Samos 10th - 24th May (3 Viewers)

[Trystan]

This was not particularly a birding holiday but I took the opportunity of getting in some early morning walks along with keeping an eye out generally and visiting some of the sights suggested in this excellent report which I would recommend to anyone visiting the island.

http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Samos 0506.htm

Migration was very much at the tail end and I think I was fortunate to catch some of the waders particularly in the early part of the trip as there was very little around by the end. Very few raptors overall and a surprising lack of a few species which the above report found abundant but also a few nice additions. Often the afternoons were spent with my girlfriend at the pool so the day reports are more like morning reports!

Day 1

Arrival at the airport is always a chance to grab a couple of species and between the plane and the terminal I had managed HOODED CROW, HOUSE SPARROW, HOUSE MARTIN and WHITE WAGTAIL. We stayed just outside Pythagorio, very close to the Glyfada wetland only a five minute bus ride from the airport. I spent the early evening checking out this area. A LITTLE EGRET was pretty much resident on the top pool for the whole trip but nothing else was around so I worked my way around to the shallow pools on the far side of the reservoir picking up TURTLE DOVE and JAY – the black capped atricapillus ssp along the way. In the pools were 2 COMMON SANDPIPER and 4 WOOD SANDPIPER. The first swifts I came across were PALLID SWIFTS and I mistakenly assumed this to be the default species in the area. Further observations over the next few days showed that most swifts here were common swift with the occasional handful of pallids thrown in. Supporting cast before getting changed for dinner included SWALLOW, RED RUMPED SWALLOW, KESTREL, COLLARED DOVE, CRESTED LARK, FERAL PIGEON, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, BLACKBIRD and CORN BUNTING, all of which were seen regularly throughout the trip. Heading into town for the evening, a SQUACCO HERON had joined the egret on the top pool.

 

[Trystan]

Day 2
I was met by heavy cloud cover and light drizzle early morning which was a surprise after the blue skies of yesterday. I was hoping to loop round the airport to the wetland on the other side but it became apparent that a storm was brewing so I stuck to walking around Glyfada again. A buzzard was over the reservoir, nothing out of the ordinary although I struggled with the varying plumages of buzzards throughout the trip knowing that common, steppe and long legged were all available here, I am happy that this one was COMMON BUZZARD. Nothing new on the top pool, the bottom pool still held wood sandpiper and common sandpiper which were joined by a single GREENSHANK and 3 LITTLE STINT. I risked another lap of the area and was pleased to find FAN TAILED WARBLER and BLACK HEADED BUNTING singing in the fields by the reservoir. The former bouncing in and landing very close by while the latter was perched up on a telegraph wire.

Completely drenched now, I headed back to the apartment and waited for the storm to blow over which it eventually did, leaving behind clear skies once more. After breakfast, a walk into Pythagorio with my partner along the seafront added JACKDAW and GREAT TIT to the trip list. We continued past the harbour along a track by a rocky hillside, passing a sewage plant and reaching the Marina round the other side of the hill. Along the way, the scrub held SARDINIAN WARBLER and my only BLUE ROCK THRUSH of the trip perched up on a telegraph pole. Walking back the same way, a BLACK EARED WHEATEAR came down to the sewage plant fence and a single ALPINE SWIFT passed over. No more species until the evening when I found 2 TEMMINCK’S STINT at Glyfada with the wood sandpipers.

 

[Trystan]

Day 3

An early start for both of us as we took the ferry to Turkey for the day to visit Ephesus. First additions to the list were YELKOUAN SHEARWATER, a raft of 20 birds not far out from Samos town Harbour. I didn’t have to wait much longer to add CORY’S SHEARWATER, 3 separate sightings including one which flew parallel to the boat for some distance and crossed another Yelkouan shearwater flying the opposite way.

I kept a separate list for Turkey which wasn’t extensive although I did pick up a couple of species that I didn’t see on Samos itself.

Species included Yellow legged gull, Collared dove, Feral pigeon, Swallow, House martin, Swift, White wagtail, Hooded crow and Jackdaw around Kuskadasi. The only things I noted at Ephesus were Blackbird and Jay until, at the exit gate a pair of SPANISH SPARROW S mating (At least the male was Spanish and the female wasn’t complaining much!)

