Staying at Anarita for 2 weeks from 5- 19 Sept .

WED 19 SEPT 

Final morning out & about before our late evening flight back to Bristol . As usual the heat and ? are superb .

Started at Mandria At 08.40 - a few kettles of HONEY BUZZARD over the Kouklia wind farm - around 40 , 1 STEPPE BUZZARD , 1 MARSH HARRIER ,3 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 1 HOOPOE , 30 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 N WHEATEAR, 1 WHINCHAT 50 + SHORT TOED LARK .

LAST HOUR SPENT AT ASPRO DAM - 5 SPOT FLY , 1 WHINCHAT., 1 GREAT C GREBE , 5 GREY HERON , 10 BEE EATER, 1F MARSH HARRIER , 4 HONEY BUZZARD , 1M 1F RED FOOTED FALCON 

No new additions so final trip list is 134 

RED N PHALAROPE , GREAT WHITE PELICAN , SPOONBILL 

TUES 18 SEPT - THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP 

Decision of where to go on our last full day solved when at 07.50 

news received of a GREAT WHITE PELICAN At Larnaca Settling Pools a drive of 1hr 25 mins - arrived there at 10.00 stayed until 12.00 

The PELICAN was not there !- It must have gone off to feed as it flew in at 10.30 - an Adult bird .Also on the Pools 2 SPOONBILL . 

A nice RED NECKED PHALAROPE ( usually only 4 records a year ) ,

2 WHISKERED TERN , 1 GULL BILLED TERN , 1 BLACK TERN . LOTS OF FLAMINGO , WADERS COMPRISED- 10 RUFF , 5 BLACK WINGED STILT , 

1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT , 30 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 1 COMMON SANDPIPER , 3 MARSH SANDPIPER , 1 GREENSHANK , MANY LITTLE STINT , KENTISH PLOVER , RINGED PLOVER , DUNLIN . 

LOTS OF FLAMINGO , ALSO MALLARD , TEAL , SHOVELER .

6 GREY HERON, Strong passage of Hirundines - 1000 SWALLOW , 

300 SAND MARTIN , 10 HOUSE MARTIN .

Stopped At Zakaki Marsh only a WATER RAIL & 4 MARSH HARRIER .

Arrived At Phassouri Bee Hives At 14.45- the next hour was incredible - 175 HONEY BUZZARD ( biggest kettle 75 ) 1 BLACK KITE 

2F MONTAGUES HARRIER. Lots of HIRUNDINES moving through 

10 SWIFT and then at 15.15 picked up 4 LITTLE SWIFT ( a lifer for me !) - less than 20 records for Cyprus , 2 resident birders were able to confirm my sighting 

On the drive home picked up 2 GRIFFON VULTURES soaring over Episkopi Garrison .

A very enjoyable day taking the trip list to 134.

Now need to go through the photos 

Record shots of MARSH HARRIER & HONEY BUZZARD 

MON 17 SEPT - LARGE RAPTOR PASSAGE 

Arrived at the Akrotiri Watchpoint for 09.10 - very soon we were watching kettles of HONEY BUZZARD UP TO 30 at a time . In just over 1hr 20min we logged 265.Also logged - 2 HOBBY , 2 BLACK KITE ,1 PEREGRINE, 4 KESTREL, 1 F MONTAGUES HARRIER , 110 BEE EATER , 17 GREY HERON , 3 GREAT WHITE EGRET.

Along Ladies Mile - 25RINGED PLOVER , 10 KENTISH PLOVER , 1 RUFF , 20 LITTLE STINT , 2 TEMMINCKS STINT.

Moved On to the Tower Hide At Akrotiri Marsh for 1hr 30min from 12.00 - 70 BEE EATER , big passage of SWALLOW - 500 & 700 SAND MARTIN , 10 TURTLE DOVE, 2 GREAT REED WARBLER , 1 WATER RAIL , 10 MARSH HARRIER , 1F MONTAGUES HARRIER, 5 HONEY BUZZARD, 1 STEPPE BUZZARD, 2 ELANORA FALCON .

A short visit to the small hide produced - 2 STARLING , 1 GLOSSY IBIS, 2 CATTLE EGRET , 1M BLACK FRANCOLIN .

