We couldn't get out until just before midday and eventually arrived at Mandria to have a scout around. We were most definitely not looking for the Olive tree Warbler although we made sure to check out some of the more likely spots. Needless to say, it did not make itself known to us. It was however interesting to see a small party of Blackcap feeding on small flies on grass stems, a perfect impersonation of the local sparrows. Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroat made up the bulk of the birds, so it seemed that the Lesser Whitethroat we'd seen the day before at Avdimou were just the advance guard of a larger cohort. Perhaps they were just particularly late coming through this year.
Other birds seen at Mandria included a group of Short-toed Larks, a Masked Shrike and a rather splendid Kestrel.
Short-toed Lark among the daisies
Male Kestrel
Masked Shrike (first year)
After eating we were on site to put nets up by 3pm or so. It was clear that the area was now drying out fast, wader numbers were well down, as were wagtails and hirundines.
We got three full height and two two panel nets up and waited to see whether we'd catch much. Our average in coming in at less than the 20 mark and we're not sure that the results really make the effort worthwhile.
First year Woodchat Shrike
Whinchat female
Whinchat male
A couple of Lesser Whitethroat even managed to find a net
Wood Sandpiper - 5
Black-headed Wagtail - 1
Whinchat - 2
Sedge Warbler - 2
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 1
Woodchat Shrike - 1
House Sparrow - 1