7/31/2019 Lesvos 2010/04/30 - Tukker

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Lesvos | 30 April 7 May 2010 | Leo Tukker

From 30 April to 7 May I went for the third consecutive year to Lesvos. Again this time with mywife. We stayed again in the Pela Hotel in Skala Kallonis.

In the vicinity of the hotel we saw already the most common species, which you virtuallyanywhere on the island encounter: Barn Swallow, Collared Dove, Corn Bunting, Crested

Lark, Hooded Crow, House Martin andYellow-legged Gull.I shall not mention these species anymore in this report.

I went walking straight away along the beach to Christou River. On the beach were two GreyPlovers in breeding plumage. In the mouth of the river were both Great- and Little Egret.I also saw Black-headed Wagtail, Common Buzzard, Squacco Heron, Sombre Tit and WoodSandpiper.

After unpacking the suitcases we started walking along the beach to Tsiknias River. When wereached the mouth of the river there was a group of German birders who showed us a CollaredPratincole, that was sitting on the beach among some driftwood.We also saw Black-headed Bunting, Common Coot, Common Shelduck, Common Tern,Glossy Ibis, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Nightingale, Red-backed Shrike,Spanish Sparrow and Whiskered Tern.

The next morning our rental car for the week was delivered. After breakfast we went to TsikniasRiver and on to the Kalloni Saltpans.Like last year there was much water on the fields opposite the Saltworks Entrance. So there weremany birds. It was also very crowded with birders. It seems to be busier every year. There wereeven some groups with a coach riding around the island.

At Tsiknias River we saw Cettis Warbler, Goldfinch,Little Egret, Little Owl, Nightingale,Olivaceous Warblerand Red-backed Shrike.

At the Kalloni Saltpans we saw Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Common Redshank, CurlewSandpiper, Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Grey Heron, Gull-billed Tern (lifer),Lanner Falcon (lifer), Little Egret, Little Stint, Long-legged Buzzard, Ruddy Shelduck, Ruff,Squacco Heron, Whiskered Tern, White Stork, White-winged Black Tern and WoodSandpiper.

7/31/2019 Lesvos 2010/04/30 - Tukker

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7/31/2019 Lesvos 2010/04/30 - Tukker

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Starred Agama at Madaros

On Tuesday we went to the west of the island and we visited the monastery of Ipsilou and thearea around Sigri and Faneromeni.At Ipsilou we parked the car below and walked up to the monastery.We saw Aegean Wall Lizard, Balkan Green Lizard, Blue Rock Thrush, Blue Tit, Chaffinch,Cinereous Bunting, Eleonoras Falcon, Eurasian Jay, Isabelline Wheatear, Linnet, RockSparrow, Sombre Tit, Spur-thighed Tortoise, Starred Agama, Whinchat and Wood Lark.

After buying some groceries in Sigri we went to Faneromeni. We ate our lunch at the beach andvisited both fords. We saw Black-winged Stilt, Collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Skylark, LittleBittern, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Red-backed Shrike, Red-rumped Swallow, RuddyShelduck, Shag, Whiskered Tern, Wood Sandpiperand Woodchat Shrike.In the early morning of Wednesday I went to a lake in the Potamia Valley. A Dutch birder told mehe had seen a large group of Night Herons there the other day. Unfortunately they were no longerpresent. There was only Common Coot and Moorhen. I wanted to drive to Lake Metochi, but itwas very crowded, so I decided to go to the Saltpans instead.

After breakfast we drove to Agiasos and stayed there a few hours walking in the mountainsaround the city, known for the many species of orchids and other flowers, including peonies. Wesaw different species of orchids and anemones.

On the way back we stopped at the forest of Achlader and an English birder showed me a nestwith two young Raven on the ridge opposite the parking place. There were also Chaffinch, CirlBunting, Goldfinch, Krpers Nuthatch, Masked Shrike and Spanish Sparrow.

On Thursday, May 6 (my 50th birthday) was the last day that we had access to the car.Early in the morning I went to Makara. I saw Black-eared Wheatear, Black-headed Bunting,Cettis Warbler, Common Stonechat, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Eurasian Jackdaw, EurasianJay, European Greenfinch, Little Owl, Red-backed Shrike, Red-footed Falcon, Red-rumpedSwallow, Shag, Sombre Tit, Western Rock Nuthatch and Whinchat.

After breakfast we went to the Salt Pans again and to the Kalloni Raptor Watch Point.There was already a group of British birders who were very experienced in observing raptors. Atlarge distances they saw something regularly. In most cases I saw nothing.I only saw a Northern Goshawk and a Short-toed Eagle.

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I discovered that staring at a speck on the horizon is not my idea of birdwatching and we movedon.

At Aghios Ioannis near Parakila we could see that the Black-eared WheatearandCretzschmar's Bunting had a nest. Some youngsters flew out of the nest and we could theselittle ones very well. We also saw Blackbird, Black-eared Wheatearand a Golden Oriole.My wife wanted back to the hotel to start packing and I went to Madaros and for the last time tothe Kalloni Saltpans, which is one of my favourite spots on Lesvos.

At Madaros I saw Goldfinch, Orphean Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin, Starred Agama and Whinchat. The regular birds were at the pans.

Back at the hotel we saw European Tree Frogs in the hotel swimming pool.

The next morning at 06:15 we were picked up by the bus to take us to the airport of Mytilini. Weflew at 09:30 and at 14:30 we were back home.

On Lesvos we had beautiful weather all week with temperatures around 28 C. In theNetherlands it was about 10 C. and it was raining.

We had a wonderful holiday. I saw 108 different bird species, including 4 lifers.