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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Lesbos, Greece 7-21 May 2004 ,

Jos Wanten

The Netherlands, e-mail:  jos.wanten@hetnet.nl

GENERAL:

Although this was already our 7th visit to Greece this was actually the first time that bird watching was one of our main occupations. Greece is a wonderful country to visit with very friendly people, a relaxed atmosphere and excellent food in cosy taverns. Combining this makes Lesbos an ideal destination for a relaxed bird watching holiday. Lesbos is the third largest island of Greece measuring about 65 x 40 kilometres. We stayed in the village of Skala Kaloni which is located in the centre of the island at the Bay of Kaloni. The village is surrounded by excellent birding sites like the saltpans, an inland lake and two rivers. The village is known as the bird watching centre of the island and is visited by lots of British and Dutch birders especially in spring. Despite the fact that we missed the peak of the migration season (which is at it’s best from the third week of April) we saw lots of excellent birds. We missed a few birds that already left, but in the end  we did not mind at all arriving late in the migration season since the weather was quite unstable the weeks before with lots of thunderstorms and rather low temperatures (for Greek standards). This also meant that the scenery was very lush and green with lots of flowering plants to be discovered for my wife. 

BOOKS, MAPS  & REFERENCES:

As a identification guide we used “De vogels van Europa en Noord-Afrika”  released by the ANWB in Holland which is actually a Dutch translation of The Collins Field guide of The Birds of Europe & Northern Africa by Svensson. The most essential book to bring with you is Richard Brooks’ “Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos”. It contains accurate and comprehensive descriptions and maps of all the interesting birding sites on the island, a checklist and the status and distribution for every species recorded on the island.  We also used his Summer 2002-2003 update to have the most recent information. During our visit Richard Brooks was staying in the Malemi Hotel where he gives slideshows once a week or so. He does a great job for the island’s eco-tourism but I guess  that most of the Lesbian people don’t understand what he is achieving for them. For more information you can visit his website at www.richard-brooks.co.uk. Information on the web is widely available. Some interesting websites are www.birdtours.co.uk , www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp and www.camacdonald.com/birding/birding.htm for  trip reports. Another interesting site is www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/europe/greece_lesvos.html which has apart from trip reports a separate section for Lesbos with site descriptions. The best and most reliable and accurate map of the island is the Road Editions Lesvos Island Map (scale 1:70.000). This map is also available through Richard Brooks. For flower identification my wife used “Flowering plants of the Mediterranean” by Kosmos (German Edition) which enabled her to find some 75 species of flowers including 5 species of orchids (scientific names are listed below).          

GETTING THERE:

Tour packages to Lesbos are widely available from the first of May until the end of September. If you want to go earlier tours can be arranged by Richard Brooks by booking flights via Athens. We booked a tour via a Dutch tour operator and stayed in the Aegeon Hotel located behind the better known Kaloni II Hotel. It was situated in a quite setting next to the west-river marshes. Walking distance to the village square was about 850 metres. The rooms where quite OK with your own balcony and refrigerator. We paid about € 470 each  for the package including an excellent buffet breakfast. There were better offers from other tour operators for accommodations in the north of the island at about € 400, but these were situated too far from the best birding sites around Skala Kaloni. Besides that their rates for car rental where far more expensive than the tour operator we booked.  

GETTING AROUND:

Car rental was booked in front for 9 days with our tour operator. We booked a Suzuki Ignis because of it’s rather high ground clearance and paid € 195 for 7days and € 28 for each additional day. Renting a car in front tends to be cheaper then renting cars at a local office in Greece. This was our 7th visit to Greece and we never found a local rental car company that was cheaper than booking in front with a tour operator. We met a Dutch birder who rented a car at a local office and he paid the same price as we did for four days for a Suzuki Swift (which is A-category).  Besides the city of Mitilini the traffic was easy and quiet (although you have to get used to the driving custom of some of the Greeks overtaking in every corner). The road conditions where quite good for Greek standards although signposting is very poor on some roads (especially the minor roads).

WEATHER:

As mentioned before we where quite lucky with the weather conditions. The week before we arrived the weather has been quite unstable, but from the date of our arrival conditions turned out to be much better. We had mostly sunny days with temperatures around 23 degrees C. Some evenings turned out to be quite cool (needing a sweater and light jacket during evening dinner). We had only one cloudy morning with some drops of rain not worth mentioning. The last three days temperatures went up during the day to 25-26 degrees which also meant more pleasant evening temperatures.

ACCOMODATION & FOOD:

As mentioned before we stayed in the Aegeon Hotel behind the Kaloni II Hotel. There were several other hotels and apartments available in Skala Kaloni of which most of them could be booked through a tour operator. Around the square where a few little apartments which could be booked privately and seemed to be OK also. There was enough choice in restaurants which were mostly situated near or around the square. Approaching the village from our hotel there was one cafeteria called Paphos (meaning lighthouse) which mostly served local people. We tried them one evening and their Gyros and Souvlaki was really delicious. But the best bet to our opinion was Taverna Dionysseus located at the harbour just around the left hand corner of the square. Apart from the traditional Greek dishes they served excellent fresh fish and Sardines which is a local specialty from the Bay of Kaloni. The waiters were very friendly and by the end of our holiday we were treated by them as if we knew each others for years.  

