CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS

June 08th, 2022

8/6/2022

Tour highlights, Spring 2022

5 Day tour with David, 14/03/22

Day 1: Paphos

orchids:

Himantoglossum robertianum
Anacamptis morio subsp. syriaca

Butterflies:

Large White
Small White
Clouded Yellow
Swallowtail

Bird list:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Cattle Egret
Great Cormorant
Mediterranean Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Eurasian Golden Plover
(h)Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Baltic Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Swift
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
BIMACULATED LARK
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Finsch's Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
56

Day 2: Akrotiri

Flora:

Veined Sainfoin
Golden Droplet
Adonis Anemone
Anemone Coronaria

Orchids:

Ophrys Astarte
Ophrys Kotschyi
Ophrys Flavomarginata

Butterflies:

Painted Lady

Bird List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Mediterranean Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Griffon Vulture (Mating)
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
LITTLE SWIFT
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
(prob)Great Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
SIBERIAN STONECHAT
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Black-headed Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
80

Day 3: Larnaca

Bird list:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
(h)Common Quail
Common Shelduck
RUDDY SHELDUCK
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
RED-CRESTED POCHARD
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
LITTLE GULL
Sandwich Tern
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow (caught and consumed a common swift)
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Common Starling
Song Thrush
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Black-headed Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Goldfinch
Cretzschmar's Bunting
69

Day 4: Agia Napa + Paralimni

Flora:

Ranunculus peltatus
hyoscyamus aureus

Other:

Nomad Jellyfish

Bird List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Grey Heron
Mediterranean Shag
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Green Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Common Starling
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
SIBERIAN STONECHAT
Northern Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
European Greenfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
64

Day 5: Paphos

Other:
Egyptian Fruit Bats
Cyprus Hare

Flora:
Aphrodite's Spurge
Euphorbia valerianifolia
Persian Cyclamen
Dutchman's pipe
Ophrys Falvomarginata
Ophrys Sicula
Serapia sp. (probably levantina)

Bird list:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Little Grebe
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Cormorant
Mediterranean Shag
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Common Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Eurasian Golden Plover
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull (1 caught an octopus)
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
(h)Great Spotted Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
Hoopoe
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Eurasian Blackbird
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
62

122 bird species total

2 day Tour with Jaoa 21/03/22

Day 1 Paphos:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
(h)Common Quail
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Eurasian Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii)
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Spur-winged Lapwing
Eurasian Golden Plover
Kentish Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Green Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Little Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (Parus major aphrodite)
Turkestan Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata cypriaca)
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Savi's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Eurasian Blackbird
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Finsch's Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (m.f.feldegg)
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
70

Day 2 Akrotiri:

(h)Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii)
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Northern Goshawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Spotted Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (Parus major aphrodite)
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata cypriaca)
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Eurasian Blackbird
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (m.f.feldegg)
(h)Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta coutelli)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
86

1 day Tour Paphos and Akrotiri with Magnus. 27/03/22

Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar cypriotes)
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Garganey
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii)
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei)
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Water Rail
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint
Ruff
Baltic Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (Parus major aphrodite)
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata cypriaca)
Eurasian Skylark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Rueppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Song Thrush
(h)European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
Siberian Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Finsch's Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta coutelli)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
94

1 Day tour with Brian, Paphos and Akrotiri 02/04/22

(h)Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Garganey
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
(h)Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Spotted Redshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Turkestan Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Rueppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Song Thrush
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava)
Tawny Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated
Water Pipit (Caucasian Water Pipit)
(h)Common Chaffinch
(h)European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
83

1 day tour with David, Akamas and Paphos. 20/04/22
Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Garganey
Little Grebe
Squacco Heron
Little Egret
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Black Kite
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Black-winged Stilt
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Cuckoo
Little Owl
Common Swift
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
(h)Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava, thunbergi, feldegg)
Tree Pipit
Water Pipit (Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
(h)Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
77

2 day tour with Nick, Paphos and Akrotiri 21/05/22

Bird list day 1:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Garganey
Little Grebe
Squacco Heron
Little Egret
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
(h)European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (flava, thunbergi, feldegg)
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
65

Species list day2:

Black Francolin
Garganey
Mallard
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard (Steppe Buzzard)
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Little Crake
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Demoiselle Crane
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Great Snipe
Common Snipe
Spotted Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
(h)European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
(h)Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava)
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Ortolan Bunting
80

Eastern Marsh Helleborine
Plain Tiger Butterfly

October 20th, 2021

20/10/2021

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Full day tour - Akrotiri with Tomas et al 19/10/21

On the 19th I guided Tomas around the Akrotiri sites at the tail end of Autumn migration, I had previously done a tour for Tomas and group many years ago in the east of the island. We started at Akrotiri marsh where we was greeted by two female Black Francolins showing well at the entrance cut field. Shortly after we spotted a small white raptor sitting high in a tree. It turned out to be a Black-winged Kite which has been reported in the area for quite some time now. To our surprise though a second was seen in a tree a bit further away, both adults. We had amazing views and both flew quite close to us at one point. A Cyprus Rarity with possibilities of them nesting on the island this year in the north and definitely a future prospect for Cyprus.

