Tour Report

December 06th, 2019

6/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

On the 2nd I guided Dave around Paphos. We started at the Headland for Greater Sand Plover of which there was two, a small group of Golden Plover were present also and a murmuration of Starling.
Our next stop was the Sewage Works where we saw a Peregrine Falcon on some pylons. The Spur-winged Lapwings were unusually no-where to be seen.
We then ventured to Agia Varvara where three Snipe were feeding at the edge of the pool. We then headed to Anarita Park for Finsch's Wheatear which showed well. A short trip around Mandria produced little and at Asprokremnos dam there were some Great Egrets which were behaving oddly, landing on the water.
We then headed to Episkopi for the Cyprus Scops Owl and lastly Minthis Hills where we saw just a Grey Heron.
We finished the half day with 39 Species.

Species List:

Common Teal
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Golden Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Common Snipe
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
(h)Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

39

December 02nd, 2019

2/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

On the 29th I guided Martijn around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites.
We started out at the Avagas Gorge for Wallcreeper though it didn't seem to be present, we did get good views of Robin, Black Redstart and a Sparrowhawk.

Next we stopped at the Paphos sewage works where both Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing were present. A quick visit to Mandria produced Skylark and various Pipits as well as Laughing Dove.

We then ventured to Akrotiri which seemed unusually quiet. Ladies Mile had some Redshank and the usual Black-headed Gulls with Yellow-legged and Armenian among them.
We stopped at Bishop's Pool for waterfowl, seeing mostly Common Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Mallard. We stopped at the Environmental Center to see the Flamingo's and then our final stop was Kensington Cliffs of which the Griffon Vultures didn't show.
We finished the tour with 46 species.

Species List:

Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Redshank
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher

Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
(h)Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Blackbird
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

46

November 30th, 2019

30/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

On the 28th I guided Steve around the Paphos sites for a half day tour starting off with Wallcreeper in mind. We started at the Avagas Gorge where plenty of Robin, Stonechat, Black Redstart and Blackcap were showing well as well as Linnet.
Before reaching the narrow part of the gorge we had some views of Wallcreeper in flight as well as Blue Rock Thrush and brief views of Hawfinch. A Long-legged Buzzard flew overhead being mobbed by a Common Buzzard.
We then headed to Mavrokolympus Dam which was very quiet aside some Chukar calling in the distance.
Our next stop was the Sewage works where Spur-winged Lapwing were showing well and a Bonelli's Eagle was seen but very distant.
Lastly we visited Mandria where Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Skylark showed as well as Laughing Dove.
We finished with 41 species.

Species List:

(h)Chukar Partridge
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola

(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Wallcreeper
European Starling
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Hawfinch
(h)Corn Bunting

41

November 21st, 2019

21/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

On the 21st I guided Mark Woodhead around Akrotiri and Paphos. This is the second time I've been out with Mark. We started out at Ladies Mile where there were many Gulls, mostly Black-headed but with Yellow-legged Gull and an Armenian Gull. Little Stint were feeding in the pools along with a Sanderling and some Dunlin. We moved on to Zakaki Marsh where the reeds had been cleared, although nothing much was showing aside a brief glimpse of a water rail and some more Penduline tits calling.
Next we moved on to Phassouri Marsh where we had good views of Common Kingfisher and many Reed Warblers, Moustached Warbler were calling also Penduline Tit were calling and seen. A few Marsh harrier were in the area also. A small flock of Common Teal took up from the pools behind and a Glossy Ibis was feeding around the pools. We moved on to the next hide which held very little aside Common Starling.

We then moved onto to Bishops Pool where we had a brief view of a Black Francolin in flight. At the pool there were many Common Teal and Northern Shoveler. We had good views of a Black Kite flying over, a late migrant and a few Marsh Harrier. A surprise Marbled Teal was present as well although distant, a rarity and a lifer for me.

We then moved on to the gravel pits by the church which was also fairly quiet aside Stonechat and Crested Lark.
With little else around we headed to Paphos, our first stop was Anarita Park for Finsch's Wheatear of-which there was two which Mark had great photo opportunities with.
Lastly we headed up to Episkopi to see the Cyprus Scops Owl at its roosting tree.
We finished with 55 species

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Marbled Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Black Kite
Western Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Snipe
Sanderling
Little Stint
Dunlin
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull

Slender-billed Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Moustached Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Western Black Redstart
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch

55 Species

November 20th, 2019

20/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

On the 14th I guided Allen around the eastern sites of Cyprus, a second time out for Allen this year. We started out at Oroklini Marsh where many waterfowl were present, including Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler and Pintail.
There was a few waders on the waters edge, including Redshank, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper. From the first hide we had a brief glimpse of a Pied Kingfisher which shot over the far reeds but sadly didn't show again. There wasn't much else to see and so we then ventured to Kukla wetlands. Life wasn't very abundant here compared to previous visits though two Pelicans were a welcome sight and a decent sized flock of Common Cranes and small group of Greater Flamingo. A Merlin was in some shrub at the waters edge and provided great photo opportunities in flight.
We then headed back to Oroklini to get some food and to check out the gulls on the coast, sadly only Black-headed Gulls and Yellow-legged Gulls were present.
Next stop was the Kamares aqueduct which only had a few water pipits and a common kingfisher. The Menou area which held very little and so we called it a day.
We finished with 59 species.

On the 15th we headed to Akrotiri. The weather was terrible, with heavy rain, hail and and even a few waterspouts. We started at Phassouri Marsh at the tower hide. Penduline Tit and Common Kingfisher were seen as well as Common Snipe. Marsh Harrier were also patrolling the reeds.
We didn't venture to the next hide as the weather got worse and so we visited some of the sites in Paphos stopping at Episkopi on the way where we got fantastic views of Griffon Vultures not so high up. We searched Mandria and the sewage plant which both held many larks and pipits and the Spur-winged Lapwings were on show as well as a small group of Northern Lapwing.
We finished the day with 43 species.

On our last day we headed to the Avagas Gorge for the Wallcreeper of which we found fairly quickly not far from the entrance. A Lifer for Allen. Robins, Black Redstart and the usual winter visitors were present.
We then headed to Mavrokolympus in hope of seeing Cyprus Warblers which sadly were not around. Greater Cormorant and Little Grebe were on the water but no waterfowl, we saw a fleeting glimpse of a Spanish Sparrow and also many Stonechat were present.
We then headed to Agia Varvara as I got a message of a Great Bittern near the pools. Sadly we didn't see it as we were looking in the wrong place and not much else was around of note. We then headed to Anarita park where the Finsch's Wheatear was showing well, but unfortunately no Little Owls were around again. A flock of Woodlark were flitting around at the entrance.
Lastly we headed to Episkopi where a Cyprus Scops Owl was in its roosting tree, another lifer for Allen, and a highly sought after species.

We finished the day with 41 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Common Shelduck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Crane
Black-winged Stilt
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Wallcreeper
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

70 species

November 16th, 2019

16/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos. Half-day Tour 16/11/2019

On the 16th I guided Matt and Hayley on a half day tour with Wallcreeper being the target species.
We set out to Avagas Gorge and was fortunate to see one of the Wallcreepers on the narrow part of the gorge quite low down. Further up there was two in flight but views here were distant.
A Long-legged Buzzard flew over putting up the Rock Doves, Feral Pigeons and Jackdaw. Blackcap and Robin were in most bushes and we had lengthy views of a Wren hopping under the low trees meters from us. Grey Wagtail were seen at various points along the river.
After some time we then ventured to Mavrokolympus Dam seeing quite a few Cyprus Warbler in the spiny shrub. A walk around the dam produced Woodlark, Sardinian Warbler, Little Grebe and some Spanish Sparrow.
We finished the day with 31 species.

Species List:

Little Grebe
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Long-legged Buzzard
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Wood Lark
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Eurasian Wren
Wallcreeper
(h)Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
31

November 04th, 2019

4/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri + Paphos 04/11/2019

On the 4th I guided Joan and Keith around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
We started at Phassouri where many finches were flitting around. From the Tower hide we had Penduline Tit, Bluethroat and Common Kingfisher showing well at times and Hooded Crows were mobbing a Common Buzzard in the eucalyptus trees and then on the ground of-which appeared to have prey.
Moving to the second hide there was a group of Spur-winged Lapwings which were flushed by a Marsh Harrier. A Jack Snipe was seen in flight and a few Common Snipe were flushed. Not much else showed aside some Teal, Cattle Egret and Little Egret. As we left a pair of Marsh Harrier were calling to each other and flying close over the hide. Further down a small party of Northern Lapwing were showing in the distance and a flock of Starling were feeding on the ground.
We had a quick stop at the environmental center to scope the Flamingos and then ventured to a section of the gravel pits, seeing many Black Redstart on the wires and houses in the Village.
Ladies Mile was the next destination seeing many Black-headed Gull and a few Mediterranean Gull plus some Armenian Gulls. Numbers of Little Stint had increased significantly, as well as Dunlin. A Common Snipe landed a few meters from the car and provided great views and photo ops.

