Tour Report

April 19th, 2019

19/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos 18/04/2019

On the 18th I guided Christer and Bengt for a full day tour around the Paphos sites.
We started out at Agia Varvara. En-route we had a Great Spotted Cuckoo fly low tawards the car on the B road which was a good start. At Agia varvara we was greeted by a Woodchat Shrike posing close to the car for a lengthy period, and also a Black Francolin sitting low in a tree. On the pools we had great views of many Little Crakes but not much else was around aside whinchat. As we left the site we had nice close lengthy views of a Spotted Flycatcher.
We moved up into Anarita Park which was also fairly quiet aside many whinchat. We had some great views of a Marsh Harrier and a Male Montagu's Harrier. A small part of Red-rumped Swallows flew around us very low down with one entering its nesting tunnel with food. None of the Cyprus Warblers were willing to show although we did get a brief view of a female Eastern Subalpine warbler as a consolation.
Moving further inland we saw quite a few Cyprus Wheatear heading in to Episkopi and also quite a few Turtle Doves. We even had some great views of an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler sitting on the power lines singing away and many chukar on the ground.
After viewing the Peregrine Falcons on their territory we moved up to the Cyprus Scops Owl roost and got fantastic views and photos of a pair.
We then moved through Minthis seeing many Corn Buntings and a few Cretzschmar's Buntings on territory. Moving on through Armou we had great views of a pair of Hoopoes close to the car but sadly no Long-legged Buzzards.
The Paphos Sewage Works produced little aside the Spur-winged Lapwings and many tree pipits and Spanish Sparrows so we moved on quickly to Timi where Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtails, Collared and Pied Flycatcher and Cattle + Little Egret were showing. We had our Lunch here.
We then tried our luck at Anarita Masts for Cyprus Warbler but again they were reluctant to show, though we did see an Eastern Black-eared Wheatear here as well as an Ortolan Bunting and Spectacled Warbler. Mandria was unusually quiet though we managed to pick out a pair of Northern Wheatear, a Hoopoe, Laughing Dove and a Great Spotted Cuckoo and got lucky with a field of Stone Curlew.
Our last stop was Asprokremnos Dam car park seeing a 1st plumage Bonelli's Eagle en-route, though being short on time by this point we didn't have a very productive time here. We finished off with 66 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Little Grebe
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Baltic Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow

Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (Flava, thunbergii)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tree Pipit
(h)Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

66

April 17th, 2019

17/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour - Paphos 17/04/2019

On the 17th I guided Jenny and Elizabeth around the Paphos sites for a half day.
We started out at the Paphos Sewage Plant where many hirundines were feeding above the fields. We had great views of Barn and Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin in flight and sitting close on the wires. Also Common, Pallid and Alpine Swift were flying low. Many Tree Pipits and Spanish Sparrows were in the trees and moving around. A pair of Spur-winged Lapwings were foraging for food meters from the car and along the ezousas river we had a Marsh Harrier hunting along the edge. A Sedge Warbler sang on top of a shrub next to the road as we left.

Our next stop was Agia Varvara. As we entered the site a Woodchat shrike sat in a bush very close to the car enabling brilliant views and we had flight views of a Black Francolin. The pools weren't as productive as previous days though there were still many Little Crakes showing nicely and a Little Bittern briefly before crawling into the reeds and out of view. A Great Reed Warbler sang continuously right next to where we parked but never showed. Quite a few Whinchat were showing nicely in the area as were Common Whitethroat. The Common Kingfisher made an appearance landing in dry sticks not far from where we were standing and a Corn Bunting also perched very near to us.
As we left the site we had a brief view of a Black Francolin sitting on a concrete block and then flew right infront of the car, probably the same one we saw on the way in. In the orchard there was a few Spotted Flycatcher and many more Whinchat.
We continued on to Asprokremnos Dam car park. At the entrance a small group of European Bee-eater were sitting on the wires, a target species for the day. Our other target was Golden oriole but sadly none were showing in the car park or the previous sites that we had visited where they usually turn up, though we did see many Wood Warbler and a pair of Collared Flycatcher. A European Turtle Dove was sitting at the top of some distant trees.

