Cyprus 23rd-30th March

A family holiday to Cypurs offered the chance of not only a bit if early sun but also a bit of birding as well. Staying in Paphos I was able to do local birding and hiring a car for a couple of days allowed a bit of exploring further afield. Most days consisted of an early morning walk around Paphos headland, which most days held a range of migrants. With rain the first couple of days migrants were more obvious at the start of the week with numbers and range of species decreasing as the week went on. Other sites visited included Aspro dam, Baths of Aphrodite, Smiyies trail, Mandria, Paphos Sewage works, Akrotiri Salt pans and surrounding area and Kensington cliffs. Highlights for me included a Finsch's Wheatear at Smiyies trail, 3 Great black-headed Gulls on Aspro reservoir, Cyprus Warbler and lots of Rupells  Warblers. A total of nearly 100 species was logged during the holiday and its well worth its place as a early spring holiday destination.

Black-eared Wheatear

Black-headed Wagtail - 1 of a number of races seen.

Male Blue rock Thush, several seen around Paphos headland

Cretzschmars Bunting

Cyprus Wheatear

Great Black-headed Gull - 2 of 3 present.

Hooded Crow - Numerous

Hoopoe

Female Isabelline Shrike - Paphos headland

Isabelline Wheatear

Kentish Plover

Little ringed Plover

Lizard sp.

Northern Wheatear

Ruppells Warbler - Just outside the apartment window

Spur-winged Plover

Tawny Pipit

Yellow Wagtail (flava)

Yellow-legged Gull

Crested Lark - ever present