August - latest news

Records from Polichnitos Saltpans and Skala Polichnitou from Terry Robinson (via Ornithotopos). All other records from Pierre Stassin. Earlier August records here

Things hotting up with a Knot (4th record for Lesvos) and two Wrynecks on 23rd.

31/08
Garganey 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greater Flamingo 155 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Stork 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Egret 7 Polichnitos Saltpans
Black-winged Stilt 49 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Avocet 124 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Ringed Plover 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Ringed Plover 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Kentish Plover 14 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Redshank 70 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Marsh Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greenshank 15 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Wood Sandpiper 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Stint 3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Mediterranean Gull 21 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Hoopoe 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 20 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 9 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Tawny Pipit 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 

30/08
Garganey 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greater Flamingo 91 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Stork 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Great White Egret 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Egret 7 Polichnitos Saltpans
Montagu's Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Peregrine 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black-winged Stilt 43 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Avocet 123 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Ringed Plover 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Kentish Plover 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Redshank 29 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greenshank 9 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Stint 3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Mediterranean Gull 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 17 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Tern 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Tern 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 14 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 22 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Tawny Pipit 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Cretzschmar's Bunting 2 Polichnitos Saltpans


29/08
Black Stork 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Kite 4 south over Christou River (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Redshank 69 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Marsh Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greenshank 12 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Red-necked Phalarope adult (presumed male) at Kalloni Saltpans present since Monday 27/8 (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Slender-billed Gull 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Mediterranean Gull 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Red-backed Shrike 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Woodchat Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 22 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black-eared Wheatear 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Spotted Flycatcher 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Tawny Pipit 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 

28/08
Black Stork 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Redshank 44 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greenshank 12 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Stint 14 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Mediterranean Gull 27 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 13 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Tern 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Woodchat Shrike 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Yellow Wagtail 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 

27/08
Black Stork 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Levant Sparrowhawk male Platania (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Marsh Sandpiper 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Greenshank 12 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Stint 22 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Curlew Sandpiper 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Broad-billed Sandpiper 2 Kalloni Saltpans &amp (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria) 
Black-tailed Godwit 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Mediterranean Gull 43 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 16 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Tern 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Roller 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria)
Red-backed Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Woodchat Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 7 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Spotted Flycatcher 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Yellow Wagtail 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 


26/08
Garganey 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Griffon Vulture 1 Ipsilou (Heinrich Frotscher)
Little Stint 34 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Broad-billed Sandpiper 3 Kalloni Saltpans & 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Ruff 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Mediterranean Gull 52 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Tern 18 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Nightjar 1 Skala Polichnitou  
Turtle Dove 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Kingfisher 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Woodchat Shrike 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Red-rumped Swallow 1Polichnitos Saltpans 
House Martin 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Stonechat 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Masked Shrike 1 Potamia Valley
Cretzschmar's Bunting 4 Potamia Valley 


25/08
Garganey 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Teal 15 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Stork 17 Metochi 
Little Egret 33 Metochi 
Great White Egret 2 Metochi 
Marsh Harrier 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Common Ringed Plover 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Broad-billed Sandpiper 3 Kalloni Saltpans &amp (Graham Tebb/BirdLife Austria) 
Dunlin 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Curlew 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Nightjar 2 Skala Polichnitou  
Common Nightingale 1 Skala Polichnitou  
Orphean Warbler 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Yellow Wagtail 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Cretzschmar's Bunting 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 


24/08
Garganey 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Stork 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Greater Flamingo 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Black Kite 1 Ipsilou
Marsh Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Montagu's Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans & 1 Ipsilou
Lesser Kestrel 3 Ipsilou
Common Redshank 51 Polichnitos Saltpans
Marsh Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Greenshank 12 Polichnitos Saltpans 
KNOT 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (only 4th record for Lesvos)
Little Stint 19 Polichnitos Saltpans
Curlew Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Ruff 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Mediterranean Gull 28 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 27 Polichnitos Saltpans
Turtle Dove 3 Polichnitos Saltpans
Lesser Grey Shrike 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Willow Warbler 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Isabelline Wheatear 3 Ipsilou
Black-eared Wheatear 10+ Ipsilou
Whinchat 1 Ipsilou
Spotted Flycatcher 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Yellow Waghtail 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Cretzschmar's Bunting 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 

23/08
Black Stork 16 Metochi Lake
Little Egret 27 Metochi Lake
Great White Egret 1 Metochi Lake & Kalloni Saltpans
Little Bittern 1 adult Metochi Lake
Greater Flamingo 6 coulour ringed read Kalloni Saltpans
White Pelican 1 first calendar year Kalloni Saltpans
Stone-curlew 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Pied Avocet 1350 Kalloni Saltpans
Common Redshank 50+ Kalloni Saltpans
Wood Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Stint 33 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Black Stork 14 Kalloni Saltpans
Eurasian Curlew 1 Kalloni Saltpans
Dunlin 1 adult intermediate Kalloni Saltpans
Mediterranean Gull 41 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Nightjar 2 Skala Polichnitou 
Wryneck 2 caught and ringed at Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson) - photos here
Lesser Grey Shrike 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Tawny Pipit 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 

