BIRDING LESVOS

2 -16 MAY 2002

Having experienced and enjoyed Lesvos spring birding in 2001, we decided to try for a repeat performance. Again we mainly used ‘Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos’ by Richard Brooks for information, backed-up by our own 2001 experience.

We used Collins Bird Guide (Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom & Grant) for identification dovetailed with the occurrence information in the Systemic List in Brooks.

During our first few days we were told by birders enjoying their second week that the week before had seen more birds. Our experience was that we still totalled over 150 species and we noticed that some migration was at a different stage from the previous year. In 2001 good numbers of Glossy Ibis were present only on the first few days, we caught the tail end of Red-footed Falcon migration with only 2 birds seen and we only saw Red-throated pipit once. This year there were good numbers of these species during our stay.

We again decided to take a JMC package holiday as the basis for flight and accommodation. We flew from Manchester Airport direct to Mytilini, the island’s capital.

We had booked to stay at the Kalloni 11 Hotel at Skala Kalloni. For some reason, perhaps because our arrival co-incided with the Greek Easter, or perhaps the increase in Bird Tours, but there was a major problem with accommodation. We were told the week before departure that our hotel was overbooked and we would have to spend the first two nights in an Apartment. Others found out about the problem at their departure airport, and a German tour leader found out on arrival at his hotel!. The problem affected a number of holiday companies, a number of hotels, and I was aware of British, German and Dutch birders inconvenienced. It is to be hoped that a repeat does not occur in 2003.

We booked a hire car for the two-week stay with Holiday Autos through a deal with Hertz. The Fiat Punto coped well throughout. There was no need to take any additional excess waiver on the insurance (payable locally) as Holiday Autos refund any excess which might need to paid should damage occur. Car hire in Greece isn’t cheap and we found it useful to obtain prices from the web and Holiday Autos ‘price matched’.

Again the local people were friendly and accommodating, the pace of life was ‘steady’ and there were no problems with language. Except in one or two isolated places people spoke English as their second language.

Although the first two nights were in an apartment, we breakfasted at our hotel. The hotel is three star and we found it clean and tidy. Most of the residents were British or Dutch birders and the camaraderie was superb with plenty of useful information circulating around the breakfast tables as people planned their day.

For evening meals we recommend either a family-run taverna called ‘Ostria’ just off the Square at Skala Kalloni, or the Sea Horse Restaurant. Both are a 5-minute walk from the hotel along the sea-front past Kalloni pool.

Having a fortnight we decided not to race about but to pace ourselves. The birding again was good everywhere. All we had to do was to stop the car and look – there were birds everywhere. Also the island contains a mixture of habitats from scrub to rocks to forest/olive groves to mountains etc etc so the variety of bird life was tremendous.

We kept daily records and at the end of a relaxing holiday we totalled up and found to our great surprise that we had reached 152 species (including 1 heard). This surpassed our expectations and the bonus was all the birdsong, which you tend not to experience in Israel or so much in Cyprus.

Itinerary Highlights

Most mornings started with an hours birding around Kalloni Pool (directly outside our hotel room!). Glossy Ibis and Wood Sandpipers were seen daily with Whiskered Tern, House Martin and Swallow hawking over the water. Little Bittern and Squacco Heron were very active. Purple Heron was present most days. Crakes were present during the first week including a Baillon’s on 5th. Black-crowned Night Heron were roosting behind the Pool with a maximum count of 4. Olivaceous Warbler was common in the bushes.

Any track around the Island turned up Corn Bunting and Black-headed Bunting, both very vocal. Also Nightingale were numerous, not skulking, and very tuneful.

Friday 3 May

A trip to Achladeri was rewarded by excellent views of Kruper’s Nuthatch. Other sightings included Long-legged Buzzard, Nightingale, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, Subalpine Warbler, Red-Backed Shrike and Woodchat Shrike. Nearby at a craggy outcrop we had Western Rock Nuthatch and Black-eared Wheatear.

