Lesvos 2013 (1 Viewer)

[hampers]

Check Steve Dudley's web site ;

http://www.lesvosbirding.com

There is also a very good and active faceBook site.

Have a good trip, I have to wait just under 4 weeks!

Phil

 

[Steve Dudley]

Doug, between my website and the facebook group (link from my website) you wont go far wrong. Loads of stuff going on over there and once I arrive on the island (20th) there will be daily sightings updates posted. I'm keeping the sightings page on my website updated every couple of days at the minute.

 

[CactusD]

Watch out Lesvos...

... the Dotterels are coming... One very unexpected passage migrant sighting today on the summit of Mt. Karvounis on Samos 100 miles south of Lesvos as the crow (or indeed Dotterel??) flies (GPS data is embedded in the exif for those who want to see exactly where it was I saw it). I suspect this may be one for the Greek rarities committee.

In other birding notes for Samos and visible passage, saw a couple of Whinchats today probably heading north. Also had a Roller last week (which seems very early to me), though I know that they also breed here on Samos.
Also interesting to note the relative plentitude of Ruppell's and Sardinian Warbler here (by contrast with Lesvos). Here there is a lot of garrigue-type scrubland, and regenerating pine forest after some devastating fires a decade or so ago, so lots of habitat for them here: maybe they can't be bothered to fly any futher??

 

[Steve Dudley]

The island's earliest ever White-throated Robin was found yesterday at the Petrified Forest. A singing male! Will he hang around for the weekend?

This and other migrant news on the Lesvos Birding here.

 

[Paul Mills]

Hi, wonder if you could help, are the Barn Owls here the same as ours or dark-breasted guttata? And where is the best place to try for Dolphins and Monk Seal? Thanks

 

[Steve Dudley]

Hi Paul

Barn Owls are alba on Lesvos. Both forms occur in Greece, but we get the same as the UK here.

Dolpins are best looked for off the north coast.

Monk Seal - pure pot luck. Only a handful of records from birders. I've seen one in 14 years. There is no known place to look for this species over any other location.

If your on Facebook you can keep up with sightings etc on the Lesvos Birders group page and there is of course my website for daily sightings (link to facebook page on there too).

 

[Paul Mills]

Hi, not much chance then, maybe I'll scale mount Olympus and ask for help! Thankyou, great site by the way!

 

[Steve Dudley]

I've now got the two log books back from the island and input all records from them. Thank you to all those who contributed.

A number of queries now building up, Can you help with any of the following?

Some queries cropping up as I'm inputting records from the island bird logs.

1. is Alan on here (present on the island on 16 May) or know of an Alan on the island in mid-May?
2. ditto Ron & Lesley on the island on 15 May
3. ditto A & P Stromski on the island on 14 May
4. Did you see 2 Rose-coloured Starlings at Kalloni Saltpans on 13 May?
5. Did you see a Red Knot at Kalloni Saltpans on 7 May?
6. Did you photograph a male Common Rosefinch photographed somewhere in the north of the island in early May (image shown to another birder and reported to me)

Any help with these appreciated.

Thanks.