Cyprus in Spring (Part 1)

Way back last year I had a long conversation with Yiannis Christofides, the botany lead for the Greenwings tour of the Pyrenees and concluded that the Birds, Butterflies and Botany of  Yiannis' beloved Cyprus would certainly afford some subjects that I had never photographed before. So I booked early, but after some research decided to extend the trip by four days so that I could do some birding on my own before the group arrived.

On the last day of February I set off for Paphos courtesy of easyJet. The journey was uneventful, if a tad long, but I was quickly through the official bits at the airport. Within an hour of landing I had picked up my Avis rent-a-hide, and was on my way to my first destination, Paphos Sewage Works. Now I know that most people would think it odd to visit such a place but this is home to some charming birds. From recent reports I had learned that there were at least twenty Spur-winged Plovers residing there and it was a bird that I very much wanted to record. As I parked up I could hear them calling and immediately found them perched on the apron of one of the ponds, unfortunately not much chance of a shot so I decided to search the nearby fields, sure enough, three to be seen though at a bit of a distance. Finally I found one that gave reasonable shots and I duly recorded it. I think the strong winds deterred them from coming out of the shelter of the works and although I hung about for a while, none ventured forth.

Spur-winged Plover or Spur-winged Lapwing.

Not the best quality but a record nonetheless - and I planned to return.

So, it was too early to go to the hotel and I knew there was a chance of another rarity at Paphos headland. I parked at the large free car park at the archaeological site, strapped my camera to my back and set off in a very strong wind. By now the three a.m start was beginning to tell, I ignored sundry Pipits, Larks and Wheatears to reach my destination in good light. I scanned the headland adjacent to the large concrete block and located four birds, a lone Turnstone and three Greater Sand Plovers. Hunkered down against a fierce wind they didn't look as if they wanted to fly anywhere so I set about getting closer. The place was deserted, just me and the birds and as I crept through the rocks they eyed me warily. I took my time, each time a bird fidgeted I paused, waiting for the birds to settle down. Finally I was in camera range and I filled my boots, recording another 'lifer' - two in a day - what a start.

The flecks are flying sand - not the best camera environment.

Greater Sand Plover (m)

Greater Sand Plover (f)

As I arrived at the Axiothea Hotel, my base for the next five days, I met Yiannis in the car park, he must have known I was coming. It was good to have dinner together and get the lowdown on the forthcoming tour.

Day 1.  Paphos Archaeological Site, Paphos Sewage Works and the Asprokremmos Dam

After what Yiannis describes as the 'best breakfast in Cyprus' I headed off for a day's birding and as it happened, some early botany on Paphos Headland. I was a tad early but they opened the gates for me, I paid my pensioner rates entrance fee and set off in search of something to photograph.

First up was a pair of the ever present Crested Larks, birds that seem to just stay ahead of you, never close but OK for a shot.

Crested Larks

Crested Lark

I was being distracted by the botany, Cyclamen persicum were everywhere and the stalks of the Orchis collina, the Fan Winged Orchid were a disappointment, I had hoped to record a flowering specimen. I planned to do a circular tour round the site, travelling as far as the lighthouse and then doing a zig-zag return. Just after some newly excavated remains I was accosted by a little old lady who told me in no uncertain terms to go away. I had noticed her hunched form, peering intently at the ground, poking the vegetation with a large stick and placing something into a carrier bag. I left, not wanting a confrontation, I later learned from Yiannis that she was collecting wild asparagus and that the natives defend their patch fiercely.

Cyclamen persicum

Cyclamen persicum

The morning sun was finally having an effect and things were starting to move. Butterflies, mainly whites and countless Painted Ladies were flitting about and several Starred Agama lizards were sunning themselves. Stonechats were everywhere and always in pairs.

Painted Lady

Starred Agama, Stellagama stellio

Starred Agama, Stellagama stellio

Starred Agama, Stellagama stellio

Starred Agama, Stellagama stellio

Snake-eyed Lizard, Ophisops elegans

Corn Buntings and Sardinian Warblers were common too.

Corn Bunting

Sardinian Warbler

I wish I could have a pound for every Stonechat that I saw during the week, they were everywhere in good numbers.

In a field below the lighthouse I located my first orchids, plenty of Ophrys flavomarginata, some Ophrys umbilicata and the last remaining Orchis collina in bloom and a white one at that.

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys flavomarginata

Ophrys umbilicata

Ophrys flavomarginata?

Orchis collina - The Fan-lipped Orchid - the only one I found in bloom, the rest had long gone.

