6 May - marsh terns bonanza

Did anyone go out west today? No news from any western sites at all. Impressive numbers of marsh terns at Kalloni Saltpans. 

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.

Kallon Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

White-winged Tern 250

Whiskered Tern 18

Gull-billed Tern 3

Black Tern 2

Little Gull 1

Collared Pratincole 4

White Stork 28

Black Stork 8

Black-tailed Godwit 1

Dunlin 1

Ruff 470

Little Stint 45

Rufous Bush-robin 1 on beach

Short-toed Lark 2

Red-throated Pipit 2

Vourkos River mouth

Citrine Wagtail fem

Skala Kallonis

River Warbler 1 (behind Imerti Hotel)
Pallid Swift 1

Night-heron 2

Little Bittern 1

Napi Valley

Honey-buzzard 1

Potamia Valley

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Tsiknias River

Little Bittern 1

Squacco Heron 8

Bee-eater 6

Achalderi

Levant Sparrowhawk

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

Alikoudi Pool

Glossy Ibis 2

White-winged Tern 10

Temminck's Stint 1

Common Ringed Plover 8

Ruff 39

Nr Skamnioudi

Olive-tree Warbler 4+

Polichnitos Saltpans

Curlew Sandpiper 4

Ruff 45

Little Stint 6

Olive-tree Warbler 1 in copse to north

Red-backed Shrike 2

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 5. Please do not harass the birds!

2 May - Calandra Lark and Great Snipe

Calandra Lark, Alykes Weltands, 2 May 2013 
(Melanocorypha calandra) (Κοινή) Γαλιάντρα © Bob Buckler

A much better day with significantly more birds arriving including star bird, Calandra Lark (11th record for Lesvos), seen by quite a few this evening. Lots of waders and terns at Kalloni Saltpans plus a large arrival of Red-backed Shrikes and other passerines out west including two Red-breasted Flycatchers. Also a Great Snipe (unfortunately flushed by a photographer) and Booted Eagle, Griffon Vulture and Black Kite all seen out west.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

One male seen 06.30 briefly and again 07.25 - 07.35. No news for rest of day.

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 Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

CALANDRA LARK 1 - 17.30 - 18.30 in sheep fields of Alykes Wetlands east of race track

Rufous Bush-robin 2 in beach tamarisks (view from shoreline, please don't walk through bushes)

White-winged Tern 47

Whiskered Tern 32

Sandwich Tern 2

Gull-billed Tern 5

Little Gull1 

Spoonbill 1

Glossy Ibis 2

Quail 1

Ruddy Shelduck 2

Red-throated Pipit 23

Tawny Pipit 2

Short-toed Lark 5

Collared Pratincole 2

Ruff 520

Temminck's Stint 3

Black-tailed Godwit 13

Curlew Sandpiper 21

Grey Plover 4

Spotted Redshank 2

Turnstone 1

Mallard 1

Common Starling 1

Sigri & Faneromeni area

GREAT SNIPE 1 lower ford (unfortunately flushed by a photographer so many people failed to see it)

Black Kite 2

Spotted Crake 1 (lower ford)

Wryneck 1

Citrine Wagtail 1

Roller 1

Red-backed Shrike 70+

Lesser Grey Shrike 4

Masked Shrike 1

Temminck's Stint 2

Wood Warbler 1

Bee-eater 5

Eleanora's Falcon 1

Nightjar 1 - same roosting branch for third day

Mt Ordimnos

GRIFFON VULTURE 1

Apothika

Booted Eagle 1

Meladia Valley

Red-breasted Flycatcher 2 (fem + 2CY male)

Ortolan Bunting 4

Roller 1

Purple Heron 1

Collared Flycatcher 1

Red-backed Shrike 30+

Spotted Flycatcher 40+

Ruddy Shelduck 1

Sigri Old Sanotroium

Great Spotted Cuckoo 1

Lesser Grey Shrike 3

Golden Oriole 2

Common Redstart 1

North Coast Track

Great Spotted Cuckoo 2

Molivos castle

Great Spotted Cuckoo 2

Collared Flycatcher 1

Ipsilou

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Red-footed Falcon 4

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2

Wood Warbler 1

Golden Oriole 2

Napi Valley

Honey-buzzard 1

Hawfinch 1 (Mavria)

Red-footed Falcon 1 (Mavria)

Metochi Lake

Night-heron 11

Little Crake 2

Little Bittern 9

Nr Skamioudi

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Konditsia Valley

Bee-eater 36 (20 over, 18 

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Track very poor in places - drive down with care!

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 5l. Please do not harass the birds!

1 May - more birds coming in!

Ruppell's Warbler, Kavaki, 1 May 2013 © Steve Dudley
Αιγαιοτσιροβάκος Sylvia rueppelli

Many more birds around today including Red-backed Shrikes, Common Redstarts, Black Redstart and Red-back Shrikes. A Common Teal at Perasma and another Booted Eagle and a Black Kite.

No news of either the White-throated Robins or Griffon Vulture today.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

No news today. The road was chained off this evening preventing birders form driving to the site. This may be routine now for early mornings and evenings. Its a 5km walk if yu fancy it!

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.

Sigri & Faneromeni area

Semicollared Flycatcher 1
Wryneck 1
Levant Sparrowhawk 1
Red-footed Falcon 1
Honey-buzzard 1
Lesser Kestrel 6
Citrine Wagtail 1
Roller 2
Eleanora's Falcon 1
Nightjar 1
Red-backed Shrike 9
Ruddy Shelduck 2
Bee-eater 46
Black Redstart male

Nr Skalochori

Booted Eagle 1

Ipsilou

Kruper's Nutchatch 1 on north side
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2

Napi Valley

Black Kite 1

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

Honey-buzzard 1
Red-footed Falcon 3
Eleanora's Falcon 1
White Stork 7
Black Stork 4

Perasma Reservoir

Common Teal 1 male
Red-footed Falcon 4
Red-backed Shrike 9

Polichnitos Saltpans

Marsh Sandpiper 1
Curlew Sandpiper 6
Little Stint 34

Agriosikos (Filia mast area)

Bee-eater 12
Eleanora's Falcon 1

Achalderi

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

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Rufous Bush-robin 3 in beach tamarisks (view from shoreline, please don't walk through bushes)
Collared Pratincole 3
Whiskered Tern 31
White-winged Tern 2
Black Tern 2
Garganey 3
Ruddy Shelduck 2
Spoonbill 1

Nr Skamioudi

Olive-tree Warbler 3
Icterine Warbler 1

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!

16 May 2012

Another thin day with little reported. A Booted Eagle at Metochi takes star prize and more Eleonora's Falcons seen today and a handful of Marsh Warblers going through. But where are the Rosy Starlings?

Weather - Bright blue skies with scatter cloud and fresh southerly breeze. 25C.

Please don't drive down the rivers - see here.

Petrol/Deisel - see here.

Other news - see here.

BIRD NEWS

Rose-coloured Starlings

No news received today? Have you seen any?

Achladeri & Kruper's Nuthatch

Birds reportedly present but still elusive, still not calling.

Metochi

Booted Eagle 1

Agriosikos (track by the Filia mast)

Eleonora's Falcon 5 viewed from track 1.5 km from mast overlooking the Metochi area. Seen in this area two days ago.

North coast track

Scopoli's Shearwater 20+ inc. several birds feeding down to 50m offshore at the spring halfway between Efthalou and Skala Sikaminias

Yelkouan Shearwater 4 (only!) all heading west

Audouin's Gull 3 adults at the hot springs area

Marsh Warbler 1 singing in dry river mouth of one of the gullies

Potamia Valley

Olive-tree Warbler 2 singing north of the weir (one bird c.200m and the second c.800m from the weir).

Tsiknias River

Audouin's Gull 1 at river mouth
Night-heron 4

Little Bittern 4

Black Stork 1
Oystercatcher 2

Petri quarry

Eleonora's Falcon 8

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Whiskered Tern 5

Black Stork 3

White Stork 6

Vigla (nr Ipsilou)

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Napi Valley

Marsh Warbler 3

Faneromeni

Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Curlew Sandpiper 2

Christou River

Curlew Sandpiper 1

28 April 2012

Scops Owl, Papiana © Steve Dudley

Many more birds around today including the first Olive-tree Warbler and Rufous Bush-robin, four Red-breasted Flycatchers out west and another Baillon's Crake.

Weather - Blue skies, light SW breeze, 23C

NEW - news on day trips (those with spaces remaining), events and other info (like what new cafes/tavenras might be worth trying) for the 2012 birding weeks - see here.

Event - Sun, 29 April - Talk on the the proposed Lesvos Geopark at the Hotel Pasiphae. 1800h, for 45 mins. All welcome. The Lesvos Petrified Forest is already a designated Geopark and the proposal is to extend this to the whole of the island. Highly recommended.

BIRD NEWS

Achladeri & Kruper's Nuthatch

One pair feeding young near last years nest site along the top. Park your car by the white building building, walk up the main track through the forest, bear left at the fork, then follow the track left past the rubbish pile on the next corner and up the straight section of track. After c200m look for a thick black pine tree with a sap scar and a pile of 4 sandy-coloured rocks at the base. From this tree look in to the forest at 90 degrees from the track and look for a sheep/rams skull at base. Nest is in this tree on left hand side between two very short broken branch stumps.

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

BAILLON'S CRAKE - still present along reeded channel in SW corner near pumping station

Common Pochard - fem

Gull-billed Tern - 60+

White-winged Tern - 33

Whiskered Tern - 31

Curlew Sandpiper - 9

Ruff - 280+

Little Stint - 46

Marsh Sandpiper - 5

Stone-curlew - 1

Zitting Cisticola - 1

Vigla (nr Ipsilou)

Golden Oriole

Lesser Kestrel

Isabelline Wheatear

Cinereous Bunting

Platania

Olive-tree Warbler - 1(c.2km from the Napi road/0.5km from cattle grid site)

Thrush Nightingale - 1 at the cattle grid sight

Ortolan Bunting - 2

Golden Oriole - 18

Masked Shrike 

Long-legged Buzzard - 6

Short-toed Eagle - 4

Black Stork - 3

Eastern Orphean Warbler

Sombre Tit

plus much more common stuff

NOTE - the Platania track is very rough in places and should only be attempted with extreme caution. I would advise parking after 1km from the road then walk in

Tsiknias River

Citrine Wagtail - 1

Kalami Marsh
Great Bittern 1

Sigri & Faneromeni 

Icterine Warbler - 1 

Collared Flycatcher- 1

Metochi

BAILLON'S CRAKE - along ditch up west side of lake

Spotted Crake - 1 on main lake

Little Crake

Little Bittern

Sigri Old Sanatorium

GOLDEN EAGLE 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher - male

Red-backed Shrike - fem

Ortolan Bunting - 1

Meladia Valley

Rufous Bush-robin - 1 at chapel

Red-breasted Flycatcher - 3 females

Red-backed Shrike - male at chapel and male in fog grove by ford

Ipsilou

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - 1

Honey-buzzard - 2

Papiana

Scops Owl - 1 in the back of the singe eucalyptus (which is to the right of a three-trunk eucalyptus) opposite playground at the school - view from pine tree to the right of the eucalyptus and look in back of tree up at 1 o'clock c.10m up

Dipi Larisos 

Pygmy Cormorant - 2 still, ranging widely from river mouth, upstream (inc. getting in reeds up from the bridge) and bot hflew off and went down by the Mytilini road

Lardia Valley 

Black Kite - 3

Goshawk - 1

Skala Kallonis Pool

Spotted Crake - one calling outside Kalloni Bay hotel entrance

Little Crake

Squacco Heron - 5

Soumouria Scops Copse

Scops Owl - no sign in 1.5 hr search today

Kavaki

Ruppell's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Blue Rock-thrush, etc

Alikoudi Pool

Slender-billed Gull 11

Polichnitos Saltpans

Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Hoopoe, Platania © Steve Dudley

27 April 2011 - Penduline Tit and rain (lots!)

First, an apology for all those missing pictures from this beautiful island! I'm sorry, but I don't have time to take many photos when I am working with groups, and I don't have time in the evenings to process those I do take and prepare for the web. It gets tiring working days from 0615-0030h most days! Also, no one sends me any photos either! So here is a photo of a very obliging Black Stork at the Kalloni Saltpans taken this evening. Photo © Steve Dudley

Following a thunderous night with torrential rain, today was cool with very low cloud and rain most of the day, sometimes torrential.

