2 May - reigning raptors

Rose-coloured Starling, Meladia Valley © Steve Dudley

Heavy showers in the morning in the Kalloni area eventually cleared and gave way to blue skies and followed by a string of raptors moving across the island. I wonder what we missed?!

General - arrival of Black-headed Buntings continues and they are all over the place. Bee-eaters everywhere. Large arrival of Sedge Warblers and Great Reed continues and large movement of swifts today inc. several Pallid.

Tsiknias River - WHITE-TAILED EAGLE subadult north at 1020h (fifth record for the island). Pallid Swift 1, Red-backed Shrike 2.

Vouvaris River Mouth - EGYPTIAN VULTURE subadult seen perched then flew north at 1800h (11th island record).

Agiasos - Large eagle sp. north at c. 1300h.

Makara - BLACK KITE 2 on off sea to north, Barred Warbler 1.

Meladia Valley - Rose-coloured Starling 1 (first report of the spring, and early), Pallid Swift sev, Alpine Swift 200+, Common Swift 400+.

Metochi Lake - Moustached Warbler reported for third day, Little Bittern 3.

Kalloni Saltpans area - RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN 1 in seaside tamerisks west of the beach cafe. Barred and Sardinian Warblers along the south road near hide. LANNER FALCON juv down the east pans track. White-winged Black Tern 1, Green Sandpiper 1 on pans. Gull-billed Tern 1, Black Stork 1, Glossy Ibis 10+, Squacco Heron 6+, Purple Heron 2, Great White Egret, Ruddy Shelduck and Garganey on flooded fields opposite the saltworks entrance. Collared Pratincole 2 in Alykes Wetlands (sheepfields).

Achladeri - ELEONORA'S FALCON 3 hawking insects over the car park for c.1/2 hour. Kruper's Nuthatch the male near the white building has managed to attract a mate at long last and both birds showed brilliantly today as they continued to excavate the nest hole. Night-heron 2 roosting in pine trees.

Farmakies Pool (Skala Vasilikon Harbour) - Citrine Wagtail female, Serin 2.

Kalloni Mini Soccer Pitch - Scops Owl 2. IMPORTANT NOTICE - please do not view either bird from the road. The Police have said they will book anyone doing so for obstructing the road.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Green Sandpiper 1, Red-throated Pipit 2, Bee-eater 100+ in area.

Autumn raptors

Resident Lesvos birder Terry Robinson has had the place to himself in recent weeks, and the last few days he's been enjoying a raptor bonanza.

Tues, 16 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 1
Lesser Spotted Eagle 6
Short-toed Eagle 4
Marsh Harrier 22
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 92
Hobby 3
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 6

Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 14

Mon, 15 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 7
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1
Short-toed Eagle 1
Honey-buzzard 99
Hobby 1
Kestrel 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sun, 14 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Marsh Harrier 23
Bonelli’s Eagle 1
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 6
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
Bee-eater 106
Pallid Swift 1
Common Swift 1

Polichnitos
Honey-buzzard 60+
Hoopoe 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sat, 13 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 7
Spotted Redshank 1
Wood Sandpiper 1

Thu, 11 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Spoonbill 5 plus lots of migrants inc. Spotted Flys everywhere, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Black-eared wheatears, dozens of Whinchats and lots of shrikes.

also at Polichnitos Saltpans in August
Spoonbill 1 28th, Montagu's Harrier 1 on 27th, Garganey 1 24th.

Imperial Eagle

Imperial Eagle, prob. 2nd cal. year bird, Lesvos 14 May 08 © Duncan Walbridge

This spring there were a series of records of Imperial Eagle which are all believed to relate to the same 2nd cal. year bird wandering around the island. Duncan Walbridge first saw it over the Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint (the Kalloni 'bandstand') north of Kalloni on 30 April. It was then seen over over Ipsilou on 3 and 5 May, and over Andissa on 5 May also. The next day (6th) it was again seen over the Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint and on the 9th it was seen over Agia Paraskevi. On 14 May it showed well at the top end of Napi Valley where Duncan managed to get these two photos - the first anyone managed during its tw0-week stay!

