Lesvos - 2011 - SUMMARY

165 SPECIES RECORDED

With the help of Tony, Andy, Pat, Mike and Dave the WINGSPAN tour of lesvos was a complete success.They all contributed and added species to the list which made the trip so much more enjoyable.

despite unfavourable flights and bad weather for 2 days we amassed a great var1ety of species on our list. A steady northerly/easterly wind domintaed the week and held up migration: very few Bee-eaters were seen by anyone on the island, the same goes for Roller, Red-backed Shirke and Lesser Grey Shrikes.

The group couldn't agree on a 'bird of the tour' but Long-eared Owl, Penduline Tit, Masked Shrike and Yellow Wagatil were mentioned with affection.

For me, yet again, it was whole ambiance of the island, the superb array of flowers, the fantastic scenery and of course the huge variety of birds that made tour unforgettable.

many instances and sighting come to mind as favourite moments: The finding of a pair of Kruper's Nuthatch making their nest, we could here them tapping but because they were working on the inside of a tree it took a while to locate them! The Penduline Tit's intricate nest hanging from the lower branches over a stream, the shear number of Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Collared Flycatchers, Reed and Sedge Warblers and the masses of Yelkouan Shearwaters sitting on the water in a misty bay, the water was like a mill pond. Watching a pair of Short-toed Treecreepers feeding their young, you could even see the gaping mouths of the chicks!

One particular day was outstanding, we saw 116 species which included six species of Buntings and included the Ploughed Field.

The Ploughed Field was best of all it was covered in birds, probably 300 in all of 15 species including Wryneck, Nightingale, Tawny Pipit, Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, Collared Pratincoles and 2 species of Terns. What a great experience to top the sightings list and make the holiday even more memorable.

In the next few days there will be a variety of photographs of the tour published and taken by Tony, Andy, Dave and myself.

A full account of the trip will be available on the WINGSPAN BIRD TOURS website shortly at

http://www.wingspanbirdtours.com/trip-reports.asp

Here is a sample of what Tony can do:

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN WINGSPAN ON NEXT YEAR'S TOUR TO LESVOS PLEASE CONTACT ME EARLY. THE DATES ARE 26TH APRIL - MAY 3RD