17 April 2011 - Paddyfield Warbler and more migrants

A cool day with sun struggling to get through and which eventually gave up with rain setting in from late afternoon. Fair north westerly wind all day.

This year is certainly the best year I have known for Collared Flycatcher - they are everywhere and in numbers. Also good numbers of Orphean Warblers and Ortolan Bunting.

Tsiknias River - PADDYFIELD WARBLER 1 just north of the ford on the east bank, Collared Flycatchers, Caspian Tern (mouth - also near Saltpans), Slender-billed Gull 1, Mediterranean Gull 1, Squacco Heron 2, Black Stork 1, Night-heron 1, Great Reed Warblers (many), Garganey 2, Bee-eater 1, Purple Heron 2.

Ipsilou - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Collared Flycatcher (20+), Pied Flycatcher (20+), Cinereous Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear.

Sigri Fields - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, Wryneck 1 (by little chapel), Ortolan Bunting 1, Collared Flycatcher (10+), Pied Flycatcher (10+), Red-footed Falcon 1, Lesser Kestrel 16, Squacco Heron

Faneromeni - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1, SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1 (along road to beach), PALLID HARRIER 1, CITRINE WAGTAIL 1, Collared Flycatcher (10+), Purple Heron 1, Pied Flycatcher (5+), Little Crake 1, Little Bittern 1, Green Sandpiper 1; Scopoli's and Yelluoan Shearwaters seen from beach.

Efthalou - SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 1.

Kalloni Saltpans (inc. surrounding fields and pools) - CATTLE EGRET 1 (by south hide and also seen Lotzaria), Caspian Tern (by beach - later at Tsiknias River mouth), Temminck's Stint 2, Marsh Sandpiper 3, Glossy Ibis 40+, Montagu's Harrier 2 r/t, Garganey 7, Black-necked Grebe 2 (on sea). Alykes Wetlands Collared Pratincole 6, Short-toed Lark, Whinchat; Lotzaria Grey Plover 2, Northern Wheatear.

Meladia Valley - Chapel FIRECREST 1, Wood Warbler 1, Common Quail 1. Ford Little Crake 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1; River & mouth Purple Heron 4, Common Quail 1, Squacco Heron 2, Greenshank 2, Mallard, Hoopoe, Peregrine, Whinchat; Chapel Collared Flycatcher 2, Common Redstart 1.

Christou (Kamares) River - FAN-TAILED WARLBER (Zitting Cisticola) 1 near observation sceen on west side (for second day running - this is a former breeding site and last recorded here in 2004), SPUR-WINGED PLOVER 1, Gull-billed Tern 33, Bee-eater 6, Golden Oriole 2.

Skala Kallonis - Garganey, Little Bittern, Collared Flycatcher, Bee-eater 5.

Kavaki - Ruppell's Warbler 1 male, Ortolan Bunting 4+, Collared Flycatcher, Whinchat.

Aghios Ioannis chapel - Ortolan Bunting 6, Cinereous Bunting, Tree Pipit.

Metochi Lake - Savi's Warbler 1, Spotted Crake 1, Little Crake (many), Little Bittern 1, Great Reed Warbler (many), Red-footed Falcon 1, Collared Flycatcher 7.

Soumouria (Scops Copse)- Scops Owl 2 (one in tree by green wheelie bin; one in tree in centre marked by car oil bottle with red lid).

nr Filia - Ortolan Bunting 5.