Majorca September 2019

1	Common Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna
2	Gadwall	Anas strepera
3	Eurasian Teal	Anas crecca
4	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
5	Garganey	Anas querquedula
6	Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata
7	Marbled Duck	Marmaronetta angustirostris
8	Red-legged Partridge	Alectoris rufa
9	Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
10	Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
11	European Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis
12	Little Bittern	Ixobrychus minutus
13	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
14	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
15	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
16	Great Egret	Egretta alba
17	Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea
18	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea
19	Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus
20	Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus
21	European Honey Buzzard	Pernis apivorus
22	Red Kite	Milvus milvus
23	Griffon Vulture	Gyps fulvus
24	Cinereous Vulture	Aegypius monachus
25	Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus
26	Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus
27	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
28	Common Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
29	Eleonora's Falcon	Falco eleonorae
30	Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus
31	Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
32	Purple Swamphen	Porphyrio porphyrio
33	Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra
34	Red-knobbed Coot	Fulica cristata
35	Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus
36	Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta
37	Eurasian Stone-curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus
38	Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius
39	Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
40	Kentish Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
41	Little Stint	Calidris minuta
42	Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea
43	Dunlin	Calidris alpina
44	Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago
45	Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
46	Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus
47	Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus
48	Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
49	Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola
50	Common Redshank	Tringa totanus
51	Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
52	Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus
53	Audouin's Gull	Larus audouinii
54	Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis
55	Common Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus
56	Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto
57	European Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus
58	Common Swift	Apus apus
59	Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
60	Hoopoe	Upupa epops
61	Crested Lark	Galerida cristata
62	Sand Martin	Riparia riparia
63	Eurasian Crag Martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris
64	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
65	Red-rumped Swallow	Hirundo daurica
66	Common House Martin	Delichon urbicum
67	Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava
68	Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus
69	Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
70	European Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
71	Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
72	Blue Rock Thrush	Monticola solitarius
73	Cetti's Warbler	Cettia cetti
74	Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis
75	Moustached Warbler	Acrocephalus melanopogon
76	Eurasian Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus
77	Marmora's Warbler	Sylvia sarda
78	Sardinian Warbler	Sylvia melanocephala
79	Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin
80	Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
81	Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita
82	Common Firecrest	Regulus ignicapilla
83	Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
84	Eurasian Blue Tit	Parus caeruleus
85	Great Tit	Parus major
86	Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator
87	Common Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
88	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
89	Common Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
90	European Serin	Serinus serinus
91	European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris
92	European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
93	Common Linnet	Carduelis cannabina
94	Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra

Cley

One of my favorite passage waders is the Pectoral Sandpiper. An Adult had turned up at Cley so after the day knocking about in the Kelling heath area i popped into Cley to take a look. At first i couldn't find it, i was looking from the wrong hide which didn't help. I did count 10 Wood Sandpipers and a Summer Plumaged Spotted Redshank.

So I moved to the correct hide but the bird was hidden behind an island so had to wait a short while before it showed itself. It showed nicely through the scope but was no good for photos.

5 More Wood Sandpipers were on view as were a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers.
Also 2 Continental Black tailed Godwits.

Potter Heigham Marsh's

Cant say ive seen or done much birding of late. Med Gulls and a few Terns on the patch.
Today however i saw there was a fall of Waders so headed for Potter Heigham.
10 Spoonbills are always nice to see and common here,

The waders started to show up with a Wood Sandpiper and 2 Dunlin. Then Common Sandpiper and a Ruff. Further around the marsh 9 Green Sandpipers and 5 Common Sandpipers.

24 Little Egret was a high count.

Finally 3 Greenshank, 14 Ruff and 3 Wood Sandpipers dropped in.

Lesbos 2019 4th-12th May

So its taken a while to start but here it is, Trip report on my 2nd year in Lesbos.

Saturday 4th
Arrived at the Airport at 1230 jumped on the bus to travel 12 yards to the terminal, yes that's how they do it here until the new terminal is built.
Our Car from Lesvos car hire was onsite immediately when we arrived and was brand new, hardly a mile on the clock. Drove through Mitilini to our first stop the bridge at Mesa Wetland. It was extremely quite on the wader front with just a Little Ringed Plover.

Olivaceous Warblers were all over, Turtle Dove cooing in the distance.
We noticed our first Orchids Holy Orchid and Serapias parviflora small flowered tongue orchid.

Then onto the fabulous Kalloni Saltpans, Flamingos everywhere Lots of Terns, Black headed Bunting and a Crested Lark.

Further on Temmnicks Stints were numerous as were our first Bee Eaters, Black Tern and a cracking Collared Pratincole.

Finally on the racecourse it didnt take long to locate some Red Throated Pipits and a cracking Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin as its now called.

Sunday 5th
It was back to the Saltpans where we spotted a Lesser Grey Shrike, never close but good views through the scope.

A nice Citrine Wagtail flew over but didn't land in sight, lots of Yellow Wagtails and more Red Throated Pipits. White winged Black Terns were hunting the dyke and the Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin were about still. A 1st Summer Male Montagu's Harrier showed incredibly well. Lots of Dark Spreadwing Damselflys too.