We then had to endure lunch and a talk on Turkish rugs which seems pretty unavoidable for the trip. At least the ground were pretty and had GREENFINCH and GOLDFINCH and there was a nesting WHITE STORK along the way. The goldfinch were the only ones I saw on the trip except caged ones on Samos which seem very popular. On the way back we must have been close to a wetland as ther was a GREY HERON and 2 CORMORANTS in flight. A pair of hazy distand pelicans passed by fleetingly and from what I can find on the net and according to distribution maps I’m cheekily claiming these as DALMATIAN PELECANS, not a lifer for me so I’m not feeling guilty about it. I also added Cory’s shearwater to the Turkish list with a single bird not far out on the return ferry.

Back on Samos and a pair of LITTLE OWL on the wires coming back into Pythagorio were new as was a single WHISKERED TERN at the top pool of Glyfada.

 

[Trystan]

Day 4

Finally a chance to get over to the Chora wetland, fronted by the ‘Potokaki pools’ refered to in the linked report above. I got to these pools just in time as they were dwindling away and I’m sure the previous day’s rain must have helped. The Whiskered tern was still at Glyfada as was the Little egret.

A fairly long walk along the road running between the airport and the beach turned up nothing new but on approach to the wetland, Cetti’s warbler and Reed warbler were singing in abundance. REED WARBLER gave itself up for good views easily but I had to wait another day for a fleeting glimpse of Cetti’s. Crossing the bridge over the river I flushed a NIGHT HERON which flew over the into the wetland. 2 BLACK WINGED STILT on the beach were my first indication that the pools had passed their prime. I was delighted on approaching the pools to find my only lifer of the whole trip in the form of a male CITRINE WAGTAIL. The bird wandered around the edge of the water before being lost in the grasses. I didn’t see the species again despite numerous trips to the area so I feel very fortunate. Also on the pools were 3 RUFF, 4 Little stint 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and 2 CURLEW SANDPIPERS. A flock of 15 BEE-EATERS passed over shortly after scanning the pools and Common swifts were in abundance over the wetland.

Heading back for breakfast, a Grey heron flew over, and I saw my only WHINCHAT of the trip in the grassy fields at Potokaki followed by my only WOODCHAT SHRIKE perched on the wind sock at the airport.

I persuaded my girlfriend that it would be a nice walk back to the area after breakfast, so we headed out again and I was able to spend a bit more time checking out the area. Both MARSH HARRIER and PURPLE HERON were seen flying over the wetland while the mud around the pools had YELLOW WAGTAIL (Black headed) and RED THROATED PIPIT with hardly any red on it. Also, 50+ SAND MARTIN had arrived and where perched on the wires or flying over the water. There were now 4 Little ringed plover and one RINGED PLOVER. A wood sandpiper had taken up residence under the metal bridge and was very approachable. Little owls seemed to have sprung up on wires, fence posts and half finished buildings everywhere, one of the more obvious birds around for the rest of the trip. Nothing further was added for the rest of the day.

 

[Trystan]

Day 5
Another morning walk over to the Chora wetland area this morning. My only SPARROWHAWK of the trip was circling over the reservoir. This bird alone, clearly not enough to reduce sparrow numbers. Presumably the same whiskered tern as on the previous 2 days was now moving along the shore line between potokaki and the river bridge.

Both myself and the night heron from yesterday had learned our lesson. I approached the river much more cautiously and the night heron had sat further away from the bridge along with a second younger bird. A LITTLE BITTERN flew across the river and was quickly lost in the reeds. Water levels were considerably down on the pools with a couple of little stints and a ruff in evidence along with 3 ringed plover and 4 little ringed plover further away from the pools. New for the trip, a pair of GREY PLOVER were on the beach. I also managed a fleeting view of CETTI’S WARBLER near the river while the troll sandpiper was still under the bridge on the way back.

After breakfast we took a walk up to the monastery above Pythagorio with several Sardinian warbler singing and CHAFFINCH making the list. Around the monastery, a hooded crow was harassing a pale buzzard which I thought had potential to be long legged. I managed to get some shots and consensus on the forum is a young buzzard, maybe common, maybe steppe.

