Situated in the beautiful Aegean Sea, and 5 miles off the coast of Turkey, the island of Lesbos is a mecca for birds, and not just some great resident species, but a good variety of migrants too.  The main focus of course will be the excellent birdlife, with around 130 species likely during the tour. Specialties we will be looking for include Kruper’s Nuthatch, Rock Nuthatch, Cinereous Bunting, Cretzchmar’s Bunting, Long-legged Buzzard, Rupell’s Warbler and Isabelline Wheatear to name a few. I have visited Lesbos many times and know the island very well, including a site I found which can be good for Levant’s Sparrowhawk, Barred Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler and Orphean Warbler amongst others.

We will visit a variety of habitats to maximise the amount of bird species we will see, and these include mountain drives (with roadside stops), rivers, marshes, open fields, olive groves, Sweet Chestnut woodlands, salt pans and coastal areas. Walking will be kept to a minimum although some walking is required at some sites, but the distances are short. The pace will be relaxed and steady with plenty of stopping to look at the birds, with wonderful photgraphic opportunities along the way. There will be some other wildlife of interest to see during the tour, such as Persian Squirrel, Spur-thighed Tortoise, Fox, Tree Frog, Marsh Frog, Balkan Wall Lizard, Agama Lizards and lots more.

Day 1:   Arrive at the airport, hire vehicle, head straight to the hotel to freshen up and have a comfort break. After dinner, exploring the local area to get a feel for the bird life starting with Kalloni Salt Pans.  The salt pans are a hive of bird activity, with Black and White Storks, Glossy Ibis, a variety of tern species and waders including Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Collard and Black-winged Pratincole, Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper and a host of other waders and duck species. The surrounding vegetation is always worth scanning for Cuckoo, warblers, Red-backed Shrike, wagtail species (Citrine possible), Ortolan and Black-headed Bunting. Raptors visit the pans and can include Montagu’s (and possibly Pallid Harrier), Common and Long-legged Buzzard, Osprey, Kestrel, Short-toed Eagle, Lanner, Peregrine and Eleanora’s Falcon amongst others.

We will spend some time walking around the so called ‘sheep fields’, looking for Rufous Bush Robin, Red-throated and other Pipits, Citrine and Yellow Wagtails and any other species. Bee Eaters, Hoopoe, Roller, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrikes, buntings and finches are all likely. This can be an excellent place for some great bird species and passage migrants.

Day 2:  Ipsalou Monastery, Sigri and Faneromi Beach

A pleasant drive to the Monastery will see a roadside stop for a quick look for nesting Rock Nuthatch. When we reach the area of the Monastery, we will park in what is known to birdwatchers as the Isabelline Triangle – where Isabelline, Black-eared and Northern Wheatear are all likely, and where the key species can be seen on the slopes, Cinereous and Cretzschmars Buntings. Woodlark is likely too. A gentle walk will take us up to the monastery where Rock Sparrow and Persian Squirrel will be present, with the surrounding vegetation worth checking for a variety of warblers, and also for both Blue Rock and Rock Thrush. Overhead we will scan for raptors including Lanner and the Monastery itself regularly has breeding Rock Sparrow, and Alpine Swift, Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow often aerial feeding here. The trees in the courtyard sometimes hold a roosting Little or maybe a Scops Owl.

This will take us up to lunch where there is a nice harbour restaurant just before our next stop which is Sigri. This fertile strip of land holds some great species, including four species of shrike. Bee Eater, possibly Rose-coloured Starling, warblers, finches and wagtails can all be seen, along with harriers over the fields such as Montagu’s and Marsh. Lesser Kestrel breed in this area and are often seen in good numbers, sometimes joined by groups of Red-footed Falcons. Black Kite and Fan-tailed Warbler will be on our list here too. Nearby is the beach at Faneromi, which can be good for gulls and terns. This is also one of the best scanning spots for Yekoulan Shearwaters. A nearby site holds Hoopoe and Roller, with Golden Oriole possible, and in some years Penduline Tits too.

Day 3:  “Derbeyshire” and Achladeri (and Kruper’s Nuthatch site)

A steady drive through this flat, open area dotted with small rock outcrops and pools will give us a good variety of species, including Short-toed Lark and Rufous Bush Robin. Black Stork and White Stork can sometimes be found, as can Great White and other egrets. Terek Sandpiper has been recorded here on occasion, and this can be a good spot for Ruddy Shelduck and Red-footed Falcons. Bee Eaters nest here, and we will be looking for Tawny Pipit and wheatear species too. Later we will continue on to the Achladeri area where Cirl Bunting, Subalpine and Orphean Warbler are possible in the vegetation. Here we will stop by the army training buildings, as this spot in the pine woods is where Kruper’s Nuthatch and Middle Spotted Woodpecker breed. Sombre Tit is likely and we may also have a look for Spur-thighed Tortoise. After lunch we will explore some more of this special area and perhaps take a drive down to Skala Polichnitos salt pans which has turned up some excellent birds in the past.

