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Terry & Sue Robinson report the following -
Mesa Wetland - LANNER FALCON 1
Achladeri Forest - Krüper’s Nuthatch is nesting in the same shattered tree as last year (with sharp point and the electric cabling around the top of it). Its just up and to left from the white building. Long-eared Owl - nesting in the same area just to the right of the white building. Also Masked Shrike in residence as usual by the white building.
River Tsiknias - Slender-billed Gull 1, Mediterranean Gull 4, Sandwich Tern 1, Grey Plover 2, Great Warbler 1, lots of Common Nightingales.
Donald & Jennifer Rhodes saw the following out west -
Meladia Valley - A single crake sp (possibly Baillon's) at the ford; Chukar, Long-legged Buzzard, Sedge and Icterine Warblers, Woodlark .
Sigri & Faneromeni Fields area - Collared Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatchers (latter everywhere), White Wagtail 1.
Showing posts with label krupers nuthatch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label krupers nuthatch. Show all posts
Krüper’s Nuthatch - your records needed
Krüper’s Nuthatch, Achladeri Forest, April 2002 © Steve DudleyAs part of ongoing research in to this species on Lesvos by researcher Lefteris Kakalis, and to help obtain a better understanding of the distribution of the species on the island, your Krüper’s Nuthatch records are needed. We require the following -
Colour marked birds
As part of an ongoing marking programme by Lefteris Kakalis, birds have been ringed with a standard metal ring on the right leg and two coloured rings on their left legs. If you see any marked birds please submit your sightings inc. date, time and detailed location.
All other records
All other records, especially of birds away from the well-watched Achladeri breeding site are welcome. Please provide date, detailed location, number of birds, activity (e.g. singing, feeding, at potential nest, feeding young, etc),
You can send all records via Lesvos Birding to lesvosbirding(at)toadsnatcher.com.
For more information on this species on the island see the species account in the bird checklist here.
18 - 24 September
Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Polichnitos Saltpans, 20 Sept 08. © Steve DudleyThis first record for Lesvos and only the fourth record for Greece was found by Terry Robinson and was present for just one day.
Records from Steve Dudley (www.lesvosbirding.com) and Mark Newell based at the Pasiphae Hotel.
Thurs, 18 Sept 08
Red-backed Shrike and Willow Warblers along roadside by airport.
Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-backed Shrikes (lots), Woodchat Shrike (juv), Lesser Grey Shrike 3, Tawny Pipit 3, Lesser Kestrel (m), Short-toed Eagle 1, Long-legged Buzzard 4, Common Buzzard, Alpine Swift 6+, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, flava wagtails.
Tsiknias River mouth
Black Stork, Sandwich Tern 10+, Grey Polver 3, Dunlin 4, Curlew, Little Egret. Kalloni SaltpansGreat White Egret 12 (inc. 9 over to south).
Fri, 19 Sept 08
Christou River
Black Stork 1, Grey Heron 3, Great White Egret 1, Little Egret 2, Stone-curlew 4, Kentish Plover 4, Greenshank 1.
Metochi Lake
Lesser Kestrel (m), Tree Pipit 2, Ringed Plover 4, Little Ringed Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike 1, Whinchat, flava wagtails, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Alpine Swift, Cetti’s Warbler.
Nr Lafionas
Levant Sparrowhawk 1.
Molivos
Black-eared Wheatear 1.
Perasma (Old Petra Reservoir – now drained)
Black-eared Wheatear 3, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Kestrel 2, Peregrine (m), Cirl Bunting (lots), Spotted Flyactcher, Chiffchaff, Whinchat, White Wagtail, flava wagtails, Bee-eater (heard overhead).
Sat, 20 Sept 08
Korakas nr Klio
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1, Osprey (with fish), Marsh Harrier 2, Common Whitethroat 3+, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Redstart 2, Blackcap 1, Wood Nuthatch (3+), Rock Nuthatch (2), Middle Spotted Woodpecker (lots calling and sev seen), Red-backed Shrike 2+, Willow Warblers (lots), Chiffchaff, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift.
