randombirder

As with many of the popular holiday island destinations, there are places to see and places to avoid.  So when I booked this four day trip to the eastern end of Greek Cyprus, I based myself in Agia Napa because apparently (according to the abundance of self-eulogising T-shirts available) 'Napa Rocks'.  Thankfully it was the off-season so there was no attitude or groups of morons destroying the place. It was actually very pleasant, and despite having an untimely reaction to one of the medications, the time was well spent.  Four days, 92 species, six lifers. I stayed at the pleasant EuroNapa hotel in Agia Napa -  Return flights were on British Airways to Larnaka from Heathrow. Sites visited included Cape Greko, Agia Napa Sewage Works, Oriklini Marshes (which is an amazing site), Larnaca Salt Lake (and surrounding pools), Larnaca Sewage Works, Akrotiri Salt Lake, Lady's Mile, and Zakaki Marshes. Northern Shoveler eight at Oriklini. Mallard A few birds at Oriklini Ma

It was a stellar day at the Marshes, the highlight being our monthly Wildlife Explorers group in which we welcomed fifteen children all of which enjoyed dissecting owl pellets and getting their grubby mits covered with mammalian detritus.  It was all good fun. Arriving a couple of hours before the start of the group, it was evident that there were plenty of migrants around in gloomy and mizzly conditions.  It felt rare!  Around a dozen Common Whitethroat were scratching away in the scrub opposite Aveley Bay and on the receded tide, a total of seven Whimbrel were noted, six of which deserted the exposed mud in hot pursuit of a lone Greenshank that too noisely fled the area.  Also in attendance were four Dunlin (including three summer plumaged adults) and a smart Grey Plover not quite yet into its summer finery, and three noisy Oystercatcher . From the car park, a Corn Bunting jangled as it sat low in the grass on the eastern slope of the landfill.  Two Grasshopper Warbler wer