Polichnitos Saltpans - bird news

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Polichnitos Saltpans © Terry Robinson

What I hope will be the first of regular reports from Terry Robinson covers the last few days. Whilst many of us were enjoying Birdfair 2009, Terry was getting stuck into a saltpans full of all things water-loving – nice! His highlights are as follows –

Squacco Heron 1
Lettle Egret 33
Grey Heron 9
Spoonbill 2
Black Stork 6
White Stork 1
Greater Flamingo 2
Mallard 1
Garganey 8
Avocet 80+
Black-winged Stilt 60+
Stone-curlew 1
Ringed Plover 1
Little Ringed Plover 2
Kentish Plover 50+
Little Stint 30+
Curlew Sandpiper 5
Broad-billed Sandpiper 1 (above)
Redshank 80+
Greenshank 10+
Green Sandpiper 2
Black-headed Gull 150+
Mediterranean Gull 25+
Slender-billed Gull 1
Yellow-legged Gull 700+
Sandwich Tern 10+
Common Tern 20+
Little Tern 20+

Migrant passerines inc.
Yellow Wagtail 10+
White Wagtail 7
Whinchat 1
Northern Wheatear 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Black-eared Wheatear 2
Red-backed Shrike 1
Woodchat Shrike 3
Lesser Grey Shrike 2

Lesvos book launch and Birdfair thanks!

Steve signing copies of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos at Birdfair 2009 © Liz Dudley

I'm just back from a terrific Birdfair 2009. Thanks to everyone who came along to my talk on Saturday - a full house at 0930 on Saturday morning was not only impressive but greatly appreciated.

Thanks also to everyone who came to my daily book signings of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos on the Subbuteo Books stand and for all the kind comments. I hope those of you who bought the book get as much out of it as I did preparing it. The book was one of the top selling books at the Birdfair.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you out on the island next month, and even more of you out there next spring.

Thanks again for all your support, it really is nice to know that my work is appreciated so much and by so many.

Steve sharing a joke at the launch of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos at Birdfair 2009 © Liz Dudley

Lesvos holiday competition!

The prize - a week at the delightful Hotel Pasiphae in Skala Kallonis.

Purchase a copy of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos before the 30 September 2009, and you could enter a competition to win:

Twin room bed and breakfast accommodation for 7 nights for Friday 10th - Friday 17th September 2010 at the Hotel Pasiphae on the beautiful island of Lesvos!

To enter, simply answer the question on the competition bookmark enclosed in your copy of the book and send it to:

Subbuteo Natural History Books
The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 4UR.

Closing date 2nd October 2009.

All correct entries will be entered into a draw for the hotel accommodation!

If you do not have a bookmark present in your copy, please keep your receipt/ proof of purchase and contact Subbuteo for a replacement bookmark. Call 0870 0109700 or email info@wildlifebooks.com.

Terms and conditions apply - click here.

Reports - Lesvos 2009 and HRC 2008

Roller, Faneromeni, May 2009 © Steve Dudley

Just to let you all know that the planned spring 2009 report I was compiling has now been delayed and will be a calendar year report for 2009 which I plan to have available by the end of February 2010. Its not too late to let me know about your own spring sightings.

I'm in constant touch with the Hellenic Rarities Committee and their 2008 is already well advanced but has been delayed due to work on other publications and is now expected in October.

Summer news

It's summer and the only active birder on the island is Terry Robinson down at Skala Polichnitou. Terry spends most mornings down Polichnitos Saltpans and is also now regularly bird ringing in his garden near the salptans. I'll do something on Terry's ringing at later date.

Terry has passed on the following news in recent weeks for the Poli Pans area..

Breeding birds - 20+ prs of Black-winged Stilts raised c.50 young, a couple of prs of Kentish Plover have again bred here rearing several young.

Passage - last week Terry reports the following: Little Egret 17, Kentish Plover 47, Common Sandpiper 5, Stone-curlew 1, Greenshank 21, Redshank 81, Little Stint 16, Curlew Sandpiper 4, Wood Sandpiper 4, Sandwich Tern 3, Yellow-legged Gulls now up to c.500.

The previous week (late July) Terry also had Mediterranean Gull (11), a Spoonbill and a Black Stork around the pans.

So, things already beginning to come through. I'll keep news coming as much as I can but as autumn takes hold Terry will hopefully be able to send more news, especially of any raptor passage.

Lesvos Birding holiday - 11 - 18 September 2010

18 White Pelicans moving south over Polichnitos Saltpans, September 2007 (c) Steve Dudley

LAST MINUTE BARGAIN - SAVE £100 per person

Come with Lesvos Birding for a great week of bird and wildlife watching on the beautiful Aegean island of Lesvos.

Numbers - max. 6 guests - small groups are better!

Hotel - we stay at Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis, the island home of Lesvos Birding.

Meals - taverna lunches and evening meals - enjoy local food the Lesvos way! Not a sandwich or roll in sight!

Pace - relaxed! Easy walking on roads and tracks.

Guide - Steve Dudley, Mr Lesvos Birding, Lesvos' most experienced wildlife guide and author of A birdwatching guide to Lesvos.

