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Lesvos Bird Reports 2018 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mick Sway
- Start date
Mick Sway
Well-known member
15 August 2018 brief report
A brief report by a visiting birder (still learning)around Kalloni Salt Pans and the Tsiknias River listed the following:
Tsiknias River
Grey heron, Tern sp, Yellow wagtail (feldegg)
Little ringed plover, broad billed sandpiper (photo)
Kalloni Salt Pans
Flamingos, Avocet, Black Winged Stilts
Hoopoe, Red Backed Shrike, flocks of Goldfinch and other usual suspects.
A further report has been submitted by a highly reputable birder,who has just returned from Lesvos
after a family holiday. Highlites as follows:
Kalloni Salt Pans :
7 Dalmatian Pelicans
28 adult and Juv Whisketed Terns
50 Little Stints at very close range
1 Broad-billed Sandpiper juv
1 Goshawk (juv perched)
plus Marsh Sandpiper, Rufous Bush RobinsPallid Swift, four sp of shrike, Black-headed Wagtails
Tsiknias river ford
2 two 1w Citrine Wagtails
Sigri
2 Marsh Warblers
Meladia Valley
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
A brief report by a visiting birder (still learning)around Kalloni Salt Pans and the Tsiknias River listed the following:
Tsiknias River
Grey heron, Tern sp, Yellow wagtail (feldegg)
Little ringed plover, broad billed sandpiper (photo)
Kalloni Salt Pans
Flamingos, Avocet, Black Winged Stilts
Hoopoe, Red Backed Shrike, flocks of Goldfinch and other usual suspects.
A further report has been submitted by a highly reputable birder,who has just returned from Lesvos
after a family holiday. Highlites as follows:
Kalloni Salt Pans :
7 Dalmatian Pelicans
28 adult and Juv Whisketed Terns
50 Little Stints at very close range
1 Broad-billed Sandpiper juv
1 Goshawk (juv perched)
plus Marsh Sandpiper, Rufous Bush RobinsPallid Swift, four sp of shrike, Black-headed Wagtails
Tsiknias river ford
2 two 1w Citrine Wagtails
Sigri
2 Marsh Warblers
Meladia Valley
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
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Mick Sway
Well-known member
Citrene Wagtails, Tsiknias River Ford Aug 2018
2 First Winter Citrene Wagtails were seen at the Tsiknias River upper Ford
during early August, by Killian Mullarney.
Photos reproduced from Lesvos Birders Facebook Group,by his kind permission.
2 First Winter Citrene Wagtails were seen at the Tsiknias River upper Ford
during early August, by Killian Mullarney.
Photos reproduced from Lesvos Birders Facebook Group,by his kind permission.
Attachments
Last edited:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
21 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans
Report by visiting birder this morning at Kalloni Salt Pans:
Kalloni Saltpans
21st August 2018
1 Broad-billed Sandpiper
3 little Stints
1 Common Sandpiper
several Kentish Plovers + Little ringed plovers . Lots of Juvenile Flamingo's in Channel .
"otzaria quite with Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes Bee-eaters and large flocks of Sparrows and Gold finches the fields along the east side of the Tisknias river had 5 maybe more Tawny Pipit with 3 Black Stork and Several Grey heron in the river bed .
The lower ford is completly dryed out."
Report by visiting birder this morning at Kalloni Salt Pans:
Kalloni Saltpans
21st August 2018
1 Broad-billed Sandpiper
3 little Stints
1 Common Sandpiper
several Kentish Plovers + Little ringed plovers . Lots of Juvenile Flamingo's in Channel .
"otzaria quite with Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes Bee-eaters and large flocks of Sparrows and Gold finches the fields along the east side of the Tisknias river had 5 maybe more Tawny Pipit with 3 Black Stork and Several Grey heron in the river bed .
The lower ford is completly dryed out."
Mick Sway
Well-known member
21 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans - Broad billed sand
Visiting birder Karel Mauer has kindly given permission to reproduce his
Juvenile broad-billed sandpiper image from yesterday, from Lesvos Birders.
The short-toed eagle image is also his.
Visiting birder Karel Mauer has kindly given permission to reproduce his
Juvenile broad-billed sandpiper image from yesterday, from Lesvos Birders.
The short-toed eagle image is also his.
Attachments
Mick Sway
Well-known member
23 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans
Highlights from reports by a couple of visiting birders.
