The Birds!!!
Trying to balance topicality and energy/concentration levels after the Trip, I've decided to focus on the most important thing!
I added 6 Species to my Cyprus List...
Grey Plover
Great Black-headed Gull
White-throated Kingfisher
Turkestan Short-toed Lark
Semi-collared Flycatcher
Asian Desert Warbler
Possibly a Seventh?...Lesser Sand Plover
Final Trip Total could hit 150 but I'll need more time to finalize it with a few tricky sightings to mull over? The WTK was the biggest "Rush Bird". Present since October, I couldn't even dream it would still be present during my Trip!!!
The circumstances (already aired) made the sighting even more memorable. A large slice of luck combined with personal tenacity resulted in a great moment...
Worth repeating the help I received from Matt Smith.
TWO Asian Desert Warblers on the Island was quite an event. After failing to see the "Paphos Bird", I made the journey to Cape Greco to connect with the second occurrence...
The Bird performed superbly and it was good to share it with Peter Wragg and Peter Bromley.
Finally clinching the BIG Gull was satisfying as it was a "find" during a decent passage...slightly tempered by the distant yet conclusive view.
A male SCF at Aspro Dam Wood proved VERY elusive. as did the "odd" Lark at Akrotiri Gravel Pits
After seeing a decent number of Golden Plovers during my visits, it was good to finally secure a Grey.
Other selective highlights...
Ferruginous Duck - 28 at Larnanca Sewage Works was an impressive count.
Garganey - large numbers around Akrotiri and decent numbers at Larnaca Sewage Work
Red-crested Pochard - a couple of stunning males at Oroklini Lake
Black Francolin - seeing a couple of males together was a nice surpise
Rock Thrush - a wonderful double session with this magnificent Bird
Cyprus Warbler - pleased to obtain "crippling views" of this local and elusive Species.
Greater Flamingo - should NEVER be taken for granted
Griffon Vulture - pleased to record this Species albeit distantly. Thanks to Ian Bloomer.
Pallid Swift - chuffed to locate a nest site
Alpine Swift - a fair few seen of this powerful bird
Great Spotted Cuckoo - pleased to see far more this trip
Greater Sand Plover - a couple of beauties on Paphos Headland
Spur-winged Plover - such a stunning bird
Slender-billed Gull - just something about it. Many seen at Larnaca Salt Lake.
Audouin's Gull - Ditto. Superb close views of 2 adults at Oroklini Beach
Lesser Kestrel - Prolonged close views at Kivilisi
Masked Shrike - 8 birds seen. Far more than previous trips.
Red-throated Pipit - by far my best views of this lovely Species around Paphos Headland
Calandra Lark - 4 Birds seen well at Perivolia
Red-rumped Swallow - a lovely moment finding a pair collecting mud at Nata Ford
Crag Martin - really chuffed to find one amongst the hundreds of House Martins at the Mine East of Troodos
Ruppell's Warbler - always a pleasure
Spectacled Warbler - Great close views on the approach track to the Hide at Larnaca Sewage Works
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - a cracking bird seen well at Paphos Archaeological Site
Isabelline Wheatear - Several seen well
A decent haul.
I'll sort some pics out for the next post...
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