Lesvos Bird News 2021 (1 Viewer)

[Mick Sway]

For more Local Bird News From Kalloni Environmental Centre, click here

 

[Mick Sway]

More observado records from yesterday 03/09/21 by a Dutch Birder.
You can find the location by clicking on the species.
Note : Rock partridge is not present on Lesvos, I am confident that this is chukar :

Rock Partridge - Alectoris graeca	2021-09-03
Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus	2021-09-03
Black-headed Wagtail - Motacilla flava feldegg	2021-09-03
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra	2021-09-03
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus	2021-09-03
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia	2021-09-03
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-09-03
Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio	2021-09-03
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor	2021-09-03
Common Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos	2021-09-03
Little Stint - Calidris minuta	2021-09-03
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii	2021-09-03
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius	2021-09-03
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola	2021-09-03
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-09-03
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus	2021-09-03
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe	2021-09-03
Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea	2021-09-03
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops	2021-09-03
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster	2021-09-03
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata	2021-09-03
Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos	2021-09-03
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus	2021-09-03
Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra	2021-09-03
Tawny Pipit - Anthus campestris	2021-09-03
Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis	2021-09-03
Northern Raven - Corvus corax	2021-09-03
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe melanoleuca	2021-09-03
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava	2021-09-03
Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus	2021-09-03
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus	2021-09-03
Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus	2021-09-03
Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis	2021-09-03
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus	2021-09-03
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos	2021-09-03
Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo	2021-09-03
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo	2021-09-03
Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea	2021-09-03
Pine Marten - Martes martes	2021-09-03

2013-12-10 (Team Observation.org)

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[Mick Sway]

4 September 2021 Report by visiting birder
West Coast - Skala Kalloni - Agra
Rock Nuthatches, Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Crested Larks , Rock Sparrows Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher.
Honey Buzzard juvenile

Pithariou Reservoir - near Eressos
Eleonora's Falcons 3
Hirundines inc Crag martin 35
Ruddy Shelduck 2
Cormorants
Black Storks 2
Grey Herons

Ipsilou
Ravens
juvenile Montagu Harriers 2
Sylvia Warblers including Eastern Orphean
Willow Warblers
Sombre Tits
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers
European Nuthatch
Rock Nuthatche

Kalloni Salt Pans - Easternt
Dalmatian Pelicans 8
Spoonbills 16
Black Storks 3
Great White Egret
Little Egrets
Spotted Redshank
Grey Plovers 3
Curlew 5
Greenshank
Redshank
Slender-billed Gulls
Marsh Harrier female
Osprey
flava Wagtails large flocks
Hoopoe
Corn Buntings
Willow Warblers
Whinchat
Red-backed Shrike
Lotzaria
Nightjar
Eastern Hedgehog

Skala Kalloni village
Scops Owl calling

In addition to the above a Dutch birder reported a
wryneck on the Eftalou to Skala Sikaminias track

 

[Mick Sway]

5 September 2021 Report by visiting UK birder
Please note that this is a summary , locations should be taken as the general area of.
A more detailed report can be found on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group.
Lotzaria
Kingfishers 2
Turtle Dove

Agia Paraskevi
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Cirl Buntings
Sombre Tit
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers
Black-eared Wheatear
Raven
Black Storks 2
Short-toed Treecreepers
Spotted Flycatchers
Woodlark 4

Kerami road fbridge over the River Evergetoulas - The water level very low
Kingfisher 2
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail.
Violet Dropwings, Red-veined & Scarlet Darters ,Small and Southern Skimmers
Levant Water Froglets
Giant Asian Manytis
Hawfinches 6
Black Stork
Whitethroats
Blackcap
Willow Warblers

