Lighting insect identification shots

To get good photos of bits of insects to illustrate identification guides, I developed some software I call "Deep Focus" which will take a set of photos taken at slightly different focus settings, find the best focussed bit of each and then form a single composite image with enhanced depth of field. You can read about it, and download the software here.


One problem is lighting a specimen so that the exposure is consistent over the sequence of shots. Since so much magnification is involved, camera shake is also an ever-present problem. Eelectronic flash is an attractive option because it gives bright, consistent lighting and the very brief duration of the flash helps eliminate camera shake. The trouble is that it tends to be strongly directional, so some areas end up in deep shadow whilst other areas, particularly if they are shiny, tend to have strong and burnt-out reflections. I have therefore been experimenting with ways of using flash whilst acheiving diffuse, omni-directional lighting.


The diffuser set-up is based on a white, plastic bucket of the sort you buy things like filler in DIY shops. I cut a slot to accomodate the focussing rack of the microscope so that the bucket is about central under the microscope barrel. Oppisite this, I cut a rectangular hole for the flash gun and drilled a couple of holes (15mm) for the fibre optic lights. I still need the ordinary lighting to position the specimen even if the photos are largely illuminated using flash.


Opposite the hole for the flash, I covered the inside wall with aluminium foil. I also drilled a couple of small (5mm) holes either side of the tub just above the base. Through these, I threaded a wire pushed through a piece of plastazote on which to mount the specimen. Using this, I can move the specimen around using the wire. Finally, the specimen is surrounded by tracing paper made into a cylinder with two paperclips - and with cut-outs either side at the base to fit over the wire.


This seems to work quite well and achieves the diffuse, omni-directional lighting I was looking for. The main problem is setting up the specimen.

The best way seems to be to start by positioning the specimen as I want it under the microscope (without all the gear in the way!) on a small pice of plastazote. Then I place the whole thing - specimen and plastazote - on the piece of plastazote mounted on the wire in the middle of the diffuser. Then I put the whole diffuser set-up under the microscope and use a combination of moving the whole thing forward and backwards and sliding the plastazote sideways with the wire to centre the specimen in the field of view. Once properly positioned, the camera can be mounted and the sequence of photos taken.

The problem of focussing a digiscope

I have read many postings and articles on this subject which suggest many ways of setting up the camera and the techniques which go with them, and I have tried out several of them. So here are my experiences.

Problem 1: Using the LCD viewfinder in daylight.

The only way you have to view what the camera is "seeing" through the 'scope, so that you can frame and focus the image, is the LCD display. At least the Nikon Coolpix twisting body design allow you to position the LCD at a convenient viewing angle. But outdoors, in bright daylight, it is often very difficult to see anything in the LCD!

The solution to this is an LCD shade. I use the Eagle Eye Xtend-a-view shade which has a built in 2x magnifier which also helps with focussing. This mounts on a plate which screws into the tripod mounting thread on the camera-base and also provides a mounting point at the front for a cable-release arm.

I bought this gadget well before I tried digiscoping. I use it with the Coolpix mounted on my binocular microscope. It does its job very well: as an LCD shade, a magnifier to aid focussing, and in mounting a mechanical cable release to help avoid camera shake problems when you take a shot. The one criticism I have is the way the shade is mounted on the bracket. There is a little knurled knob which screws into the bottom of the arm on which the shade is mounted. It is always working loose, allowing the shade to swing away from the camera-back. This can get quite annoying at times.

Problem 2: Focussing modes

The first thing to say is that the camera's default mode is "Continuous autofocus". This is a disaster when using the camera mounted on a telescope or microscope - turn it off!

The camera's autofocus system works by choosing some point near the centre of the field of view and maximises its contrast by driving the focus mechanism backwars and forewards using a servo-motor. You hear the motor whir and see the focus change in the viewfinder. The problem, when it is mounted on a 'scope, is that you try and focus the image in the viewfinder using the 'scopes focussing knob. The camera picks some contrasty object in the field of view and refocusses the camera. You react by refocussing how you want it using the 'scope focus knob - and so on. This fight can go on forever without achieving a focus position that both you and the camera agree on and flattens the battery very quickly into the bargain!

There are two main approaches:

1. Turn off the camera's auto-focus and use the 'scopes focussing mechanism alone,
   
2. Use "single-shot autofocus" so that you tell the camera when to auto-focus.
   

Manual focus

On the Nokon Coolpix 4500, you engage manual focus by going to "P", "S", "A", or "M" modes (i.e. NOT the default "Auto" mode), press the "MF" button (the left-hand most button below the LCD panel) and rotate the command dial until the manual-focus display shows. This appears as a yellow bar with a tulip icon to the left (signifying close-up) and a mountain icon to the right (signifying far-off). If you rotate the command dial until the bar is all the way to the right - towards the mountain icon - then the camera is focussed at infinity.