Unfortunately, the expected mass downing of migrants with the rain didn't happen. The central area was very, very quiet but the west faired a little better with more Black-headed Buntings, Hoopoes and Red-back-shrikes (the first now belatedly reported for yesterday). Still waiting for Bee-eaters and many go home tomorrow afternoon! Flycatcher numbers greatly down and first day for some time that no Semi-collared Flys have been reported (see here).

Common Nightingales are not Bush-robins - lots of birds seen feeding in open areas 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!).

Complaints - alas, more complaints about several photographers who appear to care very little for the birds, their habitats and the rest of us on the island. More reports of fences being climbed, entering areas where they shouldn't be, harassing tired pratincoles, blocking tracks with their cars - I could go on. Lets hope these individuals are going home tomorrow and fingers crossed we don't get any more like them next week. Its not just photographers, one minibus of birders were seen walking through fields to view one pool in Lotzaria, going where they shouldn't be and flushing birds from the pool in the process. There's little we can do other than make our feelings plain and hope they won't continue their bad habits.

What many may not realise is that many of these areas are protected sites (Natura 2000 sites). Hunting has recently been banned here and the hunters are less than happy and are looking at excuses to prove that birders and photographers do as much disturbance as they do and because of this they should be allowed to resume their hunting. Please don't be ignorant enough to give them the ammunition they need to press their case for resumption of hunting.

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.

To the birds!

Tsiknias River - PENDULINE TIT fem (opposite the canopy at river mouth), Little Bittern 3, Night-heron 3, Whiskered Tern 2, Grey Plover 6, Whimbrel 1, Eurasian Curlew 1, Golden Oriole 1, Bee-eater 1, Hen Harrier 1.

Napi Valley - Olive-tree Warbler pr present at the barrier site below Mavria. Please park sensibly in this area and take care when viewing the site from the road by the barriers.

Upper Tsiknias River - Eleonora's falcon 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Black-headed Bunting.

Mesa Wetlands - Ortolan Bunting 2, Tawny Pipit 4.

Faneromeni - Eleonora's Falcon 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Black Kite 1, Red-backed Shrike 2, Black-headed Bunting.

Meladia Valley - Great Spotted Cuckoo 1 (nr small chapel at Eresos end of track).

Sigri Old Sanatorium - Black-headed Bunting 15.

Kalloni Saltpans (and area) - Barred Warbler 1 (by south hide), Whiskered Tern 86, White-winged Black Tern 30+, Gull-billed Tern 1, Red-footed Falcon 2 males, Teminck's Stint 3, Little Stint 130, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Ruddy Shelduck 35. Alykes Wetlands Pallid Harrier 1, Red-throated Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 2, Ruff 100+.

Lotzaria - Red-footed Falcon male, Curlew Sandpiper 7, Dunlin 66.

Parakoila Marsh - Little Bittern male.

Makara - Squacco Heron 1, Lesser Kestrel 3, Alpine Swift 6 (around Garbias Island). Sadly, the beach pool has been completely filled in here.

Kalami Marsh - Glossy Ibis 90+, Purple Heron 1.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 5, Little Bittern 2, Golden Oriole 1, Masked Shrike 1.

Achladeri - confirmation that the pr nr the white building have deserted the stump used for the last three years. Birds still present in the forest here. Short-toed Treecreeper, Red-backed Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 8 (between Achladeri and Vouvaris River).

Soumouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 1 in tree by green wheelie bin.

29 April 2010 - its all gone crazy!

Changeover day is always a dangerous day. The groups are busy being ferried to and from airports with limited birding, whilst all the independent birders gad about without the groups getting in their way! And boy did they see some birds today.

TEREK SANDPIPER - 1 Kalloni Saltpans breifly mid-afternoon in SW corner (Will Bowell, Kevin Du Rose et al). Only fifth record for Lesvos.

(RUFOUS-TAILED) ROCK-THRUSH - male Ipsilou in morning (Andy & Gill Swash, Ralph & Brenda Todd).

SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER - male Meladia River Ford (Andy & Gill Swash, Ralph & Brenda Todd).

WHITE PELICAN - 1 Kalloni Saltpans until mid-morning (MO).

