Pectoral Sandpiper - first record for Lesvos

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Polichnitos Saltpans, 20 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley
This first record for Lesvos and only the fourth record for Greece was found by Terry Robinson and was present for just one day.

See here for further migrant news from last week.

18 - 24 September

Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, Polichnitos Saltpans, 20 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley
This first record for Lesvos and only the fourth record for Greece was found by Terry Robinson and was present for just one day.

Records from Steve Dudley (www.lesvosbirding.com) and Mark Newell based at the Pasiphae Hotel.


Thurs, 18 Sept 08
Red-backed Shrike and Willow Warblers along roadside by airport.

Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-backed Shrikes (lots), Woodchat Shrike (juv), Lesser Grey Shrike 3, Tawny Pipit 3, Lesser Kestrel (m), Short-toed Eagle 1, Long-legged Buzzard 4, Common Buzzard, Alpine Swift 6+, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff, flava wagtails.

Tsiknias River mouth
Black Stork, Sandwich Tern 10+, Grey Polver 3, Dunlin 4, Curlew, Little Egret. Kalloni SaltpansGreat White Egret 12 (inc. 9 over to south).

Fri, 19 Sept 08

Christou River
Black Stork 1, Grey Heron 3, Great White Egret 1, Little Egret 2, Stone-curlew 4, Kentish Plover 4, Greenshank 1.

Metochi Lake
Lesser Kestrel (m), Tree Pipit 2, Ringed Plover 4, Little Ringed Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike 1, Whinchat, flava wagtails, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Alpine Swift, Cetti’s Warbler.

Nr Lafionas
Levant Sparrowhawk 1.

Molivos
Black-eared Wheatear 1.

Perasma (Old Petra Reservoir – now drained)
Black-eared Wheatear 3, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Kestrel 2, Peregrine (m), Cirl Bunting (lots), Spotted Flyactcher, Chiffchaff, Whinchat, White Wagtail, flava wagtails, Bee-eater (heard overhead).

Sat, 20 Sept 08

Korakas nr Klio
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1, Osprey (with fish), Marsh Harrier 2, Common Whitethroat 3+, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Redstart 2, Blackcap 1, Wood Nuthatch (3+), Rock Nuthatch (2), Middle Spotted Woodpecker (lots calling and sev seen), Red-backed Shrike 2+, Willow Warblers (lots), Chiffchaff, Red-rumped Swallow, Crag Martin, Alpine Swift.

Napi valley
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 2, Short-toed Eagle 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (juv) – first record for Lesvos. Found at 0800 by Terry Robinson and present all day. Little Stint 13, Spoonbill 5, Black Stork 1, Pintail 2, Teal 1, Garganey 10, Mediterranean Gull 22, Sandwich Tern 20+, Marsh Harrier 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv), Turtle Dove 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 3.

Sun, 21 Sept 08

Tavari/Chrousos
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 6 (flock) to south, Common Kestrel 2, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Red-backed Shrike (lots), Common Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Spotted Flycatcher, Northern Wheatear, Turtle Dove 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Alpine Swift 2, Common Swift 1, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow.

Skala Eresou
Golden Oriole 1, Great Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2.

Pithariou Reservoir
Bee-eatear 12+, Common Buzzard 4, Short-toed Eagle 1, Common Kestrel, Crag Martin (lots), Red-rumped Swallow 4, Cirl Bunting 6+.

Ipsilou
Sombre Tit 5+, Blackcap 3+, Wood Nuthatch 1.

Mon, 22 Sept 08
Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Mesa
Eleonarora’s Falcon 1.

Vouvari River mouth
PYGMY CORMORANT adult – apparently present for c.1 week but no one mentioned in and no one bothered to write anything in the hotel bird log book! Lucky we heard about it on the off chance the previous evening.

Pygmy Cormorant, Vouvari River mouth, 22 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 ad fuscus, Kingfisher 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Woodlark 1, Stonechat 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1.

Polichnitos Saltpans (and surrounds)
Black Stork 2, White Stork 1, Greater Flamingo, Marsh Sandpiper 4, Curlew Sandpiper 5, Wood Sandpiper 4, Little Stint 40+, Dunlin 4, Ruff 4, Redshank c.80, Greenshank 10+, Kentish Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Plover, Avocet 9, Teal 12, Mediterranean Gull 25, Sandwich Tern 39, Marsh Harrier 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Hoopoe 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Tawny Pipit 2.

