LESVOS
GREECE

List of species seen on Birdfinders' tour of Lesvos, April 2003

• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 2 on the sea from Kalloni beach 25th. Singles on the sea from the salt pans 26th and 30th.
• Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 3 on sea from Kalloni Beach 25th. 3 on sea from Derbyshire 26th.
• Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 on Kalloni Pool most days. 1 Inland Lake both visits.
• Levantine Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan Several groups passed Sigri 27th, including 7 close by.
• Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus Single juv. Salt Pans 26th.
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis 2 off Eftalou coastal track on the 28th.
• European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii 3 off Sigri on the 27th. 2 off Aghios Stephanos on the 30th.
• Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus 2 at Skala Kalloni Pool (1 seen regularly - taken by Peregrine 3rd May). 2 at East River 25th. 1 at Faneromeni Ford 27th. 3 at Inland Lake 27th and 1st.
• Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax 1 seen flying over Kalloni on the 26th. 1 at Inland lake on 27th and 1st.
• Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Seen almost daily at Skala Kalloni Pool and on visits to the East River.
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta Widespread and seen regularly at Kalloni Pool, East River and Kalloni Salt Pans. Highest count was 7 on at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Great Egret Egretta alba Seen most days on salt pools beside Derbyshire, a regular fly over Kalloni.
• Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Seen regularly at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Singles regularly at Skala Kalloni Pool and Inland Lake.
• Black Stork Ciconia nigra Seen most days in ones and twos.
• White Stork Ciconia ciconia Seen almost daily around Skala Kalloni and nesting on top of one of the churches.
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Seen daily feeding in Kalloni Pool. Highest count 41 on 27th.
• Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Large numbers throughout at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Mute Swan Cygnus olor 1 flying along Kalloni beach 28th and 4 seen flying over Salt Pans 30th.
• Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 2 on 26th and 30th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 3 on 26th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1 male on the Kalloni Pool 24th-28th.
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta 1 on Kalloni Pool 24th-27th.
• Garganey Anas quercedula 4 on 24th at Skala Kalloni Pool and then seen most days.
• Common Pochard Aythya ferina 1 on Kalloni Pool 24th-28th.
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 1 seen over Achladeri (Krüper’s site) 26th.
• Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 seen over Mt Olympus 29th.
• Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus Seen sporadically for 5 out of 8 days.
• Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus Seen most days hunting at the back of Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Montagu's Harrier Circus pygorgus Flyover Kalloni Pool 24th. Male seen very well at the back of West River 25th.
• Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 on 28th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Singles seen on 4 days.
• Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 1 on 28th over Mount Olympus another over Upper East River same day.
• Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 12 on 27th hunting over the approaches to Sigri.
• Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Singles seen most days.
• Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus 8 birds seen arriving over West river on 25th. 3 over the Salt Pans 26th. 4 high over at Derbyshire. Singles on two other occasions.
• Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 seen over the East River 25th. 1 seen over Ipsilou Monastery 27th. 1 along Napi Valley 30th.
• Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae 2 possibly 3 over West River 25th.
• Peregrine Falco peregrinus 3 on 28th on cliffs between Petra and Molivos. Singles seen on two other occasions.
• Chukar Alectoris chukar 1 on 25th in ploughed field along East river.
• Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard calling on 26th and 27th in fields between salt pans and East River.
• Water Rail Rallus aquaticus 1 seen 24th and heard 29th Kalloni Pool.
• Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Single on 27th and 1st at the Inland Lake.
• Little Crake Porzana parva 2 most days on the Kalloni Pool and up to three on the inland Lake.
• Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Seen regularly on Skala Kalloni Pool and East River.
• Common Coot Fulica atra Seen most days on Kalloni Pool.
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Seen daily on Skala Kalloni Pool and visits to Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Seen in good numbers (100+) on visits to Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus 2 on 25th West River. Singles at Kalloni Salt Pans, 26th and 30th.
• Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 1 on 25th from Kalloni Beach. 11 in ploughed field along East River on 25th.
• Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Seen regularly in ones and twos in the ditch and sheep field at Kalloni Salt Pans and the Lower East River.
• Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Seen on all visits to Kalloni Salt Pans in the sheep field. Highest count was 6 on 26th.
• Little Stint Calidris minuta Seen in most visits to Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii 2 on 25th along Lower East River. 1 0n 26th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Seen in all visits to Kalloni Salt Pans with 3 on 26th being the highest count.
• Dunlin Caladris alpina 1 seen on 26th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Ruff Philomachus pugnax Seen on most visits to Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 1 seen on 29th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Small flock on the Kalloni Salt Pans 26th.
• Common Redshank Tringa erythropus 1 seen at the Kalloni Salt Pans 30th.
• Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 4 seen on 26th and 27th Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 on 26th, 27th and 30th on Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen daily on all fresh water sites - the most ubiquitous wading bird of the tour, no counts made.
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1 on West River on 25th and 1 on 27th at Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpress Single on Kalloni Salt Pans 27th.
• Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2 on 25th on the sand bar at the mouth of the East River.
• Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Single on sand bar at East River 25th.
• Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans michahellis Good numbers throughout the island.
• Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii 2 sightings of single birds along the track between Eftalou and Skala Sikamenias.
• Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica 2 seen along East River mouth 25th. Several sightings at the Salt Pans 26th, 27th and 30th.
• Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 7 on 25th at the mouth of East River. 15+ on the Kalloni Salt Pans 26th.
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo Seen almost daily between Skala Kalloni harbour and Lower East River and on all visits to the Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Little Tern Sterna albifrons Seen almost daily between Skala Kalloni harbour and Lower East River and on all visits to the Kalloni Salt Pans.
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Seen almost daily over Skala Kalloni Pool. 3 birds on 25th.
• Black Tern Chlidonias niger 1 along the East River 25th. 2 on 26th over Kalloni Salt Pans. 3 on 27th over Kalloni Salt Pans.
• White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Seen most days on Skala Kalloni Pool and over the Salt Pans.
• Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto Seen daily throughout the Island widespread and abundant.
• Eurasian Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur Seen in ones and twos throughout the island.
• Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1 seen flying from the West River 25th. 1 seen well along the track at Derbyshire 26th. Heard twice along Napi Valley on 29th.
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 1 on 29th on roof near Skala Kalloni Square.
• Eurasian Scops-owl Otus scops 1 on 30th roosting in a Plane tree in Skala Kalloni.
• Little Owl Athene noctua 1 at Devil’s Bridge (St John’s Chapel) on 27th. 1 along Napi Valley 30th.

