29 April 2011 - Imperial Eagle

Little Bittern, Tsiknias River. Very few seen up until the last few days but more birds now coming in © Steve Dudley

Back to more settled weather with the early morning low cloud soon lifting to give a pleasantly warm day of sun and scattered cloud for most areas.

The large hirundine movement of recent days continued, with more Common and Alpine Swifts also seen today. The west continued to prove fruitful, but Polichnitos Saltpans have eventually started to deliver. Still very few Red-backed Shrikes, Bee-eaters, no Lesser Grey Shrikes, but the first Roller!

Common Nightingales are not Bush-robins - lots of birds seen feeding in open areas are being reported as Rufous Bush-robin. Please check birds carefully - not all rufous-coloured birds feeding around rocks and in fields etc are Bush-robins (in fact, none of them are so far!).

Environment Centre - please visit the centre. Apart from fascinating displays about the Kalloni area and its wildlife, geology etc, they need our support. The centre is on the edge of Skala Kallonis. Walk down the side of the bakery by the mini soccer pitch, along the the track with the channel on your left and houses on your right towards the Tsiknias River. The centre is the last building (pink - you cant miss it!). Only a small sign on the gate (the main sign blew away in the winter!). Open hours are 0900-1300 and 1800-2100. Thanks.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - IMPERIAL EAGLE sub-adult at c. 1050 (also seen Metochi area 1105), Levant Sparrowhawk male.

Metochi Lake - IMPERIAL EAGLE sub-adult at c. 1105 (also seen Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint 1050), Little Crake 2, Red-backed Shrike 2.

Nr (few km in hills south of) Vatousa - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Honey-buzzardmale, Goshawk 2, Short-toed Eagle 6+, Long-legged Buzzard 6+, Lesser Kestrel 2, Black Stork 1, Barred Warbler male.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Nightjar 1.

Skala Eresou - Wryneck 1.

Ipsilou - Black Kite 2.

Christou (Kamares) River - Slender-billed Gull 1, Caspian Tern 1, Little Bittern, Red-throated Pipit 1, Marsh Harrier 1.

Skala Kallonis - Village Eleonora's Falcon 1, Hobby 1. Pool Squacco Heron 5, Little Bittern 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans area - Roller 1, Citrine Wagtail male, Honey-buzzard male, Red-footed Falcon 5, Hobby 1, Montagu's Harrier fem, Hen Harrier fem, Bee-eater 10, Spoonbill 1, Golden Oriole 19, Icterine Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 3, Wood Warbler 40, Red-backed Shrike 1, Black-headed Bunting 29, Common Kingfisher 1, Common Redshank 2 (also Spur-thighed Tortoise, Glass Snake and Ottoman Viper).

Sigri Fields - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Icterine Warbler 4, Barred Warbler 3, Collared Flycatcher 4, Pied Flycatcher 15, Lesser Kestrel 18, Montagu's Harrier male.

Tsiknias River - Mediterranean Gull 2, Red-footed Falcon 3, Little Bittern 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Whimbrel 1, Eurasian Curlew 1, Masked Shrike 1.

Skala Vasilikon - Purple Heron 1, Short-toed Lark 16, Tawny Pipit 1.

Alikoudi Pool - Garganey 1.

Lotzaria - Whiskered Tern 40, Collared Pratincole 20.

Maledia Valley - Red-backed Shrike 2, Icterine Warbler 2.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch one pr up in wood to left of original nest stump, Golden Oriole 2, Wood Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 2, Pied Flycatcher 3.

25 April 2010 - breeding Penduline Tits and big eagles

PENDULINE TIT – a pair building a nest at Skala Eresou (MO). See Skala Eresou item below.

GREAT SPOTTED EAGLE – one over Molivos at c.1900h (Steven Wytema et al).

IMPERIAL EAGLE – one Pithariou Reservoir on and off for c. 15 mins between 1635-1650h (Steve Dudley et al).

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE – one between Eresos and Ipsilou mid-afternoon (Steven Wytema et al).

CITRINE WAGTAIL - 2 Faneromeni (Merv Jones).

Skala Eresou – Penduline Tit nest is c.100m north of the road bridge viewable from along the track on the eastern side of the river. Walk up to an irrigation head (orange with round turn handle) on right and then on left look for some blue string in the chainlink fence. View the willows directly opposite from here. The nest is directly opposite on the end of a willow branch at about the height of the tallest tamarisks at this point.

Night-heron 48, Purple Heron 2 (inc. a flock of 39 Night-heron and 2 Purple Heron in off the sea at c.1445), Little Bittern 2, Whiskered Tern 11 north, Lesser Kestrel 3.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Levant Sparrowhawk 1.

Perasma - Great Spotted Cuckoo 1.

Ipsilou – Ortolan Bunting 1, Collared Flycatcher male, Red-footed Falcon 2, many Wood Warblers, Cinereous Bunting 15+, several Pied Flycatcher 20+, Spotted Flycatcher 8, Golden Oriole 20+, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Isabelline Wheatear, Chukar, etc.

Skala Kallonis Pool – Great Bittern 1, Common Snipe 1.

Metochi Lake – Spotted Crake, Purple Heron, Little Bittern, Little Crake, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, White Stork 8.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flooded fields) – Pallid Harrier male, Rufous Bush Robin 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, Temminck’s Stint 3, Whiskered Tern 40, Tawny Pipit 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1.

Meladia Valley – Roller 1, Icterine 1, Golden Oriole 2.

Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 2, Wood Sandpiper 132+, Mediterranean Gull 2, Collared Pratincole 4, White-winged Black Tern 2.

Kavaki – Ruppell’s Warbler 3 prs, Orphean Warbler 2, Sardinian Warbler 2, Yelkouan Shearwater 10+, Scopoli’s Shearwater 3, Bottle-nosed Dolphin 3, MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL 1.

North Coast – Ortolan Bunting 1, Audouin’s Gull 1, Yelkouan Shearwater many, Scopoli’s Shearwater 2.

Sigri area – Lesser Kestrel 18.

Polichnitos Saltpans area – Roller 1, Collared Pratincole 8, Black-headed Bunting 2, Red-footed Falcon 1, Curlew Sandpiper.

24 April 2010 - Another eagle day

IMPERIAL EAGLE - sub-adult south over Efthalou @ 14.45h (Bob Buckler, Wingspan).

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE - 9 Polichnitos Saltpans (John Bowers), 1 Napi Valley (David Goodwin & Jenny Jones).

CITRINE WAGTAIL - male SW corner of Kalloni Saltpans (MO).

LANNER - 2CY Perivoli Monastery (Bernie Forbes, John & Shena Maskell, Avian Adventures).

PALLID HARRIER - 1 Tsiknias River (David Goodwin & Jenny Jones).

ROLLER - 1 Achladeri (Roger Lawrence, Chris Bushell, Ornitholidays).

SAVI'S WARBLER - 1 singing Metochi Lake (Jeff & Helen Bailey).

Perivoli Monastery - Collared Flycatcher 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Eleanora's Falcon, Wood Warbler 4, Night-heron 1.

Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis - Collared Flycatcher male, Long-eared owl male calling between 0100-0400h at least.

Ipsilou - Bee-eater 50+, Rock Sparrow 4, Hobby 1, Short-toed Eagle 4, Long-legged Buzzard, Golden Oriole, Cinereous Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Blue Rock-thrush.

Metochi Lake - Savi's Warbler 1, Little Crake 2, Little Bittern 4.

Kavaki - Ruppell's 2prs active on seaward side of laybys, Sardinian Warbler 3-4 prs, Orphean Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Black-headed Bunting, Crag Martin, Blue Rock-thrush.

North Coast (Efthalou to Skala Sikaminias) - Little Gull 125+ west, Mediterranean Gull 2, red-footed Falcon 1.

Perasma Reservoir - Long-legged Buzzard 3, Russy Shelduck 2, Night-heron 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Black-winged Stilt 6.

Kalami Marsh (Mesa) - Squacco Heron 6, Purple Heron 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Mallard 2.

Madaros - Black-headed Bunting 1.

Lotzaria - Black-headed Bunting 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Bee-eater 17, Goshawk 2, Sparrowhawk 1, Hobby 2, Short-toed Eagle 1, Long-legged Buzzard 2.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - Isabelline Wheatear, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk.

Gavathas - Montagu's Harrier male, Hen Harrier ringtail, Marsh HArrier, Yelkouan Shearwater 40+, Great Reed Warbler, Alpine Swift, Hoopoe, Flava wagtails.

Kalloni Saltpans west fields - White Stork 8 (single flock).

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch, Masked Shrike, Goshawk.

Mandamados - White Stork on chimney nest, Goshawk circling over with Sparrowhawk.