A quick stop at Zakaki sadly produced a heavily oiled Grey Heron.
We didn't stick around for long and headed to Bishop's Pool. Again at Bishop's Pool, a concerning absence of Ferruginous Duck, though Many Shoveler and Teal were on the water as well as a female Pochard. A Sparrowhawk did a low fly over and then we headed to Kensington Cliffs where the Griffon Vultures unfortunately didn't show.
We drove back to Paphos and stopped at Mandria for lunch. We managed to get great views and photo ops with Laughing Dove, and good views of Skylark, Water Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Corn Bunting.
Our last stop was Anarita Park for Finsch's Wheatear and Little Owl, unfortunately none of the Little Owls were showing but we got some good views of Finsch's Wheatear finishing the day with 63 Species.

Speciest List:

Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Common Pochard
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Jack Snipe
Common Snipe
Little Stint
Dunlin
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove

Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
(h) Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
European Robin
Bluethroat
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

63

October 26th, 2019

26/10/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri 26/10/2019

On the 26th I guided John and Jean around the Akrotiri sites.
We started off at Phassouri Marsh where the first bird seen was a Mistle Thrush sitting at the top of a cypress tree. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler showed well at the tower hide passage and we put up a few Black Francolin and Song Thrush. Cetti's Warblers were calling frequently, with one showing for longer than usual. The Tower hide produced little aside a Common Kingfisher plus a few Penduline Tits (heard but not seen) so we moved on to the water bodies further down where a pair of Common Snipe were probing the marsh. Cattle, Little and Great Egret were all showing well and on the opposite side of the road a Bluethroat was perched on a dry bit of vegetation for a very lengthy period of time.

A Whiskered Tern with heavy wing damage was scouting the puddles which passed us a few times during our stay. Serin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenfinch were feeding in the area and a small group of Spanish Sparrows showing meters from the car.
As we approached the main hide a large group of Northern Lapwing took up followed by a large flock of Spur-winged Lapwing, of which I had never seen so many in the area before. White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail were feeding near the pathway and Common Stonechat were everywhere. Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed line frequently and a Eurasian Hobby flew over low.
Due to the recent heavy rains, both the Gravel Pits and the Salt Lake were off limits, and so we headed to Bishops Pool seeing a Common Redstart and many Crested lark on the way. Bishop's Pool held a disappointing variety of waterfowl for this time of year, mostly Teal and some Northern Shoveler. Just before we was about to leave, multiple large flocks of Common Crane flew over low from the salt lake, creating quite a spectacle and undoubtedly the highlight of the day.

A stop at Zakaki Marsh produced little aside a Common Kingfisher and some Grey Heron and so we moved on to Ladies Mile where many Black-headed Gull were on the port side lake with no larger gulls among them. On the opposite side a Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Kentish Plover were very active.
We then stopped for a coffee and lunch.
Our final site was Kensington Cliffs where two Long-legged Buzzards flew over, many Eleonora's Falcons were still around and five Griffon Vultures flew in. With a bit more time to spare we had a second search around Phassouri, with a Sparrowhawk being the only new species for the day.
We finished the day with 64 species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eurasian Hobby
Eleonora's Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Crane
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Ruddy Turnstone
Little Stint
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull

Whiskered Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
(h)Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
European Robin
Bluethroat
(h)Western Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch

64

October 25th, 2019

25/10/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour Paphos 25/10/2019

On the 25th I guided Mark and Christine on a half day tour around Paphos.
We started at Mavrokolympus Dam in hope of some Cyprus Warblers still being around. There was a few though they weren't showing overly well, which isn't uncommon for this time of year. A Cyprus Wheatear flew in and landed next to us for a fair amount of time, so both Endemics in the space of a few minutes.
Sardinian Warblers and many Stonechat were present and also a group of Chukar showed very well close to the car, with one sitting on top of a rock some meters from the road. There wasn't anything on the water and as we were walking back I spotted a female Common Redstart which showed very well for a lengthy period of time. European Robins were calling with some very brief views and a male Spanish Sparrow showed very well in a nearby bush.
We then headed to the Sewage Plant for the Spur-winged Lapwing, of-which 20-30 birds were showing (though none of the Northern Lapwings were present that I had seen recently). At the entrance we was greeted with a group of Water Pipit next to the road and at the irrigation puddles were White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Spanish Sparrow.

