CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS

March 24th, 2021

24/3/2021

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - 12 Day tour with (alias) Aladdin 07/03/2021

From the 7th of March I guided Aladdin island wide on a 12 day tour. I had previously given Aladdin a 4 day tour back in 2018.
We had scheduled to do a day in the North of Cyprus but unfortunately the border crossing was closed and also we cancelled the day in Nicosia in favour of repeat visiting a few sites.
Some of the highlights of this tour included 2 Great Crested Grebes in full breeding plumage, a species that only recently started nesting again in Cyprus a few years ago in the famagusta area at Achna Dam. Greater Flamingo still engaging in their courtship dance at Larnaca Salt Lake. Red-crested Pochard, a species only found at one site in the republic of Cyprus, a single nesting pair. A Little Bittern calling at the Phassouri Tower hide, a bird that surely must have over-wintered. 2 Pallid Harriers, one at Timi and another at Kensington Cliffs, both female. A Greater Sand Plover at Mandria pretty much in full breeding plumage.

A Cream-coloured Courser was probably the best find of the tour located on the last day in Larnaca.

We also managed to see one of the rarest breeding birds in Cyprus, a Common Raven (The first I had seen in the Republic) which are listed as critically endangered in Cyprus with only a few nesting pairs, none of which in the republic, this was spotted by Aladdin on the Akamas peninsular near Fontana Amarosa of which we had a very good day at a site very rarely birded, with great numbers of migrant warblers in nearby bushes.

All the endemics posed nice and close for us, although the Cyprus Wheatears newly arrived were a little bit tricky to get close to. Many Cyprus Warblers showed close and also at a day roost we had great close photo opportunities with a Cyprus Scops Owl and hearing two others at different sites.

An Ehrenberg's Redstart was a great find at Cape Greco along with an early Masked Shrike and lastly one of the two bluethroats we saw was singing meters from the car for over 10 minutes.

Probably one of the most memorable moments of the tour for me was spotting a traumatized Cetti's Warbler on the main road at Oroklini, stopping to pick it up, check over and successful release at a quiet area of the lake.

An amazing tour with great company managing 148 species and good numbers of each.
There was a few species we just couldn't manage though; Pallid Swift, Stone Curlew and Sandwich Tern seemed to evade us, all being fairly common species. We also missed out on the Griffon Vultures despite visiting one of their nesting sites twice. We tried twitching a female Hooded Wheatear of which we was at the site 5 minutes after I was alerted to its presence but unfortunately it had left. So 148 out of a possible 163 reported.

Species List: (many numbers are estimated)
Chukar Partridge 30+
Black Francolin 7+
Common Quail 2h
Common Shelduck 20+
Ruddy Shelduck 1
Mallard 50+
Northern Shoveler 200+
Northern Pintail 2
Garganey 400+
Common Teal 100+
Ferruginous Duck 7
Red-crested Pochard 2
Little Grebe 10+
Great Crested Grebe 2
Greater Flamingo 10,000+
Glossy Ibis 4
Little Bittern 1h
Cattle Egret 50+
Grey Heron 30+
Great Egret 4
Little Egret 10+
Great Cormorant 200+
European Shag 10
Common Kestrel 20+
Peregrine Falcon 1
Western Marsh Harrier 10+
Hen Harrier 2
Pallid Harrier 2
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 2
Northern Goshawk 1h
Common Buzzard 3
Long-legged Buzzard 6
Bonelli's Eagle 1
Water Rail h
Common Moorhen 30+
Common Coot 300+
Black-winged Stilt 20+
Pied Avocet 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 20+
Eurasian Golden Plover 5
Grey Plover 4
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover 10+
Kentish Plover 20+
Greater Sand Plover 1
Common Snipe 20+
Black-tailed Godwit 5
Spotted Redshank 1
Common Redshank 20+
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Common Greenshank 1
Green Sandpiper 4
Wood Sandpiper 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Little Stint 20+
Dunlin 1
Ruff 50+
Cream-coloured Courser 1
Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull 1
Armenian Gull 8
Yellow-legged Gull 100+
Caspian Gull 1
Baltic Gull 1
Black-headed Gull 1000
Slender-billed Gull 50+
Mediterranean Gull 1
Rock Dove 4
Common Wood-pigeon 1000+
Eurasian Collared-dove 15+
Laughing Dove 9
Great Spotted Cuckoo 5
Cyprus Scops Owl 3 (2h)
Little Owl 4 (3h)
Alpine Swift 30+
Common Swift 30+