Final 30 min watch over the bee hives - 100 + HONEY BUZZARD , 

1F 2 JUV RED FOOTED FALCON .

On the way back at Episkopi a LONG LEGGED BUZZARD .

A super days birding with not only high counts but 11 species of RAPTOR

Trip list now 125

TAWNY PIPIT & BLACK EARED WHEATEAR 

SUN 16 SEPT .

Walking to a local restaurant at 19.30 heard SCPS OWL calling .

Started this morning at Mandria - a few more migrants around -

50+ YELLOW WAGTAIL , 8 WHINCHAT , 2 SPOT FLY , 1 BLACK EARED WHEATEAR ( different bird to yesterday )2 N WHEATEAR,

30 SHORT TOED LARK , 2 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 2 LAUGHING DOVE ,1 F MARSH HARRIER , 8 HONEY BUZZARD , 4 TAWNY PIPIT.

Drove Up to Polis/ Latchi to try and watch some HERON migration 

Only 4 GREY HERON in 3 hours !, also 2 flocks of GARGANEY totalling 86 , 1 REDHANK , just as we were ready to leave a very nice COLLARD PRATINCOLE flew over .

Stopped Off At a regular spot - KATHIKAS - Theletra Road - 

a flock of over 120 BEE EATER, 100 SPANISH SPARROW , 5 SAND MARTIN , 2 WILLOW WARBLER , 1 WHINCHAT , 1 LONG LEGGED BUZZARD .

trip list now 120 

a few record shots from the last 2 days - BEE EATER , A pair of KESTREL having a spat , M BLACK EARED WHEATEAR , Flock of GARGANEY ( in eclipse , very distant ) 

SAT 15 SEPT 

Spent most of the morning at Mandria - 50 + YELLOW WAGTAIL

( inc both BLACK HEADED & BLUE HEADED .), 5 WHINCHAT , 

3 N WHEATEAR , 1M BLACK EARED WHEATEAR ( Eastern Black throat ) , 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 3 GREY HERON , 1 HONEY BUZZARD, 2 LAUGHING DOVE , 1 GREENSHANK ., 35 + SHORT TOED LARK .

At Anarita Park Only 2 SARDINIAN WARBLER , 1 SPOT FLY , 4 CHUKAR , 1 HONEY BUZZARD 

At least 30 BEE EATER over Anarita this afternoon 

FRI 14 SEPT 

COVERED LOCAL AREAS TODAY -starting at Mandria 

Flock of 30 SHORT TOED LARK ,1 N WHEATEAR, 1 HOOPOE , 

10 KESTREL, 10 SWALLOW , 1 HOUSE MARTIN , 5 YELLOW WAGTAIL 

2 hour watch from Aspro Dam - 32BEE EATER, 27 GARGANEY, 30 MALLARD , 4 TEAL , 5 GREY HERON , 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET ( flew in 11.15 ) 1F MARSH HARRIER (11.50 ) , 1BLACK KITE ( 12.05 ) 

1 PEREGRINE ( 12.30 ) , 1LONG LEGGED BUZZARD 9 12.30 ) 

Quick visit to Pathos Sewage Works At 16.00 - 2CATTLE EGRET, 

11 SPUR W PLOVER , 13- YELLOW WAGTAIL 

THURS 13 SEPT 

A visit to the mountainous area of Troodos , Started at Aspro Dam -

15 BEE EATER, 1 HOOPIE, 2 SPOT FLY , 1 GREY HERON , 1 KINGFISHER .

Drive up to Troodos - 2 CYPRUS WHEATEAR , 1 BLACK EARED WHEATEAR,2 JAY 2 COAL TIT ,5 SARDINIAN WARBLER .

Picnic site at Lavada Tou Pashia- 2 COAL TIT , 1 GREAT TIT , 6 CHAFFINCH , 2 SPOT FLY , 3 CYPRUS WHEATEAR, 1 BLACKBIRD , 

2JAY, 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, 1 GARDEN WARBLER , 1 SHORT 

TOED TREECREEPER .

