Duffbirder meets South Holderness!: Cyprus 26

Thursday, 26 March 2026

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...