ADULT ARMENIAN GULL - winter plumage , taken on pool near

Zakai Marsh - Feb 2019

MON 25 FEB

looking out of the kitchen window at 08.30 - a GREAT SP CUCKOO in a nearby tree . 

At Mandria - An ISABELLINE WHEATEAR .

Last stop on the way to the airport - Paphos Sewage Works -25SPUR W PLOVER , 2 RED THROATED PIPIT , 1 ROBIN 

Confirmation that Spring migration starting , just rec’d notice of Tawny Pipit , Northern Wheatear , Desert Wheatear and Short E Owl

at Mandria/ Paphos Headland 26 Feb .

SUN 24 FEB 

Last full day before returning to Thurlestone .

Started at Mandria -20 SKYLARK, MIPIT , 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR,

1M BLACK FRANCOLIN , 2 SHAG .

Nata Valley- 10 SERIN , 1 GREAT SP CUCKOO.

Anarita Village - back of the house - 2GREAT SP CUCKOO, 

1F BLACK REDSTART .

Species total - 114 

SAT 23 FEB 

At Secret Valley - 2 CATTLE EGRET , 1 LITTLE EGRET .

AT Aspro Dam - 30 HOUSE MARTIN , 10 SWALLOW , 8 SWIFT , 

2 GREAT C GREBE , 1M 2F BLACK REDSTART. 1 LONG L BUZZARD 

Nata Ford - BLACK FRANCLOIN , 1 LONG L BUZZARD 

From the main road found a lay-by overlooking Anarita Park ( access roads still difficult ) had great scope views of a M FINCH’S 

WHEATEAR , 35 CORMORANT flew over - NW , 1F BLACK REDSTART .

At Coral Bay 3 BLACK FRANCOLIN ( a pair in flight ) 

Trip species 114 

FRI 22 FEB 

Visited the area around Anarita Mast this morning - 1 ROBIN , SONG THRUSH , BLACKBIRD , 2 CORN BUNTING, 1 WOODLARK, 2 CHUKAR , 2 SARDINIAN WARBLER , 3 ZITTING CISTICOLA, 12 SERIN , 2 CHAFFINCH and the bird we were looking for a CYPRUS WARBLER .

Trip species 113 .

More information about the MOURNING WHEATER - seems to have moved on , not seen today . Until Jan 2019 only recorded on 2 previous occasions - 3 sightings this year all different locations , widely believed to be the same bird 

THURS 21 FEB 

Back to normal today - Started At Mandria -2F BLACK REDSTART,

2 BLACK FRANCOLIN , 15 SKYLARK, 20 MIPIT , 15 SERIN , 5 LINNET, 20 CHIFFY, 1 F REED BUNTING . 1 SHAG .

At Paphos Sewage Works - 20 SPUR W PLOVER , 1M BLACK REDSTART, 50 SERIN , 1 BUZZARD .

12.-0 Aspro Dam - first sighting of migrating CORMORANTS- a flock of 32 flew NW , 3f BLACK REDSTART, 1 ALPINE SWIFT , 10 SWIFT, 2 GREAT C GREBE, 1 PEREGRINE .

16.00 atAnarita - 20 STONE CURLEW , 1 WOODLARK 

Trip species - 112 

PHOTOS of the MOURNING WHEATEAR-  the back view shows the stripes on the wing tips -  one of the diagnostic ID features 

WED 20 FEB - JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET 

Visit to Agia Greogious to search for an adult MOURNING WHEATEAR- a superb bird with views down to 20 feet . Only the 5 record for Cyprus . Certainly THE bird of the trip . A lifer for me .

lots of photos taken , will be posted later 

Trip species 110 

TUES 19 FEB 

Visit to Paphos today - on the headland 14 GOLDEN PLOVER.

In the Lighthouse Gardens - 3f BLACK REDSTART , 11 WOODLARK , 1 CORN BUNTING , 12 CHAFFINCH , 10 SWALLOW 

Trip species 109 

RECORD SHOTS OF GRIFFON VULTURE 

MON 18 FEB 

Went to Kensington Cliffs first to view the GRIFFON VULTURES with the sun behind me - only 2 displaying today - very good scope views .

At Akrotiri Marsh only 1 F MARSH HARRIER and a BUZZARD .

AT Zakaki Marsh / Pools a flock of over 2000 BLACK H GULL several hundred in full summer plumage- also an MED GULL in summer plumage .1F MARSH HARRIER & A REED  WARBLER 

Trip Species 108 

SAT 16 FEB 

Another cold and day of frequent showers .

