The following Lesvos records have been accepted by the Hellenic Rarities Committee (HRC).
02 March 2011
Corn crake | Ορτυκομάνα | Crex crex
2005 One record (accepted by HRC): one seen taking tadpoles at Faneromeni Upper Ford in 8 May (photo: D Walbridge & R Wilkins) (LB09, HRC10 in prep).
white-tailed plover (lapwing) | Λεύκουρη Καλημάνα | Vanellus leucurus
2001 One record (accepted by HRC): adult Mesa 7 May (J.A. & K.L. Hazell et al) (HRC10 in prep).
This is the first accepted record for Lesvos (HRC10 in prep).
Terek Sandpiper | Ρωσότρυγγας | Xenus cinereus
2010 Three records (accepted by HRC): ad Kalloni Saltpans 29 Apr (photo: W Bowell et al); juv Kalloni Saltpans 27 Jul (photo: G Brodie); ad Faneromeni 29 Sept (photo: D & C Wallbank) (HRC10 in prep).
GREY Phalarope (RED PHALAROPE) | Κόκκινος Φαλαρόποδας | Phalaropus fulicarius
2010 One record (accepted by HRC): 1 Polichnitos Saltpans 31 Oct – 3 Nov (photo: W & E Kappes, T Robinson) (HRC10 in prep).
This is the first record for Lesvos.
blue-cheeked Bee-eater | Πράσινος Μελισσοφάγος | Merops persicus
2010 One record (accepted by HRC): 1 Kalloni Saltpans 19 May (D Vieuxtemps, M Mahy) (HRC10 in prep).
yellow-browed warbler | Κιτρινόφρυδος Φυλλοσκόπος | Phylloscopus inornatus
2010 Two records (accepted by HRC): 1 Vergias (Chalandra) River mouth, Skala Eresou, 29 Mar (J-P & S Siblet) and 1 Akrasi 19 Sept (J & S Bowers) (HRC10 in prep).
These are the first two records for Lesvos. There are nine previous Greek records.
finsch’s wheatear | Βουνοπετρόκλης | Oenanthe finschii
2010 One record (accepted by HRC): male Ipsilou 8 Apr (photo: N Probonas, T Kastritis, S Zakkak, V Trigou, K Gaganis, T Kominos, A Galanaki) (HRC10 in prep).
This is only the second accepted record for Lesvos and the third record for Greece
HRC found the following the following records ‘not proven’ and are therefore not accepted.
2010
Siberian Stonechat | Μαυρολαίμης | Saxicola torquata maura Skala Polichnitou 21 Jan & 28 Feb
Isabelline Shrike | Ξανθοκεφαλάς | Lanius isabellinus Petra 23 Aug
Ring Ouzel | Χιονοκότσυφας | Turdus torquatus Tsiknias River 21 May
2009
Oriental Turtle Dove | Ελατοτρύγονο | Streptopelia orientalis Potamia 1 Jan
White-throated Kingfisher | Σμυρναλκυόνη | Halcyon smyrnensis Sigri 11 Sept
Siberian Stonechat | Μαυρολαίμης | Saxicola torquata maura Vatera 15 Nov
05 March 2010
siberian Stonechat | Μαυρολαίμης
Saxicola torquata maurus
2009 One record (accepted by HRC): 1 near Vatera 15 Nov (T Robinson: due HRC 09).
This is the first record for Lesvos and the first of three ‘eastern’ Stonechats maurus/variegatus recorded in Greece to be accepted as maura.
Western Cattle Egret | Γελαδάρης
Bubulcus ibis
2008 Three records (accepted by HRC): 1 nr Tsiknias River Mouth 25 Apr (photo: S P Dudley, M Denman et al: HRC 08); 1 Skala Eresou 16 May (R Ulph: HRC 08); and 1 Polichnitos Saltpans Dec 08 (photo: T Robinson: HRC 08). 2007 One record (accepted by HRC): 1 nr Sigri Dec 07 (E Kakalis, E Gribylakou: HRC 07).
Steppe Eagle | Στεπαετός
Aquila nipalensis
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): a sub-adult near Efthalou 26 Apr (I & S Bambrough & S P Dudley: HRC 08). The first accepted record for Lesvos
Corncrake | Ορτυκομάνα
Crex crex
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): 2 first-year (1CY) birds found shot dead Akrotiri 28 Sept (M Kapiotas, I Peeters-Lenglet, I Peeters-Lenglet: HRC 08). There have been at least 17 records. 34 of the 49 individuals recorded have been found illegally hunted.
Caspian Plover | Στεποσφυριχτής
Charadrius asiaticus
2009 One record (accepted by HRC): a female on the Alykes Wetlands (G Oldham; H Booth & J Potts) is only the second confirmed record for the island (HRC 09 in prep).
Terek Sandpiper | Ρωσότρυγγας
Xenus cinereus
2009 One record (accepted by HRC): one at Polichnitos Saltpans 13 May (photo: W Lopau, T Robinson, S P & E F Dudley: HRC 09 in prep). The fifth record for the island.
2003: One record (accepted by HRC): an adult Skala Kallonis 10 May (video: S Pogson: HRC 08).
Red Knot | Κοκκινοσκαλίδρα
Calidris canutus
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): an adult Polichnitos Saltpans 3 Sept 07 (photo: T Robinson: HRC 08). 2007 One record (accepted by HRC): an adult Kalloni Saltpans 23 Apr 05 (S P Dudley & D McDonald: HRC 08). The first two records for the island recently accepted by HRC.
Pectoral Sandpiper | Θωρακωτή Σκαλίδρα
Calidris melanotos
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): a juvenile at Polichnitos Saltpans 24 Sept 08 (photo: T Robinson, S P Dudley & M Newell: Dudley 2009, HRC 08). The first record for the island, and only the fourth record for Greece.
Little Swift | Μικροσταχτάρα
Apus affinis
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): 1 Skala Eresou 27 Apr 04 (S P Dudley: HRC 08). The first record for the island, and only the fourth record for Greece.
STEPPE Shrike | Διπλοκεφαλάς της Μεσογείου
Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris
2008: one record: a single bird nr Vatera 21 Sept (G Sellors: HRC 08). The the first record of pallidirostris for Greece.
bluethroat | Γαλαζολαίμης
Luscinia svecica
2008 One record (accepted by HRC): a first-winter (1CY) Pithariou Reservoir 22 Sept (S P & E F Dudley: HRC 08). The first record for Lesvos.
