Lesvos Bird News 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Mick Sway]

Hi Bubbs
I don't think that there's been any substantial change in the situation,Recently a Norwegian NGO related photographer was recently arrested and accused
of spying , for taking pictures of the harbour Mitlini . The local authorities have been intercepting boats carrying migrants from Turkey ,
turning some back and limiting the ability of NGO's to help migrants.
There's a recent article here . It has to be said that although I have witnessed some sad sights, of troops of refugees
marching in the hot sun , we even stopped on one occasion a few years back, to offer what water we had in the car, the situation
has never affected the success of our holiday,

 

[Mick Sway]

17th April 2022
Todays highlights from visiting bird tour guide/

Kalloni Salt Pans - East side
1 Red-footed Falcon - female
1 Black Stork
5 Little Terns
30+ Common Terns
1 Zitting Cisticola
Mesa:
1 Spur-winged Plover
2 Marsh Sandpipers
6 Red-throated Pipits

Potamia Old Reservoir:
5 Little Crakes
1 Garganey
4 Black-crowned Night Herons

Metochi:
2 Little Crakes

Alykes Wetlands
1 Hoopoe

Tsiknias River Ford
1 Citrine Wagtail - female

Kalloni Pool:
1 Cattle Egret perched on telephone wire

As reported on Lesvos Bird News Facebook group :
Mesa
Eleni reported a spur winged plover present this morning.

Kalloni Salt Pans
Great spotted cuckoo
Mirsini Kladogeni managed this wonderful shot

 

[Mick Sway]

Kevin Hazelgrove's report from Lesvos Birders Facebook Group.
17 April 2022 - dull, light rain and cool

Meladia valley:
Masked shrike
Cinereous bunting (nest building)
Cretzschmar's bunting
Black-eared wheatear
Eastern orphean warbler
Spanish sparrow flock
Pied flycatcher x 6 at the chapel

Faneromeni Fields & Ford
Eurasian sparrowhawk f
Common buzzard
Many collared flycatchers m & f
Many pied flycatchers m & f
Common cuckoo
Many lesser whitethroats
Many common whitethroats
Subalpine warbler
Many whinchats
Icterine warbler (grey legs, dagger shaped beak)
Little crake m
Red throated pipit
Masked shrike
Woodchat shrike
Cirl bunting
Wood warbler
Stonechat
Purple heron
Ruff
Wood sandpiper x 7
Yellow wagtails x 8

Petrified forest track and vicinity
Montagu's harrier adult m
Chukar x 3
Isabelline wheatear
Rock sparrow x 6
Cretzschmar's bunting
Yellow-legged gull hunting frogs at pool (!)
Short-toed eagle

 

[Mick Sway]

18 April 2022 - wet, damp and overcast
Report by Steve Bird, on Lesvos Bird News group of Sunrise Birding tours, currently on the island:
Meladia Valley and Faneromeni
Collared, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers - Recorded something like 20 of each
Golden Orioles 10 with 8 sat in one tree
Red-footed Falcon - male
Barred Warbler
Ortolan Buntings 2
Savi's Warbler - singing
+ regular passage warblers
Purple Herons 2

Lower Faneromeni Ford
Citrine Wagtail
Little Crakes 2
Montagu's Harrier
Tree Pipits 20
At sea Scopoli's and Yelkouan Shearwaters

Kalloni pool
Cattle Egrets 2

Observado Report
Tsiknias River
Glossy ibis 18

Lesvos Birders Group
Pallid harrier - very smart male

 

[Mick Sway]

19th April 2022
Faneromeni am - reported by Kevin Hazelgrove
European roller
European bee-eaters

Back of camera screen shots from Kevin.

 

[Mick Sway]

Apologies for the break in service as I've been on the island since Thursday. To be honest the overnight flight to Athens , combined with the nearly 9 hours wait for a connecting flight, left me pretty exhausted for a day or to. I will try to update you on a few or the scarcer migrants from the past few days.
21/04/22 Makara Ford
Blue cheeked bee-eater found by a Dutch birder
Little crake reported here and Metochi

22/04/22 Antissa new bridge
Night heron x 2
Tsiknias River
Spotted crake
23/04/22 Alykes Racetrack
great spotted cuckoo - found by Howard Vaughn
2 others reported

24/04/22 Maladia Valley
Steve and Gina of Sunrise birding struck gold with a double
of golden eagle and a bonelli,s eagle.