HABITATS:

For an island as small as it is, Lesbos has quite a wide range of habitats confining two sets of Salt Pans (at Kaloni and Polichnitos) and several other wetland habitats like lakes, rivers and marshes. Although most of the island is covered with olive groves, there are also large areas of pinewoods in the south-east and sweet chestnut woodland near Agiassos. Large areas of the north are covered with oak woodland, whilst the west of the island is more rugged and sparsely vegetated. The coastal area is mostly covered with scrubs alternated with wildflower meadows.

BIRDING SITES :

Below you will find some minor descriptions of the more interesting birding sites on the island. More comprehensive descriptions of these areas and many more are available in Richards Brooks “Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos” which you will have to buy anyway if you are taking birding on Lesbos seriously.

Kaloni Pool: A wetland pool located in Skala Kaloni. Although it has become overgrown it is still worth checking for amongst crakes, waders, ibis and heron species. Great Bittern was sighted (not by me) until the second week of May.

Kaloni Salt Pans: One of the best sites on the island. Wetland surrounded by wet meadows and grasslands located just 2 or 3 km east of Kaloni square. Excellent for waders, raptors, bee-eaters, etc….

East River: Located just east of Kaloni square before the Salt Pans. Driveable on both sides of the river bank for about 3 km with easy views on the river. One of the best spots on the island. Apart from other wetland birds, especially good for little bittern and squacco heron.

West River: Located just west of Kaloni right behind the Aegeon Hotel. This tidal river is surrounded by a salt marsh and brackish pools. Good for terns, waders and Stone Curlew.

Potamia Valley & Kaloni Inland Lake: Accessible via a dirt road a few hundred metres west of the West River. The valley can be followed for several km along a stream. The area is good for warblers, shrikes and buntings. The inland lake is good for Night-Heron, crakes etc..

Derbyshire & Achladeri Area: Located some 10 km east of Kaloni. From the main road take the right-hand fork to Achladeri near an obvious rocky outcrop. Derbyshire consists of a large pool and further smaller pools to the right. Good for waders, herons and storks. Excellent site for Ruddy Shelduck. Achladeri is an area with large pinewoods located some 5 km further on. This area is good for treecreeper and the island’s starbird: Kruper’s Nuthatch.

Skala Polichnitos Salt Pans & Surrounds: Located some 10 km from Achladeri to the south. Although we were not very successful at the salt pans it seemed to have potential. Do not forget to check out Alikoudi Pool along the coastal track towards the salt pans.

Agiassos: Located in the south-east near Mount Olimpos consisting of pinewoods and sweet chestnut woodland. Good for woodland birds like tits, robin and wren which are scarce elsewhere on the island. This area is also excellent for finding orchids.

Dipi Larssos: The island’s main reed bed near Mitilini at the Gulf of Gera. Although having potential for amongst reed warblers we were not very lucky here.

North Coast between Petra & Skala Sikimia: Areas with coastal scrub, rocky shores and oak woodlands. Good for Warblers especially Ruppell’s and Subalpine Warbler, Shearwaters, Eleonora and Peregrine Falcons.

Western Uplands: The west of the island shows a totally different habitat compared with the rest of the island. It is dryer and thus sparsely vegetated with open rocky terrains. The area also holds some productive river mouths near Tavari, Skala Eressos and Sigri. The whole area is good for Rock Nuthatch, Wheatears, Sombre Tit, Lesser Kestrel and Buntings. If you want to get your grips on Cinereous Bunting then this is the place to be.

INTERESTING SITES TO VISIT BESIDES BIRDING:

Besides bird watching the island has a lot of other interesting things to offer. For more general information about the island you can visit the following interesting websites: www.lesvos.comwww.lesvos-holidays.com ; www.lesvos-travel.com  and www.about-lesvos.com. Below you will find a description of a few places of interest to visit.

Northern Area:

Molyvos: A picturesque coastal town built against a steep hill with a Byzantine castle on top.

Skala Sykaminias: A small coastal village in the north-east with a picturesque harbour.

Central Area:

The Bridge of Kremasti: an ancient stone bridge dated from the 13th century located just west of Agia Paraskevi.

Temple of Chalinados: ruins of an early Christian basilica located east of Agia Paraskevi.

South-Eastern Area:

Agiassos: A picturesque mountain village surrounded by beautiful forested mountain slopes excellent for hiking.

Vatera: A small scale tourist village with Lesbos’ most beautiful sandy beaches.

Plomari: coastal town known as the ouzo capital of Greece. You can visit the ouzo factory of Barbayannis.

Thermal Baths: There are several healing bath springs scattered around the island. We visited the thermal hot springs of Polychnitos being the hottest springs in Europe (75 degrees C).

Eastern Area:

Moria: Located some 6 km west of Mitilini you will find impressive remains of an ancient Roman Aquaduct dated from the 3rd century AD.

Mitilini Town: The capital of Lesbos and main port to the island. Lots of shops, museums and one of the largest castles of the Mediterranean.

Western Area:

The monasteries of Ypsilou (built on top of a rugged mountain) and Perivoli (located in a beautiful green valley).

The Petrified Forest: Lesbos’ oldest antiquity. Pieces of petrified wood and trees still standing cover a large area. The age of the forest has been estimated at 20 million years old. Truly one of natures wonders of the world.

