Birding Report 2006

Trip report Lesvos 23 – 29 April 2006

By Bernd de Bruijn & Esther Droppers, HOLLAND

Accomodation and car rent
In late April 2006 we visited Lesvos for a week’s holiday. We stayed at Madonna Studios in Vatera, which had very nice apartments, balcony with sea (and shearwater) view, very friendly owners and affordable rates. Most recommended if you favour a quiet place in a beautiful area (see www.vatera-lesvos.co.uk ). We rented a car with Alfa Car Rental (see same website) which was good value and service, and can be arranged through Madonna Studios as well. Weather was sunny and warm (25oC) despite with strong northerly winds, except for the last two days when some clouds and drizzle came in.

Sites
Vatera is a sleepy village in this time of year, and has with great opportunities for walking and birding in its immediate surroundings. It offers two productive rivers:, Vourkos river to the east, and especially Almiropodamos river to the west. The olive groves around Vatera and Vrissa were good for migrants. The salt pans of Polichnitos and the bare upland habitats of Nifida headland are easily reached by car. Though not necessarily less birds, the Vatera area certainly has fewer birders than Kalloni! The book ‘Vatera – Around & About’ by Brian and Eileen Anderson has some walking itineraries which are good for birding and wild flowers, and is obtainable at Madonna Studios. The walk numbers in the sites below refer to this booklet.

Although not fully geared towards birding, most of the specialities were seen during this trip. Migration was not as spectacular as it apparently can be, probably due to the strong northerly winds, and migrant warblers, flycatchers and shrikes were seen in low numbers. Visible migration was noted along Almiropotamos river and past Ipsilou Monastery. Spending some time near fresh water - apart from the rivers - paid off, such as the drinking trough at Theotokon chapel east of Vrissa and pools in a seasonal stream east of Vatera (walk W7).
The following sites were visited:

22nd: drive Mytilini airport to Vatera, with stop at ‘Derbyshire’ (coastal wetlands between Kalloni and Ahladeri)
23rd: Almiropotamos river, Vrissa olive groves (part of W2)
24th: Nifida headland, Piges Pesas waterfalls (W10), Polichnitos salt pans, Lisvori river
25th: Mikri Limni, Agiassos, Almiropodamos river
26th: Derbyshire - Kalloni salt pans channel (short stop) - Agra - Eressos - petrified forest - Andissa - Kalloni
27th: walk through olive groves from Vatera east beach towards Vrissa (part of W7)
28th: Vourkos river, olive groves and Almiropotamos river west of Vrissa (W8)
29th: Vourkos river, Polichnitos salt pans, Kalloni salt pans channel (short stop), Limonos Monastery, Ahladeri

