A day of quality at Mandria and Paphos

A very different day with yesterdays torrential rain and gale force winds replaced by warm sunshine. If anything bird numbers were down today, but it was all about quality with some stunning birds seen. Pride of place goes to this Cretzschmar's bunting, one of at least two seen. I've only ever seen one previously and that was on Bardsey Island a few years ago. 

This happy chappy is a male Ruppell's warbler. There has clearly been a fall of these over the past few days, with several seen. Also today a male subalpine warbler, a couple of blackcaps and a few lesser whitethroats.

Ruppell's warbler.

Male desert wheatear at Mandria today. notice the black "bridge" between the black throat and the black wings.

The female desert wheatear that I found yesterday was also still around and I managed a slightly better photo.

A stunning male eastern black-eared wheatear at Mandria this morning. Notice that the black face  is isolated and does not touch the black wing. It's lacking the black bridge of the male desert wheatear.

This is what I'm up against! Believe it or not, this is also a male eastern black-eared wheatear, but this is the pale throated variety. 

One of 10 isabelline wheatears I saw today, this one at Paphos headland.

Hoopoes don't normally pose for me but this one was very co-operative. There's been a lot around today, perhaps this bird was new in and more interested in feeding.

Cretzschmar's bunting. 

There were a couple of great spotted cuckoos at Paphos headland.....

....as well as four more at Agia Varvara, where these two were noisily displaying.

One of the biggest surprises of the day was this common cuckoo on Paphos headland.

Red-throated pipits are still about at Paphos headland, though it was noticeable that they were all 1st winters and lacking the red-throat. When I've been here in January, and even in December, there have been birds with red-throats. Perhaps they've moved on now?

At Asprokremmos dam there were at least 15 alpine swifts and 10 common swifts, plus a great crested grebe and four hoopoes. Also what looked like a roost forming of around 300 yellow-legged gulls. Worth checking again, there's potential for a Pallas's gull to join them at this time of year.

What a glorious place Paphos headland is.

Paphos archeological site.

The river Ezousa in full flow for once, at Agia Varvara.

Agia Varvara.

A lizard at Paphos headland that will have to wait to be identified, as will the following plant.

A miniature iris!