NEWSROOM:
April 08
Birdwatchers arriving on 17 April on the first of charter flights were greeted with fine and warm weather. Surface water levels had remained good following good winter rainfall, but migration for the first days remained very slow whilst the fine weather and southerly winds persisted.
Those staying for the first of the main birdwatching weeks (17-24 April) were able to enjoy the local birds along with a few lingering winter migrants such as Kingfishers (Dipi Larros), Great Crested Grebes (Gulf of Kalloni) and Mute Swan (Parakoila Marsh) and a few early arriving migrants such as Rollers, Bee-eaters and Black-headed Buntings. The nest hole of a pair of Kruper’s Nuthatches at the traditional Achladeri site was soon located with the next of a Long-eared Owl nearby.
The lake at Metochi as ever proved a favoured stop for many birdwatchers, with plenty of Little Crakes (though numbers down on past years) and the odd Night-heron, Little Bittern and Purple Heron.
Notable rare birds included a Blue-cheeked Bee-eater near the mouth of the Tsiknias River on 19th and a Cattle Egret between the Tsiknias River and the Kalloni Saltpans on 25th.
Migration didn’t really kick in to full gear until the second week, when a major fall of migrants occurred on the 27 April. The fall seemed to be concentrated in the west, but that may have been because most birders went west and few were left watching the centre and north of the island. Ipsilou was the main focus and the whole place was covered in Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats, with plenty of other commoner migrants such as Wood Warblers and Golden Orioles and a hatful of scarce species such as Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers, Thrush Nightingale, Eastern Bonelli’s, Icterine and Barred Warblers and Great Spotted Cuckoos. The rarest bird of the day here was a female Semi-collared Flycatcher. Down the Meladia valley at the river ford migrants were also plentiful, with loads of Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes dozens of Black-headed Buntings, Ortolan Bunting and another Thrush Nightingale. The west proved popular for the rest of the month with more Rollers, Collared and Red-breasted Flycatchers and common migrants seen to the months end.
Spring 2008 will also be remembered as a great year for raptors. Numbers were not high, but the number of rarer species seen was the highest known. Lesser Kestrels, Red-footed Falcon, Hobby, Long-legged Buzzard and Short-toed Eagles were all seen in lower than normal numbers, but rare eagles figured greatly from the 24th when a Booted Eagle was seen at Platania. The following day saw a Steppe Eagle and Black Kite over Petra and a Golden Eagle between Efthalou and Skala Sikaminias.
Day by day summary of highlights for April 2008. For full details see www.lesvosbirding.com.
12th – 2 Glossy Ibis
15th – 39 Purple Herons
16th – Whiskered Tern
18th – 68 Night-herons and 55 Purple Herons
19th - Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, few passerine migrants
20th – Spur-winged Plover, few passerine migrants
21th – Pallid Harrier, few passerine migrants
22nd – Pallid Harrier (diff. to yesterday), Olive Tree Warbler on territory (very early), few passerine migrants
23rd – Slender-billed Gull, few passerine migrants
24th – Roller
25th – Cattle Egret, Booted Eagle, Lanner, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler
26th – Steppe Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle (2), Golden Eagle, Booted Eagle, Black Kite
27th – major fall of passerine migrants in the west, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Bonelli’s Eagle, Baillon’s Crake (2), Levant Sparrowhawk, Great Snipe, Citrine Wagtail
28th – Ferruginous Duck, Baillon’s Crake (2), Levant Sparrowhawk, Great Snipe, Semi-collared Flycatcher, still loads of migrants
29th – Scarlet Rosefinch, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Baillon’s Crake (1), Citrine Wagtail, Levant Sparrowhawk, Great Snipe, still loads of migrants
30th – Penduline Tit, Spur-winged Plover, Baillon’s Crake (1), Semi-collared Fly catcher, Great Snipe, Levant Sparrowhawk, Citrine Wagtail, still loads of migrants
Steve Dudley | www.lesvosbirding.com
14.07.07: Finally Broadband Internet Connection:
After over one year of waiting, broadband is finally available in Skala Kallonis.
From today Hotel Pasiphae can offer fast connection not only on the stationary guest computer, but also from the wireless zone that covers the reception/lobby area as well as the TV lounge.
So whether you want to bring your own laptop or use the PC in the hotel during your stay, fast Internet access can be arranged with the reception.
04.07.07: LAST MINUTE ONLINE OFFER:
We at Hotel Pasiphae are celebrating this year’s increase in online, direct bookings by offering a crazy, last minute offer:
For accommodation within the period 10.7 – 20.7 can offer a total of 5 double rooms for:
45,00 euro/night, incl. breakfast. (Full price: 80,00 euro/night)
Contact us for more info or to reserve your room on email: info@pasiphae.gr
04.07.07: The kitten Soula: Hotel Pasiphae mascot
In beginning of June a very ill and dirty little kitten was sitting crying outside the hotel. She had a bad eye infection, blood coming from mouth and nose and what we later learned was pneumonia.
