Nature in the Heart of England: A personal view of nature at the junction of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire - also known as "Banburyshire". Sometimes further afield too!
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Cyprus: rock thrushes and exotic buttercups
Our week in the sun has flown by, and has actually been quite wet at times, surprisingly so for Cyprus! Highlight today was fantastic views of a group of at least seven rufous-tailed rock thrushes gathered on a rocky hillside high up on the Akamas Peninsula. They are on migration, quite likely heading to the mountains of Turkey. Also a pair of beautiful blue rock thrushes at this site. Many botanical delights too; this really is a great place to see flowers in profusion, especially orchids, and the stunning Persian buttercup pictured below.
Friday, 27 March 2015
Cyprus: Akrotiri tour
Most of today was spent around the Akrotiri area, visiting several coastal wetland sites within the UK military base, with a good variety of birds - despite the obvious degradation of some of the key wetlands due to urban expansion from Lemesos and competition for water with agriculture and urban growth. Most exciting was a brief but good view of a male black francolin, and both make and female little crakes. An early morning walk in Pissouri brought me very close to a couple of Cretzschmar's buntings in the village and some nice close up pics.
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Cyprus: two endemics on day one
Great start to our week's holiday in Cyprus, with fine warm weather, and some excellent birds and flowers. All were close to where we are staying in Pissouri. No much time for writing in any detail this week, but will try to post a few images. Cyprus has two recognised endemic songbirds, the Cyprus warbler and the Cyprus wheatear, both seen and photographed today, just a shortish walk from our hotel. Other highlights included masked shrike, wryneck and hearing, but not yet seeing, a black francolin.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Grimsbury Reservoir: chiffchaffs on the wires
A wave of chiffchaffs (at least six, probably several more) seemed to be moving through Grimsbury at lunchtime, enjoying some more watery sunshine. The wire mesh fencing around the reservoir is attractive to them - presumably small flies also finding the chain link a convenient resting place.
A fine drake mallard paddled up the river with a duck.
The long-tailed tits were very busy nest building in the bramble thicket so I paused only briefly in their vicinity to marvel at their skill and artistry.
A male reed bunting appeared at close range in a blackthorn bush, but I could only capture the back of his head, then a blur as he flew off.
Out on the reservoir the black-headed bulls are looking very smart with their dark chocolate head gear, common gulls (about ten) are also now into breeding plumage, with clean white head plumage. A couple of lesser black-backed gull were loafing around showing off their yellow legs.
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| chiffchaff |
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| chiffchaff |
The long-tailed tits were very busy nest building in the bramble thicket so I paused only briefly in their vicinity to marvel at their skill and artistry.
A male reed bunting appeared at close range in a blackthorn bush, but I could only capture the back of his head, then a blur as he flew off.
Out on the reservoir the black-headed bulls are looking very smart with their dark chocolate head gear, common gulls (about ten) are also now into breeding plumage, with clean white head plumage. A couple of lesser black-backed gull were loafing around showing off their yellow legs.
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| lesser black-backed gull |
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