Lesbos. The Magic of Lesbos Sat 26 th April Sat 3 rd May Limosa Holidays Trip Report

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1 Limosa Holidays Trip Report Lesbos The Magic of Lesbos Sat 26 th April Sat 3 rd May 2014 Trip photos (clockwise, from top left): One of the specialities of Lesbos, a male Black-headed Bunting in song One of a number of butterflies seen, a Lesser Spotted Fritillary A female Little Bittern creeps stealthily through the plants A fine shot of an Eastern Subalpine Warbler taking flight Another special Lesbos bird, this time a female Little Crake Finally, a real gem of a plant, Homer s Ophrys tour leader Robin Chittenden, report compiled by tour leaders: Robin Chittenden and Richard Thaxton 1 Limosa Holidays, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham Norfolk NR12 9EJ tel: +44 (0) / 4 info@limosaholidays.co.uk website:

2 Trip Diary Tour Leaders: Robin Chittenden & Richard Thaxton with Ian & Jean Bennion, Steve & Lindsay Cottam, Caroline Gordon, Patrick & Jenny Grosvenor, Jim Hickling, Susan Langford, Annette Warrick and Stephen & Juliet Whitten Every spring the bird migration in Lesbos is subtly different. This year spring was a little more advanced than in recent years. The weather during our stay was highly irregular. It was often overcast with the temperature at best only warm and we even experienced an occasional rain shower. During winter there had been a drought and the first rain of the year had fallen only a few days before our tour. These conditions had an influence on our birdwatching. There were no Glossy Ibises this year! They had presumably passed through earlier in the year and as there were no tempting wet areas to hold them they just carried on. The Rüppell s Warbler and Krüper s Nuthatch proved more difficult to see, but with second carefully timed visits in each case fabulous views were obtained. Cinereous and Cretzschmar s Buntings were in contrast easy. We visited the area around Tsiknias River and the saltpans fairly regularly to keep an eye on the turnover of migrating birds. Many exciting birds were seen: Bee-eaters, Long-legged Buzzards, a few Little Bitterns, Little Crake, two or three Montagu's Harriers, several Black-headed Buntings, Woodchat Shrikes, a few Black-headed Wagtails, many Squacco Herons and a few Black Storks. On other visits we saw two Collared Pratincoles, five Red-footed Falcons, including a male in off the sea, a total of 17 White-winged Black Terns and six Whiskered Tern, a couple of Red-throated Pipits, a Slender-billed Gull, Stone-curlew, a total of six Purple Herons, Spur-winged Plover and yet just one Temminck s Stint. We had two early morning visits to Metochi Lake. The first visit we saw eight Little Crakes, including only one a matter of feet away feeding on very tiny morsels in the open, up to 50 Bee-eaters, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and a Red-rumped Swallow. On the second were two Little Bitterns, including a male perched in low branches and three Squacco Herons flew through. On a scrubby area near Achladeri we found a couple of Eastern Subalpine Warblers, three Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, a male Cirl Bunting, a Cretzschmar s Bunting, Short-toed Eagle and a Sardinian Warbler. Not bad in a short stop, with the latter species being an uncommon sighting at this location. Nearby, by some blazing poppy fields, we saw our first male Red-backed Shrike perched next to a male Woodchat Shrike. Lovely. At Achladeri the Krüper s Nuthatch were rather elusive being only glimpsed on our first attempt. The second was more successful with one bird taking food occasionally to its incubating partner. We also found a pair of Cirl Buntings feeding young and Short-toed Treecreeper. Heading out west, we stopped of at the gorge just west of Andissa on a couple of occasions. Here we saw at least two Blue Rock Thrushes, a couple of juvenile Rock Sparrows and many Crag Martins. We admired a Persian Squirrel snoozing on the rocks. We found three Cinereous Buntings on the scrubby hillside around Ipsilou monastery. These are always a joy to see, especially when singing in the open and watched from above. Also there was a Cretzschmar s Bunting, a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes and nearby we saw a few Lesser Kestrels and just as we left the habitat a Masked Shrike. A second visit just east of there we found three Isabelline Wheatears, another Cinereous Bunting, several Golden Orioles, many perched in the open, Redrumped Swallows, Western Rock Nuthatch, Black-headed Bunting and a few Black-veined Whites. Our visit to the Faneromeni area north of Sigri started well with a gorgeous Roller. There had obviously been an arrival of Spotted Flycatchers, but with them we also located a male Pied Flycatcher and Collared Flycatcher (with two or three females of the latter also seen). Other highlights 2 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

