The northern part of Lesbos is not visited as often by birders as the more popular salt pans, Tsiknias river ford and Alykes wetlands areas of the south but it does have some good birding sites. One of the best is the Molyvos Reservoir, which has waders on the reservoir itself, with the surrounding fields also being productive. In May 2025 a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker were resident close to the reservoir, drawing in the birding groups. We were lucky enough to see them on one visit, although it was difficult getting good photographs as the birds stubbornly remained within bushes. Close to the reservoir we saw Common Cuckoo, Woodchat Shrike and Red-backed Shrike, which was very common across the island during this visit,.
A site that was very reliable for good birds a few years ago was a lay-by on the coast road just south of Molyvos. It used to be one of the prime locations for Ruppell’s Warbler and we had good views of this species there during our visit to the island in 2017. On the two occasions in 2025 when we were on the coast road we stopped in the lay-by, but only had views of a Jay and a distant Blue Rock Thrush.
The cliff-top road along the northern coast of Lesbos offers spectacular views across to Turkey and can also be good for birds, which are drawn to the tree-lined valleys running down to the ocean. Unfortunately, on this trip it was raining as we drove between Molyvos and Skala Sikamineas so there were few birds to be seen, except Yellow-legged Gulls and the occasional cormorant fishing on the ocean.
When we reached Skala Sikamineas we ate at the Anemoessa restaurant near the harbour where we enjoyed the excellent, locally-caught seafood.
On a second visit to the northern part of the island we ate at the Octopus restaurant near the harbour in Molyvos. Luckily, the weather was much better than during our earlier visit to this part of the island and we could eat outside.
