Lesvos Trip Report 

 

LITTLE GREBE    Tachybaptus ruficollis     2 birds on the East River 28th, 1 bird Inland Lake 29th, 2 at the same venue 3rd & 4th May.

CORY'S SHEARWATER    Colonectris diomedea     Hundreds of birds moving west, close inshore between Petra & Molivos.

CORMORANT    Phalacrocorax carbo     Odd birds around the coast.

SHAG    Phalacrocorax aristotelis     Odd birds on the coast, 5 fishing in the bay at Parakila.    

LITTLE BITTERN    Lxobrychus minutes     1 female Kalloni pool 24th, 1 male on the East River 26th, male & female gave great views at Faneromeni ford on the 30th. 4 males & 2 females were encountered at the inland lake during a pre-breakfast visit.

NIGHT HERON    Nyctricorax nyctricorax     Only 2 sightings for the trip, both male birds: 1 on a small watercourse near Andissa, and 1 at the inland lake.

SQUACCO HERON    Ardeola ralloides     Birds encountered most days peaking to 4 birds on the Upper East River, and 3 at the Kroussos Ford on 4th May.

LITTLE EGRET     Egretta garzetta      Birds common at suitable habitats.

GREAT WHITE EGRET    Egretta alba     Sightings were confined mostly to the saltpans, although 1 bird was seen in the bay near Derbyshire. Singletons most days with 3 at the salt pans May 2nd .

GREY HERON    Ardea cinerea     Birds seen at suitable locations, a flock of 27 seen flying high over the salt pans on 29th April.

PURPLE HERON    Ardea purpurea     1 bird flew into the field at the rear of the inland lake on 24th. 3 roosting in the Tamarisk at the same venue, on 3rd May.

GLOSSY IBIS    Plegadis falcinellus     Birds encountered most days, with 29 on the East River on 26th . Numbers had reduced to a handful by the beginning of May.           

BLACK STORK    Ciconia nigra     Single birds were seen on no fewer than 9 days. Most sightings were on or around the East River. Other sightings were at the saltpans.        

WHITE STORK    Ciconia ciconia     Small numbers of birds were seen on all but 1 day of the trip. Most sightings were concentrated in or around Kalloni 2 pool.         

SPOONBILL    Platalea leucorodia     A single bird was present throughout the trip on the saltpans feeding with the Flamingos.  

GREATER FLAMINGO   Phoenicopterus ruber     Approximately 4/500 birds were present on 22nd . This number had halved by 4th May.

SHELDUCK    Tadorna tadorna     Odd birds especially at the rear of the salt pans.                   

RUDDY SHELDUCK    Tadorna ferruginea     Birds, usually in pairs, were encountered on 22nd, 23rd, 26th, 28th April and 4th May. A flock of 37 was seen on the wetland between Kalloni saltpans and Derbyshire.

GARGANEY    Anas querquedula     Pairs of birds were seen at the following locations, Potamia reservoir 26th, East River 28th, 29th, 5 were present at Kalloni pool 2nd & 3rd May.      

SHOVELER    Anas clypeata     A flock of between 10-20 birds were observed at the Kalloni saltpans unto 26th April. No birds seen after that date.

MARSH HARRIER    Circus aeruginosus     Singletons were present at both the Kalloni saltpans and the West River on each visit. All birds observed were female.  

HEN HARRIER    Circus cyaneus     Only ring-tails were seen, East River 22nd, 23rd, Derbyshire 25th, Saltpans 28th April & 4th May.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER    Circus pygargus     1 female flew along the ridge behind the chapel at Devil's Bridge 27th April.

BUZZARD    Buteo buteo     Common at suitable locations.  

LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD    Buteo rufinus     A pair display flying at Ipsilou Monastery 23rd, Devil's Bridge 30th, Kalloni saltpans 1st, Napi Valley 2nd, and Potamia Valley 3rd.       

BOOTED EAGLE    Hieraaetus pennatus     1 male (pale form) Potamia Valley 22nd April.

SHORT-TOED EAGLE    Circaetus gallicus     1 male Derbyshire 25th, 1 male Potomia Valley 28th.

