Paphos revisited April 19-27th 2022 (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

Three years since our last visit by courtesy of COVID, after a seamless three hour and fifty minute flight from LGW we were deposited into a sun setting Paphos, where the “stiff joints”were soon relaxed with a kebab washed down with a bottle of Othello then zzzzz til dawn.

Whence the seven days of non-stop hunting would start, averaging 7 miles per day, something that my “ankles” would confirm throughout.😩
The morning of the 20th got off to a fantastic start….with a presumed (no ref.material at hand) male Hooded Wheatear opening up my account!

Watching the bird pirouetting vertically high into the air after insects, then returning swiftly to rock base was almost breathtaking!, a gymnastic execution that would imo exceed any “flycatcher” attempts.
For me well worth the cover charge of €2.25 entrance to the Architectural ruin…and I’d only just begun!

Accompanying the “Hooded” were Northern and Isabelline Wheatears also Tawny and Red-throated Pipits, all regular at site and certainly a joy to reconnect with after such a long absence which hopefully will not return.

Moving on up towards the lighthouse the resident Crested Larks, Sardinian Warblers and prolific House Sparrows seemed to be never far away, when a quick scan through a rough grass area produced my first tick…Jackdaw!
Certainly never encountered on previous visits (perhaps something I should keep quiet about 😂)

In the same field adjacent to and North of the amphitheatre, I caught up with Whinchat and Woodchat Shrike also a flyover Hoopoe in support….things were looking good!

To be continued….

 

[Scridifer]

Looking forward to the updates Ken!

Chris

 

[KenM]

A bright sunny Thursday morning at 7.30am on the 21st, found me killing time on the headland, with the Architectural Ruin not opening till 8.30am.
With just Common Sandpiper as the only visible life form grazing the tide line (long legs and webbed feet) have never been my preferred groups, thus I was forever clock watching until I could access the site.

Upon entering with two options, stairs or a curved path, I took the latter, which took you past a small wooded section, as I raised my bins an incredible “yellow blur” zapped past and rocketed into the leafage.

Before I could utter “Golden O!”… the realisation hit me that it was a male Greenfinch.
“Would be” stringers beware! 😂
male Greenfinches can be incredibly yellow in “these there parts”…unlike in Blighty…if you can find one.😮

Moving North back to the ruin, it was good to see the Hooded Wheatear and chums still hanging out together, thus I decided to head towards the Avenue of Tamarisks and adjacent bushes to the East, where I’d noticed the odd movement in the trees.

Suddenly, a silhouetted passerine flew up from the shadows and landed perhaps three metres above on a bare branch.
With “bridge” in hand, quick draw McGraw aimed, fired and hit the target with perfect focus…then raising the bins…I’d bagged a superb male Common Redstart!

Well pleased, I ventured into the bushes where I espied Spotted Flycatcher, endorphins now beginning to flow, as it sallied up into the trees it disturbed a second, then a third migrant, with both proving to be particularly elusive!, then after c20 mins, I managed to nail them, (literally both in one image)….Eastern Olivaceous and female Collared Flycatcher!

For me, this was birding Valhalla…there just aren’t words.

To be continued….

 

[KenM]

Little did I know, that Friday the 22nd was going to “spectacularly” upstage the previous day and provide much excitement….if only for me!

Entering the site at 8.30am I followed the path North to the “ruin” that held the Wheatears, en route noting a larger flock of Yellow Wagtails than the previous day c30, composed of mostly feldegg and beema types.

Arriving at the ruin, I noted 4 Tawny Pipits, 2-3 Red-throated Pips, 4 Tripits, 2 Whinchat,
4 Northern Wheatear, one Isabelline and the male Hooded still present…it’s 3rd day!
A flyover Curlew and then a Sprawk running the “Hoodie gauntlet” looking somewhat anxious as it beat a hasty retreat!

Another look in the bushes provided a 2nd Woodchat Shrike and what appeared to be the same Eastern Olivaceous, Spotted and Collared Flycatcher hanging out together albeit loosely.

