7 May 2012

Scops Owl, Soumouria 'Scops Copse', Kalloni 

© Steve Dudley

The Broad-billed Sandpiper by the saltworks entrance performed well most of the day and was watched until dusk. A Common Snipe present at the same site, and said to be present yesterday too, casts a shadow over yesterday's claimed Great Snipe from these pools. A Lesser Spotted Eagle was seen near Molivos and Scops Owls remain in the Soumouria Scops Copse and at Papiana.

Faneromeni - please do not drive up and down the river here. It is selfish as all it does is flush everything off the river for others to enjoy. I witnessed two birder/photographers cars today and photographed them both and will pass the images on to their respective hire companies. If you see anyone driving down the rivers please photo them and send me the photos (photos must show registration and tell me who the hire company is).

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 to moderate southerly breeze, 28C, turning overcast mid-afternoon providing a pleasant cooler 20C for the evening 

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.

Nr Molivos

Lesser Spotted Eagle 1 north at 1620

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Broad-billed Sandpiper 1 - on pools opp saltworks

Common Snipe 1 - on pools opp saltworks - if you have any photos of yday's reported Great Snipe I'd appreciate them. Thanks

Lapwing 1

Curlew Sandpiper 4

Ruff 64

Little Stint 41

Temminck's Stint 1

Marsh Sandpiper 1

Greenshank 1

Gull-billed Tern 1

Garganey 1

Ruddy Shelduck 8

Squacco Heron 6

Great White Egret 3

Little Egret 14

Grey Heron 4

White Stork 1

Rufous Bush-robin 1 along beach
Greater Flamingo - 100+ landed in Alykes Wetland sheepfields at back of pans at c. 1630

NOTE - on no account must you enter the saltworks! Today I found one of the pieces of metal fencing by the gate had been untied and birders were entering the site. This is private property.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

Red-footed Falcon 1

Goshawk 3 inc. 2 displaying birds

Short-toed Eagle 4

Long-legged Buzzard 2

Common Buzzard 2

Hobby 1

Peregrine 1

Madaros

Levant Sparrowhawk 1

Tsiknias River

Little Bittern 1

Temminck's Stint 1

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'

Scops Owl 1 - in 2nd tree on right as you enter from the Kalloni end

Papiana

Scops Owl 1 - in 4th eucalyptus down from the green and blue waste bins past the school (and on opposite side from school)

Long-eared Owl 1

Faneromeni

Levant Sparrowhawk 1

Ipsilou

Montagu's Harrier 1

Eleonora's Falcon 3

Lardia Valley

Honey-buzzard 1

Polichnitos Saltpans

Curlew Sandpiper 18