A day out to sites east of Paphos with Nico and Antonella from Italy. We started at the Kouklia Fish Farm pool where we saw a Hoopoe and Wryneck as soon as we parked the car. There was a male Northern Wheatear on the other side of the pool together with a male Black-throated Wheatear. A Common Snipe flew off and we watched a Water Rail feeding in the reeds. Two Sedge Warbler were seen and heard and a Reed Warbler sang from a small stand of reeds nearby. Three Alpine Swift flew over as we moved on to the Kouklia soakaway. We searched for a while trying to locate a calling Black Francolin but he was too well hidden in the cereal field. There were several Tree Pipit in the area, another Hoopoe, and a Woodchat Shrike was spotted on a distant bush. A harrier was visible for  a few seconds over the ridge but not long enough for us to identify it.

Moving on to Asprokremmos Dam we were pleased to see and hear both singing Cyprus and Sardinian Warbler. In particular a male Cyprus Warbler sang for several minutes from the top of a pine tree while three Cretzschmar’s Bunting perched on the lower branches of another. A Nightingale sang briefly. We spotted a fledgling Sardinian Warbler being fed by one of its parents. Driving behind the dam we found a couple of Northern Wheatear and two Chukar. Below the Dam wall there was a Woodchat Shrike and more Chukar.

As on Tuesday, there were many Northern and Isabelline Wheatear at Mandria although we also found a male Black-eared (pale throated this time in contrast to the dark-throated one seen earlier).  A lone Kentish Plover was on the beach and at least one Skylark joined three Greater Short-toed Lark flying around the area. Although we could hear Yellow Wagtail they were hidden in the vegetation. We had more luck with that species at Paphos Sewage Works where at least twelve Black-headed and two Blue-headed were in the horse’s paddock together with three more Short-toed Lark and a couple of Northern Wheatear and a lone Serin. There were at least ten Tree Pipit in nearby trees and with twelve Cattle Egret and five Spur-winged Lapwing near the Sewage Plant .

Our last stop was at Anarita Park. A male Woodchat Shrike was next to the track and as well as the by  now familiar Wheatears we also found a few more Short-toed Lark and five Tawny Pipit. Two Red-rumped Swallow were flying over the area as was a Great Spotted Cuckoo who was being chased off by a pair of Magpie. At least twenty Corn Bunting were on the top of one bush. As we left four Lesser Kestrel (three male and one female) were on wires close to the track so we were able to finish our day watching them.