Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
We keep the wonderful memoies and still make new ones, even after over 20 years of visiting the island. We'll be first in that queue at Manchester on 2nd May!
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Lesvos Bird News 2019/2020 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mick Sway
- Start date
We keep the wonderful memoies and still make new ones, even after over 20 years of visiting the island. We'll be first in that queue at Manchester on 2nd May!
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Thanks for all your work on this thread Mick - it has been really useful information.
Hope to bump into you on Lesvos at some point in the future.
Sandra
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Lesvos
I'm sure that you remember that we first met you and Bob, at Manchester Airport, through Steve Dudley's Lesvos thread on Birdforum, many years ago now. It's a credit to you that you have kept faith and supported Lesvos, for more years than I care to mention and kept in touch throughout. If we don't make this year, I do hope that you will continue to do so.
Thanks and a Happy New Year Sandra. x
I ran this to try to get as much information in one place as possible, drawing from the Facebook groups and other sources.
I'm sure that you remember that we first met you and Bob, at Manchester Airport, through Steve Dudley's Lesvos thread on Birdforum, many years ago now. It's a credit to you that you have kept faith and supported Lesvos, for more years than I care to mention and kept in touch throughout. If we don't make this year, I do hope that you will continue to do so.
Thanks and a Happy New Year Sandra. x
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Coronavirus Spring 2020 - Travel Update.
Bad news if you're planning to travel Greece in the near future.
The Greek government has ordered the closure of all Hotels and Apartments until 30th April 2020.
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/03/14/greek-seasonal-hotels-resorts-closed-until-end-april/
UK Government at at 15/03/20
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece
Bad news if you're planning to travel Greece in the near future.
The Greek government has ordered the closure of all Hotels and Apartments until 30th April 2020.
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/03/14/greek-seasonal-hotels-resorts-closed-until-end-april/
UK Government at at 15/03/20
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece
Last edited:
alan kennedy
Well-known member
Ouch! Not good. We due to fly to Crete next month, staying in a private villa, but will the carriers still fly??
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Travel to Greece
I'm not holding my breath, but good luck Alan.
I just heard that the Greek government won't review the ban until 1st May.
I'm not holding my breath, but good luck Alan.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
23 March 2020 - Greece in Lockdown
23/03/20 Greece - Corona Virus Latest
Ironic that I decided in 2019 that I wouldn't continue updates for 2020.
This morning local Lesvos Birdguide , Eleni Galinou , informed us that
the movements of citizens have been told to stay at home.
The UK government has some pessimistic views on their web site www.gov.uk
From US News
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece on Monday suspended flights from Britain and Turkey to curb the spread of coronavirus, as a lockdown took effect in the country.
The ban came into effect at 0400 GMT -- 6:00 a.m. in Athens -- on March 23 and ends at 1300 GMT on April 15. It was a temporary and pre-emptive measure, a ministerial decree said, as part of further efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Greece saw its largest single-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday, a rise of 94 infections which brought the total to 624, with fatalities increasing to 15.
The prime minister announced a curfew with few exceptions restricting the movement of people, the latest in a series of measures to fight the virus. Greece has already sealed its borders to non-EU citizens, and those from Italy and Spain.
Police officers were deployed on the streets of Athens on Monday to enforce the lockdown, which allows people out only with special permits. The lockdown order came into effect at 0400 GMT.
This (translation) from a local Lesvos website :
"In particular, according to the information available to the "N", by 1.30 noon, 80% of the citizens checked by the police are moving for work purposes and with the relevant printed justification. The rest moved to the supermarket to buy food and less for pharmacies.
Only one infringement was found, a case of 'unnecessary movement'."
23/03/20 Greece - Corona Virus Latest
Ironic that I decided in 2019 that I wouldn't continue updates for 2020.
This morning local Lesvos Birdguide , Eleni Galinou , informed us that
the movements of citizens have been told to stay at home.
The UK government has some pessimistic views on their web site www.gov.uk
From US News
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece on Monday suspended flights from Britain and Turkey to curb the spread of coronavirus, as a lockdown took effect in the country.
The ban came into effect at 0400 GMT -- 6:00 a.m. in Athens -- on March 23 and ends at 1300 GMT on April 15. It was a temporary and pre-emptive measure, a ministerial decree said, as part of further efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Greece saw its largest single-day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday, a rise of 94 infections which brought the total to 624, with fatalities increasing to 15.
