Lesvos Bird News 2021 (3 Viewers)

[Mick Sway]

16 May 2021
Kalloni Salt Pans - Rose Coloured Starlings
While some migrating wading birds tend hang on to the end of the months, the appearance of
Rosey starling's usually signal the end of the Spring migration period.
Eleni Galinue reported yesterday , several small flocks of Rosey starlings around
the Salt Pans. Their usual target is the Mullberry Tree along the Lotzaria track.

Note : the old mullberry tree at themain Tsiknias Ford (East River), which also used to be a rosey feeder, has been
taken down, with the Ford actually free of any vegatation.

 

[Mick Sway]

Fantail warbler (Cisticola juncidis)
Kalloni Salt Pans
A species , the population of which suffers from the vagaries of the weather has been photographed again at Kalloni Salt Pans.
Photo by local wildlife enthusiast Valerie Triboulet 29/05/21 - more info here at Lesvos Bird News Facebook group.

​

 

[Mick Sway]

At last a independent Dutch birder on the island, who reports as follows (accepting migration is over) :
Covid Travel Experience
Holland corona...pcr test, plf form, again tested on Mytiline airport...
took the southward route (from the Airport) via Loutra and Dipi Larissos to Mesa and Kalloni saltpans.
A lot of trees had been cut down along the (Tsiknia ) river, giving good views from the levees ( but less cover for the birds).

Kalami/ Mesa marsh:
Party of flava feldegg
Party of stonechat
BW stilts 5
Coots/mallards/moorhen/little grebe
Fan tailed warbler 1
Black stork
Great white egret 2

Kalloni saltpan , overall quiet
Little stint 13 , still a large group in sw channel
Ruff 1
Ringed plover 8
Bw stilts 10
Common tern 6/ little tern 3
Avocets/ flamingos

Alykes (dry) Wetland
White stork 10

Tsiknias River:
Little bittern 3
Squacco heron 1
Little ringed plover 2
Black stork 1
Bee-eaters/bh buntings/ red rumped swallows

 

[Mick Sway]

01 June 2021
Andre's adventure continues :
Alikoudi Pool ( full of water)
Ruddy Shelduck 41
Common Shelduck 2
Kentish plover 4
Little tern 12 nicely hawking in the shallow water
Common tern 3
Polichnitos saltpans
Common, little terns and 3 sandwich terns
Flamingo,
Avocets
Black winged stilts.

Skala Vasilikon
Turtle dove
ST Eagle
Masked shrike
Olive tree warbler in the olive groves

Skala Kalloni hit by a evening .

 

[Mick Sway]

Today's Report from our visiting birder.
02/06/21
The weather cleared after the thunderstorm of yesterday evening .
Southern route to Sigri via Agra/ Mesotopos/ Eressos
Eressos
Rosy starling x6
Sigri track to Meladia Valley
Ruddy shelduck,
Rufous bush robin x 2
Orphean warbler
Alpine swift
Little bittern
Sanitorium
Fem.red backed shrike
Faneromeni - upper ford still holds plenty of water.
Mute swan
Faneromeni fields
Rufous bush robin x 3
Olive tree warbler
Stonechat
Masked shrike.
Ypsilou
St eagle
Sparrowhawk
Cinereous bunting
Kalloni saltpans
Little stint 1 otherwise quiet
Tsiknias ford
Little bittern
Whiskered tern x 2
White winged tern 1

 

[Mick Sway]

Further report from our visiting birder, as noted on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group :
03 Jun 2021
Metochi - good water levels
Chilly in the morning.
Reed & cetti warblers
Little bittern
Little grebe
Potamia Valley
Masked, woodchat shrikes and a male red backed shrike.
Filia mast , Agrosikos
Long tailed tit & sombre tits
Sub alpine warblers
Cirl buntings
Napi Valley
Masked & woodchat shrikes
Hoopoe
Nightingales,
Olivaceous warbler and so on.....
Kalloni Saltpans
channels empty besides black winged stilts
Alykes sheepfield
Short toed larks and European bee eaters.
Tsiknias River ford
Whiskered terns 2

 

[Mick Sway]

Andre reports on Lesvos Birders Facebook group :
4 June 2021
Tsiknias Ford
Temperatures has not exceed 25 degrees so far.
Quiet , virtually no activity
Kavaki Layby
Sub alpine warbler
Chukar
Blue rock thrush, male and female
Eastern black eared wheatear
Rüppell's Warbler - family with least 3 youngsters
Perasma Reservoir
Ruddy shelduck with youngsters and a few bw stilts and YL gulls.
Ipsilou / Petrifed Forest Track

• Isabelline wheatear 5+
• Cinereous bunting 2
• Northern wheatear 1
• Little owl 1

- BE wheatear

• crested lark
• rock nuthatch

Lardia Valley
Crag martin
Subalpine warbler
Kalloni Saltpans
Long legged Buzzerd
Peregrine
Wine now at Kalloni square.