Our last stop was at Timi where we had great views of a male Pied Flycatcher and many Cattle and Little Egrets. Wood sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and a single Little Stint were on the water and a showy Ruppell's Warbler meters from us. We finished the half day with 53 species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit

Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Ruppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Whinchat
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Tree Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting

53

April 17th, 2019

17/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 15/04/2019

On the 15th I guided Rick and Dot around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites, the weather was overcast, windy at times and not good for photography.
We started by checking a few of the Paphos sites before heading to Akrotiri as there was a few scarce species that would be easier to get in the morning. So our first site was Agia Varvara where we managed to see many Little Crakes, both male and female and also briefly a Spotted Crake. The Baillon's Crake seemed to have left its favoured pool which was drying out and sadly we couldn't find it. Though we had smashing views of Little Bittern and Common Kingfisher. A Savi's Warbler was reeling and a Great Reed Warbler singing away but we didn't manage to see either. We got great views of a Great Spotted Cuckoo perched in a tree as we left.
Then we headed to Mandria in hope of seeing the Female Caspian Plover that had lingered for a few days. Unfortunately that was no-where to be seen, but there was a smart Collared Pratincole in the field instead.
We then headed to Akrotiri stopping at the Rabbit Shed pools first and seeing many Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret on the way. There didn't seem to be as many waders around as there previously was. We had common snipe, Kentish and Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Wood and Common Sandpiper and some ruff here as well as quite a few Black-winged Stilts and a pair of Spur-winged Lapwing. There was also some Black-headed Wagtails that were very distant, plus Tree and Red-throated Pipit flying over us and a Peregrine Falcon. The pair of male Garganey were still present providing great views at times and we had close but brief views of Black Francolin here.
We continued to the Salt lake stopping at the Environmental Center. Here we saw the Greater Flamingo's doing their courtship dance, and also saw a pair mating. The Slender-billed Gulls were no-where to be seen on the salt lake and so we continued to Ladies Mile which was fairly quiet and after seeing some young Armenian, Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls we moved on.
The Griffon Vultures didn't show again at Kensington Cliffs, though we had some great views of Alpine Swift.
Heading back into Paphos we stopped to have our Lunch at Timi Picnic site and then made our way up into the foothills to see the Cyprus Scops Owls at their roost and then the Peregrine Falcons on their territory. A quick browse around Anarita Park produced some Cyprus Warblers but not much else. Lastly Rick and Dot really wanted to see Stone Curlew so we stopped in at a specific part of the sewage works and managed to see two. As I dropped them back at their villa we had a small group of European Bee-eaters flying overhead to finish the day managing 72 Species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Garganey
Greater Flamingo (2 copulating)
Glossy Ibis
Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Little Crake
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
Collared Pratincole
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo

Cyprus Scops Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Savi's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Whinchat
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Black-headed Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting

72

April 14th, 2019

14/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 2-day Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 12+13/04/2019

On the 12th and 13th I guided Mike Redfern around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites on a 2 day tour.
Mike mentioned his target species were Bonelli's Eagle, Baillon's Crake and Cyprus Scops Owl. So we started in the foothills at a Bonelli's Eagle site. There were many Serin singing along the track, presumably nesting in the area this year. We had two Bonelli's Eagles close fly from the trees into the valley providing good low flight views. An Eastern Bonelli's Warbler showed in a shrub not far from where we were standing and on the way out we had a Wryneck sitting in a bare tree.
We managed to spot a few Cretzschmar's Bunting in song as we drove through Minthis and an Isabelline Wheatear. We dropped down checking a day roost for Cyprus Scops Owls on the way, seeing two scops sitting very close together with unobstructed views. The Peregrines were feeding on the cliff face and only flew briefly.
We saw a few newly arrived Turtle Doves on the wires down here and also an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler singing away. Many Cyprus Wheatears were showing on the way to Anarita Park, and a few Ortolan Bunting too feeding in the verge. Just before we got to Anarita Park I noticed a large raptor sitting on some rocks, a Long Legged Buzzard showing nicely but not with the suns direction in our favour and then great close views of it in flight.
Nearly every bird we saw at Anarita Park was an Ortolan Bunting, absolutely everywhere. We did see a few Little Owls and Great Spotted Cuckoos too, though the gsc's weren't being very vocal and so we assumed the eggs had already been deposited in the magpie nests. There was a few Hoopoe's knocking about and also we had Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Cyprus Warbler.