A call from the missus meant that the lunch time break was imminent, as I stumbled purposefully out the exit, I looked behind and vowed….that I would be back!
After lunch and with great difficulty, I made the supreme sacrifice and returned to the “office”😊

On return I altered the circuit route, going anti-clockwise this time, then adding a more Eastern loop, however with nothing out of the norm being seen, I reverted to my regular clockwise route deciding to quit for the day relishing a dip in the “very” cold pool followed by a cuppa!

As I emerged from the avenue of Tamarisks, I looked back down the track towards Paphos Town on the hill, when I noticed what looked like a Parakeet sitting on a completely dead tree (with head turned away).
I mused that I’d travelled all this way, only to find one of those “buggers” that I’m surrounded by back home!

Then it turned it’s head!!! my initial outburst was in the WTF vein, but not just because of it’s veracity….it was because between it and moi was a bush, that once if aligned between us, I could if lucky, get much, much closer…perhaps to within c20m distant.

Making as much “quiet” stumbling as was humanly possible, I arrived at said bush with heart pounding, slowly inching my way round hoping that I’d get a “flight” shot if nothing else.

With baited breath and approximating “subjects” height in said tree, I blindly slid round with camera to eye, then when “we eye-balled” I just hit the button, hoping that I’d get something decent with my “temperamental” camera whose software often “slips” modes during operation.

It’s fair to say, that with my kit behaving itself and taking the distance into account, I have no complaints….also my 2nd Paphos tick!

 

[wolfbirder]

Well pleased for you Ken! Blue-cheeked Bee-eater! Absolutely stunning birds in breeding plumage like this individual, bold lollipop colours!

I’ve been 5 times to Cyprus but never seen one there yet!

 

[PYRTLE]

Apparently the best year for BCBE, with various flocks present on the same day, including onre up to 11 I believe. Well captured......me too 4 Spring visits and failed to connect.

 

[3Italianbirders]

a few sightings on a couple of islands off southern Italy too!

 

[KenM]

Cheers Guys,

fwiw, my 5th Spring visit, and BCBEater apart, this was the first time that I’d seen European Bee-Eaters (previously only heard flying over on 2 of the 5 visits), spectacular birds whichever the species, they appear to becoming more regular visitors.👍

 

[KenM]

Saturday 23rd proved to be the departure date for the Hooded Wheatear + some Northern’s, although most things were still present to include now….2 Isabelline Wheats.
The only new birds for me were just the one Common Whitethroat (for the week) and 1-2 Hobbies also a single Sand Martin through the sometimes swarming hirundines.

As Sunday/Monday were the “Greek Easter”, with the Architectural Ruin closed (Sunday only), we decided to take the bus (flat fare €1.50) North along the coast to Coral Bay a c25 minute ride.
It’s a place that we always visit, as it has a reasonable coast path c1 mile plus where we stop for Coffee at a family run restaurant and pick up a “few birds” en-route.

Once leaving the bus (with the temp.forecast of 27c 😮) we “trudged” North along the sandy beach aiming to hit the “shaded restaurant” pronto!
As you leave the last hotel which is adjacent to a narrow concrete water outlet, you cross by a “two step” bridge which has “very tall” Phragmites one side, where I always hear (and did) the “explosive” Cetti’s.

Emerging through the Phrag. we entered upon the narrow path through the grassland, whereupon we espied…a resplendent male “Red-backed Shrike” with two Bonelli’s Warblers in tow!

With the Shrike having already flown down to some weed stems coming toward, I aimed the camera for the “perfect shot” at the same time as two oncoming walkers….drats! …as it did a sharp exit!

“Miffing” under my breath….I vowed to return to site, onwards and upwards for that caffeine injection only to find whence arriving, that you guessed it…‘‘twas closed!”

Returning back to the RBS site bird was still present, as were the Bonelli’s.
The Shrike favoured a barbed wire strip above the main fence and was not tolerant to within 20m, whereupon it would retire to a “wood pile” immediately behind the fence, although I knew that it’s preference was the “commanding height” of the barbed wire.