With the camera set like this, you can now use the 'scope focus knob and the camera will not attempt to change the focus - its entirely up to you to judge when your target is in focus according to what you can see on the LCD viewfinder. The 2x magnified view provided by the EagleEye comes in handy at this point.


The problem I have found with this is that it is very difficult to get a picture with the subject sharply focussed. The three shots of a Great-tit singing in my garden were taken like this. They are three conscutive frames from a longer squence taken one after another whilst trying to focus manually. None of them came out really sharp.

With the camera mounted on a telescope, the depth of field is extremely small. Even if you have enough light to stop the camera down, you still won't get much depth of field. Consequently, focus is extremely critical - you don't have any marginn for error. The view you get via the LCD screen just isn't really good enough (it doesn't have enough pixels) to allow you to judge exactly what is in focus.

Consequently, I find manual focussing too hit and miss.

Single-shot auto-focus.

On the Coolpix 4500, you get to the auto-focus options from the "Shooting menu". In "P", "S", "A" or "M" modes, press the "Menu" button below the LCD panel and the Shooting menu is displayed. Scroll down to "Focus Option" (on the third screen down), choose "Auto-Focus Mode" (second option), and then "Single AF" (bottom option).

With this setting, half-pressure on the shutter release button causes the camera to auto-focus. It shows you, in the viewfinder, the region of the image on which it has chosen to focus by displaying a pair of red square-brackets.


In this example, it has chosen the end of the bird's wing - which is fine.

There is a lot of debate about what other settings to use with this. As you can see from the viewfinder-shot above - I have Macro-mode enabled (the yellow tulip icon near the top-left corner). The theory is that the camera is actually focussing on the image formed by the 'scope - which is very close - so Macro-mode is an advantage. I certainly find it seems to work best with "Macro" switched on.

The problem is that you have no control over the exact spot on the image at which the camera chooses to focus. The following consecutive shots of a Marsh Sandpiper show an extreme example:

The bird was on a pool which I was viewing over a bank which had sparse, tall grass growing on it. The bird was near the front of the pool, so I was viewing it through the grass. In the left-hand image, the camera's auto-focus picked the stony point and the bird is pretty much in focus. The very out-of-focus green splodges are the grass heads in the fore-ground. In the next shot, the auto-focus has chosen to focus on the grass heads and you may just be able to make out the brown haze where the bird is in the background!

Her is a more typical example:



The bird (an Isabelline Wheatear) is sitting on a rock with another rock behind it. The auto-focus has chosen the rock behind to focus on, so the bird is well out of focus - although the background rock is nice and sharp.

All you can do, I find, is half-cock the shutter, see where the auto-focus has chosen and decide whether to take or not. If it doesn't look appropriate, take the pressur off the shutter button and repeat. Depending on the nature of the image, it will rarely pick the same bit of the image to focus on twice, and it tends to pick somewhere near the centre of the image. So, if your target is centred and appears to be well-focussed through the 'scope, it will, hopefully be chosen - eventually.

The auto-focus system tends to choose highly contrasty subjects and especially likes strong horizontal or vertical lines. This makes shots in reedbeds particularly tricky! These present a great arrayof strong vertical lines (the reed stems) so exactly where it will choose to focus is very chancey.

There is one more mode that I haven't tried out. Another option under the "Shooting menu - Focus Options" is the "AF Area Mode". In the above discussion, I had left this on "Auto" - i.e. the camera choose where to focus based on maximising contrast near the centre of the image. You can set this to "Manual". You then get an array of 5 rectangles (at the centre or just above or below, or to right or left of centre). You choose which of these 5 areas will be used via the little joystick button.

I don't think it would be feasible to change the selected area whilst you were in the middle of taking a shot. Trying to manipulate the joystick button would inevitable disturnb the camera's postioning and you would probably lose the target! But it should be possible to pre-set the autofocus area and then frame the shot so your taget is postioned over the selected focus-region. I will give this a try sometime and report back.

Mounting the camera on the scope

I use a Nikon Coolpix 4500 on a Kowa TSN-823 'scope. I wanted to find a way of mounting the camera on the 'scope so that it is quick and easy to attach, take a photo and then take off again and continue birdwatching.

After a lot of searching around on the web and also talking to other birders, the LCE Adapter from the London Camera Exchange seemed the best bet. This is a very simple, bucket shaped, anodised aluminium device which screws onto the thread mount of the camera lens and then slips over the telecope eyepiece - although it still costs £50! It comes with three thumbscrews to secure it in position, but I found these very fiddly and inconvenient.