Imperial Eagle

Imperial Eagle, Achladeri, 20 Oct 09 © John & Anne Humphreys

This bird seen by John and Anne over the Krüper's Nuthatch site being mobbed by two Common Buzzards.

7 May - big eagles and a big snipe

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint (bandstand) – IMPERIAL EAGLE sub adult in from north at 1420h and again over at 1510h. Possibly same as last weeks bird seen coming in off the sea from the north on the north coast east of Efthalou. Last year we had a sub adult bird hang around the island for two weeks (see here). Eleonora’s Falcon 6.

Ioannou Valley (south of Mandamados) – GOLDEN EAGLE sub adult north at 1505h. Ruppell’s Warbler male, Pallid Swift 8, Alpine Swift 2, Golden Oriole 2.

Haramida Marsh – GREAT SNIPE 1, Pallid Swift 30+, Alpine Swift 8, Sardinian Warbler, Green Sandpiper 1.

Meladia Valley - Collared Flycatcher female, Icterine Warbler 7, Orphean Warbler 3, Pied Flycatcher 5, Sardinian Warbler 1, Bee-eater 40+, loads of Spotted Flycatchers.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Collared Pratincole 1, Temminck's Stint 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - Marsh Sandpiper 1, Gull-billed Tern 1, Collared Pratincole 3, Little Crake 1, Mallard 2.

Kalloni Mini Soccer Pitch (Scops Copse) - no sign of any Scops Owl today.

3 May - Imperial and Lesser Spotted Eagles

Nr Efthalou - IMPERIAL EAGLE sub adult low in from north and headed east along coast at 1020h.

Petra Reservoir (Perasma) - DALMATIAN PELICAN imm until c.1045h. BLACK KITE 1 (also seen over Kavaki later).

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint (bandstand) - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1 north at c.1800h.

Faneromeni Upper Ford - LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 2 in evening, CITRINE WAGTAIL fem, Purple Heron, Night-heron, Little Bittern.

Kavaki (nr Petra) - Ruppell's Warbler 3prs active. Please refrain from walking through the scrub to the north of the road as birds are now feeding young and should be easily seen from the laybys, pavement and track up the southern hillside. Also here Hobby, Orphean Warbler, Sardinian Warbler fem, Mediterranean Gull 8.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warber 1, Icterine Warbler 4, Red-breasted Flycatcher fem, plus lots of Wood Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers and usual breeding birds.

Meladia Valley - Rose-coloured Starling and Eastern Common Redstart just west of the chapel. Thrush Nightingale at the ford. Icterine Warbler 4 in the ford fig grove.

Kalloni Saltpans (and surrounding fields) - RUFOUS BUSH CHAT 1 in tamarisks west of beach cafe - please be aware of breeding Stone-curlews along beach! Little Gull 1st sum, White-winged Black Tern 7 on pans. Barred Warbler 1 in Alykes Wetlands (sheepfields). Black Stork 4, Glossy Ibis 8+, Purple Heron 2, Squacco heron 8, Great White Egret 1, Ruddy Shelduck 4 on flooded fields opp saltworks entrance. If the birds on the floods are close to the track please stay in your vehicle to avoid flushing them!

Petrified Forest Road - TREE SPARROW 1 by toilet block (only the sixth record for the island!). 2 euros entry fee for toilet!

Metochi Lake - Little Bittern 12+, Little Crake m&f.

Tsiknias River - CITRINE WAGTAIL male, Little Bittern 1 by ford.

Between Ipsilou and Sigri - Lesser Kestrel 42+, Red-footed Falcon 7.

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.

Your Lesvos bird records for 2008

Nikos Probonas (Hellenic Rarities Committee) and I would like to encourage all those who visited Lesvos this year to report their more important bird records, including –

Greek national rarities
Scarce passage and breeding migrants
Out of range (for the island) breeding/territory records
Any confirmed breeding records (all species)

Greek national rarities
The Hellenic Rarities Committee have asked me to request on their behalf, descriptions of Greek national rarities reported from Lesvos this spring. All sightings of the following species (known to be reported this spring) -

Cattle Egret
Imperial Eagle
Black-winged Pratincole
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (lots of them!)
Scarlet (Common) Rosefinch

Plus any other species listed by HRC in their previous reports (see here).

Please report your records to HRC here.

