Lesvos Birding 2026
- Martin Roper
- May 31
- 11 min read
April and Lesvos becomes a birding mecca for birdwatchers from all over the world who descend on this authentic and traditional Greek island during spring bird migration. This will be our 6th birding adventure on this beautiful island and in the scheme of things we are relative newbies, with many visitors choosing to return year after year to take part in this annual birdwatching pilgrimage. European Roller.
Arriving on the 19th of April and staying north in Anaxos, a small coastal village that doesn't wake up until May, we had everything necessary for our trip. Quality accommodation at Hotel Anaxos, a bakery which opened early and a supermarket closing late. With Petra and Molyvos just down the road should the need arise. This turned out to be a good move as Skala Kalloni our usual destination, wasn't quite ready for the influx of birders after recent flooding.
Bee-eater on the Tsiknias river-mouth.
Many of the beach-side tavernas had been forced to temporarily close due to changes in regulation and heavy rainfall prior to our arrival had made some of the birding tracks inaccessible. We hired a car from LCH and using an established network of birders connected through WhatsApp and Lesvos Birders we navigated the more drivable routes around the island exploring a few new one's and spotting most of the birds on our wish list during our 2 week stay.
Eurasian Scops owl at the Mini soccer pitch, Kalloni.
19/04/26 Kalloni Saltpans and Alykes wetlands - below Glossy Ibis.
Open grassland and seasonal pools on Alykes wetlands was the most productive we've seen it with thousands of Waders taking full advantage of the unseasonably high levels of water. Grey heron, Purple heron, Squacco heron, Glossy Ibis, Great white egret, Little egret and Black stork were present in good numbers. Along the drainage channel we spotted Wood sandpiper, Ruff, Black-winged stilt, Kentish plover and Yellow wagtail. On the Saltpans we recorded Greater flamingo, Avocet, Yellow-legged gull and Gull-billed tern.
Other sightings of note included Barn swallow, House martin, Common swift, Northern shoveler, Common shelduck, Ruddy shelduck, Feral pigeon, Coot, Spanish sparrow, Hooded crow, Raven, Cirl bunting, Blackbird, Corn bunting, Collared dove, Crested lark, Marsh harrier and Blue tit. 35 bird species was noted in 2 hours kicking off our sightings trip list. we stopped in Skala Kalloni for refreshments before heading back. Purple Heron.
20/04/26 Perasma, Kavaki, Molyvos viewpoint, Mantamados, Kalloni Saltpans - below Greater flamingo.
At Kavaki we had Cormorant, Black-eared wheatear, Subalpine warbler and observed 75 Greater flamingo passing through. At Molyvos viewpoint we recorded Sardinian warbler and Laughing dove while at Perasma we noted Alpine swift, Chaffinch, Cretzschmar's bunting, Chiffchaff, Nightingale, Jay, Turtle dove, Ruddy shelduck, Robin, Red-backed shrike, Great tit, Red-rumped swallow, Common cuckoo, Sombre tit, Willow warbler and Short-toed snake eagle. At Vafeios watchpoint we recorded Middle spotted woodpecker, House sparrow and observed a Northern goshawk harassed by a Sparrowhawk, the size difference was considerable.
At Mantamados pond we added Moorhen, Little grebe, Sand martin, Blackcap, Reed warbler, White wagtail, Song thrush, Goldfinch, Hoopoe, Skylark, Cetti's warbler and Greenfinch to our list. Our last stop was Kalloni Saltpans recording Slender-billed gull, Eleonora's falcon, Garganey, Common tern, Little gull, Snipe, Bee-eater and Common buzzard. 74 bird species seen during the day and 76 birds added to our trip list. Northern goshawk.
21/04/26 Faneromeni and Sigri - below Male Rüppell's warbler on the road to Sigri.
West along the road into Sigri we spotted Whinchat, Lesser whitethroat, Common whitethroat, Olivaceous warbler, Stonechat, Collared flycatcher, Great spotted cuckoo, Isabelline wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, Orphean warbler, Subalpine warbler, Corn bunting, Northern wheatear, Rüppell's warbler and Black-eared wheatear. At Faneromeni we added Pied flycatcher, Spotted flycatcher, Little stint, Common sandpiper, Little-ringed plover, Kestrel, Common redstart, Woodchat shrike, Crag martin and Jackdaw to our sightings. At the Sanitarium (cheese factory) we were turned around due to the re-grading of the Meladia valley track.
Our final stop for the day was the Kalloni Saltpans where we recorded Spoonbill, Collared pratincole, Spotted redshank, Marsh sandpiper, Slender-billed gull, Little tern and a confiding Zitting cisticola to our sightings list. Other sightings included Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Grey heron, Squacco heron, Black stork, Garganey, Common tern, Gull-billed tern. 81 bird species seen during the day and 104 birds added to our trip list. Great spotted cuckoo.
22/04/26 Potamia valley and Kalloni Saltpans - below Little crake.
At Metochi lake we added Little crake, Little bittern, Great reed warbler and Sedge warbler to our tally while Common swift House martin, Barn swallow and Red-rumped swallow hawked above. 2 Wood sandpiper dropped in and Ruddy shelduck were noted with 14 ducklings. In the olive groves we also recorded Hoopoe, Masked shrike, Woodchat shrike and Red-backed shrike. At the pump station we observed Rock nuthatch, Black-eared wheatear, Corn bunting, Cirl bunting and Orphean warbler. At the old reservoir we recorded Black-crowned night heron, Squacco heron and Little grebe and at the new reservoir we noted Yellow-legged gull, Great white egret, Common tern, Common buzzard, Long-legged buzzard and Short-toed snake eagle.
At the bridge an Olive tree warbler was heard but not located, several Crag martins passed overhead. At Kalloni saltpans and west bank of the Tsiknias river we had 2f Montagu's harriers, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Marsh harrier, Black stork, Grey heron, Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Purple heron, Gull-billed tern, Slender-billed gull, Spoonbill. 80 bird species noted during the day and 116 birds added to our trip list. Orphean warbler.
23/04/2026 Filia, Kalloni Saltpans, Christou marsh and Kalloni pools - below Eastern bonelli's warbler.
At Filia we had Nuthatch, Raven, Whitethroat, Bonelli's warbler, Cirl bunting, Subalpine warbler, Spotted flycatcher, Masked shrike, Nightingale, Chaffinch, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Robin, Great tit, Blue tit and Redstart. Wren and Thrush nightingale was heard but not located. At the Saltpans we spotted White stork, Eleonora's falcon, Montagu's harrier, Red-footed falcon, Black stork, Dalmatian pelican, Whiskered tern, Avocet, Greater Flamingo, Black-winged stilt, Little egret, Great white egret, Squacco heron, Purple heron.
At Christou we noted Common tern, Cormorant, Kentish plover, Ringed plover, Yellow-legged gull and Gull-billed tern. At Kalloni pools we had Savi's warbler, Mallard, Great Reed warbler, Little crake, Cetti's warbler, Olivaceous warbler, Coot, Marsh harrier, Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Moorhen. The light was fading as we headed back to Anaxos. 76 bird species seen during the day and 126 birds added to our trip list. Savi's warbler.
24/04/26 Faneromeni, Petrified forest road and Ipsilou monastery - below Little bittern.
At Faneromeni we had Woodchat shrike, Masked shrike, Red-backed shrike, Common whitethroat, Lesser whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Spotted flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Pied flycatcher, Golden oriole, Little ringed plover, Common sandpiper, Willow warbler, Black-winged stilt, Little stint and Little bittern. At the cheese factory we recorded Hobby, Stonechat, Whinchat, Hoopoe, Sardinian warbler, Blackbird, Sparrowhawk and Eleonora's falcon. On the road to the Petrified forest we observed 2m and 1f Montagu's harrier hawking the scrubland along with Lesser kestrel, Short-toed snake eagle, Common kestrel, 1m and 1f Red-footed falcon.
Cretzschmar's bunting, Corn Bunting, Isabelline wheatear, Northern wheatear, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Black-eared wheatear, Red-throated pipit, Golden oriole and Rock sparrow. At Ipsilou we noted Blue rock thrush, Wood warbler and Pied Flycatcher. At the bottom of the hill a Cinereous bunting was singing (distant). At Anaxos we had a Barn owl. 74 bird species seen during the day and 134 birds added to our trip list. Lesser kestrel.
25/04/26 Tsiknias, Kalloni Saltpans, Achladeri, Alkoudi, Alykes wetland - Dalmatian pelicans.
At Tsiknias river-mouth we spotted Nightingale, Black-necked grebe, Yelkouan shearwater, Curlew, Great crested grebe, Common tern, Little tern and Bee-eater. At Kalloni Saltpans we noted Spur-winged plover, Redshank and Dalmatian pelican. At Turtle bridge we had Garden warbler, Serin and Krüper's nuthatch. A second pair of Krüper's was located near Vasilika lake and at Alkoudi pool a pair of Little owls were spotted. Back at the Saltpans we stopped off at hide number 1 for a Stone curlew reported in the adjacent field.
Near the pump house we recorded 3 Temminck's stint. At the Racetrack we noted 2 Tawny pipit and 3 Greater short-toed lark while on the Sheep field we recorded Bee-eater, Whinchat, Yellow wagtail, Collared pratincole and a Red fox. Over on Alykes wetlands Bittern was showing well. Other sightings included Garganey and Whiskered tern. A total of 83 bird species was noted during the day with 150 birds added to our trip list. Tawny pipit.
26/04/26 Meladia Valley from Eresos and Christou river-mouth - Icterine warbler.
From Eresos we followed the track to the Meladia valley noting Collared flycatcher, Cretzschmar's bunting, Hoopoe, Icterine warbler, male Cirl bunting with 2 juveniles. Further along the track we noted Whinchat and Isabelline wheatear at the top of the track before we began to descend. Common buzzard, Kestrel and Eleonora's falcon passed overhead. Further down the track Little owl flew from a sheep hut and landed on a boulder. Black-eared wheatear, Rock nuthatch, Barn swallow and Crested lark were seen harassing the owl. At the bottom of the track we recorded Rock sparrow, Orphean warbler, Black-headed bunting, Subalpine warbler, Short-toed snake eagle, Corn bunting, Red-backed shrike and a male Barred warbler at the riverbed.
At the ford we noted Ruddy shelduck, Little egret Squacco heron, Great reed warbler, Cetti's warbler, and Golden oriole. At the chapel we noted Great spotted cuckoo, Wood warbler, Pied flycatcher, and Orphean warbler. On our way back we called off at the Christou river-mouth noting Bee-eater, Nightingale and Kingfisher. 62 bird species was recorded during the day with 154 birds added to our trip list. Wood warbler.
27/04/26 Ipsilou monastery, Petrified forest road and Faneromeni - Male Montagu's harrier.
This morning our first stop was Ipsilou monastery looking for Cinereous bunting which was distant while Cirl, Cretzschmar's and Corn bunting were much more obliging along with a Woodlark noted singing on overhead cables. Isabelline, Black-eared and Northern wheatear were also recorded. On the road to the petrified forest it was a day for Raptors with 2 male Montagu's harriers showing really well followed by Red-footed falcon's and Lesser kestrel.
At Faneromeni we spotted Woodchat, Red-backed and Masked shrike along with Icterine and Willow warbler, Lesser whitethroat, Collared and Spotted flycatcher, Ruff, Little stint, Citrine wagtail, Black-winged stilt, Turtle dove, Cuckoo, Raven, Jackdaw, Short-toed snake eagle, Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard and Common buzzard. A total of 65 bird species was recorded during the day with 155 birds added to our trip list. Citrine wagtail.
28/04/26 Scops copse, Polichnitos, Achladeri, Agriosikos track and Kalloni Saltpans - Lesser flamingo.
This morning we returned back to scops copse and soon found a Scops owl roosting in the Eucalyptus trees. From here we headed to Polichnitos Saltpans for Lesser flamingo (only the 4th record in Greece) which was distant but viewable. Other sightings of note included Marsh harrier, Kentish plover, Cormorant, Zitting cisticola, Ruff, Sandwich tern, Short-toed snake eagle, Common kestrel, Spotted redshank, Yellow wagtail and Wood sandpiper.
On our way back we stopped near Achladeri forest for Krüper's nuthatch and Short-toed treecreeper. Our last stop of the day was over at Filia where we parked the car and walked the track to the second chapel and spotted Bonelli's warbler, Nightingale, Masked shrike, Sombre tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch. At the Kalloni Saltpans we spotted Garganey and Black-necked grebe. 64 birds during the day and 158 bird on our trip list. Krüper's nuthatch.
29/04/26 Makara, Parakila marsh, Kalloni Saltpans - Rock nuthatch.
Along the road to Makara we spotted Snipe, Lesser kestrel, Great reed warbler, Rock nuthatch, Olivaceous warbler, Common swift, Cetti's warbler, Northern wheatear, Black-eared wheatear, Yellow-legged gull, Alpine swift, House martin, Barn swallow, Sand martin, Red-rumped swallow, Yelkouan shearwater, Wood sandpiper, Subalpine warbler, Scopoli's shearwater, Common sandpiper and Little ringed plover along with several recently fledged juvenile Blue tits at the ford. At Parakila marsh we noted Little bittern, Purple heron, Grey heron and Squacco heron.
At Kalloni Saltpans we recorded Whiskered, Little, Gull-billed and White-winged tern, Red-throated pipit, Pochard, Ruddy shelduck, Garganey, Black-tailed godwit, Common shelduck, White wagtail, Collared pratincole, Black stork, Glossy ibis, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Greater flamingo, Purple heron, Grey heron, Squacco heron and Great white egret. 74 bird species seen during the day and 162 birds added to our trip list. Alpine swift.
30/04/26 Sigri, Faneromeni, Meladia Valley and Ipsilou Monastery - Olive tree warbler.
This morning at Faneromeni we noted Little stint, Avocet, Wood sandpiper, Ruff, Yellow wagtail, Sardinian warbler, Black-headed bunting, Olivaceous warbler and female Barred warbler with a male in pursuit. Other sightings included Olive tree warbler, Golden oriole, Pied flycatcher and spotted flycatcher. Continuing on to Meladia valley we noted Redstart, Red-backed shrike, Woodchat shrike, Marsh harrier, Eleonora's falcon, and several Short-toed snake eagles.