Our next site was Agia Varvara with Baillon's Crake in mind. Sure enough the Baillon's Crake was in the same place in the same pool and provided very close veiws and photo opportunities. We also saw many Little Crakes here, both male and female but couuldn't locate the Spotted Crake or Little Bittern that I had seen there previous days. A Masked Shrike and Great Reed Warbler showed well here and some Wood Sandpiper and Whinchat.

Our next stop was Timi beach to check out the newly formed temporary wetlands. We had many Glossy Ibis feeding at the entrance and Black-winged Stilt, a pair of Temminck's Stints landed on the edge of the pool, a good species to get in Paphos.
A Grey Heron as well as a Squacco Heron and many Little Egret with a few Cattle Egrets in with them were at the front of the wetland. Seemed that most of the waders had cleared out. We stopped here for our lunch.
Our next site was Asprokremnos dam car park for flycatchers. We ended up seeing a single male Collared Flycatcher and a Wood Warbler ... so fairly quiet here. We located a Purple Heron and some Yellow-legged Gulls on the dam.
Lastly we checked Mandria and had a male and female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear sitting next to each other. We also located a Laughing Dove and some Greater Short-toed Larks. As we were exiting the site a Black Francolin was on the edge of the road walking towards the car, providing great views but eventually scared by an oncoming truck. A good end to the day, good species count (73) and all target species and full breeding endemics met.

The next day we started out at Phassouri seeing Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis and Little Egret en route to the rabbit shed pools, and a Ferruginous Duck in flight. On the pools we had the usual Spotted Redshank and Marsh Sandpipers. Many Snipe were showing again but we couldn't make out any Great Snipes. Ruff, Common and Wood Sandpiper were plenty as were Little Ringed Plover. A Red-throated Pipit flew in and landed infront of us and also a Great Warbler was singing which showed for a while. A pair of male Garganey were also here feeding on the water.
We drove up the gravel pits track and found a Great Spotted Cuckoo showing nearby in a tree and Black Francolin showing briefly. By the church we had a female Blue Rock Thrush, Common Cuckoo and a Woodchat Shrike plus a group of Turtle Doves flying in.
We then cut through to Ladies Mile (seeing Greater Flamingo and Slender-billed Gull on the salt lake as we drove past and a very late Starling) which had some Greater Flamingo on the pools and Little Egret. A few gulls were near the port, young Armenian Gulls, Yellow-legged and Caspian. Plus a single Black-headed Gull and a Whimbrel that flew in and landed close to the car.
By the port we had Squacco Heron and a Green Sandpiper.
At Zakaki we was treated to a male Little Bittern showing very close to us, which even hunted/fed infront of us meters away. A Common Kingfisher perched close to us too.

As we ventured to the run off we had a very large group of Gull-billed Tern on the ground, Little Stint and many Kentish Plover.

Near the run-off there was many Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and a large group of Greenshank and Glossy Ibis. A recently arrived Eleonora's Falcon hunted in the distance. We had a single Spectacled Warbler here too as we returned to the car.
We then ate our Lunch at Bishop's Pool which was also fairly quiet, just a small party of Black-crowned Night Heron in the very corner on a bar tree overhanging the water.
Our next site was Kensington Cliffs where many Alpine Swifts were darting around very close at times. Unfortunately no Griffon Vultures showed again but we did see a Peregrine Falcon and many Cyprus Wheatear.

