(This is the penultimate Lesvos post, covering
Days Five and Six (2nd and 3rd October) of our trip; for previous posts, click on the 'older posts' link at the foot of this bulletin. For the final part, watch this space!).
Red-footed Falcon - one of five we clocked elegantly negotiating the strait between Turkey and us
Our fifth day on the island began with relaxed morning sessions nearby at Tsiknias river, Lotzaria Track and Kalloni saltpans (all just east of our base), which produced another satisfying diversity and abundance of migrants before we headed through the hills toward the north coast, in the hope of some raptor passage on potentially favourable winds.....
One of 20 Marsh Harriers for the session....One of 79 Honey-buzzards.....
Stops en route in farmland near Petra and at Molinos Reservoir were entertaining enough, but not entertaining enough to stop us sticking to plan A, and a session at the idyllic Lepetimnos watchpoint. With the wind in the north-west (after persistent southerlies), we were hoping there may be raptors heading over from the Turkish coast, just six or so kilometres over the water...
.... and another........ and another Red-foot.....
For the next four and a half hours, we tipped our sun hats to the mainland, kicked back and enjoyed the view - which, happily, included
many incoming raptors. There were many highlights, common and scarce, and those distant dots over the water often happily became close-up, spine-tingling fly-bys, and included:
... and another two Honey-buzzards....... one of 33 Sparrowhawks...
24 (!) Eleonora's Falcons, two Booted Eagles, four Red-footed Falcons, 79 Honey-buzzards, 10 Hobbys, 14 falcon sp., an Osprey, six Short-toed Eagles, 20 Marsh Harriers, one harrier sp., 33 Sparrowhawks, five Common Buzzards, 30 (Common) Kestrels, two Kestrel sp, a Bee-eater, many hirundines, five Spoonbills and more.....
Raptor-watching from our favourite cafe balcony
A close-up fly-by Goshawk
The following morning, we decided to explore an area we'd driven by previously - an open, arid, rocky area with areas of scrub - on the way to the north of the island again, known as Napi Valley; plenty of migrants here, including a good cast of Sylvias, the requisite band of Willow Warblers, scattered Western Rock Nuthatches, a few Redstarts, pipits, buntings, finches and Spot Flys.
One of, well, many Red-backed Shrikes
After the previous day's bounty, we couldn't resist another roll of the dice at the raptor watchpoint, and while it didn't hit the same heights, there was still plenty of passage - 13 Honey-buzzards, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, 26 Sparrowhawks, a Goshawk, a Red-footed Falcon (from the cafe veranda), a couple of Hobbys, a few Kestrels....
....and lots of passerine vismig, including five Crag Martins, 80 Barn Swallows, Spotted Flycatchers, Blackbirds, wagtails, Tree Pipits and more. For the remainder of the afternoon? A buzz around the saltpans and nearby farmland, then a run, a swim, dinner and beers on the beach, as with most days. Tough times.
Western Rock Nuthatches
Tree Pipit
One of 20 Marsh Harriers for the session....
.... and another....
... and another two Honey-buzzards....
....and lots of passerine vismig, including five Crag Martins, 80 Barn Swallows, Spotted Flycatchers, Blackbirds, wagtails, Tree Pipits and more. For the remainder of the afternoon? A buzz around the saltpans and nearby farmland, then a run, a swim, dinner and beers on the beach, as with most days. Tough times.
Western Rock Nuthatches
Tree Pipit