Return route - Kelekedora - Nata - Anarita - 1 f MARSH HARRIER , 

9 CYPRUS WHEATEAR, 20 BEE EATER , 1 SPRAWK, 1JV MASKED SHRIKE , 9 CHUKAR 

Trip list now 110 .

WED 12 SEPT 

Have been here for a week - the good bit is still another 7 days to go .

Spent the morning locally -first to Agia Varvara- 100 + BEE EATER

( in 3 flocks ) 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 1 TURTLE DOVE , 1 HOBBY , 

1 OLIVACOUS WARBLER , 2 WILLOW WARBLER .

Nata Valley - 1 CYPRUS WHEATEAR , 15 BEE EATER , 2 RED B SHRIKE 

Trip list 103

DEMOISELLE CRANES - IN FLIGHT , JUV ROLLER , TAWNY PIPIT , 

LESSER GREY SHRIKE 

TUES 11 SEPT - AKROTIRI AREA AM 

After an email last night to confirm 2 CRANES were roosting on Akrotiri Salt Marsh we set of early arriving at the Watch point for 08.35 - manadged to find 12 DEM0ISELLE CRANES some distance away .This is only the 4th flock recorded this autumn-less than 150 birds in total . Some very good views of them flying over - we also found 2 more birds flying separately- A Lifer for me .

Also 1 HONEY BUZZARD , 1 BLACKBIRD , 10 BEE EATERS .

Visited Akrotiri Marsh surprised to find a juv ROLLER , ALSO 1F RED B SHRIKE , 1 N WHEATEAR, 1F BLACK FRANCOLIN, 25 BARN SWALLOW , 2 SAND MARTIN , 3 CATTLE EGRET , 2 HOOPOE , 4  WHINCHAT, 1 WOOD SANDPIPER, 1 KINGFISHER, 1F MARSH HARRIER , 1F MONTAGUES HARRIER , 1 SPARROWHAWK , 

9 HONEY BUZZARD - we left at 12.15 a report of over 450 in an hour from 12.30 . 60 + BEE EATER 

This afternoon-atPaphos Sewage Works 1F PALLID HARRIER , 

1F 1JUV RED B SHRIKE .

At Mandria - 7 WHINCHAT, 3 TAWNY PIPIT , 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR , 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 1 LAUGHING DOVE 

Trip list now 100 

PHOTOS FOLLOW !

MON 10 SEPT - LARNACA AREA 

Arrived At Larnaca Sewage Pools at10.00 , leant At 13.00 .One Pool had large areas of mud so significant numbers of Waders .

375 FLAMINGO , 700+ TEAL, 300+ SHOVELER, 20 GARGANEY, 

200 MALLARD,2 FERRUGINOUS DUCK .,1 TURNSTONE , 4 BLACK W STILT , 8 MARSH SANDPIPER , 1WOOD SANDPIPER, 20 + RUFF , 20+ SPUR W PLOVER ., 75+ LITTLE STINT , 1 GREENSHANK , 2 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 

1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 20 KENTISH PLOVER , 20 RINGED PLOVER, 1 GULL BILLED TERN , 3 WHISKERED TERN , 2 WHITE WINGED TERN 50 LITTLE GREBE , 1 BLACK N GREBE , 10 YELLOW L GULL , 1 CASPIAN GULL , 1 ELANORA’S FALCON 

Drove On to Oroklini Marsh which was 90% dried out , however -

72 SPUR WINGED PLOVER, 4 GLOSSY IBIS , 4 RUFF , 2 REDSHANK , 1 GREENSHANK , 1MARSH SANDPIPER, 2 KENTISH PLOVER, 5 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 3 BLACK W STILT, 2 LITTLE STINT, 2 KINGFISHER , 7 LITTLE EGRET , 1F MARSH HARRIER .

A long drive but very worthwhile 

10JUV FLAMINGO , POOR RECORD SHOT OF A GULL BILLED TERN,

GREATER SAND PLOVER , WHINCHAT 

SUN 9 SEPT 

 A quieter day today - started at Paphos Sewage Works At 10.00 -

6 SPUR W PLOVER , 2 F MASKED SHRIKE , 1 WHINCHAT ( 75 ) ,

125 + YELLOW WAGTAIL , 4 CHIFFY , 1 REED WARBLER , 5 WILLOW WARBLER, .

