Cyprus 26 - Day 1

The travel doesn't get any easier with age (no sympathy expected). However...it's worth it!!!

Understandable slow start this morning. We headed for Karlina for a "Full English". A place we've passed countless times but never been too. Highly recommended!

Louise then decided to have a walk to the Mall while I headed for Mandria. No surprises on either count! My target was NAMAQUA DOVE. I'd seen my Lifer in the UAE but it would be a Cyprus Tick! On arrival at the PIN I couldn't see any Birders BUT there was a lone Bird in the wire...and that was it!!! I snatched an image through the windscreen before it flew off towards the nearby Villas...

Not the best!

At least you cab see the jizz!

Flushed with success I did a loop of the front, seeing my hoped for Isabelline Wheatear...

Subtly stunning

Greenfinches look...greener!

I also had a brief glimpse of a Common Redstart which was a nice surprise. 4 Alpine Swifts zoomed inland low over the fields and a few Spanish Sparrows twittered away in the nearby palm...

One of 8 Greater Short-toed Larks in the area...

Then a message informing me that the DOVE was showing again. I returned to the Site and this time managed some better pics...

Just before I headed back to meet Louise I drove past a large flock of Yellow Wagtail sp (c200)...

One of my classic "through the window" shots. This is an annual event but never ceases to amaze!

Unfortunately I didn't have time to linger. There'll be other opportunities.

After a late lunch we returned to Mandria to meet Ian and Kate Bloomer. We've known them for many years now. It was great to see them again. After a good chat they departed and we headed for the Beach Bar. . It was a tad fresh but we enjoyed a drink before heading back. Nothing else of note was seen.

Tidy up

Monday started on Skippy with Haydn before we moved onto Duff at 11. No luck with Woodlark unfortunately. Once ensconced we enjoyed a good session. 

Highlights...

40 White-fronted Geese

c400 Pintail

Spotted Redshank

c200 Black-tailed Godwits

5 Oystercatchers

Great White Egret

Male Sparrowhawk

The Carrs is looking a picture (except for the heavy cloud) now with optimum water levels for most Species...

Islands forming

Spits forming

Dabbling Ducks moving in

Another pleasure of Patch watching on a flood plain is observing the subtle (and not so subtle) changes in conditions and habitat. A Great White Egret finally gave "great" views...

...before flying back towards Bubwith...

Coots starting to do what Coots do...

As I left I noticed a huge number of Swans across the road on the Farm fields. I pulled over and estimated at least 200 Whoopers...

Once back on the Coast I checked a few local Sites for an early Wheatear. No luck but 6 Red-throated Divers close in off the Old Sewage was a nice surprise...

Tuesday afternoon I had a ride down Pat' Haven. Still no sign of any Avocets. I checked out the large Greylag flock in the adjacent fields. I'd had some Pinkfeet there recently, you may recall? Two dark-headed Birds stood out, even with the naked eye and despite the unfavourable aspect? They warranted a closer look.

Orange Bill and distinctive head profile

I'd found a couple of Tundra Bean Geese! 

Size and leg colour comparison 

Always better to "find your own"!

Wednesday started earl as I'd arranged to take a Steve Lawton up into the Wolds to try Raven and Peregrine, hopefully the latter hadn't lived up to the latin meaning!? We started at Skippy and bumped into Dave Tate. Still no Woodlark but we had a good chat before moving on to "you know where"! We did hear some yaffling but alas no views.

23 White-fronted Geese appeared after some time in front of Garganey Hide...

...and we picked out the continuing Spotted Redshank ...

...as well as a FOY Ringed Plover (81). I also added Linnet (82).Some 45 Whooper Swans were present at the far end but 4 decided to fly across to the Farm giving us superb flight views...

Around 11.30 we decided to head for the Hills. It took us around an hour to reach the area and we pulled up at the same spot I'd watched with Haydn. Immediately we could hear..."cronk, cronk" and one bird was in view across the valley...

Exuding power

It was nice to see the "sheen" in the sunshine on this beautiful afternoon. It was soon joined by a second bird...

We both remarked how they looked longer-winged than the pestering Buzzards. They also seemed totally unconcerned by the hassle.

The Peregrines also gave an amazing prolonged show all over the area for quite some time. The weather was obviously helping, being the warmest day of the Year so far.

We also saw a couple of Red Kites as well as c8 Buzzards. It was an idyllic couple of Hours. After saying goodbye to Steve I made my way back through Hull and noticed the obvious presence of numerous Lesser Black-backed Gulls by the Docks, so I pulled over and got a pic of one on a Lamp post...

A sign of Spring

After a great day, things went South on the Hedon Bypass when my Gearbox packed up!! I managed to get her home with the help of my Breakdown cover. She'll have to sit there now until I return from Cyprus. We leave on Saturday morning. Hopefully I can get her fixed?

I'll hopefully be Blogging from Paphos, so stay tuned...

p.s. I haven't forgotten my Oman Summary but I'll need more time to do it justice. Maybe one for the looooong Summer Days...

The Holidays are Coming...

Only 6 days before we leave for Cyprus, so I'm trying to fit a few visits inland a swell as covering the Coast and Humber. Decisions, decisions!

Monday found me at my beloved NDC, unfortunately the Forecast didn't pan out and it turned out a grey gloomy day...White-fronted Geese through the mist...

Special Visitor

With the receding water came better views of the recently arrived Coot and Pochard on the emerging Scrape...

The huge Black-tailed Godwit flock (c450) was still present and still FULLY appreciated. The sighting of the session was this fella...

I also added Red-legged Partridge and Lesser-backed Gull to the Year List.

Tuesday I had a ride down to Patrington Haven as the Sun was shining for once! I pulled into a lay-by, set my 'scope up and scanned the pools. The usual fayre was on offer with still no sign of any Avocets in this area? Then a Falcon flew low over the pools..."just" a Kestrel? Fortunately it landed on the central fence and confirmed my suspicions...

To find a Merlin is always a special moment and to see it perched at some 50 yards was a bonus. I played with my new digiscoping device but failed miserably, so my pic is from the Camera.

I tried the bottom end and got distant views of a beautiful Male Marsh Harrier...

Wednesday it was back to NDC. An early sighting of 50 Fieldfares (returning Birds) on Snakey was a great start...

Haydn was already in position and informed me he'd had the Spotted Redshank that had been residing down the road for quite a while mixed in with 10 Redshank and 4 Ruff. I was hoping it would pay a visit! Eventually I picked it up in front of Garganey Hide, it was only my 5th record. Later I had better views on the Bund...

More Snipe (8) were around the Scrape taking advantage of the favourable conditions...

Three here...I think!

Great views of a passing Marsh Harrier...

An explosion of Black-tailed Godwits...

A remarkable sight and pleased with this image at 400 yards! Oystercatcher numbers rose to 4...

A lone session at Duff on Friday. Early excitement in the form of a lone Drake Goosander on the Riverbank...

Fortunately it was viewable through a gap in the Reeds...

Less than annual here. It soon moved on.

It was pleasing to see some Whooper Swans in residence; it's not always the case. A group of 14 Birds was present halfway down the Reserve...

Fortunately they came closer briefly before returning to their original spot...

I also had my first Peregrine of the Year as it scattered the Wildfowl on Bubwith Ings before gracing the Carrs...

Saturday's highlight was this Barn Owl at Skeffling. Image taken through the Windscreen...

I'll be making further trips inland this week, as there'll be quite a gap thereafter...