22/08
Slender-billed Gull 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whiskered Tern 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Red-backed Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 

21/08
Garganey 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Montagu's Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Sandwich Tern 14 Polichnitos Saltpans (Pierre Stassin)
Dunlin 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Pierre Stassin)
Common Sandpiper 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whiskered Tern 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Red-backed Shrike 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Lesser Grey Shrike 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Whinchat 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Northern Wheatear 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Cretzschmar's Bunting 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 

20/08
Garganey 12 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Teal 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Montagu's Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Marsh Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Sandpiper 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Barn Owl 1 heard in Skala Kallonis
Common Swift 4 Gavathas
Alpine Swift 1 Gavathas
Short-toed Eagle 5 Gavathas
Whinchat 1 Gavathas
Willow Warbler 4 Gavathas
Eleonora's Falcon 1 dark phase Gavathas
Turtle Dove 22 Gavathas
Long-legged Buzzard 1 Gavathas
Great White Egret 4 Kalloni salt pans
Common Tern 9 Tsiknias river 

19/08
Garganey 6 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Teal 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Green Sandpiper 3 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Alpine Swift 1 Skala Kallonis

18/08
Garganey 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Common Teal 4 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Scopoli's Shearwater 1 off shore Molivos
Yelkouan Shearwater 1 off shore Molivos
Short-toed Eagle 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Crag Martin 5 Molivos
Black Stork 28 Metochi Lake
Great White Egret 1 Metochi Lake
Night-heron 5 Metochi Lake
Bee-eater at least 60 Metochi Lake
Little Grebe 19 Potamia reservoir

17/08
Garganey 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Little Tern 1 Tsiknias river
Sandwich Tern 28 (max count for month) Polichnitos Saltpans 
Great White Egret 1 Kalloni salt pans
Flamingo at least 740 Kalloni salt pans
Corn Bunting at least 50 Kalloni salt pans
Little Stint at least 30 Kalloni salt pans
Eurasian Curlew 1 Kalloni salt pans
Cretzschmar's Bunting 25 (max count for month) Polichnitos Saltpans 

16/08
Garganey 9 Polichnitos Saltpans 
Wood Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans
Mediterranean Gull 57 (max count for month) Polichnitos Saltpans 
Scops Owl 1 Soumouria (Kalloni mini soccer pitch)
Long-tailed Tit +/- 15 Ag. Taxiarchis
Sombre Tit 1 Ag. Taxiarchis
Red-rumped Swallow 5-6 Ag. Taxiarchis
Short-toed Eagle 1 Ag. Taxiarchis
Rock Nuthatch 2 Ag. Taxiarchis
Middle Spotted Woodpecker 1 Ag. Taxiarchis

15/08
Green Sandpiper 2 Polichnitos Saltpans 




Broad-billed Sandpiper 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 



Long-legged Buzzard 1 Kalloni salt pans
Krupers Nuthatch 1 Achladeri forest
Cinereous Bunting 1 adult feeding 1 young Ag. Ioannis
Blue Rock-thrush 1 pair 
Ag. Ioannis
Rock Nuthatch 2 
Ag. Ioannis
Sombre Tit 1 adult feeding 1 young 
Ag. Ioannis
Stonechat 1 Ag. Ioannis
Black-eared Wheatear 2 
Ag. Ioannis

14/08
Great White Egret 1 Kalloni salt pans
Dalmatian Pelican 1 imm Kalloni salt pans
Stone-curlew 2 Christou river
Temminck Stint  1 Kalloni salt pans Bee-eater 5 Metochi lake



Bird sightings - July & August


Griffon Vultures, Ipsilou, 3 August © Jonathan Norgate


All sightings of single birds unless otherwise stated. Sightings taken from OrnithTopos (all Terry Robinson) unless otherwise stated.

Ruddy Shelduck
Mesa: 5 on 23 Jul (also seen Kalloni Saltpans on 20 Jul) (Jonathan Norgate)

Shoveler
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 10 & 27 Jul

Garganey
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 17 on 13 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Little Grebe
Perasma Reservoir: 52 on 31 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Great Crested Grebe
Perasma Reservoir: 1 on 31 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Scopoli's Shearwater
Several seen along north coast 21 Jul - 4 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Yelkouan Shearwater
Seen along north coast 21 Jul - 4 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Greater Flamingo
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 6 on 13 Aug

Black Stork
Kalloni Saltpans: Max. 52 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 5 on 4 Aug

White Stork
Kalloni Saltpans: Max. 17 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Spoonbill
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 1 on 28 Jul

Great White Egret
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 3 on 2 Aug

Little Egret
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 26 on 9 Aug
Kalloni Saltpans: Max. 11 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Honey-buzzard
Ipsilou: 1 on 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Griffon Vulture
Ipsilou: 2 on 29 Jul & 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Montagu's Harrier
Kalloni Saltpans: 1 2CY male 28 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Levant Sparrowhawk
Anaxos: 1 on 2 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Goshawk
Aghios Taxiarchis: 1 on 27 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Long-legged Buzzard
Seen daily through the north and wast of island 25 Jul - 4 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Lesser Kestrel
Singles seen Kavaki (25 Jul), Anaxos (26 Jul), Sigri Fields (29 Jul) and Petrfied Forest (29 Jul) (Jonathan Norgate)

