Lesvos - Day 9 - 23rd September 2024

Out through Loutzaria after breakfast where a Little Egret posed just past the houses and two juvenile Turtle Doves were perched up on the old nightclub wires with the Feral Pigeons and Collared Doves.  This is only the third time this trip I have seen them and I suspect it is the same birds unfortunately.  

Little Egret

Turtle Doves

The Tsiknias was devoid of anything but the mown alfalfa fields were full of bouncing flava Wagtails, Sparrows and Corn Buntings while around the triangle there had been a fresh arrival of very energetic Willow Warblers and a few more Tree Pipits. Five Sparrowhawks suggested some immigration of these too.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

From here we headed on a big loop back towards Mytilene and then around the Gulf to Plomari before wiggling back up out the other side through the very lovely village of Palaichori (don’t try it with a minibus) and then Ampeliko.  

The views were stunning but the birdlife almost non-existent with just a few Raven, Tits and Chaffinches.  From one vantage point you could see an imposing escarpment (I pictured Bonelli’s Eagles and Eagle Owls) but the plateau above it was hundreds of acres of burnt skeletal pine trees in all directions from the vast fire that almost reached Vatera a few years back.

The whole plateau right of the sea was a burnt desert

We popped back out at Mikri Limni and after lunch on the beach at Achladeri (more Willow Warblers and Flycatchers – not eaten of course) we headed back to chill for the afternoon before a poodle out onto Loutzaria once again at the end of the day where Wagtails and Tawny Pipits obliged and tree juvenile Red-footed Falcons briefly hawked over the Tsiknias. 

Red-backed Shrike

A last dinner at the Dionysos before a final full day tomorrow.