The prime minister announced a curfew with few exceptions restricting the movement of people, the latest in a series of measures to fight the virus. Greece has already sealed its borders to non-EU citizens, and those from Italy and Spain.
Police officers were deployed on the streets of Athens on Monday to enforce the lockdown, which allows people out only with special permits. The lockdown order came into effect at 0400 GMT.
This (translation) from a local Lesvos website :
"In particular, according to the information available to the "N", by 1.30 noon, 80% of the citizens checked by the police are moving for work purposes and with the relevant printed justification. The rest moved to the supermarket to buy food and less for pharmacies.
Only one infringement was found, a case of 'unnecessary movement'."
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Postscript : November 2019 (refer to link below)
2020
Ironic that I had decided not to continue with this thread for 2020.
In reality we have had very few reports from local people this spring, with
several of the usual contributors being in lockdown like everyone else.
There has been the odd report from a NGO worker at the refugee camp,
reporting all the common breeding birds that you might see at Kalloni Salt Pans
including rufous bush chat. The breeding of greater spotted cuckoo was also
confirmed at Meladia Valley , by a visiting naturalist and photographer (in June 2020) , who captured
an image of a youngster being fed by it's parasitic hooded crow parent. An image of a young
bird was also taken at Kalloni Salt Pans this month, where a pair had been seen mating this spring.
Back to the purpose of this post from November 19.
A local photographer with a preference for Lesvos scenic images , who also clicks
for birds when he sees them took this image , of migrating raptors, from Agrlla Kratigou, south of Mytilini .
The experts reckon that there are :
4 lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina)
4 common buzzard (buteo buteo)
1 black kite (Milvus migrans)
2020
Ironic that I had decided not to continue with this thread for 2020.
In reality we have had very few reports from local people this spring, with
several of the usual contributors being in lockdown like everyone else.
There has been the odd report from a NGO worker at the refugee camp,
reporting all the common breeding birds that you might see at Kalloni Salt Pans
including rufous bush chat. The breeding of greater spotted cuckoo was also
confirmed at Meladia Valley , by a visiting naturalist and photographer (in June 2020) , who captured
an image of a youngster being fed by it's parasitic hooded crow parent. An image of a young
bird was also taken at Kalloni Salt Pans this month, where a pair had been seen mating this spring.
Back to the purpose of this post from November 19.
A local photographer with a preference for Lesvos scenic images , who also clicks
for birds when he sees them took this image , of migrating raptors, from Agrlla Kratigou, south of Mytilini .
The experts reckon that there are :
4 lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina)
4 common buzzard (buteo buteo)
1 black kite (Milvus migrans)
Last edited:
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
That's a fairly ambitious claim from such a photo Mick!
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Nov 2019 Eagles
While I wouldn't argue with you, it is fairly easy to determine that there are at least 2 large eagle species from the photo.Given the likely hood of what passes through Lesvos , you can make an educated guess. However as to the rest of the IDs, they're above my level of knowledge. Suffice to say that 3 different people came up with the black kite and buzzards , while another person called a white tailed eagle amongst the birds in the image.
I have asked the guy to send me any images that he may have but I'm not too hopeful. I shared it on here because it was an interesting shot, which illustrates that there is a decent passage of raptors through Lesvos , later on the year.
Sadly there are few people on the island with the inclination to record it.
:t:
Andy.
While I wouldn't argue with you, it is fairly easy to determine that there are at least 2 large eagle species from the photo.Given the likely hood of what passes through Lesvos , you can make an educated guess. However as to the rest of the IDs, they're above my level of knowledge. Suffice to say that 3 different people came up with the black kite and buzzards , while another person called a white tailed eagle amongst the birds in the image.
I have asked the guy to send me any images that he may have but I'm not too hopeful. I shared it on here because it was an interesting shot, which illustrates that there is a decent passage of raptors through Lesvos , later on the year.
Sadly there are few people on the island with the inclination to record it.
:t:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
2020
A Dutch birder has submitted records on Observado for the week ending the 28 July 2020.
This is the only detailed report that I am aware of for 2020.