Heading back we stopped of at Ipsilou monastery and across the road we had both male and female Cinereous buntings, Black-headed wheatear and Isabelline wheatear. On the way back to Anaxos we stopped to observe a Raptor which appeared to be carrying a snake and on closer inspection it was a Common buzzard. A total of 57 bird species noted during the day and a total of 163 birds recorded on our sightings trip list. Golden oriole.
01/05/26 Scops copse, Papiana, Tsiknias river-mouth and Kalloni Saltpans - Long-eared owlet.
This morning we went looking for owls starting at the Scops copse (mini soccer pitch) in Kalloni where we had great views of a soggy Scops owl after a brief heavy downpour. This was the best view of Scops owl we managed during the handful of occasions we had dropped in. From here spurred on by our success we went to Papiana looking for Long-eared owl and after some time we located 2 juveniles and an adult in the trees near the School house. Another Scops owl called but couldn't be located, our next stop was Skala Kalloni.
At Tsiknias river-mouth we spotted Rufous-tailed scrub robin. Along the west bank we had Bee-eater, Olivaceous warbler, Cetti's warbler, Lesser grey, Masked and Woodchat shrike. The Lesser flamingo had relocated to the Kalloni saltpans and was noted with the Greater flamingo's. From the pump house we walked Lotzaria observing Curlew sandpiper. 45 bird species seen during the day and 168 birds added to our trip list. Rufous-tailed bush robin.
02/05/26 Sigri, Meladia Valley, Cheese factory and Faneromeni - Barred warbler.
Our last day we headed west for Sigri and had several roosting Golden oriole, Cretzschmar's bunting and a pair of Whinchat on the old road into Sigri while over at the cheese factory a Barred warbler kept calling but remained undercover. Other sightings of note were Hoopoe, juvenile Stonechat, Red backed and Woodchat shrike. On the track to Meladia valley a Lesser grey shrike was sharing the rusty fence with 2 Eurpean roller. Further along we had a close encounter with a male Montagu's harrier hawking on the hillside followed by good views of a Lesser kestrel.
At the chapel we had several Palid swift in a mixed flock of Common swift, Olivaceous warbler, Cirl bunting, Chiffchaff, Lesser whitethroat, Masked and Red-backed shrike. Beyond the ford we noted another Roller and had several more Golden oriole. Retuning to the cheese factory we had Red-footed falcon, 2 more roller, Common Kestrel and Barred warbler. 54 Bird species seen during the day and 172 birds in total on our trip list. Red-footed falcon.
Buntings
This trip we recorded Cretzschmar's bunting, Cinereous bunting, Corn bunting, Cirl bunting and Black-headed bunting in various locations around the island. All are breeding birds on Lesvos, Ortolan bunting which is a passage migrant, was the only bunting we didn't record on this occasion.
Shrikes
On arrival the most common sightings we had were of Woodchat shrike, this soon changed with Red-backed shrike becoming the most numerous during our trip. Masked shrike was also recorded reasonably often with several sightings of Lesser-grey shrike towards the end of our trip.
Wheatears
Black-eared wheatears (Eastern) in various distinctive colour variations were the most numerous around the island spotted at most locations we visited along with some sightings of Isabelline wheatear and the more familiar Northern wheatear. Elevated sites like Ipsilou were particularly good and had all 3 species present.
Wagtails
Western yellow wagtails were the most common and were mainly black-headed (feldegg) and blue-headed (flava). Other Yellow wagtail may be present but we didn't knowingly come across any on our travels, we also didn't record any Grey wagtail either. White wagtail was spotted several times and we had 3 Citrine wagtails.
Flycatchers
The majority noted during our visit was Collared flycatcher, Pied flycatcher and Spotted flycatcher. Semi-collared flycatcher and Red-breasted flycatcher are seen in Lesvos but we didn't have any, females can also be a little more difficult to identify.
Terns
Terns recorded this trip included Common tern, Gull-billed tern, Whiskered tern, Sandwich tern Little tern and White-winged tern all recorded at the Kalloni Saltpans during our visit. In the past we have also recorded Black tern and Caspian and in 2025 we had encounter with a passing Elegant tern at the harbour in Makara.
Raptors and Owls
Sightings during our visit included Common buzzard, Long-legged buzzard, Short-toed snake eagle, Hobby, Scops owl, Little owl, Common kestrel, Lesser kestrel, Red-footed falcon, Eleonora's falcon, Sparrowhawk, Marsh harrier, Goshawk and Long-eared owl at various locations on the island. Previous sightings included Honey buzzard and Levant sparrowhawk.
Gallery
Sightings list
Video
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