28 April - Common Rock-thrush and Great Spotted Cuckoos

Female Common Rock-thrush, Ipsilou, 28 April 2013 
(Monticola saxatilis) Πυροκότσυφας © Steve Dudley

A female Common Rock-Thrush was the star find today at Ipsilou. White-throated Robins were seen first thing then not again until late evening. Five Great Spotted Cuckoos is possibly an island record count. Raptors included the wandering Griffon Vulture, single Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite and Levant Sparrowhawk. Migrant passerines few and far between.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

Two males this morning c.06.30 - 07.30. No sign of any birds throughout day, but one male again 18.30. 

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

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

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

Ipsilou

COMMON ROCK-THRUSH female
Black Kite 1

Kavaki

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1
Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

GRIFFON VULTURE 1
Levant Sparrowhawk 1
Eleanora's Falcon 1

Faneromeni

Great Spotted Cuckoo ad & 2CY (western fields)
Wryneck 1 (lower ford)
Roller 2 (1 main track and 1 western fields)
Red-throated Pipit 5 (cut hay field on beach road)
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Golden Oriole 1
Collared Flycatcher 1

Achalderi

Great Spotted Cuckoo 2
Roller 1

Perasma

Great Spotted Cuckoo 1

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Spur-winged Plover 2
Purple Heron 12
Collard Pratincole 2
Gull-billed Tern 1

Tsiknias River

Temminck's Stint 3

Petri

Black Kite 1

Metochi Lake

Night-heron 8
Little Crake 1

Petrifies Forest

Barred Warbler

Papiana

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

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'

Scops Owl - several. Please do not harass the birds!

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.

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!

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.

29 April - Rock Thrush and Olive-tree Warblers

Olive-tree Warbler - at least two birds in at the Upper Napi Valley crash barrier site (just below masts at top of valley). Apparently present for third day. No birds yet at the Platania cattle grid site.

Griffon Vulture - no news today.

Ipsilou - ROCK THRUSH male (on north slope between track up to monastery and the Sigri road).

Faneromeni area - ROLLER 1, Spotted Crake 1, Night-heron, Little Bittern 1, Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike 2, Redstart 1.

Sigri Old Sanitorium - Icterine Warbler, Chukar (no news of Rufous Bush Robin).

Meladia Valley - ROLLER 1, Montagu's Harrier 4, Red-footed Falcon 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Redstart 1, Orphean Warbler 1, Chukar 2, Chiffchaff 1, Golden Oriole.

Kavacki (nr Petra) - Rupell's Warbler 1, Ortolan Bunting 1, Audouin's Gull 1.

Kalloni Saltpans (and surrounding fields) - CITRINE WAGTAIL 2 (male & female in flooded field down east track), PALLID HARRIER 2, Tawny Pipit 2, Spoonbill 3, Black Tern 3, Red-footed Falcon 5, Whiskered Tern 25, Little Gull 1, Pintail 1.

Tsiknias River - Gull-billed Tern 5, Slender-billed Gull 4, Mediterranean 3, Whiskered Tern 1.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Purple Heron 1, Garganey 3.

Skala Eresou - Eleonora's Falcon 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans - ROLLER 1.

Metochi Lake - Little Bittern 2, Little Crake 2 (m&f).

26 April 08 - where eagles dare

A major improvement today, with four migrant eagle species, other raptors and a large increase in migrant passerines.

Weather: overcast all day with occasional sunny period. Moderate northerly wind. Max. temp 20 C.

Today's main highlights -

Petra - STEPPE EAGLE (sub-adult, 6th island record) low to the south at 09.25 followed within a minute by a BLACK KITE. Black-headed Bunting 2, good Ruppell's Warbler activity.

North coast track (Eftalou to Skala Sikaminias) - GOLDEN EAGLE (adult) north at 13.55 mobbed by Long-legged Buzzard. Audouin's Gull 1.

Parakoila Marsh - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1 over in morning. Little Crake 1.

Platania - BOOTED EAGLE 1 over in morning. Olive Tree Warbler showing on and off, Golden Oriole 15+.

Anaxos - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1.

Napi Valley - RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK THRUSH 1 just north of Napi, Red-footed Falcon fem.

Tsiknias River - ROLLER 1, CITRINE WAGTAIL Wagtail 1, Little Crake 1, Temminck's Stint 1.

Petra Reservoir - Marsh Warbler 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2.

Maladia River Ford - Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Roller 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 3 (plus Red-backed, Masked and Woodchat), Barred Warbler 4, Ortolan Bunting 5+, Savi's Warbler 1, Thrush Nightingale 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Montagu's Harrier 1, Wood Warbler.

Aghias Ioannis - Ortolan Bunting 5+, Sardinian Warbler 1, Cinereous Bunting.

Kalloni Saltpans - Broad-billed Sandpiper 13, Dunlin 2, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint.

Alykes Wetlands - Collared Praticoles 17, Red-throated Pipits 4, Short-toed Lark 5.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 2.

Christou River - Whimbrel 1.

Kalloni Soccer Pitch (Scops Copse) - Scops Owl 2 (easiest bird still the roadside tree marked with plastic chocholate choice bottle).

Achladeri - both Kruper's Nuthatch and Long-eared Owl showing well.

More Rollers reported from elsewhere (but no details) on the island, plus many more Red-backed Shrikes, Golden Orioles and commoner migrants such as flava wagtails and warblers. Still very few flycatchers.