ITINERARY:

7 May:         Flight from Amsterdam to Lesbos. Transfer to Aegeon Hotel in Skala Kaloni.

8 May:         Long hike to Potamia Valley and Kaloni Inland Lake.
9 May:         Drive to Derbyshire and Achladeri. Late afternoon visit to Kaloni Salt Pans.
10 May:         Drive to the West visiting the Petrified Forest and several river mouths.
11 May:         Drive to Agiassos and hike trough woodlands. Late afternoon visit to East River.
12 May:         Early morning visit to Potamia Valley. Tour visiting the north of the island.
13 May:         Drive to north visiting Molyvos and the Chalinados basilica.
14 May:         Drive to the west visiting Sigri (museum) and Fanoremeni.
15 May:         Drive to Dipi Larssos, Plomari and the Roman Aquaduct near Moria.
16 May:         Early morning visit to West River. Drive to Polychnitos and Vatera.
17 May:         Drive to north via Napi Valley.  Via northern coastal track back. Evening visit West River.
18 May:         Long hike to Kaloni Inland Lake. Back via Kaloni and Papiana.
19 May:         Long hike along East River. Evening visit to again East River and Achladeri.
20 May:         Short hike to East River. Afternoon relaxing at village square.
21 May:         After breakfast transfer to airport for flight back to Amsterdam

DAILY ACCOUNTS :

Friday 7th of May: After a delay of about 50 minutes we took off from Schiphol Airport at 6.20AM. We had a stopover at the island of Samos were we had to wait for another 45 minutes. We finally landed at the airport of Mitilini at 12.15PM. During the bus transfer to Skala Kaloni we saw long-legged buzzard and purple heron. Passing the saltpans near Kaloni we had a glimpse of a large group of flamingos and pied avocets. At 13.45PM we checked in at the Aegeon Hotel and went for lunch at the village square. From the taverna we saw several yellow-legged gulls and common terns passing by. After lunch my wife went back to the room to unpack our luggage while I checked out Kaloni Pool. Here I had amongst glossy ibis, little egrets, black-winged stilts, grey heron, moorhen and white stork.  There was a large colony of Spanish sparrows in the tamarisks on the beachside of the pool. At the landwards side of the pool I had red-throated pipit, wood sandpiper and several yellow wagtails (black headed race). Very common birds occurring were crested larks and goldfinches. Walking back to the hotel at 5.00PM produced olivaceous warbler. Since we missed a couple of hours of sleep last night we went to bed until 7.00PM and afterwards went for a delicious Greek meal at the village square.

Saturday 8th of May:  I checked out the West River marshes before breakfast which produced amongst common terns, little terns, little egrets, yellow wagtails, squacco heron and common sandpiper. After breakfast we packed our rucksack for a hike to Potamia Valley. Walking along West River we had little ringed and Kentish plover.  We crossed the West River bridge and after a few hundred metres took a track leading towards Potamia Valley. We walked the track until the bridge over Potamia River. We saw lots of black-headed and corn buntings, and a few great tits, bee-eater, blackbirds and jay. We also had a rock nuthatch nesting in the cliffs to the right of the track towards the bridge. Near the bridge we had a blue rock-thrush sitting on top of the cliffs. While walking back we had a long-legged buzzard soaring overhead. We took a track to the left leading to the Skalloni Inland Lake. Around the lake we had several spotted flycatchers and bee-eaters while the lake itself held four moorhen and two night-herons roosting in the trees alongside. From here we walked back to the hotel where we arrived at 3.00PM and went to the village square for lunch and a nice cool Mythos beer. By 5.30PM we walked back to the hotel. We checked out Skaloni Pool but it produced nothing new. After a shower we again had dinner at our favourite restaurant at the village square.

Sunday 9th of May: After breakfast we collected our rental car and drove to Derbyshire. We stopped for a short while over there and besides the usual birds we had two common shelduck.  A pool on the seawards side towards Achladeri produced two ruddy shelduck. We arrived at the famous Kruper’s site around 11.30AM hoping to get our grips on the island’s star bird: Kruper’s Nuthatch. We checked out the pinewoods for at least 11/2 hours and just as we were giving up hope we heard a nuthatch-like whistle back in the pinewoods. After some searching we twice had excellent views of a male bird. Besides the kruper’s we had amongst short-toed tree-creeper, great tits, blue-tits, long-tailed tits and lots of chaffinches. While walking back we had a woodchat shrike and orphean warbler near the car park. From here we continued to Achladeri where we took the road inland through pinewoods towards Mikri Limni (meaning small lake). The lake produced virtually no birds so we continued to Megalo Limni. The area did not look much like a natural lake since the surroundings were cultivated and irrigated by the local people. We took a track leading along the backside of the area through pinewood forest. Apart from some European serins, little egrets and crows we saw nothing of any importance. We drove back to Skala Kaloni for a drink at the square where we arrived at around 3.00PM. From 4.30PM we left for a visit to Kaloni Salt Pans. We approached the area from the main road and took the tarmac road leading to the saltpan works. We birded the area following this road and had a White Stork foraging in the fields to the right. The channel around the pans held amongst little stint, terns, black-winged stilts and pied avocets. At the salt workings where the tarmac road ends we stopped to have a look over the pans. Here we had amongst stone curlew and curlew sandpiper and in the fields on the seawards side common, little ringed and Kentish plovers. We followed the track beyond the workings where we had red-backed and lesser grey shrike, several yellow wagtails, savi’s warbler, rufous bush robin and a group of twelve glossy ibises. From here we drove back to the hotel where we arrived at 6.30PM. In the evening after dinner we saw a barn owl flying over the square which apparently nested in the church tower.