Birds
Little Grebe one calling at Mikri Limni on 25th
Scopoli’s Shearwater low numbers off Vatera (e.g. 5 on 23rd)
Yelkouan Shearwater common off Vatera, groups up to 20+ (e.g. 53 flying west in 15 minutes on 23rd)
Shag singles regular off shore
Little Bittern female at Almiropotamos river on 23rd and one there on 25th, male at Lisvori river
on 24th, male at Vourkos river on 29th
Night Heron a subadult migrating with group of Purple Herons and landing in Almiropotamos
river on 23rd
Squacco Heron one Derbyshire on 22nd, one Almiropotamos river on 25th and three there on 28th,
one Vourkos river 29th
Little Egret regular at wetlands and river; group of 31 at Almiropotamos river on 28th, 10 at
Derbyshire on 26th
Great Egret one at Derbyshire 22nd and two there on 26th
Grey Heron one at Almiropotamos river on 23rd and 28th
Purple Heron two groups, of 6 and 8 birds, flying in from sea and landing at Almiropotamos river
on 23rd, minimum of 5 there on 25th, one subadult at Vourkos river on 28th
Black Stork one flying north, south of Ahladeri and three at Derbyshire on 26th
White Stork nesting pair on chimney in Polichnitos, one flying over Dafia on 29th
Ruddy Shelduck pair at Polichnitos salt pans on 24th and 29th, 9 at Derbyshireon 26th
Shelduck two at Derbyshire on 26th, 3 at Polichnitos salt pans on 29th
Honey Buzzard one over Agiassos on 25th
Short-toed Eagle two near Vrissa on23rd, one at Mikri Limni on 25th, two over Agiassos on 25th, three
at petrified forest on 26th, one at Ahladeri on 29th
Marsh Harrier one male flying north at Polichnitos salt pans on 24th
Montagu’s/Pallid Harrier a female flying north past Ipsilou Monastery on 26th was not seen well enough
Levant Sparrowhawk three flying north high over Ipsilou Monastery on 26th
Buzzard one near Vatera on 23rd, 5 around Agiassos on 25th, one near Vrissa on 27th
Long-legged Buzzard one near Parakila, one near Eressos, two at petrified forest on 26th
Bonelli’s Eagle two birds circling over the wooded hills northeast of Vrissa on 27th
Lesser Kestrel 1-2 males near petrified forest on 26th
Kestrel one west of Nifida on 24th is the only record
Hobby one flying south near Limonos Monatery on 26th
Chukar one briefly and distantly seen in flight west of Limonos Monastery on 26th, and on
28th one was calling from the rocky olive grove east of Vourkos river mouth
Quail one calling from fields near Almiropotamos river on 28th
Little Crake a male at Almiropotamos river on 23rd and a female there on 28th; one male at
Almiropotamos river west of Vrissa on 28th
Moorhen common at Almiropotamos river, one pair at Vourkos river mouth
Coot one seen from bridge near Skala Eressos
Black-winged Stilt common in coastal wetlands and salt pans, e.g. 12 at Polichnitos salt pans on 29th
Little Ringed Plover pairs were seen at both Vatera rivers
Ringed Plover one at Polichnitos salt pans on 29th
Kentish Plover three at Polichnitos salt pans on 24th, 5 there on 29th
Little Stint 12 at Polichnitos salt pans on 24th and 35 there on 29th, 6 in roadside channel at
Kalloni salt pans on 26th
Curlew Sandpiper two in summer plumage at at Polichnitos salt pans on 29th
Ruff 10 flying east off Vatera 24th, 20 at Kalloni channel on 26th, 15 at Polichnitos salt pans
on 29th, 12 at Kalloni channel on 29th
Black-tailed Godwit one at Polichnitos salt pans on 29th
Green Sandpiper one at Almiropotamos river on 28th
Wood Sandpiper common in freshwater wetlands, e.g. 6 at Almiropotamos river on 28th, 12 at Lisvori
river and 10 at Polichnitos salt pans on 24th
Yellow-legged Gull common along coast and at Polichnitos landfill
Gull-billed Tern one over Kalloni salt pans on 26th
Common Tern two at Derbyshire on 26th, 8 at Kalloni channel and two at Polichnitos salt pans on
29th
Little Tern three at Polichnitos salt pans (one mating pair) on 24th and 29th
Whiskered Tern 8 in summer plumage at Kalloni channel on 29th
White-winged Tern 15+ in summer plumage at Kalloni channel on 29th
Wood Pigeon one in flight near Agiassos on 25th
Collared Dove common
Turtle Dove common in olive groves, e.g. 20+ west of Vatera on 28th, locally singing in pine forest
Cuckoo one migrating past Ipsilou Monastery on 26th, two calling at Vourkos river on 29th
Roller one in olive groves east of Vrissa on 27th
Hoopoe one calling east of Vrissa on 27th, one seen west of Vrissa on 28th
