Wednesday 17 April 2019

Agia Varvara and birding at Anarita Park and Timi, Cyprus - 17th April 2019

After more rain yesterday and overnight the area was just as muddy as ever. This coupled with mounds of river rocks made for uncomfortable conditions under foot. Chris soon found that his back was suffering as well.

We got five nets up and had just finished the last one when three Golden Oriole were heard and seen. Of course they soon drifted away. One of the nets caught nothing all morning. The others gave us a total of 19 birds, including some retraps from the 15th. It was clear that Whitethroat were moving through today. We saw two Little Crakes in the immediate area of the nets but they just ran under the net. Unfortunately we don't have other means of trapping.

Garden Warbler

Whitethroat

Common Bluetail

Total:16 (3)

Sedge Warbler - 3
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - 1 (2)
Sardinian Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 6
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 2
Great Tit - 0 (1)
Goldfinch - 1
Spanish Sparrow - 1

Once we'd packed up we toured Anarita Park. All seemed rather quiet there and the most interesting birds were a couple of Tawny Pipit and the resident Little Owl that we had not seen until today.

Tawny Pipit

Little Owl

Timi has increasing numbers of Cattle and Little Egret. The wagtails are still around including one Citrine seen today. The Wood Sandpipers continue to feed under the trees that are all dying off due to an ongoing eradication project of non-native species trees. There were a few flycatchers and a Spotted Crake was seen.

Wood Sandpiper

Spotted Crake