomas Cook

The easy way - ring Thomas Cook direct on 01733 224 248 and speak to Bernadette Millward or email her here.

Your package includes return flight from Gatwick, 20kg hold allowance, 5kg of hand luggage and meals for the prices listed below (see hotels below).

Thomas Cook stores - now the harder way. The stores can't sell you the same package as a one off, but they can make the package up with all the components (don't ask me why, thats just the way TC have set it up) which should include return flight, 15kg hold luggage, 5kg additional hold luggage, 5kg hand luggage and meals - total price is the same as the prices prices listed below. Take the prices below into the store with you and if what you're being sold does not match, get the store to ring Bernadette Millward at Thomas Cook HQ. Or failing that, don't book with the store but ring Bernadette yourself!

Also, don't be alarmed to see the flight as listed as Monarch (MON) and not Thomas Cook (TCX) as the flight is listed with Monarch.

More accommodation options added

The following options are now available for April 2012 packages:

Skala Kallonis - Hotel Imerti and Malemi Hotel

Anaxos - Anaxos Hotel

Molivos - Sunrise and Amfitriti

For prices and to book these options call Thomas Cook direct on 01733 224 248 and speak to Bernadette Millward or email her here.

25 July 2011 – 2012 Thomas Cook update

Luggage weight (for flight info see below)

TC tell me that that you have 20kg hold luggage allowance plus 5kg hand luggage. Excess weight will be charged at £8 per kg and I've been told by TC travellers they can be strict on this.

I've tried to get this increased as we all know birders carry more gear than the regular holiday-maker, but they said thats the limit per ticket, but you can pre-book additional luggage at a cost of £35 per 5kg each way.

14 July 2011 – 2012 Thomas Cook update
Package prices and Manchester flights
Things continue to move fast on this. Hot on the heels of the flight only prices issued yesterday, Thomas Cook have now passed me details of three lots of package deals with three Skala Kallonis hotels. I don't know if this is it, or whether they will be bringing other accommodation on stream (other hotels, apartments, other resorts). Their priority has always been setting up the core Skala Kallonis resort for these two new flights.
Prices based on Gatwick departure on 21 or 28 April 2012 inc. 20kg luggage and meals.
Hotel Pasiphae | 7 nights £439, 14 nights £529
Single supplement £9 per person per night
Kalloni Bay Hotel | 7 nights £429, 14 nights £515
Single supplement £17 per person per night
Aegeon Hotel | 7 Nights £399, 14 nights £479

Single supplement £8 per person per night
Flight only (inc. 20kg luggage and meal) £239
These are not with the agents yet but you can email Thomas Cook here.
Bad news - no Manchester flights to 2012
Thomas Cook have confirmed that there will be no flights from Manchester for the 2012 early spring birding weeks (21 and 28 April). They have stated that with this being new business for them, they want to test the water in 2012 running from Gatwick only, and if successful, and if they sense a demand for Manchester, they'll look at adding Manchester from 2013.

For those wishing to be on the island for these two weeks (21 April - 5 May) then Thomas Cook will be your only direct flight option from the UK. Other flight only options remain from various UK airports via Athens, which for northern-based birders used to using Manchester, might prove better then traveling via Gatwick.

14 July 2011 – 2012 early spring flights

Gatwick flight only costs and flight times

Further to my announcement only a couple of days ago about Thomas Cook confirming the early spring flights for 21 and 28 April 2012 (see below), they've just provided me the flight price and times for Gatwick.

Fixed price £239 pp (inc. taxes and 20kg luggage) for 7 or 14 nights.

Flights Dep. Gatwick 0825, arriving Mytilini 1405 (local times).

Flights Ret. Mytilini 1505, arriving Gatwick 1655

(local times).

These are not with the agents yet but you can email Thomas Cook here

I hope to have package costs (flight and accommodation) shortly.

12 July 2011 – 2012 early spring flights confirmed

I met with Thomas Cook this morning and they are committing to two additional early spring flights on Saturdays 21st and 29th April 2012.

