Local endemic Cyprus Jay subspeceis at Platania, Kakopetria on the Troodos.
Cyprus in Winter
An early February road-trip through Cyprus with my friends Aris and Jacob and still several more natrualists joining us in the field...great time! Here I share just a few snapshots from our field work - still exploring rivers and dreaming up restoration plans. This year it rained in early winter and than again in late winter - so there was plenty of water everywhere. Cyprus is warmer than Attika in winter and generally flowers bloom at least a one or more weeks ahead of things around Athens. Its a great getaway, the winter greens, and wet conditions bring everything to life.
I want to thank the Forests Department for hospitality and genuine friendship in support of a common conservation cause.  |
| The Kouris in full winter flow beneath the Kouris Dam in a beautiful landscape. This is an area where we want to do some rather big restoration work - what an opportunity! |
 |
| Tiny black tadpoles of the Green Frog at the Xeros (Livadi) river mouth pools inside the village of Pomou in Tyliria. Surprising to see tadpoles so early! |
 |
| Mallards on the Germasogeia Reservoir near Lemessos. Generally the reservoirs of Polemidia, Germasogeia, and pools downstream of Kouris Dam had a lot of waterfowl. |
 |
| Kestrel, called "'Kitsis" in Cypriot. At the Kouris Delta near Episkopi, Lemessos. This is the commonest of the raptors in Cyprus, but we also spotted Marsh Harriers and Long-legged Buzzards. |
 |
| Great Egret - rather scarce winter visitor, known as "Hanoumissa" in Cypriot - on the Germasogeia Reservoir near Lemessos. |
 | ||
Lemon-Green Tree Frog at the Garyllis river just north of Lemesos. At this time this species is really visible and you can hear their mallard-like calls at certain localities.
|
 |
| Little Eagret feeding on a Crayfish inside Leucosia's Pediaios River Greenway. The river had very little water but in the lower part - water is artificially provided to the river - and it is alive.... |
.jpg) |
| Christodoulos Makris -expert naturalist guru of Cyprus- joined us at Akrotiri to help photograph this fantastic male Mediterranean Toothcarp - Aphanius cf fasciatus - we are researching the genetics... (Photo and processing by Chr. Markis). |
 |
| Mediterranean Toothcarp at Akrotiri Salt Lake (ex situ shot in our portable aquarium - thanks to Savas Michaelidis who helped us catch this little-known fish). |
 |
| The tiny Xeros of Agia Marina at Agia Marina Village in the north coast, near Pomou. Iakovos thinks about refrence conditions - what it was like before the dam??? |
 |
| Aris and Jacob photographing, identifying, perhaps even tasteing mushrooms....The trees - this is on the stream below Lefkara. Note the willows along the stream - rather scarce in Cyprus. |
 |
| Please go and find Ch. Makris' fantastic book "Butterflies of Cyprus"(2002) before yuo visit Cyprus! Even in February at least 5 species were flying! |
 |
| This is a unique structure built by our brothers on the other side of the Green Line in a reservoir near Lefka. My new telephoto lens is working wonders... |
 |
| Margarita from the WDD with Iakovos mesmerised by the beauties of the Garyllis Valley. Please lets clean-up this stream! |
 |
| Athena, Iakovos, Margarita - their so lucky to be living in Cyprus!!! Garyllis Valley downstream of Agia Irini near Lemessos. |
 |
| The Xeros "of Lefka" flowing into the braided channels in the Green Line. Note how the water totally vanishes a few kms downstream. |
 |
| One of the most beautiful rivers valleys on the island, the Xeros (Lefka) - near-wilderness and most beautiful in mid-winter!!! |