Mesa archaeological site
Masked Shrike juvenile

Kalloni Salt Pans
Marsh Sandpiper

Lotzaria
Bee-eaters 17
Black Stork
Marsh Harrier
Red-rumped Swallow
Hoopoe 3
Montagu's Harrier - juv
Buzzard
Two Short-toed Eagle 2
Peregrine
flava Wagtails
Masked and Lesser Grey Shrikes
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Nightjar x 2 female

Tsiknias River
Little Ringed Plovers 4

Additional Observado Records 05/09/21
Pandeleimonas Pools - near Eresos
Northern pintail x 2

Potamia Reservoir
Eleonora's Falcon

Metochi area
Zitting cisticola

 

[Mick Sway]

6 September 2021 Reported as very windy , cool from the North,with rough seas , by many visiting and resident birders.
Report by visiting UK birder
Please note that this is a summary , locations should be taken as the general area of.
A more detailed report can be found on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group.
Lotzaria
AM
Hoopoe
Montagu's Harrier - juvenile
Short-toed Eagles 2
PM
Willow Warbler
flava Wagtails 500 (Black and Blue Headed, a few Grey Headed )
Masked Shrike
Montagu's Harrier
Short-toed Eagles
After dark
Nightjar 2
Stone Curlews heard

Kaloni Salt Pans
Pumphouse corner
Marsh Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Tawny Pipits 20

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint
Sardinian Warbler
Woodpigeon
Short-toed Eagles 4
Ravens 11
Alpine Swifts 31
Kavaki
Bee-eaters 70

Perasma Reservoir - very low water level
Little Grebes 16
Mallard 6
Green Sandpiper
Short-toed Eagles 2
Marsh Harrier
Cormorants and Yellow-legged Gulls
Steppe buzzard (reported as still present by other birders)

Coastal Road "Band Stand" raptor watch point near Sykaminias - under renovation

Napi Valley
Short-toed Eagle

Kalloni Salt Pans
Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes
Hoopoes

Other Notable sightings from Observado 06/09/21
Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian pelican
Spoonbill 2
Curlew
Little stint

Tsiknias River
Great egret
Sandwich Tern 20
Sparrowhawk

Agriosikos
Peregrine

Molivos
Barn Owl

 

[Mick Sway]

7 September 2021 Report by visiting UK birder - early morning rain at Kalloni
Tsiknias - Lesser fiery coppers near by
Hoopoe ,Chats and Shrikes
Black Stork 2
Grey Heron, Little and Great White Egrets
Greenshank
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Ortolan bunting 2
Black- headed bunting juvenile

Lotzaria
Tawny Pipits
Bee-eaters 75
Mixed Spanish and House Sparrows flocking 1000 +

Skala Kalloni Pumping Station and Channels
Fan-tailed Warbler
Whinchats
Marsh Sandpiper
Lesser Grey Shrike
Short-toed Eagles 2
Black Stork circled
Alpine Swifts 5
Osprey

Metochi
Whiskered Tern
Green and Common Sandpipers
Greenshank 2
Red-rumped Swallows
Bee-eaters 100+
Alpine Swifts 2
Shrikes (including a couple of adult male Red-backed)
Spotted Flycatchers
Eastern Black-eared and Northern Wheatears
Whinchats
Stonechats
Common and lesser Whitethroats

 

[Mick Sway]

8 September 2021 Report by visiting UK birder - locations are for the general area

Tsiknias River
AM
Spur winged plover
Grey Herons, Egrets and Black Storks
PM
Spur winged still present
Snipe
Cretzschmar's Bunting 2
Common tern
Marsh harrier
Usual chats, shrikes and bee-eaters

Lotzaria
Bee-eaters 80
Short-toed Eagle
Mixed hirundines flock (mostly House Martins
Common Swifts 2
Woodchat shrike 4 juvenile
Whinchats, Wheatears and Red-backed Shrikes around.