At Mandria An ISABELLINE WHEATEAR again . Driving back to Anarita surprised to see an ALPINE SWIFT - only the 2nd Record of the year .

Driving up the Nata Valley a MERLIN flew across the road 

Trip species 106

FRI 15 FEB 

After heavy o/night rain a mainly sunny day , 

At Mandria the dust bowl is now almost a Lake - only 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR.

On Paphos Headland just a COMMON SANDPIPER .

Spent 3 hours walking round Paphos Lighthouse area -35 GREENFINCH , 4 CHIFFY , 5 SARDINIAN WARBLER, 3 WOODLARK , 2 CORN BUNTING, 2 M 3F BLACK REDSTART  , 1GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO ( could have been 2 as seen in 2 separate places ) 1M 1F 

BLACKCAP 

At 17.00 at Aspro Dam - 2 GREAT CRESTED GREBE 

Trip species - 104 

PHOTOS OF CRESTED LARK & MALE BLACK REDSTART 

THURS 14 FEB 

 The coldest - maxof 12c and wettest day of all our visits to Cyprus .

Ventured out to Mandria this morning- 50 SKYLARK , 5 MIPIT , 8 SONG THRUSH , 2 BLACK REDSTART , 10 ZITTING CISTICOLA.

At Paphos Sewage Works - 25 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 75 MIPIT , 

2 RED THROATED PIPIT , 

Driving back 2 NORTHERN LAPWING flew NW 

Spent an hour from 14.20 looking out over the garden - not quite as busy as Thurlestone , only 17 species including- 7 CHIFFY , 3 SARDINIAN WARBLER, 3 STONECHAT , WHITE WAGTAIL, 

3 CHAFFINCH , 1 KESTREL , FLOCKS OF GULLS flying East totalled 

125 - YELLOW LEGGED & CASPIAN 

trip species - 102 

POOR RECORD SHOT OF A SOARING GRIFFON VULTURE 

WED 13 FEB 

A sunny day with a F5/6 NW wind .

last day in the Larnaca Area- At Oroklini Marsh - South Hide -

60FLAMINGO, 75 SHOVELER, 50 TEAL , 6 PINTAIL, 6 SPUR W PLOVER , 1 F MARSH HARRIER .

North Hide - 55 FLAMINGO, 75 SHOVELER, 1 HERON , 8 BLACK W STILT, 3 GADWALL , 11 FERRUGINOUS DUCK .

At Kamares Viaduct - 22 SPUR W PLOVER , 3 WATER PIPIT , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER, 1 KINGFISHER, 1 GREY EAGTAIL.

At Larnaca Salt Lake 60 SLENDER BILLED GULL- On North Pool 

the RUDDY SHELDUCK 

On the drive home stopped at Kensington Cliffs - very good views of 6 GRIFFON VULTURE 

Final stop at Mandria - 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR , 1 BLACK FRANCOLIN , 10 SKYLARK .

Heavyrain forecast for Thursday - could drop some migrants in !

TUES  12 FEB 

Stated sunny increasing cloud this afternoon 

On the Airport Settling Pools - 300 TEAL , 3M SHOVELER , 5 GADWALL , 5 MARSH HARRIER , 50 BLACK N GREBE , Mixed flock of 150 YELLOW LEGGED , CASPIAN , ARMENIAN  GULLS 

At Perviola Fields no sign of any Larks but did have a SPARROWHAWK.

Larnaca Salt Lake - 30 SLENDER BILLED GULL , 5 REDSHANK , 175 SHELDUCK, 75 TEAL , 1 m MARSH HARRIER 

Airport Pools - North - 10 SLENDER BILLED GULL , 25 LITTLE STINT , 20 KENTISH PLOVER , 15 RINGED PLOVER , 4 REDSHANK .

SOUTH - 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK ( again ) 150 DUNLIN , 30 LITTLE STINT , 20 RINGED PLOVER , 1 F BLACK REDSTART .

Spent an hour from 14.30 at Kamares Viaduct - 1 BLUETHROAT , 

4 WATER PIPIT , 6 SNIPE , 1 REDSHANK , 2 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 1 KINGFISHER, 60 HOUSE MARTIN , 30 SWALLOW , 150 SWIFT , 2 ROBIN , 2 WATER RAIL, 1 SONG THRUSH.

Finished at Oroklini Marsh 16.-0- 17.30 -

3 SLENDER BILLED GULL , 8 PINTAIL , 2 WATER RAIL , TEAL , GADWALL , FERRUGINOUS DUCK, SPUR WINGED PLOVER, 

BLACK W STILT , 1F MARSH HARRIER , 41 FLAMINGO .

