Birding in Lesvos 2026 - 2nd Week

 So The start of the second week was difficult as we were both unwell for a few days, not leaving the room on the Monday! We found out on the last day that we weren't the only ones!!

Anyway, so once we felt able we had a more gentle day and went to Achlideri on the search for Krüpers Nuthatch.... and failed! We had a nice day though and added a lifer to our bird list a Woodlark in the forest.

On the way though we had a peek at the Long-eared Owl youngsters by Kerami School:

Around the hedge rows near the Salt Pans a Black-headed Bunting showed well,

We also had a brief but distant view of a Marsh Harrier,

and a couple of Dalmatian Pelicans in Kalloni Bay.

Next day after some further advice we tried Achlideri Forest again and were lucky this time, finding two pairs of Krüpers Nuthatch.

as well as Masked Shrike,

and a Lizard!

I missed out a nice Flamingo from earlier, so here it is.

Back to the forest we also found plenty of Short-toed Treecreeper this time, our first for the trip.

Next day we drove to Eressos, to start the mountain track down to Meladia Valley and on to Sigri.

Again plenty of birds seen and heard but proving very difficult to photograph. But a few did oblige.

Rock Nuthatch,

Stonechat,

Cretzschmar's Bunting,

and Spotted Flycatcher, (we saw tons this time!)

Next day we tried the Makara Valley again, this time the resident Little Owl put in an appearance, but he was hiding on a telegraph pole some distance away.

There are always Lizards posing on the rocks heading into the valley.

Otherwise it was very quiet down there.

Our last day with car we drove towards Molyvos before taking the northern coast track to Skala Sikiminias for a much anticipated late fish lunch.

We stopped at Kavaki Bay on the way and managed Blue Rock Thrush again, plus some great Peregrine action. A pair with a hidden cliff nest were busy keeping the Yellow-legged Gulls away.

Not to mention a lovely Short-toed Eagle,

Then a Sardinian Warbler put in an appearance. Magic.

So that's about it, despite being ill, we had a great time, so I'll just sign off with some Bee-eaters.

Birding in Lesvos 2026

 So our annual visit to Lesvos....

We went out for two weeks at the beginning of  May and had a brilliant tine apart from both of us becoming rather ill for a couple of days, that messed up our plans quite a bit. So we didn't quite hit the number of birds that we have seen in the past couple of years. But then again the birding is some respects seemed quite different too.  So we managed 124 species this year, with two species that have eluded us since we started going to Lesvos 11 years ago.

The weather as well was awful when we arrived, but improved as the the first week went on and stayed very nice until our last full day which turned windy and wet again.

So here's a few photos from week one.

Day one around Skala Kallonis,

Red-backed Shrike by the bakery,

Night Heron, trying to hide in the pools behind the Pasiphae Hotel,

                                        

Black-headed Bunting at the Tsikinias River,

along with an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 

and a Crested Lark strutting his stuff.

By the Pasiphae Hotel a Nightingale was giving it some welly.

Day Two:

Out and about around Kalloni Salt Pans;

Wood Sandpiper,

Whiskered Tern,

Tawny Pipit,

Glossy Ibis,

Squacco Heron,

Gloosy Ibis,

Greater Flamingo,

and Little Owl.

Day Three, Heading west to Sigri, via Epsilou Monastery. I didn't take many photos today, even though we saw plenty, nothing that close for any halfway decent photos.
Cinerous Bunting being electric!

Ortolan Bunting,

NorthernWheatear

Masked Shrike.

Day three, staying local near Kalloni, visiting Matochi Lake and Potemia Valley and Reservoirs.

But first Alykes Wetland for more Glossy Ibis action,

a fleeting glimpse of Collared Pratincole,

Plenty of waders, Sandpipers and Ruff,

Another Eastern Olivaceous Warbler giving it large, 

Fkamingoes at Parakila Marshes,

Night Heron showing a little better at the Pasiphae Hotel pond and

Terrapins at the 'hidden resevoir' at Potemia

Day Four, Makara Valley. Again many birds were seen, but photography was proving difficult, but I managed a few.

Woodchat Shrike,

Rock Nuthatch,

Cirl Bunting,

Turtle Dove,

Little Ringed Plover,

Squacco Herons,

Masked Shrike,

Alpine Swift

and a quick visit to the 'Kalloni Scops Copse' before heading to Makara for the Scops Owls.

and a Persian Squirrel at Kerami School

Day Five, today was lunch at Molyvos day, with a few stops on the way.

Blue Roch Thrush at Kavaki Bay

and a Subalpine Warbler also at Kavaki Bay,

At Molyvos Reservoir, a first for us, a bird that has eluded us until now,

two Great Spotted Cuckoo making Great Spotted Cuckoos!! Awesome.

That will do for week one.