Lesvos Trip Report, Day 4: Photographing the MEGA-lifers

A trip report our fourth birding day in the island of Lesvos. Today we are looking for some Mega-lifers, i.e. the birds that most birders in Lesvos are looking for every year. These species require deep knowledge of their behavior and habitats, lots of patience, as well as a great amount of luck.

Read here the trips reports from Day 1, Day 2, Day 5

Italian birders photographing Rueppel's Warblers at Haramida

Our small group of birders photographing Rueppell's Warblers
at the east part of Lesvos island

Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley

We had to change our vehicle to a larger one, in order to guide 5 Italian bird photographers that were visiting the island for the first time. Since Italy has very similar birds species, they wanted to see and photograph some Lesvos special ones, which were all lifers for the member of our group. So we had two days available to look for Long-legged Buzzard, Levant Sparrowhawk, Kruper’s Nuthatch, Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush, Rufous Bush Chat, Isabelline Wheatear, Olive-tree Warbler, Rueppell’s Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Cinereous Bunting, Cretzscmar’s Bunting.

We started from the least visited part of the island, the eastern coast. After destroyed by mass fires a few years ago, it is now home for some of the most wanted species: Rueppell’s Warbler. A few minutes after arriving at the right locations, we saw several birds that we singing in very close distance. BINGO! One of our most important targets was already seen and photographed. Nearby we observed pairs of Cretzschmar’s Buntings, Sardinian Warblers and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears. As soon as we were leaving the area, a pair of Chukars crossed the road and stayed for a while in a nearby field. Another lifer for some of the group, and a few opportunities to take some more nice bird photos.

Rueppell's Warbler at Haramida

Cretzschmar's Bunting singing at Haramida

Chukar in blossom grounds near the sea at Haramida

The Laughing Doves have started breeding in the island the last 5 year, so this was another lifer for members of our group. The small village of Loutra is one of the most reliable places to find nesting pairs. We managed to see the nest with the chicks, but the parents seemed to be out in search for food. A few minutes later, we saw the parents hopping from one electric pole to the other, landing finally at the next, on a window next to the road.

Laughind Doves breed in Loutsa Lesvos

After taking an Italian espresso at the village of Loutsa, we drove west towards Polychnitos. We were looking for another Lesvos highlight and target species for all birders that visit annually the island: Kruepper’s Nuthatch. Lesvos is the only location in Europe that this species is thriving, especially around the pine forests of Agiasos and Achladeri area. We searched for more than 1 hour between the pine trees, only listening to Short-toed Treecreepers and Chaffinches. Suddenly, a very loud and characteristic call of the birds made us alert and after a few minutes we managed to clearly see more than 3 birds.

Kruepper's Nuthatch on pine tree, at Achladeri Lesvos

Krupper's Nuthatch on pine tree, at Achladeri

Profile of Krupper's Nuthatch at Achladeri

The next big lifer was the elusive Olive-tree Warbler. There are several reliable site for this bird, however finding it and actually photographic it has always been a major task. This year, we decided to search the area around Potamia Valley, close to Kalloni. This vast area of olive orchards is ideal for this warbler. Indeed we found at least 3 birds and enjoyed hundreds of photographic “clicks”. Other species we saw in the area were Turtle Doves, Masked Shrikes and Middle-spotted Woodpeckers.

Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos

Olive-tree Warbler at Potamia Valley

Singing Olive-trre Warbler at Potamia Valley, Lesvos

Olive-tree Warbler at Potamia Valley

No time for lunch, just a pick-nick in the area under the tree canopy and soon we were heading to Parakoila, a steep rocky area west of Kalloni. We were lucky to see a pair of Common Cuckoos displaying and a few more Eastern-Black-eared Wheatears. The place was particularly chosen for the breeding Sombre Tit, a bird that we did not find the previous days and it was another important lifer for most birders of the team. Driving up the rocky road, close to a Shepard’s shed, we saw 2 Sombre Tits, very active ones indeed.

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear on rusty wire

Masked Shrike on rusty wire at Potamia Valley

Scops Owl roosting in foliage at Lesvos island

Scops Owl roosting in foliage during day time

Rock Nuthatch breeds in several areas at Lesvos island

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Taxiarchis Bakery at Skalla Kallonis,
a must visit for early-wakeup birders as well as local hangover teens

Italian birders photographing Rueppell's Warblers

It was late afternoon, so a last visit at Kalloni Saltpans was required, to get as many photos as possible during the “golden hours”. Cold beer and excellent seafood at Dionysos Taverna proved to be the best ending in a highly successful birding day.