We're finalising things this week (inc. hotel contracts on Lesvos to cover these additional weeks) and I hope that we will see these flights rolled out via Thomas Cook agents in coming weeks. I've stressed the need for them to accommodate flights from both Manchester and Gatwick which I am hopeful they will be able to achieve. I'll let you know as soon as I know they are available for bookings.

From our end, we just need to ensure we fill those planes to ensure Thomas Cook keep these early spring flights for birders on their schedule for future years.

22 June 2011 – 2012 early spring flights scheduled

I’ve heard from Thomas Cook this morning that they are in the process of scheduling two new flights for 2012 departing London Gatwick on Saturdays 21 April and 28 April (that’s two weeks earlier than their current start date of 5 May). I understand that there are at present no plans to operate any flights from Manchester for these dates.

Thomas Cook are undertaking a two-part set-up phase for these ‘new’ slots. Firstly, they need to contract various hotels and other accommodation providers in order to put package holidays together. Secondly, they are gauging interest from the birding community for these two flights.

The best way you can register your interest is to contact your local Thomas Cook agent and request info for these dates. These flights are not on there website so you cant do anything other than try and send a message to them (but going via a local agent I think will be best). Also, those wanting to fly from Manchester might want to think about lobbying Thomas Cook via their agent for this.

You can of course email me (see contact on left) as I continue to work with the Skala Kallonis resort and Thomas Cook. I’ve got a meeting with Thomas Cook in early July when their Greek area manager is in the UK, and I hop that I will be able to provide a further update then.

16 June 2011

The hotels have now received official confirmation that Thomson are not flying to Lesvos in 2012. Whilst various things have been flying around since March, this is the official Lesvos-end confirmation I was waiting for before casting it in stone.

Thomas Cook are currently advertising charter flights from 5 May 2012. I'm working with various folk on Lesvos in discussions with Thomas Cook to see if we can get them to commence their flights two weeks earlier. Discussions are ongoing and I will keep you updated.

Whilst getting charter flights running from mid-April will clearly benefit those birders wanting to go to Lesvos earlier, it is critical for the local Kalloni economy that we get birders to the island from mid-April. For the area to lose two weeks of birders spend is a serious impact for those hotels, tavernas, etc open this time of year to service our needs.

Bird news update - to 17 June

2011-06-17T16:28:00.001+01:00

Very quiet on the island. I've only got records coming in from Terry Robinson (Polichnitos area) and Eleni Galinou (Kalloni area).

Ruddy Shelduck - 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 01-08 Jun

Common Shelduck - 1 pr bred Polichnitos Saltpans

Stone-curlew - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 05 Jun

Black-winged Stilt - at least 5 young seen at Polichnitos Saltpans

Avocet - at least 8 young seen at Polichnitos Saltpans

Eurasian Curlew - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 07 Jun

Black-headed Gull - presumed the same single summering bird seen at both Polichnitos Saltpans and Tsiknias River

Sandwich Tern - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 06-09 Jun

Sardinian Warbler - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 10 Jun

Common Stonechat - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 11-13 Jun

Corn Bunting - many seen at Polichnitos Saltpans 06 Jun

2012 day trips and holidays

2011-06-01T17:34:00.006+01:00

I aim to publish my schedule of day trips for spring 2012 by the end of October.

As a guide, I expect to be on Lesvos between mid-April and mid-May as usual.

I plan to run a series of full-day trips during this period with around 5 day trips per week available.

If you have a group (max. 6) and want to book a full week-long holiday with me, please email me direct.

White-throated Robin, Ipsilou, 13 May 2011

2011-05-31T11:36:00.009+01:00

Female White-throated Robin, Ipsilou, 13 May 2011

Another missed by the many! This bird was seen twice feeding on the road at Ipsilou but was disturbed by passing cars and was not seen again.

