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Lesvos

Greece

13-27 May 2017

Observers: F. S. Simpson,

L. Simpson & J. F. Simpson

 

Introduction

This was a family trip, with our two year-old son, with a bit more focus on birding this year after the Czech Republic last year, helped by getting out at dawn on my own before returning for breakfast. Having previously been to eastern Turkey, no new species were on offer but sound recording was the main focus. Lesvos has two species found nowhere else in 'Europe': Krüper's Nuthatch and Cinerous Bunting. If Finland is a Land of a Thousand Lakes, Lesvos could be described as a Land of a Million Olive Trees. While it is the third largest Greek island, it is small enough to get to most places by car in under two hours. We went quite late in the spring when most of the ephemeral wetlands were already dry. However, most sites were quiet and undisturbed - the majority of birders/photographers had departed and the summer tourists had not yet arrived. A total of 155 species was recorded.

 

 

Highlights

Chukar, Ruddy Shelduck, Scopoli's Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Greater Flamingo, Black Stork, Little Bittern, Squacco Heron, Dalmatian Pelican, Long-legged Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora's Falcon, Temminck's Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Black Tern, Scops Owl, Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Golden Oriole, Sombre Tit, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Rüppell's Warbler, Krüper's Nuthatch, Western Rock Nuthatch, Rose-coloured Starling, Rufous Bush Robin, Isabelline Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Black-headed Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Cinereous Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Black-headed Bunting.

 

 

Logistics

We booked a flight and hotel package through Thomas Cook to the Kalloni Bay hotel in Skala Kallonis, with direct flights between London Gatwick and Mytilini on Lesvos. Car hire was from Thrifty through Holiday Autos.

 

 

Site Guides, Trip reports, & Maps

•     Dudley, S. 2010. A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos. Wildsounds.

•     Brooks, R. 1998. Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos. Brookside Publishing.

•     Tabak, A. 2016. Lesvos. Crossbill Guides.

•     www.lesvosbirding.com

•     www.cloudbirders.com

•     Twitter > Lesvos Birding

•     Twitter > Lesvos Bird News

•     Lesvos Map, 1:50,000. Freytag & Berndt.

•     Lesvos Map: an older Road Editions borrowed from Howard Vaughan (complete with annotations).

 

 

Itinerary

Day 01       13/05/17    London, England > Mytilini, Lesvos, Greece > Skala Kallonis

Day 02       14/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Christou River mouth > Kalloni Saltpans

Day 03       15/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Christou River > Metochi Lake > Potamia Reservoir > Potamia Valley

Day 04       16/05/17    Potamia Valley > Kalloni Bay> Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint > Tsiknias River > Skala Kallonis Pool

Day 05       17/05/17    Potamia Valley > Christou River mouth > Molivos > Kalloni Saltpans > Skala Kallonis Pool

Day 06       18/05/17    Kalloni Saltpans > Alykes Wetlands > Achladeri Forest > Skala Vasilikon > Skamnioudi > Alikoudi Pool

Day 07       19/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Lardia Valley > Ipsilou Monastery > Petrified Forest > Vatousa

Day 08       20/05/17    Achladeri Forest > Koriana > Napi Valley > Platania track > Kalloni Bay

Day 09       21/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Agiasos > Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park > Skala Kallonis

Day 10       22/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Antissa > Vigla > Ipsilou > Sigri > Faneromeni > Eresos > Mesotopos > Parakila

Day 11       23/05/17    Potamia Valley > Christou River mouth > Tsiknias River mouth > Kalloni Bay > Kalloni Saltpans

Day 12       24/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Kavaki > Skamnioudi > Alikoudi Pool > Vasilika

Day 13       25/05/17    Tsiknias River > Napi Valley > Mandamados > Kapi > Stipsi > Petra > Molivos > Efthalou > Kavaki

Day 14       26/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Potamia Valley > Kalloni Saltpans

Day 15       27/05/17    Skala Kallonis > Mytilini > London

 

 

Map of Main Towns & Locations visited

Lesvos Map of Main Towns & Locations

 

 

Day 1                                                                                                                            
Saturday 13 May 2017
 London, England > Mytilini, Lesvos, Greece > Skala Kallonis
Blue sky, wind 4 mph WNW , min 19°C, max 30°C

 

Highlights
Montagu's Harrier, Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Ruddy Shelduck, Great Reed Warbler, Spanish Sparrow, Bee-eater.

 
The trip actually began on Friday evening as we made our way to Gatwick to try and get some sleep before check-in at 03:40 for the 06:40 flight. Needless to say, after arriving in the heat, we did not do too much this day.

 

Mytilini > Skala Kallonis
Touching down and taxing along the runway and the first bird on the island was a male Montagu's Harrier - which was to be the only one of the fortnight! The main route out of Mytilini to the west and centre of the island is not well marked (did not see any road signs). We just kept to the largest road and with luck found ourselves heading towards Kalloni.

 

 

Day 2                                                                                                                            
Sunday 14 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Christou River mouth > Kalloni Saltpans
Blue sky, wind 4 mph WNW , min 19°C, max 31°C

 

Highlights
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Black Stork, Little Bittern, Turtle Dove, Citrine Wagtail, Whiskered Tern, Greater Flamingo, White-winged Black Tern, Spoonbill, Black-headed Bunting, Lesser Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Ruddy Shelduck, Quail, Short-toed Eagle.

 

Skalla Kallonis Pool (Kalloni II pool)  [39° 12' 24.9'' N  26° 12' 12.7'' E]
After nearly 40 hours without sleep since Friday morning, I woke up and was out at 06:30 checking the local area. Our hotel overlooks (with observation platform) the once-famous Skala Kallonis Pool, now a shadow of its former self. Initially very quiet but continued observation revealed a few interesting species. An Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was singing in the Eucalyptus in the hotel garden, with another in a Tamarisk in the corner nearest the beach. Reed, Great Reed and Cetti's Warbler singing from the marsh and a Little Bittern was heard once. Three Black Storks arrived and four unidentified Swifts flew north in the low sun, and two Bee-eaters were regular throughout the next hour. Black-winged Stilts were probably nesting and regularly flew up to see of Hooded Crows and Yellow-legged Gulls. A Turtle Dove was the Columbid highlight among the surround sound of singing Collared Doves. I went off to view the Christou and on return I had a final check here before breakfast. Well worth it as a male Citrine Wagtail was perched in the middle of the marsh, departing shortly after.

 

Skala Kallonis Pool © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Skala Kallonis Pool, viewed from the north side at Kalloni Bay Hotel

 

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  Hippolais pallida

  Sonogram of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler song

Kalloni Pool, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 24.9" N  26° 12' 12.7" E  14 May 2017

Singing from Tamarisk in low, sparse beach scrub.

Song composed of strophes of up to nine seconds sung continuously with three to four second pauses between each. Each strophe consisting of 'jerky' repetitive cycles (1.4 to 2.1 secs) of scratchy and squeaky elements slurred together, ending with slightly more musical elements increasing then decreasing in frequency. Resembling a fast Reed Warbler in its monotonous delivery. This individual overall sounds higher-pitched than [easternolivaceouswarbler114621ecut] at Tsiknia River mouth on 25-May.

[File name: easternolivaceouswarbler114284ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Song rate per minute

 

  

 

Kalloni Bay, Gulf of Kalloni  [39° 12' 23.59" N  26° 12' 12.05" E]
A few Common Terns were fishing in the flat calm sea and small wader flock consisting of three Little Stints and two Ringed Plover were on the beach. A Bee-eater flew over.

 

Kalloni Bay, Gulf of Kalloni © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Bay, looking south-west from Skala Kallonis

 

Christou River mouth (Ennia Kamares mouth/Kerami Marsh/West River)  [39° 12' 15.27" N  26° 11' 47.49" E]
More Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were heard on the short walk to this attractive wetland site. A flock of 14 Little Stints had a Curlew Sandpiper in tow, while four Avocet and six Black-winged Stilts regularly mobbed passing Yellow-legged Gulls and Hooded Crows. A female Kentish Plover looked like it may have been sitting on eggs. Best bird here was a Whiskered Tern.

 

Saltmarsh near Christou River mouth © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Christou River, just upstream of the mouth

 

Kalloni Saltpans: hide in NE corner on road 36  [39° 13' 02.3'' N  26° 15' 58.9'' E]
As the temperature was forecast to reach 31°C, we decided to stay local in an area with plenty of shade, to acclimatise to the hot weather. The saltpans have two hides and the road along the moat allows good observation from a car. Highlights from the NE hide, looking south, included 514+ Greater Flamingo, two White-winged Black Tern, two Black Stork, 65+ Avocet, 15 Black-winged Stilts, 10 Curlew Sandpiper, 30 Ruff, 24 Little Tern, four Little Stint, three Spoonbill, a Whiskered Tern and singing Black-headed Bunting.

 

White-winged Black Terns (Childonias leucopterus), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

White-winged Black Terns (Childonias leucopterus), Kalloni Saltpans 

 

Kalloni Saltpans from NE hide © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans and surrounding moat, viewed from north-west corner

 

Kalloni Saltpans: west pans road  [39° 13' 00.7'' N  26° 14' 30.2'' E]
The freshwater pools bordering the road in this area had all dried up. Further Flamingos, Avocets and Black-winged Stilts were present in the near pans, 23 Ruff were feeding up in the moat, the first two White Storks of the trip were noted, and a group of eight Bee-eaters performed well from the roadside fence. On return, seven White-winged Black Terns were hawking back and forth over the moat between the pans and surrounding fields/temporal marshes.

 

Kallonin Saltpans: west pans road © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans and surrounding moat, viewed from the west pans road

 

Kalloni Saltpans: hide on south pans road  [39° 12' 45.3'' N  26° 14' 30.2'' E]
Lesser Grey Shrike and Red-backed Shrike were the highlights here - both being scoped on the telegraph wires to the south at Alykes Wetlands. The hide actually looks north over the pans. Best were 17 Whiskered Tern, six Ruddy Shelduck and a brood of three Avocets (at least 96 in view). A Quail was singing the grassland south of the road, adjacent to the now dry Alykes Wetlands.

 

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Kallonin Saltpans: view from SW hide © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans and surrounding moat, viewed from the south-west corner

 

Kalloni Saltpans: track from salt mound to beach  [39° 12' 26.9'' N  26° 14' 38.5'' E]
A migrant Short-toed Eagle flew north inland from the bay. Even more Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were heard but we were too hot and tired to look for Rufous Bush Robin at this stage so contented ourselves with the Thread Lacewings before heading leisurely back to the hotel.

 

Road to salt mound and dried-up Alykes Wetlands © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Alykes Wetlands (dried up) and road to the salt mound

 

Beach south of Alykes Wetlands © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Bay and beach bordering Alykes Wetlands

 

 

Day 3                                                                                                                            
Monday 15 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Christou River > Metochi Lake > Potamia Reservoir > Potamia Valley
Blue sky, wind 15 mph NNE, max 25°C, min 18°C

 

Highlights
Squacco Heron, Black Stork, Black-headed Wagtail, Black Kite, Woodchat Shrike, Long-legged Buzzard, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Masked Shrike, Nightingale, Sombre Tit.

 

Skala Kallonis > Christou River  [39° 12' 28.15" N  26° 11' 57.99" E]
A Nightingale was singing from the grounds of the Aegeon Hotel.

 

Christou River saltmarsh © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Christou River mouth

 

Christou River: north of main road  [39° 12' 44.66" N  26° 11' 42.54" E]
Five Little Stint were wheeling around as they regularly changed feeding patches but the area was otherwise quiet. Upriver, north of the main road held more interest with a Squacco Heron, Black Stork, 4 Black-headed Wagtails, 20+ Bee-eaters and a Little Owl.

