GREECE – LESVOS

Species list 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