Lesvos Birds 2010

2 0 1 0LESVOS BIRDS

written and compiled bySteve Dudley

LESVOS BIRDS 2010written and compiled by Steve Dudley

Steve Dudley is author of A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos, runs Lesvos Birding and is a member of the Lesvos Birds Records Committee

Text © Steve Dudley | Lesvos Birding, 2011Photos © photographers as credited, 2011

Cover photo: European Bee-eaters, Tsiknias River, May 2010 © Mick Sviekutis

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LESVOS BIRDS 2010

© Steve Dudley | Lesvos Birding 2010 1

LESVOS BIRDS 2010 written and compiled by Steve Dudley

CONTENTS

Introduction 2

Birdrecordsusedforthisreport 2

Coveragein2010 2

Submittingyourbirdrecords 2

Birdinformationwhenontheisland 3

ThenewEnvironmentalCentreatSkalaKallonis 3

Drivingoffthemainroads 4

Trespassinganddisturbanceofbreedingbirds 4

Notesonbirdingsites 4

Acknowledgements 8

Introductiontothespeciesaccounts 10

Speciesaccounts 12

Appendix1–Datesofsummerandpassagemigrants 64

Appendix2–Datesofwintermigrants 67

Appendix3–BirdsringedonLesvosin2010 68

Appendix4–Unprovenrecords 69

Appendix5–Recordspending 69

Appendix6–Othernotablewildlife 69

Mammals 69

Butterflies 70

Dragonflies 71

Orchids 71

References 72

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


INTRODUCTION

WelcometothesecondannualbirdreportforLesvos–Lesvos Birds 2010.Aslastyear,thereporthasbeen

collated,writtenandeditedbymyselfwithassistancefrommembersoftheLesvosBirdRecords

Committee–EleniGalinou,NikosProbonasandTerryRobinson–forwhosehelpIamextremelygrateful.

BIRD RECORDS USED FOR THIS REPORT

LastyearImadeapleaformorerecords.Thatpleawasheardbyasmallnumberwhobetweenthem–

fromrecordsgatheredfromtheLesvosBirdingLogatHotelPasiphae,fromrecordswritteninthePela

HotelandKalloniBayHotel(formerlyKalloniII)logs,fromrecordssenttomedirect,andfromrecords

gleanedfromtripreportspostedonline–contributedover7500recordstothedatabase.Thisisafabulous

responseandcomparesimpressivelywithonlyc.500recordsreceivedfor2009.Attheendoftheyear,the

2010databasestoodatover21,000records.Whilstthismakesmyjobfarmuchharder,itdoeshowever

makeforamuchmorecompletereport,atleastforthemainspringandautumnbirdingperiods.

LesvosresidentTerryRobinsonagaincontributedahugenumberofrecords,mostlyfromhislocalareaof

SkalaPolichnitouandthePolichnitosSaltpans.EleniGalinoureturnedtohernativeLesvostowardstheend

oftheyearandcontributedmanyadditionalrecordstowardstheyear‐end,andIamsure,shewillprovean

importantcontributorincomingyears.Thisalsomeansthatwenowhavetworesidentbirderscoveringthe

twomajorsaltpanareasofKallonisandPolichnitos.

COVERAGE IN 2010

Aswellasamassiveincreaseinrecordssubmittedforthemainspringandautumnweeks,Ireceiveda

substantialnumberofrecordsfrombirdersvisitingtheislandearlierinthespringthannormal.Jean‐

PhilippeandSebastianSibletvisitedLesvosfromlateMarchforafortnight,andAndyStoddartwasonthe

islandinearlyApriltoo.Thisaddedaconsiderablenumberofrecordsforthisimportantspringperiodfor

manyareasoftheisland,andformanyspringmigrants.Thisnotonlyyieldedmanyfirstrecordsforthe

year,butalsosomeearliesteverrecordsforsomespecies,aswellasanumberofqualityraritiesincluding

severalGreaterSpottedEagles–thefirstsince1999.

Thefirstofthemainspringweeks(from15April)waslargelylostduetothedisruptioncausedbythe

Icelandicvolcano.Thisweeksawfewbirdersreachtheisland,withnormalserviceresumingfrom22April.

SUBMITTING YOUR BIRD RECORDS

Iwillcontinuetocollaterecords(asdetailedabove)forfutureyears.Allrecordsofrareandscarcespecies

(seekeytotheSystematicListbelow)willbefollowedupandpassedontotheLesvosBirdsRecords

Committee(LBRC)orforGreeknationalrarities,forwardedtotheHellenicRaritiesCommittee(HRC).You

cansubmityourrecordsasfollows–

1. Directtome–lists,includingdateandlocationofobservationstomyselfviatheLesvosBirding

website(www.lesvosbirding.com).

2. Tripreportspostedontheweb–pleasesendmetheURLforyourreportandIwilllinktoitfrom

theLesvosBirdingwebsite(alreadyover80reportslistedtotheendof2010).

3. Whenontheisland,byenteringyourrecordsintheLesvosBirdingBirdLogsituatedinthe

receptionoftheHotelPasiphaeinSkalaKallonis.

Could I please urge all contributors to the bird log to write legibly (I’ve been unable to read several

names from the 2010 log), give your full name (not just nickname or initials) and if possible, leave

an email contact address for me to follow up any sightings with you.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


4. TherearealsologsatthePelaandKalloniBay(formerlyKalloniII)hotels–butthesereceivemuch

fewerrecordsthanthePasiphaelog.From2011therewillalsobealoginthenewKalloni

EnvironmentalCentreatSkalaKalloni(seebelow).Idon’talwayshavethetimetogettothe

otherhotelstoextractthekeyrecords,soIaskcontributorstothesetoemailmethemore

importantrecordsoralsoenterthemintheHotelPasiphaelog.

5. ForLesvosrarities,viatheLBRCwebsite(http://lesvosbirdrecords.blogspot.com/).

6. ForGreeknationalrarities,viaHRC(http://rarities.ornithologiki.gr/en/eaop/form.htm).

BIRD INFORMATION WHEN ON THE ISLAND

Youcanshareyourbirdnewsandaccessnewsfromothersinoneofseveralwaysduringyourstay.

Bird logs

TheLesvosBirdingBirdLogattheHotelPasiphaeistheprimesourceofbirdinformation.Duringthemain

springandautumnweeksmanybirderscontributeandwhenIamontheislandIkeepituptodateeach

eveningaddingrecordsI’vebeeninformedofwhilstinthefieldeachday.

TherewillalsobealoginthenewEnvironmentalCentreatSkalaKallonis(seebelow).

TherearealsologsatthePelaandKalloniBayhotels.

Online

Forthosestayinginaccommodationwithinternetaccess(andthoseathomeviewingbeforecomingoutto

theisland),IaimtoupdatethesightingsforeachdayontheLesvosBirdingwebsitebymidnightatthe

latest(oftenearlier).

In the field – Text / SMS messaging

Ifyouseesomethingofnote,pleasepassonthenews–tellotherbirdersyouseeontheday,enterthe

recordintheLesvosBirdingBirdLogattheHotelPasiphae.Youcaneventextmeyournotablerecords

eachdayon00447767787287andIwillentertheseinthelogandonthewebsiteattheendoftheday.

THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE AT SKALA KALLONIS

Regularvisitorswillnothavefailedtonoticeinrecentyearsthisunfinishedbuildingonthenorthern

outskirtsofSkalaKallonis.Well,theKalloniEnvironmentalCentrehasatlonglastbeenopened.Birderswill

beabletovisitthecentrefromAprilbetween0900–1300hand1800–2100h.Thecentreissituatedalong

thestreetthatrunsdownthesideofthebakersneartheminisoccerpitchonthenorthernsideofthe

village.Sovisitswillbeeasytofitinaroundatavernalunchordinner.Ofinterestwillbeenvironmentaland

naturalhistorydisplaysfortheisland,andthereisalsoalectureroom(butasyetnospecificlectures

plannedforthebirdingseason–seetheLesvosBirdingwebsiteforanynewsonthis).Thecentrewillalso

hostaLesvosBirdingbirdlog.TherewillalsobeinternetaccesshereforyoutoviewmyLesvosBirding

websitefornewsfrompreviousdays(askthecentrestafffordetails).Itishopedawebsiteforthecentre

willbeupandrunningbythespring.I’llprovidealinkfromtheLesvosBirdingwebsitewhenitis.

Thecentrehasthreestaffmembers,ageographer,amarinebiologistandlocalenvironmentalistandbirder

(andLesvosBirdRecordsCommitteemember)EleniGalinou.Thecentrestaffwillalsoholdthekeysforthe

hidesattheKalloniSaltpans.Theywillensurethehidesareopen,butifyoufindthemlocked,popintothe

centreandletthemknow.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


DRIVING OFF THE MAIN ROADS

Careshouldbetakenwhenleavingthemainmetalled/tarmacroadsanddrivingalongthedirtroadsand

tracks.Somecarhirecompaniesdonotincludethesedirtroadsandtracksintheirinsurancecover–check

yourcarhiredetails.Eventhosethatdocoverthisnowhaveadisclaimerstatingthatyouareliabletothe

fullcostofrepairingtheundersideofahirevehiclebecauseofpreviousproblemswithdriversdriving

acrosscountry.

Ifyoudochosetodrivealongsomeoftheminordirttracks,pleasetakecare.Evenifamap,mybookor

someoneindicatestoyouthatitissafetodoso,trackscanquicklydeteriorate,andcanchange

considerablyfromyeartoyear,sopleasetakecare.

MYITLINI – KALLONI ROAD WIDENING

Theroad‐wideningschemethathasbeenongoingnearMytilinireachedtheKalloniareaduringthe

summerof2010.Workwillcontinuethrough2011sopleasetakecareinroadconstructionareas,andin

particular,takecarwhenpullingon/offthenewroadincludingwhenusingthehideinthenorth‐east

corneroftheKalloniSaltpans.Also,bewareofthespeedlimitsintheroadworks–thepolicefrequently

havespeedtrapsintheseareas(aswellastheregularlocationsoftheTsikniasRivermainroadbridgeand

eithersideoftheSoumouriaScopsCopsenorthofKalloni).

TRESSPASSING AND DISTURBANCE OF BREEDING BIRDS

Wecontinuetoseeunnecessarytrespassanddisturbanceofbreedingbirdsinsomeareas.Atboththe

Olive‐treeWarblersiteinPotamiaValleyandPendulineTitnestsiteatSkalaEresou,farmfenceswere

brokendowntogainillegalaccesstothenestingsites.Also,attheAlykesWetlandsandthebeachnearthe

KalloniSaltpans,groundnestingbirds(inc.Stone‐curlew)wereagaindisturbedandbreedingRufousBush‐

robinsagainharassed,beingchasedfrombushtobush.

Thosewhoundertakesuchthoughtlessactionsalsohaveasecondaryimpact.Manyareasoftheislandare

underincreasingpressurefromhunterswhoarebeingrestrictedmoreandmore.Ahuntingbanhas

recentlybeenplacedontheareasaroundtheKalloniSaltpans,muchtotheangeroflocalhunters.For

birdersandphotographerstothencausedisturbancetotheseprotectedareasunderminesthecaseto

keepthesesiteshuntingfree.

In2011,birdersandphotographersarerespectivelyaskedtoavoidsuchincidents.Atthetimeofwriting

signsarebeingconsideredinsomeareastokeepusawayfromsomesensitivebreedingareas.

NOTES ON BIRDING SITES

IneachreportIwillaimtoprovideanysignificantupdatestothemainbirdingsites–majorchangesin

habitat,accessrestrictions,etc.AsstatedinA Birdwatching Guide to LesvosItryandfollowthenamesused

ontheblueRoadEditionsmapoftheisland(whichIrecommendyougettouseonyourvisit).Page

numbersrefertothesitepageswithinA Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos.

Skala Kallonis Pool(p.97)

Asinrecentyears,thepoolremainedaghostofitsformer,gloriousself.Itwasover‐grownandwithhigh

waterlevelsnovisiblemuddymarginswerepresent,andwhenthewaterdideventuallydrop,anymargins

weren’tvisible.Despitethis,itisstillworthcheckingforwaterfowl,heronsandmarshternsandthe

surroundingareastillattractsmanymigrantpasserines.

Negotiationswiththeownersregardingthefutureandimprovementofthesiteremainongoing.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Christou(Kamares)River(p.98)

ThisriverisnamedasChristouRiverontheRoadEditionsmap,butisknownlocallyastheKamaresRiver

(andiscalledthisonthenewinformationboardbytheroadbridge).Iwillcontinuetousetheabove

presentationonmywebsiteandinreports.

Potamia Valley(p.99)

AnobligingpairofOlive‐treeWarblerswerefoundneartheinlandbridge(notthemainroadbridge).

Unfortunatelysomebirdersandphotographerschosenottorespectprivatelandandenteredtheolive

groves,andinsodoingbrokedownafence.Iknowsomewerechallengedandleftthegroveswhenasked

todoso.Thankstothosewhoaskedthemtogetoutfromunderthetrees.

Enteringthegrovesrarelyprovidesanybetterviewsofthesebirds.Themajoritywhorespectedtheprivate

landwereeventuallyrewardedwithgoodviews.Itsbetterjusttowaitratherthanwadein,trespassand

damagethelandowners’property.

Metochi Lake(p.102)

Parkingisbecominganissuehereattimes(usuallyearlymornings).Pleaseparksensiblyleavingenough

roomfortractorsandtruckstopass.

Don’tforgetthattheareaaroundthelakeisworthexploring,particularlytheculvertrunningalongthe

westernsideofthelakewhichoftenholdsheronsandcrakes.RockNuthatchbreedstothenorthofthe

lake.Bothareascanbeviewedifyoutakethecircularwalkaroundthelake(seebookfordetails)

View from near Anemotia, lookingeastacrossthenorthernendoftheGulfofKalloniviewed, May2010©NeilHughesThetriangularheadlandinthecentreofthebayisthemouthoftheTsikniasRiver,andjustupandleftofthisyoucanjustmakeouttheextensiveKalloniSaltpans.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Kalloni Saltpans area(p.108)

Viewthesaltpansonlyfromtheperimeterroad(inc.thenewsouthhidejustwestofthesaltworks

entrance),thenorth‐westcornerhide,theeasttrackandtheAlykesWetlands(seebelow).Viewingfrom

themainKalloni–Mytiliniroadcanbedangerous.Thereisnoaccesstothefieldsaroundthesaltpansother

thantheAlykesWetlands(seebelow).

Thesouthhidewasagainlockedformuchofthespring.Thiswillimproveasthekeyhasbeentransferred

tolocalbirderEleniGalinou(whoisalsooneofthestaffatthenewlyopenedKalloniEnvironmentalCentre

inSkalaKallonis)whowillensurethehideisunlockedforouruse.

Theseasonallyfloodedfieldsonthesouthsideofthepansoppositethesaltworksentrancewereagaina

realmagnetforbirdsandbirders.Attimesitcangetverybusy,especiallyalongthetrackbeyondthe

saltworksentrancewhichisthemostpopularviewingarea.Pleasetakecarewhendrivingpastgroupsof

birdershereandthoseonfoot,pleasebeawareoftraffic!Pleaseparkononesideoftheroadonly.

ThoseaccessingthebeachpastthePysosbeachcafé(I’vebeeninformedthatthiscaféhasbeenillegally

erectedontheNatura2000protectedcoastalstrip)areremindedthatground‐nestingspeciessuchas

Stone‐curlewoccurhereandbirdersareaskedtotakecaution.RufousBush‐robincanoftenbefoundin

thetamarisksalongthebeachhere,andyouareaskednottoharassbirdsbypushingthemfrombushto

bush.Stayatasensibledistanceandthebirdswillusuallycomeoutandperform.

Thetrackdowntheeastsideofthepans(fromthehideintheNEcorner)shouldonlybeaccessedonfoot.

In2010afewbirdersattemptedtodrivedownthistrackagainwithlittleregardforthosebirdingonfoot.

Thosefewdriverssoonfoundthetrackunmanageableandsoonhadtoturnround(usuallywithdifficulty).

Alykes Wetlands (p.112)

Thefieldsandmarshesthatlietotheeastofthesaltworksshouldbeaccessedonfootonly.Parkattheend

oftheracetrackbytheconcretebridge–thereisplentyofroomformanycars.Careshouldbetakenwhen

approachingtheSaltpansfenceasground‐nestingspeciesincludingStone‐curlewandKentishPloverboth

breedinthisarea.Ifindoubt,donotapproachthefencelineandviewfromorneartothemaintrack.

Pleasetrytoavoiddisturbingthewadersonthepoolsasthosebirdersarrivingafteryouhavegonewould

liketoenjoythesebirdstoo.

Soumouria(KalloniMiniSoccerPitch/ScopsCopse–p.115)

ThissiteunderwentextensivetreethinninginMay2009(nottotaldestructionasreportedbysome).In

2010thesitesupportedtheexpected2‐3pairsofScopsOwlsandbirdswereagainfoundroostinginthe

eucalyptustreeshere.

Platania(p.120)

NotethatthebestwaytoaccessthePlataniatrackfromtheNapiValleyendistoapproachfromthenorth

(iftravellingfromthesouthdrivepasttheturntoPlataniaandthenturnroundsafelyneartherubbishtip

andreturnsouthtoapproachfromthenorth).

Takecarepullingoffthemainroadontothetrackastheimmediatejunctionwasagainunstablein2010.

Thetrackitselfremainspassableformostcarswithcare,butareminderthatyouwillbechargedbyyour

hirecompanyforthecompletecostofanydamagedonetotheundersideofahirevehicle!

Thedistancesgiveninmybookareincorrect.Thecattlegridsiteisonlyc.2.5kmfromtheroad.Also,at

around2kmthereisaforkinthetrack.Ignoretheturntotheleftandproceedonthemaintrack(toright).

YoumightthinkaboutparkingoffthemainNapiValleyroad(e.g.atthetrackrunninguptothemastsat

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Mavria)andwalkingthePlataniatracktothecattlegrid(2.5km).Thisisafabulouswalkwithmanyofthe

NapiValleyspecialtiesfoundalongitslength.

Kavaki(p.124)

ThisremainsthemainsiteforRüppell’sWarbler.Thisspeciescontinuestodeclineontheisland,mirroring

thenationaldeclinethroughoutGreece,withonlythreepairsnowpresentinthisarea.Please do not enter

the scrub areas where the birds breed.Viewonlyfromthelay‐byareasandtheroughtrackupthehillon

thesouthside.

Kavaki, lookingnorthtowardsMolivos(toprighthandcorner)andTurkey(hillsindistance), April2010

©WendyBall

ThisisnowthelastknownbreedingsiteforRüppell’sWarbleronLesvos.Withonlythreepairsseenhereinrecentyears,thissitetoohassufferedadecline(sixpairspresentuptoatleast2004).Perasma(p.125)

Refilledinlate2009,thereservoirremainedfullthroughouttheyearandattractedsomegoodbirds.

Ipsilou(p.147)

Theoldmonasterypathfeaturedinmybooksawanincreaseinusethisyear.Thisisnotaproblembut

severalpeopleslippedonthepaththisyear(sheepdroppingsandtroddeninvegetationmakesthe

pebbledsurfaceslippery).Pleasetakecarewhenusingthispath.Mostpeoplechoosetowalkdownthe

pathwhichiscertainlyeasierforbirding.

Pleasedonotventureofftheroadsoroldmonasterypath.Apartfromunnecessarilytramplingtheground

floraanddisturbingnestingbirds,theslopesarehazardouswithlooserockswhichcouldcauseyouinjury

ortoothersiftheyaredislodgedandrolldownthehill.

Areminderthatphotographyisnotpermittedinsidethechapelinthemonastery.Therewereagain

incidentswerepeoplewereejectedthisyear.Also,ifyouaskforthemuseumtobeopened,oryouvisitit

whenitis,bepreparedtomakeadonationtothemonastery.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Faneromeni(p.151)

SomestillseemunabletolocateFaneromeniLowerFord!Itisarrowedonthemaponp.151ofA

Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos.AlongthemainFaneromenitracktaketheturndowntowardsthebeach

(signed)andthentherightturn(signedchapel)andfollowthistotheford.

Birderschoosingtowalkalongtherivercontinuetogetaverbalbashingfromotherbirdersforflushing

birdstheywerewatching.Walkingalongtheriversjustservestopushbirdsawayfromthemainfordareas

wheremostbirderschoosetoviewfrom.

Pandeleimonas Pools

ThesepoolslieseveralkmeastofEresosnorthofthemainroadtoMesotopos.Thissiteisn’tincludedinA

Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos,butnowthepoolsarematuring,morepeoplearestoppingontheroadside

hereandviewingfromthecarandbeingrewardedwithsomegoodwetlandspeciesincludingLittleCrakes

andheronspecies.Viewonlyfromtheroadside–thereisnoaccesstothepools.

Achladeri Forest(p.167)

TwopairsofKrüper’sNuthatchbredatthetraditionalKofinaspicnicsite(openareawithwhitebuilding).

Thisremainsthebestsitetoseethespecies,butitisbynomeanstheonlysitewithover600pairsin

pinewoodsinthecentralandsouth‐easternareasoftheisland.TheforesttracktothenorthofKofinasis

alsoworthexploringwithbirdsseenfrequentlyhere(seep.167ofA Birdwatchers Guide to Lesvos).

Krüper’sNuthatchcanalsobefoundatnearbyPessaWaterfalls(c.2.5kmsouthofAchladerionthewest

sideoftheroad–lookfornoticeboardsandfollowforesttrackstofalls).

ProblemsbetweenphotographersandbirderswereagainwitnessedatthemainKofinaspicnicsite.I

reiteratewhatIsaidinlastyear’sreport–photographersarerequestedtorespectboththebirdsaswellas

thosewatchingthem;birdersareaskednottodisturbphotographerswhoaresatquietlynearthenest

unlessthereisclearbehaviourfromthebirdssuggestingdisturbancethenthephotographer(s)shouldbe

askedpolitelytomovefurtheraway.Aresponsiblephotographershouldhavenoproblemretreatingif

requested.

Asusual,whenthemilitaryareinresidence,donotattempttoenterthesite.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Iwouldliketothankallthosewhohavesubmittedrecords(viatheLesvosBirdingPasiphaeBirdLog,other

hotellogs,OrnithoTopos,postedtripreportsonlineorsentdirecttome)whichmakeupthisreport

(apologiesforanymisspellingsduetomyinterpretationofhandwritingfromthebirdlogs):PaulAubrey,

Jeff&HelenBailey,Geoff&TraceyBarter,JanBless,Phil&AngelaBootyman,WillBowel,BobBuckler

(Wingspan),JBurggloewe,BBushnell,JohnBuxton,ICampbell,LuCarbyn,JaynneCarre,PaulCaroll,Steve

Chalmers,PeterCole,PeterCosgrove,DavidCottridge(Limosa),MelCowton,ChrisDavis,T&JDavies,Ruth

&JacobdeVeres,EdwardDickinson,DaveDickson,NigelDodd,PaulDoherty,HuubDon,AdamDudley,Liz

Dudley,DanDuff,MattEade,MarkEisin,KevinElsby,TimFarr,JacquieFenn,IanFord(Heatherlea),Bernie

Forbes(AvianAdventures),EleniGalinou,GiannisGasteratos,JohnGlendinning,April&BillGouldie,Mike

Gould,Penny&DaveGreen,T&AGuifoyle,John&MariaGuinever,PhilipHack,KenHall,WillianHansen,

JohnHarris,PhilHarris,Roger&PatHarrison,DaveHatton,MarkHawkes,MikeHodgson(Naturetrek),Neil

Hughes,D&BJohnston,DavidGoodwin,JennyJones,MervJones,ThanosKastritis,PatrickKeorsebild,

RogerLawrence(Ornitholidays),LesvosWildlifeHospital,RobLucking,PaulManning,VeraManning,John

&ShenaMaskell(AvianAdventures),AliMacLee,Dave&JackieNurney,TimmeNyegaard,TedParker,

Marianne&RaffaelPayer,M&CPowell,Priscille&NeilPreston,BobPrice,HeinPrinsen,NikosProbonas,

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Donald&JenniferRhodes,TerryRobinson,MichaelRogg,JohnRussell,ChrisShaw,Jean‐PhilippeSiblet,

SebastianSiblet,Mike&JayneSimmons,JSines,Mike&DotSmith,LefterisStavrakas,SimonStirrup,Mike

Seikutis,AndyStoddart,MarkSullivan,MatthewSullivan,Andy&GillSwash,GrahamTebb(BirdLife

Austria),JoanTemple,LucTeugels,RichardThaxton(Limosa),TonyThunder,Ralph&BrendaTodd,Vic

Tucker,A&GTurner,EddyVaes,MiekeVanHoutte,TimvanOerle,Ton&KeesvanSchre,Ioakim

Vasiliadis,Howard&AndreaVaughan,DidierVieuxtemps,AlbertVrielink,PhilWard,Phill&EllenWells,

BrianWhite,David&LindaWitton,StevenWytema,SylviaZakkak,plusallthemany‘anonymous’

contributionseitherpassedontomeinthefieldorenteredintheLesvosBirdingPasiphaeBirdLogwithout

aname(orthenamewasindecipherable).Thankyoueveryone.

I’dliketopayparticularthanksthephotographerswhohavecontributedimagestothisreport:WendyBall,

WillBowell,DaveDickson,MarkEising,KevinElsby,RobinGally,MarkHawkes,NeilHughes,Thanos

Kastritis,KillianMullarney,SeanNixon,SebastianSiblet,AndySwash,MickSveikutis,TerryRobinsonand

JohanVerbanck.

I’dliketothanktheHellenicRaritiesCommitteeforprovidingmewithdetailsofnationalraritiesforusein

thisreport,andPaulManningforhishelpwiththeorchidsectionofthereport.

IalsothankNikosProbonas,EleniGallinouandTerryRobinsonfortheirinvaluablecommentsandhelp

withthisreportandforservingwithmeontheLesvosBirdsRecordsCommittee(LBRC).

