Pafos Headland, Mandria, Timi Forest and Agia Varvara birding, Cyprus - 14th April 2019

On walking the headland this morning, we were both agreed that it looked as though there had not been much of an influx, there were certainly less than on our last visit. After wagtails and Red-throated Pipits in the ruins and a single Starling still present there was not so much in addition other than three Squacco Herons in a tree and a Masked Shrike.

Red-throated Pipit

Northern Wheatear

Swallow with nest material

Crimson Speckled Moth

Yellow Crab Spider

Mandria didn't look all that promising with most fields in the advanced stages of crop growth. Whatever was there would in all probability remain out of sight. There were a couple of plots that had been newly prepared for planting and it was in one of these that a Caspian Plover eventually settled, having been flushed from the sandpit. It was actually our return visit here when we finally saw it, having tried Timi forest in the meanwhile.

Caspian Plover female

At Timi bird numbers appeared to be down on previous days, certainly there was no sign of the Citrine Wagtails. Having seen quad-bike tracks along the still sodden road and recalling the party of holiday makers, having left their hired vehicles on the track and getting a mud covered holiday snap on the beach, we knew what had disturbed so many birds.

A quick look at Agia Varvara failed to reveal the Baillon's Crake, seen fairly regularly over the last few days. We shall try that again tomorrow.