Cyprus daily blog - 16th April

Another very hot day but with a cooling north-westerly wind.  The change of wind direction and strength was just enough to bring a small influx of shrikes, including our first real rarity find of the trip.  With the fresh fall of eight Red-backed Shrikes, two Masked and two Woodchat came a female/first year Isabelline Shrike.  Sadly we had no more than a minute on it and not enough time to photo it. as it disappeared into the juniper forest.  It was also seen by a Brummie crew.

Male Red-backed Shrike watching a bee.  This stunning male had arrived overnight.

Black-eared Wheatear of the eastern melanoleuca "black-throated" form.  A common passage migrant seen daily.

Blue-headed Wagtail - regular passage migrant in varying numbers.

Short-toed Lark were seen daily though not as common as they have been in previous years.

Additional daily totals were as follows: three White Stork, eight Marsh Harrier, four Pallid Harrier, one Curlew (island tick for me!), two Crag Martin, 12 Red-throated Pipit, 50 Yellow Wagtail, male Golden Oriole, two Sardinian and one Ruppell's Warbler.