 

Christou River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Christou River, upstream of main road bridge

 

 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

 Sonogram of Goldfinch song

Christou River, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 28.15" N  26° 11' 57.99" E  15 May 2017

Singing from a Tamarix on foreshore.

Short, perched song including fast trills comprising up to 11 elements.

[File name: goldfinch114306e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

Black-headed Wagtail  Motacilla flava feldegg

Sonogram of Black-headed Wagtail song

Christou River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 39.7" N  26° 11' 42.9" E  15 May 2017

Singing from saltmarsh around river/estuary mouth. Song composed of short strophes of one to three downslurred phrases each comprising of almost a continuous series of up to five elements run together.

[File name: blackheadedwagtail114322ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Skala Kallonis Pool  [39° 12' 27.10" N  26° 12' 18.88" E]
Black Stork, White Stork and Green Sandpiper were noted at various times today.

 

Metochi Lake (Kalloni Inland Lake)  [39° 13' 29.9'' N  26° 11' 25.5'' E]
This small lake, famous for its crakes in spring, was quiet on our visit, with the open water holding just Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen. Nothing was observed on the edges but a Little Bittern was heard. Best was a Black Kite flying over, mobbed by Yellow-legged Gulls. Great Reed, Reed, Eastern Olivaceous and Cetti's Warbler were singing. Many dragonflies of several species were on the wing. It soon became too hot to walk the full circular trail as our two-year old became grumpy, but both Woodchat Shrike and our first black-crowned anatoliae race Jay of the trip were seen in the first area of Olives.

 

Metochi Lake © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Metochi Lake

  

Great Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Sonogram of Great Reed Warbler song

Metochi Lake, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 29.9" N  26° 11' 25.5" E  15 May 2017

Singing from windy reeds at lake edge (Phragmites, Typha, and Salix).

Song composed of a semi-continuous output of stropes up to 10 seconds, each comprising alternating phrases of 4-6 harsh, grating elements and squeaky higher-frequency elements at a steady tempo.

[File name: greatreedwarbler114324ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Eastern Orphean Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

  

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  Hippolais pallida

  Sonogram of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler call

Metochi Lake, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 29.9" N  26° 11' 25.5" E  15 May 2017

Calling from lake edge of Phragmites, Typha, and Salix.

[File name: easternolivaceouswarbler114348e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Potamia Reservoir (Kerami Reservoir)  [39° 12' 54.8'' N  26° 10' 28.9'' E]
Returning here later in the afternoon after a siesta, we climbed up to the reservoir dam, observing Long-legged Buzzard, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Woodchat Shrike and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. Around 200 Yellow-legged Gulls were on the reservoir.

 

Potamia Reservoir © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Reservoir

 

Potamia Valley  [39° 13' 00.7'' N  26° 09' 45.9'' E]
Walked from the bridge to the weir along the southern side of the river. Highlight was a pair of Masked Shrikes attacking a Jay. At least two Turtles Doves, two Nightingales and three Cirl Buntings were singing, Several broods of Great Tit were noted but just a single Sombre Tit.

 

Lower area of Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

 

Day 4                                                                                                                            
Tuesday 16 May 2017
 Potamia Valley > Kalloni Bay> Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint > Tsiknias River > Skala Kallonis Pool
Light cloud, wind 16 mph NNE, max 21°C, max 16°C

 

Highlights
Lesser Grey Shrike, Olive-tree Warbler, Ruddy Shelduck, Long-legged Buzzard, Rose-coloured Starling, Blue Rock Thrush, Golden Oriole, Scops Owl, Black-eared Wheatear, Cretzscmar's Bunting, Western Rock Nuthatch, Temminck's Stint, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron.

 

Potamia Valley: olive groves south of reservoir  [39° 12' 40.6'' N  26° 10' 09.8'' E]

Arrived soon after sunrise and spent a lot of time trying to get sound recordings of singing Olive-tree Warbler - two birds were deep inside fenced olive groves. The patchwork of olive groves, cereal and hay fields held Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Little Owl, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Corn Bunting among the commoner species. The rocky ridge to the west provided uplift for two Long-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Peregrine and three Ravens and a Blue Rock Thrush held sentinel on the rocks. A pair of Ruddy Shelduck circled twice overhead. The highlight was a flock of around 50 Rose-coloured Starlings heading north-west over the valley with an associated movement of Common Swifts and House Martins.

 

Lower area of Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

Masked Shrike  Lanius nubicus 

  Sonogram of Masked Shrike song

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 40.6" N  26° 10' 09.8" E  16 May 2017

Singing from an olive grove. Song composed of long strophes of around 30 seconds of scratchy and squeaky elements. Not unlike Eastern Olivaceous Warbler but overall narrower frequency range sounding slightly lower in pitch (though not as low and 'crunchy' as Olive-tree Warbler), longer strophes (shorter, with more pauses in EOW), faster with 4-7 elements/sec (EOW 8-10 elements/sec).

[File name: maskedshrike114382e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Long-legged Buzzard  Buteo rufinus

  Sonogram of Long-legged Buzzard calls

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 40.6" N  26° 10' 09.8" E  16 May 2017

Calls from a Long-legged Buzzard while mobbed by Hooded Crows.

[File name: longleggedbuzzard114379] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Lower area of Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis  [39° 12' 23.59" N  26° 12' 12.05" E]
Time for sand castles and swimming in Kalloni Bay with two year old Jack. A Common Tern plunge-dived a few metres from me and a singing Eastern Olivaceous Warbler carried far out into the bay. Then on to the hotel pool where we saw a striking Balkan Green Lizard in the garden.

 

Kalloni: "Scops Copse"/Kalloni mini soccer pitch  [39° 14' 34.4'' N  26° 12' 36.2'' E]
Mid-afternoon we headed to the famous patch of eucalyptus just north of Kalloni. Two Scops Owls were located. Also present were Cetti's Warbler, Chaffinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow and Hooded Crow.

 

Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops), Kalloni

 

Kalloni "Scops Copse" © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

"Scops Copse"/Kalloni mini soccer pitch

 

Kalloni Raptor Watch Point  [39° 15' 30.0'' N  26° 12' 24.1'' E]
Further inland on the road to Petra the road climbs quite steeply to a bandstand with spectacular view over the Kallonia plain and bay area. While late in the season for most passage raptors, our focus on the surrounding rockly slope provided Cretzschmar's Bunting, Western Rock Nuthatch, Black-eared Wheatear, Red-backed Shrike, Alpine Swift, Chukar and Raven. A large Starred Agama was scoped on the horizon with a small specimen near the bandstand.

 

Kalloni Raptor Watch Point © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Raptor Watch Point

 

Tsiknias River (East River): lower section/west track  [39° 13' 26.8'' N  26° 13' 19.6'' E]
We made a fairly quick drive down the west track of the lower Tsiknias river to the sea before turning west back to Skala Kallonis for dinner. A Temminck's Stint, three Wood Sandpipers, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers and a pair of Black-winged Stilts were seen and numerous Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and Cetti's Warblers were singing. A Squacco Heron was feeding right out in the open on the shoreline, just before the track turns west to Skala Kallonis.

 

Tsiknias River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River

 

Tsiknias River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River mouth

 

Skala Kallonis Pool  [39° 12' 27.10" N  26° 12' 18.88" E]
A quick look at the 'pool' from our hotel revealed a skulking Purple Heron, a Squacco Heron, and a Black-crowned Night Heron which arrived and disappeared into the vegetation at 18:55. On returning from dinner around 22:00, a Scops Owl was singing near the hotel to the east.

 

Skala Kallonis harbour © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Skala Kallonis harbour

 

 

Day 5                                                                                                                            
Wednesday 17 May 2017
 Potamia Valley > Christou River mouth > Molivos > Kalloni Saltpans > Skala Kallonis Pool
Cloudy, rain showers till mid-afternoon, wind 17 mph NE, max 20°C, max 15°C

 

Highlights
Ruddy Shelduck, Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Scops Owl, White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Slender-billed Gull, Black Tern, Little Gull, Citrine Wagtail, Greater Flamingo.

 

Potamia Valley: track above reservoir  [39° 13' 16.3'' N  26° 10' 12.2'' E]
Light rain when I left at 06:00. Walked the track leading up above the reservoir into the hills with Eastern Orphean Warbler and Eastern Subalpine Warbler in mind. Eventually located an Orphean in an area of sparse, old olive trees with scrubby understory. Also noted Black-eared Wheatear, Cirl Bunting, Turtle Dove, Woodchat Shrike, Ruddy Shelduck, Short-toed Eagle and Long-legged Buzzard. A Perisan Squirrel ran over the track between the reservoir and the main road.

 

Track above Potamia Reservoir © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

View above Potamia Reservoir to Gulf of Kalloni

 

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea

  Sonogram of Ruddy Shelduck calls in flight

Potamia Reservoir, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 16.3" N  26° 10' 12.2" E  17 May 2017

Calls from a pair of birds circling overhead. Two types of calls in this recording: low frequency nasal growls (in green) and higher frequency honks (in blue).

[File name: ruddyshelduck114384e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

 Cirl Bunting  Emberiza cirlus

Sonogram of Cirl Bunting calls

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 16.3" N  26° 10' 12.2" E  17 May 2017

Calling from hillside scrub.

A series of calls of two types. A high-frequency, straight-sounding Siit, and a slightly higher-frequency up then down-slurred, more piercing element. Uttered roughly every two seconds.

[File name: cirlbunting114397ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Great Tit  Parus major

Sonogram of Great Tit calls

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 16.3" N  26° 10' 12.2" E  17 May 2017

Calls from an adult (some brief song in background) with a fledged brood.

[File name: greattit114393ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Christou River mouth  [39° 12' 15.27" N  26° 11' 47.49" E]
On returning for breakfast with the family, the rain was heavier and clouds thicker. A Cormorant flew downriver to the sea and at least eight Bee-eater were hawking around the honeybee hives on the north side of the road.

 

Drive: Skala Kallonis > Molivos (Mithymna)
As the rain looked set for the day, we decided to do something more touristy so headed to Molivos with its attractive red-tiled roofs and the hilltop Byzantine Castle of Mithymna. We managed to see Scops Owl on both legs of the journey, just by slowing at the famous copse and looking at yesterday's roost site - still there!

 

Molivos (Mithymna)  [39° 22' 02.1'' N  26° 10' 29.6'' E]
Very windy on the castle top but still managed to see some birds including a male Red-footed Falcon, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Black-eared Wheatear and Little Owl. Later in the town for lunch, we noted several Black-eared Wheatears around the town, on rooftops and nesting in the old walls - just like Black Redstarts in the Czech Republic last year. On the way back we stopped at a playpark in Petra for Jack to get his slide fix.

 

Molivos Castle © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Molivos Castle

Molivos Castle © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Molivos © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

View south from Molivos Castle

 

Kalloni Saltpans: west pans track  [39° 13' 31.71'' N  26° 14' 32.0'' E]
By late afternoon it was brightening up and after a 60 minute siesta we headed down the west track of the Kalloni Saltpans. The light was beautiful and we were treated to an amazing assortment of gulls and terns with eight Slender-billed, Mediterranean, 108 Whiskered, 45 White-winged Black, 1 Black, 19 Little and 26 Common. Hundred of Greater Flamingo dwarfed the Avocets and Black-winged Stilts. Other waders included numerous Ruff parties, Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Greenshank and Kentish Plover.

 

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Whiskered Terns & Slender-billed Gulls, Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Avocets, Whiskered Tern, Slender-billed Gulls & Greater Flamingos, Kalloni Saltpans

 

Skala Kallonis Pool  [39° 12' 27.10" N  26° 12' 18.88" E]
On returning from dinner around 22:10, a Scops Owl was singing near the hotel to the east.

 

Kalloni Bay Hotel © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Bay Hotel

 

 

Day 6                                                                                                                            
Thursday 18 May 2017
 Kalloni Saltpans > Alykes Wetlands > Achladeri Forest > Skala Vasilikon > Skamnioudi > Alikoudi Pool
Partly cloudy, wind 16 NE, max 22°C

 

Highlights
Spanish Sparrow, Greater Short-toed Lark, Red-backed Shrike, Masked Shike, Krüper's Nuthatch, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Serin, Long-legged Buzzard, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Ruddy Shelduck.

 

Kalloni Saltpans: west pans track  [39° 13' 31.71'' N  26° 14' 32.0'' E]
Another windy day, though it seemed to be calmer at dawn. I returned just after sunrise to make sounds recordings of Greater Flamingo, Avocet, Little Tern, and Bee-eater. A group of 28 White Storks were foraging in the field/dry marshland on the west side of the saltpans and most of the previous evening's terns were still around.

 

Kalloni Saltpans moat © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans moat

 

Greater Flamingo  Phoenicopterus roseus

  Sonogram of Greater Flamingo calls

Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 00.7" N  26° 14' 30.2" E  18 May 2017

Hoarse, goose-like calls, with occasionally more musical Whooper Swan-like elements (e.g. at 21 secs) from a non-breeding flock of birds feeding in salt pans. (Avocets in the background).

[File name: greaterflamingo114403e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Little Tern  Sternula albifrons

  Sonogram of Little Tern calls

Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 00.7" N  26° 14' 30.2" E  18 May 2017

Calls from birds hawking around a salt pan.

[File name: littletern114427ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

European Bee-eater  Merops apiaster

 Sonogram of European Bee-eater calls

Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 00.7" N  26° 14' 30.2" E  18 May 2017

Calls from a perched bird, with others flying around in the background: various short (48 to 243 ms), abrupt, low-frequency elements, and some longer, up-down slurred elements.

[File name: beeeater114429ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

  European Greenfinch  Carduelis chloris

 Sonogram of Greenfinch calls

Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 00.7" N  26° 14' 30.2" E  18 May 2017

Trilling calls from a perched bird.

[File name: greenfinch114424ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.ukWhite Storks (Ciconia ciconia), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Alykes Wetlands  [39° 12' 33.5'' N  26° 14' 42.5'' E]
Although now dry at this stage of the spring, other species added interest including Greater Short-toed Lark, Spanish Sparrow and three more White Storks.

 

Kalloni Saltpans marshes © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.ukFields on west side of Kalloni Saltpans

Achladeri Forest: Kofinas  [39° 08' 56.9'' N  26° 17' 02.2'' E]
The well-known site for Krüper's Nuthatch. The pair nesting in the tall pine stump at the crossroads of tracks were on their second brood - possibly incubating eggs as activity around the hole was low. Good views of adults and juveniles from the first brood. Also Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Masked Shrike, Short-toed Treecreeper, Serin, Turtle Dove, Long-tailed Tit and Spotted Flycatcher - and a surprisingly high density of territorial Chaffinches for pine forest. Also a Perisian Squirrel here while a dead Beech Martin was lying on the main road.

 

Achladeri Forest © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Achladeri Forest

 

Krüper's Nuthatch  Sitta krueperi

Sonogram of Krüper's Nuthatch calls

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  18 May 2017

Calls probably used in alarm - c2 sec series of repeated, harsh, broadband scolds.

[File name: krupersnuthatch114431e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 

Achladeri to Skala Vasilikon: coastal pool  [39° 09' 02.6'' N  26° 15' 51.7'' E]
The unsurfaced track along the shoreline passed a small, drying-out lagoon which held Wood Sandpiper, Black-headed Wagtail, Serin, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Common Tern and Yellow-legged Gull.

 

Coastal marsh near Skala Vasilikon © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Coastal pool near Skala Vasilikon

 

Skala Vasilikon to Skamnioudi: olive groves  [39° 07' 42.7'' N  26° 13' 21.0'' E]
We passed through olive groves displaying various ground flora, from freshly tilled by tractor to fairly herbaceous. While a couple of distant Olive-tree Warblers were heard, I spent most time tracking a singing Eastern Orphean Warbler, eventually obtaining a sound recording of the bulky warbler with the thrush-like song. Despite the strong wind, I used the shelter of an old tree and a large roll of the trunk-netting which had been conveniently placed in a low fork. Also observed were three Masked Shrike, Turtle Dove, Long-legged Buzzard, Cirl Bunting, Black-headed Bunting and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.

 

Skala Vasilikon © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Skala Vasilikon

 

Skala Vasilikon © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Skala Vasilikon

 

Poppy meadow, Skamnioudi © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Poppy field near Skamnioudi

 

Olive grove between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Olive grove near Skamnioudi

 

Eastern Orphean Warbler  Sylvia crassirostris

  Sonogram of Eastern Orphean Warbler song

Skala Vasilikon, Lesvos, Greece  39° 07' 42.7" N  26° 13' 21.0" E  18 May 2017

Singing from an Olive grove with recently tilled ground layer.

Song composed of strophes (4/min) of six to 10 seconds with pauses of four to five seconds between each.

Each strophe consisting of a varied, melodic, low frequency (lower pitched than Garden Warbler for example) output of both sharp and soft, upslurred and downslurred whistles (some Blackbird-like in tone), interspersed with wheezey, scratchy and churring elements, all delivered at a steady pace. Some Nightingale-like repetition.

[File name: easternorpheanwarbler114450ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Eastern Orphean Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Alikoudi Pool, Skamnioudi  [39° 07' 41.3'' N  26° 12' 36.6'' E]
Checking this exposed coastal pool revealed a Ruddy Shelduck, 10 Avocets plus a chick, four Little Stint, six Wood Sandpiper, five Ruff, three Black-winged Stilt, and the ubiquitous Yellow-legged Gulls. The farmed hinterland held eight Bee-eaters, a migrant Common Whitethroat and more Black-headed and Corn Buntings.

 

Alikoudi Pool, Skamnioudi © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Alikoudi Pool

 

 

Day 7                                                                                                                            
Friday 19 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Lardia Valley > Ipsilou Monastery > Petrified Forest > Vatousa
Blue sky, wind 20+ mph NNE, max 24°C

 

Highlights
Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Woodlark, Cinereous Warbler, Isabelline Warbler, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Masked Shrike, Western Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Chukar.

 

Drive: Skala Kallonis > Ipsilou Monastery
Once into the hills, Eastern Subalpine Warblers were commonly heard. Driving with my window down also revealed bird song from Cirl Bunting, Nightingale, Wren, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Black-headed Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear and Woodlark. A dead Beech Martin and Hedgehog were noted en route.

 

View from Skalochori © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

View from Skalochori

 

Lardia Valley ('Grand Canyon')  [39° 13' 40.6'' N  26° 01' 42.9'' E]
Stopped next to a steep-sided slope of sparse olives on rocky ground carpeted with spiny knapweed. Three Eastern Subablpine Warbler were singing and a Black-eared Wheatear singing from a rocky pinnacle.

 

Lardia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Lardia Valley

 

Eastern Subalpine Warbler  Sylvia cantillans

  Sonogram of Eastern Subalpine Warbler song

Lardia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 40.6" N  26° 01' 42.9" E  19 May 2017

Territorial song from a rocky slope with a dense herb-layer of spiny plants and sparse scrub layer, draining into a larger gorge.

Song composed of strophes of two to four seconds interspersed with pauses of around four seconds.

Each strophe consisting of a rapid, chattered, continuous warble (Sardinian-like) of churrs, sharp whistles and clicks with occasional slurred wheezy elements.

Faster, with an overall higher frequency/pitch than Western Subalpine Warbler (S. inornata).

[File name: easternsubalpinewarbler114456ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Eastern Subalpine Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

Sonogram of Eastern Subalpine Warbler calls

Lardia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 40.6" N  26° 01' 42.9" E  19 May 2017

Calling from a rocky slope with a dense herb-layer of spiny plants and sparse scrub layer, draining into a larger gorge. Hard, thin chet with possibly quiet creaky wheezes from the other sex of the pair.

[File name: easternsubalpinewarbler114456ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Lardia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Lardia Valley

 

 Black-eared Wheatear  Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca

  Sonogram of Black-eared Wheatear song

Lardia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 40.6" N  26° 01' 42.9" E  19 May 2017

Singing from a rocky outcrop above a slope with a dense herb-layer of spiny plants and sparse scrub layer, draining into a larger gorge.

Song composed of short strophes of around one second, comprising a hurried series of dry chirps mixed with slightly more musical upslurred and downslurred elements.

[File name: blackearedwheatear114461ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Black-eared Wheatear song

Song rate per minute

 

 

 

Ipsilou Monastery  [39° 13' 50.4'' N  25° 56' 19.2'' E]
Very windy outwith the shelter of the volcanic plug. On the approach from Vigla we encountered the first of several Isabelline Wheatears. Walking up the more sheltered southern road to the monastery, around six Cinereous Buntings were singing from the oaks, with another on the rocks on bare ground at the bottom. A Northern Wheatear was song-flighting, Black-eared Wheatear singing, Blue Rock Thrush with food for young, along with Cretzschmar's Bunting, Western Rock Nuthatch, Masked Shrike, Rock Sparrow, Hoopoe, and Raven. Visited the chapel and museum before taking the cobbled track back down on the southern side. Spectacular views of the area - quite different from the central and eastern parts of the island.

 

Ipsilou Monastery © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Ipsilou Monastery

 

Rocky oak slopes around Ipsilou Monastery © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Oaks slopes on the south side of Ipsilou Monastery

 

Rocky oak slopes around Ipsilou Monastery © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Cobbled path to Ipsilou Monastery

 

 Black-eared Wheatear  Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca

  Sonogram of Black-eared Wheatear song

Ipsilou Monastery, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 50.0" N  26° 56' 18.4" E  19 May 2017

Territorial song from bare slope of rocky volcanic plug below an ancient monastery.

These song strophes composed largely of Barn Swalllow (Hirundo rustica) mimicry, mixed with normal song strophes.

[File name: blackearedwheatear114469ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

 

Landscape around Ipsilou Monastery © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Landscape around Ipsilou Monastery

 

Road to Petrified Forest  [39° 13' 50.53" N  25° 54' 12.60" E  to  39° 12' 32.08" N  25° 53' 50.30" E]
It was extremely windy and I could barely stand up in this wild, exposed, treeless landscape. Further Isabelline Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Black-eared Wheatear, Raven, Linnet, Crested Lark and Chukar.

 

Road to Petrified Forest © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Road to Petrified Forest

 

Phrygana habitat on volcanic rocks along road to Petrified Forest © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Phrygana habitat on volcanic rocks along road to Petrified Forest

 

Petrified Forest  [39° 12' 35.8'' N  25° 53' 56.8'' E]
We arrived here around 14:50 to find it closed. Lisa was disappointed but I had a 25 min look around the edge, finding Cinereous Bunting, Western Rock Nuthatch, Rock Sparrow, Red-backed Shrike, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear and Cirl Bunting.

 

Petrified Forest © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Petrified Forest

 

Vatousa  [39° 13' 30.8'' N  26° 02' 39.4'' E]
Stopped in the wooded slopes just east of the village to look for Eastern Bonelli's Warbler. Heard one on a slope of plane, oak and olive trees. Also Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike and Nightingale.

 

Antissa © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Antissa

 

Vatousa © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler habitat neat Vatousa

 

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler  Phylloscopus orientalis

  Sonogram of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler song

Vatousa, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 30.8" N  26° 02' 39.4" E  19 May 2017

Singing from wooded hillside of Sweet Chestnut, Oak, Plane and Olive.

Song composed of short 1.0 sec strophes, each composed of a series of 9-18 repeated, downslurred elements, sounding very like the dry rattle of Western Bonelli's Warbler (P. bonelli). Song strophes interspered with 'chip' call notes consisting of a single, sharp, slightly downslurred element - completely different from bonelli (musical, up-then-downslurred 'too-eee'). Each strophe repeated up to six times per minute.