Napi valley
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 2, Short-toed Eagle 1.
Polichnitos Saltpans
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (juv) – first record for Lesvos. Found at 0800 by Terry Robinson and present all day.
Little Stint 13, Spoonbill 5, Black Stork 1, Pintail 2, Teal 1, Garganey 10, Mediterranean Gull 22, Sandwich Tern 20+, Marsh Harrier 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv), Turtle Dove 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 3.Sun, 21 Sept 08
Tavari/Chrousos
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 6 (flock) to south, Common Kestrel 2, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Spotted Flycatcher, Northern Wheatear, Turtle Dove 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Alpine Swift 2, Common Swift 1, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow.
Skala Eresou
Golden Oriole 1, Great Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2.
Pithariou Reservoir
Bee-eatear 12+, Common Buzzard 4, Short-toed Eagle 1, Common Kestrel, Crag Martin (lots), Red-rumped Swallow 4, Cirl Bunting 6+.
Ipsilou
Sombre Tit 5+, Blackcap 3+, Wood Nuthatch 1.
Mon, 22 Sept 08
Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve DudleyMesa
Eleonarora’s Falcon 1.
Vouvari River mouth
PYGMY CORMORANT adult – apparently present for c.1 week but no one mentioned in and no one bothered to write anything in the hotel bird log book! Lucky we heard about it on the off chance the previous evening.
Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 ad fuscus, Kingfisher 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Woodlark 1, Stonechat 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1.
Polichnitos Saltpans (and surrounds)
Black Stork 2, White Stork 1, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Sandpiper 4, Curlew Sandpiper 5, Wood Sandpiper 4, Little Stint 40+, Dunlin 4, Ruff 4, Redshank c.80, Greenshank 10+, Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Plover, Avocet 9, Teal 12, Mediterranean Gull 25, Sandwich Tern 39, Marsh Harrier 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Hoopoe 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 2.
Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 1, Common Buzzard 2, Great White Egret 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv).
Panaghia Chapel
Collared Flycatcher 1 (per SPD).
Tues, 23 Sept 08
Tsiknias River mouth
Grey Plover 2, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Woodchat Shrike 1.
Ipsilou
Eleonora’s Falcon 11 (inc. flock of 7 birds) all to north, Short-toed Eagle 1, Peregrine, Wryneck 1, Common Redstart 2, Red-backed Shrike 3, Spotted Flycatcher 6+, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Rock and Wood Nuthatch, Cirl Bunting, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Rock Thrush.
Wryneck, Ipsilou, 23 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley
Meladia Valley (between Sigri and Eresos)
Chukar 11 (inc. flock of 10), Black Stork 1, Hoopoe 1, Common Whitethroat 15+, Lesser Whitethroat 8+, Sombre Tit 2, Red-backed Shrike 10+, Black-eared Wheatear 4+, Northern Wheatear 3+, Cetti’s Warbler 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Blue Rock Thrush 4+, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff.
Nr Eresos
Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1, Red-rumped Swallow 6+.
Palia Vigla, Vatera
Honey-Buzzard 3 (Terry Robinson)
Weds, 24 Sept 08
Achladeri (between Vouvari River and Achladeri)
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2
Polichnitos Saltpans
Curlew Sandpiper 4, Ruff 4, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Dunlin 10, Greenshank 3, Redshank c.50, White Stork 3, Great White Egret 1, Short-toed Eagle 1.
Almiropotomas River, Vatera
Purple Heron 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Alpine Swift 2
Panaghia Chapel
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2 (one coming to dripping pipe by chapel), Spotted Flycatcher 4, Common Redstart 1, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1.
Vouvari River Mouth
Osprey roosting on rocks on south side of mouth.
Mesa
Great White Egret 1.
Tsiknias River Mouth
Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Kingfisher 1.
Thurs, 25 Sept 08
Metochi Lake
Common Snipe 1, Green Sandpiper 1.
Haramida Marsh
Sardinian Warbler 3+, Red-backed Shrike 4+, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Woodlark 1, Whinchat.
