www.lesvos-ecotourism.com - The Bird Watching Trip and Tour Report collection for Lesvos

Alyn & Donna Mason of Kent booked to stay at MADONNA from the 3rd of May to the 17th of May 2001 via this web site. They have been bird watching for 6 years and apart from one guided trip at the beginning, they have been bird watching independently ever since.

Having seen in this web site, the recommendation for Richard Brooke's book "Birding in Lesvos" naturally they bought a copy. Later, at the end of their very productive bird watching trip in Vatera when we got to know each other better, they shared with us, that having read the scant and discouraging information in the book about Vatera, they very nearly cancelled their booking. Alyn & Donna returned to Vatera in October 2001 to record the species in the autumn and make comparisons but this is what they are saying about their May 2001 trip.

"…When we landed at the small airport of Mytilene in the evening of the 3rd of May 2001(having flown direct), we found it very reassuring to see our taxi driver Kostas, waiting for us. He was very welcoming and helpful loading our luggage in his taxi.

The journey to Vatera through olive groves and pine forest seemed to be going on for ever, butwithin 55 minutes we were in Vatera. We were expected at BAR TEQUILA for welcome drinks, before being taken to MADONNA. This we were really looking forward to. In the course of the evening we found ourselves having a great time with the locals, having drinks, dancing and enjoying ourselves. This was a great start to our holiday.

The next day, we pitched our equipment at the front balcony and back veranda of our apartment and this is what we spotted:

Mediterranean Shearwater - Squacco Heron - Yellow Legged Gull - Collared Dove -
Swift - Alpine Swift - European Bee-eater - Swallow - House Martin - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Jay - House Sparrow - Spanish Sparrow - Greenfinch - Black-headed Bunting - Hooded Crow - Cormorant - Peregrine Falcon - with possible sightings of Eleanora's Falcon Later we discovered two families of swifts, and their nests underneath the first floor back verandas.

During our stay some of the time we walked and at other times we drove, having hired a car from ALFA CAR RENTAL.

Walking west from Madonna, along the seafront and down to the bridge and the river on the west side we spotted the following species:

Night Heron - Squacco Heron - Little Egret - Purple Heron - White Stork - Little Ringed Plover - Common Sandpiper - Yellow Legged Gull - Collared Dove - Crested Lark - Swallow - House Martin - Northern Wheatear - Blacked-eared Wheatear - Blackbird - Cetti's Warbler - Spotted Flycatcher - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Sparrow - Spanish Sparrow - Chaffinch - Greenfinch - Goldfinch - Corn Bunting - Little Stint - Hooded Crow - Grey Heron - Reed Warbler - Turtle Dove - Woodchat Strike - Jay - Little Bittern - Cormorant . We also heard: Cuckoo - Hoopoe

Walking East from Madonna along the seafront to a dried up riverbed and in the olive groves, we spotted the following species:

Little Ringed Plover - Golden Plover - Yellow Legged Gull - Collared Dove - Alpine Swift - Crested Lark - Swallow - House Martin - White Wagtail - Wheatear - Blackbird - Sedge Warbler - Subalpine Warbler - Sardinian Warbler - Barred Warbler - Whitethroat - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Woodchat Strike - Spanish Sparrow - Chaffinch - Greenfinch - Goldfinch - Cirl Bunting - Black -headed Bunting - Hooded Crow - Grey Heron - Reed Warbler. We also heard European Bee-eater - Cuckoo

Driving around Vatera both to the West of Madonna to Agios Focas and East of Madonna to another river mouth near an unfinished hotel site (it would appear that the site is abandoned and the hotel will not be finished) we spotted the following:

Mediterranean Shearwater - Cormorant - Little Bittern - Purple Heron - Long Legged Buzzard - Eleanora's Falcon - Moorhen - Little Ringed Plover - Snipe - Wood Sandpiper - Yellow Legged Gull - Common Tern - Collared Dove - Turtle Dove - Eagle Owl - Nightjar - Swift - Hoopoe - Crested Lark - Crag Martin - Swallow -Red Ramped Swallow - House Martin - Grey Wagtail - Blacker-eared Wheatear - Blackbird -Cetti's Warbler - Reed Warbler - Great Reed Warbler - Olivaceous Warbler - Subalpine Warbler - Orphean Warbler - Blackcap - Spotted Flycatcher - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Shrike - Woodchat Shrike - Jay - Hooded Crow - House Sparrow - Spanish Sparrow - Chaffinch - Serine - Greenfinch - Goldfinch - Linnet - Cirl Bunting - Bunting - Corn Bunting.

All in all we identified 65 species of birds around Vatera and 20 species from the Madonna balcony and veranda, mainly in the morning and early evening. Also we noted that the area is teaming with Butterflies, Terrapins, Lizards, Snakes, Persian Squirrel and Wild Flowers to be seen and identified.

We didn't go out bird watching every day. We took the time to enjoy Vatera and everything that it can offer. If you are looking for a bird watching holiday at your own peaceful pace, in a very hospitable and genuine place, that offers value for money and great personal service, we can only recommend Vatera & Madonna. In fact we will probably return to Vatera in October to get an idea of what is possible to see in the autumn.

