Lesvos day 5 - 25/04/25

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This morning we started in the north of the island with another visit to Molivos reservoir. The weather was perfect once again.

No sign of any cuckoos at the reservoir but some nice views of Red-rumped Swallows by a small pool, collecting mud for their nests.

Then to the Kavaki headland associated with Ruppell's Warbler in previous years. Sardinian and E. Subalpine were the warblers seen on this occasion, while Lesser Whitethroat was heard in song.

An adult Peregrine landed on the cliffs near where a fully fledged juvenile was present. It seemed very early for the falcon to have already raised young.

Offshore a long line of approx. 300 Yelkouan Shearwater flew north with a species of auk at the tail end of the flock.

From there we went south, first to the Sheepfields/Racetrack area near the saltpans. A Tawny Pipit and three Short-toed Lark were found.

The hotspot of the week was turning out to be the Tsiknias River near the lower ford and today was no exception, yielding Black-headed Bunting, two Little Bittern, no less than three female Little Crakes, and a brief sighting of Spotted Crake. A little further on was a Squacco Heron.

To end the day we called in again at Molivos reservoir, where the Great Spotted Cuckoos were present in the same field as last night. They put on quite a show, the male occasionally feeding a grub to the female, standing on her back in doing so. A Red-backed Shrike was in the same field.

Red-Rumped Swallow 

As above 

Sardinian Warbler 

Yelkouan Shearwaters

E. Subalpine Warbler 

Tawny Pipit

As above 

Short-toed Lark

As above 

Black Headed Bunting

Little Bittern

Squacco Heron 

Pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos 

Great Spotted Cuckoo 

As above 

Red-backed Shrike 


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