Scarce passage and breeding migrants
In addition, I am collating records of scarcer migrants. Please supply details of the following species in particular (also any species down as scarce passage migrant (sPM) or scarce migrant breeder (sMB) on the list here) –

Great Bittern
Little Bittern
Night-heron
Purple Heron
Glossy Ibis
Black Kite
All vultures
All eagles apart from Short-toed Eagle (Imperial Eagle records to HRC as above)
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Hen Harrier
Levant Sparrowhawk
Honey-buzzard
Lanner
Eleanora's Falcon
All crakes
Collared Pratincole
Spur-winged Plover
Great Snipe
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Roller
Wryneck
Citrine Wagtail
Rufous Bush Chat
Thrush Nightingale
(Rufous-tailed) Rock Thrush
River Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Marsh Warbler
Olive Tree Warbler (away from known breeding sites)
Barred Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler (away from known breeding sites)
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Semi-collared Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
Penduline Tit
Lesser Grey Shrike

Please submit these records (species, number, date, location, observer, notes) either direct to me at (steve at toadsnatcher dot com) or via OrnithoTopos.

Out of range breeding/territory records (e.g. Cinereous Bunting) or confirmed breeding records (e.g. feeding young, fledged young, etc) of any species, can be submitted via OrnithoTopos or sent to me direct at (steve at toadsnatcher dot com) .

Many thanks in advance.

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

6 May 08 - Broad-billed Sandpiper

LOST - one Tilley hat. Could be anywhere between Skala Eresou and Achladeri! Contact Steve at steve at toadsnatcher dot com.

Finsch's and Pied Wheatears
There are reports of both Finsch's and Pied Wheatears each year and those followed up invariably turn out to be black-and-white Black-eared Wheatears. This year seems to be particuarly noteworthy for such reports and all have so far turned out to be BEWs. If anyone has any photographs to support claims of either of these two species please come forward. Email steve at toadsnatcher dot com.

Weather: fine and settled withvirtually no wind. Max temp. c. 28 C.

A fresh influx of waders brought in a Broad-billed Sandpiper this evening. Today's Imperial Eagle sighting, seen by the same observer as last week (at the same location), is now thought to be just one bird accounting for all records (confirmed/probables) over the last week (inc. yesterdays two sightings).

Todays highlights -

Kalloni Bandstand - IMPERIAL EAGLE 1 over mid-morning. It is now thought that one bird accounts for all the sightings on the island this spring.

Kalloni Saltpans - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1 in evening, SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 2 (turn right at south-west corner bend, birds in little sheep enclosure and field on left), Marsh Sandpiper 1, Collared Pratincole 5, Red-footed Falcon 9, White-winged Black Tern 11, Whiskered Tern 3, Black Tern 2, Black Stork 2, Curlew 2, Temminck's Stint 2, Little Stint 400+, Ruff 220+, Curlew Sandpiper 85+, Montagu's Harrier 1.

Tsiknias River - BONELLI'S EAGLE 1 to west, LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 2 (m&f) to north, Ruppell's Warbler 2 singing males along upper section. River Warbler 1 singing along upper section.

Sigri - European Nightjar 3, Scops Owl 2.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Little Bittern 1, Squacco Heron 2 (feeding 3 small young).

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch young now hatched (prob. this morning). Just beyond the white building in the car park, look to left for tall pointed tree stump with electric cables coming off either side. Nest in bottom of the gash at the top of the stump. No sign of Long-eared Owls in recent days. Masked Shrike nesting nearby.

Platania - Olive Tree Warbler 6+ now around the 'cattle grid' site.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, holding territory at eastern end. West of Vatousa park at 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 is 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.

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.

Mylopotamos River (East East River) - Goshawk imm male chasing Turtle Doves through olive groves.

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

Printed copies of the daily Lesvosbirding.com summaries are also on reception at the Hotel Pasiphae by the bird log. Please do not remove them. Thanks. Anyone wanting a printed copy of any daily summary should ask at the hotel reception.

5 May 08 - Another big bird day

Overnight rain and an overcast morning had most of the birders scampering west this morning. And we weren't disappointed!

Weather: overnight rain gave way to a short-lived overcast morning but fine and sunny by mid-morning with scattered cloud. Moderate north-westerly wind. Max temp. c. 25 C.

Ipsilou - GRIFFON VULTURE 1 mid-morning (8th island record and first since 2002), IMPERIAL EAGLE over mid-afternoon (see Andissa below), Collared Flycatcher 4, Red-breasted Flycatcher 2, Thrush Nightingale 3, Icterine Warbler 2, Honey-buzzard 1, Marsh Warbler 6+, plus loads of common migrants inc. Red-backed Shrikes, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroas, etc.

