Showing posts with label merlin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label merlin. Show all posts

5 - 13 April update - inc. Finsch's Wheatear

13 April 2010

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler 2 males on territory, Orphean Warbler 1.

Almiropotamos River – Orphean Warbler 1, Red-rumped Swallow 1, Hen Harrier 3, Cretzschmar's Bunting 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - Red-throated Pipit 4, Black-headed Wagtail 10, SYKE'S WAGTAIL 1, Glossy Ibis 20, Squacco Heron, Ruddy Shelduck 2, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle (Andy Stoddart).


12 April 2010

Skala Eresou - Purple Heron 1, Black-headed Wagtail 10, Blue-headed Wagtail, Lesser Kestrel 3 (Andy Stoddart)


11 April 2010

Nifida - Temminck's Stint 1, Marsh Sandpiper 6, Wood Sandpiper 2, Black-eared Wheatear 2, Spanish Sparrow 1, Subalpine Warbler 1, Tawny Pipit 1, Cretzschmar's Bunting 1 (Terry Robinson).

Andissa - Isabelline Wheatear 1, Serin 2 (Andy Stoddart).


10 April 2010

Polichnitos Saltpans – MERLIN 1 ad male, Marsh Sandpiper 42, Ruff 53, Whinchat 1 (Terry Robinson).

Metochi Lake - Night-heron 5, Little Crake 3, Masked Shrike 1 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Skala Eresou - Purple Heron 12, Night-heron, Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi), 'Romanian Wagtail (dombrowski) (Andy Stoddart).


9 April 2010

Kalloni Saltpans - Ruddy Shelduck 65, Pintail 3, Garganey 27, Glossy Ibis 155, Squacco Heron 1, Purple Heron 1, Curlew 1, Spotted Redshank 13, Marsh Sandpiper 36, Pallid Swift 1, Short-toed Lark 2, Spanish Sparrow 9 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Almiropotamos River – Orphean Warbler 1, Wood Sandpiper 2 (Terry Robinson).

Meladia Valley - Cinereous Bunting, Orphean Warbler 2, Ruddy Shelduck 2, Lesser Kestrel 2, Northern Wheatear 6, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle (Andy Stoddart).

Skala Eresou - Garganey 4.


8 April 2010

FINSCH’S WHEATEAR, a male at Ipsilou (Nikos Probonas, Thanos Kastritis, et al). This is only the second confirmed record for Lesvos, and only the third record for Greece (although we are following up several reports from 1998-2001). Photo © Thanos Kastritis

Ipsilou - Long-legged Buzzard 1, Raven 1, Finsch's Wheatear 1 (above), Black-eared Wheatear 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Blue Rock-thrush 1 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Vigla, nr Ipsilou - Isabelline Wheatear 4 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Vergias River, Skala Eresou - Jack Snipe 1, Purple Heron 1, Wood Sandpiper 1 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Kalloni Saltpans - Ruddy Shelduck 44, Pintail 3, Garganey 28, Glossy Ibis 4, Squacco Heron 2, Pallid Harrier 1, Curlew 1, Spotted Redshank 16, Marsh Sandpiper 29, Short-toed Lark 7, Spanish Sparrow 1 (Nikos Probonas et al).

Eximnos, Mesotopos - Cinereous Bunting 3, Cretzschmar's Bunting 3, Short-toed Eagle 2, Alpine Swift 1, Chukar 2.

Almiropotamos River – Montagu’s Harrier 1, Hen Harrier 3, Kingfisher 1 (Terry Robinson).

Skala Eresou - Little Bittern (Andy Stoddart).

Ipsilou to Sigri - Rock Sparrow, Lesser Kestrel 30, Isabelline Wheatear 2, Gull-billed Tern, Short-toed Eagle, Hen Harrier 3, Chukar, Orphean Warbler, Purple Heron, Western Rock Nuthatch (Andy Stoddart).


7 April 2010

Skala Eresou - Purple Heron 2, Lesser Kestrel, Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi) (Andy Stoddart).


6 April 2010

Almiropotamos River - Little Crake 1, Squacco Heron 1, Purple Heron 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Woodchat Shrike 2, Northern Wheatear 1, Long-legged Buzzard, Goshawk, Raven (Terry Robinson).