Other News
Kalami Marsh - steppe buzzard still present yesterday along with a Northern lapwing
Sigri area - two reports of wryneck
Kaloni Salt pans and Mesa
4 reports of spur winged plover

Regular reports of collared flycatchers out West along with odd ortolans. Black headed buntings reported for the first time yesterday 24/04.

Images
Golden eagle cc Steve Bird Meladia Valley
Bonellis eagle cc Steve Bird Meladia Valley
Great spotted cuckoo cc Howard Vaughn
Northern lapwing, Kalami Marsh
Night heron, Antissa Bridge

 

[Mick Sway]

27 April 2022
Petrified Forest
A female common rock thrush was found by the Sunrise bird tours party.
Kalami Marsh
Rapidly drying out in the unseasonably hot weather.
A great bittern took off whilst we were there.
Tsiknias River mouth
White winged black terns put in an appearance
Kaloni Salt Pans
Whiskered terns

Earlier this week the odd red footed falcon turned up along with a single honey buzzard at Lotzaria. Also the first lesser grey off spring was at The Kallloni SP pumping station along with 8 collared pratincoles.
Images all cc M Sway
Golden oriole Ipsilou 26/04 one of 5
27/04/22
Scops owl Kalloni
Great bittern - Kalami Marsh
Kruppers Nuthatch - Achladeri

 

[Mick Sway]

A report from Elenis Lesvos Bird News Facebook group yesterday 30/04 :
Highlights from 29,30/4/2022, apart from regular breeding species in well know sites:

Laughing Doves@Loutra village
Spotted Crake@Kalloni Wetland
Teminck's Stint@Kalloni wetland
Red -throated Pipit@ Kalloni wetland
Little Crake@Potamia pool
Levant Sparrowhawk@Sigri Sanatorium, 3 birds
Red-footed Falcons@between Sigri-Eressos
Lesser Kestrel@between Sigri- Eressos
Short-toed Eagle@ Ipsilou Monastery, 2 birds
Citrine Wagtail@Tsichlondas river (aka Meladia valley), at the stream that crosses the main road.
Spotted Redshank@same spot as wagtail's

Icterine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, and flying Montagu's Harrier, all of them at the little chapel before Tsichlondas river, Sigri. Also possible Semi-collared Flycatcher (female, gotta check my photos later). Take time and check all surrounding vegetation

Thanks to Eleni Galinou , Stylianos Zannetos , Valerie Karameta Triboulot

30/04/22
I can add to that :
Kalloni Salt Pans East
Spotted crake - image

Tsiknias River
Collared pratincole single,image
Followed by 20+ on Alykes Wetland late afternoon

Achladeri coastal marsh
Great snipe - image
Found by Mark and I the previous day but views were obscured
so we returned that morning.

 

[PeterBird]

A report from Elenis Lesvos Bird News Facebook group yesterday 30/04 :
Highlights from 29,30/4/2022, apart from regular breeding species in well know sites:

Laughing Doves@Loutra village
Spotted Crake@Kalloni Wetland
Teminck's Stint@Kalloni wetland
Red -throated Pipit@ Kalloni wetland
Little Crake@Potamia pool
Levant Sparrowhawk@Sigri Sanatorium, 3 birds
Red-footed Falcons@between Sigri-Eressos
Lesser Kestrel@between Sigri- Eressos
Short-toed Eagle@ Ipsilou Monastery, 2 birds
Citrine Wagtail@Tsichlondas river (aka Meladia valley), at the stream that crosses the main road.
Spotted Redshank@same spot as wagtail's

Icterine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, and flying Montagu's Harrier, all of them at the little chapel before Tsichlondas river, Sigri. Also possible Semi-collared Flycatcher (female, gotta check my photos later). Take time and check all surrounding vegetation

Thanks to Eleni Galinou , Stylianos Zannetos , Valerie Karameta Triboulot

30/04/22
I can add to that :
Kalloni Salt Pans East
Spotted crake - image

Tsiknias River
Collared pratincole single,image
Followed by 20+ on Alykes Wetland late afternoon

Achladeri coastal marsh
Great snipe - image
Found by Mark and I the previous day but views were obscured
so we returned that morning.

