The Abundant Birdlife of Skala Kallonis

The beautiful Greek island of Lesbos (aka Lesvos) is alive with the sights, sounds and vivacity of myriad migrant and resident birds. The island is renowned as one of the best places in Europe for birders, and those who embark on one of the dedicated bird holidays in Lesbos are in for the experience of a lifetime – with an astounding diversity and abundance of species to be encountered.

The Habitat of Skala Kallonis

The island's varied geography supports a range of habitats including the rich wetland environment favoured by migratory species in the spring and autumn, along with resident waders and waterfowl. Many of the bird holidays in Lesbos focus on these wetlands, particularly the area around the charming village of Skala Kallonis.

Geography

The economy of Skala Kallonis revolves around nature and agriculture and the bay off the village is famous for its abundance of sardines, which are reputedly the best in the world due to the intense mineral content of the water. The fertile valley in which the village sits is bordered by mountains and is a spectacular vision of wildflowers in the spring, but for the main part it is the wetlands - comprising salt-pans, marshes, estuaries, reed beds and pools - that attract the vast numbers of migratory birds that are so sought after by wildlife enthusiasts.

Abundant Avifauna

There are at least 134 avian species found in the Skala Kallonis wetlands, with around half that number migratory – mainly waders, herons and marsh terns. The amount of time these migrants spend on the island varies, but in terms of birdwatching it's a never-ending procession of arrivals and departures as huge numbers stop off on their way to their northern breeding grounds.

Among the breeding species that can be seen on springtime bird watching holidays in Lesbos here are Lesser Kestrel, Long-legged Buzzard, Blackeared Wheatears, Cretzschmar’s Buntings, Lesser Grey and Masked Shrikes, Bee-eater, Ruppell’s and Olive-tree Warblers and Rock Nuthatch. Less common are the much sought after local birds the Cinereous Bunting and Kruper's Nuthatch.

Around the pools egrets and herons gather in abundance alongside Red-footed Falcons, Black-winged Stilts and Collared Pratincoles. In the past few years a number of Central Asian species have begun stopping off on the island, including Spur-winged Plover, Lanner Falcon, Citrine Wagtail, Great Snipe and White-throated Robin.

The saltpans make for superb birdwatching anytime of the year with a raft of species making their home in this unique habitat. Among the myriad species are Gull-billed Tern, Roller Avocet, Stone Curlew, European Bee-eater, Black Stork, Rufous Bush Robin, Mediterranean Gull, Collared Pratincole, Greater Flamingo, Red-necked Phalarope, Spoonbill, Tawny Pipit, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian, Common and LittleTern, and Red-footed Falcon.

Bay of Kallonis

While most people who venture to this beautiful part of the island on holidays in Lesbos come specifically for the avifauna of the wetlands, the huge Bay of Kallonis itself is an impressive sight and is alive with a vast number of fish, crabs and other water creatures. For amateur photographers, this is one of the most rewarding places to come, and the bay provides the best opportunity on the island to capture images of the delicately coloured flamingos.

For anyone interested in learning more about migrant avian species, there are very few places more fulfilling than this.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer with a special interest in bird watching. As a passionate lover of birds, Marissa chooses the expert-led bird holidays in Lesbos organised by Naturetrek, which have brought her unforgettable sightings of a wide range of wildlife in some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.