[File name: easternbonelliswarbler114491e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

  

 

 Middle Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopus medius

Sonogram of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker call

Vatousa, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 30.8" N  26° 02' 39.4" E  19 May 2017

Alarm call from wooded hillside of Sweet Chestnut, Oak, Plane and Olive.

Typical Dendrocopus keek series composed of 14 elements descending in pitch over 1.5 sec.

[File name: middlespottedwoodpecker114492e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 

Day 8                                                                                                                            
Saturday 20 May 2017
 Achladeri Forest > Koriana > Napi Valley > Platania track > Kalloni Bay
Blue sky, wind 12 mph S, max 24°C, min 16°C

 

Highlights
Rose-coloured Starling, Krüper's Nuthatch, Short0toed Treecreeper, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Western Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Long-legged Buzzard, Masked Shrike.

 

Achladeri Forest: Kofinas  [39° 08' 56.9'' N  26° 17' 02.2'' E]
A pre-breakfast trip at dawn to make sound recordings of the Krüper's Nuthatches. More vocal and active at this time of day. On the drive there, a flock of 28 Rose-coloured Starlings flew north-west over the Milopotamos River on the east side of Kalloni Saltpans. Also present in the pine forest were Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-toed Treecreeper, Serin, Cirl Bunting, Turtle Dove, Jay, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Blackbird.

 

Achladeri Forest © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Achladeri Forest

 

Krüper's Nuthatch  Sitta krueperi

Sonogram of Krüper's Nuthatch calls

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  20 May 2017

Polyphonic, nasal calls, sounding like wheezy squeaks, from an adult. The four and fifth partials are the loudest, contributing to the nasal quality. (Chaffinch in background).

[File name: krupersnuthatch114509e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Short-toed Treecreeper  Certhia brachydactyla

Sonogram of Short-toed Treecreeper song

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  20 May 2017

Territorial song from pine forest, repeated up to eight times per minute.

Each 1.1 second strophe composed of around 10 unique elements, roughly rising in frequency in a 'bouncy' rhythm.

[File name: shorttoedtreecreeper114505ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Short-toed Treecreeper song

Song rate per minute

 

  

Cirl Bunting  Emberiza cirlus

 Sonogram of Cirl Bunting song

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  20 May 2017

Territorial song from pine forest, repeated up to five-six times per minute.

Song composed of repeated 1.9 to 2.1 sec strophes, each comprising a slow trill/rattle of 29-31 elements. (Short-toed Treecreeper in background).

[File name: cirlbunting114500ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Cirl Bunting song

Song rate per minute

 

  

Common Chaffinch   Fringilla coelebs

Sonogram of Chaffinch song

 

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  20 May 2017

Territorial song from natural pine forest.

Song composed of 2.5 to 3 second loud, strident stropes up to eight times per minute. Each strophe composed of four to five distinct phrases of musical rattles, each decreasing in frequency in a step-wise manner, before ending in a more complex flourish.

[File name: chaffinch114520ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Chaffinch song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Sonogram of Chaffinch calls

Achladeri Forest, Lesvos, Greece  39° 09' 07.7" N  26° 17' 00.7" E  20 May 2017

'Rain call' - an alarm call from a breeding male in natural pine forest.

[File name: chaffinch114523ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Koriana, Napi Valley  [39° 16' 33.0'' N  26° 17' 07.9'' E]
This valley was probably the most attractive site of the trip so far. I usually drive with the windows down, listening for birds. In a particularly rocky and barren area of the valley, several Cretzschmar's Buntings were singing. Stopped for a sound recording. Also Western Rock Nuthatch and Crested Lark present.

 

Napi Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Napi Valley

 

Cretzschmar's Bunting  Emberiza caesia

  Sonogram of Cretzschmar's Bunting song

Napi Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 16' 33.0" N  26° 17' 07.9" E  20 May 2017

Territorial song from dry, rocky hillside.

Song composed of short 1.1 to 1.3 sec strophes, alternating between higher and lower frequency series repeated at a rate of 22 per minute.

Each strophe differing in type, composed of around 5 to 13 upslurred or downslurred elements, mainly on a level frequency, ending with a longer (or 'stretched') terminal element, which is occasionaly higher or lower in frequency. Double elements sounding like a single element to the human ear probably originate from both bronchi in the syrinx. Reminiscent of Yellowhammer. (Crested Lark in blackground, later in recording).

[File name: cretzschmarsbunting114525ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Cretzschmar's Bunting song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Napi Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Napi Valley

 

Platania track, Napi Valley  [39° 18' 20.5'' N  26° 19' 10.4'' E]
Despite it being midday and very warm, this site had a lot of activity. Our two year old managed to walk a kilometre before wanting carried. In this short distance we logged five Western Rock Nuthatch, two Masked Shrike, three Woodchat Shrike, one Red-backed Shrike, two Sombre Tit, five Eastern Subalpine Warbler, five male and one female Black-eared Wheatear, four singing Cirl Bunting, seven Bee-eater, two Long-legged Buzzard and single Hoopoe, Turtle Dove, Common Buzzard and Serin among the commoner species. Also excellent for butterflies.

 

Platania track © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Platania track

 

Platania track © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Platania track

 

Kalloni Bay  [39° 12' 23.59" N  26° 12' 12.05" E]
Went for a swim, built sandcastles and lazed around on an inflatable pink flamingo, while three Black-winged Stilts and several Bee-eaters flew over.

 

Kalloni Bay © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Bay, Gulf of Kalloni

 

 

Day 9                                                                                                                            
Sunday 21 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Agiasos > Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park > Skala Kallonis
Blue sky, wind 10 mph S, max 24°C, min 16°C

 

Highlights
Greater Flamingo, Black Stork, Crag Martin, Robin, Turtle Dove, Short-toed Treecreeper, Song Thrush, Nightingale, Serin, Long-legged Buzzard, Krüper's Nuthatch, Middle Spotted Woodpecker.

 

Drive: Skala Kallonis > Agiasos
On the drive past the salt pans and into the hills of pine we noted Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Greater Flamingo, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Crested Lark, Ruff, Ruddy Shelduck, Jay, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Black Stork, Serin, Common Buzzard, Crag Martin, Cirl Bunting and Wood Pigeon.

 

Agiasos: trail to Mount Olympus (Mount Olymbos)  [39° 04' 41.9'' N  26° 22' 30.9'' E]
We attempted the trail with a two year old and a travel buggy but only got so far along the route through the Sweet Chestnut slopes. Birds heard only above 470 metres were Robin and Song Thrush. Nightingale, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Turtle Dove were singing lower down in the mixed areas of cherry and fig.

Sweet Chestnut forest & Mount Olympus, Agiasos © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Sweet Chestnut forest & Mount Olympus, Agiasos

 

 Nightingale  Luscinia megarhynchos

 Sonogram of Nightingale song

Agiasos, Lesvos, Greece  39° 04' 41.9" N  26° 22' 30.9" E  21 May 2017

Singing from mixed deciduous woodland on the edge of a mountain village.

Continuous output of loud, melodic phrases lasting 1-7 secs with pauses of 0-3 secs between each, and apparent endless variation due to large number of song types. Note the long series between 16-22 secs.

[File name: nightingale114534ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Sweet Chestnut forest, Agiasos © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Sweet Chestnut forest, Agiasos

 

Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park  [39° 05' 50.6'' N  26° 20' 08.1'' E]
Located next to the Panaghia Chapel, this was our daily 'swing park' stop for Jack. Krüper's Nuthatch and Middle Spotted Woodpecker were the best birds in the pine woodland along with a brood of Long-tailed Tits and singing Serin. The nearby farmed valley had Nightingale and Long-legged Buzzard.

 

Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park

 

 Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos caudatus

 Sonogram of Long-tailed Tit calls

Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, Lesvos, Greece  39° 05' 50.6" N  26° 20' 08.1" E  21 May 2017

Calls from a adult (with a fledged brood) in pine forest.

[File name: longtailedtit114539ecut2] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Long-tailed Tit calls

Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, Lesvos, Greece  39° 05' 50.6" N  26° 20' 08.1" E  21 May 2017

Calls from a fledged brood in pine forest.

[File name: longtailedtit114539ecut1] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Drive: Agiasos > Skala Kallonis
Additions on return were Cetti's Warbler, Greenfinch, Kestrel, Long-legged Buzzard, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Blackbird and White Stork.

 

Evening Fix

 

 

Day 10                                                                                                                            
Monday 22 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Antissa > Vigla > Ipsilou Monastery > Sigri > Faneromeni > Eresos > Mesotopos > Parakila > Skala Kallonis
Blue sky, wind 5-10 mph S, max 24°C, min 16°C

 

Highlights
Yelkouan Shearwater, Scopoli's Shearwater, Eleonora's Falcon, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Shag, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Cinereous Bunting, Woodlark, Isabelline Wheatear, Short-toed Eagle, Hoopoe, Western Rock Nuthatch.

 

Drive: Skala Kallonis > Ipsilou Monastery
Many birds heard and seen on the drive to Ipsilou via Sigri: Cetti's Warbler, Black-winged Stilt, Crested Lark, Swallow, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, House Martin, Collared Dove, Raven, Short-toed Eagle (2 km N of Limnios Monastery), Blackbird, Eastern Subalpine Warbler (6 heard), Turtle Dove (3), Chaffinch, Cirl Bunting (4 heard), Blue Tit, Red-rumped Swallow (5), Greendfinch, Long-legged Buzzard (Skalachori & Lardia Gorge), Linnet, Persian Squirrel, Yellow-legged Gull, Woodchat Shrike, Nightingale (4 heard), Western Rock Nuthatch (2), Black Stork, Black-headed Bunting (4 heard),

 

Antissa: 3 km west  [39° 14' 28.0'' N 25° 59' 29.0'' E]
The first Cinereous Buntings of the day were heard here along with Cretzschmar's and Cirl Bunting. A male Red-footed Falcon was hunting.

 

Antissa-Sigri-Eresos junction  [39° 13' 39.21" N  25° 57' 44.24" E]
Stopped here when I heard a Woodlark singing. This area must be the most tree-sparse area I have ever heard one singing in. Similarly, a Jay was flying over the open country. Black-headed Bunting, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Black-eared Wheatear were singing and Northern Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Bee-eater, Jay, Linnet, Crested Lark and a Red Fox were noted.

 

Sigri-Eresos junction © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Sigri-Eresos junction

 

Vigla: 1.5 km east of Ipsilou Monastery  [39° 13' 44.1'' N  25° 57' 23.9'' E]
This was the first area out west where we started to see the first of many Isabelline Wheatears today. Three to four birds were song-flighting but the usual windy conditions made it difficult to obtain a song recording. Perseverance, waiting for a break in the wind, and luck with the birds in the right position eventually allowed for a sample of several song flights.

 

Vigla © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Isabelline Wheatear habitat, Vigla

 

Isabelline Wheatear  Oenanthe isabellina

  Sonogram of Isabelline Wheatear song

Vigla, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 44.1" N  25° 57' 23.9" E  22 May 2017

Territorial song from dry, barren crown of a hillside c360m.

Song composed of long strophes of up to 25 secs begining with a short, sharp, downslurred whistle element, repeated in single or double phrases, before terminating in a crescendo of more complex phrases consisting of wheezes, hisses and harder 'chack' and 'churr' elements. This bird uttered all strophes during aerial display flights.

[File name: isabellinewheatear114568e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Isabelline Wheatear song

Song rate per minute

 

  

Ipsilou Monastery  [39° 13' 50.0'' N  25° 56' 18.4'' E]
Returned for another attempt at sound recording the Cinereous Buntings. It was still fairly windy but a bird singing in the sheltered oaks on the southern slope performed well. Red-backed Shrike, Hoopoe, Black-eared Wheatear and Starred Agama also noted.

