Lesvos, A Return

 My wife Sandra and I have just returned from a week long holiday to the island of Lesvos and although it was not a birding holiday I managed to get quite a bit in. On this, our second visit, we were joined by my brother David and also by his old school buddy John Barn and John's wife Carol. Unlike on my last holiday here I did get an occasional trip in a car and as a result saw more of the island's specialities. We stayed at the Pela Hotel in Skala Kalloni which is presided over by consummate and warm host Thekla who also doubles as the island's Mother Theresa caring for a mixed flock of cats and other animals. Weatherwise it was warm and sunny for the first five days, rainy and grey for the next and very windy on the last full day. 

Skala selection.

Skala Kalloni is an excellent place to stay and serves as a hub for a horde of visiting birders from an array of different countries. Just two minutes away from our hotel the Kalloni Wetland turned out to be quite a productive spot, the species which drew the most admirers was a Savi's Warbler but other highlights included Little Crake, Purple Heron and a pair of Garganey. In the sea just off shore from the wetland I saw what was probably the rarest species of the trip - a Mediterranean Monk Seal, there are fewer than 200 left in the Aegean Sea and it drew a large crowd of birders. A little further away the west river was also pretty good often playing host to a variety of terns and waders including Stone Curlew. Ruddy Shelducks which were seen quite widely were usually present and we also saw a Long-legged Buzzard. On the other side of the village at the east river we saw Spur-winged Plovers and Black Storks while in the wider general area both Long-eared and Scop's Owls were noted. Another species that will linger in the memory was a male Collared Flycatcher which showed well near the village centre.

Long-eared and Scops Owl, Black-headed Wagtail and Spanish Sparrow

I only made one trip to the Kalloni salt pans this year and that was to twitch a Lesser Flamingo which was Greece's fourth. Earlier we had travelled further afield in an attempt to find this species at another set of salt pans only to learn that the bird had been flushed by workers so it was good to put this dip to bed a little later in the day. On the way to the pans we stopped at a known Kruper's Nuthatch site and were lucky enough to see two which were my first, a Masked Shrike provided some quality back up. Another road trip towards Makara produced sightings of Rock Nuthatches, Black-eared Wheatears and Raven, the nuthatches were my first in Europe having previously seen them in Turkey.

Lesser Flamingo, Little Bittern, Red-backed Shrike and Spur-winged Plover

Our last full day involved spending a morning at the Petrified Forest and also at Ipsilou Monastery where despite the gale force winds we had a very good session. Just as we arrived at the forest a short stop produced excellent views of my first Cretzschmar's Bunting, we saw several more a little later on. In the forest itself John found a Chukar which was yet another new species and we heard an Orphean Warbler. Several brief views of Golden Oriole were as welcome as always and there were quite a few stunning looking Black-eared Wheatears around. Top target at the monastery was Cinereous Bunting and John found two taking my bird lifers up to five. Other species around the site included Blue Rock Thrush, Cirl Bunting, Woodlark and a flock of at least seven Golden Orioles.

Collared Flycatcher, Black-eared Wheatear, Cretzschmar's and Cinereous Buntings

I don't know how many species I saw during my week but I can say that it was an enjoyable experience with good birds, good company, good food and copious quantities of drink. If you fancy a version of the Scillies transposed to the Med then I can heartily recommend it, you'll certainly meet plenty of other birders and there's no shortage of information available. If you don't hate cats I'd stay at the Pela if you can though there are plenty of other choices around. It's unlikely that I'm going to return but I thoroughly enjoyed both of my visits and the opportunities they provided to see some great wildlife.

Ruddy Shelduck and Monk Seal

Boom Time

 I've good news for both lovers of the English language and fans of top quality wildlife photography too  - this will be my last blog post for a while. I'm on back shift from tomorrow until Saturday and then in Lesvos for the following week so don't be surprised if  some decent birds appear locally, they often do when I'm away! My lieu day fell today and I joined forces with Alan Shorrock in making a trip over to Titchmarsh NR in search of migrants and anything else of interest.

Garden Warbler and Holly Blue

In bright sunshine we braved a stiff easterly breeze and made our way towards the north hide. On our way we stopped to admire our first Garden Warbler of the year, eventually we got some great views but it took a while. That time waiting for the warbler to show was not wasted however as first a Bittern began booming and then several Swifts flew over - three year ticks in as many minutes. After a brief and unproductive stint in the hide we decided to move on and heard my first Cuckoo of the year as we retraced our steps. No other birds of note were seen during our stay other than a few Common Terns and a LRP while the first butterfly of the day was a Peacock. On returning to the car park we were treated to views of a Holly Blue before setting off on our way to Stanwick.

Egg laying G-v White, Brimstone and Large White.

Our main target at Stanwick were the two Bar-tailed Godwits found yesterday and reported as still being there this morning. They were still present on islands at the A45 lay-by pit and the views while distant were good enough. By now the day had heated up and many butterflies were on the wing. Orange-tips and Brimstones were the commonest species but others flitting about included Green-veined White, my first Large Whites of the year, Speckled Wood, two Holly Blues and several Peacocks. For only the second time this year odes featured too with a Large Red Damselfly being joined by my first Banded Demoiselles of 2026. The male and female Bandeds were my earliest ever beating my previous best by one day. A Common Lizard near the open backed hide at the main lake was also a year first.

M and F Banded Demoiselles and Large Red Damselfly

A final stop of the day was the Dukes in Woodford where yet another Holly Blue was noted in what's turning out to be a great spring for this species. Several pints of good English beer will hopefully keep me going until my return from Greece, Mythos is OK but it's no substitute for the real thing!

Bar-tailed Godwits

Start Of The Season

 I finally had a reasonably warm and sunny Sunday morning to play with and decided to visit Priors Hall, mid April is often when the first Large Red Damselflies appear and Priors is a good place to look for them. After a punctual and stress free trip on the X4 to Weldon I then took a relatively short walk to the former quarry. Two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers were present and having a territorial dispute while a pair of Great Crested Grebes snoozed through all the din that they made. The Sand Martin colony appears to be thriving and many birds were moving back and forth across the water.

LRPs, Great Crested Grebe and Willow Warbler

Having finished at the lake I then made my way towards the ponds, at the large reed fringed one I heard my first Reed Warbler singing, a welcome change from the numerous Willow Warblers and the first of at least three heard today. Another year first was Speckled Wood, there were good numbers flitting around the paths. Following soon after came my first Large Red Damselfly, clearly they've been out for quite a while as I eventually saw good numbers of them during my walk. Several Siskins are still present and there was at least one Redpoll too. Other birds noted on my travels were Snipe, Raven and a pair of Marsh Tits. As the day warmed up more butterflies appeared and I saw Orange-tips, a Peacock and several unidentified whites before I left.

Speckled Wood, Orange-tip and Large Red Damselfly

On my way to the bus stop I took a stroll down Stamford Road in Weldon and managed to find my first Comma of the year. Several Holly Blues were also noted here and more Orange-tips too before I caught my bus home. Later, whilst doing some gardening, I saw two more Holly Blues but thy like the Weldon ones did not settle and I couldn't get a picture.

Comma

Wheatatix

 Mr Alan Shorrock and I once again made the short cross border hop to Eyebrook this morning hoping to make the most of some mainly warm and sunny conditions. News on the local WhatsApp told us that a Wheatear had been seen in Sam's Dyke and we chose to begin our explorations there.

Whitethroat and Pink-footed Geese

There was no sign of the Wheatear for us but ample compensation came in the shape of my first Common Sandpiper of the year feeding along the shoreline. From the Island Bunker I picked out the three long staying Pink-footed Geese while Al picked out the first of five Scaup that we saw today. What was presumably the same Lesser Whitethroat was still singing north of the island but news of a second Wheatear came through from a more than reliable source and we headed there hoping to connect with this attractive chat.

Wheatear

Luck favoured us and we had great views of a female bird before a security van flushed her and she was lost to view.  A Common Tern and then an Osprey provided the rest of the birding interest before we popped into the 'spoons in Corby. In the springlike conditions we noted good numbers of both Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites, I'm guessing that insects will feature more and more for the next six months!

Orange-tip

A Different Approach

 I had a far from pleasant journey on a nearly punctual and very packed X4 to Wellingborough this morning. Once this moving Purgatory had let me escape in the town centre I took a walk down to the Nene. Rather than head along to Chester House Lake and Ditchford as I normally do I decided to walk in the opposite direction instead.

Lapwing and Redshank

The stretch of river closest to the town seemed alive with Sedge Warblers singing from the surrounding vegetation. Joining them were several Cetti's Warblers and there was also a couple of Common Terns flying up and down. Once I got out into more open countryside Willow Warblers became the dominant voices as I made my way towards Summer Leys. I arrived there much quicker than I expected and will definitely use this route in the future. The Leys turned out to be quiet and the only thing of real interest was my first Small White of the year.

Gadwalls and Small White

Leaving the Leys behind I then continued along the Nene Way towards Earls Barton, the long staying Glossy Ibis was again seen at Hardwater Lake for the briefest of moments before it was flushed by an angler. More Sedge Warblers were heard around Mill Lake where I also noted a Green-veined White which was the first of two seen today. A  quartet of Sand Martins were feeding around the lock while a male Orange-tip was seen near Mill House. As I got closer to the end of Mill Lane I saw my second Small Tortoiseshell of the year. My trek ended at The Old Swan where I rewarded myself with several pints before boarding my bus home.

Glossy Ibis, Sedge Warbler, G-v White and Small Tortoiseshell