Mike wanted to see Stone Curlew and unfortunately one of their main nesting sites was gated off, so I took him to a certain part of the Sewage Plant where I have seen them often previous years. We managed to spot two and we also had some very close encounters with Spur-winged Lapwing to the wrap the day off reaching a large count of 94 species bringing our total to 123 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Whimbrel
Spotted Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl

Little Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
(h)Eurasian Skylark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Common Starling
Common Nightingale
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (Flava, Dombrowskii)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
(h)Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

123

Butterflies:
Large White
Small White
Eastern Dappled White
Common Blue
Paphos Blue
(Syrian) Swallowtail
Painted lady

Moths:
Striped Hawk Moth

Orchids:
Neotinia Maculata
Ophrys Cinerophilia
Orchis Fragrans
Ophrys Apifera

Reptiles:
Mediteranean Gecko
Kotschyi's Gecko
Sling-tailed Agama
Snake Eyed Lizard
Schreiber's Fringe-fingered Lizard

April 11th, 2019

11/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 10/04/201

On the 10th I guided Simon, Chris and Gill around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites. I had previously guided them on a tour some years ago in November.
We started out at Phassouri Marsh where Serins greeted us at the entrance which we later got better views of. The main hide wasn't rich with life, a Great Reed Warbler was singing in the reeds behind and a Squacco Heron and Little Egret plus a Glossy Ibis were feeding in the distance. The center reeds have grown considerably making views of the pool difficult. A few Garganey were moving about but very hard to get a view.
At the last water body there was a very large flock of Glossy Ibis with many Ruff and Wood Sandpiper feeding. Snipes were heard and seen frequently.
The Rabbit Shed pool was full of life. The best birds we had here were two Collared Pratincoles, a pair of Spur-winged Lapwing and a Pair of Marsh Sandpiper. A Spotted Redshank and Greenshank were present too along with many Little Ringed Plovers being very vocal and mobile. A Purple Heron flew in from the reedbed and landed, a welcome sight.

Along the gravel pits track we had close views of Black Francolin .. but brief views as it dropped down from a shrub a few seconds after I stopped the car. And across the path were many recently arrived Whinchats which posed nicely for us. We had very close views of a Great Spotted Cuckoo sitting in a Tamarisk Bush near a concealed pool.
We then headed to the first hide at Phassouri where Simon spotted a male Little Crake which we all got brief views of moving through the dense vegetation.
After a quick stop at the Environmental Center and viewing the Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake doing their courtship dance we headed to ladies Mile which was very quiet concerning passerines and waders. We didn't spend long here and proceeded to Kensington Cliffs where the Griffon Vultures unfortunately didn't show.
We then returned to Paphos and only Simon stayed on for the other half of the tour. We headed to Agia Varvara and managed to locate all 3 crake species (Little, Spotted and Baillon's Crake). We then had a quick pass through Anarita Park which produced little aside a Blue Rock Thrush, Common and Great Spotted Cuckoo. We passed through Episkopi (seeing many Cyprus Wheatears en route) up to Minthis Hills to get Cretzschmar's Bunting, a target species. Sure enough we found one feeding meters from the car. On our way back down we stopped at a Cyprus Scops Owl roost and got great views of one. We then dropped down and watched the Peregrine Falcon pair feeding.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Timi where many Glossy Ibis and Little Egret were still present and feeding in the picnic sites and beyond. Many Wood Sandpipers were still around here and we also saw Eastern Bonelli's Warbler and Wood Warbler. I got a brief view of a Red-breasted Flycatcher which are very scarce in Cyprus and only the second one I had ever seen.
We managed 87 species for the day and Simon walked away with many lifers.

