Settled back in now. Still adjusting...we all do after a Foreign Trip...don't we? The last few days were affected by logistical and technical problems regarding Blogging, so I thought I'd put a bit more meat on the Bones of the final few days and add photos before doing an overall Summary.
Day 17 (April 1st)
A better view of a Stone Curlew early morning...
The Sewage Works provided wonderful views of huge numbers of Yellow Wagtails in various confusing plumages. A few Years ago I used to try and assign them to races...now I just enjoy them! They ranged across a variety of crops and fields but were usually fairly easy to view with patience. They didn't linger in the newly ploughed field and were difficult to see in crops but they would land on the road on occasions...
...and perch at the field edges...
Early afternoon had me on the Eastern side of Anarita Park where I re-located a Rock Thrush which fortunately perched briefly on a rock some 40 yards away...
Always a highlight of the Trip.
I saw my first Little Crake later in the afternoon at Agia Varvara...
Day 18
As already stated I started at the Rock Thrush Site...you can't have enough of this Species! I was there at dawn and was the only Birder present. There was no sign of the Bird but a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoos were providing great entertainment nearby. I hadn't had much luck with this Species on my last visit (or any visit come to that) but this morning things changed. They were feeding on caterpillars in a ditch by the side of the road and were oblivious to my car. Brilliant to observe the mating ritual at such close quarters...
They really are superb...
On arriving at Phassouri Reedbed to negative news of BCBE I was compensated in spades by my biggest ever flock of Collared Pratincoles (c60)...
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| A sample |
Undoubtedly one of my favourite Waders. So elegant and charismatic. To see such a large number on this date was a massive bonus. One would have done! The flock made frequent flights low over the Marsh during my visit and single Birds hawked insects at some height on occasions. I saw my only Garganey of the whole trip here...
They occur on passage in large numbers in Episkopi Bay but I didn't see any there, not that I looked for long!
A group of Foreign Birders put me on the Temminck's Stint they'd found, which was a Cyprus Tick...
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| Hope they're correct lol! |
A few Little Stints were also present.
Lunch was taken at Agios Georgios Church where I finally saw a Woodchat Shrike in the nearby scrub...
A beautiful Bird which eventually perched up for me although the light was harsh and the aspect less than ideal. No complaints though. It was satisfying to finally catch up with one. I also had close views of the captivating Tawny Pipit from the car...
Something about this Species?
My long morning finished in spectacular style. As I returned to Phassouri Reedbed I could see a small group of focussed Birders. On inquiring I was told they were looking at 3 Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters!!! Quite a finale to my long morning. The Birds stayed fairly distant but I had great views through the Scope despite looking South...
I did fluke a flight shot...
After returning to the Apartment for lunch we headed down to Agia Varvara to try for the Baillon's Crake that had been reported there. The Bird eventually showed well although I was lucky to get a decent shot as the Bird was mobile...
...and a Spotted appeared as we were leaving...
Chuffed to connect with all three.
Day 19 and 20 details next...
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