Caspian stonechats still at Mandria as migrants flood in

This morning the Caspian stonechats were still present and true to form the eastern subalpine warbler was in the same area. There is definitely an association with these birds because it's too co-incidental, the stonechats had moved 100m west and they still couldn't shake off the warbler! 

Meanwhile, I watched a short-eared owl fly in off the sea and fly along the coast briefly before heading off out to sea again, gradually getting higher and higher until it was just a dot.

One of the highlights of the morning was the large arrival of wagtails and pipits, with around 100 each of white and yellow wagtails, with most of the latter being the black-headed race feldegg.

There were also a few blue-headed flava which were no less stunning. 

Two Cyprus wheatears turned up this morning making it a five wheatear day, with Isabelline, northern, desert and black-eared all still present.

Northern wheatear on the left, Isabelline on the left. Notice the size difference!

Red-throated pipit and Isabelline wheatear.

One particular field held several red-throated and two water pipits in amongst the meadow pipits, and this tawny pipit.

While I was watching the Caspian stonechats, this flock of 25 night herons flew over heading south.

Female Caspian stonechat. Notice how pale it is on it's underparts.

Most of the action at the moment is around this picnic area. Today there were Caspian stonechats, three species of wheatear, Ruppell's and eastern subalpine warblers in this area. 

This area known as the sand bowl (or dust bowl) is adjacent to the picnic area, in fact you can see it in the distance. There was another two species of wheatear here as well as a few wagtails and larks.

This is the field where most of the pipits and wagtails were today, and a black francolin was singing around the buildings.