Walking in the Dark

With daylight hours so short at this time of year and weather so changeable, it can be difficult for someone like me to get his exercise. Therefore, I sometimes take a walk at dusk, or even after dark if the rain's stopped and the wind dies down. One of the added benefits of this is to hear, and even see, some nocturnal wildlife. Colyton can offer some nice surprises.           

Tawny Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

Tawny Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

More often heard than seen, I have occasionally glimpsed the local Tawnies by streetlight in the middle of the night from my window. This rare opportunity to photograph one in daylight was probably a once-only experience.           

Tawny Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

Don't worry, I didn't disturb it. It was still there when I left...                        

Tawny Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

Tawny Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

Going back a few months, we had Little Owls showing during the Summer and Autumn.                    

           

Little Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

Little Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )    

Reviewing 2014 The Last of Lesvos!

Ruppell's Warbler ( Copyright T D Wright )

Snake-eyed Lizard ( Copyright T D Wright )

Yes, it's very small that's why I blew it up to the max! I wish I'd photographed more of the non-avian wildlife on Lesvos as there are Scarce and Southern Swallowtails there plus Persian Squirrels of which I saw many. One disappointment was Med. Monk Seal but they are getting very rare now according to Steve Dudley's book. Still, it's good to have something to go back for- I saw Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters from the West of the island but a boat trip would be a good idea next time as you really want to see why they're not Manx or Cory's, don't you?               

Beautiful Greek Girl ( Copyright T D Wright )

This young lady worked at the Hotel and was marvellous, bringing me a jug of low-fat milk each morning and looking after all the birders that were staying ( yes, there were lots of us). Those of you who like 'reflective' shots should appreciate this one! Before you ask, yes I did ask her permission to take a few pix. This candid shot was nice but then she spotted me...              

Beautiful Greek Girl ( Copyright T D Wright )

And posed nicely...              

Beautiful Greek Girl ( Copyright T D Wright )

If only the wildlife was so co-operative. I sent her copies of these pix so she got something for her trouble. I hope to return to Lesvos but there are so many other places to visit. If anybody wants to donate money to my Fighting Fund ( 'Tim needs a holiday' un-registered charity) I would be grateful!

Colyton Winter Walks

Daffodils and Snowdrops ( Copyright T D Wright )

Well, while the car's been unavailable I've re-acquainted myself with parts of Colyton I've been neglecting. It's amazing how Spring seems to arrive in January, with several species of birds singing and Daffs, Snowdrops and Hazel catkins already on show.     

Snowdrops ( Copyright T D Wright )

Daffodils ( Copyright T D Wright )

We seem to have loads of Chaffinches everywhere and no shortage of Green and Goldfinches. Sidmouth rd. Cem. has also yielded Bullfinch. Along Ridgway I came across 2 Nuthatches and several Redwings. Down by the Umborne brook were Fieldfares and Mipits plus 30 Little Egrets in one field ( what are they feeding on? ). Tawny Owls are still around but the Little Owls have clearly dispersed. Let's hope they return to breed again.We still have some Black redstarts in Seaton and Beer though...

Black Redstart ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black Redstart ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black Redstart (Copyright T D Wright )

Black Redstart ( Copyright T D Wright )

A walk along the Coly as far as Colyford surprisingly failed to produce Dipper. Oh well, at least there were thrushes about...      

Fieldfare ( Copyright T D Wright )

      

Redwing ( Copyright T D Wright )

Let's hope the coming weather brings birds in!

Kentish Plovers Lesvos May 2014

Kentish Plovers were quite common on Lesvos especially around the Gulf of Kalloni coastline. This included the marsh in front of my hotel but best for photography was this spot beyond Skamioudi. I expect they breed there as it seems ideal.   

