LESVOS | BIRDING | ΛEΣBOΣ: January

Showing posts with label January. Show all posts

January 2011 - bird news

Resident birders Eleni Galinou and Terry Robinson continue to be out and about their respective local areas of Kalloni (EG) and Skala Polichnitou (TR) areas (the more interesting records in CAPS).

Updated 31/01/11

Ruddy Shelduck - max. 143 Kalloni Saltpans 03/01: also seen at Mesa Wetlands, Polichnitos Saltpans and Alikoudi Pool

Pintail - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 13/01

Wigeon - 220 Kalloni Saltpans 03/01

Mallard - Vouvaris River 01/01

Shoveler - Kalloni Saltpans 03/01 and Vouvaris River 01/01

Red-breasted Merganser - up to 3 Gulf of Kalloni off Vouvaris River mouth, Tsiknias River mouth and Skala Vasilikon to 21/01

Black-throated Diver - 1 Gulf of Kalloni off Vouvaris River mouth 01/01

Yelkouan Shearwater - 1 Gulf of Kalloni off Polichnitos Saltpans 10/01

Great Crested Grebe - Gulf of Kalloni up to 203 off Polichnitos Saltpans 21/01

Black-necked Grebe - Gulf of Kalloni off Tsiknias River mouth, Vouvaris River mouth, Polichntiso Saltpans. Max. 9 off Tsinias River mouth 08/01

Greater Flamingo - upto 1765 at Kalloni Saltpans (03/01) and 287 at Polichnitos Saltpans (03/01)

Black Stork - 2-3 Tsiknias River and Kalloni Saltpans area and one Polichnitos Saltpans

GREAT BITTERN - 1 Parakila Marsh 17/01

Great White Egret - Kalloni Saltpans max. 32 (03/01) and Polichnitos Saltpans max. 24 (30/01)

DALMATIAN PELICAN - 3 present at Kalloni Saltpans to 03/01

PYGMY CORMORANT - 1 Mesa Wetlands 01/01

Long-legged Buzzard - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans area

Marsh Harrier - 1 Kalloni Saltpans 03/01 and 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 05/01

Hen Harrier - up to 3 Polichnitos Saltpans and 1 Kalloni Saltpans

Peregrine - 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 06/01

Water Rail - 1 Tsiknias River 02/01

Avocet - up to 450 Kalloni Saltpans and 2 Polichnitos Saltpans

Grey Plover - 1-2 at Kalloni Saltpans Polichnitos Saltpans

Green Sandpiper - 1 Tsiknias River

Little Stint - Polichnitos Saltpans max. 39 (11/01) and also seen at Kalloni Saltpans, Tsiknias River and Mesa Wetlands

Dunlin - up to 109 Polichnitos Saltpans and also present at Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River

SLENDER-BILLED GULL - 1 (presumed same) Mesa Wetlands, Tsiknias River, Polichnitos Saltpans throughout the month

Mediterranean Gull - 1 Tsiknias River mouth 25/01

Sandwich Tern - present at Tsiknias River mouth - Kalloni Saltpans area, Polichnitos Saltpans

Blackcap - up to 5 Skala Polichnitou throughout month

Sardinian Warbler - present at Polichnitos Saltpans, Kalloni Saltpans, Tsiknias River and Metochi Lake

Black Redstart - present at Polichnitos Saltpans, Skala Kalloni, Kallonis Saltpans and Tsiknias River

January and February 2013 bird news

FEBRUARY 2013
I'll do the summary for Feb in species order (makes it a bit easier for me!). Rcords from Terry Robinson via OrnithoTopos unless stated.

Ruddy Shelduck
Polichnitos Saltpans 1 on three dates to 17th
Achladeri 4 on 3rd (Pantelis Thomaidis)

Common Shelduck
Up to 50 at Polichnitos Saltpans.

Shoveler
1 Nifida 2nd (Pantelis Thomaidis)

Red-breasted Merganser
2 off Polichnitos Saltpans on 9th.

Yelkouan Shearwater
Seen near daily off Polichnitos Saltpans with max. 139 on 4th.

Great Crested Grebe
Max. 893 off Polichnitos Saltpans on 1st

Black-necked Grebe
1 off Polichnitos Saltpans throughout. 1 off Vouvaris River mouth on 2nd.

