This morning I headed up to Mavrokolympos Dam just north of Paphos, hoping to ensure that I saw Cyprus warbler during this holiday. It's not a species that I see a lot of owing to the fact that generally I visit Cyprus in winter when there are only a very few overwintering birds about, and they are not so easy to see. Also they have become scarcer in recent years in part due to the spread of Sardinian warblers. I don't know if they're being outcompeted by their slightly larger cousin. Anyway, a couple of birds did their duty and showed quite nicely this morning. Other birds at the dam included a male Cretzschmar's bunting and several easter bonelli's warblers.
Cyprus warblers are one of three endemics that are found in Cyprus, the others being Cyprus scops owl and Cyprus wheatear. By the time you read this there may well be others if the jay, coal tit or treecreeper ever get split. Black francolin is also at it's only European location, but that does occur elsewhere outside Europe so not an endemic.
Sardinian warbler.
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