Today we sought to fill some gaps in our birding list looking for, in particular, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Long-legged Buzzard and Bonelli’s Eagle. We started in the Episkopi valley which looked much lusher and greener than when we had visited Cyprus in May last year, with water still running in the stream bed down the valley. The weather was warm, 80 degrees even early in the morning, with a constant warm wind. Had this warmth encouraged migrants to move on, as they were proving hard to find? We enjoyed close views again of Cyprus Warblers and Cretzchmar’s Buntings, and Cetti’s Warblers not only called from bushes all around, but several also showed themselves. But no raptors.
So we moved on towards the Troodos Mountains and higher elevation, though this had no effect on the weather – clear blue skies, sunshine and temperatures now in the mid-80s. We stopped several times and scanned across the foothills: very scenic but still no raptors. We carried on up to the top of the Troodos Mountains and the village of Troodos itself, and a reliable site for Coal Tit, Crossbill and Short-toed Treecreeper. Sitting in the front passenger seat, Alan spied a treecreeper flying away from us, but no-one else had caught sight of it, so the pressure was on! We started down a track amongst pine trees, likely habitat and quickly added Coal Tit to the daylist, and Crossbills were heard flying over though not seen. We just needed that elusive treecreeper. Then suddenly, Ruth picked one out working its way up a large pine tree, and there were sighs of relief all round. Walking back to the car, we studied a small group of swifts that were circling overhead. One showed up as being much paler, and deserved closer inspection: Pallid Swift was added to the list.
We jumped back in the car and headed back down to a lower elevation more likely for our target raptors. At another pull-off halfway down the hill, we stopped and scanned again, and after a few minutes struck lucky. A Long-legged Buzzard was circling on thermals in the middle distance, and we all got on to it before it lazily headed over the horizon. No sign of the Bonelli’s Eagle, however, so maybe that’s one we’ll have to wait for until Spain.
We headed back again to the Aspro Pools, Dam and Amenity area where we added some great birds to our day list: Hen Harrier, Ortolan Bunting, Stone Curlew, Short-toed Larks and Great Spotted Cuckoo. Despite checking all likely habitat, there was still no sign of an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, and very few other migrants. Hopefully a change in the weather may bring a new wave of birds.
Bird species total: 1868
Posted Pafos, Cyprus 6pm 23rd March