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April 12th, 2016

12/4/2016

 

Cyprus Bird watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour, Akrotiri 12/04/16

Glossy Ibis Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Glossy Ibis Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 12th I had the pleasure of guiding Graham and Flor around Akrotiri. We started early, 6am and it was raining with thunderstorms the whole journey but by the time we reached our first destination; Zakaki Marsh, the clouds started to give way to some sun. As we parked up we could see hundreds of Common Swifts above the marsh with House Martin, Sand Martin and Barn Swallow among them. Having consistently had Pallid Swift at this site over the years during Spring I decided to start checking through the Swifts and after much searching I found a lone Pallid Swift unwilling to join in with the commons of which we got good views of.
As we entered the hide, the first bird we saw was a Spotted Crake being incredibly obliging and a lone Green Sandpiper on the mound. Reed Warblers, Cetti's Warblers and Sedge Warblers were all singing and then suddenly a male Little Crake popped out. Flor managed to get some great video digiscoping the Little Crake whilst Graham and I got some great photos of the Spotted Crake that was on show for a staggering 20-30 minutes. There wasn't many duck species present nor any Herons, a Little Egret graced us with its presence for a few minutes and so we decided to move on. 
Ladies Mile was incredibly devoid of life, with only Kentish Plover and Little Stint on the East Side and a Purple Heron fly over. Much further up there was a group of Waders so we stopped and scoped. 5 Greenshank, many Little Stint and a Sanderling sticking out with its short stubby bill. There was also some Greater Flamingo present but all were fast asleep and not showing any pink at all hinting that they were recent migrants that are not well fed yet. I was shocked not to see a single Dunlin here. Due to the wetness of the area a drive onto the salt lake was a no go, so Bishops Pool was our next stop. Near the entrance, Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were singing from an acacia bush and a Common Buzzard perched nicely on a few bushes before. Bishops Pool itself was also quite low on life aside the usual Ferruginous Ducks that are always a pleasure to see. It was incredibly noisy at the site with the U2 Spyplane flying low and Jet fighters taking off but I still managed to pick out the call of an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler that we had ok views of which was accompanied by a Wood Warbler. There was also a Wood Sandpiper that refused to mingle with the group of Green Sandpipers of which we couldn't relocate after it flew to the opposite side of the pool. 
Our final stops in Akrotiri were to be the Gravel Pits and Phassouri Marsh, where we saw Pied Flycatchers, Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Whinchat, Glossy Ibis feeding close to the car and a Spotted Redshank.
We decided to quickly stop in at Mandria and Anarita Park on the way back, to see if any migrating flocks were about and also Anarita Park in hope of getting some good Cyprus Warbler photos. The wind had picked up by this time and both ideas didn't quite work out, we did however see close views of Lesser kestrels hovering next to the car, hunting grasshoppers, Cyprus Warblers flittering from scrub to scrub and also had brilliant views of a group of Ortolan Bunting.
Despite the sites seeming not up to the usual standard for this time of year, it was a great tour with great company, a decent species count and some good photo opportunities.
Spotted Crake Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Spotted Crake Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Wood Warbler Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Wood Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Sedge Warbler Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Sedge Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Reed Warbler Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Eurasian Reed Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Yellow Wagtail (feldegg) Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Yellow Wagtail - Feldegg Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Green Sandpiper Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Green Sandpiper Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Spotted Crake Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Spotted Crake Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Full Species List:
Chukar Partridge, Black Francolin (h), Mallard, Northern Shoveller, Little Grebe, Greater Flamingo, Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Little Crake, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Sanderling, Little Stint, Yellow-Legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Great Tit, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (h), Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Wood Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, European Pied Flycatcher, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail (M.f feldegg), European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting, Ortolan Bunting. 