Manyindividualsarecreditedpersonallywithinthespeciesaccounts.(MO)withinthespeciesaccounts

denotesmanyobservers.AnonymousandindecipherablenamesfromtheLesvosBirdingLogattheHotel

Pasiphaearecreditedwithinthespeciesaccountsas‘LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog’.

Steve Dudley | 28 February 2011

Achladeri Forest, May2010©SteveDudley|LesvosBirding

ThisstreamaboveissouthofthemainKrüper’sNuthatchsitebeyondtheforkintheforesttrack.ThisareaoftenholdsapairofKrüper’sNuthatchandthestreamholdsOdalisquedamselflyEpallage fatime(inset).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Key to status codes used within the species accounts

c =common s =scarce

r =rare f =former

R =resident

RB =residentbreeder

MB =migrantbreeder

NB =non‐breeder(specieswithnoclear

seasonalbias–birdscanbefoundinanymonth)

CB =casual/occasionalbreeder

IB =introducedbreeder

SP =springpassage

AP =autumnpassage

PM =passagemigrant(springandautumn)

W =wintervisitor

V =vagrant

? =statusuncertain

* =speciesrequiringsupporting

notes/evidencebyLBRCorHRC—allrecordsto

besubmittedviaLBRC—seeIntroduction

above.

Thefigureslistedafterthestatusofvagrantsandsomeraremigrantspecies,e.g.|1|7+(23+),denotethe

following:thefirstfigureisthenumberofrecordsin2009,thesecondnumberisthetotalnumberof

knownrecordsandthenumberinbracketsisthetotalnumberofknownindividualsmakingupthetotal

numberofrecords(whenthisisdifferenttothetotalnumberofknownrecords).So|1|7+(23+)

indicatesasinglerecordin2010,withatotalof7+knownrecordscomprising23+individuals.

Taxonomy and nomenclature

SinceLesvosisvisited,andmywebsiteandreportsareread,bybirdersfromaroundtheworld,Iamgoing

tofollowtheIOC World Bird List(www.worldbirdnames.org).Iwillfollowthesequenceandscientific

namesusedbytheIOC.TheEnglishnamesusedwillbe‘based’ontheIOCWorldBirdListname.Wherethe

popularEnglishnameissufficientlydifferentfromtheIOCnamethiswillbemadeclear.Someexamples–

Chukar(Partidge),Black‐throatedDiver(Loon),White‐winged(Black)Tern.Thewordsinparentheses

denotethe‘variable’partofthenameeitherincludedorexcludedbytheIOC.Thereasonforthisisthat

someoftheIOC’sEnglishnameshavenotyetreachedpopularusageinEurope(e.g.Black‐throatedLoon–

whichataEuropeanlevelwillneverbeused)andsomenamesarerecentchanges(e.g.EurasianBittern

replacingGreatBittern)whilstRedKnot,NorthernWheatearandBarnSwallowareallnowwidelyused.

IalsodifferfromtheIOC World Bird Listinsomeofitsfamilypresentations.Honey‐buzzardisusedinstead

ofHoneyBuzzardtodenotethatHoney‐buzzards(Pernis)areadistinctfamilytoBuzzards(Buteo).

Similarly,IuseRock‐thrushandBush‐robintodifferentiatethesefamilies.

Notes on the Species List

Thespecieslistthatfollowsincludesdetailsofallknownspeciesrecordedduring2010.Italsoincludes

somenotablerecordsfrompreviousyearsthathaveeitheronlyjustcometolightorhaveonlyjustbeen

acceptedbytherelevantcommittees.ThisprovidesanopportunitytoconfirmtheseinadedicatedLesvos

publicationandtoincludephotographswhereappropriate.

Oftherecordsreceivedfor2010,veryfewbreedingrecordswerereceived.Iwouldurgethosesubmitting

recordstoprovideanyindicationofbreeding(display,obviousterritorybeingheld,birdsvisitingnest,

fledgedyoungseen,etc.).

ManynotablerarespeciesareincludedwithinthisreportincludingdetailsofthefirstLesvosrecordsof

GreyPhalaropeandYellow‐browedWarbler;thesecondrecordofCommonGoldeneye;thesecondrecord

(andthirdGreekrecord)ofFinsch’sWheatear;thesecondbreedingrecordofPendulineTit;thethird

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


recordofRedKnot;thefourthrecordofBlue‐cheekedBee‐eater;thefifthrecordofStockDove;three

TerekSandpipers(6‐8threcords–arecordyear);the10thand11threcordsofFerruginousDuck;12threcord

ofCalandraLark;the12‐13threcordsofRed‐neckedPhalarope;andanumberofrarereaglesincludingfive

GreaterSpottedEagles(thefirstrecordssince1999).

ReportsofrarespeciesnotsubmittedtoLBRCorHRCinclude:Red‐neckedGrebe(September,Perasma

Reservoir),Black‐wingedPratincole(May,KalloniSaltpans)and6Blue‐cheekedBee‐eater(May,nr

Anemotia).

ThisreportalsoincludesthefirstacceptedrecordofWhite‐tailedPlover(from2001),thefirsttworecords

ofDotterel(from2006and2008),firstLesserCrestedTern(from2005)

Amongthescarcemigrantspeciesthefollowingnotablespecieswereseen:aPygmyCormorantwasseen

inNovember,1‐2LannerFalconsinspring,twoMerlins,asingleBaillon’sCrake,asingleBar‐tailedGodwit,

11Broad‐billedSandpipers(inc.aflockof7),aGreeknationalrecordcountofLittleGulls,firstconfirmed

breedingofEagleOwl,fourSemi‐collaredFlycatchers,threeRed‐breastedFlycatchersandaRockBunting

(firstsince2003).

The Lesvos bird list total

Asat31December2010,317specieshavebeenrecordedfromtheisland(usingIOC World Bird List

taxonomy).

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo, Kalloni, September2010©SteveDudley|LesvosBirding

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SPECIES ACCOUNTS

CHUKAR (PARTRIDGE) Alectoris chukarsRB

Occurs mainly in the rocky areas of the centre, north and west of the island.

Reportedfromcentralandwesternareas.Largestcount12atApothikaon17Sept(SPDudleyetal).

Some birds are introduced for hunting, including a small population maintained in the olive groves

along the eastern side of the Gulf of Kalloni.

COMMON QUAILCoturnix coturnix?CB?,sPM

Birds of Greece suggest that this species breeds on the island but nothing confirmed in recent years, and

records suggest only passage birds.

SpringOnlyfourrecords,callingmalesreportedasfollows:2MeladiaValley2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);1in

fieldsbyPolichnitosSaltpans7Apr(TRobinson);1infieldsbytheTsikniasRiver27Apr(MattEadeetal);

1Christou(Kamares)Riverestuary3May(T&KvonSchre).

Autumn1flushedfromroadsideatTraperia,Polichnitos20Sept(TRobinson).

COMMON SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna sW,sPM,CB

Small numbers winter Nov–Apr, with passage noted Mar–May and less so Sept‐Oct.

Polichnitos Saltpans:recordedinallmonthsexceptAugustwithmax.monthlycountsasfollows(all

TRobinson)–Jan(82),Feb(30),Mar(38),Apr(45),May(4),Jun(5),Jul(1),Sept(6),Oct(17),Nov(28)

andDec(38).

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. Alykes Wetlands and surrounding flooded fields):recordedinJan,Apr,May,Aug,

Sept,Oct,NovandDec.Maxcounts128on1Jan(TRobinson)and323on21Dec(EGalinou).

Other sites as follows:AlikoudiPoolmax.5inApr;AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)max.2inApr;Apothika

2on13May;Mesamax.41on7Marandupto4throughoutApr;1ParakilaMarsh18Apr;1Potamia

River12May;2TheBogatti(nrPolichnitos)22May;TsikniasRivermax.4on30Apr;1VouvarisRiver

mouth3Jun.

BreedingFledgedyoungseenatKalloniSaltpans14Aug(PCosgrove).

RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea sRB,sPM

Recorded most months. Small numbers breed.

Jan FebRecordedfromPolichnitosSaltpansonlywith1‐5throughout.

Mar MayRecordedfromthefollowingsites(notebirdsregularlymovebetweenKalloniareasites):Kalloni

Saltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandsurroundingfloodedfields)presentthroughoutwithmax.65on9Apr

(GGasteratos,NProbonas)with10‐44regularlyseenApr–May;Mesapresentthroughoutwithmax.28on

23Apr(SPDudleyetal);12(inc.10young)Madaros19May(M&CPowell);PerasmaReservoirmax.16

(inc.9young)10May(HPrinsen);15Apothika13May(TRobinson);2PolichnitosSaltpans6‐20Mar;

2AlikoudiPool7Mar–30Apr;1‐5KalamiMarsh23Apr–8May;1‐2Kavaki24Apr–10May;1‐2

FaneromeniandSigri27Apr–8May;2PotamiaReservoir27Apr–18May;2‐4MeladiaValley9Apr–

7May;9(inc.7young)VoulgarisRiver3May(AVrielink);1PithariouReservoir4May;2Perivolis

Monastery5May;2MetochiLake8May;2nrPedino8May;1AghiasTaxiarchis11May;1PetrifiedForest

12May;1Anaxos15May;2TsikniasRiver18May.

Jun Sept 3Mesa4Jun;1PolichnitosSaltpans20Junand4Jul.NorecordsAug–Sept.

Oct‐Dec KalloniSaltpansmax.106on25Novand82on21Dec(EGalinou);PolichnitosSaltpanspresent

Oct‐Decwithmonthlymax.31on30Oct,11on3Novand3on28Dec;17MesaWetlands28Nov.

BreedingPrwith10youngMadaros19May(M&CPowell);PerasmaReservoir7adultswith9young

10May(HPrinsen);prwith7youngVoulgarisRiver3May(AVrielink).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


GADWALLAnas streperaV*1|4(9)

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):6PolichnitosSaltpans25Jan(TRobinson)isonlythefourthrecordfor

Lesvos.

EURASIAN WIGEON Anas penelope sW

Small numbers Oct–Apr.

First winter period / Spring55VouvarisRivermouth9Jan(TRobinson);36PolichnitosSaltpans25Jan

with2to1Feb(TRobinson);1KalloniSaltpans12Apr(TvanOerle).

Autumn / Second winter period1PolichnitosSaltpans30Oct(TRobinson);27VouvarisRivermouth3Nov

(TRobinson);1PolichnitosSaltpans23Nov(TRobinson);and27KalloniSaltpans21Dec(EGalinou).

MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos sW

Small numbers Nov–May. Mating observed but no confirmed breeding.

First winter period VouvarisRiver12on9Janand36on30Jan(TRobinson).

Spring1‐4commutingbetweenKalloniSaltpansandKalamiMarsh24Apr–18May(MO);2MeladiaValley

3May(R&BTodd).

Autumn / Second winter period4earlyreturningbirdsPolichnitosSaltpans19Aug(TRobinson);15Kalloni

Saltpans12Sept(EGalinou);2PithariouReservoir15Sept(SPDudleyetal);2PerasmaReservoir16Sept

(SPDudley);1PolichnitosSaltpans(TRobinson);42VouvarisRivermouthand4KalloniSaltpans3Nov

(TRobinson);51Mesa28Nov(EGalinou)with2there29Dec(EGalinou).

2009Additionalrecord:2KalloniSaltpans5‐11Apr(MANeumann).

NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata sW,sPM

Small numbers Sept–May.

First winter periodVouvarisRiver10on9Janand1on30Jan(TRobinson)

Spring2ParakilaMarsh30Mar(J‐P&SSiblet);15KalloniSaltpans(J‐P&SSiblet);4(2prs)KalamiMarsh

andKalloniSaltpans27Apr–4May(MO)

AutumnSinglesKalloniSaltpans24Sept(HDon)andVouvarisRivermouth3Nov(TRobinson)

Second winter period5KalloniSaltpans21Dec(EGalinou).

2009Additionalrecords:4KalloniSaltpans5Aprand2DipiLarisos6Apr(bothMANeumann).

NORTHERN PINTAIL Anas acuta sW,sPM

Small numbers Sept–Apr.

Eightrecords:6PolichnitosSaltpans31Jan(TRobinson);1PolichnitosSaltpans2‐4Apr(TRobinson);

2KalloniSaltpans3‐4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet),3there8‐9Apr(TKastritisetal)and1on8May(H&AVaughan,

P&NPreston);singlesKalloniSaltpans(GTebbetal)andAlikoudiPool(TRobinson)2May;and2Kalloni

Saltpans21Dec(EGalinou).

2009Additionalrecord:3KalloniSaltpans5Apr(MANeumann).

GARGANEY Anas querquedula cSP,sAP

Occurs offshore and on reservoirs and Saltpans Mar–May, with smaller numbers Aug–Sept.

SpringRecorded9Mar–5May.FirstreturningbirdatPolichnitosSaltpans9Mar(TRobinson)with5birds

seenthereandatKalloniSaltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandsurroundingfloodedfields)on27Mar.Kalloni

Saltpansmax.25on26Apr(IFordetal).Alsorecorded:1AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)9Mar;5Skala

KallonisPool27Mar;1MetochiLake3Apr;4SkalaEresou9Apr;1MeladiaValley27Apr;1Perasma

Reservoir27Apr;1Faneromeni29Apr;1SkalaKallonisPool30Apr;1Sigri1May;1Faneromeni4May;

lastKalloniSaltpans5May.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


AutumnPolichnitosSaltpansfrom22Jul–27Septwithmax.9on20Sept(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans

12Aug–7Septwithmax.9on12Aug(PCosgrove);12Christou(Kamares)River24Aug(PCarroll);

1PotamiaReservoir4Sept;1PerasmaReservoir14‐16Sept.

2009Additionalrecords:20SkalaKallonisPool11Apr(MANeumann)and20MetochiLake14Apr

(MANeumann).

EURASIAN TEAL Anas crecca sW,sPM

Small numbers Aug–Apr.

First winter periodPolichnitosSaltpanspresentthroughoutJanwithmax.36on25th(TRobinson);

2KalloniSaltpans30Jan(TRobinson).

Spring2KalloniSaltpans3‐8Apr(J‐P&SSibletetal).

Autumn / Second winter period5PolichnitosSaltpans23Aug(TRobinson);1MetochiLake7Sept(R&P

Harrison);1‐2PolichnitosSaltpans11‐12Sept(TRobinsonetal);KalloniSaltpans13on23Octand5on

30Oct(EGalinou);1PolichnitosSaltpans1Nov(TRobinson);12VouvarisRivermouth3Nov(TRobinson);

and2SkalaKallonisPool29Dec(EGalinou).

COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina rNB

Records to date have been of single birds in any month – no seasonal bias.

Onerecord:1MesaWetlands29Dec(EGalinou).

FERRUGINOUS DUCK Aythya nyroca V*|2|11

Tworecords(acceptedbyLBRC):1Meladia

Valleyfordpool30Mar(photo:J‐P&SSiblet);

1PerasmaReservoir27‐28Aug(ICampbell,

JSines).Onlythetenthandeleventhconfirmed

recordsfortheisland.

Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca,MeladiaValleyfordpool,March2010©SebastianSiblet

COMMON GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula V*|1|2

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):GulfofKalloni,asinglebirdVouvaristoMesaareaseenon1‐30Jan

(photo:allTRobinson).Onlythesecondconfirmedrecordfortheisland.

RED‐BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator sW

Small numbers offshore Oct–Apr.

Tworecords:2GulfofKallonioffVouvarisRivermouth30Jan(TRobinson)and1onseaeastofEfthalou

2May(BForbes,NGlennetal).

BLACK‐THROATED DIVER (LOON) Gavia arctica sW

Small numbers offshore Nov–Apr.

Upto5presentGulfofKallonibetweenPolichnitosSaltpansandVouvarisRivermouth1Jan–6Mar

(TRobinson).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SCOPOLI’S SHEARWATER (CORY’SSHEARWATER) Calonectris (diomedea) diomedea sPM,?rSB?

Small numbers offshore Mar–Oct. May breed on some of the offshore islands.

Smallnumbersreportedoffshorebetween25Apr–12Jul.Largercountsinc.110+offCapeLena29Apr

(SPDudleyetal)and200+offMolivos13May(TNyegaard).2seenoffPolichnitosSaltpans28Apr

(TRobinson)notableasthespeciesisrarelyseenintheGulfofKalloni.Birdswereseenfollowingfishing

boatsintoMytiliniHarbourandprovidingcloseviewsontheeveningsof29Aprand6May(SPDudley);

thisisworthlookingforinfutureyearsbythosearrivingoneveningflights.

YELKOUAN SHEARWATER Puffinus yelkouan sRB,sPM

Present offshore all months with flocks of several hundred, even over a thousand, not unexpected.

SmallnumbersreportedoffshoreFeb–Aug.Largercountsinc.800offSkalaEreous26Apr(A&GSwash,

R&BTodd),1000offFaneromeni4May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog),800offSkalaEresou5May

(P&NPreston)and2000+offFaneromeni(P&VManning).

LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis sRB,sWV

Small numbers breed along the wetter rivers and the larger inland water bodies.

Breeding2prsraised3youngMetochiLake;pronnestMeladiaValleyFord;prpresentPithariouReservoir;

2prspresentPandeleimonasPools(Eresos);prpresentPotamiaValley;prpresentVergias(Chalandra)

River.

Other sitesPotamiaReservoirmax.53on22Sept(HDon);1SkalaKallonisPool27Mar&25Apr;Perasma

Reservoirmax.103on16Sept(SPDudleyetal);1Kliopool16Sept;upto3PithariouReservoirinSept;

PolichnitosSaltpanspresentSept‐Decwithmax.6on6‐7Dec;TsikniasRiverpresentOct‐Decwithmax.

6on14Dec.MesaWetlandsmax.10on24Oct;1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)9&14Nov;Kalloni

Saltpansmax.9on25Nov;1Christou(Kamares)River29Dec;1ParakilaMarsh29Dec.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus cW

Winters offshore Oct–May. Common in the Gulf of Kalloni (especially Dec Feb), scarce elsewhere.

Gulf of KallonioffSkalaPolichnitou,max.firstwinterperiodcount283on10Janandmax.secondwinterperiod142on26Dec(TRobinson);recordedduringbothwinterperiodsoffAlikoudiPool,Kofinas(Evergetula),Mesa,SkalaVasilikonVouvarisRivermouthandTsikniasRivermouth;1offKalloniSaltpans‐KalamiRivermouth2&15May(GTebb,MHawkesetal).

BLACK‐NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis sW

Occasionally recorded offshore, in river mouths and on inland reservoirs Nov–May.

AllrecordsfromGulfofKalloni(TRobinson,EGalinou):1offKofinas(Evergetula)and2offMesaon1Jan;

6offSkalaVasilikon9Jan;1‐2offPolichnitosSaltpans14Jan–10Mar;2offMesa30Jan;1offPolichnitos

Saltpans2Dec;1‐5offTsikniasRivermouth14‐28Dec.GREATER FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus roseus sR,sPM

Birds now present year‐round at the two saltpans. Breeding has been attempted at Kalloni Saltpans. Scarce

away from the saltpans but can be encountered on rivers (especially mouths) and other water bodies.

Kalloni SaltpansRecordedallmonthsexceptFeb.Max.springcount420on28Apr(SPDudley).Max.

autumncount1810on25Nov.Maxwintercount2010on21Decisthelargesteverwintercount

(EGalinou).Nobreedingattempted.

Polichnitos Saltpans(allTRobinson)Max.monthlycounts–Jan(405),Feb(492),Mar(151),Apr(52),May

(0),Jun(1),Jul(5)Aug(15),Sept(65),Oct(283),Nov(373)&Dec(344)(TRobinson).

ElsewhererecordedfromAlikoudiPoolMar–Maywithmax.44on14Apr;122Christou(Kamares)River

estuary27Mar(TRobinson);presentatApothika13May;2KalamiMarsh2May;atMesaWetlands23on

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


7Mar,upto36inAprand38on29Dec;27overMolivos18May;33offshorepastSkalaKallonis12May;

2TsikniasRivermouth5May.

BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra sMB,sPM,rW

Occurs Mar–Oct, mainly on passage, but with 10+ breeding pairs in pine forests. Occasionally over‐winters.

Polichnitos SaltpansPresentthroughouttheyearwithmonthmax.countsasfollows:Jan(4),Feb(6),Mar

(5),Apr(3),May(4),Jun(4),Jul(2),Aug(4),Sept(14),Oct(7),Nov(7)andDec(6).

Kalloni Saltpans(inc.surroundingfields,AlykesWetlands,etc)1Apr–30Maywithmax.9on23Apr(MO).

2on10Jul,thenpresent9Aug–21Decwithmax.25on6Oct(EGalinou).

Other sitesFirst winter 1Christou(Kamares)River30Jan(TRobinson).Spring30Apr–2Juninc.Achladeri

Forest(breedingbirds),AghiaIoannis,AghiosTaxiarchis,AlikoudiPool,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),

AncientAntissa,Christou(Kamares)River,nrFilia,KalamiMarsh(max.6on30Apr),KalloniRaptor

Watchpoint,KrakalaMarsh,LardiaValley,Lotzaria,Madaros,MeladiaValley,MesaWetlands(max.11on

4May),MetochiLake,nrEresos,PanaghiaChapel,PerivolisMonastery,Platania,PotamiaValley,Skala

Eresou,SkalaKallonis,TsikniasRiver(max.10on24Apr).Summer1PerasmaReservoir12Jul(MRogg).

Autumn8Aug–26Octinc.Christou(Kamares)River(max.14on22Aug),MesaWetlands,Perasma

Reservoir(max.5on16Sept),PithariouReservoir,PotamiaValley,TsikniasRiver(max.5on5Sept)and

Vafios(6south16Sept).Second winterupto4TsikniasRiverinDecand1ParakilaMarsh29Dec.

BreedingTheonlyconfirmedrecordwasofanactivenestfoundinAchladeriForest.

WHITE STORKCiconia ciconia sMB,sPM,rW

Occurs Feb–Oct, mainly on passage. A number of pairs breed.

Recorded23Mar–26Septfrommanysitesacrosstheisland.Highestcount12onfloodedfieldsbyKalloni

Saltpans14May(MO).

BreedingOccupiednestsatKalloni(chimney),SkalaKallonis(rooftop),Mandamados(chimney)andAgia

Paraskevi(chimney).ThePolichnitos(chimney)nestwasnotoccupiedthisyear.

GLOSSY IBIS Plegadis falcinellus sSP,rAP

Can occur in sizable flocks Mar–May, with much smaller numbers Aug–Oct.

SpringRecorded27Mar–20May.86atKalloniSaltpans27Mar(TRobinson)werefollowedbyflocksof30

atSkalaEresouandKalloniSaltpans2Aprwith125atfloodedfieldsatKalloniSaltpans3Apr,peakingat

180there6Apr(AStoddart),with20‐50presenttotheendofAprandup22seenthereinMay;Polichnitos

Saltpansmax.21on5Apr(TRobinson).Aflockof25northoverIpsilou26Apr(GTebbetal);also

Apothika,NfidiaandTsikniasRiver.

AutumnNorecords.

2009Additionalrecords:40KalloniSaltpans5Apr(MANeumann)firstrecordofyear,with70Kalloni

Saltpans8Apr(MANeumann).

EURASIAN SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia sPM

Small numbers Mar–May and Sept–Oct.

SpringPolichnitosSaltpans:2on15Apr(SPDudleyetal)and1on21Apr(TRobinson).KalloniSaltpans:

6on23Apr(SPDudleyetal),1on26Apr,8on29Apr(PAubreyetal),6on30Apr(SPDudleyetal)and

4on5May(GTebbetal).Otherrecords:1TsikniasRiver26Apr(MEadeetal),12MesaWetlands29Apr

(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston)and11northovertheKalloniRaptorWatchpoint2May(SPDudleyetal),

AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans:7Sept–28Octwithmax.6on25‐28Sept(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans5on

12Sept(EGalinou),6on24Sept(HDon)(presumedsamePolichnitosSaltpans)and1Oct(HDon).


LESVOS BIRDS 2010


GREAT BITTERN (EURASIANBITTERN) Botaurus stellaris sW,sPM

Single birds occasionally Oct–May around obvious wetland and river areas.

3‐4records:singlesatSkalaKallonisPool22&25Aprand1May(H&JBailey,PHarris&RNason),

Faneromeni27Apr(BWhite,BBuckleretal)andMetochiLake1May(PHarris&RNason).

2009Additionalrecords:1SkalaKallonisPool13Apr(MANeumann)and1nrSigri3May(PAubrey).

LITTLE BITTERN Ixobrychus minutus cSM,sAP

Occurs Apr–Jun at wetland and river areas inc. even the smallest of culverts and drains with cover. Scarcer

Aug–Oct.

Spring Recorded8Apr–21May:1SkalaEresou

8Apr(AStoddart);MetochiLakemax.8on2May(SPDudleyetal);MeladiaValleymax.9on3May(R&B

Todd);Faneromenimax.8on27Apr(BBuckleretal);Vergias(Chalandra)Rivermax.5on1May(A&G

Swash,R&BTodd);1‐2TsikniasRiver28Apr–21May;SigriFieldsinc.anadultmalelandedinthickbush

duringhighwindson4May;KalloniSaltpans

floodedfields;AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera);nr

Pedino;KalamiMarsh;NapiValley;

PandeleimonasPools(Eresos);Pithariou

Reservoir;Potamiavalley;SigriOldSanatorium;

SkalaKallonisPool;andVoulgarisRiver.

AutumnNorecords.

2009Additionalrecord:1SkalaEresou7Apr(first

foryear)and14MetochiLake7Apr(bothMA

Neumann)

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus,MeladiaValleyfordpool,May2010©WendyBall

BLACK‐CROWNED NIGHT‐HERON Nycticorax nycticorax cSM,sAP

Occurs usually Mar–May (occasionally in large flocks) with occasional records Sept–Oct.

