Cyprus 2nd September 2019

I finally connected with Demoiselle Crane at Akrotiri Salt Lake first thing in the morning. A group of fourteen birds were preening and resting up out on the lake near the north-east side where a freshwater stream enters the lake. The group also contained three juveniles. Very attractive looking birds and brilliant to catch up with the species. The heat haze already early in the morning along with the distance weren't very conductive for photography but I got some very nice views through the scope. I didn't want to get too near the birds as they would obviously be pretty tired having probably flown to here straight from Turkey at least and would be soon be on their way south to the other side of the Mediterranean. Nice backup in the area with at least 10 Eleonora's Falcons, 2 Pallid and 10 Marsh Harriers sitting out in the middle of the salt flats.
I spent the rest of the day visiting a few sites further west of Larnaca all the way up to Peyia north of Paphos produced not a whole lot of interest to be honest.

Demoiselle Cranes with Grey Herons.

Demoiselle Cranes

Demoiselle Cranes

Demoiselle Cranes with Eleonora's Falcon.

Pallid Harrier

Eleonora's Falcon and Pallid Harrier.

Eleonora's Falcon and Pallid Harrier.

Eleonora's Falcon and Pallid Harrier.

Eleonora's Falcons and Pallid Harrier.

Eleonora's Falcons and Pallid Harrier.

Eleonora's Falcon

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Juvenile Collared Pratincole

Yellow Wagtail flava

Yellow Wagtail flava

Yellow Wagtail thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail feldegg

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Agios Georgios Church

Agios Georgios Church

Tombs craved into the rock.

Inside one of the tombs.

Glossy Ibis & Pallid Harrier

I got an e-mail from Neil Sharkey on Firday night to say that he had recieved a phonecall from May Cashman. She had seen a Glossy Ibis at Mullaghmore Lake near Moylough on Wednesday. There have been just three Galway records with the last being in 1976 in Roundstone of all places. This was my Saturday planned so. I found the lake/wetland easily enough and managed to find the ibis feeding next to the road. I got excellent views by staying in the car. Spent about two hours with it.

Checked several other lakes in the area. All very quiet. Water levels at Glennamaddy were as high as I've ever seen which seems completely at odds with all other Turloughs at the mement.

The other highlight of the day was the Pallid Harrier. Had it a 1700hrs distantly along with an adult female Hen Harrier and a female-type Merlin hunting briefly together. An hour later I was messing around with the settings on the camera when there she was directly overhead (nearly too close!). I rattled off some shots but the light didn't help much but they're the best I've managed to get all winter.

Merlin