Walked round to the Paphos Headland - 3 GREATER SAND PLOVER , 

1 KINGFISHER , 1 CORMORANT .

Over the House at Anarita  flocks BEE EATER -10 @17.00 & 20 & 17,30 

 Off to the Larnaca region in the morning 

SAT 8 SEPT - SHRIKE DAY 

Started this morning at 09.00 at Paphos Sewage Works -

15 SPUR W PLOVER ,2 TURLE DOVE , 2 CHIFFY , 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 1 CETTIS WARBLER , 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE , 

1JV RED B SHRIKE , 2F MASKED SHRIKE 

On our way to Latchi stopped at KATHIKAS - 1F MASKED SHRIKE , 

1 RED RUMPED SWALLOW , 1 LONG LEGGED BUZZARD .

At Latchi found a good place for a sea watch- at 12.45 a flock of 65 HERON flew around the Bay before heading west - 53 GREY , 12 PURPLE . After lunch returned to the same spot at 15.00 , left 16.45 

7 PURPLE HERON -W , 2 SLENDER BILLED GULL -W , 4 SCOPOLIS SHEARWATER -W , 2 CORMORANT -W, 5 YELLOW L GULL -W , 5 BALTIC GULL -W, 1 PEREGRINE ( over ) 

On telephone wire near KATHIKAS A WOODCHAT SHRIKE .

18.45 OVER THE HOUSE 25 BEE EATER 

Trip list now74 .

Photos below - part of the large HERON flock, F MASKED SHRIKE , JUV RED B SHRIKE , LESSER GREY SHRIKE 

FRI 7 SEPT 

A visit to the Akrotiri area today - started at the Raptor Watchpoint for 09.00 ( after a 45 min drive ) - only 2 HONEY BUZZARD , 1 KESTREL , 60 BEE EATER.

NEXT STOP THE Zakaki Marsh Run Off area - 1F MONTAGUES HARRIER , 1 PALLID HARRIER , 1M 2F MARSH HARRIER , 

5 ELANORAS FALCON , 15 RINGED PLOVER , 3 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 4 RUFF , 3 GREEN SANDPIPER , 3 KENTISH PLOVER , 10

LITTLE STINT , 3 TEMMINCKS STINT ,2 TEAL, 20 + YELLOW WAGTAIL , 1 SPECTACLED WARBLER , 1 LESSER GREY SHRIKE .

After a picnic lunch over to Akrotiri Marsh - 3 CATTLE EGRET, 

1 LITTLE EGRET , 10 YELLOW WAGTAIL , 1 REED WARBLER , 50 + 

SWALLOW , 10 BEE EATER , 1 HOOPOE , 10 SWAIFT , 4 ALPINE SWIFT , 3 PALLID SWIFT , 3 MARSH HARRIER , 2 ELANORAS FALCON .

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER ( not cropped !), CRESTED LARK 

THURS 6 SEPT .

Arrived very late yesterday , staying in a very nice house in Anarita for 2 weeks , very hot this morning . On our way for provisions visited Pathos Sewage Works - 10 SPUR WINGED PLOVER, 

150+YELLOW WAGTAIL , 1 GREY HERON ,.

This afternoon started at Secret Valley - 1 KINGFISHER , 2 L GREBE ,

3 COOT , 1 GREY HERON.1HOOPOE 

Next a couple of hours up the NATA VALLEY -yet again this area produced the results - 3BONNELLIS EAGLE , 2 HONEY BUZZARD , 

4 CRESTED LARK , 4 CYPRUS WHEATEAR , 20 + CHUKAR , 6 SERIN , 

A feeding flock of 20 BEE EATER ( sat watching them for at least 30 mins ) and best of all a CRETZSCHAMERS BUNTING 

Last stop Mandria. , just 2 SWALLOW & 1 N WHEATEAR .

31 species logged 

A few record shots of today’s birds - BEE EATER ,BONELLIS EAGLE .

CRETZ BUNTING & my fav wader - SPUR WINGED PLOVER