Lesvos - Day 6 - 20th September 2024

The first pre-dawn rise saw myself, Derek and Colin down at the north eastern corner of the Kalloni saltpans before dawn.  We eventually parked up (I missed the car park twice!) and started to walk down with the Crested Larks already up and about and the honking of the always active Flamingos out on the pans.

The Dalmatian Pelicans were around their usual island and there were more that you ever count from the other side with 23 loafing around.  They soon stirred and all bar one snuck off to the hidden pan between there and the sat pile where the Cormorants, six Black Storks, Egrets and 24 Spoonbills were gathering.

Dalmatian Pelicans 

Dalmatian Pelican - the last one

Nine Black-necked Grebes were paddling around in a little flotilla and a tenth bird was in the channel at our feet where a couple of Kingfishers zipped up and down and some large Mullet leapt.

Flocks of Corn Buntings plipped past us as they left their roost sights and many could be heard singing out across the fields. Seven Teal headed towards the Bay and a drake Mallard was back in full plumage. Waders were still very poor with just six Grey Plover, ten Redshank, two Greenshank, two Avocet, 16 Curlew (including a couple of incredibly long billed, pale individuals) and two Ringed Plovers which were new for the trip list. There were no raptors seen at all although something was spooking the Sandwich Terns which dreaded around the pans in two frantic flocks numbering about 120.  A single Common Tern was with them.

Curlew, Redshank, Flamingos & Cormorants

Back for breakfast and then off up to Argenos for a raptor session where I was in good pan European company until I gave up at 1.20pm.  It was chilly and cloudy to start with and unsurprisingly Goshawk and Sparrowhawk were the first to appear along with 12 furtive Woodpigeons down in the Oaks below us.  

Eventually things started to happen and by the time we finished we has seen 21 Honey Buzzards, a Black Kite, pale phase Booted Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, three Short-toed Eagles, five Marsh Harriers, juvenile Hobby, Kestrel, five migrant and three local Sparrowhawks and three local Common Buzzard. A most pleasing tally and excellent to get a three Eagle day!  About 100 Bee-eater came in high and climbed up over the mountains and most flocks had hirundines in amongst them with all five species noted although some of the Crag Martins were hawking below us too.  A few Tree Pipit and Chaffinches were coasting south.

Sparrowhawk & Honey Buzzard

Lesser Spotted Eagle - it was fab to start with!

Back for lunch and a chilled afternoon; yes, I put my feet up and relaxed before a paddle along the Skala Kallonis beach where I found a live Sea Urchin (my first here), Peacock Worms, Anemones, some cool molluscs but no Seahorses amongst the seagrass beds.  Will keep looking. Dinner with Alison at Anaxos rounded up a lovely day and four young foxes were seen on the dark mountain roads on the way home.