List of Species:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Common Snipe
Spotted Redshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Collared Pratincole
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Baltic Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Alpine Swift

Common Swift
Pallid Swift
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
(h)Great Reed-warbler
(h)Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
Red-breasted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

87

April 07th, 2019

7/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos 06/04/201

On the 6th I guided Ewelina on a tour around Paphos. I had previously done a 3-day tour for Ewelina in February where we managed a few early spring migrants ... but Ewelina wanted to see Cyprus well into spring so planned another trip.
It was slightly overcast and humid but that didn't stop us finding the birds. Our first site was Timi (we had a small migrating flock of Black-crowned night Heron enroute and a Marsh Harrier) where we was greeted with a party of Greenshank and a few Marsh Sandpiper. A Common Kingfisher showed well on the coast and throughout our visit flew from the shore to the lake. Plenty of Yellow Wagtail of various races were feeding in the meadow providing excellent views, a few were catching Painted Lady butterflies which are still going through their extraordinary migration from Arabia to Spain via Cyprus in their billions. A few Northern and Black-eared Wheatears were still kicking around. A small flock of Garagney were moving across the sea as well as a small group of Slender-billed Gulls.

On the lake were many Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Ruff, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover and Marsh Sandpiper. We also managed to spot a Wood Sandpiper too and a Green Sandpiper briefly in flight calling.
Further into the site we found many Lesser and Common Whitethroat, a beautiful male Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Blackcap and a male Ruppell's Warbler that showed well at the top of a shrub for a decent amount of time.
A Masked Shrike also showed well. Further along the coast a group of Caspian Gulls were on the shore and a pair of Stone Curlew took off alerted to our presence. We also managed to get great views of an Ortolan Bunting, my first of spring. As we left the site a Cyprus Wheatear and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear perched on the road infront of us.

Our next stop was Anarita Park. There was little around until we got to the quarry. The little owls weren't on show but we got incredible views of many Great Spotted Cuckoos and many Hoopoes.
Due to the lack of life around we headed up into Episkopi (seeing an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler enroute, and many Cyprus Wheatear) to see the Peregrine Falcons that we had both seen copulating in February. We witnessed a food pass and lengthy views of both the male and female in flight and perched.

Moving further into the foothills we watched a Cyprus Scops Owl at a roost site, a target species (as well as Cyprus Wheatear and Great Spotted Cuckoo). A we left, 2 large raptors were soaring over us, and so I proceeded to chase their flight path. They were 2 adult Bonelli's Eagles, and although the light was poor we could see the detail underneath.

We then headed to Asprokremnos dam for our lunch, here we managed to spot a Wood Warbler and a Semi-collared Flycatcher, though brief views.
A quick browse through Mandria held little aside the Laughing Doves and a shock Caspian Tern.
We finished up at Agia Varvara where we saw 7 (minimum) Little Crakes and a Spotted Crake. I thought we had a Baillon's though the light was poor and it was distant so I didn't mark it down, though having revisited the pool the next morning I saw and photographed a Baillon's so it was most likely that species. A Savi's Warbler was reeling in the corner of one of the pools but well concealed. Sadly we never managed to actually see a Black Francolin which was a target species, though we heard many. Our bird count was 80 species, a very enjoyable tour in Paphos.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Garganey
Little Grebe
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
(h)Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Hoopoe
Masked 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
(h)Savi's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Ruppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Semi-collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Sykes Wagtail
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting

80

April 05th, 2019

5/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos & Akrotiri 05/04/2019

On the 5th I guided Kai and Nadine around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites.
We set out from Kallepia to Episcopi. Cyprus Scops Owl was a target species and sure enough we saw a pair at a roost providing lovely photo opportunities of both with no obstruction, a perfect start.

As we was passing through we checked a Peregrine Falcon site of which after a few minutes of waiting the male flew in with a catch and we witnessed a mid air food pass and some cracking flight and perched views of both.
After we was satisfied we moved on to Anarita Park. Plenty of Corn Bunting and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear were on show again as were many Spanish Sparrows and an increase in Cyprus Wheatears.