Spring Recorded2Apr–18Mayasfollows:SkalaEresou17on2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet,AStoddart)thenbirds

seenregularlyalongtheriverto12Mayinc.48(inc.39inoffsea)on25Apr(SWytema,SPDudleyetal),

33(inc.flockof30inoffsea)5May(P&NPreston,H&AVaughan),31inoffseaon6May(HPrinsen);

1‐2Faneromeni19Apr–14May;1‐2MeladiaValley27Apr–8Mayandaflockof14inoffsea12May

(TFarr);1‐2MetochiLake16Apr–2May;SkalaKallonisPool15on30Apr(IFordetal)and7overtothe

north6May(SP&EFDudley);VoulgarisRiverflocksof8on26Apr(D&LWitton)and3May(AVrielink);

TsikniasRiversingleson23Aprand18Maywith7thereon29Apr(P&ABootyman);1Soumouria18Apr

(S&JMaskell,P&DGreen);1PerivolisMonastery24Apr(BForbes,NGlennetal);1PerasmaReservoir

24Apr(SPDudleyetal);1MikriLimni1May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);1PotamiaValley3May

(T&KvonSchre);1Sigri3May(RThaxton);3PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)4May(D&LWitton);

1Anaxos11May(HPrinsen).

AutumnAnearlyreturningbirdatPolichnitosSaltpans2Jul(TRobinson);21roostingattheHotel

Pasiphae,SkalaKallonisonthemorningof11Sept(SPDudley)andthreeoverChristou(Kamares)River

laterthesamedayconsideredpartoftheroostingflock(SPDudleyetal);43SkalaKallonis22Sept(HDon)

with19roostingatHotelPasiphaesamedate(HDon).

2009Additionalrecords:5MetochiLake8Apr(firstforyear),6SkalaKallonisPool10Apr(bothMA

Neumann).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SQUACCO HERON Ardeola ralloides cSM,sAP

Recorded from wetland and river areas Apr–May, occasionally numbers Aug–Oct.

Spring 3Apr–4Jun:KalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfields,AlykesWetlands,etc)3Apr–4Jun

withmax.6on27&30Apr(MO);1‐3AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)6Apr–5May(TRobinson);Alikoudi

Pool15Apr–24Maywithmax.6on15Apr(TRobinson);1ParakilaMarsh18Apr(S&JMaskell,P&D

Green);1‐2AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)19‐28Apr(TRobinson);MetochiLake22Apr–7Maywith

max.11on30Apr(BBuckleretal);1HaramidaMarsh22Apr(SPDudleyetal);KalamiMarsh23Apr–

11Maywithmax.11on2May(BBuckleretal);SkalaKallonis(inc.poolseastofvillage)23Apr–10May

withmax.13on26Apr(SPDudleyetal);1‐3PerasmaReservoir24Apr–10May(HPrinsen);2overKavaki

24Apr(SPDudleyetal);1‐4PolichnitosSaltpans26Apr–31May;TsikniasRiver28Apr–18Maywith

max.6on2May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);SkalaEresou26Apr–7Mayinc.20overtonorthon

26Apr(A&GSwash,R&BTodd)with7there4May(HPrinsen);8overAgiosFokas26Apr(JHarrisetal);

2VoulgarisRiver26Apr(D&LWitton);Faneromenifords27Apr–12Maywithmax.5on29Apr(H&A

Vaughan,P&NPreston)and4May(AVrielink);MeladiaValley27Apr–8Maywithmax.6on3May

(A&GSwash);1Sigri27&29Apr(JHarris,GTebbetal);Mesa8on30Apr(SPDudleyetal)and6on

6May(TRobinson);1PerivolisMonastery3&5May(AVrielink,HPrinsen);1nrSigriOldSanatorium

4May(SPDudleyetal);1VourkosRiver5May(TRobinson).

AutumnSinglesPolichnitosSaltpans30Oct&21Nov(TRobinson).

2009Additionalrecords:2DipiLarisos6Apr(firstforyear),1SkalaEresou7Apr,upto6Christou

(Kamares)River8‐11Aprand3SkalaKallonisPool12‐13Apr(MANeumann).

WESTERN CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis V*|2|6(9)

Tworecords(acceptedbyLBRC):4Mesa1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston)and1onfloodedfieldsby

KalloniSaltpans2May(P&NPreston).Onlythefifthandsixthrecordsfortheisland.

This species is no longer a national HRC species so all records are now dealt with by LBRC.

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea sW,sPM

Small numbers all months. Migrants Apr–May and Sept–Oct.

RecordedatPolichnitosSaltpans(TRobinson)inallmonthsexceptJun:monthlymax.Jan(14),Feb(14),

Mar(11)Apr(11),May(6),Jun(0),Jul(1),Aug6),Sept(10),Oct(20),Nov(19)andDec(11).Elsewhere

recordedfromafurther17sites:1AghiasTaxiarchisValley11May;1AghiaIoannis24Apr;AlikoudiPool

max.7on8Apr;AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)max.3on15&28Apr;Christou(Kamares)Rivermax.

9on3May;KalamiMarshmax.3on28Apr;KalloniSaltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandsurrounding

floodedfields)max.122on25Nov(EGalinou);1Klio16Sept;Meladiavalleymax.4on6May;Mesa

max.11on24Oct(EGalinou);2MetochiLake27Mar&16Sept;1MilopotamosRiver21Dec;

1Nifida20Apr;1PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)12May;1ParakilaMarshApr,May&Dec;Perasma

Reservoir2on3Mayand4on16Sept;PotamiaValleymax.17on11May(TFarr);Sigrimax.5on

27Apr&5May;2SkalaEresou25Apr;1SkalaVasilikon7Mar;TsikniasRivermax.6on19Dec;

1VoulgarisRiver5May&29Dec;2VouvarisRiver7Mar.

PURPLE HERON Ardea purpurea sPM

Small numbers, inc. occasional flocks Mar–May and (smaller numbers) Sept–Oct.

Spring2Apr–10May.Nosinglesitestoodoutthisyear,butseveralsouthcoastsitessawsmallflocks

arrivingfromthesouth,somebirdsmixedinwithflocksofNight‐herons.Firstwere8KalloniSaltpans2Apr

(J‐P&SSiblet)with30thereon3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet),1‐2on6‐9Aprand1on7May;SkalaEresou7Apr–

4Maywithmax.12on10Apr(AStoddart)and2inoffseawithlargeflockofNight‐heronson25Apr

(SWytema,SPDudleyetal);1‐3MetochiLake3Apr–7May;ParakilaMarshmax.10on4May(BForbes,

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


NGlennetal);MeladiaValley5Apr–10Maywithmax.5on8May;Faneromenifords19Apr–4May

withmax.4on26Apr;1‐2SkalaKallonisPool3Apr–6May;singlesatPolichnitosSaltpans22Apr&

2‐3May;Sigrimax.4on29Apr;singlesAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)6Apr&5May;singles

AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)15,25&28Apr;1Christou(Kamares)River7May;1Gavathas5May;

1nrIpsilou8Apr;KalamiMarsh1on24Aprand2on2May;5KremastesBridge26Apr(MEadeet

al);1‐2Mesa15Apr–4May;1PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)4May;2PithariouReservoir4May;

1PotamiaValley23Apr;1TsikniasRiver15Apr;VoulgarisRiver2on26Aprand1on2May.

AutumnTheonlyrecordwasasinglejuvenileontheTsikniasRiver12Sept(JRussell).

2009Additionalrecords:1DipiLarisos6Apr(firstforyear);12Sigri7Apr;10SkalaKalloniPool8Apr

withupto4presentto14Apr(allMANeumann).

GREAT WHITE EGRET (WESTERNGREATEGRET) Ardea alba sW,sPM

Birds usually present Sept May with an increasing wintering population.

First winter period PresentatPolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutwithmax.29on12Feb(TRobinson);

29KalloniSaltpans1Jan(TRobinson);1Christou(Kamares)River1Jan;MesaWetlands1on1Janand4;

SkalaVasilikon1‐2presentthroughoutJan;1VouvarisRivermouth9Jan;4TsikniasRiver30Jan.

Spring PolichnitosSaltpansupto18presentto17Mar,5‐9to28Mar,14on29Mar,9on30‐31Marand

2Apr,upto6to15Apr,with1‐3to29Apr;KalloniSaltpans1Apr–19Maywithmax.18on9Apr

(TRobinson);MesaWetlands7Mar–4Junewithmax.21on3Apr;1‐2AlikoudiPool8‐19Apr;1‐2

AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)20Mar–10Apr;2Christou(Kamares)River22‐23Aprwith1on12May;

4KalamiMarsh28Apr;1SkalaKallonisPool29Apr;2SkalaVasilikon7Mar;alatebirdatVouvarisRiver

mouth4Jun(IVasiliadis).

AutumnKalloniSaltpansanearlyreturningindividual10Jul(TRobinson)thenpresentthroughoutwith

max.128on14Nov(TRobinson);PolichnitosSaltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.13on27Oct

(TRobinson);2Christou(Kamares)River24Oct;4MesaWetlands11‐12Sept,5on14Novand3on

28Nov;TsikniasRiver1on23Septand3on26Octand1‐3throughoutNov.

Second winter period KalloniSaltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.51on21Dec(TRobinson);

PolichnitosSaltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.21on13Dec(TRobinson);1‐5TsikniasRiver

throughout;1MilopotamosRiver21Dec;1AlikoudiPool25Dec;1SkalaKallonis28Dec;6Christou

(Kamares)River29Dec;5MesaWetlands29Dec.

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta cSP,sAP,rW

Occurs at wetland sites and along the coast Mar–May and in smaller numbers Aug–Oct. Small numbers

over‐winter.

First winter periodPolichnitosSaltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.7on4Feb(TRobinson);Kalloni

Saltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.30on1Jan(TRobinson);1MesaWetlandson1Janand2Christou

(Kamares)River30Jan.

SpringPolichnitosSaltpanspresentthroughoutwithmax.14on13Apr;KalloniSaltpanspresent

throughoutwithmax.42on26Apr;TsikniasRiverpresentthroughoutwithmax.38on28Apr;Faneromeni

presentthroughoutwithmax.20on6May;AlikoudiPoolpresentthroughoutwithmax.21on3May;

MesaWetlandspresentthroughoutwithmax.35on8May;KalamiMarshpresentthroughoutwithmax.

35on8May;MeladiaValley3‐7Maywithmax.10on6May;Christou(Kamares)Riverpresentthroughout

withmax.25on15Apr;15AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)16Aprand5on18Apr;10Sigri27Aprwith

1on3May;14Vergias(Chalandra)River4May;12VoulgarisRiver5May;1Eresos7May;2KrakalaMarsh

8May;30PotamiaReservoir11May;2PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)12May.

AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans18Jul–30Novwithmax.24on16Sept;KalloniSaltpans10Jul–30Novwith

max.30on16‐18Aug;TsikniasRiver3Sept–30Novwithmax.8on3Sept;MesaWetlands2on11Sept,

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


6on24Oct,2on14Novand3on28Nov;Christou(Kamares)River1on11Septand3on24Oct.

Second winter period PolichnitosSaltpanswithmax.7on2Dec;KalloniSaltpansmax.29on21Dec;1‐2

TsikniasRiverthroughout;2MesaWetlands29Dec.

GREAT WHITE PELICAN Pelecanus onocrotalus sPM

Annual passage migrant Mar–May and Sept–Oct. Usually singles but occasionally flocks (e.g. 18 in Sept 07)

and occasional movements, e.g. large movement in Sept 07 inc. largest confirmed flock of 144.

SpringSingleadultsKalloniSaltpansarea28‐29Apr(MEade,JHarrisetal)andoffshoreatMytiliniairport

6May(BBuckleretal).

AutumnSinglesKalloniSaltpans24Sept(HDon)andoverEfthalou2Oct(photo:AVrielink).

DALMATIAN PELICAN Pelecanus crispus rPM,rW

Much rarer than White Pelican but occurs in similar

periods, Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

Tworecords:on23OctasinglebirdatPolichnitos

Saltpans(photo:TRobinson)andaflockof21at

KalloniSaltpans(photo:EGalinou)withatleast10

presentuntil21Decandatleast3birdsinto2011.

The flock of 21 is the largest ever‐recorded autumn

flock and the 10 birds present to the year‐end

represents the first recorded over‐wintering of the

species on the island.

Dalmatian Pelican Pelcanus crispus,PolichnitosSaltpans,October2010©TerryRobinson

PYGMY CORMORANT Phalacrocorax pygmeus rW

A very rare winter visitor to coastal areas especially

vegetated river mouths.

Onerecord:2AlmiropotamosRivermouth(Vatera)9

Nov(photo:TRobinson).

Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus,AlmiropotamosRivermouth,November2010©TerryRobinson

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis sW

Winters offshore particularly in the Gulf of Kalloni

First winter period GulfofKallonimax.179offSkalaPolichnitou2Jan.

SpringGulfofKallonimax.44offSkalaPolichnitou8Mar.

AutumnGulfofKallonimax.482offKalloniSaltpans14Nov.

Second winter period GulfofKallonimax.350offChristou(Kamares)River29Dec.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


EUROPEAN SHAGLeucocarbo aristotelis desmaresti sRB

Present around the coast in all months. The race Leucocarbo aristotelis desmaresti occurs.

First winter period Max.8offSkalaVasilikon9Jan.

SpringMax.15+offMeladiaValley6May.

BreedingNoconfirmedbreedingbutbirdsrecordedinandaroundoffshoreislandsoffSkalaEresou,Sigri,

GavathasandPetra,andonGarbiasIsland.

AutumnMax.25offSkalaPolichnitou12Sept.

Second winter period Max.6offSkalaPolichnitou12&25Dec.

(WESTERN)OSPREY Pandion haliaetus sPM

Occurs on passage Mar–May and Sept–Oct.

SpringTworecords:singlesKalloniSaltpans3Apr(J‐P&

SSiblet)and30Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

AutumnThreerecords:singlesSkalaPolichnitou19Sept(TRobinson),KalloniSaltpans/Mesa

Wetlands/VouvarisRivermoutharea(presumedsamelongStayingindividual)22Sept–24Oct(HDon,E

Galinou)andoverIpsilou30Sept(HDon).

2009Additionalrecord:1Ipsilou6May(IPitts).

EUROPEAN HONEY‐BUZZARD Pernis apivorus rMB,cPM

Occurs on passage Apr–May and Aug–Oct. Small numbers breed.

SpringPresentfrom24Apr:KalloniRaptorWatchpointsingleson24Apr(JHarrisetal)and28Apr(J&H

Bailey,GTebbetal),2on29Apr(BPrice,TThunder,PDoherty),upto5(inc.displayingbirds)on30Apr

(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston,PDoherty),2on2May(RThaxton),1on8May(MLHawkes),1on9May

(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston),2on12May(VTucker)and2on17May(MLHawkes);1NapiValley28

Apr(SPDudleyetal);Ipsilou6on1May(IFord,A&GSwash,R&BTodd,BForbes,NGlennetal);1Lardia

Valley1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1nrEfthalou2May(BForbes,NGlennetal);1nrPedino

8May(HPrinsen);1AchladeriForest9May(TFarr);1Liconavalley10May(HPrinsen);1Molivos16May

(TNyegaard).

Summer1nrLambouMill5Jul(MRogg)and1northofKalloni11Jul(MRogg).

AutumnPresentuntil26Sept:1Sigri11Aug(PCosgrove);8Nifida1Sept(TRobinson);1SkalaKallonis

12Sept(SPDudley);1nrSkoutaros12Sept(ADudley);4AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)20Sept(T

Robinson);24PaliaVigla(Polichnitos)25Sept(TRobinson);1NapiValley25Sept(HDon);1Achladeri

Forest26Sept(HDon).

BLACK KITE Milvus migrans sPM

Surprisingly only a handful of records noted most years Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringOnerecord:1Ipsilou10May(VTuckeretal).

Autumn1Sigri11Aug(PCosgrove);6Nifida9Sept(TRobinson);3PaliaVigla(Polichnitos)10Sept

(TRobinson);10Nifida11Sept(TRobinson);3Molivos14Sept(SPDudleyetal);4Vafios16Sept

(SPDudleyetal);1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)29Sept(TRobinson).

GRIFFON VULTURE Gyps fulvus V*0|12+

A surprisingly rare bird on the island.

2009Additionalrecord(acceptedbyLBRC):1PotamiaValley8Apr(MANeumann).Thefirstoftwo

recordsin2009.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SHORT‐TOED (SNAKE) EAGLECircaetus gallicus sMB,sPM

Small numbers breed across the island. Seen on passage Apr–May and Aug–Oct. Occasional winter records.

Despitebeingseendaily,relativelyfewrecordsreceived.

Spring1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)21Mar(TRobinson)thenreporteddailyfrom1Aprfromacrossthe

islandswithmax.5+KalloniRaptorWatchpoint9May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston).

BreedingAbirdseenatanestinAchladeriForest.Birdsseenatthefollowingknownbreedingsites:

Potamia,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,nrMesotopos,LardiaValley,MtLepetimnos,Ipsilou,nrEresos,Licona

Valley,Platania,Ipsilometopo,SkalaPolichnitou,Madaros.

Autumn1‐2reported8Aug–17Octfromvarioussitesinc.PotamiaValley,Mesotopos,Agra,Achladeri,

Vafios,PerasmaReservoir,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),KalloniSaltpans,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,

PolichnitosSaltpans,PaliaVigla(Polichnitos),Mesotopos,Eresos,VafiosandIpsilou.

2009Additionalrecord:2Achladeri5Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

(WESTERN)MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus cPM,rW

Regularly seen Mar–May with smaller numbers Aug–Oct. Occasional winter records.

First winter period 1PolichnitosSaltpans4Feb(TRobinson).

Spring Recorded7Mar–19Mayfrommanylocalities.Max.5Lotzaria28Apr(SPDudleyetal).

Autumn1Christou(Kamares)River11‐12Sept(SPDudleyetal);7southoverthePetrifiedForest13Sept

(SPDudleyetal);5southoverIpsilou15Sept(SPDudleyetal);5southoverVafios16Sept(SPDudleyet

al);1PaliaVigla(Polichnitos)25Sept(TRobinson);1KalloniSaltpans3Nov(TRobinson).

Second winter period 1PolichnitosSaltpans23Dec(TRobinson).

HEN HARRIER (NORTHERNHARRIER) Circus cyaneus sW,sPM

Small numbers Nov–Apr, with passage birds Mar–May.

First winter period 1 PolichnitosSaltpansfrom1‐28Janwith4on29Jan,3to2Feb,then1‐2totheendof

Feb;3AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)23Jan;1VourkosRiver23Jan;1SkalaKallonis30Jan(allTRobinson);

AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)upto5to21Apr,upto3(possiblysome/allsameasAlmiropotamosRiver)

PolichnitosSaltpanstoatleast21Apr(TRobinson);upto4Christou(Kamares)Rivertoatleast21Apr

(J&SMaskelletal).

Spring Presumedmigrantsrecordedfrommanysites2Apr–7Mayinc.Ipsilou,MeladiaValley,Potamia

Valley,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,TsikniasRiver,KalloniSaltpans,nrEresosandAlikoudiPool.

Secondwinter period 1SkalaKallonis13Nov(EGalinou);1PolichnitosSaltpans16Nov–30Dec

(TRobinson);1KalloniSaltpans7Dec(EGalinou);2AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)11Dec(TRobinson).

PALLID HARRIER Circus macrourus sPM

Small numbers Mar–Apr. Very rare in autumn.

SpringmaleFaneromeni30Mar(J‐P&SSiblet);2CYmaleSigri2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);femKalloniSaltpans

8Apr(TKastritis,NProbonas,SZakkaketal);femKalloniSaltpans19‐20Apr(M&DSmithetal);fem

nrVatousa21Apr(J&SMaskell);maleTsikniasRivermouth24Apr(DGoodwin,JJonesetal);male

KalloniSaltpans25Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);1MeladiaValley27Apr(DCottridgeet

al);1Lotzaria27Apr(PAubrey);1PotamiaValley(SWytemaetal);femKalloniRaptorWatchpoint

29Apr(GTebbetal);1‐2MeladiaValley1May(D&LWittonetal);fembetweenAgraandParakila

3May(TParkeretal).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus,adultmale,(samebird),AlykesWetlands,April2010©SeanNixon

Care needs to be taken when identifying all three harriers, particularly ring‐tails. Pallid Harrier

continues to be over‐reported with a number of ring‐tail Montagu’s and Hen Harriers known to have

been mis‐identified as Pallid Harrier during spring 2010. It would help if all harriers were sexed, and

where possible, aged.

2009Additionalrecord:2CYmaleKalloniSaltpans12Apr(AJordi)firstofyear.

MONTAGU’S HARRIER Circus pygargus sPM

Common in spring Mar–May with small numbers Sept–Oct.

SpringSinglesrecordedononly13dates6Apr–5May(cf.15dates6Apr–5Mayin2009)acrossthe

centreandwestoftheisland.Countsofmorethanonebird:2MeladiaValley24Apr(D&LWitton);2Sigri

Fields26Apr(SPDudleyetal);3MeladiaValley27Apr(DCottridge,JHarrisetal).

Autumn1KalloniSaltpans10‐18Aug(PCosgrove,KElsby);1TsikniasRiver12Sept(JRussell);1Polichnitos

Saltpans18Sept(TRobinson).

LEVANT SPARROWHAWK Accipiter brevipes sPM,?rMB?

Small numbers Apr–May, with smaller numbers Aug–Sept.

Spring30Mar–8May.1Chrousos30Mar(J‐P&SSiblet);1KalloniRaptorWatchpoint25Apr(IFordet

al);1TsikniasRiver26Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);1Ipsilou29Apr(A&GSwash);maleKalloni

RaptorWatchpoint30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1Achladeri30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston);1Makara30Apr(A&GSwash);1Faneromeni30Apr(MHodgsonetal);maleIpsilou1May

(A&GSwash,R&BTodd);1Sideras2May(MHodgsonetal);2Ipsilou3May(NHughes);1NapiValley

4May(RThaxton);maleKalloniRaptorWatchpoint4May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1NapiValley

5May(T&KvonSchre);1Faneromeni7May(P&VManning);1SkalaKallonis8May(RChittenden);.

AutumnTworecords:1Plomari14Aug(WHansen);immmaleVafios16Sept(SPDudleyetal).

A poor year with no flocks noted this year. Not all small accipiters seen on passage are this species. Care

should be taken when separating this species from the much commoner Eurasian Sparrowhawk which is

both a resident breeder and passage migrant.

2009Additionalrecord;1Perasma4May(IPitts).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus rRB,sPM

A handful of pairs breed. More common Sept–Mar. Passage noted Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct.

First winter period1‐2recordedJan–MarfromPolichnitosSaltpans,PotamiaValley,AlmiropotamosRiver

(Vatera).

Spring1‐2recordedfromAgiaParaskevi,MetochiLake,PolichnitosSaltpans,KalloniSaltpans,Tsiknias

River,SkalaVasilikon,Efthalou,Mandamados,KalamiMarsh,Agiasos,Petri,LiconaValley,Vatousaand

KalloniRaptorWatchpoint.

Autumn1‐3recordedAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Ipsilou,KalloniandKalloniSaltpans,Metochi,Napi

Valley,PaliaVigla(Polichnitos),PolichnitosSaltpans,PotamiaValley,SkalaVasilikon,TsikniasRiver,

Traperia(Polichnitos)andVafios.

Second winter periodSinglesreportedregularlyfromPolichnitosSaltpans;1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)

11Dec;1SkalaKallonis29Dec.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis sRB,sPM

Small numbers breed across the island. Passage noted Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringPresumed/confirmedbreeding:pratnestPotamiaValley8May(NHughes);1‐2seenregularly,inc.

displaying,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint17Apr–22May(MO);birdsseenregularlyatAchladeriAprMay

(MO).Allotherrecordsreceived:1SkalaEresou2Apr(AStoddart);femMeladiaValley4Apr(J‐P&S

Siblet);1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)6Apr(TRobinson);1Madaros20Apr(J&SMaskell);amale

circlingwithafemEurasianSparrowhawkMandamados24Apr(SPDudleyetal);1northVigla(Ipsilou)

24Apr(BForbes,NGlennetal);maleAchladeri25Apr(GTebbetal);maleFaneromeni27Apr(SPDudley

etal);1Agiasos30Apr(D&LWitton);1LardiaValley3May(M&MSullivan);1Mavria(NapiValley)

4May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1Platania5May(TParkeretal);1Agiasos8May(H&AVaughan,

P&NPreston).

AutumnsinglesPaliaVigla(Polichnitos)29Aug(TRobinson);femPetrifiedForest13May(SPDudleyetal);

NapiValley25Sept(HDon);KremastesBridge27Sept(HDon);PolichnitosSaltpans15Nov(TRobinson).

COMMON BUZZARDButeo buteo sRB,sW,sPM

Small numbers breed across the island. Common Nov–Mar. Passage noted Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct.

First winter periodRecordedfromAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),PotamiaValley,VourkosRiverand

PolichnitosSaltpans.Max.6AlmiropotamosRiver21Feb(TRobinson).

Spring/Summer RecordedfromAchladeriForest,Agiasos,Agra,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Alikoudi

Pool,Dimitrios,Faneromeni,Ipsilou,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,Lapi,LardiaValley,Madaros,Metochi,

NapiValley,Nifida,PaliaVigla(Polichnitos),PessaFalls,PerivolisMonastery,Platania,PolichnitosSaltpans,

PotamiaValley,Sideras,Sigri,Skoutaros,VafiosandVouvarisRivermouth.Max.6KalloniRaptor

Watchpoint2May(GTebbetal).

Noconfirmedbreeding.

AutumnRecordedfromAchladeriForest,Agra,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Christou(Kamares)River,

KalloniSaltpans,Metochi,PaliaVigla(Polichnitos),PithariouReservoir,PolichnitosSaltpansandTraperia

(Polichnitos).Migratingflocksnoted:6southoverMetochi11Sept;6southoverChristou(Kamares)River

and8southoverMetochi12Sept(allSPDudleyetal).

Second winter period 1‐2recordedfromAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),KalloniSaltpans,Polichnitos

SaltpansandTsikniasRiver.

The second edition of the CollinsBirdGuide (2010) – the guide most commonly used by visiting birders to

Lesvos – now includes separate distribution maps for Common Buzzard Buteobuteobuteo and Steppe

Buzzard Buteobuteovulpinus. These maps suggest that Common Buzzard occurs only as a winter visitor to

the eastern Aegean region and that Steppe Buzzard is the subspecies more likely to be encountered within

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


the region as a passage migrant or resident. This is not the case on Lesvos. Whilst Steppe Buzzard might be

expected on Lesvos, there are to date no confirmed records and as the status codes above indicate,

Common Buzzard is a scarce resident breeder, scarce winter visitor and scarce passage migrant. When

looking at the timing of Steppe Buzzard passage through the Middle East and nearby Turkey, and the arrival

dates on breeding grounds in northern Europe, it might be that if Steppe Buzzard does occur, it passes

through Lesvos early in spring before the arrival of visiting birders, and during this time, and the autumn,

there are simply too few birders present to pick them up. This aside, the other difficulty would be separating

the expected dark morph birds from the very similar Common Buzzard – rufous Common Buzzards

(especially birds with rufous‐toned tails) occur on the island.

LONG‐LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo rufinus sRB,sPM

Small numbers breed across the island. Passage Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct.

First winter periodSinglesrecordedAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),KalloniSaltpans,PolichnitosSaltpans

andPotamiaValley.

Spring/Summer RecordedfromAchladeriForest,Agra,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Christou(Kamares)

River,Dafia,Efthalou,Eresos,Faneromeni,Ipsilou,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint(max.6on13May(ML

Hawkes)),KalloniSaltpans(andsurrounds),Kavaki,KremastesBridge,LardiaValley,Madaros,Mavria(Napi

Valley),Makara,MeladiaValley,Metochi,NapiValley,NorthCoasttrack,Perasma,Perasma,Petra,

Platania,PolichnitosSaltpans,PotamiaValley,Sigriarea,TsikniasRivervalley,Vatousa,Vigla(Ipsilou)and

VoulgarisRiver.

Autumn1‐3recordedfromIpsilou,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,KalloniSaltpans,LardiaValley,Lotzaria,

MetochiLake,Perasma,PetrifiedForest,PotamiaValley,TsikniasRiverandVafios.Max.8southatVafios

16Sept(SPDudleyetal).

Second winter period 1TsikniasRiverandKalloniSaltpansarea.

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila pomarina rPM

Recorded most years in Apr and May.

Averygoodyearwithaboveaveragenumbersseeninspring.

SpringTenrecords(singlesunlessotherwiseindicated):KalloniSaltpans23Apr(BBuckleretal);Napi

Valley24Apr(DGoodwin&JJones);anamazingcountof9PolichnitosSaltpans24Apr(JBowersper

TRobinson);betweenEresosandIpsilou25Apr(SWytemaetal);KalloniRaptorWatchpoint3May(Lesvos

BirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);Platania5May(TParkeretal);2nrMolivos9May(RChittendenetal);and

NapiValley(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

AutumnThreerecords(allsingles):PaliaVigla(Polichnitos)11Sept(perTRobinson)&25Sept(TRobinson)

andVafios16Sept(SPDudleyetal).

GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila clanga V*|5|5(since2000)

Fiverecords(acceptedbyLBRC),allsingles:KalloniSaltpans

3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);MeladiaValley4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)and

5Apr(AStoddart)(considereddifferentindividuals);Molivos

25Apr(SWytemaetal);betweenParakilaandAgra3May

(TParkeretal).

Last recorded in 1999. Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga,MeladiaValley,April2010©SebastianSiblet

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLE Aquila heliaca V*|1|11(12)

Tworecords(acceptedbyLBRC):asub‐adultnearEfthalou24Apr(BBuckleretal);asub‐adultPithariou

Reservoir25Apr(SPDudley,M&SSimmons,P&EHamilton).

GOLDEN EAGLE Aquila chrysaetos rPM|1|19(22+)

Passage birds Apr–May and Sept.

Onerecord:asinglebirdNapiValley24Apr(BPrice,TThunder).

BONELLI’S EAGLE Hieraaetus fasciatus rPM

Passage birds Apr–May.

Onerecord:asinglebirdnorthofMesotopos9May(P&VManning).

2009Additionalrecord:1PotamiaValley11Apr(MANeumann).

BOOTED EAGLE Hieraaetus pennatus sPM

Recorded most years Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Spring Fiverecords: singlebirdsseenatKalloniSaltpans23Apr(MEising,JBless),LardiaValley26Apr

(A&GSwash,R&BTodd),KalloniRaptorWatchpoint4May(RThaxton)and17May(MLHawkes),and

NapiValley8May(VTucker).

Autumn Tworecords:singlebirdsnrSkoutaros12Sept(ADudley)andPaliaVigla(Polichnitos)25Sept

(TRobinson).

LESSER KESTREL Falco naumanni sMB,sPM

Small numbers breed on offshore islands at Sigri and possibly other offshore islands. Most common in the

west of the island. Also recorded on passage Apr May and Sept.

Despitegoodnumbersofbirdsandapopularspecies,veryfewrecordsreceived.

Spring Recorded2Apr–1Junefrom:Achladeri,AghiaIoannis,GarbiasIsland,Ipsilou,KalloniRaptor

Watchpoint,KalloniSaltpans,Kavaki,Lotzaria,Makara,MeladiaValley,Metochi,NapiValley,Petrified

Forest,PithariouReservoir,SigriandFaneromeniarea,SkalaEresouandVigla(Ipsilou).Largercountsas

follows:30betweenIpsilouandSigri8Apr(AStoddart);40MeladiaValley24pr(D&LWitton);60Sigri

Fields26Apr(SPDudleyetal).

BreedingBirdsseenaroundthefollowingknownbreedingareasbutnobreedingconfirmed:GarbiasIsland,

SigriandFaneromeniareaandSkalaEresou.

AutumnSinglebirdsTsikniasRiver12Sept(JRussell)andIpsilou13Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecords:1KalloniSaltpans10Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus sRB

A surprisingly scarce species with small numbers breeding across the island.

1‐2presentthroughouttheyearatthefollowingsites:AlikoudiPool,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),

AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio),Ipsilou,KalamiMarsh,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,KalloniSaltpans,Kavaki,

Lotzaria,MilopotamosRiver,Molivos,Perasma,Petra,PetrifiedForest,Polichnitos,PolichnitosSaltpans,

Sigri,SkalaVasilikon,TsikniasRiver.

RED‐FOOTED FALCON Falco vespertinus cPM

On passage Apr May with smaller numbers Aug‐Oct.

Spring Recorded 18Apr–17MayfromAchladeri,Agra,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Almyropotamos

River(Lisvorio),Faneromeni,Ipsilometopo,Ipsilou,Kalloni,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,KalloniSaltpans

(inc.surroundingfields),Kavaki,KremastesBridge,LagkadaValley(Skalochori),Lotzaria,Mavria,Meladia

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Valley,Mesa,Metochi,NorthCoasttrack,Napi

Valley,Parakila,Platania,PolichnitosSaltpans,

PotamiaValley,SkalaEresou,SkalaKallonis,

Skamnioudi,TsikniasRiver,Vigla(Ipsilou).Larger

flocksasfollows:18NapiValley24Apr(perSP

Dudley);40KremastesBridge26Apr(MEadeet

al);17AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)27Apr

(TRobinson);25PolichnitosSaltpans17Apr

(TRobinson);30Ipsilou1May(SPDudleyetal).

AutumnSinglebirdsParakila15Aug(KElsby),

Lotzaria14Sept(SPDudleyetal)and5Oct

(HDon).

Redfooted Falcon Falco vespertinus,KalloniSaltpans,May2010©WendyBall

ELEONORA’S FALCON Falco eleonorae sPM,?rMB?

On passage Apr May and Sept‐Oct. Thought to breed on offshore islands off Sigri.

Spring Recorded20Apr–22MayfromAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),AncientAntissa,Faneromeni,Ipsilou,

KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,KalloniSaltpans,Kapi,Kavaki,LiconaValley,Makara,MeladiaValley,Metochi,

Molivos,ParakilaMarsh,Perasma,PerivolisMonastery,Petri,PolichnitosSaltpans,Sideras,Sigri,Skala

Eresou,SkalaSikaminias,TsikniasRiver,VafiosandVigla(Ipsilou).Mostrecordsof1‐6birds;max.20Ipsilou

3May(GTebbetal).

SummerRecordsfromSigri,IpsilouandMolivosbutnoconfirmedbreeding.

Autumn1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)20Sept(TRobinson);1KalloniSaltpans22Sept(HDon);

3KalloniSaltpans23Sept(EGalinou);1PerasmaReservoir25Sept(HDon);1NapiValley25Sept(HDon);

3PolichnitosSaltpans26Sept(TRobinson);12AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)29Sept(TRobinson);

1MeladiaValley29Sept(HDon).

MERLIN Falco columbarius rW,?rPM?

A couple of records most years.

Tworecords(acceptedbyLBRC):anadultmalenrKalloniSaltpans27Mar(photo:J‐P&SSiblet)and1

PolichnitosSaltpans10Apr(TRobinson).

EURASIAN HOBBYFalco subbuteo sPM,?rMB?

Small numbers seen on passage Apr May and Sept‐Oct.

Spring 24Apr–4Jun,allrecords:1Ipsilou24Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);2KalloniRaptor

Watchpoint24Apr(BBuckleretal);1LardiaValley26Apr(A&GSwash,R&BTodd);2KalloniSaltpans

26Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);1KremastesBridge26Apr(SPDudleyetal);1Faneromeni

27Apr(IFordetal);1TsikniasRiver28Apr(JHarrisetal);2Metochi30Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphae

Log);1AlykesWetlands2May(BForbes,NGlennetal);2KalloniRaptorWatchpoint2May(GTebbetal);

1PerasmaReservoir22May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1Faneromeni2May(NHughes);1Meladia

Valley3May(R&BTodd);1Kalloni4May(GTebbetal);1PolichnitosSaltpans6May(TRobinson);

1KalamiMarshandMesaWetlands9May(MLHawkes,TFarr);1Ipsilou10May(VTucker);1Meladia

Valley12May(TFarr);1AchladeriForest4Jun(LStavrakas).

AutumnSinglesseenat:AghiaIoannis10Aug(PCosgrove);PolichnitosSaltpans10Aug(TRobinson);Palia

Vigla(Polichnitos)25Sept(TRobinson);Ipsilou29Sept(HDon);AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)(2)29Sept

(TRobinson);PolichnitosSaltpans12Oct(TRobinson).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


LANNER FALCON Falco biarmicus rPM

A couple of records most years. Greek birds belong to the race F. b. feldeggii (BoG).

Spring12recordsreceivedofwhatmayhavebeeneitherasingleverymobilebirdortwobirds,oneinthe

westoftheislandandonearoundtheKalloniarea.Allrecordsasfollows(allsingles):PerivolisMonastery

24Apr(BForbes,NGlennetal);MeladiaValley28Apr(MEadeetal);KalloniSaltpans29Apr(PHarris,

RNason);AlykesWetlands,KalloniSaltpans,Mesa/KalamiMarshandMakara30Apr(IFord,A&GSwash,

D&LWittonetal);KalloniRaptorWatchpoint1May(D&JNurney,SChalmers);Sideras2May

(MHodgsonetal);TsikniasRiver8May(TRobinson);PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)9May(TFarr).

It would help considerably if observers aged any birds seen.

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus sRB,sW

Small numbers breed across the island with increased numbers in winter Nov Mar. Greek breeding birds

belong to the race F. p. brookei with nominate P. p. peregrinus occurring on passage (BoG).

Recordsof1‐2throughouttheyearfromAchladeriForest,AghiaIoannis,AgiosFokas,Faneromeni,

Ipsilometopo,Ipsilou,KalamiMarsh,Lotzaria,KalloniSaltpans,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,Kavaki,Makara,

MeladiaValley,Mesa,MetochiLake,Petra,Pelopi,PetrifiedForest,PolichnitosSaltpans,PotamiaValley,

Sigri,Skalachori,SkalaEresou,TsikniasRiverandVourkosRiver.

BreedingOnenestwith2youngatIpsilometopo(GTebbetal).

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus rRB,rW,rPM

Small numbers breed (e.g. Dipi Larisos) but most usually encountered late winter and spring Mar May.

Fourrecords(allsingles):MeladiaValley2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);MetochiLake4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);Kalami

Marsh29Apr(BBuckleretal);floodedfieldsopp.KalloniSaltworksentrance29Apr(D&LWitton).

2009Additionalrecord:1DipiLarisos6Apr(MANeumann).

CORN CRAKE Crex crex V*|0|17(49–inc.34huntedbirds)

2005Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):oneseentakingtadpolesatFaneromeniUpperFordin8May(photo:DWalbridge&RWilkins)(LB09,HRC10inprep).LITTLE CRAKE Porzana parva sSP,rAP,?rW?

Recorded at most wetlands with cover Mar–May. Occasionally recorded Aug–Oct. Some may winter.

Spring Upto8MetochiLake4Apr–10May(MO);AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)6‐7Apr(1)and17Apr(2)

(TRobinson);1ParakilaMarsh18Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);singlesMeladiaValleyFord27Apr

(JHarrisetal),29Apr(takenbyMarshHarrier)(A&GSwash,R&BTodd),4May(D&JNurney,S

Chalmers);2on5May(AVrielink);1Faneromeni2May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);Vergias

(Chalandra)River3May(M&MSullivan),5on4May,2on5May(allHPrinsen),1on6‐7May(TFarr);

1PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)4May(D&LWitton);1TsikniasRiver10‐13May(H&AVaughan,

P&NPrestonetal).

2009Additionalrecords:SkalaKallonisPool1on5Apr(firstforyear)withmax.4on11Apr(max.site

countforyear);6MetochiLake8Par(max.sitecountforyear)(allMANeumann).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


BAILLON’S CRAKE Porzana pusilla rSP|1|17(20)

The rarest of the crakes; recorded most years.

Onerecord:1MetochiLake23Apr–4May

(PAubrey,J&HBaileyetal).

Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla,MetochiLake,April2010©SteveDudley|LesvosBirding

SPOTTED CRAKEPorzana porzana sPM

A handful of records each Apr May. One autumn record.

Threerecords:singlesMetochiLake29Mar(J‐P&SSiblet)and22‐27Apr(SPDudleyetal),andoneinthe

culvertNWoftheMetochiLake8May(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecord:1MetochiLake14Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

COMMON MOORHENGallinula chloropus sRB,sW

Small numbers breed.

RecordedthroughouttheyearatMetochiLake(atleasttwoprsbred;11juvsseen);VergiasRiver(Skala

Eresou)(atleastoneprbred;3juvsseen);PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)(1prbred:;2juvsseen);Tsiknias

River(atleast1prbred;4juvsseen).AlsoseenatAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),AlmyropotamosRiver

(Lisvorio),ParakilaMarsh,PotamiaValleyandVouvarisRiver.

COMMON COOT Fulica atra rMB,sW

Varying numbers occur in winter with occasional pairs staying on to breed.

Allrecords:PotamiaReservoirJanApr,max.29on1Jan(TRobinson);1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)

23Janand1‐2duringMar(TRobinson);1KalloniSaltpans25Apr–11May(MO);MetochiLake2on1Jan,

1on27Mar(TRobinson)and24Sept(HDon);1Apothika13May(TRobinson);18PerasmaReservoir

16Sept(SPDudleyetal)and24on25Sept(HDon);Vergias(Chalandra)River25Apr–7May(MO)andpr

with2juvs15Sept(SPDudleyetal)and28Sept(HDon);26SkalaKallonis30Jan,4on27Mar

(TRobinson)and12on29Dec(EGalinou);8ParakilaMarsh29Dec(EGalinou);1MesaWetlands29Dec

(EGalinou).

EURASIAN STONE‐CURLEW Burhinus oedicnemus sMB,sPM

Small numbers breed inc. the Kalloni area (inc. Saltpans). Passage Feb–Apr and Aug–Oct. Flocks can be

encountered in autumn.

Recorded31Mar–2OctfromAlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio),AlykesWetlands(inc.breedingbehaviour),

Christou(Kamares)River,KalloniSaltpans(inc.breedingbehaviour),PolichnitosSaltpans(inc.breeding

behaviour),SigriFields,TsikniasRiver,Vergias(Chalandra)River(inc.breedingbehaviour).Max.21Christou

(Kamares)River24Aug(PCarroll).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


BLACK‐WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus sMB,cPM

Small numbers breed (e.g.saltpans). Also passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

Recorded12Mar–21SeptfromPolichnitosSaltpans,KalloniSaltpans,AlykesWetlands,Christou

(Kamares)River,TsikniasRiver,KalamiMarsh,PitharioiuReservoir,ParakilaMarshandMikriLimni.

Max.KalloniSaltpans150on14Aug(KElsby).Max.PolichnitosSaltpans57on25Jul(TRobinson).

BreedingSittingbirdsseenatPolichnitosSaltpans,KalamiMarshandKalloniSaltpans.

(PIED)AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta rRB,sPM,sW

Small numbers breed (e.g. saltpans). Also passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Easily seen at both saltpans –

scarce elsewhere.

Recordedthroughouttheyearatbothsaltpanswithmax.600KalloniSaltpans13Sept(ADudley)and201

PolichnitosSaltpans8Jan(TRobinson).AlsorecordedatAlykesWetlands,ApothikaandTsikniasRiver

mouth.

BreedingNoconfirmedrecords.

NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus sW

Small numbers Oct–Mar.

Threerecords(allsingles):AlikoudiPool15Apr(TRobinson);PolichnitosSaltpans20Aug&16Dec

(TRobinson).

Spurwinged Plover Vanellus spinosus,SigriFields,May2010©MickSveikutis

SPUR‐WINGED PLOVER (LAPWING)Vanellus spinosus sPM

Usually single birds seen Mar–Mar; rarely Aug–Sept.

Three,possiblyfour,records:1MesaWetlands22Apr(BPrice,TThunder,J&HBailey);2TsikniasRiver

mouth2May(D&LWittonetal);1SigriFields1‐5May(photo:MO);1floodedfieldsatKalloniSaltpans

18‐19May(PColeetal)anditoranotherChristou(Kamares)River20May(LTeugels,MvanHoutte).

2009Additionalrecord:1Christou(Kamares)River12‐14Apr(MANeumann,AJordi)isthefirstoffour

recordsfortheyear.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


WHITE‐TAILED PLOVER (LAPWING) Vanellus leucurus V*|0|1

2001Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):adultMesa7May(J.A.&K.L.Hazelletal)hasbeenacceptedasthe

firstrecordforLesvos(HRC10inprep).

EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria sW;rPM

Small numbers Oct–Mar. On passage Mar–Apr and Sept–Oct.

Fiverecords:singlesPolichnitosSaltpans3Mar,6Septand27Nov(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans2on2Oct

(HDon)and1on2Dec(EGalinou).

2009Additionalrecord:14AlykesWetlands14Apr(MANeumann).

GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola sW,sPM

Small numbers Mar–Apr and Sept–Oct.

SpringAllrecords:3Christou(Kamares)River1May(IFordetal);1AlykesWetlands2May(BForbes,

NGlennetal);3TsikniasRivermouth2May(GTebbetal);2AgiosFokas4May(BBuckleretal);9Kalloni

Saltpans(BForbes,NGlennetal);2TsikniasRiver7May(A&GTurner);1AlikoudiPool7May(AVrielink);

upto3KalloniSaltpansandTsikniasRiver7‐8May(MO);3KalamiMarsh9May(MLHawkes);3Alikoudi

Pool9‐11May(SP&EFDudley)with4thereon12May(R&BTodd);2Christou(Kamares)River15May

(TRobinson);1PolichnitosSaltpans19May(EVaes).

Autumn1‐2PolichnitosSaltpans24Sept–29Dec(TRobinson).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula sPM

Occurs Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

Spring Recorded2Apr–31Mayfrom:KalloniSaltpans2Apr–31Maywithmax.29on7May(H&A

Vaughan,P&NPreston);PolichnitosSaltpans2on3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet),2on27Apr(TRobinson)and1

on1May(TRobinson);2‐4AlikoudiPoolfrom6‐14May(AVrielink,SPDudleyetal);4AgiosFokas4May

(BBuckleretal);1Faneromeni4May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

Autumn/Winter1‐2PolichnitosSaltpans21Aug–9Dec(TRobinson);upto9KalloniSaltpans10‐14Aug

(PCosgrove);1MetochiLake22Aug(PCarroll).

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius sMB,sPM

Small numbers breed along rivers and also on passage Mar–May and Aug–Sept.

Recorded4Mar–12Oct.DisplayingbirdsobservedatAlykesWetlands;TsikniasRiver;Christou(Kamares)

River;Faneromeni;KalloniSaltpans;PolichnitosSaltpansandSkalaEresou.Max.25KalloniSaltpans17Aug

(KElsby).AlsorecordedfromAlikoudiPool,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),KalamiMarsh,Mesa,Parakila

Marsh,PotamiaValleyandVourkosRiver.

KENTISH PLOVER Charadrius alexandrinus sRB,sPM

Breeds around saltpans; drier areas of marshes; etc. Also passage Apr–May and Sept–Oct.

RecordedthroughouttheyearfromPolichnitosSaltpansmax.58on22NovandKalloniSaltpansmax.100

on21Dec(EGalinou).AlsorecordedfromAlikoudiPool,AlykesWetlands,Christou(Kamares)River,Kalami

MarshandTsikniasRivermouth.

BreedingConfirmedPolichnitosSaltpans(broodsringed18May,27Mayand9Aug)(TRobinson);Alikoudi

Pool2juvson14May(M&CPowell)andbroodof2ringed2May(TRobinson);AlykesWetlandsanadult

withchick10Jul(MRogg).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


(EURASIAN)DOTTEREL Charadrius morinellus V*|0|2

2006Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):1PolichnitosSaltpans11‐12Sept(photo:TRobinson)isthefirst

acceptedrecordforLesvos(HRC08)–wronglyattributedto2008(withnodates)inLesvos Birds 2009.

2008Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):1AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)10Sept(BvanPerlo)isonlythe

secondacceptedrecordforLesvos(HRC10inprep).

GREAT SNIPE Gallinago media rPM*|4|14+(17+)

A near‐annual passage migrant.

Fourrecordsoffivebirds(acceptedbyLBRC):Faneromeni

29Apr–1May(photo:GTebb,MEisingetal);Kalloni

Saltpans2on30Aprwithatleastonebirdto4May(H&

AVaughan,P&NPrestonetal);1TsikniasRiver2‐3May

(photo:TParker,KMullarneyetal);infloodedfield

behindSkalaKallonisvillage5May(photo:BForbes,

NGlennetal).

One other report (not submitted to LBRC): Meladia Valley

1 May.

Great Snipes Gallinago media, Faneromeni(above),April2010©MarkEisingandTsikniasRiver(below),May2010©KillianMullarney

COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago sW,sPM

Occurs Aug–May.

Allrecords:PolichnitosSaltpans27Jan–8Febwithmax.7on4Feb(TRobinson);2Christou(Kamares)

River30Jan(TRobinson);singlesonthefloodedfieldsatKalloniSaltpans2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)and30Apr

(WBowelletal);singlesFaneromenifords19Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen),27Apr(BBuckleretal),

29Apr(GTebbetal)and10May(SP&EFDudley);singlesatSkalaKallonisPool25Apr(LesvosBirding

HotelPasiphaeLog)and30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1MesaWetlands6May(TFarr);

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


1MetochiLake7Sept(R&PHarrison);1PerasmaReservoir16Sept(SPDudleyetal);6KalloniSaltpans

11Dec(EGalinou).

BLACK‐TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa sSP

Occurs on larger wetlands and rivers Apr–May.

Allrecords:PolichnitosSaltpans,3on15Mar,1on27Marand3on29Mar(TRobinson);Kalloni

Saltpans,3on30Mar(J‐P&SSiblet),1on1Apr(J‐P&SSiblet),17on3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet),9on4Apr

(J‐P&SSiblet),30on8Apr(TKastritis,NPorbonas,SZakkak),28on29Apr(GGasteratos,NProbonas),

3on15Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen)then1‐2daily23Apr–15May(MO);1Apothika13May

(TRobinson).

200915KalloniSaltpans5Apr(MANeumann).

BAR‐TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica rSP*|1|9(25+)

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):anadultinbreedingplumageTsikniasRiverandfloodsbyKalloniSaltpans

28Apr–5May(photo:GTebb,MHodgsonetal).

EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata sW,rPM

Small numbers Aug–Mar.

Allrecords:3KalloniSaltpans1Jan(TRobinson);1PolichnitosSaltpans24Mar(TRobinson);1‐2Kalloni

Saltpans1‐9Apr(J‐P&SSibletetal);1TsikniasRivermouth15Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);Kalloni

Saltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandadjacentfloodedfields)andTsikniasRivermouth1seenmostdays

20Apr–11May(MO);KalloniSaltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandadjacentfloodedfields)andTsiknias

Rivermouth1seen10‐23Aug(PCosgroveetal),andthen1+present30Oct–21Decwithmax.9on

21Dec(EGalinou);1PolichnitosSaltpans7‐31Dec(TRobinson).

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus sPM,rW

Small numbers Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Occasionally over‐winters.

Spring26Mar–10May:singlesPolichnitosSaltpans26&30Marand16,21‐23Apr(TRobinson);Kalloni

Saltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandadjacentfloodedfields)8Apr–9Maywithmax.16on8Apr(TKastritis,

NProbonas,SZakkak);singlesAlikoudiPool19&30Apr(TRobinson);1TsikniasRiver23Apr(M&D

Smith);2PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)7‐10May(TFarr,NHughes);

Autumn1KalloniSaltpans14‐15Aug(KElsby)and2on24Sept(HDon);3PolichnitosSaltpans5Septand

1on2Oct(TRobinson).

COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus sR,sPM

Occurs mainly Aug–Mar, with smaller numbers Apr–May.

Polichnitos Saltpansrecordedthroughouttheyearwithmax.77on30Sept(TRobinson).

Kalloni Saltpans149on1Jan(TRobinson),1‐2from1Apr–5May(MO),inAugmax.55on9th

(PCosgrove),Septmax.20on12th(EGalinou),Octmax.23on6Oct(EGalinou),Novmax.62on

14NovandDecmax.73on21Dec.

Other sitesChristou(Kamares)andTsikniasRivers.

MARSH SANDPIPER Tringa stagnatilis sPM

Small numbers move through the island Mar–May and Aug–Sept.

SpringKalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfields)30Mar–9Maywithcountsof16on31Mar

(J‐P&SSiblet),39on4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)and36on9Apr(GGasteratos,NProbonas);PolichnitosSaltpans

2‐16Aprwithmax.42on10Apr(TRobinson);1AlikoudiPool14Apr(TRobinson);1Faneromeni27Apr–

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


2May(BBuckleretal);and1Mesa30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston).

AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans2on12Aug(WHansen),1on26&30Aug(TRobinson),2on4Sept

(TRobinson)1on5‐7Sept(R&PHarrison),12on14Sept(SPDudleyetal)with2on16Sept(TRobinson).

COMMON GREENSHANKTringa nebularia sPM,sW

Small numbers move through the island Mar–May and Aug–Sept. Small numbers over‐winter.

First winter period 3Christou(Kamares)River30Jan(TRobinson).

SpringPolichnitosSaltpans13Mar–29Apr(MO),max.10on23Apr(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans(and

surroundingfloodedfields)30Mar–8May(MO),max.27on31Marand3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet));1Almiro‐

potamosRiver(Vatera)13Apr(TRobinson);1TsikniasRiver15Apr–7May(MO);1‐2AlikoudiPool30Apr

–21May;1Faneromeni27‐29Apr(BBuckleretal);1KalamiMarsh(JHarris);2Sigri5May(AVrielink).

AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans27Jun–29Novwithmax.19on23Sept(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans9Aug

–14Novwithmax.14on9Aug(PCosgrove);singlesChristou(Kamares)Riveron22Aug(PCarroll)and

11Sept(SPDudleyetal);TsikniasRiver1on23Aug(PCarroll),3on3&12Sept(R&PHarrison,JRussell),

and2on16Sept(SPDudleyetal).

Second winter periodPolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutDecwithmax.9on8th(TRobinson);1Kalloni

Saltpans7Dec(EGalinou);1Christou(Kamares)River29Dec(EGalinou).

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus sW,sPM

Occurs mainly Oct–Mar, with passage Apr–May and Jul–Sept.

First winter period 1PolichnitosSaltpans20‐24Feb(TRobinson).

SpringPolichnitosSaltpans1‐17Marwithmax.3on8th(TRobinson),1on3‐4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);

AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)4on20Mar,1on29Marand1on15Apr(TRobinson);Almiropotamos

River(Vatera)1on21Mar(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfields)2on2Apr,1on

3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)and9on8Apr(TKastritis,NPorbonas,SZakkak);1Nifida3Apr(TRobinson);1Mikri

Limni3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);1MesaWetlands3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);AlikoudiPool2on14Apr,1on18Apr

and3on27‐28Apr(TRobinson);2PotamiaValley23Apr(R&BTodd);2TsikniasRiver23Apr(NHughes);

1‐2KalamiMarsh24Apr–2May(GTebbetal);1MetochiLake26Apr(GTebbetal);1Faneromeni27Apr

(BBuckleretal);1VoulgarisRivermouth3May(AVrielink);1nearVatera9May(NHughes);1nrApothika

12May(SP&EFDudley).

Autumn6KalloniSaltpans12Aug(PCosgrove)and4on18Aug(KElsby);singlesMetochiLake20Aug(P

Carroll)and7Sept(R&PHarrison);1PolichnitosSaltpans9Septand6Nov(TRobinson);2Kallonis

Saltpans11Dec(EGalinou);2MeladiaValley1Oct(Hdon).

WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola cPM

Very common on all water areas Mar–May with smaller numbers Jul–Sept.

First winter period 2PolichnitosSaltpans13‐14Feb(TRobinson).ThefirstwinterrecordforLesvos.

Spring Recorded 29Mar–18Mayfrom:KalloniSaltpansmax.300on30Apr(GTebbetal);TsikniasRiver

max.132on25Apr(BBuckleretal);Faneromenimax.100+on27Apr(BBuckler,SPDudleyetal);Skala

KalloniPoolmax.30on29Apr(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);PolichnitosSaltpansmax.21on4Apr(T

Robinson);AlikoudiPoolmax.21on10Apr(TRobinson);KalamiMarshmax.20on28Apr(GTebbetal);

MesaWetlandsmax.16on30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)max.

14on25Apr(TRobinson);andalsorecordedatMetochiLake,Nifida,Vergias(Chalandra)River,

AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Christou(Kamares)River,ApothikaandPerasmaReservoir.

AutumnRecorded10Aug–1Novfrom:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.8on23Aug(TRobinson);Kalloni

Saltpansmax.4on12Aug(PCosgrove);2PerasmaReservoir13Aug(PCosgrove);1‐2MetochiLake20‐22

Aug(PCarroll);1TsikniasRiver23Aug(PCarroll).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


TEREK SANDPIPER Xenus cinereus V*|3|8

Threerecords(acceptedbyHRC):adKalloniSaltpans29Apr(photo:WBowelletal);juvKalloniSaltpans

27Jul(photo:GBrodie);adFaneromeni29Sept(photo:D&CWallbank)(HRC10inprep).

The first year with multiple records.

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus,KalloniSaltpans,April2010©WillBowell

COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos sPM,rW

Small numbers Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Occasionally over‐winters.

First winter periodSkalaVasilikon1on1Jan,2on9Janand1on30Jan(TRobinson);1Polichnitos

Saltpanson28Feb(TRobinson).

SpringRecorded6Apr–11Mayfrom:AlikoudiPool,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Christou(Kamares)

River,Faneromeni,KalamiMarsh,KalloniSaltpans,Kavaki,MesaWetlands,MetochiLake,Perasma

Reservoir,PolichnitosSaltpans,PotamiaValley,Sigri,SkalaVasilikon,TsikniasRiverandVergias(Chalandra)

River.Max.4AlikoudiPool27Apr(TRobinson).

AutumnRecorded29Jun–29Oct:Christou(Kamares)River,KalloniSaltpans,MetochiLake,TsikniasRiver

andVouvarisRiver.Max.6KalloniSaltpans14Aug(KElsby).

(RUDDY)TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres sPM

Small numbers Mar–May and Aug–Sept.

Spring 1PolichnitosSaltpans15Apr(TRobinson);2AlykesWetlandsandTsikniasRiver(believedsame

birds)2May(BForbes,NGlenn,D&LWitton);3AgiosFokas4May(BBuckleretal);1KalloniSaltpans

4‐5May(GTebbetal);2KalloniSaltpansandTsikniasRiver7May(MLHawkesetal);4TsikniasRiver

10May(TRobinson);1AlikoudiPool11May(TRobinson);7TsikniasRiver12May(TRobinsonetal)with3

on14May(HPrinsen).

Autumn1‐2PolichnitosSaltpans23Aug–22Sept(TRobinsonetal).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


RED KNOT Calidris canutus V*|1|3

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):anadultChristou(Kamares)River30Apr(BForbes,NGlennetal:HRC10

inprep)isonlythethirdrecordfortheisland.

This species is no longer a national HRC species so any future records will now be dealt with by LBRC.

SANDERLING Calidris alba sPM

Small numbers seen Mar–May and Aug–Sept.

Spring AtKalloniSaltpans(inc.AlykesWetlandsandsurroundingfloodedfields)andTsikniasRivermouth

4on22Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen),6on28Apr(JHarrisetal),2on3‐4May(SPDudleyetal),1from

6‐9May(TFarretal),2on12May(R&BToddetal)and1on18May(MLHawkes).

LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta cPM,sW

Occurs Apr–May, occasionally in large numbers Apr–May, with smaller number Jul–Oct. Some over‐winter.

First winter periodPolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutwithmax.42on5Jan(TRobinson);presentKalloni

Saltpans1Jan(TRobinson).

Spring Recordedthroughto24Mayfrom:KalloniSaltpans(andsurroundedfloodedfieldsandAlykes

Wetlands)max.140+on4May(J&MGuinever,D&JTemple);PolichnitosSaltpansmax.50on26Apr

(TRobinson);KalamiMarshmax.45on9May(MLHawkes);AlikoudiPoolmax.45on9May(MLHawkes);

Christou(Kamares)Rivermax.34on5May(R&BTodd);TsikniasRivermax.11on3May(R&BTodd);

alsorecordedfromAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio),Faneromeniand

PerasmaReservoir.

AutumnRecordedfrom15Jul:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.99on7Nov(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpansmax.

220on25Nov(EGalinou).

Second winter periodRecordedthroughoutfrom:MesaWetlandsmax.50on29Dec(EGalinou);

PolichnitosSaltpanswithmax.42on30Dec(TRobinson);andKalloniSaltpans(recordedaspresentbutno

counts).

TEMMINCK’S STINT Calidris temminckii cPM

Occurs Apr–May with smaller numbers Aug–Sept.

SpringRecorded15Apr–11May:KalloniSaltpansmax.13on2May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);

TsikniasRivermax.5on26Apr(SPDudleyetal);AlikoudiPoolmax.4on11May(TRobinson);Faneromeni

max.3on27Apr(SPDudleyetal);alsorecordedfromAlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio),Christou(Kamares)

River,KalamiMarsh,MesaWetlands,PolichnitosSaltpans.

AutumnTworecords:singlesPolichnitosSaltpans12Aug(WHansen)andKalloniSaltpans14&17Aug

(KElsby).

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea cPM

Occurs Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringRecorded3Apr–20May:PolichnitosSaltpanswithmax.48on26Apr(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans

(inc.surroundingfloodedfields)withmax.40on18May(MLHawkes);AlikoudiPoolmax.10on11May

(SP&EFDudley);andalsoatChristou(Kamares)River,Faneromeni,KalamiMarsh,ParakilaMarsh,Sigri,

Vergias(Chalandra)River.

AutumnRecorded30Jul–19Oct:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.16on27Aug(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans

max.6on3Sept(R&PHarrison)

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


DUNLIN Calidris alpina sW,sPM

Occurs Aug–May.

First winter periodRecordedfromPolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutwithmax.201on28Jan(TRobinson)

andalsoseenatKalloniSaltpans(nocounts).

SpringPolichnitosSaltpansto15Aprwithmax.71on1Mar(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpansto23Aprwith

max.75on30Mar(J‐P&SSiblet);AlikoudiPool1on4Mayand4on11May(TRobinson);and1Sigri

5May(AVrielink).

AutumnRecordedfrom10AugfromPolichnitosSaltpanswithmax.160on8Nov(TRobinson);2Kalloni

Saltpans27Sept(HDon).

Second winter periodRecordedonlyfromPolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutwithmax.158on15Dec

(TRobinson).

BROAD‐BILLED SANDPIPER Limicola falcinellus rPM

Occasionally seen Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

SpringThreerecords:1onfloodedfieldsopposite

theKalloniSaltworksentrance3May(RThaxton);

presumeddifferentbird7‐9May(photo:MLHawkes

etal);7AlikoudiPool11‐16May(photo:SP&EF

Dudleyetal).

AutumnTworecords:singlesatPolichnitosSaltpans

12Aug(WHansen)andKalloniSaltpans14Aug

(KElsby). Broadbilled Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus,KalloniSaltpans, August2010©KevinElsbyRUFF Philomachus pugnax cPM

Occurs Feb–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringRecorded10Mar–25May:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.58on9Apr(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpans

(inc.surroundingfloodedfieldsandAlykesWetlands)max.120on25&27Apr(GTebbetal);AlikoudiPool

max.50on5May(NHughes);alsorecordedfromAlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Apothika,Christou

(Kamares)River,Faneromeni,KalamiMarsh,MesaWetlands,NifidaandTsikniasRiver,

AutumnRecorded2Sept–3Nov:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.11on12Septand1‐2KalloniSaltpansand

TsikniasRiver3Sept–4Oct.

RED‐NECKED PHALAROPE Phalaropus lobatus V*|2|12(17)

Tworecords(acceptedbyLBRC):2(maleandfemale)

KalloniSaltpans18May(photo:MLHawkes)and

1KalloniSaltpans26‐27Sept(RLuckingetal).

Rednecked Phalarope Phalaropus labotus,KalloniSaltpans,May2010©MarkHawkes

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


GREY PHALAROPE (REDPHALAROPE) Phalaropus fulicarius V*|1|1

Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):1PolichnitosSaltpans31Oct–3Nov(photo:W&EKappes,TRobinson)is

thefirstrecordforLesvos.

There appears to have been a minor influx of Grey Phalarope’s into the eastern Mediterranean region with

several records from Italy (including the first multiple record), mainland Greece and Israel.

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius,withBlack‐headedGull,PolichnitosSaltpans,October2010©TerryRobinson

COLLARED PRATINCOLE Glareola pratincola cSP

Good numbers seen on passage across the island Apr May.

Smallnumberswithnosizableflocksrecords.

SpringRecorded22Apr–19May:KalloniSaltpansarea(inc.surroundingfields,AlykesWetlandsand

Lotzaria)max.7on7May(SP&EFDudley);PolichnitosSaltpansmax.8on25Apr(TRobinson);upto

3SigriandFaneromenifields1‐4May(A&GSwash,R&BToddetal);TsikniasRivermax.4on25Apr

(BForbes,NGlennetal);2AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvorio)27Apr(TRobinson).

SummerAsinglebirdrecordedfromPolichnitosSaltpanson20Junand1&3Jul(TRobinson).

SLENDER‐BILLED GULL Chroicocephalus genei sW,sPM

Occurs in small numbers Oct–Mar. Passage birds Apr–May and Aug–Sept. Few records Jun–Jul.

First winter period1PolichnitosSaltpans4Feb(TRobinson).

SpringAverypooryearwithonlyonerecord:1KalloniSaltpans2May(BBuckleretal).

Summer4adultsPolichnitosSaltpans31Jul(TRobinson).

AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans13Sept–30Novmax.15on17Nov(TRobinson);5KalloniSaltpans14Nov

(EGalinou);1TsikniasRiver28&30Nov(EGalinou).

Second winter periodUpto4PolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutDec(TRobinson);2KalloniSaltpans7Dec

(EGalinou);1TsikniasRiver7Decand3on29Dec(EGalinou).

BLACK‐HEADED GULL Chroicocephalus ridibundus sW,sPM

Occurs Jul–May.

First winter periodRecordedfrom:PolichnitosSaltpansmax.89on24Jan(TRobinson);SkalaVasilikon

max.114on9Jan(TRobinson);TsikniasRivermax.66on1Jan(TRobinson);alsofromPotamiaValley,

SkalaKallonisandVourkosRiver.

SpringSinglesPolichnitosSaltpans15Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog)andTsikniasRiver30Apr

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


(GTebbetal)&20May(LTeugels,MvanHoutte).

Summer/AutumnPolichnitosSaltpansfrom3Julmax.424on30Nov(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpansmax.

330on6Oct(EGalinou);alsoChristou(Kamares)RiverandTsikniasRiver.

Second winter periodPolichnitosSaltpansthroughout1Decmax.339on6Dec(TRobinson);alsoChristou

(Kamares)River,KalloniSaltpans,MesaWetlands,MilopotamosRiver,TsikniasRiver.

LITTLE GULL Hydrocoloeus minutus rW,sPM

Occurs in small numbers Aug–May and Aug–Sept.

First winter period1PolichnitosSaltpans4Jan(TRobinson).

SpringAnunprecedentedcountof6000+inasingleflockfeedingoffthenorthcoastbetweenSkala

SikaminiasandEfthalou1Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)isbelievedtobethelargestevercountinGreece;120+again

alongthenorthcoastbetweenSkalaSikaminiasandEfthalou24Apr(SPDudley,BBuckleretal);2ads

KalloniSaltpans2May(JBuxton,JGlendinningetal);a2CYKalloniSaltpans4‐7May(RThaxtonetal).

AutumnOnerecord:asingleimmKalloniSaltpans27SeptandTsikniasRiver1Oct(HDon).

AUDOUIN’S GULL Ichthyaetus audouinii rRB

A rare resident. Breeds on offshore islands. Recorded mainly from along the north coast.

SpringUpto4regularlyseenalongthenorthcoastbetweenPetraandKorakas(MO);1AgiosFokas4May

(BBuckler,M&MSullivanetal);1SkalaEresou10May(TFarr).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Ichthyaetus melanocephalus sW,cPM

Occurs in reasonable numbers Aug–May, with passage birds Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

First winter period1PolichnitosSaltpansJan–Feb(TRobinson);23VourkosRiver23Jan(TRobinson).

SpringKalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfieldsandAlykesWetlands)max.12on31Mar(J‐P&

SSiblet);PolichnitosSaltpansmax.43on15Apr(SPDudleyetal);upto2TsikniasRiver15‐28Apr(SP

Duldeyetal);2betweenSkalaSikaminiasandEfthalou24Apr(SPDudleyetal);70Kavaki25Apr(R&B

Todd);1Faneromenibeach27Apr(JHarrisetal);2SkalaEresou5May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);

3Molivos13May(HPrinsen);1TsikniasRiver20May(LTeugels,MVanHoutte).

Summer/AutumnPolichnitosSaltpansfrom11Junmax.43on14Sept(TRobinson);KalloniSaltpansand

TsikniasRiverareamax.9on14Aug(KElsby)and30Nov(EGalinou);SkalaVasilikonharbourmax.16on

23Sept(HDon);1Mytilini12Jul(MRogg);3Christou(Kamares)River13Nov(EGalinou).

Second winter periodUpto3TsikniasRiver(EGalinou)and1Parakila29Dec(EGalinou).

YELLOW‐LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis cRB

Common resident breeding on offshore islands and seen right across the island.

PresentatPolichnitosSaltpansthroughouttheyearwithmax.monthlycountsasfollows:Jan(178),Feb

(128),Mar(219),Apr(900),May(63),Jun(217),Jul(784),Aug(800),Sept(675),Oct(189),Nov(63)and

Dec(72)(TRobinson).PresentatKalloniSaltpansthroughoutwithmax.2520on28Apr(GTebbetal).Also

recordedfrommostcoastalareasinc.mainriversandallreservoirs.Nobreedingrecordsreceivedbutbirds

recordedonmanyoftheoffshoreislandsoffPetra,SkalaEresou,GarbiasIsland,etc.

GULL‐BILLED TERN Gelochelidon nilotica sSP

Occurs Apr–May, occasionally in autumn.

SpringRecorded27Mar–19May:KalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfieldsandAlykesWetlands)

2on27Mar(TRobinson),50on6Apr(AStoddart),thenmostdays25Apr–19MaywithdoubleFigure

countsof35on26Apr(GTebbetal),10on27Apr(GTebbetal)and42on30Apr(R&BToddetal).

Otherrecords:1betweenIpsilouandSigri8Apr(AStoddart);8PolichnitosSaltpans9Apr(GGasteratos,

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


TKastritis,NProbonas,TRobinson);27TsikniasRiver15Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);1TsikniasRiver

29Apr(NHughes);1SkalaKallonis13May(LTeugels,MVanHoutte).

Autumn 1KalloniSaltpans15Aug(KElsby);1TsikniasRiver3‐7Sept(R&PHarrison).

2009Additionalrecord:1TsikniasRiver1May(PAubrey).

CASPIAN TERN Hydroprogne caspia sPM

Occasionally recorded Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

Threerecords(allsingles):TsikniasRivermouth

29Apr(photo:P&ABootyman,KMullarney);Petra

7Jul(MRogg);KalloniSaltpans9Aug(PCosgrove).

20081KalloniSaltpans14Apr(KMullarney).

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia,TsikniasRiver,April2010©KillianMullarney

LESSER CRESTED TERN Thalasseus bengalensis V*|0|1

2005Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):adKalloniSaltpans6‐7May(DWalbridgeetal)isthefirstaccepted

recordforLesvos(HRC10inprep).

SANDWICH TERN Thalasseus sandvicensis sW,sPM

Occurs Aug–Apr.

First winter period(TRobinson)Upto3birdspresentatPolichnitosSaltpans1Jan–17Mar.

Spring21KalloniSaltpans9Apr(GGasteratos,NProbonas);1TsikniasRivermouth15Apr(J&SMaskell,

P&DGreen);6PolichnitosSaltpans15Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);1TsikniasRiver23‐25Apr

(JHarrisetal);4Efthalou27Apr(GTebbetal);1SkalaSikaminias27Apr(GTebbetal);1‐2TsikniasRiver

mouth28Apr–2May(NHughesetal);5KalloniSaltpans29Apr(NHughes);1SkalaEresou5May(H&A

Vaughan,P&NPreston);1Mytilini6May(TFarr);2KalloniSaltpans7May(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston);1TsikniasRivermouth7May(MLHawkes);4TsikniasRiver18May(MLHawkes).

Summer/AutumnPolichnitosSaltpans13Jun–3Novmax.25on4Sept(TRobinson);TsikniasRivermouth

9on8Sept(R&PHarrison),2on26Sept(HDon),2on4Oct(HDon)and3on24Oct(EGalinou);2off

Achladeri23Sept(HDon).

Second winter periodAtKalloniSaltpanssingleson28Novand5Dec,and3on29Dec(EGalinou).

LITTLE TERN Sternula albifrons sMB

Occurs Apr–Sept.

Recorded15Apr–31AugfromPolichnitosandKalloniSaltpans,TsikniasRivermouth(allbreedingsites)

andAlikoudiPool.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo sMB,cPM

Occurs Apr–Sept.

Recorded2Apr–1SeptfromPolichnitos,KalloniSaltpans(inc.breeding),TsikniasRivermouth,Christou

(Kamares)River,KalamiMarsh,AnaxosandAlikoudiPool.AlsobreedsonnorthcoastislandTokmakia.

20096KalloniSaltpans5Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


WHISKERED TERN Chlidonias hybrida cPM

Occurs Apr–May, occasionally Aug–Oct.

SpringRecorded20Apr–22MayfromKalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfieldsandAlykes

Wetlands)max.130on28Apr(SPDudleyetal);KalamiMarshmax.100on29Apr(IFordetal);Mesa

Wetlandsmax.65on30Apr(SPDudleyetal);SkalaEresoumax.12on25Apr(JHarrisetal);alsofrom

AgiosFokas,AlikoudiPool,TsikniasRiver,MetochiLake,Lotzaria,SigriFields,Faneromeni,SkalaEresouand

MeladiaValley.

AutumnThreerecords:6KalloniSaltpans9Aug(PCosgrove);1‐2PolichnitosSaltpans11‐13Sept

(TRobinson,ADudley);1KalloniSaltpans16Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecord:40KalloniSaltpans12Apr(AJordi)firstforyear.

WHITE‐WINGED (BLACK) TERN Chlidonias leucopterus cPM

Occurs Apr–May, occasionally Aug–Oct.

SpringRecorded22Apr–9May:KalloniSaltpans(inc.surroundingfloodedfieldsandAlykesWetlands)

max.150on30Apr(GTebbetal);Sigrimax.70on1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);KalamiMarsh

max.9on27Apr(R&BTodd);alsofromAlikoudiPool,TsikniasRiver,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),

Lotzaria,Faneromeni,PerasmaReservoir,SkalaEresou,andMesaWetlands.

AutumnThreerecords:anadultKalloniSaltpans11‐12Sept(SPDudleyetal);1atPolichnitosSaltpans

23Sept(HDon);immKalloniSaltpans27Sept(HDon).

BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger sPM

The rarest of the marsh terns; small numbers (often singles) occur Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

SpringAverygoodyearrecordedfromKalloniSaltpansasfollows:1from27‐28Apr(DGoodwin,JJoneset

al),5on29Apr(SPDudleyetal),2from30Apr–2May(AVrielinketal),2on9May(M&CPowelletal),

3on18‐19May(MLHawkes)and1on20May(MLHawkes).

AutumnThreerecords:6PolichnitosSaltpans13Augand1on25Sept(TRobinson);1Christou(Kamares)

River24Sept(HDon)presumedsameKalloniSaltpans27Sept(HDon).

Whitewinged Black Chlidonias leucopterusand Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybrida,seasonalpoolsbyKalloniSaltpans,April2010©JohanVerbanck

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


STOCK DOVE(PIGEON) Columba oenas V*1|5(6+)

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):1PolichnitosSaltpans15Feb(photo:TRobinson)isonlythefifth

confirmedrecordforLesvos.

ROCK DOVE (PIGEON) Columba livia sRB

Small numbers occur around the rockier coastal areas. Feral Pigeon also occurs in the towns.

Allrecords:seenatGavathasBay21Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);20FaneromeniandSigriFields

27Apr&3May(JHarrisetal);1Ipsilou29Apr(GTebbetal);3NapiValley4May(GTebbetal);Meladia

valleymax.18on8May(HPrinsen);10SigriFields12May(TFarr).

(COMMON) WOOD PIGEON Columba palumbus sRB,sW

Small numbers breed. Numbers increase with the arrival of winter migrants Oct–Mar.

Onlyfourrecordsreceived:1betweenEfthalouandSkalaSikaminias2May(BForbes,NGlennetal);

2Achladeri3May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);3PanaghiaChapel6May(GTebbetal);1Efthalou

16Aug(KElsby).

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVEStreptopelia turtur cMB,cPM

Widespread breeder and passage migrant Apr–Sept.

Recorded15Apr–19Octfromacrosstheisland.Max.160+FaneromeniandSigrifields27Apr

(SPDudley,BBuckler,JHarrisetal).

2009Additionalrecord:1Vatera10Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto cRB

Widespread across the island, mainly around towns and villages.

Presentthroughoutatmanyareasacrosstheisland.Max.25Kavaki27Apr(GTebbetal).