Ipsilou - Rock-thrush male, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 7, Collared Flycatcher 20+, Levant Sparrowhawk 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Wood Warbler 50+, Golden Oriole 30+, Cinereous Bunting 10+.

Maladia Valley Ford - Semi-collared Flycatcher male, Little Crake (taken by Marsh Harrier), Little Bittern 4, Squacco Heron 4, Golden Oriole 6.

Sigri Fields - Collared Flycatcher 2, Roller 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Red-backed Shrike 100+, Masked Shrike 10+, Purple Heron 10, Montagu's Harrier 1, Orphean Warbler 2.

Potamia Valley - Olive-tree Warbler 2+ - one still 200m north of river bridge along east track, view from the half blue plastic container; Pallid Harrier 1.

Napi Valley - Olive-tree Warbler 1 at the barrier site below masts.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler 4+ at cattle grid site.

Tsiknias River - Caspian Tern 1 (at mouth), Citrine Wagtail 2 (at ford).

Kalloni Salptans (and surrounding flooded fields) - Terek Sandpiper (SW corner), White Pelican 1 (until mid morning), Citrine Wagtail 1 (flood), Rufous Bush Robin (SW corner compound), Bar-tailed Godwit 1, White-winged Black Tern 100+, Black Tern 5.

Metochi Lake - Ortolan Bunting 1, Little Bittern 2, Little Crake 2, Bee-eater 11.

Kalami Marsh - Whiskered Tern 68, White-winged Black Tern 2, Water Rail 1, Red-backed Shrike 2, Mallard 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Honey-buzzard 1.

Offshore at airport - Scopoli's Shearwater 110+ following fishing boat 1830.

Haramida - Whiskered Tern 1.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler, Orphean Warbler.

27 April 2010 - migrants galore out west

The west did it again. Those of us who ventured across to Sigri had another one of those mad migrant days - everywhere you looked, Turtles Doves, Red-backed Shrikes, Rollers, flycatchers - mad!

Nr Molivos - ROCK BUNTING 2 reported.

Meladia Valley - Pallid Harrier 1, Roller 6, Red-backed Shrike 30+, Golden Oriole 20+, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Red-footed Falcon 1, Montagu's Harrier 3, Hen Harrier 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Little Crake 1, Little Bittern 2, Squacco Heron 1, Night-heron 1, Purple Heron 2, Collared Flycatcher 3, Common Kingfisher 1 (late record), Turtle Dove (dozens), Lesser Kestrel 2, Short-toed Eagle 2.

Faneromeni Fords - Citrine Wagtail male, Roller 1, Collared Flycatcher 3, Great Bittern 1, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint 3, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Snipe 1, Little Bittern 3, Squacco Heron 1, Purple Heron 1.

Faneromeni Fields - Turtle Dove 2-300 inc. a flock of 120+ in one olive grove! Goshawk 1, Red-backed Shrike (many), Black-headed Bunting.

Sigri Fields - Collared Flycatcher 2, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike (many), Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Purple Heron, White-winged Black Tern 1, Collared Pratincole 2, Black-headed Bunting.

Petrified Forest Museum, Sigri - Collared Flycatcher 1, Orphean Warbler 3, Common Cuckoo.

Sigri Old Sanatorium - White-winged Black Tern 10, Roller 2, Golden Oriole 6, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 10+, Black-headed Bunting 12+.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT - pr still building nest. Bee-eater 30+. 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.

Potamia Valley - Olive-tree Warbler 1 (singing 150m NW of bridge).

Kalimi Marsh (Mesa) - White-winged Black Tern 9, Shoveler 4, Mallard 2.

Kalloni Saltpans - Rufous Bush Robin (in pumping station compound in SW corner of pans), Rose-coloured Starling 1, White-winged Black Tern 2, Black Tern 1, Whiskered Tern 1, Gull-billed Tern 3, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Common Shelduck 26.

Alykes Wetlands - Rufous Bush Robin 1, Whiskered Tern 50+, White-winged Black 20+, Red-footed Falcon 4, Ruddy Shelduck 20, Squacco Heron 6, Teminck's Stint 8, Red-throated Pipit 4, Black-headed Buntings.

Mesa - Ruddy Shelduck 26.

Petrified Forest road - Rufous Bush Robin, Chukar.