One of the Little Owls was showing well above its nesting boulder and Great Spotted Cuckoos were calling and flying on the plateau. Tree Pipits flew over head and a few Tawny Pipits landed nearby enabling some great views. A Cretzschmar's Bunting sat close to us in a shrub calling out and Red-rumped Swallows were flying low near their nesting tunnel. A few male Ruppell's Warbler were showing near the peak and many Tawny Pipits and Hoopoes were close around the car near the 2nd entrance. We took the Anarita exit and saw a few Cyprus Wheatear here and a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos teasing the magpies, we managed our best views of the species here.
Anarita Masts held little aside many Hoopoes, the Red-throated Pipits were either concealed or had moved on.
Our next stop was Mandria for a quick toilet and coffee break. As we drunk our coffee we watched the many hirundine species above and also a pair of Laughing Doves calling to each other for a lengthy period.
Mandria beach seemed to be pretty devoid of life, we did manage an Isabelline Wheatear here though and a European Shag, many Black Francolin were calling though we didn't manage to see one.
We then set off to the Akrotiri peninsular.
Our first stop was Zakaki marsh where a Eurasian Bittern flew across the road not far from us, a great first bird to see! Many Reed Warbler were showing and in song and we also managed to pick out some Sedge Warbler singing and a Savi's Warbler reeling. A Male Little Crake showed at times and a spotted crake that we flushed. A Black-crowned Night Heron showed very close to us partly concealed in the reeds and a Little Egret flew up. As we was leaving a Little Bittern called and flew up into the reeds.
Across the road we came across a Squacco Heron showing nicely though not fully in breeding plumage. A Wood Sandpiper allowed us to get close views.
Around the port we saw many Northern and Black-eared Wheatears and a small party of Greater Short-toed Larks (Target species). Behind the Restaurant we had Armenian, Caspian and Yellow-legged Gull. Ladies Mile had little on the water aside a few Greater Flamingo and Little Egret. On the shrub side we had a Masked Shrike and a Whinchat but no waders on the concealed pools.
I'd heard about a group of various flycatchers that had been seen the previous day at the entrance to Bishop's Pool. We had a look around but was unsuccessful in finding any. Though we did see Eastern Bonelli's Warbler and a few bits on the lake.
We managed to spot a Blue Rock thrush and Common Redstart at the church side of the Gravel Pits.

At Phassouri we had a few Purple Herons close to the car and another Eurasian Bittern, this one walking on the road infront of us enabling some fantastic photo opportunities. A few Glossy Ibis were flying low down and many Cattle Egret were around the cattle hunting insects and lizards.
The pools at the back didn't have as much as usual. A Greenshank and a few Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and Ruff. Yellow Wagtails were feeding on the ground here but in very small numbers. Behind the pool there was a Woodchat shrike and a Marsh Harrier flew overhead.

We had our lunch on the way back to Paphos and tried for Bonelli's Eagle near one of their territories in the foothills. Unfortunately by this point the weather turned really bad and so we finished up, managing an impressive 89 species for the day.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Eurasian Bittern
Little Bittern
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Little Crake
Spotted Crake (fleeting Glimpse)
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl

Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Savi's Warbler
(h)Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Rueppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

89

April 05th, 2019

5/4/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half day Tour - Paphos 03/04/2019

On the 3rd I guided Francesca and Mark around the Paphos sites for a half day tour.
We started mid-day so the birdlife wasn't to be at its greatest, and hearing that the Hooded Wheatear had moved on from the headland we decided to skip that site and start at Timi Beach.
On arrival we had a few Wood Warbler and Chiffchaff in the Eucalyptus tree very close and on the water was some Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. A Spur-winged Lapwing was showing well through the flooded picnic area.
We then ventured around the coastal side and here we saw many Purple Herons taking off from the trees and a few Night Heron. Glossy Ibis and Little Egret were plenty on the water. Common Nightingales were calling and singing. Common and Wood Sandpiper were showing here also as well as a Hoopoe on the path meters from us.