23/08/18 Kalloni Salt Pans
2 Dalmatian pelicans
1 short-toed eagle
50+ Bee-eater (Merops apiaster )
1 Broad billed sandpiper
surrounding fields near Tsiknias River
100's Yellow wagtails in fields
3 hoopoe
several tawny pipits
3 shrike species (w'c,R-B, LG)
Tsiknias River
1 Green sandpiper
Highlights from reports by a couple of visiting birders.
23/08/18 Kalloni Salt Pans
2 Dalmatian pelicans
1 short-toed eagle
50+ Bee-eater (Merops apiaster )
1 Broad billed sandpiper
surrounding fields near Tsiknias River
100's Yellow wagtails in fields
3 hoopoe
several tawny pipits
3 shrike species (w'c,R-B, LG)
Tsiknias River
1 Green sandpiper
Just a word of appreciation again - always a pleasure to dip into this tread.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Many thanks Jos , we appear to get lots of views but few comments or interactions, however when we do, they are always greatly appreciated.
I run this for the benefit of the many birders who are not Facebook fans and to help keep the Island of Lesvos in the birding communities horizon as a potential destination.
Anyone who has been , will remember Lesvos for it's remarkable beauty, dazzling array of habitats and the opportunities it provides to see birds up close and personal, in a relatively safe environment.
Thanks to all who allow me to share both their information and photographs.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
24 August 2018 - Kalloni Salt Pans Little Gull
24/08/18 Kalloni Salt Pans Channel
A visiting birder reported:
no signs of the Broad-billed Sandpiper
juvenile Temminck's Stint
juvenile Little Gull
5 Little Stints
2 Common sandpiper
1 Green sandpiper
1 Redshank
Little gull images by kind permission of Karel Mauer
24/08/18 Kalloni Salt Pans Channel
A visiting birder reported:
no signs of the Broad-billed Sandpiper
juvenile Temminck's Stint
juvenile Little Gull
5 Little Stints
2 Common sandpiper
1 Green sandpiper
1 Redshank
Little gull images by kind permission of Karel Mauer
Attachments
Mick Sway
Well-known member
25 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans & surrounds
A holidaying birder reports on Lesvos Birders Facebook Page:
25 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans & surrounds
Juv Broad billed still present
Juv plumage Marsh Sandpiper ,
2 Greenshank
2 Temmink's stint
9 Little stint
7 Kentish
3 Little ringed plovers
5 Blackwinged Stilts
Common Snipe
Fields towards sea at Lotzaria
Montagu's Harrier was quartering
3 Lesser grey Shrike
Hoopoe
flocks of Yellow Wagtail and Cornbunting ect ect.
Tsiknias River
Kingfisher and Grass snake
Short-toed snake Eagle
also seen Eleonora's falcon ,Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
23/08/18
Another birder reports, yesterday seeing :
13 Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax at location GPS 39.279, 26.109,
i.e just North of the turning for Aghios Taxiarchis solar array.
A holidaying birder reports on Lesvos Birders Facebook Page:
25 August 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans & surrounds
Juv Broad billed still present
Juv plumage Marsh Sandpiper ,
2 Greenshank
2 Temmink's stint
9 Little stint
7 Kentish
3 Little ringed plovers
5 Blackwinged Stilts
Common Snipe
Fields towards sea at Lotzaria
Montagu's Harrier was quartering
3 Lesser grey Shrike
Hoopoe
flocks of Yellow Wagtail and Cornbunting ect ect.
Tsiknias River
Kingfisher and Grass snake
Short-toed snake Eagle
also seen Eleonora's falcon ,Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
23/08/18
Another birder reports, yesterday seeing :
13 Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax at location GPS 39.279, 26.109,
i.e just North of the turning for Aghios Taxiarchis solar array.
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Mick Sway
Well-known member
26 August 2018 - Kalloni Salt Pans - Dalamtian Pelicans
26 August 2018 - Kalloni Salt Pans
Reports from various birders include the following:
1 Broad billed sandpiper (channel at pumphouse corner )
1 Little Gull still in channel with B.h.gulls
1 juvenile Marsh sandpiper
1 wood sandpiper
2 Slender billed gulls
Wading birds in some numbers including: Greenshank , Dunlin, Little stint and Temmink's and a Eurasian Curlew .
