avsaund@onetel.com

Introduction

We chose to visit Lesvos in the “off season” just outside the main migration period, hoping the weather would be more settled, and that there would still be plenty of birds to see – but no so many birdwatchers!

This was our second trip to Lesvos, our previous visit was in September 2003, again another unfashionable time to visit but there was still some good birding to be had.

With no trip reports to give us any guidance for this time of year we thought it would be a good idea to write one – so what birds can you expect to see in late May and early June in Lesvos?  Read on...

Travel arrangements

We booked a package trip with First Choice, flying from Gatwick on the 0700 flight to Mytilene and then had a 1 hour coach transfer to Hotel Kalloni II at Skala Kalloni. We also stayed here on our September 2003 trip.

References

The Collins Bird Guide by Killian Mullarney et al

Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos by Richard Brooks (2002 edition)

Car Hire

Booked through http://www.pangosmio.gr/index.asp

I have used this company booking via Internet before and can recommend them – they will quote the true “bottom line” that covers FDW as well as CDW insurance.   The cars I have used were actually provided by other rental companies Avis etc. I paid 23.5 Euros per day for a 10-day hire.  Delivery and collection to the Hotel cost an extra 20 Euros.

Itinerary

Friday 20th May – Walking local patch – East & West Rivers

We decided to walk through Skala Kalloni and along the beach to the East river, just to get acclimatised.  On waste ground to the left of where the beach joins the East river, we saw our first Rufus Bush Robin, which was probably nesting close to the rubbish tip.  We continued along the riverbank seeing Black-headed Bunting, Cettis Warbler, Oliveaceous Warbler, Corn Bunting, Bee- eaters, Woodchat Shrike, Common Terns, Spanish & House Sparrows.

We took the  next turning past the lower ford and headed back through the smallholdings to Papiana and Skala Kalloni. 

In the mid afternoon we walked to the main road across the new bridge and as far along the West River as we could get – as a big part of this area is fenced off farmland.  There were several Kentish Plovers and a Great White Egret.

The Kalloni II pool is now just a damp reedy area – too damp to walk on but with not enough water in it to describe it as a  pool.  We saw a single Wood Sandpiper, and heard several Cettis and Oliveaceous Warblers around the edge.

Saturday 21st May – “Aborted” trip to Sigri – Limonos Monastery

Our hire car arrived in the morning so we planned a long trip out to Sigri via Filia, Skalachori and Vatousa but the weather was getting worse by the minute and  by the time we reached Filia it was cold and very overcast.  Unfortunately it  looked much blacker in the direction we were heading so we decided to turn back to S Kalloni for lunch and then try our luck at the Kalloni salt pans.

We stopped at a small pine wooded area just before the Eko garage before you reach Skalachori from Filia.  In Sept 2003 we had quite a good bird count here (and a large tortoise) but not this time – it was mostly Chaffinchs and Blue Tits.  We heard several Hoopoes calling and had a good view of a singing Nightingale.  We noticed another likely looking track just around the corner near the Eko garage and decided to do that one another day.

We returned to the Monastery Limonos where pot-bellied pigs are a new addition since our last visit! 

There were several Black-eared  Wheatears and a singing Nightingale within the grounds. A pair of Common Buzzards circled over the rocky hillside at the rear of the Monastery.

In the afternoon,  a Marsh Harrier flew low over the West River as we passed on our way to the Kalloni saltpans.

At the Saltpans were good showings of Flamingo, Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Common Tern, Little Tern, 2 Ruff, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Spoonbill, 4 White-winged Black Terns, a Little Egret, a Grey Heron and several Bee-eaters.

We returned via the East River track to the left of the bridge on the main road.  Along here were 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Sand Martins, 4 Little Stints, a Cormorant and a brilliant view of a singing Nightingale completed the day!

Sunday 22nd May  Skala Kalloni to Mesotopos & “Inland Lake”

We heard from the Hotel Kalloni II birding grapevine (Tony Davison and Rob Cobbold) that Cinereous Buntings had been seen at a site near Agra, so we set off in that direction.  As we were driving past some farm buildings between Koukos Cape and the turning to Apothika,  Rose spotted 2 Little Owls on a wall close to the road, so this was our first stop of the day.  We continued through Arga passing the 2 towers and at 5.2 kms from here there is a bridge with a culvert running under it.

