Cyprus Day 9-10
May 1st
I was planning on taking in the Klavdia to Pyrga Area today after it was recommended by Jane but a wrong turning on the motorway saw me Heading towards Larnaka. I saw this is an omen so went with it. First stop was the temple, usual stuff on the salt lake including a flock of Wood Sandpipers and a pair of Black winged stilts in close looking splendid in the early morning sun.
Black-winged Stilt - Larnaca Salt Lake
Black-winged Stilt - Larnaca Salt Lake
Black-winged Stilt - Larnaca Salt Lake
Black-winged Stilt - Larnaca Salt Lake
Black-winged Stilt - Larnaca Salt Lake
Wood Sandpiper - Larnaca Salt Lake
Wood Sandpiper - Larnaca Salt Lake
Wood Sandpiper - Larnaca Salt Lake
A calling Crested Lark gave really close views. Close enough for a head shot. I don't really stop for these as there are loads about. Glad I gave this one the time of day.
Crested Lark - Larnaca Salt Lake
Crested Lark - Larnaca Salt Lake
Crested Lark - Larnaca Salt Lake
The dirt track was quite again. House Sparrows, Greenfinch and a Spectacled warbler were about it. There were plenty of Swifts and Swallows overhead. I was just about to give up hope when I caught site of my first Little Owl of this trip. Good to see them still here . Last year they showed really well along this lane.
The Sewage works were empty apart from a few Wood Sandspipers, BW stilts and Spur Winged plovers. A calling Black Francolin was on the track leading to the hide. The desalination fields again had Black Francolin, crested Larks, Red Throated Pipits and also some Little Ringed plover were by a small pool created by a sprinkler watering the crop.
The Spiro's pools had lots of small waders on probably Little Stint, I could also make out a few wood sandpipers and 3 Little Egrets. There was also a Slender billed Gull on here. A purple Heron flew off the sea and over the Pools.
The Meneou Pools had a large flamingo flock ( still no black one), BW Stilts and a Little Gull (I Think). The track to the pool side had 2 Hooded crows and 2 distant stone Curlew.
Little Gull ( I think)
A brief trip to Kiti Dam for another crack at the Golden Oriel produced 3 Squacco Heron, Reed Warbler, Blackcap and a few glimpse of Golden Orioles. There were a few short burst of its amazing song.
On returning to Larnaka I took the Salt Lake dirt track again this time all I had was... Prob Juv Corn Bunting.
In the afternoon I found the valley road Jane recommended, which is good for numerous breeding species. So we took a drive up. The road runs from Klavdia up to Pyrga and goes past the Panagia Stazousa church. On route we thought we had a problem with the car it was making a really strange noise so we jumped out and checked all possible issues!! Nothing obvious it was still running so we turned around and headed for home. The noise stopped as we left the valley. So we though oh well problem solved lets try again no sooner had we got back into the valley it started again. Turns out the road surface isn't the greatest and it was causing the noise!! Oops. The Valley was stunning and surprisingly green for Cyprus. There were numerous Rollers and Cyprus Wheatears around. I soon caught site of a Shrike by the Panagia Stazousa Church, Boom my First Woodchat Shrike of the holiday. It was here again on the return down. Also in the area a Hoopoe was feeding on the side of the road a new pretty bird for the wife, she only likes to see Rollers and Bee-Eaters. I guess I can add Hoopoe to the list. Last bird of the day was a Red-backed shrike near the village of Pyrga, boring according to the wife. She still needs some training. I watched it for a while as she carried on with her game of candy crush!!!
May 2nd
Last morning and a final chance to get out early and see what I can find. I took the same route as yesterday afternoon up through the valley to Pyrga. There were again lots of Rollers and Jackdaws as I climbed further up. Also plenty of Cyprus Wheatear, which I still can't get close to for a photo!!! I pulled over for a while and watched a family of Great Tits going through the bushes. The place was alive with bird song. A Pair of Cyprus Wheatears were busy fly catching. I guess to feed a Hungary family nearby. A caught site of a raptor overhead to late to ID it, guessing it was a Rough-legged Buzzard as they are in the area but cant be to sure. Looked whitish underneath! The Hoopoe was again in the road feeding in the same spot as yesterday. I drove up and down the road a few times looking for another Woodchat Shrike. Wasn’t to be. Just as I was leaving the valley I caught site of a white blob in a dead tree. On closer inspection it was a Juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo next to a Magpie nest there were 2 in the tree. A Magpie was in the neighboring field. A successful nest steal. A Sardinian Warbler sung from a nearby bush
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Juv) - Panagia Stazousa Church
Great Spotted Cuckoo (Juv) - Panagia Stazousa Church
Last stop of the morning was a quick stop at the Salt Lake. Not much to report from a pair of showy Greenfinch.
Greenfinch - Larnaca
Greenfinch - Larnaca
Greenfinch - Larnaca
The drive to the Airport allowed us to take in the Limassol area again. I say us!!! what I meant is I could squeeze in a few minutes in the hide at Zakaki and a drive along Ladys Mile. Ladys Mile was very quite. Some Little Stint were the best along here. Zakaki was a bit better. Bumped into Steve and Barry again. Who had amazing views of a Honey Buzzard earlier that day. Check out Steve Blog or Flickr page to see his amazing photos. The stop here saw me pick up my first Ferruginous Ducks a pair were on the Pool. There were 2 Temmincks Stint and 4 Yellow Wagtails. One looked very strange.
Stopped at Anarita briefly and there were still a few Red-footed Falcons about. Agia Varvana was the last stop of the Hoilday hoping for some views of the Little Bitterns. Sadly no Little Bitterns, but I flushed a Bittern and a Little Egret from the Soakaway Pools. A large flock of 15-20 Bee-Eaters flew overhead. All in All another superb trip to Cyprus and bang on 100 birds logged (Yellow Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail and Blue-headed Wagtail counting as 3 different species to get me to the 100 !!!!)
