Lesvos, Greece (1 Viewer)

[Rob Smallwood]

I'm off to Lesvos next Thursday with the family, tooled up with all the guides and site maps (to say nothing of towel, trunks and spade!).

Has anyone returned from there this year, and if so are there any up to date tips you would like to share - like a site for White-throated Robin perhaps??!

 

[Steve G]

I'm off to Lesvos next Thursday with the family....
Has anyone returned from there this year, and if so are there any up to date tips you would like to share - like a site for White-throated Robin perhaps??!

The eternal optimist -try Gallus as he is posting recently taken pictures from Lesvos -if you get any news let me know as I'm going out on 1st July.

 

[Andrew]

I get confused. Some people say Lesbos, is this the same as Lesvos or is it the way Lesvos is pronounced?

(Remember I am deaf, so I get muddled when things are not pronounced the way they are spelt)

 

[Brian Stone]

In greek it is spelled lamda, epsilon, sigma, beta, omicron, sigma. As beta is pronounced as a softish 'v' I guess Lesvos is a slightly closer english approximation than Lesbos.

 

[Andrew]

Ah, thanks Brian. I made a fool of myself near Christmas when we were looking at venues in the travel agents and Lesvos was suggested. I whispered that it was crap and the one we wanted was Lesbos! Doh! Got Mallorca when we couldn't find "Lesbos".

 

[Rob Smallwood]

I used Lesvos in the heading because the more traditional English spelling has a predictably non-PC response when put into a search engine and probably dissappoints a whole raft of Internet Porn surfers when they accidentally find themselves on sites such as BF!

 

[Steve G]

Apparently the term Lesbian has its roots in Lesv(b)os. The term was originally applied to a group of women based on the island in ancient times who followed the philosophy of Sapho & decided why should guys get all the fun writing poetry & philosophy! The term was hijacked much in the same way that the word gay meant something else when I was a kid.

 

[Andrew]

Aah, now it is clear. I thought there was something in it. Sorry for digressing in this post Rob. Hope we see some good info and that you have a bird filled trip. I have been advised that Lesvos is spectacular so I am intent on trying it one day.

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Andrew,

It is well worth a visit - April being the prime time though late August & September are also good. Even in June when most of the migration is over there are good breeding birds, and a resort such as Skala Kalloni with its nearby wetlands can be excellent - especially if you are combining a family holiday with some birding.

 

[Jane Turner]

I always had a huge liking for Molyvos... on the Northern tip of the island... and the mountain range behind... great for confusing falls of Black and White Flys and wheatears... but a bugger or getting to Skala Kalloni before the heat haze!

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for the advice on places, anymore would be welcomed. I think it might be best to buy the books and maps before sniffing through brochures.

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Just back.

As suspected too late for any real migration but fluked two Rose-coloured Starlings (5:30 a.m from the balcony on the first morning having arrived in the early hours and unble to sleep!) and had excellent views of some of the specialities such as Cinerous Bunting.

Only briefly looked for Kruper's and failed but that was more because we didn't try too hard as they are common at our usual holiday destination in Turkey).

Plenty of good Mediterranean birds including the most confiding Bee-eaters I've ever seen.

I'll get round to a full report eventually but the highlight had to be a male Goshawk that flew off "Rabbit" Island off the coast of Anaxos and over our heads whilst we were on the beach. It was being mobbed by Hooded Crows and Jackdaws - a really stunning bird which has caused me to review some of my earlier sightings of the species!