Here we had excellent views of 2 Cinereous Buntings, 2 Cretzschmar's Buntings, Rock Nuthatch. 2 Long-Legged Buzzards, several Black-eared Wheatears, 2 Red-Backed Shrikes and 2 Ravens.

One kilometer further down the road by a sign for the next Eko petrol station are some old Oak trees by a dilapidated dry stone wall, we saw some movement and pulled up quickly to find 4 Sombre Tits flitting around the trees.  A dozen or so Alpine Swifts flew above us, we could hear Hoopoe and Turtle Doves calling – a Woodchat Shrike was perched on a fence nearby.  Another good spot worth checking if you are passing this way.

We turned around here and headed back to the bridge, to find Tony Davsion had just arrived and had just spotted a Cinereous Bunting on the overhead electricity cables.  A good “twitch” with “lifers” all around!

We stopped again by the “water fountain” on a bend in the road, where we heard a Golden Oriole calling. After half and hour of scanning every tree in the area we still didn't see it, although it was calling for most of the time – a tough one to spot at the best of times!  A couple of Persian Squirrels were chasing each other around trees by the fountain and a Cirl Bunting appeared briefly, with that we took a long lunch break at roadside Taverna.

In the afternoon we did a quick trip to the Kalloni “Inland Lake”   This has substantially more water in it that it did in our September 2003 visit. In  '03 the lake was dry right up to the small pumping machine by the road and you could walk across to the middle and get excellent views of the end reed bed.

This time we only saw a Little Grebe, 2 Moorhens , 2 Reed Warblers, and a Jay.  We moved on to the Reservoir – but only 50-60 Yellow-Legged Gulls, a Black-headed Bunting and a Red-Backed Shrike were there.

Monday 23rd May – Skala Polichnitos via Achladeri

On our Sept/03 trip Skala Polichnitos was one of the highlights with many waders and Wheatears (including Isaballine) present so we planned to spend most of the day here. 

We took the Mytilene main road and took the right turn on the  wide junction by the old bridge towards Achladeri and in the pool on the right was a Ruddy Shelduck. At the end of the straight road past the rock formation on the left is a picnic area which is always worth a look.  Not much here but Chaffinches and Blue Tits and several Jays scrapping in the trees – 2 Turtle Doves were on nearby power lines.

We stopped at some pine woods  between Achladeri and Vassilikos – just picked a likely looking bit of habitat at random and walked into the woods.  The first things we saw were 2 Short-Toed Treecreepers feeding juveniles but other than that it was the usual Jays, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits.

The Skala Polichnitos salt pans were a major disappointment, all that was here were 150+ Yellow Legged Gulls, lots of Crested Larks and nothing else! So we didn't stay long and decided to return to S Kalloni for lunch and try the Napi valley in the afternoon.

Between Skala Polichnitos and Polichnitos, I spotted a Lesser Grey Shrike on a power line by some well-tended olive groves and stopped for a quick look and while we were there I wandered into one of the fields and immediately spotted an Olive Tree Warbler only a few yards away.

In the afternoon we drove to the Napi valley - an easy drive for Skala Kalloni based birders.  Just drive to the Kalloni Salt Pans and take the left turning opposite the petrol station.  This area is really rich farmland with olive groves.  Through Agia Paraskevi (Saint Friday) - the cobbles are not much fun to drive on – and on the far side of the village is a water fountain and 1.2 kms further on from here is a track on your right with a tourist information sign – this track is worth exploring and is drivable with a small hire car.  Good mixed habitat here and just about anything is possible.  We saw several Cirl Bunting, Sombre Tits, Jays, Turtle Doves, and lots of Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blue, Great  Tits, House & Spanish Sparrows, and 4 Oliveaceous Warblers.  We had a superb view of a singing Nightingale in the Oleander bushes by the stream.

We returned via the East River track from the bridge on the main road,  where we heard several more Nightingales and Cetti's Warblers.

Tuesday 24th May – Anaxos – Petra- Skala Sikininia – Klio – Madamados – Napi – Agia Paraskevi

Our first stop on this trip was  between Petra and Anaxos, take a right turn by the Eko garage on this road signed Limonaki, the road runs out by some holiday accommodation, park here and walk up the hillside.  There are good views of the Island opposite (need a scope). 

There were 4 Jackdaws, a Black-headed Bunting, a Black-eared Wheatear, a Cirl Bunting and a good showing of Alpine Swifts overhead.

We moved on towards Molivos stopping at one of the large lay-byes at the top of the hill.  We had been told this was a good site for Ruppell's warblers – and it is – we saw one within a couple of minutes!