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO Clamator glandarius sSP,rMB

Small passage Mar–May. Evidence suggests occasional breeding.

Sixrecords:1PolichnitosSaltpans29Mar(TRobinson);Madaros2on20Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen)

with1still(presumedsame)on23Apr(RLawrenceetal);1PerasmaReservoir25Apr(IFordetal);

1Madaros5May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);amatingprNapiValley18May(PWard).

COMMON CUCKOO Cuculus canorus sPM

Small numbers on passage Apr–May and Aug–Oct. The rufous female form is not uncommon.

SpringSinglebirdsrecordedfrommanyareas3Apr–17May.

Autumn1Agra17Aug(KElsby);1Lotzaria12‐17Sept(SPDudleyetal).

(WESTERN) BARN OWL Tyto alba sRB

Small numbers breed across the island.

RecordedfromSkalaKallonis(MO),NapiValley(SPDudleyetal),Vafios(SP&EFDudley)andMolivos

(TNyegaard).Allareknown/potentialbreedingsites.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


(EURASIAN)SCOPS OWL Otus scops sMB

Breeds across the island Apr–Jul. More often

heard than seen, and birds rarely call after Jun.

Despitetheextensivetreethinningundertaken

in2009,birdsreturnedasexpectedtotheir

regularsiteatSoumouria(KalloniMiniSoccer

Pitch/ScopsCopse)withupto5presentfrom

1Apr(MO)with2fledgedyoungseentherein

Jun(DDickson).Callingbirdsalsoheardat:Skala

Eresou(2)2Apr(AStoddart);AchladeriForest

16Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen)and4Jun

(LStavrakas);PerivolisMonastery27Apr

(BForbes,NGlennetal);AgiasosSanatorium

1&6May(GTebbetal);TsichrandraBay

5May(NHughes);SkalaKallonis6May(ML

Hawkes)and30May(G&TBarter);Vafios(3)

11May(SP&EFDudley);Molivos(2)18May

(TNyegaard).

Scops Owl Otus scops,juvenile,Soumouria,June2010©DaveDickson

(EURASIAN) EAGLE OWL Bubo bubo rRB,?rW?

Occurs across the island. Breeds in rocky areas and old buildings (especially shepherd buildings).

TworecordsreceivedfromtheLesvosWildlifeHospital:onefoundinafieldbytheroadbetween

LoutropoliThermisandPigi2Marwasreleasedinthesamearea17Julyafterrehabilitation;anadult

male(differentindividualtoabove)foundemaciatedParaliaThermis30Aug.

The LWH has also provided the first confirmed evidence of breeding on the island (from previous

years) indicating that a very small number of pairs are resident.

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua cRB

Occurs across the island. Breeds in rocky areas and old buildings (especially shepherd buildings).

Reportedfromknownandlikelybreedingsitesacrosstheislandinc.Anaxos,betweenEfthalouandSkala

Sikaminias,Ipsilou,KalloniSaltpans,Lotzaria,Makara,MeladiaValley,Molivos,Petra,PolichnitosSaltpans,

Sigri,SkalaKallonis,SkalaVasilikon,TsikniasRiverandVafios.

LONG‐EARED OWL Asio otus rRB

Small numbers known to breed across the island.

Onlyonerecord:2birdsseenatHotelPasiphae,SkalaKallonisinApr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreenetal).

EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus sMB,sPM

Widespread but scarce Apr–Sept. Breeds in many scrub and scattered forest areas across the island.

1foundroostingFaneromeni1May(NHughes);1KalloniHolidayVillage11May(M&CPowell);3churring

birdsFaneromeni11May(P&VManning);1Sigrifields12May(M&CPowell);singlebirdsheard/seen

regularlyatSkalaPolichnitou9Jun–2Sept(TRobinson).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba cPM,?rMB?

Occurs on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Not known to breed, but breeding suspected on offshore

islands. Feeding parties in summer months are either suspected breeders or from other neighbouring

islands or from nearby Turkey.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland2Apr–21May.Birdsagainseenaroundoffshoreislandsoff

GavathasandaroundGarbiasIslandwhichmaybeindicativeofbreeding.

Summer1SkalaPolichnitou20Jun(TRobinson).

Autumn2Melinta22Aug(WHansen);3Metochi22Aug(PCarroll);3PaliaVigla(Polichnitos)10Sept

(TRobinson);6Metochi11Sept(SPDudleyetal).

COMMON SWIFT Apus apus cMB,cPM

Occurs Mar–Oct.

The Birds of Greece states that ‘most birds are duller and paler than those of western Europe, tending

towards A. a. pekinensis’ so likely confusion with Pallid Swift is increased.

Recorded27Mar–13Septfromacrosstheisland.Max.400+KalloniSaltpans19May(MLHawkes).

PALLID SWIFT Apus pallidus sPM

Small numbers pass through Mar–Apr and even fewer recorded Aug–Oct. Common Swift often misidentified

(usually in strong sunlight) as this species. The Birds of Greece states that ‘Pallid Swifts breeding in Greece

are darker than west Mediterranean birds, intermediate between A. p. illyricus and A. p. brehmorum’,

coupled with the comment re. Common Swift above, likely confusion with Common Swift is greatly

increased.

SpringFewrecordsreceivedhighlightinghowscarcethisspeciesisduringthemainbirdingweeks:1Kalloni

Saltpans9Apr(GGasteratos,NProbonas);asmallpassagefrom26Aprinc.12KalloniRaptorWatchpoint

(GTebbetal)28Apr(GTebbetal),4Soumouria(KalloniMiniSoccerPitch)30Apr(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston),8MetochiLakeand2KalloniSaltpans2May(GTebbetal),40Kavaki5May(GTebbetal),6

MetochiLake7May(GTebbetal),12MeladiaValley7May(TRobinson)andKalloniSaltpans1on18May

and2on19May(MLHawkes).

AutumnAflockof50reportedfeedingnearPlomari20Aug(WHansen)andasinglebirdatVourkosRiver

22Aug(TRobinson).

(EUROPEAN) ROLLER Coracias garrulus sPM

A scarce passage migrant Apr–May, rare Aug–Sept.

SpringAgoodyearwithrecordsasfollows(singlesunlesssated):MeladiaValley24‐26Apr(DCottridgeet

al),withupto6on27Apr(SPDudleyetal)and2remainingto28Aprand3on1May(NHughes);

Achladeri24Apr(RLawrenceetal);PolichnitosSaltpans24Apr(TRobinson);Christou(Kamares)River

27Apr(MEadeetal);PotamiaValley27Apr(perNDodd);1‐3seendailyFaneromeniandSigrifields

27Apr–6May(MO);2SigriOldSanatorium27Apr(SPDudleyetal);Filia1May(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston);PandeleimonasPools(Eresos)2May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);Eresos3May

(M&MSullivan);SkalaEresou4May(HPrinsen).

Clear arrival dates of 24 and 27 Apr are typical for Lesvos.

AutumnOnerecord:ajuvLotzaria12‐17Sept(SPDudleyetal).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Roller Coracias garrulus,Faneromeni,May2010©MickSviekutis

COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis sW,sPM,CB

Occurs mainly Aug–Apr with occasional breeding records.

Relativelyfewrecordsreceived.

Jan – MarPolichnitosSaltpanssinglesthroughoutJan,3Feband26Mar;1SkalaVasilikon9Jan&7Mar;

1Christou(Kamares)River30Jan.

Apr – MaySinglesMetochiLake3Apr;AlmyropotamosRiver8Apr;TsikniasRiver15Apr;MeladiaValley

27Apr&1May;Vergias(Chalandra)River1May.

Aug – NovSingles(unlessstated)PolichnitosSaltpans5Aug,10Septand30Sept–21Nov;MetochiLake

20Aug&11Sept;TsikniasRiver21Aug–30Nov;2VouvarisRiver14Sept&3Nov;AlmiropotamosRiver

(Vatera)9Nov;SkalaKallonis13Nov.

DecTsikniasRiverthroughout;PolichnitosSaltpans12Dec;SkalaKallonis28Dec;andChristou(Kamares)

River29Dec.

BLUE‐CHEEKED BEE‐EATER Merops persicus V*|1|4(10)

Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):1KalloniSaltpans19May(DVieuxtemps,MMahy)(HRC10inprep).

Only the fourth accepted record.

EUROPEAN BEE‐EATER Merops apiaster cPM,sMB

Occurs Apr–Oct, with often large numbers passing over in spring. Breeds along dry river areas.

Recorded19Apr–26Septfromacrosstheisland.Max.200+Molivos8May(D&BJohnston)duringa

periodofsteadypassage6‐11May.Nobreedingconfirmedbutbirdsseenatregularbreedingsites(e.g.

TsikniasRiver,KalloniSaltpans)inspring.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


EURASIAN HOOPOE Upupa epops cMB,cPM

Occurs Mar–Oct. Breeds across the island.

First winter period1PolichnitosSaltpans17Jan(TRobinson).

Spring – AutumnOtherwiserecordedfromacrosstheisland9Mar–26Sept.

EURASIAN WRYNECK Jynx torquilla rPM

Occasional records Mar–Apr and Aug–Oct.

Onlyonerecord.

SpringOnerecord:1SkalaVasilikon3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus medius cRB

Common throughout wooded areas of the island, inc. olive groves. The Lesvos birds are thought to belong

to the race D. m. anatoliae (BoG).

Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.

RED‐BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio sMB,cPM

Scarce summer breeder (in west) and common passage migrant Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland15Apr–4Nov.Significantpassagenotedinseveralareas28Apr–1May

and9‐10May.Largercountsinc.30MeladiaValley1May(MEadeetal),100SigriFields29Apr(A&G

Swash,R&BTodd),100MeladiaValley1May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog)and30MeladiaValley

9May(NHughes).

LESSER GREY SHRIKE Lanius minor sMB,sPM

A scarce summer breeder and passage migrant Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland19Apr–20Sept.Nosignificantcounts.

WOODCHAT SHRIKE Lanius senator cMB,cPM

Common summer breeder and passage migrant Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland24Mar–11Sept.Nosignificantcounts.

2009Additionalrecord:1Sigri7Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

MASKED SHRIKE Lanius nubicus sMB

A localised summer breeder Apr–Sept favouring olive groves and scattered deciduous woodland. Autumn

migrants occur to late Sept in many habitats inc. pinewoods.

Recorded30Mar–1Octmainlyincentralandwesternareaswithafewrecordsfromtheeast.Confirmed

breedingagainfromtheKrüper’sNuthatchsite(Kofinas)inAchladeriForest.

GOLDEN ORIOLE Oriolus oriolus cPM

Common migrant Apr–May with occasional record Aug–Oct.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland19Apr–22Maywithlargercountsinc.20Ipsilou25Apr

(SPDudleyetal)and30atIpsilou5May(SPDudleyetal).

AutumnOnerecord:2Ipsilou13Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecords:9NapiValley4May(PAubrey)and20PithariouReservoir4May(PAubrey).

EURASIAN JAY Garrulus glandarius atricapillus cRB

The black‐crowned race G. g. atricapillus occurs commonly across the island.

Recordedfrommanyareasacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


WESTERN JACKDAW Coloeus monedula sRB

Resident around Sigri, Anaxos, Skala Eresou, Gavathas, Apothika and Skala Polichnitou.

RecordedfromalltheaboveareasplusfromMytilini.Max.count150atSigri7May(GTebbetal).

HOODED CROW Corvus cornix cRB

Widespread and common.

Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.Max.count55SkalaKallonis22Sept(HDon).

NORTHERN RAVEN Corvus corax sRB

Small numbers breed in the rockier upland areas in the west and around Mts Olympus and Lepetimnos.

Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyearwithmax.30MesaWetlands28Nov(EGalinou)

SOMBRE TIT Poecile lugubris sRB

Widespread breeder. Occurs mainly around stands of deciduous trees and scattered woodland.

Relativelyfewrecordsreceivedbutrecordedfrommanybreedingsitesthroughoutthecentre,northand

west.

COAL TIT Periparus ater sRB

Breeds in some of the pinewoods.

Onlytworecordsreceived:1MtOlympus20Junand2MikriLimni4Oct(allTRobinson).

GREAT TIT Parus major cRB

Commonandwidespread.

(EURASIAN) BLUE TIT Cyanistes caeruleus cRB


(EURASIAN) PENDULINE TIT Remiz pendulinus rPM,CB

Although not recorded annually, occasionally found

breeding.

Onerecord:aprbredalongtheVergias(Chalandra)

River,SkalaEresou.Theprwasfoundbuildinganear‐

completeneston23Apr(photo:R&FEllis,RGally,

DHubautetal)andwasobserveddailytoatleast

12Maywhenthefemalewasstillsitting(MO).

This is the second confirmed breeding with a pr at

Faneromeni in 2002. This one of the highlights of the

spring, but unfortunately, despite easy viewing, some

photographers felt it necessary to get closer to the nest

and entered the river itself and in so doing broke down

the farmer’s fence. Such behavior is totally

unacceptable.

2009 Onerecord:2Faneromeni16Apr(AJordi)the

onlyrecordoftheyear.Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus,adultbuildingnest,

VergiasRiver,April2010©RobinGally

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


GREATER SHORT‐TOED LARK Calandrella brachydactyla sMB,sPM

Occurs Apr–Sept. Breeds in suitable grassland areas.

Apooryearwithrelativelyfewrecordsreceived.

Recorded26Mar–10Julwithmax.40AlykesWetlands4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet).5AlykesWetlands10Jul

werepresumedtobelocalbreedingbirds.

2009 Additionalrecords:4Sigri7Apr(firstforyear),3PolichntosSaltpans10Aprand10KalloniSaltpans

11Apr(allMANeumann).Also,the3seeninfieldsbyPolichnitosSaltpanson6Jan(TRobinson)have

beenacceptedbyHRCasthefirstknownwinterrecordforGreece.(HRC10inprep)

CALANDRA LARK Melanocorypha calandra

V*1|12(13)

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):

1PolichnitosSaltpans14Apr(photo:

TRobinson).Onlythetwelfthrecordand

thefirstconfirmedrecordsince2000.

Calandra Lark,Melanocorypha calandraPolichnitosSaltpans,April2010©TerryRobinson

CRESTED LARK Galerida cristata cRB

The Aegean Islands population belongs to

the race G. c. caucasia (BoG).


WOODLARK Lullula arborea sRB,sW

Small numbers breed in suitable woodland

edge and scrubby areas inc. pinewoods.

Birds in Greece belong to the race L. a. pallida but winter and passage birds also inc. L. a. arborea (BoG).

Recordedfrommanysitesacrossthroughouttheyear.Highestcountswere8MeladiaValley6May

(M&MSullivan)and8TsikniasRiver2Dec(EGalinou).

(EURASIAN) SKYLARK Alauda arvensissW

Occurs Oct–Mar. Greek birds belong to race A. a. cantarella; A. a. arvensis known in winter (BoG).

First winter periodRecordedthroughto16Marwithmax.363PolichnitosSaltpans8Feb(TRobinson).

Spring1reportedKalloniSaltpans7May(M&CPowell).

Second winter periodRecordedfrom27Octwithmax.60PolichnitosSaltpans12Dec(TRobinson).

2009Additionalrecords:3Achladeri5Aprand1DipiLarisos6Apr(latestforfirstwinterperiod)

(MANeumann).

SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia sPM

Occurs on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland6Apr–18Mayandfrom24Aug–29Sept.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica cMB,cPM

Common and widespread on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Breeds across the island. Birds resembling H.

r. savignii or H. r. transitive reported in spring but no confirmed records (these races not on the Greek List).

Recordedfromacrosstheisland9Mar–20Nov.

(EURASIAN) CRAG MARTIN Ptyonoprogne rupestris sMB,sPM,rW

Occurs Apr–Sept. Breeds in rocky gorges and cliffs in the centre, west and north. Occasionally winters.

Recorded21Mar–2OctfromAgra,Dimitrios,Eresos,HaramidaMarsh,Ipsomelotopo,Kavaki(breeding

site),LardiaValley(breedingsite),MeladiaValley,MetochiLake,PotamiaValley(breedingsite),Pithariou

Reservoir(breedingsite)andVourkosRiver.

200915Eresos7Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

(COMMON) HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbicum cMB,cPM

Common and widespread on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Breeds across the island.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland19Mar–17Sept.BreedingconfirmedfromSkalaKallonis.

Redrumped Swallow Cecropis daurica and House Martins Delichon urbicum,collectingnestingmaterial,Faneromeni,May2010©WendyBall

RED‐RUMPED SWALLOW Cecropis daurica cMB,cPM

Common and widespread on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct. Breeds across the island.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland27Mar–16Sept.Manypairsseenatusualbreedingsitesacrossthe

centreandnorthoftheisland.

CETTI’S WARBLER Cettia cetti sRB

Found along river courses and around wetland areas.

Recordedfrommanysitesacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.

LONG‐TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus sRB

Localised breeder in pinewoods. The subspecies A. c. tephronotus occurs on Lesvos (BoG). This subspecies

lacks any pink tones and has a black bib.

Onlysixrecords:5MikriLimni3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);2Achladeri6Apr(AStoddart);AghiasTaxiarchisValley

18Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);LardiaValley1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);6Achladeri4May

(GTebbetal);7PanaghiaChapel4May(GTebbetal).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus cPM


Recordedfromacrosstheisland11Mar–11Mayand9Aug–4Nov.

COMMON CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita sW,sPM

Occurs Aug–Apr.

Recordedfromacrosstheislandto12Mayandfrom16Sept.

EASTERN BONELLI’S WARBLER Phylloscopus orientalis rMB,rSP

Occurs Apr–Sept. Small numbers breed around Agiasos. Birds occasionally breed or hold territory in central

areas. Small numbers also on passage May and Sept.

BreedingBirdsonterritoryaroundtheusualAgiasossites.Noterritorialbirdsfoundelsewhere.

SpringPassagebirdsrecordedasfollows:1SkalaSikaminias26Apr(MEadeetal);atIpsilou7on29Apr

(A&GSwash),2on30Apr(MHodgsonetal),4on1May(A&GSwash,R&BTodd),2on3May(GTebb

etal)andsingleson9May(J&MGuinever,D&JTemple)and10May(TFarr);2LardiaValley3May(H&

AVaughan,P&NPreston);1nrAgra3May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);1VouvarisRivermouth9May

(D&BJohnston);1LiconaValley10‐11May(HPrinsen).

20091PotamiaValley11Apr(MANeumann)firstrecordofyear.Also13singingAgiasos12Apr(MA

Neumann),1Ipsilou4May(IPitts)with2on6May(IPitts).

Car should be taken when separating singing birds from singing Wood Warblers which can give a similar

trill alone as a sub Song rather than a full song. Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler often gives a ‘chip‐chip’ call

before its trilling song.

WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix cPM

Occurs Apr–May, but less so Aug–Oct.

SpringRecordedfromthewestoftheisland19Apr–12MaywithgoodcountsfromIpsilouof20on26Apr

(GTebbetal),50on29Apr(A&GSwash),20on30Apr(DHattonetal)and20on1May(A&GSwash,

R&BTodd).

2009Additionalrecord:1Andissa13Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

YELLOW‐BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus V*2|2

Tworecords(acceptedbyHRC):1Vergias(Chalandra)Rivermouth,SkalaEresou,29Mar(J‐P&SSiblet)

and1Akrasi19Sept(J&SBowers)(HRC10inprep).ThesearethefirsttworecordsforLesvos.Thereare

ninepreviousGreekrecords.

GREAT REED WARBLER Acrocephalus arundinaceus sMB,sPM

Occurs Apr–May and occ. Sept.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland3Apr–4Jun.

Autumn1Lotzaria16‐17Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecord:1nrPolichnitos14Apr

(MANeumann)firstforyear.

MOUSTACHED WARBLER Acrocephalus melanopogan rW,rPM*

Occurs Nov–Feb (rarely later than early March). Passage migrants rarely seen and require full description.

RecordedinthesecondwinterperiodfromDipiLarisos(EGalinou).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus cPM


SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland28Mar–10May.

Autumn1PolichnitosSaltpans30Sept(TRobinson).

EURASIAN REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus sMB,sPM

Occurs Mar–Oct.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland1Apr–4Jun.

Autumn1MetochiLake7Sept(R&PHarrison).

MARSH WARBLER Acrocephalus palustris sPM

Small numbers Apr–May and Jul–Oct.

SpringSixrecords(allsingles):PotamiaValley(GTebbetal)andMirsinia(PHarris,RNason)30Apr;nr

Eresos1May(A&GSwash,R&BTodd);PotamiaValley(RThaxton)2May;Molivos21May(TNyegaard);

Kavaki4Jun(TNyegaard).

2009Additionalrecords:singlesPerasma4MayandTsikniasRiver7May(bothIPitts)aretheonlyrecords

forthisspeciesfortheyear.

OLIVE‐TREE WARBLER Hippolais olivetorum sMB,rPM

Small numbers breed. Occasional migrants away from known breeding areas in spring and occasionally in

autumn. See ABirdwatchingGuidetoLesvos or www.lesvosbirding.com for fuller status account.

Springmigrants:2Korakasheadland1Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)istheearliesteverrecord;Vigla(Ipsilou)3May

(TParkeretal).

BreedingBirdsholdingterritoryrecordedatthefollowingknownbreedingsites:AghiasTaxiarchis,

AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera),Faneromeni,Metochi,MolivosNapiValley(inc.Mavria),Platania(atleast

7singing),PotamiaValley(seebelow).

Autumn3reportednrPlomari15Aug(WHansen).

Potamia Valley: unfortunately, in an attempt to see the birds, some individuals chose to trespass into the

olive grove, breaking down a fence in the process. Apart from being unacceptable behaviour, it serves little

purpose entering the trees where the birds are as it usually proves to be more difficult to see them and

stops the birds from performing. The majority who respected the site were eventually rewarded with good

views. Thanks go to those who challenged the trespassers.

EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER Hippolais pallida cMB,cPM

Occurs Apr–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland17Apr–12Aug.

ICTERINE WARBLER Hippolais icterina sPM,?rMB?

Small numbers occur Apr–Jun and Aug–Sept. Occasionally found on territory during breeding season but no

confirmed breeding records.

SpringRecorded29Apr–13May(allsingles):Ipsilouon29Apr(A&GSwash),30Apr(DHattonetal),

3May(BForbes,NGlennetal),5May(JGlendinning,JBuxton),9May(J&MGuinever,D&JTemple)

and12May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);SigriFields3May(BForbes,NGlennetal);singles

MeladiaValley5May(AVrielink),7May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston),8May(HPrinsenetal),9May

(J&MGuinever,D&JTemple)and11May(NHughes);KalloniSaltworksentrance(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston);VouvarisRivermouth9May(D&BJohnston);SigriOldSanatorium10May(SP&EFDudley);

Faneromeni10May(SP&EFDudley)and10May(NHughes);1Molivos13May(HPrinsen).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


(COMMON) GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia rPM

Occasionally recorded Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Tworecords:singlesSkalaKallonisPool2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)andTsikniasRiver28Apr(GTebbetal).

RIVER WARBLER Locustella fluviatilis sPM

Small numbers, usually only heard, Apr–May and occ. Aug–Sept. Autumn presence confirmed by ringing.

Fiverecords:1LardiaValley25Apr(MEadeetal);1TsikniasRiver28‐30Apr(GTebbetal);2Meladia

Valley3May(A&GSwash);1MetochiLake4May(BForbes,NGlennetal);1betweenEfthalouandSkala

Sikaminias6May(J&MGuinever,D&JTemple).

SAVI’S WARBLER Locustella luscinioides sPM

Occasional record Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Fourrecords:1SkalaKallonisPool3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);1MetochiLake4Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);1Metochi

Lake26Apr(A&GSwash,R&BTodd);1MeladiaValley3May(A&GSwash).

(EURASIAN) BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla cPM,cW


First winter periodRecordedonlyfromSkalaPolichnitouthroughtoMar(max.5on20Mar)(TRobinson).

SpringSinglesFaneromeni26Aprand10May(NHughes)andIpsilou12May(M&CPowell).

AutumnUpto7AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)andSkalaPolichnitou20Sept–25Nov(TRobinson);

4Traperia(Polichnitos)5Oct(TRobinson).

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin sPM

Small numbers Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringFiverecords(allsingles):LardiaValley(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);Ipsilou3May(GTebbetal);

Faneromeni10May(NHughes);SkalaKallonis10May(VTucker);Ipsilou12May(MLHawkes).

Autumn1‐2SkalaPolichnitou17Sept–5Oct;1Traperia(Polichnitos)20Septand5Oct(TRobinson).

2009Additionalrecords:singlesIpsilou4May(IPitts)and5May(SPDudleyetal).

BARRED WARBLER Sylvia nisoria sPM,?rMB?

Small numbers occur Apr–May and Aug–Sept. Occasionally found on territory during breeding season, but

no confirmed breeding records.

Onlyfourrecords:1Kavaki27Apr(GTebb);Faneromeni1on30Apr(MEising,JBless)and2on1May

(NHughes);1betweenEfthalouandSkalaSikaminias8May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

20091Perasma3May(IPitts)

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca sPM


Relativelyfewrecords.Recordedfromacrosstheisland16Mar–10Mayand25Jul–5Oct.

EASTERN ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia crassirostris sMB,sPM

Occurs Apr–Sept breeding across the island. The race S. c. crassirostris occurs on Lesvos.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland1Apr–29Sept.

2009Additionalrecord:2NapiValley9Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


COMMON WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis sPM,rMB

Occurs on passage Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland3Apr–5Oct.

2009Additionalrecord:1Andissa13Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

SUBALPINE WARBLER Sylvia cantillans cMB

Occurs Apr–Sept.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland2Apr–3Oct.

2009Additionalrecord:10Sikaminia9Apr(MANeumann).

SARDINIAN WARBLER Sylvia melanocephala sRB,rPM,cW

Breeding birds thinly distributed along coastal areas (up to c.5km inland) along the north (e.g. inland of

Petra and Molivos), the east coast (between Mandamados and Mytilini) and southeast (Vatera area).

Possible immigration from other Aegean islands and/or Turkey. Migrants can occur anywhere.

First winter period1‐2PolichnitosSaltpansareato19Mar;1SkalaVasilikon1Jan;2VourkosRiver23Jan;

1VouvarisRivermouth30Jan(allTRobinson).

SpringBreedingbirdsrecordedfromKavaki(3prs),AgiosFokas(2prs),LambouMill(1pr)andCapeLena

area(2+prs).Presumedmigrants:1Madaros15Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);1Dafia26Apr(GTebbet

al);1PotamiaReservoir27Apr(GTebbetal);2Faneromeni8May(P&VManning);PolichnitosSaltpans

21May(TRobinson).

Autumn1‐3PolichnitosSaltpans4Jul;upto5AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)20Sept(bothTRobinson).

Second winter period3PolichnitosSaltpansthroughoutDec(TRobinson);TsikniasRiverthroughout(E

Galinou).

2009Additionalrecord:2Vatera10Apr(MANeumann).

RÜPPELL’S WARBLER Sylvia rueppelli rMB,rPM

A localised summer breeder. The best‐known area is the

well‐watched site at Kavaki between Petra and Molivos.

Records away from here reducing and indicative of a

declining population on Lesvos and throughout Greece.

AmaleMeladiaValley2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet)istheearliest

everrecord.AttheKavakibreedingsite,3prspresent

17Apr–31Mayatleast(MO)withonereportedthere

16Aug(KElsby).

At Kavaki please view only from the main road, lay‐bys or

hillside track on the south side of the road. Please do not

enter the scrub as this only serves to disturb this rare

breeding species. Rüppell’s Warbler Sylvia rueppellii,MeladiaValley,

April2010©SebastianSiblet

GOLDCREST Regulus regulus rW

Small numbers in winter.

Onerecord:1SkalaPolichnitou31Oct(TRobinson).

(EURASIAN) WREN Troglodytes troglodytes rRB


First winter periodAsinglebirdPolichnitosSaltpans13Janand4Mar.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


Spring / SummerBirdsonterritoryfromacrosstheislandinc.Agiasos,AgiasosSanatorium,Dimitrios,Kapi,

LambouMill,LardiaValley,LiconaValley,Megalochori,PerivolisMonastery,Skalochori,Skoutaros.

Autumn / Second winter periodPolichnitosSaltpansmax.6on26Nov.AlsorecordedalongtheTsiknias

River30Nov–24Dec.

2009Additionalrecord:10woodlandaroundAgiasos12Apr(MANeumann).

(EURASIAN) NUTHATCH Sitta europaea sRB

Small numbers breed across the islands in oak area.

RecordedonlyfromIpsilou,Vatousa,MtOlympusandNapiValley.

KRÜPER’S NUTHATCH Sitta krueperi sRB

Around 600 pairs breed throughout the central and eastern pinewoods from sea level up to c.800m. The

Achladeri Forest site (Kofinas) continues to be the main one visited by birders. It would be good to have

more records from other areas – so go out and find some more!

For a more detailed status account see ABirdwatchingGuidetoLesvos or www.lesvosbirding.com.

Achladeri Forest2prsbredattheusualKofinassite(roadsidepicnicareawithwhitebuilding)justnorthof

AchladeriArmyCamp(MO).Upto6birdshereandalongthenearbyarmytracktonorthduringSept(SP

Dudleyetal).

Pessa WaterfallsAtleast1prpresentApr–May(SPDudleyetal).

Agiasos Sanatorium 1+seennrtheSanatoriumin1May(GTebbetal).

Lambou Mill2seenon1May(GTebbetal).

Mikri Limni1on4Oct(TRobinson).

Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer,adultatnest,April2010©JohanVerbanck

WESTERN ROCK NUTHATCHSitta neumayer cRB

Common throughout much of the rockier areas of the island, particularly the west and north. TheBirdsof

Greece suggests that Lesvos birds are of the race S. n. zarudnyi but birds on the island are very variable and

many exhibit features intermediate between Western and Eastern Rock Nuthatch S. tephronata. Proving

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


where the Lesvos birds fall in the rock nuthatch complex could prove a fascinating study.

Reportedfrommanysitesacrossthecentre,northandwestoftheisland.Acountof12birdsandfour

nestsfoundbetweenEresosandtheMeladiaRiverford1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston).

SHORT‐TOED TREECREEPER Certhia brachydactyla sRB

Occurs in pinewoods and deciduous forests. Lesvos birds may be of the Asia Minor race C. b. harterti (BoG).

ReportedfromAchladeriForest,LambouMill,nrSkalochori,PanaghiaChapel,AgiasosSanatoriumandthe

MegalochoriValley.

ROSE‐COLOURED STARLING (ROSYSTARLING) Pastor roseus sPM

Occurs May–Jun.

Allrecords:TsikniasRiver1on27Apr(DGoodwin&JJones),2on18May(perMLHawkes),100on

19May(AVuyketal)and150on22May(TNyegaard);22PolichnitosSaltpans23May(TRobinson).

COMMON STARLING Sturnus vulgaris cW

Occurs Oct–Apr.

Jan ‐ MayRecordedfromPolichnitosSaltpans1Jan–16Apr,AlmyropotamosRiver(Lisvirio),AlikoudiPool,

Christou(Kamares)RiverandSkalaVasilikon.

Spring2TsikniasRiver20Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);1KalloniSaltpans24Apr–7May(MO);

1MeladiaValley30Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

Oct – DecRecorded11Oct–31DecfromPolichnitosSaltpansKalloniSaltpans,TsikniasRiver,Skala

Kallonis,MilopotamosRiverandChristou(Kamares)River.Max.500KalloniSaltpans30Oct(EGalinou).

2009Additionalrecord:1Christou(Kamares)River12Apr(MANeumann)onlyoneoftwospringrecords.

COMMON BLACKBIRD Turdus merula cRB,cW

Breeding numbers increasing and very common in winter, with many shot in olive groves.


FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris sW

Occurs Oct–Feb.

RecordedonlyfromPolichnitosSaltpans3‐20Febwithmax.4on14th(TRobinson).

SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos cW,rB

Common and widespread in winter, with many shot in olive groves. Several pairs breed.

First winter periodRecordedfromacrosstheislandto25Mar.

SpringBirdsonterritoryattheusualAgiasosandMegalochoriValleysites.

Autumn / second winter periodRecordedfrom8Nov.

2009Additionalrecords:1Vatera10Apr(MANeumann)and1Agiasos6May(PAubrey).

MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus sRB


RecordedonlyfromtheAgiasosareaduringAprandMay.Noconfirmedbreeding.

2009Additionalrecord:1carryingfoodAgiasos6May(PAubrey).

EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula cW,rB

Occurs commonly across the island Oct–Mar. A few breeding pairs nr Mt Olympus.

First winter periodPresentupto24Mar.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


SpringBirdsonterritoryattheusualDimitriosandAgiasossites.

Autumn / second winter periodRecordedfrom17Oct.

2009Additionalrecord:10woodlandaroundAgiasos12Apr(MANeumann).

THRUSH NIGHTINGALE Luscinia luscinia sPM

Occurs in small numbers Apr–May and Aug–Oct.

SpringOnlyonerecord:1Mirsinia28Apr(BBuckleretal).

COMMON NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos cMB

Occurs Apr–Oct. Breeds across the island along dry river beds and other dry, dense scrub.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland2Apr–4Junatleast.

Autumn SinglesPotamiaValley14Aug(PCosgrove)andIpsilou13Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecord:1Agiasos5Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

RUFOUS BUSH‐ROBIN (RUFOUS‐TAILEDSCRUBROBIN) Cercotrichas galactotes sMB

Occurs Apr–Aug. Small numbers breed in suitable dry, scrubby areas. Signs of a decline since early 2000s.

The eastern form C. g. syriacus occurs on Lesvos.

SpringRecorded25Apr–6Junfromnumeroussitesinc.thefollowingbreedingsites:AghiasIoannis,

AlykesWetlands,Chrousos,Faneromeni,KalloniSaltpanswaterstation,coastalscrubnearKalloniSaltpans,

Madaros,MeladiaValley,PetrifiedForest,PolichnitosSaltpans,SigriOldSanatoriumandTsikniasRiver.

Presumedmigrants:Kavaki25Apr(EDickinsonetal);SkalaKallonis8May(perSPDudley);

There were again incidents of birds being harassed by birders and photographers. Please respect the bird

and do not harass and push birds from bush to bush – wait and watch!

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros cW

Occurs Oct–Mar.

First winter periodPresentto21Mar.

Spring1nrMytiliniairport13May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston).

Second winter periodPresentfrom22Oct.

COMMON REDSTART (EUROPEANREDSTART) Phoenicurus phoenicurus sPM

Small numbers occur Apr–May and Sept–Oct.

Veryfewrecordsreceived.

SpringAllrecords(singlesunlessstated):KalloniVillageapartments24Apr(R&BTodd);Ipsilou26Apr

(GTebbetal)and29Apr(4)(A&GSwash);Agiasos30Apr(D&LWitton);SigriFields3May(GTebbetal);

MeladiaValley4‐5May(D&JNurney,SChalmers,AVrielink);SkalaEresou5Mayand7May(3)

(HPrinsen).

Autumn SinglesIpsilou15Sept(SPDudleyetal),PerivolisMonastery29Sept(HDon)andatPolichnitos

Saltpans3&26Oct(TRobinson).

2009Additionalrecord:1Ipsilou13Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra cPM


SpringRecordedfrommanysites2Apr–13May.Max.20MeladiaValley4May(D&JNurney,

SChalmers).

Autumn Recordedfrommanysites20Aug–6Oct.Max.7PolichnitosSaltpans14Sept(TRobinson).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


COMMON STONECHAT Saxicola torquata sRB,sW

Small numbers occur across the island and records indicate increase in numbers in winter.


ISABELLINE WHEATEAR Oenanthe isabellina sMB,rPM

Occurs Apr–Sept. Small numbers breed in the rocky west of the island.

Recorded20Mar–13Sept.

Spring / SummerSeenattheusualbreedingareasofIpsilou,nrAndissa,PetrifiedForest,Sigri,Meladia

Valley1Apr–13Sept.

PassagebirdsseenatPolichnitosSaltpans20&27Mar(TRobinson)andPotamiaValley5May(J&M

Guinever,D&JTemple).

AutumnSinglesPetra14Aug(PCosgrove),ViglanrIpsilou(2)andthePetrifiedForest13Sept(SPDudley

etal).

NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe rMB,sPM

Small numbers breed in the west. Passage birds Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland8Mar–24Sept.

BreedingSigriOldSanatorium,Ipsilou,MeladiaValley,MakaraandNapiValley.

EASTERN BLACK‐EARED WHEATEAR Oenanthe hispanica cMB

Common and widespread across the island Mar–Sept. Correction to ABirdwatchingGuidetoLesvos, only

the eastern race O. h. melanoleuca occurs, with pale‐throated and black‐throated forms present.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland23Mar–15Sept.

FINSCH’S WHEATEAR Oenanthe finschii V*|1|2(2)

Onerecord(acceptedbyHRC):maleIpsilou8Apr(photo:NProbonas,TKastritis,SZakkak,VTrigou,

KGaganis,TKominos,AGalanaki)isonlythesecondacceptedrecordforLesvosandthethirdrecordfor

Greece(HRC10inprep).

Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii,male,Ipsilou,April2010©ThanosKastritis

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


RUFOUS‐TAILED ROCK‐THRUSH Monticola saxatilis rPM,rMB|3|20(21)

Threerecords:aprobservedtakingfoodtoanestsiteatMtOlympus25Apr(EDickenson)isthefirst

breedingrecordfortheisland;maleKavaki26Apr(EDickinson,RDekker);maleIpsilou29Apr–1May

(A&GSwash,J&HBailey,GTebbetal).

BLUE ROCK‐THRUSH Monticola solitarius sRB

Widespread, especially in the rocky west of the island.

Recordedfromacrosstheislandinc.thefollowingknownandpresumedbreedingsites:AghiaIoannis,

Ipsilou,KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,Kavaki,LardiaValley,Madaros,NapiValley,PithariouReservoir,

PotamiaValley,VourkosRiverandVouvarisRiver.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata cPM,sMB

Widespread, and often in large numbers, Apr May and Aug‐Oct. Breeds in pinewoods across the island.

SpringRecordedfromacrosstheisland23Apr–18May

AutumnRecordedfromacrosstheisland22Aug–10Oct.

(EUROPEAN) PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca cSP,sAP


SpringSmallnumbers17Apr–12May,max.20Ipsilou25Apr(BBuckleretal).

Autumn1Ipsilou13Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009 Additionalrecord:1Mytilini6Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

COLLARED FLYCATCHER Ficedula albicollis sSP,rAP

Occurs Apr–May. Only two autumn records (one Sept, one Oct)

SpringAnexcellentyear.Recorded4Apr–5Jun(singlesunlessstated):SigriFields1‐3daily4Apr–

6May;Faneromeni1‐4daily26Apr–5May;SigriOldSanatorium27Apr,3‐4May;Ipsilousingles

24‐27Aprwithafallofatleast20birdson29Apr

(A&GSwashetal),then1‐4dailyto4May;MeladiaValley1‐4daily19Apr–6May;SkalaEresou1‐4daily

5‐7May;SkalaKallonis4May;SkalaPolichnitou15&21Aprand5Jun;VouvarisRiver4May.

SEMI‐COLLARED FLYCATCHER Ficedula semitorquata rPM

Occurs Apr–May.

Fourrecords(acceptedbyLBRC):maleMeladia

Valley29Apr(A&GSwash);maleIpsilou1May

(photo:A&GSwash,R&BTodd);maleFaneromeni

5May(video:AVrielink);femSigri6May(AVrielink).

One reported from the Meladia Valley Chapel 1 May

was not submitted. This species will no longer be

considered by LBRC.

Semicollared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata,Ipsilou,May2010©AndySwash

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


RED‐BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva rPMSingles occasionally seen Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

SpringThreerecords:amaleFaneromeni29‐30Apr

(photo:MEisingetal);MeladiaValleyChapel,amale

30Apr–1May(PAubrey,NHughes)andafem

2May(D&JNurney,SChalmers).

AutumnOnerecord:ajuvtrappedandringedat

SkalaPolichnitou23Oct(TRobinson).

Redbreasted Flyctacher Ficedula parva,Faneromeni,April2010©MarkEising

HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus cRB


Presentacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.Max.433PolichnitosSaltpans24Jun(TRobinson).

SPANISH SPARROW Passer hispaniolensis sMB,sPM

Small numbers breed across the island. Seen on passage in passage Apr–May. May occur on passage in

autumn but separation from House Sparrow difficult.

Seenacrosstheisland2Apr–2Novinc.breedingatSkalaKallonis,KalloniSaltpansandFaneromeni.Max.

count2000+cominginoffseainsmallflocks16Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen).

2009Additionalrecord:120Sigri13Apr(MANeumann)jointfirstforyear.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus V*|0|7(10)

Six previous records in Apr (inc. breeding pr), May, Aug, Oct.

2009Onerecord(acceptedLBRC):1withHouseSparrowsSkalaSikaminias9Apr(M.A.Neumann).

This is the first of two records to accepted for 2009.

ROCK SPARROW Petronia petronia sRB

Small numbers breed in the rockier west of the island.

BirdsseenattheusualbreedingsitesofnrEresos,Ipsilou,LardiaValley,PetrifiedForest,ViglanrIpsilou.

Max.28Ipsilou11Aug(PCosgrove).

DUNNOCK Prunella modularis sW

Occurs Oct–Mar.

Threerecords(allsingles):PotamiaValley30Jan;PolichnitosSaltpans11Mar;MikriLimni12Dec(all

TRobinson).

WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava cPM

Common and widespread on passage Mar–May and Aug–Oct.

For a list of races which occur on Lesvos see ABirdwatchingGuidetoLesvos or www.lesvosbirding.com.

SpringRecorded15Mar–5Jun(M. f. flava,M. f. feldeggandM. f. thunbergi).Largestflock360+

Almyropotamos(Lisvorio)14Apr(TRobinson).Asinglebirdshowingcharacteristicsofform‘dombrowski’

SkalaEresou10Apr(AStoddart).

AutumnRecorded13Aug–28Oct.Flocksof500+seennrPolichnitosSaltpans16Sept(SPDudleyetal)

andLotzaria17Sept(SPDudleyetal).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


2009Additionalrecords:1M. f. cinereocapilla8Aprand1M. f. supercilliarisKalloniSaltpans11Apr(both

MANeumann).

CITRINE WAGTAIL Motacilla citreola rSM

Occurs most years Apr–May. No confirmed autumn records.

Anaverageyearwitharound14individualsseen15Apr–14May:1AlmyropotamosRiver15Apr(T

Robinson);singlesAlikoudiPool18&26Apr(TRobinson);Faneromeniafem19Apr(J&SMaskell,P&D

Green),maleandfem25Apr(CDavisetal)with1dailyto1May(MO);KalloniSaltpans2CYmale23‐24

Apr(D&LWittonetal),male29Apr(SPDudleyetal),male6‐7May(ASwash,AVrielinketal)andafem

13‐14May(MLHawkesetal);TsikniasRiver2males28‐29Apr(SPDudleyetal);2CYmalenrSkala

Vasilikon12May(PHack).

2009Additionalrecords:1Christou(Kamares)River13Apr(AJordi)and2Faneromeni20Apr(AJordi)

It would help if observers reported the sex of the birds seen.

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea rRB,sW

Small numbers breed.

BreedingpairspresentatDimitrios(nrAgiasos)(SPDudleyetal),LambouMill(GTebbetal)andPessa

Waterfalls(SPDudleyetal).AsinglebirdatFaneromeni29Apr(GTebbetal)wastheonlyotherrecord

received.

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba sRB,cPM

Occurs Sept–May. A few pairs possibly breed.

Presentthroughouttheyear.BreedingconfirmedfromPolichnitosSaltpans(TRobinson).

TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris rMB,sPM

Occurs in small numbers, inc. occasional believed breeding, Mar‐Oct.

SpringRecorded21Mar–22May.Principalsitesinc.AlykesWetlands,MakaraandPolichnitosSaltpans

area(allholding1‐4birds).

Autumn2PolichnitosSaltpans8Sept(TRobinson);Metochi2on12Sept(SPDudleyetal)and1on24

Sept(HDon);1TsikniasRiver12Sept(JRussell);1nrPolichnitosSaltpans15Sept(SPDudleyetal);

Lotzariasingles17Sept(SPDudleyetal)and27Sept(HDon);KalloniSaltpanssingles24Septand2Oct

(HDon);1PolichnitosSaltpans27‐28Sept(TRobinson).

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis cW

Occurs Oct–Mar.

First winter periodPresentuntil13Apr.Max.62PolichnitosSaltpans8Feb(TRobinson).

Second winter periodPresentfrom21Oct.Max.20PolichnitosSaltpans28Dec(TRobinson).

2009Additionalrecords:10MetochiLake8Aprand1Christou(Kamares)River11Apr(bothMA

Neumann).

TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis sPM


Amuchbetteryearthan2009(onlyonerecord).

Spring(singlesunlessstated)PolichnitosSaltpans31Mar(TRobinson);Korakasheadland1Apr(J‐P&S

Siblet);3SkalaKallonisPool2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);AlykesWetlands2Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);6Evresou2Apr

(J‐P&SSiblet);2AlykesWetlands3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)23Apr(TRobinson);

Faneromeni26Apr(NHughes);2MeladiaValley27Apr(JHarrisetal);TsikniasRiver28Apr(LesvosBirding

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


HotelPasiphaeLog);Faneromeni30Apr(MEising);MikriLimni1May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);

nrEresos1May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);Faneromeni3May(H&AVaughan,P&NPreston);

Ipsilou3May(TParkeretal);2MeladiaValley6May(HPrinsen);Achladeri6May(H&AVaughan,P&N

Preston);Sigri12May(TFarr).

Autumn1Lotzaria14Sept(SPDudleyetal).

2009Additionalrecord:3NapiValley9Apr(MANeumann)theearliestofonlytwospringrecords.

RED‐THROATED PIPIT Anthus cervinus sPM

Occurs Apr–May and Sept–Oct.

SpringRecorded3Apr–2Jun.Principalsitesinc.AlykesWetlands,Christou(Kamares)River,Meladia

Valley,PolichnitosSaltpansandSkalaKallonis.Max.20AlykesWetlands26‐27Apr(ASwashetal).


WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta sW

Occurs Oct–Apr.

Tworecords:singlesPolichnitosSaltpans29Janand26Oct(TRobinson).

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs cRB


Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.Max.164PolichnitosSaltpans23Jan(TRobinson).

EUROPEAN SERIN Serinus serinus sRB,rPM

Breeds in pinewoods. Non‐breeding and passage birds occur in other habitats (especially coastal areas).

First winter periodRecordedPolichnitosSaltpans1Jan–18Mar(TRobinson).

Spring / SummerRecordedfromthefollowingsites:Achladeri(breeding),Agiasos(breeding),Anaxos,

Andissa,Dimitrios(breeding),KalloniRaptorWatchpoint(breeding),Kavaki,MegalochoriValley(breeding),

MeladiaValley,Mirsinia(breeding),PerivolisMonastery(breeding),Polichnitos,PotamiaValley,Skala

KallonisandSkalaPolichnitou,.

Autumn / WinterRecordedPolichnitosSaltpans6Sept–31Dec,max.231on12Dec(TRobinson);also

TsikniasRiver,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)andChristou(Kamares)River.

EUROPEAN GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris cRB


Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.Max.count206PolichnitosSaltpans16Apr

(TRobinson).

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis cRB


Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.Max.count81PolichnitosSaltpans12Nov

(TRobinson).

COMMON LINNET Carduelis cannabina sRB

Scarce but widespread across the island.

PresentthroughouttheyearandrecordedfromAgra,Ipsilou(breeding),KalloniRaptorWatchpoint,Kalloni

Saltpans,Madaros,Makara,MeladiaValley,MesaWetlands,Mesotopos,PetrifiedForest(breeding),

PithariouReservoir,PolichnitosSaltpans,SigriandSkalaKallonis.Max.120PolichnitosSaltpans13Oct

(TRobinson).

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


COMMON CROSSBILL (REDCROSSBILL) Loxia curvirostra V*1|7(20+)

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):afemseendrinkingatapuddleinAchladeriForest30Apr(H&AVaughan,

P&NPreston).Onlytheseventhconfirmedrecordfortheisland.

HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes sW,rRB?

Scarce Oct–Apr. Several pairs thought to breed.

Fiverecords:5AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)1Jan(TRobinson);20‐30Metochi2‐3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);

1SkalaVasilikon3Apr(J‐P&SSiblet);1Faneromeni4May(perSPDudley);2Agiasoswoodlandwalk

12May(HPrinsen).

CORN BUNTING Emberiza calandra cRB


Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.PolichnitosSaltpansmax.firstwinterperiodcount68

on2Mar(TRobinson)andmax.secondwinterperiodcount148on11Nov(TRobinson).Elsewherelargest

count220Lotzaria5Oct(HDon).

ROCK BUNTING Emberiza cia rW*

Onerecord(acceptedbyLBRC):1Polichnitos

Saltpans25Oct(photo:TRobinson).

The first record since 2003.

Rock Bunting Enberiza cai,PolichnitosSaltpans,October2010©TerryRobinson

CINEREOUS BUNTING Emberiza cineracea sMB

Occurs April to late July (some into August, but very few September records). This is another species which,

at the European scale, is confined to Greece. The nominate ‘yellow‐headed’ western form (cineracea) occurs

on Lesvos. 250 pairs thought to be present (total Greek population is c.300 prs). On Lesvos, occurs

throughout the barren west of the island. Here it breeds in dry, rocky open areas with low phrygana (low

growing, soft‐leaved shrub habitat) and scattered boulders.

For a more details status account see ABirdwatchingGuidetoLesvos or www.lesvosbirding.com.

Recorded1Apr–17AugfromtheusualbreedingareasofIpsilouarea(max.15singingmales25Apr–

SPDudleyetal),Sideras,Agra,AghiaIoannis,Meladiavalley,PetrifiedForestandnrVatousa.1Nifida

3Apr(TRobinson)wasapresumedmigrant.Reportedlypresent‘acrosstheisland’8Aug(PCosgrove).

2009Additionalrecord:2Ipsilou13Apr(MANeumann)wasthefirstforyear.

ORTOLAN BUNTINGEmberiza hortulana sPM

Small numbers Apr–May and Aug–Sept.

Spring13records(allsingles):nrSkalochori21Apr(J&SMaskell,P&DGreen);PerivolisMonastery24Apr

(BForbes,NGlennetal);nrEfthalou(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog);Ipsilou25Apr(BBuckleretal);

PetrifiedForest28Apr(D&LWittonetal);MetochiLake29Apr(SWytema);KalloniSaltpans30Apr

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


(SPDudleyetal);PetrifiedForest2May(NHughes);Faneromeni3May(perSPDudley);asingingmale

KalloniRaptorWatchpoint4‐15May(MLHawkesetal);nrSigriOldSanatorium7May(CGalliani);Platania

9May(D&BJohnston);TsikniasRiver11May(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

AutumnOnerecord:1nrPolichnitosSaltpans15Sept(SPDudleyetal).

Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cinerace,malewithfood,PetrifiedForest,May2010©MickSviekutis

CRETZSCHMAR’S BUNTING Emberiza caesia cMB

Widespread and common across the north and west of the island Apr Jul, with few autumn records.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland2Apr–26Aug.

2009Additionalrecord:1Eresos7Apr(MANeumann)firstforyear.

CIRL BUNTING Emberiza cirlus cRB


Recordedfromacrosstheislandthroughouttheyear.PolichnitosSaltpansmax.firstwinterperiodcount

14on29Jan(TRobinson)andmax.secondwinterperiodcount14on19Nov(TRobinson).Also12

Traperia(Polichnitos)5Oct(TRobinson).

BLACK‐HEADED BUNTING Emberiza melanocephala cMB

Widespread and common late Apr Aug.

