A wonderful week based at Skala Kallonis on Lesvos, 2nd - 9th May, has produced some very good birds. There were 4 ticks for me (Scopoli’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Olive-tree Warbler and Cinereous Bunting) and plenty of birds that I hadn’t seen for years (Rufous Bush Chat, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and Eleonora’s Falcon were just a few).
Better than just seeing good birds was that many showed very well which gave us some great photo opportunities. A Little Bittern feeding on tadpoles in a small stream, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns almost over our heads, Squacco Herons, Glossy Ibis and Black Stork all feeding at about 15m at one location; White-winged Black Tern, Wood Sandpipers and Little Stints down to 10m at a second location nearby.
One incredible moment was walking down a small valley, close to the western coast, with 4 Rollers, 5 Golden Orioles, a Cuckoo and c100 Spanish Sparrows all flying out of one remote tree.
Other species included Icterine, Ruppell’s, River and Barred warblers, Collared Flycatchers, Lesser Grey and Masked Shrikes, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Tawny Pipits, Marsh Sandpiper, lots of Long-legged Buzzards, Eleonora’s Falcon, 12 Red-foots perched together, Lesser Kestrels, male Citrine Wagtail and I’m sure I’ve forgotten many others.
My tally for the trip was c135 species, but our ‘team’ recorded c145 species.
Other interests included some impressive old Olive trees and a colony of Violet Bird’s Nest Orchid - a plant that I’ve always wanted to see.