A visit to Kalloni Salt Pans on our way back revealed good numbers of Greater Flamingo. Also seen were Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Great White Egret, Ruddy Shelduck, Little Gull, Red-throated Pipit and Montagu’s Harrier.

Sunday 5 May

A morning walk around Kalloni Inland Lake added Thrush Nightingale to our list, and our only heard – Cuckoo. The afternoon was spent in Potamia Valley turning up all four shrikes, Red-backed, Woodchat, Masked and Lesser Grey.

Monday 6 May

As Skala Kalloni school was on holiday we were able to check the trees behind the playground and obtained stunning views of roosting Scops Owl. Then to East River where we discovered a bathing area where passerines bathed on the rocks and then preened in a convenient bush with a Nightingale singing constantly in the background. Watched bathing were Great Reed Warbler and Reed Warbler at the same time, Olivaceous Warbler, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, and Blue Tit. At a later date we added male and female Cirl Bunting to the list.

Tuesday 7 May

Our first visit of the trip up Napi Valley was rewarded with excellent views of Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Kestrel and the highlight – 30 Red-footed Falcons.

Wednesday 8 May

Kalloni Salt Pans turned up trumps again with both Collared and Black-Winged Pratincoles. Also present were Stone Curlew, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Bee-eater, Ruddy Shelduck, Red-footed Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard, and Whiskered, Little and White-winged Black Terns

Thursday 9 May

Going through Grand Canyon enroute Ipsilou turned up Blue Rock Thrush, Red-rumped Swallow and Crag Martin. At Ipsilou the new track to the left now has a good surface. Rock Nuthatch and Cretzschmar’s Bunting were at the start, however on entering the trees Cinereous Bunting was singing from near the top of an Oak. Rock Sparrow was nesting at the Monastery entrance and singing from a dead tree stump near the path. Every tree appeared to hold Spotted Flycatcher.

On the return route, near Agra, a flock of 10 Alpine Swift flew overhead.

Friday 10 May

About 5.30pm a large group was watching Kalloni Pool after a Great Snipe had been reported when everything went up. The source was located as a Lesser Spotted Eagle. Whilst the eagle was being buzzed by a Hooded Crow a check below them revealed the tremendous number of birds, now in flight, which were usually hidden by the reeds and rushes.

Monday 13 May

An early visit to Ipsilou revealed more good sightings including Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Hoopoe and Pied Flycatcher. The highlight was watching Black-eared Wheatear, Sombre Tit, singing Cinereous Bunting and 3 Rock Nuthatch in one bins view on adjoining boulders.

We had just about finished our walk and the heavens opened for our only day of rain during the holiday. We drove to Sigri for shelter and a coffee and from the taverna saw Lesser Kestrel and Jackdaw. When the weather cleared we went to Faneromeni Ford to watch a Penduline Tit nest for half an hour before the bird appeared. The wait in the cold was worth it, even though the views were distant and short. The return to Sigri turned up Honey Buzzard at close range.

Arrival back at Kalloni saw the second storm of the day. This one was tremendous but when it cleared hirundines appeared from no-where and Kalloni pool was covered with hawking swifts, swallows and martins.

Tuesday 14 May

A call over breakfast saw us changing plans and heading for Kalloni Salt Pans. Probably due to the storm the previous day, a Caspian Plover was found in the Sheep Field. Initially the stunning male was nestled down but when a photographer’s car got too close it stood up and moved, showing well to the audience.

Wednesday 15 May

A last look at Kalloni Salt Pans before dinner saw the Greater Flamingos move close to the road and with the setting sun behind the light and view was spectacular. As we were packing up to return to Kalloni a birder stopped and told us that a Spur-Winged Plover had been found at Derbyshire which called for a detour before dusk.