Local school visits environmental centre

2011-05-31T11:19:00.000+01:00

On 17 May, 5th and 6th graders from Daphia School (near Skala Kallonis) were taken on a field trip birdwatching with local birder and environmentalist Eleni Galinou along the Christou/Kamares River, followed by a visit to the new Kalloni Environmental Centre in Skala Kallonis. The children also took part in a beach cleanup (applauded by several birders who witnessed it!) along the Skala Kallonis beach which was followed by a free lunch at the Kalloni Bay Hotel.

The organisers hope that this will attract visits to the centre from other schools on the island and that these projects will increase the appreciation of the local people of their local natural environment and will increase the willingness of local people to support local environmental issues such as the restoration of the Skala Kallonis Pool.

Rose-coloured Starlings

2011-05-23T11:51:00.003+01:00

Rosy Starlings have been reported in small numbers since 17 May. Small flocks in the Kalloni area were hard to pin down as the usual mulberry trees were not ripe enough for the birds to feed on, so they moved on and sought food elsewhere.

Bird news update - to 21 May

2011-05-14T19:25:00.008+01:00

Here's a batch of records from mid-April up to 21 May which I've received info on by email whilst I have been away.

Black-throated Diver – 1 offshore at Alykes Wetlands 6 May.

Cattle Egret * – 1 still Kalloni area still to at least 7 May (only five recently accepted records).

Dalmatian Pelican –singles Kalloni Saltpans on 5 & 10 May, with four there on 8 May; 1 Mesa 10 May (same as saltpans?).

Griffon Vulture * – 1 Pithariou Reservoir 9 May, 1 Upper Napi Valley 13 May.

Booted Eagle – 1 dark phase Tsiknias River 7 May.

Bonelli’s Eagle – 1 Madaros 10 May.

Lesser Spotted Eagle – 1 Napi Valley 6 May.

Black Kite – 1 still Ipsilou area 7 May.

Pallid Harrier – 1 Meladia Valley 8 May.

Baillon’s Crake – 1 Metochi Lake 7-8 May.

Spur-winged Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 May.

Broad-billed Sandpiper – 1 Faneromeni 11 May.

Great Snipe – 1 Kalloni Saltpans 8 May.

Black-winged Pratincole * – 1 reported Kalloni Saltpans 14 May (only several documented records)

Arctic Tern * – 1 Tsiknias River mouth 26 April (only one previous record).

Caspian Gull * – 1 reported Tsiknias River 23 April (no previous records).

Mediterranean Gull – 150 Petra 5-6 May.

Isabelline Wheatear – a migrant bird Kavaki 30 April.

Rufous Bush-robin – 1 Madaros 11 May.

Thrush Nightingale – 1 Kavaki 30 April.

White-throated Robin - fem Ipsilou 13 May.

Icterine Warbler – 12 Ipsilou 8 May.

River Warbler – 1 Kavaki 11 May.

Marsh Warbler - 1 Polichntos Saltpans 21 May.

Paddyfield Warbler * – the third claim of the spring of one Potamia Valley 6 May (no previous records).

Rose-coloured Starling - reported from 17 May - 40 at Kavaki and up to 20 Tsiknias River 17 May; 30 near Kalloni Saltpans and 20 Napi Valley 20 May; 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 May.

Lesser Grey Shrike – 1 Skala Kallonis 5 May (first record of the spring – very late coming in this year)

Also, a Monk Seal seen at Molivos on 3 May and a certain Sperm Whale in Gulf of Kalloni on 8 May.

* = full description required by LBRC or HRC.

Records recently 'withdrawn' - Bar-tailed Godwit, Oriental Pratincoles, Pied Wheatear, Italian Sparrow, Yellowhammer.

5 May 2011 - Lesvos Birding has left the island

2011-05-05T20:37:00.003+01:00

I left for Dadia Mountains and Lake Kerkini today - arrived to more rain than Lesvos has seen the last month!

Again, many thanks to all those who have shared their sightings with me or in the Lesvos Birding Log at the Hotel Pasiphae. Keep the records coming - all are needed for the 2011 annual report.

Cheers, Steve.

4 May 2011 - Bimac and Bee-eaters!

2011-05-04T21:17:00.007+01:00

Bee-eater, Faneromeni Fields - a large arrival of birds today pleased many birders on their last day on the island, myself included

A mixed day with grey skies and showers in the central areas, but those who headed west faired better with an overcast morning and a brilliantly sunny afternoon. Wind swung round to the NW by the end of the day.

Bird-wise, the west was was hoochin' with warblers and Spotted Flycatchers with a few other nicities thrown in for good measure. But two Bimaculated Larks seen flying on off the sea were the show stealers - alas seen by only the finder - and constitute the first record for Lesvos.

My last day, off to Dadia Mountains and Kerkini tomorrow. Many, many thanks to all those who have shared their sightings with me or in the Lesvos Birding Log at the Hotel Pasiphae. Keep the records cominh - all are needed for the 2011 annual report. Cheers, Steve.

Environment Centre - see here.

No sign of yesterday's Great Great Shrike near Vouvaris River.

Alykes Wetlands - BIMACULATED LARK 2 seen coming on off sea around 0900h at the eastern end of the wetlands by the Milopotamos River mouth. They were seen to come down east of the river but not seen subsequently. Slender-billed Gull 5 (offshore), Montagu's Harrier 2, Common Ringed Plover 3.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1.

Sigri & Faneromeni Fields - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 fem, Collared Flycatcher 5+, Pied Flycatcher 10+, Spotted Flycatcher 250++, Icterine Warbler 20+, Wood Warbler 110+, Willow Warbler 20+, Chiffchaff 2, Common Whitethroat 10+, Garden Warbler 15+, Blackcap 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Orphean Warbler 1, Black-headed Bunting 185+ (inc. flock of 65), Bee-eater 320++ (plus many, many more herd going over throughout the day), Woodchat Shrike 15+, Honey-buzzard 2, Eleonora's Falcon 1 dark, Levant Sparrowhawk 1 male, Red-footed Falcon 1 fem, Alpine Swift 30+.

Kalloni Saltpans - CATTLE EGRET 1, Black Tern 1.

Apothika - BLACK KITE 1, Bee-eater 20+.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - BLACK KITE 2.

Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2.

Sigri - Roller 1 (on wires just west of town).

Faneromeni Fords - Squacco Heron 3, Little Bittern 2, Little Crake 1.

Skala Kallonis - Little Bittern 1 opp Environmental Centre.

Faneromeni Beach - Yelkouan Shearwaters 000s, Scopoli's Shearwater 60 per hour mid afternoon (all close in shore)

Wood Warbler, Upper Faneromeni Fields - large numbers of migrants in the area, particularly in the under-watched upper fields, included c.110 of these gems, many feeding, as here, in giant fennel

3 May 2011 - Great Grey Shrike

2011-05-03T21:32:00.010+01:00

I think most folk got wet again this morning when the overcast early morning sky turned dark and opened up late morning with a ferocious wind. Clearly some new birds found today - more Curlew Sandpipers, a few more Bee-eaters over, a few Montagu's Harriers on the move during the early morning, and the finding of a Great Grey Shrike near the Vouvaris River mouth was a real surpise.

Environment Centre - see here.

north of Vouvaris River mouth - GREAT GREY SHRIKE - one found late afternoon and watched by quite a few folk until at least 2000h. The shot of the bird landing below clearly shows more white in the wing than nominate excubitor, and the tail is as depicted in the Collins Bird Guide for homeyeri. Perched the white primary patch was small like excubitor, but it also displayed the fine white line from eye to eye above the bill of homeyeri. Integrades are apparently common, so maybe this is one which is heavily biased towards homeyeri?

I've long been suspicious of the Great Grey Shrike records of old, and since I've been coming to Lesvos there have been only two records of large grey shrikes, a pallidirostris Steppe Shrike in Sept 08 and this bird. I suspect not all of the previous records of large grey shrikes are simply excubitor. Birds of the race homeyeri, or inegrades with excubitor, have been recorded in Greece (Birds of Greece), but no previous records from Lesvos.

