Birding and other distractions

The last morning before checking out, so brief visits to these sites. Agia Varvara had similar waders as the previous visit, with the addition of a Ruff. A Squacco Heron also flew in to one of the pools.  A distant view of a Hoopoe, then a female Golden Oriole atop a tree completed the sightings there. At Anarita Park four Rollers were on the wires, though never very close. In contrast a Little Owl was extremely confiding. Other birds included Spanish Sparrow, Woodchat Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher and two Red-rumped Swallow. Squacco Heron Church at Agia Varvara Roller Roller Little Owl Spanish Sparrow Woodchat Shrike Kestrel

A revisit to this site, in glorious weather again. Birds were generally quieter than on the previous occasion, though flycatchers were still fairly evident, with four Spotted, two Pied and a male Collared. Three Yellow Wagtail were seen well, and there was a similar number of Tree Pipit. A Masked Shrike was the first of the trip, though proved somewhat camera shy. Both Great-Spotted and Common Cuckoo were seen in flight, plus a flock of ten Bee-eaters passing through. I then walked the coastal footpath, admiring the views and two pairs of Cyprus Wheatear. Pied Flycatcher Yellow Wagtail Yellow Wagtail Tree Pipit Masked Shrike Looking back towards Baths of Aphrodite Cyprus Warbler Sardinian Warbler Greenfinch

Back to Agia Varvara, this time checking out a new set of pools. These held a number of waders: five Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Greenshank.  A Long-legged Buzzard flew over, being mobbed by a Hooded Crow. Another bird being given some grief was a  Great-spotted Cuckoo, in this case from the local Magpies. A Common Cuckoo was briefly seen in flight. Other birds at Agia Varvara included five Turtle Dove, plus two each of Woodchat Shrike and Whinchat. Near Nikokleia I was shown a roosting Cyprus Scops Owl by the hotel Vasilias Nikoklis. This made up for flight view only of scops at Neophytos Monastery the previous evening, although hearing the birds distinctive call was well worth the effort to go. Cyprus Scops Owl

A beautiful morning and on leaving the apartment the local Laughing Doves were having a tussle in the road . My second visit to this dam. Cyprus Warbler was seen on arrival then on and off during the walk, making a total of at least ten individuals. Whilst viewing one male on the hillside a male Ortolan Bunting landed on the same bush as the wheatear. Another highlight was finding a pair of Cyprus Warbler, their behaviour indicative of breeding, e.g. the female was carrying food. Three birds flying up from the ground landed in a nearby tree and proved to be Tree Pipits rather than the expected Red-throated. Other passerines in the general area included six Common Whitethroat,  two Whinchat and a Sedge Warbler. Laughing Dove Cyprus Warbler As above Ortolan Bunting As above Cyprus Warbler As above Female Cyprus Warbler As above Tree Pipit Female Sardinian Warbler Woodchat Shrike Looking south towards the dam.

The second visit to Aspro Dam, this time concentrating on the area in and around the wood (near car park). One of the first birds to be seen was a female Golden Oriole, then a male soon after, which eventually stayed still long enough for a reasonably good view. In a nearby spot a peeping call was tracked down to a male Collared Flycatcher, while a Wood Warbler added to the colourful spectacle.  A total of four Collared and one Spotted Flycatcher were eventually seen, plus a Turtle Dove, two Alpine Swift, and a distant flock of Bee-eater. At Mandria two Black Francolin were calling from fields near 'Larks Corner'. A male Montague's Harrier flying in off the sea was eventually seen well in a ploughed field, by using the car as a hide. Golden Oriole Collared Flycatcher Turtle Dove Coast at Mandria Montague's Harrier

A site on the NW coast, the habitat being bushes and mature trees in rough grassland next to a camping/caravan area. Weather was warm and sunny. Lots of birds in the area, especially hirundines and swifts along the cliffs, the latter including some Pallid. Two Raven also flew along the cliffs. Amongst the trees I found two  Collared Flycatcher, one  Pied Flycatcher, one  Spotted Flycatcher, one E  Bonelli's Warbler, three  Wood Warbler,  one  Lesser Whitethroat, approx. five  Olivaceous Warbler, and a Wryneck. The Wryneck flew up from my feet before hiding amongst the foliage of a nearby tree.  Some nice reptiles in the area including a confiding pair of Wall Lizards and two Starred Agama. Baths of Aphrodite Collared Flycatcher E Bonelli's Warbler Pied Flycatcher Wood Warbler Wall Lizards Starred Agama

A change in the weather today, mainly cloudy with light rain at times. I made my third visit to Agia Varvara, mainly to look for Great Spotted Cuckoo. No luck with that species though did manage to see Baillon's Crake on one of the pools. There seemed to be generally more Swifts in the area, and eight Turtle Doves were presumably new arrivals. At Mandria a Tawny Pipit was seen well in the dunes and a Black Francolin called from a field at the back. A male Montague's Harrier flew over the area, while a Squacco Heron landed on an offshore rock, together with a Little Egret. On the ploughed field at 'larks corner' there was a lonely Spur-winged Plover, also White Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit were present. Baillon's Crake Sardinian Warbler Dunes at Mandria Tawny Pipit Squacco Heron Male Montague's Harrier Spur Winged Plover White Wagtail Clouded Yellow