Sightings

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Present all fortnight on Kalloni Pool. Highest count 2

Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris
1 on 9th on Kalloni Pool

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
Almost daily at Kalloni Pool. Highest count 4 on 5th (not seen on 11th)
1 at East River on 2nd, 3rd, & 4th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th, 12th, & 14th
4 at Faneromeni ford on 13th

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
4 at Kalloni Pool on 4th, 2 on 8th and 1 on 6th & 9th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th
1 at East River on 15th

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Seen regularly at Kalloni Pool and on visits to Kalloni Salt Pans and the East River
Highest count was 19 on 10th at Kalloni Pool

Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Widespread and seen regularly at Kalloni Pool, East River and Kalloni Salt Pans. Highest count was 24 on 8th at Kalloni Salt Pans

Great White Egret Egretta alba
3 on 3rd on salt pools beside Derbyshire
1 on 3rd and 4th at Kalloni Salt Pans

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Seen regularly at Kalloni Salt Pans. Highest count was 6 on 4th
2 on 3rd at Derbyshire
1 on 5th at Kalloni Inland Lake
1 on 10th at Upper East River
1 on 15th at East River

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
1 or 2 seen regularly at Kalloni Pool
1 on 3rd & 6th at East River

Black Stork Ciconia nigra
2 on 5th at West River
1 on 4th in flight at Skala Kalloni
2 on 15th and 1 on 10th & 14th at Kalloni Salt Pans

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Seen almost daily around Skala Kalloni. Nesting on top of one of the churches

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Seen regularly at Kalloni Pool. High count 40 on 11th
34 on 3rd at Kalloni Salt Pans
26 on 11th in flight in Napi Valley

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
1 on 11th at Kalloni Salt Pans

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Seen throughout at Kalloni Salt Pans. High count 423 on 8th

Mute Swan Cygnus olor
6 on 3rd at Derbyshire
5 on 3rd and 4th at sea at mouth of East River
7 on 5th at sea at mouth of East River
1 on 10th at sea at mouth of East River

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
2 on 8th at Kalloni Salt Pans

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
2 at Derbyshire on 3rd and 10 on 15th
4 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd, 1 on 8th & 2 on 15th

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
Seen regularly at Kalloni Salt Pans. High count 3 on 3rd

Teal Anas crecca
Male and female on Kalloni Pool on 9th

Garganey Anas quercedula
Seen regularly at Kalloni Pool. High count 3 male and 1 female on 4th

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
2 males seen regularly at Kalloni Pool

Osprey Pandion haliaetus
1 on 14th in flight over Kalloni Inland Lake

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
1 on 13th in flight at Faneromeni

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
1 on 5th over Kalloni Inland Lake
2 on 6th over Potamia Valley
1 on 7th over Napi Valley
2 on 9th over Andisi
1 on 13th over Kalloni Inland Lake

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Seen regularly hunting between Skala Kalloni and Kalloni Salt Pans

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
1 over Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd and 1 on 14th

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
1 on 7th over Napi Valley
1 on 9th in Grand Canyon
1 on 11th between Petra and Molivos
1 on 12th over Potamia Valley
1 on 13th near Felia

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
1 near Achladeri on 3rd
1 over Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th
1 over Potamia Valley on 6th
1 in Napi Valley on 7th and 3 on 11th
1 over Kalloni Salt Pans on 8th and 1 on 14th
1 in Grand Canyon on 13th
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
1 on 10th over Kalloni Pool – put everything up and was mobbed by a Hooded Crow

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
1 on 7th in flight at Napi Valley

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
4 on 13th at Sigri

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1 on 2nd over Kalloni Pool
3 on 7th in Napi Valley
1 on 9th over Agra
1 on 15th over East River
1 on 16th at sea opposite Mytilini Airport

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus
2 at Skala Kalloni on 2nd
30 in Napi Valley on 7th and 12 on 11th
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 7th, 3 on 8th, 1 on 14th & 1 on 15th
7 between Ipsilou and Eressos on 9th
1 at Sigri on 13th

Hobby Falco subbuteo
1 on 14th over Kalloni Pool

Chukar Alectoris chuckar
2 on 10th on Upper East River towards the dead goat pit

Little Crake Porzana parva
Male and Female on Kalloni Pool on 4th
1 female on Kalloni Pool on 7th
1 female at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
1 on Kalloni Pool on 5th

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Seen regularly on Kalloni Pool, East River and Kalloni Inland Lake