Great Cormorant
1200+ off Parakila 3rd (Pantelis Thomaidis)

Greater Flamingo
Max. 118 Polichnitos Saltpans on 1st

Black Stork
1 Polichnitos Saltpans 27th
1 Skala Vasilikon 2nd
Up to 4 Christou (Kamares) River throughout (Pantelis Thomaidis)

Great White Egret
Max. 10 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd.
3 Mesa Wetlands 2nd

Marsh Harrier
1-2 Kalloni Saltpans area throughout (Pantelis Thomaidis)

Hen Harrier
1 Alykes Wetlands 2nd (Petros Tsakmakis)

Long-legged Buzzard
1 Polichnitos Saltpans 2nd and 11th

Avocet
Max. 51 Polichnitos Saltpans 26th

Grey Plover
1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Kentish Plover
Max. 24 Polichnitos Saltpans 24th

Spotted Redshank
1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans 12th - 20th

Common Redshank
Max. 31 Polichnitos Saltpans 29th

Greenshank
Max. 5 Polichnitos Saltpans 25th

Little Stint
Max. 23 Polichnitos Saltpans 6th

Dunlin
Max. 158 Polichnitos Saltpans 20th

Sandwich Tern
Max. 8 Polichnitos Saltpans 7th

Scops Owl
1 University Hill, Mytilini 27th (J Devalex, Observado)

Skylark
Max. 44 Polichnitos Saltpans 2nd

Common Chiffchaff
1 University Hill, Mytilini 27th (J Devalex, Observado)

Blackcap
1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout
1 University Hill, Mytilini 27th (J Devalex, Observado)

Sardinian Warbler
1-2 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Starling
Max. 37 Polichnitos Saltpans 21st
1000+ Tsiknias River 2nd (Dimitris Fotiou)

Song Thrush
1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Black Redstart
1-3 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Common Stonechat
up to 6 Polichnitos Saltpans throughout

Meadow Pipit
Max. 18 Polichnitos Saltpans several dates

Serin
Max. 45 Polichnitos Saltpans 23rd

Hawfinch
1 Polichnitos Saltpans 3rd & 15th

Corn Bunting
Max. 143 Polichnitos Saltpans 14th

JANUARY 2013

31 January 13
Yelkouan Shearwater 6 off Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Long-legged Buzzard 1Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Grey Plover 2 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Sandwich Tern 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

30 January 13
Hen Harrier 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great Crested Grebe 143 off Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Greater Flamingo 144 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great White Egret 7 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Dunlin 147 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

28 January 13
Hawfinch 1 Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Black Stork 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

27 January 13
Ruddy Shelduck 48 Achladeri Dimitris Fotiou
Common Shelduck 39 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Greater Flamingo 137 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great White Egret 3 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)Greenshank 1 Polichnitos
Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Little Stint 53 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Meadow Pipit 13 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

26 January 13
Black-necked Grebe 1 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Skylark 75 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Reed Bunting 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Common Stonechat 3 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

25 January 13
Common Redshank 24 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Dunlin 123 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

24 January 13
Sardinian Warbler 5 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Linnet 9 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

23 January 13
Yelkouan Shearwater 7 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great Crested Grebe 273 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Greater Flamingo 145 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great White Egret 6 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

24 January 13
Serin 73 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

21 January 13
Yelkouan Shearwater 8 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Great Crested Grebe 94 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Grey Plover 2 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Little Stint 16 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Dunlin 86 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Sandwich Tern 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

20 January 13
Greater Flamingo 168 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Blackcap 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Black Redstart 3 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Meadow Pipit 7 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

19 January 13
Dalmatian Pelican 1 Vouvaris River - photo (Petros Tsakmakis/Lesvos Birders Facebook Group)
Sardinian Warbler 2 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

18 January 13
Great White Egret 8 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

14 January 13
Black Kite 1 at Mesa Wetlands (Terry Robinson)

13 January 13
Black-necked Grebe 1 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE an immature for 20 minutes at Mesa (Lefteris Kakalis, Lina Grimpylakou and Fotis Psarros) - only the 7th record for Lesvos.

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) Θαλασσαετός

Mesa Wetlands, 13 January 2013

Photo by Fotis Psarros

10 January 13
Greater Flamingo 80 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
STEPPE BUZZARD 1  nr Kedro, Mytilini - view photo (Petros Tsakmakis/Lesvos Birders Facebook Group)
Grey Plover 1 Polichnitos Saltpans (since 2 Jan) (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Dunlin 89 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

9 January 13
Little Stint 43 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Blackcap up to 4 Polichnitos Saltpans in recent days (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

8 January 13
STEPPE BUZZARD 1  Molivos - view photo (Petros Tsakmakis/Lesvos Birders Facebook Group)

6 January 13
Hen Harrier 1 Petrified Forest (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Rock Sparrow 1  Petrified Forest (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Dunnock singles  Petrified Forest and Sigri (good records for the west!) (Jelle Devalez/Observado)

