Cyprus 18 - Day 4

I'd been toying with the idea of having a go for the Wallcreeper in the Avagas Gorge. You may remember I saw 2 thanks to Dave Walker, during a winter trip a few years ago. Always very special.

Louise is having some trouble with her back and decided to have a day around Paphos. Decision made then!

I arrived at the car park at 7.30...

Boots on and "off up the Gorge". This was going to be a tester for my knee! I had more confidence in it now after working hard before the trip. I also had an outstanding surgeon.

The Gorge is worth the walk for the scenery alone. It's definitely a walk in the severe category though....

First sunlight hits the Gorge

A scramble in places...

I just took my time and eventually made it to the correct area after around an hour. It was just over a mile. I guess if your going to stare at rock faces they might as well be as beautiful as these....

The main area were I saw the birds previously was also stunning...

I gave it three hours but it wasn't to be.

A Wren at dawn, belted it out...

Thousands of Jackdaws were present. Also a mixture of Doves, many looking pretty good for pure Rock...

Back to the car and along to the coast for lunch. I scoped another cliff while enjoying the stunning view...

Dave had mentioned previously that they had been seen here. I don't give up easily. No joy though.

I then drove to Evretou. It's a site in the Gosney guide for Long-legged Buzzard. I gave it an hour but no sign. I will return!

I was returning to Paphos to pick the boss up when I saw a large raptor...Bonelli's Eagle!!! Unfortunately by the time I could stop it had disappeared. The bird flew very low by the road and I clearly see the wing pattern in the sunlight. I will return!

So, I didn't see THAT much at all today. However, it was very satisfying to be able to walk the Gorge after nearly 3 months of being laid up.

.................................................................................

A flock of 17 Demoiselle Cranes was seen early morning at Akrotiri Salt Lake on Sunday. A pair of Bimaculated Larks have also seen been seen nearby, the last 2 days. We're going to spend the day on the peninsula tomorrow...

Trip Total 54

Cyprus 18 - Day 3

My first jaunt to the legendary Paphos Headland...6 till 9...

At 6...

Later...

The first sighting of note in the half-light was unusual to say the least!

Escape potential high I feel...

Ring-necked Parakeet

I spent a wonderful 3 hours just coming across various species as I went, with not a soul in sight...until the last few minutes when I bumped into resident birder Andy Waller.

Highlights

Ring-necked Parakeet!?

Quail - c6 heard

Red-throated Pipit c30

Woodlark

Ruppell's Warbler
Sub-Alpine Warbler

Blue Rock Thrush

I also got my closest view of a singing Crested Lark...

...and nice views of a female Sardinian Warbler...

We didn't go far today. I checked out last years Hotel grounds (Louis Phaethon) and found an Isabelline Wheatear and a Spanish Sparrow colony. A cheat really, as I came across it last year!

Then it was Tim Beach again where I dug out a couple more Ruppell's Warblers...

We finished off at Anarita Park. Again, super green this Spring. Well, maybe not so much this area...but it did produce male and female FINSCH'S WHEATEARS...

Phone pic

Male wouldn't play but the female came slightly closer...

A Peregrine and a Little Owl were also seen...

Trip Total 48

Cyprus 18 - Day 2

Up and out for 6. Where to go? I decided on the Lower Ezousas Valley. As already mentioned, things are much"greener" this year, which obviously makes viewing more difficult in places. It was VERY quiet. The only bird of note was a brief and distant Chukar...

I moved on to the Sewage Works. Still early and dull but at least the Spur-winged Plovers (prefer that name) were present. Disputing partners on the road wasn't aesthetically pleasing but at least I got better views than peering through the fence!

4 Cattle Egrets showed well with the lush green background...

Onto Mandria. After a brief stop at the Mandria Gardens complex (site of last year's RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE) I drove down to the sea. I soon picked up some Northern Wheatears, both sexes...

Then something special, at least for me...

Isabelline Wheatear

This pic' shows the long legs well.

A car then pulled up...it was Colin Richardson. It was great to see him again. We were catching up when another car appeared, it was another resident birder, Matt Smith. We'd contacted each other on-line but this was the first occasion we'd met. Small world...and all that. He managed to pick out a distant Hen Harrier. Nice spot. It was now 9 and time for me to return to the apartment.

After buying a few things for the holiday and having a coffee in Costa at the Mall...where incidentally, I picked out a Hoopoe on a building across the road, we headed for Timi beach by the airport.

It was on the left end of the white building. No, you can't see it!

Thankfully I've never had any security problems here...yet! Louise set her stall out and I started to bird the immediate area. Some sandy coloured Larks, one having a dust bath...

Greater Short-toed Lark

White Wagtails are common and very confiding...

Then a sighting of another "special". Sardinian Warbler is common on Cyprus BUT this isn't...

Ruppell's Warbler

Just a brief tantalizing view, then gone! I decided to stay around for a good while hoping for better. It paid off in the end but it took some time. I texted Colin. Unbeknown to me he was just over the hill!!! A short while later we were both enjoying decent views of this iconic migrant...

Well worth the wait!

Trip total 38

Cyprus 18 - Day 1

No major logistical hiccups...thankfully!

Fabulous views of the Alps...

We decided to get a taxi from the airport and miss the late-in-the-day paperwork hassle of the Car Hire! The apartment is fine...and cheap. Louise sorted out a place to eat nearby, which turned out to be excellent, they even had the Arsenal game on! International Women's Day meant big points scored early doors...

A late start, then a 30 minute walk to the Mall. I know, I know! We needed some breakfast/lunch and I had to sort my Cyprus SIM out (my RBA). I'd managed to make a few contacts last year and we swapped information on sightings, on occasions. Next it was another 20 minute walk to catch the bus to the airport (3 Euros) as we had to collect the car. All this left only a couple of hours left for Birding. No matter.

I decided to have a ride up to Agia Varvara. Last year I'd seen 3 fine Great Spotted Cuckoos there early in my trip. No sign late afternoon. I then had a brief drive around Anarita Park just to the North. Very quiet again...and very green! Corn Buntings singing everywhere...

Today
Quail (H)
Black Francolin (H)
Cormorant
Kestrel
Collared Dove
Swallow
White Wagtail
Stonechat

Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Magpie
Hooded Crow
House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Linnet
Corn Bunting

Trip list 17

Early start tomorrow at Paphos lighthouse. That should liven things up. Also, I wonder where one of these might turn up?!!!...

Great Black-headed Gull seen at Mandria recently

Cyprus 18

5 minutes to take off.

I'll be doing my usual diary. You may want to dip in?

The holidays are coming!

Cyprus looming large. 2 more sleeps...

Sea Duck

More walking today in mercifully milder temperatures!!!

A good hour with Louise and Bud on Easington beach was very therapeutic. The exercise was enhanced by 2 singing Skylarks in the adjacent fields...wonderful!

Mid-afternoon I had another stroll along the cliff. It felt almost tropical at 8C. I also managed a notable Village record. I scanned the sea as I've done umpteen times before. I caught sight of a few unusually white "blobs"? They had to be Eiders (H.44)...

5 of the 7

Only my second record after a single bird flew North on 8/10/12.

A great day!

I had a plan. As you know, they don't always work out!

I'll say here and now...there's a steam train involved here (cue exit for most). I think I've mentioned my reasons previously. Suffice to say my youth co-incided with the unfortunate demise of steam power. Luckily though there were enough "steamers" left for me to enjoy their last hurrah around my home town of Bury. So, any chance I get these days to view one on the main line is an opportunity not to be missed.

Anyway, I set off for the York area around 9. I had a few areas I wanted to check out to the West. I arrived at Sherburn-in-Elmet around 11.

A decent view. Even I should be able to see a steam train coming! I was a tad early., I had some time to kill so I sussed out a few more possible vantage points. In the end I decided on Church Fenton...

 



 

 

Again a decent approach view but with a bridge which  was hoping would add to the effect, providing it was coming along this line!!! It was now 1pm so I left the warmth of the car and chose my position...and waited. Now this old boy can reach 75mph so I knew I had to be on my toes...as much as I could be, in muck boots! The excursion was from Kings Cross to York and would be the final trip (for now) of this magnificent locomotive.

 

I wanted to give the impression of speed and power. It was over in a flash but I like to think I achieved that.

 

I give you Britannia Class 70013 Oliver Cromwell...

 

 

Now then. I was hoping to make it to York in time to see it on the platform. A tall order but a bit of fun, so off I went. The traffic was fairly light for a Saturday (no doubt due to the weather) and the car park by the river was also sparsely populated.  was n luck...hopefully. After fumbling £2.50 (for an hour) into the machine I hobbled off towards the Station. Large numbers of people were flooding out from all platforms which made viewing difficult. Any steam?

 

I couldn't see any but I then noticed a bridge that led to some more platforms? Up the stairs and along. I looked over....YES!!! It was still there...

 

 

 

 

Loved it!

 

The day got even better. 

 

I received a message from Duncan Bye, a York birder, informing me a Rock Pipit had been seen at Duff'! This was a potential site Lifer. I was handily placed! I arrived around 3 and headed down to Garganey hide. Jono Leadley was in the hide and was looking for the bird with his scope. This was handy as I only had my bins. Modesty almost forbids me to mention that I located the bird feeding on the ice. More luck! This was my 155th species for the reserve, following on quickly from the Iceland Gull.

 

Top fish and chips in Howden concluded a grand day out...

 

Instilling great memories from a bygone age

 

 



I've got Wind!!!

Had enough!

Still VERY strong. No fun.

I added a few Spurn ticks this morning...from the car! Nothing special. Mid-afternoon I added a Black-tailed Godwit down at Stone Creek with a large group of Curlew (c50). A cream-crown Marsh Harrier was a nice surprise and a Buzzard flew through. You had to look hard but there were odd birds trying desperately to feed on the frozen ground. On one stop I had a Lapwing, Golden Plover and 2 Fieldfares.

Feeders still well stocked in the yard and there's plenty of activity!

It's threatening to warm up slightly from tomorrow. Lets hope so...for the birds sake...

Brief encounter

Still grim here...and most other places in Britain come to that. We seem to have missed significant snow but boy have we copped for the wind. Gale force Easterlies continuing into Friday.

Birding is obviously a challenge in such conditions!

Making use of my car hide again I had a drive down Sunk Island/Stone Creek. No Raptors or Owls but a surprise addition to the year list came in the form of a Snipe (P.58), which gave itself away briefly as it dropped into cover at Stone Creek.

Possible problems in the Humber tonight. Let's hope it's not serious...