Coot Fulica atra
Seen daily on Kalloni Pool. High count 14 on 15th

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Seen daily on Kalloni Pool and visits to Kalloni Salt Pans. High count on 7th with
28 at Kalloni Pool and 6 at Kalloni Salt Pans

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Seen regularly at visits to Kalloni Salt Pans. High count 72 on 14th

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
1 on 7th on West River
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 7th, 2 on 8th, 4 on 10th and 1 on 16th

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
4 at mouth of East River on 3rd
3 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 8th

Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 8th

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Seen regularly at Kalloni Salt Pans, 4 on 3rd & 15th
2 on 2nd at East River
1 on 6th on Skala Kalloni beach

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
7 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 8th

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Seen on all visits to Kalloni Salt Pans. High count was 12 on 7th

Caspian Plover Charadrius morinellus
1 on 14th in the sheep field, Kalloni Salt Pans

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
3 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 4th, 3 on 7th and 18 on 10th

Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus
1 at Derbyshire Pool on 15th

Sanderling Calidris alba
13 on 15th on sand between Lower East River and the sea
8 on Kalloni Salt Pans on 15th, 4 on 16th

Little Stint Calidris minuta
Seen regularly on visits to Kalloni Salt Pans. Numbers rising to 50 on 16th
7 on Kalloni Pool on 14th, 5 on 15th

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
1 on 7th at West River
1 on 10th at East River

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Seen regularly on visits to Kalloni Salt Pans. Numbers rising to 80 on 16th

Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Seen in small numbers (up to 8) at Kalloni Pool and East River between 7th and 15th
c.250 on 3rd and 4th at Kalloni Salt Pans

Snipe sp Gallinago?
1 on Upper East River on 10th

Great Snipe Gallinago media
1 on Kalloni Pool on 7th

Redshank Tringa totanus
2 on East River on 10th
2 at Faneromeni on 13th

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 7th

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
1 on East River on 6th and 2 on 8th
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 8th and 1 on 11th

Greenshank Tringa nebularia
1 on East River on 4th
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 7th

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
1 in Potamia Valley on 5th
1 on East River on 6th

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Seen daily on Kalloni Pool and regularly on East River till 12th.
High count 34 on 7th at Kalloni Pool

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

1 at East River on 3rd
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 15th

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 7th, 2 on 8th, 2 on 14th and 1 on 15th
1 on Lower East River on 15th

Little Gull Larus minutus
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd, 15th and 16th

Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans michahellis
Good numbers throughout the Island.
High count 118 at the storage lake in Potamia Valley

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
1 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 10th

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
1 over Kalloni Pool on 7th

Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Seen almost daily between Skala Kalloni harbour and Lower East River

Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Seen almost daily between Skala Kalloni harbour and Lower East River

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
Seen daily (except 13th ) over Kalloni Pool and regularly on visits to Kalloni Salt Pans

Black Tern Chlidonias niger
6 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd and 7 on 11th

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Seen at Kalloni Salt Pans, Kalloni Pool and East River between 3rd and 12th
High Count 30 at Kalloni Pool on 4th

Feral Pigeon Columba livia (domest.)
4 at Skala Kalloni on 3rd, 3 on 7th and 6 on 14th

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Seen daily throughout the Island

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
1 in Potamia Valley on 5th
1 at East River on 6th
1 in Napi Valley on 7th and 2 on 11th
2 in the Grand Canyon on 9th
3 at Faneromeni on 13th

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Only heard once whilst walking around Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th

Scops Owl Otus scops
1 on 6th at roost in a tree behind Skala Kalloni School viewable from the rear playground

Little Owl Athene noctua
1 near Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th and 14th
1 near East River on 5th, 2 on 7th and 1 on 14th
1 at Ipsilou on 9th

Common Swift Apus apus
Seen daily, mainly in small numbers.
High Count 30 on 11th at Molivos

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
1 on 12th over Kalloni Inland Lake

Alpine Swift Apus melba
10 near Agra on 9th
1 over Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th

Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Up to 15 regularly seen in the fields around Kalloni Salt Pans and 4 on East River
3 at Faneromeni on 13th

Roller Coracias garrulus
1 on line at entrance to Potamia Valley on 5th

Hoopoe Upupa epops
1 in Napi Valley on 7th
4 at Ipsilou on 13th

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius
2 on 3rd, adults going to nest hole in tree near Skala Kalloni school
1 at Skala Kalloni on 6th .
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
Seen in the fields around Kalloni Salt Pans, 4 on 3rd, 3 on 4th, 1 on 7th, 1 on 8th, 1 on 10th, 2 on 14th & 2 on 15th.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Abundant and widespread

Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Seen regularly around Kalloni Pool. High count 30 on 14th

Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris
2 in the Grand Canyon on 9th

Swallow Hirundo rustica
Abundant in the Skala Kalloni area

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
4 in the Grand Canyon on 9th and 2 on 13th
2 at Ipsilou on 9th
2 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th and 1 on 14th
1 at Fanoromeni on 13th
4 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 14th

House Martin Delichon urbica
Abundant in the Skala Kalloni area with numerous nests on the Kalloni 11 hotel.

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
5 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd, 24 on 4th, 1 on 8th and 3 on 10th

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flava (Blue-headed Wagtail)
1 at East River on 2nd
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 3rd and 8 on 4th
5 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th
3 at Kalloni Pool on 10th
1 on West River on 12th

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg (Black-headed Wagtail)
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th
1 at Kalloni Pool on 7th, 8th & 10th

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava thunbergi
2 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
1 on 4th in sheep field between Kalloni Salt Pans and the sea

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
1 seen and another heard on 11th in woodland above Kalloni

Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes syriacus
1 in sheep field between Kalloni Salt Pans and the sea on 4th and 14th
2 on Upper East River towards dead goat pit on 8th and 3 on 10th
1 at dyke crossing at rear of Kalloni Salt Pans on 15th

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Heard regularly at the East River.
2 seen on 2nd, 4th & 16th beside East River
1 seen in Potamia Valley on 5th and 2 on 12th
4 heard at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th
1 heard on in the Grand Canyon on 13th

Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
3 at East River on 2nd
2 at Achladeri on 3rd
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 4th, 1 on 8th and 3 on 10th
6 at Potamia Valley on 6th
1 at Napi Valley on 11th

Stonechat Saxicola torquata
1 above Dafia on 9th

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
1 near Ipsilou Monastery on 9th and 13th

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
2 near Ipsilou Monastery on 9th and 1 on 13th

Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanicus melanoleuca
Widespread in rocky areas with 5 seen on 7th at Napi Valley and 4 on 9th at Ipsilou
Both dark and pale forms in equal numbers

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
1 in the Grand Canyon on 9th and 13th
2 at Ipsilou on 9th and 13th

Blackbird Turdus merula
Seen almost daily in all habitats including the hotel grounds

Cetti’s Warbler Cetti cetti
Seen and heard almost daily around Kalloni Pool and East River

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaemus
1 at Kalloni Pool on 3rd and 5th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th
1 on East River on 6th

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
2 at East River on 2nd, 1 on 3rd,1 on 6th and 2 on 11th
1 at Kalloni Pool on 9th
2 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th and 1 on 14th

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Seen on all visits to East River. One favoured the reeds next to the concrete ford and
would sing constantly even when people, vehicles and sheep passed close by.
1 on 5th in Potamia Valley
1 on 12th at Kalloni Inland Lake

Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida elaeica
Commonest warbler seen daily around Kalloni Pool and the surrounding tracks

Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum
1 heard on 7th at Napi Valley
1 seen on 11th at Napi Valley

Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th
1 at Ipsilou on 13th

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans
1 on 3rd at Achladeri
2 on 8th above Upper East River at a small lake near the dead goat pit
1 on 11th at Napi Valley
4 on 12th at Potamia Valley
1 on 13th in the Grand Canyon

Ruppell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli
2 (male and female) between Molivos and Petra on 11th

Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis crassirostris
1 above upper East River on 10th

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
1 at Achladeri on 3rd

Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis
1 between Skala Kalloni and the East River on 5th and 8th

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
1 male on 6th at East River
2 males on 9th at Ipsilou
Male and female on 13th at Ipsilou
1 female on 14th at Kalloni Inland Lake

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
8 at Ipsilou on 9th and 1 on 13th

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
2 at Ipsilou on 9th

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
3 at Ipsilou on 13th

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
3 at Achladeri on 3rd
50 at Ipsilou on 9th and 12 on 13th
2 at Napi Valley on 11th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 12th and 14th
1 at East River on 15th

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
1 in woods at top of rise above Kalloni on the Petra Road on 11th

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
1 female on 13th at Ipsilou

Sombre Tit Parus lugubris
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th and 14th
1 at Potamia Valley on 5th
4 above Parakila on 6th
2 in Napi Valley on 7th
1 above Upper East River on 10th
2 at Ipsilou on 13th

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus
Widespread and abundant with young

Great Tit Parus major
Widespread and abundant with young

Kruper’s Nuthatch Sitta krueperi
1 on 3rd at Achladeri

Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer
1 near Achladeri on 3rd
2 above Parakila on 6th
2 above Upper East River on 8th
2 at Ipsilou on 9th and 7 on 13th
1 above Dafia on 12th
1 near Kalloni Inland Lake on 14th

Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
1 female on 13th at nest near the ford at Faneromeni

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
1 at East River on 2nd, 2 on 6th and 2 on 15th
1 at Achladeri on 3rd
2 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th and 2 on 14th
2 in Napi Valley on 7th
2 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 10th and 1 on 14th
3 at Ipsilou on 13th

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
1 on 5th at Potamia Valley
2 on 14th between Skala Kalloni and East River

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator
3 at Achladeri on 3rd
1 at Potamia Valley on 5th
2 at Napi Valley on 7th
2 above Upper East River on 8th and 10th
2 at Ipsilou on 9th and 13th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 14th
1 near East River on 15th

Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus
2 at Potamia Valley on 5th
1 at East River on 6th
1 at Napi Valley on 7th and 11th
1 at Ipsilou on 9th
1 at Sigri on 13th
1 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 14th

Jay Garrulus glandarius atricapillus
2 at Kalloni Inland Lake on 5th and 1 on 14th
2 near Felia on 9th
1 at Kalloni Pool on 10th
1 above Kalloni towards Molivos on 11th
2 at Potamia Valley on 12th
3 between Vatousa and Skalochori on 13th

Jackdaw Corvus monedula
70 on 13th at Sigri

Hooded Crow Corvus corone
Seen daily over Skala Kalloni and at Skala Kalloni Pool

Raven Corvus corax
2 on 7th in Napi Valley
1 on 13th at Ipsilou

House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Widespread and abundant. Nesting in used House Martin nests on Kalloni 11 hotel

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
Seen regularly on the East River near the main road

Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia
1 on 9th at Ipsilou Monastery nesting near the main entrance
3 on 13th at Ipsilou

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Widespread, especially in woodland. High count 6 on 12th in Potamia

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Widespread. Seen almost daily

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Widespread and abundant. A number of pairs nesting around Kalloni Pool and near the Vasso Apartments at Skala Kalloni

Linnet Carduelis cannabina
2 on 6th at Parakila
1 on 7th at Napi Valley
2 on 11th at Petra
2 on 13th at Skalochori
3 on 15th at East River

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
1 at Potamia Valley on 5th
2 at Napi Valley on 7th
1 at East River on 8th and a male and female on 15th
2 at Ipsilou on 9th and 1 on 13th

Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea
1 at Ipsilou on 9th and 13th

Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia
2 above Parakila on 6th
1 at Napi Valley on 7th
3 at Ipsilou on 9th and 2 on 13th
1 above Kalloni towards Petra on 11th
1 in the Grand Canyon on 13th

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
Widespread and abundant

Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
Widespread and abundant

Alan and Anne Miller