Thus I endured the 20 minute wait “in the sun”with camera to eye, focused on the fence…boy! we’re my arms aching.😩
Eventually “he broke”…and we became buddies.😀, and that coffee at the bus terminus restaurant, went down exceedingly well!

 

[KenM]

On Monday (last day but one) I was the only one at breakfast, I suppose the 7am start had some bearing on it. 😂
Did the outside perimeter fence headland walk before the 8.30am admission and was pleased to see a European Bee-Eater calling, as it swept through the site heading North also, with a single Purple Heron on it’s heels.

Upon entering the site I met up with Tom a “Geordie” whom I’d met on previous days, we were discussing the flyover Roller that he’d just seen!!!😩, when he picked up 6 Night Herons coming our way, soon to be followed by a “skein” of Glossy Ibis also Northbound.

After parting and going on our separate routes where I found a Cuckoo en-route, we were to meet up again, when he told me about another birder, that had found an Icterine Warbler!, just about 30m from where we were standing.
At this point we were joined by Mark another birder who’d heard about the Icterine!
We slowly advanced to the approximate location, when Tom said he could “hear”it, as did Mark!

Unfortunately it was too high pitched for my ear drums😩, eventually it was picked up by Mark and Tom , foraging on a plant stem.
I raised the “Bridge” followed by a quick burst, although below par, it was the best I could get nevertheless, extremely pleased with my 3rd Paphos life tick, which was soon followed by an embarrassing 4th….Willow Warbler😩.

After another circuit of the “field”, coming back to the “Willow Warbler tree”, I espied another bird in the canopy, a quick glance through the bins…which I then dropped, replacing them with the “Bridge” instantly, resulted in Mark rushing up and enquiring “what do you think it is?”
I replied (looking through the cam.viewfinder) “I’m thinking Orphean”.

“That would be a lifer for me” he shouted!
Although close and relatively confiding, just a few metres away, it was a real bugger to image,
as it stayed mostly in the shadows, however I managed to nail it!….as did Mark with his “Yes..female Orphean!”

 

[KenM]

On Tuesday April 26th (last day), I closed my account as it started with a Wheatear…only this time it was with a male and female Black-eared both stunning in their own right!

As is the norm, females having bigger balls than their male counterparts, she became quite confiding and actually flew to within 3m of my sitting position (several times) allowing some close-up shots.

In defence of the male, if I also, was as “eye-catching” as him….I too might exercise caution, when confronted by a biped with a “large reflective eye”😮

Leaving the Wheatears in the ruin and heading East into the scrub/field/Tamarisk area, I came across the feldegg/beema flock which appeared to be somewhat depleted, however there were still Whinchat and Woodchat Shrike in attendance along with Spot Fly, female Common Redstart and an elusive Wood Warbler in the bushes and trees adjacent.

Doing a last circuit of the ruin before lunch, I heard Bee-Eaters!, looked up to find circa a dozen doing flycatch glides over the beach, unfortunately into the sun thus no images. Turning my back, I walked North East again to catch “another” Hobby circling then flying toward, frantically firing a burst before it too disappeared over the Tamarisks into the sun.

A quick review of the shots revealed just the one, with an incomplete image (port wing clipped) clearly too slow on the “uptake” that time, must do better!😩

Rejoined the missus outside the ruin and made our way to the bus terminus, for a trip to our favourite restaurant at the top of the cliff in the old town.
A quick tot-up suggested 4 additions to my Cyprus list- Jackdaw, Willow Warbler, Icterine Warbler and Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater absolutely no complaints there, more than pleased.

Then more Bee-Eater calls, as we sat at an outside table, probably the same flock as earlier, having moved up over the cliff and restaurant winging NNW, again out of the sun thus no photo shoot.😩

After lunch another quick circuit 😮 before returning to the hotel and then cab to the airport.
Once in the air with a four and a half hour flight ahead of us (flying into a NW), I decided to carry out some “heavy” SD card deletions, with some c900+ shots taken…I could be some time.

