30 April - Corncrake (RIP) and Baillon Crake

A Corncrake found dead on the road at Faneromeni (only the 20th island record) and a Baillon's Crake at Meotchi Lake. The Griffon Vulture continues to be seen and another potential island first was Syke's Wagtail at Faneromeni. Two more Black Kites continues a very good spring for this species. Oh, and at least one of the male White-throated Robins was seen in the evening.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

One male seen this evening briefly at 18.30 and well at 19.45 

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.

Petrified Forest (cont)

Golden Oriole 3

Collared Flycatcher 1

Skala Kallonis

No sign of either sand plover or divers reported yesterday.

Sigri & Faneromeni area

SYKE'S WAGTAIL (beema) 'several' reported (no previous accepted records)

CORNCRAKE 1 fund freshly dead on road

GRIFFON VULTURE 1

Semicollared Flycatcher 1

Wryneck 1

Citrine Wagtail 1

Roller 2

Bee-eater 5

Barred Warbler 1

Olive-tree Warbler 1

Eleanora's Falcon 1

Nightjar 1

Metochi Lake

Baillon's Crake 1

Night-heron 20

Little Crake 3

Golden Oriole 1

Perasma Reservoir

Great Spotted Cuckoo ad + 2CY

Marsh Warbler 3

Mt Ordimnos

Black Kite 2

Nr Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

Tawny Owl 1

Makara

Roller 2

Temminck's Stint 3

Chukar 7 (inc. some suspiciously captive origin birds!)

Alpine Swift 60+ around Garbias Is and coming to drink from the beach pool (fantastic views).

Mt Ordimnos

Black Kite 2

Agriosikos (Filia mast area)

Levant Sparrowhawk 2

Christou (Kameras) River

Spoonbill 3 over

Achalderi

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

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

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

Collared Pratincole 3

White-winged Tern 3

Glossy Ibis 2

Purple Heron 3

Quial 2

Ruddy Shelduck 2

Nr Skamioudi

Olive-tree 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 5l. Please do not harass the birds!

27 April - White-throated Robin breeding!

White-throated Robin, Petrified Forest, April 2013 

(Irania gutturalis) Λευκόλαιμο Αηδόνι 

© Steve Dudley

South westerly winds saw a small movement of raptors in the morning, but high afternoon temperatures (29C) soon curtailed most bird activity until the evening.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

Two males showed on and off throughout the morning from the road overlooking the square concrete building. 

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.

SEMICOLLARED FLYCATCHER female

Lesser Kestrel 52 over

Black-headed Bunting - several

Collared Flycatcher male

Golden Oriole male

Red-backed Shrike 2

Between Antissa and Ipsilou

Black Kite 4

Levant Sparrowhawk 3

Red-footed Falcon 14

Eleanora's Falcon 3

Ipsilou

GRIFFON VULTURE 1

Black Kite 2

Red-footed Falcon 4

Red-breasted Flycatcher male

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Gull-billed Tern 3

Purple Heron 3

Squacco Heron 5

Glossy Ibis 5

Marsh Sandpiper 1

Common Ringed Plover 3

Red-throated Pipit 5

Black-headed Bunting 10

Tsiknias River

Mediterranean Gull 9

Squacco Heron 6

Black-headed Bunting several

Potamia River

Purple Heron 2

Squacco Heron 1

Platania 

Golden Oriole 2

Metochi Lake

Night-heron 9

Little Bittern 7

Little Crake 5

Squacco Heron 3

Great Reed Warbler 2

Golden Oriole 2

Kavaki

Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

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!

26 April - Rollers galore!

No news on the White-throated Robins today but a day of Rollers! The Griffon Vulture toured the west again and was enjoyed by many.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

No news today but late news from yesterday, one bird seen late evening.

Faneromeni & SIgri area

SEMICOLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 males

SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1

GRIFFON VULTURE 1 (also seen Lardia Valley & Ipsilou)

Eleanora's Falcon 1

Pallid Harrier 2CY

Montagu's Harrier 2CY

Roller 15 - inc. flock of 12

Purple Heron 15

Glossy Ibis 5

Lesser Grey Shrike 4

Golden Oriole 

Spotted Redshank 1

Black-headed Buntings

Ipsilou

GRIFFON VULTURE 1 (also seen Lardia Valley & Sigri)

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

Lardia Valley

GRIFFON VULTURE 1 (also seen Ipsilou and Sigri)

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Pallid Harrier 2CY

Quail 2

Red-footed Falcon 2

Whiskered Tern 3

Glossy Ibis 33

Red-throated Pipit 32

Black-headed Buntings

Zitting Cisticola 

Oystercatcher 1

Great Crested Grebe 2

Tsiknias River

Little Bittern 6

White-winged Black Tern 4

Black-headed Buntings

Meladia Valley

Roller 4

Ortolan Bunting 2

Black-headed Buntings

Napi Valley

Roller 3

Polichnitos Saltpans

Roller 2

Marsh Sandpiper 1

Red-footed Falcon 1

Black-headed Bunting

Meldia Valley

Black-headed Bunting 2

Roller 1

Night-heron 3

Sigri Old Sanotorium

Wood Warbler 1

Metochi Lake

Little Bittern 4

Little Crake 4

Mesa

Garganey 3

Kavaki

Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

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!

4 May 2011 - Bimac and Bee-eaters!

Bee-eater, Faneromeni Fields - a large arrival of birds today pleased many birders on their last day on the island, myself included

© Steve Dudley

A mixed day with grey skies and showers in the central areas, but those who headed west faired better with an overcast morning and a brilliantly sunny afternoon. Wind swung round to the NW by the end of the day.

Bird-wise, the west was was hoochin' with warblers and Spotted Flycatchers with a few other nicities thrown in for good measure. But two Bimaculated Larks seen flying on off the sea were the show stealers - alas seen by only the finder - and constitute the first record for Lesvos.

My last day, off to Dadia Mountains and Kerkini tomorrow. Many, many thanks to all those who have shared their sightings with me or in the Lesvos Birding Log at the Hotel Pasiphae. Keep the records cominh - all are needed for the 2011 annual report. Cheers, Steve.

Environment Centre - see here.

No sign of yesterday's Great Great Shrike near Vouvaris River.

Alykes Wetlands - BIMACULATED LARK 2 seen coming on off sea around 0900h at the eastern end of the wetlands by the Milopotamos River mouth. They were seen to come down east of the river but not seen subsequently. Slender-billed Gull 5 (offshore), Montagu's Harrier 2, Common Ringed Plover 3.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1.

Sigri & Faneromeni Fields - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 fem, Collared Flycatcher 5+, Pied Flycatcher 10+, Spotted Flycatcher 250++, Icterine Warbler 20+, Wood Warbler 110+, Willow Warbler 20+, Chiffchaff 2, Common Whitethroat 10+, Garden Warbler 15+, Blackcap 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Orphean Warbler 1, Black-headed Bunting 185+ (inc. flock of 65), Bee-eater 320++ (plus many, many more herd going over throughout the day), Woodchat Shrike 15+, Honey-buzzard 2, Eleonora's Falcon 1 dark, Levant Sparrowhawk 1 male, Red-footed Falcon 1 fem, Alpine Swift 30+.

Kalloni Saltpans - CATTLE EGRET 1, Black Tern 1.

Apothika - BLACK KITE 1, Bee-eater 20+.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - BLACK KITE 2.

Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2.

Sigri - Roller 1 (on wires just west of town).

Faneromeni Fords - Squacco Heron 3, Little Bittern 2, Little Crake 1.

Skala Kallonis - Little Bittern 1 opp Environmental Centre.

Faneromeni Beach - Yelkouan Shearwaters 000s, Scopoli's Shearwater 60 per hour mid afternoon (all close in shore)

Wood Warbler, Upper Faneromeni Fields - large numbers of migrants in the area, particularly in the under-watched upper fields, included c.110 of these gems, many feeding, as here, in giant fennel

© Steve Dudley

3 May 2011 - Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike, nr Vouvaris River © Steve Dudley

I think most folk got wet again this morning when the overcast early morning sky turned dark and opened up late morning with a ferocious wind. Clearly some new birds found today - more Curlew Sandpipers, a few more Bee-eaters over, a few Montagu's Harriers on the move during the early morning, and the finding of a Great Grey Shrike near the Vouvaris River mouth was a real surpise.

Environment Centre - see here.

north of Vouvaris River mouth - GREAT GREY SHRIKE - one found late afternoon and watched by quite a few folk until at least 2000h. The shot of the bird landing below clearly shows more white in the wing than nominate excubitor, and the tail is as depicted in the Collins Bird Guide for homeyeri. Perched the white primary patch was small like excubitor, but it also displayed the fine white line from eye to eye above the bill of homeyeri. Integrades are apparently common, so maybe this is one which is heavily biased towards homeyeri?