Eleonora's Falcon
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 1 on 1 Aug
Singles seen Anaxos (25 Jul), Molivos (25 Jul), Aghios Taxiarchis (27 Jul) and Ipsilou (29 Jul) (Jonathan Norgate)

Peregrine Falcon
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 1 on 6 Jul
Anaxos: 1 on 22 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)
Kavaki: 1 on 22 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Short-toed Eagle
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 11 Aug

Stone-curlew
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 5 on 28 Jul
Polichnitos Saltpans: 2 on 23 Jul

Black-winged Stilt
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 92 on 23 Jul

Avocet
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 149 on 2 Aug

Common Ringed Plover
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1-2 30 Jul to 13 Aug and also seen Kalloni Saltpans 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Eurasian Curlew
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 9 Aug

Spotted Redshank
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 3-7 Jul
Kalloni Saltpans: 3 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Marsh Sandpiper
Polichnitos Saltpans: 2 on 11 Aug

Greenshank
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 15 on 6 Aug
Kalloni Saltpans: max. 34 on 27 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Wood Sandpiper
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 8 on 9 Aug
Kalloni Saltpans: max. 9 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)
Perasma: 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Common Sandpiper
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 6 on 2 Aug
Kalloni Saltpans: max.59 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Temminck's Stint
Kalloni Saltpans: 4 on 27 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Little Stint
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 46 on 14 Aug

Sanderling
Kalloni Saltpans: 3 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Curlew Sandpiper
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1-2 on 19-20 Jul
Perasma Reservoir: 1 on 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 11-12 Aug

Ruff
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 9-13 Aug

Slender-billed Gull
Polichnitos Saltpans: 3 on 9 Jul

Mediterranean Gull
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 46 on 14 Aug

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Kalloni Saltpans: 1 on 23 & 25 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Sandwich Tern
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 29 on 27 Jul

Scops Owl
Soumouria: 3-5 heard and 2 seen 23 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Nightjar
Skala Polichnitou: 1 to at least 13 Aug
3 Petra 28 Jul, 1 dead Sigri Fields 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Turtle Dove
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 8 on 14 Aug
3 Petra 28 Jul, 1 dead Sigri Fields 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Alpine Swift
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 48 on 16 Jul
Flocks of up to 30 along north coast 21 Jul - 4 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Common Swift
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 182 on 6 Jul

Bee-eater
Flocks of 100+ 21 Jul - 4 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Common Kingfisher
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 30 Jul

Hoopoe
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 4 on 3 Aug

Red-backed Shrike
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 3-5 Aug
1 Ipsilou 29 Jul and 1 Aghios Taxiarchis 1 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Lesser Grey Shrike
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 3 on 7-9 Aug
Kalloni Saltpans: max. 3 on 1 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Woodchat Shrike
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 12 on 6 Aug

Masked Shrike
Polichnitos Saltpans: Max. 2 on 14 Jul

Crag Martin
20+ Lardia Valley 24 & 29 Jul and 5 Kavaki 25 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Polichnitos Saltpans: present to 3 Aug at least

Icterine Warbler
Skala Polichnitou: 1 on 10 Aug

Willow Warbler
Polichnitos Saltpans: present to 14 Aug at least

Eastern Orphean Warbler
2 Anaxos 22 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Common Whitethroat
Polichnitos Saltpans: present to 13 Aug at least

Ruppell's Warbler
1 Kavaki 25 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

Subalpine Warbler
Polichnitos Saltpans: present to 8 Aug at least

Rufous Bush-robin
1 Sigri Fields 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Common Nightingale
Skala Polichnitou: 1 on 9 Aug

Common Redstart
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 14 Aug

Whinchat
Polichnitos Saltpans: present to 14 Aug at least

Common Stonechat
Polichnitos Saltpans: present from 4 Aug

Isabelline Wheatear
5+ Petrified Forest 29 Jul & 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Northern Wheatear
Polichnitos Saltpans: max. 6 on 8 Aug
4 Petrified Forest 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Black-eared Wheatear
Polichnitos Saltpans: 1 on 12 Aug

Collared Flycatcher
2 Lardia Valley 29 Jul & 3 Ipsilou 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Collared Flycatcher
Polichnitos Saltpans: 11 on 10 Aug

Spanish Sparrow
Polichnitos Saltpans: 2 on 4 Jul
1 Kalloni Saltpans 79 Jul & 1 Sigri Fields 29 Jul (Jonathan Norgate)

White Wagtail
Polichnitos Saltpans: max. 6 on 11 Jul

Yellow Wagtail
Polichnitos Saltpans: present from 13 Aug

Corn Bunting
Polichnitos Saltpans: max. 121 on 16 Jul

Cinereous Bunting
1 Ipsilou 3 Aug (Jonathan Norgate)

Cretzschmar's Bunting
Polichnitos Saltpans: max. 20 on 12 Aug

Black-headed Bunting
Polichnitos Saltpans: max. 4 on 15-18 Jul