Monday 10th of May: After breakfast we left the hotel at 8.00AM towards Parakila Marsh. First we took the south-side track along the marsh where we had marsh warbler. We then parked the car along the main road beyond the marsh to take a walk on the track running through the marsh. Here we had sedge and reed warbler, little crake, great egret and a little bittern. We then continued westwards while the scenery dramatically changed into a rocky and sparsely vegetated area. We took the turnoff to a small coastal village called Tavari and followed a bumpy track towards Krousos. Here we had whinchat, spotted flycatchers, lesser whitethroat, woodchat shrikes, black-eared wheatears and two rufous bush robins. Bee-eaters and red-backed shrikes were a very common sight along this track. We continued to Skala Eressos were we had a drink at the small square. The offshore rocky island held about 40  jackdaws which apparently breed on the island. We also had shag and rock dove.  We then followed a track leading to a river ford, before continuing to the Petrified Forest in the far west of the island. On the way we had several black-eared wheatears, cretschmar’s bunting and a lesser kestrel. The barn opposite the entrance held a perching little owl. While visiting the Petrified Forest we heard a chukar but we were not able to spot it. Apart from the usual birds we were treated to excellent sights of two cinereous buntings, one of the island’s most sought after birds. We then drove back to Skala Kaloni following the inland road via Vatoussa and Filia through a marvellous landscape with superb views of the Kaloni plain and Limonos monastery. We ended up at the hotel at 4.30PM and walked to the village square for a break. When we walked back we checked out Kaloni Pool were apart from birds seen before we had wood sandpiper and garganey. We met a dutch birder who had great bittern that same evening. In the evening we visited Richard Brooks’ slide show in the Malemi Hotel. He showed great pictures but it was too noisy to understand anything of what he told. When we walked out of the Malemi Hotel we heard nightjars near the field opposite the hotel.

Tuesday 11th of May: We left the hotel at 9.00AM for a drive to the mountain village of Agiassos which is located in the south-eastern part of the island near Mount Olympus. The scenery around the village is wonderful and is covered with sweet-chestnut woodlands. We did the circular walk (5 kms) around the village described in Richard Brooks’ book which is famous for its localized bird species, wildflowers and orchids. Nightingales where singing from every tree, and we heard and saw lots of birds not occurring elsewhere on the island like chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, song thrush, robin and wren. We also had a Masked Shrike perched in a bare tree in the valley below us. After the hike we visited the picturesque village with its many cobbled streets and had a drink at a local cafenion. We then drove back to Skala Kaloni via the main Mitilini to Kaloni road where we arrived at around 4.00PM. After a drink at our favourite taverna Dionyseus we headed on birding the East River. The river mouth held several tern species and a great cormorant. We followed the riverbank upstream where we had amongst Black Stork, Cetti’s Warbler, Squacco Heron, Olivaceous Warblers and several Shrike species. We crossed the main road were we had a White Wagtail and followed the track along the upper part of the river. At the end of the track at a broken ford was a large colony of bee-eaters nesting in the riverbank. An Eleonora Falcon flew over being mobbed by two Crows. We then took some tracks through olive groves following a ditch where we had Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Whinchat and a Little Owl in the open before going back to the hotel at 7.00PM.

Wednesday 12th of May: From 6.30-9.00AM I did some pre-breakfast birding in Potamia Valley. The first part of the track produced Golden Oriole, Turtle Dove and up to ten Woodchat Shrikes, while the upper part after the river crossing held Cirl Bunting, Subalpine Warbler and Olive-tree Warbler. While driving back towards the main road I had four Sombre Tits and heard a Hoopoe but I was not able to spot it. After breakfast we left to visit the north of the island. We stopped at the first lay-by between Petra and Molyvos to check out the coastal scrubs where we had Blue Rockthrush, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Rock Nuthatch, several Sand Martins and the one bird we were looking for at this spot: Rueppel’s Warbler. We saw two males and one female. We then followed the road from Molyvos via Vafios to Skala Sikimia. In this area species like Subalpine Warbler and Cirl Bunting appeared to be far more common then on the rest of the island. In the small and picturesque harbour village of Skala Sikimia we stopped for a drink and from there followed the scenic track along the north coast with superb views. Birds occurring here were mostly Cretzschmar’s Buntings, Black-eared Wheatears and Shrikes.  On the road back towards Skala Kaloni we took the turnoff on an unsealed road towards Aghia Paraskevi where we stopped at the old stone bridge of Kremasti. The track leading through olive groves was perfect for hoopoe, but again we missed on this bird. Other birds seen were amongst several olivaceous warblers, masked shrike, orphean warbler, subalpine warbler and many jays. We returned at the hotel at around 4.15 PM.

Thursday 13th of May: Not a very exciting day in birding point of view. After breakfast we left the hotel at around 10.15 AM. We again drove north to visit the Byzantine castle of Molyvos. Here we had amongst black-eared wheatear, alpine swifts and a rock thrush. A Jay was nesting in a tree below the castle. We then visited the picturesque harbour of Molyvos. At 1.00 PM we left Molyvos and took the same track as yesterday towards Aghia Paraskevi, and visited the temple of Chalinados. Along the road towards the temple we saw masked and woodchat shrike, middle spotted woodpecker and an isabelline shrike. We arrived back at the hotel at 3.30 PM and went for a drink to the village square. The weather that afternoon and evening was very unstable with a strong wind blowing from the north.

Friday 14th of May: At 8.30 AM we left for our trip towards Sigri in the far west of the island. After a 11/2 hours drive we first visited Fanoremeni were we had about a dozen lesser kestrels hunting above the recently cut fields. We did not see any new birds at the area, and from here we took the very bumpy track leading from Sigri towards Skala Eressos. Along this track we saw amongst Cretzschmars Bunting, whinchat, meadow and calandra lark and a party of seven rock-nuthatches. We followed the track for about 4kms and then turned back to Skala Eressos to visit the museum of natural history. When we parked outside the museum we were warned by a Greek man that we had a flat tire. I changed the tire and we visited the museum afterwards. After a drink at the harbour in Sigri we drove to Andissa to fix the tire at a garage. Arriving back in Kalloni we checked the site at the mini soccer field for Scops Owl but we were not successful. We returned at the hotel at around 4.00PM and ended our day with some relaxing, a drink and again a nice dinner at Skala Kalloni square.

Saturday 15th of May: Again a not too exciting day in birding point of view. We drove towards Plomari and checked out Dipi Larsos which is the main reed bed area of the island. We heard some reed warblers over there but we were not lucky in seeing any. We continued to Plomari to visit the ouzo factory of Barbayannis. It was very quiet in the factory and we finally realised that it was Saturday. Nevertheless an employee showed us around for 15 minutes or so, and we bought a bottle of their finest ouzo. We then went for a drink in Plomari before driving back. Just before Perama we saw a pool near the beach. It only produced a coot with two juveniles and a few turtle-doves. From here we drove to Moria and visited the ancient roman aquaduct were heard hoopoe.  At around 3.00PM we ended up at Kaloni and visited the Saltpans for a few hours which produced the usual birds like avocet, stilt, bee-eaters etc…. We drove back to Skala Kalloni via East River were we had amongst squacco heron, little stints, wood sandpiper, greenshank and ruff. We ended up at the square for a drink at 5.00PM. Near Kalloni Pool we met a dutch birder who reported great bittern.

Sunday 16th of May: An early morning visit to West River and Kalloni Pool produced the usual birds. After breakfast we left for the Polychnitos area. A stop at the mini-soccer field produced a roosting long-eared owl. We then followed the track along the coast leading to Alikoudi Pool. Here we had  close views of a party of about sixty flamingo’s, Kentish plovers and our first and only dunlin. We continued to Polychnitos Salt Pans which produced nothing of any importance. We continued to Vatera were we stopped for a drink, and then checked out the area just north of the village by crossing a small  river mouth. We then drove back and visited the Thermal Baths of Polychnitos. Arriving back in Skala Kalloni we checked out the trees in the back of the school were we had a roosting Scops-owl. In the evening I visited West River together with a dutch birder I met a few days ago. We had amongst white-winged tern, stone curlew and little bittern. At the inland track along the river we heard reed-warbler and great reed-warbler.

Monday 17th of May: Since we got to bed quite late last night we left the hotel at 10.15AM. We took the road north via Aghia Pararkevi and Napi towards Skala Sikimia. From here we took the same coastal track along the north coast as a few days ago. The road towards Skala Sikimia and the first part of the road along the north coast produced several subalpine warblers. We stopped for a drink at the tavern  halfway the track  towards Molivos where we had several shags passing by. The last part of the track again produced several Cretschmars Bunting. Between Molivos and Petra we stopped at the “rueppels” lay-by were we watched a couple of juvenile Peregrine Falcons displaying above the rocks for fifteen minutes. We then drove back to Skala Kalloni were we arrived at the hotel at 3.00PM. The rest of the afternoon we relaxed in the village until 5.30PM. In the evening I again spend some time checking out West River. Apart form the usual birds I had excellent views of white and black stork.

Tuesday 18th of May: Today we had to deliver the rental car. After breakfast we walked towards Potamia Valley without seeing any new birds. From here we took the track to Skalloni Inland Lake were we had night-heron, bonelli’s eagle, short-toed eagle and alpine swifts. From here we followed the ditch towards Kalloni. In the afternoon we relaxed around the square and while Wilma walked back to the hotel I checked out Skalloni Pool where I had white-winged tern (excellent view), squacco heron and other usual stuff. I went back to the hotel for a nap. After some light rain we walked to the village for evening dinner.

Wednesday 19th of May: After breakfast we walked towards east river. We strolled along the river bank until the ford where a british birder reported a sighting of Rose-coloured Starlings along the track on the opposite side of the river towards the saltpans. We immediately took out our shoes and crossed the river ford and walked towards the saltpans. After about 800mtr we located a party of seven birds feeding in a mulberry tree along the track. After observing them for about ten minutes we walked back towards east river. We now took the track along the river towards the main road, and walked back towards Skala Kaloni via the track on the opposite side of the river. We arrived back in the village at around 2.30PM and had lunch. We walked back to the hotel were I met Cor, a dutch birder who I met a few days before. I told him of my today’s sighting of Rose-coloured Starlings and he asked me to show him the place were I saw them. At 6.00PM we went to the site with Cor’s rental car and yes they were still there in the same tree as this morning.  We also visited the Kruper’s Nuthatch site near Achladeri but unfortunately we did not manage to spot it. After showing Cor the Scops-owl at the school we arrived back at the hotel just before dusk. We went for dinner quite late that evening together with Cor and his wife Joke.

