Lesvos Part 6 of 7, 16th May, 2006

A pre-breakfast trip to Kallonis inland pool. Two Squacco Heron bathed in early morning sunlight.



Another of the heron tribe - a Little Bittern in flight.



This Great Reed Warbler fed openly on the far side of the pool.



A pair of White Stork at the nest in a village just north of Skalla Kallonis, complete with House Sparrow lodgers.



Whilst driving the tracks across to the East River we saw our only Lesser-grey Shrike of the trip.



Bees the size of your fists ! Err... well almost !



A mean-looking Hooded Crow in the East River.



Whilst following a track west of Napi we came across this old stone bridge.



Although heard regularly, Cirl Bunting was rarely seen. This individual was the closest one came to the camera, in an olive grove not far beyond the old stone bridge.



Back at the Kallonis inland pool a European Bee-Eater flew overhead.



An Olivaceous Warbler near the pool.



Newly arrived the day before - part of a flock of Rose-coloured Starling feeding in fields behind the salt pans.



Still a good few Greater Flamingo on the salt pans.

Lesvos Part 5 of 7, 15th May, 2006

There was always something on this small 'flash' behind the salt pans. The water was, however, rapidly diminishing as the week progressed. This morning a Spur-winged Plover posed for the camera.



En-route to the Achladeri picnic site a Great-white Egret was following the coast line North.



The Kruper's Nuthatch proved too difficult to photograph at the Achladeri picnic site. Photography was somewhat hampered as the army were on manouvres in the area - I didn't fancy spending a day in the cells accused of 'spying' ! This Masked Shrike was only slightly more obliging.



A Serin 'jangled' from the tree-tops on and off, but never gave easy views through the branches.



A Whinchat posed along a stretch of coastal track. Near Skala Vasilikon, we stopped for lunch at a remote beach cafe. As we left, a greasy obese Greek diner told us, in stilted English, to 'go back home' !



A Yellow-legged Gull tracking the coast.



Back at the salt pans, a Common Tern fishes in the main channel.



A Black-winged Stilt had nested on a small island in the main channel resulting in three chicks.

Lesvos Part 4 of 7, 14th May, 2006

This Rock Nuthatch posed for a while close to the main road.



A few pairs of Isabelline Wheatear breed at the 'Isabelline Triangle' - an exposed area at a road junction. Not easy to stalk, but one did conveniently pop up on a road sign.



The further west one travelled, the more Red-backed Shrike were evident. Which image to show ? Well, I never did get a shot I really liked, so these two will have to do.



It's a testament to what we've done to our landscape when you realize that they once bred around Luton.



Ipsilou Monastery is a fantastic migrant hot spot - it sticks out in an otherwise relatively barren landscape.



First up was a male dark-throated form of Black-eared Wheatear which was feeding in the small, walled, terraced gardens. It was very warm and the strong mid-day light gave problems with contrast, but it was clearly the eastern race melanoleuca which shows a narrow strip of black above the bill.



I climbed the final set of steps up to the monastery proper. A group of three photographers had arrived and were setting up shop down a track between the buildings and the low boundary wall - a excellent spot I'd watched from on the last visit in 1999. Other than that we were the only people there - except, that is, a mad monk with bad English who really wanted us to look at the museum !

The three stooges had walked past a calling Rock Sparrow just inside the first courtyard. I hung around and took plenty of shots of this very obliging individual. The last time we were here, it was a trip up to the battlements to get brief glimpses as it entered its nest hole.



Heading back out of the courtyard I noticed the three lads were snapping away from a prime spot just down the track. I kept my distance out of courtesy - not wishing to disturb anything major. Soon I noticed a hippolais in a tree close to the lads. I could not be specific at this point as is was too far, but it looked to have a classic wing panel typical of spring Icterine Warbler. They were photographing other birds in a tree opposite - again too far to see (had left the 'scope in the car).

After a decent time interval, I joined them and, in my best estuary English, enquired the usual 'much abaht?'. Two Wood Warbler and a bunch of Spotted Flycatcher - no mention of the Iccy. These guys looked respectful - post grad types - perhaps all rounders in the natural world. Then one barked 'large hippolais - it's an Olive-tree Warbler !'. Lo, the bird I'd seen from further back had reappeared - was I seeing things ?



The above shot shows the stout flesh coloured bill and grey legs, peaked crown and pale yellow eye-ring.



The above shot shows the neat pale yellowish fringes to the tertials and inner secondaries forming a distinct wing panel, pale lores and the yellowish supercillium extending well behind the eye. Long primary projection. Email me or post a comment if you know different !



Another male Black-eared Wheatear, this time a pale-throated morph of the melanoleuca race, which posed for a while before going 'over the edge'.

