Spring in Cyprus (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

Following a wonderfully mild and sunny winter, spring seems to be arriving early here. Everywhere is green and lush and the last couple of days have seen a small number of Barn Swallows passing through. Greenfinches and Great Tits are all singing and as I write, a Song Thrush is in full song just outside.

We've also had sighting of several reptiles in the last few days which seems very early to me, certainly compared to last year.

 

[Andy Adcock]

More Hirundine movements today, Swallows and House Martins, a high, unidentified raptor was possibly shadowing one group.

 

[Andy Adcock]

A very early warm spell, 24c today.

Had a surprise in the form of a Hoopoe which I didn't expect so early. On the butterfly front, Clouded Yellows are everywhere, a single Blue was seen and on date alone it was probably a Paphos Blue, plenty of Cyprus Meadow Browns too.

On the reptile front, Spiny-footed Lizards were very active and abundant on the trail I walk.

 

[01101001]

Comb-footed Lizards

Couldn't find these in the internet?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Sorry, I'm a senile old fart these days, Spiny-footed Lizard.

spiny-footed lizard - Yahoo Image Search results

 

[angusmcoatup]

A very early warm spell, 24c today.

Had a surprise in the form of a Hoopoe which I didn't expect so early. On the butterfly front, Clouded Yellows are everywhere, a single Blue was seen and on date alone it was probably a Paphos Blue, plenty of Cyprus Meadow Browns too.

On the reptile front, Comb-footed Lizards were very active and abundant on the trail I walk.

Hoopoe here in SW Turkey also. Extremely mild weather for over a week but still unexpected (by me).

 

[01101001]

I can't find this one here (List of reptiles of Cyprus - Wikipedia) either; is A. erythrurus (Spiny-footed Lizard) an introduced species or is A. schreiberi (Schreiber's Fringe-fingered Lizard) a recent split from it/junior synonym of it?

 

[Andy Adcock]

I can't find this one here (List of reptiles of Cyprus - Wikipedia) either; is A. erythrurus (Spiny-footed Lizard) an introduced species or is A. schreiberi (Schreiber's Fringe-fingered Lizard) a recent split from it/junior synonym of it?

Sorry, I thought I replied to this this morning, I am senile, I did call it by the wrong name and it is indeed Spiny-footed Lizard.

Edit: I did reply, post 5.

 

[01101001]

I see now that you referred to the genus Acanthodactylus, and one of its common names as per Wikipedia is 'spiny-toed lizards'. Meanwhile, I was looking at the Cyprus reptile list, and it's home to only one representative of Acanthodactylus: A. schreiberi, Schreiber's fringe-fingered lizard. Tricky for me, esp. with all the alternative common names.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I see now that you referred to the genus Acanthodactylus, and one of its common names as per Wikipedia is 'spiny-toed lizards'. Meanwhile, I was looking at the Cyprus reptile list, and it's home to only one representative of Acanthodactylus: A. schreiberi, Schreiber's fringe-fingered lizard. Tricky for me, esp. with all the alternative common names.

Never seen it called that personally.

Educate Yourself

herprepository.org

 

[01101001]

Another alternative common name, I guess! 😮

 

[Andy Adcock]

House Martins piling through today.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Had my first Common Swifts of the year today, c6 over Pissouri village.

Two Swallowtail butterflies today, a couple of Paphos Blues and tons of Clouded Yellows.

Had my first Cyprus Rock Agama of the year today too.

 

[Andy Adcock]

A female Common Blue today, must be quite early for this species?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Saw something today tthat I've never seen before, a murmaration of House Sparrows. Location was beachside fields and the birds were landing in very tall grasses, a couple of hundred at a guess and they were flying in formation, twisting and turning in waves, just like Starlings.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Saw something today tthat I've never seen before, a murmaration of House Sparrows. Location was beachside fields and the birds were landing in very tall grasses, a couple of hundred at a guess and they were flying in formation, twisting and turning in waves, just like Starlings.

Historic texts full of stories of large House Sparrow flocks..... No more sadly.

All the best

Paul

 

[PYRTLE]

Sad indeed Paul, just about clinging on in our Norfolk village, surprisingly nesting under the roof pantiles of a fairly modern house next door, despite me erecting an expensive Sparrow terrace - they just pinch the straw and dried grass I put in the entrance holes.
Any Spanish amongst that murmaration Andy that you noticed?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Sad indeed Paul, just about clinging on in our Norfolk village, surprisingly nesting under the roof pantiles of a fairly modern house next door, despite me erecting an expensive Sparrow terrace - they just pinch the straw and dried grass I put in the entrance holes.
Any Spanish amongst that murmaration Andy that you noticed?

Yes, a few Pat but actually, I don't see Spanish here very often at all.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Historic texts full of stories of large House Sparrow flocks..... No more sadly.

All the best

Paul

Still common here Paul but never seen a flock like this.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Just had another Hoopoe, this time, seen from the garden. Not impossible that it's the same bird I saw ten days ago as it's just a few hundred metres to that place though not sure a spring migrant would hang around so long?