Price - Save £100 per person - now only £750 per person. £125 single supplement.

Flights - are not included. We recommend you fly with Thompsonfly charter flight from Gatwick. You can seen the Thompsonfly Lesvos timetable of flights here. If you are unable to book your flights online (or the online site says flights not available) contact your local Thompson travel agent. See here for further flight details.

There are schedule flights from Heathrow to Lesvos via Athens (using BA and Aegean Airlines) but guests should note that the airport transfers off will be provided to coincide with the Thompson flight and if your schedule flight does not fit in with this, then your transfer may incur an additional charge. See here for further details of flights via Athens.

How to book - email me to reserve your place on the holiday, then once you have booked your flight, confirm your holiday booking with me (which will include sending your deposit).

Click here to read about a typical Lesvos Birding holiday.

Click here to read a typical autumn birding trip report.

Lesvos Birding Terms & Conditions.

Lesvos Birding holiday - 21 - 28 April 2011

Night-heron and Little Bittern, Faneromeni Lower Ford, May 2009 © Steve Dudley

Come with Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley for a great week of bird and wildlife watching on the beautiful Aegean island of Lesvos.

21 - 28 April 2011

An Oliva Rama Tours holiday with Steve Dudley/Lesvos Birding.

This is the first of the two peak weeks. There will be lots of birds and lots of birders around to exchange news and share views with.

Numbers - max. 7 guests - small groups are better!

Hotel - we stay at the excellent Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis, home of Lesvos Birding each spring.

Meals - taverna lunches and evening meals - enjoy local food the Lesvos Birding way! Not a sandwich or roll in sight!

Pace - relaxed! Easy walking on roads and tracks.

Guide - Steve Dudley, Mr Lesvos Birding, Lesvos' most experienced wildlife guide and author of A birdwatching guide to Lesvos.

Price & Booking enquiries - Please see Oliva Rama Tours website for full details.

Flights - are not included. Charter operators may be operating from 21 April (they usually commence from this date) in which case you may be able to obtain a direct flight from Gatwick or Manchester. In recent years they have not released flight only deals until late on.

I recommend coming via Athens (as I do myself). This is not a problem with several options from Heathrow (BA, Aegean and Olympic) and Gatwick (EasyJet). Many people coming via Athens add on a day or two to take in the Athens sites including the fabulous Acropolis.

Click here to read about a typical Lesvos Birding holiday.

Click here to read a typical spring birding trip report.

Lesvos Birding holiday - 14 - 21 April 2011

Night-heron and Little Bittern, Faneromeni Lower Ford, May 2009 © Steve Dudley

Come with Lesvos Birding for a great week of bird and wildlife watching on the beautiful Aegean island of Lesvos.

14 - 21 April 2011

Come on this early week and we will have the island virtually to ourselves. Other tour groups and charters will start arriving the day you leave, so apart from a few independent birders coming early, we'll be on our own!

Numbers - max. 6 guests - small groups are better!

Hotel - we stay at the excellent Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis, home of Lesvos Birding each spring.

Meals - taverna lunches and evening meals - enjoy local food the Lesvos Birding way! Not a sandwich or roll in sight!

Pace - relaxed! Easy walking on roads and tracks.

Guide - Steve Dudley, Mr Lesvos Birding, Lesvos' most experienced wildlife guide and author of A birdwatching guide to Lesvos.

Price - £950 per person. £100 single supplement. Deposit £250.

Flights - are not included. There are no charter flights this early in the season so you will have to come out via Athens. This is not a problem with several options from Heathrow (BA and Aegean) and Gatwick (EasyJet). Many people coming via Athens add on a day or two to take in the Athens sites including the fabulous Acropolis.

How to book - email me to reserve your place on the holiday, then once you have booked your flight, confirm your holiday booking with me (which will include sending your deposit).

Click here to read about a typical Lesvos Birding holiday.

Click here to read a typical spring birding trip report.

Lesvos Birding Terms & Conditions.

Lesvos Birding holidays - 2011

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

Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley is Lesvos' most experienced bird and wildlife guide and author of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos. Enjoy a full week-long holiday with him, or come out for an early morning, half-day or full-day's birding with him on the beautiful island of Lesvos.

Steve leads bird and wildlife holidays like no other! Staying at Skala Kallonis in the heart of the island, he uses his extensive knowledge of the island to ensure you not only get the most from the bird and wildlife of the island, but will see parts of the island many birdwatchers don't see and experience real Lesvos cuisine, eating out at some of the islands best tavernas for lunch and dinner.

Week-long holidays with Steve Dudley

14 - 21 April 2011 - max 7 guests - see here.

21 - 28 April 2011 - max 7 guests - places remaining - see here.

Day excursions with Steve Dudley

29 April - 4 May 2011 - a week of excursions inc. early mornings around Skala Kallonis area, half days around Gulf of Kalloni sites and full days birding further afield (e.g. Ipsilou and the west). All starting from Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis.

Max. 7 participants per excursion. Pre-booking is likely to be essential.

For full details see here.