Following a tip I found on another web site, I have wrapped PVC insulating tape round the knurled zoom-grip of the eyepiece until it is padded out to the same diameter as the rubber eye-cup. The adapter now fits on quite firmly and snuggly without needing any further securing and I find that, using this set up, the camera is correctly centred on the eyepice without any need to fiddle around with mounting screws.



I also use an Eagle Eye LCD sunshade and cable-release arm which I already had for using the camera with my binocular microscope. So when I am out digiscoping, I have the LCE Adapter and the LCD shade/shutter release arm already fitted on the camera. I carry this whole assembly in a belt pouch. When I have the 'scope trained on a subject I want to try and photograph, I just lock off the pan and tilt on the tripod head, lift the pre-assembled camera out of the belt pouch and slip the LCE adapter over the eyepiece. I try to remember to turn the camera on as I get it out of the belt pouch so, by the time it is in place on the eyepiece, it is all fired up and ready to shoot and, hopefully, already lined up on the target. When I have taken the shots I want, I just lift the whole thing off the eyepiece and put it back in the belt pouch. Smple and quick!



This seems to work for me. The main problem is getting the thing onto the telescope's eyepice without disturbing the positioning of the 'scope. If the 'scope does get moved during the process, then finding the target again through the camera viewfinder can be a challenge!

Lesvos trip report, 8 - 16 April 2006

Itineray

Five of us flew to Athens from Luton on EasyJet on the evening of Saturday 8th April 2006. We had to stay a night in Athens because the flights to Mytilini are early moring.

Sunday 9th was a very early start. Up at 3:30 to get back to the airport by 5am for a 6am flight. We picked up a hire car at Mytilini and were at out apartment in Skall Kalloni in time for a walk round the pool and breakfast in a cafe.

The daily routine during the week was:

• up at 7:30 am for a walk round Skala Kalloni pool to see what had arrived, ending at the bakery for bread for the day and some breakfast
• out about 9:30 for the day
• back around 5pm for tea/cold beer then to Kalloni salt pans
• dark around 7:30pm - find a resturaunt for an evening meal

The return journey was more convenient. We birdwatched for much of Sunday 16th, with the flight to Athens not until 16:40, then the return to Luton at 20:50.

Weather

Not really tee-shirt weather except the Sunday we left. Two very windy days and one wet day. Quite cool.

Migration

This week was a bit earlier than we would ideally have liked. The following week, or the last week of April would have been better. But one of the party is a School Teacher, so we had to go during the School Easter Holiday.

It was a wet winter this year so there was plenty of water about. Skala Kalloni pool was full and there were pools on the fields around the Kalloni Salt Pans. Consequently, there was plenty of water for waders, wildfowl and herons.

Consequently, we did quite well for waders and wildfowl, with winter visitors like Teal, Pintail, Shoveller, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan still present. But we were too early for many migrants. Shrikes just started turning up during the week. We had the first of the marsh terns (Whiskered), but no White-winged black had arrived and missed Red-footed falcon and many others that would have been due over the next week or two.

Birds

Little Grebe
Daily on Skalla Kaloni pool, otherwise only on the Inland Lake on Monday 10th.

Great Crested Grebe
Most days 1 or 2 on the sea from Skala Kalloni beach. Also singles at the mouth of East River on Sunday 9th and Thursday13th and on the sea off Kalloni Salt Pans on 14, 15 and 16th. Mostly in summer plummage, but one of the birds off Skala Kalloni had not yet changed.

Black-necked Grebe
Two in summer plummage off the mouth of the East River on Sunday 9th and Thursday13th and one also in summer plummage on the sea off Kalloni Salpt Pans on 14th and 15th.


Mediterranean Shearwater
Wednesday 12th was very windy all day with a strong SW so we visited Agios Fokas - the headland on the east side of the entrance to the Kallonis inlet at the extreme south of the island. It was more like the Atlantic crashing in on the coast of Cornwall than the Mediterranean! Parties of Shearwater were passing more or less continually, all heading westwards.

Cormorant
Seen most days over the sea. For example, usually several sitting on the shingle bar at the mouth of the East River or on the jetty at the Kalloni Salt Pans.

Shag
One swimming around in the harbour at Sigri on Tuesday 11th. It eventually swam out of the harbour mouth then took off and flew out towards the offshore island to the east.

(White Pelican)
The tame bird was around the harbour at Skala Kalloni - although we only saw it on one evening. Where does it spend the rest of its time?


