Caterpillars

This is a very small selection of the caterpillars we saw, the first two haning from threads that they had used to "abseil" down from the trees to escape the birds that were trying to catch them and the one on the track which was a stunner. I have no idea as to their identities, they certainly are not in any of my books. al the images were taken with my 300mm lens.

Amusing sights

We were amazed at some of the loads the locals carry on varying forms of transport on Lesvos, it was haymaking time and the pick up trucks were groaning under the weight of some of their loads, but my favoutite was the guy with moped carrying this piece of machinery along one of the tracks.

Spotted crake

We had travelled to see a great snipe which had unfortunately decided to make itself scarce but were rewarded by this cracker, a German couple called us up the river twenty yards and the crake was performing just feet away, it seemed to barely notice us, it contiued to feed quite happily until the current took it away downstream

Temminck's stint

This had been a bogey bird for me until this year but I managed to photograph a selection of them this year, this was taken early one morning just before I realised that I had been sitting quietly for forty minutes with my headlights on still and I'd flattened the battery - silly old blighter. It show the characteristics off nicely

Spanish sparrow

There were far fewer of these cheeky chappies this year on Lesvos, and this seemed to be the trend for many species, the top bird was singing and I could not resist the second picture of the nest builder

Red throated pipit

I am always amazed at how close one can get to birds by using the car as a hide and this is the perfect example, this pipit was calling very softly as it foraged and quite unconcerned by my nearness

Greenfinch

I had watched it feeding on thistle heads and it flew, and I thought it was up and away but it landed six feet from where I sat in the car resulting in this nice pose.