|  Lesvos May 11 - 18, 2006
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A family holiday, staying at the Pela hotel in Skala Kalonis, near the famous Kalloni II pool. A rather basic hotel, but more than made
up for by the charming owners, who seemed to fall in love with the boys.
All birding, apart from a single early morning by myself, was done with the family, mostly either on the way to somewhere or as part of a day
out. For me there were four target species (all ticks, and all seen). For Tom, lots!
Even Sam seemed to enjoy the birding, particularly the Bee-eaters. Just about everything we wanted to see was seen, although we 'dipped' on
two 'mini-twitches' (for Roller and Spur-winged Plover), and despite trying hard on the last afternoon, I just couldn't find a Subalpine Warbler
- supposedly common - for Tom. Apart from the more exotic European species, just as amazing was the sheer number of birds: Every house had nesting
Swallows and Martins; Buntings and Sparrows were everywhere; and Nightingales sang from every suitable corner (including all night next to the
hotel!)
Weather
Quite cool at the start of the week, but warming by the day. By the end of the week it was (just) hot enough for a dip in the pool and the sea
(although Sam went in the pool from the first day!) The last half day was overcast, with occasional heavy rain.
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Itinerary
| 11/5 |
Early morning flight, Gatwick to Mytilene; transfer to Hotel Pela (Skala Kalonis), arriving early afternoon |
| 12/5 |
Skala Kalonis, Achladeri |
| 13/5 |
Petra and Mithemna |
| 14/5 |
Sigri (includinging Skalochori and Vatussa on way, and Petrified Forest, Ipsilou, and Eressos on return) |
| 15/5 |
Kaloni inland lake, Sikarnia (via Petra), Napi valley, Kaloni salt pans |
| 16/5 |
Kaloni salt pans, Agiossos, Vatera |
| 17/5 |
Kaloni West River, Kaloni salt pans |
| 18/5 |
Skala Kalonis, then mid-morning return |
Birds (111 species, 4 ticks)
Little Grebe - Singles from 15th-17th
Yelkouan Shearwater - Forty-two in forty-five minutes off Vatera
Shag - Nine birds in total at coast
Little Bittern - Female (11th) and males (12th and 17th), all in flight at Kalloni II pool
Squacco Heron - Three at Vatera, followed by two and one (17th and 18th) at Kalloni II pool
Little Egret - A total of nineteen birds seen
Great White Egret - Five birds seen in total at Kalloni salt pans
Grey Heron - Seventeen birds seen in total at Kalloni salt pans
Black Stork - Thirteen in total
White Stork - Seven in total
Glossy Ibis - Seven in total, including a flock of five on 17th, all at Kalloni II pool
Greater Flamingo - Probably about one hundred birds seen on each visit to salt pans
Ruddy Shelduck - Two flocks of six and four (15th and 16th) at Kalloni salt pans
Honey Buzzard? - Probable seen near Mytilene on 11th
Black Kite - One near Mytilene on 11th
Short-toed Eagle - Eight birds seen in total
Common Buzzard - One near Agiossos
Long-legged Buzzard - Fairly common, particularly in west of island
Lesser Kestrel - Two females and a male on 14th
Kestrel - One near Agiossos
Eleonora's Falcon - One (pale) near the 'disco', just north of Petra on 13th, and two (intermediate and dark) en-route to Skalachori
on 14th
Moorhen - Several around Kalloni and Skala Kallonis
Coot - Several around Kalloni and Skala Kallonis
Black-winged Stilt - Common, particularly on the salt pans
Avocet - Up to about thirty seen on most visits to the salt pans
Little Ringed Plover - Up to about ten seen on most visits to the salt pans
Ringed Plover - Several at various places (e.g. salt pans)
Kentish Plover - Up to five on salt pans, including an adult with two chicks on 15th
Sanderling - Single at Kalloni salt pans on 15th
Little Stint - Quite common on Kalloni salt pans
Temminck’s Stint - Single at Kalloni salt pans on 15th
Curlew Sandpiper - Abundant on Kalloni salt pans
Ruff - Quite common on Kalloni salt pans
Wood Sandpiper - Seen in small numbers on all visits to salt pans
Black-headed Gull - 1st winter on Kalloni salt pans on 15th and 16th
Mediterranean Gull - A few on Kalloni salt pans; also seen by Tom at Mytilene.
Yellow-legged Gull - Common
Common Tern - Common
Little Tern - Up to one hundred seen at salt pans
Whiskered Tern - Up to one hundred seen at salt pans
White-winged Black Tern - Two at Kalloni salt pans on 15th
Rock Dove - Feral birds noticed most days
Collared Dove - Common
Turtle Dove - One in Napi valley
Little Owl - One roosting at Ipsilou
Common Swift - Not as common as expected, although reasonable numbers at Agiossos
Bee-eater - Fairly common
Hoopoe - One briefly at Skalochori; also heard at Kalloni inland pool on 18th
Middle Spotted Woodpecker - One briefly near Agiossos
Crested Lark - Very common
Sand Martin - Up to about ten birds seen over Kalloni II pool most evenings
Crag Martin - Two near Petra on 13th and two the following day near Sigri
Swallow - Common
Red-rumped Swallow - First seen at Sigri, and then seen the following two days
House Martin - Common
Tawny Pipit - A probable near Mytilene on 11th and then a definite at Kalloni II pool on 18th
Yellow Wagtail - A few feldegg birds seen on several days
White Wagtail - Single at Vaterra
Wren - One heard near Agiossos
Rufous Bush Robin - One seen briefly at Kalloni salt pans on 18th
Robin - Apparently seen by Tom on 14th and 15th
Nightingale - Common
Whinchat - A few singles at various places
Stonechat - A few singles at various places
Isabelline Wheatear - One just east of Ipsilou
Northern Wheatear - Fairly common, particularly in west of island
Black-eared Wheatear - The commonest Wheatear
Blue Rock Thrush - One between Kalloni and Petra at 'band-stand' on 15th
Blackbird - A few singles at various places
Song Thrush - Two recorded on 16th
Mistle Thrush - Two recorded on 13th
Cetti's Warbler - Common
Zitting Cisticola - One heard over Kalloni II pool on 11th
Sedge Warbler - Common in suitable habitat
Reed Warbler - Common in suitable habitat
Great Reed Warbler - One, Kalloni II pool on 18th
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Common
Olive-tree Warbler - One holding territory at Skalochori was seen well. I was also shown one by some photographers at Ipsilou. However,
the bird that they were showing me was without doubt an Icterine! Later however an Olive Tree Warbler sang from the same tree!
Icterine Warbler - One in hotel grounds on 12th, and see above
Rüppell's Warbler - Male at 'disco' north of Petra on 13th
Eastern Orphean Warbler - Pair at Skalochori, and a female at Kalloni west river
Blackcap - Male recorded on 13th
Wood Warbler - One at Ipsilou
Willow Warbler - One at Ipsilou
Spotted Flycatcher - Common, particularly at Ipsilou were abundant
Collared Flycatcher - One seen by Tom near Vatera
Sombre Tit - Two birds (one seen), Napi valley
Coal Tit - A small family party apparently seen by Tom near hotel on 14th
Blue Tit - A few small flocks at various places
Great Tit - A few small flocks at various places
Krüper's Nuthatch - A pair feeding a recently fledged young bird at Achladeri
Western Rock Nuthatch - One between Kalloni and Petra at 'band-stand' on 15th and one on Kalloni west river on 18th
Short-toed Treecreeper - One at Achladeri
Golden Oriole - One at Kalloni inland lake on 15th
Red-backed Shrike - Fairly common
Lesser Grey Shrike - One bird seen near Achladeri
Woodchat Shrike - A total of eight birds seen, including a day total of six on 15th
Masked Shrike - A total of eight birds seen
Jay - Seen most days
Jackdaw - Two at Sigri
Hooded Crow - Common
Raven - A pair displaying at Achladeri
Rose-coloured Starling - A flock of seventeen was seen at Kalloni salt pans on 16th, with probably the same flock seen near by the following
day. They were believed to roost near our hotel, and a similar flock was seen on the 18th over Kalloni II pool.
House Sparrow - Abundant
Spanish Sparrow - Common
Rock Sparrow - Three at Eressos
Chaffinch - Fairly common
Serin - Three birds seen, but several more heard
Greenfinch - A few at various places
Goldfinch - Quite common
Linnet - Three near Petrified Forest
Cirl Bunting - Six seen in total, but only Tom saw a male!
Cinereous Bunting - Two seen (only one well) at Ipsilou
Ortolan Bunting - Two at Petrified Forest
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Common in suitable upland habitat
Black-headed Bunting - Common
Corn Bunting - Common
Mammals
Persian Squirell - Singles at Kalloni inland lake and west river
Bat sp. - Seen every night around the hotel, apparently Pipistrelle (sp.?)
Reptiles and Amphibians
Levant Water Frog - One in a small stream at Achladeri, and several at Kalloni inland pool
Common Tree Frog - Several found at Kalloni inland pool and a few at Kalloni II pool
Spur-thighed Tortoise - Several, including Kalloni II pool
Balkan Terrapin - About 150 counted by Tom and Sam at Kalloni inland lake.
Starred Agama - Common on rocky ground
Balkan Green Lizard - Fairly common; the completely different coloured juveniles were found at Agiossos
Balkan Wall Lizard - One on 13th
European Glass Lizard - One seen alive, but most dead 'snakes' on the road were probably this lizard
Large Whip Snake - One at Vatera
Dice Snake - One at Kalloni salt pans on 15th
Butterflies
Scarce Swallowtail
Large White
Small White
Eastern Bath White
Orange Tip
Clouded Yellow
Small Copper
False Eros Blue - Out of range, but proven by photograph
Southern White Admiral
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Spotted Fritillary
Balkan Marbled White - One, slightly early emergence near Petra on 15th
Lesvos Meadow Brown - The only endemic on the island, seen most days
Small Skipper
Other Wildlife
Violet Limodore - A few of these beautiful orchids were found in flower near Agiossos
Holy Orchid - Near Petra 'disco'
Black-tailed Skimmer - Surprisingly few dragonflies were seen, this being the only species positively identified
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