Trevor's Tweet

[Remember to click on the photograph to enlarge the image] Broad Scarlet Dragonfly (male) in flight Now that the spring bird migration has largely finished, there are fewer unusual species that I can get out to watch or photograph. So, in an effort to find a different aspect of natural history to discover and photograph, I have been out looking at Dragonflies and Damsel flies during the last month or two. And what an impressively colourful selection of insects I have found. All of the individuals illustrated below were found either in Secret Valley or at Ayia Varvara. Dragonfly Broad Scarlet - female Dragonfly Broad Scarlet - male Dragonflies and Damsel flies are all members of the Order of insects called 'Odonata' (which means 'toothed', from their protruding mouthparts). They are all long, slender-bodied insects with two pairs of wings, each with an intricate network of veins. They all have large compound eyes but have only short or incon...

[Remember to click on a photograph to enlarge the image] The timing of the arrival of the COVID19 pandemic was most unfortunate for the birding fraternity of the northern hemisphere. Here in Cyprus the enforced lockdown started just as the spring migration was entering its peak period - the months of March and April. During February and March the early arrivals of Swallows (Barn and Red-rumped) and Martins (House and Crag species) were frequently seen around the ponds at Secret Valley, supported by the occasional sightings of Little Egret, Cattle Egret and Grey Heron (see Tweet No. 3 for photographs). The familiar flock of up to 30 Coots were often present at the ponds, but then they suddenly disappeared. The Redstarts were still present in February and Hoopoes and Kestrels were commonly sighted (again, see earlier Tweets for photographs). Northern Wheatear - male in fine breeding plumage Black-eared Wheatear Northern Wheatear - female just arrived on Mandria beach ...

(Note: Click on photographs to enlarge the image) Plovers are one of the largest families within the Waders group of birds, all of which are characterised by their relatively long legs and their general habitat of living near shorelines, river margins or bogs and marshes.  They nearly all feed on insects, worms, molluscs and crustaceans. Plovers are all short-billed and generally have a compact, rounded, and short-necked shape and a horizontal stature. When feeding many of them have a typical 'run-stop-peck' action. The family includes all of the Lapwings. Golden Plover This is a common winter visitor to Cyprus, most frequently seen between November and March, though peak numbers are usually here between late December and January. I often see them on the foreshore by Paphos Lighthouse, and in the fields between the shoreline and the Lighthouse. They also spend long periods feeding in the fields at Mandria when the soil is fairly bare. Part of flock of Golden Plove...

[Remember to click on the photos to enlarge the image] Blue Rock Thrush Secret Valley is a good location to see one of our less common winter visitors, the Blue Rock Thrush. Over the last three winters I have frequently seen the female of this species around (and on) the Clubhouse and in the adjacent car parks - where these photos were taken. However, I have only ever seen the male in the trees and rocks near the bottom of the Secret Valley access road, by the motorway crossing, which is where the photos of the male were taken. The rocky terrain of Anarita Park is also a good site for seeing this winter visitor. Female Blue Rock Thrush Male Blue Rock Thrush As the photographs show, the male is a very distinct inky-blue colour, though from a distance the colour may not be obvious and the bird may look almost black. The female is a much browner bird, almost like a female blackbird,  though  a blue tinge on the back can be seen when the light catches it from ...