3 were a Lesser Grey Shrike, Redstart, Wood Warbler, about six Red-backed Shrikes, several Golden Orioles, Little Bittern and two Short-toed Eagles. By the Limonas Monastery a pair of Middle-spotted Woodpeckers were watched coming to their nest hole to feed their young. At Papiana we found one Scops Owl, which was then ousted from its roosting spot by an unhappy Collared Dove. Just north of Kalloni we found two roosting Scops Owl, including one fairly low down. We stopped on a couple of times at the raptor watchpoint, seeing three Short-toed Eagle, Hobby and Black Stork. We had lovely views of Cirl and Cretzschmar s Buntings and a Western Rock Nuthatch. On our first attempt, on the way to Molivos, a male Rüppell s Warbler was only seen briefly by one of us. We speculated the females were on eggs as the birds were obviously too skulking. Luckily, this was in sharp contrast with our second visit, when the male was very showy. We also saw a male Sardinian Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, a particularly close Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Turtle Doves, Blue Rock Thrush and Chukar. Along the road along the northern edge of Lesbos, there were few migrants but we did have some butterfly moments with tame Scarce Swallowtail, Cleopatra and Lesser Spotted Fritillary. In the Napi valley area we found a confiding Wood Lark, three Masked Shrikes, a Sombre Tit, Cretzschmar s Buntings and a Short-toed Eagle carrying a snake. Taking the southern route to Skala Eresou we made a few stops at suitable locations. We saw several Western Rock Nuthatches, displaying Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Cretzschmar s Buntings, another Western Orphean Warbler and a Hoopoe. At Skala Eresou we fed the frenzied Balkan Terrapins - these used to be classified as a subspecies of Striped-neck Terrapin. There were very few migrants though, just a female Pied Flycatcher. The overcast conditions meant it was easy the see the tight packs of Yelkouan Shearwater streaming by. Heading southeast from Kalloni we found some confiding Little Ringed Plovers and Squacco Herons by the picturesque beach road. Several Alpine Swifts cruised around very low. The wild flower meadows were to die for. In some olive groves we amazingly found a singing male Olive-tree Warbler. It behaved in typical fashion perching in the open only briefly. At the Polichnitos saltpans, we found a few Alpine Swifts and with them were four Collared Pratincoles. Fantastic. The Sweet Chestnut woods near Agiassos were ablaze with the flowers of Crown Anemones, Spurges, Wild Orange Tulip, Pontic Fritillaries, Provence Orchids and Toothed Changed Orchids and a little lower down we found Homer's Ophrys and Pelinaio Ophrys. A showy Eastern Festoon was also discovered. We trust you all enjoyed the tour and hope to see you again on another tour in the near future. We leave you with some lovely memories sent to us by Juliet Robin Chittenden and Richard Thaxton Lesbos in Spring Memories of Juliet Whitten Bird song Thekla's welcome smile. Flamingos, pale pink, standing motionless in the still water. Broom A majestic Black Stork, striding proudly down the middle of the river. Poppies Shifting light on the salt pans, on the mountain tops, on the sea. Verdant hedgerows A bittern secreted in a cage of orange and grey lichen-covered twigs, watching us watching him. 3 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

4 Reflections A pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, choosing to nest in a modern telegraph pole in the hallowed grounds of an ancient monastery. Raptors high above Susan's shout of delight as she finally focused on a rare warbler with the telescope. Skulking crakes in the early morning light. The electric blue of a single Roller on a telegraph wire. A Collared Flycatcher The measured pace of the Black-winged Stilt. Nightingales serenading us as we breakfasted on the terrace surrounded by nesting Swallows, House Martins and contented fellow visitors. A bright green lizard Rays of sunshine on a huddle of Avocets. A Turtle Dove Watching a Little Tern hovering like a hummingbird and splashing down into the water at sunset. Meadows full of flowers A perfect view of a Woodchat Shrike. Patience rewarded on the second visit to the nesting place of the Krüper's Nuthatch. A Festoon butterfly A Snipe emerging from the rushes Two Scops Owls well nigh invisible amongst the eucalyptus leaves. A Cleopatra butterfly At last, a clear view of the elusive Rüppell's Warbler perched on a gorse bush against a clear blue sky. Flowers, flowers everywhere. Systematic List of Species (Total 155 species recorded by the group) Chukar Alectoris chukar One perched on dry stone wall at Kavaki (between Petra & Molyvos) 29/4. Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus One, heard only, Limonas Monastery 28/4 though ecclesiastical poultry perhaps, along with peacock heard too, and they keep ostriches too, apparently! Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Eight in total 27/4, at Kalloni salt pans, Tsiknias River and Achladeri. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Between 2-8 in the Kalloni salt pans/alykes wetland/achladeri area all week. One off the Kavaki cliff at Petra 29/4. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Four, Achladeri 27/4. Scopoli s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 20+ seen offshore at Faneromeni, Sigri 28/4 Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinis yelkouan 30+ seen offshore at Faneromeni beach/river mouth 28/4, 200+ seen during our taverna lunch, Skala Eresou, 30/4 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A pair at Metochi Lake 27/4 and again 30/4 and four Tsiknias River 30/4. 4 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

5 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus One on the sea, Gulf of Kalloni 27/4. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus birds on Kalloni saltpans all week, whenever we visited or passed by. Black Stork Ciconia nigra One, Tsiknias River 26/4 and 28/4, a total of five at various parts of Kalloni salt pans 27/4. Possibly the same five at Christou River 29/4, one Polichnitos salt pans 1/5 and one at the Kalloni Raptor Watch Point (RWP) 2/5. European White Stork Ciconia ciconia 1-2 seen en route from airport 26/4, two in Kalloni area 28/4, birds on chimneystack nests at Mandamados and Paraskevi villages in the Napi Valley 29/4. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus One distant fly-by bird 28/4 Kalloni salt pans. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus Up to five (assorted males & females) seen almost daily throughout the week at various sites visited; Metochi Lake, Tsiknias River, Faneromeni. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Three as we lunched at Faneromeni ford 28/4. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Seen daily at various locations, largely confined to Kalloni area, including; Tsiknias & Christou Rivers, Metochi Lake and Kalloni salt pans. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Seen daily at various locations around Kalloni salt pans & adjacent fields, Tsiknias River. Max of eight at salt pans on 1/5. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Two seen flying over Kalloni salt pans 28/4, four Tsiknias River 29/4 and two Christou River 30/4. Great Egret Ardea alba Only two sightings; one Christou River 29/4 and one on our last morning 3/5 at Kalloni salt pans. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Seen daily at various sites, largely confined to Kalloni area. Max at Kalloni salt pans 28/4. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo One over the seas at head of Gulf of Kalloni 27/4 and likely the same one at Tsiknias River mouth 29/4 & 2/5. Five Kalloni salt pans 3/5. (Mediterranean) Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii Two at Faneromeni beach 28/4, 6+ seen in the strait between Turkey and Lesbos along the Efthalou to Skala Sikaminias road 29/4, two seen during taverna lunch at Skala Eresou 30/4. One seen from Kavaki cliffs/petra 2/5. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Six at Sigri 28/4, one Andissa Gorge/Lardia valley 30/4, six at Kalloni salt pans 1/5. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus One at Kevavi cliffs, Petra 9/4 & 2/5. Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Three males and two females at Kalloni salt pans 27/4, eleven on a telephone wire, fields near Tsiknias River 28/4 and one at Sigri 28/4. Hobby Falco subbuteo One, Kalloni RWP 29/4. Peregrine Falco peregrinus One, over Hotel Pela 26/4 and again 30/4, one at RWP 29/4 and one Napi Valley also 29/4. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus One, Achladeri 27/4, two at Sigri 28/4, three at RWP 29/4 and three Napi Valley also 29/4. Three along road between Skala Vasilikon and Polichnitos salt pans on 1/5. 5 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

