Lesvos, 20 - 27 September 07

Pithariou Reservoir and Monastery

Sites visited (from Skala Kallonis) and weather

20/9 Fine, settled, sunny and warm. No wind.
Arrived hotel c.1600h. Metochi Lake

21/9 Overcast. Rain in morning. Very strong NE wind.
Petra Reservoir, Molivos, north coast track to Skala Sikaminias, Sikaminia, Korakas, Napi Valley, Kalloni Saltpans, Tsiknias River.

22/9 Overcast. Strong NE wind.
Christou River, Aghia Ionnis, Pithariou Reservoir, Skala Eresou, Chrousou, Potamia Reservoir, Metochi Lake.

23/9 Sunny. Strong NW wind.
Christou River, Tsiknias River, Kalloni Saltpans, Mesa and forest through to Achladeri, Skala Vassilikon, Alikoudi Pool area, Skala Polichnitou Saltpans, Skala Polichnitou Harbour, Nifida, Orgalo Hill, Achladeri, Mesa.

24/9 Sunny. Strong NW wind.
Ipsilopetopo, Kapi, Vigla, Sikamonia, Vafios, Molivos, Petra (Avlaki), Skoutoros, Anemotia, Tskinias River.

25/9 Sunny. Moderate NW wind swinging to SW by early afternoon.
Achladeri, Skala Vassilikon, Skala Polichnitou Saltpans, Almiropotamos River, Vatera, Ambeliko Valley, Mount Olympus, Agiasos Sanatorium.

26/9 Sunny. Light S wind.
Ipsilou, Sigri, Medalia River Ford (dry), Eressos, Skala Eresou, Pithariou Reservoir, Koukoumos.


Species list

Common Teal
8 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.

Mallard
4 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9 and 26/9.

Black-necked Grebe
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Little Grebe
18 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9 and 26/9.
26 Potamia Reservoir 22/9.
1 Molivos Harbour 24/9.

Scopoli’s Shearwater
1 off Skala Eresou 22/9.

White Pelican
144 south-east over Orgalo Hill east of Nifida at c.1620h on 23/9.

2 juvs on the sea off Avlaki, Petra at 1700h on 24/9.
18 Skala Polinchitou Saltpans on 25/9, headed off eastwards at 1010h.

Little Bittern
Male Skala Eresou ford 22/9.

Squacco Heron
1 Skala Eresou ford 22/9.

Great White Egret
6 Kalloni Saltpans 23/9.
10 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
11 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Grey Heron
1 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
1 Potamia Reservoir 22/9.
22+ Kalloni Saltpans 23/9.
7 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9 and 25/9.

Black Stork
1 Christou River 23/9.
2 Kalloni Saltpans 23/9.
9 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
13 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

White Stork
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9 and 25/9.

Spoonbill
5 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
2 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Greater Flamingo
Present (inc. many juvs) at Kalloni and Skala Polichnitou saltpans. 1 juv Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.

Short-toed Eagle
1 over Aghia Ionnis 22/9.

1 over Christou River 23/9.

1 over Achladeri 23/9.

1 over Achladeri 23/9.

2 above Kapi 24/9.

2 Vigla 24/9.

1 over Vafios 24/9.

2 over ridge east of Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

1 over Polinchonitos 25/9.

1 Ambeliko Valley 25/9.

Marsh Harrier
1 south over Sikaminia 21/9.
1 south over Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
1 Tsiknias River mouth 23/9.
1 south near Skoutoros 24/9.

Golden Eagle
1 south over Sikaminia 21/9.

Booted Eagle
1 south-east along ridge east of Skala Polinchitou Saltpans at 1040h on 25/9.

Osprey
1 eating fish near Achladeri 23/9.
1 carrying fish south over Vigla 24/9.