 

[Mick Sway]

Here's a list of sightings by a different Dutch birder on the Lesvos Observado web site :
Note - the pied wheatears are unlikely, I have queried this with their admin.

Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka	2021-06-05
Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia	2021-06-05
Chukar Partridge - Alectoris chukar	2021-06-05
Eurasian Nuthatch - Sitta europaea	2021-06-05
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator	2021-06-05
European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola	2021-06-05
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata	2021-06-05
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina	2021-06-05
Little Owl - Athene noctua	2021-06-05
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-05
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Emberiza caesia	2021-06-05
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-06-05
Eastern Orphean Warbler - Curruca crassirostris	2021-06-05
Cinereous Bunting - Emberiza cineracea	2021-06-05
Eurasian Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus	2021-06-05
European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis	2021-06-05
Common Linnet - Linaria cannabina	2021-06-05
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops	2021-06-04
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-06-04
Collared Pratincole - Glareola pratincola	2021-06-04
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-04
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster	2021-06-04
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus	2021-06-04
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna pallida	2021-06-03
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus	2021-06-03
Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka	2021-06-01
Eurasian Scops Owl - Otus scops	2021-06-01
Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus	2021-06-01
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops	2021-06-01
Common Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos	2021-06-01
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris	2021-06-01
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor	2021-06-01
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Emberiza caesia	2021-06-01
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus	2021-06-01
Little Owl - Athene noctua	2021-06-01
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina	2021-06-01
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata	2021-06-01
Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio	2021-06-01
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-01

2013-12-10 (Team Observation.org)

​

 

[Mick Sway]

Kalloni Salt Pans
06 June 2021
A report on Observado records 3 Dalmatian pelicans
16 June 2021
A report on Observado records 5 Dalmatian pelicans

In the absence of any reports other than common breeding birds, Dutch birder André Vuijk , has kindly allowed me to share
some of his images from his visit, the first week of June.
Species, where and when , noted on the image.

 

[Mick Sway]

21 June 2021
Kalloni Salt Pans
Eleni Galinue reports returning black backed gulls and a single spur winged plover in the S.W. corner.

 

[Mick Sway]

For want of any other bird news here's a species list recorded on the Observado website
by an anonymous Dutch birder last week. (no numbers or sites available) :

Eurasian Scops Owl - Otus scops	2021-06-15
Yelkouan Shearwater - Puffinus yelkouan	2021-06-15
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus	2021-06-15
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - Oenanthe melanoleuca	2021-06-15
Cinereous Bunting - Emberiza cineracea	2021-06-15
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe	2021-06-15
Northern Raven - Corvus corax	2021-06-15
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-06-14
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-14
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius	2021-06-14
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus	2021-06-14
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-06-14
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster	2021-06-14
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus	2021-06-14
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava	2021-06-14
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus	2021-06-14
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo	2021-06-14
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster	2021-06-13
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta	2021-06-13
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-13
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator	2021-06-13
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo	2021-06-13
Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum	2021-06-13
Eastern Green Lizard - Lacerta viridis	2021-06-12
Krüper's Nuthatch - Sitta krueperi	2021-06-12
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator	2021-06-12
Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus	2021-06-12
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata	2021-06-12
European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis	2021-06-12
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis	2021-06-12
Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala	2021-06-12
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-06-12
Black-headed Wagtail - Motacilla flava feldegg	2021-06-12
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus	2021-06-12
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-06-12
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus	2021-06-12
European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola	2021-06-12
Little Tern - Sternula albifrons	2021-06-12
European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris	2021-06-12

 

[Mick Sway]

A couple of Masked Shrike images care of Eleni's Lesvos Bird News group and local photographer Valerie Triboulot.
Spring visitors would not get to see a fledged bird of the species.

 

[Mick Sway]

Terrible news from Lake Tuz, in Turkey . Mass deaths of juvenile Flamingo, many of which would overwinter and summer in Lesvos.

