Lesvos Birding 2023 - Part 3

 Is this the final part....... don't know yet!

So a bit of sightseeing again to start off; Paid a visit to an Ouzo distillery

Then explored around Polarmi, never been down that way before. Found some nice birds;

Sardinian Warbler,

Black-eared Wheatear

and Cretzschmar's Bunting

and some great scenery

Back at Skala Kallonis we finally caught up with the Long-eared Owl chicks;

Plus around and about a Long-legged Buzzard,

Little Egret,

Squacco Heron

and a Little Egret buzzing the Flamingos.

We took a jaunt down to Makara Valley, this was brilliant we had a great time and for us was one of our highlights.

Black-eared Wheatear,

Starred Agama (I think!)

Great views of Rock Nuthatch,

and again brilliant scenery along the track.

I did see a flock of Rosy Starlings when we stopped for a coffee, but they flew past so fast that by the time Tina turned around they were gone. Luckily we had another flock zoom past us later that Tina did see, as brief as it was! But these were our only new species for the trip and takes us up to 1016!

So carrying on to the river mouth down the valley.

Little Egrets,

Garbias Island (Breeding site for Lesser Kestrel and Shag)

Terrapin,

Corn Bunting,

Butterflies?!

Balkan Marbled White Butterfly,

Thread Lacewing

and another Roller.

On the way back up we saw our only Little Owls of the trip:

Then finally for this post a Water Rail scurrying away from us:

Sorry there's going to be a part 4!

Lesvos Birding 2023 - Part 2

 So to continue........

Lovely young Grey Heron at Skala Kallonis

and plenty of Greater Flamingo activity at Parakila Marsh,

along with Black-winged Stilt,

Ruddy Shelduck,

Little Egret,

and Red-backed Shrike.

Counldn't resist another poppy photo at the Tsiknias River

with a Glossy Ibis having a paddle.

Over at Kalloni Saltpans we came across a Whiskered Tern,

and another Little Egret.

Over the east side of the Salt pans we had Common Tern,

Yellow Wagtail,

More Flamingos,

Dalmatian Pelican,

Little Tern,

and this Pelican looks like a youngster to me

You never know what you are going to get at the Salt Pans, it's brilliant!

We did see a Turtle Dove on the east side too, thanks to some kind fellow birders who allowed us to use their scope. Cheers!

Finally for part two a general photo at the east of the salt pans. (Cormorant, Avocet, Flamingo, Shelduck)

Part 3 coming soon to a blog near you!

Lesvos Birding 2023 - Part 1

 Well finally the PC is sorted apart from my watermarking software, so just a quickie... all images included in this post and all posts in this blog site are copyright of Tom Willetts. 

Sorry about that but there are people out there aren't very nice!

So this is part one of our two week trip to Lesvos in May. It was great to be back, our last visit was pre covid in 2019. Between then and now we had had two trips planned but due to covid etc they never happened. So as I said it was wonderful to be back in one of our favourite places. We stayed as usual in Skala Kallonis;

It's just such a brilliant place, great Tavernas, food, scenery and the best base (in our opinion) for getting around the island. So on to the birding!

Actually we'll start with a bit of wildlife, an (Eastern) European Hedgehog wandering around by our hotel room.

Then some terrapins on our walk to the village:

Once we had our hire car we ventured out to the Tsikinas River and the Saltpans, seeing:

Little Stint

White Stork,

Black-winged Stilt,

Bee-eaters,

Short-toed Eagle,

Little Stint,

Yellow Wagtail,

Black-headed Bunting,

Couldn't resist another Stilt photo,

and another Stint,

or two Stilts, "getting it on" 😂

Plus many more, including Spanish Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Crested Lark, Marsh Harrier, Wood Sandpiper, Greater Flamingo, Avocet, Common Shelduck and Ruff.

Next day got a bit of sight seeing in. The Roman Aquaduct at Moira.

Then over the next few days:

Squacco Heron,

Spotted Flycatcher,

a trip to Agiasos,

Enjoying the wonderful poppy fields,

Ruff,

Crested Lark,

Spur-winged Lapwing,

and Roller.

That'll do for starters.............ttfn.

PC Issues

There's been no post for a while. Holiday and now PC issues, so might be a few days before I do a Lesvos report (or two!)