Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos & Akrotiri 05/04/2019
Cyprus Scops Owl - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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.
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.
Cyprus Scops Owl - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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.
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.
Spanish Sparrow - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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.
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.
Blue Rock Thrush - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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.
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.
Eurasian Bittern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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.
Eurasian Bittern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
| 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 |
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