Cyprus 26 - Day 5

A really enjoyable and unpredictable day today culminating with yours truly obtaining a Lifer!!!

Left at 6.30 and arrived at the outskirts of Limassol an hour later...to meet the jam I was hoping to avoid. Google maps did the business again and combined with local knowledge we were on Lady's Mile at 7.50.

Normally dusty tracks are muddy this Year but completely drivable as firm below. I had my best ever view of a Kentish Plover. A couple of males, one "further on "than the other?

Stunner!

After a Costa breakfast at My Mall (which it certainly isn't) I left Louise for a mooch and headed down the West side of the Peninsula to Agios Georgios Church (after a quick look on the Salt Lake)...

I drove around the back and waited. It paid off eventually when I had a brief view of a Cretzschmar's Bunting and a female Blackcap. I then noticed a movement to my right by the wall? Eventually the culprit emerged...

I watched the Bird perform fora good 20 minutes. By far my best ever views of this Species...

I had a drive up onto the plateau, the view was breathtaking...

...but all I saw was this pale female Stonechat...

I returned to My Mall for lunch with Louise. As already mentioned the wonderful Phassouri Reedbed is inaccessible this Year due to Foot and Mouth...a huge blow, as this is my favourite Site on the Island! This situation coupled with my earlier Birding meant I was thinking of heading back to Paphos...nothing to do with the DESERT FINCH that had been seen again this morning. A potential Lifer? The Bird had been first seen yesterday afternoon BUT I'd promised to take Louise to Limassol, so that was that. Would my delay prove fatal? 

It's not often I get Trip Ticks on the Motorway. Today I got 2! As we passed Episkopi a Griffon Vulture flew South towards Kensington Cliffs!!! Definitely one to remember. Further along a Chukar was feeding in the hard shoulder!

We arrived at the Site around 3pm...

St Nicholas Church at Sunset Point

I could see a couple of Birders but there was no focus and they soon drifted off. The wind had picked up and things were looking bleak.I scanned the bushes but couldn't see anything. Then more Birders appeared...and yet more!? It had to be a Tour Group. The leader was obvious and he set about covering the area. After around 10 minutes the group formed a crowd and they were pointing to a solitary bush some 60 yds away. The Bird was associating with Greenfinches and eventually I connected with the help of the friendly Group Leader...

Trumpet moment: This pic was remarkable considering the wind and the fact I was using one hand!!!

I've put it away again now.

We ended up at Mandria for the traditional celebration at the Beach Bar. Before the drink though I did a circuit. A Woodchat Shrike had been reported at the Picnic Site...

Always reminds me of my Cream-coloured Courser/Male Caspian Plover double here

...but I couldn't find it. Probably moved on to get out of the wind. There was a fine male Northern Wheatear present though...

5 migrating Great White Egrets was a nice bonus...

As I was returning to the Beach Bar I noticed a couple of Hooded Crows harassing something. I lifted my Bins to see 2 Stone Curlews out in the open! I couldn't get a decent shot of the interaction...as you can see...

... but when things settled down I got some better ones in the late afternoon sunshine before they drifted off into the long grass...

Helluva Day!

Trip Total - 65

Cyprus 26 - Day 4

*I've added some photos to yesterday's post*

Steady morning after last night's treat. I headed down to Agia Varvara via my Stone Curlew Site (thanks again Dan). Sure enough, they were "in situ" as I parked the car and used it as a "Hide"....as I frequently do...

Smart against the green background...I thought. There were 4 Birds actually and they were mobile. Eventually I got a better view of one...

Always nice to see this unusual looking Species on a Trip.

Things were quiet when I reached the Valley but I did see a Long-legged Buzzard distantly...

Never been greener?

No Crakes were seen.

I'd gone there hoping to see the SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER that was seen yesterday afternoon. No luck there. I did have a significant Sighting though in the form of Colin Richardson (who'd had the same idea regarding the Flycatcher! It was great to see him again. We had a good chat before going our separate ways. Hopefully I'll see him again during the Trip? Plenty of water in the Lower Ezousas...

