7 May - shrikes, shrikes and more shrikes

Roller, Sigri Old Sanatorium, 7 May 2013 
(Coracias garrulus) (Ευρωπαϊκή) Χαλκοκουρούνα 
© Steve Dudley

Meladia Valley was ripping with Red-backed Shrikes today, but seemingly on its own. A Lesser Spotted Eagle and the Griffon Vulture seen again, plus reports of Rock Bunting and Red Knot.  Still no news of the robins in recent days.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

No news today. 

We now have confirmation that we have two males and a female robin in the park. The males are holding territory close to one another and a female has been seen with the male near the concrete building. We are now treating this as a breeding attempt. Please therefore view only from the road and not from within the park to avoid disturbing them.

I've been told that the police are aware of misbehaviour here, including the use of recordings (illegal here) and are now going to be making patrols of the area, especially when the park is closed, to ensure that no one is using recordings or harassing the birds now they are presumed to be breeding. Please be sure to pass this message around.

It also means they are expected to hang around! Which is good news to those arriving today and next week.

Ipsilou

Rock Bunting - 1 reported
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1
Eleanora's Falcon 1

Kallon Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Red Knot - 1 adult reported
White-winged Tern 100
Whiskered Tern 20
Gull-billed Tern 7
Little Gull 1
Glossy Ibis 1
Black Stork 20
White Stork 6
Red-footed Falcon 1
Turnstone 2
Grey Plover 1
Common Ringed Plover 1
Ruddy Shelduck 17
Peregrine 1
Great Crested Grebe 1 offshore

Sigri & Faneromeni

GRIFFON VULTURE 1
Little Bittern 2
Bee-eater 30
Squacco Heron 1

Tsiknias River

Collared Pratincole 4
Glossy Ibis 1
Little Bittern 1
Purple Heron 1
Bee-eater 4

Meladia Valley

Eleanora's Falcon 1
Red-backed Shrike 340+
Lesser Grey Shrike 4
Rufous Bush-robin 6+
Whinchat 80+
Spotted Flycatcher 60+
Common Whitethroat 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1

Nr Petra

Roller 1

Sigri Old Sanatorium

Roller 1
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Red-backed Shrike 20+

Makara

Eleanora's Falcon 1
Alpine Swift 60

Metochi Lake

Night-heron 21
Little Bittern 3
Common Sandpiper 1

Nr Anemotia

Tree Pipit 1 (only second record this spring!)

Achalderi

Kruper's Nuthatch - female incubating and male visiting infrequently, expect to wait!

Kavaki

Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

Papiana

Scops Owl 
Long-eared Owl - the young have left the nest, no sign of them or adults

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'

Scops Owl 5l. Please do not harass the birds!

5 May - two Lesser Spotted Eagles

Female Red-footed Falcon, Faneromeni, 5 May 2013 
(Falco vespertinus) (Ευρωπαϊκό) Μαυροκιρκίνεζο 
© Steve Dudley

Two Lesser spotted Eagles, Griffon Vulture still out west and a few smaller birds of prey, but an absolute dearth of passerine migrants. The Nightjar is still roosting on the same tree in Sigri fields.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

No news today. The road to the forest was closed and will probably not be open now until Tuesday.

We now have confirmation that we have two males and a female robin in the park. The males are holding territory close to one another and a female has been seen with the male near the concrete building. We are now treating this as a breeding attempt. Please therefore view only from the road and not from within the park to avoid disturbing them.

I've been told that the police are aware of misbehaviour here, including the use of recordings (illegal here) and are now going to be making patrols of the area, especially when the park is closed, to ensure that no one is using recordings or harassing the birds now they are presumed to be breeding. Please be sure to pass this message around.

