2nd half of October birding

Posted on by EG
Cirl Bunting;Lesvos

I had 5 half days out with Fiona a very experienced “globe-birder”. We were around the most representative habitats of the island with lovely weather and good birds, even with zero summer visitor species.

The highlights were the Kruper’s and Western Rock Nuthatches, Dalmatian Pelicans, Black Stork, Ruddy Shelduck, Slender-billed Gulls, Marsh Sandpiper, Sombre Tit, Cirl Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush and late Red-backed Shrikes and Northern Wheatears, Ring Ouzel, Long-legged Buzzard etc.

Here are some photos of our birding:

Dalmatian Pelican; Lesvos
Dalmatian Pelican among Cormorants
Black Stork and Shags;Lesvos
Black Stork and Shags
Ruddy Shelduck Lesvos
Ruddy Shelduck
Middle-spotted Woodpecker; Lesvos
Middle-spotted Woodpecker
Robin Lesvos
European Robin
Osprey;Lesvos
Osprey
Cuckoo;Lesvos
Common Cuckoo

Autumn half-day around the Kalloni Gulf

Posted on by EG
Dalmatian Pelican; Lesvos Birdwatching

All summer visitor birds are gone by now from Lesvos. Spending half a day around the north coast of the Kalloni Gulf gave some very good birds, especially for Lisa H. that came from the USA. We went around the Kalloni Salt Pans and some of the estuaries of the area and also spend sometime in the nearby pine forest.

The highlights of the trip were: Red-footed Falcons (13!), Dalmatian Pelicans, Black Storks, Spoonbills, Slender-billed Gulls, Ruddy Shelducks, Short-toed Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tit etc.

Mid-October birding trips

Posted on by EG
Flamingos; Lesvos
Young Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) -photo: K. Kong

K. Kong and his friend came to Greece all the way from Singapore and visited Lesvos for a few days for birdwatching. We arranged a half and a full day birding with them (13 & 14/10) around Western Lesvos, the wetlands of the North Kalloni Gulf and the central pine forest area.

Many passerine species of the late autumn migration were recorded (Red-backed Shrikes, Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, Redstarts, Spanish Sparrows etc.), a fanastic passing LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE, several DALMATIAN PELICANS and numerous herons and egrets together with winter visitiors such as Chifchafs, Black Redstarts, Sardinian Warblers and Robins. Some of the resident species we were happy to find for them were: Blue Rock Thrush, Western Rock Nuthatch, KRUPER’S NUTHATCH, Rock Sparrow etc, reaching a total of 73 bird species.

More details on the birds found in the Kalloni Salt Pans can be found on e-bird.