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch 2, Long-tailed Tit 2 (Andy Stoddart).

Kalloni Saltpans - Gull-billed Tern 50, Glossy Ibis 180, Purple Heron 2, Squacco Heron, Ruddy Shelduck 7, Garganey 10 (Andy Stoddart).


5 April 2010

Meladia Valley - GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE 1, Isabelline Wheatear, Cinereous Bunting, Little Crake, Sombre Tit, 2 Purple Herons, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Orphean Warbler 3, Black-headed Wagtail 10, Chukar 2,Subalpine Warbler (Andy Stoddart).

Polichnitos Saltpans - Great Reed Warbler 1 (Terry Robinson).

Almiropotamos River - Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Northern Wheatear 1, Woodchat Shrike 1, Stone-curlew 2, Hen Harrier 2 (Terry Robinson).

Early spring migrants

Terry Robinson has started to report the first migrants arriving at/passing through Polichnitos Saltpans and surrounding area. I'll post updates every few day or so. Items in bold are first records for the year. All records Terry Robinson unless stated.

31 March 10
Kalloni Saltpans - Glossy Ibis 30+, Squacco Heron 1, Great White Egret 6, Greater Flamingo 300+, Ruddy Shelduck 38, Common Shelduk 2, Shoveler 20, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Ringed Plover 1, Kentish Plover 4, Black-winged Stilt 41, Avocet 510, Marsh Sandpiper 16, Wood Sandpiper 6, Greenshank 27, Ruff 90, Dunlin 18, Little Stint 30, Eurasian Curlew 1, Stone-curlew 1, Mediterranean Gull 12, Short-toed Lark 12, Black-headed Wagtail 1 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).


Polichnitos Saltpans - Black Stork 5, Greater Flamingo 70, Hen Harrier 2, Common Shelduck 22, Common Redshank 1 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).



30 March 10
Male Ferruginous Duck, Meladia Valley, 30 Mar 10 © Sebastien Siblet

Meladia Valley ford - male FERRUGINOUS DUCK (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet) - only the ninth confirmed record for Lesvos.

Faneromeni - male Pallid Harrier (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).

Male Pallid Harrier, Faneromeni, 30 Mar 10 © Sebastien Siblet

Chrousos - Levant Sparrowhawk 1, Masked Shrike 1 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).

Kalloni Saltpans - Marsh Sandpiper 5, Spotted Redshank 1, Black-tailed Godwit 3, Greenshank 10, Black-winged Stilt 25, Ruff 150, Dunlin 75, Avocet 500+ (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).

Parakila Marsh - Shoveler 2, Black-winged Stilt 15 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).



29 March 10
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER - 1 along the Vergias River, Skala Eresou between the road bridge and the river mouth (Jean-Philippe Siblet). This will be the first record for Lesvos if accepted by HRC.

Skala Polichnitou - Great Spotted Cuckoo - 1 in Terry's garden!

Metochi Lake - Spotted Crake 1, Little Crake 4 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).

Polichnitos Saltpans - Common Swift 1, Northern Wheatear 2, lots of Barn Swallows and House Martins, Black-tailed Godwit 3, Ruff 9, Wood Sandpiper 5.


28 March 10
Kalloni Saltpans - Greater Spotted Eagle 1 (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet)


27 March 10
Terry gave me an update on water levels today. Despite heavy winter rains, rains have abated in the last week or so so some areas already beginning to drop. Both Metochi LakeandPotamia Reservoir overflowing, the Christou (Kameras) River runnning well but the marsh quite dry, Tsiknias River flowing OK, the Skala Kallonis Pool is already drying out.Alykes Wetlands and fields around the Kalloni Saltpans are very wet. All main drains have been opened to the sea so unless we see some spring rains in coming weeks, then all areas will be dropping by the time the first of arrive in mid-April.

With Terry venturing up to the Kalloni area today, he struck on a few new migrants for the year.

Kalloni Saltpans, Alykes Wetlands and nearby flooded fields - Glossy Ibis (86), Gull-billed Tern (2), Garganey (5), Ruff (50+).

Plus Merlin (below) just north of the pans (Jean-Philippe & Sebastian Siblet).

Male Merlin nr Kalloni Saltpans, 27 Mar 10 © Sebastien Siblet

Skala Kallonis Pool - Garganey (5).