This is thought to be the ninth record for the island.

18 May 08 - Griffon Vulture & Lesser Spotted Eagle

Anaxos - GRIFFON VULTURE 1.

Kalloni 'bandstand' raptor watchpoint - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1, White Stork 7.

Skala Eresou - Purple Heron 1, Eleanora's Falcon 1.

Sigri - Rose-coloured Starling 200+

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and Hotel Pasiphae for sending me copies of their bird log.

Reporting your sightings
I left the island last week and it would be great to keep the records coming in and keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Please send me your records direct to -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287

Reporting nationally rare birds seen on Lesvos

Like BBRC in Britain, Greece has the Hellenic Rarities Committee. Records of all nationally rare species need to be submitted to the HRC. From this years bag full of goodies, this includes all records of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Great Snipe, Cattle Egret, Steppe Eagle, Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch, etc. See here for further information.

15 May 08 - more Roses

Skala Eresou - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1, Glossy Ibis 5, Red-footed Falcon 11, Gull-billed Tern 2, Mediterranen Gull 1, Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Turnstone 1.

Metochi Lake - Rose-coloured Starling 12.

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and Hotel Pasiphae for sending me copies of their bird log.

Reporting your sightings
I left the island last week and it would be great to keep the records coming in and keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Please send me your records direct to -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287

Reporting nationally rare birds seen on Lesvos

Like BBRC in Britain, Greece has the Hellenic Rarities Committee. Records of all nationally rare species need to be submitted to the HRC. From this years bag full of goodies, this includes all records of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Great Snipe, Cattle Egret, Steppe Eagle, Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch, etc. See here for further information.

14 May 08 - Imperial Eagle and Roses

Napi Valley - IMPERIAL EAGLE 1 showed well.

Kalloni Saltpans - Rose-coloured Starling 12, Spoonbill 1.

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge and those entering their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log, and to Hotel Pasiphae for forwarding me the records each evening.

Reporting your sightings

I left the island last week and it would be great to keep the records coming in and keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Please send me your records direct to -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287

Reporting nationally rare birds seen on Lesvos

Like BBRC in Britain, Greece has the Hellenic Rarities Committee. Records of all nationally rare species need to be submitted to the HRC. From this years bag full of goodies, this includes all records of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Great Snipe, Cattle Egret, Steppe Eagle, Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch, etc. See here for further information.

9 May 08 - Magpie!

Duncan Walbridge has texted me the following news -

Mandamodos - MAGPIE (fourth Lesvos record).

Nr Kalloni - GRIFFON VULTURE 3 over.

Skalla Kallonis Pool - CATTLE EGRET (since yesterday)

Other reports today (from Hotel Pasiphae bird log) -

Agia Paraskevi - IMPERIAL EAGLE 'juv' (presumably means non-adult) over.

Platania - OLIVE TREE WARBLER 6+ at cattle grid site.

Faneromeni - Red-breasted Flycatcher 2.

Reporting your sightings
Please keep the records coming in and help keep these daily summaries as complete and as interesting as possible. Send your records direct to me by -
Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com
Text 00447767787287

27 April 08 - Migrants galore!

At last! Passerine migrants have been like hen's teeth this last week. yesterday provided some promise, and those who went west today were well rewarded for their efforts with the biggest spring fall I have ever witnessed on the island.

Weather: overcast with occasional sunny periods (overcast in the mountains all day). Moderate north-westerly wind. Max. temp c.20 C.

Tsiknias River - BONELLI'S EAGLE one north at c.6pm, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Whiskered Tern 2, Little Bittern 1, Night-heron 4, Savi's Warbler 1, Roller 3, Mediterranean Gull 3, Turnstone 2, Temminck's Stint 2.