Goshawk
1 male over Ipsilometopo 24/9.
1 female over Vigla 24/9.
5 (3 fem, 2 male) south over Sikaminia 24/9.
1 female mobbing Black Storks Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.
1 female Ambeliko Valley 25/9.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
1 south through Napi Valley 21/9.
1 female south over Vigla 24/9.
2 Mount Olympus 25/9.

Levant Sparrowhawk
1 imm/fem south between Sikaminia and Mantamdos 21/9.
1 fem near Anetomia 24/9.

Common Buzzard
Recorded across the island.

Long-legged Buzzard
1 south over Vigla 24/9.
7 south over Sikaminia 24/9.
1 Achladeri 25/9.
1 over ridge east of Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.
1 south over Ipsilou 26/9.

Lesser Kestrel
1 over Vigla 24/9.
1 imm/fem south over Ipsilou 26/9.

Common Kestrel
2 Alikoudi Pool area 25/6.
1 above Kapi 24/9.

Peregrine Falcon
1 ad Efthalou 21/9.
2 ads Ipsilou 26/9.
1 Pithariou Reservoir 26/9.

Red-footed Falcon
30+ south over entrance of track to Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
1 fem Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Hobby
1 juv over Molivos Castle 24/9.
1 ad Tsiknias River mouth 24/9.
1 nr Pithariou Reservoir 26/9.

Eleanora’s Falcon
1 light adult Petra Reservoir 21/9.
1 dark adult Chrousou 22/9.
1 light adult over Ipsilou 26/9.
2 above Eressos (along Sigri track) 26/9.

Moorhen
Present at Skala Eresou Ford (inc. juvs), Tsiknias River, Potamia Reservoir (inc. juvs), Pithariou Reservour, Almiropotamos River (inc. juvs).

Coot
1 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
1 Skala Eresou ford 22/9.

Water Rail
1 Tsiknias River Ford 24/9.
1 Skala Eresou Ford 26/9.

Stone-curlew
8 Christou River marsh 22/9 (not seen subsequently despite searching).

Black-winged Stilt
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9 and 25/9.

Avocet
13 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9. Also present at Kalloni Saltpans.

Little Ringed Plover
3 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
4 Metochi Lake 22/9.

Ringed Plover
22 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Kentish Plover
1 Christou River 23/9.
9+ Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
13+ Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Little Stint
2 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.

Temminck’s Stint
2 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Dunlin
2 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Common Snipe
1 Tsiknias River Ford 21/9.
1 Skala Eresou 22/9.

Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9 and 25/9.

Common Redshank
Present at Kalloni and Skala Polichnitou Saltpans.

Spotted Redshank
1 Tsiknias River mouth 23/9.
3 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.

Greenshank
Recorded at Kalloni and Skala Polichnitou Saltpans. Max. 11 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Green Sandpiper
1 Metochi Lake 20/9 and 22/9.

Common Sandpiper
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.

Mediterranean Gull
1 ad Skala Vassilikon harbour 23/9.
2 ads Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.
7 ads Skala Polichnitou Harbour 23/9.
3 ads and 3 1st winters Nifida 23/9.
13 ads and 1 2nd winter Skala Vassilikon Harbour 25/9.

Black-headed Gull
Common around Gulf of Kalloni coast.

Yellow-legged Gull
Widespread and common around all coast.

Gull-billed Tern
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 23/9.

Sandwich Tern
7 Tsiknias Rover mouth 23/9.

Collared Dove
Common and widespread.

Little Owl
Only one seen, Vatera 25/9.

Long-eared Owl
1 in pinewoods just south of Petra 23/9.

Alpine Swift
3 over Aghia Ionnis 22/9.
2 over Christou River 23/9.
3 Vigla 25/9.

Kingfisher
1 Metochi Lake 20/9.
2 Tsiknias River mouth 24/9.
1 Skala Polichnitou Saltpans 25/9.
1 Almiropotamos River Ford 25/9.
1 Skala Eresou Ford 26/9.

