Trevor's Tweet

{Note: click on photos to enlarge the image} Finches are a large family of small to medium-sized songbirds, many with distinctive and attractive songs. Most Finches are colourful and have strong triangular-shaped bills that are adapted primarily for eating seeds, though they will also take insects during the summer months. In certain species, such as the Hawfinch and Bullfinch, the beaks are strong enough to open nuts. Male Chaffinch in full breeding condition Female Chaffinch, less colourful than the male Chaffinch and Goldfinch, sharing nest building resources Male Chaffinch and Serin sharing a muddy pool Finches occupy a wide range of habitats, though in the UK and Europe they primarily live in deciduous woodlands, orchards, parks and gardens. The Chaffinch is now one of the commonest songbirds in the UK and its distinctive song is easily recognised and a clear sign of spring and summer. It is not so commonly seen or heard in Cyprus. The Greenfin...

(Note: Click on Photos to enlarge the images) Harriers and Buzzards are two families of medium-sized raptors that are seen all over Cyprus. Both families are predominantly summer visitors, and several species regularly breed here. Long-legged Buzzard soaring Marsh Harrier hunting, Mandria Individual birds can be hard to identify in the field as they are often seen silhouetted against the sky, making the distinguishing features difficult to see. The use of binoculars or telescopes is obviously very helpful, but the general form and flight pattern also helps. Montagu's Harrier - female hunting Montagu's Harrier - juvenile at Anarita Park Marsh Harrier hunting Montagu's Harrier - male at Anarita Park Montagu's Harrier - female hunting, Anarita Marsh Harrier - hunting over reed beds, Akrotiri Harriers generally have relatively narrow wings and long tails and are often seen gliding slowly and quite low to th...

(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image) Who can fail to be captivated by the sight of of a Kestrel as it hovers for minutes above you or stands on the wind, searching the ground below for prey species? No other bird of its size has the ability to hang in the air, motionless, with such deadly powers of observation and sudden stooping plunge to the ground. Male Kestrel, hovering Male Kestrel, stooping on prey The Kestrel is one of the commonest members of the Falcon family of raptors, and is distributed throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It is not the smallest, nor the fastest flier, but is clearly one of the most successful predators of small mammals and birds, lizards and larger insects. Male Kestrel, ready to swoop Kestrels are seen all year round at Secret Valley and there are usually a few pairs nesting in the trees alongside the golf course. There are two frequently used nesting sites - one in the trees by the 13th fa...

(Note: click on Photos to enlarge the image) It's a sure sign of summer when we hear the arrival of the European Bee-eater. The bird's soft but distinct fluting call is often heard long before we are able to see them, but we can usually get sightings of individuals, or even large flocks, by the end of April or early May. European Bee-eaters - brightening up the power lines There are two species of Bee-eater that are seen in Cyprus as they make the annual migration trips between Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. The commonest and most frequently seen species is the European Bee-eater. The plumage is exotic with a blue underbelly, chestnut/red head, golden brown back, yellow and white throat and black eye stripe. The beak is black, long and curved. European Bee-eater - waiting for lunch The second species is the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. This is a bright green bird with rusty-red underwings, red-brown throat patch and pale blue markings above the black eye...

(Note: Click on photos to enlarge image) The Common Kingfisher is one of the most spectacular birds that we are occasionally lucky enough to see by a riverside or lake, or even at the seashore. Its vivid flash of turquoise-blue can be suddenly glimpsed as the bird darts across the water surface or as it dives almost vertically to catch small fish with its disproportionally large bill. It is harder to see when it sits motionless on a waterside perch as it can easily merge into background shadows. Sometimes a Kingfisher can be seen hovering briefly before diving, and the attached photo shows this from a bird I saw at Paphos Headland. In 2018 there were a pair of Kingfishers that were frequently seen hunting, feeding and flying around the ponds and stream by the 12th hole at Secret Valley, and one was also recently reported by the river at the 6th hole. The bird has a very distinctive shrill call ("peep"),  which is often the first clue that there is a Kingfisher near...