A couple of Eastern Subalpine Warbler were showing well in some low shrub as well as Lesser and Common Whitethroat. We nearly stepped on a Quail that shot off despite sitting meters from us for a good few minutes. We caught glimpses of a Wryneck take off from the path and show low in an acacia bush and eventually fled. There was many Yellow Wagtails on show in the meadows, mainly Black-headed.
Our next stop was Anarita Park where a male Marsh Harrier was showing well at the entrance putting on a show. We had some close encounters with Great Spotted Cuckoo (1 flew meters from us ... right at us) and good views of Common Cuckoo, a Cretzschmar's Bunting showed nicely also as well as many Corn Bunting both in song. Tawny Pipits were everywhere, with some Tree Pipits flying over ... but sadly no sign of the Common Rockthrush which has been seen over the past few days.
We managed great views of Red-rumped Swallow and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear plus decent views of Cyprus Warbler and a brief glimpse of a Long-legged Buzzard. The weather took a turn here, more rain; in what is turning out to be one of the wettest years on record. We had brief views of Cyprus Wheatear as we exited the site. Then we had a quick sweep around Mandria in the rain which produced little aside a female Blue Rock thrush sitting on a wooden pole getting very wet and a few Laughing Dove.
We finished with 55 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Common Quail
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Common Swift
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw

Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Wood Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
(h)Common Nightingale
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

55

March 27th, 2019

27/3/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half day Tour - Paphos 26/03/201

On the 26th I had the pleasure of guiding Dave Dimmock arouond the Paphos sites for a half day tour. I did a tour last year for Dave also which was very productive.
We started out a Timi beach seeing a Common Buzzard enroute. There was plenty of Lesser Whitethroats in every bush and we managed to located a few Ruppell's and Eastern Subalpine Warblers among them. There wasn't much on the water aside a few Little Egrets and a Black-crowned Night Heron flying above being harassed by a hoody.
Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were absolutely everywhere again, enabling some really good views, and more Northern Wheatears had turned up.
Just as we was leaving a Little Ringed Plover flew in and we heard the call of a Spur-winged Lapwing, but was unable to see it.
We then headed to Mandria and did a quick sweep through. It was also teeming with warblers, Eastern Subalpine, Ruppell's Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroat and also an Eastern Oprhean Warbler. Tawny Pipit and various Wheatears were in the sand bowl as well as Hoopoe's. We also saw a Crested lark gathering nesting material and being guarded by her mate. A quail called from near us in the dense barley and Black Francolin called too from a distance.
We located a Stone Curlew showing well in the western field and a surprise Northern Lapwing flew over the car.

A quick check at Aspro Dam car park produced a Common Redstart and Black Redstart plus many Alpine Swift low overhead.
Next stop was Anarita Park where we got fantastic photo opportunities with a Cyprus Wheatear and also a pair of Little Owls sat next to each other. Cretzschmar's Bunting also showed well next to the car. The Great Spotted Cuckoos showed well also flying around, perching and being very vocal.

Now knowing that Dave is a Peregrine Falcon guard in the UK I asked if he wanted to visit a site to see our Mediterranean Sub-species. Ofcourse!
So we finished the day watching the Peregrines bring food back to their territory, and also seeing a Cyprus Scops Owl in the foothills...which more than made up for the fact the Cyprus Warblers weren't showing. A super half day tour producing a record breaking 68 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge (a.c.cypriotes)
(h)Black Francolin
(h)Common Quail
Black-crowned Night-heron
Little Egret
European Shag (p.a.desmarestii)
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon (f.p.brookei)
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Northern Lapwing
(h)Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
(h)Green Sandpiper
Yellow-legged 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 (p.m.aphrodite)
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark (g.c.cypriaca)
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Eastern Orphean Warbler
Rueppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Song Thrush
European Robin
(h)Common Nightingale
Western Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (Flava))
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch (c.c.muehlei)
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