It also means they are expected to hang around! Which is good news to those arriving today and next week.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1

Honey-buzzard 1

Goshawk 1

Meladia Valley

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1
GRIFFON VULTURE 1

Sigri & Faneromeni area

Nightjar 1 
Bee-eater 26
Temminck's Stint (beach)
Red-breasted Flycatcher 1 (beach)
Little Bittern 1 (upper ford)
Night-heron 1 (upper ford)
Red-footed Falcon 1
Lesser Kestrel 1
Rufous Bush-robin 1
Alpine Swift 3
Ruddy Shelduck 4

Lothario

Marsh Warbler 1
Bee-eater 4

Mt Ordimnos

Levant Sparrowhawk fem
Eleonora's Falcon 1

Napi

Levant Sparrowhawk 1
Montagu's Harrier 1
Red-footed Falcon 1
Marsh Warbler 1

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

White-winged Tern 80

Whiskered Tern 30

Black Stork 24

White Stork 11

Purple Heron 5

Red-footed Falcon 1

Agriosikos

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 3

Tsiknias River

Citrine Wagtail 2
Bee-eater 2

Metochi Lake

Little Bittern 3
Night-heron 16
Pallid Swift 3

Achalderi

Kruper's Nuthatch - female incubating and male visiting infrequently, expect to wait!

Kavaki

Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

Papiana

Scops Owl 
Long-eared Owl adult by nest with 3 young (same site as 2012)

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'

Scops Owl 5. Please do not harass the birds!

8 May 2010 - Eleonora's Falcons return

Kalloni Saltpans flood - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1 on and off in morning but no sign late evening, Whiskered Tern 2, Collared Pratincole 1, Little Stint 70+, Ringed Plover 11, Bee-eater 10+, Rufous Bush Robin 2 in field between SW compound and hide showing very well late afternoon/evening inc. dislaying and collecting nest material.

Metochi Lake - Spotted Crake 1, Little Crake 4, Little Bittern 3, Red-footed Falcon 1.

Ipsilou - Eleonora's Falcon 6, Golden Oriole plus usual Cinereous Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear, etc.

Parakila Marsh - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1.

Kavaki - Eleonora' Falcon 2. Ruppell's Warbler showing well in afternoon.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Ortolan Bunting 1, Eleonora's Falcon 1+, Short-toed Eagle 3+, Long-legged Buzzard.

Skala Kallonis - Levant Sparrowhawk 1.

North Coast - Barred Warbler 1 (no further details).

Faneromeni - Honey-buzzard 2, Sardinian Warbler 2, Rufous Bush Robin 1, Night-heron 2, Little Bittern 4.

Kalami Marsh - Whiskered Tern 1, Squacco Heron 2, Little Egret 9.

Mesa - Ruddy Shelduck 18, Great White Egret 7, Little Egret 35, Black Stork 1.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler 2+ showing well at cattle grid site.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch 2prs active, one pr in tree stump beyond white building and one par above the fork/ford; Short-toed Treecreeper, Masked Shrike nest just beyond first nuthatch site and birds showing well.

Molivos - Bee-eater 50+ - other flocks of 40-50 seen across north of the island today.

Satellite tracked Eleonora's Falcons update

Eleonora's Falcon, Katapetros Valley, May 2009 © Steve Dudley

In October, four Eleonora's Falcons were fitted with satellite trackers and released for their southern migration to east Africa. One of the four birds reach Madagascar around the 8 November with a second bird known to be crossing the straights between Mozambique and Madagascar on 11 Nov. on 11 Nov the other two birds were still way to the north around the Sudan - Central African Republic border.

You can see their progress online here.

Satellite tracking Greek Eleonora's Falcons

Eleonora's Falcon, Katapetros Valley, May 2009 © Steve Dudley

Over 12,000 pairs (85% of the world's population) of Eleonora's Falcon breed in Greece. They breed along the long rocky coastline including around the Aegean Sea. Its never been confirmed, but judging by the presence of birds around from late spring, through the summer and autumn, several pairs probably breed on Lesvos.

In October, four Eleonora's Falcons were fitted with satellite trackers and released for their southern migration to east Africa. You can track them online here.

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.

25 April - Cyprus Warbler!

A female found by Jamie MacArthur (http://www.ornithography.com/) late evening along the track to the beach cafe near the Kalloni Saltpans saltworks entrance. Jamie apparantly has great photos of this first for Lesvos which many of us will be keen to see and even keener to see if the bird is still present in the morning!

Collared Flycatcher, Faneromeni Ford © Steve Dudley

Otherwise, its been a relatively quiet day for passerine migrants with nothing of particular note reported. A few good raptors reported in the morning as the wind dropped overnight and we had only a nlight northerly and clear blue skies for the whole day.

Kalloni Saltpans - White-winged Black Tern 19, Whiskered Tern 1. Usual waders (fewer than yesterday though).

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint (bandstand) - Goshawk 1 male, Short-toed Eagle 5+, Long-legged Buzzard 2.

Potamia - GOLDEN EAGLE 1 reported near Anetomia.

Kalloni Mini Soccer Pitch (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl, still in fifth roadside tree from right hand entrance/exit.

Fields around Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flooded fields opp. saltoworks entrance) - PALLID HARRIER 1 fem enjoyed by many birders this evening. Glossy Ibis 70+, Purple Heron 2, Great White Egret 3, Garganey 3, White Stork 1, Common Snipe 1, Marsh Harrier 5+, Montagu's Harrier 3+.

Kavaki (nr Petra) - Eleanora's Falcon 1 dark bird, Ruppell's Warbler 3+ males seen today bewteen layby by disco and upper layby, Orphean Warblers 5+, Blue Rock Thrush. Chukar.

Petra Reservoir - now full again after repairs over the winter. Bee-eater 100+, Ruddy Shelduck 2, Tree Pipit 1 (one of few migrants seen on north coast today).

Eftalou to Skala Sikaminias - very quiet. Black-headed Bunting 1, lots of Turtle Doves, a few Whinchat then no other migrants apart form breeding birds. Very few Cretzcshmar's Buntings. Long-legged Buzzard 1.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Great Bittern 1, Garganey 4.

Tsiknias River - Citrine Wagtail 1.

Metochi Lake - Little Bittern 5, Little Crake 4, Short-toed Eagle 7+.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Great Snipe 1, Citrine Wagtail 1, Tawny Pipit 2.

Meladia Valley - Great Spotted Cuckoo (nr chapel nr ford), Collared Flycatcher 1.

Possibly more news to follow for today as most birders avoiding the hotel tonight due to a big, fat, Greek wedding party going on to the wee hours! Check back for more news from today, tomorrow night.

18 - 24 September

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Polichnitos Saltpans, 20 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley
This first record for Lesvos and only the fourth record for Greece was found by Terry Robinson and was present for just one day.

Records from Steve Dudley (www.lesvosbirding.com) and Mark Newell based at the Pasiphae Hotel.


Thurs, 18 Sept 08
Red-backed Shrike and Willow Warblers along roadside by airport.

Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-backed Shrikes (lots), Woodchat Shrike (juv), Lesser Grey Shrike 3, Tawny Pipit 3, Lesser Kestrel (m), Short-toed Eagle 1, Long-legged Buzzard 4, Common Buzzard, Alpine Swift 6+, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, flava wagtails.

Tsiknias River mouth
Black Stork, Sandwich Tern 10+, Grey Polver 3, Dunlin 4, Curlew, Little Egret. Kalloni SaltpansGreat White Egret 12 (inc. 9 over to south).

Fri, 19 Sept 08

Christou River
Black Stork 1, Grey Heron 3, Great White Egret 1, Little Egret 2, Stone-curlew 4, Kentish Plover 4, Greenshank 1.

Metochi Lake
Lesser Kestrel (m), Tree Pipit 2, Ringed Plover 4, Little Ringed Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike 1, Whinchat, flava wagtails, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Alpine Swift, Cetti’s Warbler.

Nr Lafionas
Levant Sparrowhawk 1.

Molivos
Black-eared Wheatear 1.

Perasma (Old Petra Reservoir – now drained)
Black-eared Wheatear 3, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Kestrel 2, Peregrine (m), Cirl Bunting (lots), Spotted Flyactcher, Chiffchaff, Whinchat, White Wagtail, flava wagtails, Bee-eater (heard overhead).

Sat, 20 Sept 08

Korakas nr Klio
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1, Osprey (with fish), Marsh Harrier 2, Common Whitethroat 3+, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Redstart 2, Blackcap 1, Wood Nuthatch (3+), Rock Nuthatch (2), Middle Spotted Woodpecker (lots calling and sev seen), Red-backed Shrike 2+, Willow Warblers (lots), Chiffchaff, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift.

Napi valley
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 2, Short-toed Eagle 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (juv) – first record for Lesvos. Found at 0800 by Terry Robinson and present all day. Little Stint 13, Spoonbill 5, Black Stork 1, Pintail 2, Teal 1, Garganey 10, Mediterranean Gull 22, Sandwich Tern 20+, Marsh Harrier 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv), Turtle Dove 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 3.

