Archaeology and Birding in Cyprus

Two days at the Paphos archaeological site gave me a brief glimpse of Greek and
Roman history interspersed with a little birding.

At the site a number of Zitting cisticolas zipped across the burnt grass, while a
hunting kestrel obliged.

First up the House of Theseus I was impressed with the quality of the mosaics as I
surveyed the site.

The detail of the mosaics and Theseus engaged with the Minotaur was a  nice piece of work.

At the House of Dionysos young swallows were being fed by adults.

As I walked towards Paphos light house I found the Agora and Odeon at it's rear.

Making my way back to the main gate I noted Sardinian warblers feeding young
as the temperature rose.

Another visit  on the 13th of June I returned catching more detail of the superb
mosaics. The first bath of Achilles

Cyprus birding 11TH OF jUNE 2013

Woke up early the light filtered through the room applied sun screen and prepared for
another hot sunny  morning in Cyprus.
Jane arrived 0700hrs and we headed north towards Polis pronounced Bolis in Greek.
A sign post to the Minthis Hills surrounding a golf club in Tsada produced up to 25
Corn bunting.

Also a pair of distant Black headed buntings,moving on towards Kannaviou a number
of Red rumped swallows obliged overhead.Good photographic opportunities of
Cyprus Pied Wheatears as we made our way to Aspogia.

Moving towards Kannaviou dam,passed the dam a picnic site amongst the pines above
Kannaviou where a well deserved cup of tea produced Hoopoe.
Masked shrikes along with Eastern Olivaceous warbler were feeding young nearby.

On route  to Polemi prior to Kannaviou I was lucky to see the elusive Black Francolin
in a field as we drove by.

Meanwhile back at the picnic site more Cretzschmars and Spanish sparrows,even the sub
species of Coal tit was close enough to hear well but not see.
Arodes our last call did yield a superb Black headed bunting and posing Rollers.
We ended our birding around 1155hrs returned to Paphos 1235 hrs said goodbye to
Jane, a  successful 2 mornings had produced  some good birds.

Birding Cypus early June 2013

10th of June Paphos got my gear together and met Jane in front of the hotel Annabelle around
0700hrs .We drove eastwards towards Aphrodite's rock towards Petra tou Romiou.

The cliffs here produced a couple of Eleonora's falcons, a superb adult sat on the
cliff face,then flew off ,also a few immatures were present.

Moving around the coast many Jackdaws and pure Rock doves was unusual.
Then below the Aphrodite hills  two Chukar called in flight and disappeared
over a ridge,while  overhead Alpine swifts obliged.

This area proved good for birds early morning,on leaving the cliffs a single Cyprus
Wheatear put in an appearance as did Yellow legged gulls along the coast.

We searched the scrub and eventually found  a few skulking  Cyprus  warblers.

Next up Kouklia soakaways which provided a number of Kestrels,driving under the
motorway Jane saw a Little owl, I missed it now driving along the old river bed to
the Lower Xeros pools we continued to struggle for Black Francolin,however around
a small expanse of water Grey and Squacco heron was nice.

Another good bird here skulking and not giving good views was a Night heron.
We had a brief view of Eastern Olivaceous warbler before leaving.
We returned to the main road and made our way to Asprokremnos dam where half way
up the road we heard Bee eater.

In a burnt out area  in rocky caverns we saw another Little owl keeping out of the sun.

On leaving a Roller in flight and green and goldfinches fed in thistles along the
roadside.
Next up Paphos sewage farm where Spur wing plover  and Cattle Egret obliged as
did some ancient aircraft near the runway of the airport.
Just before leaving a Fan tailed warbler or Zitting cisticola showed with nest material.

Still no Black Francolin but I saw a Turtle dove on the wires with Hooded Crows.
Our last throw of the dice this morning was  Agia Varvara  here at another set of
soakaways we flushed Green Sandpiper and saw a superb Roller.

We continued to search orchard and scrub but only found more greenfinches ending
our day on the east coast.