Thursday 20th of May: Our second last day on Lesbos. A roller was reported near the cultivated fields between Kaloni and east river. We checked the area for quite some time but we were not successful. Since it was becoming quite warm around noon we walked back to the square and decided to fill in our last afternoon in Greece by doing some reading on a terrace at the village square. On the way back to the hotel I checked out Kaloni Pool but did not see any new birds. In the evening we had our last Greek dinner at our friends from Dionyseus. 

Friday 21st of May: After breakfast we were picked up at 10AM by the tour operator’s bus for the transfer to the airport. As a total surprise we spotted our first hoopoe while driving to the airport. Our flight left from Mitilini airport with an hours delay at around 2.00PM. At Schiphol we said goodbye to Cor and Joke and we agreed to visit them next winter. Cor who is a geese expert promised me to show me some great birds like lesser white-fronted goose and red-breasted goose which are quite rare in the Netherlands.                          

SPECIES ACCOUNTS BIRDS:

Abbreviations:
KP = Kaloni Pool                                KSP = Kaloni Saltpans                                  ER = East River   
WR = West River                               PV = Potamia Valley & surrounds                   AG = Agiassos
NC = North Coast & surrounds             DA = Derbyshire & Achladeri                         W = Western Uplands
PSP = Polychnitos & surrounds             (…) = approx. number of birds seen               WC = West Coast