Here is a list of birds seen, mostly Kalloni and Polichnictos Salt Pans :
Andre Vuijk got it, i don`t
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna
Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Ferruginous Duck - Aythya nyroca
Common Swift - Apus apus
Rock Dove - Columba livia
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus
Eurasian Stone-curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus
Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata
Ruff - Calidris pugnax
Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii
Little Stint - Calidris minuta
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
Slender-billed Gull - Chroicocephalus genei
Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis
Little Tern - Sternula albifrons
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra
White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Great Egret - Ardea alba
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Little Owl - Athene noctua
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocoptes medius
Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Eleonora's Falcon - Falco eleonorae
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus
Northern Raven - Corvus corax
Woodlark - Lullula arborea
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica
Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Eurasian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna pallida
Western Rock Nuthatch - Sitta neumayer
European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe melanoleuca
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
Common Linnet - Linaria cannabina
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
European Serin - Serinus serinus
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Emberiza caesia
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
A Dutch birder has submitted records on Observado for the week ending the 28 July 2020.
This is the only detailed report that I am aware of for 2020.
Here is a list of birds seen, mostly Kalloni and Polichnictos Salt Pans :
Andre Vuijk got it, i don`t
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna
Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Ferruginous Duck - Aythya nyroca
Common Swift - Apus apus
Rock Dove - Columba livia
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus
Eurasian Stone-curlew - Burhinus oedicnemus
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus
Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata
Ruff - Calidris pugnax
Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii
Little Stint - Calidris minuta
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
Slender-billed Gull - Chroicocephalus genei
Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis
Little Tern - Sternula albifrons
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra
White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
Great Egret - Ardea alba
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Little Owl - Athene noctua
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocoptes medius
Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
Eleonora's Falcon - Falco eleonorae
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus
Northern Raven - Corvus corax
Woodlark - Lullula arborea
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica
Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Eurasian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna pallida
Western Rock Nuthatch - Sitta neumayer
European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe melanoleuca
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris
Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
Common Linnet - Linaria cannabina
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
European Serin - Serinus serinus
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Emberiza caesia
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
Thread title amended as requested Mick!:t:
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Black-headed buntings
I reckon so to. There are a few local people recording,photographing the odd common species , however BH buntings are not amongst them.
Mick Sway
Well-known member
Mick Sway
Well-known member
10 September 2020
10/09/20
A couple of experienced UK birders are currently on Lesvos.
Worth a reminder that the Greek government have, due to the destruction of the migrant camp at Moria, declared a State of Emergency.
Also the UK Government has advised not to travel to Lesvos due to Covid
and imposed a quarantine regime of 14 days on returning, from last week.
Here's a summary of what was seen yesterday 10/09/20
Lotzaria
Alfalpha fields
flava Wagtails
Whinchats
Northern Wheatears
Willow Warblers
Spotted Flycatchers
Tree piits
Tawny Pipits
Short toed Lark (1)
Crested Lark
House Sparrows
Bee-eaters (juveniles)
Red-backed Shrikes
Woodchat shrike
Lesser Grey shrike
House martins
Common and red rumped swallows
Common swift
Common and long legged buzzards
Hooded crow
Marsh harrier
Short toed eagle
Tsiknias River Mouth (the ford was dry)
Flamingos,, Curlew and Glossy Ibis
a rare immature Lesser Black Backed Gull
Kalloni Salt Pans
Common, Green and Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Little Stint
Little Ringed Plover.
Slender billed Gull
Black-headed Gulls
Black Storks
Dalmatian Pelicans (5)
Acknowledgement : thanks for the original report by Howard Vaughn on Lesvos Birders Facebook group.
10/09/20
A couple of experienced UK birders are currently on Lesvos.
Worth a reminder that the Greek government have, due to the destruction of the migrant camp at Moria, declared a State of Emergency.
Also the UK Government has advised not to travel to Lesvos due to Covid
and imposed a quarantine regime of 14 days on returning, from last week.
Here's a summary of what was seen yesterday 10/09/20
Lotzaria
Alfalpha fields
flava Wagtails
Whinchats
Northern Wheatears
Willow Warblers
Spotted Flycatchers
Tree piits
Tawny Pipits
Short toed Lark (1)
Crested Lark
House Sparrows
Bee-eaters (juveniles)
Red-backed Shrikes
Woodchat shrike
Lesser Grey shrike
House martins
Common and red rumped swallows
Common swift
Common and long legged buzzards
Hooded crow
Marsh harrier
Short toed eagle
Tsiknias River Mouth (the ford was dry)
Flamingos,, Curlew and Glossy Ibis
a rare immature Lesser Black Backed Gull
Kalloni Salt Pans
Common, Green and Marsh Sandpiper
Greenshank
Little Stint
Little Ringed Plover.
Slender billed Gull
Black-headed Gulls
Black Storks
Dalmatian Pelicans (5)
Acknowledgement : thanks for the original report by Howard Vaughn on Lesvos Birders Facebook group.
Last edited:
