Lesvos Bird News 2022 (2 Viewers)

[Mick Sway]

Reports From Facebook, Eleni's Lesvos Bird News Group.
Vatera Fires w/e 30/07/22
It was confirmed on Saturday, that the fires ravaging the wodland surrounding Vatera had been extinguished.
It should come as no surprise that , since like much of the Mediterranean basin, successive dry Winters and Springs have
left the countryside tinderbox dry. Sadly, during the last week, local residents had to be evacuated from the area , while
some properties were destroyed in the conflagration. Temperatures remain in the mid 30's c this week.
Bird sightings 27 July 2022

Kalloni Pans west side​

Dalmatian Pelican 7
Black Stork 1,
Spoonbill 7
Curlew 2
Pied Avocets 65+,
Black-winged Stilts 10
Kentish Plover 18,
Little Ringed Plover 1
Redshank 13,
Greenshank 2
Little Stint 71,
Dunlin 1
White-winged Tern 1
Common Tern 20,
Little Tern 10
Slender-billed Gull 7
Zitting Cisticola 2
+ Flamingos, Grey Herons, Black-headed Gulls, Great White Egret, Little White Egrets, Northern Cormorants, Pied Avocets

Kalloni Pans west and south side​

Pied Avocet 30
Slender-billed Gull 1
Bee-eater 2
Short-toed Eagle 1
Northern Wheatear 3 (juv)
Subalpine Warbler 1
+ Flamingos, Goldfinches, House Sparrows, Crested Larks

Tsiknias to Kalloni Pans track​

Bee-eater 2
Yellow Wagtail 5
Corn Bunting 50+
House and Spanish Sparrows 150+
Woodchat Shrike 1
Masked Shrike 1
+ Barn Swallows, Goldfinches, Greenfinches

Tsiknias river​

Great White Egret 1
Barn Swallows 20+
Cetti's Warbler 1

Metochi lake​

Mallard 12, Coot 4
Black Stork 10
Little Egret 27,
Grey Heron 5
Black-winged Stilt 2
Greenshank 2
Green Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 1

​

 

[Mick Sway]

26/08/22
Brief report from a visiting UK birder.
Yesterday Lesvos had unseasonable but welcome, heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Kalloni Saltpans,
Flamingo - large flock
Lesser Grey shrike
Red backed Shrike
Avocets,
Black winged stilts,
Ruff
Little Stints x6,
Redshank
Curlew
Green Sandpiper
Black Headed gulls
Slender billed gulls x20
Common Kestrel
Long legged Buzzard

 

[Mick Sway]

Sat 27th Aug. 2022
Brief Lesvos Bird News Facebook report from a visiting UK birder.
Tsiknias River & Mouth
Shag x3
Kingfisher
Nightingale
Yellow Wagtails x3
Whinchat x3
Red Backed Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Long Legged Buzzard
- many Swallows, House Martins & Sand Martins,

 

[Mick Sway]

Sun 28 Aug 2022
Brief Lesvos Bird News Facebook report, by visiting UK birder
Skala Polichnitos Saltpans.
Marsh Harrier
Black Storks x5
Greater Flamingoes - 15 young ones
Greenshank x2
Spotted Redshanks x4
Redshanks
Avocets
Black Winged Stilts x10
Kentish Plover
Marsh Sandpiper x2
Little Terns.
Harbour
Mediterranean Gulls x6-10

 

[Jos Stratford]

Many thanks for the continuing updates 👍

 

[Mick Sway]

Many thanks for the continuing updates 👍

Appreciated Jos, good to know someone out there is interested.

 

[angusmcoatup]

Appreciated Jos, good to know someone out there is interested.

Me too, I have family in Dikili across the water from you. Gives me an idea of what potentially can be found there based on your posts.

 

[Mick Sway]

Thanks Angus.
I'm expecting that news will pick up over the next few weeks, as more UK birders arrive.
Plenty of juvenile resident breeding wheatears and shrikes to be seen at the moment, particularly out West
where the first common redstart of the return was mentioned at Eressos yesterday.

 

[angusmcoatup]

Thanks Angus.
I'm expecting that news will pick up over the next few weeks, as more UK birders arrive.
Plenty of juvenile resident breeding wheatears and shrikes to be seen at the moment, particularly out West
where the first common redstart of the return was mentioned at Eressos yesterday.

I’m way down in the South West of Turkey but it’s good to see some similar movements of birds. Shrikes everywhere here!

 

[Mick Sway]

Tuesday 30th August 2022
brief report from visiting UK birder , on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group

Metochi
Woodchat
Potamia Main Res
Little Grebes x36
Ruddy Shellducks x2
Mallards x2
Coots x10
Rock Nuthatch X3
Blue Rock Thrush
Black E Wheatears x3
Peregrine
Hoopoe x2
Buzzard x2
Bee eaters x14
Crag Martins x2
Red B Shrike x2,
Woodchat Shrike x1.
Potamia old Res.
Grey Heron x2
Night Heron
Coots x6
Little Grebes x4
Little Egret

 

[Mick Sway]

31 August 2022
Papiana - our current, visiting UK birder, reports a nightjar hawking between the buildings here.
14 August 2022 Eressos
I thought that I'd belatedly share the image below, taken by Lesvos Bird News contributor and UK expat Steve Bird,
who is resident here. Apparently after several attempts to locate one , this specimen set down in front of his vehicle.

 

[Mick Sway]

Brief report from visiting birder , as posted on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group:
1st Sept 2022 08:15-11:00
Tsiknias River
Cettis Warbler,
Chiffchaff
Lesser Grey Shrike
Red Backed Shrikes x6
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Willow warblers x4
Yellow Wagtails(many)
Black Headed wagtail
Northern Wheater
Kalloni Saltpans channel.
Little Ringed Plover x2
Little Stint
Black Stork

 

[Mick Sway]

2022 September Bird news from various sources.
Spotted flycatchers, yellow wagtails, willow warblers, common redstart,shrikes and wheatears passing through in good numbers
04 September
Bad news of a brush fire at the surrounds of Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, attended by the Fire Service
Good news of repairs underway to the Kalloni Salt Pans East Hide
02 September
Alykes (Kalloni Salt Pans)
European honey buzzard
Western Marsh harrier
02 September
Petra/Perasma Reservoir
Wood sandpiper 20
Greenshanks
Green sandpiper
Little stints
Little grebes 20
Coots,
Garganey
Flycatchers (nt specified most likely spotted)
Red-breasted flycatcher.
03 September
Anaxos
Night heron 33 passing
Eleonora's falcon 2

 

[Mick Sway]

04 September 2022
A visiting birder reports on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group
Anaxos
Glossy Ibis 13 (flying over the sea)
Sikaminea area Watch Point
buzzard 2
hobby
peregrine
wood pigeon
flycatchers
willow warbler
subalpine warbler
juvenile barred warbler

Other birders reports :
Alykes
Montagu's harrier - juvenile
Lesser grey shrike
Red backed shrike
Plus many yellow wagtails
Skala Kalloni Salt Pans
Whiskered tern
Dalmatian pelican 7
Grey plover
Black stork 2
Curlew 3
Dunlin
Little stint
Greenshank 2
Curlew sandpiper 8
Common redshank 12
Black headed gull 220
Slender billed gull 10
Sandwich tern 7
Spoonbill 222
Tawny pipit 3
Ortolan bunting
+ many more common species
Achladeri
Krupers Nuthatch

 

[Mick Sway]

6th September 2022
Reports from Facebook groups, various visiting birders:
Perasma res am:
Roller
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sand 3
Greenshank
Black Stork
Little Grebe 15
Yellow Wagtail 9
Cormorants 33
Tawny pipit
RB Shrike
Flamingo juv

viewpoint NR Ipsilometapo
Black eared Wheatear
Rock Nuthatches 2

Kalloni saltpans:
20 Slender billed Gulls with Black headed Gulls,

 

[Mick Sway]

6th September 2022
Summary of more interesting sightings as reported on Facebook groups, various visiting birders:
Kalloni Salt Pans
Northern shoveler 4
Grey plover 37
Dunlin,
Red knot 2
Little tern 9
Sandwich tern 27
Black stork 14
Dalmatian pelican 12
Spoonbill 24
Greeshank 12
Redshank 23
Little stint 26
Curlew 4
Honey buzzard,
Zitting cisticola 3
Tawny pipit 2

Christou/West River
Stone curlew
Old Potamia River
Night heron juv

 

[Mick Sway]

7th September 2022
Summary of more interesting sightings as reported on Facebook groups, various visiting birders:
Tsiknias River
Purple heron
Western marsh harrier
East side of Kalloni Saltpans - morning
9 Dalmation Pelicans
14 Spoonbills
1 Sandwich Tern
5 Little Tern
3 Grey Plover
4 Curlew
8 Black Stork
4 Zitting Cisticola
Lotzaria Track
5 Tawny Pipits
in same cut field as numerous Willow Warblers, Northern Wheatears, Whinchats and Red-backed Shrikes.
Tsiknias River Ford - dried up
Common Kingfisher
Alykes Wetlands dry at this time of year
15 Greater Short-toed Larks.
Skala Kalloni
Barred warbler
Bee eaters - flying over
Persama Reservoir
Eleonora's falcon

 

[Mick Sway]

8th September 2022
Summary of more interesting sightings as reported on Facebook groups, various visiting birders:
Coastal track from Achladeri to Agios Pavlos
Roller
Agios Pavlos Harbour
9 Mediterranean Gulls
A little further along another 10 Mediterranean Gulls
Polichnitos Saltpans
62 Sandwich Terns
4 Skender-billed Gulls
10 Sanderling - a scarce bird for Lesvos
1 Ruddy Turnstone
1 Common Shelduck
5 Redshank
1 Greenshank
1 Common Sandpiper
10 Little Stint
1 Short-toed Eagle
9 Mediterranean Gulls - harbour
Agioi Anargyroi
Two - tailed Pasha - butterfly

Eressos
Yelkouan Shearwaters

A late report from a Lesvos regular just arrived
Lotzaria and the Saltpans
12 Red-backed
2 Woodchat Shrikes juv
Tree pipit
Tawny pipit 5
White wagtail 2
juvenile Montagu's Harrier
Common Buzzard
Short-toed Eagle
four hirundine species - headed south west.
Tsiknias River Mouth - ford completely dry
Egrets and Grey Plover, Greenshank and Curlew.

Alykes Racetrack
Tawny Pipits
Short-toed Larks
Curlew 5
Lesser Grey Shrike juv

Kalloni Saltpans
Dalmation Pelicans 8
Black Stork
Spoonbills 11
Slender-billed Gulls 33
Black-headed Gulls 46
groups off Hooded Crows

 

[Mick Sway]

9th September 2022
Summary of more interesting sightings as reported on Facebook groups, various visiting birders:
Argennos and Sikaminea.
Hawfinch 5
Honey-buzzard
Marsh harrier
Sparrowhawk
Wood pigeon
Migrants in bushes : common and lesser whitethroat and pied flycatcher.

Skala Kalloni Village
Golden oriole

Eastern Kalloni salt pans
8 Dalmatian Pelicans
4 Black Storks
8 GW Egrets
5 Greenshank
2 Curlew
3 Slender- billed Gulls

Potamia Res
Wood Sandpiper
42 L Grebe
13 Coot
4 Teal
2 Crag Martins

Out West
Archangels Pyrhariou Monastery
1 Eleanora’s Falcon
3 Hobby
1 Goshawk
Meladia Valley
1 Vagrant Emperor - dragonfly
20 Red-backed Shrikes
Spotted Flyatchers
Willow Warblers
2 Black-eared Wheatears
4 Northern Wheatears
4 Western Rock Nuthatch

 

[Mick Sway]

9th September 2022
Summary of sightings as reported Lesvos regular, Howard
Perivolis Monastery.
Warblers : with both Whitethroats, Eastern Subalpine, Garden and Blackcap
Spotted Flycatchers,
Eastern Black-eared Wheatears
Common Redstarts.
Serins were calling
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers
Dragonflies including Vagrant Emperor and three Darters
Butterflies : Painted Ladies, Great Banded Graylings and Freyer's Graylings
Golden Oriole
Eleonora's Falcons 3
Long-legged Buzzard
Rock and Wood Nuthatch
Cirl Buntings

Ancient Antissa to Gavathas
Pied and Spotted Flycatchers
Red-backed Shrikes
Willow Warblers
Spotted Flies
Whinchats
Masked Shrike juv
Sombre Tits
Woodlarks
Ortolan bunting
Marsh Harriersjuv 3
Honey Buzzard
Common Buzzards 4
Ravens

Lotzaria
Hoopoes 2
Little Owl
Barn Owl
Stone Curlews
Beech Marten