Photo Gallery
Steve Rooke, Killian Mullarney and David Fisher
![Lying in the sparkling Aegean Sea, the unspoilt island of Lesvos is home to some special birds that can be hard to see elsewhere, such as this beautiful Cinereous Bunting,…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508726169_de3529b376_o.jpg?)
Lying in the sparkling Aegean Sea, the unspoilt island of Lesvos is home to some special birds that can be hard to see elsewhere, such as this beautiful Cinereous Bunting,…
![…and the range-restricted Kruper’s Nuthatch](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508726299_72c176c52e_o.jpg?)
…and the range-restricted Kruper’s Nuthatch
![Steeped in the history of ancient Greece, Lesvos is dotted with gleaming white villages and sleepy coastal harbours, all with their own tempting tavernas – a great place to take lunch.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508728904_efccff8c25_b.jpg?)
Steeped in the history of ancient Greece, Lesvos is dotted with gleaming white villages and sleepy coastal harbours, all with their own tempting tavernas – a great place to take lunch.
![At the time of our visit the island is awash with wildflowers](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508836355_b523a223a1_b.jpg?)
At the time of our visit the island is awash with wildflowers
![Including some rare species such as this Serapias orchid](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508575843_1f2e940670_b.jpg?)
Including some rare species such as this Serapias orchid
![But for many birders the main attraction is the wonderful procession of migrants returning to their breeding grounds, perhaps best typified by the European Bee-eater](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508836730_390a65a190_b.jpg?)
But for many birders the main attraction is the wonderful procession of migrants returning to their breeding grounds, perhaps best typified by the European Bee-eater
![And the stunning European Roller](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507525717_299986a47b_o.jpg?)
And the stunning European Roller
![The numerous wetlands are home to some classic Mediterranean species such as Black-winged Stilt…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507525557_cd87a2e8ba_o.jpg?)
The numerous wetlands are home to some classic Mediterranean species such as Black-winged Stilt…
![…and Squacco Heron](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508412061_64b14877cf_o.jpg?)
…and Squacco Heron
![But they also pull in lots of migrants, like White-winged Black Terns](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507537687_aedd51a39e_b.jpg?)
But they also pull in lots of migrants, like White-winged Black Terns
![And flocks of Whiskered Terns](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508838350_2bae02cf6d_b.jpg?)
And flocks of Whiskered Terns
![Various shorebirds take advantage of the wetlands as well – here a Wood Sandpiper (back) and Green Sandpiper (foreground)](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508413006_f5fd941ce6_o.jpg?)
Various shorebirds take advantage of the wetlands as well – here a Wood Sandpiper (back) and Green Sandpiper (foreground)
![While a Temminck’s Stint shares a pool with a White Wagtail](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508730334_94a5d4f10c_b.jpg?)
While a Temminck’s Stint shares a pool with a White Wagtail
![There could be elegant Collared Pratincoles hawking insects over the marshes](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508730204_4085b2020a_o.jpg?)
There could be elegant Collared Pratincoles hawking insects over the marshes
![And they might be joined by the much scarcer Black-winged Pratincole](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508730549_550aa91eea_o.jpg?)
And they might be joined by the much scarcer Black-winged Pratincole
![The assemblage of herons and egrets should include the beautiful Purple Heron](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508731314_8ed4682721_b.jpg?)
The assemblage of herons and egrets should include the beautiful Purple Heron
![And bronze Glossy Ibis](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508839780_6805f50d50_b.jpg?)
And bronze Glossy Ibis
![We may find Little Crake creeping around the edge of reed-fringed pools](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508415791_3c79aee56c_b.jpg?)
We may find Little Crake creeping around the edge of reed-fringed pools
![Or a smart Citrine Wagtail picking its way along a small stream](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508581593_64b0464391_b.jpg?)
Or a smart Citrine Wagtail picking its way along a small stream
![There will also be several races of Yellow Wagtail, such as the distinctive ‘Black-headed’ Wagtail](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507529727_3fc0736fa2_b.jpg?)
There will also be several races of Yellow Wagtail, such as the distinctive ‘Black-headed’ Wagtail
![Or the delightful ‘Sykes’s Wagtail, en route to the steppes of Central Asia](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53510193921_733b5eef88_o.jpg?)
Or the delightful ‘Sykes’s Wagtail, en route to the steppes of Central Asia
![It’s important to keep an eye to the skies as birds drifting overhead could include Black Stork,…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507530627_be43c2f889_b.jpg?)
It’s important to keep an eye to the skies as birds drifting overhead could include Black Stork,…
![…Short-toed Eagle](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508580893_1627cc66eb_o.jpg?)
…Short-toed Eagle
![Or a mighty Griffon Vulture](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508735589_3d29a8f058_b.jpg?)
Or a mighty Griffon Vulture
![While along the coast we may catch sight of an Audouin’s Gull](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507530887_117e21f325_b.jpg?)
While along the coast we may catch sight of an Audouin’s Gull
![And further out, flocks of Yelkouan Shearwaters stream past](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508844130_ea2c2570da_b.jpg?)
And further out, flocks of Yelkouan Shearwaters stream past
![The sound track to our days out is bound to include the jangling song of Corn Buntings,…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508735229_f74afe09f1_b.jpg?)
The sound track to our days out is bound to include the jangling song of Corn Buntings,…
![…the distinctive rattle of Cirl Buntings](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508741149_f49ce6b103_b.jpg?)
…the distinctive rattle of Cirl Buntings
![and the mellifluous tones of Easten Orphean Warbler](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507532797_22575d1911_o.jpg?)
and the mellifluous tones of Easten Orphean Warbler
![It can take some work to find the wonderfully camouflaged roosting Scops Owl](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508420336_4f1d063f1b_b.jpg?)
It can take some work to find the wonderfully camouflaged roosting Scops Owl
![Whereas the local Little Owls are usually much easy to locate](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508741334_3d100a7ebd_b.jpg?)
Whereas the local Little Owls are usually much easy to locate
![Lesvos is covered in wild, bushy areas and shady olive groves,…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507534957_3ffaceb076_b.jpg?)
Lesvos is covered in wild, bushy areas and shady olive groves,…
![…which are ideal habitat for local specialities such as Ruppell’s Warbler](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508847480_823150ba38_b.jpg?)
…which are ideal habitat for local specialities such as Ruppell’s Warbler
![And also for shrikes such as this Masked Shrike freshly arrived from it’s wintering grounds in East Africa](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53507535702_0f8da5947c_o.jpg?)
And also for shrikes such as this Masked Shrike freshly arrived from it’s wintering grounds in East Africa
![Or these Woodchat Shrikes which scan for prey from the bush tops](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508586393_56e88012db_b.jpg?)
Or these Woodchat Shrikes which scan for prey from the bush tops
![One of the real pleasures of birding during Spring migration is not knowing what is going to pop up next. It could be a dapper Collared Flycatcher](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508573333_c6d5d912c5_b.jpg?)
One of the real pleasures of birding during Spring migration is not knowing what is going to pop up next. It could be a dapper Collared Flycatcher
![or the equally smart Eastern Black-eared Wheatear](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508834410_14d939023e_b.jpg?)
or the equally smart Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
![There’s a good chance of bumping into a dainty Red-breasted Flycatcher](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508573133_22eb49da33_o.jpg?)
There’s a good chance of bumping into a dainty Red-breasted Flycatcher
![Or finding a Red-throated Pipit heading for its Arctic breeding grounds](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F53508728494_0e04704b31_b.jpg?)
Or finding a Red-throated Pipit heading for its Arctic breeding grounds