7 September 2022 - Skala Kalloni, Lesvos

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Tawny Pipit, Red-backed & Woodchat Shrikes, Montagu's Harrier, Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats, Terrapins

Headed out across the fields from the East River over to the Salt Pans this morning before breakfast. On the way the sun was pretty much full in my eyes so I didn't see too much, though at one point I came across a Bee-eater and a Red-backed Shrike perched close together on a wire going from the ground to a telegraph pole. Of course, they flew as soon as I stopped. The salt pans were relatively quiet other than for Flamingoes and Little Ringed Plovers, so I decided to head back with the sun behind me. No sooner had I started than a bird landed on the track about 50 yards ahead, and called - Tawny Pipit! Unfortunately it spent most of its time right at the very edge of the track in the grass but I did get a couple of distant pics. Further down the track I came across three Bee-eaters on wires, close to where I'd seen one earlier, and here there were also Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats and Red-backed Shrikes too. A little further along, a Turtle Dove flew across. Back over the river I went looking for Terrapins in the gulley by the track near town, and a couple of these showed quite well (at the river Ford they are much more shy and plop into the water as soon as you approach).

After breakfast we retraced the same route, where we saw among other things, Common Skimmer (a powder-blue dragonfly), Clouded Yellow, and then a Montagu's Harrier that was quartering the fields for some time but never really came particularly close (though good views all the same). Near the salt pans, a confiding juvenile Woodchat Shrike allowed quite close apprach, but the heat of the day caused most birds to be hidden or in shade.

We spent mid afternoon on the balcony where we were visited by a Red-backed Shrike that gradually came closer and ended up in the bushes just opposite.

Tawny Pipit , 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100