Final Day in Sweden

Another O53O HRS call for a pre breakfast trip on route to the Black Grouse moor.We were
fortunate to see Hazel Grouse, a good view was obtained of it in the trees.

At the moor we saw Osprey and heard Black Grouse calling,a variety of passerines
obliged notably Brambling and Golden Plover overhead.

Some weeks ago a wolf had been seen here see Daniel Greens blog,we continued
to look for other denizens of the forest,however Capercaillie eluded us.

So we headed back to Salbohed for breakfast ,we packed for our departure said our
goodbyes to Wilma and Yohannes,the bird table was still holding splendid bullfinches.
Passing the lakes on route ,our first stop was Frovisjon where a mini twitch had produced
American Wigeon,this was a bonus as we had targetted Slavonian grebe.

Passerines of note while we scanned from the roadside proved a bit flighty in
particular two Wryneck, however a Yellowhammer sang close by.

Moving closer to the lake we found a nesting Long eared owl which was a surprise for
most of us.

Flemming had found a Spotted Redshank in summer plumage ,up to 9 Slavonian grebes in
breeding plumage and my mate Lewis had found a Red necked grebe.
After coffee we headed towards Stockholm and our final stop was Torslundgropen nature
reserve an excavated sand/gravel pit  with limited vegetation.

Mostly Silver birch ,on arrival a Whitethroat scolded from the undergrowth.
We walked up the steep hill,at the top we searched for our final quarry,the
superbly patterned Ortolan Bunting sang from scree and tree top as we viewed
this rare bunting that has become a delicacy for French gastronomics.

A swift lunch before a heavy shower and we were on our way to Arlanda airport
just outside Stockholm. We left our Danish friends at Terminal 5 and Daniel
dropped us off at Terminal 2 a little late ,but what a trip ,Thanks to Daniel, Mikael
Wilma and Yohannes and everybody on the trip .

Day Three part two Eagle Owl

Another walk to tempt Hazel Grouse and Grey Headed woodpecker failed although tree nesting
Goldeneyes was unusual.

Butterflies included Camberwell Beauty, Green Hairstreak, and Common Blue.

The day was full of singing Willow warblers and another pair of Red backed shrike.

At Flackebo on route back we photographed the church, a rune stone and local buildings.

It was the only rune stone we saw on the trip which made it quite special.

We returned to Salbohed for our evening meal,then we were off to the Quarry in search
of another owl.On a cliff overlooking the plant in the Quarry a male Eagle Owl was seen
on the opposite gravel face.

We eventually found the female nesting in an unusual place,it was on one of the work
platforms on or near the stairs apparently the staff work around it.

We left reluctantly pushing on through the Black River lakes where two White tailed sea eagles
sat near there nest far across the lake showing well through the scopes.

Moving past Ramnas we encountered two Moose and some Roe deer.

We looked again for Eagle owl but only managed Pygmy owl,a  local cheese and berrie
wine finished our owl watch.

Our final night in Sweden was a sunset over Lake Flackebo were a Bittern  bade
us farewell.

Day three The Woodpeckers with Mikael Rhoonstadt

 A warm sunny day a little cool at first as we headed off with a different guide today,first up was
the elusive Hazel grouse which lived up to it's elusive notoriety as we only heard it,however we saw
Red Squirrel.

We even heard Grey headed woodpecker and a Wryneck.Moving on towards Ekopark
Farna.

We explored a woodland  with a number of dead trees which had a purpose for a
particular species.

Here in this specialized  habitat we saw the incredible Three toed Woodpecker
excavating it's nest hole.

The male seen here with yellow on it's crown allowed close approach.

More splendid views of this superb bird before moving on.

We perceivered for other species ,managed  red backed shrike , hard to see
in the dwarf conifer scub.

Next up a site for Black Woodpecker we saw it leaving its nest and Spotted and
Pied Flycatcher in close proximity.

Checking more Silver Birch areas we flushed  a Woodcock  and noted four eggs.

It's not often you stumble literally over ground nesting birds we had seen many roding
individuals these light summer evenings.

Coffe or tea break was at Sveasskog  of note we had seen Red and Black throated divers
on the lakes.