Christou River - Roller 1.

Pessa Waterfall Trail (Achladeri Forest) - Grey Wagtail (pr), Woodlark.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 3, Golden Oriole.

Polichnitos Saltpans - Red-footed Falcon 42, White-winged Black 1, Bee-eater 17, Black-headed Bunting 50+, Lesser Grey Shrike, Tawny Pipit.

Tsiknias River - Quail 1.

1 April - Olive-tree Warbler and Little Gulls

Little Gulls, part of 6000+ seen between Lesvos north coast and Turkey, 1 Apr 10 © Sebastien Siblet

Sightings from Jean-Philippe & Sebastien Siblet.

Weather and water levels - two weeks of fine weather and no rain is already seeing water levels dropping fast. Fingers crossed for some rain in the next couple of weeks.

Korakas headland - Olive-tree Warbler 2 (as far as I now by far the earliest ever records on the island - previous earliest 22 Apr 2008), Tree Pipit 1, Audouin's Gull 1.

Soumouria (Kalloni mini soccer pitch) - Scops Owl 1, Short-toed Eagle 1.

North coast (between Skala Sikaminias and Loutra Evithalous) - 6000+ Little Gulls between Lesvos and Turkey. Thought to be due to 80km gales overnight which may have pushed the birds in to the sheltered area of the straights. Apparently this is a Greek national record count!

Ipsilou area - Cinereous Bunting (many), Isabelline Wheatear (many), Orphean Warbler, Hoopoe.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Black Stork 4, Short-toed Eagle 4, Marsh Harrier 1.

Kalloni Saltpans - Glossy Ibis 40+, Black Stork 2, White Stork 1, Great White Egret 10, Great Heron 8, Little Egret 16, Greater Flamingo 400+, Ruddy Shelduck 41, Garganey 2, Marsh Harrier 1, Little Ringed Plover 17, Kentish Plover 7, Black-winged Stilt 52, Avocet 400+, Marsh Sandpiper 14, Wood Sandpiper 8, Greenshank 9, Ruff 70, Dunlin 5, Little Stint 15, Eurasian Curlew 2, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Stone-curlew 1, Short-toed Lark 15, Black-headed Wagtail 7.

Metochi lake - Reed Warbler 1.

See below for earlier early spring migrant sightings.

12 May - Olive-trees arrive at last!

Cretzschmar's Bunting, Ipsilou © Steve Dudley

Potamia Valley - Olive-tree Warbler 2 singing and showing well c.1.4km from the main road turn. Also Icterine Warbler 1.

Ipsilou - Olive-tree Warbler 1 singing from oaks by top of first section of old monastery path from road. Wood Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat, Red-backed Shrike 2, Spotted Flyactcher sev.

Aghias Taxiarchis (nr Skalachori) - Olive-tree Warbler 2 singing east of chapel. Eleonora's Falcon 1 dark phase feeding over road west of chapel for 10-15 mins c.0915h.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler, at least 2 in at the cattlegrid site.

Nr Parakila - ROLLER 1 c.3 km south.

Skala Eresou - Little Bittern 2, Alpine Swift 2.

Tsiknias River - at ford - CITRINE WAGTAIL male & female (male also on flood area), Little Bittern 1, Great Reed Warbler 1. River mouth - Sandwich Tern 1.

Kalloni Saltpans area - Alykes Wetlands - no sign of yesterday's Broad-billed Sandpiper. Temminck's Stint 2, Ringed Plover 12, Red-throated Pipit 4. Flood opp. saltworks entrance - Whiskered Terns 2, White-winged Black Tern 2, Collared Pratincole 2, Black Stork 6, Great White Egret 3, Squacco Heron 8+, Curlew Sandpiper 6, Ruff 110+, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard 3. Saltpans Little Stint 30+.

Agiasos - Chiffchaff 1.

RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN - birds reported from Madaros, Chrousos beach and Polichnitos Saltpans in recent days.

27 May 08 - Citrine Wagtail

Polichnitos Saltpans - Citrine Wagtail 1 (Terry Robinson).

nr Skala Vasilikon - Olive Tree Warbler 1, Fan-tailed Warbler 1 (Tony Hardware).

Reporting your sightings
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.