Polichnitos Saltpans - Red-rumped Swallow (1)


26 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Short-toed Lark (4), Woodchat Shrike (1), Hoopoe (1), Northern Wheater (1), Spotted Redshank (1), Kingfisher (1), Hen Harrier (1).

Vrisa - Common Swift (10).

25 March 10 - Polichnitos Saltpans
House Martin (5), Barn Swallow (11), 'Yellow' Wagtail (8), Little Ringed Plover (6), Hen Harrier (1), Ruff (1), Black-winged Stilt (2).

24 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Woodchat Shrike (1), House Martin (2), Barn Swallow (3), Willow Warbler (1), Little Ringed Plover (1), Curlew (1), Marsh Harrier (1).

23 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Black-eared Wheatear (1), Northern Wheatear (1), Barn Swallow (1), Little Ringed Plover (1).

21 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Tawny Pipit (2), Barn Swallow (2), Hoopoe (1), Little Ringed Plover (19), Black-winged Stilt (1), Greenshank (1).

Almiropotamos River (Vatera) - Short-toed Eagle (1), Long-legged Buzzard (1), Marsh Harrier (1)

Vourkou River - Crag Martin (2)

Polchnitos town - White Stork back on nest


20 March 10
Almiropotamos River (Lisvorio) - Isabelline Wheatear (1),House Martin (4), Barn Swallow (6), Black-headed Wagtail (3), Green Sandpiper (4), Ruff (1), Hen Harrier (1)


16 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Lesser Whitethroat (1), Barn Swallow (2), Black-headed Wagtail (1), Black-winged Stilt (1), Ruff (1). Little Ringed Plover (39), Green Sandpiper (1), Skylark (9), Hen Harrier (1).


15 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - After two dead days, a few more birds this morning: Black-headed Wagtail (3), Willow Warbler 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Little Ringed Plover 29.


12 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Willow Warbler 1, Northern Wheatear 5, Black-winged Stilt 1, Little Ringed Plover 6, Hen Harrier 3.


10 March 10

Polichnitos Saltpans - Northern Wheatear (4),Hoopoe, Green Sandpiper and a Ruff.



09 March 10
Polichnitos Saltpans - Barn Swallow (1), Hoopoe (1), Black-tailed Godwit (3) andLittle Ringed Plover (8).


Almyropotamos River, Vatera - Garganey, Hoopoe,Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier and Sombre Tit (2).



08 March 10

Polichnitos Saltpans - Northern Wheatear, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Long-legged Buzzard.



07 March 10
Skala Vasilikon - Marsh Harrier

22 April 08 - Getting better!

Weather: thin cloud with occasional sunny periods and very strong south to south-easterly wind in gave way to overcast, cooler and little wind from around mid-afternoon. Max. 20 C.

A distinct improvement on the migrant front today, but still no great numbers of migrant passerines. More Short-toed Eagles, Long-legged and Common Buzzards around today.

Today's highlights:

Sigri Fields - 1st sum male PALLID HARRIER, Lesser Kestrels 15+, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

Ipsilou - in extremely strong wind, MERLIN 1 (c. 7th record for island), Eleanora's Falcon 1, Wood Warbler 1, Pied Flycatcher 1.

Faneromeni area - lots of Alpine Swifts over, Pied Flycatcher 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2.

Maladia River Ford - Ortolan Bunting 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Pallid Swift 1, Wood Warbler 1, fem Sardinian Warbler, Great Reed Warbler 1, Long-legged Buzzard 2, Short-toed Eagle 3.

Skala Eresou river ford - Squacco Heron.

Makara - Chukar, lots of Alpine Swifts over, Black-headed Bunting 1, Northern Wheatear 3, flava Yellow Wagtail 11, thunbergi Yellow Wagtail 4, Chiffchaff 1.

Kalloni Saltpans season pool opposite entrance - Marsh Sandpiper 1, Spotted Redshank 2.

Kalloni Mini Soccer Pitch (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 3. Directions forone bird: when in the copse, the fifth roadside eucalyptus tree from the entrance by the soccer pitch (tree marked by a chocolate choice plastic drink bottle at its base). The bird is by the trunk on the soccer pitch side c.10 up, and best looked for from the other entrance side of the tree.

Napi Valley - Ortolan Bunting 5.