October on Lemnos Island

Its been a while since i posted something here, but I have been busy with my book and my zenfolio website. Thankfully, I managed to get a couple days of work and escaped Athens for a few days.

Little owl at sunset

Crested Lark

Chukar

This time last year

Im still stuck in Athens on some business, so I thought I post some images I shot last year in August on Limnos Island



The Hooded Crow is the dominant species on Limnos Island. They are everywhere and in large numbers.

The Bee-eater is one of my favourite subjects and are seen often in Summer on Limnos.

Kestrels on Limnos

One of the best places to see Kestrels is Limnos Island. I was there for some other business, but managed to find some time to go out shooting some birds.

I came across plenty of Little Owls, Red-backed Shrikes, Hooded Crows, Jackdaws and Chuckars.

Chuckar

Red backed Shrike

As noted by Anonymous, this is a Lesser Kestrel indeed.

Kestrel

Swifts at Kalloni

Here are a couple of shots of those ever mobile Swifts. They have been flying and squealing over Kalloni for the last few days.

Parakila marsh, Lesvos

I drive by Parakila marsh nearly daily, and so don't really give it much attention since it usually is pretty quiet there, but if you are visiting Lesvos, you need to stop by even if things look dead. There are always some surprises there.

Yesterday, I took the following shots, all from Parakila marsh.

A lonesome Black stork that was quite approachable

One member of a family of Little ringed Plovers

A little owl (Athene noctua)

A Wheatear

A baby Hooded crow that just left its nest to discover the world

.. and probably the last Squacco Heron on the Island, (he maybe staying all summer)

Black winged Stilt with chicks

Went past the salt pans again this afternoon looking for the Spoonbills I found this morning, but had to settle for the Black winged Stilts.

Spoonbills and a fox

Managed to stop by the salt pans at Skala Kalloni this morning. At first I drove north up the river where I found this fox in the low light.

Over in the channel at the salt pans, I found 10 Spoonbills and 14 Little Egrets together trying to share the same patch of water.

Chaffinch, Pheasant, Whiskered Tern

Went looking for Woodpeckers early this morning at Moni Perivolis near Antissa but couldn't get close enough for a pic nor locate a nest site. After a couple of hours all I had was a singing Chaffinch in the low light.

Thankfully, along the way there I also managed a shot of a Black eared Wheatear and a couple of Rock Nuthatches after Eressos.

The sun was up and strong, so I decided to go visit the well known Krupers site at Ahladeri. That was a bit of a dissapointment since apart from Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Tree Creepers and one male Pheasant I saw or heard no Nuthatches.

On the return trip to Agra, I drove by the salt pans at Kalloni and took a couple of shots of the terns, even though the sun was blazingly strong.

This is a Whiskered Tern

One hungry female Black-eared Wheatear

A single image of a female Black-eared Wheatear with a squiggly worm. I shot this at Hrousos beach.
I also saw 3 Rufus bush Robin couples flirting in the fields not far from the beach but couldn't get a descent shot.
Unfortunately, my Bee-eater numbers are down from last year and still no sign of the Rose colored Starlings.

A few shots from this morning

On the way to work this morning I stopped for a while at Apothika, Lesvos. I managed a few shots and even got to see the same Chukar from a few days ago still singing for a mate.

This is the same Chukar I saw last week. I am quite surprised that it let me get as close as i did.

A female Black eared Wheatear. There seem to be quite a large number of these birds on most of Lesvos. I have been seeing them for the last week at Sigri, Ipsilou, Eresos, Mesotopos, Apothika and Kalloni.

For the last couple of years I have been seeing 4-5 Shelducks early in the morning along the rocky slopes in front of Apothika. I presume they roost there when staying on Lesvos.

And a couple of Greenfinches. These birds are easily seen this time of year feeding on thistles.

A few from last week

Didn't go out much this weekend, but have chosen to post three images from last week. OK, so the first image isn't a bird, but its a common sight on the island, plus I like this image :)

A common sight on Lesvos. This was shot at the eastern river mouth near Skala Kallonis.

Yellow-legged Gull at Eressos

A Little Owl at Mesotopos that apparently couldn't sleep due to the heat (as seen by the dropped wings)

This time last year

I was busy again today and didn't get a chance to go out shooting, but I have a couple of pics of what I was shooting this time last year.

A male Bee-eater feeding a pregnant female just before she lay her eggs.

And a couple of pics of flying Ruddy Shelducks which usually frequent Hrousos river thios time of year a couple of klm's up from the beach together with Black Storks and Little Egrets.

Tavari beach, Lesvos

Went for a coffee to Tavari beach at Mesotopos so not much to share with you today.

Halfway to Tavari beach from Mesotopos, I found this female Red-backed Shrike.

I found this Persian Squirrel on the way back on the outskirts of Mesotopos.

Later on, while passing through Apothika, I spotted this young Fox running for cover.

Ipsilou Monastery, Lesvos

This morning I went for a drive to Ipsilou Monastery and got the following shots. The wind was blowing strong and most birds were reluctant to fly. I thought I would see some raptors, but that was a no-show.

