8 September 2022 - Skala Kalloni, Lesvos
« Newer | Older »Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Pied Flycatcher, Green Sandpiper, Lesser Grey Shrike, Rock Nuthatch, Black Stork, Dalmatian Pelicans, Spoonbills, Purple Heron
I set off this morning on the bike heading for Metochi inland lake. Not far up the road I met Chris Elmer, who was watching a couple of Swifts. It turns out he was heading to the same place so we decided to join forces, and as we talked, a Middle-spotted Woodpecker flew over. We'd only gone a few yards when I realised I'd got another puncture, so we headed back to our hotel so I could swap to Joanne's bike. In the hotel grounds we found a Pied Flycatcher on the fence. Heading off again, and onto the Metochi track we found a Cirl Bunting on a fence, and as we arrived at the lake, a Green Sandpiper flew over and disappeared down a watery channel. We saw Common Sandpiper on the lake itself but not much else. A small(ish) falcon flew high over, which might have been Hobby or Red-footed Falcon, but was too far away to tell. We did a circuit of the lake and at one point could hear Rock Nuthatch, then I spotted one right at the peak of the hillside, calling from the top of a rock. Then Chris found a Lesser Grey Shrike which was quite close, but as we fumbled for our cameras it disappeared and we couldn't relocate it. By this time it was getting time to head back or I'd miss breakfast, so we worked our way back to the main road, and Chris found another Pied Flycatcher along the way.
At breakfast there was a large (maybe 8cm) and spectacular grasshopper on the terrace by the swimming pool, which I believe to be Acrida ungarica. Even the hotel staff were taking photos!
After breakfast (and after getting the puncture repaired again!) Joanne and I headed off to the salt pans again. Chris had told me there were some Dalmatian Pelicans on the far south-eastern corner, which would be a lifer for me. It was a bit quicker going across the fields from the river to the salt pans, but quite a trek along the main road to the eastern edge. We spotted a Black stork stood on one of the bunds between the pans, and shortly after it took off and flew overhead, giving me chance to get some photos. The track down the side to see the pelicans was very stony, so we decided to not risk any more punctures. I left Joanne reading her Kindle in the shade of a bush, and I walked down to the bottom of the track to see the Pelicans. There were 9 birds I think, though some were asleep, so it was difficult to tell exactly, and several Spoonbills as well.
On the way back to where Joanne was situated, I noticed a distant tern which I'm pretty sure was Little Tern, and I could see several more, presumably the same, on a small sandbank in one of the pans, but the heat haze and distance made things very difficult. We then headed back and saw much of the same birds as yesterday in the fields, as well as a couple of Ravens, though the Monty's was nowhere to be seen. This time, Joanne got a puncture, so we were faced with walking back from the East River, but at least it wasn't from the far end of the salt pans! Back at the shelter at the mouth of the river, we stopped to cool off for a little while. A Great Egret was fishing, but not a great deal else, but suddenly out of nowhere, a juvenile Purple Heron appeared in the river mouth. It stood in the open water for a minute or so, then took off and headed towards Skala Kalloni.
We spent the afternoon chilling on the balcony, and later on, a large bird appeared from our left, and flew across in front of us - the Purple Heron again!
Acrida Ungarica, 1/500 sec, f/14.0, 472 mm, ISO 160 (view full size image)
Black Stork, 1/800 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100 (view full size image)
Black Stork , 1/800 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100 (view full size image)
Dalmation Pelicans, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 125 (view full size image)
Flamingoes, 1/500 sec, f/13.0, 500 mm, ISO 320 (view full size image)
Purple Heron-, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 160
Raven, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100
Crested Lark, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 125 (view full size image)
Purple Heron-, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 320 (view full size image)
Purple Heron-, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 320 (view full size image)