6 Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Up to three Tsiknias River/fields/Kalloni salt pans area on several dates. A male at Sigri 28/4 and one RWP on 2/5. Montagu s Harrier Circus pygargus Two, ringtails, over agricultural fields near Kalloni salt pans 26/4 and again 28/4. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus One, Andissa Gorge/Lardia valley 28/4 and two at RWP 2/5. Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Just one record, of one at Limonas Monastery 28/4. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Recorded in small numbers 1-4, almost daily at various localities. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus One or two over fields/tsiknias River 26/4, one over Kalloni salt pans 27/4 and one at Sigri 28/4. Little Crake Porzana parva One male, Tsiknias River 26/4, eight (five females and three males) at Metochi Lake 27/4 and one female there on 30/4. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Seen daily; on visits to Tsiknias River and Metochi Lake. Stone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus One, Kalloni salt pans 28/4. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Recorded daily at various sites throughout the week, though mainly at Kalloni salt pans. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Only seen at Kalloni salt pans, on every visit, up to 130+ Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus, spinosus One, Kalloni salt pans on 1/5, 2/5 and a drive-by bird, in passing en route to airport, 3/5. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Ten, Kalloni salt pans 2/5. Ringed Plover Charadrius alexandrinus One Polichnitos salt pans 1/5. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Up to three along Tsiknias River most of the week, Alykes wetland field 27/4, and Skala Vasilikon; others at Polichnitos salt pans 1/5. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Six at Alykes wetland 27/4, one, Tsiknias River 29/4 and four at Kalloni salt pans 1/5. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago One Kalloni salt pans, 2/5. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Two Kalloni salt pans 27/4 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus One we forgot to write-in! One Kalloni salt pans 27/4. Curlew Numenius arquata One, Achladeri 1/5. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Two fine summer-plumaged birds, Kalloni salt pans 2/5. Redshank Tringa totanus Heard only, Kalloni salt pans 27/4, Greenshank Tringa nebularia 20+ in total Kalloni salt pans 27/4, two Polichnitos salt pans 1/5 and one Kalloni salt pans 3/5. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus One flushed from stream along the Skala Vasilikon to Polichnitos road 1/5. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen throughout the week though only in low numbers at any wetland sites visited. 6 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

7 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos One Achladeri 27/4, one Kalloni salt pans 29/4 and at least two Polichnitos salt pans 1/5. Sanderling Calidris alba Two birds, coming into summer pluamage, Kalloni salt pans 27/4. Little Stint Calidris minuta Two, Kalloni salt pans 27/4, 8-10 Christou River 29/4, 300+ Kalloni salt pans 2/5. Temminck s Stint Calidris temminckii One alongside the Spur-winged Lapwing, Kalloni salt pans on 1-2/5. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Two, Christou River 29/4 and 20+ Kalloni salt pans 2-3/5. Ruff Philomachus pugnax 40+ in total Kalloni salt pans 27/4, 25+ Christou River 30/4 and 20+ Polichnitos salt pans 1/5, 50+ Kalloni salt pans 2-3/5. Collard Pratincole Glareola pratincola Two, Alykes wetland 27/4 and four trying to out fly alpine swifts at Polichnitos salt pans 1/5. Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus One over the kalloni salt pans 2/5. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Very common, everywhere throughout the week. Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei One at Tsiknias River-mouth, on two occasions 28-29/4. Little Tern Sternula albifrons Always three or four at Kalloni salt pans whenever visited, six at Tsiknias River 28/4, two at Polichnitos salt pans 1/5. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 22 at mouth of Tsiknais River 29/4 and one Kalloni salt pans 3/5. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Two, Kalloni salt pans 27/4, one Tsiknias river mouth 29/4. Two, Kalloni salt pans on 3/5. White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Two Alykes wetland 27/4 and fifteen kalloni salt pans, 28/4. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis Two, Tsiknias River mouth, 26/4 and 2/5. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Seen daily, mostly along Tsiknis River and at Kalloni salt pans. Others; Christou River, Skala Vasilikon and Polichnitos salt pans. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia Typically feral-types seen en route through several villages. Some more authentic looking Rocky-types at Sigri 28/4 and Skala Eresou 30/4. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Sighting all week at various localities; two along Tsiknias River 26/4, two, Metochi Lake 27/4, 3 at Sigri 28/4, twelve in total on 29/4 along north road from Efthalou to Skala Sikiminias, two above Agiassos 1/5. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Common, seen daily throughout the island Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus One heard at Achladeri on 27/4 and 1/5, one being chased by Masked Shrike, Andissa 28/4. Scops Owl Otus scops Heard at night all week from Hotel Pela. One at Papiana village 28/4 and two at Kalloni mini soccer pitch 29/4 and again 2/5. Little Owl Athene noctua Two, at a distance, perched at sheep sheds in fields near Tsiknias River 27/4 and one near Achladeri 1/5. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Two over Kalloni salt pans 26/4, eight near Skala Eresou on 30/4 and 15+ along road from Skala Vasilikon to Polichnitos 1/5. 7 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

8 Common Swift Apus apus Small numbers seen daily, wherever we went. European Roller Coracias garrulus One, Sigri 28/4. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Seen or heard daily wherever we went. Best where 20+ Tsiknias River (and over Hotel Pela 26/4, 10+ perched in a fig tree at Metochi Lake on 27/4, 25+ Sigri 28/4 and 50+ Metochi Lake 30/4. Hoopoe Upupa epops Heard in Napi Valley 29/4 and at Achladeri 1/5, three on 30/4 en route west beyond Mesotopos. Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus media A pair at their nest hole, Limonas Monastery 28/4, one Napi Valley 29/4 and one Achladeri 1/5. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio One male at Achladeri 27/4, six in total along road from Sigri to Faneromeni 28/4, two in Napi Valley 29/4 and one near Mesotopos 30/4. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Just one, Sigri 28/4. Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator The commonest shrike this year, seen on six dates at various localities, at least four or five per day, max. of seven on 28/4 in the Sigri-Faneromeni area. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus One chasing a Cuckoo at Andissa 28/4, up to three Napi Valley 29/4, five in total on 30/4 en route west at; Aghios Ioannis (the wee chapel), Langada Valley nr Mesotopos and two between Skala Vasilikon to Polichnitos on 1/5. Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Nine in total in the Sigri to Faneromeni area 28/4, two in Napi Valley 29/4 and 10+ in total on 30/4 at various stops en route west to Eressos and return via Andissa. Jay Garrulus glandarius Small numbers seen daily, usually en route as we drove. Different to UK birds in having a black beret giving this form its variant name of atricapillus Jackdaw Corvus monedula Six at Sigri on 28/4 and 20+ at Skala Eresou 30/4. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Common and widespread Raven Corvus corax One below Ipsilou Monastery and four at Sigri 28/4, and a pair with three fledged young at Kavaki cliffs/petra on 29/4. Sombre Tit Poeciles lugubris One, above Dafia 28/4, one Napi Valley29/4. Great Tit Parus major Common and widespread throughout the island Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Seen daily throughout the island Sand Martin Riparia riparia Four over Alykes wetland 27/4, three at Faneromeni 28/4 and then 100s on wires along by Tsiknias River 29/4. Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 30+ in the Lardia Valley/Andissa Gorge 28/4 and up to two at Kavaki/Petra cliff tops 29/4. Swallow Hirundo rustica Very common, throughout the week House Martin Delichon urbicum Common & widespread throughout the week. 8 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

