Friday, January 9, 2026

3 January 2026 Paphos: Walking in Paphos With a Full Moon to Look forward To

 


The walk from the apartment to the coastal walkway is about 30 minutes depending on the path taken.  There is now a third rare bird in the headlands and while Leslie dances for exercise, I take the power walk for my exercise.  No luck on the rare bird but a more common Corn Bunting was observed and placed in my bird list.  11,000 steps is a victory of its own!  Leslie came to pick me up and we headed out to a highly rated Chinese place for an early dinner.  The servings were ample and the food was delightful.


This giant tumbleweed blocked my access to the path.  It was five feet in diameter!


This tiny shrine looked more like a backyard shed


Have old car, will strap fake tree on top for the holidays!


There were ruins of Ottoman Turk era baths along the way


By an old church the bases of columns are stored


Man with huge iguana


Sardinian Warbler


Crested Lark


An European Linnet and a Greenfinch


The pink on the belly is so cute


Buff boys filming workout videos


The Goldfinch


No luck so far with new birds


Maybe the fishermen are having all the luck


Aha!  A Corn Bunting on the left.  A lifelist bird


Red fronted pipit


The same birder I saw a few days ago.  He is also on the fruitless search for the Desert Finch, Isabelline Shrike and Little Gull.  The hunt continues another day


A big bowl of hot and sour soup


This wonton soup was in a beef base with beef in the wontons


Spring rolls and a Sichuan spicy duck


Leslie got a chicken dish with home made noodles


Back home for the sunset


Orange glow on the wall


A triple sun sunset.  It is actually reflections from the glass panes of the sliding glass doors


The full moon is also making an appearance


Wispy clouds


We let out a little howl for the Wolf Moon




It has been 3 years and 212 days since we began our Migration

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

1 January 2026 Pophos: The First Post of the Year

 


This is the first post of 2026 and the shortest one ever.  Our celebratory new year breakfast, pancakes and thin sliced streaky bacon


It has been 3 years and 210 days since we began our Migration

31 Dec 2025 Paphos: Adios 2025!

 


New Year's Eve is a thing here as I imagine it is in many parts of the world.  Since Cyprus has been a drought, there were no municipal fireworks shows, but that did not stop all the neighborhood shows.  
From our balcony we could see a dozen or so hot spots for mini firework shows.  We had not intended to stay up to midnight but one movie led to another and we started preparing for bed later than usual.  While performing our bedtime routines, we heard the fireworks outside.  We went out to the balcony and saw that there was to see. After a quick whoot hoot, we hustled to be back into the warmth. Leslie was busy putting her good foot forward and stubbed her toe on the lip of the sliding glass doors, ouch.    


We thought that a head of cabbage would be a good start to the new year but his one would have lasted the entire year!


This thick Cypriot bacon was not going to work


Se we diced it up and cooked it for breakfast, the countdown is 14 hours


Happy hour goodies


Some Dumplings, countdown 6 hours


Count down to 2026 finished!


It has been 3 years and 209 days since we began our Migration

Sunday, January 4, 2026

30 December 2025 Paphos: Another Try at the Rare Bird

 


While Leslie stayed home and danced her Zumba playlist I walked down to the Paphos headlands and looked for the very elusive Desert Finch.  I saw on the whattsapp group that it was sighted just a half hour before, so I got on my shoes and started walking.  Of course I got three blocks away and realized I had the car keys in my pocket.  That would make it problematic for Leslie to drive down to pick me up.  Off I went and when I got to the coastal walkway the sun is shining and there was almost no wind. I walked along the path for a couple of hours and talked to a birder or two about the rare bird.  Leslie came to pick me up and we headed to the store on the way home.  It was quite busy with folks stocking up for their New Years Eve celebrations. 


Cats eating potatoes!  What is this world coming to?


At least the flowers are still blooming




The goats are the greatest of all time


Cormorants


Crows


It was quicker to walk to the lighthouse than it was to walk to the entrance of the archeological site


Sparrows


Seagrass


Smelly seagrass


A big rope


The golden plovers


The light is really showing off the plumage


They are joined by a little egret


Looking for a late lunch


Getting into the photo


Greenfinch 


Crested lark


Sardinian warbler


Black Redstart


Chiffchaff


White wagtail


No new birds for my list but great fun and 11,500 steps to boot


The sun is setting


A great sunset


Suddenly a flock of birds fly by


Seagulls


That is a wrap for the day




It has been 3 years and 208 days since we began our Migration