22 April 2012

Log book now in Dionysos taverna, Skala Kalloni - please make good use of it!

Blues skies, light southerly breeze, 23C

Faneromeni Lower Ford

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER - at 1500h

Kalloni Saltpans inc. seasonal floods opp saltworks entrance

BAILLON'S CRAKE - 1 along water channel just north of the pumping station (SW corner) off the eastern access road

Little Crake - 1

Glossy Ibis - 6

Marsh Sandpiper - 2

Curlew Sandpiper - 8

Black-tailed Godwit - 1

Common Snipe - 1

Greenshank, Little Stint, Great White Egret, Squacco Heron

Dipi Larisos
Pygmy Cormorant - still at least 1
Sanderling - 1

Metochi Lake

Penduline Tit - 1

Little Crake - 3

Little Bittern - 3

Tsiknias River

Citrine Wagtail - male at main ford at 1000h

Penduline Tit - 1 at main ford early morning

Black Stork - 1

Glossy Ibis - 14

Stone-curlew

Oystercatcher - 1 at river mouth at 1900h

Black-becked Grebe - 1 off river mouth

Greenshank - 8

Aghias Taxiarchis

Eleonora's Falcon - 1

Goshawk - 2

Ipsilou

Collared Flycatcher - 2

Masked Shrike 

plus usual Cinereous Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Chukar, etc

Alpine Swift (nr Ipsilou)

Christou River

Collared Flycatcher - 1

Potamia Valley

Short-toed Eagle - 4

Long-leeged Buzzard - 5

Goshawk - 1

Little Bittern - 1

Woodchat, Hoopoe, Turtle Dove

Alykes Wetlands

Gull-billed Tern - 1

Skylark - 1

Short-toed Lark - 20

Soumouria Scops Copse

Scops Owl - 1 - enter from the Kalloni end entrance and the bird is in the third eucalyptus on the right in fork of tree c7-8m up

Achladeri

Kruper's Nuthatch very diffcult today - not calling very often making locating them very hard. Only seen 3-4 times in eight hours.
Collared Flycatcher - 1

Short-toed Treecreeper 

Long-legged Buzzard

Perasma Reservoir
Common Pochard - 1

'Petra area'

Ruppell's Warbler - 3

Ortolan Bunting - 1

Collared Flycatcher - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 3

Agios Fokas
Collared Flyccatcher - 1
Sardinian Warbler - 12+
Grey Plover - 1 at River Almyropotamos River mouth (Vatera)

Also reports of Semi-collared Flycatcher and Eastern Bonelli's Warbler out west today but no further details.

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.

19 April 2011 - Spectacled Warbler in large arrival of migrants

Cold and windy and occasionally wet. Low of 5C plus the windchill – its cold!

Loads of passerine migrants. Collared Flycatchers still everywhere from the other days arrival, but today saw a huge influx of warblers (mainly Sylvia), Nightingales, Turtle Doves, Whinchats, Common Redstarts and other species.

A Spectacled Warbler found today is, if accepted, the first record for Lesvos!

Semi-collared flycatchers – really? See here.

Sigri Fields – SPECTACLED WARBLER male in sheltered fig grove with many other migrants (Common Whitethroats, Blackaps, Collared Flys, Nightingales); Citrine Wagtail 4 (inc. 2 males), Gull-billed Tern 1, Purple Heron 2, Squacco Heron 4, Golden Oriole 2, Common Kingfisher 1.

Skala Kallonis – SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 fems, Golden Oriole, Long-eared Owl (all Hotel Pasiphae garden).

Perasma Reservoir – SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER male, Whiskered Tern 1, Hobby 1.

Napi Valley - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 (m&f), Ortolan Bunting 1, Red-footed Falcon fem.

Konditsia Valley- SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1.

Faneromeni – SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 (on road to beach), Yelkouan and Scolopoli’s Shearwaters offshore. Fords Citrine Wagtail 2 (m&f – upper), Little Crake 2 (lower), Little Bittern 1, Common Kingfisher 1, Green Sandpiper 1, plus many common migrants – Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Orphean Warbler, Common Redstart, Collared Flycatcher.

Metochi Lake – PENDULINE TIT fem, Savi’s Warbler 1, Honey-buzzard 1 (first reported), Little Crake 4.

Sigri Old Sanitorium – Barred Warbler 2 (m&f) – loads of commoner migrants.