I've long been suspicious of the Great Grey Shrike records of old, and since I've been coming to Lesvos there have been only two records of large grey shrikes, a pallidirostris Steppe Shrike in Sept 08 and this bird. I suspect not all of the previous records of large grey shrikes are simply excubitor. Birds of the race homeyeri, or inegrades with excubitor, have been recorded in Greece (Birds of Greece), but no previous records from Lesvos.

Great Grey Shrike, probably an integrade excubitor x homeyeri, nr Vouvaris River © Steve Dudley

Directions - just north of the Vouvaris River mouth, there is a small track towards the coastal just north of the the old shrimp farm beds (rectangular pools in marsh just north of river mouth). Park here. Just north of this track on the other side of the road is a track going inland in to the open scrubby hillside. Walk up this track and search the dead bushes at the base of the linear, sandy coloured rocky crag straight in front of you.

Metochi Lake - BAILLON'S CRAKE 1 in northern part of lake early morning but not seen since; Little Crake 3, Little Bittern 3.

Sigri/Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Roller 1, Eleonora's Falcon 1, Osprey 1, Red-footed Falcon 2, Lesser Kestrel 10+, Bee-eater 20+, Little Bittern 2, Golden Oriole 10+, Temminck's Stint 5, Alpine Swift 21, Icterine Warbler 5.

Kalloni Saltpans - Spoonbill 3 (straight through at 1200), Eleonora's Falcon 1, Whiskered Tern 7, Curlew Sandpiper 39, Montagu's Harrier 5+.

Meladia Valley - Purple Heron 6, Lesser Kestrel 15+.

Tsiknias River - Night-heron 6, Red-footed Falcon 2, Black Stork 1.

Kalami Marsh - Red-footed Falcon fem, Water Rail (calling), Black Stork 3.

Skala Kallonis Pool - Water Rail (unmated female calling!)

Christou River - fem Montagu's or Pallid again present.

Vouvaris River - Purple Heron 1 imm.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch - pr performed well just up from car park along the main track much of the morning.

Soumouria - Scops Owl still roosting in tree with green wheelie bin and blue plastic bag at base. Facing the taverna look up the right side for bird well hidden in vegetation c.7m off ground.

Btwn Efthalou and Skala Sikammias - Barred Warbler 1, Golden Oriole 2, Bee-eater 15+.

2 May 2011 - more Semi-collared Flys

Alpine Swift, Moni Ipsilou. Still only small numbers being reported © Steve Dudley

Another mixed day with low cloud clearing to bright sunshine and scattered showers. A relatively quiet day. More migrants evident in the west and two unidentified eagles over Napi early afternoon. Three Black Kites now between Ipsilou and Andissa.

Environment Centre - see here.

Sigri/Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 2 fems, Collared Flycatcher 1, Ped Flycatcher 20, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Spotted Flycatcher 80+, Whinchat 40+, Bee-eater 30, Barred Warbler 2, Icterine Warbler 9+, Tree Pipit 15+, Wood Warbler 30+, Golden Oriole 10, Black-headed Bunting, Lesser Kestrel 10, Montagu's Harrier 2, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Purple Heron 1.

Btwn Ipsilou & Andissa - BLACK KITE 3 together.

Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 5+ around the layby with little wooden gate nearest to Vatousa.

Tsiknias River - Osprey 1, Citrine Wagtail 1 male.

Napi Valley - Aquila eagle sp. 2 (1445), Golden Oriole 8, Barred Warbler 1, Quail 1.

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

Perasma - Ortolan 1, Red-footed Falcon 3.

Kalloni Saltpans - Marsh Sandpiper 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Temminck's Stint 2 (also on Alykes Wetlands), Purple Heron 7.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler, Tree Pipit, Yelkouan Shearwater 200+.

Christou River - both Pallid and Montagu's Harrier reported again today (only one bird!).

1 May 2011 - Black Kites but otherwise quiet

Citrine Wagtail, 2CY male, Polichnitos Saltpans © Steve Dudley

I spoke too soon! A cooler day with overcast skies, scattered showers and fresh south-easterly breeze (gale force on Ipsilou!).

If we thought there were more birds around yesterday, there sure wasn't today. A few new bits and bobs, but nothing too startling.