Bittern
West River, Monday 10th. We drove down the track on the west side of the river and surprised this bird right out in the open in a small, muddy pool beside the track. It crouched down stock still pointing its head vertically upwards about 1m infront of the vehicle. After a while it clearly realised its cover was blown and snook very slowly, still crouching, off along the track. I've never seen a bird look more embarassed! The photo was taken using the camera's standard zoom only! One at Kalloni Salt Pans on Sunday morning 16th - also a very close view. Presumably the same bird was reported in the same area on the previous two evenings although it was not seen by us.

Little Bittern
One in the base of tamerisks on the edge of Skala Kalloni pool on 9th, 10th and 15th. Kepping very still and difficult to pick up. Only visible from the beach road looking back towards the hotels. We were probably too early to see this species in the abundance I remember from my previous visit.

Night Heron
4-6 at the Inland Lake on 10, 14 and 15th. 4 roosting in tamerisks at Skala Kalloni pool on Tuesday 11th, but only 1 the following morning.


Squacco Heron
3-5 seen daily at Skala Kalloni pool. Also on the East River and Kalloni Salt Pans.

Little Egret
Seen daily on East and West Rivers, Skala Kalloni pool and the Kalloni Salt Pans.

Great White Egret
Seen daily at Kalloni Salt Pans where at least 2 birds were present. Also singles at Derbyshire, Skala Polichintos and one flying over Skalla Kalloni on the morning of Sunday 16th.

Grey Heron
Seen every day, mostly at Kalloni Salt Pans where up to 8-10 birds present. Also East and West River, Parakila, Vatera River and Skala Kalloni pool.


Purple Heron
Seen most days especially on the East River where up to 3 were seen together. Single at Skala Kalloni pool most mornings also Inland Lake. Two flwe in off the sea to Makara beach on Saturday 15th.

Black Stork
One soaring over the East River on Sunday 9th and over Kalloni Salt Pans on Wednesday 12th. 7 seen over about a half hour period over the ridge with the radio masts north of Napi all heading northwards. 2 on the fields east of the salt waorks at Kalloni Salt Pans on Sunday 16th.

White Stork
Pair on a nest on Papiana church were visible from the apartment balcony (although it took us several days to notice them!). These birds, either on the nest, or flying too and fro were the only White Storks we saw.

Glossy Ibis
Large numbers seen with a flock estimated over 200 high above Kalloni Salt pans on the evening of Wednesday 12th. About 100 dropped into Skala Kalloni pool each evening as it approached dusk and could be watched arriving in parties of up to 40 from the apartment balcony. Always lots present on Skala Kalloni pool and the various pools in the fields around the Kalloni Salt Pans.

Greater Flamingo
Usual flock at Kalloni Salt Pans. The salt pans at Skala Polichintos were almost completely dry with only a couple of pans in the middle holding very limited water and only 6 Flamigos were present.

Mute Swan
One bird was present all week in the flooded fields next to the Kalloni Salt Pans. A second bird joined in on the last weekend (15th & 16th).

Ruddy Shelduck
Up to 30 seen on the fields to the east of the salt works at Kalloni Salt Pans - always at a distance, but present evry evening. Otherwise singles were seen at Derbyshire and Skala Polichintos.

Shelduck
2 at Kalloni Salt Works on Monday 10th and one at Skala Polichintos on Wednesday 12th.

Teal
2 males and 1 female on Skala Kalloni pool when we arrived. Only one drake by Tuesday 11th and not seen thereafter.

Pintail
About 6 (all drakes) present all week on pool in the fields to the east of the salt works at the Kalloni Salt Pans in very smart summer plumage.


Garganey
By far the commonest duck and present at all the wetlands we visited with considerable numbers in the various pools on the fields around the Kalloni Salt Pans. On the evning of Saturday 15th a flock estimated at 60 flew in and landed on the sea off the Salt Works. Around 6-8 on Skala Kalloni pool each morning.

Shoveller
About a dozen on pools on fields east of the salt works at Kalloni Salt Pans all week (with Pintail). Also a pair flew off from Skala Kalloni pool on Sunday moring (16th).

Tufted Duck
2 drakes on Skala Kalloni pool for the first two mornings. Reduced to one by Tuesday and not seen again thereafter.

Short-toed Eagle
Seen daily mainly inland, for example Potamia Valley and Napi, but also from the Kalloni Salt Pans and Derbyshire pools.

Marsh Harrier
1f over West River Sunday 9th, 1m Kalloni Salt Pans Monday 10th, 1 Faneromeni ford Tuesday 11th, 1f over Skala Kalloni pool Wednesady 12th.