Common Kingfisher 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 30+
Eurasian Wryneck 1
Woodchat Shrike 1
Masked Shrike 1
Eurasian Jay 2
Eurasian Magpie 10+
Eurasian Jackdaw 1000+
Hooded Crow 30+
Common Raven 1
Coal Tit 10+
Great Tit 6
Eurasian Penduline tit 2h
Greater Short-toed Lark 8
Crested Lark
Wood Lark 2
Eurasian Skylark 10+
Sand Martin 6
Eurasian Crag-martin 1
Barn Swallow 50+
Red-rumped Swallow 20+
Common House-martin 10+
Zitting Cisticola 5
Cetti's Warbler 10+
Sedge Warbler 3 (2h)
Eurasian Reed-warbler 1
Common Chiffchaff 10+
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler 4
Blackcap 2
Lesser Whitethroat 7 (5h)
Eastern Orphean Warbler 2
Rueppell's Warbler 15+
Sardinian Warbler 10+
Cyprus Warbler 6
Eastern Subalpine Warbler 10+
Spectacled Warbler 6
Eurasian Wren 3
Dorothy's (Short-toed) Treecreeper 7 (6h)
Common Starling 16
Eurasian Blackbird 3
Song Thrush 7
European Robin 2
Common Nightingale 2h
Bluethroat 2
Western Black Redstart 11
Common Redstart 1 +(Ehrenberg's Redstart 1)
Common Stonechat 40+
Northern Wheatear 20+
Finsch's Wheatear 1
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 11
Cyprus Wheatear 5
Isabelline Wheatear 30+
Blue Rock-thrush 3
House Sparrow 30+
Spanish Sparrow 200+
White Wagtail 50+
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava, *Superciliaris, *Dombrowskii)
Black-headed Wagtail 100+
Grey Wagtail 1
Tawny Pipit 6
Tree Pipit 2
Meadow Pipit 50+
Red-throated Pipit h
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit) 7
Common Chaffinch 20+
European Serin 200+
European Greenfinch 10+
Eurasian Siskin 5
European Goldfinch 20+
Common Linnet 100+
Red Crossbill 3
Corn Bunting 50+
Cretzschmar's Bunting 30+
148

November 10th, 2020

10/11/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - promo Paphos half-day tour with Tom and Molly 10/11/2020

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Mallard
Garganey
Common Teal
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Spur-winged Lapwing
Greater Sand Plover
Common Snipe
Whimbrel
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Little Owl

Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
(h)European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
(h)Corn Bunting

47 species

November 04th, 2020

4/11/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Akrotiri promo half-day tour with Louise and Alan 04/11/2020

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Common Teal
Common Pochard
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Water Rail
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint

Dunlin
Armenian Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Moustached Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
(h)European Robin
Bluethroat
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
Common Chaffinch
European Goldfinch

58

October 28th, 2020

28/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Full-Day Tour Paphos & Akrotiri 28/10/2020.

On the 28th I guided Geoffrey around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
We started at Akrotiri (Phassouri) Marsh where we came upon many Common Snipe at the waters edge. Common teal, Moorhen and Coot were abundant here as well as at least 4 Common Kingfisher. Reed Warblers and Water Rails were heard in the reeds but unfortunately not seen. Quite a few Cattle Egret were in the area, spotting one perched on a cow. Further up we got views of Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail with many Red-throated Pipit calling but being tricky to locate,we got great views of a Water Pipit here though. In the distance a Starling and two Little Stint were feeding in the water. Both Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing were present with some close to the fence. At the last stop along the marsh we had views of at least 4 Glossy ibis and some Little Egret at the back. A single Wood sandpiper was present as well as many Common Snipe. A Red-footed Falcon passed close overhead, a juvenile bird shortly followed by a Eurasian Hobby flying low hunting dragonflies. Quite a few Marsh Harriers were knocking about and I managed a fleeting glimpse of a Hen Harrier here. The White Stork appears to have migrated from the area thankfully.

Many Stonechats later and a drive through the much devoid Akrotiri Gravel Pits we arrived at the Salt Lake. Many Greater Flamingos were showing as well as a few Great Egret. I couldn't pick out anything from the gulls aside Yellow Legged and Black-headed this time round. A few Eleonor's Falcons passed over and in the reeds section we had amazing views of a Bluethroat.
We then checked Ladies Mile for waders. Little Stint, Common Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover were on show. A Greater Sand Plover was also present, saving a trip to the Paphos headland later.

Next we stopped at Bishop's Pool for waterfowl. We managed to see Ferruginous Duck here as well as Common Pochard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and the usuals.
Our next stop was Kensington cliffs where for the 5th trip running we were not able to see a single Griffon Vulture, which is deeply worrying. We did pick out a few Eleonora's Falcons, European Shag and a Blue Rock Thrush.
We then drove back to Paphos stopping at Mandria for Dinner. At Mandria we saw many Laughing Dove and despite seeing them in flight and hearing them we still didn't manage a good view of a Red-throated Pipit. The small football pitch held maybe over 100 Water Pipit, with some red-throated among them but distant. Also a few Starling were feeding in the grass as well as a group of Spanish Sparrow.

Our next target was Finsch's Wheatear at Anarita Park which seems to have not arrived yet sadly and not many birds of note were seen here, probably due to a large fire in the area.
Our last stop was the Paphos Sewage Plant which also was fairly quiet. Spur-winged Lapwing showed here but not much else aside a Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
We finished the day with 63 species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Red-footed Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Greater Sand Plover

Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

63

October 25th, 2020

25/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 24/10/2020. Diane and James

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing

Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit

63

October 22nd, 2020

22/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 22/10/2020. Rita and Steve

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eurasian Hobby
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper
Temminck's Stint
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
European Goldfinch

56

October 21st, 2020

21/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 21/10/2020. Jane and Sandra

Species List:

Black Francolin
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Spotted Redshank
Wood Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint

Temminck's Stint
Dunlin
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch

63

October 20th, 2020

20/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 20/10/2020. Joe and Jeff

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Mallard
Common Teal
Northern Shoveler
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Northern Goshawk
Common Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Armenian Gull

Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
*Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit

57

- Crimson Speckled Moth
- Green Turtle

September 16th, 2020

16/9/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 16/09/2020

On the 16th I guided Ian around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites. We started at Phassouri Marsh where we was greeted with many European Bee-eaters on the trees, feeding in-flight and bathing and we also flushed a female Black Francolin as we approached the tower hide. At the first hide we had a pair of Common Kingfisher and at the flooded part near the entrance we was treated to another pair and also Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sandpiper, Cattle and Little Egret.

A Sedge Warbler flitted around the reeds and a Little Bittern and Water rail called from deep in the reeds and unfortunately not seen. A small party of 4 Black-tailed Godwit flew overhead as well as many flocks of Little and Great White Egret. We put up a few Snipe here.
There wasn't much to be seen at the second hide so we didn't stay long. There was a lot of activity on the far fields, over 70 Glossy Ibis, Yellow Wagtails everywhere, Squacco Herons and also a juvenile Black Stork took the spotlight.

Moving round to the gravel pits we saw quite a few Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike and a Spotted Flycatcher. At the pools there was a pair of Curlew Sandpiper.
We then headed to the salt lake to see the Greater Flamingo of which we got great views of. There wasn't much else around here aside Black-winged Stilt and some Eleonora's Falcon hunting. Just as we was leaving a European Honey Buzzard flew in and landed nearby.
Next we scouted ladies mile that held no surprises and on to Bishop's pool. Here we saw Shoveler, a Pochard, Ferruginous Duck and many Garganey. The best birds of note was a Peregrine Falcon and a very rare Saker Falcon as well as maybe over 50 European Turtle Dove.
We decided to give the Gravel Pits another go as it seemed the better destination for the wave of Honey Buzzards that were imminent and although most were quite high we got just that. Over 100 including 5 Black Kite soared over us. We also managed to add Masked Shrike to our day list.
After stopping off at Kensington Cliffs for Eleonora's Falcons and seeing a Green Turtle in the bay we made our way back to Paphos stopping at Mandria Picnic site for lunch.

At Mandria we managed to locate an Isabelline Wheatear and many Whinchat and Greater Short-toed Lark as well as a Tawny Pipit.
Moving to Agia Varvara we was greeted with the long staying White Storks which provided amazing views and photo opportunities.
Our last stop was the Sewage Works where we got very close to Spur-winged Lapwing, Cattle Egret, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Grey Shrike and quite a few Hoopoes finishing the day with 76 Species in total.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Garganey
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Black Stork
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
(h)Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Saker Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
European Honey-buzzard
Black Kite
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
(h)Water Rail
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Isabelline Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
76

September 14th, 2020

14/9/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 14/09/2020

On the 14th I guided Luis around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites for my first tour of the year (due to the covid madness).
We started in the foothills of Paphos for Bonelli's Eagle, a target species. We was unfortunate not seeing one at their territory although I got a fleeting view of one low from behind, we managed to spot many Cyprus Wheatear here which were also a target species and also a single whinchat. We moved on to Minthis Hills where many Little Grebe and Garganey were on the drainage pool. Warblers were flitting around everywhere around the ornamental lake, here we got Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Cyprus Warbler, another target species. In the hills we had great views of a Pallid and Montagu's Harrier as well as a few European Honey Buzzards riding the thermals.
Next stop was Episkopi for Cyprus Scops Owl which were not to be seen at their day roost. We continued to Agia Varvara where the many White Storks were still present, coming in to land at the pools enabling great views, in the air we counted over 50 of them, at one point they was accompanied by a Long-leggged Buzzard and some time later a 1st plumaged Bonelli's Eagle shot past.
On the water we had sedge warbler and some reed warblers calling out. We had a brief view of Black Francolin here in flight, another target species.
Moving on to the sewage plant we had fantastic views of Lesser Grey Shrike lining the trees around an Alfalfa field which held many Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail and Glossy Ibis, we also managed to spot a Red-backed Shrike here and also a Black Francolin crossing the road. Many Cattle Egret were also present in the area.

Many shrikes later and a lone Tree Pipit we ventured to Akrotiri stopping at Kensington Cliffs on the way fro Eleonora's Falcon, another target species. Luis said this was the highlight of the trip as not only did we get fantastic flight views but Luis managed a photo of a dark morph on the cliff just less than 10 meters away. We also had views of one feeding a recently fledged youngster. Unfortunately the Griffon Vultures didn't show.

Next stop was Bishop's Pool for ferruginous duck, another target, we had around 3-4 here and also a Common Pochard and an out of place Great Cormorant. We stopped here to have lunch.
After a brief visit to the Salt lake run-off and Ladies Mile where we saw many waders; Kentish and Common Ringed Plover, Little and Temmincks stint etc we brushed past the Gravel Pits, only seeing a lone Tawny Pipit and enteretd Phassouri marsh where there was an abundance of Great White, Little and Cattle Egret as well as Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron and Grey Heron feeding in the marshes. At the first hide we had a fleeting glimpse of a female Little Crake running into the reeds and European Bee-eaters were everywhere. Quite a few European Rollers were about of which there was also some on the wires at Ladies Mile providing good photo opportunities.
The tower hide was fairly unfruitful aside a few Common Kingfishers, we finished up the tour at the bee-hives raptor migration spot which produced many Marsh Harriers and some Honey Buzzards as well as a Hobby. We finished the day with 76 Species.

Species List:

(h)Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Garganey
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
European Honey-buzzard
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Yellow-legged Gull

Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

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