Cyprus daily blog 13th April

The quietest day of the trip so far and a turn in the weather.  No more fingerless gloves and four layers of clothing.  Warmer settled conditions though, means few birds.  Although the quantities appear large, there is a feeling of a general clear out of migrants.  A trip to Memetcik is required to get a wader fix, though this shallow bowl has lost much water in just a few days since our last visit.  Kolly witnessed a male Little Bittern being knocked over by a white van man and Bobbo had a dilemma whether to tick a bird with a 2% pulse.  A Great Snipe was bird of the day albeit with brief but good views.

Hoopoe's were fairly common with seven seen today.    This photo was taken on a rough track where it blended in nicely...or so it thought.  Later that afternoon, we found it had been eaten by a raptor.

Sardinian Warblers were unexpectedly more common than normal with three or four seen daily.  

Pallid Harriers were seen daily.  This ringtail was seen over Memetcik being harried by the resident Hooded Crows.

White Wagtail

 Totals for the day included: 13 Woodchat, 100 Ruff, 40 Wood Sandpiper, 8 Green Sandpiper, 2 Squacco, Little Bittern, Night Heron, nine White Stork, 3 Stone Curlew, Great Snipe, 2 Collared Flycatcher, seven Hoopoe, nine Roller and one Eleonora's Falcon.