Ipsilou - a huge fall of migrants included hundreds of Blackaps (500+) and Lesser Whitethroats and numerous Wood Warblers and Golden Orioles, and absolutely hoochin with warblers, flycatchers etc. Main highlights - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Collared Flycatcher 4 (3m, 1f), Red-breasted Flycatcher 4 (ad m, 1st yr m 2, f), Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2, Barred Warbler 4 (3m, 1f), Icterine Warbler 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Thrush Nightingale 2.

Faneromeni - GREAT SNIPE 1, LAVENT SPARROWHAWK 1, Nightjar 1.

Sigri Fields - PALLID HARRIER 1 (f), Red-footed Falcon 15+, Lesser Kestrel 15+, Eleanora's Falcon 1.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 2, ROLLER 2, Little Crake 2, Whiskered Tern 11, Bee-eater 20.

Kalloni Saltpans - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 (f), White-winged Black Tern 100+, Whiskered Tern 5, Marsh Sandpiper 3+.

Aghias Ioannis - ROLLER 1.

Parakila - ROLLER 1.

Petra - ROLLER 3.

Petra Reservoir - Ortolan Bunting 1.

Meladia River Ford - again, hoochin with migrants. Red-backed Shrike 40+, Lesser Grey Shrike 10+, Black-headed Bunting 40+, Little Bittern 2 (m&f), Collared Flycatcher 1, Thrush Nightingale 1, Great Reed Warbler 3, Barred Warbler 1, Red-throated Pipit 1, Redstart 1, Hen Harrier 1 (r/t), flava wagtail 100+, Marsh Warbler 1, Bee-eater 2. Petra Reservoir - Roller 3, Great Reed Warbler 5, Ortolan Bunting 6.

Alykes Wetlands - Collared Pratincoles 7, Short-eared Owl 1.

Kalloni Mini Soccer Pitch - Scops Owl 1.

Also Rollers at Aghia Ioannis and nr Parakila.

26 April 08 - where eagles dare

A major improvement today, with four migrant eagle species, other raptors and a large increase in migrant passerines.

Weather: overcast all day with occasional sunny period. Moderate northerly wind. Max. temp 20 C.

Today's main highlights -

Petra - STEPPE EAGLE (sub-adult, 6th island record) low to the south at 09.25 followed within a minute by a BLACK KITE. Black-headed Bunting 2, good Ruppell's Warbler activity.

North coast track (Eftalou to Skala Sikaminias) - GOLDEN EAGLE (adult) north at 13.55 mobbed by Long-legged Buzzard. Audouin's Gull 1.

Parakoila Marsh - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1 over in morning. Little Crake 1.

Platania - BOOTED EAGLE 1 over in morning. Olive Tree Warbler showing on and off, Golden Oriole 15+.

Anaxos - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1.

Napi Valley - RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK THRUSH 1 just north of Napi, Red-footed Falcon fem.

Tsiknias River - ROLLER 1, CITRINE WAGTAIL Wagtail 1, Little Crake 1, Temminck's Stint 1.

Petra Reservoir - Marsh Warbler 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2.

Maladia River Ford - Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Roller 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 3 (plus Red-backed, Masked and Woodchat), Barred Warbler 4, Ortolan Bunting 5+, Savi's Warbler 1, Thrush Nightingale 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Montagu's Harrier 1, Wood Warbler.

Aghias Ioannis - Ortolan Bunting 5+, Sardinian Warbler 1, Cinereous Bunting.

Kalloni Saltpans - Broad-billed Sandpiper 13, Dunlin 2, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint.

Alykes Wetlands - Collared Praticoles 17, Red-throated Pipits 4, Short-toed Lark 5.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 2.

Christou River - Whimbrel 1.

Kalloni Soccer Pitch (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 2 (easiest bird still the roadside tree marked with plastic chocholate choice bottle).

Achladeri - both Kruper's Nuthatch and Long-eared Owl showing well.

More Rollers reported from elsewhere (but no details) on the island, plus many more Red-backed Shrikes, Golden Orioles and commoner migrants such as flava wagtails and warblers. Still very few flycatchers.