Early spring migrants (5)

Here is what the Skala Kallonis Pool is looking like at the minute - full to the brim! Lets hope it stays that way until mid-April then starts to drop to get those crakes and herons in! © Vasilis El. Vogiatzis / Hotel Pasiphae

A few snippets from Terry Robinson at Skala Polichnitou. Things certainly still very slow.

Thurs, 26 Mar

Swallow 5

House Martin 10

Northern Wheatear 5

Wood Sandpiper 2

Black-tailed Godwit still present

Black Kite still present

Tues, 24 Mar

Hoopoe 1

Northern Wheatear 3

Ruff 5

Black-tailed Godwit 1

Green Sandpiper 1

Little Ringed Plover 1

Early spring migrants (4)

A wet winter and continued early spring means there is at present lots of standing water and seasonal pools around. This is a seasonal pool near Nifida. © Terry Robinson

Things still very slow out there at present. Terry Robinson's updates for the last few days.

Sun, 22 Mar
Yellow Wagtail 20
Water Pipit 1
Northern Wheatears 2
House Martin 4
Hoopoe 1
Ruff 10

Fri, 20 Mar
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Northern Wheatear 1

First Choice flight only to Mitilini this spring

First Choice are currently offering flight only deals to Mitilini as follows -

16 - 23 Apr = c.£130 pp
16 - 30 Apr = c.£239 pp
16 Apr - 7 May = nothing offered
23 - 30 Apr = nothing offered
30 Apr - 7 May = nothing offered
30 Apr - 14 May = nothing offered

Check online or with your local agent for more details.

Other carriers still have flights e.g. Aegean Airlines flying from Stansted via Athens.

Early spring migrants (3)

Following the wet winter and early spring there is lots of standing water and seasonal pools around. This is a seasonal pool near Achladeri. © Terry Robinson

More reports from Terry Robinson at Polichnitos Saltpans. Still no major movements. A few new species, but a passage of Grey Herons is notable.

Mon, 16 March
Hoopoe 3 remain from last weeks 6 birds
Swallow 1
SubalpineWarbler 1
Spoonbill 1
Black Stork 1
Grey Heron, only 1 remains from Saturday's 27 birds
Great White Egret 10
Still lots of winter birds about.

Sat, 14 March
Garganey 3
Grey Heron 27
Black Kite 1
Hen Harrier 1 r/t through
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Ruff 5
Golden Plover 3
Hoopoe still 6 (a flock!)
Swallow 1
Northern Wheatear 1

Early spring migrants (2)

Migrant news from Terry Robinson at Skala Polichnitou (also inc. birds at nearby Polichnitos Saltpans).

Fri, 13 March (following a day of heavy rain yesterday)
Hoopoe 6
Northern Wheatear 2
Yellow Wagtail 2
White Wagtail 24
Skylark 60+
Spoonbill 2
Ruff 7
Lapwing 1
Pintail 2

Weds, 11 March
Alpine Swift 3
Common Swift 2
House Martin 4
Swallow 1
Spoonbill 2
Ruddy Shelduck 2

Early spring migrants

With news of House Martins, Garganey, etc. elsewhere in Greece, it wasn't long before resident Lesvos birder Terry Robinson sent me news of the first spring migrants on the island. Nothing stunning or no significant numbers of anything reached the island yet.

Mon, 9 Mar, Polichnitos Saltpans
Little Ringed Plover, 2

Sun, 8 Mar, Polichnitos Saltpans
Black Kite
Hoopoe
House Martins, 2

Sat, 7 Mar, Polichnitos Saltpans
Hoopoe
House Martin
Ruff, 6

Thur, 5 Mar, Polichnitos Saltpans
Green Sandpiper, 1
Ruff, 1

I'll keep updates regular updates coming as and when Terry sends me news of new species arriving/passing through.