Here we also saw 3 Crag Martins, 6 Red-Rumped Swallows, a Black-eared Wheatear, and our first Blue Rock Thrush. Next stop was the reservoir but there were only Yellow-legged Gulls here, the track past it has good habitat and produced another Ruppell's Warbler.

On to Skala Sikimmia stopping at several culverts and other likely looking spots.  Nightingales were heard at just about every corner in the road, several Jays and Oliveaceous warblers were seen along the way.  Skala Sikimmia is a picturesque little fishing village with several tavernas alongside the small harbour.  An excellent location for a fish lunch and the ice-cold Mythos beer went down a treat.

Towards Klio there is a pool on the left hand side of the road but there were only a few YL Gulls here.  We returned to Kalloni via Madamados, Napi, Agia Paraskevi, but there was not much to see birdwise along the way, although we stopped many times we only saw Crested Larks and Black-eared Wheatear.

Wednesday 25th May – Sigri – Skala Eressos

There was rain over night and it was still overcast and cloudy up in the hills, but we decided to head off for Sigri via Skalachori and Vatousa in the hope that the weather would clear up on the way and the clouds would disperse.  Neither did.

The cloud remained low in the hills and visibility was down to about 100 meters at the Eressos turning - the so-called “Isaballine Triangle”.  As soon as we stopped here my phone pinged and an text message arrived saying “Welcome to Turkey” - it was going to be one of those days!

Nevertheless through the murk 2 Isaballine Wheatears appeared on cue.

We had planned a detour to the Petrified Forest  but due to the high winds and poor visibility – now down to about 30 meters – we skipped it and continued on towards Sigri.

Visibility soon dropped to 15 meters for what felt like a very long way, only becoming clear on our descent into Sigri.

On a very quiet and windswept Sigri harbour – we were the only people here - we saw 60 + Jackdaws in small groups flying low across the sea towards us and a single Cormorant.  We moved on along the track to the bandstand (which is fenced off), where 2 Lesser Kestrels where hunting.

We backtracked through Sigri to Fanomeri and continued until the first ford.  After this the road was wet muddy and heavily pitted and not suitable for our car.  There were 1,000s of tiny frogs here,  a couple of snakes and good views of  2 Rufous Bush Robins and a Short-Toed Eagle.

The Fanomeri beach was deserted apart from a single Little Ringed Plover which became very agitated on our arrival.  A few Bee-eaters flew overhead the “Etsi” cafe, which of course was closed. In this area we saw plenty of Cretzschmar's Buntings, Black-headed Buntings, Crested Larks,  Corn Buntings, a Lesser Kestrel, several Black-eared Wheatears and more Bee-eaters.

Returning to Sigri we took the coastal road to Eressos.  A small hire car can do this trip s-l-o-w-l-y.  It is about 15 kms and is 2nd gear all the way.  A bit thin on the ground for birds just the usual suspects as above – until we reached the ford.  About 200 meters past here on the left are a couple of trees and here  we saw a Roller, Woodchat Shrike and a Rufous Bush Robin all in the same scope view.

We passed a farm which is notated in “Richard Brook's book map number 13” as “farm little Owl” and there actually was a Little owl right there where the arrow on the map said it would be – good book that, well done Richard!

After lunch in Eressos we took the Mesotopos road, and about 1 km before reaching Mesotopos there are some large ponds by a farm. Check the ponds on both sides of the road. One of these has a line of Oak trees alongside the road, in here we saw an Orphean Warbler with 3 juvs and a Cirl Bunting with 2 juvs.  The other ponds had 2 Little Grebes and a Rufous Bush Robin nearby. 

A quick stop at  “Devils Bridge” just before Parakila produced 6 Rock Nuthatches and several Black-eared Wheatears and an unexpected Spotted Flycatcher.

Recommended for this trip are the following: a clear day and a 4WD car!

Thursday 26th May – Kalloni Salt Pans - “Derbyshire” - Achladeri – Upper East river- Parakila Marshes.

The day started overcast with light showers but still quite warm.  Our first stop was at the Kalloni Salt Pans.

Flamingo 50+, Avocet 50+ with juvs, Black-Winged Stilts with juvs, Little Egrets, Little Stints, Wood Sandpiper 6, Kentish Plover, 6 Grey Herons, Cirl Bunting, Corn Buntings, Black-headed Bunting, lots of Crested Larks and Bee Eaters.

