CYPRUS 2024: part 1 (13-16 March)

Megan and I wanted to go away somewhere in early spring and eventually settled on Cyprus. We'd been with the Nessa and Josh for a week in April 2000 but I didn't see Cyprus Scops Owl (it wasn't regarded as a full species then). Although by no means guaranteed the possibility of a new bird as well as some early migration provided the incentive for me to return. Our previous visit had been based in Pafos and Megan was keen to see more of the country with the ancient ruins, museums and churches being her main draw as well as some warmer weather. I booked EasyJet flights to Pafos, a hire car and self-catering accommodation in Lemesos, Larnaka, Lefkosa (2 nights), Kakopetria (near Troodos) and Pafos (2 nights). 

Wednesday 13 March. An early check-in at Gatwick, our flight to Pafos was on time and we were soon driving to Lemesos, arriving at our seafront apartment late afternoon. Hooded Crows were the most obvious species and we also saw Hoopoe and Yellow-legged Gull. From our inland looking balcony we could see Common Swifts, Swallows and House Martins flying over the town.

Greece from 30,000 feet

Thursday 14 March. After visiting Lemesos Fort and Museum we departed for Ancient Amethus. The nice thing about these historic ruins from my point of view is that they are outside and provide birding opportunities. Amongst the ruins we saw 3 Crested Larks, a male Ruppell's, male and female Cyprus and 2 male Sardinian Warblers, a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes, Isabelline and a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, 3 Spanish Sparrows and 3 Red-throated Pipits. After checking into out apartment on Larnaka seafront we had time for a brief visit to Larnaka Salt Lake although 5 Spur-winged Plover were the only birds of note (some very distant gulls very probably Slender-billed).

Lemesos skyline

Megan at Lemesos Fort

Spanish Sparrow at ancient Amethus

female Blue Rock Thrush at Ancient Amethus

Isabelline Wheatear at Ancient Amethus

Agios Lazaros, Larnaka

Friday 15 March. After a walk along the seafront we checked out, returned to our car parked 10 minutes walk away (saved hassle and expense of parking any closer) and drove back to the Salt Lake and visited the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. Birds seen at Larnaka Salt Lake included 13 Black-winged Stilts, 3 Spur-winged Plover, 22 Ruff and male Spectacled and Sardinian Warblers. Some very distant gulls were most likely Slender-billed but others appeared to have black heads, all were too far away to be sure. Early afternoon we left Larnaka and drove to Lefkosa. Arriving during rush hour we were pleased to be staying in the SE of the city. We walked about a km into the Walled City and before we knew it were confronted by the UN Buffer Zone that has been in place for almost 50 years.

Larnaka seafront from our apartment, scarily large cruise ship offshore

Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque on the edge of Larnaka Salt Lake

Black-winged Stilts on the Salt Lake

Saturday 16 March. We walked a couple of kms to the Cyprus Museum, crossed the Buffer Zone into Northern Cyprus at Ledra Street and wandered around for an hour or two. Unfortunately the Selimiye Mosque was being extensively renovated and not only closed but hidden behind tall hoardings. Megan bought a cushion cover and we returned from the dark side, although it seemed more vibrant there. Late afternoon we walked to Alsos Forest, the nearest green on the map, a km or so SE of where we were staying. Much of it was fairly open with scattered pine trees but between showers and in fading light we saw Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat.

approaching the Buffer Zone

street art on the Buffer Zone

Shoreham (25 February-12 March 2024)

Sunday 25 February. Shoreham Fort with Megan and Cookie: Eider 1 immature male.

Monday 26 February. Buckingham Park with Megan and Cookie: Goldfinch 7.

Tuesday 27 February. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 1, Skylark 2, Goldcrest 2, Linnet 3.

Wednesday 28 February. River Adur/Rec with Cookie: Teal 4, Little Grebe 1, Oystercatcher 6, Lapwing 8, Grey Plover 3, Redshank 8, Great Black-backed Gull 30, Peregrine 1, Skylark 1, Meadow Pipit 2, Chaffinch 1.

Friday 01 March. River Adur with Cookie in heavy rain: Grey Plover 1, Great Black-backed Gull 57 including Normandie colour-ringed 41 D.

Great Black-backed Gull 41D

Saturday 02 March. Brooklands with Megan and Cookie: Little Grebe 5, Cetti's Warbler heard.

Sunday 03 March. Widewater: Mute Swan 27, Little Grebe 1, Great Crested Grebe 2 on sea, Brent Goose 7 E. Adur: Grey Plover 2, Curlew 1, Dunlin 2, Buzzard 1. Crown Road: Sparrowhawk 1.

Wednesday 06 March. Shoreham Fort with Megan and Cookie: Turnstone 3.

