LESVOS BIRD NEWS 2024 (3 Viewers)

[Mick Sway]

Some highlights from the past few days:
Great spotted cuckoos have been present at Perasma Reservoir over
the last week while one was reported at Ampelia today 03/05,which we dipped on.
Great snipes were reported at Achladeri pool and Kalloni Pool
on 30/04 and 01/05 respectively.
Red breasted flycatchers reported out West at Sigri and Faneromeni on
On 02/05 and 05/05.
A spotted crake was on the Tsiknias River for a few days up to 02/03
Kalloni Saltpans hosted a red necked phalarope and palled harrier 02/05
A lesser spotted eagle was reported at Agra on 02/05
A highlight as been a terek sandpiper found at Kalami Marsh today 03/05
Photos from me.
Eleonoras falcon, Ampelia
Marsh Sandiper, Alykes
Great reed warbler, Ancient Antissa
Isabeline Wheatear, Petrifed Forest park
European Roller, Ampelia

Appologies both the Hotel and roaming internet are poor here .

 

[Mick Sway]

Apologies, yesterdays Terek was at Alcoudi not Kalami
04-05-24
Skala Kaloni Salt Pans
Pectoral sandpiper - very rare for Greece
Broad billed sandpiper
Skala Kalloni
2 nightjar reported
Antissa
We hear 2 laughing doves have taken up residence
From WhatsApp group discussions

 

[Mick Sway]

6th May Rare and scares update, from WhatsApp info:
Perasma Reservoir
Great spotted cuckoo x 2
Kalloni Salt Pans
Griffon vulture
Cattle egret
Little gull
Red necked phalarope
Dalmatian pelicans present , numbers of white winged and whiskers terns.
Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint
Black kite
Lardia Valley
Bonellis eagle
Argenos Watchpoint
Griffin vulture
Lesser spotted eagle
Honey buzzard x 4
A few images from me from Kalloni Salt Pans 05-05-24:

Cattle egret
Whimbrel x3
Collared pratincole one of four

 

[Mike Holley]

Thanks for this. Looking at Lesvos bird news for previous years, there seemed to be links to the best site location on Lesbos. Unfortunately many of these links seem to be inactive and searching the web doesn't seem to give any maps on best places to visit. Also both well known Lesbos books are impossible to find. Do you have a working web-link that could show me how to access the various sites across the island? Visiting in Mid-May.

Hi John,
If I'm not too late replying, here is a link to the current Lesvos Bird News website, which has a list of birding sites with Google Maps pin drop locations - Best birding sites

 

[Mick Sway]

Lesvos Birders Web Site up and running again.
Click on the link above for, location directions, historical reports, image and species lists.

 

[Mick Sway]

UPDATE
Note : Late April and early May were characterised by a strong North Westerly wind.
Late April & Early May
4 Pigmy cormorants were present at Kalami Marsh , the last one being noted as present on 17 May.
Only a few reports of Rosey starlings so far with 11 reported on 17/05 at Faneromeni mullberry trees,
with a single at Lotzaria on 18 May, more to come I'm sure.
Spur winged plovers have been long staying at the Tsiknias River and general salt pans area.
Early May was a good month for Rollers with multiple sightings. Duncan having directed us to 3
in the Makara Valley on 13 May.
Sightings Eleonora's Falcon's have been exceptional this May, dark phase in particular.
The same applies to great spotted cuckoo's. I doubt if anyone has dipped this season.
Laughing Doves are now resident at Lautra, Eressos, Petra and Antissa and no doubt elsewhere.
Rare and Scarce Birds:
11 May 2024
Polichnictos Saltpans - Lesser spotted eagle - photo by Mark Cassidy
12 May 2024
Anaxos - Nightjars x 3
Kalloni Salt Pans - Booted eagle
13 May 2024
Christou (East) River - Broad billed sandpiper & Caspian tern
Lardia Valley - Levant sparrow hawk
14 May 2024
Kalloni Salt Pans - Golden eagle ( photographed and seen over Ipsilou)
15 May 2024
Perivoli
Grey wagtail - I mention it as a tribute to the cleaning of the river here over the past 10 years.
17 May 2024
Sigri Cheese Factory - Red breasted flycatcher
Meladia Valley - Collared flycatcher
Faneromeni - Rosey starlings 11
Kalami Marsh - Water rail
18 May 2024
Christou River - Caspian Tern & Dunlin
Metochi - Spur winged plover & little crake
20 May 2024
Molivos - Booted eagle

Sightings as reported on the Lesvos Birders WhatsApp group ( thanks to group admin) and Observation.org
Apologies if I've missed anything important, please feel free to add records.

 

[Mick Sway]

UP-DATE 27-05-24
Christou River Wetland 27-05-24
Common crane
Visiting birder Colin Gittins discovered a Common crane, on the flooded area adjacent the Aegean Hotel this morning.
Common crane's are scarce visitors to the island, photos with Colin's kind permission.
I understand that it moved on shortly afterwards.
Worth noting that the odd red foot , pratincole, night and squacco herons have been reported this last week.
Still no reports of a mass influx of rosy starlings, though the odd one has been spotted.

 

[Mick Sway]

A few of my images from the past few weeks:
Roller Coracias garrulus Makara 13-05-24
Godwit Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa & Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Alykes Wetland 02-05-24
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Kalloni Salt Pans 05-05-24
Kestrel Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni Sigri 04-05-24
Eastern Orphean warbler Curruca crassirostris Sigri Cheese Factory 04-05-24
Bunting Cirl Bunting Emberiza Cirlus Aghios Taxiarchis 23-04-24