Moved onto Achladeri Forest where we could hear 2 Krupers Nuthatch but couldn't see them. We had a good walk around the forest enjoying the sites and sounds. Ravens seemed everywhere, Short toed treecreeper with young. Another Orchid Limodorum abortivum (Violet Limadore)

On the way back to the hotel a few bits along the road With Red Backed and Woodchat Shrikes. A very showy Elenoras falcon sat on a wire and our first Great White Egret.

It was a bit early for the hotel so nipped to Metochi lake. Great Reed Warbler, Little Bittern and Squacco Heron were the highlights.

Monday 6th
Today it was a trip to the fabulous Ipsolu Monastary. It was very windy making birding difficult. Still a long list of  Wood Warbler, Hoopoe, Sub Alp, Isabeline Wheatear, Woodlark, Golden Oriol, Persian Red Squirrel, Rock Sparrow Blue Rock Thrush.Black Eared Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Cinereous Bunting and a Ravens nest.

A baby Spur thighed tortoise was a lovely find by Rach,

Moving onto Sigri for a drive around some lunch and 2 cracking Spur Winged Lapwings. Also Masked Shrikes and a few Nordic Jackdaws.

On the Way back more Cretzmars Buntings, 8 Golden Oriols with a couple showing well and first Icterine Warbler of the trip.

  

Over towards the Petrified Forest 2 Chucker calling, an Orphean Warbler, Pied Fly and a Long Legged Buzzard.

Stopped off at the old soccer pitch for Scops Owl, were weren't to be disappointed. 

That Evening the Barn Owl popped out the chimney of Dianes Shop in Skalla Kallonis and a tree frog in the beam of the phone in the dark.

Tuesday 7th

We headed for Kalloni pools, it was holding a nice Great White Egret, Several Squaccos and a Purple Heron. A Water Rail kept shooting in and out the reeds.
I spotted a nice Tree Frog too.

Onwards up the hill to the Kalloni Raptor point. Black Stork, Long Legged Buzzards 2 Peregrine, 2 Elenoras a Goshawk and 2 Short Toed eagles were the best in the air. Rock Nuthatch were hard to find and distant. Black eared Wheatear were nest close by and lastly a Whinchat.

Got to the point just before Molivos for the Ruppels Warbler, it was showing really well (just before we got there) but by the time we arrived it had moved distantly away. Nice scope views though.
Had Lunch at Molivos and walked up to the fabulous Castle. Plenty to keep us occupied with the views Agama Lizards, BE Wheatear, Bee Eaters and an Ice cream.
Stopped off at the Ruppels again in the afternoon but views were still distant. A male Red Footed Falcon flew over. Off the sea plenty of Scopoli's and Yelkouan Shearwaters following the distant boats.

Great Spotted Cuckoo had been seen at Molivos Res so we headed there for a little walk and we weren't to be disappointed with great views of 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos and 2 normal ones too. Also double figure Turtle doves, never seen so many in one place.

What a great day but time to head back to the hotel for some food.

Wednesday 8th
I had a long slog along the Tsiknias River, the wind was up and there were literally no birds. It was Very disappointing. At the River mouth it got better when i found a 1st Winter/Summer Caspian Gull. a very rare species on Lesvos one requiring a description. Luckily i managed some pictures to confirm its ID.

Also in the river mouth were Little Ringed Plover Common and Sandwich Terns.
Walking back our first Little Owl and plenty of Black headed Buntings and a couple of Masked Shrikes.

Got back to the car and headed for out first Waterfall, the Pesa Waterfall, not shut off as the paths were dangerous, still didn't stop us walking down and taking plenty of pictures. Lots of Orchids such as the Limodorum abortivum (Violet Limadore) again.

Onto Alkedera to look for Kruppers nuthatch and the usual woodland species including Short toed Treecreeper and Spotted Flycatcher.

A  Nice Tongue Orchid too.

The Poppy Fields around this area were stunning.

Back to the Saltpans to finish off the day. .Black and White Storks and the usual cast of birds .

Thursday early start with a nice Red Fox from the hotel. Then up to Molivos again for much better views of the Ruppels Warbler. Managed some shots this time.

A Trip up the Potamia Valley and a walk to watch 3 Olive Tree Warblers, a Honey Buzzard, Yellow Wagtails, Cirl Buntings Hoopoes and some very showey Middle Spotted Woodpeckers.
Sombre Tit and Masked Shrikes were great too. Found an Icterine Warbler singing from a bush too.
Butterflies were plenty-ful including a nice Festoon.

Back to the Hotel, A Fallow Deer was roaming the fields as were a Barn Owl and Night Heron.

Friday Was our last Full day on the island so we headed once again for Ipsilo Monastary. The usual stuff from before but this time 3 Lesser Kestrels, a Glass Lizard and our 1st Humming Bird Hawkmoth. Not much else bird wise just nice to be in this fabulous environment again.

Afternoon back at the Saltpans. All the terns spotted, a distant Cattle Egret, Curlew, plent of waders including Curlew Sandpipers and 100+ Little Stints. Ruddy Shelduck, Avocets, Black Winged Stilts, Ruff and Flamingos.

Another Fabulous trip to this fabulous Island of Lesbos. May try a new hotel next time.
Trip list was surprisingly bigger than last year but it didn't quite feel as good. List here.............https://craigshawsbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/lesvos-species-list-may-2019.html

Ill add a few landscape shots from various points on the island too.