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.
