Our last ringing day in Cyprus, and we were joined by Graeme who again scribed for us. This was most helpful as we captured more than 60 birds and nets needed frequent checking in the temperatures, unseasonally hot for October.
Our best capture has to be a Laughing Dove, from the records available, probably the first ringed in South Cyprus. A few years back we were searching the port area at Limassol for one of a small number of birds, regularly seen there and now they are being seen more frequently at various locations. We've seen Laughing Dove at both Mandria and, the donkey sanctuary, Paphos in the last year - but never where we ring before. Initially it was suggested they were releases, but with natural populations in Turkey and Israel, whilst there may have been some from keepers, they probably have naturally expanded from the nearby mainland breeding areas.
Laughing Dove
This was the first day with Red-throated Pipit heard overhead throughout the morning. A few small groups were seen dropping into bushes in the ringing area and one was caught.
Red-throated Pipit
Record shot of three Common Cranes seen flying over.
Juvenile female Redstart
Today there was a sense that birds were on the move with discernible times were birds were working through and other times when nothing moved. The Willow Warblers continued picking their way through the weedy plants and were, again, our leading species.
Totals: 64 (2)
Laughing Dove - 1
Crested Lark - 0 (1)
Red-throated Pipit - 1
Redstart - 1
Reed Warbler - 2
Sardinian Warbler - 9 (1)
Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 15
Willow Warbler - 32
Spanish Sparrow - 2
Later we birded Ayia Varvara and Mandria.
There were no new species at Ayia Varvara - but we spent some time photographing butterflies and enjoyed watching the Bee-eaters feeding from the wires.
African Grass Blue
There had been some 60 Red-footed Falcons at Mandria the previous day but we could see no sign of them.
Long-tailed Blue
Eventually we found some 20 or so birds that had remained, and were feeding on a recently ploughed field, known amongst regular Mandria birders as lark corner. The birds were all feeding on insects and some took advantage of the irrigation system to freshen up.
Red-footed Falcon - juveniles
adult male