LESSER KESTREL    Falco naumanni     Small parties of up to 6 birds between Sigri & Andissa 23rd & 27th, 2 birds Faneromeni Ford 27th.

KESTREL    Falco tinnunculus     Birds common at all suitable habitats.                                         

RED-FOOTED FALCON    Falco vespertinus     First birds seen at the Kalloni saltpans on 25th April. Small flocks then encountered every day until 2nd May.                  

ELEONORA'S FALCON    Falco eleonorae     Only bird seen, 1 male between Agra & Mesotopos 4th of May.

PEREGRINE FALCON    Falco peregrinus     1 bird between Petra & Molivos 24th, 1 bird hunting over the salt pans 30th & 1 bird at the Napi Valley 1st May.

CHUKAR    Alectoris chukar     1 bird between Eressos & Andissa 23rd , 2 birds seen Mesotopos & Kroussos.

LITTLE CRAKE    Porzana parva     2 birds encountered during an early morning visit to the Inland Lake on 3rd May.

MOORHEN    Gallinula chloropus     Birds common at all suitable locations.       

COOT    Fulica atra     Only record was a singleton on the Potamia Valley reservoir 29th April & 3rd May.  

BLACK-WINGED STILT    Himantopus himantopus     Common breeding wader present at all suitable habitats.

AVOCET    Recurvirostra avosetta     Breeding population of 50 – 100 pairs. Birds seem to be restricted to the saltpans.

STONE CURLEW    Burhinus oedicnemus     Birds located at the saltpans from 25th April-4th May. Nesting pair badly disturbed by photographers.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE    Glareola pratincola     9 birds loafing on a mud spit at Kalloni saltpans 22nd, only other sighting was a single bird at the same venue on the 29th.     

LITTLE-RINGED PLOVER    Charadrius dubius     Birds seen at all suitable locations.    

RINGED PLOVER    Charadrius hiaticula     Again small numbers at suitable locations.

KENTISH PLOVER    Charadrius alexandrinus      Common breeder on the island.  

GREY PLOVER    Pluvialis squatarola     11 birds in various stages of summer plumage were at the saltpans 26th - 30th.

SANDERLING    Calidris alba     2 birds present at Kalloni saltpans 29th.      

LITTLE STINT    Calidris minuta     Common wader with flocks of 50> not uncommon.    

TEMMINCK'S STINT    Calidris temminckii     1 bird present on a small pool outside Skala on 1st May with 3 at the same venue on 2nd.

CURLEW SANDPIPER    Calidris ferruginea     9 birds present at the saltpans on 26th-30th April with 14 at the same venue from 1st - 4th May.

RUFF    Philomachus pugnax     A very common wader with 50> at suitable locations.

COMMON SNIPE    Gallinago gallinago     A singleton observed flying from Kalloni pool 2nd.     

GREAT SNIPE    Gallinago media     This bird was located on the upper East River on 2nd. It was thought to be the same bird seen on the lower East River 3 weeks previously.   

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT    Limosa limosa     Just 2 birds present at the saltpans on 29th & 2nd May.

SPOTTED REDSHANK    Tringa erythropus     Only sighting was 2 birds between Kalloni & Derbyshire on 28th.

REDSHANK    Tringa totanus     Single birds seen most days at suitable sites.   

MARSH SANDPIPER    Tringa stagnatilis     Up to 7 birds present on the upper East River on 28th, 29th April & 1st & 4th May.  

GREENSHANK    Tringa nebularia     Odd birds only seen during the trip.  

GREEN SANDPIPER    Tringa ochropus     Only 2 sightings of single birds, both on the saltpans. 1 on 22nd & 1 on 24th.

WOOD SANDPIPER    Tringa glareola      A very common wader with birds at all suitable sites.

COMMON SANDPIPER    Actitis hypoleucos     All suitable habitats contained several birds.  

TURNSTONE    Arenaria interpres     2 birds on the saltpans 29th & 30th.   

MEDITERRANEAN GULL    Larus melanocephalus     2 birds in full breeding plumage present on the saltpans on 25th.