Thursday 07 March. Widewater 07:40-09:10, light E, clear: Brent Goose 37 E, Mute Swan 24 on lagoon, Pintail 2 E, Little Grebe 2 on lagoon, Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea, Oystercatcher 2 E, Curlew 4 E, Turnstone 3 on beach, Black-headed Gull 25 E, Red-throated Diver 1 on sea. Mill Hill with Megan and Cookie: Buzzard 2, Skylark 4, Goldcrest 2, Chaffinch 2, Linnet 11, Goldfinch 8. Sullington Way: Ring-necked Parakeet 1 male.

male Ring-necked Parakeet by Sullington Way bus stop

Friday 08 March. Widewater 07:20-09:10, moderate E, hazy: Mute Swan 19 on lagoon, Shelduck 2 E, Great Crested Grebe 8 on sea, Turnstone 2 on beach, Dunlin 5 on beach, Mediterranean Gull 1 adult W, Red-throated Diver 5 on sea & 2 E & 1W, Fulmar 1 E (twice), Gannet 2 E. Town Quay and Adur (afternoon low tide visit): Teal 2, Little Grebe 2, Grey Plover 2, Ringed Plover 1, Dunlin 22, Greenshank 1, Redshank 10, Kestrel 1. Sullington Way: Lord Derby's Parakeet 1 female.

Greenshank and Redshank from Town Quay

Lord Derby's Parakeet by Sullington Way bus stop

Saturday 09 March. Widewater 07:10-09:30, moderate SE, cold & clear: Brent Goose 198 E, Mute Swan 2 juveniles E & 16 on lagoon, Pintail 8 E, Common Scoter 3 E, Red-breasted Merganser 2 (male & female) flew in from E landed on sea then departed E, Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea &1 E, Oystercatcher 1 E, Curlew 1 E, Dunlin 4 E, Kittiwake 3 E, Black-headed Gull 12 E, Common Gull 17 E (mostly first-winters), Sandwich Tern 4 E, Red-throated Diver 13 E & 2 W, Fulmar 1 E then W, Gannet 40+ off-shore and E. Lancing Ring with Megan and Cookie: Red Kite 2, Skylark 6, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 3, Corn Bunting 5, Reed Bunting 1. Sullington Way: Lord Derby's Parakeet 1 female, Ring-necked Parakeet 1 male.

Brent Geese passing Widewater

Sunday 10 March. Shoreham Fort with Cookie:  Eider 1 immature male, Turnstone 3, Purple Sandpiper 1. Adur Saltings: Teal 16, Grey Plover 1, Curlew 2, Turnstone 14, Common Snipe 72+, Redshank 30, Greenshank 1, Scandinavian Rock Pipit 2.

immature male Eider at Harbour Way

Turnstones and Purple Sandpiper at Shoreham Harbour

Scandinavian Rock Pipits on the Adur Saltings

approaching a spring high tide at the Adur Saltings

Common Snipe, Grey Plover, Redshank and Greenshank on the Adur Saltings

Monday 11 March. Shoreham Fort with Megan and Cookie: Great Crested Grebe 1, Turnstone 1, Chiffchaff heard, Meadow Pipit 14 N, Goldfinch 4.

Turnstone at Shoreham Harbour

missing one foot although it seemed to be managing

PANAMA 02-23 February 2024 taster

I was in Panama from 02-23 February, on a birding trip with Nick Preston, Paul Noakes and Barry Wright (excellent travelling companions). We were very capably led by Euclides "Kilo" Campos who was all round brilliant. It was a tough trip, mainly due to the very rugged terrain in Eastern Panama where we spent most time, but I survived. I'll produce several detailed blogs in due course but despite having been back for over two weeks I'm nowhere close to sorting out my photos (although so far have cut them down from almost 4000 to 500). I've still Birding Down Under blogs to complete too.

Here are a few of the Panamanian highlights I managed to take photos of. Paul and Barry would have done much much better with top of the range Canon and Olympus kit. I was using a Sony RX10 bridge camera I'd only had for a couple of weeks and a lot of the time it showed.

White-throated Mountaingem at Cerro Punto, a hummingbird endemic to the western Panamanian mountains

male Blue Cotinga at Nusagandi

Grey-cheeked Nunlet at Rio Torti

Crested Owl at Cerro Chucanti

Tody Motmot at Cerro Chucanti

Dusky-backed Jacamars near Metiti

Crested Eagle near Rancho Frio, Darien National Park

Wing-banded Antbird near Rancho Plastico in Darien National Park

Black-crowned Pittasoma above Rancho Frio, Darien National Park, my bird of the trip

Agami Heron near Rancho Frio, Darien National PArk

Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant near Rancho Frio

Barred Puffbirds in Saint Frances Reserve near Rio Torti

Black-crowned Antpitta at Nusagandi, a close Bird of the Trip runner up