Between Kalloni Saltpans and Tsiknias River
Red-footed Falcon (fem), Long-legged Buzzard 1, Common Buzzard 2, Great White Egret 1, Woodchat Shrike (juv).

Panaghia Chapel
Collared Flycatcher 1 (per SPD).

Tues, 23 Sept 08

Tsiknias River mouth
Grey Plover 2, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Woodchat Shrike 1.

Ipsilou
Eleonora’s Falcon 11 (inc. flock of 7 birds) all to north, Short-toed Eagle 1, Peregrine, Wryneck 1, Common Redstart 2, Red-backed Shrike 3, Spotted Flycatcher 6+, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Rock and Wood Nuthatch, Cirl Bunting, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Rock Thrush.

Wryneck, Ipsilou, 23 Sept 08. © Steve Dudley

Meladia Valley (between Sigri and Eresos)
Chukar 11 (inc. flock of 10), Black Stork 1, Hoopoe 1, Common Whitethroat 15+, Lesser Whitethroat 8+, Sombre Tit 2, Red-backed Shrike 10+, Black-eared Wheatear 4+, Northern Wheatear 3+, Cetti’s Warbler 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Blue Rock Thrush 4+, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff.

Nr Eresos
Short-toed Eagle 1, Eleonora’s Falcon 1, Red-rumped Swallow 6+.

Palia Vigla, Vatera
Honey-Buzzard 3 (Terry Robinson)

Weds, 24 Sept 08

Achladeri (between Vouvari River and Achladeri)
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2

Polichnitos Saltpans
Curlew Sandpiper 4, Ruff 4, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Dunlin 10, Greenshank 3, Redshank c.50, White Stork 3, Great White Egret 1, Short-toed Eagle 1.

Almiropotomas River, Vatera
Purple Heron 1, Short-toed Eagle 1, Alpine Swift 2

Panaghia Chapel
Krüper’s Nuthatch 2 (one coming to dripping pipe by chapel), Spotted Flycatcher 4, Common Redstart 1, Blackcap 1, Common Whitethroat 1.

Vouvari River Mouth
Osprey roosting on rocks on south side of mouth.

Mesa
Great White Egret 1.

Tsiknias River Mouth
Grey Plover 4, Curlew 1, Kingfisher 1.

Thurs, 25 Sept 08

Metochi Lake
Common Snipe 1, Green Sandpiper 1.

Haramida Marsh
Sardinian Warbler 3+, Red-backed Shrike 4+, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Woodlark 1, Whinchat.

Cape Lena
Scopoli's Shearwater 3.

Wind of change

Resident Lesvos birder Terry Robinson reports that the wind turned to the SW today and with it a near stop in raptor movement.

Palia Vigla (prof ilios), Vatera
Booted Eagle 1
Honey-buzzard 1
Marsh Harrier 2

Polichnitos Saltpans
Broad-billed Sandpiper 1
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Tawny Pipit 3

Autumn raptors

Resident Lesvos birder Terry Robinson has had the place to himself in recent weeks, and the last few days he's been enjoying a raptor bonanza.

Tues, 16 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 1
Lesser Spotted Eagle 6
Short-toed Eagle 4
Marsh Harrier 22
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 92
Hobby 3
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 6

Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 14

Mon, 15 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Booted Eagle 7
Lesser Spotted Eagle 1
Short-toed Eagle 1
Honey-buzzard 99
Hobby 1
Kestrel 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sun, 14 Sept
Palia Vigla (prof ilios) Vatera
Marsh Harrier 23
Bonelli’s Eagle 1
Common Buzzard 4
Honey-buzzard 6
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
Bee-eater 106
Pallid Swift 1
Common Swift 1

Polichnitos
Honey-buzzard 60+
Hoopoe 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 1

Sat, 13 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Garganey 7
Spotted Redshank 1
Wood Sandpiper 1

Thu, 11 Sept
Polichnitos Saltpans
Spoonbill 5 plus lots of migrants inc. Spotted Flys everywhere, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Black-eared wheatears, dozens of Whinchats and lots of shrikes.

also at Polichnitos Saltpans in August
Spoonbill 1 28th, Montagu's Harrier 1 on 27th, Garganey 1 24th.