Thanks for the regular updates, Mick. Flying out there tomorrow and it all looks very promising!

 

[Mick Sway]

A summary of sightings from the Facebook WhatsApp group
02/05/22 Compiled by group admi
Eurasian bittern just flew west over Tsiknias Lower Ford.
4 Red Throated pipit right past yellow entrance gate/bridge saltpans + 1 Fan Tailed
Lesser grey shrike Lotzaria in harvested field
1 Temminck's Stint c.50 m. south of Tsiknias lower ford. Faneronmeni: 2 Rollers, 5 Hoopoe, dozens of Red backed and Woodchat Shrike, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, 2 Little Crake. Fall of pied flycatchers, whinchats and various warblers sp
7 Levants Sparrowhawk together circling over Faneronmeni Ford drifting inland
Temmincks stint just north of Lower Tsiknias forRoller at Madaros, just after the bend with the metal racks. In dead tree.
6 Red Throated Pipits, track from Tsiknias ford to salt pans, just after the buildings on the left in the field full of sprinklers
: Faneronmeni Another gd Group of 3 Levants Sparrowhawk over, 1 Lesser Grey Shrike, 3 Little Bittern (Upper Ford), 1 Olive Tree Warbler, 1 Eastern Orphean Warbler & 2 RolleGreat Spotted Cuckoo' between the pumping station and the bridge, south side I believe, feeding on the ridge between the dyke and the salt pans
Alikoudi eleonora falcon
Lotzaria 8 Collared Pratincoles feeding in the air over Lotzaria track
group of around 20 White-Winged Black Terns, 6 Black Terns, at least 2 Whiskered Terns at west side Kalloni Salt Pans. Also a Eurasian Spoon
Barred warbler at faneromeni. Take the right track after the turn for the beach. Is at the small river
3 rollers montagus harrier Meladia valley fig grove/Ford Lots Red Icterine warbler Meladia
Eleonora, hobby and two Honey Buzzard at Kavaki. Chuckar on the hill behind "Oxy". Three flocks of Scopoli.
Barred Warbler still present at Faneromeni, 8 S T Eagles over in last hour, 50+ Bee-eate Great snipe good to see on the same place as yesterday on coastal track
Ruppell’s Warbler M F ate Kavaki just down from the lay-by.
2 x temminck’s stint left of entrance gate to kalloni salt wLesser grey shrike in filed south of saltpans between west ( old )
Lesser grey shrike Lotzaria in harvested field by building 200 mtrs from tsiknia
5 curlew sand from saltpans
Lesser grey still present as above
2CY med gull mouth of Tsiknias, 2 Curlew
2 Purple Heron 200m north of ford on Tsiknias
Barred Warbler in olive grove just west of Tsiknias River

Images from our visit out West 02/05/22
Golden oiriole
Lesser grey shrike
Black headed bunting
Red backed shrike

 

[Mick Sway]

I got behind with this as the internet at our Hotel was so in and out I just gave up.
However here's an update of the more notable sightings from earlier this month
along with some of my own images.

Lesvos Bird News April - May 2022

25/05/22
Night heron x 4 - Skalla Kalloni "hidden pond"
Rose coloured starlings x 20 - Skala Kalloni

24/05/22
Great spotted cuckoo - Marianthi Studios, Molyvos

22/05/22
Black tern - Kalloni Salt Pans Pumping station

21/04/22
Rose coloured starlings x 70 - Petri car park & more at Lotzaria Track, Salt Pans
Collared pratincole x 24 - Makara Ford

20/05/22
Roller - Upper Tsiknias
Rose coloured starlings x 100's - Faneromeni - a big passage
Hepatic cuckoo - Petrified forest
Honey buzzard x 6 - Perasma Reservoir