In the end it all became rather repetitive…click-delete-click-delete…until I came across the “Hobby” with a clipped port wing, zoomed up, looked at the underwing….that’s no “bloomin ‘obby I muttered….it’s an Elea-bloody-noras!!!
How I missed the black underwing coverts!! 😮must have been because I was “piqued” at the incomplete shot! 😂

Thus that moved the additions to 5 newbies!
“Another glass of Red please Steward”🍷

Cheers

 

[Scridifer]

A great finale Ken, congrats on the Eleonora's! A most enjoyable read as always, many thanks for taking the time to share it!

Chris

 

[3Italianbirders]

great stuff!

 

[wolfbirder]

Enjoyable read Ken, love your style, always gives me a giggle.

 

[kuzeycem]

On Monday (last day but one) I was the only one at breakfast, I suppose the 7am start had some bearing on it. 😂
Did the outside perimeter fence headland walk before the 8.30am admission and was pleased to see a European Bee-Eater calling, as it swept through the site heading North also, with a single Purple Heron on it’s heels.

Upon entering the site I met up with Tom a “Geordie” whom I’d met on previous days, we were discussing the flyover Roller that he’d just seen!!!😩, when he picked up 6 Night Herons coming our way, soon to be followed by a “skein” of Glossy Ibis also Northbound.

After parting and going on our separate routes where I found a Cuckoo en-route, we were to meet up again, when he told me about another birder, that had found an Icterine Warbler!, just about 30m from where we were standing.
At this point we were joined by Mark another birder who’d heard about the Icterine!
We slowly advanced to the approximate location, when Tom said he could “hear”it, as did Mark!

Unfortunately it was too high pitched for my ear drums😩, eventually it was picked up by Mark and Tom , foraging on a plant stem.
I raised the “Bridge” followed by a quick burst, although below par, it was the best I could get nevertheless, extremely pleased with my 3rd Paphos life tick, which was soon followed by an embarrassing 4th….Willow Warbler😩.

After another circuit of the “field”, coming back to the “Willow Warbler tree”, I espied another bird in the canopy, a quick glance through the bins…which I then dropped, replacing them with the “Bridge” instantly, resulted in Mark rushing up and enquiring “what do you think it is?”
I replied (looking through the cam.viewfinder) “I’m thinking Orphean”.

“That would be a lifer for me” he shouted!
Although close and relatively confiding, just a few metres away, it was a real bugger to image,
as it stayed mostly in the shadows, however I managed to nail it!….as did Mark with his “Yes..female Orphean!”

Hi Ken, very good stuff, just wondering if the last 2 pics depict the "Orphean"?

 

[KenM]

Hi Ken, very good stuff, just wondering if the last 2 pics depict the "Orphean"?

The last two pics in post 10 yes.👍

 

[MKinHK]

Good stuff Ken - sounds like a great site.

 

[kuzeycem]

The last two pics in post 10 yes.👍

In that case, unless the photos are very misleading, I can't see how that can be an E Orphean with that delicate bill and lack of undertail markings (diagnostic for Eastern). Looks like a Lesser Whitethroat to me.

 

[KenM]

Looked nothing like Lesser Whitethroat, it was bigger, slower moving head appeared almost concolourously black, also a personal observation- the “cap” base line was straight from the bill base to beyond the eye, normally in LW it sags before the eye.
Two more images, first one the same bird the second taken a few years ago, similar time and location.

 

[kuzeycem]

Well I won't get too much into the troubles of Lesser Whitethroat taxa in the Middle East but the new photo only confirms by previous concerns as far as I'm concerned; small body, short tail, bill still small, and no undertail markings. Compare the head with the rest of the body in those two photos and you can see how different their proportions are. Behavior is, well, changeable, and apparently so is the cap base line: ML21930331 Lesser Whitethroat (Lesser) Macaulay Library.
Sorry to turn this into an ID debate.