Late news - yesterday a female Ferruginous Duck on pool at the far eastern end of Alykes Wetlands (also Gargeney).

Environment Centre - see here.

Tsiknias River - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1 fem, Black-throated Diver 2 offshore. Citrine Wagtail ad male at ford, Little Bittern 8, Black Stork 1.

Vigla (nr Ipsilou) - BLACK KITE 2.

Soumouria (scops Copse) - Great Spotted Cuckoo 1.

Christou River - Fan-tailed Warbler 1, Eagle sp (poss. Booted), harrier sp (reported as Montagu's and Pallid), Tawny Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 1, Black Stork 1.

Faneromeni Fields - Wryneck 1.

Ipsilou Monastery - Ruppell's Warbler 1 fem, Eleonora's Falcon 1 (dark phase), Peregrine 1, Blackcap 20+, Pied Flycatchers. Blowing an absolute gale so only the west side was workable with species like Cinereous Bunting, Rock Sparrow and Isabelline Wheatear all difficult.

Vergias River - Wryneck 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Bee-eater 10+, Masked Shrike 1.

Kalloni Saltpans area - Beach Eurasian Curlew 1, Common Ringed Plover 1, Turnstone 2. Moat Marsh Sandpiper 1. Lotzaria Marsh Harrier 6.

Potamia Valley - Goshawk 1, Orphean Warbler, Black-headed Buntings, Long-legged Buzzard.

Meladia Valley - Barred Warbler 1, Wood Warbler 1.

Napi Valley - Red-footed Falcon 5.

North of Tsiknias River/Saltpans - Red-footed Falcon 6.

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.

26 April 2011 - Lesser Spotted Eagles

Wryneck, Faneromeni. One of at least five found this spring, this bird fed out in the open in a freshly ploughed (with hundreds of other birds) for several hours and was enjoyed by manor birders - the first mass-viewed Wryneck on Lesvos © Steve Dudley

Warm and sunny for most part, with some cloud cover during the afternoon leading to spots of rain ut past erly evening.

Black-headed Buntings at least appear to be reading the script and more birds seen today (inc. one flock of 25) Bee-eaters tomorrow? A single field in Faneromeni fields (along the beach road) held a staggering amount of birds (25+ species seen in or over it) including over 1000 flava wagtails, a very obliging Wryneck (feeing in the open field for several hours). See below for more details.

Semi-collared flycatchers – really? 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!).

Collared Pratincoles - there are lots of reports of exhausted birds (birds falling over, birds with pronounced sternums, etc). Please do not harass any birds, this is aimed especially to photographers who were observed climbing fences and entering fields around the saltpans today and stalking one exhausted individual.

Tsiknias River - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 2, Common Kingfisher 1, Night-heron 6, Purple Heron 3, Montagu's Harrier 1, Pallid Swift 1, Black-headed Bunting 1, Stone-curlew 3.

Metochi area - LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 3, BLACK KITE 1, Black-headed Bunting 2, Little Crake 8, Water Rail 1, Little Bittern 2, Night-heron 2, Common Starling (breeding).

Skala Kallonis Pool - BLACK KITE 1, Eleonora's Falcon 1, Great Bittern, Squacco Heron 1.

Sigri Old Sanatorium - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Barred Warbler 1, Gull-billed Tern 10 (seen earlier in Meladia Valley), Lesser Kestrel 3.

Ipsilou - THRUSH NIGHTINGALE 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 2, Wood Warbler 2, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler. Still lots of flycatchers, many Nightingales feeding in open areas. No bush-robins!

Polichnitos Saltpans - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Red-footed Falcon 13.

Lardia Valley - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 on territory.

Faneromeni - beach road Wryneck 1, Rufous Bush-robin 1, Yellow Wagtail 1000+ (inc. flava,feldegg and thunbergi) Red-throated Pipit 1, Tawny Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 4, Northern Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike, Nightingale, Great Reed Warbler, White-winged Black Tern 3, Whiskered Tern 4, Purple Heron 1, Collared Pratincole 3. Lower Ford Little Crake 4, Green Sandpiper. Upper Ford Little Bittern 1, Black-headed Bunting 30+ (inc. flock of 25), Lesser Kestrel 34 (in one tree!).