Achladeri
Kruper's Nuthatch action
Sardinian Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Spotted Flycatchers
Chaffinches
Greenfinc
Cirl Bunting
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Short-toed Treecreeper
Turtle Dove
Long-tailed Tit
Goshawk

Skala Vasilikon - gulf Of Kalloni track
Med Gulls 22
Shag 2s
Jackdaws with Hooded crows
The odd Shrike and Whinchat dotted the fence
Tawny Pipits
Crested Larks
Bee-eaters 13

Polichinitos
Greater Flamingos 122
Black Stork 2
Greenshank 11
Little Stints 3
Sandwich Tern 55
White Winged Black Terns juv 2
Whiskered tern 1 juv
Little Tern 1 juv

Megali Limni woods
Kruper's Nuthatch
Middle Spotted Spotted Woodpecker
Serin
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tits
Spotted Flycatchers 5
Short-toed Eagles 2

Observado Report's of interest 08/09/21
Tsiknias River
Booted eagle - no images

Metochi Lake
Northern pintail 2

 

[Mick Sway]

A few record images by kind permission of Mr H Vaughan , birds seen over the past week.
Dates and locates on the images.

 

[Mick Sway]

9 September 2021 Report by visiting UK birder - locations are for the general area

Parakilia Turpentine trees
Lesser and Common Whitethroat
Eastern Subalpine Warblers first winter 2
Eastern Black-eared and Northern Wheatears
Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blue, Great and Sombre Tits
Cirl Buntings
Red-backed shrikes
Spotted Flycatchers
Bee-eaters
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers
Hoopoe
Rock Nuthatches
Woodlarks and Crested Lark
Stonechats showed
Med Gulls - 32 on the stone harbour wall.

Pithariou Reservoir
Eleonora's Falcons 4
Cormorants 47
Wood Sandpiper.

Eresos to Sigri track
Rock Nuthatches, Wheatears, Crested Larks and Stonechats d
Occasional Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes
Spotted Flycatcher
Willow Warbler
Common Whithroat

Meladia Valley
Tawny Pipits
Sombre Tits
Lesser Kestrel
Common Buzzards 2
Short-toed Eagle
Cetti's Warbler
Blackbird
Spotted Redshank
Rock Doves

Faneromeni.
Chats 40
flava Wagtail flock
Shrikes
Golden Oriole juvenile
Turtle Dove in the process
Bee-eaters
Red-rumped Swallows
Rock Doves

Perivolis Monastery - a little water in the river
Spot Flys, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches,Serins, Cirl Buntings
Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Blue and Great Tit ,
Redstart
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Black Capped Jay
Raven
Short-toed Eagle.

Tsiknias Ford
Cretzschmar's Bunting 2 w
Snipe
Moorhen
Herons

Lotzaria
Hoopoe, Masked Shrike and Tawny Pipits were seen

Kalloni Salt Pans
Peregrine
Marsh Harrier
Dunlin
Little Stint a
Lesser Grey Shrike
Dalmatian Pelican 2s
Spoonbills 14
Caspian Terns 3

Other and Observado Report's of interest 09/09/21
Tsiknias River
Ortolan buntings 2

Polichnitos Saltpans
A single Audouin's Gull

Location not disclosed
Thrush nightingale

 

[Mick Sway]

10 September 2021 - Metochi
A visiting birder reports a bird feeding frenzy , birding bonanza, at what remains of the Metochi pool this morning.
Metochi Lake 07.30 am
17 Black storks
22 Grey heron
26 Little egret
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Spotted redshank
1 Eurasian Spoonbill
2 Greenshank
1 Marsh harrier ( female)
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Kingfisher
3 Little ringed plover
1 Great white egret

Such an event has been reported in September before , when the water becomes shallow and the mud exposed.
Eels tend to bury themselves under the mud.

 

[Mick Sway]

11 September 2021 Report by visiting UK birder - locations are for the general area

Metochi
Grey Heron 29
Black Stork16
Little Egret 37
Great white egret
Spoonbill
Greenshanks
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Feeding on fish ranging for tiddlers up to foot long Mullet and Common Eel
Mallard 6
Marsh harrier
Bee-eaters
Ravens R
Red-backed Shrikes
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin

Skala Kalloni
Golden Orioles 2
Tawny and Tree Pipits
House Martins 80 were resting on the wires.

