Confirmation received from the Cyprus Recorder that following submission of photos toLars Svensson he confirmed it as a nominate 

excubitor - this is the first record for Cyprus for this sub specie 

A few more photos from the trip - WHITE WAGTAIL , KINGFI SHER 

CORMORANT , BLACK WINGED STILT 

MON 19 FEB 

Last day needed to be at Paphos Airport  to hand the hire car back at 16.00, took the opportunity to visit 4 sites near the airport -

Secret Valley - a golf course with a large lake - 1 KINFISHER , 3 CORMORANT 30 LINNET , 1 ROBIN , BUZZARD , SARDINIAN WARBLER .

ASPRO DAM - 14 CORMORANT , CHUKER , 1 GREAT C GREBE (106)M

MANDRIA - Had not expected the 100's of visitors to celebrate a national holiday , still managed to find an ISABELLINE WHEATEAR 

(107 ) , 50 + CRESTED LARK , 40 + SKYLARK , 20 MIPIT , 20 +

SPANISH SPARROW (108) , 18 CORMORANT flew west, in Mandriva Gardens 2 BLACKCAP ( 109 ) 

At Pathos Sewage Works - 2 SPUR W PLOVER , 3 NORTHERN LAPWING , 10 RUFF , 20 SERIN , 1 RED THROATED PIPIT .

SUN 18 FEB 

A nice sunny and warm day to finish our trip .Oroklini Marsh watched 09.15-10.00 & 16.00-17.30 provided 3 trip ticks 

22 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 3 REDSHANK , 4 BLACK W STILT , 1 RUFF , 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT (103) , 75 TEAL , 150 SHOVELER, 1F MARSH HARRIER , 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 2 RED C POCHARD , 1 BLACK N GREBE , 1M PINTAIL , LATE AFTERNOON A TEMMINCKS STINT (105) feeding on the edge of the marsh before flying off south .THE CATTLE EGRET ROOST TOTALLED 417 - the highest of our visits A PEREGRINE (104) flew through at 09.45 

last visit to Menoeu Pools & Spiros Pools produced - 

11 KENTISH PLOVER , 14 STONE CURLEW , 120 GOLDEN PLOVER , 1 SPECTACLED WARBLER .

SAT 17 FEB 

A most unlike Cyprus day - thunderstorms from 04.00 and consistent heavy rain until 16.00 , temp only 13c ! 

Made 2 visits to Oroklini Marsh 09.30-11.00 and 16.20-17.30 

400 + SHOVELER , 120 TEAL , 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 6 PINTAIL ,70 FLAMINGO , 5 BLACK W STILT , 6 SPUR W PLOVER ,

1 REDSHANK , 1 SNIPE , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 2 CHIFFY , 

LATE AFTERNOON LARGE INFLUX OF HIRUNDINES - 100 + SWALLOW , 5 HOSE MARTIN & 2 flocks of SWIFT totalling 95 

Last full day Sunday , weather forecast is warm & sunny all day .

Photos - The big new bird at Larnaca Airport is the FIFA World Cup 

Plane visiting many countries with the World Cup , also 

MARSH SANDPIPER & 1ST W YELLOW WAGTAIL 

FRI 16 FEB 

Another very interesting day , a new big bird photographed at Larnaca Airport .

Started at Kamares Drain Channel and Larnaca Salt Lake - 20 SPUR W PLOVER , Mixed flock of 700+ waders - too distant to positively 

ID all of them- DUNLIN , KENTISH PLOVER , RINGED PLOVER & LITTLE STINT .1 LITTLE EGRET , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 1 SNIPE , 1 KINGFISHER , 1 RED T PIPIT . THE 1st W YELLOW WAGTAIL still present

A scan of Larnaca Salt Lake at 13.30 found amongst the flock of BLACK H GULL at least 40 SLENDER BILLED GULL 

At 14.20 on Menoue Pools were a large flock of 350+ GULLS comprising - YELLOW LEGGED , CASPIAN , ARMENIAN & at least 2 BALTIC GULL ( 101 ) - a lifer .260+ FLAMINGO .

On one of the Airport Pools were a flock of waders - 60 REDSHANK , 

5 RUFF AND A MARSH SANDPIPER ( 102 ) 

Oroklini Marsh watched from 16.00- 17.30- Something spooked. All the Duck which took flight and most landed on the north marsh -

500+ SHOVELER , 100+ TEAL , 8 GADWALL , 8 FERRUGINOUS DUCK 

7 PINTAIL , 2 WIGEON , 3 RED C POCHARD . 5 RUFF , 3 BLACK W STILT , 2 REDSHANK , 2 SNIPE , 6. SPUR W PLOVER .

THE CATTLE EGRET roost total - 380 

 overhead a large build up of SWALLOW - 100 + , also 3 Swift 

Update on the GREAT GREY SHRIKE - THE SUB SPECIES IS THE 5TH RECORD FOR CYPRUS .