Short-toed Lark one on Vatera west beach on 23rd
Crested Lark common
Wood Lark two singing and one seen in olive groves east of Vrissa on 27th
Sand Martin one flying north at Skala Polichnitou, one at Almiropotamos river on 28th
Barn Swallow common
Red-rumped Swallow regular in Vatera area
House Martin common
Tawny Pipit one on Vatera west beach on 23rd, one west of Nifida on 24th, two at Vatera east beach
on 27th
Tree Pipit two west of Nifida on 24th
Red-throated Pipit one flying over Almiropotamos river west of Vrissa on 28th is the only record
Black-headed Wagtail about 15 in mixed flock of yellow wagtails north of Polichnitos salt pans and two at
Lisvori river on 24th, three at Almiropotamos river on 28th
Grey Wagtail three at Pigi Pesas waterfalls on 24th
White Wagtail at least one at Vourkos river mouth, flying over regularly with food so probably
breeding
Wren two singing in pine forest along Pigi Pesas trail on 24th
Robin one seen in forest near the sanatorium at Agiassos on 25th
Thrush Nightingale one was well heard singing from a dense bush west of Nifida on 24th
Nightingale fairly common in lusher scrub, and broad-leaved woodlands around Agiassos
Whinchat one Almiropotamos river on 24th, one Derbyshire on 26th, on Vourkos river 28th
Stonechat one pair at Megali Limni on 25th
Northern Wheatear two on Vatera east beach on 27th
Black-eared Wheatear fairly common in open habitats, e.g. west of Nifida, also within Vatera
Blue Rock Thrush a male at the unfinished building near Vourkos river mouth
Blackbird fairly common
Mistle Thrush one seen at Mikri Limni on 25th
Cetti’s Warbler heard very regularly, especially near rivers
Sedge Warbler one seen at Almiropotamos river on 23rd and 28th
Reed Warbler 6 singing at Almiropotamos river on 23rd, two at Vourkos river on 29th
Great Reed Warbler two singing at Almiropotamos river on 23rd and one there on 28th, one at Vourkos
river on 28th and 29th
Olivaceous Warbler common in scrub and olive groves
Subalpine Warbler common in pine forests; one male in garden in Vatera on 25th
Sardinian Warbler regular in scrub in Vatera area and west of Nifida
Whitethroat one east of Vrissa on 27th
Blackcap a female east of Vrissa on 27th
Wood Warbler one seen east of Vrissa on 27th
Willow Warbler one seen and singing east of Vrissa on 27th
Spotted Flycatcher two together at Mikri Limni on 25th
Collared Flycatcher one male calling and seen in olive groves east of Vrissa on 27th; a female in the
same tree was not seen well but may well have been the same species
Pied Flycatcher a male east of Vrissa on 23rd
Sombre Tit one feeding a young near Devil’s Bridge, west of Parakila on 26th
Blue Tit fairly common
Great Tit common
Krüper’s Nuthatch two seen and one more heard calling along the track that turns left immediately
behind the Agiassos sanatorium on 25th. Two seen at the well-known Ahladeri site on
29th
Western Rock Nuthatch two west of Agra on 26th
Short-toed Treecreeper regular in pine forest
Golden Oriole male flying north over Almiropotamos river on 23rd
Red-backed Shrike two males at Almiropotamos river on 23rd, a female at Megali Limni on 25th
Lesser Grey Shrike male near Polichnitos salt pans and one near Dafia on 29th
Woodchat Shrike regularly seen, especially in olive groves
Jay two near sanatorium in Agiassos on 25th, several east of Vrissa on 27th
Hooded Crow fairly common
Raven three pairs seen in Agra – Eressos area in 26th
House Sparrow common
Spanish Sparrow breeding in Kalloni, several groups up to 30 on migration on most days
Rock Sparrow 2 - 3 west of Agra on 26th
Chaffinch very common
Serin regular in rural and forested areas
Greenfinch regular
Goldfinch common
Linnet one pair at Vourkos river mouth on 28th, two flying over at Limonos Monastery 29th
Cirl Bunting regular in olive groves and sometimes pine forest (Ahladeri)
Cinereous Bunting song heard and two seen west of Agra, one male north of Eressos, two singing at
Ipsilou Monastery on 26th
Cretzschmar’s Bunting regular in open habitats (e.g. west of Nifida, but especially in the west)
Black-headed Bunting three males around Almiropotamos river on 23rd, one singing daily behind Madonna
Studios from 24th onwards, one male east of Vrissa on 27th, one male at Vourkos river
on 28th, two at Almiropotamos river on 28th
Corn Bunting common