April 18, half-day around Central Lesvos

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Curlew Sandpipers and Temminck's Stint; Lesvos

Konstantine, an experienced birder from Germany, wanted to see the Kruper’s Nuthatch and some waders. The plan was to visit the pine forest around Mikri Limni and then as many wetlands as we could.

We started from the Kalloni Salt Pans south parts, then continued to the pine forest and followed the coastline from Skala Polichnitos to the north back in the wetlands of the west parts of Skala Kallonis. For the end a route within the pasture land and olive groves around Agia Paraskevi.

We managed to see 80 different bird species, having as highlights: KRUPER’S NUTHATCH (in two distinct breeding territories), Western Rock Nuthatch, MASKED and Woodchat Shrike,  Purple Heron, Glosy Ibis, LITTLE CRAKES, a single BLACK-WINGED flying among 11 COLLARED PRANTICOLES, Curlew and Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stints, STONE CURLEWS, Whiskered Tern, PALLID HARRIER, Short-toed Eagles etc.

Kruper's Nuthatch; Lesvos
Kruper’s Nuthatch

End of June, 2 full-day trips around Central and Western Lesvos

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Motacilla citreola; Lesvos birds; Lesvos birding; Lesvos birdwatching

The highlights of these 2 full-day trips around the wetlands of the Kalloni Gulf and Molivos area (day 1) and Schalochori and Eresos areas (day 2) with Svante and Elizabeth were: DALMATIAN PELICANS, Ruddy Shelducks, Cory’s and Manx Shearwaters, AUDUIN’S GULL, KRUPER’S and Western Rock NUTHATCHES, Sombre Tit, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, ISABELLINE WHEATHEAR, RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN, EASTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER, EASTERN BONELLI’S WARBLERS, OLIVE-TREE WARBLERS, Black-headed Buntings, Woodchat  and MASKED SHRIKES, CRETZSCHMAR’S and CINEREOUS BUNTINGS, Short-toed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard etc and a bonus of a CITRINE WAGTAIL!

A total of 99 different bird species were recorded.

(photo by Lefteris Kakalis)

End of May 2016, half-day trip around CENTRAL LESVOS

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Rose-coloured Starling; Lesvos

The highlights of this half-day (07:30-13:30) guided birding and BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY trip around Agia Paraskevi, Kalloni and the wetlands of the North coast of the Kalloni Gulf were:

ELEONORA’S FALCONS, Scops Owls, Squacco Heron, BLACK TERN, Bee-eaters, family parties of Hoopoes, Sombre Tits and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, singing males RUFOUS BUSH ROBINS, Black-eared Wheatears, EASTERN ORPHEAN and SUBALPINE WARBLERS, Rock Nuthatches, MASKED SHRIKES, ROSE-COLOURED STARLINGS, several Black-headed Buntings and of course Flamingos, Black Storks, Ruddy Shelducks, Black-winged Stilts etc.

(photo © Vic Duncombe)

Mid- April 2016, half-day trip around WESTERN LESVOS

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The highlights of this half-day (08:30-14:30) guided birding trip around ERESSOS and AGRA:

Purple and Squacco Herons, Little Owl, Red-rumped Swallows, Isabelline and Black-eared Wheathears, Sub-alpine Warbler, Sombre Tit, Masked and Woodchat Shrikes, Cinereous and Cretzschmar’s Buntings, Rock Sparrow etc

Beginning of April report- do not wait until May!

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Cretzschmar's Bunting

Here is a 2-morning birding report by L. Kakalis and L. Grimbilakou, at the very begining of April (2 & 3/4) with sightings (and photos!) of some of Lesvos most wanted species: KRUPER’S NUTHATCH, CINEREOUS and CRETZSCHMAR’S BUNTINGS, RUPPELL’S WARBLER, ISABELLLINE WHEATHEAR, MASKED SHRIKE and more! ‪

photo ©: Lina Grimbilakou

02 & 03 April, a weekend’s birding