Kali Limani
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
Whitethroat
Willow Warblers

Ancient Antissa
Rock Nuthatches
Wheatears and Crested Larks
Blue Rock Thrush.
Jackdaws
Common and Lesser whitethroat
Garden warbler
Usual Chats, Shrikes, Pipits and Wagtails and a smattering of Willow Warblers, Spot Flys
House Sparrow flock
Hoopoes 6
Marsh Harrier

Gavathas
Common Sandpiper
White Wagtail

Lardia Gorge
Sardinian Warbler

Lower Potamia River Valley
Kingfisher
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Bee-eaters 85
Short-toed Eagle o

Kerami (Potamia) Reservoir
Mallard 20
Teal 3
Garganey 2.

Evening circuit of the Tsiknias and Lotzaria
Slender Billed Gull offshore
Kingfisher
Snipe
Greenshank
Little Owl

11 September 2021 Observado reports
Gavathas area
Ortolan bunting

Also reported on Observado
11/09 Skala Kalloni - 6 carrion crow - the species has not been recorded on Lesvos, so an unlikely record
10/09 Skala Vasilkon Gulf of Kalloni - herring gull, again not recorded previously on Lesvos

Other sources
10 September
Mt.Lepetimnos - Honey Buzzard 2
Tsiknias Lower Ford - spur winged plover

3 September 2021 - Potamia Valley
Collared flycatcher - pied flycatchers are scarce on return migration ( photographed)

 

[MJB]

Also reported on Observado
11/09 Skala Kalloni - 6 carrion crow - the species has not been recorded on Lesvos, so an unlikely record
10/09 Skala Vasilkon Gulf of Kalloni - herring gull, again not recorded previously on Lesvos

Mick, if the record of Carrion Crow was submitted by someone following the BirdLife Datazone taxonomy, where Hooded Crow is included in Carrion Crow, thus mapping the presence of the latter on Lesbos. The Herring Gull submission possibly is from someone to whom all large white-headed gulls look the same...!
MJB

 

[Mick Sway]

Hi regards these two entries , I have queried them both with observer, there is facility to enter Corvus cornix seperately
on the Observado data base. Sadly no one seems to be monitoring it, at the moment.

 

[Mick Sway]

12 September 2021 - single observer
Pool at undisclosed location in the North of the Island.
Serin x6
Blue rock thrush 2
Redstart 3
Blackcap 2
White throat 2
Black-eared wheatear x many
Kingfisher 1
Sparrowhawk (female) 1
Crag martins 3
Black stork 2

More up dates on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group

 

[Mick Sway]

12 September 2021
Our Regular UK Birder reports :

Parakilia - turpentine trees
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Common whitethroat
Eastern and Northern Black Eared Wheatear
Spotted Flycatchers
Common Redstarts 3
Middle Spotted Woodpeckers
Cirl Bunting
Masked Shrike juveniles
Short-toed Eagle
Common Buzzard
Pale morph Booted Eagle ( also seen at Metochi earlier)

Christou River
Stone curlew 5

Tsiknias River & ford
Spur-winged Plover w
Cretzschmar's bunting
Black-headed Bunting juvenile
Little Egrets
Short-toed Eagles 2
Bee-eaters 31

Butterflies : Long-tailed and Lang's Short-tailed Blues, Millet and Mallow Skippers

Kalloni Salt Pans - water levels receding
Green Sandpiper
Redshank 5
Greenshank,
Kentish Plover
Little Stints 4
Dunlin.
Lesser Grey Shrike
Curlew Sandpiper
Dalmatian Pelicans 26
Spoonbills 19
Black Storks a
Curlews 4

