[Sandra (Taylor)]

Anyone back from Lesvos this last Thursday? Would be interested in hearing what the conditions are like/what you saw etc. We leave on Thursday.

Sandra

[Johnny1]

I always fancied going to Lesbos but in the past the flights only started in May, while I would have preferred to go in April before it gets too busy, so I've ended up going to Majorca or Menorca. Maybe one day I'll bite the bullet and go in May.

[Kalispera]

Hi Johnny,
Just a couple of options, First Choice do fly from Manchester (via Gatwick) on the last Thursday in April AND you can fly from Manchester to Athens and then on to Lesvos, with the Athens flight you would have to find your own accommodation, but thats pretty easy on Lesvos.
Hope this helps for your future trip to the beautiful island.

[Johnny1]

Originally Posted by Kalispera

Hi Johnny,
Just a couple of options, First Choice do fly from Manchester (via Gatwick) on the last Thursday in April AND you can fly from Manchester to Athens and then on to Lesvos, with the Athens flight you would have to find your own accommodation, but thats pretty easy on Lesvos.
Hope this helps for your future trip to the beautiful island.

Thanks Kalispera , maybe I'll take a trip over there next year.

[GMS]

Just back from a brilliant week on Lesbos (21-28 April). Saw 164 species in total. Conditions were excellent for the first few days with a big fall of Flycatchers and Wood Warblers in the Fanoramini area. We then had strong north-easterlies and clear nights so there weren't too many new birds around. Things picked up again though on Friday and Saturday again.
Not going to list everything but highlights were Great Snipe (in ditch near the inland lake), many Little Crakes, 2 Baillons Crakes (Skala Eresos under bridge), Corncrake, Great Spotted Cuckoo, the local specialities (Krüpers Nuthatch on nesting site, many Rock Nuthatches, Rüppells Warbler, many Cinereous Buntings with at least 8 singing males around the Monastry), 3 Citrine Wagtails, lots of Whit-winged Blackterns, Whiskered Terns, Marsh Sandpipers, a few Eleonoras Falcons, many Red-footed Falcons (highlight a flock of 47 moving through at Napi Valley), quite a few Bee-Eaters, 2 Rollers, Scops Owl, many Shrikes, Red-throated Pipits and Yellow Wagtails of different subspecies. From Wednesday onwards Black-headed Buntings were arriving in force and we had Collared and Black-winged Pratincoles. We were lucky enough to find one of the first Olive-tree Warblers on our last morning. The only target species we missed was Rufous Bush Robin, they weren't in when we had to leave.

All in all a great trip even if the conditions weren't always the best. Information is passed well (although that didn't include some of the organised groups where the leaders were quite happy to get information but not share any). Still going through my pictures, might take me some time to sort it all out.

Hope you have a great time, I'm sure you will enjoy yourself !
If you need any detailed information please let me know.

[Mick Sway]

Sounds like you had a great time time, Lesvos never disappoints.
I'd be interested to know the where the GSCuckoo was ?
It's bit of a bogey bird for us.
Any Glossy Ibis or herons ?
How was the weather ?
We're off on thursday to.
Thanks & reagrds.
Mick

[Kalispera]

Hello GMS,
We go to Lesvos this Thursday and would be interested where the Scops Owl is located this year, Papiana school yard perhaps, or have they moved on yet again???
Regards, Kalispera.

[Kalispera]

Hello GMS (again)
Forgot to say, so pleased you had a great time and the birds were good.
One year we went on the 14 April, weather not brilliant, but the birds were, after a thunderstorm!!
Kalispera

[GMS]

Originally Posted by Mick Sway

Sounds like you had a great time time, Lesvos never disappoints.
I'd be interested to know the where the GSCuckoo was ?
It's bit of a bogey bird for us.
Any Glossy Ibis or herons ?
How was the weather ?
We're off on thursday to.
Thanks & reagrds.
Mick

The Great Spotted Cuckoo was on the way to the dead goats pit (upper east river). Two birds have there been for some time, we only managed to connect on our last day. Drive past the Corn silos towards the DG pit, past a goat/sheep farm on your right and then the road starts to go uphill. The Cuckoo was about half way up in bushes on the left hand side of the track.

Glossy Ibis were in the Lower East River about half way between the bridge on the main road and the ford for the whole week. night herons were at the Inland Lake (several birds), Squacco heron was seen regularly, Purple heron at the River in Derbyshire. Little Bittern at several places, Great White Egret and Spoonbill at the Saltpans.

The weather was fair, clear and sunny on most days but chilly during the night and sometimes during the day in the NE winds.
Check the following link for the weather forecast:

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/16667.html

Forgot to mention that the island is extremely dry, there is hardly any water in the East River (and all the other rivers) and many pools are completely dry.

[GMS]

Originally Posted by Kalispera

Hello GMS,
We go to Lesvos this Thursday and would be interested where the Scops Owl is located this year, Papiana school yard perhaps, or have they moved on yet again???
Regards, Kalispera.

The Owl was located near a small football pitch ( not the main football ground) when you drive north out of Kalloni. The little football pitch (fenced in) is on the right side of the road. The Owl was in the second tree right by the road walking from the pitch towards Kalloni.

I can draw you a little map if this doesn't make sense.

[Kalispera]

Know exactly where you mean GMS, many thanks.

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Thanks for that GMS. Glad you had smashing time. Know exactly where the cuckoo site is from your directions. Sorry about the dried up river. So Kalloni pool? We're off on Thursday so your e-mail will help. Hope you've left us some!

Sandra

[Mick Sway]

Thanks for the info GMS.
No doubt it's great to be back in Blighty!
Like Sandra I'm sorry to hear about apparent lack of lying water
I have been keeping an eye on the weather, the forcasts looked as
though it had been a pretty dry few weeks. Last May the flooded field experience was second to none, topped off with the appearance of the Spur Winged Plover.
To be honest we have never checked out the Dead Goat's Pit area, since it looked pretty desolate and the birds listed could normaly be seen more easily elsewhere.
However, we now have a good reason to try it out.
After a pretty grim year, both Tina and I are ready for it.
Thanks again.
Mick







[quote=GMS;875810]The Great Spotted Cuckoo was on the way to the dead goats pit (upper east river). Two birds have there been for some time, we only managed to connect on our last day. Drive past the Corn silos towards the DG pit, past a goat/sheep farm on your right and then the road starts to go uphill. The Cuckoo was about half way up in bushes on the left hand side of the track.

[Reader]

I have only just spotted this thread. Like Sandra I too am going to Lesvos on Thursday (same flight as Sandra). There are four of us altogether. It looks like its going to be a dry one but hopefully we will get to see some smart birds.

I have printed off a couple of things in this thread so hopefully they will help locate a few of the target birds.

We are staying at the Kalloni II hotel and will be probably eating in the square each night so hopefully a few birders can meet up there and swap notes on what is about.

John

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Look at Reader's message about meeting up Mick - hope to see you one night in the square (look for the purple hair!)

Sandra & Bob

[GMS]

I hope you all have a great time, I wish I could spend another week or two on the island.

Just a couple more comments. As the square in Skala Kalloni was mentioned there is a Barn Owl nesting on the square and can be seen some nights when you look from the square inland on the left hand side. There is a tall chimney (approx. 1.5 m ?) and the Owl sometimes sits right next to it.
One of the Citrine Wagtails (male) has been a long stayer and could be seen most days at the ford of the East River or just a little bit further upriver. The Great Snipe is a long stayer as well and is found in the ditch at the Inland Lake when going towards Kalloni. You pass a farm building on you right and then there is an old wooden bridge over the ditch. Between this and the next bridge towards Kalloni there is some higher vegetation in the ditch and the Great Snipe could be found there.

Obviously this is old information now but you never know !

If you want to see Eastern Bonelli's Warbler there is a site just above Agiassos. When you drive in from the North there is a sign for a walking trail right at the entrance to the village. Ignore this and walk a little further into the village and there is another walking sign going the right which is very small and mentions Professor Ilias (or something like this). Take this path for about 1/2 mile and you should hear some birds singing. Also there was a report of several Rock Thrush (not Blue Rock Thrush) on Mount Olympus but we haven't followed that up.

Apologies for going on a little. Hope you have a great time and I'm looking forward to hearing what you have seen !

