3 May 2012


Common Stonechat, nr Sigri (c) Steve Dudley

A slightly cooler day which made birding much more pleasant and the birds seemed more active. I asked yesterday where the Bush-robins where - we'll they're here! Three in on territory today. Two River Warblers and new in too and at least one Pygmy Cormorant still at Dipi Larisos - will it stay for Saturday arrivals to enjoy?

Petrol/Deisel - the cheapest stations are just after EKO the Plomari (Dipi Larisos) turn c.13km out of Mytilini and at Petra. So those collecting cars from the airport might want to fill up as you drive west. Those collecting cars at the hotels are best to use Petra.

Weather - Blue skies, light NW breeze, 25C 

NEW - news on day trips (those with spaces remaining), events and other info (like what new cafes/tavenras might be worth trying) for the 2012 birding weeks - see here.


BIRD NEWS

Achladeri & Kruper's Nuthatch
One pair feeding young near last years nest site along the top. Park your car by the white building building, walk up the main track through the forest, bear left at the fork, then follow the track left past the rubbish pile on the next corner and up the straight section of track. After c200m look for a thick black pine tree with a sap scar and a pile of 4 sandy-coloured rocks at the base. From this tree look in to the forest at 90 degrees from the track and look for a sheep/rams skull at base. Nest is in this tree on left hand side between two very short broken branch stumps.

Dipi Larisos 
Pygmy Cormorant  1
Purple Heron 1
Spur-winged Plover - no sign today 

Madaros 
Rufous Bush-robin  1

Koriani (Napi Valley)
Black Kite  1

Kalloni Saltpans
Rufous Bush-robin  2 (one on beach and one at pumping station)
White-winged Tern 30
Gull-billed Tern 3
Curlew Sandpiper 6
Dunlin 1
Little Stint 1

Koriani (Napi Valley)
Black Kite  1

Platania
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1
Olive-tree Warbler 1
Ortolan Bunting 1

Meladia
Roller 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1
Wood Warbler 1
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1
Collared Flycatcher 1
Purple Heron 1
Little Bittern 1
Squacco Heron 1

Sigri Old Sanatorium
Ortolan Bunting 1
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Red-backed Shrike 7
Golden Oriole 2

Makara
Tawny Pipit 1
Turtle Dove 10

Skala Kallonis Pool
River Warbler 1
Red-footed Falcon 2

Nr Polichnitos Saltpans
Olive-tree Warbler 1

Filia Masts
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 5+
Eleonora's Falcon 3

Ipsilou
Usual buntings, wheatears, Rock Sparrow, etc. Few migrants.

Tsiknias River
River Warbler 1
Spotted Crake 1
Little Bittern 1

Almyropotamos River (Lisvorio)
Marsh Sandpiper 1

Almiropotamos River (Vatera)
Citrine Wagtail 1
Little Bittern 1

Faneromeni Upper Ford
Citrine Wagtail 2

Revma
Eleonora's Falcon 2

nr Vigla (Eresos juntion)
Roller 1 c.250m south of junction

Soumouria (Scops Copse)
Scops Owl 3 (1 seen, 2 heard)


Papiana
Scops Owl 4 (3 seen, 1 heard)