Larnaca, Cyprus birding - 9th May 2019

The early afternoon flight left time short to fit in the good spots around the airport at Larnaca. Chris wanted to look for some damselflies on the salt lake, as well as see what was on Menou Pools and Spiro's pool and hopefully get the rental car back on time.

Menou pools was the fullest we have ever seen it. A White-winged Black Tern was very striking as it dipped down to the pool surface and then regained height before shifting position or making the next drop to pick up food. There were also 4 Little Terns, 8 Black-winged Stilts, a Squacco Heron and more Greater Flamingos.

Spiro's pool held more waders, nothing out of the ordinary but Little Stints were up to c40 here, There were 2 Whiskered Tern along with 5 Little Tern.

In the bushes along the road to the sewage works it appeared that there had been a fall as two Tamarisk bushes held singles of Icterine Warbler, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Black-headed Bunting. A Spectacled Warbler appeared irritated by the intrusion! The final bird here was an Audouin's Gull on the beach.

A rather distant Black-headed Bunting

Audouin's Gull 

At the salt lake there were very few birds and no flamingos. Driving to the spot where the small colony of  Little Tiger Blue should have been, there was no sign. Hopefully just a case of much later than usual emergence due to the recent weather conditions.

Hala Sultan Tekke across the somewhat barren salt lake