Visiting family in Cyprus Saturday 20th to Friday 26th June

Visiting family in Cyprus Saturday 20th to Friday 26th June, but I did take my binoculars.
I used Easyjet from Gatwick;

View from my seat.

Well on the way to Larnaca.

Arrived in Larnaca around 22:00, and was met by my son Christopher who had coffee & croissants, for the drive to Dhekelia. Sunday 21st was spent with Christopher,Victoria & George at their home, enjoyed the warm sun and all the low flying swifts. They also had a Swallows nesting on their home.

Monday 22nd we went down to a restaurant in Dhekelia bay for a big breakfast, and then spent time again in their garden, I noticed a Hoopoe fly past & located it down behind the garden feeding. Later when the temperature had dropped a little we went for a walk. When we got back we had a nice Indian meal delivered,

Tuesday 23rd Had a lazy morning with a lie in, and then in the garden, keep in the shade as felt crispy from yesterday. Then in afternoon went to Nicosia, all modern shopping malls look the same to me. Went into IKEA for the curtain pole for George's new curtains, :o) and had dinner in TGI Fridays, I was well stuffed.. Hoopoe did it's evening fly past again. Victoria said they are crazy looking birds!
Wednesday 24th We all went up into the Troodos mountains. We stopped at the Botanical Gardens, great views, and I saw a Spanish sparrow, Red-rumped swallows, and young Cyprus wheatear.

Then up to the Troodos Visitor centre, after lunch we had a walk around and I saw a family of Masked shrikes.

Hoopoe update, when we all got back we sat in the garden and "Hank" yes he has a name now :o) twice did a fly by.
Thursday 25th I got up a little later than planned to have a walk around the part of Dhekelia that backs onto Chris & Victoria's back garden. As I walked up to the school I saw an adult male Cyprus Wheatear.

 

I then went down into the valley, and saw a Hare running away, then I had poor views of some warblers, one looked good for Cyprus Warbler. So I continued until I heard a "dry rugged warble" and there he perched out in the open on a dead part of a tree, a male Cyprus Warbler.

As I walked around some trees I flushed a large owl from it's daytime roost, but could not identify it, so I went back to the tree and found two flight feathers, these might help, I plan to go back tomorrow morning, but I will keep my distance to see if it is back.

The tree where the owl was roosting.

 

The rest of the day was spent in the garden/pool so I am a bit crispy again. While I was sitting in the garden, I noticed a warbler in the bushes, so I grabbed my binoculars, expecting it to be a Cyprus warbler, but as it came into the sun the first thing I noticed was the bright red eye ring, black head and white throat, another new bird for me as this was a male Sardinian Warbler. Hoopoe update, No evening fly by.
Friday 26th was my last day, I got up and did the same walk as yesterday. As I walked down the road there was a Jackdaw on a roof top.

I went down into the valley and using fieldcraft made my way to the area where the owl has it's daytime roost. I scanned the trees and soon found a Long-eared owl, took some photos and quietly left.

On the way back heard a Cetti's warbler, saw some Cyprus wheatears,a family group of Chukar partridges and a large lizard.

Chukar behind the plant in the middle of photo.

We all went down to the beach cafe and had a late Big breakfast, stuffed and keeping out of the sun, I had a nice nap under the gazebo. Leaving enough time to pack and get ready to return home on flight EZY8968.

Birds seen:Kestrel, Chukar, Feral pigeon. Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Long-eared owl, Swift, Hoopoe, Swallow, Red-rumped swallow, House martin. Wren, Cyprus wheatear, Sardinian warbler, Cyprus warbler, Cetti's warbler, Great tit, Masked shrike, Jay, Magpie, Jackaw, Hooded crow, House sparrow, Spanish sparrow, Chaffinch.