Orchis collina - The Fan-lipped Orchid

Paphos Lighthouse and the location of the orchids

Finally the non-orchid botany, there were plants everywhere and I just couldn't record all of them

Having circumnavigated the whole of the archaeological site it was time to revisit the sewage works, visitor numbers were increasing and it was unlikely that any birds would be happy to pose.

At the sewage works the Spur-winged Plovers had come out to feed in the adjacent fields and the mobile hide paid dividends. Not only did I get the plovers but a nearby Chukar gave me  a life tick. A supporting cast of Cattle Egret, Laughing Dove and a host of Spanish Sparrows, none of which presented themselves for a photograph.

Spur-winged Plover

Spur-winged Plover

Spur-winged Plover

Spur-winged Plover

Chukar !  Not the most salubrious of surroundings - but happy to record it

I drove round Mandria Beach but found little other than a large flock of larks at "lark corner" so I made haste for the Asprokremmos Dam. By the time I reached the dam ominous clouds were gathering and I felt a few spots of rain. During the winter Cyprus has experienced heavy rainfall and this was evident as the dam was full, almost overflowing. I walked across the barrage, putting at least ten Chukar off the dam wall. In the far corner I found a Blue Rock Thrush but the light was poor and the shots I took are pretty grim. I walked down the path towards the river bed at the bottom and found quite a few Ophrys flavomarginata but precious little else. The heavens opened and I decided that it was time to head back to the hotel for a late afternoon "cuppa". All in all an auspicious start to the holiday.

Snow Bunting

Nice to have a good looking bird on the patch, well actually it happens most years when a Snow Bunting turns up at Goring Gap. Lots of reports in the twittersphere convinced me to give it a couple of coats of looking at. I parked up in the likely area around 0800, people had obviously left feed for the bird as the Crows were having a field day. No sign until a lady returning from a walk along the beach said that she had found it and showed me a cracking photo - I thanked her from a distance as I was already on  my way. I searched in the described areas but couldn't find it until another birder almost stepped on it. Like most Snow Buntings, it was extremely confiding - happy to pose in exchange for some seed or meal worms. Surprisingly,  most of the dog walkers, joggers  and even the ladies keep fit group were happy to change direction on seeing a load of photographers lying on the shingle.  To them a hearty thank you, to the woman who refused and walked straight through spooking the bird - well my words are unprintable. Why are some dog walkers so arrogant that they think the environment is for their sole use - rant over.

Four record shots of the male Black Redstart at Shoreham Fort......

....and three from last year, the Great Grey Shrike and Crossbill at Wren's Warren in the Ashdown Forest.

Water Rail

Photographs have been hard to come by of late, lots of trips out for no reward. It isn't that we haven't seen good birds, Black Redstart, Short-eared Owl, Hume's Warbler and a Ringtail Hen Harrier have been the highlights, but unfortunately no success in the photographic department. We set out today to do the rounds of our usual haunts, plenty of birds on the North Wall at Pagham but nothing new or exciting. Similarly Church Norton was populated with all the regulars but we didn't find the ever present Whimbrel.

Finally I suggested that we should get out of the biting cold northerly wind and  have a cup of tea at the the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre at Arundel. It's always good for a photograph or two and I jokingly predicted Water Rail, Bullfinch, Snipe and Kingfisher - blow me down we got all four. However, we never got round to having a pot of tea.

When we arrived we took a leisurely stroll round the reedbed boardwalk hoping for a skulking Water Rail, not a bird to be seen, we didn't disturb even a Mallard.  It wasn't looking too good. However when we approached one of the hides there was a small congregation of photographers with lenses pointing at a small brown object just over the fence.  We joined them and filled our boots as they say. In fact most of those who were there went off to photograph a Chiffchaff and we had the bird to ourselves. A Chiffchaff!! that's a garden tick - no contest against a very obliging Water Rail.

The bird alternated between the deep shade and bright sunlight and compensating for that was hard work but I also learned the obvious, that during feeding its head and bill were in constant motion and that shutter speed was critical.

Having expended gigapixels on such a fine subject we continued our meandering, a Kingfisher perched but was obscured by willow branches and was a tad too distant for a decent shot. Plenty of Snipe were about and one posed well for us.

Plenty of Snipe on the reserve.

Finally on the way back to the VC we spotted a female Bullfinch, just a bit too far away for a good shot, we waited patiently, in the hope that she might relocate or be joined by a bright red male - no such luck. Just good to be out with some birds and sunshine which afforded me sufficient material for my first blog of 2019, long may it continue.