19/05/22
Rose coloured starlings - small group at Ligonas Spring.
Booted eagle - Metochi Lake
Rufous Bush Robin - Alykes beach - a pair later disturbed by public works clearing the beach 23/05/22
Eastern long tailed tits x 2 - Achladeri Forest

18/05/22
Rose coloured starlings - Lotzaria track Mulberry Tree

17/05/22
Water rail - pair with young Parakila Marsh
Great crested grebe x 2 - Achladeri
Mallard with 10 ducklings - Tsiknias River

16/05/22
Dalmatian pelican - Salt Pans , East Channel
Eleonora's Falcon - Sigri Old Cheese Factory
Long eared owl - 2 adults and 3 young - Kerami,
Rose coloured starlings x 5 - Pasiphae hotel, Skala Kalloni
Spoonbill - Kalloni Salt Pans

15/05/22
Olive tree warbler - Metochi Lake
Roller - Ancient Antissa
Nightjar - Petrifed Forest

14/05/22
Olive tree warbler - Potamia Valley
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Soumari Eucalyptus Trees - One of a pair feeding young found as road kill near bye
Alpine swift Tachymarptis melba x 6 - Anaxos

13/05/22
Icterine warbler - Meladia Valley chapel
Bearded Reedling - Tsiknias River
Rufous Bush Robin - Alykes Beach
Grey plover x 4 - Tsiknias River Mouth
Wood Pigeon - Perasma

12/05/22
Ferruginous duck x 4 - Tsiknias River

11/05/22
Whiskered Tern (single) - Eressos

10/05/22
Spur-winged plover - Tsiknias river
Collared pratincole x 20 - Alykes
Sardinian Warbler - Sigri pair breeding at the Old Cheese Factory / Sanetorium
Hobby - Salt Pans to Paraskevi track.

08/05/22
Montagu's Harrier (male) - Kalloni Salt Pans
Roller - Sigri

07/05/22
Honey buzzard - Metochi
Curlew x 2- Tsiknias River

04/05/22
Great Snipe x 2 - Achladeri
Roller - Eressos

03/05/22
Ruppell's warbler - Charamida - several breeding pairs here, despite their apparent absence at Kavaki
White winged & Whiskered Terns - Kalloni Salt Pans est 500+ passing through
Roller - Lotzaria
Alykes - Levant Sparrowhawk fem

02/05/22
Levant sparrowhawk - Sigri old cheese factory
Red footed falcon - Soumaria Eucalyptus trees ( mini soccer pitch)

 

[Mick Sway]

Sigri to Kalloni Road improvements 2022
Lardia Valley May 2018 and April 2022
Many Lesvos "old timers" will be familiar with the Lardia Valley viewpoint in the foreground. Most of us have stood here in the past to watch buzzards, eagles, crag martin,rock sparrow , blue rock thrush, buntings, warblers and wheatears, from this very spot. Here we found cushions of oregano , emblazoned with hairstreaks and browns. The road works go on apace , filling in the primordial valley adjacent the large volcanic rock,in the middle of these images . In the course of time, no doubt the habitat will recover, whether the scenic value will is another matter.
Images : Lardia Valley May 2018 and April 2022

 

[Mick Sway]

19 May 2022 - update
A common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus),is being claimed by a UK birder, as seen singing in the Pasiphae Hotel grounds , Skala Kalloni
on the evening of 19 May 2022. The person concerned intends to submit a rare record to the HRC, apparently.

Other news
Recent claims on Observado this June, include syrian woodpecker ( crops up almost annually), stock dove and great white pelican.
Whilst the latter is not impossible, Dalmatian is the more likely.

 

[Mick Sway]

Up-Date
A few reports of common breeding birds on the Net, both on Facebook and Observation.org.
Good to see a few reports of breeding rufous bush chat around Alykes.
The following of note, were also reported :
Napi Valley 13/06/22
Booted Eagle (brown morph) and Peregrine
Polichnitos 14/06/22
Gull-billed Tern
Kalloni Saltpants 16/06/22
Eleonoras Falcon 2
Sigri 15/06/22
Lesser Kestrel 6
Kalloni Bay 19/06/22
Black necked grebe

 

[Mick Sway]

Looking for a future Lesvos , Guided Tour , contact Howard Vaughan at Blue Eyed Birding.