Directions - just north of the Vouvaris River mouth, there is a small track towards the coastal just north of the the old shrimp farm beds (rectangular pools in marsh just north of river mouth). Park here. Just north of this track on the other side of the road is a track going inland in to the open scrubby hillside. Walk up this track and search the dead bushes at the base of the linear, sandy coloured rocky crag straight in front of you.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1 in northern part of lake early morning but not seen since; Little Crake 3, Little Bittern 3.

Sigri/Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Roller 1, Eleonora's Falcon 1, Osprey 1, Red-footed Falcon 2, Lesser Kestrel 10+, Bee-eater 20+, Little Bittern 2, Golden Oriole 10+, Temminck's Stint 5, Alpine Swift 21, Icterine Warbler 5.

Kalloni Saltpans - Spoonbill 3 (straight through at 1200), Eleonora's Falcon 1, Whiskered Tern 7, Curlew Sandpiper 39, Montagu's Harrier 5+.

Meladia Valley - Purple Heron 6, Lesser Kestrel 15+.

Tsiknias River - Night-heron 6, Red-footed Falcon 2, Black Stork 1.

Kalami Marsh - Red-footed Falcon fem, Water Rail (calling), Black Stork 3.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Water Rail (unmated female calling!)

Christou River - fem Montagu's or Pallid again present.

Vouvaris River - Purple Heron 1 imm.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch - pr performed well just up from car park along the main track much of the morning.

Soumouria - Scops Owl still roosting in tree with green wheelie bin and blue plastic bag at base. Facing the taverna look up the right side for bird well hidden in vegetation c.7m off ground.

Btwn Efthalou and Skala Sikammias - Barred Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 2, Bee-eater 15+.

2 May 2011 - more Semi-collared Flys

2011-05-02T21:20:00.006+01:00

Another mixed day with low cloud clearing to bright sunshine and scattered showers. A relatively quiet day. More migrants evident in the west and two unidentified eagles over Napi early afternoon. Three Black Kites now between Ipsilou and Andissa.

Environment Centre - see here.

Sigri/Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 fems, Collared Flycatcher 1, Ped Flycatcher 20, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Spotted Flycatcher 80+, Whinchat 40+, Bee-eater 30, Barred Warbler 2, Icterine Warbler 9+, Tree Pipit 15+, Wood Warbler 30+, Golden Oriole 10, Black-headed Bunting, Lesser Kestrel 10, Montagu's Harrier 2, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Purple Heron 1.

Btwn Ipsilou & Andissa - BLACK KITE 3 together.

Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 5+ around the layby with little wooden gate nearest to Vatousa.

Tsiknias River - Osprey 1, Citrine Wagtail 1 male.

Napi Valley - Aquila eagle sp. 2 (1445), Golden Oriole 8, Barred Warbler 1, Quail 1.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Icterine Warbler 1.

Perasma - Ortolan 1, Red-footed Falcon 3.

Kalloni Saltpans - Marsh Sandpiper 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint 2 (also on Alykes Wetlands), Purple Heron 7.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler, Tree Pipit, Yelkouan Shearwater 200+.

Christou River - both Pallid and Montagu's Harrier reported again today (only one bird!).

1 May 2011 - Black Kites but otherwise quiet

2011-05-01T21:00:00.006+01:00

I spoke too soon! A cooler day with overcast skies, scattered showers and fresh south-easterly breeze (gale force on Ipsilou!).

If we thought there were more birds around yesterday, there sure wasn't today. A few new bits and bobs, but nothing too startling.

Late news - yesterday a female Ferruginous Duck on pool at the far eastern end of Alykes Wetlands (also Gargeney).

Environment Centre - see here.

Tsiknias River - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 fem, Black-throated Diver 2 offshore. Citrine Wagtail ad male at ford, Little Bittern 8, Black Stork 1.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - BLACK KITE 2.