The Alfalfa field held many Red-throated Pipit and a few Tree Pipit also took up. Just before we left a Common Buzzard shot low over the tree line being mobbed by a big group of Hooded Crows.
Next we headed to Agia Varvara seeing a Long-legged Buzzard perched and in flight causing confusion due to the fact the white rump wasn't visible on this one, but various factors ruled out Common or Steppe Buzzard.

We got great views of Common Snipe and Grey Wagtail plus some Pintail and a single Garganey on the pools. Reed Warblers were showing at the ford, Cetti's and Great Reed Warbler called in the distance. A pair of Wandering Glider dragonflies were in copula at the ford also which is a very uncommon sighting in Cyprus. A Green Sandpiper kept flying over but would not settle. Plenty of finches seemed to have arrived in the area recently, with good numbers of Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Serin.
A quick stop at Anarita Park produced a single Finsch's Wheatear on winter territory, and then we finished up at Mandria seeing Skylark, Yellow-wagtail, many Northern Wheatear and a Falcon species very high up that could well have been a juvenile Saker.
We finished the half day with 49 Species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
(h)Common Moorhen
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler

Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
European Robin
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Finsch's Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
49

October 14th, 2019

14/10/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri/Paphos 11/10/2019

On the 11th I guided Sara and Garry around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
We started at Phassouri Marsh where a Glossy Ibis was feeding close to the road as well as many cattle egrets. A female Sparrowhawk swooped in low being chased by Hooded Crows, moorhen were darting around the pools and shrubs and a Great Reed Warbler was showing briefly in the reeds as well as Common Kingfisher.

On the way to the first hide we had fantastic views of many Black Francolin on both sides of the road, of which many were calling. We didn't see much at the hide aside Spur-winged Lapwing, and the scrape held little aside garganey and teal. A Juvenile Red-footed Falcon flew over us but didn't stick around. Just as we were leaving, a Great Egret flew in and then out again and a marsh harrier was patrolling the reed edge.
As we headed to the Gravel Pits Sara and Garry said to stop the car, and to the right were two White Storks quite close in the field. One had a damaged leg which may well have been shot (gun fire was heard prior), so I contacted the authorities. Not the nicest thing to happen during a tour.
After seeing some more Black Francolin, with some meters from the car we headed to the gravel pits which was full of newly arrived Stonechats, but not much else.
We didn't spend much time here and continued to the salt lake. Unfortunately the Greater Flamingos had abandoned their new nests, which had looked incredibly promising. There was quite a few newly arrived gulls on the salt lake, a few Slender-billed Gulls were here, a flock of Black-headed gulls ... plus some large gulls. We picked out Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged and a young Armenian as well as quite a few White-winged and Whiskered Terns that seemed quite active but not feeding nearby. There was also some distant ruff and a small party of Common Ringed Plover darting around ... likely trying to evade the Eleonora's Falcons hunting in the area.
We stopped for a coffee at Ladies mile and then checked the pools to find a pair of Temminck's Stint among the Little Stint, Kentish Plover and Ringed Plover.
As we headed back to the Akrotiri strip we was lucky in seeing a Hobby in a eucalyptus tree and even though we flushed it, it kept landing a few trees down.
Next stop was Kensington Cliffs where we had our lunch and then got close views of Eleonora's Falcons, unfortunately the Griffon Vultures were not around.

Heading back to Paphos we stopped to see 2 Adult Bonelli's Eagles which glided towards us not so high.
Our first site in Paphos was Mandria, where the Laughing Doves showed well. We had smashing views of Red-throated Pipit right by the car and some good photo ops and on the way out we got another Bonelli's Eagle, this one being a second plumaged bird.
Lastly we headed to the Sewage Works, and saw Spur-winged Lapwing which weren't at their usual spots. Grey wagtail were briefly seen, one chasing the other through the bougainvillea and also one feeding with Yellow Wagtails on the alfalfa fields.
We finished up with 68 Species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
(h)Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Bonelli's Eagle
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull

Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Red-backed Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Sedge Warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
(h)Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Grey Wagtail
(h)Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
68

<<Previous

December 06th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

December 02nd, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

November 30th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

November 21st, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

November 20th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

November 16th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos. Half-day Tour 16/11/2019

November 04th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri + Paphos 04/11/2019

October 26th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri 26/10/2019

October 25th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour Paphos 25/10/2019

October 14th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri/Paphos 11/10/2019

Bird is the Word

Archives

​Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos. Half-day Tour 16/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri + Paphos 04/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri 26/10/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour Paphos 25/10/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri/Paphos 11/10/2019

Bird is the Word

Archives

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019