Trevor's Tweet

  [Remember to click on the photo to enlarge the image] Sandpipers comprise a group of small waders, mosily between 18 -25cms in length.  Eight of the group  can be seen (if you''re lucky) in the lowland pastures and coastal areas of Cyprus as they make their migratory passage between Northern Europe, Scandinavia and the arctic summer down to Africa and the Middle East over winter. Most of them are seen feeding in freshwater  bogs, marshes and reedbeds, but some species prefer the more saline conditions of salt flats and estuaries.  During the latter half of April and the first week of May this year the two pools at Secret Valley GC played host to daily visits from two species of Sandpipers - the Common Sandpiper and the Wood Sandpiper. The birds were present at intervals throughout the day, though most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening when they were both found feeding in the little stream feeding the upper pool in front of the 12th Green (desp...

(Remember to click on the photographs to enlarge the image) The first couple of weeks of April have provided sightings of some of the less common birds around the golf club. I have spent some time away from Secret Valley, in the foothills above the village of Anarita, where I have seen and photographed, amongst others,  the following species. Hopefully they might be of interest to you. 1. Ortolan Bunting Buntings comprise quite a large family of European birds,  closely related to Finches, most of which are seed eaters. The Ortolan Bunting  is an attractively coloured bird with an olive/grey head with distinct yellow "moustache" stripes extending from the beak down each side of the throat. There is a yellowish-white ring around each  eye.  At this time of year the breast and flanks are a pinkish-orange-brown colour, while the back is a fairly rufous brown..  It is a very attractive bird that is rather shy, so it can be hard to see - especially from a di...

  N.B. Remember to click on the photograph to enlarge the image During January the bird population at the Secret Valley ponds remained remarkably static. There was a flock of 23 Coots,  a single Grey Heron, a Little Egret, some juvenile Moorhens, about four Little Grebes, and a pair of Teal, all of which I saw on each of my visits during the month  Teal drake, present with the female though January and February Juvenile Moorhen, one of four regularly present Little Grebe, often seen in January and February Little Egret, a permanent resident at the ponds  Grey Heron, another young resident at the pond s Adult Coot, one of the flock of 23 permanently resident By mid-February the Little Grebes had gone elsewhere, and the Moorhens were around less frequently, but the Coots, Teal, Heron and Egret were still present. In addition I saw a Great Egret on the beach by the 11th green, and a Snipe hiding in the shoreline stones close to the dam wall. In the shrubs and trees aro...

Note: Remember to click on the photo to enlarge the image. 2020 has been a somewhat challenging year in terms of getting out to visit birding locations. I have therefore done most of my bird watching at Secret Valley, Ayia Varvara and occasional visits to Akrotiri Marshes. However I have still been lucky enough to see some species that were new to me, and have managed to get some interesting and pleasing photographs. I have therefore picked out the following pictures as a sort of calendar selection of the year (though there are many others I could have included).  January - Black Redstart  This bird is a regular winter visitor at Secret Valley, and I usually get my first sighting in early November. The red tail is the distinguishing feature of the Redstarts, and the frequent bobbing action is also distinctive. This photo shows an unusual angle of the male during preening on the wall by the Clubhouse car park. Black Redstart - getting its feathers sorted February - Cyprus Scop...