Meladia Valley – Wryneck 1 (on track to river mouth), Wood Warbler (chapel), Purple Heron 2, Glossy Ibis 1, Montagu's Harrier 5 (2 males, 3 r/t), Marsh Harrier 2, Hen Harrier 2, Great Reed Warbler 10+.

Tsiknias River – Temminck’s Stint 2, Common Ringed Plover 1, Green Sandpiper 2, Sandwich Tern 3, Squacco Heron 5.

Christou (Kamares) River – Gull-billed Tern 3, Whiskered Tern 1, Dunlin 20, Mediterranean Gull 1.

Petrified Forest Park – Red-footed Falcon male.

Soumouria (Scops Copse) – Scops Owl 2.

Kalloni Saltpans – Glossy Ibis 200+ on flood opp saltworks entrance, Hen Harrier 1, Marsh Harrier 1.

Lotzaria – Montagu’s Harrier 4.

Polichnitos Saltpans – Whiskered Tern 1, Black-tailed Godwit 8.

Ipsilou – completely shrouded in cloud – no news.

Black Kite 1-2 Antissa - Sigi.

12 May 2010 - Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush

My last daily update as I leave for home tomorrow. Its not been a classic year. The fine, settled weather has seen fewer falls of birds and overall lower numbers of many species. Its never been dull though, and even in high heat of this week (highest ever temps I've experienced) birds are still to be found if you go looking for them.

Thanks to all those who have contributed to the log at the Hotel Pasiphae or have texted or emailed their bird news these last three weeks. Thanks also the Hotel Pasiphae staff for their usual warm hospitality.

Ipsilou - report of a female RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK THRUSH at the bottom of the roads. Icterine Warbler 1.

Alikoudi Pool - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 5, Curlew Sandpiper 6, Kentish Plover 15, Grey plover 4, Little Stint 32, Ringed Plover 1.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT - male visiting nest every 10-15 minutes. Night-heron 1, Little Bittern 1.

nr Skala Vasilikon - 1st sum male Citrine Wagtail on stream c.1km east of village. Lesser Grey Shrike c.0.5km east of village.

Tsiknias River - Turnstone 6, Sanderling 6.

7 May - Broad-billed Sandpiper

Kalloni Saltpans flood - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1 on and off all day, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint 1, Collared Pratincole 7, Little Stint 110+, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Ringed Plover 7, Gull-billed Tern 1, Sandwich Tern 2, Mediterranean Gull 11, Bee-eater 100+, Rufous Bush Robin 1 in SW compound, Mallard 3.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT male seen well on and off near nest site 100m north of village bridge along east side track.

Tsiknias River - Curlew Sandpiper 6, Grey Plover 2, Turnstone 2.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 5.

Faneromeni - 2 Ottoman Vipers seen very close mating! Levant Sparrowhawk 1, Rufous Bush Robin 1, Little Bittern 2, Bee-eater 50+.

Nr Eresos (Meladia Valley track) - Isabelline Wheatear 2 displaying males.

Meladia Valley - poss. 2CY Caspian Gull with Yellow-leggs Gulls at river mouth (no previous Lesvos records); Tawny Pipit 1, Purple Heron 5, Icterine Warbler 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Hoopoe 2, Bee-eater 24+.

Nr Vafios - Eleanora's Falcon 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Hen Harrier fem, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Red-footed Falcon 2, Lesser Kestrel 1, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard.

6 May 2010 - White Pelican

Airport beach - WHITE PELICAN 1 seen by those waiting for their flights home around midday (Bob Buckler et al). Also 23 Scopoli's and 6 Yelkouan Shearwaters at 6.00pm.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT still nesting c.100 m north of the village road bridge (Goldfinch stealing material from nest!). Collared Flycatcher 2, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Coot 1.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flood opposite saltworks entrance) - Citrine Wagtail 1 (male), Gull-billed Tern 1, Temminck's Stint 1, Little Stint 120+, Ringed Plover 4, Collared Pratincole 4, Little Gull 1.

Faneromeni - Roller 2, Scopoli's Shearwater 2, Yelkouan Shearwaters 100+, Night-heron 1, Bee-eater max. 46, Little Egret 20+, Little Bittern 5+, Squacco Heron 2, Red-footed Falcon 1, Turtle Dove 6, Red-throated Pipit 1, Golden Oriole 1, Rufous Bush Robin ('upper valley').

Meladia Valley - Golden Oriole 2, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Woodlark 8.

North Coast - River Warbler 1 singing, Audouin's Gull 1.

Petrified Forest road - Lesser Kestrel 12.

Skala Kallonis - Purple Heron 1, Night-heron 7, Squacco Heron 2 (all over at dusk), Barn Owl in village.

5 May 2010 - Rock Bunting reported

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - ROCK BUNTING reported at the Isabelline Wheatear lay-by. Follows belated reports of Rock Bunting at Achladeri on 2 May and near Molivos in late April.

Skala Kallonis - GREAT SNIPE 1 in culvert and field edge near bakery, Red-footed Falcon 1, Squacco Heron 10.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT pr still nesting up east track of river from village road bridge. Night-heron 31 in off sea.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flood opposite saltworks entrance) - Spoonbill 4, Collared Pratincole 3, Little Gull 1, Gull-billed Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 20, Temminck's Stint 4+, Little Stint 104+, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Ringed Plover 4, Red-footed Falcon 3, Bee-eater 1, Garganey 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Common Redshank 1, Pintail 1, Mallard 3.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Honey-buzzard 1, Eleanora's Falcon 1, Goshawk 1, Short-toed Eagle 5, Long-legged Buzzard 3, Peregrine 1, Hobby 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Black Stork 3.

Mesa Wetlands - Montagu's Harrier 1.

Napi Valley - Levant Sparrowhawk 1.

Potamia Valley - Olive-tree Warbler still up east side of river from river bridge by the blue container.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler 5+ at the cattle grid site, Red-footed Falcon 3.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Night-heron 1.

Tsiknias River - Temminck's Stint 2, Sanderling 1.

Ipsilou - Icterine Warbler 1, Red-footed Falcon 2, Golden Oriole 2, Spotted Flycatcher 20+.

Skala Kallonis, Hotel Pasiphae garden - Collared Flycatcher 1.

Meladia Valley - Rufous Bush Robin 2, Collared Flycatcher 4, Goshawk 1, Little Bittern 7, Night-heron 1, Purple Heron, Common Redstart 1.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 3, Little Bittern 3.

Sigri - Roller, Little Bittern, Little Crake 6, Bee-eater 50+, Little Stint.

Madaros - Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Faneromeni - Collared Flycatcher 4, Roller 1. No sign of Spur-winged Plover.

North Coast - Audouin's Gull 1.

4 May 2010 - slowing down

Continuous high pressure has meant wall to wall sunshine and increasing daily temperatures. More birds have shipped out than shipped in, but there is still enough to keep us happy.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1, River Warbler 1, Little Crake 3.

Skala Eresou – PENDULINE TIT still nesting c.100 nest north of the village end road bridge. park at bridge and walk up track along east side.

Sigri Fields / Faneromeni area – SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Hawfinch 1, Collared Flycatcher 1, Collared Pratincole 1, Whiskered Tern 2, Purple Heron 1, Little Bittern 4, Squacco Heron 1, Bee-eater 4+, Alpine Swift 6, Yelkouan Shearwater 1000+, Scopoli's Shearwater 2, Ringed Plover 1.

Platania - Olive-tree Warbler 3 singing.

Meladia Valley – Rufous Bush Robin 2, Collared Flycatcher 4, Icterine Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 1, Redstart 1, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Little Bittern 7, Squacco Heron 1, Night-heron 2, Little Crake 1.

Sigri Old Sanatorium – Collared Flycatcher 1, Rufous Bush Robin 1, Woodchat Shrike 3, Red-backed Shrike 2.

Perivolis Monastery - Ortolan Bunting, Cinereous Bunting, Serin, Alpine Swifts 2, Golden Oriole, Middle Spotted Woodpecker.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Ortolan Bunting, Montagu's Harrier, Short-toed Eagle 2, Goshawk 2, Black Stork.

Agios Fokas – Audouin’s Gull 1, Grey Plover 2, Turnstone 12, Ringed Plover 1, dead Leatherjacket Turtle.

Parakila Marsh - Purple Heron 10.

Hotel Pasiphae garden, Skala Kallonis - Collared Flycatcher 1.

Soumouria (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl still in tree by bins.

Pandeleimonas - Eleanora's Falcon 1, Common Redshank 1.

Ipsilou - Collared Flycatcher 2.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flooded fields opposite saltworks entrance, etc) - Garganey 2, Turnstone 1, Curlew Sandpiper 4, Ringed Plover 5.

Vouvaris River bridge - Collared Flycatcher 1, Serin 1.

Mavria (Napi Valley - to masts at top of valley) - Olive-tree Warbler, Red-footed Falcon 3, Long-legged Buzzard 4, Orphean Warbler, Middle Spotted Woodpecker.

