28 April - Common Rock-thrush and Great Spotted Cuckoos

Female Common Rock-thrush, Ipsilou, 28 April 2013 
(Monticola saxatilis) Πυροκότσυφας © Steve Dudley

A female Common Rock-Thrush was the star find today at Ipsilou. White-throated Robins were seen first thing then not again until late evening. Five Great Spotted Cuckoos is possibly an island record count. Raptors included the wandering Griffon Vulture, single Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite and Levant Sparrowhawk. Migrant passerines few and far between.

Petrified Forest

WHITE-THROATED ROBIN

Two males this morning c.06.30 - 07.30. No sign of any birds throughout day, but one male again 18.30. 

We now have confirmation that we have two males and a female robin in the park. The males are holding territory close to one another and a female has been seen with the male near the concrete building. We are now treating this as a breeding attempt. Please therefore view only from the road and not from within the park to avoid disturbing them.

I've been told that the police are aware of misbehaviour here, including the use of recordings (illegal here) and are now going to be making patrols of the area, especially when the park is closed, to ensure that no one is using recordings or harassing the birds now they are presumed to be breeding. Please be sure to pass this message around.

It also means they are expected to hang around! Which is good news to those arriving today and next week.

Ipsilou

COMMON ROCK-THRUSH female
Black Kite 1

Kavaki

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE 1
Ruppell's Warbler showing very well

Kalloni Raptor Watchpoint

GRIFFON VULTURE 1
Levant Sparrowhawk 1
Eleanora's Falcon 1

Faneromeni

Great Spotted Cuckoo ad & 2CY (western fields)
Wryneck 1 (lower ford)
Roller 2 (1 main track and 1 western fields)
Red-throated Pipit 5 (cut hay field on beach road)
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Golden Oriole 1
Collared Flycatcher 1

Achalderi

Great Spotted Cuckoo 2
Roller 1

Perasma

Great Spotted Cuckoo 1

Kalloni Saltpans & Alykes Wetlands

Spur-winged Plover 2
Purple Heron 12
Collard Pratincole 2
Gull-billed Tern 1

Tsiknias River

Temminck's Stint 3

Petri

Black Kite 1

Metochi Lake

Night-heron 8
Little Crake 1

Petrifies Forest

Barred Warbler

Papiana

Scops Owl 
Long-eared Owl adult at nest with 3 young (same site as 2012)

Soumouria 'Scops Copse'

Scops Owl - several. Please do not harass the birds!