Wheatear was shot near the Akamas peninsula/ Cyprus beginning of May (1 Viewer)

[bubo_bubo]

The image of a Wheatear was shot near the Akamas peninsula/ Cyprus beginning of May. Hiking the hilly area behind Polis in western Cyprus I saw this male Wheatear perching on a stick. First I was thinking of a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. What I am missing is beige-orange on the back. Only a hint along the flanks is to be seen. Remarkable are the uniform dark wing covers and – what I think – the short primary projection. Maybe it's an Finsch's Wheatear left over from winter?
Thanks for ID to the experts
Cheers
Johannes

 

[Richard Prior]

It looks OK for Eastern Black eared to me Johannes, maybe a 2ndyear male?

 

[PYRTLE]

It would be very late for a Finsch's as you suggested. Looks like one of the many migrant Black-eared Eastern that pass through as initially identified. The caption was a bit alarming using "shot" in the title. There are quite a few Finsch's in that area though most birders head up to Anarita Park during winter. There must be a huge number that winter in the rocky hilly altitudes of Cyprus that never see a pair of birder's binoculars.
Good image by the way.
P

 

[wheatearlp]

Thought this was going to be another poaching/ shooting thread from the title 😱

 

[KC Foggin]

Thought this was going to be another poaching/ shooting thread from the title 😱

Same here. Glad it wasn't though.

 

[bubo_bubo]

No, sorry for the alarm call.
There seems to be still a lot of trapping. But as I could see, there are several measures to prevent poaching right now many areas.
Thanks for ID.
Cheers
Johannes