Skala Kalloni Village
Night Heron circling late evening

Other notable sightings from observado 12/09/21
North Coastal Road - Auduin's gull x 2
11/09/21 Alykes Wetland - Inlet at the South end of race track
Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

​

 

[Mick Sway]

Link to Kalloni Environment Information Centre here

 

[Mick Sway]

13 September 2021
Our Regular UK Birder reports :
Kalloni Salt Pans - dawn
Dalmation Pelican 30
Spoonbills19
Great White Egrets
Flamingos
Teal 4
Marsh Sandpipers 4
Redshanks
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Ringed Plovers w
Grey Plovers 4
Little Stints 9
Kentish Plover 8
Dunlin 4
Marsh Harrier
Corn Buntings
flava Wagtails
Crested Larks
Goshawk

Agia Paraskevi
Sparrowhawk
Osprey

North Coastal Track Skala Sykaminias
Spotted Flycatchers
Lesser Whitethroats
Willow Warblers
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Blackcap
Red-backed Shrike
Honey Buzzard 2w

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint
Chukar heard
Short-toed Eagle 3
Raven
Goshawk
Bee-eaters 50

Tsiknias River and Ford late afternoon
Little Crake
Snipe 2
Black stork

Lotzarialate afternoon
Weasel
Whitethroat 2
Red-backed Shrike
Hoopoe 2
Crested Lark 30
Wheatears
Hooded Crow 70c
Bee-eaters
Common Kestrels 3

 

[Mick Sway]

From mid September to Mid October there is normally a reasonable movement of raptors across
the Aegean Straight from Turkey to Lesvos. This movement is goes largely under reported as
most birders are based mid island at Skala Kalloni and seldom venture along the North Coast of Lesvos.
In September 2017 we spent a few days there a witnessed the passage of dozens of honey, common
and long legged buzzards , short toed eagles, harriers and sparrowhawks , plus the odd booted and lesser spotted eagle,
catching the thermals as they hit the coast of Lesvos , making the road side shelter near Sikiminia village, the ideal watch point.
13 September 2021 09:00 - 13:00
A Birder reports :
Sikiminia Watch Point
Marsh Harrier 8
Montague Harrier
Honey Buzzard, 5
Lesser Spotted Eagle juvenile
Short toed Eagle.
+ Hundreds of Bee-eaters and 1 male Ring Ouzel

Back Dated reports from the same birder.
11 September 2021
Perasma reservoir.
Black stork
Little Grebe 21
Osprey
Ruddy Shelduck
Buzzard
Hawfinch 2
Eftalou >> Skala Sikiminia
Goshawk,
Black eared wheatear
Warblers and flycatchers

12 September 2021
Skoutaros
Honey buzzard 4

 

[Mick Sway]

12 September 2021
Our Regular UK Birder reports :
14th September 2021
Skala Kalloni
Black Kite

Sikiminia Watch Point - over 2 hours
Honey Buzzard 10
Common Buzzard 4
Black Kites 2
Short-toed Eagle 3
Lesser Spotted Eagle
juvenile Montagu's Harrier
Marsh Harriers 12
Sparrowhawk 4
Goshawk 3
Hobby 2
Black Kite 3
Bee-eaters - several hundred
Yelkouan Shearwaters

Perivolis Monastery - river
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Common Redstart 4
Spotted Flycatchers
Warblers
Cirl Buntings
White Wagtail
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Hawfinch 4 + common finches

Ancient Antissa- track
Red-backed Shrikes
Chats and Spot Flys, Cirl Buntings and Willow Warblers

Lotzaria
Turtle Dove
White Stork

Tsiknias Ford
Green Sandpiper
Greenshank
Little Ringed Plover
Kingfisher 2

A couple of heavy crop record shots below.

 

[Mick Sway]

Tsiknias Lower Ford 12/09/21
Little crake image with thanks , by permission of Pia Lisa Dahl Schrader

​