[Reader]

Originally Posted by GMS

Apologies for going on a little. Hope you have a great time and I'm looking forward to hearing what you have seen !

Thanks for that extra information. I have printed it out for use when we are over there.

John

[Steve G]

Also worth trying the mid-upper Potamia valley for Eastern Bonelli's warbler.

[Sandra (Taylor)]

Glad you've done that John - my printer is playing up!!

Sandra

[Dimitris]

Hello GMS and everyone.

Our rarities comitee would be interested in the following records:

Black-winged Pranticole (how many did u get??!)
Citrine Wagtail. ( 3 Citrine Wags should be a record high!!)
Corn Crake
Great Snipe
Little Crake (again how many. You should send a note on the Bailon's as well)

and any other unusual records.

To sumbit your records please follow the instructions found here:

http://rarities.ornithologiki.gr/en/index.php

Any photos of the birds are apreciated. :)

Glad you guyz are enjoying Lesvos

[GMS]

Originally Posted by Dimitris

Our rarities comitee would be interested in the following records:

Black-winged Pranticole (how many did u get??!)
Citrine Wagtail. ( 3 Citrine Wags should be a record high!!)
Corn Crake
Great Snipe
Little Crake (again how many. You should send a note on the Bailon's as well)

Glad you guyz are enjoying Lesvos

Hi Dimitris,

I could provide some pictures (although not of Corncrake and the pics of Great Snipe and Black-winged Pratincole are only very bad record shots). We had 2 BWP moving through, I'd guess there have been at least 8-9 different Little Crakes (4-5 at the Inland lake, 2 at East River and another two near Skala Eresos) but I'm pretty sure that's not all of them.

Sorry - but I won't be submitting any records (most of the birds stated were well watched and photographed) so maybe someone else will send in some descriptions.

[Dimitris]

Cheers for that GMS.

If you could provide some pictures that would be great. Either post them here or pm me if you don't want them to go public. I will them move them on to some contacts of mine that are in the rarities comitee ( I ,myself, am not, but help where I can)

Or you could just send them yourself to the e-mail in the link I gave earlier. I'm sure the comitee will be happy to have them on display on the online gallery they have:

http://rarities.ornithologiki.gr/en/eaop/gallery.php

Cheers and thanks for your time,

Dimitris

[Reader]

I am just back from Lesvos. Whilst out there I managed photos of a male and a female Citrine on the east River Ford and a very distant photo of a female Citrine near Ancient Andissa. I also connected with at least four Little Crakes on Kalloni Inland lake and managed a photo of a female.

The first two Citrines were at East River Ford and the third is a heavily cropped photo of a bird that was about seventy yards away near Ancient Andissa..

I have attached the Citrines and a Little Crake and will follow with another reply with a question regarding Rufous Bush Robins (including photos).

John

Originally Posted by Dimitris

Cheers for that GMS.

If you could provide some pictures that would be great. Either post them here or pm me if you don't want them to go public. I will them move them on to some contacts of mine that are in the rarities comitee ( I ,myself, am not, but help where I can)

Or you could just send them yourself to the e-mail in the link I gave earlier. I'm sure the comitee will be happy to have them on display on the online gallery they have:

http://rarities.ornithologiki.gr/en/eaop/gallery.php

Cheers and thanks for your time,

Dimitris

[Reader]

Whilst out there I photographed a Rufoush Bush Robin near the very dried up Fanorenimi Ford. I have also photographed them near the salt mound at the Kalloni salt pans and I think that both syriacus and galactotes are present on the island.

Below are attached some photos I took. The first was a Fanorenimi Ford and the bird seems a very sandy colour in comparison to others taken elswhere on the island. Have a look and see what you think.

John

[Dimitris]

Hello Reader!

Fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing!

As for the races of the Bush Robins I don't think that I'm qualified to answer your question. In any case the bird in the 3rd photo does indeed seem to be slightly less strong in colouration and it's facial and wing characteristics seem to be softer as well. My experience with this species is however limited so don't take my word on it. :)

I'm sure however that the comitee have a better view on this matter and they are interested in vagrant/undiscovered breeding races. So if you have the time drop them an e-mail.

Please send in your reports in. They are vital for the protection of island habitats.

Thanks for your time!

Dimitris