On our first full day in Lesbos (7 May) we started by birding around our accommodation before travelling south towards the centre of the island. Just outside the apartment we had spectacular views of the town of Molivos and in the foreground can be seen the dry scrub that is a feature of much of the island. One of the first birds we saw was the House Sparrow, which is so familiar from home. More unusual birds for us were the Turtle Dove and Yellow-legged Gull.
Heading south along the coast road we stopped at a lay-by which we’d read was a good birding location. This certainly proved to be the case and one of the first birds we saw was a beautiful male Black-headed Bunting, soon followed by the equally stunning Western Subalpine Warbler. A Black-eared Wheatear appeared on a bush on the slope leading down to the ocean from the lay-by, along with an Eastern Orphean Warbler.
We then drove south to Skala Kalloni in the centre of the island and visited the eastern side of the town and a ford that provides a crossing of the Tsiknias river. The narrow roads either side of the river are excellent for birding and we saw Reed Warbler, Common Nightingale and Black-headed Bunting. In the river were Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Squacco Heron, Ruff and Yellow-legged Gull. We also saw the first of many Crested Lark that are such a feature of the ialsnd.
After lunch in Scala Kalloni we made our first visit to the salt pans, which are a famous birding location a short distance to the east of the town. The salt pans consist of several large areas of water which draw in many waders. When we visited we saw Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo, Pied Avocet and Ruff on the lakes. Around the pans were Corn Bunting, Common Whitethroat, Spanish Sparrow and the inevitable Crested Lark. A highlight was seeing European Bee-eaters perching on tree stumps and flying over. We also got in-flight shots of Ruddy Shelduck and Common Tern.