Sun, 21 Sept 08

Tavari/Chrousos
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 6 (flock) to south, Common Kestrel 2, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Spotted Flycatcher, Northern Wheatear, Turtle Dove 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Alpine Swift 2, Common Swift 1, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow.

Skala Eresou
Golden Oriole 1, Great Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2.

Pithariou Reservoir
Bee-eatear 12+, Common Buzzard 4, Short-toed Eagle 1, Common Kestrel, Crag Martin (lots), Red-rumped Swallow 4, Cirl Bunting 6+.

Ipsilou
Sombre Tit 5+, Blackcap 3+, Wood Nuthatch 1.

Mon, 22 Sept 08
Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Mesa
Eleonarora’s Falcon 1.

Vouvari River mouth
PYGMY CORMORANT adult – apparently present for c.1 week but no one mentioned in and no one bothered to write anything in the hotel bird log book! Lucky we heard about it on the off chance the previous evening.

Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 ad fuscus, Kingfisher 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Woodlark 1, Stonechat 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans (and surrounds)
Black Stork 2, White Stork 1, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Sandpiper 4, Curlew Sandpiper 5, Wood Sandpiper 4, Little Stint 40+, Dunlin 4, Ruff 4, Redshank c.80, Greenshank 10+, Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Plover, Avocet 9, Teal 12, Mediterranean Gull 25, Sandwich Tern 39, Marsh Harrier 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Hoopoe 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 2.

Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 1, Common Buzzard 2, Great White Egret 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv).

Panaghia Chapel
Collared Flycatcher 1 (per SPD).

Tues, 23 Sept 08

Tsiknias River mouth
Grey Plover 2, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Woodchat Shrike 1.

Ipsilou
Eleonora’s Falcon 11 (inc. flock of 7 birds) all to north, Short-toed Eagle 1, Peregrine, Wryneck 1, Common Redstart 2, Red-backed Shrike 3, Spotted Flycatcher 6+, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Rock and Wood Nuthatch, Cirl Bunting, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Rock Thrush.

Wryneck, Ipsilou, 23 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Meladia Valley (between Sigri and Eresos)
Chukar 11 (inc. flock of 10), Black Stork 1, Hoopoe 1, Common Whitethroat 15+, Lesser Whitethroat 8+, Sombre Tit 2, Red-backed Shrike 10+, Black-eared Wheatear 4+, Northern Wheatear 3+, Cetti’s Warbler 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Blue Rock Thrush 4+, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff.

Nr Eresos
Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1, Red-rumped Swallow 6+.

Palia Vigla, Vatera
Honey-Buzzard 3 (Terry Robinson)

Weds, 24 Sept 08

Achladeri (between Vouvari River and Achladeri)
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2

Polichnitos Saltpans
Curlew Sandpiper 4, Ruff 4, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Dunlin 10, Greenshank 3, Redshank c.50, White Stork 3, Great White Egret 1, Short-toed Eagle 1.

Almiropotomas River, Vatera
Purple Heron 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Alpine Swift 2

Panaghia Chapel
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2 (one coming to dripping pipe by chapel), Spotted Flycatcher 4, Common Redstart 1, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1.

Vouvari River Mouth
Osprey roosting on rocks on south side of mouth.

Mesa
Great White Egret 1.

Tsiknias River Mouth
Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Kingfisher 1.

Thurs, 25 Sept 08

Metochi Lake
Common Snipe 1, Green Sandpiper 1.

Haramida Marsh
Sardinian Warbler 3+, Red-backed Shrike 4+, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Woodlark 1, Whinchat.

Cape Lena
Scopoli's Shearwater 3.

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.

20 May 08 - another Blue-cheeked Bee-eater!

Petri - BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 1.

Kalloni 'bandstand' raptor watchpoint - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1, Eleanora's Falcon 12.

Parakila Marsh - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 male, Rose-coloured Starling 30+

Tsiknias River - Rose-coloured Starling 100+.

Kalloni Saltpans - White Stork 10, Whiskered Tern 1.

Thanks to Duncan Walbridge.

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.

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.

12 May 08 - another Blue-cheeked Bee-eater!

Duncan Walbridge has texted to say there is a BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER, for its second day, between the Tsiknias River and the Kalloni Saltpans.

Tsiknias River - River Warbler 1 (lower), Rufous Bush Chat 1 (upper).

Kalloni Saltpans - Gull-billed Tern 7.

Meladia River Ford - Little Bittern 1, Ruddy Shelduck pr with 5 young.

Platania - Eleanora's Falcon 2.

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 the HRC website if you think you have seen a nationally rare species requiring a description. A rarity description form can also be download from the site.

3 May 08 - More Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters!

Ruddy Shelduck with 9 (of 10) young on Voulgaris River

An amazing continuation of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater records and the second Imperial Eagle of the spring.

Weather: fine and sunny with strengthening northerly wind during afternoon. Max. temp c.28 C.
Today’s highlights -

Ipsilou – IMPERIAL EAGLE 1 sub-adult over to north in morning.

Kalloni Bandstand – BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 1 to west at 10.20am, Goshawk 1.

Meladia River Ford – BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 7 – single flock north at 6.45 pm. Large movement of hirundines through and European Bee-eaters 60+ all to north. Rufous Bush Chat 1 (m), Collared Flycatcher 1 (f at chapel), Icterine Warbler 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Great Reed Warbler 2, Red-backed Shrike 25+, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Masked Shrike 1, Hoopoe 1, Golden Oriole 1, Red-footed Falcon 2 (m&f), Lesser Kestrel 1, Black-headed Bunting 40+, Spotted Flycatcher 80+, Little Bittern 1.

Acient Antissa – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (m).

Nr Ipsilou – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (f), Red-footed Falcon 1 (f).

Tsiknias River – CITRINE WAGTAIL 1.

Nr Mesotopos – OLIVE TREE WARBLER 2, Golden Oriole.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1 singing at eastern end. West of Vatousa park in eastern end of valley in ‘chalky’ coloured pull-in on right with small wooden gate. Walk west for three telegraph poles to small pool. Bird in this area but can get to opposite side of valley. Rock Sparrow nesting in Rock Nuthatch nest on rocky outcrop on right from the pull-in. Eleanora’s Falcon 1 pale bird.

Faneromeni River – Little Bittern 1.

Sigri – Eleanora’s Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 25+, 1 Stone-curlew.

Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1 - bird still in the fifth roadside tree from the mini soccer pitch entrance but can only be seen from along the road or safer(!) from the track opposite the soccer pitch entrance. It is c.7m up the tree and quote difficult to see. Honey-buzzard 1.

Nr Sigri/Eresos junction – Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Kalloni Saltpans – White-winged Black Tern 67, Whiskered Tern 15, Little Stint 50+, Ruff 80+.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Temminck's Stint 1, Turnstone 3, Tawny Pipit 2, Red-footed Falcon 2, Black Stork 2.

Panagia – Little Bittern 1.

Skala Kallonis Pool – Little Bittern 1, White Stork 1, Squacco Heron 3.

Voulgaris River – Ruddy Shelduck pr with 10 young.

Pasiphae Hotel grounds – Long-eared Owl 2.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter theirs in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.

1 May 08 - A slow day!

Spotted Crake at Metochi

Thursday is one of the main change over days here, so fewer folk are in the field so far fewer birds reported than normal. Hopefully normal service will resume tomorrow! Also check past days for any additions.

Weather: fine and sunny, no cloud, light southerly wind. Max. temp. c.28 C.

Today's highlights -

Kalloni Saltpans - LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1.

Skala Kallonis Pool - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 male (early morning, presumed same on Tsiknias River in afternoon), Squacco Heron 2.

Tsiknias River - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 male (afternoon, presumed same on Skala Kallonis Pool in morning), Sandwich Tern 3 (at mouth), Gull-billed Tern 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Night-heron 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 1.

Metochi Lake area - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1, Eleanora's Falcon 2, Spotted Crake 1, Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 2, Little Crake 2+, Whiskered Tern 5.

Kalloni Saltworks entrance - Tawny Pipit 2. Collared Pratoncole 15, Red-footed Falcon 5. No sign of Spur-winged Plover.

Skala Kallonis - Gull-billed Tern 12 offshore.

River Christou - Red-footed Falcon 2, Purple Heron 1, Temminck's Stint 25, Red-throated Pipit 1, Stone-curlew 2, Peregrine 1.

Makara - Yelkouan Shearwater 100+.

Thanks to everyone for their records and for those who enter theirs in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.