 

Ipsilou Monastery © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Ipsilou Monastery

 

Cinereous Bunting  Emberiza cineracea

  Sonogram of Cinereous Bunting song

Ipsilou Monastery, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 50.0" N  26° 56' 18.4" E  22 May 2017

Territorial song from oak-covered slope of rocky volcanic plug below an ancient monastery.

Song composed of short, similar 1.2 sec strophes repeated at a rate of seven times per minute.

Each strophe composed of nine, slightly metallic-sounding, sharp, dry whistled elements, decreasing in frequency.

[File name: cinereousbunting114574ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Cinereous Bunting song

Song rate per minute

 

 

 Black-eared Wheatear  Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca

  Sonogram of Black-eared Wheatear song

Ipsilou Monastery, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 50.0" N  26° 56' 18.4" E  22 May 2017

Territorial song from bare slope of rocky volcanic plug below an ancient monastery.

Song composed of short strophes of around one second, comprising a hurried series of dry chirps mixed with slightly more musical upslurred and downslurred elements.

[File name: blackearedwheatear114571ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Black-eared Wheatear song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Sigri-Faneromeni  [39° 14' 26.25" N  25° 52' 21.54" E]
Had a quick drive along to the first ford, which was completely dry. This is really an early spring site. This was the first and only location on the island where we saw Jackdaws, including a flock of 80. A Rufous Bush Robin was seen briefly.

 

Sigri, overlooking the island of Megalonisi © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Sigri, overlooking the island of Megalonisi

 

Sigri harbour: overlooking the island of Megalonisi  [39° 12' 39.4'' N  25° 50' 57.6'' E]
Scoped the sea and island for an hour or so from the bay at the old Ottoman castle. Lesser Kestrels were regularly flying over the sea between the island and the mainland. Five were seen hunting over the island itself, along with three Eleonora's Falcons. Hundreds of Yellow-legged Gulls appeared to be nesting on the island and wild-type Rock Dove, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow and a Peregrine. A view of the open sea to the north of the islands revealed hundreds of Yelkouan Shearwater passing south, or perhaps circling the area with at least 10 Scopoli's Shearwater. Five Mediterranean Shags were sitting on rocks on the island and another flew into the bay towards the harbour.

 

The Castle of Sigri © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Old Ottoman castle, Sigri

 

Drive: Sigri > Ipsilou
Heading back west inland to the monastery produced two Lesser Kestrel, more Wheatears (Black-eared, Northern and Isabelline) and Buntings (Corn, Cinereous and Black-headed), Red-backed Shrike, Crested Lark, Raven and Persian Squirrel.

 

Drive: Ipsilou > Eresos
Heading south to Eresos enabled us to return via a more coastal route. Species noted included six more Isabelline, four Northern and three Black-eared Wheatears, Western Rock Nuthatch, six singing Cretzschmar's Bunting, and a singing Nightingale.

 

Drive: Eresos > Mesotopos
Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Nightingale noted along this quieter section.

 

Drive: Mesotopos > Parakila
Buntings and Black-eared Wheatears were common along this section plus Red-backed Shrike and two Spur-thighed Tortoises.

 

 

Eresos area © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Eresos area

 

 

Day 11                                                                                                                            
Tuesday 23 May 2017
 Potamia Valley > Christou River mouth > Tsiknias River mouth > Kalloni Bay > Kalloni Saltpans
Blue sky, wind 10 mph N , max 25°C, max 16°C

 

Highlights
Rufous Bush-Robin, Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Masked Shrike, Black-headed Wagtail, Little Bittern, Alpine Swift, Hobby, Whiskered Tern, Ruddy Shelduck, White-winged Black Tern, Black-headed Wagtail.

 

Potamia Valley  [39° 13' 00.7'' N  26° 09' 45.9'' E]
Drove up to the river bridge and walked the west bank track to the small farmed area. Two Short-toed Eagles and two Black Storks were soaring over the ridge to the east and the overgrown riverbed held five singing Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and five singing Nightingales. Two Woodchat and a Masked Shrike were seen plus Red-rumped Swallow, Cirl Bunting, Turtle Dove, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Raven and Bee-eater. The ubiquitous Yellow-legged Gull was represented in the lower valley with a small group feeding in on the ground in an olive grove.

 

Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

Christou River mouth  [39° 12' 15.27" N  26° 11' 47.49" E]
A quick look on passing revealed 10 Wood Sandpipers, Black Stork, Black-headed Wagtail and a pair of Avocets.

 

Tsiknias River mouth  [39° 12' 17.5'' N 26° 13' 09.2'' E]
We went for some ice cream and scoped the area from the shelter on the west side near the river mouth. The highlight here was a Rufous Bush Robin which I picked up flying across from the east bank and landing between the shelter and the river mouth, showing for a few seconds before disappearing. A male Little Bittern was slowly proceeding along the east bank while four Alpine Swifts hawked overhead and a late Great Crested Grebe preened at the mouth. Three Common Terns were fishing in the river and the surrounding scrub and grassland held Black-headed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, Bee-eater, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Nightingale and Corn Bunting.

 

Tsiknias River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River mouth

 

Tsiknias River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River

 

Tsiknias River: west bank track  [39° 12' 44.7'' N 26° 13' 26.6'' E]
A quick drive north up the west track produced Hobby, Red-backed Shrike, Black-headed Buntings and numerous Cetti's and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers.

 

Tsiknias River © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River

 

Kalloni Bay  [39° 12' 23.59" N  26° 12' 12.05" E]
Sandcastles, swimming, crabs, collecting shells and lounging on a pink flamingo with Jack.

 

Kalloni Bay © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Bay, Gulf of Kalloni

 

Kalloni Saltpans: west pans road  [39° 13' 00.7'' N  26° 14' 30.2'' E]
Less activity than last week but still loads to see including: 127 Avocet, Ruddy Shelduck, Whiskered Tern and Mediterranean Gull on the first pan; eight Whiskered Terns and a White-winged Black Tern at the second pan; 12 Whiskered Terns at the third pan; and a further eight Whiskered Terns over the field opposite the fourth pan. Also observed were Black-headed Wagtail, White Stork, Little Tern, Bee-eater, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Cetti's Warbler, Common Tern and Common Shelduck.

 

Whiskered Tern (Childonias hybrida), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Whiskered Tern (Childonias hybrida), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans and moat

 

 

Day 12                                                                                                                            
Wednesday 24 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Kavaki > Skamnioudi > Alikoudi Pool > Vasilika
Blue sky, wind 4-7 mph variable directions, max 26C, min 17C

 

Highlights
Rüppell's Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Shag, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Pallid Swift, Pectoral Sandpiper.

 

Kavaki: hillside track site N of night club  [39° 20' 45.1'' N  26° 10' 15.4'' E]
Finally a calm day with little wind! Pre-breakfast trip to sound record Rüppell's Warbler on the scrubby headland in the north-west of the island. The breeding area is inaccessible and the road traffic was fairly heavy even this early in the morning so it was difficult. Three different males were heard uttering their short, scratchy warbles though activity was probably lower at this stage of the breeding season. A migrant Icterine Warbler was the loudest songster around and was possibly holding territory. A Barred Warbler shared the same bushes and the hillside also held Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Turtle Dove, and Bee-eater. In the blue water below, a group of 6 desmaresti Shags were fishing in a tight group.

 

Kavaki © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Rüppell's Warbler habitat, Kavaki

 

 Rüppell’s Warbler  Sylvia rueppelli

  Sonogram of Rüppell’s Warbler song

Kavaki, Lesvos, Greece  39° 20' 45.1" N  26° 10' 15.4" E  24 May 2017

Singing from scrub on a rocky coastal headland.

Song composed of strophes of one second interspersed with long pauses up to 15 seconds. Note that strophes are normally longer, but song output probably decreased at this stage of the breeding season.

Each strophe consisting of a rapid, chattered, scratchy warble (Sardinian-like) of churrs, sharp whistles and clicks but overall narrower frequency range than Eastern Subalpine so sounding lower in pitch.

[File name: ruppellswarbler114591ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 Sonogram of Rüppell’s Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

  

Kavaki © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Rüppell's Warbler habitat, Kavaki

 

  European Turtle Dove  Streptopelia turtur

  Sonogram of Turtle Dove song

Kavaki, Lesvos, Greece  39° 20' 45.1" N  26° 10' 15.4" E  24 May 2017

Singing from scrub on a rocky coastal headland.

Song composed of a semi-continuous 'purring' of low frequencing phrases (~0.5-0.75 kHz), each 0.48-0.74 seconds in length and composed of 14-21 elements (not distinguishable to the human ear), each ~0.035 sec in length. Different phrases either level, or ever-so-slightly increasing or decreasing in pitch.

[File name: turtledove114584e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Icterine Warbler  Hippolais icterina

  Sonogram of Icterine Warbler song

Kavaki, Lesvos, Greece  39° 20' 45.1" N  26° 10' 15.4" E  24 May 2017

A faster, more continuous version of usual territorial song from an unpaired, passage migrant singing from scrub.

A semi-continuous output of long stropes composed of varying short, repeated phrases (churrs, whistles, squeaks) containing regularly diagnostic squeaky elements.

[File name: icterinewarbler114581ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Icterine Warbler song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Alikoudi Pool, Skamnioudi  [39° 07' 51.7'' N  26° 12' 41.9'' E]
A couple of days previous I received a text from Britain from Lesvos regular Howard Vaughan about a Pectoral Sandpiper at this location on the 21st. News was also put out by @LesvosBirding on the 22nd and I'd also heard yesterday from another visitor that is was still present. Almost the first bird I scoped on arrival was the Pec Sand! The second record for Lesvos and the sixth for Greece. It was feeding in the coastal pool in the company of Ruff which numbered 27 on this visit. Also present were 10 Avocets with at least 8 chicks, a pair of Black-winged Stilts, single Kentish and Little Ringed Plover, two Wood Sandpipers, single Ruddy Shelduck and two Common Shelduck. The surroundings fields had Black-headed and Corn Buntings.

 

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Alikoudi Pool © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Alikoudi Pool

Lesvos Boat Paintwork © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Alikoudi Pool, Skamnioudi © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Alikoudi Pool

 

Vasilika  [39° 6' 2.28" N  26° 14' 32.60" E]
A brief stop here on the west side of the town to photograph the view to the Gulf of Kalloni. Hoopoe and Serin singing. A Masked Shrike flew over the road between Lisvorio and Skamnioudi and a Short-toed Treecreeper was heard in the drive though the pine woods on the east side of Vasilika.

 

 

Day 13                                                                                                                            
Thursday 25 May 2017
 Tsiknias River mouth > Napi Valley > Mandamados > Kapi > Pelopi > Stipsi > Petra > Molivos > Efthalou > Kavaki
Blue sky-partly cloudy, wind 10 mph E, max 25C, min 14C

 

Highlights

Rufous Bush Robin, Little Bittern, Western Rock Nuthatch, Sombre Tit, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler, Masked Shrike, Wood Nuthatch, Chukar, Rüppell's Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Lesser Kestrel, Honey Buzzard.

 

 Cetti's Warbler  Cettia cetti

Sonogram of Cetti's Warbler song

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Territorial dawn song (3-4 strophes per minute - greater output than later in the day) from riverside vegetation. Composed of an sudden, loud, metallic chirping with an introductory double-element, followed by a brief pause, then two phrases of double-elements back-to-back.

[File name: cettiswarbler114598e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Tsiknias River mouth and beach area to the east  [39° 12' 14.7'' N  26° 13' 35.5'' E]
Sound recording before breakfast with Rufous Bush Robins, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Hooded Crow and Corn Bunting.

 

Tsiknias River mouth © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Tsiknias River mouth

 

Rufous Bush Robin  Cercotrichas galactotes

Sonogram of Rufous Bush Robin song

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Simple, slow song composed of disyllabic chirps and short lark-like pure tone whistles (Corn Bunting and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in background). Singing from low in a tamarisk bush in open, sparsely-vegetated, coastal grassland.

[File name: rufousbushrobin114606e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Tsiknias River mouth - area to the east © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Rufous Bush Robin habitat, Tsiknias River mouth

 

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  Hippolais pallida

  Sonogram of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler song

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Singing from Tamarisk in low, sparse beach scrub.

Song composed of strophes of up to seven seconds sung continuously with brief two second pauses between each. Each strophe consisting of 'jerky' repetitive cycles (1.4 to 2.1 secs) of scratchy and squeaky elements slurred together, ending with slightly more musical elements increasing then decreasing in frequency. Resembling a fast Reed Warbler in its monotonous delivery.

[File name: easternolivaceouswarbler114621ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Song rate per minute

 

  

Hooded Crow  Corvus cornix

Sonogram of Hooded Crow calls

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Calls or territorial song, initially from a perched bird - later, taking flight and becoming more aggitated with slightly higher frequencies.

[File name: hoodedcrow114605ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Corn Bunting  Emberiza calandra

Sonogram of Corn Bunting calls

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Short, sharp, three-element calls (background song from distant birds).

[File name: cornbunting114619ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

 Sonogram of Black-winged Stilt calls in flight

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Calls from a bird flying past.

[File name: blackwingedstiltLS111764ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

 Eurasian Oystercatcher  Haematopus ostralegus

 Sonogram of Oystercatcher flight call

Tsiknias River mouth, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 14.7" N  26° 13' 35.5" E  25 May 2017

Single call from a migrant flying over.

[File name: oystercatcher114604e] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Kalloni: stop for some shopping essentials  [39° 13' 54.67" N   26° 12' 41.37" E]
Noted within the urban centre: Jay, Hooded Crow, Common Swift, Collared Dove, House Sparrow and a Black-headed Wagtail overhead.

 

Napi Valley: track to the north-east, 1 km S of village  [39° 15' 47.5'' N  26° 17' 03.5'' E]
This area of olives and oaks was quite bird-rich with both Wood and Western Rock Nuhatch, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Olive-tree Warbler (distant), Sombre Tit, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Masked Shrike and Hoopoe being the highlights.

 

Napi Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Napi Valley

 

Western Rock Nuthatch  Sitta neumayer

  Sonogram of Western Rock Nuthatch alarm calls

Napi Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 15' 47.4" N  26° 17' 03.5" E  25 May 2017

Calling from a rolling landscape of open olive groves with scattered rocks and ridges.

Alarm call composed of a rattled trill of up to 60 elements.

[File name: westernrocknuthatch114650ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

   

Sombre Tit  Poecile lugubris

Sonogram of Sombre Tit calls

Napi Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 15' 47.4" N  26° 17' 03.5" E  25 May 2017

Calls from a fledged brood in olives and scrub.

[File name: sombretit114639ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

  

Drive: Napi Valley > Mandamados > Kapi > Pelopi > Stipsi > Petra
The highlight of the drive was a Honey Buzzard over Stipsi.

 

Efthalou © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Efthalou

 

Chukar  Alectoris chukar

  Sonogram of Chukar calls

Kavaki, Lesvos, Greece  39° 21' 05.8" N  26° 10' 25.6" E  25 May 2017

Calls from a pair on rocky coastal clifftop with scrub.

[File name: chukar114657ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Kavaki: layby at headland vista site  [39° 21' 05.8'' N  26° 10' 25.6'' E]
A stop here to scan the sea and rocky landscape produced a pair of vocal Chukar.

 

Molivos from Kavaki © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Molivos from Kavaki

 

Kalloni Raptor Watch Point  [39° 15' 30.14" N   26° 12' 23.95" E]
A female and juvenile Stonechat seen here yesterday were still present today. A male Rüppell's Warbler was located in the scrub along with two singing Eastern Subalpine Warblers. Also noted were Lesser Kestrel, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Cirl Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike Turtle Dove and Yellow-legged Gull.

 

 

Day 14                                                                                                                            
Friday 26 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Potamia Valley > Kalloni Saltpans
Blue sky, later becoming cloudy with distant thunder/lightning, wind 6 mph SE, max 23°C, min 16°C

 

Highlights
Marsh Warbler, Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Spoonbill, White-winged Black Tern, Ruddy Shelduck, Greater Flamingo, Black Stork, Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Ternm Spanish Sparrow, Sanderling, Short-toed Lark, Osprey, Great Egret.

 

Potamia Valley  [39° 12' 44.2'' N  26° 10' 01.7'' E]
Returned for a better sound recording of Olive-tree Warbler but didn't connect with any birds this time. However, the surprise was a Marsh Warbler singing in an olive grove - not its typical habitat. A Red-backed Shrike was singing its subdued song right next to the track and Masked and Woodchat were seen. Five singing Black-headed Buntings were aubible in the area and Sombre Tit, Turtle Dove and three Middle Spotted Woodpeckers were heard. Persian Squirrel and a greyish Red Fox, both similarly coated were watched under the olives.

 

Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

Potamia Valley © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Potamia Valley

 

Black-headed Bunting  Emberiza melanocephala

   Sonogram of Black-headed Bunting song

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 44.2" N  26° 10' 01.7" E  26 May 2017

Territorial song from patchwork of low intensive farmland and olive groves.

Song composed of 'jolting' 2.4 sec strophes repeated at a rate of five to seven times per minute.

Each strophe composed of around 15 low-pitched whistled elements, decreasing, then rising in frequency - initial elements sung hesitantly before increasing in speed of delivery.

[File name: blackheadedbunting114660ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

Sonogram of Black-headed Bunting song

Song rate per minute

 

 

Red-backed Shrike  Lanius collurio

 Sonogram of Red-backed Shrike song

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 13' 39.0" N  26° 10' 15.1" E  26 May 2017

Territorial song from scrubby patch in old, rough olive grove.

Song composed of a continuous subdued, subsong-like ramble with mimicry (note Willow Warbler mimicry at 1.5 sec), and full of twitters, wheezes, scratches, and nasal phrases. Part of a five and a half minute recording of continuous song.

[File name: redbackedshrike114669ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Marsh Warbler  Acrocephalus palustris

Sonogram of Marsh Warbler song

Potamia Valley, Lesvos, Greece  39° 12' 44.2" N  26° 10' 01.7" E  26 May 2017

Passage migrant singing from an olive grove with dry, barren ground layer, next to a river.

Song composed of a continuous output of phrases of repeated elements at mid-tempo, occasionally speeding up with more excitable phrases, with barely any pauses. Phrases comprised of up to eight repeated elements based on short whistles, wheezes, nasal churrs, squeaky syllables and harder chitts and tacks - seemingly endless variation. Containing mimicry including regular Barn Swallow and Blackbird. Part of a 14 minute recording.

[File name: marshwarbler114663ecut] Click here for the MP3 file


     

 

Kalloni Saltpans: hide in NE corner on road 36  [39° 13' 02.3'' N  26° 15' 58.9'' E]
Migrant terns were almost gone with just a single White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern. Two pairs of Ruddy Shelduck were in the moat and at least 787 Greater Flamingo were scoped. The three Spoonbill were still present and three Black Storks flew east. A Greenshank was feeding among the many Avocets and Black-winged Stilts.

 

Kalloni Saltpans NE hide © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans NE hide

 

Kalloni Saltpans: west pans road  [39° 13' 00.7'' N  26° 14' 30.2'' E]
After a siesta I returned along the west road (where a new hide was being erected), watching mainly the first and second pans which held 131 Avocet, 10 Black-winged Stilt, 207 Greater Flamingo, Sanderling, five Spanish Sparrow. Best find this evening was a Gull-billed Tern. At the second pan an Osprey and a Greater Short-toed Lark over. One of the Spanish Sparrows was eating a huge cricket on the road.

 

Kalloni Saltpans - new NW hide construction © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Kalloni Saltpans - new NW hide construction

 

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Whiskered Tern (Childonias hybrida), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Whiskered Tern (Childonias hybrida), Kalloni Saltpans

 

Jack birding Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Next Generation Birder

 

Jack birding Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Jack birding Kalloni Saltpans

 

Kalloni Saltpans: Hide on south pans road  [39° 12' 45.3'' N  26° 14' 30.2'' E]
Usual birds here. A pair of Kentish Plover had three chicks, nine White Storks were feeding in the dried-up Alykes Wetlands and a Great White Egret flew over.

 

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Kalloni Saltpans © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Kalloni Saltpans

 

 

Day 15                                                                                                                            
Saturday 27 May 2017
 Skala Kallonis > Mytilini, Lesvos, Greece > London, England
  

Highlights
Dalmatian Pelican, Sardinian Warbler, Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Spoonbill, Black-headed Wagtail, Serin.

Skalla Kallonis > Mytilina
On the last morning we had a fairly early start so I skipped a pre-breakfast outing. On the way to the airport we found a Dalmatian Pelican in the salt pan at near the hide in the NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans. Driving slowly on the approach to Mytilini, we heard a male Sardinian Warbler singing from a hillside on the west side of Mytilini. Before check-in we noted the final Mediterranean Shags and Yellow-legged Gulls passing along the coast.

Gulf of Kalloni © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Gulf of Kalloni from the air

 

Andisa & Ipsilou Monastery from the air © Fraser Simpson · www.fssbirding.org.uk

Ipsilou Monastery from the air

 

 

Lesvos Systematic List  13 -27 May 2017

 

Chukar  Alectoris chukar

1, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

1, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

pr, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

 

Common Quail   Coturnix coturnix

1 singing m, south pans road, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

 

Common Shelduck   Tadorna tadorna

13, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May

2, Mesa, 20-May.

pr, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

3, over SW hide, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

pr, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

2, noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Ruddy Shelduck   Tadorna ferruginea  

Noted at Kalloni Saltpans on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

3 prs, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

pr, circling over Potamia Valley, 16-May.

pr, over Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

pr, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

1, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

2 prs, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

8, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

4, noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos

pr, most below hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Scopoli's Shearwater  Calonectris diomedea

10+, south past Megalonisi off Sigri, 22-May.

 

Yelkoun Shearwater  Calonectris yelkouan

100's, moving south past Megalonisi off Sigri, 22-May.

 

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

2 prs (min b/1), Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus

1, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

1, Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

 

Greater Flamingo  Phoenicopterus roseus'

Noted at Kalloni Saltpans on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

514, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

116, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

500+, in view from south pans road hide, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

787, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

65, in 1st/NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

142, in 2nd pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Black Stork  Ciconia nigra

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

2, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, circling over salt mound, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 15-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

1, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

2, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, Christou River mouth, 23-May.

3, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

White Stork  Ciconia ciconia

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, over Metochi Lake, 15-May.

28, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May

3, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

1, Kalloni town centre, 19-May.

27, in fields, NW corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

10, Alykes Wetlands, 23-May.

1, Mandamados, 25-May.

 

Eurasian Spoonbill  Platalea leucorodia

3, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

1, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 27-May.

 

Little Bittern  Ixobrychus minutus

1, calling briefly, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

1, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

m, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

m, Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

 

Black-crowned Night-Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

1, flew in at 18:55, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

 

Squacco Heron  Ardeola ralloides

1 N, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

 

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

13, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

1, Christou River mouth, 23-May.

 

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

 

Great Egret  Casmerodius albus

1, over Alykes Wetlands, 26-May.

 

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

12, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

8+, Kalloni Saltpans, 20-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

2, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Dalmation Pelican  Pelecanus crispus

1, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 27-May.

 

Great Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo

1, Christou River mouth, 17-May.

 

European (Mediterranean) Shag  Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii

5, Megalonisi, 22-May.

1, Sigri harbour, 22-May.

6, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

6 E, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

Several passing along the coast at Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Western Osprey  Pandion haliaetus

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

European Honey Buzzard  Pernis apivorus

1 N, over Stipsi, 25-May.

 

Short-toed Eagle  Circaetus gallicus

1 N, salt mound, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, above Potamia Reservoir, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1, 2 km N of Limonos Monastery, 22-May.

1, Vigla, 22-May.

2, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Montagu's Harrier  Circus pygargus

m, Mytilini Airport, 13-May.

 

Black Kite  Milvus migrans

1, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Long-legged Buzzard  Buteo rufinus

1, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

2, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, above Potamia Reservoir, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

2, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

1, Skalachori, 22-May.

1, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

1, Napi Valley, 25-May.

 

Common Buzzard  Buteo buteo

1, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

2, near Agiasos, 21-May.

1, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

3 prs (inc b/3), Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Common Coot  Fulica atra

2 prs, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Eurasian Stone Curlew  Burhinus oedicnemus

1, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

 

Eurasian Oystercatcher  Haematopus ostralegus

1, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

 

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

Noted at Kalloni Saltpans on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

Noted daily, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-27 May (though mostly hidded in overgrown vegetation).

6, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

12+ prs, in pans visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, in canal below hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

10, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

pr, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

4 (min)1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

3 AON, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

3, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

pr, Christou River, 23-May.

10, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

2 AON, moat at SW hide, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

pr, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

pr, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

10, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

10, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Pied Avocet  Recurvirostra avocetta

Noted at Kalloni Saltpans on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

4, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

65+, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

96 (inc b/3), south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

67, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

2 x b/2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

10 +b/1, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

pr, Christou River, 23-May.

127 (inc some with nest scrapes), in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

10 ads + 7 chicks, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

40, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

104, in 1st/NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

27, in 2nd pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Common Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula

2, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

12, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

3, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

3, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

 

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius

2, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

1, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

1, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Kentish Plover  Charadrius alexandrius

f, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

pr, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

pr + 1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

2 prs, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

2, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

pr + b/3, hide at south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus

2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 15-May.

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

 

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

3, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

3, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

6, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

10, Christou River, 23-May.

2, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

1, in moat, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

 

Sanderling  Calidris alba

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

3, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

14, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

4, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

5, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

4, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

 

Temminck's Stint  Calidris temminckii

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

 

Pectoral Sandpiper  Calidris melanotos

1, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

 

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea

1, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

10, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

2, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Ruff  Philomachus pugnax

30, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

23, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

157, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

5, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

67, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

27, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

1, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

11, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Slender-billed Gull  Chroicocephalus genei

8, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Black-headded Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus

1, ad/non-breeding plumage, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Little Gull  Hydrocoloeus minutus

1st-W, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Mediterranean Gull  Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

ad, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

ad, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

1st-S, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

 

Yellow-legged Gull  Larus michahellis

Noted on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

Daily, over Skala Kallonis Pool, 13-27 May.

100+, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

30, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

200, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

24, in field opposite Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

3, over Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

45, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

Noted, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

4, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

10, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Abundant, Sigri-Megalonisi, 22-May.

18, feeding on ground under olive groves, lower Potamia Valley, 23-May.

3, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

Noted, off Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

Noted, Efthalou-Skala Sikaminias, 25-May.

Noted, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

Noted, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Several passing along the coast at Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Sandwich Tern  Thalasseus sandvicensis

1, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 15-May.

 

Little Tern  Sternula albifrons

24, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

10+, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

12, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

7, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

34, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

2, Mesa, 20-May.

24, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

47, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

13, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

2, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

4, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

4, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

2, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

5, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

4, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

22, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

1, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

4, Skamnioudi, 18-May.

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 21-May.

3, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

9, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

22, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

5, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Whiskered Tern  Childonias hybrida

1, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

1, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

17, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

107, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

1, Skala Kallonis Pool, 20-May.

32, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

1, in view from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

White-winged Black Tern  Childonias leucopterus

2 W, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

48+, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

11, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

1, saltpan at hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Black Tern  Childonias niger

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Rock Dove (Feral)  Columba livia domest.

Noted daily around Skala Kallonis.

Noted on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

 

Common Wood Pigeon  Columba palumbus

2, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

 

European Turtle Dove  Streptopelia turtur

1, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

2 singing mm, upper Potamia Valley, 15-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

2 singing mm, lower Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

1 singing m, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

1 singing m, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

1 singing m, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

2 singing mm, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

1, east bank of lower Tsiknias River, 25-May.

2, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

2 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

2, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

4, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Eurasian Collared Dove  Streptopelia decaocto

Present daily throughout, Kalloni Bay Hotel.

Noted, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

1 singing m, Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Noted, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

Noted singing, Kalloni town, 25-May.

1 singing m, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Common Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus

1 singing m, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1 singing m, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

 

Eurasian Scops Owl  Otus scops

2, Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

1 singing at 22:00, near Pasiphae Hotel, Skala Kallonis, 16-May.

Noted, at the 'Scops Copse', on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

1 singing at 22:10, near Pasiphae Hotel, Skala Kallonis, 17-May.

 

Little Owl  Athene noctua

1, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

1, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

 

Alpine Swift  Tachymarptis melba

2, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

4, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

 

Common Swift  Apus apus

4, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

8, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

100+, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

7, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

6, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted, over Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

12, noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

4, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

2, Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

50, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

4, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

10, Kalloni town, 25-May.

2, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Pallid Swift  Apus pallidus

2, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

 

European Bee-eater  Merops apiaster

2, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 13-May.

2, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

1 N, Kalloni Bay, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

1, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

8, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, salt mound, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

2, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

20+, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

4, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

8+, main bridge over Christou River mouth, 17-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

6, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May

2, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

8, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

2 + 7 N, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Heard, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

Heard, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

2, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

14, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

2+, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

Heard, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

5, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Euraisan Hoopoe  Upupa epops

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1 singing m, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

2 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1 singing m, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 22-May.

1 singing m, Vasilika, 24-May.

1 singing m, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Middle Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopus medius

1, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

1, west of Vatousa, 19-May.

1, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

1, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

1, between Eresos and Mesotopos, 22-May.

2, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1, Kapi-Stipsi, 25-May.

3, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Lesser Kestrel  Falco naumanni

5+, hunting over Megalonisi, 22-May.

Regularly flying back and forth over the sea between Sigri and Megalonisi, 22-May.

2, inland E of Sigri, 22-May.

1, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

 

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

1, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

1 nest, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

1, Achladeri, 21, May.

 

Red-footed Falcon  Falco vespertinus

m, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

m, 3 km W of Antissa, 22-May.

 

Eleonora’s Falcon  Falco eleonorae

3, Megalonisi, 22-May.

 

Eurasian Hobby  Falco subbuteo

1, lower Tsiknias River, 23-May.

 

Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus

1, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, Megalonisi, 22-May.

 

Red-backed Shrike  Lanius collurio

m, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

m, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

1, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

f, Skamnioudi, 18-May.

m, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

1, west of Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

f FY, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1, 2 km W of Ipsilou, 22-May.

1, Sigri, 22-May.

f, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 22-May.

m, Ipsilou Monastery (north side), 22-May.

m, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

f, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 23-May.

1, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

m, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

1, Mandamados-Kapi, 25-May.

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Lesser Grey Shrike  Lanius min

1, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

pr, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

 

Woodchat Shrike  Lanius senator

m, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

1, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

pr, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

m, Skamnioudi, 18-May.

2, east of Skalachori, 19-May.

2, Mesa, 20-May.

3 mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1, Vatousa, 22-May.

2, lower Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, Napi Valley, 25-May.

1, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Masked Shrike  Lanius nubicus

pr, upper Potamia Valley, 15-May.

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 16-May.

3, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

3, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

1 singing m, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 19-May.

2 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

m, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, between Lisvorio and Skaminoudi, 24-May.

2 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

1, flew over road, Milopotamos River, 26-May.

 

Eurasian Golden Oriole  Oriolus oriolus

m, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

 

Eurasian Jay  Garrulus glandularis

1, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

1, mobbed by Masked Shrikes, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

2, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

1, east of Skalachori, 19-May.

1, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

2, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

1, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

1, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 23-May.

2, Ariana, 25-May.

2, Kalloni town, 25-May.

2, Kapi-Stipsi, 25-May.

 

Western Jackdaw  Coloeus mondula

80, Sigri, 22-May.

20+, Megalonisi, 22-May.

 

Hooded Crow  Corvus cornix

Present throughout, Kalloni Bay Hotel.

2, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1, Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

2, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

2, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

2, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

4, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Noted, Megalonisi, 22-May.

Noted, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

4, Kalloni town, 25-May.

1, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Noted, Kapi-Stipsi, 25-May.

Noted, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Northern Raven  Corvus corax

3, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

3, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

2, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

4, Ipsilou Monastery, 22-May.

1, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Coal Tit  Periparus ater

1 singing m, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

 

Sombre Tit  Poecile lugubris

1, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

2, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Fledged brood, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Heard, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Eurasian Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus

1, Aegeon Hotel, Skala Kallonis, 15-May.

Noted, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

2, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

Noted, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

5, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

3 broods, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

Fledged brood, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Fledged brood, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

2, in tamarisk outside Mytilini Airport entrance, 27-May.

 

Great Tit  Parus major

1 singing m, Kalloni Bay Hotel, Skala Kallonis, 14-May.

Noted, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

Noted, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

Fledged brood, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

Noted, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

Noted singing, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted singing, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

Noted singing, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Fledged brood, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

2 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

1 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

Fledged brood, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Fledged broods, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Woodlark  Lullula arborea

1 singing m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 19-May.

1 singing m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

 

Crested Lark  Galerida cristata

Daily, Kalloni Bay Hotel/Skalla Kallonis Pool, 13-27 May.

6+, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

Noted, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

Several, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

Several singing, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

pr, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

4, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Several singing, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

Noted, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

Noted, Napi Valley, 20-May.

2, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

4+, Vigla, 22-May.

6, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

1 singing m, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

Abundant, east bank of lower Tsiknias River, 25-May.

Noted, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

Noted singing, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Noted, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Greater Short-toed Lark  Melanocorypha brachydactyla

1, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

1, over, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Sand Martin  Riparia riparia

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

2, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

2, Skala Kallonis Pool, 17-May.

1, lower ford, Tsiknias River, 26-May.

 

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Noted on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

Present daily throughout, Kalloni Bay Hotel.

10+, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

18+, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

20+, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

20+, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

1, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

8, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

6, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

2, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

18, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

14, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

14, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Noted, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Eurasian Crag Martin  Ptyonoprogne rupestris

2, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1, near Agiasos, 21-May.

 

House Martin  Delichon urbicum

20+, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

10+, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May

6, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

80, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

2, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

20+, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

Noted, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

11, Tsiknias River mouth, 23-May.

2, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Many nesting in Mytilini Airport terminal building, 27-May.

 

Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

Noted on the drive from Mytilini to Kalloni, 13-May.

Present daily throughout, Kalloni Bay Hotel.

4+, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

2, west of Antissa, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1, Filia, 22-May.

2, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

2, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

2, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

2, Vasilika, 24-May.

2, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

2, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Cetti’s Warbler  Cettia cetti

2 singing mm, Skala Kallonis Pool (north side), 14-27 May.

4 singing mm, Christou River mouth area, 15-May.

3 singing mm, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

1 singing m, garden behind Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

4 singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1 singing m, Achalderi, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

3 singing mm, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

7 singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 23-May.

1 singing m, Alykes Wetlands, 23-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

1 singing m, in NW pan, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos caudatus

pr + fledged brood, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

pr + fledged brood, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

 

Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler  Phylloscopus orientalis

2 singing mm, west of Vatousa, 19-May.

 

Great Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus arundinaceus

1 singing m, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 13-May.

3 singing mm, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Eurasian Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus scirpaceus

1 singing m, Skala Kallonis Pool (north side), 14-27 May.

1 singing m, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

 

Marsh Warbler  Acrocephalus palustris

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler  Iduna pallida

1 singing m, Kalloni Bay Hotel, 14-27 May.

2 singing mm, Skala Kallonis Pool (north side), 14-27 May.

1 singing m, Christou River mouth, 14-May.

1 singing m, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3 singing mm, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1 singing m, south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1 singing m, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

2 singing mm, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

1 singing m, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

10 singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1 singing m, Skala Kallonis Pool, 16-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1 singing m, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

1 singing m, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

1 singing m, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

1 singing m, Kalloni town, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

4 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

2 singing mm, after sunset, Skala Kallonis Pool (south side), 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

5 singing mm, in riverbed vegetation, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

4 singing mm, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

10+ singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 23-May.

5 singing mm, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

2 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1 singing m, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

1 singing m, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

1 singing m, hide at south pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

Olive-tree Warbler  Hippolais olivetorum

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1 singing m, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

1, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Icterine Warbler  Hippolais icterina

1 singing m, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

1 singing m, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Barred Warbler  Sylvia nisoria

1, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

 

Eastern Orphean Warbler  Sylvia crassirostris

1 singing m, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

2 singing mm, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

m, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Common Whitethroat  Sylvia communis

1, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

 

Eastern Subalpine Warbler  Sylvia cantillans

1 singing m, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted (head) on drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Common, Lardia Valley, 19-May.

5 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

3 singing mm, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

2 singing mm, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

2 singing m, Pelopi-Stipsi, 25-May.

 

Sardinian Warbler  Sylvia melanocephala

1 singing m, on hillside on W side of Mytilini, 27-May.

 

Rüppell’s Warbler  Sylvia rueppelli

2 singing mm, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

1 singing m, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

 

Eurasian Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes

1 singing m, Filia, 19-May.

 

Eurasian Nuthatch  Sitta europaea

2, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

 

Krüper’s Nuthatch  Sitta krueperi

pr at nest + fledged brood, Kofinas, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

pr at nest, Kofinas, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

Heard, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

 

Western Rock Nuthatch  Sitta neumayer

1, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

2, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

3, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

2, Napi Valley, 20-May.

5, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

2, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

1, noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

3, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1, Pelopi-Stipsi, 25-May.

 

Short-toed Treecreeper  Certhia brachydactyla

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

2 singing mm, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

1 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

1 singing m, pine woods east of Vasilika, 24-May.

 

Rose-coloured Starling  Pastor roseus

50 NE, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

28 NW, over Milopotamos River, east of Kalloni Saltpans, 20-May.

 

Common Blackbird  Turdus merula

2 singing m, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

Noted singing, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

Noted singing, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

m FY, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

Noted singing, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

Noted on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

3 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

2 singing mm, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

Noted singing, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

3 singing mm, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

Noted singing, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

3 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

2 singing , Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

Noted singing, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Song Thrush  Turdus philomelos

1 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

 

Mistle Thrush  Turdus viscivorus

1, Kofinas, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

 

Rufous Bush-robin (Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin)  Cercotrichas galactotes

1, Sigri-Faneromeni, 22-May.

1, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

3 singing mm, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

 

Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata

4, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

1, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

 

European Robin  Erithacus rubecula

1 singing m, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

 

Common Nightingale  Luscinia megarhynchos

1 singing m, Aegeon Hotel, Skala Kallonis, 15-May.

2 singing m, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

3 singing mm , lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

5 singing mm, heard on drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest car park, 20-May.

Several singing, Napi Valley, 20-May.

5 singing mm, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

1 singing m, Agiasos, 21-May.

1 singing m, farmland near Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

4 singing mm, Vatousa, 22-May.

Noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

2 singing mm, between Eresos and Mesotopos, 22-May.

2 singing mm, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

5 singing mm, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1 singing m, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

3 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1 singing m, Mandamados-Kapi, 25-May.

3 singing mm, Kapi-Stipsi, 25-May.

1 singing m, Pelopi, 25-May.

1 singing m, Stipsi-Petra, 25-May.

 

Blue Rock-thrush  Monticola solitarius

m, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

f FY, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

 

European Stonechat  Saxicola rubicola

f + juv, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 24-May.

f + juv, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 25-May.

 

Isabelline Wheatear  Oenanthe isabellina

2, Vigla, 19-May.

3, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

3, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

2, 3 km W of Ipsilou, 22-May.

3-4 singing mm, Vigla, 22-May.

1, Petrified Forest/Sigri road junction, 22-May.

1, inland E of Sigri, 22-May.

6, noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

 

Northern Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe

1 singing m, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1 singing m, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

4, noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

 

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear  Oenanthe hispanica

2mm/1f, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

f, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

1 singing m, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

6+ (inc nests in old walls), Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Several singing, Lardia Valley, 19-May.

4, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

2, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

pr, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

5 singing m, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, 3 km W of Antissa, 22-May.

2 singing mm + f, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

1 singing m, Ipsilou Monastery, 22-May.

1, Sigri Castle, 22-May.

1, inland E of Sigri, 22-May.

3, noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

7, between Mesotopos and Agra, 22-May.

2, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

1, Napi Valley, 25-May.

1, Pelopi-Stipsi, 25-May.

 

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus

Present daily (inc many fledglings), Kalloni Bay Hotel/Skalla Kallonis Pool, 13-27 May.

Noted, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

Noted, Alykes Wetlands, 14-May.

Abundant, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

Noted, Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

Noted, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Achladeri, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

4, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Noted, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

Noted, Kalloni town, 25-May.

Noted, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Noted, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

Noted, in tamarisk outside Mytilini Airport entrance, 27-May.

 

Spanish Sparrow  Passer hispaniolensis

2, Skalla Kallonis Pool, 13-May.

3, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

5, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Rock Sparrow  Petronia petronia

1, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

 

Black-headed Wagtail  Motacilla flava feldegg

4, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

1, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

2, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

1, Christou River mouth, 23-May.

1, SW hide, Kalloni Saltpans, 23-May.

1, over Kalloni town, 25-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

1, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

1, lower ford, Tsiknias River, 26-May.

2, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola

m, Skala Kallonis Pool, 14-May.

f, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

 

White Wagtail  Motacilla alba

1, salt mound, Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

 

Common Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs

Noted singing, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

Noted singing, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

Noted singing, Kalloni 'Scops Copse', 16-May.

Noted singing, Molivos Castle, 17-May.

Noted singing, Molivos town, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

5 singing mm, Achladeri Forest car park, 18-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

Noted singing, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

4 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

3 singing mm, first 2 km of kalderimi route from Agiasos to Mount Olympus, 21-May.

2 singing mm, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

4+ singing mm, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

Noted singing, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

5 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

2 singing mm, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

Noted singing, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

European Greenfinch  Chloris chloris

Noted singing, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

Noted singing, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 18-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

1 singing m, Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

Noted, Sigri-Faneromeni, 22-May.

Noted, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

Noted singing, Petra, 25-May.

Noted, Stipsi-Petra, 25-May.

Noted, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Common Linnet  Linaria cannabina

pr, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

pr, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

2 prs, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

pr, Limonos Monastery, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

 

European Goldfinch  Carduelis carduelis

1 singing m, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

2, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

2, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

Noted, Skamnioudi, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

2, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

Noted singing, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

pr, Vigla, 22-May.

1 singing m, 'Australia' taverna, Sigri, 22-May.

Noted, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

2 prs, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

2, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

6, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

Heard, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

European Serin  Serinus serinus

2, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

1 singing m, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

1 singing m, Tsigkou Forest Recreation Park, 21-May.

1 singing m, Vasilika, 24-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Mytilini Airport, 27-May.

 

Corn Bunting  Emberiza calandra

2 singing mm, Christou River mouth, 15-May.

3 singing mm, Metochi Lake, 15-May.

2 singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

Noted singing, Alykes Wetlands, 18-May.

Common, along coastal track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

2 singing mm, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted singing, Sigri-Faneromeni, 22-May.

Noted singing, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

Noted singing, lower Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1 singing m, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

2 singing mm, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

Noted singing, east of Tsiknias River mouth, 25-May.

Noted singing, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

Cinereous Bunting  Emberiza cineracea

4 singing mm, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1 singing m, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

1 singing m, 3 km W of Antissa, 22-May.

4+ singing mm, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 22-May.

1 singing mm, Ipsilou Monastery (north side), 22-May.

 

Cretzschmar’s Bunting  Emberiza caesia

1 singing m, Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint, 16-May.

1 singing m, west of Antissa, 19-May.

1 singing mm, Ipsilou Monastery (south side), 19-May.

1 singing m, road to Petrified Forest, 19-May.

4 singing mm, Napi Valley, 20-May.

2 singing mm, 3 km W of Antissa, 22-May.

1 singing m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

pr, Vigla, 22-May.

6 singing mm, noted on the drive from Ipsilou to Eresos, 22-May.

2 singing mm, between Mesotopos and Agra, 22-May.

1 singing m, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

Noted singing, Napi Valley, 25-May.

 

Cirl Bunting  Emberiza cirlus

1 singing m, visible from hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

3 singing mm, Potamia Valley, 15-May.

Noted singing, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

3 singing mm, heard on drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

Noted singing, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

Several (inc nest & fledged brood), Petrified Forest, 19-May.

1 singing m, Achladeri Forest, 20-May.

4 singing mm, first 2 km of Platania track, Napi Valley, 20-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

2 singing mm, Lardia Valley, 22-May.

1 singing m, 3 km W of Antissa, 22-May.

1 singing m, Sigri-Faneromeni, 22-May.

2 singing mm, between Mesotopos and Agra, 22-May.

2 singing mm, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

2 singing mm, upper Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1 singing m, Kavaki (hillside track site N of night club), 24-May.

4 singing mm, Napi Valley (track 1 km S of Napi), 25-May.

1 singing m, Napi Valley, 25-May.

1 singing m, Kavaki (layby at headland vista site), 25-May.

3 singing mm, Mandamados-Kapi, 25-May.

1 singing m, Pelopi-Stipsi, 25-May.

2 singing mm, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

 

Black-headed Bunting  Emberiza melanocephala

1 singing m, hide in NE corner of Kalloni Saltpans, 14-May.

1 singing m, Potamia Reservoir, 15-May.

3 singing mm, Potamia Valley, 16-May.

1 singing m, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 16-May.

4 singing mm, Potamia Valley, 17-May.

Noted, on return drive from Skala Kallonis to Molivos, 17-May.

1 singing m, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 17-May.

1 singing m, coastal marsh along sea track to Skala Vasilikon, 18-May.

Noted singing, olive groves between Skala Vasilikon and Skamnioudi, 18-May.

7 singing mm, around the village of Skamnioudi, 18-May.

2 singing mm, Alikoudi Pool, 18-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Ipsilou, via Skalachori and Vatousa, 19-May.

1 singing m, Petrified Forest, 19-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Agiasos, 21-May.

Noted on the drive from Skala Kallonis to Sigri, 22-May.

1 singing m, W of Antissa, 22-May.

1 singing m, Antissa/Sigri/Eresos road junction, 22-May.

1 singing mm, Ipsilou Monastery (north side), 22-May.

1 singing m, W of Ipsilou, 22-May.

1 singing m, Sigri-Faneromeni, 22-May.

1 singing m, between Agra and Parakila, 22-May.

1 singing m, lower Potamia Valley, 23-May.

1 singing m, Tsiknias River mouth (west bank), 23-May.

6 singing mm, lower west bank, Tsiknias River, 23-May.

1 singing m, Alikoudi Pool, 24-May.

5 singing mm, lower Potamia Valley, 26-May.

2 singing mm, west pans road, Kalloni Saltpans, 26-May.

 

 

 

All photographs © 2017  F. S. Simpson

Fraser's Birding Website · fssbirding.org.uk

 

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