Soumouria (scops Copse) - Great Spotted Cuckoo 1.

Christou River - Fan-tailed Warbler 1, Eagle sp (poss. Booted), harrier sp (reported as Montagu's and Pallid), Tawny Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 1, Black Stork 1.

Faneromeni Fields - Wryneck 1.

Ipsilou Monastery - Ruppell's Warbler 1 fem, Eleonora's Falcon 1 (dark phase), Peregrine 1, Blackcap 20+, Pied Flycatchers. Blowing an absolute gale so only the west side was workable with species like Cinereous Bunting, Rock Sparrow and Isabelline Wheatear all difficult.

Vergias River - Wryneck 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Bee-eater 10+, Masked Shrike 1.

Kalloni Saltpans area - Beach Eurasian Curlew 1, Common Ringed Plover 1, Turnstone 2. Moat Marsh Sandpiper 1. Lotzaria Marsh Harrier 6.

Potamia Valley - Goshawk 1, Orphean Warbler, Black-headed Buntings, Long-legged Buzzard.

Meladia Valley - Barred Warbler 1, Wood Warbler 1.

Napi Valley - Red-footed Falcon 5.

North of Tsiknias River/Saltpans - Red-footed Falcon 6.

30 April 2011 - Bonelli's Eagle and tern fest!

2011-04-30T20:42:00.007+01:00

Purple Herons, Metochi Lake. Recent days have seen small flocks heading north over the island. These birds were part of a flock of 11 seen coming in from the south and then circling the lake before attracting three birds up from the lake area and all the birds then heading off together to the north. Another three birds were seen leaving the lake to the north too © Steve Dudley

Warm and sunny - Lesvos back to normal!

Slightly more birds around today with what appears to be a new arrival of flycatchers in the west. Bee-eaters and Red-backed Shrikes still thin on the ground but trickling in. Despite reports, still no bush robins actually on territory and where now are the lesser Grey Shrikes? What a topsy-turvy year this is.

Late news - 2 Laughing Doves reported in Loutra 29 April. No further details (one previous record May 1994).

Common Nightingales are not Bush-robins - lots of birds seen feeding in open areas are being reported as Rufous Bush-robin. Please check birds carefully - not all rufous-coloured birds feeding around rocks and in fields etc are Bush-robins (in fact, none of them are so far!).

Environment Centre - please visit the centre. Apart from fascinating displays about the Kalloni area and its wildlife, geology etc, they need our support. The centre is on the edge of Skala Kallonis. Walk down the side of the bakery by the mini soccer pitch, along the the track with the channel on your left and houses on your right towards the Tsiknias River. The centre is the last building (pink - you cant miss it!). Only a small sign on the gate (the main sign blew away in the winter!). Open hours are 0900-1300 and 1800-2100. Thanks.

North of Mesotopos - BONELLI'S EAGLE adult or nr adult. Seen in the same area last year and late news of a bird over Lardia Valley (nr Vatousa) around the 19 April, suggests there may well be a pair in the Vatousa area which shoulk be looked for when in the Vatousa area.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Levant Sparrowhawk male, Eleonora's Falcon 1, Montagu's Harrier 2m 1f, Goshawk 1, Hobby 1, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, European Sparrowhawk, Peregrine.

Kalloni Saltpans (east side) - Caspian Tern 1, Black Tern 10, Whiskered Tern 30, White-winged Black Tern 15, Gull-billed Tern 1, Sandwich Tern 5, Slender-billed Gull 8, Mediterranean Gull 18, Spotted Redshank 4, Grey Plover 8, Shoveler 5 (4m, 1f), Glossy Ibis 27, Greater Flamingo 1080, Temminck's Stint 3.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Citrine Wagtail 2CY male (pool closed to village).

Napi Valley - Olive-tree Warbler (1 at barrier site below Mavria - park carefully and tale care on this road), Hobby 1, Masked Shrike (many), Golden Oriole.

