Eleonora's Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae). These falcons appear in two morphs light and dark. An elegant falcon to watch when they stoop and dive to catch prey. This bird is unusual as it delays it breeding until late summer when they can catch their prey, small birds on migration. The Eleonora's breed on the southern coastal cliffs of Cyprus before migrating to spend the winter in Madagascar.

Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae)

Juvenile Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae)

Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae)

Paphos Headland

10/10/17 A walk along the Paphos coastline today, very windy with a rough sea. We still manged to see some good birds only missing out the Whimbrel that was seen by others. Present were four Common Sandpiper, three Ruddy Turnstone and Greater Sand Plover a Common Kingfisher and Dunlin. The interesting bird that took our attention was a Grey Plover.

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) 

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

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Red-footed Falcon

09/10/17 Red-footed Falcon. Over the last couple of weeks during our BirdLife Cyprus Raptor counts we have seen a gradual increase in the migration of this bird. This last week in the Paphos Plain area there have been high numbers of flocks feeding in the fields before continuing their migration to south west Africa.

Red-footed Falcon Juvenile (Falco vespertinus) 

Red-footed Falcon Female (Falco vespertinus)

Red-footed Falcon Male (Falco vespertinus)