From here we headed on to the Eupalinas tunnel and risked a track from here back in the general direction of our apartment. This worked out well as it found me a shortcut up the mountain for later and also a pale phase ELEANORA’S FALCON came over. Several CHUKAR were calling up the hillside with one bird seen.

 

[Trystan]

Day 6

A lie in, made it over to Chora wetland in the afternoon. The pools at both Glyfada and Chora were virtually dry and with nothing at the former and a single curlew sandpiper at the latter along with the troll sandpiper.

 

[Trystan]

Day 7

With the water gone from the wetlands, I turned my attention elsewhere and set of up past the Eupalinas tunnel and monastery and found a path (just) to the top of the hill. Little owl, 3 black headed buntings an a chukar livened up the walk. I dropped down the opposite side of the hill following a proper track. In the scrub here was a singing male RUPPELLS WARBLER. I really wanted to see this species again as it’s been a long time since I had the opportunity. A woodpigeon was calling from the trees somewhere in the valley. Following the track lead me to a road through some olive groves, eventually running back into Pythagorio from the East. I found OLIVACEOUS WARBLER here with several singing from the grove.

After breakfast we walked along the front to Ireo. Quite a challenging 10 mile round trip in the heat but with the opportunity to pass the Chora wetland again. Birds of note on the way into Ireo were several olivaceous warblers and 2 turtle doves. Nothing new until passing back by the now dried up pools at Chora wetland where I finally found 2 SHORT TOED LARKS. I had been trawling through the crested larks in the area for this species over the last few days thanks to the information in the linked report.

 

[Kev23]

Enjoyable read cheers, Trystan!

 

[Trystan]

Enjoyable read cheers, Trystan!

Thanks, I'm afraid I can't fill it out with pictures, I'm not much of a photographer but I'll put some of the better ones on at the end. Hope to have it wrapped up by the end of today.

 

[Trystan]

Day 8

No birding today

Day 9

We hired a car for 3 days, which we picked up this morning. A thunderstorm had come through in the night but the day showed signs of brightening up. 2 Buzzards hanging in the wind on the hill behind Pythagorio were in my humble opinion LONG LEGGED BUZZARDS, big enough that I was expecting them to be short toed eagle when I first went for the bins, very pale underwing and rufous unmarked tails.

The first car stop was the Alyki wetland where it began raining as soon as we arrived. I had a quick walk to the water which had around 10 RUDDY SHELDUCK and 1 MALLARD on it plus 3 black winged stilts on the edges. I reatreated to the car as another storm passed over. This took about 40 minutes, after which it cleared up considerably, giving the opportunity for another walk. On the water in addition to the Ruddy shelducks, several pairs with chicks, were a COOT, 2 COMMON SHELDUCK, a BLACK HEADED GULL and a squacco heron fishing in one corner.

There was a singing marsh warbler in a tree at the rear of the lake but despite a long wait and a few pathetic attempts at mimicry from myself, it refused to show. It finally went silent when another bird which may or may not have been a marsh warbler darted into the tree.

Following this, we drove west and into the mountains through Pyrgos. We pulled over just before a place on the map called Kusti, which as far as I could tell consisted of a bar, a farm and a honey shop. Unfortunately, the mountains seemed to be holding the clouds and it was very cold walking along the road here. A pair of buzzards, probably steppe passed over the ridge and there were several chaffinches calling here.

We decided to head back down to the coast where the weather looked brighter and chanced upon the bridge described in the above report as being a roller hotspot. We stopped and I scanned the wires and trees in the area to no avail. Consulting the map once again, We headed through Pagondas when we were hit by yet another downpour. I pulled over near a little mountain track and we sat it out again.

Now, as the sky brightened once more, I decided to explore the track as it looked very promising. Sure enough, as well as being incredibly picturesque the scrubby mountain slopes had singing Ruppells warbler, black eared wheatear, black headed bunting and CRETZSCHMAR’S BUNTING. Deciding now to return to town to eat, we turned about and headed back. This time, the roller bridge lived up to it’s name with a single ROLLER perched on the wires opposite.

 

[Trystan]

Day 10

I drove over to Alyki before breakfast but added nothing new. There were more coots out on the water and the elusive marsh warbler was singing further along the road but still buried deep within the foliage. I returned to Chora wetland which was now fuller than I had seen it at any time due to yesterday’s rain. The waders however had not returned other than a single ruff. I did find a Spanish sparrow however, the first one on Samos was sat in a thorny bush close to the river.