At “Derbyshire” on the lake behind the rock formation, 2 Shelduck and a Little Egret.

Next stop was the Achladeri Kruper's nuthatch site by the white buildings and Oil tank. There are  shower blocks and concrete hard standings all over this area.  In Sept 03 the Army were here so we were not permitted to look around.  The Kruper's Nuthatchs were easy to find and we saw at least 4 in the area.  There were also Long-tailed Tits here, we could hear them all over the place but it took a while before we actually saw any.  We heard several Short-toed Treecreepers calling but only saw one.

We then turned back towards “Derbyshire” and stopped on the bridge before you reach the picnic area.  Here we saw a  Cirl Bunting, a Nightingale and our only Grey Wagtail of the holiday.

On to the Upper East River – following Richard Brooks' map – in a small hire car you will get as far as the ford. The water was a foot deep and covered in green slime and frogs! It looks like there has been quite a bit of erosion on the far side of the riverbank, the track to the right of the ford has fallen into the river. 

Along this side we saw, several Cretchzmars Buntings, Black-eared Wheatears, Corn Buntings, Cetti's and Oliveaceous Warblers and a Black Stork.

In the afternoon we drove along the lanes near the “Inland” lake, where fellow birders had seen an Olive Tree Warbler and Masked Shrike.  We dipped on both but saw a Hoopoe instead!  Nobody had reported seeing much at the Parakila Marshes but we went there anyway, and started at the furthest one (from Kalloni direction).  A wonderful habitat, but nothing there apart from a single Moorhen.  At the other end were 3 Wood Sandpipers, a Cettis Warbler and several Oliveaceous Warblers.  It was overcast and hot and hence the humidity was way up so we returned to S Kalloni for the daily ice-cream by the beach.

Last twitch of the day -  the Scops Owl at the school at Papiana, just outside S Kalloni.  The camouflage is amazing but we soon found it at its usual roost in one of the Poplar trees at the back of the school playground.  And just to round off the day a Peregrine did a fly past!

Friday 27th May – Kalloni Salt Pans - Dipi Larssos – Plomari

This was to be a non-birding trip to Plomari today, but we stopped off at the salt pans for a quick look.  A single Stone Curlew was the only new bird, but there was also a  flock of 20 +Wood Sandpipers among the usual Avocets and Flamingoes.  A Little Owl was perched on one of the small outbuildings past the salt heaps.

We also stopped by the bridge at the Dipi Larssos reedbeds, but this was very disappointing, with hardly any birds present.

The rest of the day we spent sightseeing in the Plomari, and the Perama coast road area.  This is not a good area for birds, but the coast road along the Gulf of Gera and Perama is worth the petrol. 

Plomari itself is a bustling little town not given over to tourism and we spent some time window shopping and being stared at by lots of old men sitting by the Kafeneio.   If you like Ouzo, visit Georgiou Karbarnos Ouzo shop just to the right of the main square, next door to an old fashioned barbers shop – where the Greeks get their weekly shave with a cut-throat razor.  George distills his own ouzo and it is one of the best available, but only sold at his shop.

After a lecture on ouzo production, several free samples and purchasing enough “Ouzo Giannatsi” get us through the English winter, we left Plomari and drove to Parama for lunch and then back to Kalloni via the coast road.  Repeat, this is not a good area for birds and we saw nothing out of the ordinary.

We stopped at Dipi Larssos again on the way back and this time saw our only “Flava” Yellow Wagtail, but nothing else. 

Saturday 28th May – Kalloni Salt Pans – Filia – Anemotia - Skalachori area – Limones Monastery – Napi Valley

There was nothing new at the Salt Pans but more Wood Sandpipers had arrived and a few Little Stints (no Temminks yet), also lots of Bee-eaters, Little Terns and Common Terns.

From Kalloni we took the turning to Dafia and just outside Dafia is a rocky hillside good for Rock Nuthatch, we saw at least 6 and several Black-eared Wheatears and a couple of Stonechats.  Just past Filia we took a left turn to Anemotia there are several good viewing points leading down to the village, one in particular on a corner gives spectacular views of the valley and surrounding hills.  A good raptor viewpoint.  We saw 2 Common Buzzards, a Long-legged Buzzard, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 2 Ravens, plus an Orphean Warbler and a Black-eared Wheatear.