68

March 26th, 2019

26/3/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Akrotiri + Paphos 25/03/2019

On the 25th I guided Ashley and Maureen around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
As we set off from Paphos to join the Motorway we was greeted with a Great Spotted Cuckoo being chased by a magpie, flying right for the car. Brief but exciting views!
Our first stop was Zakaki marsh. It was fairly quiet as far as marshland birds are concerned though we did have a tamarisk bush full of Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff, with a Cetti's showing briefly too. Around the side we were treated to a Wryneck, a bit distant and concealed at times but still a good sighting. Many Swifts and Swallows were in the Sky. We managed to pick out a few Pallid Swift and Red-rumped Swallow amongst them. A small migrating flock of Great Cormorant were seen over the eucalyptus trees. After we flushed a snipe and had brief views of Sedge Warbler and a singing Reed Warbler at the top of a reed, we moved on.
Ladies Mile was absolutely teeming with Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat. We had quite a few Ruppell's Warblers, mainly female though and a single female Eastern Subalpine Warbler. Cretzschmar's Bunting and Red-throated Pipit were near the port along with many Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. Tawny Pipit and Greater Short-toed Lark were feeding on the ground showing very close as did quite a few Hoopoes and stunning Woodchat Shrike showing close at the top of a bush.
On the water we had a Greater Flamingo and some Little Egret. But no Gulls.
On a shallow body of water we saw many Kentish Plover, with a Dunlin and some Little Stint among them.
We scouted the Salt Lake with a Black Francolin flying over the car en-route. The salt lake held many Greater Flaming and Slender Billed Gull. A small group of Greater Flamingo were courting, which was great to see.
Phassouri was more rich in life than my previous visit. A newly arrived party of Glossy Ibis were at the far west, many Cattle Egret had arrived feeding around the cattle, and a newly cut field was full of various Yellow Wagtails including a Syke's (Beema).
At the water body at the gravel pits there was many waders, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank and many Little Ringed Plover. Further in to the gravel pits we saw a Collared Flycatcher, my first black and white flycatcher for the year and an instant favourite for the day!

Our next destination was Kensington Cliffs where we ate our lunch. The Griffon Vultures didn't show unfortunately, though we did get cracking views of a male Blue Rock Thrush, many Cyprus Wheatears in song, Alpine Swift flying over and also a Long-legged Buzzard that decided to fly close over our heads. The Long-legged Buzzard was Maureen's favourite bird of the day, and what a bird it is (Ashley's was the Marsh Sandpipers, a very elegant species).
We then headed back to Paphos and tracked down some Laughing Doves at Mandria and some big flocks of Greater Short-toed lark and many Hoopoe and various Wheatears (mainly Black-headed).
Then on to Anarita Park for Cyprus Warbler, which showed well but distant and for brief moments due to the increase in wind. We also saw Chukar, Great Spotted Cuckoo and Little Owl here to wrap up the day managing a total of 86 species!

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
(h)Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Dunlin
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Little Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
(h)Eurasian Penduline tit

Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped 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
Cyprus Warbler
Eastern Subalpine Warbler
Song Thrush
(h) Nightingale
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Sykes Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
(h)Tree Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

86

<<Previous

April 19th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos 18/04/2019

April 17th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour - Paphos 17/04/2019

April 17th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 15/04/2019

April 14th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 2-day Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 12+13/04/2019

April 11th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos + Akrotiri 10/04/201

April 07th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos 06/04/201

April 05th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos & Akrotiri 05/04/2019

April 05th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half day Tour - Paphos 03/04/2019

March 27th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half day Tour - Paphos 26/03/201

March 26th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Akrotiri + Paphos 25/03/2019

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