Kalloni Salt Pans East Side
Marsh Sandpipers with Greenshank, Redshanks, 1 summer plumaged Grey Plover and 4 Dalmatian Pelicans
Lotzaria
Common Redstart with the Buntings and Wagtails
juvenile Montagu's Harrier
3 species of juvenile shrikes;w/c, r/b & l/g
Near Molivos were reported:
Eurasian Stone-curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus @ GPS 39.371, 26.188
Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala x 3 @ GPS 39.371, 26.189
I mention the Sylvia melanocephala, though said to be common in the right habitat, personally I have found them difficult on Lesvos.
News from 25/08/18
Mikri Limni
Kruper's Nuthatch
From Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group
26 August 2018 - Kalloni Salt Pans
Reports from various birders include the following:
1 Broad billed sandpiper (channel at pumphouse corner )
1 Little Gull still in channel with B.h.gulls
1 juvenile Marsh sandpiper
1 wood sandpiper
2 Slender billed gulls
Wading birds in some numbers including: Greenshank , Dunlin, Little stint and Temmink's and a Eurasian Curlew .
Kalloni Salt Pans East Side
Marsh Sandpipers with Greenshank, Redshanks, 1 summer plumaged Grey Plover and 4 Dalmatian Pelicans
Lotzaria
Common Redstart with the Buntings and Wagtails
juvenile Montagu's Harrier
3 species of juvenile shrikes;w/c, r/b & l/g
Near Molivos were reported:
Eurasian Stone-curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus @ GPS 39.371, 26.188
Sardinian Warbler - Sylvia melanocephala x 3 @ GPS 39.371, 26.189
I mention the Sylvia melanocephala, though said to be common in the right habitat, personally I have found them difficult on Lesvos.
News from 25/08/18
Mikri Limni
Kruper's Nuthatch
From Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group
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Mick Sway
Well-known member
28th August 2018 - Kalloni SP- Dalmatian's & B.B. Sand
Visiting birders report:
28/08/18 Kalloni Saltpans
2 Dalmatian Pelicans
Photo by permission of Karel Mauer
Pumphouse Channel spur
1 Broad Billed Sandpiper
1 Temminck's stint
1 Greenshank
1 Common snipe
1 Redshank
+ little stints
Lotzaria (area between Tsiknias River and Kalloni Salt Pans)
40 European bee eaters + whinchats & shrikes
Other sightings:
Agennos
1 Eurasian sparrowhawk
Klio
Spotted flycatcher :
Under reported as yet
Visiting birders report:
28/08/18 Kalloni Saltpans
2 Dalmatian Pelicans
Photo by permission of Karel Mauer
Pumphouse Channel spur
1 Broad Billed Sandpiper
1 Temminck's stint
1 Greenshank
1 Common snipe
1 Redshank
+ little stints
Lotzaria (area between Tsiknias River and Kalloni Salt Pans)
40 European bee eaters + whinchats & shrikes
Other sightings:
Agennos
1 Eurasian sparrowhawk
Klio
Spotted flycatcher :
Under reported as yet
Attachments
Last edited:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
30 August 2018 Kalloni SP - Ortolan
Visiting birders' report:
30/08/18 Kalloni Saltpans
Pumphouse Channel spur
2 Broad Billed Sandpiper
1 Temminck's stint
1 Greenshank
+ little stints & yellow wagtails
Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian pelican 12
White pelican 1
Slender billed gulls (no count)
1 Marsh sandpiper
Lotzaria (area between Tsiknias River and Kalloni Salt Pans)
Flock of buntings including Cretzchmar's and single male ortolan
+ whinchats & shrikes
Also:
Juvenile Montagu's harrier,Short-toed eagle , Goshawk ,Common buzzard and Common Kestrel
Parakila
Mediterranean Gull 18
Photo
Slender billed gull Kalloni Salt Pans 28/08/18 (one of two) with thanks to Karel Mauer
Visiting birders' report:
30/08/18 Kalloni Saltpans
Pumphouse Channel spur
2 Broad Billed Sandpiper
1 Temminck's stint
1 Greenshank
+ little stints & yellow wagtails
Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian pelican 12
White pelican 1
Slender billed gulls (no count)
1 Marsh sandpiper
Lotzaria (area between Tsiknias River and Kalloni Salt Pans)
Flock of buntings including Cretzchmar's and single male ortolan
+ whinchats & shrikes
Also:
Juvenile Montagu's harrier,Short-toed eagle , Goshawk ,Common buzzard and Common Kestrel
Parakila
Mediterranean Gull 18
Photo
Slender billed gull Kalloni Salt Pans 28/08/18 (one of two) with thanks to Karel Mauer
Attachments
Last edited:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
31 August 2018 - Polichnitos Salt Pans
31/08/18 A birder visiting Polichnitos Salt Pans Reports:
Good numbers of:
Avocet
Greenshank
Redshanks
Spotted Redshanks (odd bird)
Kentish plovers
Ruff 6
Sandwich Tern 30
Slender-billed Gulls 15 adult + 1
Mediterranean gull - a small colony
usual Little Egret, Black-winged Stilt Flamingos, Yellow-legged and Black-winged Gulls.
