Sunday 20th September 2015 LESBOS TRIP

After a safe and decent flight from the UK to Mytilene, we did very little yesterday as it was very warm.

Today saw a 06:30 start with a visit to Metochi lake, which surprisingly, was almost at spring levels.

Present of note were three Spoonbill, 15 Grey Heron, three Purple Heron, three Wood Sandpiper and a green Sandpiper. High and flying southg were four raptors probably long-Legged Buzzard.

After breakfast we visited the Kalloni Saltpans where we were treated to the following selection of wildlife:

thee Zitting cisticola, Five Great White Egret, Greenshank, Redshank, 100's of Avocet, c1500 Greater Flamingo, Two Dalmation Pelicans, 1 Great White Pelican and a Black Tern.

Some photos from this morning

Kalloni Salt Pans, in the picture are Greater Flamingos, Slender-billed Gulls, and Little Egret

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike


 

Friday 18th September 2015

Just been finalizing the packing?, the books alone must weigh 5kg that's without the bins', scope', and tripod. The hold luggage is borderline at 19kg and the hand luggage is close to the limit at 6.1kg opps.

Speaks for itself!!!

I've packed some old but useable clothes to hand in at the refugee centre in Molyvos, its just a gesture but...

I've also been doing some planning, and will aim to visit areas of the island that I have never been too before, and there are quite a few locations to be explored, Steve Dudley's guide to Lesvos has been, as ever, invaluable in the planning process, so it looks like the south west will get explored more this time.

planning in progress........., maybe we won't get lost this time Nick!

Thursday 17th September 2015

I gave ringing the garden a go for a few hours this morning, very few (3) birds caught, if I wanted to catch a lot of tits I could have moved the feeders!!1

The best was a juvenile Starling, the plumage is amazing on these young birds as they transition from their juvenile plumage into their first adult plumage.

Juvenile Starling

Juvenile Starling, note the staining on this birds face, Blackberries for breakfast I think?

As I am off to Lesbos on Saturday, subject to internet connections/charges, the BLOG may be updated daily or on my return.

Wednesday 16th September 2015

Following on from the rough weather this morning dawned cool, bright and calm(ish), so a visit to WWT was on the cards.

I popped into Sandy Water Park first where the gulls were at their high tide roost, this particular individual caught my eye and I'm waiting for 100% confirmation of its id.

Immature gull? Herring Gull or Yellow Legged Gull

At WWT the tide had peaked and there were around 2500 waders on the scrapes an amazing sight.

some of the 2500 birds present

So what did we have?

669 Knot, 354 Curlew, 63 Greenshank, 209 Redshank,40 Lapwing,  20 Dunlin, 2 Spotted redshank (maybe 3), 2 Juv Ruff, 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 1 GREY PLOVER, as well as 100 Greylag geese, 23 Shelduck and 1 Kingfisher along with Grey Heron and Little Egrets.

heavy photo crop of Grey Plover

another heavy photo crop, Curlew Sandpiper

A really good morning

Knot

Tuesday 15th September 2015

After the first real gale of the autumn and with high tide at 08:15hrs I thought it would be perfect for a quick seawatch at Pembrey Harbour.

The small marsh to the West of the old harbour

It proved interesting, with the following sightings betwwen 07:30hrs and 08:30hrs seemed longer?

cropped pic of GBB Gull

cropped pic of Sandwich tern

Three GBB Gulls, 11 Common Scoter, 2 "Auk" sp, 2 adult Gannet, 12 Turnstone, five Dunlin, c150 Ringed Plover, c 600 Oystercatchers, 29 Knot, 22 Sandeling, four Sandwich terns, 11 Pintail, three Stonechat, five Skylark, 2 Northern Wheater ♀ type, .

Oystercatchers, count them if you want

Northern Wheater ♀ /immaturetype

All in all a pretty busy hour.

Monday 14th September 2015

With a storm in full flow we decided to pop down to Burry Port Harbour, the tide was due to be high at 19:59hrs, but even at 17:30 with a full blown westerly behind it the tide was rising fast.

The photo does no justice to the actual weather

Wildlife was few and far between, but 250+ Oystercatchers sheltering on the harbour wall a few Ringed Plover and a couple of various gulls.

Oystercatchers pushed off their roost flying into the gale

A juvenile Kittiwake was a good find then a "comic" tern tried to fly into the teeth of the gale.



Black-headed Gull adult, changing into winter plumage




Herring Gull 4th winter plumage? possibly older, still some brown in the retrices



Friday 11th - Sunday 13th September 2015

Helping out with British Trust for Ornithology ringing course at Oxwich Marsh NNR this weekend.

The participants were there to either gain experience, be assessed for a permit upgrade or to be assessed to reach trainer level.

A break in proceedings

The weather has been a pain with wind and rain disrupting the activities but still enough birds around for the participants to work with.

A distant shot of  Common Lizard