Birding and other distractions

A revisit to Worth and although weather conditions were poorer the views of Eleonora's Falcon and Red-footed Falcon were much better than on Friday. Three Hobby and a Kestrel completed the falcon fest, while Buzzard and male Marsh Harrier were also seen. The EF spent all morning sitting in a Hawthorn bush alongside the footpath (Pinnock Wall), and gave views down to 30 metres. When the sun came out in the afternoon it started moving around, and we obtained flight views from the opposite side of the marsh. The RDF was also sitting out of the wind in the morning though disappeared around 10 a.m. It was refound in the afternoon on wires over a wheat field. On the sheltered side of the Great Wood dragonflies / damselflies became very active once the sun came out. These included Scarce Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, and Banded Demoiselle . A Variable Damselfly had also been netted by someone carrying out a survey. Eleonora's Falcon Red-footed Falcon Scarce Chaser Variable Damselfly

Noella and I went to RHS Wisley today and whilst there I heard that the Eleonora's Falcon had been refound at Worth. We got home at 4 p.m. so after grabbing optics I then headed east on the M2 encountering some awful traffic on the way, with a lot of folks going to Dover. However, the Thanet Way was free so I arrived at Worth by 6.15. The falcon was sitting up in the Great Wood, and though a good distance away the 'scope view was very reasonable. After 25 minutes it flew out onto the marsh and was not visible from my position . A female Red-footed Falcon was then seen nearer to Worth village, a species I had missed on Lesvos.  From this side the EF was also visible on the marsh, albeit still distant. At one point it flew around for a minute or so before relanding on a post. To complete the day for falcons a Hobby was also sitting on a nearby post. The size difference compared to EF was very noticeable. Eleonora's Falcon Eleonora's Falcon Hobby Red-footed Falcon (female)

Cloudy at first today though increasingly sunny as the morning wore on. Plant growth in PV has greatly increased since my last visit, hence it is becoming more difficult to find any reptiles. Despite this I found the melanistic female Adder in the same place as before, and on the opposite side track a large male, estimated 0.6 metre in length. The male had a distinctive heart shaped marking behind the head, very similar to the individual seen on 24th April. No Adders seen elsewhere, though four Slow-worms were found, all in TF. The sunnier conditions encouraged more butterfly activity, with my first of year Small Heath and Common Blue. Also one Green Hairstreak in PV and a fair number of Green-veined White. Melanistic Adder (female) Melanistic Adder Large male Adder Male Adder (as above) with distinctive heart-shaped marking behind the head Slow-worm (male) Small Copper Common Blue (male) Small Heath Green-veined White Green-veined White (male) Orange-tip (male)

The last day on Lesvos so I made the most of it. I drove the trail from Eresos to Sigri in the west of the island stopping at frequent intervals and walking various tracks. The scenery was dramatic and the weather once again warm and sunny. Typical birds en route  included Black-eared Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Black-headed Bunting and a couple of Rock Nuthatch. A track near the ford led, via fig trees, to a low rocky outcrop with large holes at the base. The highlight there was 3-4 Rock Sparrow, also a Lesser Grey Shrike. Back to the main trail I was pleased to find a Roller on overhead wires, though it was never close. Nearby a Short-toed Eagle flew over just as the camera battery expired. After reaching Sigri I drove back to Ipsilou and walked the south track again. By now it was mid-afternoon so birds were somewhat quieter, though one each of Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler, Hoopoe, Middle-spotted Woodpecker (flight view only), Woodch...

A report this morning of a singing Thrush Nightingale near the Kalloni Village tempted me to check it out. It's been a long time since I've seen Thrush Nightingale anywhere. However, I could 'only' find Common Nightingale there (four singing birds), so the wait goes on, with no further reports of Thrush Nightingale from the site. From there I returned to the Potamia valley, mainly to try again for Olive-Tree Warbler in the olive grove near the substation. After some less than ideal views of a bird obscured by branches and foliage I persevered with an individual that regularly sang from large bushes/trees alongside the track. This eventually paid off as the bird showed itself at the top for a brief period. Near the large reservoir a pair of Rock Nuthatch had made their distinctive nest in a rocky outcrop, to which they regularly returned. Nearby a Snake-Eyed Lizard kept an eye on me. The final visit to the area was to the 'hidden lake' as before, which this time ...

Another warm day on the island. Starting at the saltpans I was pleased to see a hunting Eleonora's Falcon on the fields opposite; a sub adult of the pale morph. I then walked the sand dunes and marsh to the west of the racetrack, mainly to check for Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin as this has been a traditional area for them in the past. I didn't find any, though nevertheless much enjoyed the walk in glorious habitat. Birds I did see included a pair of Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), four Stone Curlew, three Kentish Plover, and at least 100 Bee-eater. I also found an adorable tortoise. Later I drove along the east bank of the Tsiknius, noting Great White Egret and Cattle Egret near the ford, and another Black-headed Wagtail near the river mouth. A Whiskered Tern also flew along the river. In the afternoon I explored the Napi Valley, another fabulous area. The track led up the slope and though hearing many birds such as Cirl Bunting and Turtle Dove seeing them proved harder. That all ...