Despite her condition, we took her in to the hotel to try and rescue her. After days of careful cleaning and caring, antibiotics and special, nutritious food, she got her strength and health back.
Soula is now living in the hotel, with her own little house behind the reception and is a beautiful, clever and playful kitten.
When the season is over, Soula will move home with us (Vasilis & Evy) and our other cats in a nearby village.
This was a special case, and the hotel does not have the possibility to take care of more stray animals.
The best way to help the cats and dogs in Skala Kallonis is to support those already working with animal care on Lesvos.
The Wildlife Hospital in Agia Paraskevi is a non-profit organization working to relieve animal suffering.
They treat and release wild animals and birds, and perform castrations and sterilizations on pets and strays.
The Wildlife Hospital can also help find new homes for cats and dogs, and assist in animal adoption.
But their important work is depending on donations and gifts.
To help make the Wildlife Hospital more known, the organization is presented in Hotel Pasiphae, also with donation boxes available for those that wanting to give a gift.
Learn more about The Wildlife Hospital on their website: www.wildlifeoplesbos.net
13.05.07 Busy season-start for Hotel Pasiphae
Our hotel has been fully booked almost since the opening, and we are pleased to report about a good bird watching season despite little water in rivers and ponds. In the hotel’s bird-log we even see that a Scops Owl has been observed on the hotel premises!
Sunday 13th of May 200 members of the local Association of Women in Kalloni celebrated Mother’s Day with coffee and live music and dancing in our hotel.
In the period 12/5 – 17/5 Hotel Pasiphae is accommodating a school-class and its teachers from Cyprus, here to meet pupils at their friendship-school in Kalloni and together travel on Lesvos.
16th of May pupils, teachers, parents and politicians from Cyprus and Lesvos will celebrate 5 years of friendship and co-operation between their schools and local communities with a Lesviot Music Night in the hotel.
19th of May a traditional engagement-party will be held in Hotel Pasiphae, and on 27th of May a group of Norwegian Gymnastic Teachers will arrive for the 3rd time to learn and later dance traditional Lesviot dances at the Greek Night that will be arranged in the hotel.
For last minute bookings:
Hotel Pasiphae has availability and special offers in the following periods:
17.5 – 27.5 and 29.5 – 13.6
13.05.07 Latest news: Concerns about water-shortage on Lesvos
After the driest winter in generations and the highest May-temperatures measured in 150 years, concerns are growing about future water-supply on Lesvos.
As a part of our vision for Sustainability and Responsibility, Hotel Pasiphae is at all times taking care not to use excess amounts of water, but we are now taking additional actions for water conservation.
We also ask all our guests to help us save water by not leaving taps running, by reducing water pressure, and respecting that towels are only replaced 3 times per week.
All visitors to Lesvos are also asked to take care not to cause forest fires.
Do you want to learn more about Hotel Pasiphae’s vision for Sustainability and Responsibility or how you can participate for a better future on Lesvos? Contact us with you questions or for a copy of our vision.
16.09.06: Grand opening of olive museum.
Friday 15th of September the new olive museum in Agia Paraskevi was opened by the Greek President, with over 1000 invited guests attending the ceremony. The museum, which is the creation of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, presents the history of olive oil production from the 14th century until 20th century. With Lesvos being "the island of olives", the museum is expected to draw interest nationally as well as internationally - and it is located only a short drive from Hotel Pasiphae.
Click here to read more about the museum and the opening.
11.09.06: 90 persons attended biodiversity conference at Hotel Pasiphae
2nd of September representatives from the Aegean University, EU, national, regional and local government, and several businesses and comanies met at the new conference area in Hotel Pasiphae for the Conference of biobus Programme. The subject for talk and thought was on transforming the North Aegean Region into a bidding, innovating region based on biodiversity.
15.08.06
A Dutch site written by our guests, with information about Skala Kallonis as well as all Greece.
Click here: http://www.rijnrijkers.nl
06.08.06
For Google Earth users only the following link will show you the direct location of the hotel Pasiphae :
Click here: Hotel Pasiphae.kmz
04.08.06
The annual festival dedicated to the famous sardines from the Gulf of Kalloni is now celebrating in the main square of Skala Kalloni.
A lot of events are running every night, like live music and free ouzo and sardines for all visitors.
Last day of the celebration is on Sunday. More info you can find under special interest page of our site.
04.08.06
The site is currently being translated into German, and we hope to offer our visitors also a Dutch version in the future.
In-dept information on Hotel Pasiphae’s website
On the hotel’s site you can now find in-dept information about Lesvos’ past and present under "Special Interest"
New competition: Win a Free Stay.
You have the opportunity to win a free stay for 2 persons for 1 week in Hotel Pasiphae...
Special price offers
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