Vretsia, Nata ford, Asprokremnos reservoir, Anarita and Timi, Cyprus - 20th April 2019

We headed up to Vretsia, not knowing whether the road in would have survived the torrential rains this winter. There were a few undermined areas on roads, marked with rocks to stop drivers taking vehicles onto the unsafe areas but other than that the access road was good. Once in the village one of the main tracks had been blocked with rocks (probably to prevent people driving on to another area where the track is impassible) however we found a work around and put two doubles and two singles up in an area where the sounds of Corn Bunting, Golden Oriole and  Eastern Olivaceous Warbler filled the air.

Going was slow with a few birds chasing about but most sitting tight. We didn't get any Corn Bunting or Golden Oriole. The best bird was a male Masked Shrike.

Masked Shrike

It wasn't long before the clouds began to build and the sound of distant thunder could be heard. By the time the wind was starting to get up (a sure sign that rain will soon follow under heavy skies) all the nets were down again with twelve birds processed.

Total: 12

Sardinian Warbler - 3

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - 4 

Lesser Whitethroat - 1

Whitethroat - 1

Blackcap - 1

Masked Shrike - 1

Greenfinch - 1

When the rain came is was very heavy.

There was also hail.

We began making out way back towards the coast and went via Nata where the river in flood had torn away so much vegetation from the banks.

Xeros Potomas river 

Here a chance discovery resulted in two Stone Curlew pulli being ringed.

The cryptic colouration provides excellent camouflage.

Stone Curlew chick

Pygmy Skipper

Driving via Asprokremnos reservoir we saw that Finikas is not currently accessible as parts of the road are submerged. 

At Anarita we saw a male Pallid Harrier with what have become the 'usual birds' for this time of year. Finally Timi, and it had become very windy. On the pool we found that four Little Ringed Plovers and two Little Stints had dropped in for a brief rest, but they stayed less than 15 minutes and were soon on their way again.

Little Ringed Plovers and Little Stints

Three Greenshank dropped in as did three Common Sandpipers.

Common Sandpiper