LITTLE GULL    Larus minutus     9 birds seen feeding on the seaward side of the breakwater at Skala Sikimmia 24th. Singletons at the saltpans on 26th April & 1st May.  

BLACK-HEADED GULL    Larus ridibundus     1 bird only with Little Gull on the saltpans.  

SLENDER-BILLED GULL    Larus genei     5 birds at saltpans 25th & 26th.  

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL    Larus cachinnans     Birds abundant at suitable locations.

GULL-BILLED TERN    Gelochelidon nilotica     A single bird at the saltpans for the duration joined by 2 more on 26th with 2 birds present on 4th .

CASPIAN TERN    Sterna caspia     A single bird was using the saltpans as over-night roost from 28th, usually arriving between 18.30–19.00. 

SANDWICH TERN    Sterna sandvicensis     8 birds present at the saltpans on 28th.  

COMMON TERN    Sterna hirundo     As its name suggests, the commonest tern of the trip with 50> birds ever present usually at the Kalloni pool & saltpans.

LITTLE TERN    Sterna albifrons     The second most common tern with several dozen present at the saltpans.

BLACK TERN    Chlidonias niger     Several birds feeding with other terns at the saltpans 30th April & 2nd May.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN    Chlidonias leucopterus     Birds present at the saltpans on 25th, 29th, 30th April also on 2nd, 3rd, & 4th May, numbers peaked at 15. 5 present at Kalloni pool.  

WHISKERED TERN    Chlidonias hybridus     Small numbers seen peaking to 11 on 3rd.  

CUCKOO    Cuculus canorus     Although regularly heard, birds were seen on only 4 occasions.    

ROCK DOVE    Columba livia     A small colony on the island off Skala Eressos .  

WOOD PIGEON    Columba palumbus     Only 1 bird seen at Potamia Valley 22nd.        

COLLARED DOVE    Streptopelia decaocto     Common at all locations.

TURTLE DOVE    Streptopelia turtur     First seen on 27th then daily thereafter.  

BARN OWL    Tyto alba     Birds observed at their traditional nesting site in the old disco building in Skala Kalloni. Possible different bird seen on the road to the old town of Kalloni.  

LITTLE OWL    Athene noctula     The commonest and only other owl seen, with birds seen all over the island. Birds usually associated with old farm buildings.

COMMON SWIFT    Apus apus     A common passage migrant with small numbers seen most days.

ALPINE SWIFT    Apus melba     Small numbers were seen 23rd, 24th, above Agra & Molivos respectively. Birds were seen using the Potamia reservoir for a drink 30th.

ROLLER    Coracias garrulus     Birds were observed on 3 occasions, 1 at the track between the East River and saltpans 28th, 1 at the saltpans 30th & 1 at Kroussos on 4th May.  

BEE-EATER    Merops apiaster     Birds were present at the usual sites. A flock of 43 was seen passing through the Napi Valley .

HOOPOE    Upupa epops     Sightings on 5 occasions, the most memorable was birds feeding well grown chicks in the Napi Valley 22nd April.  

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER    Dendrocopos medius     A pair was feeding young in a dead tree at Skala Kalloni. Birds observed at Devil's Bridge & Napi Valley .   

SHORT-TOED LARK    Calandrella brachydactyla     The only location birds seen was Kalloni saltpans on 22nd, 26th April & 1st May.

LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK    Calandrella rufenscens     2 birds at Kalloni saltpans 1st & 4th May.    

CRESTED LARK    Galerida cristata     Birds abundant over the whole island.                                    

WOODLARK    Lullula arborea     1 bird observed display flying above the Kruper's site, Derbyshire 28th.

SAND MARTIN    Riparia riparia     Birds very common, passing through the island in large numbers most days.

HOUSE MARTIN    Delichon urbica     Very common, large numbers of both passage birds & summer visitors building nests.

CRAG MARTIN    Ptyonoprogne rupestris     A small colony of birds at 2 locations in the Grand Canyon .

SWALLOW    Hirundo rustica     The most common Hirundine of the area.   

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW    Hirundo daurica     Birds encountered every day with birds nesting at suitable locations.

TAWNY PIPIT    Anthus campestris     2 birds Kalloni saltpans 29th April & 1st May

RED-THROATED PIPIT    Anthus cervinus     Fair numbers of birds on the West River from 22nd - 24th. Singleton at the saltpans 28th & 1 on the wires on the track between the East River and the saltpans.

WHITE WAGTAIL    Motacilla alba     Odd birds seen throughout the trip.

YELLOW WAGTAIL    Motacilla flava     Birds of most races seen at suitable locations during the trip.

CITRINE WAGTAIL    Motacilla citreola     An obvious influx into the island was evident on 30th April & 1st May. A pair was present at Kroussos Ford. 3 males & a female were at Tavari . A pair with a sub-adult were on the upper East River on 1st.

RUFUS BUSH ROBIN    Cercotrichas galactotes     The 1st bird was encountered near Faneromeni on 27th. A male was present on the track to Kroussos on 30th and observed displaying on a boulder at the same venue on 1st May. A bird was also present at the saltpans 3rd.

ROBIN    Erithacus rubecula     Only sighting was in the chestnut woods above Agiassos.

NIGHTINGALE    Luscinia megarhynchos     Abundant at all suitable habitats.

COMMON REDSTART    Phoenicurus phoenicurus     Only 1 sighting, a male at Faneromeni on 27th.

WHINCHAT    Saxicola rubetra     Common at suitable locations.  

STONECHAT    Saxicola torquata     Single birds seen on 23rd, 27th, & 28th.                                      

BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR    Oenanthe hispanica     Very common especially in the west of the island.

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR    Oenanthe isabellina     Birds seen on each visit to the well known site between Sigri & Andissa.

NORTHERN WHEATEAR     Oenanthe oenanthe     Only 1 bird seen at the East River on 22nd.

BLUE ROCK THRUSH    Monticola solitarius     A common resident.                                 

BLACKBIRD    Turdus merula     Abundant throughout the island.

MISTLE THRUSH    Turdus viscivorus     2 sightings at the chestnut woods above Agiassos.

FAN-TAILED WARBLER    Cisticola juncidis     1 bird displaying on the West River .

CETTI'S WARBLER    Cettia cetti     A very common warbler on the island.

MOUSTACHED WARBLER Acrocephalus melanopogon A male present at Kroussos Ford.

SEDGE WARBLER    Acrocephalus schoenobaenus     Birds present at the West River on 2nd.

MOUSTACHED WARBLER    Acrocephalus melanopogon     A male present at Kroussos Ford. 4th, and at Kroussos on 30th.

REED WARBLER    Acrocephalus scirpaceus     Several birds present at Dipi Larssos 28th. Also the saltpans on 2nd. Birds also at the Potamia River on 3rd.    

GREAT REED WARBLER    Acrocephalus arundinaceus     1 bird singing on the track between the East River & the Kalloni saltpans, 25th. 2 birds present Dipi Larssos 28th.

OLIVACEOUS WARBLER    Hippolais pallida     A common warbler at all suitable habitats.  

ICTERINE WARBLER    Hippolais icterina      1 bird present at the Faneromeni ford on 30th.

SUBALPINE WARBLER    Sylvia cantillans     Several birds present adjacent to the second lay-by between Petra and Molivos. A male bathing in the Potamia valley on 26th, Napi Valley on 2nd & Grand Canyon on 3rd.   

RUPPELL'S WARBLER    Sylvia rueppelli     2 males encountered up the track behind the 2nd lay-by on the road between Petra & Molivos on 24th.

ORPHEAN WARBLER    Sylvia hortensis     2 sightings both adjacent to the Faneromeni ford, 1st on 1st May, 2nd on 4th May.

LESSER WHITETHROAT    Sylvia curruca     2 birds present at Faneromeni ford on 30th.  

WHITETHROAT    Sylvia communis      Small numbers of birds encountered 22nd, 24th, 25th & 26th.

BLACKCAP    Sylvia atricapilla     Similar to Whitethroat, small numbers encountered on 23rd, 24th, 27th & 30th. All but the 30th sighting were in the north of the island.

WOOD WARBLER    Phylloscopus sibilatrix     3 birds were present at the 1st ford on the track to Kroussos on 30th.

CHIFFCHAFF    Phylloscopus collybita     1 bird was seen singing at the Kruper's site in Derbyshire.

WILLOW WARBLER    Phylloscopus trochilus     1 bird at Ipsilou on 23rd, 2 birds at Kroussos ford on 30th.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER    Muscicapa striata     Small number of birds at many suitable locations. Birds seen on 23rd, 24th, 26th, 30th April & 1st, 2nd and 4th May.

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER    Ficedula parva     1 bird flew down and walked under the car at the Rock Thrush site at the Grand Canyon on 23rd.

COLLARED FLYCATCHER    Ficedula albicollis     1 bird present at the Grand Canyon on 23rd and 1 at the 2nd lay-by near the disco.

PIED FLYCATCHER    Ficedula hypoleuca     Although not plentiful, birds were seen on 27th, & 30th April, and 1st, 2nd & 4th May.

SOMBRE TIT    Parus lugubris     Birds seen at most suitable locations.

BLUE TIT    Parus caeruleus     Birds encountered on most days, with upland areas being preferred.

GREAT TIT    Parus major     The commonest of all the tits with birds seen most days.

KRUPER'S NUTHATCH    Sitta krueperi     A fleeting glimpse of a feeding bird at the recognised site in Derbyshire.

ROCK NUTHATCH    Sitta neumayer     Birds common at all suitable upland sites.

SHORT-TOED TREECREEPER    Certhia brachydactyla     2 adult birds feeding fledglings at the Kruper's site 25th. Only other sighting Derbyshire on 28th.

GOLDEN ORIOLE    Oriolus oriolus     A male in the Potamia Valley on 22nd. 1 male singing above the East River & a male over the track to Kroussos ford.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE    Lanius collurio     The second most common shrike of the area.            

LESSER GREY SHRIKE    Lanius minor     Birds encountered at the following sites, Potomia Valley , Derbyshire & the Grand Canyon.

WOODCHAT SHRIKE    Lanius senator     The commonest shrike of the region.

MASKED SHRIKE    Lanius nubicus     The first bird was not encountered until 29th, after which there were several sightings at the East River, Napi Valley and the Potamia Valley.

JAY    Garrulus glandarius     Birds common at suitable sites.

JACKDAW    Corvus monedula     A small colony was present at Sigri and the only birds seen.

HOODED CROW    Corvus corone cornix     Very common corvid.                                                                    

RAVEN    Corvus corax     2 birds present Potamia valley 22nd and the Grand Canyon on 27th.

HOUSE SPARROW    Passer domesticus     Abundant.

SPANISH SPARROW    Passer hispaniolensis     Small nesting colonies were seen throughout the Island, with most around Skala Kalloni.

TREE SPARROW    Passer montanus     1 male was present with the Spanish Sparrows.  

CHAFFINCH    Fringilla coelebs     Birds common where mature trees are present.  

SERIN    Serinus serinus     4 birds present at the Kruper's site 23rd & 25th. A male in Derbyshire 28th.

GREENFINCH    Carduelis chloris     Birds very common.

GOLDFINCH    Carduelis carduelis     The commonest finch of the region.

LINNET    Carduelis cannabina     Common at suitable sites.

CIRL BUNTING    Emberiza cirlus     Small numbers encountered in valleys with scattered trees.

CINEREOUS BUNTING    Emberiza cineracea     Not common, but an accommodating male sang from the top of the conifers at the chapel in Devil's Bridge each time we visited.       

ORTOLAN BUNTING    Emberiza hortulana     1 male present at Agra 23rd, and at Molivos on 24th.

CRETZSCHMAR'S BUNTING    Emberiza caesia     Birds fairly common at suitable locations.

BLACK-HEADED BUNTING    Emberiza melanocephala     First birds arrived on 25th, the island then seemed full of birds.

CORN BUNTING    Miliaria calandra     By far the commonest bunting with most overhead wires holding birds.

 

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