[schiffornis]

Just back from a couple of weeks in Cyprus on a Family holiday that included a bit of birding here and there.

I'm putting daily accounts on my blog and will post a full account and species list in due course.

Cheers Andy

[wolfbirder]

Following your blog Andy, looks like you had yourself a great spot!

[Irish Kite]

What a great trip!! - this would make me consider Cyprus given the Uncle has a villa in the Troodos. Have been put off till now due to all the bad press this country gets in regards to bird-trapping!!

[schiffornis]

Originally Posted by Irish Kite

What a great trip!! - this would make me consider Cyprus given the Uncle has a villa in the Troodos. Have been put off till now due to all the bad press this country gets in regards to bird-trapping!!

I had a great time, I'd really recommend it! I'm already planning on going back in April!

There was a lot of spent cartridges about the place so signs of the bad stuff but just as concerning should be the amount of development that is on-going (or at least started) all along the south coast areas, and even up in the Akamas now too.

Trodos was stunning, really enjoyable too.

Cheers, Andy

[schiffornis]

Put a few more days write up on my blog now, up to about Day 11 I think!

[eagle golden]

Originally Posted by Irish Kite

What a great trip!! - this would make me consider Cyprus given the Uncle has a villa in the Troodos. Have been put off till now due to all the bad press this country gets in regards to bird-trapping!!

Hi there I said exactly what you said, but having visited and met up with members of bird life cyprus, I feel that I can now make a contribution to thier work over there, we are going again in October for two weeks, this will be our fourth visit, and I only stepped on a plane four years ago, for the first time age 64 love it. we love it at Kensington cliffs, and bird life cyprus have just got the final papers tp bring over from create some griffon vultures, to help the ones on the cliffs. MC

[wolfbirder]

Sounds like real migration was witnessed, and your villa at Cape Aspro looks superb. Any chance of the details?

[schiffornis]

Originally Posted by wolfbirder

Sounds like real migration was witnessed, and your villa at Cape Aspro looks superb. Any chance of the details?

Will send details through when i've booked it for the week I want to go in April

[wolfbirder]

Originally Posted by schiffornis

Will send details through when i've booked it for the week I want to go in April

You lickle bugger !!

I think i is difficult to chose the right time....... Late March/ early April is better for specific sought after species like Blue Cheeked Bee-eater, Pallid Harrier, Ruppell's Warbler, Bimaculated Lark, rarer Wheatears, but May seems far better for huge numbers of Bee-eaters, Swifts, Rollers, warblers, flycatchers etc.

[welshhillbilly]

I am enjoying reading your reports.I visit late March/early April each year,when the migrants are quite different.No Red Backed,or Lesser Grey Shrikes,Eleanora's,Bee Eater,or Black Headed Bunting,but plenty of Ruppell's,and Sub Alp warblers.Waders tend to be more plentiful also.Pallid Harriers,and Blue Cheeked Bee Eater,also this year.

[schiffornis]

Thanks for positive comments, was a lot better than I was expecting it to be for time of the year.

I've just put the final few days report on. will put summary on and species list shortly.

Cheers, Andy

[schiffornis]

Outline species list now on my blog

[Mick Sway]

Lovely report, thanks for sharing your experiences.
I spent a week in March, with some friends in the Troodos a couple of years ago. Unforunately it was cold and rained buckets every day, I manged to get a few nice birds though all the same.
Best
Mick

[schiffornis]

Originally Posted by Mick Sway

Lovely report, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Best
Mick

Thanks Mick

[MKinHK]

Sounds like a great trip. Its always great to have a place to bird without having to drive and you certainly did well in the valley behind the villa.

Lots of birds to make me jealous, but the Eleanora's has to top the bill.

Cheers
Mike

[schiffornis]

Originally Posted by MKinHK

Sounds like a great trip. Its always great to have a place to bird without having to drive and you certainly did well in the valley behind the villa.

Lots of birds to make me jealous, but the Eleanora's has to top the bill.

Cheers
Mike

Hi Mike, the Eleonora's were great! Really enjoyed the good looks at them, espeecially when one started hunting a flock of migrating Bee-eaters!

[steve west]

Originally Posted by schiffornis

Hi Mike, the Eleonora's were great! Really enjoyed the good looks at them, espeecially when one started hunting a flock of migrating Bee-eaters!

I'm going to be pedantic Andy and make a minor point: did one Eleonora's Falcon really hunt a flock of Bee-eaters? That would be quite amazing if so!

What I mean is, if one goes out "hunting pheasants" it doesn't mean that one has caught any, but it's most unlikely that one would ever go out "hunting flocks of pheasants" or even Bee-eaters.

TO finish on a lighter note, here's a link to a video with Bee-eaters:

http://youtu.be/1WuKEpuiSns

Which prompts a question: how many bee-eaters are needed to make a flock?

Steve