After breakfast we took a drive over to Drakei on the West of the island. Stopping once again along the way at Kusti in better whether, a MASKED SHRIKE was on the telegraph wire over the farm scalding a jay. There was also a WREN a little further along the slope but no raptor activity along the ridge.

Finally I did find a new raptor by way of a SHORT TOED EAGLE patrolling the hillside beyond Kampos in the south west. We then followed the beautiful scenic road to Drakei with only WOODPIGEON to add to the list as one flew across the road in front of us.

At Drakei, we set off walking along the track leading along up the west coast to Potami. The scenery alone is worth the walk with stunning rock faces protruding from verdant forest on one side and clear blue sea on the other as the track winds around the contours of the coast. BLUE TIT was added here as the village ended and several dark phase Eleanora’s falcons passed overhead. A masked shrike was seen briefly and yet again a singing marsh warbler refused to show. While trying to see the bird, I heard long tailed tits passing through somewhere. An array of confusing buzzards were seen along the ridges, the ones I saw best I believe were steppe buzzards. We didn’t make it all the way to Potami before by girlfriend called time on the walk and we headed back. More buzzards overhead and a single RAVEN along the coast as returned.

Worth a mention, we ate out in Ireo this evening and there were at least two Scops owls calling after dusk on the Eastern side of the town.

 

[Trystan]

Day 11

The last day with the car we attempted drove up to Vourliotes to do the “Valley of the Nightingales” walk. No idea if we took the correct rout but there is parking above Vourliotes and a little higher, a dirt track signposted for Manolates which we took.

It turned out to be a bit of a “heard only” day with golden oriole calling not far out of the village, yet another invisible marsh warbler, a nightingale and on the way back into the village at the end of the walk, a cuckoo was calling. In between this, was another lovely walk which eventually met up with the river. We followed a track down to the bottom of the river which was full of tadpoles but the track crossed over, looped back into some agricultural land and vanished. As well as the above birds heard, we also saw several SUBALPINE WARBLERS, singing from the tops of trees in some cases and a single COAL TIT.

In the afternoon we completed a scenic lap of the island in the car, once again stopping in the Kusti area. A CIRL BUNTING was singing at the back of one of the fields, I think it was out of view over the ridge of the hill but the female was visible moving along the bushes.

 

[Trystan]

DAY 12-14

Spent the remainder of the trip around Pythagorio repeating some of the walks done earlier. A GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO at the olive groves on the East of Pythagorio on day 12 and a CATTLE EGRET at Glyfada on day 13 were the only new additions. Wader numbers increased slightly again at Chora wetland (Ruff, little stint and curlew sandpiper) with the increased water and I had excellent views of Short toed lark here again.

 

[Jon Turner]

Did you meet my friend Roger who is staying long-term on the island? He's been there for 4 long spring/summers now and his island list is around 187!

 

[Trystan]

Did you meet my friend Roger who is staying long-term on the island? He's been there for 4 long spring/summers now and his island list is around 187!

In all the time there I only saw one other couple birding and they were on the same flight as me back to Manchester. I guess most ppl go to Lesbos.

I think a few weeks earlier would have got me a few more species but overall and with not a great deal of effort to be fair, I was compromising on how much time I spent birding, I was very pleased with what I saw.

 

[Trystan]

Unfortunately, these are about as good as it got for photography.

 

[Trystan]

Thats it appart from some astonishingly bad record shots... Will sort out a full species list tomorrow.

 

[wolfbirder]

Nice report Trystan. An island I would like to go to.

 

[Mick Sway]

In all the time there I only saw one other couple birding and they were on the same flight as me back to Manchester. I guess most ppl go to Lesbos.

I think a few weeks earlier would have got me a few more species but overall and with not a great deal of effort to be fair, I was compromising on how much time I spent birding, I was very pleased with what I saw.

Very nice list at any rate!
Thanks for sharing.
Mick
:t:

 

[Mick Sway]

For anyone interested in the reptiles of Samos, you might check out this report:
http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen/index.php?id=50
Best
Mick