9 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Odd ones & twos seen to begin with then 10+ in total on 28/4 at various spots, and then they became just ticked thereafter during the week. Crested Lark Galerida cristata Common and widespread at all sites visited. Wood Lark Lullula arborea Heard on three dates at Ipsilou 28/4, Andissa 30/4 and Achladeri 1/5. Actually seen in Napi Valley on 29/4. Cetti s Warbler Cettia cetti Seen & heard almost daily, at various localities during the week. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Just one, seen in the Kalloni salt pans/fields area 28/4. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus One, Tsiknias River 26/4, and one Alykes wetland 27/4. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Six in total, Tsiknias River 26/4, one at Metochi Lake 27/4, one at Faneromeni 28/4, 2-3 Metochi Lake 30/4, and one Skala Vasilikon 1/5. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida Recorded on four dates in low numbers; Tsiknias 26/4, several Metochi Lake 27/4 and 30/4, two or three Sigri area 28/4 Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum One, along the road from Skala Vasilikon to Polichnitos, 1/5. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita One, heard only, Andissa Gorge/Lardia Valley 30/4. Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix Just one, Faneromeni 28/4. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla One heard along the north, Eftalou to Skala Sikiminias road 29/4, another heard only above Agiassos 1/5. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca One, Sigri 28/4 and one Skala Vasilikon 1/5. Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris Two, Kavaki cliffs/petra 29/4, one at Aghios Ionnis chapel 30/4 and one again at Kavaki cliffs/petra 2/5. Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Two, Achladeri 27/4, one Aghios Ionnis chapel 30/4 and three Skala Vasilikon 1/5. Eastern Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans albistriata Seen/heard on most days at various locations including; Achladeri, Andissa, Kavaki/Petra cliff-tops, Aghios Ioannis chapel, and above Agiassos. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala One at Achladeri 27/4 and one in cliff-top scrub at Kavaki/Petra 29/4. Rüppell s Warbler Sylvia rueppelli One seen by Jenny only on 29/4 at Kavaki cliff-tops/petra but then on our second attempt on 2/5 an obliging male showed for us all, giving repeated and prolonged views. A female was seen too, by some of us. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes One heard above Agiassos 1/5. Krüper s Nuthatch Sitta krueperi One glimpsed by some at Achladeri on 27/4, but then seen well, by all, at the same site on 1/5. Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer One, Andissa Gorge/Lardia Valley 28/4, six in total out west on 30/4, the best at Aghios Ionnis chapel. One at RWP 2/5. Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla One, Achladeri 27/4 and heard there too on 1/5 9 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

10 Blackbird Turdus merula Recorded daily, in good numbers. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos One, in the chestnut woods above Agiassos 1/5. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus One heard, (by leader only?), in chestnut woods above Agiassos 1/5. Robin Erithacus rubecula One heard only, in the chestnut woods above Agiassos 1/5. Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos This superlative hyperactive songster sang all night long at Hotel Pela, over breakfast and in the evening as we stayed on the terrace wonderful! In addition, heard, if not always seen at many/all localities during the week. Good views of one bathing in Tsiknias River 1/5. Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A female, Sigri, 28/4 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Very common throughout the week, seen at most sites visited. European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Seen only on three dates, with five out west on 28/4. Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Three seen at Andissa triangle road junction area 30/4. Northern Wheatear Oemanthe oenanathe One, Dafia-Vatousa-Sigri road 28/4 and one Tsiknias River 2/5. Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe melanoleuca Seen daily at most sites visited; Achladeri, Ipsilou Monastery, Kavaki cliffs/petra, Napi, en route west at Agra, Mesotopos, Sigri, Faneromeni and Skala Eresou. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Two, Andissa Gorge/Lardia valley, and a further two at Ipsilou Monastery 28/4, a female at Kavaki /Petra 29/4, three at stops en route on the south coast road west to Agra/Mesotopos and Eressos 30/4. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Our first was at Achladeri on 27/4, 20+ in the Sigri area on 28/4, six in total on 30/4 at Skalal Eresou, Agra and Mesotopos. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Two males, Sigri on 27/4 Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis One male and two females, Sigri 28/4. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Abundant. Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Widespread, seen daily, including at our hotel. Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia One, Andissa Gorge/Lardia Valley 28/4, and a fly-by six at Ipsilou Monastery also on 28/4. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Reasonable numbers of assorted yellow wags, at any wetland site visited including Kalloni salt pans, Alykes wetland and the agricultural fields between salt pans and Tsiknias River, Sigri and Faneromeni. A nominate Yellow Wagtail (flava) at Tsiknias River on 2/5 plus the usual mix of races included the local breeders, the Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), a few of the Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), a possible Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi), and a Romanian Yellow Wagtail (dombrowskii). White Wagtail Motacilla alba Two, Polichnitos sat pans 1/5. Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris One, Achladeri 27/4. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Two, Alykes wetland 27/4, one at Kalloni salt pans 28/4 and one, Tsiknias River 2/5. 10 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

11 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Common and widespread, recorded throughout the week. Serin Serinus serinus Three at Achladeri 1/5. Greenfinch Chloris chloris Small numbers seen on most days. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Common and widespread, recorded in small numbers seemingly everywhere throughout the week. Linnet Linaria cannabina Three at Aghios Ioannis chapel 30/4 and two at RWP 2/5. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Almost everywhere we went during the week. Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea Three at Ipsilou Monastery 28/4 and two west of Mesotopos 30/4. Cretzschmar s Bunting Emberiza caesia One, Achladeri 27/4, three at Ipsilou Monastery 28/4, 3-4 in Napi Vally 29/4, three roadside birds en route west 30/5 and two at RWP 2/5. Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus Seen on six dates at various locations, including; Lardia Valley, Kavaki, Skala Sikaminias and Napi Valley. A pair feeding young at the Kruper s Nuthatch site at Achladeri 27/4. Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Seen daily, mainly in Kalloni area, but also out west at Sigri and Faneromeni. Also along the Skala Vasilikon to Polichnitos road 1/5. Mammals Stone Marten Martes foina aka Beech Marten (road kill) Eastern Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor (road kill) Persian Squirrel Scirius anomalus Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Reptiles and amphibians Glass Lizard Pseudopus apodus (road kill) Balkan Green Lizard Lacerta trilineata Starred Agama Lizard Laudakia stellio Balkan Terrapin Mauremys rivulata Bedriaga s Frog Pelophylax bedriagae aka Lavant Marsh Frog Rana bedriagae Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta or just possibly Green Turtle Chelonia mydas Butterflies Swallowtail Papilio machaon Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas Eastern Festoon Zerynthia cerisyi Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra Clouded Yellow Colias crocea Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Large White Pieris brassicae 11 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk

12 Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa Black-veined White Aporia crataegi Red Admiral Vanessa atlanta Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Meadow Brown sp. possibly Turkish Meadow Brown Maniola telmessia Wall Brown Lasiommata megera Lesser Spotted Fritillary Melitaea trivia Crickets & Grasshoppers Lesbos Bushcricket Poecilimon mytelensis Selected Flowers Yellow Asphodel Asphodeline lutea Hairy Birthwort Aristolochia hirta Star Clover Trifolium stellatum Cornflower Centaurea cyanus Pink Hawksbeard Crepis rubra Pontic Fritillary Fritillaria pontica Eastern Iris Iris orientalis Field Gladiolus Gladiolus illyricus Winged Sea Lavender Limonium sinuatum Burgundy Loosestrife Lysimachia atropurpurea Tassel Hyacinth Muscari comosum Spotted Rockrose Tuberaria guttata Wild Orange Tulip Tulipa orphanidea Holly Orchid Orchis sancta Provence Orchid Orchis provincialis Toothed Changed Orchid Orchis tridentata ssp. commutata Pelinaio Orchid Ophrys pelinaea Homer's Orchid Ophrys homeri (Ophrys pelinaea was first described in 2007 by Delforge from Chios and is found throughout the Eastern Aegean islands and local Turkish mainland.) 12 Limosa Holidays limosaholidays.co.uk