Saturday 23 September 2017

Cyprus autumn 2017 - 23rd September

Day 4

Back to Kouklia again today and a good session with a few more surprises. The best bird was probably a Marsh Warbler, and two Northern Wheatear were unexpected as they have always been so difficult to capture in the spring.

Marsh Warbler age 3 

Emargination to mid primaries, notch equals 9

Northern Wheatears, both aged 3


There was a trickle of Sedge Warblers, many adults, passing through and the Willow Warblers continue to be the most abundant species on site and captured. It's good to see a lot of birds with fat scores of 5 and 6.

Sedge Warbler adult

Willow Warbler age 3

A Wryneck was the first that we've seen since we arrived here and one of the Red-backed Shrike (not too many seen in our ringing area) managed to find its way into the net.

Juvenile Wryneck

3M Red-backed Shrike

An adult Garden Warbler was the first of this species that we've caught in Cyprus.

Garden Warbler, aged 4

Totals:105 (1)

Wryneck - 1
Crested Lark - 4
Northern Wheatear - 2
Cetti's Warbler -1
Sedge Warbler - 9
Marsh Warbler - 1
Reed Warbler - 2
Sardinian Warbler - 5 (1)
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 7
Willow Warbler - 61
Red-backed Shrike - 1
Spanish Sparrow - 10

After ringing we took a look around Mandria and Acheleia areas without too much success with only a Ringed Plover on the beach and a Lesser Grey Shrike of some interest at Mandria and nothing too unusual at Acheleia.