Friday 19 April 2019

Pafos, Cyprus local birding - 19th April 2019

We planned a quieter day today, staying closer to the apartment and checking out potential alternative ringing sites a little closer to home than those we have currently.

Chris had been looking for access points to a couple of potential new sites and these were scouted out in between birding. All three places that seemed possible in that they were far enough from housing and tracks (as required on our permit), and possibly routes that may channel birds on their route over the high ground on their journey to the north, turned out to be unsuitable either due to goats and sheep (grazing spots, like the good bird habitats are being squeezed with the pressures of continuous building), or had signs of imminent building development.

Our birding took us to Timi beach and forest, Pafos sewage works and surrounding fields and Mavrokolympos Dam. Timi had nothing new with Wood Sandpipers, Cattle Egrets and wagtails still present. The field around the sewage works, having a few freshly cut fields attracted hirundines, wagtails and in one case 13 Spur-winged Plover. The dam, again the fullest we've ever seen it had a few Cyprus Warbler and Wheatear as expected. The most unexpected bird was a Barred Warbler, also seen by another birder present. The dragonflies and butterflies seemed rather behind what we'd expected.

Wagtails continue to forage at Timi.


Timi picnic site

Swallowtail butterfly at Mavrokolympos

The reservoir is full to the top of the dam and spilling over.