The rocky terrain and higher altitudes from Eressos to Ipsilou monastery and from the higher parts of Sigri to the monastery are usually very productive for Cinerous, Ortolan and Cirl Bunting, Linnet, Rock Sparrow, Rock Thrush and Blue Rock Thrush, Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear's.

Isabelline Wheatear

Cirl Bunting

Cretzschmars Bunting

Cinerous Bunting

Male Linnets

Along the route, from Eresos to Ipsilou Monastery, you come across a small river with a ford on your left. This is a good spot to see Great reed and Olivaceous Warbler.

Common Tern

Opposite the Kalloni salt pans entrance, the flooded field this morning was pretty lethargic compared to a few weeks ago. Apart from the few Squacco herons, Grey herons and the Glossy ibis, the only real action were the Common Terns.

Western Rock Nuthatch

At Apothika, on Lesvos, there are plenty of Western Rock Nuthatch's feeding young. They are found easily since they are often heard. Plus their mud-plastered nests are easily spotted. These are usually built along vertical slopes with an overhang.

Rose colored Starling

I still haven't come across any Rose Colored Starlings this year. The following shot is from last year and was taken at the large Mulberry tree along the dirt track from Skala Kalloni towards the Kalloni salt pans.

Chukar at Apothika, Lesvos

Found this Chukar singing for a mate at Apothika on Lesvos. I originally thought this was a Rock Partridge but I was corrected by "korfes", thanks mate:)

Where to find Rufus Bush Robin

This time last year I had found 5 different sites that held Rufus Bush Robin. This year only two showed any sign of return.

These are the immediate field across the dirt track at the water pumping station in the western corner of the Kalloni salt pans and the area a couple of Klm's up from the Hrousos river ford just after the rough track of large pebbles where two nesting Bee-eaters also hang out on the twig I have planted there from last year.

The three other sites, that this year have shown no Robins, are the 1) dry field on your left immediately leaving Hroussos beach as you enter the main dirt track with the sand dunes on your right, 2) the first ford crossing at the Maliontas river which is the first river you come across after Mesotopos heading for Eresos. Just before the single lane bridge on the main road, you make a hard right to head down to the ford. And 3) at the small river mouth at Faneromeni beach near Sigri.

A couple of photos from last year.

Straight after leaving the Hrousos beach

Opposite the water station at the Kalloni salt pans

A couple of Klm's up from the Hrousos ford

A couple of Klm's up from the Hrousos ford

Lesvos, this time last year

I didn't get a chance to get out today since I had a lot of writing to do in the office. But I do have some images from this time last year to share.

By the way, if you need any tips on where to find a certain species please free to ask using the comments below. I will be more than pleased to share any info with my fellow birders and photographers.

Little ringed Plovers mating inside the Eastern river near Skala Kalloni

I didn't get a chance to see any Curlew Sandpipers so far this year (apart from 4 individuals two weeks ago) but this time last year, their numbers were up with 3 different large groups around the Kalloni salt pan area.

No Black Tern seen by me so far this year, but last year there were 4-6 birds sweeping the channel surface at the Kalloni salt pans.

Yesterday all the Black-winged Stilts I came across were already nesting. In contrast, this time last year, Stilts were still mating as seen above (Kalloni salt pans).

I'm also pretty sure that Lesvos had more Bee-eaters.

Kalloni salt pans, Lesvos

Stopped at Skala Kalloni, Lesvos for a coffee and to catch up with friends. Good place to find out from other birders what and where to look for the latest arrivals. And if no other birders are around, the sparrows and the swallows will make you good company.

As the sun neared the horizon, I drove off to the Kalloni salt pans, but things are pretty dead and in no way resemble what I experienced from the same area this time last year. Numbers are down on all species.

No fighting Black winged Stilts since there are plenty of empty nesting spots, and there is only one small group of Little Stints sharing the channel with them.

And here is a lonesome Wood Sandpiper together with the Stints.

Bee-eaters are singing overhead and mating with burrows in the nearby fields.

A couple of Little Terns do the rounds diving for dinner – this one landed for a rest in front of me for a couple of minutes.

And on the return, this Citrine Wagtail with its latest catch for the day was found while going through the east river at Skala Kalloni.

Little Bittern at Hrousos, Lesvos

The small river ending at Hrousos beach near Mesotopos on Lesvos is a good spot this time of year for Littern Bittern. There are about 8 different couples there since last week having a feast on the small sized tadpoles.

Makara, Lesvos

This is a typical view of the rocky landscape at Makara point. The dirt road from Apothika to Makara beach is very productive for Cretzschmars and Ortolan Bunting.

Welcome to Birds in Greece

Welcome to my birding blog :)

Hopefully, I will be updating this as often as possible with whatever birds I find on my weekend excursions. At the moment, I'm on Lesvos, one of the better birding places in Greece, so for as long as I'm here, the updates should be often and rich.

By the way, if you need any tips on where to find a certain species please free to ask using the comments below. I will be more than pleased to share any info of my sightings with my fellow birders and photographers.