Polichnitos Saltpans - BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 1.

Nr Andissa - IMPERIAL EAGLE being mobbed by 3 Long-legged Buzzards mid-morning.

Meladia River Ford area - PALLID SWIFT 110+, Collared Flycatcher 1, Red-breasted Flycatcher 2, Olive Tree Warbler 1, Thrush Nightingale 1, Citrine Wagtail 2, Tawny Pipit 2, Ortolan Bunting 1, Little Bittern 1, Red-backed Shrike 30+, Lesser Grey Shrike 3.

Faneromeni area - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1, ROLLER 2, Eleanora's Falcon 1.

Skala Eresou - CITRINE WAGTAIL 1, Eleanora's Falcon 1 pale bird, Garganey 5 on sea, Squacco Heron 2.

Between Efthalou & Skala Sikaminias - LANNER1, Audouin's Gull 4.

Nr Sikaminia - LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (fem).

Sigri Old Sanitorium - Rufous Bush Chat 2.

Lardia Valley – Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, holding territory at eastern end. West of Vatousa park at 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 is 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.

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.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch still showing well.

Mesotopos - no sign of yesterday's two Olive Tree Warblers just south of the Eko garage.

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

Printed copies of the daily Lesvosbirding.com summaries are also on reception at the Hotel Pasiphae by the bird log. Please do not remove them. Thanks.

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.

30 April 08 - Eagles and Blue-cheeked Bees

Spur-winged Plover, nr Kalloni Saltworks entrance.

Despite fine weather and clear skies, the southerly winds keep bring stuff in. Two Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters today make it four this year (only four records before this year!) following ones at Tsiknias River and Meladia River Ford last week.

Apart from one report the other day, still no sign of Rufous Scrub Robin on any of the usual territories which are being checked daily.

Weather: fine and sunny with scattered high cloud and light southerly winds. Max. temp c.27 C.

Today’s highlights -

Skala Kalloni Pool – BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 1 07.30-07.45 am, FERRUGINOUS DUCK 1 (f).

Vatera - BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER 1 east of town near ‘large hotel’. Large movement of Alpine and Common Swifts in Vatera area during the afternoon.

Kalloni Bandstand – IMPERIAL EAGLE 1 over c. 12 noon (ninth record). Raptor watching from c.09.30 – 10.00 am – Montagu’s Harrier 1 (m), Goshawk 1 (f), Short-toed Eagle 6+, Long-legged Buzzard 4+, Common Buzzard 2, Peregrine 1, Common Sparrowhawk 1.

Anciant Antissa – GOLDEN EAGLE 1, LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1.

Kalloni Saltworks entrance (pool and fields opp) - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Red-footed Falcon 4, Collared Pratincole 14, Red-throated Pipit 4, Short-toed Lark 3, Ruddy Shelduck 3, Black Stork 1.

Platania – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (m), OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1 still, Bee-eaters lots moving over, many heard and not seen but flocks of 4, 11, 13 and 18 seen’ large movement of Alpine and Common Swifts.

Kalloni Saltpans – CASPIAN TERN 1, PALLID HARRIER 1 first-year, White-winged Black Tern 21, Whiskered Tern 2, Mediterranean Gull 4, Curlew Sandpiper 70+, Grey Plover 24, Squacco Heron 1, Stone-curlew 2, Grey Heron 11, Little Stone 230+, Ruff 80+.

Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 2, Spotted Crake 1, Little Crake 7.

Achladeri – Kruper’s Nuthatch and Long-eared Owls showing well.

Faneromeni area – Marsh Warbler 1, Little Bittern 1, Squacco Heron 1.

Meladia River Ford – Marsh Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 2 (m&f), Little Bittern 2, Barred Warbler 1.

Tsiknias River – Eleanora’s Falcon 1, Gull-billed Tern 27+, White-winged Black Tern 2, Whiskered Tern 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1 (this is a very long-billed female and almost certainly accounts for all recent reports of Black-tailed Godwit), Curlew 1, Great Crested Grebe.

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.

Napi Valley – (just north of Napi 12.15 – 13.15 pm) Red-footed Falcon 1 (m), Goshawk 1 (m).

Vourkou River Mouth – Little Bittern 1.

Skamnioudi Coast Pool – Temminck’s Stint 2.

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