From the blog

Best birding locations on Lesvos

Some of the best locations on the island for birding are:

1. Kalloni Wetlands (Aristotle’s Lagoon)
This large area east of Kalloni and the Tsiknias River is a big draw for many open country migrant and wetland species including herons, storks, waders, rare pelicans, gulls, terns and wildfowl.

2. Ypsilou Monastery
Ypsilou is about 10km east of Sigri on the west coast and is one of the top migrant areas in both spring and autumn. Breeding birds include Cinereous Bunting, Rock Sparrow, Isabelline Wheatear and Sombre Tit.

3. Potamia Valley and Metochi Inland Lake
The area around the Kalloni-Parakila bridge is good for waders and herons in the Spring. Upstream, the area around the weir and to the south is good for migrant Passerines and it’s possible to run into Olive-Tree Warblers beginning in May. The Metochi lake is an excellent spot for Night-Herons, Purple Herons, Little Bitterns, marsh terns, warblers and hirundines.

4. Napi Valley
The Napi Valley runs north from the Kalloni wetlands up to Mantamados and is a major migrant passage route as well as one of the main cross-island routes for raptors and other large migrating birds.

5. Faneromeni
The fields on either side of the Tapas River are great for migrant passerines and another area for observing falcons and harriers.

6. Meladia Ford
Rufous Bush Robin breeds in the scrub surrounding the river ford that’s also a major migrant trap.

7. Sigri
The fields just north of Sigri are a great migrant passerine area for spotting falcons and harriers.

8. Molyvos / Petra Reservoir
This is the primary location on the island for Ruppell’s Warbler. Check out the scrubby areas north of Petra at Kavaki and at the lay-by just above an abandoned building.

9. Skala Sykamia
The valleys along the coast are excellent for migrants and raptors and among the best spots to see Audouin’s Gull.

 

 

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All of these sites, plus many more, are featured in the best selling guide for the island, A Birdwatching Guide to Lesvos by our own  birding blogger Steve Dudley.