Kalloni Salt Pans
Said to be holding several species of duck in the far North Eats Corner
Possibly garganey & mallard
Dalmatian Pelican 7
Spoonbill 14
Grey Plover 7
Curlew 8
Great White Egret 1
Marsh Sandpiper 3
Spotted Redshank 3
a few little stint
31/08/18 A birder visiting Polichnitos Salt Pans Reports:
Good numbers of:
Avocet
Greenshank
Redshanks
Spotted Redshanks (odd bird)
Kentish plovers
Ruff 6
Sandwich Tern 30
Slender-billed Gulls 15 adult + 1
Mediterranean gull - a small colony
usual Little Egret, Black-winged Stilt Flamingos, Yellow-legged and Black-winged Gulls.
Kalloni Salt Pans
Said to be holding several species of duck in the far North Eats Corner
Possibly garganey & mallard
Dalmatian Pelican 7
Spoonbill 14
Grey Plover 7
Curlew 8
Great White Egret 1
Marsh Sandpiper 3
Spotted Redshank 3
a few little stint
Last edited:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
1st Sept. 2018 - Kalloni . S.P. - White Pelican, Stone Curlew
A visiting birder reports:
1st Sept. 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans am
Dalmatian Pelicans 14
White pelican 1
Teal 7
Garganey 2
Shelduck 5
Mallards ( no count )
Stone curlew 3
Marsh Sandpiper 3
Redshank (no count)
Spotted redshank 1
Little stint 8
Slender billed gulls 13
Great white egret 1
+ curlew,grey plover
Kalloni SP channel spur:
Temmincks Stint,
Ruff,
Greenshank
Little ringed Plover
Broad billed sand not seen in the am
More reports on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group
A visiting birder reports:
1st Sept. 2018 Kalloni Salt Pans am
Dalmatian Pelicans 14
White pelican 1
Teal 7
Garganey 2
Shelduck 5
Mallards ( no count )
Stone curlew 3
Marsh Sandpiper 3
Redshank (no count)
Spotted redshank 1
Little stint 8
Slender billed gulls 13
Great white egret 1
+ curlew,grey plover
Kalloni SP channel spur:
Temmincks Stint,
Ruff,
Greenshank
Little ringed Plover
Broad billed sand not seen in the am
More reports on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group
Mick Sway
Well-known member
7 September 2018 Lotzaria Track (Tsiknias River - Kalloni Salt Pans)
A very brief report today from a visiting birder:
20+ bee-eaters on wires
mixed flock of yellow wagtails, wheatears, etc
Lesser grey shrike x 1
A sample of butterflies seen over the past few days:
Geranium Bronze - Cacyreus marshalli 2018-09-06
Humming-bird Hawk Moth - Macroglossum stellatarum 2018-09-06
Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros 2018-09-06
Northern Raven - Corvus corax 2018-09-06
Mallow Skipper - Carcharodus alceae 2018-09-06
Swallowtail - Papilio machaon 2018-09-06
Cardinal - Argynnis pandora 2018-09-06
Southern White Admiral - Limenitis reducta 2018-09-06
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta 2018-09-06
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous 2018-09-06
Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus 2018-09-06
Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui 2018-09-06
Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera 2018-09-06
Humming-bird Hawk Moth - Macroglossum stellatarum 2018-09-05
Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros 2018-09-05
Geranium Bronze - Cacyreus marshalli 2018-09-05
Freyer's Grayling - Hipparchia fatua 2018-09-05
Swallowtail - Papilio machaon 2018-09-05
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous 2018-09-05
Scarce Swallowtail - Iphiclides podalirius 2018-09-05
Small White - Pieris rapae 2018-09-05
Great Banded Grayling - Brintesia circe 2018-09-05
Mallow Skipper - Carcharodus alceae 2018-09-05
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta 2018-09-05
Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus 2018-09-05
Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina 2018-09-05
Eastern Bath White - Pontia edusa 2018-09-05
A very brief report today from a visiting birder:
20+ bee-eaters on wires
mixed flock of yellow wagtails, wheatears, etc
Lesser grey shrike x 1
A sample of butterflies seen over the past few days:
Geranium Bronze - Cacyreus marshalli 2018-09-06
Humming-bird Hawk Moth - Macroglossum stellatarum 2018-09-06
Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros 2018-09-06
Northern Raven - Corvus corax 2018-09-06
Mallow Skipper - Carcharodus alceae 2018-09-06
Swallowtail - Papilio machaon 2018-09-06
Cardinal - Argynnis pandora 2018-09-06
Southern White Admiral - Limenitis reducta 2018-09-06
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta 2018-09-06
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous 2018-09-06
Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus 2018-09-06
Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui 2018-09-06
Wall Brown - Lasiommata megera 2018-09-06
Humming-bird Hawk Moth - Macroglossum stellatarum 2018-09-05
Large Tortoiseshell - Nymphalis polychloros 2018-09-05
Geranium Bronze - Cacyreus marshalli 2018-09-05
Freyer's Grayling - Hipparchia fatua 2018-09-05
Swallowtail - Papilio machaon 2018-09-05
Lang’s Short-tailed Blue - Leptotes pirithous 2018-09-05
Scarce Swallowtail - Iphiclides podalirius 2018-09-05
Small White - Pieris rapae 2018-09-05
Great Banded Grayling - Brintesia circe 2018-09-05
Mallow Skipper - Carcharodus alceae 2018-09-05
Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta 2018-09-05
Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus 2018-09-05
Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina 2018-09-05
Eastern Bath White - Pontia edusa 2018-09-05
Mick Sway
Well-known member
9 Sept 2018 Haramida - Black Kites. Lesser Kestrels
9 September 2018 Haramida Area
A little more encouraging news of raptor migration begining, on Facebook Lesvos Bird News, by a experienced local bird watcher :
6 Lesser kestrels
2 Black kites
1 Common buzzard
Kalloni Salt Pans
A visiting birder reports:
9th September. East side of Kalloni salt pans. 07:00 to 08:30.
A good selection of waders :
Avocet
Greater Flamingo.
Kentish, Little Ringed and Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper 4
Redshank
Greenshank 6
Little Stint 12 mixed in with a few:
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Grey Plover 8
Eurasian curlew
Stone Curlew 1
Great White Egret 6
Spoonbills 14
Dalmatian Pelican 10
Regards ducks:
good number of Pintail and Mallard
Teal
Garganey 1
Wigeon 1
Cormorant, Grey Heron and Little Egret were plentiful
Gulls:
Yellow-legged Gulls common
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gulls 3
Skala Kalloni/Kamares River
11 Stone Curlews
A plea to visiting photographers, apparently this roost has been suffering disturbance, by folks getting too close. Please, please respect the field craft rules, thanks.
9 September 2018 Haramida Area
A little more encouraging news of raptor migration begining, on Facebook Lesvos Bird News, by a experienced local bird watcher :
6 Lesser kestrels
2 Black kites
1 Common buzzard
Kalloni Salt Pans
A visiting birder reports:
9th September. East side of Kalloni salt pans. 07:00 to 08:30.
A good selection of waders :
Avocet
Greater Flamingo.
Kentish, Little Ringed and Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper 4
Redshank
Greenshank 6
Little Stint 12 mixed in with a few:
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Grey Plover 8
Eurasian curlew
Stone Curlew 1
Great White Egret 6
Spoonbills 14
Dalmatian Pelican 10
Regards ducks:
good number of Pintail and Mallard
Teal
Garganey 1
Wigeon 1
Cormorant, Grey Heron and Little Egret were plentiful
Gulls:
Yellow-legged Gulls common
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gulls 3
Skala Kalloni/Kamares River
11 Stone Curlews
A plea to visiting photographers, apparently this roost has been suffering disturbance, by folks getting too close. Please, please respect the field craft rules, thanks.