61 Species

Spotted Redshank Common Sandpiper Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

April 09th, 2016

9/4/2016

 

Cyprus Bird watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour, Troodos and Paphos 07+08/04/16

I spent Thursday guiding Dr Martin Perrow (of ECON Ecological Consultancy) and his father Herbert around the sites in Troodos, all endemic species and sub-species, the regional endemic Common Crossbill and also Masked Shrike being the targets. Naturally a trip in Troodos was not going to produce a big list however we managed many species and saw great numbers of each species,
however we only managed to hear a Cyprus Scops Owl calling briefly making it impossible to locate. During the tour nearly every species that we saw was calling or in song as you would expect this time of year. Many species were displaying to mates and collecting nesting material, making the day all the more special.
Friday afternoon into early evening (a short tour) I guided Martin around Paphos and the Foothills. This tour was so Martin could see the species that he had missed during his stay. Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard and Cyprus Scops Owl were the targets. During this tour we had fantastic photo opportunities throughout with some great species. We unfortunately didn't manage to find a Pallid Harrier however we had 2 Montagu's Harriers come in off the sea. A pleasant surprise at Mandria was a Turkestan Shrike (red-tailed shrike), a Cyprus Rarity. Apparently the bird had been discovered earlier in the day by Albert Stocker. It was amazing to see the bird, observe for some time and get some great photos.
We then headed to Anarita Park, a well known Harrier roost site in hope of finding a Pallid Harrier. Sadly no harrier species present but we did get some great views and photo opportunities with both male and female Cyprus Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike and Little Owl. A Long-legged Buzzard was hovering above the quarry.
The plan for an afternoon tour was so that we could get Scops Owls at night. We headed to a special site in Episkopi and were treated to many Cyprus Scops Owls all being very vocal and allowing some great views.
A thoroughly enjoyable two day tour with great company, great views, great photo opportunities and a Cyprus Rarity!
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Cyprus Coal Tit Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Eurasian Hoopoe Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Turkestan Shrike Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Common Crossbill Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Cyprus Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Full Species List:
Black Francolin, Chukar Partridge, Common Quail, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Common Kestrel, Montagu's Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Baltic Gull, Common Wood Pigeon, European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl (O.s cyprius), Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Turkestan Shrike, Eurasian Jay (G.g glaszneri), Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Coal Tit (P.a cypriotes), Great Tit, Crested Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Wren (T.t cypriotes), Short-toed Treecreeper (C.b dorotheae), Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail (h), Tree pipit (h), Red-throated Pipit (h), Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Crossbill (L.c guillemardi), Corn Bunting. 


62 Species
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Cyprus Scops Owl Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Masked Shrike Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Cyprus Scops Owl Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Red-rumped Swallow Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

April 02nd, 2016

2/4/2016

 

Cyprus Bird watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour 01/04/16 Paphos

I spent the first day of April guiding Dennis around Paphos. Dennis used to spend a lot of time at the RSPB sites in the UK and has over the years turned into quite a photographer, being part of a Photographers club here in Cyprus. So it was my mission to get good photographic opportunities. 
The day started well, Mandria being the first destination, with Cyprus Wheatears seen pretty much the whole journey from Tala on the electric lines. The first two birds we saw when entering Mandria was a Female Marsh Harrier and a Male Pallid Harrier! Not a bad way to start the day. 
Dennis was very keen to see and photograph Cyprus Warbler and so I managed to find Cyprus Warblers very close in shrubs, at one point we saw a Cyprus Warbler and a Cyprus Wheatear within a metre's proximity! Can't beat a sight liken that.
Sadly at some point at Mandria, Dennis misplaced his Binoculars and despite driving back to Mandria to search for them we was unsuccessful, which also resulted in the shortening of the tour. ***(if anyone comes across them please contact me using the email address on the website. It is most likely the bins were placed on the car and forgotten, so they could be anywhere at Mandria beach)  

Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours  Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Total species list:
Chukar Partridge, Black Francolin, Little grebe, European Shag, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Great Tit, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Zitting Cisticola, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Chiffcahff, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Ruppell's Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Song Thrush, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, White Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting, Cretzschmar's Bunting.


60 Species
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Cyprus Warbler
Cyprus Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Spanish Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Sardinian Warbler
Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Cretzschmar's Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (sp. brookei) Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours  Pallid Harrier
Pallid Harrier Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Stone Curlew
Eurasian Stone Curlew Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
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Lesser Whitethroat Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (sp. brookei) Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours Little Owl
Little Owl Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith Some Rights Reserved
    Mostly all photos are taken with a
    - Canon 7D mkii (older photos with mk1)
    and a
    - Canon 400mm Ef-s USM l f5.6 Lens. 
    - no teleconverter.

    Macro: 
    Tamron sp 90mm f017
    (older: Canon sx50 HS)


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