May has us continuing to
monitor nest sites so that we can collect a robust set of breeding parameter data
for the field season. We’ve ended up with 25 accessible nests in use, which is
the largest number since starting the project 3 years ago. And we finally have
rollers using 2 of the nest boxes! At the start of the month females were still
laying, but in the last few days of the month (as I write) we finally have
chicks in them. Hopefully this is an indication that the boxes just needed some
time to bed in and that they’ll start to be more frequently used from now on.
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| Finally! |
The other cavity nesters in the
study area are also now underway with breeding. We have scops owls nesting in
three of our nest boxes (with another pair turfed out from a natural nest site by
a pair of rollers in Theletra Gorge) and a pair of kestrels nesting alongside a
roller pair in an old village building.
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| What you lookin' at?! |
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| Young kessies |
Other than nest monitoring, Harry
and I have been trying to complete habitat mapping for all of the newly identified
nest sites and also make a start on this year’s invertebrate transects. We’ve
kept our eyes open whilst out and about though, stumbling across a few nice
birds in the study area. A few record shots below of the highlights (although
none sadly of the adult male barred warbler or flyover lesser spotted eagle at
Androlikou).
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Honey buzzard- a scarce Spring migrant in
Cyprus, and one of two on the deck |
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| Pink stink; a Cyprus rarity |
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