Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD 8 Day Tour 07-14/04/2018 Lower Paphos, Upper Paphos, Akamas, Paphos Forest, Akrotiri & Limassol X2, Larnaca, Agia Napa & Famasgusta.
From the 7th I had the pleasure of guiding Mark and Lorna around Cyprus for an 8 day tour. Mark and Lorna favoured relaxed birding with regular stops and so the tempo was not high paced and the bird count was not a priority but rather good lengthy views of the species with many tea, coffee and ice cream stops. The first day was an afternoon tour concentrating on a few sites in lower and upper Paphos and finishing with a night tour for Cyprus Scops Owl of which we also managed to see a Barn Owl also. The highlights of the day was a low flying Bonelli's Eagle at Nata, Peregrine Falcon on territory doing food passes, quite a few newly arrived European Rollers, a lingering Blue Rock Thrush and a Black Francolin as well as Great Spotted Cuckoos, Cyprus Warblers and Cyprus Wheatears.
We managed 56 species for the day.
We managed 56 species for the day.
 Little Owl - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Peregrine Falcon - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Day two was situated at the lower paphos sites. We started at Agia Varvara early for the Baillon's Crake that had been in the area recently. Sure enough we got close views of albeit a bit brief. Other notable birds for the day were a Steppe Buzzard quite low, a Hen Harrier, a Whimbrel, Laughing Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, immense views of Red-throated Pipit and the cherry on the cake was a pair of Cyprus Warblers with fledglings.
Unfortunately the Paphos headland was locked due to Easter which was an unnecessary inconvenience causing a change of plans and reducing our chances of getting some species.
We managed 52 species.
Unfortunately the Paphos headland was locked due to Easter which was an unnecessary inconvenience causing a change of plans and reducing our chances of getting some species.
We managed 52 species.
Baillon's Crake - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
 Cetti's Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Little Owl - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Sardinian Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Eurasian Hoopoe - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Red-throated Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Sardinian Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
The third day was on the north coast of Cyprus and into the Paphos Forest. As we arrived in Latchi there was rain and thunderstorms which cleared up after an hour or so but really restricted our morning birding. On the beach we found a Caspian Gull and got great views. This was a another lifer for Mark.
At neo chorio we was treated to Serin quite close with some in display and also Cyprus Wheatear in display. I managed to locate a Creztschmar's Bunting calling which we all had great views of. Androlikou held some waders due to the downpour, common snipe and green sandpiper. Masked Shrike were around as was Common Cuckoo, Roller and a goat giving birth.
Moving on to the Paphos forest we came across a masked shrike that allowed very close observation. In the forest itsely we saw a Mouflon family with a newborn calf.
We managed 53 species for the day.
At neo chorio we was treated to Serin quite close with some in display and also Cyprus Wheatear in display. I managed to locate a Creztschmar's Bunting calling which we all had great views of. Androlikou held some waders due to the downpour, common snipe and green sandpiper. Masked Shrike were around as was Common Cuckoo, Roller and a goat giving birth.
Moving on to the Paphos forest we came across a masked shrike that allowed very close observation. In the forest itsely we saw a Mouflon family with a newborn calf.
We managed 53 species for the day.
 Masked Shrike - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Mouflon - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Masked Shrike - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Mouflon Calf - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
On the fourth day we headed up to the mountains. On the way we had many Common Cuckoo and a few Cretzshmar's Bunting in the foothills. We managed all the endemic sub-species with very close views of all. We had Wren in display, Grey wagtails meters away, maybe over 60 Cyprus Wheatear with some in display, many masked Shrike, a family of Crossbill, a Serin that flew up to us on a tree sitting meters away singing for over a minute, some of the lengthiest views of Eastern Olivaceous warbler I have ever had (20+ minutes out in the open singing), a woodlark singing and in display for over 30 minutes and a low flying Bonelli's Eagle near one of the Venetian Bridges. A Woodcock was flushed but sadly I was the only one that could identify it in flight. A great day in the mountains totaling 48 species.