Makara - Barred Warbler 1, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Little Gull 1, Scopoli's Shearwater 3, Yelkouan Shearwater 1000+.

Metochi Lake - Purple Heron 17, Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 2, Squacco Heron, Little Crake 5+, Golden Oriole 1, Savi's Warbler.

Ipsilou - Red-footed Falcon 1, Collared Flycatcher 5, Wood Warbler 2, Cinereous Bunting and Isabelline Wheatear.

Sigri / Faneromeni - Barred Warbler 5, Icterine Warbler 2, Montagu's Harrier male, Red-footed Falcon 1, Collared Flycatcher 15, Pied Flycatcher 10, Spotted Flycatcher 20, Whinchat 50, Wood Warbler 3, Golden Oriole 2, Red-backed Shrike 1, Tree Pipit, Bee-eater, Short-toed Lark 8, Black-headed Bunting (many).

Kavaki - Barred Warbler 2, Ruppell's Warbler.

Skala Sikaminias - Audouin's Gull 1, Scopoli's Shearwater 1, Yalkouan Shearwater.

Sigri Old Sanatorium - Icterine Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Quail 2, Night-heron 1.

Almyropotamos River (nr Polichnitos pans) - Golden Oriole 20, Red-backed Shrike 1, Little Bittern 1, Purple Heron 2.

Meladia Valley - Icterine Warbler 3, Golden Oriole 1, Collared Flycatcher 1, Wood Warbler, Tawny Pipit 1, Rock Sparrow 1, Purple Heron 7.

Aghios Ioannis - Montagu's Harrier male.

Soumouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 1 - in tree to right of taverna - blue plastic bag under stone at base of tree - look up right hand side of tree, bird is difficult to see behind leaves.

29 April 2011 - Imperial Eagle

2011-04-29T21:33:00.005+01:00

Back to more settled weather with the early morning low cloud soon lifting to give a pleasantly warm day of sun and scattered cloud for most areas.

The large hirundine movement of recent days continued, with more Common and Alpine Swifts also seen today. The west continued to prove fruitful, but Polichnitos Saltpans have eventually started to deliver. Still very few Red-backed Shrikes, Bee-eaters, no Lesser Grey Shrikes, but the first Roller!

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - IMPERIAL EAGLE sub-adult at c. 1050 (also seen Metochi area 1105), Levant Sparrowhawk male.

Metochi Lake - IMPERIAL EAGLE sub-adult at c. 1105 (also seen Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint 1050), Little Crake 2, Red-backed Shrike 2.

Nr (few km in hills south of) Vatousa - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Honey-buzzardmale, Goshawk 2, Short-toed Eagle 6+, Long-legged Buzzard 6+, Lesser Kestrel 2, Black Stork 1, Barred Warbler male.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Nightjar 1.

Skala Eresou - Wryneck 1.

Ipsilou - Black Kite 2.

Christou (Kamares) River - Slender-billed Gull 1, Caspian Tern 1, Little Bittern, Red-throated Pipit 1, Marsh Harrier 1.

Skala Kallonis - Village Eleonora's Falcon 1, Hobby 1. Pool Squacco Heron 5, Little Bittern 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans area - Roller 1, Citrine Wagtail male, Honey-buzzard male, Red-footed Falcon 5, Hobby 1, Montagu's Harrier fem, Hen Harrier fem, Bee-eater 10, Spoonbill 1, Golden Oriole 19, Icterine Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 3, Wood Warbler 40, Red-backed Shrike 1, Black-headed Bunting 29, Common Kingfisher 1, Common Redshank 2 (also Spur-thighed Tortoise, Glass Snake and Ottoman Viper).

Sigri Fields - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Icterine Warbler 4, Barred Warbler 3, Collared Flycatcher 4, Pied Flycatcher 15, Lesser Kestrel 18, Montagu's Harrier male.

