By the middle of the month and on, all the winter visitor species have been observed, see a selection of photos below.
This period's highlights were:
Last summer visitors:
Nightjar 1, Skala Kalloni (Oct 28, S. Zannetos via ebird)
Osprey 1, by Pithariou reservoir (Oct 21, Lefteris Kakalis via LBN FB)
House Martin 1, 6 Red-rumped 6, and Barn Swallow 3, by the Psaropotamos river, Skala Eressos (Oct 27, Stelios Zannetos via ebird)
Redstart 1, Skala Eressos (Oct 19 Steve Bird LBN FB)
Lesser Whitethroat 2, ringed by Dipi reedbed (Oct 24)
Willow Warbler 1, ringed by Dipi reedbed (Oct 23)
Red-backed Shrike 2, juv ringed at the Dipi reedbed, Gera Gulf (Oct 24 and 31)
Lesser Grey Shrike 1, between the Kalloni Pans and Tsiknias river (Oct 16- M. Kladogeni, Oct 27- M. Bakas & Oct 28- S. Zannetos via LBN FB).
First winter visitors:
Hen Harrier 1, Kalloni Pans (Oct 28, S. Zannetos viaLBN FB)
Mustached Warbler 3, by the Psaropotamos river, Skala Eressos (Oct 27, Stelios Zannetos via LBN FB), also seen the following day (Steve Bird via LBN FB). Although no birds were ringed in the Dipi reedbed on Oct 23 and 24, 7 birds were caught on Oct 31.
Black Redstart 1, Skala Eressos (Oct 19 Steve Bird LBN FB)
KALLONI SALT PANS
Flamingos 950
Dalmatian Pelican 12 all month and 22 on 29/10
Great White Pelican 1 juv (all month) and 2 adults ones (Oct 29)
Black Stork 2
Northern Lapwing 8 (Oct 29)
Ruddy Shelduck 6 (Oct 29)
Common Shelduck 12 (Oct 29)
DIPI LARSOS REEDBED
(bird ringing on Oct 23, 24, and 31)
141 birds of 21 species were ringed. The most numerous were the Robin, the Blackcap, and the Cetti's Warbler.
On Oct 31, 7 Moustached Warblers were ringed while the species was absent on Oct 23 and 24.
Chiffchaff, Messa- Eleni Galinou
Sardinian Warbler, Ntipi reedbed- Eleni Galinou
Hen Harrier, Kalloni Pans- Stelios Zannetos
Lesser Grey Shrike, Kalloni Pans- Michael Bakas
Blackcap, Potamia-Mirsini Kladogeni
Flamingos, Skala Kallonis- Giorgis Laskaridis
Blackcap, Mitilini- Eleftheria Pavli
Complete checklists submitted online can be accessed here:
e-bird (updated throughout the year and where we submit the Kalloni EIC records in the long term)
observado- lesvos (active during April-May and September by Dutch visitor birders)
bird-track (by British visitor birders)
Share your own records
Please, submit your records via the above databases, share them on Facebook (Lesvos Bird News or Lesvos Birders groups), or send them directly to us here.