Scops Owl.

Scops Owl, Papiana (near Skala Kalloni), Lesvos May 2012.

 What better way to spend the "quiet" time of the afternoon on Lesvos than taking a look at the local Scops Owls? This year's birds were not present in the usual "Scops Copse" as in the previous two year's Ornitholiday's tours, but roosting in Eucalyptus trees in Papiana just outside Skala Kalloni.
We were shown two birds on our first visit, the more visible individual pictured above.

 We returned later in the week but the birds had relocated. It took a little while to find one and as we watched this one we heard another calling. This one looked up, revealing the calling bird higher on a slightly obscured perch.