Blue Eyed Birder: Lesvos - Day 8

I had to turn my moth trap light off early last night as it just illuminated the whole inside of the room from the balcony but I did catch two moths with a familiar Rush Veneer and a tatty Trent Double Stripe.

Trent Double Stripe

Rush Veneer

It was another epic failure to get up early and after breakfast we headed west along the coast passing umpteen calling roadside Rock Nuthatches and flicking Spotted Flycatchers.

A young White Pelican had been seen at Pithariou two days before so I started there and it was quickly obvious that there was not a dirty iceberg floating around but I was very happy that the two Whiskered Terns found by Wayne were still at the far end and perched up between bouts of agile feeding. I am not sure I have seen 1w Whiskered Terns before or if I have it was not as well as this! Every feather was edged with pale and there were still some darker scapular feathers on show. A genuinely educational experience.

Pithariou Monastery

Whiskered Tern

The five Crag Martins of a few days ago now numbered at least 80 with a mix of the other four hirundine species. Six Eleonora’s Falcons were keeping thing active and around the margins I found just one Green Sandpiper and 27 Cormorants but there were now 16 Little Grebes dotted about.

The bushes and trees were alive with Spotted Flycatchers and a few Willow Warblers as well as the requisite Red-backed Shrikes. Two Cetti’s Warblers were busily scolding from the Chaste Trees.

Spotted Flycatcher

We seemed to hit the Pithariou Sunday service rush hour on the way out and made our way down to Skala Eresou for another look around before heading out onto the Eresos to Sigri track. I know full well before I set out that it will be an almost birdless drive at this time of year but somehow it feels wrong to visit the island and not bump through the autumn wastelands.

It was predictably quiet but an enjoyable drive – if a little bumpy at times. Crested Larks, Woodlark, Stonechats and Rock Nuthatches were seen and heard and there were still a few EBEWs around and I heard Rock Sparrows twice.

Down in Meladia (really should call it the Tsichliontas Valley!) where there were a few Spotted Flycatchers and Red-backed Shrikes along the fences but Willow Warblers, an Eastern Subalpine Warbler, a Whitethroat and Lesser Grey Shrike were the only other passerine migrant.

A Hobby came out of the chapel Cypresses and rocketed up valley. The same little bird species were seen at the Sigri Cheese Sanitorium and offshore around the volcanic plug of Vrachonisida Sedousa there were at least ten Eleonora’s Falcons circling around as expected.

Sigri

Vrachonisida Sedousa

Up to Ipsilou for the magnificent view but almost no birds at all. The landscape is just so parched. Only the Ravens seem unperturbed.

View northish from Ipsilou

From here it was down to the windy beach at Gavathas for a swim. As usual there was a trouble finding a parking space. A bob in the somewhat choppy sea and then around the track to Ancient Antissa. There was another concentration of the flycatcher, warbler, shrike trio with just a single juv Woodchat Shrike and ten Bee-eaters to add. A Rock Nuthatch at last sat still for more than a second but there was no Blue Rock Thrush on the route this time although the autumn Jackdaws were around.

Woodchat (ACV)

Spotted Flycatcher

Western Rock Nuthatch

Dinner in Petra and then down to the Tsiknias as dusk fell to await the rising of the glorious red moon which was already in the process of being shadowed by the earth. I was initially distracted by the reappearance of the 'longipes' type Oystercatcher on the spit but the moon dragged me back.

Roger had to help me with dinner

'longipes' type Oystercatcher

We watched it climb into a cloudless sky and get steadily nibbled away at until it was a simply a vague peachy disc at about 8.30pm. I am not sure I have see a full moon eclipse before and it was fine way to end the day although saying that, Thekla has a local classic rock covers band in tonight and as I finish typing this just before 11.30pm, Radiohead's Creep in all its unadulterated glory is drifting through the night... magic