We drove down into the village which has a pretty and well looked after church, but everything else looked a bit of a shambles – there was a picnic area and sports pitch but it all looked neglected.  Good for a visit but there's only one way in and one way out, it's best to stay up by the raptor viewpoint on the corner.

Towards Skalochori and just before you come to the Eko garage is a track on the left which is worth a quick look.  We saw, a Subalpine Warbler, Oliveaceous Warbler, a Jay and several Cirl Buntings.  There were lots of lizards here as well of all sizes and colours.

We returned back towards Kalloni and after a quick pit-stop for coffee at Limonos Monastery, we drove on to the Napi valley.

Entering Agios Paraskevi we saw a White Stork's nest with 2 youngsters, on the top of a disused factory chimney. We then re-visited the track 1.2 km outside the village. Here we had great views of a singing Nightingale in the Oleanders, and  also saw an Olive Tree Warbler, several Rock Nuthatches, Cirl Buntings, Black-eared Wheatears, Black-eared Buntings and Turtle Doves. 

Sunday 29th May – Devils Bridge and Inland Lake Area

The spot known as Devils Bridge is past the Parakila marshes on the Agra road.  There is a culvert on the bend of the road with a water fountain and a small church up a steepish path.  In the area  by  the church were Sombre Tits, a Red-Backed Shrike, a Cretzschmar's Bunting, and a female Blackcap and at least 6 Rock Nuthatches, several Black-headed Buntings and Black-eared Wheatears.

We stopped further along the coast road on one of the bends before Parakila marshes. On the rocks were 3 juveniles Shags,  with a Blue Rock Thrush nearby – a Long-legged Buzzard flew overhead. We continued on to check out the lanes around the Inland Lake and Potamia valley area but did not turn up anything new.

Monday 30th May – Napi Valley Tracks

There are 2 tracks the other side of Napi that are worth trying but both are a bit rough in places and not really suitable for a small hire car – which of course is what we had...  Rose had to keep getting out and shifting large rocks from the middle of the road to avoid damage to the underside of the car – which is the bit that is never insured!  And I left the mobile phone at the Hotel.

These tracks are both easy to find - drive through Aghia Paraskevi and through Napi and 5.6 kms from the viewpoint with park benches on the far side of Napi there is a track on the left leading around a hill with communication towers on the top.   This track eventually joins up with the main road.   There is good mixed habitat along here.  We saw an Orphean Warbler, Oliveaceous Warbler, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Woodchat Shrike, Red-Backed Shrike, Jays, Hoopoes, Black-eared Wheatear + juvs, Common Buzzard,  2 Wrens were heard calling in the undergrowth, a Woodpigeon flew past in the distance, and lots of Chaffinches, Crested Larks and House Sparrows.  We  parked and walked and probably saw more that way.

The next track is just past the entrance to the one above,  on the right hand side, but beware it is a very very tight right turn to get into it.  Its best to drive past, turn around and come back to it.   We were told that there were nesting Masked Shrikes in the area between the 2 cattle grids on this track and Hawfinches and Hoopoe had also been seen here.

Funnily enough, the couple that tipped us off were already here with a scope set up with a perfect view of the Masked Shrikes nest.  An easy lifer! Unfortunately the Hawfinches had been and gone about 20 minutes before we arrived.  Also nearby was a Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, 2 Jays, a Sombre Tit and a distant Lesser Kestrel. We stayed here for about an hour watching the adult Masked Shrikes feeding 5 young in the nest.

By now we had had enough of rattling around on dusty tracks in a hot car, (it was now about 30 degrees),  so we backtracked to Skala Kalloni II, and just to round off the day spotted a Great Reed Warbler in what was left of the Kalloni II pool.

Tuesday 31st May – S Kalloni -  East River

We had no car today so just did a walk a long the beach to the East River area.  Near the rubbish dump we had excellent views of Rufous Bush Robins. Along the river were the usual Cetti's Warblers, Oliveaceous Warblers, and Nightingale. Close to Papiana school is a White Stork's nest with 3 chicks and lots of resident sparrows.  It was a very hot morning with high humidity in the afternoon and distant rumbles of thunder.

Wednesday 1st June – West River - “Inland Lake” area

Our last day and a bit too hot for a very long walk, so we only made it across the West River and a few hundred yards past the small church of Agios Paraskevi in the lanes.  There were 2 Little Owls on a straw rick covered in tarpaulin by farm buildings just past the Church – a Middle Spotted Woodpecker flew across the road nearby.  We also saw 3 Olive Tree Warblers and a Black-headed Bunting.