• Long-eared Owl Asio otus 1 juv. on nest and 1 adult nearby on 28th (5 aside pitch - road to Petra).
• Common Swift Apus apus Small numbers seen most days.
• Alpine Swift Apus melba Small numbers on 25th, 27th and 28th.
• Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1 on 26th at Kalloni Salt Pans. 1 at the Inland Lake on 27th.
• European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Up to 9 regularly seen in the fields around Kalloni Salt Pans. And along the East River.
• European Roller Coracias garrulus 1 on 28th very distant from the track to Skala Sikaminias.
• Hoopoe Upupa epops Heard and seen on three days but only distant views along Napi Valley 30th.
• Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius 1 seen on route to inland lake site 27th. 2 seen along Potamia Valley on 28th, 29th. 1 seen along Napi valley 30th.
• Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla 6 seen regularly in the ploughed field along the East River 25th. 4 seen in sheep field behind salt pans 26th.
• Crested Lark Galerida cristata Abundant and widespread seen every day.
• Woodlark Lullula arborea 1 on 27th at Ipsilou Monastery.
• Sand Martin Riparia riparia Seen regularly in large numbers over Skala Kalloni Pool.
• European Crag-martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Several seen over Kalloni Pool 25th.
• Eurasian Swallow Hirundo rustica Abundant in all areas.
• Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Seen most days - a nest site along eastern edge of Salt pans was noted. 2 on 26th collecting mud from track puddle at Salt Pans.
• House Martin Delichon urbica Abundant in the Skala Kalloni area with numerous nests on the hotel.
• Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis 1-2 birds on 28th along track from Eftalou - Skala Sikaminias.
• Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Good numbers in the sheep fields at the Salt pans, reducing as the week progressed.
• Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Seen most days.
• Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava Individuals noted along West and East River and Salt Pan area 25th - 27th.
• Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava feldegg Seen most days along East River and in sheep fields around the Salt Pans.
• Ashy-headed Wagtail Motacilla tunbergi 1 seen along West River 25th.
• Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinera 1 seen along river above Agiasos 29th.
• White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba 1 on 25th and 26th along the Lower East River.
• Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 2 on 29th in woodland above Agiasos.
• European Robin Erithacus rubecula 2 on 29th in woodland above Agiasos.
• Rufous Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Heard regularly everywhere and seen very well in the open above Agiasos on 29th. 1 singing in the hotel grounds kept some people awake!.
• Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 (female) seen at Chapel east of Achladeri 26th. 1 (male) seen at St John’s Chapel, Parakila on 27th.
• Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Seen regularly most days. Numbers reducing through the week.
• Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata 1 on 27th at Parakila Marsh. 1 at Molivos reservoir 28th.
• Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina 2 on 27th near Ipsilou Monastery.
• Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 1 Seen along West River area 25th. 1 seen along beach track near Skala Sikaminias.
• (Eastern) Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanicus melanoleuca Widespread in rocky areas, seen most days.
• Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius 1 on 27th at Parakila Marsh. 1 on 27th on rocks at Ipsilou Monastery. 1 at Liminos Monestry 28th.
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula Seen almost daily in all habitats including the hotel grounds.
• Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1 seen singing in the chestnut wood above Agiasos 29th.
• Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Seen and heard almost daily around Skala Kalloni Pool and East River.
• Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaemus Many seen at inland lake 27th and Skala Kalloni Pool early on in the week, but became less obvious by 30th.
• Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon 1 pair seen at the inland lake 27th.
• European Reed-warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus As above, also seen at Dipi Larssos reedbed on 29th.
• Great Reed-warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Up to 10 on 27th at Inland Lake, 3 on 1st Inland Lake. Also seen along East River 25th.
• Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais elaeica Seen and heard along East River 25th and along Goat Pit track 30th.
• Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina 1 seen along track near Derbyshire 26th.
• Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans 1 on 26th along track near Derbyshire. 1 in Hotel grounds 27th-30th. 2 on road up Ipsilou Monastery 27th. Nest site found at top of walk through Chestnut wood 29th.
• Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala 1 seen singing on 30th on heathland near Aghios Stephanos.
• Rüppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli 1 on 28th along road just above Petra.
• Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris 2 seen and heard singing on 28th along track between Eftalou and Skala Sikaminias. 1 pair seen on Goat Pit track 29th.
• Common WhitethroatSylvia communis 1 seen most days.
• Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 1-3 birds seen most days.
• Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix 1 on 26th along track near Derbyshire. 1 on 27th on road up to Ipsilou Monastery.
• Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 1 seen along East River 25th. 1 seen up the Potamia Valley 28th, 29th.
• Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Seen regularly between 26th and 30th.
• Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Male seen well on 25th along track near East River. Another seen well At the Krüper’s site near Achladeri.
• Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata 1 seen at the upper Foranemina Ford 27th.
• Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca 2 on 25th along track to East River. 2-3 along track in woods at Krüper’s site near Achladeri.
• Sombre Tit Parus lugubris A pair seen at Devil's Bridge on 27th. 1 seen along track from Eftalou on 28th. 2 seen along Napi Valley 30th.
• Blue Tit Parus caeruleus Widespread seen every day in all habitats.
• Great Tit Parus major Widespread seen everyday.
• Krüper's Nuthatch Sitta krueperi Pair seen feeding on 26th at nest site in woods at Achladeri picnic site (5 chicks fledged on 6th May).
• Western Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer 2 on 27th at Ipsilou. 2 on 28th at Petra.
• Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyia 2 on 26th along track near Krüper’s site at Achladeri.
• Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Seen regularly in flight. 3-4 on 26th along coastal track from Eftalou. 2-3 on 30th along Napi Valley.
• Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Seen on 26th along coastal track from Eftalou. 1 seen along Napi Valley 30th.
• Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 1 on 27th along track from Sigri to Foranemino Ford.
• Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Most abundant Shrike seen most days.
• Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus Several sightings from 27th.
• Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Seen regularly in woodland and from vehicle along tracks and roads.
• Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula 2 + 8 on 27th at Sigri. 2 on 30th in Paraskevi.
• Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Seen daily everywhere.
• Common Raven Corvus corax 1 seen over Krüper’s Site 26th. 1 seen over Agiasos 29th.
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus Widespread and abundant.
• Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Seen almost daily around Skala Kalloni Pool breeding in the hotel complex.
• Rock Petronia Petronia petronia 1 on 27th at Ipsilou Monastery.
• Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Widespread, especially in woodland.
• European Serin Serinus serinus 2-4 on 29th along track near lake above Agiasos. 1 flyover on 26th in woods near Krüper’s site near Achladeri.
• Hawfinch Coccothraustres coccothraustres 2 seen along Napi Valley 30th.
• European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Widespread. Seen almost daily.
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Widespread and abundant.
• Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina Seen on several days. A flock of 12 over the pool on 24th. 2+4 birds at the Rüppell’s site above Petra 28th.
• Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus Widespread - seen daily.
• Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea 1 on 27th at Devil's Bridge.
• Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia Widespread in the north and east. 6 counted along coast road at Eftalou on 28th
• Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Widespread during the latter part of the week.
• Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra Widespread and abundant.

Butterflies

• Swallowtail
• Scarce Swallowtail
• Orange tip
• Small white
• Clouded yellow sp.
• Cleopatra
• Small Blue
• Holly Blue
• False Apollo
• Painted Lady
• Small Heath
• Small Copper Brown
• Meadow Brown

Mammals

• Persian Squirrel
• Mole Rat
• Common Shrew
• Pipistrelle Bat
• Beech Marten (road kill near Derbyshire!)

Reptiles and amphibians

• Spur-thighed Tortoise
• Stripe-necked Terrapin
• Agama Lizard
• Balkan Green Lizard
• Marsh Frog
• Turkish Gheko