15 May 08 - more Roses

Skala Eresou - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1, Glossy Ibis 5, Red-footed Falcon 11, Gull-billed Tern 2, Mediterranen Gull 1, Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Turnstone 1.

Metochi Lake - Rose-coloured Starling 12.

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and Hotel Pasiphae for sending me copies of their 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 here for further information.

8 May 08 - update

Weather
Fine and sunny.

Today's highlights -

Sadly, very little reported for today.

Kalloni Saltpans - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 2, Osprey 1, Black Tern 10, Red-footed Falcon 11, Collared Pratincole 5, Lesser Grey Shrike 1.

Skala Kallonis - River Warbler 2 (one by west end of pool, other by Pasiphae Hotel).

Tsiknias River - Grey Plover 4, Whiskered Tern 1.

Metochi - Little Bittern, Night-heron.

Reporting your sightings
I left the island today 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 -
steve at toadsnatcher dot com
00447767787287

Again, thanks to everyone who has supplied reocrds over the last three weeks. I know from feedback from birders coming out here the updates have been greatly appreciated by many. I'd like pay particular thanks to Bob Buckler, Wingspan Bird Tours, for his help and enthusiasm over the last few weeks.

7 May 08 - Egyptian Vultures!

Weather
heavy rain overnight continued until mid morning and the overcast sky eventually cleared to give a sunny laste afternoon and evening.

Today's highlights -

Nr Ipsilou - EGYPTIAN VULTURE 2 together to north c. noon.

Kalloni Saltpans - PALLID HARRIER 1 (1st sum fem), SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 2, Osprey 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, White-winged Black Tern 22, Black Tern 2, Red-footed Falcon 12, Little Stint 210+, Ruff 230+, Curlew Sandpiper 60+.

Nr Eressos - BLACK KITE 1.

Ipsilou - Rock Sparrow 5.

Faneromeni - Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Bee-eater 40.

Old Sigri Sanatorium - Rufous Bush Chat 2, Lesser Grey Shrike 1.

Alykes Wetlands - Citrine Wagtail 1, Collared Pratincole 7, Ringed Plover 15, Spotted Redshank 1.

Skamnioudi Pool - Temminck's Stint 1, Little Stint 24, Ruff 36, Wood Sandpiper 70+, Goshawk imm male.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Eleanora's Falcon 1, Little Stint 160+, Curlew Sandpiper 52, Grey Plover 1, Black Stork 1.

Almiropodamos River - Little Bittern 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Serin 1.

Tsiknias River - Slender-billed Gull 3, Temminck's Stint 5, Black Stork 2, Grey Plover 4.

Nr Polichnitos Saltpans - Roller 2.

Meladia River Ford - Roller 1, Marsh Warbler 2, Icterine Warbler 2, Rufous Bush Chat 2.

Metochi - Little Bittern 6+, Hobby 1.

Reporting your sightings
I leave the island tomorrow 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 -
steve at toadsnatcher dot com
00447767787287

Thanks to everyone who has supplied reocrds over the last three weeks. I know from feedback from birders coming out here the updates have been greatly appreciated by many.

I've been told of some of the funny bird names that have crept in over the weeks. Its sometimes hard typing anf holding three converdations at once!

4 May 08 - Olive Tree Warblers back in

Despite fine weather and northerly winds migrants still keep creeping in and the odd long-staying bird is still with us. After yesterday's couple of birds out west, today continued the main arrival of Olive Tree Warblers.

The seasonal pool by the Kalloni Saltworks entrance is now dry and other small pools disappearing fast (not been to or heard about the Alykes Wetlands). River levels still OK.

The Spur-winged Plover was unfortunately flushed by a photographer who entered an enclosed field. A reminder, if an area is fenced DO NOT ENTER. Enter only areas with open gates, keep to field edges and keep out of crops and groves.

Weather: fine and sunny with light northerly wind strengthening during afternoon. Max. temp c. 25 C.

Some additional news for yesterday, a singing Barred Warbler and Thrush Nightingale near Andissa.

Today’s highlights -

Kalloni Saltpans – PALLID HARRIER 1 (fem north c. 4.30 pm), SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 (seen to be flushed by a photographer in morning and not seen since), Osprey 1, Red-footed Falcon 6, White-winged Black Tern 11, Whiskered Tern 1, Temminck’s Stint 4, Spotted Redshank 2, Curlew Sandpiper 50+, Little Stint 50+, Ruff 465+.

Napi Valley - OLIVE TREE WARBLER 3 at roadside barrier site below masts at north end of valley.

Platania – OLIVE TREE WARBLER now 5+ at the cattle grid site, Golden Oriole 2. Between Napi Road and cattle grid 09.00 – 11.30 am - Thrush Nightingale 1, Honey-buzzard 1, Black Stork 5, Red-footed Falcon 8, Ortolan Bunting 4, Red-backed Shrike 6+ plus stacks of commons stuff such as Hoopoe, Masked Shrike, Orphean Warbler, Woodlark, etc.

Tsiknias River – RUPPELL’S WARBLER male singing (Upper Valley), Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Black Stork 1 (caught and ate a snake), Mediterranean Gull 2 (ads), White-winged Black Tern 2, Stone-curlew 1.

Meladia River Ford area - PALLID SWIFT 3, RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN 1, ROLLER 1, Little Bittern 1, Yelkuoun Shearwater c. 3000+ per hour at one point, still lots of migrants inc. Spotted Flycacther, Black-headed Bunting, Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Bee-eater, Turtle Dove.

Faneromeni - Red-breasted Flycatcher (along track up from ford).

Parikoila Marsh – Purple Heron 1, Black Stork 1.

Skala Eresou – Lesser Grey Shrike 1.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, holding territory at eastern end. West of Vatousa park at eastern end of valley in ‘chalky’ coloured pull-in on right with small wooden gate. Walk west for three telegraph poles to small pool. Bird is in this area but can get to opposite side of valley. Rock Sparrow nesting in Rock Nuthatch nest on rocky outcrop on right from the pull-in.

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.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter theirs in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.

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.

1 May 08 - A slow day!

Spotted Crake at Metochi

Thursday is one of the main change over days here, so fewer folk are in the field so far fewer birds reported than normal. Hopefully normal service will resume tomorrow! Also check past days for any additions.

Weather: fine and sunny, no cloud, light southerly wind. Max. temp. c.28 C.

Today's highlights -

Kalloni Saltpans - LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1.

Skala Kallonis Pool - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 male (early morning, presumed same on Tsiknias River in afternoon), Squacco Heron 2.

Tsiknias River - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 male (afternoon, presumed same on Skala Kallonis Pool in morning), Sandwich Tern 3 (at mouth), Gull-billed Tern 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Night-heron 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 1.

Metochi Lake area - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1, Eleanora's Falcon 2, Spotted Crake 1, Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 2, Little Crake 2+, Whiskered Tern 5.

Kalloni Saltworks entrance - Tawny Pipit 2. Collared Pratoncole 15, Red-footed Falcon 5. No sign of Spur-winged Plover.

Skala Kallonis - Gull-billed Tern 12 offshore.

River Christou - Red-footed Falcon 2, Purple Heron 1, Temminck's Stint 25, Red-throated Pipit 1, Stone-curlew 2, Peregrine 1.

Makara - Yelkouan Shearwater 100+.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter theirs in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.