Near the Agios Paraskevi there is another small church and on entering we were greeted by a 5 foot long Caspian Whip Snake which suddenly jumped out of the window ledge and slithered across the floor towards us. We did a quick exit. 

Caspian Whip Snakes are not venomous but will give you a nasty bite – or a nasty fright in our case!

Not sure if this incident was a  good or bad omen in Greek folklore, not wanting to mess with the Evil Eye,  we decided to let this lie on the file and return to the safety and comfort of the Hotel Kalloni II pool for a ice cream.

Thursday 2nd June – Flight Home

The airport “checking-in” experience was not a good one and soon became the shambolic mess   that only Greek Island airports can organize!  You just have to go along with it all as part of the Greek experience and just say “Zigaah Zigaah” – Greek for slowly, slowly!

And of course we will be back!

Conclusion

Our final count was 99 or 100 if you include both variants of Yellow Wagtail – and this is quite achievable with a bit of luck and dedication.  There were plenty of birds to see and at no time were we really struggling. 

It was a different story in September 2003 – we found birds fewer and further between, but still managed a count of 98 birds - including a Wryneck in the smallholdings by the East River.  Generally there were more waders and less warblers in September 03..

Fellow birder Tony Davison was also staying at the Kalloni II during the same period, his trip report is available at his “Simply Birds and Moths” website at the folowing URL -

http://www.simplybirdsandmoths.co.uk/page115.html

We had a grand total of 111 birds between us over the same period.

The following are ones that Tony saw but we didn't : Rose-coloured Starling, Squacco Heron, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Ringed Plover, Temminck's Stint, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Great-blackheaded Gull, Whiskered Tern and Woodlark.

List for Lesvos May 19th – June 2nd 2005

Alpine Swift (Apus melba) – 10+ near Mesotopos on 22nd. 15 at Limonaki offshore 24th.

Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) – Large number at Kalloni Saltpans

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) – Common

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica) - Common

Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) -Common

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) – Regular sightings in Skala Kalloni area

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) – Several at Kalloni saltpans with juveniles

Blackbird (Turdus merula) – Fairly common

Blackcap (Sylvia atriacapilla) – 1 at “Devils Bridge” church on 29th

Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius) – 1 at Petra layby Ruppell's site, 1 at Petra Reservoir 24th, 1 between Devils Bridge and Parakila marshes on 29th

Blue Tit (Parus caerulescens) – Common and abundant

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) – Common

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – Comman and abundant

Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea) – 2 on Mesotopos road 5.2kms from Agra on 22nd

Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirius) – Common

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) – Common

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) – 2 Limonos Monastery on 21st , 2 near Anemotia on 28th

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)- Common

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) – 1 at Skala Skimmia on 24, 1 at Sigri harbour on 25th

Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) – Common and abundant

Crag Martin (Ptonoprogne rupestris) – 3 at Petra layby (Ruppell's site) on 24th

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) – Common and abundant

Cretzschmar's Bunting (Emberiza caesia) – Fairly common on some rocky hillsides

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – 1 heard calling along track 1.2kms from Agios Paraskevi

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) – 2 at Kalloni Saltpans on 21st.

Elenora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) – 1 near Sigri on 30th

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - Common

Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) – 1 calling on Agra to Mesotopas road near water fountian.

Great Egret (Egretta alba) – 1 at the West River on 20th

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) – 1 on Kalloni II pool on 30th and 31st

Great Tit (Parus major) - Common

Greater Flamingo (Phaenicopterus falcinellus) – Large number at  Kalloni Saltpans

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus) – 1 on East River on 21st.

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) – Fairly Common

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) – Common around Kalloni Salt Pans and Derbyshire area

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) – 1 at bridge just past Derbyshire picnic area on 26th

Hooded Crow (Corvus corone corone) – Common

Hoopoe (Upupa epops) – Several heard near Agra on 22nd, 1 Potamia Valley on 26th, 3 in Napi Valley tracks on 30th.

House Martin (Delichon urbica) - Common

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – Common and abundant

Isaballine Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) – 2 at the Sigri/Eressos crossroads on 25th

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) – 4 on hillside near Limonaki/Anaxos on 24th, 60+ at Sigri on 25th

Jay (Garrulus glandarius) – Fairly common

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) – 4 on West River on 20th , daily at Kalloni saltpans.

