Images Of Lesvos May 2014 (1 Viewer)

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - waders

Waders - images
Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola) Meledia Valley 07/05/14
Generally common, though the lack of water in 2014 tended to limit our normally great views.
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) near Skamioudi 10/05/14
Fairly common on the fringes of water courses.
Sandpiper curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) Faneromeni 07/05/14
Usually seen in good numbers, however the same applied, as detailed for wood sand.
Sandpiper Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Faneromeni Beach 07/05/14
Star bird, one of three seen during our visit, the other two being on seasonal pools at Alykes wetlands.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) Tsiknias river mouth 13/05/14
Surprisingly scarce spring migrant on Lesvos.

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - waders
Waders - images continued.
Turnstone Arenaria interpres Tsiknias river mouth 13/05/14
like Oystercatcher, surprisingly scarce, small parties along the gulfs.
Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) Polinictous Salt Pans 10/05/14
common wader.
Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) Faneromeni Beach 16/05/14
common wader
Stint little stint (Calidris minuta) Faneromeni Lesvos 16/05/14
good numbers on Spring passage.
Temminck's stint calidris temmininckii Faneromeni 04/05/14

Always seen as singles on passage.

 

[Mick Sway]

Ducks
Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) Mesa Wetland 13/05/14
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) Mesa Wetland 13/05/14

Both locally common at wetlands.

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - wagtails

Wagtails/Pipits
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) Kalloni Salt Pans 03/05/14 -
6 opposite salt works, not seen again
Yellow Wagtail moticilla flava Meledia Valley 09/05/14
Yellow Wagtail moticilla flava Polinictous Salt Pans 10/05/14
Yellow Wagtail moticilla flava feldegg Polinictous Salt Pans 10/05/14
Yellow Wagtail moticilla flava superciliaris ? Faneromeni 04/05/14


Several citrine wagtails were seen on passage (though not by us) during late April. White wagtails are pretty common by water almost every where.
Several flava subspecies can be seen on migration and it's always worth checking out freshly mowed meadows and sheep fields.
Not sure about photo 5 being superciliaris, though the broad supercilium and extension of the dark head down to the nape, would tend to suggest it.

 

[Dave Williams]

Nice to look back on your images for last year. Having seen your previous reports I decided to go and take a look myself in 2014. As a first time visitor possibly my blog will be of interest for anyone considering their first visit this time around.
I would highly recommend a visit, I just wish I could fit one in myself but alas......

http://davewilliamsnaturephotography.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/lesvos-may-2014.html

 

[davercox]

Mick, thank you for this very informative thread. Going myself for the first time in early May, it will help a lot !

 

[Mick Sway]

For anyone interested in Lesvos butterflies, check out the Flickr Group for Lesvos Butterfly images here!

 

[Mick Sway]

Nice to look back on your images for last year. Having seen your previous reports I decided to go and take a look myself in 2014. As a first time visitor possibly my blog will be of interest for anyone considering their first visit this time around.
I would highly recommend a visit, I just wish I could fit one in myself but alas......

http://davewilliamsnaturephotography.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/lesvos-may-2014.html

Mick, thank you for this very informative thread. Going myself for the first time in early May, it will help a lot !

Thank you both Dave's.
I take the opportunity to remind you that the most up-to-date information regarding sightings can be found on Steve Dudley's Lesvos Birders Face Book Group ( 2 spur winged plovers to-day, whimbrel,recent GS cuckoo and in-coming warblers) in addition the most detailed report of Lesvos Bird's 2014 , can be down loaded in PDF format here.
The latter includes many tips on birding sites , particularly helpful to first time visitors who may only be on the island for a week. Thanks for your interest.

 

[Dave Williams]

Mick,agreed the Facebook page is a very useful source of latest information but I think I'm correct in saying Steve Dudley has changed the viewing to members only. You can still apply to join though but he did say it would help if you were recommended by an existing member.

 

[Mick Sway]

Mick,agreed the Facebook page is a very useful source of latest information but I think I'm correct in saying Steve Dudley has changed the viewing to members only. You can still apply to join though but he did say it would help if you were recommended by an existing member.

Yep quite true Dave, thanks for pointing it out.