Hen Harrier
Very good view of a ring-tail at the salt works, Kalloni Salt Pans evening of Sunday 9th. Distant ring-tail Faneromeni ford Tuesday 11th. Ring-tail overhead being mobbed by a hoody at Inland Lake Saturday 15th.

Montagu's Harrier
Distant male at heading towards East River from Kalloni Salt Pans on Sunday 9th and good views of a male at the same place on Saturday the 15th and two females on Sunday 16th.

Sparrowhawk
Seen almost daily, especially in Inland Lake - Potamia area, but also pine woods near Derbyshire and ridge north of Napi.

Common Buzzard
Seen almost daily usually inland over hilly terrain such as Eressos and Napi.

Long-legged Buzzard
Seen almost daily especially Inland Lake - Potamia area and around Napi.

Booted Eagle
Pale phase bird in Potamia Valley Monday 10th.

Lesser Kestrel
Sigri - Faneromeni area on Tuesday 11th. A single male watched for some time from road coming in to Sigri. Many sightings with up to 3 together around Faneromeni.

Common Kestrel
One at Kalloni Salt Pans on Wednesday 12th and two around the ridge north of Napi on Thursday 13th.

Hobby
One Potamia Valley Monday 10th.

Elenora's Falcon
One from road cutting just north of Napi on Thursady 13th.

Peregrine
One around the island just off the beach at Makara on Saturday 15th. It put up all the gulls which presumably breed on the island, went high above them and stooped.

Quail
At least two calling at East River on Sunday 9th.

Water Rail
Very good views of two birds at the western end of Skala Kalloni pool on Monday 10th. Heard in the same area on 11th and 16th.

Spotted Crake
Very good views of one witha Little Crake near the east end of Skala Kalloni pool on Tuesday 11th and two birds seen flying briefly at the west end of the pool on 14th.

Little Crake
Seen daily at Skala Kalloni pool with up to four sightings in one circuit of the pool. One male bird with a damaged leg, giving it a distinctive limp, was seen several times towards the east end of the pool. Also several seen at Inland Lake.

Moorhen
Seen daily at Skala Kalloni pool also Parakila, Inland Lake and Kalloni Salt pans.

Coot
Seen daily at Skala Kalloni pool also Parakila, Inland Lake and Kalloni Salt pans.

Black-winged Stilt
About 3-4 pairs on Skala Kalloni pool and many at Kalloni Salt Pans. Also on the pools at Derbyshire.

Avocet
About 150 on the Kalloni Salt Pans daily.

Stone Curlew
2 seen sitting on bunds between the pans at Kalloni Salt Pans on 9th, 14th qand 16th - though probably present all the time if you looked carefiully enough! 1 in fields next to Skala Polichinitos on Wednesday 12th.

Collared Pratincole
6 on Kalloni Salt Pans on evening of Saturday 15th. At least two were still present the following morning when we got much better views.

Little Ringed Plover
2-3 pairs present on the East River with what seemed like territorial behavior and/or courtship on Saturday 15th. Also West River and Kalloni Salt Pans.

Ringed Plover
One West River on Monday 10th and up to 5 at Kalloni Salt Pans on 12th, 14th and 15th (with Kentish Plover).

Kentish Plover
2-3 pairs at West River on Monday 10th at Kalloni Salt Pans most evenings.

Lapwing
One on a bund dividing the pans at Kalloni Salt Pans on Friday 14th.

Little Stint
Small waders were surprisingly scarce. Just two stints seen with other waders on flooded fields beside the Kalloni Salt Pans on Sunday 9th.

Dunlin
3 on a sand-bar in one of the pans at Kalloni Salt Pans on Monday 10th.

Ruff
Very large flock estimated at around 350 on the Kalloni Salt Pans all week. Smaller numbers usually feeding with other waders on the pools in fields around the salt pans. A few also present on Skala Kalloni pool on several morning.

Common Snipe
One on Skala Kalloni pool on Monday 10th.

Black-tailed Godwit
Flock of about 35, mostly in summer plumage, at the Kalloni Salt Pans in the earlier part of the week - sometimes feeding in the field pools, sometimes on the pans with Avocet. These seemd to have gone later in the week but one individual with only one leg remained and was present on the pool in fields to the east of the Salt Works just about every day.

Curlew
2 flying Kalloni Salt Pans on Sunday 9th. 1 at West River on 10th.

Spotted Redshank
Just one, still in winter plumage, at Kalloni Salt Pans seen most evenings generally with Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper flock.

Marsh Sandpiper
Many present all week at Kalloni Salt PAns, generally in a flock with Greenshank. Some other birders claimed as many as 30-40 present, but we saw no more than 10-12 and usually fewer. Because they kept to the deep-water pans at the north of the site it was very hard to get a good view!