5 January 13
Greater Flamingo 500 Kalloni Saltpans (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Great White Egret 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
STEPPE BUZZARD 1  Molivos (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Hen Harrier 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Common Ringed Plover 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Common Snipe 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Common Greenshank 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Green Sandpiper 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Eurasian Curlew 1 Alykes Wetlands (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Common Kingfisher 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Jelle Devalez/Observado)
Water Pipit 1 Kalloni Saltpans (Jelle Devalez/Observado)

4 January 13
Mediterranean Gull 1 Mytilini (Jelle Devalez/Observado)

10 January 13
Common Greenshank 4 Polichnitos Saltpans (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

2 January 13
STEPPE BUZZARD 1  near Nifida - view photo (Petros Tsakmakis/Lesvos Birders Facebook Group)
Great Crested Grebe 140 off Skala Polichnitou (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

1 January 13
Ruddy Shelduck 4 Mesa (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Grey Plover 1 Tsiknias River (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Eurasian Curlew 2 Tsiknias River (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)
Common Sandpiper 1 Tsiknias River (Terry Robinson/OrnithoTopos)

STEPPE BUZZARDS
We have the first confirmed records of this subspecies of Common Buzzard this winter thanks to several photographs posted on the Lesvos Birders Facebook Group. For photos of the first bird seen near Kedro on the eastern outskirts of Mytilini from 17 Nov - 31 Dec 2012 see here and one seen over Pappados on 29 Nov 2012 see here. For 2013 sightings and photos see below.

Lesvos trip reports

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Those reports with brief details (author and contents) have been submitted to Lesvos Birding. Reports with just dates (no details) are links to other reports I have found on the web.

If you have a trip report on the web please send me the URL and I will link to it (email to: steve at toadsnatcher dot com). Click on the date for the report.

NOTE - if you have a trip report, just send me a Word doc or PDF and I will host alongside many others on my Scribd account. All reports previously hosted by the now defunct Travellingbirder.com have now been either updated to Scribd hosted reports or removed from this list.

22 July 2013
Dirk Ottenburghs (in Dutch)

May 2013
Leo Tukker

27 April - 4 May 2013
Colin Bushell, Ornitholidays

28 April - 5 May 2012
Bob Buckler's report from his Wingspan Bird Tours week

28 April - 5 May 2012
Kev23's BirdForum report from his spring week. Lots of photos.

21 April - 5 May 2012
Howard Vaughan's mega report (166 pages and 18Mb!) with many photos and full species list.

21 April - 5 May 2012 Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3
Jason Coppock's three videos featuring Lesvos wetlands (1 - 11 min), the west (2 - 8 min) and 'the rest' (10 min). Scenes and birds (no narration, captions or timed running list). List of some species on each clip listed.

7 - 20 July 2011
Doug M's detailed dairy-style BirdForum report with link to pictures.

6 - 8 May 2011
Spyros Skareas (Greece Bird Tours) trip inc. photos.

5 - 9 May 2011

Mick Sway's latest offering from another spring on Lesvos

23 - 30 April 2011
Bob Buckler's report from his Wingspan Bird Tours week

14 - 27 April 2011

Dave Fearn's (CactusD) BirdForum trip report includes lots of cracking photos from his 2-week trip.

14 - 21 April 2011

James Packer's report including some excellent photos and a full species list with details of sightings of the scarcer species.

29 September - 5 October 2010
Report from Huub Don.

16 - 30 July 2010

An excellent report by Birdforum's 'Macswede' from a mid-summer month with lots of excellent photos inc. the islands 7th Terek Sandpiper.

5 - 12 July 2010
Michel Rogg inc. species list.

6 - 13 May 2010

Jeff Hazel's excellent mini-website, Levels Birder on Lesvos, dedicated to his May 2010 trip.

6 - 13 May 2010

Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley's private week.

2 - 15 May 2010

Mick Sveikutis

30 April - 7 May 2010

Report with photos by Leo Tukker.

29 April - 6 May 2010

Bob Buckler's report from his Wingspan Bird Tours week

29 April - 13 May 2010

A fabulously detailed report by Howard & Andrea Vaughan and Pricille & Neil Preston inc. many photographs.

29 April - 6 May 2010

Steve Dudley trip report and species list for Oliva Rama Tours week.

22 - April 2012

Bob Buckler's report from his Wingspan Bird Tours week

22 - 29 April 2010

Lesvos Birding tour report and species list by Steve Dudley.

10 - 23 April 2010

A report by Didier Bâlon et Alice Burban in French. Very usefully, the species list includes scientific and English names and sites are cross-referenced with A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos.

17 September - 1 October 2009

Pat & Judy Hayes - full report with photos and species list.

17 - 24 September 2009

Lesvos Birding's Steve Dudley's full report of his Speyside Wildlife holiday week inc. several photos and full species lists.

24 - 31 July 2009

A blog-based report from Archie Archer includes some good summer records and a possible first for the island! Illustrates again that Lesvos can make a great summer family holiday destination.

12 - 19 May 2009

Report from Leo Tukker with photos.

7 - 21 May 2009

Mick & Tina Sveikutis inc. some photos and species list.

7 - 12 May 2009
Report form Mick Sway.

7 - 9 May 2009
A very enjoyable report from Ian Pitt's.

30 April - 7 May 2009

Mike Fox, Sean Murphy & Colin Murphy. Inc. species list.

30 April - 7 May 2009

Bob Buckler

30 April - 6 May 2009

Paul Aubrey

late April - mid-May
Christine Jung (in German)

23 April - 7 May 2009

Ian Kinley & Dave Thexton. Includes annotated species list and some photos.

23 - 30 April 2009

Bob Buckler

23 - 30 April 2009

Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays report (with Rob Lucking)

23 - 30 April 2009

Limosa Holidays trip report.

18 - 24 Sept 2008
Steve Dudley (Lesvos Birding) & Mark Newell spend an autumn week which includes a first record for Lesvos! Some photos.

8 - 15 May 2008
Penny Clarke's energetic and amusing trip report with lots of pics.

1 - 15 May 2008

Pat & Judy Hayes

1 - 15 May 2008
Stephen Rush

1 - 15 May 2008

Mick Sveikutis

1 - 8 May 2008

Limosa Holidays report

1 - 8 May 2008
Steve & Liz Dudley (Lesvosbirding.com)
List of sites visted and species seen. Several photos. (More Lesvos pictures here)

29 April - 6 May 2008

Another report from Lesvos regular Leo Tukker.

24 April - 1 May 2008

Limosa Holidays report.

24 April - 1 May 2008
Steve Dudley (Lesvosbirding.com) & Speyside Wildlife
Detailed trip report and species lists (sorry no pictures see here)

18 - 30 April 2008
A detailed report with photos from Andrew Cunningham

17 - 24 April 2008
Neil Bew's report for the NW Surrey RSPB Group's week they enjoyed with Lesvos Birding

20 - 27 September 2007
Steve & Liz Dudley (Lesvos Birding)
List of sites visted and species seen. Several photos. (More Lesvos pictures here)

20 - 27 September 2007
Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays trip report

21 July - 4 August 2007
Robin Edwards report continues to prove that there is plenty of good birding to be had mid-summer.

15 July - 4 August 2007
David Griffiths and family's second summer on the island again illustrates that good summer birding on Lesvos is there to be had!

12 - 26 July 2007
Another mid-summer report from British birder Mike Pennington.

12 - 19 July 2007
Charlie Kitchin (Cambs)
Brief report and bird list. Charlie illustrates that July can still be rewarding for those combining birding and family summer hols.

10 - 24 May 2007

Mark Halliday inc. some photos.

10 - 17 May 2007
Phil Shepherd

3 - 10 May 2007

Limosa Holidays report.

26 April - 10 May 2007
Steve & Liz Dudley (Lesvos Birding) & Speyside Wildlife
Detailed trip report with many pictures and species lists

26 April - 3 May 2007

Limosa Holidays report.

24 Aug - 1 Sept 2006
David Griffiths and family summer holiday - a rare report for summer months from the island

4 - 11 May 2006

Limosa Holidays report.

27 April - 4 May 2006
Rebecca Nason

20 - 27 April 2006
Steve Dudley (Lesvos Birding) & Speyside Wildlife
Detailed trip report and species lists

17 - 27 April 2006
Rob Lucking/Honeyguide

24 Sept - 1 Oct 2005
Steve Dudley (Lesvos Birding) & Speyside Wildlife
Detailed trip report with many pictures and species lists

12 - 19 June 2005
An excellent report, with photos, from Swedish birder Steve Cherrug at a little visited time of year.

19 May - 2 June 2005
Alan & Rose Saunders

5 - 19 May 2005

Pat & Judy Hayes

5 - 12 May 2005
David & Amanda Mason

28 April - 5 May 2005

Keith Grant & Rebecca Nason / The Travelling Naturalist

27 April - 9 May 2005
Dirk Raes