 

[Mick Sway]

2015 Thomas Cook availability.

Lesvos May 2015 birding.
If anyone is still undecided about booking for this year, as at today 02/04 there are some quite good self catering deals on TC's web site, including:
14 nights: in Anaxos starting at £304 pp and at Skala Kalloni, Kalloni Bay from £526 pp, flying from Manchester.
:t:

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Terns

The absence of small fish at Kalloni Salt Pans channels, made it not a great year for photographing them, however solid numbers of white winged , gull billed and the odd black tern, were still on view if you scanned hard enough.
The commoner species were still to be seen easily at both Salt Pans, including the odd sandwich tern.
Photos(all Skala Kalloni Salt Pans 06/05/14)
Common tern sterna hirundo
Little tern Sterna albifrons
Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybridus

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - REPTILES

Quite apart from the protected spur thighed tortoise (which vehemently and vocally, resists any efforts to transfer him from the road to a place of safety) and the common; stripe necked terrapin; there are a small but relatively easy to see , range of reptiles on the island. Amongst others snakes include the common grass snake, Ottoman viper ( venomous), the dice snake, ring headed dwarf snake, Snake Eastern Montpellier Snake (malpolon insignitus).
Some examples from 2014 are:
Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata) juvenile Agriosikos 22/05/14
Agama (Stellagama stellio) Petrified Forest 16/05/14
European glass lizard Ophisaurus apodus Petri 12/05/14
Snake Eastern Montpellier Snake malpolon insignitus Petrified Forest 16/05/14

PS I should infer a disclaimer here as I rely on other people's expertise for the ID of snakes. I wouldn't advise anyone that they can use any of the links reliably for the ID of any reptile, venomous or otherwise.

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Dragon & Damselflies

Dragon & Damselflies
There always seems plenty about near water, though I'm no expert here's one or two that I've picked out (ID corrections welcome):
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum male Perasma Petri 08/05/14
Blue Emperor Anax imperator Near Mandamados Lesvos 15/05/14
Broad Bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) male Perasma Petri Res 19/05/14
Odalisque (Epallage fatime) male Achladeri 13/05/14
Small pincertail Onchygomphus forcipatus albistibalis Potamia Valley 15/05/14

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Dragon & Damselflies cont.

continued:
Turkish Clubtail (Gomphus schneiderii) Potamia Valley 15/05/14
Blue Featherlegs Platycnemis pennipes Perivoli 04/05/14
Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) Peresama 23/05/14
The final two I've been unable to ID:
Dragonfly 1 Potamia Valley Lesvos 15/05/14
Dragonfly 2 Potamia Valley Lesvos 15/05/14

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Butterflies

Not a classic May in 2014 for butterflies, we found swallow tails unusually difficult whilst we were on the island.
ID corrections welcome.
Photos of few selected species :
1)Cardinal (Argynnis pandora) Agriosikos 22/05/14 - one of three seen at various locations
2)Lesser spotted Fritillary melitaea trivia Near Sikaminea 23/05/14 - common
3)Knapweed Fritillary (melitaea phoebe) Agriosikos 22/05/14 - some confusion
over the ID of this species and the similar Aegean fritillary.
4)Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Agriosikos 06/05/14 - common
5)Brown argus aricia agestis Meledia Chapel 09/05/14 - common

See more Lesvos butterflies here.

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Butterflies continued

Butterflies continued:14
1) Clouded yellow butterfly (Colias crocea) Perasma Petri Reservoir 18/05/14 - common
2)Eastern festoon Allancastria cerisyi Sikiminea 18/05/14 - common
3)Ilex Hairstreak - Satyrium ilicis Perasma 23/05/14 - common in May
4)Nettle-tree Butterfly Libythea celtis Sikaminea 18/05/14 - not easy to find but relatively common during flight time.
5)Persian Meadow Brown (Maniola telmessia) Alikudi Pool 19/05/14 - common

 

[Mick Sway]

Images Of Lesvos May 2014 - Butterflies continued

Butterflies continued:
1) False Marbled Skipper Carcharodus stauderi - Potamia Valley 15/05/14
2) Orbed-red underwing skipper nuances Privoli 04/05/14 - common
3) Small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris Perasma Petri Res 18/05/14 - common
4) Oriental Marbled skipper (Carcharodus orientalis) Perasma 18/05/14 - common during flight
5) Balkan marbled white (melanargia larissa) Perasma 18/05/14 - common

As birders are now starting to arrive (with the migrants) on Lesvos , I'll sign this off now.
I remind anyone interested that Steve Dudley's 2014 detailed species account is here..
For anyone on Facebook, wishing to keep up with 2015 migration events you may still join the Facebook - Lesvos Birders group by requesting membership through an existing member.
Thanks to anyone who viewed this.

 

[foresttwitcher]

Mick, thanks for the reminders of a great week on Lesvos last spring.

 

[Mick Sway]

Mick, thanks for the reminders of a great week on Lesvos last spring.

Thank you for your kind comment, Lesvos is a great place for birding and a holiday.
For more up-to-date migration news please also check out Eleni Galinou's , Lesvos Bird News , Facebook page.