Mass flamingo deaths grip drying Turkish lake

Hundreds of baby and adult flamingos were found dead on a dried part of Lake Tuz (Salt Lake) in the central Turkish province of Konya over the past week,...

www.dailysabah.com

 

[Mick Sway]

13 August 2021
A summary of bird species seen by a Dutch birder :

Dalmatian Pelican - Pelecanus crispus 2 Kalloni SP	2021-08-13
Woodlark - Lullula arborea Near Skala Sykiminia	2021-08-13
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor Alykes Wetland	2021-08-13
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta Alykes	2021-08-13
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur Alykes	2021-08-13
European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster Alykes	2021-08-13
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops Alykes	2021-08-13
Great Egret - Ardea alba Alykes	2021-08-13
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra Alykes	2021-08-13
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius Alykes	2021-08-13
Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea Alykes	2021-08-13
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator - Skoutaros	2021-08-13
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola - Kalloni SP	2021-08-13
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata - Kalloni SP	2021-08-13
Little Stint - Calidris minuta - Kalloni SP	2021-08-13
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus - Kalloni SP	2021-08-13
Pied wheatear reported at Skala Sykiminias , image is actually a Northern wheatear (too pink, eyebrow, etc)	2021-08-13
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus	2021-08-13

 

[Mick Sway]

15 August 2021
Agathokalimana on the coast of Kalloni Gulf
Spur winged plover
As reported by a local enthuisast on Lesvos Bird news Facebook group.

 

[Mick Sway]

Apparently right now there's a good passage of passerines , including the common migrating birds such as
european bee eater, willow warbler, 3 species of shrike , raptors , including short toed eagle and common buzzard.
Passage of wading birds is also building.
There are a few birders back on the island , here are a few of the more tasty recent sightings :

30/08/21
Mesa wetland - Dalmatian pelican 2

29/08/21
Lotzaria - common cuckoo
Skala Kalloni - icterine warbler
Tsiknias River - mew gull
Skala Kalloni salt pans - whimbrel

28/08/21
Tsiknias River - booted eagle

26/08/21
Tsiknias River - Savi's warbler

21/08/21
Metochi - Night heron

20/08/21
Antissa - Icterine warbler

15/08/21
Eressos - thrush nightingale

Here's a list provided on Lesvos Birders FB group, by a YUk birder for last week ending 28/08/21 :
Booted Eagle
Short Toed Snake Eagle
Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel
Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Long Legged Buzzard
Buzzard
Cuckoo
Nightjar
Rock Dove?
Collared Dove
Turtle Dove
Swift
Pallid Swift
Crag Martin
House Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-Rumped Swallow
Kingfisher
Bee-Eater
Hoopoe
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Crested Lark
Tawny Pipit
Yellow Wagtail
Rufous Bush Robin
Nightingale
Whinchat
Stonechat
Blue Rock Thrush
Blackbird
Northern Wheatear
Black-Eared Wheatear
Cetti's Warbler
Fan-Tailed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Olivaceous Warbler
Olive Tree Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Sombre Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Western Rock Nuthatch
Red Backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Masked Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Jay
Hooded Crow
Raven
Spanish Sparrow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Serin
Cirl Bunting
Corn Bunting
Ortalan Bunting
Cretzshmars Bunting
Yellow Legged Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Little Tern
Sandwich Tern
Gull Billed Tern?
Black Stork
Greater Flamingo
Grey Heron
Night Heron
Little Egret
Cormorant
Little Grebe
Gadwall
Mallard
Coot
Black Winged Stilt
Avocet
Curlew
Stone Curlew
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Golden Plover
Temminck's Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Greenshank
Redshank

 

[Mick Sway]

A list of sightings by a Dutch birder, recorded on the Observado web site:

Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis	2021-08-31
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops	2021-08-31
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-08-31
European Shag - Gulosus aristotelis	2021-08-31
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus	2021-08-31
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra	2021-08-31
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator	2021-08-31
Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis	2021-08-31
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia	2021-08-31
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta	2021-08-31
Kentish Plover - Charadrius alexandrinus	2021-08-31
Temminck's Stint - Calidris temminckii	2021-08-31
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-08-31
Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus roseus	2021-08-31
Masked Shrike - Lanius nubicus	2021-08-31
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata	2021-08-31
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata	2021-08-31
Northern Raven - Corvus corax	2021-08-31
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocoptes medius	2021-08-31
Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus	2021-08-31
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus	2021-08-31
Short-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus delphis	2021-08-31
Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna	2021-08-31
Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes	2021-08-31
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto	2021-08-31
Eurasian Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus	2021-08-31
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia	2021-08-30
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus	2021-08-30
European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur	2021-08-30
Northern Raven - Corvus corax	2021-08-30
Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio	2021-08-30
Isabelline Wheatear - Oenanthe isabellina	2021-08-30
Western Rock Nuthatch - Sitta neumayer	2021-08-30
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocoptes medius	2021-08-30
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus	2021-08-30
European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola	2021-08-30
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis	2021-08-30
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica	2021-08-30
Little Owl - Athene noctua	2021-08-30

