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Spring migrant news
Glossy Ibis, Polichnitos Saltpans, 30 Mar 12 © Terry Robinson
MENETRIES'S WARBLER
A male was seen and photographed at Kavai on 12 April (L Starnini). See photos on the HRC site here. This is the first record for Lesvos and Greece. It was seen here.
APRIL
Squacco Heron - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3 & 7 Apr
Booted Eagle - 1 reported 17 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Pallid Harrier - 1 reported 16 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Red-footed Falcon - fem Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Little Crake - up to Skala Kallonis Pool and up to 5 Metochi Lake (Reg Thorpe)
Marsh Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Common Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7 Apr
Temminck's Stint - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Common Tern - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Alpine Swift - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 9 Apr
Common Swift - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 12 Apr
Scops Owl - 1 present at Soumouria Scops Copse (Reg Thorpe)
Sand Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Red-rumped Swallow - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Masked Shrike - present Achladeri from 17 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Common Whitethroat - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - 3 Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Whinchat - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Apr
Black-eared Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans 10 on 2 Apr
Collared Flycatcher - several Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
CITRINE WAGTAIL - male Polichnitos Saltpans 13 Apr
Tawny Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans up to 7 on 3 Apr
Ortolan Bunring (17 Apr) and Whinchat (18 Apr) also reported but no site details.
Kruper's Nuthatch vocal in Achladeri Forest picnic site but not appeared to have settled yet (18 Apr).
Booted Eagle - 1 reported 17 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Pallid Harrier - 1 reported 16 Apr (location unknown) 17 Apr
Red-footed Falcon - fem Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Little Crake - up to Skala Kallonis Pool and up to 5 Metochi Lake (Reg Thorpe)
Marsh Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Common Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 7 Apr
Temminck's Stint - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 17 Apr
Common Tern - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 14 Apr
Alpine Swift - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 9 Apr
Common Swift - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 12 Apr
Scops Owl - 1 present at Soumouria Scops Copse (Reg Thorpe)
Sand Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Red-rumped Swallow - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Masked Shrike - present Achladeri from 17 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Common Whitethroat - Polichnitos Saltpans from 12 Apr
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - 3 Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
Whinchat - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Apr
Black-eared Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans from 2 Apr
Northern Wheatear - Polichnitos Saltpans 10 on 2 Apr
Collared Flycatcher - several Faneromeni 18 Apr (Reg Thorpe)
CITRINE WAGTAIL - male Polichnitos Saltpans 13 Apr
Tawny Pipit - Polichnitos Saltpans up to 7 on 3 Apr
Ortolan Bunring (17 Apr) and Whinchat (18 Apr) also reported but no site details.
Kruper's Nuthatch vocal in Achladeri Forest picnic site but not appeared to have settled yet (18 Apr).
MARCH
Garganey - 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 28th, 20 Kalloni Saltpans 25 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Yelkouan Shearwateter - Polichnitos Saltpans max 1852 on 19 Mar
Great Crested Grebe - Polichnitos Saltpans max 285 on 18 Mar
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar
Black Stork - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 20 Mar
Squacco Heron - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Purple Heron - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Spoonbill - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 28 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Little Crake - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Booted Eagle - 1 Potamia Valley 26 Mar (Anja Hoff), 1 nr Efthalou 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Hen Harrier - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans still
Grey Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 - 31 Mar
Common Ringed Plover - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 19 Mar
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Ruff - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans small numbers since 9 Mar
Pallid Swift - birds seen Mytilini from 21 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Scops Owl - 1-3 birds heard Mytilini from 20 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Hoopoe - Polichnitos Saltpans from 13 Mar
Woodchat Shrike - Polichnitos Saltpans from 25 Mar
Barn Swallow - Polichnitos Saltpans from 20 Mar
House Martin - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Short-toed Lark - Polichnitos Saltpans from 19 Mar
Fan-tailed Warbler - 1 Dipi Larisos from 26 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Dipi Larisos from 26 Mar (Jelle Davalez/Observado)
Subalpine Warbler - Metochi Lake 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Ruppell's Warbler - Kavaki 29 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Willow Warbler - Polichnitos Saltpans from 26 Mar
Blackcap - Polichnitos Saltpans 26 Mar
Black-eared Wheatear - Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Isabelline Wheatear - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Ortolan Bunting - Petrified Forest 27 Mar (Anja Hoff)
Also remaining winter migrants in and around Polichnitos Saltpans include Green Sandpiper, Skylark, Black Redstart, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.
Spring water levels
Skala Kallonis Pool, 27 March 2012 © Vasilis El. Vogiatzis
The winter has seen average levels of rainfall and there are many season pools in the usual areas around the Kalloni area. But fine weather since mid-March is already seeing these pools water levels drop. Lets hope they get topped up before we all get out there.
I know its been raining hard up to at least 18 April and all season pools are flooded and should now be at levels to see standing water in to May.