3 May 2010 - Moustached Warbler

Sigri / Faneromeni - MOUSTACHED WARBLER 1, SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Roller 1, Collared Flycatcher 3, Icterine Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 2, Collared Pratincole 3, Bee-eater 24, Montagu's Harrier 1, Alpine Swift 3.

Sigri Old Sanatorium - report of a FINSCH'S WHEATEAR c.0.75km south of the sanatorium.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT - still nesting c.100m north of village end road bridge. Little Crake 1.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1, Little Crake 7.

Tsiknias River - GREAT SNIPE 1 (between main road bridge and first rough rough ford to south), Marsh Warbler (near Great Snipe), Temminck's Stint 1.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. flooded fields opposite saltworks entrance) - GREAT SNIPE 1, White-winged Black Tern 45+, Whiskered Tern 35+, Sanderling 2, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Little Stint 80+.

Meladia Valley - River Warbler 2, Savi's Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Little Bittern 5, Purple Heron 3, Squacco Heron 6, Red-backed Shrike 20.

Christou River - Quail 1, Stone-curlew 2.

Potamia Valley - Night-heron 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Eleanora's Falcon 3.

Nr Eresos - Roller.

Lardia Valley - Golden Oriole, Goshawk, Alpine Swift 3.

Ipsilou - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Eleanora's Falcon 3, Red-footed Falcon 2, Lesser Kestrel 1.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler, Red-footed Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 1.

Perasma - White-winged Black Tern 1, Ruddy Shelduck 2, Squacco Heron 3, Alpine Swift 11.

1 May 2010 - Semi-collared Flys

Ipsilou - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER male (photo - Andy & Gill Swash, Ralph & Brenda Todd), RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK THRUSH 1 (Jeff & Helen Bailey), Levant Sparrowhawk male, Honey-buzzard 4+, Lesser Kestrel 20+, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 4, Collared Flycatcher 4, Icterine Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 10, Wood Warbler 30+, Cinereous Bunting 11+, Wood Nuthatch 1, Black-headed Bunting 3.

Meladia Valley - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 female (John Glendinning & Jon Burton), Rufous Bush Robin 1, Pallid Harrier 1 (2CY male), Collared Flycatcher 2, Lesser Grey Shike 2, Red-backed Shrike 100+, Woodchat Shrike 10, Common Kingfisher 1, Cinereous Bunting 3, Golden Oriole 10, Lesser Kestrel 1, Orphean Warbler 2, Woodpigeon 1 (good record!), Serin 1, Common Cuckoo 3.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1 (MO), Little Crake 2, Little Bittern 4, Purple Heron 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - LANNER 1 (Dave & Jackie Nurney, Steve Chalmers), Eleanora's Falcon 1, Goshawk 1.

Skala Eresou - PENDULINE TIT - pr still at nest c. 100m north of the village end road bridge up the east track. Little Bittern 5, Common Kingfisher 1, Purple Heron 4, Squacco Heron 4.

Sigri Fields / Faneromeni area - GREAT SNIPE 1 (photo), Roller 1, Citrine Wagtail 2, Collared Pratincole 3, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Temmick's Stint, White-winged Black Tern 40, Whiskered Tern 10, Red-backed Shrike 10, Masked Shrike 2, Little Bittern 1, Garganey 1, Bee-eater 30+.

Nr Eresos - Marsh Warbler 1, Little Bittern 1.

Kalloni Saltpans / Tsiknias River - Rufous Bush Robin 1 (compound in SW corner), Mediterranean Gull 7, Collared Pratincole 3, Red-throated Pipit 4, Temminck's Stint 1, Little Stint 8.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - Red-footed Falcon 27, Lesser Kestrel 1, Isabelline Wheatear 5+.

Agra - Mesotopos - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Isabelline Wheatear 2, Orphean Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 4, Cinereous Bunting 2.

Skalochori to Filia - Roller 1.

Potamia Valley - Olive-tree Warbler - still performing - DO NOT ENTER THE OLIVE GROVES - they private fields. The birds are seen regularly from the track if you stay out of the fields. Entering the fields will not help!

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.

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.

29 April 08 - still trickling through

Baillon's Crake, Metochi Lake © Bob Buckler Wingspan Bird Tours

Kalloni Saltpans – SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 along east channel c.1 km from road. Red-footed Falcon 5, Gull-billed Tern 2, Red-throated Pipit 3, Short-toied Lark 4.