On the way back for lunch a message informed me that a male COLLARED FLYCATCHER had been seen by the Archaeological Site. The finder had left a PIN so as it was handy I gave it a go. On arrival I saw a few Birders looking focused...on the other side of the exit turnstile! They soon dispersed though and I couldn't see anything through the fence. I'm not having much luck with the Ficedula family...yet.

This afternoon I tried Asprokremmos Dam...in the rain. Remarkably I managed decent pics of Eastern Bonelli's Warbler despite the dull and wet conditions...

The rain eased and we had a quick look from the Dam Wall...

Unsurprisingly fuller than usual which is good news but no "edges" for the Birds! We eneded up (or thought we had) at Mandria. Today is a Bank Holiday... hence the rainiest day so far! We did a circuit seeing very little...then a message...

Male SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER Aspro' Dam Wood

Oh dear. We went back and spent till 5.45 but no sign of the Bird. I did see a rather bedraggled EBW in the twilight...

We're off to the Akrotiri Peninsular early doors tomorrow for a full day out. Stay tuned...

Trip Total  - 57 Species

Cyprus 26 - Day 3

Out tonight for an Indian, so I'm posting early from Spiro's Pool, Larnaca. We're treating ourselves after a flat tyre situation yesterday evening and this morning! 

Why am I out East? Well, I've just added my third Cyprus Tick in 3 days! Namely Red-necked Phalarope...

Cyprus 219

Other Species seen included Greater Flamingo, Spur-winged Plover, Ruff (c70)...

Reeve

Temmincks Stint, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper...

...Marsh Harrier, Black-headed Wagtail...

and Cyprus Wheatear.

As I left I came across a pair of courting Spur-winged Plovers by the roadside. They looked superb amongst the grasses...

The rains have completely transformed Sites, making various habitats far more conducive to Birds. The temperatures have been excellent for Birding, ranging between 14 and 18c. Louise is hoping for a slight improvement which will undoubtedly come...I hope!! Happy Days!

Cyprus 26 - Day 2

*As promised, I've added some pics to yesterdays post*

Back to Mandria first this morning on news from Colin Richardson of a Greater Sand Plover by the Picnic Area. Maybe I missed it yesterday!? Sure enough, there it was...

As I went around "Larks Corner" I noticed a Warbler in a single bush. At first I thought Sardinian, the default black headed type here. However...

I positioned the car in a favourable position...and waited. I could see the Bird from time to time through the branches but couldn't get a clear view. It was interacting with a Chiffchaff...

...which as you cab see was showing MUCH better! I decided to try the other side of the Bush. This proved to be a good decision...

Ruppell's Warbler

A couple of the most wanted in the bag before 9. I drove down the road where the NAMAQUA DOVE was present yesterday but no luck. A few Birders were "in situ" but it wasn't seen by 1pm so looks like it's unfortunately moved on. I was lucky...this time!

I decided to have a run up to Anarita Park but as I entered the approach road I received a message informing me of an Isabelline Shrike sp on the Headland. Another potential Cyprus Tick...I had to try for it. Luckily the reporter has given coordinates which when entered gave me a much better idea of the specific area ( it's a big place).

After some initial access issues I parked and walked along the path towards the Lighthouse. I found a bench and scanned through the fence. Not ideal but it saved me a long walk. I soon picked up a Blue Rock Thrush through the haze...

and a Caspian Stonechat type.  I could see Birders on the ridge looking down into the area but it was difficult to see exactly where they were viewing. Rather frustrating but never mind I had an hour before lunch. Then, I had it, only briefly but conclusively. I had my second Tick in 2 days, my luck was in.

There was a wall some 80 yards away with a couple of bushes by it. I was looking into the sun but the jizz looked good for a Rock Thrush...it turned out to be...

I was having quite a morning, especially with when the Shrike appeared again and this time showed well on a snag. Alas, too quick for a pic BUT I had my Tick.

After lunch we headed to Anarita Park for our first visit. It was quiet BUT this beauty made it worthwhile...

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear