Started pre-dawn at the Elysium Hotel, 5 Star no less, on the strength of a report of a Rubythroat Sp!!! Highly unlikely I know but so was the LESSER MOORHEN. Still present this morning.
No Bird...and no other Birders?
I'm starting at Akrotiri and working my way back. However, my detour to the Sewage Works paid off when I was looking at 5 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS!!!
I'm presently at Agios Georgios Church watching House Sparrows. Hopefully something else will show up?
11.36
Just left the Church area. Redstart my best. A pair of Birders left just before me and reported a couple of Wrynecks! Ah well, it's not all glory. Still love the Site. I'm now driving the pebbles by Episkopi Bay with the magnificent Kensington Cliffs as a backdrop (no Griffons there at present). It's a good spot for migrant Short-eared Owl and rare Larks...Oh...and...Cream-coloured Courser has been seen here...
20.07
The afternoon got away from me! Only Birds of note on the Pebbles were half-a-dozen Greater Short-toed Larks...BUT I'm pretty sure I saw a rather large Turtle?| While having a bite at Phasourri Reedbeds I was looking through some photos and one in particular was bothering me. It was a female that looked...different. The amazing light here can change the appearance of some Birds and affect the images when downloaded. I contacted Jane Stylianou and Peter Bromley and they confirmed my suspicions that it was indeed a female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear.
I headed back to the Paphos Area around 1. I decided to try for the Bee-eaters again and hope I might see something else whilst in the area. I returned to this morning location but there was no sign of them. I checked the WhatsApp and noticed someone had posted an updated location nearby. Unfortunately it was on the road to another part of the Sewage Plant used by Tankers! I scanned down the approach road and sure enough I could see a couple of Birds on the Wires. I drove down and fortunately there was enough verge to park on. The next 15 minutes was special as I watched the 2 Birds catching bees and returning to the wires in bright sunshine. Magic! They then suddenly departed to the West. I struggled to get position in the car but managed some pics eventually.
I then headed up to Asprokremmos Dam (without much conviction) to try for a couple of Fidecula Flycatchers. I never seem to have much luck here...but I keep trying. True to form I didn't see anything but I did have another chat with Jonathan Wasse.
I finished at Mandria not seeing Citrine Wagtail or Caspian Plover.
It's been a very long, enjoyable day but that's it from me.
Trip Total - 135 Species
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