Greenshank
About a dozen on the Kalloni Salt Pans most evenings with more on the various pools in the fields around the pans. Also singles on Skala Kalloni pool on 13th and 14th and on the East River on 14th.

Green Sandpiper
One on the East River regularly - usually near the road bridge, but also seen near the river mouth.

Wood Sandpiper
About the commonest wader and seen at all the wetland areas we visited. 4-10 present most days on Skala Kalloni pool, generally a small flock on the East Riverna d always many on the pools in fields around the Kalloni Salt Pans.

Common Sandpiper
One seen several times around the mouth of East River on 9th, 13th and 14th. One at Kalloni Salt Pans on 10th (with Kentish Plaver) and one at Skala Kalloni pool on 16th.

Mediterranean Gull
7 with other gulls on gravel bar at mouth of East River on Sunday 9th.

Black-headed Gull
Seen regularly around the pools to the east of the salt works at Kalloni Salt Pans with up to about a dozen birds, all still in winter plumage. Also two at mouth of East River on 13th.

Yellow-legged Gull
The commonest gull and seen regularly just about anywhere. Even inland in dry, rock terrain there were generally gulls soaring in thermals.

Gull-billed Tern
Party of 7 on an island in a pan at Kalloni Salt Pans on Monday 10th.

Caspian Tern
2 hunting up and down the West River on Monday 10th. These were reported by other birders on several days later in the week so they were probably sticking around the same area.

Common Tern
Seen daily off the beach at Skala Kalloni and around the Kalloni Salt Pans. Generally a few sitting around on the gravel bar at the mouth of the East River and flying up and down both East and West Rivers.

Little Tern
First seen over Kalloni Salt Pans on Wednesday 12th, by the weekend there were many present.

Whiskered Tern
3 at Kalloni Salt Pans on Friday 14th, on Saturday there were abou 30 which were still present on Sunday.

Feral Pigeon
All towns and villages.

Collared Dove
Extremely abundant around all human habitation.

Turtle Dove
Heard in the groge on the road to Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th and in the woods on the ridge north of Napi on 16th.

(Barn Owl)
Apparently still nesting in one of the "chimmneys" on the disco in the centre of Skala Kalloni although said not to be emerging until very late (midnight). A Swedish birder stayed up and saw them come out. Another birder saw one heading out towards the East River shortly after dusk from the same area. Last time we came we had an apartment right next to the disco and saw the Barn Owls regularly so its nice to know they are still about.

Scops Owl
Regularly calling around our apartment on the notrthern fringe of Skala Kalloni by the time we were returning from an evening at a resturaunt - say 11ish. On the first night, at least two were calling and a bird was sitting in the tree outside the apartment - lit up by the floodlights. It flew up to the roof of the building and could just about be seen. This one did not call, so we thought it might be the female.

Little Owl
Pair resident in the goat-shed immediately infront of our apartment and regularly to be seen sitting on the rooves of various outbuilding or posts and stacked wood roundabout.

Swift
Present in vast numbers in all the towns and villages. Many with hirundines over Skala Kalloni pool every day.

Alpine Swift
One over Kalloni Salt Pans 9th, many over Inland Lake - Potamia area on 14th and 15th. Over Mesotopos area on 15th.

Kingfisher
One on West River on 10th. One in the harbour at Sigri on 11th.

Hoopoe
Almost the first bird we saw on arriving at our apoartment in Skala Kalloni on Sunday 9th. 3 at mouth of East River the same day and again one on a beach in the East River on 14th. Heard ridge above Napi on 13th and 16th and gorge on road to Ipsilou on 11th.

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Surprisingly, only seen twice. One in an olive grove near Faneromeni on 11th gave us very good views. Another was being very noisy, but not very visible in the woods on the ridge north of Napi on 13th.

Short-toed Lark
Party of about 10-12 on "sand dunes" next to the shore at the eastern end of Kalloni Salt Pans on the evening of Monday 10th. Although we searched this area almost daily for these and Red-throated Pipit (which we didn't see, but a single bird was reported on 12th), we didn't see them again.

Crested Lark
Very abundant everywhere. Seen every day.

Skylark
One singing over fields next to apartments early morning on Monday 10th.

Woodlark
Heard at Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th and Napi on Thursday 13th.

Sand Martin
Amongst the hirundines over Skala Kalloni pool most mornings. Not noticed anywhere else.

Crag Martin
In the gorge on the road to Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th. A pair watched at two different spots apparently investigating cliff overhangs, presumably looking for nest sites.

Swallow
Seen daily around buildings almost anywhere.

Red-rumped Swallow
Many with other hirundines (especially House Martins) over a field beside the East River on Sunday 9th. This field was also full of Yellow Wagtails so it is likely that some sort of mass emergence of insects was taking place. Also in the gorge on the road to Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th and at Kalloni Salt Pans on Saturday 15th.

House Martin
Abundant around human habitation everywhere on the island. Many constructing nexts around Skala Kalloni. Frequently seen collecting mud from roadside puddles.

Tree Pipit
One on damp fields behinnd Skala Polichintos salt pans on Wednesday 12th. We spent a long time deciding the identity of this bird. It is surprising that when several people view the same bird how different the descriptions can be!

Yellow Wagtail
Very abundant on damp fields and the edges of any of the wetlands. in a confusing variety of forms. Black-headed (Motacilla flava feldeggi) seemed to be dominant, followed by Blue-headed (M. f. flava), with Grey-headed (M. f. thunbergi) also present, but many intermediates. Black- and Blue-headed males in good plumage are amazing!

White Wagtail
Surprisingly few seen: East River on the 9th; fields next to Skala Polichinitos salt pans on 12th; outside the apartments on 15th.

Wren
Heard a few times in more upland woodland situations. Gorge on the road to Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th, along north coast on 13th and in pine woods on the ridge north of Napi also on 13th.

Nightingale
One was singing every morning from hotel garden next to Skala Kalloni pool, but it wasn't until later in the week that they became more prominent elsewhere. By the second weekend they were singing all over the place.

Whinchat
3 on a fence in fields next to Skala Polichinitos salt pans on 12th.

Stonechat
Pair near Faneromeni beach on Tuesday 11th.

Isabelline Wheatear
Ipsilou Tuesday 11th beside the road going up to the monastry. One on the fields next to Skala Polichinitos salt pans. One (with Northern Wheatear and Rock Thrush) at road curring just north of Napi on 13th.

Northern Wheatear
Seen several times at the coast such as Kalloni Salt Pans and Skala Polichinitos, but also inland at Ipsilou on 11th, at road curring just north of Napi on 13th and Apothikes on 15th.

Black-eared Wheatear
Seen every day both inland and near the coast, both in open, rocky terrain and also open wooded areas. Often seen on roadsides whilst travelling.

Rock Thrush
One (with Northern and Isabelline Wheatear) at road curring just north of Napi on 13th.

Blue Rock Thrush
Potamia Valley on 10th; gorge on the road to Ipsilou and at Ipslou itself on 11th and headland south of Molivos on 13th.

Blackbird
Seen every day in gardens and woodlands.

Song Thrush
One singing in Potamia Valley on 10th.

Cetti's Warbler
Abundant in all wetland areas.

Sedge Warbler
Many singing in reedbeds at Skala Kalloni pool. Also East River and Kalloni Salt Pans.

Reed Warbler
One at Skala Kalloni pool on Monday 10th.

Great Reed Warbler
First heard at Skala Kalloni pool on Tuesday 11th and again on 15th and 16th. Two singing at mouth of East River on 14th and at Inland Lake on 15th.

Subalpine Warbler
The commonest Sylvia warbler in all scrub habitats, but often difficult to see!

Ruppell's Warbler
Headland south of Molivos on on Thursday 13th. Took quite a lot of percieverence, but all got good if distant views.

Orphean Warbler
Gorge on the road to Ipsilou on 11th, Napi and Molivos on on 13th and Makara beech on 15th.

Lesser Whitethroat
Very close view of one at Faneromeni on 11th. At least one singing at ridge north of Napi on 13th and 16th. One in lower Potamia Valley on 14th.

Whitethroat
One at Inland Lake on 10th. One singing near East River on 13th and one singing in Lower Potamia Valley on 14th.

Blackcap
2 males together in a tree near Faneromeni on 11th. Female seen in wooded slope of ridge north of Napi on 13th.

Bonelli's Warbler
Singing in oak woods in Potamia Valley near "Two Bridges" on Monday 10th.

Chiffchaff
One singing in hotel garden next to Skala Kalloni pool on morning of Sunday 16th and at least another one singing in pine woods on ridge north of Napi on the same day - although this was more of a "chaff-chaff".

Collared Flycatcher
Male on the northern slope of Ipsilou on 11th and another in pine wood close to Derbyshire on 12th.

Pied Flycatcher
Male near Faneromeni on Tuesday 11th.

Long-tailed Tit
One in gorge on road to Ipsilou on 11th and several heard in pine woods on ridge north of Napi on 13th.

