Blue Eyed Birder: Lesvos - Day 8 - 22nd September 2024

Two Kestrels were our breakfast birds for the Pela this morning. Not the hoped for Red-foots but actually not a common bird around the Bay. We stayed to see Derek and Tanya safely off on their journey back to Northern Ireland and then headed up island with just the briefest of stops in Lardia to watch a kettle of 13 Honey Buzzards and a pale phase Booted Eagle drift over in the clear blue sky. Perivolis was our destination and some ex-soldiers of middling years were having a breakfast BBQ reunion all decked out in their fatigues. Some were a little snugger than they used to be.

We were invited to join them and the regular shepherd we see down, there but they still had some cooking to do so while Andrea fed the cats I wandered along the river as usual. Fewer birds with no sylvia warblers and just a sprinkling of Spot Flys and two Common Redstarts. The Blue Tits suddenly alarmed and a female Accipiter went through at eye level showing me all I needed to confirm the suspected Levant Sparrowhawk.

Down to Gavathas once again but this time we braved the sea. It was cool but soon warmed up and as usual there were no other people down there and just our car in the forty space new shiny car park!

Lunch was taken at the little chapel on the Ancient Antissa road with a calling Chiffchaff being the first of the trip. I topped up the basin of the small spring water fountain and a pair of Wood Nuthatches (our UK one) came in briefly before I had worked out how to keep it filled up but a Sombre Tit came straight back in a drank from the wet tap without realising there was crystal clear water just below him. I am sure they found it after we left. Great Banded Graylings flew through and two Millet Skippers and a Cardinal were noted in the Valonia Oaks too.

Sombre Tit

Back out and up towards Ipsilou before dropping down on the Eresos road. There were no birds what so ever in this most desiccated part of the island but down in the lush fields around Skala Eresou there were 26 Rock Doves and 12 Collared Doves feeding in a field but I could not find any Laughing Doves again. Some Red-rumped Swallows were the only other birds of notes and the river, albeit still wet, reeded and deep held only Mullet and Stripe Necked Terrapins and not one bird of any sort!

Rock Doves

Up and down and up again for the descent to the Kalloni Bay but I decided to veer off to Apothika for a look as I have only ever headed down to Makara. A sign pointing to some sort of ancient stone wall sent me off on another track that led of one still wet river heading to the Bay (Mnimoria) before reaching a mini estuary (Kardama). I never even knew there was water down here. There may have only been two Little Egrets and a very long-billed Curlew but I could imagine it being very good in the spring for passerines too. Further investigation is needed!

Apothika

Kardama

Curlew

I found another sign for the huge Kalochtistos retaining wall and could see its massive blocks up the slope aways. An old path took me up there – certainly not access for all but worth the effort. As at several spots found on the island (including Metochi Lake!) there is a QR code that takes you to more information. No one is quite sure but they think it may have been part of a sanctuary dating back to the Greek Archaic period between 700 and 500 BC with obvious subsequent use. There were certainly many presumed Roman pottery shards around.

Kalochtistos

There were some birds too with Lesser Whitethroat and Spot Flys in the Turpentine trees, audible Rock Nuthatches and a male Blue Rock Thrush. The day was wearing on so it was back to the Pela for a salted caramel Cornetto equivalent from the freezer and then took some pics of the moths I caught last night.