Bee-eater
1 entrance to track up to Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
45+ (flock of 14, 6, 23, 4) south over forest between Mesa and Achladeri 23/9.
16 Mesa (late evening) 23/9.
6 Ariana (late evening) 23/9.
11 Hotel Pasiphae (early morning) 24/9.
4+ Ariana (early morning) 24/9.
9 over Sikaminia 24/9.
6+ Almiropotamos River 25/9.
6+ over Ambeliko Valley 25/9.

Hoopoe
4 together feeding in recently cut field in Alikoudi Pool area 23/9.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
1-5 seen/heard daily throughout the island.

Crested Lark
Common and widespread.

Woodlark
3 singing at Ipsilou 26/9.

Sand Martin
Small numbers seen throughout the island.

Crag Martin
20+ Pithariou Reservoir 22/9 and 26/9.

Barn Swallow
Common and widespread migrant.

House Martin
Seen daily in small numbers, but many hundreds over Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.

Tawny Pipit
8 Kalloni Saltpans Sheep Fields 23/9.
2 in recently cut field in Alikoudi Pool area 23/9.

Tree Pipit
Common and widespread migrant.

Yellow Wagtail
2 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.
70+ over to roost Tsiknias River Ford 24/9.

White Wagtail
Common and widespread.

Grey Wagtail
1 over Chrousou 22/9.

Robin
2 near Agiasos Sanatorium 25/9.

Bluethroat
1 Pithariou Reservoir 22/9.

Common Redstart
1-2 seen daily.

Whinchat
Common and widespread.

Stonechat
Singles most days.

Isabelline Wheatear
1 Ipsilou 26/9.

Northern Wheatear
Common and widespread. Max. 20+ Alikoudi Pool area 23/9.

Black-eared Wheatear
1 Aghia Ionnis 22/9.
1 Chrousou 22/9.
2 Ipsilou 26/9.
2 Koukoumos 26/9.
1 in forest between Mesa and Achladeri 23/9.

Mistle Thrush
1 Mount Olympus 25/9.

Blackbird
Common and widespread.

Cetti's Warbler
Seen/heard daily around Hotel Pasiphae, Skala Kallonis, and at Skala Eresou Ford.

Reed Warbler
1 Molivos Castle 24/9.

Subalpine Warbler
1 Ambeliko Valley 25/9.

Barred Warbler
1 juv Ambeliko Valley 25/9.

Lesser Whitethroat
1-3 seen daily.

Whitethroat
1-3 seen daily.

Garden Warbler
1 Ipsilou 26/9.

Blackcap
5-10 seen daily.

Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler
1 Aghia Ionnis 22/9.

Chiffchaff
3-5 seen daily.

Willow Warbler
Common (hundreds) and widespread.

Firecrest
1 Molivos 21/9.

Spotted Flycatcher
Very common and widespread. Counts of 14 at Ipsilou and Pithariou Reservoir 26/9.

Collared Flaycatcher
1 imm Pitharioiu Reservoir 26/9.

Sombre Tit
Seen in pairs and small parties at many localities.

Blue Tit
Common and widespread.

Great Tit
Common and widespread.

Kruper's Nuthatch
3 above Agiasos Sanitorium 25/9.

Rock Nuthatch
Common and widespread in rocky/upland areas.

Red-backed Shrike
Common and widespread.

Masked Shrike
1 juv in forest between Mesa and Achladeri 23/9.
1 juv Koukoumos 26/9.

Lesser Grey Shrike
1 juv in recently cut field in Alikoudi Pool area 23/9.

Hooded Crow
Common and widespread.

Jackdaw
Common and widespread.

Raven
Seen in many upland areas. Max. 11 near tip at top of Napi Valley 21/9.

Rock Sparrow
2 Ipsilou 26/9.

House Sparrow
Common and widespread.

Cirl Bunting
Common and widespread. Counts of 10+ Petra Reservoir 21/9 and 12+ Pithariou Reservoir 26/9.

Corn Bunting
Common and widespread.