 Wren - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Serin - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Serin - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
 Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Eurasian Jay - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  European Turtle Dove - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Woodlark - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  European Turtle Dove - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Grey Wagtail - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
We spent the fifth day on the Akrotiri peninsular with a slightly later start. Here the highlights were Coot and Mallard with young and many Little Stint which are a favoured species of Marks. A fair sized flock of Purple Heron migrating quite low was a spectacle and a spectacled warbler and common kingfisher provided close lengthy views. We came across a Black-necked Grebe in dazzling full summer plumage and the Griffon Vultures couldn't have shown better, with many passing very low overhead multiple times.
We managed 76 species for the day.
We managed 76 species for the day.
 Garganey - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Glossy Ibis - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Alpine Swift - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
On the sixth day we ventured to Agia Napa. We started by trying to twitch an Isabelline Shrike that was seen the day prior. Unfortunately it was not present, though we did find a Ruppell's Warbler being warded away from a bush by a Sardinian Warbler, this was a target species so definitely not a loss. At Cape Greco we got some views of a Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier almost colliding. The Hen Harrier perched and allowed good views. Further near the masts we also managed to locate a female pallid harrier. Species were quite sparse here so we ventured to other locations. At a secret lake we were treated to another female Pallid Harrier and two Crake species. One we had closer views of which was a male Little Crake, the other based on size was a Spotted Crake, though we didn't locate and get good views of. A Reed Warbler sat in a reed meters from us, Night Heron and Purple Heron flew towards and above us in close proximity. But the real gem at this site was probably the rarest creature in Cyprus. The Critically endangered Cyprus Grass Snake (natrix natrix cypriaca) which swam right up to us. This is the first time I had actually ever seen this species (in 13 years of living on the island), a species largely wiped out by the introduction of Large Mouth Bass from America.
Heading back in to Larnaca we stopped at Achna Dam which had a Goshawk present being mobbed by Barn Swallow and then at the salt lake to view the Slender-billed Gull incase they migrated before our day in Larnaca.
We managed 75 species.
Heading back in to Larnaca we stopped at Achna Dam which had a Goshawk present being mobbed by Barn Swallow and then at the salt lake to view the Slender-billed Gull incase they migrated before our day in Larnaca.
We managed 75 species.
Cyprus Grass Snake - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
 Eurasian Reed Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Epaulet Skimmer - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
On the 7th day I suggested another day in Akrotiri would be more fruitful than Nicosia despite Mark wanting the Lillith Little Owl. Mark agreed and it proved to be a very wise decision.
We managed to get phenomenal views of the rare WP 1st Ocularis White Wagtail at Phassouri which was meters from us in a tree. We got incredible and lengthy views of a male Pallid Harrier hunting on the salt pans, something Mark really wanted to see. On the Salt Lake we got incredible views of the unique part-mellanistic Greater Flamingo as well as enormous numbers of waders including some black-tailed godwit, some breath-taking views of Black Francolin calling out meters from the car for a decent amount of time and a brief view of an Eastern Montpellier Snake dashing infront of the car. We had many Ortolan Bunting, a Common Redstart showed very well as did European Roller, Red-backed Shrike and Woodchat Shrike.
A fantastic day totaling 78 species.
We managed to get phenomenal views of the rare WP 1st Ocularis White Wagtail at Phassouri which was meters from us in a tree. We got incredible and lengthy views of a male Pallid Harrier hunting on the salt pans, something Mark really wanted to see. On the Salt Lake we got incredible views of the unique part-mellanistic Greater Flamingo as well as enormous numbers of waders including some black-tailed godwit, some breath-taking views of Black Francolin calling out meters from the car for a decent amount of time and a brief view of an Eastern Montpellier Snake dashing infront of the car. We had many Ortolan Bunting, a Common Redstart showed very well as did European Roller, Red-backed Shrike and Woodchat Shrike.
A fantastic day totaling 78 species.
 Pallid Harrier - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Red-backed Shrike - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Siberian White Wagtail - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Pallid Harrier - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Kentish Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Siberian White Wagtail - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Part Melanistic Greater Flamingo - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the final day we ventured around Larnaca. At Oroklini we managed to find the Red-crested Pochard with Ducklings, a rare sight in Cyprus. Venturing west we came across a field full of Yellow Wagtail and red-throated Pipit but unfortunately could not locate any Calandra Lark there. Further on we found some Common and Great Spotted Cuckoo. The Great Spotted Cuckoo pair actually flew towards us and landed in tree meters away providing great views. A semi-collared flycatcher showed well but briefly allowing a few record photos. Unfortunately Mark and Lorna could not get to the viewing point in time before it vanished into the dense trees not to be seen again. A few Long-eared Owls were flushed here.
We managed 69 species for the day and brought the total number of species to 131, with much of the island covered with some great scenery and historical sites, some great flora and fauna and great company.
Some species did evade us that I usually have no trouble in finding and put it down to site disturbance (of which it seems there was many groups out this year walking through the sites) i.e Whinchat, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Wood Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Greater Sand Plover, Armenian Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Wryneck, Common Quail, Isabelline Wheatear and Lesser Kestrel.
We managed 69 species for the day and brought the total number of species to 131, with much of the island covered with some great scenery and historical sites, some great flora and fauna and great company.
Some species did evade us that I usually have no trouble in finding and put it down to site disturbance (of which it seems there was many groups out this year walking through the sites) i.e Whinchat, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Wood Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Greater Sand Plover, Armenian Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Wryneck, Common Quail, Isabelline Wheatear and Lesser Kestrel.
Cattle Egret Nests - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Red-crested Pochard with ducklings - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
| Chukar Partridge (a.c.cypriotes) Black Francolin Mallard Northern Shoveler Garganey Common Teal Red-crested Pochard Ferruginous Duck Little Grebe Black-necked Grebe Greater Flamingo Glossy Ibis Black-crowned Night-heron Squacco Heron Western Cattle Egret Grey Heron Purple Heron Little Egret European Shag (p.a.desmarestii) Common Kestrel Peregrine Falcon (f.p.brookei) Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Pallid Harrier Northern Goshawk Common Buzzard Steppe Buzzard Long-legged Buzzard Bonelli's Eagle (h) Water Rail Little Crake Baillon's Crake Spotted Crake Common Moorhen Common Coot (h) Eurasian Stone Curlew Black-winged Stilt Spur-winged Lapwing Little Ringed Plover Kentish Plover *Eurasian Woodcock Common Snipe Black-tailed Godwit Whimbrel Marsh Sandpiper Common Greenshank Green Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Little Stint Ruff *Audouin's Gull Yellow-legged Gull Caspian Gull Baltic Gull Slender-billed Gull Rock Dove Common Wood-pigeon European Turtle-dove Eurasian Collared-dove Laughing Dove Great Spotted Cuckoo Common Cuckoo Barn Owl Cyprus Scops Owl Little Owl | *Long-eared Owl Alpine Swift Common Swift European Roller Common Kingfisher Eurasian Hoopoe Red-backed Shrike Woodchat Shrike Masked Shrike Eurasian Jay (g.g.glaszneri) Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Coal Tit (p.a.cypriotes) Great Tit (p.m.aphrodite) Greater Short-toed Lark Crested Lark (g.c.cypriaca) Wood Lark *Sand Martin Barn Swallow (inc. transitiva sb.sp) Red-rumped Swallow Common House-martin Zitting Cisticola Cetti's Warbler Sedge Warbler Eurasian Reed-warbler Great Reed-warbler Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (h) Willow Warbler Common Chiffchaff Blackcap Common Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat Rueppell's Warbler Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Warbler Spectacled Warbler Eurasian Wren (t.t.cypriotes) Dorothy's (Short-toed) Treecreeper (c.b.dorothye) Eurasian Blackbird Common Nightingale Common Redstart Northern Wheatear Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Cyprus Wheatear Blue Rock-thrush *Semi-collared Flycatcher House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow White Wagtail (inc. Ocularis sbsp.) Yellow Wagtail (inc flava, thunbergi, feldegg, beema sbsp.) Grey Wagtail Tawny Pipit Tree Pipit Red-throated Pipit Common Chaffinch European Serin European Greenfinch (c.c.muehlei) European Goldfinch Common Linnet Red Crossbill (l.c.guillemardi) Corn Bunting Ortolan Bunting Cretzschmar's Bunting 131 species *= only seen well enough to ID (or photographed) by the guide. |
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