Faneromeni area – PENDULINE TIT 4 (200 m up track from the ford in willows), GREAT SNIPE 1, LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (m), Little Bittern 3, Squacco Heron 2, Purple Heron 1.
Great Snipe, Faneromeni Upper Ford © Bob Buckler Wingspan Bird Tours

Meladia River Ford – SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 (f), OLIVE TREE WARBLER 1, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 1, Icterine Warbler 6, Barred Warbler 2, Little Bittern 3, Purple Heron 1, Temminck’s Stont 1, Tawny Pipit 1, Golden Oriole 2, Common Redstart 2, Red-footed Falcon 1, 1000+ Yelkouan Shearwater. Very few common migrants – handful of flycatchers, loads of Black-headed Buntings, Bee-eaters.

Ipsilou - SCARLET ROSEFINCH 1 (6th record for island). Very few migrants. Handful of flycatchers and a Wood Warbler.

Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 1, Hobby 1, Purple Heron 1, Little Bittern 3.
Baillon's Crake, Metochi Lake © Bob Buckler Wingspan Bird Tours

Skala Kallonis Pools – CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 (m).

Tsiknias River – CITRINE WAGTAIL 1 (f).

Sigri/Eresos road junction – ROLLER 1.

Sigri Fields – Collared Flycatcher 1 (m), White-winged Black Tern 1 and Whiskered Tern 1 feeding over fields.

Alykes Wetlands – Collared Pratincole 16.

Kalloni Mini Soccer – Scops Owl 1.

Skala Sikaminias – Audouin’s Gull 4.

Petrified Forest Road – Red-footed Falcon 2.

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

28 April 08 - calm after the storm

After yesterday's bonanza, a more steady day with lost to see wherever folk went on the island. The west proved worthwhile again with plenty of yesterday’s fall still present plus some new finds.

Weather: largely sunny with some scattered cloud. Light to moderate north-westerly winds. Max. temp c. 23 C.

Ipsilou – still plenty of common migrants such as Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Wood Warblers. SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, THRUSH NIGHTINGALE 1, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1.

Sigri Fields – LEVANT SPARROWHAWK 1 (f), ROLLER 1, Red-footed Falcon 6 (5f, 1m), Bee-eater 8.

Faneromeni Ford – PENDULINE TIT 2 (by track-side pool), GREAT SNIPE 1, Purple Heron 1, Squacco Heron 1, Little Bittern 2, Spotted Redshank 1.

Meladia River Mouth – unconfirmed reports of GREAT SNIPE 4, CITRINE WAGTAIL 3, RUFOUS BUSH CHAT 1, Eatern Bonelli’s Warbler 1, Corncrake 1, Temminck’s Stint 1. Lots of Lesser and Red-backed Shrikes, Black-headed Buntings, etc.

Skala Kallonis Pool – FERRUGINOUS DUCK 1, Mediterranean Gull 3.

Kalloni Saltpans – CITRINE WAGTAIL fem (opp. Saltworks entrance), Gull-billed Tern 4, Whiskered Tern 2, White-winged Black Tern 1, Red-throated Pipit 5 (opp. Saltworks entrance), Black Stork 2, Grey Plover 2 Stone-curlew 1.

Metochi Lake – BAILLON’S CRAKE 2, Little Crake 7, Little Bittern 2 (m&f), Whiskered Tern 11.

Between Mandamados and Napi Valley – GOLDEN EAGLE 1 sub-adult, Mistle Thrush 2.

Tsiknias Ri ver – Savi’s Warbler 1, Red-footed Falcon 1 (fem), Little Bittern 1, Collared Pratincole 3 (same as Alykes Wetlands?), Black-tailed Godwit 1, Sanderling 3, Dunlin 2.

Alykes Wetlands – Collared Pratincole 3, Tawny Pipit 1, Red-throated Pipit 10, Short-toed Lark 8, Montagu's Harrier 1 (m), Spotted Redshank 1, Common Snipe 2, Green Sandpiper.

Polichinitos Saltpans – Whiskered Tern 1, Temmick’s Stint 4, Purple Heron 2, Black Stork 1.

Petra – Ruppell’s Warbler 4 showing well, Orphean Warbler.

North Coast Track – Audouin’s Gull 4, Scopoli’s (Cory’s) Shearwater 5+, Yelkouan Shearwater 20+.

Skala Kallonis – Eleanora’s Falcon 1 over Hotel Pasiphae.

Thanks to everyone who passed on info or entered their records in the Hotel Pasiphae bird log.