Destinations
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Lesvos 23 – 30 September 2010
Birds
Although famed as a destination to see spring bird migration, Lesvos in autumn can be very rewarding for the birdwatcher with a steady trickle of warblers, shrikes, chats, flycatchers and bee-eaters passing through the island. Given luck and a fair wind, we should see migrating raptors including Eleonora's falcon, short-toed eagle and maybe lesser spotted eagle.
Resident species include Sardinian warbler in coastal scrub, chukar, blue rock thrush and western rock nuthatch in rockier places plus sombre tit and middle spotted woodpecker in olive groves. Of special interest on Lesvos is the sought-after Krüper’s nuthatch, a species of Middle Eastern origin that is very difficult to see elsewhere in Europe.
We should also see a wide range of wetland birds including greater flamingo, black stork, great white egret and migrant waders – marsh sandpiper is a good possibility.
Flowers
Lesvos has a great botanical diversity with over 1500 species of plants being recorded, but by September the range will be largely restricted to Mediterranean scrub, some later wayside flowers, and the occasional autumn-flowering speciality, such as Cyclamen and autumn squill. The beach at Vatera has patches of the autumn-flowering sea daffodil.
Other wildlife
Balkan (stripe-necked) terrapins are common in wetland areas and we may also see the rarer European pond terrapin. Balkan green lizards are quite common, as are starred agama lizards. With a bit of searching we may also see the European tree frog. The commonest mammal is the Persian squirrel and we may be lucky enough to see beech marten in the woodlands. Butterflies at this time could include Lang’s short-tailed blue and cardinal. There should also be some late-flying dragonflies.
Black storks and little egrets (Jenny Loring)
Lesvos bird books: there are two 'where to watch birds' books for Lesvos reviewed here
Raptor migration: John Bowers from Friends of Green Lesbos has summarised counts of migrating birds of prey over the island in several autumns. You can read his reports here.
Krüper’s nuthatch
Starred agama (Rob Lucking)