Day 4:  Petra and local walk

Petra is a mountain village in the north, steeped in Roman and Greek history with stunning scenery. First point of call will be the famous layby where the scrub on the gentle slope holds breeding Rupell’s Warblers. The scrub can be good for other warblers and Cuckoo, with raptors overhead. We will park a little further along to take a walk into a hidden valley packed with birdlife. Golden Oriole, Jay (of the black-crowned form atricapillus) and Sombre Tit are likely there. Around a few bends the scenery suddenly opens up into a large open valley filled with bushes and rock outcrops. Agama and Balkan Lizards will be on show, and a number of times we have witnessed migrating Levant’s Sparrowhawks passing through. We will also look for Barred, Orphean and Rupell’s Warblers, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark and other key species.

This will take us towards lunch time, so a drive along the dust road above the coast which can be great for migrants (Great Spotted Cuckoo possible), will bring us to a delightful little fishing village and harbour called Skala Sikimmia where we can enjoy lunch. After lunch we can explore the Stipsi mountain area as part of a circular drive. Our specialty bird to look for here will be the Long-legged Buzzard, and other raptors are likely including Lanner Falcon. Roadside viewing will hopefully provide Golden Oriole, Jay and Hoopoe, with Roller likely.

Day 5:  East and West Rivers, Kalloni Inland Lake and the Napi Valley

On the road past the saltpans are the West and East Rivers, which have raised areas one can drive along with views down onto the river beds. A number of water birds frequent these rivers. Key birds we will look for include Little Bittern, Squacco, Night and Purple Herons, Wood Sandpiper and other waders, Gull-billed Tern, Spur-winged Plover, Black-headed Wagtails, Black-headed Buntings, Collard Pratincole and raptors. Outbuildings may well hold Little Owl, with Masked Shrike likely (and other shrike species), and chats, larks and pipits in the surrounding open vegetation. Kalloni Inland Lake is a haven for birds, with shrike species in good numbers. The water area has Garganey and other ducks, Little Bittern (sometimes in high numbers), Spotted and Ballion’s Crake, heron species, Cettis, Savi’s, Marsh, Great Reed and Olivaceous Warblers, Nightingale,  Spanish Sparrow and occasionally Rose-coloured Starling. Tree and Marsh Frog and Stripe-necked Terrapin can be seen also.

After lunch we will venture into the Napi Valley, another haven for birds, where Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Masked Shrike, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike frequent, along with scrub warblers and raptors including Lanner, and Eleanora’s, Short-toed Eagle, Honey and Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon. Other key birds of the area include Woodchat Shrike, Hooded Crow, Crested Lark, Black-eared Wheatear (eastern race), Corn, Cirl and Black-headed Buntings, Sombre Tit, Turtle Dove, Spanish Sparrow, Red-throated Pipit, Icterine Warbler, Chukar, Short-toed Treecreeper and Red-breasted Flycatcher.

Day 6:  Eressos to Kalloni via Perivoli Monastery and centre of island

A nice pleasant circular drive today with plenty of roadside stops for viewing over a number of habitats, and a stop for lunch at the beautiful Perivoli Monastery.

We take a scenic route towards Andissa, passing through Gavatthas and then towards Vatoussa. We will be birding along the way as this region can sometimes produce Olive-tree Warbler, but shrikes will be on the card, Black-eared Wheaear, Stonechat, passage migrants, Chukar and of course raptors. Around the Monastery itself Rock Dove (of the pure wild form) can be seen, and Goshawk is likely. Collard Flycatcher and other migrants may still be loitering, so it is worth checking the trees and bushes.

Two km further along from the Monastery there is an area known as ‘The Grand Canyon‘, which can be good for raptors and Black Storks. Crag Martin and Blue Rock Thrush are likely as are Peregrine, Lanner, Eleanora’s and Long-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Eurasian and Levant Sparrowhawk and Short-toed Eagle.

Day 7: Depending on the return flight time there may be the opportunity of some local birdwatching on our last day.

We will keep the itinerary as close to how it is laid out here as possible. We may decide to alter a visit on a given day, but all of the sites will be included during the trip. There is also the option of some early pre-breakfast birding at close-by sites before breakfast.