 

[Mick Sway]

A mini report from Eleni Galinue on Lesvos Bird News Facebook Group , regarding return migration ;
10 July 20222
Kalloni Salt Pans
Greenshanks Green Sandpipers, Black-headead Gulls and a single glossy ibis reported
Potamia Small reservoir
a single Nightheron

Of course many summer breeding birds are in plumage transition and may be on their way back soon.
If you are contemplating a fall visit and are looking for a reliable local bird guide , you can contact
Eleni on her Lesvos Birding Facebook page .

 

[Mick Sway]

Re The Global Birdfair at Rutland Showground 15 - 17th July 2022
The UNESCO supported Petrified Forest of Lesvos Museum and Lesvos Birdwatching will
be represented at their Birdfair Stand, by local experts Eleni Galinue and Stylionas Zannetos.
If you read this and are visiting the Birdfair, please do be sure to call at their stand for a
chat and give Birdforum,a mention too.

 

[Mick Sway]

Re The Global Birdfair at Rutland Showground 15 - 17th July 2022
Visit the Lesvos Birdfair Stand

 

[Mick Sway]

Bird News for the Begining of July 2022 ( no specific dates given)
Compiled by Eleni Galinue for the Kalloni Environmental Centre web site :

Kalloni Pans north, olive groves​

Western Rock Nuthatch 5

Sombre Tit 3

Masked Shrike 2

Turtle Dove 2,

Middle Spotted Woodpecker 2

Kalloni Pans west side​

Dalmatian Pelican 5
Black Stork 1, Spoonbill 9
Glossy Ibis 1
Great White Egret 2, Little White Egret 6
Greenshank 4
Curlew 2
Common Tern 25, Little Tern 13
Zitting Cisticola 1
Flamingos, Black-winged Stilt, Black-headed Gulls, Cormorants, Red-rumped Swallows

Kalloni Pans north, east and south side​

Ruddy Shelduck 5
Black Stork 2 (in a small stream to the pans)
Dalmatian pelicans 5
Pied Avocet 115
Slender-billed Gull 7
Bee-eater 32 (at their nesting colonies at six different sites!)
Short-toed Eagle 1
Flamingos, Black-winged Stilt, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Corn Bunting, House Sparrow

Tsiknias to Kalloni Pans track​

Crag Martin 5
Bee-eater 6
Olivaceous Warbler 3
Corn Bunting, House and Spanish Sparrow, Red-rumped and Barn Swallow

Tsiknias River​

Black Stork 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Nightingale 1, Olivaceous Warbler 2
Woodchat Shrike 1
House and Spanish Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Goldfinch

Metochi Lake​

Green Sandpiper 1
Coot 2, Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 2, Grey Heron 1
House and Spanish Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Common Swift

Kerami (Potamia) Reservoir​

Little Grebe 27
Yellow-legged Gull 30
Western Rock Nuthatch 3
Masked Shrike 4
Common Buzzard 3




Potamia hidden pool/reservoir
Night Heron 1
Coot 8, Little Grebe 5
Masked Shrike 1

​

 

[Mick Sway]

Visiting UK Birders Report on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group

21/07/22
Petra/ Perasma Reservoir:
14 Ruddy Shelducks
1 Black Stork
6 Little Grebes
2 Coot
1 WoodSandpiper
2 Wagtail sp.
6 cretzschmars bunting

19/07/22
Petrified Forest
2 Cinereous Bunting
6 Cretzschmar's Bunting
1 Rock Sparrow
2 Woodchat Shrike ad + juv
1 Rock Nuthatch
Crested Larks, Goldfinches and Linnets
Sigri + Limeni Beach
1 Eleanoras Falcon
1 ST Eagle
4 Bee Eater

17/07/22
Achladeri Forest
2 Krupers Nuthatch
ST Treecreeper
Kalloni Saltpans
6 Slender Billed Gulls
3 Dalmatian Pelicans
5 Ruddy Shelduck
2 Black Stork
2 White Stork on nest
1 Wood Sand
1 probable Marsh Sand
3 Greenshank
1 Common Sand
2 LRP