Kalloni Saltpans - Rufous Bush-robin 1 in pumping station compound in SW corner of pans; Collared Pratincole 36, Red-footed Falcon 5, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Little Stint 150, Dunlin 1, Curlew Sandpiper 16, White-winged Black Tern 30, Whiskered Tern 42, Temminck's Stint 3, Eurasian Curlew 1, Common Greenshank. Alykes Wetlands Stone-curlew 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Red-throated Pipit 15, Tawny Pipit 2, Short-toed Lark 30, Ruff 300, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Montagu's Harrier 1, Marsh Harrier 2, Purple Heron 3, Alpine Swift 10. Barn Swallowtransitiva 1 (none accepted to Greek List - same bird reported yesterday).

Molivos - Nightjar (on beach), Sandwich Tern, Short-eared Owl, Bee-eater, Masked Shrike.

Aghios Ioannis - Ortolan Bunting 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Honey-buzzard 1.

Parakoila Marsh - Great Bittern 1.

Pandeleimonas Pools (nr Eresos) - Honey-buzzard 1, Barred Warbler male, Little Bittern 1, Purple Heron 1.

Sigri - estuary inlet Purple Heron 1, Squacco Heron 1. Fields Golden Oriole 10, Hoopoe 5, lots of flycatchers still.

Lotzaria - Montagu's Harrier fem.

Meladia Valley - Red-backed Shrike male (first of year), Ortolan Bunting 1, Black-headed Bunting 2, Gull-billed Tern 10 (seen later at Sigri Old Sanatorium), Rock Sparrow (pr feeding young at 'old Rock Nuthatch nest' - yes I know, there are several in the valley!), Tawny Pipit 2.

Perasma - Black-headed Bunting 1, Audouin's Gull 1.

Achladeri - Kruper's Nuthatch - the pr at the stump tree nr the white building appear to have deserted the site. If you know different please let me know.

Agiasos - Kruper's Nuthatch 7 males on territory. Chiffchaff on territory.

25 April 2011 - Booted Eagle and Cattle Egret

Wood Sandpiper, Tsiknias River. Common at most freshwater wetlands again this year © Steve Dudley

Another sunny day. Warm in the centre of the island, but bitterly cold out west.

After a trickle of Black-headed Buntings, Bee-eaters and other species in recent days, the expected rush of migrants hasn't happened yet. Hopefully tomorrow. Those leaving on Thursday are running out of time!

Semi-collared flycatchers – really? See here.

Collared Pratincoles - there are lots of reports of exhausted birds (birds falling over, birds with pronounced sternums, etc). Please do not harass any birds, this is aimed especially to photographers who were observed climbing fences and entering fields around the saltpans today and stalking one exhausted individual.

Kramastes Bridge - BOOTED EAGLE 1 (dark phase).

'nr Kalloni' - CATTLE EGRET 1 in sheep fields (sorry, no further info), Mallard with 6 ducklings (first confirmed breeding?).

Ipsilou - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER male, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1, Wood Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, etc.

Kalloni Saltpans (and surrounding fields and wetlands) - Fan-tailed Warbler 1, Collared Pratincole 45+, Slender-billed Gull 3, Spoonbill 1, White-winged Black Tern 8, Whiskered Tern 4, Temminck's Stint 1, Black-tailed Godwit 3, Grey Plover 5, Eurasian Curlew 1, Whimbrel 1, Water Pipit (reported on main road pool), Glossy Ibis 100+, Ruff 250+, Short-toed Lark 6, Red-throated Pipit 6.

Faneromeni - Pallid Harrier 1, Golden Oriole 1, Little Crake 3, White-winged Black Tern 3, Woodchat Shrike 10+, Savi's Warbler 1, Collared Flycatcher 5+, Masked Shrike 2, Hoopoe 2, Turtle Dove 20+, Little Bittern 3, Purple Heron 10, Squacco Heron 2.

Sigri Old Sanatorium to Meladia Chapel - Ortolan Bunting 1, Masked Shrike 2, Woodchat Shrike 20+, Wood Warbler 1, Tawy Pipit 3, Lesser Kestrel 2.

Bandstand above Sigri - Ortolan Bunting 2, Cinereous Bunting 1, Lesser Kestrel 5.

Meladia Valley - Montagu's Harrier 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Woodchat Shrike 8.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler (2 prs active), Blue Rock-thrush, Peregrine,Crag Martin.

Aghios Ioannis - Alpine Swift, Cinereous and Cretztschmar's Buntings, Golden Oriole.

Lotzaria Pool - Spotted Redshank 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Red-footed Falcon fem, Short-toed Eagle 6, Black Stork 1.

Tsiknias River - Night-heron 6, Little Bittern 2, Purple Heron 1, Hen Harrier fem, Hobby 1.

24 April 2011 - Finsch's Wheatear & Calandra Lark

Scops Owl, Soumouria. One of three birds found at the traditional 'Scops Copse' Site © Steve Dudley

Another day of wall to wall sunshine with only a light northerly wind for company. A couple of very rare finds (Finsch's Wheatear and Calandra Lark), and still lots of flycatchers around, especially in the west, and new birds arriving including the first wave of Black-headed Buntings.

Semi-collared flycatchers – really? See here.

FINSCH'S WHEATEAR - an adult male was found today at 1055h on the approach to Ipsilou. The bird was on the hillside in the last of the Isabelline Wheatear lay-bys at Vigla (above the Eresos road juntion). It was seen by four birders briefly but lost on the open hillside. If accepted this will be the third record for Lesvos and Greece.

Kalloni Saltpans (and surrounding fields and wetlands) - CALANDRA LARK 1 at 0945h (by beach cafe when flew in to fields towards Tsiknias River), Black-headed Bunting 1 at 0830h,Honey-buzzard 1, Montagu's Harrier 2, Hen Harrier 1, Marsh Harrier 2, White-winged Black Tern 2, Collared Pratincole 29, Purple Heron 1, Spoonbill 1, Gull-billed Tern 52, Pallid Swift 1, Alpine Swift 20, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Little Stint 30, Dunlin 1, Oystercatcher 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 2 (?), Mediterranean Gull 3, Red-throated Pipit. East track Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Whiskered Tern 3, Slender-billed Gull 1. Pool on main road by turn to pans Citrine Wagtail 1, Water Pipit 1, Temminck's Stint 1. On sea Black-necked Grebe 2.

Tsiknias River - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Audouin's Gull (at mouth), Little Bittern 2, Purple Heron 4, Squacco Heron 4, Common Kingfisher 2.

Konditsia Valley - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Red-footed Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 22, Montagu's Harrier fem, Cinereous Bunting 4.

Napi Valley - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1.

Sigri/Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Barred Warbler 2, Bee-eater 6, Little Bittern 4, Night-heron 1, Little Crake, 1 Purple Heron 3, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail 1, Whisker Tern 1, Pallid Harrier fem, Hen Harrier fem, Common Cuckoo 3, lots of Collared Flys, Woodchats and Turtle Doves; Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters offshore.

Meladia Valley - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER male, Barred Warbler 2, Purple Heron 1, Hen Harrier fem, Marsh Harrier male, Woodchat (lots).

Pithariou Reservoir - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER fem, Purple Heron 1, Little Bittern 1.

Skala Eresou - SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 (since 22/4), Collared Pratincole 3.

Ipsilou - Ring Ouzel fem (since 22/4), Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1.

Agra Towers - Wryneck 1.

Lardia - Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 1 (singing c.50m west of layby with wooden gate).

Christou (Kamares) River - Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Fan-tailed Warbler 1, Pallid Swift 1, Slender-billed Gull 3.

Skala Kallonis - Black-headed Bunting 1. Hotel Pasiphae Gargeney 2 (on pool behind hotel), Long-eared Owl 1. Beach Mediterranean Gull 2. Pool Savi's Warbler 1.

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint - Ortolan Bunting, Common Cuckoo.

Vigla (Isabelline Wheatear lay-bys) - Ortolan Bunting 2, Cinereous and Cretzschmar's Buntings.

Kavaki - Barred Warbler 1, Rufous Bush-robin, Ruppell's Warbler, Blue Rock-thrush.

Metochi Lake - Little Crake 10, Purple Heron 1, Little Bittern 1, Squacco Heron 1, Hen Harrier 1, Common Starling 2.

Lotzaria - Marsh Sandpiper 5, Spotted Redshank 2, Curlew Sandpiper 7, Dunlin 73, Little Stint 120, Greenshank 4, White-winged Black Tern 11, Stone-curlew 1 (plus Spur-thighed Tortoise - first reported of the year).

Efthalou - Golden Oriole 1, Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters.

Perasma - Ruddy Shelduck 2.

Makara - Purple Heron 8 (flock), Little Bittern 1, Lesser Kestrel, Alpine Swift, Little Stint.

Late news for yesterday -

BLUETHROAT (second record for island) and Black-headed Bunting at Upper Tsiknias River.