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.