FLAMINGO & STONE CURLEW at Spiros Pool 15 Feb 2018

THURS 15 FEB 

At Spiros Pool the GOLDEN PLOVER flock was150 .

On Larnaca Airport Settling Pools - 500+SHOVELER , 5 WIGEON ,

3 F POCHARD , 100 TEAL , 2 GADWALL . 

At Menoue Pools - 120 FLAMINGO , 30 STONE CURLEW , 6 RINGED PLOVER , 4 KENTISH PLOVER , 1 BARD SWALLOW .

Oroklini Marsh watched from 15.40-17.20 -

320 SHOVELER , 135 TEAL , 7 GADWALL , 2 PINTAIL , 2 WIGEON , 8 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 17 SPUR W PLOVER , 4 BLACK W STILT , 3 REDSHANK , 1 LITTLE EGRET , 1F MARSH HARRIER , 30 BARN SWALLOW , 5 HOUSE MARTIN .

THE CATTLE EGRET ROOST - 305 

Photos of the WHITE WINGED  BLACK TERN at OROKLINI MARSH

14 FEB 2018

WED 14 FEB

An early morning visit to Oroklini Marsh produced the normal species , at 09.40 picked up 2 TERNS flying in - to my surprise they were WHITE WINGED BLACK TERN (99) in almost full sp - photos to be added later .

Found Paralimini Lake - really just an area of pools - a distant flock of 150+ waders contained - LITTLE STINT , KENTISH PLOVER , RINGED PLOVER , 1f MARSH HARRIER , 1 BARN SWALLOW .

There is always a flock of around 100 BLACK H GULL by the Oroklini Beah Cafe - waiting to be fed , today there was a YELLOW L GULL and 4 SANDWICH TERN (. 100) .

Oroklini Marsh watched from 16.00- 17.15 produced -

190 SHOVELER , 70 TEAL, 3M 5 F PINTAIL , 2 WIGEON , 5M 2 F GADWALL, 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 3 RED C POCHARD .17 SPUR W PLOVER , 6 RUFF, 1 SNIP. 1 LITTLE EGRET ,

CATTLE EGRET roost 325 

Received confirmation that the GREAT GREY SHRIKE has been agreed as an AUCHERI sub specie.

Whist we still have a few more days additions to the trip list are going to prove difficult , mid you a total of 100 at this time of the year is very acceptable 

Aerial photo of Oroklini Marsh , Marsh Harrier, Black Necked Grebe 

showing signs of summer plumage 

MON 13 FEB 

A sunny day with a strong breeze in the afternoon .

At 08.00 3BARN SWALLOW & 2HOUSE MARTIN - COLLECTING MUD FROM A BUILDING PLOT .

At Larnaca Settling Pools - 1000+ SHOVELER , 300 TEAL , 2F POCHARD , 1M FERRUGINOUS DUCK ., 5 WIGEON , 25 BLACK N GREBE 1F MARSH HARRIER , 5 BARN SWALLOW .

ON Menoue Pools - 100 FLAMINGO , 50 STONE CURLEW 

AT Spiros Pool - 125 GOLDEN PLOVER , 1 CALANDRA LARK . 

At Kamares Drain Channel the 1w YELLOW WAGTAIL again .

Oroklini Marsh watched 15.50-17.20 

6M 1F GADWALL , 150 SHIVELER , 25 TEAL , 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK 3 RED C POCHARD , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 10 SPUR W PLOVER , 3 REDSHANK , 2 RUFF , 5 BLACK W STILT , 1 COMMON BUZZARD , 

1F MARSH HARRIER , 1 BLACK N GREBE , 17 BARN SWALLOW , 

CATTLE EGRET ROOST - 365 

MON 12 FEB 

Drove over to Zakaki Marsh area this morning - not much seen .

