Lesvos: Kalloni Saltpans, Ipsilou Monastery, Faneromeni and Petrified Forest



Ipsilou Monastery

Petrified Forest

Bee-eater



Black-eared Wheatear

Black-headed Bunting

Bonelli's Warbler

Cinereous Bunting

Collared Flycatcher

Collared Flycatcher

Collared Flycatcher

Corn Bunting

Levant Sparrowhawk

Levant Sparrowhawk

Little Owl

Nightjar

Olivaceous Warbler

Red-backed Shrike

Sombre Tit

Subalpine Warbler

Wryneck

Lesvos: Metochi Lake, Kallonis Raptor Watch Point, Achladeri Forest and Polichnitos Saltpans



Bob Knight having just seen the Kruper's Nuthatch in Achladeri Forest!



Little Bittern

Little Bittern

Little Crake

Little Crake

Great Reed Warbler

Night Heron

Night Heron

Night Heron

Night Heron

Curlew Sandpiper

Kruper's Nuthatch

Marsh Sandpiper

Marsh and Wood Sandpiper

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Lesvos: Papiana, Kalloni Saltpans & Raptor Watch Point



Kalloni Saltpans



Wood Sandpiper

Spur-winged Plover

Spanish Sparrow

Greater Flamingo

Black-winged Stilt

Cirl Bunting

Long-eared Owl

Scops Owl

Short-toed Lark

Short-toed Lark

Lesvos: Kalloni Saltpans & Skala Kallonis

Bob Knight and I arrived in Lesvos this afternoon along with what appeared to be almost a Gatwick flight made up of mostly birders and nature photographers based on the equipment packed into the overhead storage compartments on board!

At the airport we'd already seen many Kent-based birders, many commenting on Brenda's absence caused by her work commitments as a primary school teacher and lack of leave at this time of the year! We spoke with Mick Southcott, Richard Smith, Brendan Ryan, Geoff Burton and Mike Gould; we were to meet all of them again later over the week in the field at various sites, but we met with Mick and Richard most frequently as we were sharing the same hotel and we shared news and enjoyed their company most evenings over dinner.

Stopping off at a couple of sites on route from the airport to the hotel 'Pela' in the resort of Skala Kollonis in our hire car we started to see many expected species including: Black-eared Wheatear, White and Black Storks, Squacco and Purple Herons, Black-winged Stilts, Ruddy Shelducks, Kentish Plovers, Crested Larks, Spanish Sparrows, Black-headed Wagtails, Olivaceous Warblers and Red-rumped Swallows.

Eurasian Jay (of the black-crowned race: Garrulus glandularius atricapillus)

Dungeness, Kent

Good to be back in the south-east and looking for migrants at Dungeness. The north-easterly wind picked up as the day progressed and we did a lot of walking for our rewards today. Very tiring!

Highlights on the sea included a few Arctic Terns among the 80-100 Common Terns present, Mediterranean Gulls (3) and at least six Harbour Porpoise.

Walking round the observatory moat, we counted at least 30 Wheatears a couple of Swallows and three Common Whitethroats.

By time we reached the RSPB Reserve, although birds were singing, they were keeping their heads down due to the increasing wind one imagines. A male Blue-headed Wagtail among at least ten Yellow Wagtails was interesting. We also managed to see: Peregrine (1), Goldeneye (1), Great White Egret (1), Sedge Warbler (4), Reed Warbler (1), Common Whitethroat (3), House Martins (12+) and Swallows (8).

Blue-headed Wagtail

Red Rocks, Wirral

Wheatear

Sculthorpe Moor, Norfolk

Water Rail

Brambling

Bullfinch

Bullfinch

Pheasant

Marsh Harrier