Alyn & Donna Mason, Kent, England
May 2001

Birding Report - Alyn & Donna Mason - Autumn 2001

After visiting Vatera in May 2001, we had an idea that we wanted to return. We were looked after so well, we had a great time and we were curious to know what birds could be seen in the autumn in such a wonderful and unspoiled place.

We decided to return on the 4th of October 2001 for two weeks, to check on the autumn migration, even though it was possible we might have left it a little late. We observed hundreds of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Robin and Spanish Sparrow. The same species were seen at our spring trip, but not in such large numbers.

All in all during our two weeks in Vatera in October we identified 68 different species in Vatera and the surrounding area.

Redstart - Blackbird - Song Thrush - Sardinian Warbler - Blackcap - Spotted Flycatcher - Yellow-Legged Gull - Collared Dove - Red Footed Falcon (Juvenile) - Jay- Hooded Crow - House Sparrow- Spanish Sparrow - Cirl Bunting- Whitethroat - Linnet.

Walking down from Madonna towards the signs junction, going west along the seafront, towards the river and down to the bridge and following the river, we spotted the following:

Water Rail - Moorhen - Yellow-legged Gull - Collared Dove - Crested Lark - Skylark - Pied Wagtail - Blackbird - Sardinian Warbler - Blackcap - Willow Warbler - Chiffchaff - Coal Tit - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Spotted Flycatcher - Hooded Crow - Raven - House Sparrow - Spanish Sparrow - Goldfinch - Redback Shrike (Juvenile) - Kingfisher - Swallow.

Walking up from Madonna, taking the first turning right around behind the apartments, (where there is some heath land) and then eventually meeting up with a small woodland area, then down towards the beach, we spotted the following:

Long-legged Buzzard - Yellow-legged Gull - Collared Dove - Crested Lark - Winchat -Blackbird - Sardinian Warbler - Blackcap - Chiffchaff - Willow Warbler - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Spotted Flycatcher - Hooded Crow - House Sparrow - Spanish Sparrow - Chaffinch - Goldfinch - Cirl Bunting - Swallow.

Driving around Vatera west and east of Madonna.
· West as far as the bridge over the river, following alongside the river going north, over a further bridge and back down the other side, towards the sea.
· East as far as the abandoned hotel building site.
· Straight across from Madonna and past Villa Vassos there is a track on the right; veering left towards the river, which takes you through some scrubland and olive groves,
we spotted the following:
Common Buzzard - Common Kestrel- Red Footed Falcon - Hobby - Booted Eagle - Moorhen - Yellow Legged Gull - Collared Dove - Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Crested Lark - Meadow Pipit - Pied Wagtail - Robin - Black Redstart - Winchat - Stone Chat - Blue Rock Thrush -(on the abandoned hotel buildings) - Blackbird - Song Thrush - Cetti's Warbler - Sardinian Warbler - Blackcap - Chiffchaff - Willow Warbler - Sombre Tit - Coal Tit - Blue Tit - Great Tit - Spotted Flycatcher - Jay - Hooded Crow - House Sparrow - Chaffinch - Greenfinch - Goldfinch - Linnet - Cirl Bunting - Redback Shrike ( Juvenile) - Kingfisher - Swallow - Whitethroat.

We also visited Skala Polychnitos and the Polychnitos Salt Pans, which we missed in May. We found them teaming with birds and we spotted the following:

Cormorant - Great White Egret - Grey Heron - Little Egret - White Stork - Black Stork - Greater Flamingo - Spoonbill - Moorhen - Common Redshank - Mediterranean Gull - Black Head Gull - Yellow Legged Gull - Collared Dove - Little Ringed Plover - Kentish Plover - White Pelican (in the harbour and quite tame) - Blacked Winged Stilt - Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Crested Lark - Pied Wagtails - Robin - Redstart - Winchat - Stonechat - Black bird - Sardinian Warbler - Blackcap - Chiffchaff - Willow Warbler - Blue Tit - Spotted Flycatcher - Jay - Hooded Crow - House Sparrow - Chaffinch - Linnet - Wheatear - Swallow - Grey Plover .

We drove to Achladeri, Vouvaris River, Agiasos and Mountain Olympos and we spotted the following:

At the picnic areas in Achladeri and on the way to Agiasos we spotted Kruper's Nuthatch, Treecreepers and normal woodland species.

At the picnic site by the Vouvaris River we spotted Rock Nuthatch as well as normal woodland and wetland species.

While we drove around Mountain Olympos we spotted: Bonnelli's Eagle, Woodlark and Grey Wagtail amongst other species, which we couldn't identify. From what we have seen so far our guess is that there are many more locations in the South of Lesvos, teaming with bird life, which up to now they have not been visited and researched. What a great joy and thrill will be to visit thus far uncharted territory and discover!

As we mentioned in our spring tour there is an abundance of wildlife that needs looking into, such as Terrapin, Squirrel, Butterflies, Lizard, Dragon/Damson flies and Wild Flowers. Vatera and the surrounding area is a most enjoyable and peaceful place to explore at your own pace.

If you want to know more about Alyn's and Donna's trips to Vatera please send your e-mail to hibiscustravel@yahoo.co.uk and we will forward it to them.