Cape Lena
Scopoli's Shearwater 3.
11 May 08 - bird news
Meladia River Ford - PALLID SWIFT 10+, Red-breasted Flycatcher 1.
Madaros - ROLLER 1 c.200 yrds south of dead goat bit by 'small lake'.
Kalloni Bay - 25+ Black Storks reported at 8.30pm.
Sigri - River Warbler 1, Night-heron 1.
Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch still actively feeding young, Long-eared Owl 2 juvs.
Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and those entering records in Hotel Pasiphae bird log.
Reporting your sightings
I left the island last week and it would be great to keep the records coming in and keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Please send me your records direct to -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287
Reporting nationally rare birds seen on Lesvos
Like BBRC in Britain, Greece has the Hellenic Rarities Committee. Records of all nationally rare species need to be submitted to the HRC. From this years bag full of goodies, this includes all records of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Great Snipe, Cattle Egret, Steppe Eagle, Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch, etc. See the HRC website if you think you have seen a nationally rare species requiring a description. A rarity description form can also be download from the site.
2 May 08 - A right bonny day
Continued fine weather had all the hallmarks of bird going straight through, but today saw a reasonable fresh arrival of migrants across the island. Very little surface water remaining in the seasonal pools of the Alykes Wetlands and Saltpans area (opp. the Saltworks entrance).
Weather: fine and sunny with virtually no wind. Max. temp c. 28 C.
Yesterday, unconfirmed report of the fifth BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER of the spring at Sigri.
Today’s highlights -
Platania – BONELLI’S EAGLE 1 (sub-ad), OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1 still.
Kalloni Bandstand – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (f), Honey-buzzard 1, Goshawk 1 (m), Black Stork 1.
Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 1, Little Crake 4, Little Bittern 4, Squacco Heron 7, Purple Heron 1, Whiskered Tern 3. No sign of the Spotted Crake.
Kalloni Saltpans area - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, Red-footed Falcon 3, Collared Pratincole 5, Red-throated Pipit 3, Short-toed Lark 4, Ruddy Shelduck 16, Black Stork 1, Whiskered Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 7.
Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing at eastern end below the Crag Martin outcrop.
Faneromeni area – Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.
Meladia River Ford – River Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.
Napi Valley – Thrush Nightingale 1.
Skala Kallonis – Honey-buzzard 1 over Hotel Pasiphae c.8.45 am.
Achladeri – Kruper’s Nuthatch showing well.
Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1 - bird still in the fifth roadside tree from the mini soccer pitch entrance but can only be seen from along the road or safer(!) from the track opposite the soccer pitch entrance. It is c.7m up the tree and quote difficult to see.
Petra Reservoir area – reservoir now drained with only a puddle of a pool remaining. River Warbler 1 (nr main road), Temminck’s Stint 4, Red-backed Shrike 6+, Bee-eater 40+.
Molivos – River Warbler 1.
Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 3.
Skala Kallonis - Long-eared Owl 2 at Hotel Pasiphae.
Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.
Weather: fine and sunny with virtually no wind. Max. temp c. 28 C.
Yesterday, unconfirmed report of the fifth BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER of the spring at Sigri.
Today’s highlights -
Platania – BONELLI’S EAGLE 1 (sub-ad), OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1 still.
Kalloni Bandstand – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (f), Honey-buzzard 1, Goshawk 1 (m), Black Stork 1.
Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 1, Little Crake 4, Little Bittern 4, Squacco Heron 7, Purple Heron 1, Whiskered Tern 3. No sign of the Spotted Crake.
Kalloni Saltpans area - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, Red-footed Falcon 3, Collared Pratincole 5, Red-throated Pipit 3, Short-toed Lark 4, Ruddy Shelduck 16, Black Stork 1, Whiskered Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 7.
Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing at eastern end below the Crag Martin outcrop.
Faneromeni area – Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.
Meladia River Ford – River Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 1.
Napi Valley – Thrush Nightingale 1.
Skala Kallonis – Honey-buzzard 1 over Hotel Pasiphae c.8.45 am.
Achladeri – Kruper’s Nuthatch showing well.
Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1 - bird still in the fifth roadside tree from the mini soccer pitch entrance but can only be seen from along the road or safer(!) from the track opposite the soccer pitch entrance. It is c.7m up the tree and quote difficult to see.
Petra Reservoir area – reservoir now drained with only a puddle of a pool remaining. River Warbler 1 (nr main road), Temminck’s Stint 4, Red-backed Shrike 6+, Bee-eater 40+.
Molivos – River Warbler 1.
Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 3.
Skala Kallonis - Long-eared Owl 2 at Hotel Pasiphae.
Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.
25 April - Cattle Egret and more Rollers
Cattle Egret between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River © Steve DudleyWeather: cloudy with sunny periods with strong north-westerly wind. Max. temp 23 C.
Nr Tsiknias River Mouth - CATTLE EGRET, only the seventh in recent years, was the above summer plumaged adult found this evening.
Platania - BOOTED EAGLE 1, LANNER 1, OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1 still showing on and off.
Tsiknias River - ROLLER 1, Slender-billed Gull 2, Little Bittern 1.
Alykodi Pool - GREAT SNIPE 1.
Metochi Lake - Little Crake 4, Spotted Crake 1, Purple Heron 1, Bee-eater 20+.
Kalloni Saltpans - Gull-billed Tern, Spotted Crake 1 (on pool opp. Saltworksentrance), Sanderling 3, Curlew Sandpiper 30+, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Ruff 60+, Red-throated Pipit 5 (around pool opp. saltworks entrance).
Polichnitos Saltpans - Little Stint 60+, Temminck's Stint 1, Curlew Sandpiper 12, Black Stork 1.
Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch very active around nest stump, Roller 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 1.
Skala Vasilikon - Bee-eater 22.
Alykes Wetlands - Tawny Pipit 1, Short-toed Lark 2.
Mesa - Garganey 3, Shoveler 7.
A number of Black Storks reported moving north throughout the day.
Great Snipe at Alykoudi Pool © Mark Powell
24 April 08 - Rollers, Olive Trees and wee bonny warblers
Weather: sunny with thin cloud, light north-westerly winds. Max temp. 23 C.
More signs of movement today with Rollers, Olive Tree and Eastern Bonelli's Warblers.
Platania - OLIVE TREE WARBLER (male on territory since 22nd), ROLLER 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Golden Oriole 10+, Hoopoe 6+.
Messa - ROLLER 3 west of the road junction.
Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch (female now incubating), Long-eared Owl (female with 3 chicks at nest).
Kalloni Saltpans - White-winged Black Terns 36, Red-footed Falcon 10+, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 2, Collared Pratincole 1, Spotted Redshank 1.
Skala Kallonis Pool - Squacco Heron 6, Garganey 1.
River Christou - Temminck's Stint 1, Little Stint 4, Stone-curlew 1, Ruff 1.
Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2 singing, Isabelline Wheatear 8+, Cinereous Bunting 5, Pied Flycatcher 1, Rock Sparrow 4.
Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing.
Sigri/Faneromeni - Lesser Kestrel 7+, Bee-eater 8+.
Between Filia & Skalochori - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing.
Black-headed Buntings around, more Whinchat and yellow wagtails. Raptors still thin in the air.
More signs of movement today with Rollers, Olive Tree and Eastern Bonelli's Warblers.
Platania - OLIVE TREE WARBLER (male on territory since 22nd), ROLLER 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Golden Oriole 10+, Hoopoe 6+.
Messa - ROLLER 3 west of the road junction.
Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch (female now incubating), Long-eared Owl (female with 3 chicks at nest).
Kalloni Saltpans - White-winged Black Terns 36, Red-footed Falcon 10+, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 2, Collared Pratincole 1, Spotted Redshank 1.
Skala Kallonis Pool - Squacco Heron 6, Garganey 1.
River Christou - Temminck's Stint 1, Little Stint 4, Stone-curlew 1, Ruff 1.
Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2 singing, Isabelline Wheatear 8+, Cinereous Bunting 5, Pied Flycatcher 1, Rock Sparrow 4.
Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing.
Sigri/Faneromeni - Lesser Kestrel 7+, Bee-eater 8+.
Between Filia & Skalochori - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 singing.
Black-headed Buntings around, more Whinchat and yellow wagtails. Raptors still thin in the air.
18 April 08 - A real red heron day
Part of the incredible 32 Night-herons (top birds) and 53 Purple Herons seen together over Kalloni Saltpans this eveningHaving arriced yesterday, our first day in the field was first rate!
Morning overcast and warm, afternoon mixed sunshine and cloud with rising temps, max. c.22 C.
We arrived last night and were keen to get out this morning! Good numbers of swifts and hirundines moving through, reasonable numbers of acros, some Whinchat, a few shrikes, plus . . .
Skala Kallonis Pool
The water levels were lower than I expected and there was actually very little here - no waders, no wagtails, few warblers. Wed did see 1 Purple Heron, 4 Squacco Heron, male Garganey and a male Red-footed Falcon.
Metochi Lake
Water level here was high and good numbers of warblers including Great Reed Warbler. Woodchat Shrike, 1 Night-heron, 2 Little Crake, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling).
Back at the Hotel Pasiphae we had a Black Stork fly over and a flock of 35 (!) Night-herons to the north. Now that was more like it!
Achladeri
Great Kruper's Nuthatch action with at least three feeding birds. Birds very vocal but no indication of nest site. Short-toed Treecreeper, Masked Shrike, Short-toed Eagle, Black Stork, loads of Common and Alpine Swifts.
Drive to Polichnitos Saltpans
Masked Shrike, 3 Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Black Stork.
Polichnitos Saltpans
Green Sandpiper, Northern Wheatear.
Vatera
5 Bee-eater
Near Kato Stavros
1 Golden Oriole, 2 Orphean Warbler, 3+ Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard.
Mesa
6 Ruddy Shelduck, Great White Egret.
Kalloni Saltpans
We'd already had a great day, but arriving at the Saltpans at 6.30 pm, the next hour was fantastic! The first pan by the main road was holding 143 Black-winged Stilt and 337 Avocet. Thanks to Eleni's reports from the last week I knew instantly these numbers were way up - more good signs of movement. We picked out the usual Ruff, Little Stint, Greenshank and a lone Stone-curlew.
We then had a flock of 32 Night-herons come over and start circling to gain height. Within a few minutes, 53 (!) Purple Herons came out of a nearby field. They too started circling, and within about ten minutes we had both the Purple Rons and Night-herons circling together. What they were up to, who knows. They spent the next 30 mins circling around looking what to do! We continued to watch the pans and picked up 23 Gull-billed Terns and 6 Whiskered Terns. Looking back up to the heron flock, they had now been joined by two Curlew and 4 Whimbrel! We ended up leaving this flock flapping around high up wondering what they were going to do for the night.
In all a fanatastic day! Day totals of 68 Nigh-herons, 55 Purple Herons and 8 Black Storks. Water levels in some places do seem lower than I had expected, but still plenty of surface water, but temperatures beginning to climb steadily.
We arrived last night and were keen to get out this morning! Good numbers of swifts and hirundines moving through, reasonable numbers of acros, some Whinchat, a few shrikes, plus . . .
Skala Kallonis Pool
The water levels were lower than I expected and there was actually very little here - no waders, no wagtails, few warblers. Wed did see 1 Purple Heron, 4 Squacco Heron, male Garganey and a male Red-footed Falcon.
Metochi Lake
Water level here was high and good numbers of warblers including Great Reed Warbler. Woodchat Shrike, 1 Night-heron, 2 Little Crake, 2 Short-toed Eagle, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling).
Back at the Hotel Pasiphae we had a Black Stork fly over and a flock of 35 (!) Night-herons to the north. Now that was more like it!
Achladeri
Great Kruper's Nuthatch action with at least three feeding birds. Birds very vocal but no indication of nest site. Short-toed Treecreeper, Masked Shrike, Short-toed Eagle, Black Stork, loads of Common and Alpine Swifts.
