Day 21 (April 5th)
There's a select group of Birds that I'd hope to see on a Trip to Cyprus, during my "Window of Opportunity". Annual BUT far from guaranteed!
Having already connected with Caspian Plover, Rock Thrush, Lesser Kestrel, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Bimaculated Lark and Collared Pratincole among others, another "much hoped for" Species is the majestic Cream-coloured Courser.
News of one late on the 4th had me interested and hence I made the trip back over to Akrotiri with Louise. After dropping her off at the Mall I made my way down Lady's Mile...and here begins my tale...
I had a PIN off the WhatsApp and when I arrived I was greeted by the sight of a large van...and I mean large! At least 20 Birders had alighted and were spread across the sand. It was Saturday and there were various vehicles around including some buggies doing handbrake turns nearby! I started to scan and after a while I picked the Bird out at some distance...
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| Success! |
I could see a car out on the sand and a Birder. The Tour Group were advancing towards the Bird which was slowly making its way towards the Dunes. Now then...I'm not going to open the Birdwatchers Code book too far; let's just say some of the behaviour was questionable, especially as it was an organised Tour Group? It was clear the Bird was going to end up in the Dunes and I certainly wasn't going to die on the cross of moral (distant) high ground...although I have in the past on several occasions! I don't deliberately flush or trespass.
I drove up behind the Birders and car and parked at a reasonable distance hoping to get a glimpse as it walked through the Dunes. I got lucky...
The Birding group unfortunately continued to follow the Bird well into the Dunes. I left. It's a class Species and always a special experience when I see one. Memories of Scilly 2004! Some other frame fillers appeared on-line later and a few "holier than thou" comments were made!?
I drove back North up Lady's Mile to meet Louise and have lunch. We then headed to Phassouri Reedbed for the afternoon. Collared Pratincoles were thankfully still in residence...
One of the many great spectacles that you may be lucky enough to observe whilst Birding Cyprus is the potential for mass migration. Hirundines and Wagtails spring to mind. During last Years visit I had the pleasure of watching 14 Purple Herons circling Paphos Archeological Site for a good hour. Memorable!
We settled at the Western end for my first watch and Louise's first read. It became immediately apparent that Purple Herons were present...
The Reedbed is HUGE but you can only view the Northern fringe from this location and the open water is only some 40 yards across. Black-crowned Night Herons were also present...
I enjoyed watching the Herons for some time and checked out the other Birds present. Then another Bird appeared in flight. A small black and white Bird which just had to be a Tern...
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| First shot of a very active Bird |
It kept disappearing behind the Reeds but returned on several occasions before finally appearing to move East...
I though I glanced a second Bird but on reflection I could have been mistaken. Really pleasing to find a decent Bird...
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| White-winged Black Tern (Cy.228) |
We finished off at the Eastern end to enjoy the Sunset. I got talking to a young Birder from England. He was concerned about the Least Sandpiper that was present back home in his County! A typical Birder!!
He then picked up the Tern flying low over the Marsh. I put the news out again on the WhatApp. A group of French Birders appeared (no doubt reacting to the message). They were overjoyed to see the Tern and thanked me. Then the young English Birder shouted..."look"! I turned to see a sight I had never seen before...
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| c200 Purple Herons...with a few BC Night Herons! |
Estimates are not a strong point of mine...but there were "a lot"...more than I'd ever seen before. They eventually left high to the North West after even more Birds joined them!! A marvellous end to the day...Louise was even impressed.
Day 22 (April 6th)
...and so to my final morning yarn. I bet you've been on the edge of your seat!?
My target was...Roller. Could I see one before I leave. A few days from now they would be back on breeding grounds and easy to see, the challenge was to connect in the 5 hours I had remaining? Much more exciting...for me.
I started at yet another "PIN Site" (kindly provided by a WhatsApp member) North of Anarita Park. On arrival I could see the road was no more than a rough track that I definitely wasn't driving down! I scoped the area for an hour with no joy. No-one else turned up. I drove through Anarita Park on my way to Aspro' Dam but no luck there either.
I drove the track in the wood North of the Car Park hoping I may fluke one or catch a Ficdula Flycatcher as ample consolation? In my 45 minute search I did manage to unearth this beautiful Wood Warbler that perched fleetingly...
Another message informing me the/a Roller had been seen close to where I'd been earlier! I retraced my drive. This time there was room to park by the road and view the basin where the Bird had been seen. I was soon joined by three more British Birders and another foreign Tour Group. I had a good chat with a bloke from Hertfordshire and passed on some Site information for some key Species he was hoping to see. I gave it a good hour and had brilliant views of Long-legged Buzzard...
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| Full crop |
So, my time was up, never a great moment of realisation! Still, I'd had a great time and things needed doing before we headed for the Airport. I started back down the E606 towards Agia Varvara. As I drove through the Village (still checking bushes and trees) I saw a group of Birders lined up in a side street staring intently...surely not? I pulled over and asked them what they were looking at...ROLLER!!!
I deserved it...lol!
What a finish. Perfect. I thanked the Irish Crew and shared a joke or two with them regarding this late connection. They understood the context of the sighting. I returned to the apartment very satisfied with my last minute, last morning.
That completes the update of my daily diary. I'll be compiling an overview of my Trip and will post it on completion...
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