Tuesday 29th September

Another glorious day a spot of ringing yielded Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Collared Dove.

I ventured to Kidwelly Quay after  high tide and found Greenshank (31), Redshank (120+), Curlew Sandpiper (2), Dunlin, plus the usual supporting cast.

Redshank

I then drove down to Pembrey Burrows local nature reserve,  my first time to visit, looks like a potential ringing site.

Plenty of Evening Primrose, Oenothera glazioviana, in flower, the Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, was heavy with berries potentially good news for Redwings and Fieldfares.

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose

Sea Buckthorn, loaded with berries

Monday 28th September 2015 LESBOS TRIP SUMMARY PART 2

Just a few more photos, its not all about birds!

Small Skimmer, Orthetrum taeniolatum

Swallowtail,  Papilio machaon gorganus

Red-veined darter, Sympetrum fonscolombii ♀

Red-veined Darter ♀ "head on"

Balkan Terrapin Mauremys rivulata

Common Blue pair, Polyommatus Icarus

 



Sunday 27th September 2015 LESBOS TRIP SUMMARY

Do I start with the fact that this has been one of the most successful trips I have made to the "magical isle" of Lesbos, YES I will, with two memorable days in the week, perfect weather, a mix of dry and sunny and wet and overcast, great wildlife and enjoyable company.

Red-footed Falcons passed through in huge numbers with probably 1000+ birds over two days, White Pelican,and my first  Osprey and Ferrunginous Duck on the island

The avifauna stole the show as expected for a mainly birding trip with a total of 120 species seen and one (Long -eared Owl heard),

Common Shelduck, Mallard, Garganey, Teal, FERRUNGINOUS DUCK, Scopolis Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Little Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Black Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, GREAT WHITE PELICAN, Dalamtian Pelican,Great Cormorant, WESTERN OSPREY, European Honey-buzzard, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagus harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, RED FOOTED FALCON, Eleonora's Falcon, and Peregrine.

Osprey, my first sighting in 10 years of visits

Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Snipe, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin,and Ruff.

Greater Flamingos

 



Slender-billed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Black Tern, European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Western Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl (heard), European Roller, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Hoopoe, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, RED BACKED SHRIKE, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Eurasian Jay, Hooded Crow,  and Northern Raven

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Sombre Tit, Great tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Crag martin, Common House Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Wood Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Zittng Cistiola, Eurasian Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Krupers Nuthatch, Western Rock Nuthatch, Short-toed Treecreeper, Common Blackbird, Common Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheater, Eastern Black-eared Wheater, Blue Rock Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, House Sparrow, Rock Sparrow.

Whinchat

Western Yellow Wagtail, (flava, thunbergi,) White Wagtail, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Corn Bunting, and Cirl Bunting,

Domestic Goats, one of the mainstay farm animals on the island

As well as the birds we picked up a couple of reptiles, dragonflies and butterflies,

Starred Agama

European Glass Lizard

Snake- eyed Lacertid

Snake-eyed Lacertid??

AN AMAZING WEEK ON A MAGICAL ISLAND WITH GREAT WILDLIFE, WILD SCENERY AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE.