27th April Day 8
This week was looking like it may be much quieter for migrants as the wind was swinging around to the North and getting must stronger, this would give us the opportunity for some more leisurely birding with more sightseen and orchid searching.
Headed up Ipsolu one of our favorite places to visit, a walk around the rock produced Golden Oriol, Blue Rock Thrush and the usual Wheatears Isabelline, Northern and Black Eared of both black throat and white throat forms. Warblers a plenty, Lesser Whitethroat, pied and Collared Fly, Bonellis warbler, and eastern Sub Alp. Rock Sparrow were present but not easy to see the wind was keeping things hidden. Took the road down to Sigri again where we picked up peregrine 2 Elenora's and a few Short toed eagles.
At Sigri the usual high numbers of Shearwaters mainly Yelkouans with some Scopoli's. Rock Doves and Shags too. Moved towards the upper and lower fords of the Fenomenia, don't do this very often as never sure what to do here but birders on site were stalking birds up and down the river, not great for birders returning after everything has been flushed but i stood and waited for everyone to go which is when all the birds started to appear. Best of the bunch were Spotter crake, Red breasted Fly with collared and pied, Male Citrine wagtail, and 4 wood sand with a Green Sand. In the same area good birds for me such as a Common Starling, rare here i believe, Lesser Kestrel and all the shrikes. White wagtails weren't easy this year but 2 birds seen. That was the day really, excellent as always.
28th April Day 9
At breakfast a few White winged black terns came along the river as did a Spoonbill. We took a trip over to the Well of Achilles, nothing to shout about but part of the site seeing tour for something not bird related. Had lunch at the quite village of Vatera, quiet as all but a couple of taveners were shut. Spotted a very showy Collared Pratincole on the beach which posed nicely for me. Whilst having lunch it was great to watch close Yelkouans shearwaters and even watched a few Red Footed Falcons, an Elenoras and a single Kestrel Sp come in off.
29th April Day10
Headed past Mesa again, Spotted a single White Pelican with the 6 Dalmation Pelicans which did the same as the last ones i found last year by taking of and heading over the mountains never to be seen again. The Red Footed falcons were till at mesa, and back on the east track 20 WWBT with 8 Whiskered.
Molyvos for lunch and whilst up on the church at Petra a Griffon Vulture flew up the valley. Back to the saltpans again to pick up the long staying 1st summer White fronted Goose, another rare bird for the island, with a 2cy Monties, Short toed lark and usual terns and waders. 5 Spoonbill flew onto pans and a few Zitters were more evident.
30th April Day 11
Sat on the hotel balcony it was evident that Pallid Swifts were about mixed in with the commons, a Dalmatian Pelican over and landed on river.
Off to Errios today which was a first for us not many birds on the way but more Red footed falcons, Bonellis warbler and Elenoras falcons. Skalla Errios a Little Bittern just sat in a tree in the harbor.
Headed back past Makera, 3 Levant Sparrowhawks in off, 19 Red Footed Falcons, 1 Lesser Grey shrike and another tick an Oystercatcher.
Twitched the Saltpans for 6 Distant sleepy Garganey. Glossy Ibis and the Spur winged Plover again.
1st May Day 12
At Metochi, finally found a Roller i could photograph, along with 4 Lesser Grey Shrikes, Red backed Woodchat and Masked too. Back on Motochi lake the Pygmy Cormorant, female Levant Sparrowhawk, Little Bittern, 8 Buzzards, 6 Short toed eagles, 2 Night Herons, Hobby and more Golden Oriols.
Back to the saltpans, 2 Spur Winged Plover, more 7 Whiskered Tern 18 Gull billed terns, 60 WWBT. Usual Shrikes. Waders on site, Curlew, Grey Plover, Turnstone and Little Stints. 6 Dalmatian Pelicans with the 11 Spoonbill now. A Purple Heron over and found a River warbler singing. White stork too.
2nd May Day 13
Woke up and opened my door to the hotel to hear another River Warbler singing, a bit further up from the one found outside pela, so a fall had happened over last couple days.
Moved onto the Tsiknias River where someone had found a Great Snipe, crap views but views all the same. 4 Little Bittern, and a couple for Little Crakes.
A trip to Moira Viaduct, where i heard Wryneck Singing, a place I'm sure they must breed.
Headed back to Potamia Valley and Metochi area, lifer 2 Lesser Spotted Eagles, and an incredible 45 Levant Sparrowhawks, probably one of my most exciting times birding in recent times. Lesser spotted eagles were clearly moving over the island today as i had lunch with Rach in Skalla kalloni center when another Eagle flew over, high but clearly another Lesser Spotted. A Hobby over again too. Female Montagu's also but distant.
Early finish today.
3rd May Day 14
Last full day so had to make the most of relaxing as well as some leisurely birding. River warbler was still behind the Aegeoan Hotel singing and incredibly another 2 Lesser Spotted Eagles flew over. Other bits from my hotel spotting were Peregrine, Whimbrel a hawk sp, Spar or levant and finally an Marsh Harrier.
Off up the road to Agious harbor where finally the wind had dropped and 3 Thread lacewings were now flying. 3-6 Bottle nosed Dolphins out in the bay made our day but it kept getting better with 2 more LS Eagles and a group of 18 more Levant Sparrowhawks. Last trip to the saltpans where 150 mixed terns came in with at least 1 Black Tern being new for trip. Back at Kalloni on our last evening, a Spoonbill over an Barn Owl again.
So for the incredible 2 weeks here i notched up 190 species and this was probably my best every birding experience in the last 10 years, Just an absolute awesome 2 weeks here on Lesvos...Brilliant, Ready to do it all again in September. Species list HERE
Few pics to finish
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