Tsiknias River - Mediterranean Gull 2, Red-footed Falcon 3, Little Bittern 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Whimbrel 1, Eurasian Curlew 1, Masked Shrike 1.

Skala Vasilikon - Purple Heron 1, Short-toed Lark 16, Tawny Pipit 1.

Alikoudi Pool - Garganey 1.

Lotzaria - Whiskered Tern 40, Collared Pratincole 20.

Maledia Valley - Red-backed Shrike 2, Icterine Warbler 2.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch one pr up in wood to left of original nest stump, Golden Oriole 2, Wood Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 2, Pied Flycatcher 3.

28 April 2011 - Ring Ouzel (again) and more birds!

2011-04-28T19:52:00.010+01:00

Another night of rain gave way to a damp morning. Things soon improved with blue sky being sighted by mid-morning and glorious full sunshine by noon. A few scattered showers in the centre, but more rain in the west and east, but I recorded 30C in the hills above Haramida this afternoon and looking across the Gulf of Gera couldn't even see Mt Olympus due to the sheet rain coming down over there!

A distinct increase in migrants this morning. A large hirundine movement in many areas, lost of warblers fresh in, Golden Orioles, more Black-headed Buntings and a few Bee-eaters. Where are the Red-backed Shrikes?

Ipsilou - RING OUZEL 1, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 6.

Haramida - River Warbler 1, Barred Warbler 2, Savi's Warbler 2. Vegetation here too tall to see the pools I could see form the hills above here!

Metochi Lake - Wryneck 1, Little Crake 4.

Perasma Reservoir - Ortolan Bunting 2, Black-headed Bunting 5, Purple Heron 2.

Sigri and faneromeni area - Great Bittern 1, Spotted Crake 1, Osprey 1, Little Crake 2, Little Bittern 1, small numbers of Bee-eaters and Golden Orioles, Icterine Warbler 2, Barred Warbler 4, Garden Warbler 1 (5 there yday), Ortolan Bunting 4, Collared Pratincole 4, Sardinian Warbler, Red-footed Falcon 3, Lesser Kestrel 38 (in one tree), Stone-curlew, Black-headed Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Wood Warblers and large numbers of warblers and flycatchers, Montagu's Harrier, 'yellow' wgtails (hundreds inc. 1 cinereocapilla), Red-throated Pipits, Tawny Pipits, Short-toed Larks, Purple Heron 2, Squacco Heron 1, Water Rail. Old Sanatorium Ortolan Bunting 4, Black-headed Bunting 40, Tawny Pipit 2, Quail 1.

Platania Valley - Honey-buzzard 2, Hobby 1, Masked Shrike 5, Barred Warbler 2.

Christou (Kamares) River - Slender-billed Gull 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Turnstone 1, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Black-haed Gull 10, Gull-billed Tern 1, Purple Heron 13, Goshawk 1.

Apothika to Maraka - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Red-backed Shrike, Purple Heron 3, Night-heron 2, Lesser Kestrel 6, Wood Warbler 1.

Tsiknias River - Night-heron 22 (inc. 14 birds seen arriving), Little Bittern 3, Purple Heron 2, Red-footed Falcon 35, Lesser Kestrel 1, Black-headed Bunting 8+, Short-toed Lark, Marsh Harrier 2, Hen Harrier 1. fuscus Reed Warbler? See below.

Hills inland of Haramida - Barred Warbler 3, large numbers of Cretzschmar's Buntings, Sardinian Warblers and Black-eared Wheatears.

Skala Kallonis - Hotel Pasiphae Barred Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler 2+, Black-headed Bunting, Blue Rock-thrush.

Kalloni Saltpans - Collared Pratincole 40+ hawking fields late morning; Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Black-tailed Godwit 1, White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern.

Kalami Marsh - Glossy Ibis 80+.

Sourmouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 2.

fuscus Reed Warbler? Tsiknias River. Reed Warblers are very variable on here and this bird shows just how white and cold birds can be. To me this looks like a fuscus-type but without catching them, who knows? © Steve Dudley