Recordedfromacrosstheisland19Apr–18Jul.Springflocksinc.50PolichnitosSaltpans27Apr(Lesvos

BirdingHotelPasiphaeLog)and35PolichnitosSaltpans30Apr(TRobinson).

COMMON REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus sW

Occurs Nov–Mar.

PolichnitosSaltpansupto7from1Jan–20Marandupto2from19Nov.AlsorecordedfromMetochi

Lake,AlmiropotamosRiver(Vatera)andSkalaKallonis.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


APPENDIX 1 – DATES OF SUMMER AND PASSAGE MIGRANTS 2010 (AND 2009)

Firstandlastdatesofmigrantbreedersanddaterangesofspringandautumnpassagemigrants

‐norecords *onlyrecord (4)numberofrecordsiffewerthan10

Earliest / spring dates Latest / autumn dates

2010 2009 2010 2009

CommonQuail 2Apr–3May 25Apr–6May 20Sept* ‐

Garganey 9Mar–5May 14Mar–18May(4) 22Jul–27Sept 1Aug–1Oct

Scopoli’sShearwater 25Apr–18May 16Apr–5May 12Jul ‐

WhiteStork 23Mar wintered 26Sep 21Aug

GlossyIbis 27Mar–20May 5Apr–21May 19Aug 09Sep

EurasianSpoonbill 15Apr–5May 12Mar–30May(9) 12Aug–28Oct 21Jul–6Oct

LittleBittern 8Apr–21May 7Apr–31May ‐ 12–22Sept

Black‐crownedNight‐heron 2Apr–18May 8Apr–31May 11Sep 18Sep

SquaccoHeron 3Apr–4Jun 6Apr–24May 30Oct–21Nov 8Aug–23Sept

PurpleHeron 2Apr–10May 6Apr–6May 12Sept* 1Jul–19Sept

WhitePelican 28Apr* 8–17Apr(2) 2Oct* 22Sept–2Nov

DalmatianPelican ‐ 3May* seewinterbelow ‐

Osprey 3–30Apr(2) 24Apr–6May(4) 19–30Sept(3) 3–30Sept(3)

EuropeanHoney‐buzzard 24Apr 06May 26Sep 21Sep

BlackKite 10May* 2–5May(4) 11Aug–29Sept(7) 12Sept*

Short‐toedEagle 21Mar 05Apr 17Oct 21Sep

MarshHarrier 7Mar–19May 28Mar–31May 11Sept–3Nov(7) 12–22Sept(6)

PallidHarrier 30Mar–3May 12Apr–4May ‐ 20Sept*

Montagu’sHarrier 6Apr–5May 4Apr–5May 10Aug–18Sept 12–19Sept

LevantSparrowhawk 30Apr–8May 24Apr–5May 14Aug–23Oct ‐

LesserSpottedEagle 23Apr–9May 3–4May 11–25Sept ‐

GoldenEagle 24Apr* 25Apr–11May(3) ‐ ‐

Bonelli’sEagle 9May* 11Apr–4May(3) ‐ ‐

BootedEagle 23Apr–8May(5) 6–8May(2) 12–25Sept(2) 19–21Sept(2)

LesserKestrel 02Apr 10Apr 13Sep 24Sep

Red‐footedFalcon 18Apr–17May 19Apr–22May 15Aug–5Oct(3) 9Sept–3Oct(7)

Eleonora’sFalcon 20Apr 25Apr 29Sep 03Oct

EurasianHobby 24Apr–4Jun 22Apr–7May 10Aug–12Oct(5) 3–22Sept(4)

LannerFalcon 24Apr–9May(2) 18Apr–10May(2) ‐ ‐

LittleCrake 4Apr–13May 5Apr–7May ‐ 4Sept*

Baillon’sCrake 23Apr–4May* 28Apr–6May(2) ‐ ‐

SpottedCrake 29Mar–8May(3) 14Apr–1May(4) ‐ ‐

EurasianStone‐curlew 31Mar 17Apr 02Oct 30Sep

Spur‐wingedPlover 22Apr–20May(4) 12Apr–20May(4) ‐ ‐

RingedPlover 2Apr–31May 6Apr–28May 21Aug–9Dec 19Aug–21Oct

LittleRingedPlover 04Mar 09Mar 12Oct 21Nov

GreatSnipe 29Apr–5May(4) 7May* ‐ ‐

Black‐tailedGodwit 15Mar–13May 20Mar–28Apr(9) ‐ ‐

Bar‐tailedGodwit 28Apr–5May* ‐ ‐ 12Jul*

SpottedRedshank 26Mar–10May 24–28Apr(5) 14Aug–2Oct(3) 25Sept–11Nov(3)

MarshSandpiper 30Mar–9May 8Apr–8May 12Aug–16Sept(7) 4Sept–22Oct

WoodSandpiper 29Mar–18May 26Mar–26May 10Aug–1Nov 10Jul–26Sept

Turnstone 15Apr–14May 29Apr–30May 23Aug–22Sept 8–14Aug(2)

Sanderling 22Apr–18May 22Apr–19May ‐ 25Sept–3Oct(2)

Temminck’sStint 15Apr–11May 20Apr–20May 12–17Aug(2) 26Sept*

CurlewSandpiper 3Apr–20May 3Apr–8Jun 30Jul–19Oct 17Jul–27Sept

LESVOS BIRDS 2010



2010 2009 2010 2009

Broad‐billedSandpiper 3–16May(3) 9–11Apr(2) 12–14Aug(2) 11Aug–13Sept(3)

Ruff 10Mar–25May 5Mar–25May 2Sept–3Nov 10–25Sept

CollaredPratincole 22Apr–19May 19Apr–18May ‐ ‐

LittleGull 1Apr–7May(4) 28Mar–5May(4) 27Sept–1Oct* 21Sept–7Nov(2)

Gull‐billedTern 27Mar–19May 17Apr–27May 15Aug–7Sept(2) 9–14Sept*

CaspianTern 29Apr* 14Apr–22May(4) 7Jul–9Aug(2 11Sept*

LittleTern 15Apr 19Apr 31Aug 11Sep

CommonTern 02Apr 05Apr 01Sep 14Sep

WhiskeredTern 20Apr–22May 12Apr–26May 9Aug–16Sept(3) 20Sept*

White‐wingedBlackTern 22Apr–9May 19Apr–16May 11–27Sept(3) ‐

BlackTern 27Apr–20May(6) 6–23May(3) 13Aug–27Sept(3) 2–5Sept*

EuropeanTurtleDove 15Apr 10Apr 19Oct 25Sep

GreatSpottedCuckoo 29Mar–18May(5) 20Apr–9May(4) ‐ ‐

CommonCuckoo 3Apr–17May 22Apr–17May(5) 17Aug–17Sept(2) ‐

ScopsOwl 01Apr 18Apr ‐ ‐

EuropeanNightjar 01May 05May 02Sep 22Aug

CommonSwift 27Mar 21Mar 13Sep 25Sep

PallidSwift 9Apr–19May 17Apr–23May 20–22Aug(2) 3Jul*

AlpineSwift 02Apr 28Mar 11Sep 18Sep

Roller 24Apr–6May 27Apr–12May 12–17Sept* 18Sept*

EuropeanBee‐eater 19Apr 18Apr 26Sep 20Sep

Hoopoe 09Mar 07Mar 26Sep 18Sep

Wryneck 3Apr* 24–26Apr(2) ‐ 3Sept–18Nov(3)

Red‐backedShrike 15Apr 18Apr 04Nov 10Oct

LesserGreyShrike 19Apr 26Apr 20Sep 26Sep

WoodchatShrike 24Mar 07Apr 11Sep 20Sep

MaskedShrike 30Mar 17Apr–18Jun 1Oct(2) ‐

GoldenOriole 19Apr–22May 15Mar–11May 13Sept* 15–21Sept(2)

Short‐toedLark 26Mar 7Apr–27May 10Jul ‐

SandMartin 6Apr–18May 16Apr–24May 24Aug–29Sept 21–24Sept

BarnSwallow 09Mar 12Mar 20Nov 17Oct

CragMartin 21Mar 07Apr 02Oct 23Sep

HouseMartin 19Mar 07Mar 17Sep 17Sep

Red‐rumpedSwallow 27Mar 05Apr 16Sep 21Sep

WillowWarbler 11Mar–11May 28Mar–28Apr 9Aug–4Nov 24Aug–26Oct

EasternBonelli’sWarbler 26Apr–11May 11Apr–26May ‐ ‐

WoodWarbler 19Apr–12May 13Apr–13May ‐ ‐

GreatReedWarbler 3Apr–4Jun 14Apr–15May 16–17Sept* ‐

SedgeWarbler 28Mar–10May 7Apr–6May 30Sept* 4–6Sept(2)

EurasianReedWarbler 1Apr–4Jun 2Apr–7Jun 30Sept* ‐

MarshWarbler 30Apr–4Jun(6) 4–7May(2) ‐ ‐

EasternOlivaceousWarbler 17Apr 09Apr 12Aug 23Sep

Olive‐treeWarbler 01Apr 25Apr–17May 15Aug ‐

IcterineWarbler 29Apr–13May 28Apr–14May ‐ ‐

GrasshopperWarbler 2–28Apr(2) ‐ ‐ ‐

RiverWarbler 25Apr–6May(5) 9May(2) ‐ ‐

Savi’sWarbler 3Apr–3May(4) 5May* ‐ ‐

Blackcap 12May 29Apr 25Nov 21Nov

GardenWarbler 3–12May(5) 4–5May(3) 17Sept–5Oct(2) ‐

BarredWarbler 27Apr–8May(4) 20Apr–6May ‐ ‐

LesserWhitethroat 16Mar–10May 2Apr–12May 25Jul–5Oct 19Jul–3Nov

LESVOS BIRDS 2010



2010 2009 2010 2009

EasternOrpheanWarbler 01Apr 09Apr 29Sep 30Sep

CommonWhitethroat 03Apr 13Apr 05Oct 08Oct

SubalpineWarbler 02Apr 16Mar 03Oct 09Jun

Ruppell’sWarbler 2Apr–31May 24Apr–14May 16Aug* ‐

Rose‐colouredStarling 27Apr–23May 2–27May ‐

ThrushNightingale 1Sept* 3–8May(4) ‐ ‐

CommonNightingale 02Apr 05Apr 13Sep 01Jun

RufousBushRobin 25Apr–6Jun 28Apr–23May ‐ ‐

CommonRedstart 24Apr–7May 13Apr–5May 15–26Sept(3) 20–28Sept(3)

Whinchat 2Apr–13May 8Apr–10May 20Aug–6Oct 22Aug–10Oct

IsabellineWheatear 20Mar 05Apr 13Sep 23Sep

NorthernWheatear 08Mar 13Mar 24Sep 24Sep

Black‐earedWheatear 23Mar 31Mar 15Sep 08Oct

Rufous‐tailedRock‐thrush 25Apr–1May(3) 29Apr* ‐ ‐

SpottedFlycatcher 23Apr 17Apr 10Oct 01Oct

PiedFlycatcher 17Apr–12May 6Apr–8May 13Sept* ‐

Semi‐collaredFlycatcher 29Apr–6May(4) ‐ ‐ ‐

CollaredFlycatcher 4Apr–4Jun 20Apr–8May ‐ 19Jul–14Aug(2)

Red‐breastedFlycatcher 29Apr–2May(3) 25Apr–5May(3) 23Oct* ‐

SpanishSparrow 02Apr 13Apr 02Nov 28Sep

YellowWagtail 15Mar 13Mar 28Oct 17Oct

CitrineWagtail 18Apr–14May 8Apr–21May ‐ ‐

TawnyPipit 21Mar–22May 4Apr–14May 8–28Sept 2Sept–8Oct

TreePipit 31Mar–12May 9Apr–6May(2) 14Sept* 9–29Sept

Red‐throatedPipit 3Apr–2Jun 8Apr–12May ‐ 1–28Sept(2)

CinereousBunting 01Apr 13Apr–17May 17Aug ‐

OrtolanBunting 21Apr–11May 11Apr–13May(3) 15Sept* ‐

Cretzschmar’sBunting 02Apr 07Apr 26Aug 23Jul

Black‐headedBunting 19Apr 23Apr 18Jul 18Jul

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


APPENDIX 2 – DATES OF WINTER MIGRANTS 2010 (AND 2009)

Latestandearliestdatesofwintermigrantsanddetailsofsummerandpassagemigrantsfoundwintering

‐norecords *onlyrecord (4)numberofrecordsiffewerthan10

Latest / late winter dates Earliest / early winter dates

2010 2009 2010 2009

CommonTeal 08‐Apr 11‐May 23‐Aug 29‐Aug

EurasianWigeon 12‐Apr 1Jan* 30‐Oct 06‐Dec

Mallard 18‐May 27‐May 19‐Aug 19‐Aug

NorthernShoveler 04‐May 5–6Apr(2) 03‐Nov 12–20Sept(1)

NorthernPintail 08‐May 07‐Apr 21‐Dec 07‐Sep

Red‐breastedMerganser 02‐May 08‐Mar ‐ ‐

Black‐throatedDiver 06‐Mar 03‐Feb ‐ 08‐Dec

GreatCrestedGrebe 15‐May 11‐May 03‐Nov 30‐Nov

BlackNeckedGrebe 10‐Mar 09‐Mar 02‐Dec 30‐Nov

PygmyCormorant ‐ ‐ 9Nov* ‐

GreatCormorant 12‐Jun 11‐May 13‐Aug 09‐Jul

DalmatianPelican ‐ ‐ 23Oct–31Dec ‐

BlackKite ‐ 31Jan–7Apr* ‐ ‐

HenHarrier 21‐Apr 23‐Apr 13‐Nov 02‐Dec

Merlin 10‐Apr ‐ ‐ ‐

WaterRail 2–29Apr(4) 06‐Apr ‐ ‐

EuropeanGoldenPlover 3Mar* 16Apr* 6Sept–3Dec(3) ‐

GreyPlover 19‐May 21‐May 24‐Sep ‐

CommonSnipe 10‐May 25‐Apr 07‐Sep 04‐Sep

EurasianCurlew 11‐May 18‐May 10‐Aug 25‐Jun

Greenshank 08‐May summered 27‐Jun summered

GreenSandpiper 12‐May 09‐May 12‐Aug 21‐Aug

WoodSandpiper 13–14Feb* ‐ ‐ ‐

CommonSandpiper 11‐May 22‐May 29‐Jun 22‐Jun

LittleStint 24‐May 18‐Jun 15‐Jul 17‐Jul

Dunlin 11‐May 28‐Apr 10‐Aug 08‐Sep

Black‐headedGull 20‐May 28‐Apr 03‐Jul 01‐Jul

CommonKingfisher 01‐May 23‐Apr 05‐Aug 26‐Jul

Short‐toedLark 6Jan* ‐ ‐ ‐

Skylark 07‐May 06‐Apr 27‐Oct 25‐Nov

Goldcrest ‐ ‐ 31Oct* ‐

Chiffchaff 12‐May 12‐May 16‐Sep 25‐Dec

Blackcap wintered wintered ‐ wintered

CommonStarling 07‐May 27‐May 11‐Oct 29‐Sep

Fieldfare 20‐Feb ‐ ‐ ‐

Redwing ‐ 22Mar* ‐ ‐

BlackRedstart 13‐May 11‐May 22‐Oct 17‐Oct

MeadowPipit 13‐Apr 11‐Apr 21‐Oct 26‐Oct

WaterPipit 29Jan* 22Mar–8Apr(3) 26Oct* ‐

ReedBunting 20‐Mar 05‐Mar 19‐Nov 04‐Nov

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


APPENDIX 3 – BIRDS RINGED ON LESVOS IN 2010

LesvosresidentTerryRobinsonisalicensedringerandoperatesseveralringingsitesinthePolichnitosarea.

Hereisalistofspeciesandtotalnumbersofbirdsheringedduring2010.Ifyoushouldfindanyringedbirds

onLesvosthenyoucanreportthemviatheEuringwebsite(http://blx1.bto.org/euring/main/index.jsp).

retrap pulli juv ad Total EurasianSparrowhawk Accipter nisus 1 1

KentishPlover Charadrius alexandrinus 9 9

CollaredDove Streptopelia decaocto 1 1

MiddleSpottedWoodpecker Dendrocopus medius 1 2 2

Hoopoe Upupa epops 1 1

BarnSwallow Hirundo rustica 1 1

WinterWren Troglodytes troglodytes 1 1

EuropeanRobin Erithacus rubecula 12 43 5 48

CommonNightingale Luscinia megarhynchos 1 1

BlackRedstart Phoenicurus ochruros 6 2 8

CommonRedstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 1

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 1 1

Blackbird Turdus merula 1 16 5 21

SongThrush Turdus philomelos 1 1

EasternOlivaceousWarbler Hippolais pallida 6 7 13

EasternOrpheanWarbler Sylvia crassirostris 2 2 2

LesserWhitethroat Sylvia curruca 13 1 14

CommonWhitethroat Sylvia communis 20 3 23

SubalpineWarbler Sylvia cantillans 1 18 2 20

SardinianWarbler Sylvia melanocephala 20 7 27

GardenWarbler Sylvia borin 11 11

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 35 6 41

CommonChiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 1 3 3 6

WillowWarbler Phylloscopus trochilus 2 19 13 32

Goldcrest Regulus regulus 1 1

SpottedFlycatcher Muscicapa striata 3 42 2 44

Red‐breastedFlycatcher Ficedula parva 1 1

BlueTit Cyanistes caeruleus 19 80 27 107

GreatTit Parus major 71 132 26 158

Red‐backedShrike Lanius collurio 4 4

WoodchatShrike Lanius senator 1 2 1 3

MaskedShrike Lanius nubicus 1 1 1 2

Jay Garrulus glandularius 4 2 6

HouseSparrow Passer domesticus 3 168 61 229

Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1 1

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 1 13 6 19

EuropeanGreenfinch Carduelis chloris 12 15 27

EuropeanGoldfinch Carduelis carduelis 14 205 53 258

CirlBunting Emberiza cirlus 1 1 2

CornBunting Emberiza calandra 1 1 Totals 133 9 884 256 1149

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


APPENDIX 4 – UNPROVEN RECORDS

Theadjudicatingcommitteeisgiveninparenthesesaftereachrecord.

2010

SiberianStonechatSaxicola torquata mauraSkalaPolichnitou21Jan&28Feb(HRC)

IsabellineShrikeLanius isabellinus Petra23Aug(HRC)

RingOuzelTurdus torquatusTsikniasRiver21May(LBRC)

RookCorvus frugilegusNrSigri28Apr(LBRC)

2009

OrientalTurtleDoveStreptopelia orientalis Potamia1Jan(HRC)

White‐throatedKingfisherHalcyon smyrnensisSigri11Sept(HRC)

SiberianStonechatSaxicola torquata mauraVatera15Nov(HRC)

APPENDIX 5 – RECORDS PENDING

Theadjudicatingcommitteeisgiveninparenthesesaftereachrecord.

2010

SteppeBuzzardButeo buteo vulpinus2nrParakila3Mayand1KalloniRaptorWatchpoint4May

(LBRC).

APPENDIX 6 – OTHER NOTABLE WILDLIFE

Manyofusenjoymuchmorethanbirds.Herearejustafewofthenon‐avianwildlifehighlightsIwas

informedaboutfor2010.

MAMMALS

Bottle‐nosed DolphinTursiops truncatus

3reportedoffKavaki25Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

Leatherback TurtleDermochelys coriacea

OnefounddeadonabeachatAgiosFokason4May(BBuckleretal).

The nearest known breeding site is in the Adriatic Sea.

Mediterranean Monk SealMonachus monachus

1reportedoffKavaki25Apr(LesvosBirdingHotelPasiphaeLog).

This is a critically endangered species with a population of around 400 animals in Greek and Turkish waters.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


BUTTERFLIES

Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus

On13SeptasingleinsectwasfoundatFaneromeni

(LCarbyn,JCarre,SPDudleyetal)withthesameor

anotherthereon15Septandfourthereon16Sept

(bothJBowersperTRobinson);oneatVateraon

14Nov(TRobinson).

Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus,Vatera,14Nov2010©TerryRobinson

TheonlyotherLesvosrecordIamawareofisoneat

KalloniSaltpansinJuly2007(DGriffiths).

Aegean Fritillary Melitaea telona

LazarosPamperis,authorofThe Butterflies of Greece,hasinformedmethatonthebasisofmyphoto

here,Melitaea telona isconfirmedfromLesvos(Russell&Pamperisinprep)andcanbeaddedtothe

Lesvosbutterflylist.ThisisalsothefirstrecordfortheeasternAegeanislands,withonlyoneother

easternAegeanrecordtodate,fromChiosinJune2008.

Aegean Fritillary Melitaea telona,Kavaki,Lesvos,April2002©SteveDudley

Melitaea telona isarecentsplitfromMelitaea

phoebe (KnapweedFritillary)(Russelletal2005,

Russelletal2007).Theconfirmeddistributionin

GreeceisthePeloponnesos(andsomesmallIslands

neartheeastcoast),somelocalitiesinmainland

Greece,ChiosandLesvos;itisalsofoundinItaly,

HungaryandIsraelwiththesituationinTurkey

unclear.

Itrecommendedthatanyonewithanyphotographs

ofM phoebeintheregionshouldbere‐checkthem

inordertoconfirmwhethertheyareM phoebeorM telona.

ItisnamedinFrenchasMeliteeEgeenne(MelitaeaoftheAegeanSea=FritillaryoftheAegeanSea)

fromwhichwehavederivedtheEnglishname,AegeanFritillary.

Lesvos butterfly list

ThelistinA Birdwatching Guide to Lesvosisnotacompletelist.IamworkingwithLazarosPamperis

toproduceadefinitivelistofbutterfliesforLesvosandthiswillbehostedontheLesvosBirding

websitewhencomplete.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


DRAGONFLIES

OdalisqueEpallage fatime

Thisspeciesremainsagoodfindontheisland.Itisseenregularlyontherockystreamsthroughoutmuchof

Achladeriforest,includingatthemainKrüper’sNuthatchsiteandaroundPessaWaterfalls.I’dbegrateful

foranyrecordsfromoutsideofAchladeriforest,

Common Winter SpreadwingSympecma fusca

Thisisawidespreadyetoftenoverlookedspecies.Sincetheinsectover‐wintersasanadultitshouldbe

lookedforthroughoutthespring.AlargenumberwereseenatMikriLimniattheendofApril(A&G

Swash).

Lesvos dragonfly list

ThelistinA Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos(thesamelistontheLesvosBirdingwebsite)isacomplete

listasfarasIamaware.IfollowtheField Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe(Djikstra

2006)forEnglishnames.

ORCHIDS

Persian Helleborine Epipactis persica

ThisspecieswasdiscoverednearAgiasosduringthesummer

andisnotonlyanewspeciesforLesvos,butalsoforGreece.

ItwasdiscoveredbyGreekhelloborineexpertSpyridon

TsiftsiswhilstlookingfortherareKompers/mounts‐tauri

hybridorchid(ofwhichonlytwoareknowntoexist)found

byPaulManninginthespring.

Thisbeautifulhelleborineisknowntogrowveryrarelyand

locallyoverasubstantialareafromTurkeyeasttothe

Himalayas.However,thisisthefirstconfirmedsiteinGreece

andmayrepresenttheonlysiteforWesternEurope.

Persian HelleborineEpipactis persica,Lesvos,June2010©SpyridonTsiftsis

Lesvos orchid list

ThelistinA Birdwatching Guide to Lesvosisnowoutofdate.ThelistontheLesvosBirdingwebsiteis

keptuptodate,thankstoPaulManning(WildlifeofLesvos),andisascompleteasitcanbe.The

LesvosBirdingorchidpagehaslinkstoimagesonPaul’swebsiteaswellastootherorchidsites

includingsiteinformationandtoPaulManning’sWildlifeofLesvoswebsiteat

http://wildlifeoflesvos.com.Youcanalsodownloadanexcelspreadsheetwithfloweringtimes

preparedbyPaulManning.

LESVOS BIRDS 2010


REFERENCES

Dudley,S.2009.A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos.ArlequinPress,Shrewsbury.

Gill,FandDDonsker(Eds).2010.IOCWorldBirdNames(version2.7)–seeHTTP://WWW.WORLDBIRDNAMES.ORG/[Accessed11February2011].

HellenicRaritiesCommittee,2007.Hellenic Rarities Committee Annual Report 2007(referredtoasHRC07

intext)—seeHTTP://RARITIES.ORNITHOLOGIKI.GR/EN/EAOP/ANNUAL_REPORTS.HTM


intext)—seeHTTP://RARITIES.ORNITHOLOGIKI.GR/EN/EAOP/ANNUAL_REPORTS.HTM


intext)—seeHTTP://RARITIES.ORNITHOLOGIKI.GR/EN/EAOP/ANNUAL_REPORTS.HTM(inprep:dueforpublication

in2011)

Handrinos,G&Akriotis,T.1997.The Birds of Greece.A&CBlack,London.(referredtoasBoGthroughout

text).

Lesvos Birds 2009(referredtoasLB09intext)–HTTP://ATHENE‐BIRDINGLESVOS.BLOGSPOT.COM/2010/03/LESVOS‐BIRDS‐2009.HTML

Russell,P.,Tennent,W.J.,Pateman,J.,Varga,Z.,Benyamini,D.,Pe’er,G.,Bálint,Z.&Gascoigne‐Pees,M.

(2007)FurtherinvestigationsintoMelitaeatelonaFrushstorfer,1908(=ogygiaFrushstorfer,1908

=emipunicaVerity,1919)(Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae),withobservationsonbiologyanddistribution.

Entomologist's Gazette58:137‐166.

Russell,P.,J.,P.,Gascoigne‐Pees,M.&Tennent,W.J.(2005)Melitaeaemipunia(Verity,1919)stat.nov:a

hithertounrecognisedbutterflyspeciesfromEurope(Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae).Entomologist's

Gazette56:67‐70.

Documents

Lesvos Birds 2010