Sombre Tit
Deciduous woodland on slopes of ridge north of Napi on 13th (at least two birds). Devil's Bridge - pair with a nest in a roadside hollow meatal fence post. One on a rock on a bare hillside near Makara on the same day.

Blue Tit
Common in woods and gardens. Seen most days.

Great Tit
Very common in woods and gardens. Seen every day.

Krüper's Nuthatch
Pair in pine woods near Derbyshire on Wednesday 12th. This is the area marked as "Track through scrub and rocks" starting by "Small army building" just south of "Derbyshire (rock outcrop) on Map No. 5 in Richard Brooks book. Walking for a way up this track takes you to a series of large, burried military bunkers. The Krüper's Nuthatch were in the area of mature pines around and in front of the first two bunkers. The female was watched for some time exploring the trunks of pine trees. She was then joined by a male - with much calling and chasing round and round the trunk of a large pine near to ground level. Presumably courtship behaviour.

Western Rock Nuthatch
Ipsilou on 11th, road cutting just north of Napi on 13th - several seen and more heard in the area. Lower Potamia Valley on 14th on rocky slope not far from the Inland Lake. Apothikes area on 15th - several seen and more heard.

Red-backer Shrike
A single male in fine plumage in the lower Potamia Valley on Friday 14th.

Woodchat Shrike
It seems that shrikes were only just starting to arrive during the week we were there. We first saw a single Woodchat in the Lower Potamia Valley on Monday 10th, but by mid-week we were seeing them reasonably often and on the last Sunday, 3 birds were visible at the same time on a wooded slope near Napi. A Masked Shrike was also reported in the area of the Inland Lake, but we didn't find it despite several attempts.

Jay
Reasonably frequent in wooded areas especially Potamia Valley and in the pine woods on the ridge north of Napi.

Jackdaw
A few around Sigri on 13th and a large flock of about 50 at Makara beach on 15th.

Hooded Crow
Very frequent just about everywhere.

Raven
Seen most days, mostly inland, but a bird was soaring very highand calling over the Kalloni Salt Pans on the evning on Sunday 9th.

House Sparrow
Extremely abundant around all human habitation.

Spanish Sparrow
On a previous visit, they had been nesting in trees along the coast road in Skala Kalloni, but we did not find any on this occasion, although they were nesting in the underside of the Stalk's nest on the church roof in Papiana. However one was perched in a tamerisk on Skala Kalloni pool on the morning of Thursday 13th together with several House Sparrows. Two large flocks were seen: one beside the East River on the 9th and another in a field near Faneromeni on 11th.

Rock Sparrow
At the site described by Richard Brooks (page 66) as roadside culvert 3km beyond Agra. A single bird was seen, but others were calling around a concrete goat-shed with a corrugated iron roof above the road. A very underwhelming bird! The best way of finding them seems to be to listen for the call - which is very un-sparrow-like. But beware, the call of Cretzschmar's Bunting is very sparrow-like and confused us mightily!

Chaffinch
Common everywhere, but especially in pine woods at higher altitudes.

Serin
Surprisingly, seen only once when one was found singing in a roadside clearing in the pine woods on the ridge north of Napi on Thursday 13th.

Greenfinch
Mostly seen in gardens in Skala Kalloni.

Goldfinch
Seen every day in all sorts of conditions from gardens in Skala Kalloni to bare rocky hillsides around Apothikes.

Cirl Bunting
Seen and heard reasonably frequently on dry, rocky hillsides usually where there were isolated trees or bushes. Usually singing from the top of a bush or a roadside wire, but occasionally from the top of a rock.

Cinereous Bunting
Found very easily at Ipsilou on Tuesday 11th. Almost the first birds we saw and heard on heading up the tracktowards the monastry. But it was a very winday day, and most of the singing birds were on the north side of the hill were it was sheltered from the wind. At least five singing from trees and bushes here. Also seen at the same site as the Rock Sparrow (Richard Brooks' roadside culvert 3km beyond Agra) where at least two males were singing (together with Cretzschmar's and Cirl bunting), one from an isolated tree and the other from a large rock.

Cretzschmar's Bunting
Very abundant on dry, rocky slopes throughout the interior o the island. Once you have learned the song (bit like a truncated Yellow-hammer) you can hear them whenever you are driving through suitable habitat - and Lesvos has a LOT of suitable habitat. Usually sing from rocks, but sometimes from isolated bushes and trees. The call is a load, carrying, sparrow-like chirp.

Corn Bunting
Just about the most abundant song-bird on the island and can be heard anywhere and everywhere, singing from any high, exposed point like a fence-post, telegraph wire or tree branch. It may be a BAP priority species in Britain, but the population on Lesvos must be immense.

Total: 144 species.