Kruper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) – 4 at Achladeri army site on 26th

Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) -  1 between Skala Polichnitos and Polichnitos on 23rd

Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) – 3 Sigri/Fanomeri area on 25th, 1 over Napi valley track on 30th

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) – 2 at Limonaki/Anaxos hillside on 24th

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – Small numbers a Kalloni Saltpans.

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – 2 on Inland Lake, 2 at Kalloni reservoir on 22nd, 2 on ponds between Eressos and Mesotopos on 25th

Little Owl (Athene noctua) -2 on roadside near Apothica turning on 22nd, 1 at farm on Sigri/Eressos track on 25th,one at outbuilding at Saltpans on 27th, 2 at farm near Inland lake on 2nd

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) – 1 at Fanomeri beach on 25th

Little Stint (Calidris minuta) – Common at Kalloni Saltpans and occasionally on East River

Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) – Common at Kalloni Saltpans.

Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) – 2 on the road to Mesotopos past Agra on 22nd

Long-tailed Tit (Aeithalos caudatus) – Several at the Kruypers site Achlaredi on 26th

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – 1 over the West River on 21st

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) – Nesting family at Napi Valley track on 30th

Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) – 1 near Inland Lake on 1st

Moorhen (gallinulus chloropus) – 2 on the Inland Lake on 22nd , 1 at Parakila marsh on 26th

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) -Surprisingly common and had many sightings

Oliveaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida) - Common

Olive Tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum) – 1 near Polichnitos on 23rd, 1 Napi Valley track past 1.2kms from Agio Paraskevi on 28th, 3 near Inland Lake on 1st

Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) – 4 by ponds along Eressos/Mesotops road 25th, 1 on Anemotia road 28th.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – 1 over Papiana school on 26th, 1 near Anemotia on 28th

Raven (Corvus corax) – 2 outside Agra on 22nd, 2 near Anemotia on 28th

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) – Fairly common

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo dauric) – 2 at Petra layby (Ruppell's site) on 24th

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) – 2 at Inland Lake on 22nd, often heard at Kalloni pool

Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) – Common on rocky hillsides

Roller (Coracias garrulus) -1 near ford on Sigra/Eressos track on 25th

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadora ferruginea) – 1 on pond in Derbyshire on 23rd

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) – 2 at Kalloni saltpans on 21st

Rufous Bush Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) – 2 on East River near rubbish tip, seen on several days, 2 at Fanomeri on 25th, 1 near ponds on Sigri/Mesotopos road on 25th, 1 at ford on Sigri/Eressos track on 25th

Ruppell's Warbler (Sylvia rueppelli) – 1 at Petra layby (Ruppell's site), 1 near Petra reservoir on 24th

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) – 3 over the East River on 21st

Scops Owl (Otus scops) -  Papiana school roost – 1 in poplar trees at the rear of the playground

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) – 3 on rocks a few kms before Parakila marshes from Devils Bridge on 29th

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) – 2 at Derbyshire lake behind the rock formation on 26th

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) – 1 at Fanomeri on 25th

Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactlya) – 4 in woods between Achladeri and Vassilikos on 23rd, 1 at Achladeri army camp Kruper's site on 26th

Sombre Tit (Parus lugubris) – 4 near Mesotopos on 22nd, 2 on track past Agios Paraskevi, 2 at Devils bridge on 29th and 1 on Napi valley track on 30th

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) – Fairly common

Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) – 1 at Kalloni saltpans on 21st

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) – 1 at Devils bridge on 25th

Stone-Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) – 1 at Kalloni saltpans on 27th

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) – 2 near Limonos Monastery, and 2 on hillside outside Dafia.

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans) -1 on track before Eko station towards Skalachori on 28th

Swallow (Hirundo rustica) – Common and abundant

Swift (Apus apus) - Common

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turter) -  Fairly common but more often heard than seen

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) – Nests at Papiana and on a factory chimney at Agio Paraskevi

White-winged (Black) Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) – 2 at  Kalloni saltpans on 21st

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glarcola) – Seen in increasing numbers Kalloni saltpan from 26th a also a few at  Parakila marsh on 26th

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) – Fairly common

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) -  Only saw 1 flying near Napi valley track on 30th quite scarce in Lesvos.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) – 2 heard calling along track in Napi valley on 30th

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg) – Blackheaded variety was fairly common

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) –  Blueheaded variety only saw 1 at Dipi Larssos on 27th

Yellow-legged Gull/ Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) – Common and abundant