Mavrokolympos

A trip to our local area of Mavrokolympos, for a change the focus was on Dragonflies and Damselflies and not Birds. Although close views of Cetti's Warbler and Squacco Heron were had.
Expecting to find Calopteryx splendens and Epallage fatime that were seen last year it was good to see some other species including the Persian Bluetail (Ischnura intermedia) that was only reported for the first time in Cyprus in 2013. Also observed were Anax parthenope and Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

Persian Bluetail (Ischnura intermedia)

Epillage fatime

Epillage fatime

Small Pincertail (Onychogomphus forcipatus)

Akamas European Roller Survey

10/05/16 Having recently completed a European Roller (Coracias garrulus) survey on behalf of BirdLife Cyprus in the national park area of the Akamas, It was good to see a number of birds using the area for breeding. This bird migrants vast distances from South Africa to its breeding grounds in Europe and Asia.
In the same area a number of Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) can be seen, again using the area for breeding. This bird differs with its migration route arriving to breed in Europe and Asia from its over wintering area which is mainly India.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)

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April Dragonflies and Damselflies

A selection of Dragonflies and Damselflies taken during April.

Ischnura elegans (Immature female)

 Ischnura elegans, Mavrokolympos, 06/04/16

 Ischnura elegans, Mavrokolympos, 06/04/16

Crocothemis erythraea, Mavrokolympos, 06/04/16

Orthetrum brunneum (fem), Mavrokolympos, 15/04/16

Epallage fatime, Mavrokolympos, 15/04/16

Epallage fatime, Mavrokolympos, 15/04/16

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Great Spotted Cuckoo

08/05/16 Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius), a brood parasite that lays it's eggs in Corvid nests, mainly in Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) in Cyprus. The female can deposit between one to six eggs in the hosts nest and can deposit a total of twelve to twenty four eggs in a season. When mating the male presents their favoured food such as Caterpillars or Grasshoppers to the female. Plenty of Great Spotted Cuckoo at Anarita, Paphos at the moment.

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Amur Falcon

06/05/16 Having been in the UK and receiving reports of an Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) we were thinking we may have missed the first record of this bird in Cyprus. It over winters in South Africa and normally migrates across the Indian Ocean to the far east, which is one of the most difficult routes for a bird of prey to migrate. It was feeding with many Red Footed Falcon and has probably migrated with this western counter part that we are more familiar with. It is easily recognised in flight from the (western) Red Footed Falcon by its white underwing coverts.

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