At the Marsh - 3 CHIFFY ., 1 MOUSTACHED WARBLER ( 96 ) 

On Akrotiri Salt Lake - 1000's of FLAMINGO 

At Akrotiri Marsh - 2f MARSH HARRIER , 2 GREEN SANDPIPER ,

1 COMMON BUZZARD , 3 MIPIT ., 1 CATTLE EGRET , 1 WATER PIPIT (97) , mixed flock of 30 CHAFFINCH ( 98 ) & SERIN 

Arrived at Oroklini Marsh ( north ) at 16.00 , watched until 17.20 -

5 BLACK W STILT , 6 RUFF , 9SPUR W PLOVER, 1 REDSHANK ,

1 SNIPE , 1F MARSH HARRIER , 1 BLACK N GREBE , 2 GREY HERON , 3 RED C POCHARD , 8 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 3M 3F PINTAIL ,

1M GADWALL , 3 CHIFFY , at 16.45 a flock of 12 BARN SWALLOW ARRIVED .THE CATTLE EGRET ROOST a record 375 .

67 FLAMINGO - some starting to show nice summer plumage 

SUN 11 FEB 

Cloudy morning , breezy afternoon .

On Oroklini Marsh - morning - 2BARN SWALLOW , 3 SPUR W PLOVER ,2 GREEN SANDPIPER , 1 REDSHANK ,2 RUFF , 3 BLACK W STILT , 

1M PINTAIL 3 CHIFFY , 1F BLUETHROAT 1 BLACK N GREBE 

On Larnaca Salt Lake an ad MED GULL IN SP ( 92 ) 

At Kamares Drain Channel - 1 LITTLE EGRET , 3 KINGFISHER ,

3 CHIFFY , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 SPUR W PLOVER , 1F MARSH HARRIER , 1 BLACKBIRD , 1 RED T PIPIT , 2 WATER RAIL ( seen ) , 

16 MOORHEN , 1 1STW YELLOW WAGTAIL ( seen and called ) ( 93 ) 

16.00-17.00 Oroklini Marsh - additions to this mornings count - 

5 SPUR W PLOVER , 1 LITTLE EGRET , 315 CATTLE EGRET -ROOST , 

At 16.35 a flock of 20 Hirundines arrived containing- 15 BARN SWALLOW , 3 HOUSE MARTIN (94) and a SWIFT ( 95 ) 

The GREAT GREY SHRIKE found yesterday still there , several birders have seen , waiting for news as to which sub specie 

OROKLINI MARSH 09.30 WHEN A RAPTOR CAUSED MAYHEM 

PHOTOS OF THE GREAT GREY SHRIKE , 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER , STONE CURLEW - 10 FEB2018

SAT 10 FEB 

 Avery interesting day with a Cyprus rarity found .

At 09.30 watching from the North hide at Oroklini Marsh a raptor caused all the Duck to take flight , numbers way in excess of what I

previously counted - 400+ SHOVELER , 250 TEAL , 3M 3F PINTAIL ,

4 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 3 RED C POCHARD , 4 GADWALL 2 BLACK W STILT , 1 RUFF, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER .72 FLAMINGO   

10.30 at Menoue Pools -23 STONE CURLEW , 10 CASPIAN GULL , 

4 KENTISH PLOVER , 2 RINGED PLOVER .

At the Perivolia Field a mixed flock of 15 SKYLARK , CALANDRA LARK &2 CORN BUNTING .

At 13.00 stopped by the coast road for lunch , picked up perched on some phone wires a GREAT GREY SHRIKE ( 89 ) , . later informed by the Cyprus recorder could be one of the rare sub species , photos submitted , birders off to look for it on Sunday . Nearby a COMMON BUZZARD .

This afternoon drove to Macrosinsos Beach which holds some waders - 8 GREATER SAND PLOVER (90) 16 KENTISH PLOVER , nearby 4 LINNET (91), A  KINGFISHER flew across the Bay .At the entrance to a hotel - 1F BLACK REDSTART , 2 CHUKER 

FRI 9 FEB 

A nice sunny & warm day so only morning and late afternoon visits to Oroklini Marsh .

Morning - NORTH HIDE 1 F MARSH HARRIER , 1 BLACK FRANCOLIN , , 1BLACK N GREBE , 1M 2F PINTAIL, 3 RED C POCHARD , 25 SHOVELER, 12 TEAL , 45 FLAMINGO , 1 CHIFFY, 2 BLACK W STILT , 1 SPARROWHAWK being mobbed by 8 MIPIT (88)

SOUTH HIDE -220 SHOVELER , 50 TEAL , 4M 2F GADWALL, 2 WIGEON , 2 GREEN SANDPIPER , 22 SPUR WINGED PLOVER ( big influx ) , 1 SARDINIAN WARBLER , 1 BLUETHROAT ( white spotted - Great Close views ) 

Afternoon 15.45 -17.00 - North Hide - 14 SPURW PLOVER , 4 RUFF ,

2 BLACK W STILT , 30 TEAL , 4 SHOVELER , 3 RED C POCHARD , 6 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 1 GREY HERON , 48 FLAMINGO , 160 CATTLE EGRET ( roost ) 

SOUTH HIDE - 4 GADWALL , 200 + SHOVELER , 60 TEAL , 10 FLAMINGO 

Photos from Oroklini Marsh - pair of BLACK WINGED STILT , BLACK NECKED GREBE , FLAMINGO , Just one bush used by roosting CATTLE EGRET 

THURS 8 FEB 

A cloudy day with a light shower 

2 visits to Oroklini Marsh - early morning and late afternoon - totals were -56 FLAMINGO , 175 SHOVELER , 40 TEAL , 3 PINTAIL 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 1 BLACK N GEBE , 4 REDSHANK , 4 BLACK W STILT , 6 SPUR W PLOVER , 2 SONG THRUSH , 2 CHIFFY , THE CATTLE EGRET ROOST -245 

Visited Akhna Dam - 2 Cormorant (82), a BLACK FRANCOLIN ( calling ) 

Paralimini Lake was virtually dry - found 2 GREEN SANDPIPER , 1 REDSHANK , 2 RED THROATED PIPIT (83 ), 1 f MARSH HARRIER 

At a picnic site at Cape Dreco - 1 SERIN (84) , 4 SARDINIAN WARBLER (85 ) A Ringtail HEN HARRIER ( 86), 2 CHUKER , 3 SONG THRUSH , SEVERAL ROCK DOVE ( 87 ) 

on some rocks near Agio THEKLA - 14 KENTISH PLOVER , 1 REDSHANK 

WED 7 FEB 

Another sunny and warm day .

2 visits to Oroklini Marsh - 09.30 and 15.30- 17.00 produced -

A F MARSH HARRIER , 1M 1F WIGEON , 1M GADWALL ,

230 SHOVELER , 130 TEAL, 10 FERRUGINOUS DUCK ,

3 RED C POCHARD , 2 BLACK N GREBE , 20 LITTLE GREBE ,

4 SPUR W PLOVER , 5 REDSHANK , 1 SNIPE , 2 RUFF (79).,

4 BLACK W STILT , 1  GREEN SANDPIPER, 1WATER RAIL , 2 GREY HERON , THE CATTLE EGRET ROOST -245, 2 BARN SWALLOW , 

ON Larnaka Airport Pools South - 8 STONE CURLEW (80 ) 

Menou Pool - 20 Flamingo, 5 KENTISH PLOVER , 3 RINGED PLOVER .

ON Spiros Pool - 165 GOLDEN PLOVER , 2 KENTISH PLOVER.

Larnaca Settling Pools - 1000+ SHOVELER , 400 TEAL , 4 WIGEON , 2 GADWALL , 5F POCHARD , 1 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 35 BLACK N GREBE , 4 SPUR W PLOVER , 3 GREENSHANK , 1F MARSH HARRIER .

On the Kiti to Perivolia Road - 6 CALANDRA LARK ( 81) SKYLARK , CORN BUNTING 

TUES 6 FEB 

A nice sunny day with temps up to 21 

2 visits to Oroklnl Marsh - morning & late afternoon , big reduction in the numbers of Duck compared with the last 2 days .Max counts for both visits -1f MARSH HARRIER , 5 SPUR W PLOVER , 3 REDSHANK , 4 BLACK W STILT , 80 SHOVELER , 30 TEAL , 2 PINTAIL , 14 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 2M POCHARD , 1M 2F RED C POCHARD , 

2 GREY HERON , 1 WATER RAIL , 1 SONG THRUSH , 3 BARN SWALLOW , 25 BLACK H GULL , 1 CASPIAN GULL , 1 BLACK N GREBE , 20 LITTLE GREBE , 2 CRESTED LARK 38 FLAMINGO .

Went to Kamares Viaduct this morning , a very interesting site by the Larnaka Salt Lake, because of drainage improvement works not as good as expected , however still managed - 1 Common Buzzard (72 ) , 1 BLACK REDSTART ( 73 ) , 1 LITTLE EGRET ( 74 ), KINGFISHER , MARSH HARRIER , GREY WAGTAIL , OUT ON THE LAKE A FLOCK OF 1500+ waders , those which could be positively identified - DUNLIN (75), LITTLE STINT (76), RINGED PLOVER .(77)

1 F BLACKBIRD ( 78 ) 

Mon 5 Feb 

A very eventful day with 2 life ticks , that doesn't happen in Europe often . 

 08.00 from the balcony - A BLACK FRANCOLIN calling (57)

09.30 Oroklini Marsh North Hide - 1 CHUKER ( 58 ) , 5 PINTAIL

( flew in ) , 60 SHOVELER , 15 LITTLE GREBE , 1 BLACK N GREBE ,

1 F MARSH HARRIER A drive ti Agio  Sozemonous , 2 MAGPIE (59 ) 

1 BLUE ROCK THRUSH (60 ) , 2 CORN BUNTING (61) ,1M 1f 

SPECTACLED WARBLER (62) , 2 LONG L BUZZARD ( 63 ) , 1 SPARROWHAWK (64) , 1M FINCH'S WHEATEAR ( 65 ) - after a few years of trying to find one finally managed it , it did take some finding , almost 2 hours nearly gave up but on the final drive managed to clinch it .

At Larnaka Salt Lake at least 25 SLENDER BILLED GULL ( they really are superb!) On Spiros  Pool 175 GOLDEN PLOVER (66), 

Menou Pool - 4 KENTISH PLOVER (68) , flock of 150+ CASPIAN , YELLOW LEGGED & ARMENIAN GULL 

Jumbo Drain Channel - 1 SNIPE (69) , 1 GREY WAGTAIL , 4 SPUR W PLOVER ,

Final visit of the day 15.50-16.50 at the north hide at Oroklini Marsh , the more time I spend here reminds me of the Thurlestone Bay patch - absolutely fabulous , tonight - 3 SNIPE , 4 SPUR W PLOVER, 1 REDSHANK ,4 BLACK W STILT ,1 WATER RAIL , 4 PINTAIL , 1M 2F RED C POCHARD , 7 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , the CATTLE EGRET ROOST TOTALLED 225 , 6 CASPIAN GULL , at 1625 2 BARN SWALLOW (70) flew over. At 16.05 picked up a 2W Gull - from photos been confirmed as a 2W AUDOINS GULL (71)

We still have 14 days of the trip,to go - what else can turn up ? 

PHOTOS TAKEN 4&5th Feb 2018- 2 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , Head and full frame of a 2W AUDOINS GULL AT OROKLINI MARSH , 2 SLENDER BILLED GULL AT LARNACA SALT LAKE , 

2 PHOTOS OF FINCH'S WHEATEAR AT AGIO SOZOMENOUS 

CYPRUS 

Arrived late SATURDAY at the SVELTOS HOTEL which is located adjacent to one of my favorite sites in Cyprus - Oroklini Marsh . Our balcony has a side view of the southern side of the marsh.

At 08.00 this morning the first bird was  aKINGFISHER - sat on the metal steps of the pool . Opposite is a small building plot with a pond of water with a GREEN SANDPIPER & 2 SPUR WINGED PLOVER feeding ,

Made 2 visits to the Marsh -10.00-11.00-

6 HOODED CROW , 8 SPUR W PLOVER , 2 REDSHANK , 2 BLACK W STILT , 

50 FLAMINGO , 10 LITTLE GREBE , 2 PINTAIL , 50 TEAL , 150 SHOVELER , 20 MALLARD , 3 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 2 M POCHARD , CETTIS WARBLER , CHIFFCHAFF , 1 CATTLE EGRET .1 KESTREL , 1 ROBIN ,

NEXT SITE - LARNAKA SALT LAKE - Amongst a flock of over 200 BLACK H GULLS were 12 SLENDER BILLED GULL , 600+FLAMINGO , 

1500 SHELDUCK , 5 REDSHANK , 2 STONECHAT and a singing male 

CYPRUS WARBLER 

At LARNAKA SETTLING POOLS - 32 BLACK N GREBE , 20 + LITTLE GREBE , 

3 GREENSHANK , 2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 1000+ SHOVELER , 300 + TEAL , 10 WIGEON , 2 GADWALL , 1F POCHARD . A FLOCK OF 80 CASPIAN , YELLOW LEGGED AND ARMENIAN GULLS .

After lunch short visit to the JUMBO DRAIN Channel on the sea front - 

5 SPUR W PLOVER , 1 COMMON SANDPIPER , 2 CATTLE EGRET & a singing M BLUETHROAT ( white spot )

Late afternoon visit to Oroklini Marsh - 15.45 - 16.45 to watch the roost of Duck and CATTLE EGRET - 230 EGRETS flew in , flocks of upto 50 birds a very impressive sight to watch . Increase in ducks - 300+ SHOVELER , 9 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 1F TUFTED DUCK , 1M RED CRESTED POCHARD , 

11 SPUR W PLOVER , 1 GREENSHANK , 4 BLACK W STILT ,5 NORTHERN LAPWING , 1 GREY WAGTAIL , 1 LAUGHING DOVE 

TRIP SPECIES LIST - 56