Lesvos

11th-18th May 2006

Ipsilou Monastery

Little Owl (Athene noctua)

Ipsilou Monastery is perched on the top of a hill on the eastern side of the island with a view of the coast of Turkey to the north. The trees on the south side of the monastery were quite lively, especially when a Little Owl landed in one of the trees and sent the warblers into a frenzy off mobbing behaviour.

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

The most common species we observed in the trees around the monastery were Wood Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers...

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

...but there was also an Icterine Warbler in among them.

Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

Cinereous Buntings were fairly easy to find on the slopes of the hill, with the males singing from prominent perches to declare their territory.

Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea)

This large wasp had just caught an Eastern Bath White caterpillar and was paralysing it by biting it behind the head. Once the caterpillar was placated it was carried off to be used as a living larder for the wasp's larvae.

Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea)

Also on the barren rocky slopes were several pairs of Isabelline Wheatear.

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)