The CATTLE EGRET roost - 605 , 1 LITTLE EGRET 

Trip list - 101 species 

1W , AD , SLENDER BILLED GULL -is there a more attractive looking Gull ? 

MON 11FEB 

Started at Oroklini Marsh At -9.50 

125 SHOVELER ,2 RED C POCHARD , 125 TEAL , 4 PINTAIL , 2 GADWALL , 11 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 15 SPUR W PLOVER , 7 BLACK W STILT , 3 REDSHANK , 1 RUFF ,1 WATER RAIL , 1 SNIPE , 

3 MARSH HARRIER , . AT 17.15 the CATTLE EGRET roost was an impressive 610 .

A walk from Kamares towards the Sat Lake - on a small pool 

3 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER , 1 KINGFISHER , 1 WATER RAIL , 

10 CHIFFY .

On the Salt Lake - 25 SLENDER BILLED GULL , 2500 FLAMINGO , 

250 SHELDUCK 

ON THE AIRPORT POOLS - North - 1 RUDDY SHELDUCK , 1 RUFF , 

1 LITTLE GULL 

SOUTH - 25 KENTISH PLOVER , 125 DUNLIN , 25 LITTLE  STINT,

10 RINGED PLOVER , 10 REDSHANK 

Trip Species - 99 

PHOTOS OF - KENTISH PLOVER , LITTLE GREBE , BLACK NECKED GREBE , CATTLE EGRET ROOST , FLAMINGO - LARNACA AND ORIKLINI MARSH 

SUN 10 FEB 

 Start of a 4 day visit to The Larnaca area in particular one of my favorite sites - Oroklini Marsh .

First stop was the Larnaca Airport Settling Pools - not as good as last year , very high ware levels resulting in no waders at all -

50 BLACK NECKED GREBE ( 1 already in summer plumage ) , 45 

LITTLE GREBE , 1 M SOVELER ( last feb 1000+ ) , 500 TEAL , 5 GADWALL , 10 MALLARD , 150 COOT , 1 AD BALTIC GULL , 1 1W HEUGLINS GULL ,2 1W CASPIAN GULL , 6 SWALLOW , 1 SPECTACLED WARBLER .

SPIROS POOL - 60 FLAMINGO , 2 SHOVELER , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER , 27 KENTISH PLOVER , 7 SLENDER BILLED GULL .

LARNACA SALT LAKE - 2500 FLAMINGO , 300 SHELDUCK , 250 TEAL , 

150 SHOVELER. 

LARNACA AIRPORT POOL -  SOUTH - First pool to show any mud resulting around 300 Waders - 250 DUNLIN , 15 RINGED PLOVER , 10 LITTLE STINT , 20 REDSHANK , 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK , 

2 TEMMINCKS STINT , 

Final visit - OROKLINI MARSH 15.00- 17.15 - 150 SHOVELER , 

50 TEAL , 4 PINTAIL , 6 FERRUGINOUS DUCK , 2 GADWALL , 

15 LITTLE GREBE , 7 BLACK WINGED STILT , 4 SNIPE , 25 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 50 BLACK H GULL , 2 CHIFFY , 1 F MARSH HARRIER , 125 SWALLOW , 2 SWIFT , 

The CATTLE EGRET roost started around 16.45 with birds flying in 

in flocks of upto 250 , final estimate was 495 . Only 1 LITTLE EGRET 

Trip species list now 93 

SAT 9 FEB 

Another visit to Zakaki/ Akrotiri Marshes - showers and sunny periods .

At Zakaki Marsh- 1WATER RAIL , 3 TEAL , 4 CETTIS WARBLER , 

2 MOUSTACHED WARBLER, 1 CHIFFY , 2 MARSH HARRIER , 

1 BUZZARD , 500 BL ACK H GULL , 1 1W SLENDER BILLED GULL .

Akrotiri Marsh - 2 F MARSH HARRIER , 4 CETTIS WARBLER, 

25 SWALLOW .

Stopped Off at Kensington Cliffs On the way back - good views of 

8 GRIFFON VULTURE ( inc 3 on a cliff ledge ) , 1 LONG LEGGED BUZZARD .

Trip species list 74 

PHOTOS OF THE 2 GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO ( pity I did not have time to prune the trees ! ), CHUCKAR 

FRI 8 FEB 

‘After o/night thunderstorms another pleasant sunny day 

At Mandria this morning A GREY PLOVER flew west good views also calling - a scarce bird here usually less than 5 records a year ( mostly autumn ) - a Cyprus first for me .Also a SANDWICH TERN -W ,1 SHAG , 25 SKYLARK, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR .

A drive along a back road at Agia Varvara came across - 70 SERIN , 

2 WOODLARK, 5 SONG THRUSH , 1 ROBIN , 1 M BLACKCAP ,

25 + CHUKAR .

This afternoon in the open land behind the house 2GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO together in adjacent trees , 1M1F BLACK REDSTART , 3 CHIFFY , 1M BLACKCAP .

Went Up the Nata Valley Road looking for Little Owl - no sign but did have a F BLUE ROCK THRUSH .

First Hoopoe Reported At Paphos Lighthouse this morning 

Trip list 70 species 

THURS 7 FEB 

Spent some time yesterday evening researching a large Gull watched flying east over Paphos Harbour At 15.45 on Wed .After discussions with 2 local experts they both agreed with my decision of a1w PALLAS’S GULL .

After an early morning shower became a nice sunny and warm afternoon .

At Anarita - 4 CORN BUNTING , 2 CHIFFY, 2 MIPIT , 2 BARN SWALLOW.

At Mandria =-1 HOUSE MARTIN , 50 + SKYLARK, 30+ CRESTED LARK , 2 RED THROATED PIPIT, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR.

At Timi Beach a STARLING on the wires .

At Nata Ford aBONELLI’S EAGLE , 2 BLACK FRANCOLIN .

The very heavy rain in January has caused a lot of roads in the valleys to be impassable due to rivers overflowing and mud slides 

Trip list - 67 species 

RECORD SHOTS OF SPUR W PLOVER , WOODLARK, ISABELLINE WHEATEAR- 6 FEB 

WED 6 FEB - A cloudy with a f6 E wind - forecast rain kept away .

AT Mandria - 2ISABELLINE WHEATEAR , 1 BARN SWALLOW , A TEAL flew E , 20 YELLOW LEGGED GULL on the beach .

Avisit to Paphos Lighthouse found - 7 BLACK REDSTART , 4 SARDINIAN WARBLER , 3 CHIFFY, 3 SONG THRUSH , 1 ROBIN AND 2 groups of WOODLARK totalling 11 birds - very good views .

Arriving back at the house in Anarita At 16.30 - bird of the day a GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOOlanded in a tree not 30 yards away squawking its head off , also a M BLACK REDSTART & some CHUKAR 

Trip list 61 species .

the Cuckoo is only the 3rd record so far this year , first ISABELLINE Wheatear was found yesterday .

TUES 5 FEB - Lovelywarm sunny day -23c.

A visit to Zakaki Marsh was disappointing- 2F MARSH HARRIER, 

24 FLAMINGO ( also over 1000 on Akrotiri Salt Lake , . On the coast pools along Lady’s Mile -600 + BLACK HEADED GULL, 10 YELLOW LEGGED GULL, 2 SANDWICH TERN , 4 KENTISH PLOVER 

Highlight was seeing the fly past by the final 3 Tornados as they left to return to RAF Markham for retirement .

MON 4 FEB 

A quick visit to the ‘lake ‘ at Mandria - 2 BLACKCAP , SPANISH SPARROW, 1M BLACK REDSTAT .

At Paphos Sewage Works - 22 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 15 MIPIT , 1 BLACKBIRD, 4 SONG THRUSH, 5 CHIFFY , 1 LONG LEGGED BUZZARD .

Tried to visit Anarita Park, unfortunately due to the bad weather in January the minor roads have subsided - before we had to turn back had a flock of 35 CORN BUNTING , 15 SKYLARK, 35 CHAFFINCH , 5 SERIN 

At Aspro Dam - a GULL roost of over 50 birds contained - 

YELLOW LEGGED , CASPIAN , ARMENIAN GULLS .

Secret Valley - CHUKAR , 60 + JACKDAW, 2 LITTLE EGRET &2 CATTLE EGRET .

In the field behind the house a flock of 30 STONE CURLEW.

Trip list - 51 species .

SUN 3 FEB 

Outside the house 2 F BLACK REDSTART .At Aspro Dam a GREAT CRESTED GREBE 

At Secret Valley , 1m TEAL , 1 GREEN SANDPIPER . 2 LITTLE. EGRET.

At Mandria a large lake in a field was proving very attractive - 

20+ CHIFFY , 30 WHITE WAGTAIL , GOLDFINCH , GREENFINCH , CHAFFINCH , SERIN , 2 GREY WAGTAIL . 2 ZITTING CISTICOLA in flight