Lesvos birdwatching tour 2023: Day 2 Trip Report

LESVOS BIRDING DAY 2 Trip Report: A sunrise bonus birding and the wild-wild West

Lesvos is known worldwide for being one of the best European destinations to watch bird migration. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia and Africa blended with a great variety of habitats, make this Aegean island the perfect destination not only for birders and bird photographers, but for anyone that enjoys wildlife.

Read here about Day 1

An iconic species, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
at Sigri, western Lesvos

Cinereous Bunting, the emblematic bird
of western Lesvos

This day we decided to take an early wake up and have a brief on-the-site breakfast at Metochi Lake, a small lagoon a couple of km west of Skala Kallonis. This was decided in order to spot some almost nocturnal birds, such as Little Bittern and Little Crake, so our ordinary breakfast could easily wait until 9am. In was an unforgettable experience: hundreds of Red-rumped Swallow, House Martins, Barn Swallows, Sand Martin flying low over the calm waters, while we were listening the melodic songs of Nightingales, Great Reed Warblers, Cetti’s Warblers, Blackbirds, Masked Shrikes, Sombre Tits and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers. We managed to see the Little Crake and a Spotted Crake too, while a few Night Herons flew towards the surrounding hills.

A typical spring morning at Metochi Lake

Cetti's Warblers are residents at Metochi Lake

Corn Bunting at Metochi Lake, Lesvos

Chukars are residents on Lesvos
and can be encountered in various locations on the island

Moving back to our hotels, we took breakfast and started driving towards the west part of the island. The whole day would be dedicated to the “wild, wild West” part of Lesvos, home of some of the rarest species of European birds. Our first stop was Ispilou Monastery, right after Antissa town. The monastery is sited on the top of a monolith-like hill, filled with Kermes Oak trees, a truly oasis for migrant birds that have just arrived from the dry western part of the island. Whether conditions play a significant part in bird abundance in this specific habitat. Rainfalls and windy conditions stop the bird’s journey and thus the area become shelter for hundreds of flycatchers, chats and other passerines. On the other hand, continuous days of good weather, result in mass departures.

Willow Warbler at Ipsilou Monastery,
a common spring migrant

Eastern Subalpine Warbler on oak tree
at Ipsilou Monastery

Therefore, we were not as lucky this year with Ipsilou Monastery. There has been a great influx of birds just a few days before our arrival, because of a severe low pressure system that resulted in thunderstorms. It was followed by 2-3 days of sunshine, like the day of our visit, so there were very few birds present. A few Willow Warblers, fortunately some Eastern Orphean and Subalpine Warblers. The resident species were quite elusive too: Western Rock Nuthatch and Rock Sparrow gave us only a handful of photographic opportunities.

An elusive Red-backed Shrike at Ipsilou Monastery

Raven in flight at Ipsilou Monastery.
Birds are nesting on the steap cliff

Since the area did not seem very productive (birdwatching speaking), we drove down to the remote fishing village of Sigri for lunch. Remezzo is a family owned restaurant, and has the best sea view of the area, serving delicious local recipes. A refreshing local beer could not be denied during such a warm day. The west – and wildest – part of the island was waiting!

Sigri, a pittoresque fishing village of Lesvos,
as seen from Remezzo Taverna

Jackdaw catching a spider at Faneromeni, Sigri

A huge Glass Lizard (Pseudopus adopus),
basking outside Sigri Sanatorium

We reached Sigri Sanatorium were we spotted a huge Glass Lizard (Pseupodus apodus). It is surprising how each year I always encounter this species, in this particular area of the island, it almost seems like a pre-organized meeting. Around the old building, he heard the characteristic sound of Chukars, while Long-legged Buzards, Eleonorae’s Falcons, Lesser Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons were hunting their preys. A small group of Golden Orioles passed suddenly a few meters in front of us. The breeding Cinereous Bunting, one of Lesvos highlight species, was present in many locations on our way. We firstly saw the species during a short visit in the Petrified Forest, together with Cretzschmar’s Buntings and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears.

Cretzschmar's Bunting at Meladia Valley, Lesvos

Western Lesvos is the only place in Europe
that Cinereous Bunting is breeding succesfully

Cirl Bunting at Meladia Valley, Sigri

We passed through Meladia Valley were we saw a few more Eastern Orphean Warblers, the emblematic Little Owl in its usual spot, small groups of Bee-eaters, Linnets and pairs of breeding Isabelline Wheatears.

Lesvos birdwatcher's selfie after a succesful day

We arrived back at Skala Kallonis by 8pm. Despite our fatigue, we decided to visit the Scops Owl site once more and we were rewarded by some bonus sightings of this secretive owl.

Leaving Meladia Valley after a full birding day

Parakila, a small panoramic village next to Skala Kallonis

The bird list of our second day Lesvos birdwatching tour:

Ruddy Shelduck
Greater Flamingo
Little Grebe
Collared Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Moorhen
Coot
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Great Cormorant
Little Bittern
Little Egret
Short-toed Eagle
Montagu's Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Scops Owl
Little Owl
Hoopoe
Bee-eater
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonorae's Falcon
Golden Oriole
Red-backed Shrike
Masked Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Common Raven
Blue Tit
Woodlark
Ctesred Lark
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Common Reed Warbler
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Willow Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Rock Nuthatch
Blackbird
Nightingale
Collared Flycatcher
Whichat
Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Serin
Black-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting
Cinereous Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting