LESVOS BIRD NEWS 2025 (4 Viewers)

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 20, 2025

• #41

20th April 2025
Also worthy of it's own post:
Corn crake, Crex crex , Faneromeni as reported by Ron Macdonald on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group
This turned out to be one of two reported, the other, calling, at the Tsiknias River Mouth.

 

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Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 20, 2025

• #42

20th April 2025
News from the Lesvos Birders WhatsApp group:

Faneromeni
Corncrake
Great spotted cuckoo x 2

Tsiknias River
Quail }
Corncrake } both singing
Pygmy cormorant x 2
Black stork
Eleonora's falcon
Long legged buzzard
Purple heron 13
Citrine wagtail
Great bittern


Kalloni Salt Pans
Garganey
Northern shovler
Wigeon
Spoonbill
Curlew sandpiper 12
Roller
Short toed eagle x 2
Dalmatian pelican x 2
Spur winged plover (channel)
Zitting cisticola
Crested lark
Wood sandpipers 80

Alykes Wetland
Savis warbler (singing)

Perasma Reservoir
Great spotted cuckoo x 2

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 21, 2025

• #43

21st April 2025
Please note this is a summary of what has been reported through day by various observers.
A few highlights from the Lesvos Birders WhatsApp group:
Christou River flood plain
Whiskered tern
Kentish plovers x12
Little stints x93
Ringed plover x8
Hobby
Stone curlew
Grey plover
Greenshank
Red footed falcon - male

Tsiknias River
Pygmy cormorant x 2
Savi's warbler singing
Gull billed terns x 25 fly over
Sparrowhawk
Citrine wagtail
Ashy headed wagtail
Great egret
Shag
Med gull x 5
Crested grebe x 2 - sea off river mouth
Little crake
Ballion's crake

Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian pelican x2
Avocet
Wood sandpiper x 20
Little tern
White winged tern x 2
Whiskered tern
Sandwich tern
Common tern
Gull billed tern x 44
Little gull
Curlew sandpipers 10
Temminck's stint 4
Yellow wagtail

Alykes Wetland
Quail
Temminck's stint
Marsh harrier
Red throated pipit x 10
Tawny pipit
Greater short toed lark

Metochi Lake
Little crake x 7
Squacco heron
Purple heron
Common sandpiper
Pygmy cormorant
Little bittern
Night heron

Perasma Reservoir
Short toed eagle
Masked, Red backed & woodchat shrike
Whinchat
Eastern sub-alpine warbler
Eastern Black eared wheatear
Greenshank

Faneromeni Upper Ford
Collared flycatcher x2
Night heron
Green sandpiper
Spotted flycatcher
Nightingale
Turtle dove
Red backed & woodchat shrike
Golden oriole

Sigri Sanitorium
lesser kestrel x 6
Meladia Valley & Ford
Booted eagle
Eleonora's Falcon
Roller
Citrine wagtail
Rock sparrow

Meladia Chapel
Icterine warbler
Wood warbler
Pied flycatcher x2
Collared flycatcher
Eastern orphean warbler
Golden oriole


Ipsilou Monastery
Hobby
Blue rock thrush x 2
Cinereous bunting

Thanks to the WhatsApp team for bringing these reports and to Ron Macdonald for the use of his images.

 

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Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #44

WhatsApp Bird News 22-04-25
Isabelline/Daurian Shrike,Lanius isabellinus.
Alykes Wetland/Racetrack - later relocated at Alykes Sheep field
It seems the early birders are clocking up the rarities , with another possible Lesvos first , an Isabelline Shrike photographed at the racetrack. My understanding is that previously claimed records of the species , remain un-authenticated.

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #45

22nd April 2025
Some highlights from Whatsapp & Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group

Alykes Racetrack & Sheep fields
Isabelline shrike ( see above) - still present at sheep fields 16:40
Tawny pipit
Greater short toed lark

Agriosikos-Filia Mast Track
Eastern bonelli's warbler
Middle spotted woodpecker
Golden oriole
Eastern sub alpine warbler
Griffon vulture

Kalloni Salt Pans
Pump house pond
Temminck's stint x 3
Ruff 14
Purple heron
Quail- singing

Vasilki Pine forest (fly overs)
Red footed falcons 30
Lesser kestrel 6
Goshawk

Parakila
Booted eagle
Spotted crake
Water rail x3
Greenshank
Marsh sandpiper Black winged stilt x10

Tsiknias River Mouth
Little tern x 2
whiskered ternx 40
Pygmy cormorant x 2
Curlew
Grey plover
Spur winged plover
Oyster catcher
Ford area:
Ballion's crake - male
Little crake - fem
Great reed warbler
Green sandpiper

Metochi
Little crake x4
Spotted crake
Little bittern x 2
Squacco heron

Ipsilou
Honey buzzard

Sigri fields
Spur winged plover x 2
Meladia Valley
Black headed bunting, single male, first of season
Late afternoon reports
Petra
Passage of raptors inc:
Lesser spotted Eagle, Short -toed eagle, Hobby, Peregrine falcon, Honey Buzzard and two Red-footed falcons.
Kalami Marsh
Roller
Ipsilou
Ortolan bunting
Golden oriole x2
Tsiknias River
Spotted crake
Pygmy cormorants x2
Metochi
Little crake x4
Red-footed falcon x7
Peregrine
Kalloni Salt Pans
Temminck's stint x 6
Wood sandpiper 65
Glossy ibis 8 (Wetland ?)

 

Last edited: Apr 22, 2025

O

Owene

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #46

Mick Sway said:

WhatsApp Bird News 22-04-25
Isabelline/Daurian Shrike,Lanius isabellinus.
Alykes Wetland/Racetrack - later relocated at Alykes Sheep field
It seems the early birders are clocking up the rarities , with another possible Lesvos first , an Isabelline Shrike photographed at the racetrack. My understanding is that previously claimed records of the species , remain un-authenticated.

Click to expand...

One French tour leader seemed to be suggesting it was turkestan based on supercilum. Was going to analyse photos later. My shot isn’t really up to the detail

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #47

Thanks for the contribution to the conversation Owene , a local conservationist has posted it on rare birds Greece, as Isabelline Shrike.
Either way , congratulations on the find.

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #48

22 April 2025 - Out West
A separate report by Howard Vaughn, copied from his WhatsApp post L
Eresos to Meladia Chapel mid morning.
2 Collared Fly
2 Pied Fly
2 Spot Fly
2 Wood Warbler
2 Icterine Warbler
5 Eastern Orphean
Black Headed Bunting
Osprey
Eleonora's Falcon
3 Lesser & 3 Common Kestrel
2 Long legged Buzzard
Expected Wheatears, Rick Sparrows, other Buntings
3 Pallid Swift

Sigri Cheese Sanitorium
2m1f Golden Oriole
M Collared Fly
Great Reed Warbler
12 Lesser Kestrel
2 Tawny Pipit

Sigri Oak Grove
3 Golden Oriole
5 Collared Fly
3 Spotted Fly
2 Pied Fly
4 Wood Warbler

Faneromeni upper ford
8 Collared Fly
4 Pied Fly
Little Crake
Grey Headed Wagtails with large mixed flock
9 White and 2 Black Stork

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 22, 2025

• #49

22nd April 2024
Alykes Racetrack and Sheepfields
Isabelline/Daurian Shrike,Lanius isabellinus OR
Red-tailed shrike or Turkestan shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) ?
Either way it's a great rarity for Lesvos, make your own mind up, with this image courtesy of Ron Macdonald.

 

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Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 23, 2025

• #50

23rd April 2025
With the arrival of black-headed buntings, most of the summer breeders and passage migrants have been reported.
I will therefore now restrict reporting to reports of scarcer birds.
Ipsilou
Common rock thrush

Tsiknias River Ford
Ballion's crake reported as still present

Faneromeni
Pallid harrier x 2

Note : A big passage of yelkouan with some scopoli shearwaters, reported off shore at several locations.

 

Last edited: Apr 23, 2025

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Apr 24, 2025

• #51

24th April 2025
Today's scarcer Lesvis birds, as reported on WhatsApp by various birders at different times:
Tsiknias River Ford
Spotted, Baillon's & Little crake
Pygmy cormorant 2 - river mouth

Makara
Black kite
Turnstone

Kalloni Village apartments
Pygmy cormorant 3

Alykes Wetland/Racetrack
Ortolan bunting
Collared pratincole 2
Citrine wagtail
Richards pipit

Kalloni Salt Pans
Red footed falcon 6
Little gull
Booted eagle light morph

Perasma Reservoir
Great spotted cuckoo 4
Common cuckoo 2
Eleonora's falcon
Common starling 3
Woodpigeon 2

Skutaros
Roller 2

Achladeri Marsh
Richards pipit
Wryneck

Loutra
Laughing dove 2

 

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Friday at 11:07 AM

• #52

24th April 2025
Richards pipit Achaladeri Marsh found by Raymond De Smet
Barred warbler at Faneromeni found by Ron Macdonald

 

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Last edited: Friday at 3:15 PM

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Friday at 11:17 AM

• #53

25th April 2025
Scarce birds reported today on WhattsApp :
Achladeri Marsh
Richards pipit

Christou River flood plain
Caspian tern x 2
Montagu's harrier fem
Dalmatian pelican x2

Tsiknias River
Ford
Baillons,Spotted and 3 Little crake still present.
River Mouth
Pygmy cormorant x 2
River
Great bittern (PM)

Metochi Lake area
Roller
Little crake x5

Ipsilou
Red footed falcon fem

Kremasti Bridge
Roller
Red footed falcon

Perasma Reservoir
Honey buzzard
Thrush nightingale

Alykes Sheep fields
Collared pratincole 8

Mesa area
Rook - 7 records in the Dudley book the last 2007 a wildlife hospital casualty, no recent records.

 

Last edited: Friday at 6:38 PM

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Saturday at 12:07 PM

• #54

26th April 2025
Scarce birds reported today on WhattsApp :
Kavaki
Ruppell's warbler reported near the Oxi club Kavako

Tsiknias River
Rufous bush chat - first report of the season

Potamia Valley
Olive tree warbler

Mesa area
Rook still present
Osprey

Parakila area
Griffon vulture

Skala Vasilikon
Olive tree warbler

Petrified Forest road
Great spotted cuckoo

 

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Last edited: Saturday at 5:23 PM

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Monday at 6:11 PM

• #55

28 April 2025
Scare bird news from WhatsApp
Metochi
Pygmy cormorant 2
Little crake 2
Booted eagle

Tsiknias River
Spotted crake
Little crake
Whispered & White winged tern

Kalloni Salt Pans
Little gull
Whimbrel
Spur winged plover x 3
Slender billed gulls x6
Osprey
Lesser spotted eagle

Mesa
Red footed falcon x 9

Alykes Wetland/ sheep field
Montages harrier
Red footed falcon x 4
Roller
Collared pratincole x2

Faneromeni
Levant sparrowhawk
Red breasted flycatcher
Citrine wagtail
Red footed falcon 30 flyover


Makara
Levant sparrowhawk 18

 

Last edited: Monday at 6:26 PM

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Tuesday at 5:09 PM

• #56

29 April 2025
TBH I have a job keeping up with the WhatsApp sightings, things appear to have gone bonkers now temperatures are, daytime, balmy 13c and the wind is blowing a cold North Easterly gale.
Here are a few sightings of scarce birds today.
Christou River
Caspian tern

Kalloni Salt Pans
2 Dalmatian and a single great white pelican
Osprey 2
White winged terns 20
Whiskered tern 8
Broad billed sandpiper
Collared pratincole 24
Corncrake
Whimbrel

Alykes Sheepfield
Greater white fronted goose

Tsiknias River
Spotted crake 2
Little crake

Lotzaria
Roller 4

Mesa
Red footed falcon 12
Booted eagle

Faneromeni
Levant sparrowhawk 24
Roller 4
Citrine wagtail
Red breasted flycatcher
Barred warbler
Lesser spotted eagle
Ortolans bunting

Filia area
Booted eagle

Ipsilou
Black kite
Booted eagle
Levant sparrowhawk x 6

Sigri sanatorium
Levant sparrowhawk
Roller x5

Petra
Griffon vulture

Makara
Honey buzzard
Levant sparrowhawk 6
Lesser spotted eagle
Roller x2

A couple of my images from today
Levant sparrowhawk at Sigri and Sardinian warblers at Faneromeni

 

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Last edited: Tuesday at 5:36 PM

Mick Sway

Well-known member

• Yesterday at 4:57 PM

• #57

30th April 2025
Still windy , temperatures up to 20c from a cold start.
Note these sightings are as reported and extracted from various times
through the day.
Scarce passage bird news from the WhatsApp group:
Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian pelican 4
Whiskered tern 18
Turnstone 6
Collared pratincole 8
Gull billed tern 3
Spur winged plover 2
Ferruginous duck 2
Black tern 3
Levant sparrowhawk
Wigeon

Tsiknias River
Black kite over
Spotted crake
Great crested grebe - off shore

Kandri Marsh
White winged tern 50

Kremasti
Lesser spotted eagle 3

Faneromeni
Montagu’s harrier
Red breasted flycatcher
Collared flycatcher
Semi-collared flycatcher
Roller 5
Levant sparrowhawk
Red footed falcon
Eleonoras falcon


Messa
Red footed falcon - up to 20 numbers varying through the day

Makara
Rose coloured starling - single
Great spotted cuckoo 2
Laughing dove
Sanderling
Oyster catcher
Red footed falcon 20

Potamia Valley
Lesser spotted eagle

From our visit to Kalloni Pans today.
Spotted redshank, Dalmatian pelican and glossy ibis

 

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Last edited: Yesterday at 6:01 PM