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26-10-11, 07:06 PM
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Our trip to Cyprus report
We arrived onto Cyprus, landing at Pafhos just before dark on the 5th October picked the car up and drove to our Villa in Pissouri bay, it was very nice, and in a quite spot.
The next day we just relaxed and got our bearings, After that, we arranged to meet up with members of bird life Cyprus, the first trip was to Lady mile beach, then onto akrotiri salt lake, then P phasouri reed beds, where we saw our first Blue throat, greater reed warbler, and red backed shrike, same visit we had kingfisher, and one my wife Helen saw was a spotted crake. We called at a local terverna for lunch, I got a real shock as we walked out onto the balcony, as the owner was walking out with a Pelican walking in front of him he was putting it into its cage, wow what a bird. On the way home we saw three red-footed falcons on the wire, hunting in the vine fields. Over the whole two weeks, most days we paid a visit to a place called Kensington Cliffs which is next to the army barracks at Episkopi, to watch the Eleonora falcons, peregrines, kestrels, and in hope of seeing the few Griffon Vultures that live there, we must have over the past four years made dozens of visits , but never seen them, until the penultimate day when we made our final visit, Helen shouted look over the cliffs, sure enough not one but five griffons circling over the cliffs heading for the barracks, I managed a few shots which I will post. One of our favourite spots is the Akamas peninsular, up towards Aphrodite’s pool and Latsi, not far of Polis we pulled in to a lay by there up the side of the hill a pair of long legged buzzards, what a sight, up above Aphrodite’s pool we had the usual, Cyprus Wheatears, willow warblers, and chukers. The final day with Bob from bird life Cyprus was spent down at Mandria, Helen had the morning with Bobs wife Linda, while we had a look for Stone curlew, we found some in a ploughed field a long way off, but a better view than we had in Norfolk, then to a fish & chip lunch, washed down with a Keo, beer. We had several visits to the Aspro dam near Paphos, the pool below the dam can hold almost any thing from crake to warblers, in the air above dam you get red footed falcon, harriers, peregrine, kestrel in the bushes at the edge of dam you can get hoopoe, bee eaters, collared fly catchers, francolins, chukers. We had two days of storms, but mostly it was a pleasant 28 o c . We had some news while we were there, that the police, along with protectionists, and the army, had made a raid into the hills and confiscated miles of mists nets, and released loads of trapped birds, if you have not yet signed the petition please do so. We had news the second week that we had Zara Phillips staying in the local hotel, with her husband, don’t know if the rugby team was with him or not, if you ever plan to go to Cyprus please get in touch with Bird life Cyprus, and get details from them, they may also have some outings planned, and if you ever come across mist nets or lime sticks, please take some pictures, but don’t remove, but ring the police or bird life Cyprus in Nicosia, I hope this report is ok as I have never done one before. Birds seen from the 5th to 19th October 2011 Hooded crow Long legged Buzzard Little grebe Stone curlew Sparrow house Goshawk Sand martin Goldfinch Jackdaw House martin Swallow Yellow legged gull Pigeon wood Sardinian warbler Curlew sandpiper dove collard Peregrine Honey buzzard Dove turtle Flamingo Spoonbill Chucker Red footed falcon Hobby Francolin Fan tailed warbler European wheatear Blue throat Golden oriole Cyprus warbler Greater reed warbler Cyprus wheatear Magpie Masked shrike Yellow wagtail Grey wagtail Eleonora Falcon White wagtail Griffon vulture Kestrel Sparrow hawk Black kite Kingfisher Great tit Bonelies eagle Kentish plover Cettis warbler Dunlin Knot Spotted crake Sanderling Little stint Sedge warbler Coot Buzzard Common snipe Water hen Marsh harrier Garganey Crested lark Shoveller Roller Merlin Last edited by aquila 1; 27-10-11 at 04:41 PM. Reason: add pictures 
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28-10-11, 02:51 PM
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Sounds like you had a good time - and no doubt enjoyed more that just the birdlife and a single beer! 
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03-11-11, 03:05 PM
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You saw some super species and took some good shots.....the Kestrel is an especially good one! It's great to hear that the authorities are beginning to crack down on the illegal bird trappers there,lets hope it continues! 
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03-11-11, 03:50 PM
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Hi Ruth thanks yes there is some amazing birds and wildlife a friend of ours from harrogate emigrated out there 6 years ago and they love it, I have only just started to fly which was five years ago and I love it, but my helen is petrified and has told me no more, but I have a few months to work on her, thanbks for friendship request. best regards mac
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04-11-11, 07:58 AM
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 Luckily hubby has travelled the world on business and is happy to stay in the UK for our hols and birding trips!
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05-11-11, 11:58 AM
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A great read and pics Mac! Brilliant news with the confiscation of the nets etc...hopefully it will be an onging procedure!
Glad you had a wonderful time in Cyprus and thanks for sharing!
__________________
Judith. Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. - Frank Lloyd Wright
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14-11-11, 12:43 PM
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A great report Mac! And some wonderful birds too. It's good to hear about the mist nets being confiscated; I suspect they'll have to do a lot of that even to start to counter the island's truly horrific reputation.
Given the name of the place you were staying - Pissouri bay - I trust you didn't go swimming?
__________________
I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right.
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17-11-11, 12:09 PM
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Now Now stargazer, unfortunatly I cannot swim, my one fear in life, Helen is a great swimmer, she has been in the watere once, but it was that cold, I always thought the Med was warm. best regards mac
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