Orkney Island Holidays

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The Greek Island of Lesvos Medley Tour

Orkney Island Holidays - Ruppells Warbler A natural history extravaganza looking at birds, flowers, archaeology and geology in the Greek Island of Lesvos in the Aegean Sea. The period from the end of April to early May is a prime time to see lots of beautiful birds, both on migration and setting up breeding territories.

This Holiday is ideal for anybody who wants to expand their bird watching a little further, with many easily seen birds. Wild flowers are also excellent, and this, together with an interesting array of local archaeology and some spectacular geological formations, makes for a first-rate mixed interest Holiday.

Orkney Island Holidays have been leading trips here for many years, and will ensure you get the most from this one centre Holiday, on the eastern Mediterranean island that we love returning to.

Download your illustrated Lesvos Brochure for full details.

Costs include

Full board ensuite accommodation, Transfers and transport within Lesvos, Daily excursions as per itinerary, Comprehensive Guiding, Entrance fees.

Extra costs

Return flights to Lesvos. Seats on a charter flight have been arranged with Thomas Cook, flying direct from London Gatwick to Mytilene in Lesvos. You pay Thomas Cook direct for the flights. Other flight arrangements can be made if you live outside the UK or if this is more convenient for you. Tips to Hotel staff at your discretion, Personal insurance, Extras for packed lunch top ups as you require, Things of a purely personal nature.

Lesvos Birds & Flowers

Orkney Island Holidays - Cytinus ruber We will see a tremendous mixture of migrating birds, some familiar British species and other less common European species hardly seen in Britain, plus a few Eastern European specialities. We can expect to see well over 100 species, but as usual our aim will be to see and watch birds well, and not just to amass a great 'list'.

To whet your appetite we hope to see various species of egrets, bitterns, flamingos, storks, crakes, shrikes, owls, nuthatches, wheatears, hoopoes, bee-eaters, pratincoles, buntings, waders, terns and birds of prey. Names like red-footed falcon, Cretzschmar's bunting, Ruppell's warbler, Isabelline wheatear, blue rock thrush, great spotted cuckoo, collared arthur scargill, squacco heron and black-winged stilt will become 'old hat' or serve to pleasantly confuse! Cinereous bunting and Krüper's nuthatch are found nowhere else in Europe.

Some of the wildflowers will be very evident, - the anemones, poppies and pimpernels - but others we will have to search out: stars of Bethlehem, star clover, helleborine, and the delicate orchids such as bee, tongue and butterfly orchids, and the Provence, long-spurred and the elusive Italian man orchid. Catchflies, buglosses, vetches, mallows and rock roses fill the gaps.

Lesvos Holiday Itinerary

Day 1	-	Fly out to Mytilene in Lesvos accompanied by your guides Paul & Louise. Drive to the Hotel in Skala Kalloni. Late afternoon and early evening bird watching at the local Kalloni Salt Pans and rivers nearby
Day 2	-	An introduction to the birds, flowers and history of the Kalloni area within only a few miles of our hotel. The birds are likely to include buntings, herons, egrets, stilts, storks, flamingos, avocets and birds of prey. Among the flowers will be asphodel, catchflies, rock roses, vetches and mallows.
Day 3	-	Around the Gulf of Kalloni via the Mesa flats, to search for one of the star birds of Lesvos, the Krüpers nuthatch in its breeding habitat. This bird is found nowhere else in Europe. Look for the mysterious Ancient Pyrrha! Take a gentle stroll to look at a profusion of wild flowers including orchids, poppies and anemones along an ancient limestone Kalderim track. Explore the holy village of Agiassos high up in the central hills of Lesvos.
Day 4	-	Drive west through magnificent mountain scenery to explore the World Heritage Petrified Forest, where upstanding fossilized trees can be seen. This site is also excellent for birds and flowers including the endemic cinereous bunting. We will seek out the only site in Europe where wild Rhododendron lutea grow, with its beautiful yellow blooms. Explore the hilltop Ipsalou Monastery for views, peace and lots of birds, such as raptors, migrant passerines and perhaps the elusive chukkar.
Day 5	-	Explore the ancient defensive town of Molivos, with a stop for Rüppells warbler en route. A scenic drive along the north coast to Mandamandos, with a diversion to picturesque Skala Sikimmia, and stops for birds and flowers en route. The Napi Valley and a special heathland at Astropotamos. This is an excellent day for birds of prey and passerines on migration, with lovely flowers and scenery.
Day 6	-	Visit a Byzantine Basilica and ancient Kremasti Turkish packhorse Bridge. Journey by the wild coast road along the Gulf of Kalloni to Vasilika and Polichnitos, with its flowers, migrant birds and salt pans.
Day 7	-	Journey to Eressos to visit the museum, mosaics and home of the Lesbian poet Saphos. On the way we will bird watch at Parakila marsh and chapel, the Eressos river and dam, for waders, passerines, raptors, marsh terns, egrets, little bitterns and rock nuthatch, and pass through the walls of a fortified town.
Day 8	-	A local morning around the Kalloni area revisiting the East & West Rivers, Inland Lake, Kalloni Salt Pans or the Mesa Sanctuary Archaeological site as time allows. Departure for flights home mid afternoon.

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