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 13-08-2021, Ben Staal Greece - Lesbos - Alykes Wetl…

Carlina corymbosa 07-08-2021 , Griet Van de Walle Greece - Lesbos - Polichnitos…

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 13-08-2021, Ben Staal Greece - Lesbos - Kalloni area

Sea lavender unknown Limonium spec. 07-08-2021 , Griet Van de Walle Greece - Lesbos - Polichnitos…

 

[Mick Sway]

List of Sightings from Observado by a Dutch birder 02/09/21
Sanderling is a scarce one for Lesvos and was seen at Dipi Larisos

Sanderling - Calidris alba	2021-09-02
Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus	2021-09-02
Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia	2021-09-02
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta	2021-09-02
Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra	2021-09-02
Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus	2021-09-02
Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe	2021-09-02
Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio	2021-09-02
Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator	2021-09-02
Sand Martin - Riparia riparia	2021-09-02
Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica	2021-09-02
Crested Lark - Galerida cristata	2021-09-02
Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor	2021-09-02
Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus	2021-09-02
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola	2021-09-02
Little Stint - Calidris minuta	2021-09-02
Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius	2021-09-02
Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta	2021-09-02
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra	2021-09-02
Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus	2021-09-02
Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata	2021-09-02
Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops	2021-09-02
Short-toed Snake Eagle - Circaetus gallicus	2021-09-02
Northern Raven - Corvus corax	2021-09-02
Eurasian Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne rupestris	2021-09-02
Black Stork - Ciconia nigra	2021-09-02
Red-throated Pipit - Anthus cervinus	2021-09-02
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis	2021-09-02
Greater Short-toed Lark - Calandrella brachydactyla	2021-09-02
Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata	2021-09-02
Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo	2021-09-02
Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus	2021-09-02
Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava	2021-09-02
Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus	2021-09-02
Common Redshank - Tringa totanus	2021-09-02
Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus	2021-09-02
Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus	2021-09-02
Common Whitethroat - Curruca communis	2021-09-02
Eurasian Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus	2021-09-02

2013-12-10 (Team Observation.org)

​

 

[Mick Sway]

Report By Visiting UK Birder 01/09/21
Lotzaria
Masked, Woodchat Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Northern Wheatears
Whinchats
Blue and Black-headed Wagtails
Tawny Pipit 12
Tree Pipits 2
Stonechat
Willow Warblers
Corn Bunting flocks
House and Spanish Sparrows
Common Whitethroats 2
Spotted Flycatchers 2
Crested Larks
Hooded Crows
Common Buzzard
Long-legged buzzard
Short-toed Eagle
Nightjar - later evening

Tsiknias Ford
Cretzschmar's bunting 2

Tsiknias River Mouth
Greenshank
Little and Great White Egrets fishing
flava Wagtails
Cormorants and Shags
Sandwich Terns 31

Kalloni Salt Pans
White Winged Black Terns
Stone-curlew 4
Eurasian Curlews 2,
Black Stork
Slender Billed Gull

Skala Kalloni Village
Barn Owl heard

add to the above common swift, red rumped and barn swallow plus house martin at various locations

 

[Mick Sway]

Report By Visiting UK Birder 02/09/21 as reported on Lesvos Birders Facebook Group
Lotzaria
Beeeaters
Hoopoe
Ortolan bunting 2
Grey Wagtail 2
Turtle Dove 4
Montagu's Harrier juvenile
+ chats, shrikes & wagtails

Tsiknias River
Great white egret

Tsiknias River Mouth
Curlew
Grey Plover
Dunlin
Greenshank
Slender-billed Gulls 7


Metochi Lake & fields ( still holding some water, local channels dry though)
Common Sandpiper
Greenshank
Black Stork
Grey Heron 4
Flava Wagtails
Tree Pipit 2
Marsh Harrier juv female
Beeeaters
Long-legged Buzzards
Ravens
Short-toed Eagles

Kerami Reservoir , Potamia Valley
Little Grebe 16
Coot 14
Mallard
Teal 9
Garganey 3
Hoopoe
Chaffinch
cirl bunting

Kalloni Salt Pans
Dalmatian Pelican
Spoonbills 12
Black Storks 4
Little Stint
Ruff

Papania (between Tsiknias River and village of Papania)
Shrikes , Spotted Flycatchers and Bee-eaters
A juvenile Roller had been seen earlier
Short-toed Eagle perched up
Long-legged Buzzards 3
Black Storks 3

Parakila Turpentine Trees (passerines feed on the ripe berries)
Lesser and Common Whitethroats
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 6
Northern wheatear 10

Skala Kalloni Village - quail heard in fields