Drive to Polichnitos Saltpans
Masked Shrike, 3 Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Black Stork.
Polichnitos Saltpans
Green Sandpiper, Northern Wheatear.
Vatera
5 Bee-eater
Near Kato Stavros
1 Golden Oriole, 2 Orphean Warbler, 3+ Sardinian Warbler, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard.
Mesa
6 Ruddy Shelduck, Great White Egret.
Kalloni Saltpans
We'd already had a great day, but arriving at the Saltpans at 6.30 pm, the next hour was fantastic! The first pan by the main road was holding 143 Black-winged Stilt and 337 Avocet. Thanks to Eleni's reports from the last week I knew instantly these numbers were way up - more good signs of movement. We picked out the usual Ruff, Little Stint, Greenshank and a lone Stone-curlew.
We then had a flock of 32 Night-herons come over and start circling to gain height. Within a few minutes, 53 (!) Purple Herons came out of a nearby field. They too started circling, and within about ten minutes we had both the Purple Rons and Night-herons circling together. What they were up to, who knows. They spent the next 30 mins circling around looking what to do! We continued to watch the pans and picked up 23 Gull-billed Terns and 6 Whiskered Terns. Looking back up to the heron flock, they had now been joined by two Curlew and 4 Whimbrel! We ended up leaving this flock flapping around high up wondering what they were going to do for the night.
In all a fanatastic day! Day totals of 68 Nigh-herons, 55 Purple Herons and 8 Black Storks. Water levels in some places do seem lower than I had expected, but still plenty of surface water, but temperatures beginning to climb steadily.
11-17 April 08 - bird news
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, 14 April 2008, near the River Tsiknias © Bill Baston/http://www.billbaston.com/We arrived on the island yesterday and Shena & John Maskell were already at our hotel and birding here since the 11th. Here are some of there highlights.
17 April
2 Masked Shrike - Sigri to Eressos track
16 April
1 Whiskered Tern, Ruff, 8 Marsh Sandpiper, 4 Red-throated Pipit - Kalloni Saltpans
Kruper's Nuthatch, Scops Owl calling - Achladeri
15 April
39 Purple Herons - Skala Kallonis Pool
2 Ruppell's Warbler - nr Petra
14 April
17 April
2 Masked Shrike - Sigri to Eressos track
16 April
1 Whiskered Tern, Ruff, 8 Marsh Sandpiper, 4 Red-throated Pipit - Kalloni Saltpans
Kruper's Nuthatch, Scops Owl calling - Achladeri
15 April
39 Purple Herons - Skala Kallonis Pool
2 Ruppell's Warbler - nr Petra
14 April
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - nr mouth of Tsiknias River (photo above)
Little Crake, Turtle Dove - Parakila Marsh
Cinereous Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Orphean Warbler - Agios Ioannis
2 Lesser Kestrel, 1 Long-legged Buzzard - Apothika to Makara
13 April
1 Green Sandpiper - River Christou
Purple Heron, Crag Martin, Long-legged Buzzard - Potamia
12 April
3 Squacco Heron , 2 Glossy Ibis - Skala Kallonis Pool
Hoopoe, Collared Fly - Upper River Tsiknias
9 Garganey, 30 Ruddy Shelduck, 130 Avocet, 16 Black-winged Stilt - Kalloni Saltpans
11 April
Little Bittern - Tsiknias River
Little Crake, Turtle Dove - Parakila Marsh
Cinereous Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Orphean Warbler - Agios Ioannis
2 Lesser Kestrel, 1 Long-legged Buzzard - Apothika to Makara
13 April
1 Green Sandpiper - River Christou
Purple Heron, Crag Martin, Long-legged Buzzard - Potamia
12 April
3 Squacco Heron , 2 Glossy Ibis - Skala Kallonis Pool
Hoopoe, Collared Fly - Upper River Tsiknias
9 Garganey, 30 Ruddy Shelduck, 130 Avocet, 16 Black-winged Stilt - Kalloni Saltpans
11 April
Little Bittern - Tsiknias River
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