1.  Little Grebe                                           - Dodaars                                     Near PV (1)
2.  Mediterranean Shearwater                        - Vale Pijlstormvogel                       NC (50+)
3.  Great Cormorant                                     - Aalscholver                                WR mouth (2)
4.  European Shag                                       - Kuifaalscholver                            NC & WC (6)
5.  Ruddy Shelduck                                      - Casarca                                     DA (2)
6.  Common Shelduck                                   - Bergeend                                   DA (2)
7.  Garganey                                              - Zomertaling                                KP (2)
8.  Greater Flamingo                                    - Flamingo                                     KSP & PSP (200+)
9.  Little Egret                                            - Kleine Zilverreiger                        WR, ER, WC & KSP (70+)
10.  Gray Heron                                          - Blauwe Reiger                              WR & KP (5)
11.  Purple Heron                                        - Purperreiger                                KSP (1)
12.  Great White Egret                                 - Grote Zilverreiger                         WR & ER (5)
13.  Squacco Heron                                     - Ralreiger                                    WR & ER (15+)
14.  Black-crowned Night-heron                     - Kwak                                         PV (3)
15.  Little Bittern                                         - Woudaap                                   WR & ER (5)
16.  Glossy Ibis                                           - Zwarte Ibis                                 KP & KSP (35)
17.  Black Stork                                          - Zwarte Ooievaar                          WR & ER (3)
18.  White Stork                                         - Ooievaar                                     WR, ER & KSP (7)
19.  Short-toed Eagle                                  - Slangenarend                              NC & Napi Valley (4)
20.  Common Buzzard                                   - Buizerd                                      PV (2)
21.  Long-legged Buzzard                              - Arendbuizerd                              PV, NC & DA (6)
22.  Lesser Spotted Eagle                             - Schreeuwarend                           PV (1)
23.  Bonelli’s Eagle                                       - Havikarend                                 PV (1)
24.  Booted Eagle                                        - Dwergarend                                PV & Napi Valley (3)
25.  Lesser Kestrel                                       - Kleine Torenvalk                          WC (20)
26.  Eleonora’s Falcon                                  - Eleonora Valk                              NC (5)
27.  Eurasian Hobby                                     - Boomvalk                                   NC (2)
28.  Peregrine Falcon                                   - Slechtvalk                                  NC (3)
29.  Chukar                                                - Aziatische Steenpatrijs                 W (1) heard only
30.  Little Crake                                          - Klein Waterhoen                          KP & PV (3)
31.  Common Moorhen                                  - Waterhoen                                 PSP & WR (5)
32.  Eurasian Coot                                       - Meerkoet                                   WC (2)
33.  Common Snipe                                      - Watersnip                                  WR (2)
34.  Marsh Sandpiper                                   - Poelruiter                                   KP & ER (4)
35.  Common Greenshank                              - Groenpootruiter                           ER (1)
36.  Wood Sandpiper                                    - Bosruiter                                    ER, KP & WR (10+)
37.  Common Sandpiper                                - Oeverloper                                 PSP (1)
38.  Little Stint                                           - Kleine Strandloper                        KSP, WR & ER (50+)
39.  Temminck’s Stint                                   - Temmincks Strandloper                 KSP (2)
40.  Dunlin                                                 - Bonte Strandloper                        PSP (alikouda pool) (1)
41.  Curlew Sandpiper                                  - Krombek Strandloper                     KSP (75+)
42.  Ruff                                                    - Kemphaan                                  ER (1)
43.  Stone Curlew                                       - Griel                                          WR & KSP (5)
44.  Black-winged Stilt                                 - Steltkluut                                   KSP, WR & ER (50+)
45.  Pied Avocet                                         - Kluut                                         KSP (75+)
46.  Common Ringed Plover                           - Bontbek Plevier                            KSP (5)
47.  Little Ringed Plover                               - Kleine Plevier                               KSP, WR & ER (15+)
48.  Kentish Plover                                      - Strandplevier                               KSP, WR & ER (15+)
49.  Yellow-legged Gull                                - Geelpootmeeuw                            Common throughout (150+)
50.  Whiskered Tern                                    - Witwangstern                              ER (3)
51.  White-winged Tern                               - Witvleugelstern                            KP & WR (6)
52.  Black Tern                                           - Zwarte Stern                              ER (1)
53.  Gull-billed Tern                                     - Lachstern                                   ER (1)
54.  Common Tern                                      - Visdief                                        Common (70+)
55.  Little Tern                                           - Dwergstern                                 Common (50+)
56.  Rock Dove                                           - Rotsduif                                     PV (10)
57.  European Turtle-dove                            - Zomertortel                                PV & NC (15+)
58.  Collared Dove                                      - Turkse Tortel                               Common (100+)
59.  Common Cuckoo                                   - Koekoek                                     DA (2) heard only
60.  Barn Owl                                             - Kerkuil                                        SK Square (1)
61.  European Scops-owl                             - Dwergooruil                                 SK school (1)
62.  Little Owl                                            - Steenuil                                      W, ER & KSP (5)
63.  Long-eared Owl                                    - Ransuil                                       SK mini-soccer site (1)
64.  Eurasian Nightjar                                  - Nachtzwaluw                               Near Malemi Hotel (heard only)
65.  Alpine Swift                                        - Alpengierzwaluw                           PV & NC (20)
66.  Common Swift                                     - Gierzwaluw                                  Common (100+)
67.  Pallid Swift                                         - Vale Gierzwaluw                            Common (50+)
68.  European Bee-eater                             - Bijeneter                                      KSP, ER & WR (100+)
69.  Hoopoe                                              - Hop                                            Olive groves (2)
70.  Middle Spotted Woodpecker                   - Middelste Bonte Specht                 Oliver groves (6)
71.  Jay                                                   - Gaai                                            Common (25+)
72.  Jackdaw                                             - Kauw                                         WC (offshore island) (25+)
73.  Carrion Crow                                       - Bonte Kraai                                  Common (100+)
74.  Golden Oriole                                      - Wielewaal                                    PV (1)
75.  Red-backed Shrike                               - Grauwe Klauwier                           ER, WC & NC (35+)
76.  Isabelline Shrike                                  - Isabel Klauwier                              Near Paraskevi (2)
77.  Lesser Grey Shrike                               - Kleine Klapekster                           KSP (1)
78.  Woodchat Shrike                                 - Roodkop Klauwier                          PV & DA (15)
79.  Masked Shrike                                    - Masker Klauwier                             PV, AG & WR (15)
80.  Blue Rock-thrush                                 - Blauwe Rotslijster                          PV & NC (3)
81.  Blackbird                                            - Merel                                          PV & AG (15)
82.  Song Thrush                                       - Zanglijster                                   AG (1)
83.  Rose-coloured Starling                         - Roze spreeuw                                KSP (7)
84.  Spotted Flycatcher                              - Grauwe Vliegenvanger                    PV, WR & NC (25+)
85.  Pied Flycatcher                                   - Bonte Vliegenvanger                      WC (1)
86.  Robin                                                - Roodborstje                                  AG (2)
87.  Nightingale                                         - Nachtegaal                                  ER & AG (common) (50+)
88.  Rufous Bush-robin                               - Rosse Waaierstaart                        WC & KSP (3)
89.  Whinchat                                           - Paapje                                        WC & KSP (4)
90.  Northern Wheatear                              - Tapuit                                         WC & NC (3)
91.  Black-eared Wheatear                          - Blonde Tapuit                               W & WC (25+)
92.  Isabelline Wheatear                             - Isabel Tapuit                                WC (2)
93.  Krueper’s Nuthatch                              - Turkse Boomklever                        AG (1)
94.  Rock Nuthatch                                    - Rotsklever                                   W, NC & PV (25+)
95.  Short-toed Treecreeper                        - Boomklever                                  DA (2)
96.  Wren                                                 - Winterkoning                               AG (1)
97.  Long-tailed Tit                                    - Staartmees                                  DA (6)
98.  Sand martin                                       - Oeverzwaluw                                NC (4)
99.  Crag-martin                                        - Rotszwaluw                                 NC (2)
100.  Barn Swallow                                    - Boerenzwaluw                               Common (200+)
101.  Red-rumped Swallow                          - Roodstuitzwaluw                           W & WC (25+)
102.  House Martin                                    - Huiszwaluw                                  Common (200+)
103.  Cetti’s Warbler                                  - Cetti’s Zanger                               KP, KSP & WR (15)
104.  Savi’s Warbler                                   - Snor                                           Parakila Marsh (1)
105.  Sedge Warbler                                  - Rietzanger                                   WR (1)
106.  Reed Warbler                                    - Kleine Karekiet                              WR & WC (3)
107.  Marsh Warbler                                   - Bosrietzanger                               Common around Kalloni (50+)
108.  Great Reed Warbler                            - Grote Karekiet                              WR (2)
109.  Olivaceous Warbler                            - Vale Spotvogel                              PV, ER, KP & KSP (25+)
110.  Olive-tree Warbler                             - Griekse Spotvogel                          PV (2)
111.  Willow Warbler                                  - Fitis                                            AG (5)
112.  Chiffchaff                                         - Tjiftjaf                                        AG (4)
113.  Blackcap                                          - Zwartkop                                     AG (2)
114.  Lesser Whitethroat                             - Braamsluiper                                 NC (3)
115.  Orphean Warbler                                - Orpheus Grasmus                          DA & WC (2)
116.  Rueppell’s Warbler                              - Rueppells Grasmus                         NC (3)
117.  Subalpine Warbler                              - Baardgrasmus                               PV but mostly NC (25+)
118.  Sombre Tit                                       - Rouwmees                                   W & WC (8)
119.  Great Tit                                          - Koolmees                                     PV, DA & AG (25+)
120.  Blue Tit                                            - Pimpelmees                                  DA & AG (15)
121.  Short-toed Lark                                 - Kortteen Leeuwerik                       W & ER (4)
122.  Crested Lark                                      - Kuifleeuwerik                               Common throughout (100+)
123.  Sky Lark                                          - Veldleeuwerik                                W & WC (6)
124.  House Sparrow                                  - Huismus                                      Abundant (250+)
125.  Spanish Sparrow                                - Spaanse Mus                               KP colony (50+)
126.  White Wagtail                                   - Witte Kwikstaart                           ER (1)
127.  Yellow Wagtail (black headed race)       - Gele Kwikstaart                            WR, ER, KP & KSP (25+)
128.  Red-throated Pipit                             - Roodkeelpieper                              KP (4)
129.  Chaffinch                                         - Vink                                            Common (75+)
130.  European Serin                                  - Europese Kanarie                          DA & Megalo Limni (8)
131.  Greenfinch                                        - Groenling                                     Common (30+)
132.  Goldfinch                                          - Putter                                        Common throughout (100+)
133.  Linnet                                              - Kneu                                          W & WC (4)
134.  Cirl Bunting                                       - Cirlgors                                       PV & NC (6)
135.  Cinereous Bunting                              - Smyrna Gors                                W at Petrified Forest (2)
136.  Cretzschmar’s Bunting                        - Bruinkeel Ortolaan                          W & NC (15+)
137.  Black-headed Bunting                         - Zwartkop Gors                              Common throughout (75+)
138.  Corn Bunting                                     - Grauwe Gors                                Common throughout (100+)

SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF FLOWERS & PLANTS: (Dutch Names)

Cytinus Ruber                                                                      Reseda Alba (reseda)
Pittosporum Tobira (kleefzaad)                                               Scandix Pecten Veneris
Tordylium Apulum                                                                 Asphodellus Fistulosus
Asphodellus Aestivus                                                            Urginea Maritima (zee-ui)
Bellis Annua (meizoentje)                                                       Anthemis Maritima (schubkamille)
Osyris Alba                                                                         Glaucium Flavum Crantz (gele hoornpapaver)
Euphorbia Characias (wolfsmelk)                                             Ecballium Elaterium (spring komkommer)
Foeniculum Vulgare (venkel)                                                   Ferula Communis (schijnvenkel)
Nicotiana Glauca (tabaksplant)                                               Verbascum Sinuatum (toorts)
Agave Americana (honderdjarige aloe)                                      Helichrysum Stoechas (strobloem)
Phagnalon Rupestre                                                              Inula Crithmoides (alant)
Inula Verbascifolia                                                                Pallenis Spinosa
Chrysanthemum Coronarium (korenbloem)                                 Calicotome Villosa
Spartium Junceum                                                                Ononis Natrix (stalkruid)
Medicago Arborea (rupsklaver)                                                Lotus Cytisoides (rolklaver)
Silene Colorata Poir (silene)                                                    Dactylorhiza Romana
Lavatera Cretica (lavendel)                                                    Cistus Creticus (rotsroos)
Nerium Oleander (oleander)                                                    Convolvulus Althaeoides (winde)
Carpobrotus Acinaciformis (carpobrotus)                                   Allium Roseum (sier-ui)
Picnomon Acarna                                                                  Notobasis Syriaca
Galactites Tomentosa                                                            Silybum Marianum (mariadistel)
Frifolium Stellatum                                                                Gladiolus Italicus
Limodorum Abortivum                                                            Orchis Lactea Poir
Orchis Morio                                                                        Serapias Lingua
Anchusa Italica Retz (ossetong)                                             Campanula Podocarpa Boiss (klokjesbloem)
Muscari Neglectum Guss                                                        Gynandriris Sisyrinchium
Echinops Ritro                                                                     Lupinus Micranthus Guss
Psoralea Bituminosa (schuberwt)                                             Echium Plantagineum (slangenkruid)
Lavandula Stoechas (franse lavendel)                                      Rosmarinus Officinalis (rozemarijn)
Adiantum Capillus Veneris                                                      Asplenium Onopteris (streepvaren)
Pinus Pinea (pijnboom)                                                          Cypressus Sempervirens (italiaanse cipres)
Castanea Sativa Mill (tamme kastanje)                                     Ficus Carica (vijgenboom)
Platanus Orientalis (plataan)                                                  Sarcopoterium Spinosum
Urtica Pilulifera (brandnetel)                                                   Lagurus Ovatus
Arundo Donax                                                                      Smilax Aspera (struikwinde)
Scolymus Hispanicus

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