Lesvos Part 3 of 7, 13th May, 2006

East River

This male Black-headed Bunting frequented the scrub along the East River. The drivable track had collapsed for a few meters on the west side of the river just south of the ford - there was a strong rumour that a couple of birders in a car were involved.



Quite common along the river - an Olivaceous Warbler.



A Temminck's Stint feeding in the East River.



One of a pair of Bee Eater along the East River. Breed at suitable areas e.g. in the Upper East River.



Occasional genuine migrant White Pelican do occur, and some are 'befriended' by local fishermen such as this one in Skala Kallonis harbour.

Lesvos Part 2 of 7, 12th May, 2006

West River

A pre-breakfast visit to the West River produced Crested Lark and Black Stork but the Sun was still below the horizon, so photography was difficult.





East River

Although I'd visited Lesvos before, I needed to familiarise myself with the area once more, so a quick dash over to the East River ensued. I favoured the back roads, where scuffy, scrubby areas often produce suprises such as the River Warbler I'd seen on my last visit. Not this time though - just 'ordinary' stuff like another Crested Lark (or two) !



The Sun was just about up and light improved. I found out later in the day that I was unnecessarily still shooting on ISO400 !
I practiced stalking techniques on a Black-headed Bunting.



Skalla Kallonis to Sigri

It was difficult to drive without stopping - there was so much to see, so many interesting bits of habitat to explore ! If we were ever to get to our destination a strict, disciplined approach must be adhered to - well, almost ! This guy needed rescuing for a start...



What about a passing Short-toed Eagle ? Are we just going to continue driving ?



This Lizard-type thing was worth a look.



Sigri to Eresos Road

The word was, near an 'oasis' along this track, a pair of White-throated Robin were nesting. However, the display of the male had tailed off, and the pair were now secretive. We tried to locate them, along with a few other birders, but to no avail. The oasis was, however, an excellent hot-spot with many interesting birds. This confiding Little Bittern posed right by the roadside; you can see reflections of light from the water on its belly.

Lesvos Part 1 of 7, 11th May, 2006

Day 1, 11th May

Well, we couldn't think of anywhere else to go at short notice, so we opted for Lesbos - our second visit. We stayed at the Hotel Pasiphae in Skala Kallonis - adequate for our purposes (hint - we ate out most evenings!). The staff were very friendly but the leaking cistern in the bathroom did not get repaired in the week we stayed, despite a couple of requests. We hired a 4x4 Jeep (a must for those back 'roads').

http://www.pasiphae.gr/english.htm



There were four Nightingale within earshot including one outside our room. Some people complained it kept them awake !
The Kalloni pool was a stone's throw away and was fairly dry with enough water to attract the odd specie.A couple of 'meeters and greeters' outside the apartment.




Spanish Sparrow - we named this individual 'psycho sparrow' owing to its incessantly loud non-stop singing which stood out from the crowd !

Nightingale and Crossbill

It is not often that your intended quarry poses just in front of you without getting out of the car ! This Common Nightingale suddenly appeared at the roadside for just long enough to get a few shots. There were three individuals at Stewartby Lake - this one hung around the scrapyard layby.



One of a small group of Common Crossbill at Charle Wood. It was decidedly difficult to get close to these birds and they fed at the tops of the Larches. This area was once a stronghold of Lady Amherst's Pheasant, but, shamefully, is now a golf course.

Black Redstart at Blows Downs

This long-staying male Black Redstart was present on the paddocks from 2nd Sept to 3rd Nov.

Common Redstart

For the second successive year, a male Common Redstart was holding territory in a Greensand Ridge woodland.

Mallorca April 2005

A digiscoped shot of a distant Roller.

Hoopoe in Milton Keynes

Digiscoped shots of a Hoopoe present on an undeveloped parcel of land in central Milton Keynes. Snow was starting to fall when these shots were taken !

One of two Bohemian Waxwing at Chaul End.

Water Rail at Dunstable Wetland Reserve

Digiscoped shots of an elusive Water Rail at Nina's pond.

Waxwing in Linslade

This Bohemian Waxwing spent a couple of days in a residential area of Linslade, easily located by scanning the numerous TV aerials.

Little Egret at Dunstable Wetland Reserve

This Little Egret posed nicely on the scrape for this somewhat over-exposed digiscoped shot as it preened and fed. There seems to be one found somewhere in the county at most times of the year - a marked contrast to only a few years back when I had to twitch my first Bedfordshire one at Harrold Country Park in August 1994.

Waxwings in Woburn

This Bohemian Waxwing was part of an 80+ flock in Woburn. They favoured a couple of areas - one very close to the main crossroads where people, cars and juggernauts kept them mobile.