We then continued on to the Tower hide where we got some great views of many Common Kingfisher and a Male Black Francolin in the distance with a few calling in the area. A Little Bittern called out, but unfortunately we did not see it. A few raptors were in the area, mainly Marsh Harriers and Sparrowhawk and we got a distant view of a male Levant Sparrowhawk which was the first adult that I had ever seen in Cyprus, not a common sighting, all my past sightings (6-7) have been juveniles. A White-winged Tern was in the area darting around, and a small flock of Redshank passed a few times. A Great White Egret was spotted flying in the distance.

We stopped at a few spots along the marsh to see if we could spot a Sociable Lapwing that had been reported the day before, but we could only find Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing. At the last point we came across many Glossy Ibis, Whiskered Tern, a Squacco Heron, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank sounded flying over. A Hen Harrier was hunting in the area almost catching one of the Whiskered Tern, prior to that it was being mobbed by possibly another Black-winged Kite. A few Sparrowhawk were also hunting in the area, flying low and putting everything up occasionally.

Next we ventured through the gravel pits seeing little aside Marsh Harrier, Common Stonechat and Whinchat. We then decided to stop at a cafe for coffee.

After we finished our coffee's we head off for bishops pool, seeing a few more Sparrowhawk on the way. On the water at Bishop's Pool we had a single Ferruginous Duck, Shoveler, Teal and many Little Grebe. Hunting above the water we had a juvenile Peregrine Falcon, a few Eurasian Hobby's, many Eleonora's Falcon including a juvenile bird, and a few young red-footed falcon, a falcon-fest. Blackcap and Cetti's warblers were calling frequently in the shrub and we had a very close call with another Sparrowhawk.

Next we ventured to the Salt Lake, seeing very little aside Eleonora's Falcon, Greater Flamingo and a lone Eurasian Curlew.
We decided to visit Zakaki Marsh next and have our lunch in the hide there.
The ONly bird of note here was possibly another Black-winged Kite mobbing a Marsh Harrier.
Lastly we ventured to Kensington Cliffs where we got good views of 3 Griffon Vulture, many Eleonora's Falcons including juveniles and a lone Peregrine Falcon.

We finished the day with 67 species, quality over quantity and a very enjoyable tour.

Species List:

Black Francolin (5)
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
(h)Little Bittern
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Peregrine Falcon
Black-winged Kite (4)
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Levant Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (12)
(h)Water Rail
(h)Corncrake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe

Black-tailed Godwit
Eurasian Curlew
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Red-backed Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Song Thrush
Whinchat
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Tree Pipit
67

May 17th, 2021

17/5/2021

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - 2 Day tour Paphos and Akrotiri with Max 13+14/05/2021

On the 13th Max and I set out for Akrotiri to do some general birding before venturing up to Troodos for a few target species; Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper, Cyprus Scops Owl and Red Crossbill.
Our first stop was the run off at the Salt Lake where there was a few waders to pick through. Oddly a few grey plovers were present in winter plumage among the many little stint and curlew sandpipers with a few ruff here and there. A big party of Little Terns were present with one displaying with a fish. Shortly after a White-winged Tern flew in and joined them. A pair of Sanderling were on one of the islands but seemingly disappeared by the time I put the scope in their direction.
We then checked Zakaki marsh for Caspian reed warbler of which there was a few and a Night Heron flying over.
Next was the Gravel Pits where we was lucky to see a small party of very late Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters.
We then ventured to Akrotiri/phassouri Marsh which had good levels of life. A few marsh sandpiper and little stint were the highlights here, as well as glossy ibis, lesser grey shrike and black-winged stilt.
On the way to Troodos we checked a vinyard for Black-headed Bunting, of which there was a few on the wires.
Our first stop in Troodos at the meteorological site provided good views of jay, masked shrike and eastern olivaceous warbler.
Moving to livadi tou passia we got great views of a Red Crossbill family, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit and our target Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper.
We checked a few nest boxes for Cyprus Scops Owl and although one was likely being used we didn't manage to see it.
We finished the day with 76 Species
Highlight from the second day in Paphos was seeing a Great Spotted Cuckoo in flight at a Bonelli's Eagle territory of which sadly seems to have been abandoned. A Peregrine Falcon on territory, hearing a few Cyprus Scops Owls close but sadly not getting any views, great views of multiple Little Bittern at a suspected nesting site, A Purple Heron, A late Greater Short-toed Lark and a stunning Collared Pratincole in pristine plumage bringing our two day total to 92 Species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Grey Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Sanderling
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Little Tern
White-winged Tern
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Roller
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Lesser Grey Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius glaszneri)
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Coal Tit (Parus ater cypriotes)
Great Tit (Parus major aphrodite)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata cypriaca)
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus fuscus)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes cypriotes)
Dorothy's (Short-toed) Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae)
Eurasian Blackbird
(h)Common Nightingale
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (*M.f.thunbergii)
Grey Wagtail
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris muehlei)
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra guillemardi)
Corn Bunting
(h)Cretzschmar's Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
76

Great Spotted Cuckoo
Chukar (Alectoris chukar cypriotes)
Spanish Sparrow
Long-legged Buzzard
Whinchat
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei)
Rock Dove
(h) Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Little Bittern
Purple Heron
Great Reed Warbler
(h)Sedge Warbler
Greater Short-toed Lark
Collared Pratincole

92

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

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