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Wood Sandpiper ( Copyright T D Wright )

This Wood Sand stopped by, as did Common and Little Terns feeding close in. Slender - billed Gulls were about plus Yellow-legged Gulls and Ruddy Shelducks. Not a bad spot, an excellent Taverna just up the road was also right by the water so we had Red Mullet fish dinners just like the gulls and terns feeding alongside us! Whilst waiting for dessert the splashing of the terns plunge-diving kept me amused as did the ambient Greek/Turkish music in the restaurant part of the Taverna.     

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Kentish Plovers ( Copyright T D Wright )

Little Tern ( Copyright T D Wright )

Earning your Spurs

If the keen birder checks all of the small pools surrounding Kalloni saltpans area he might increase his holiday list. The lagoons to the North and East were particularly fruitful, yielding up to ten Great Whites and several Temminck's. I failed to see a Terek sand which got mentioned but stumbled upon this beauty...   

Spur-winged Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

When I got back to the Hotel, another birder responded to my 'news' by saying 'Oh that's been there a week'. Oh well, I didn't know that this particular pool had anything on it so I feel as though I earned it, even if somebody already found it! I hadn't even realised this pool was known to anybody else, as I never saw them checking it! Anyhow, I'm glad that a number of birders got to enjoy it. What an extraordinary-looking bird...          

Spur-winged Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Spur-winged Plover ( Copyright T D Wright )

Sorry the pics aren't better but I couldn't get any closer or I would've flushed it. Fortunately, the Stilts were much more tame...         

Black-winged Stilt ( Copyright T D Wright )

I reckon they were all escapes...   

Black-winged Stilt ( Copyright T D Wright )

All 10,000 of them...

Black-winged Stilt ( Copyright T D Wright )

Just like all the Black and White Storks are tame, obviously escaped, birds...     

Black-winged Stilt ( Copyright T D Wright )

I mean, the White Storks nest on the little church in Skala Kallonis and the Black stork by the road bridge near our hotel was NOT easily flushable. I think they must have learned to tolerate humans; a reciprocal arrangement, I guess. Or I hope, at least.

Reviewing Lesvos Will it Never End?

Well, while my car has been failing its MOT I've checked Sidmouth Rd. Cem. several times but nothing as good as the December Yellow-browed. Just Blackcap, Bullfinch, Redwing and 4 species of tit plus Peregrine and Sparrowhawk over. Therefore, I will continue with the Greek backlog as it will be very satisfying when I've completed this 'project'.   

Ruff ( Copyright T D Wright )

Another joy of foreign birding is the species we also get in Britain but which look different. The Jays have black caps, Long-tailed Tits lack pink and Ruffs have red legs. Wacky,eh?    

Night Herons ( Copyright T D Wright )

                             At the start of week 2, there was a large influx of Night Herons. Here are two of them.  

Night Herons ( Copyright T D Wright )

                       And here is another flock of 24!    

Night Herons ( Copyright T D Wright )

                               They flew right over the Hotel!  

Night Herons ( Copyright T D Wright )

                                    What a marvellous breakfast that was...            

Night Herons ( Copyright T D Wright )

                                          Spur-winged plover up next, plus more Stilt pics. Happy Chinese New Year!

Lesviot Black-headed Bunts

Black-headed Bunting ( Copyright T D Wright )

As promised, here are the rest of my BHB pics. I like the one where it turns its head away best.    

Black-headed Bunting ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black-headed Bunting ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black-headed Bunting ( Copyright T D Wright )

Corn Bunting, Lesser Grey & RB Shrike ( Copyright T D Wright )

I only include the above pic to show what the bushes around Sigri can be like. Another bush might have  BHB as well! There were Pied flies nearby and Golden Orioles too. In the Sigri/ Faneromeni area I also had Ortolan Bunting and less common migrants such as Garden Warbler. Lesvos does well for Sylvia warblers, lots of Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat plus Blackcap and Barred warbler. The 2 commonest warblers were Eastern Subalpine and Wood warbler, although Eastern Olivaceous ran them pretty close. Just too many species to photograph!