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April 30th, 2018

30/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos 28/04/2018

On the 28th I had the pleasure of guiding Hugh and Joyce around the Paphos Sites.
Starting at the Paphos Sewage Works we were treated to Spur-winged Lapwing and many Golden Oriole. We spotted a Tree Pipit calling in flight and also heard a red-throated pipit. Many various Yellow Wagtails were feeding in the freshly cut field.
A Wood sandpiper and a ruff was a good spot near some puddles and we also managed many Turtle Doves here with some smashing views.
Moving on to Anarita Park we browsed through the many Rollers, Red-footed Falcons and Lesser kestrels. There was a decent number of Montagu's Harriers hunting throughout the site, we had great views of them all in flight close and also many of them on the ground feeding nearby. A female Pallid Harrier was also among them.
Smaller birds were thin on the ground though we did manage to find a Whinchat, Cyprus Warblers and Cyprus Wheatears. We got some great views of Spanish Sparrows here collecting nesting material in a mixed group with House Sparrows.

Agia Varvara was the next site where many Black Francolin were calling but proving very hard to find as usual. The Zitting Cisticolas were flitting about as usual but life here seemed quite poor compared to recent. Our best birds here was a lone Purple Heron, Little Owl, a brief glimpse at a Collared Flycatcher and a few Pallid Swift among the many Commons.
We then moved on to Mandria which seemed very quiet. We did see a migrating flock of Glossy Ibis and many of the shrikes (Lesser Grey, Woodchat and Red-backed). The Stone Curlew were still in the same field. We cut through to Timi where a large group of Squacco Heron were all on the beach in full summer plumage, not something you get to see very often in Cyprus. A European Shag and Common Sandpiper were the only other birds on the shore.

Then we went to Asprokremnos Dam to have our lunch and check the woodland for flycatchers. The sound of Golden Oriole singing whilst we had our lunch was very pleasant and a Spotted Flycatcher darted around the trees along with many Goldfinch and Great Tit families.
Moving further inland we headed to the Xeros river which also seemed much quieter than it had been recently. The Red-rumped Swallows were still around collecting mud ... they landed quite close to us at times. On the water we could only make out Wood Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.
We then decided to head to Episkopi in hope of getting more views of Cyprus Wheatear of which we did. Also quite a few more Rollers and a few Pied Flycatchers. Many Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing in the bushes, one popped up for a minute.
Many finches were calling and singing, Linnet being the best of the bunch. A few Golden oriole flew into a woodland but proved to be very hard to see.
At the Peregrine Site we had great scoped views of 2 fluffy chicks and the male Peregrine in flight for long periods of time, a Great Spotted Cuckoo flew in and landed inside the fenced area where unfortunately we couldn't see it. We finished the day with 63 species.

Species:
Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Purple Heron
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Little Owl
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Roller
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
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) Eurasian Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Eurasian Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Whinchat
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Tree Pipit
(h) Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

63

April 28th, 2018

28/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 1/2 day tour - Akrotiri 27/04/2018

On the 27th I had the pleasure of guiding Jack and Eric around Akrotiri for a half day tour. Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Wheatear were the only targets so we headed inland a bit. At our first site our first bird was a Cyprus Wheatear singing on top of a juniper tree and then a male Montagu's Harrier flew over low. A good start! Further up the track we came across many Sardinian Warblers and also a few Rollers, one perched in a tree and another in flight. A Great Spotted Cuckoo called though we could not find it in the dense woodland. The Cyprus Warblers were not at their territory so I recommended that we move on to another site nearby where I knew that they will be present. On the way out a big group of Golden oriole flew over with some landing in the Junipers and pines. Serin and Chaffinch could be heard.
At the next site we were greeted by a large group of Alpine Swift being very noisy and eventually flying very low. The next bird we saw was a Cyprus Warbler sitting on top of a tree quite close, it then flew towards us and landed in a bush meters away.
Then he vanished but was seen again later chasing a Sardinian Warbler around and providing incredible views in a low bush just meters away from us. A surprise bird here was a lone Greater Short-toed Lark that landed infront of the car.
Two Griffon Vultures were on the cliff and a small group of Eleonora's Falcons were in flight but quite far away.
We headed to the other side to get better views of Cyprus Wheatear of which we did.
Next destination was Phassouri Marsh. A Large flock of Glossy Ibis were flying over as we entered the site and two Serin were on the ground very close to the car. Black Francolin were calling all around and Marsh Harriers were hunting.
On the water we had a few Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Garganey, mallard and ducklings, Moorhen and some Glossy Ibis.
Moving on to the gravel pits we came across Lesser Grey Shrike and Red-backed Shrike in close proximity to each other. Two Great Egret flew in from the sea and landed on some pools. The church only had a Spotted Flycatcher.
Heading to Lady's Mile we had a Chukar in the road near bishop's pool, with eastern olivaceous warbler singing in the acacia and a Pied Flycatcher darted across the road.
Lady's Mile held plenty of waders, mostly Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff and black-winged stilt with Little Stint and little terns. The highlight here was an Avocet.
Moving on to the salt lake we was treated to many Temminck's Stint very close to the car ... a very productive site but sadly we didn't get to spend much time here. We totaled 68 species for the half day tour!

Species:
Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Common Moorhen
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Ruff
Little Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Cuckoo
(h) Great Spotted Cuckoo
Alpine Swift

Common Swift
European Roller
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h) Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h) Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava)
(h) Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

68

April 24th, 2018

24/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 1/2 day tour - Paphos 21/04/2018

On the 21st I had the pleasure of Guiding Dave and Josie around Paphos for a half day tour in the afternoon. As we approached our first destination the weather took a turn for the worst and it started raining with winds also picking up.
Not ideal conditions. At Anarita Park we found some Lesser Kestrel with a Common Kestrel posing very well for photos. There was quite a few European Rollers present, some providing some great photo opportunities. A Chukar sat on a rock meters from the car completely unfazed. Probably some of the best photo opportunities and views I've ever managed of them. We found a Woodchat shrike seeking shelter from the rain inside a thorny broom.

On to Agia Varvara we saw some Wood Sandpiper and a Little Grebe on the way. We had a quick look on the river to see if any Crakes were about since the water levels had increased after drying out recently. Unfortunately there were none around, though we did see two Turtle Doves.
A female Pallid Harrier flew in from the hills enabling some great views as it circled to gain height not far from us. A falcon followed the valley edge, very hard to identify from such a distance but a few record photos showed it to be a female Red-footed Falcon.
There were many Great Reed Warblers on the south side, with Eurasian Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler. Also a few Pied Flycatchers darted across the track. A Purple heron sat not far from the track enabling good views on the ground and in flight. I heard a faint call of a Great Spotted Cuckoo, though was unable to locate it.
There was also quite a few Whincat knocking about, I managed to get us very close to them on many occasions though they were very jittery and never allowed a shot. One even landed a few meters infront of the car foraging for food.
Moving on to Mandria we stopped to see the Laughing Doves which were perched on the wires. Many Yellow Wagtail were feeding on the football pitch as well as Barn Swallow and House Martin collecting mud.
There was a big group of Common Swifts, House Martin, Barn Swallow, and a few Alpine Swift and Sand Martin feeding over the fields.
Driving along the coast a Common Tern came in to view. A very uncommon sighting in Cyprus, and it flew fairly close to us. A small migrating group of Little Egret flew overhead quite low. We finally managed a photo opportunity of Zitting Cisticola here after hearing them just about everywhere.
A female Red-footed Falcon stood on top of a bare tree, we went in closer for a photo but a Hooded Crow flushed her and she just kept flying east which was a shame. On the far east side I showed them two Stone Curlew that had been on the same field for quite some time allowing some great views. A large group of Glossy Ibis were flying along the coast just as we were leaving the Stone Curlew and a Peregrine Shot across the fields to the coast though views were very restricted by the plastic agricultural tubes.

Last stop was the Paphos Sewage Plant to see the Spur-winged Lapwing which we saw quite a few of. We also managed a couple more Stone Curlew but much closer this time, a great way to end the tour managing 53 species with unfavourable weather conditions.

Species:
Chukar Partridge (A.c.cypriotes)
(h) Black Francolin
Little Grebe
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Tern
(h) Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Little Owl
Alpine Swift

Common Swift
European Roller
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (P.m.aphrodite)
Crested Lark (G.c.cypriaca)
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Blackcap
Wood Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Cyprus Wheatear
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (M.f.flava)
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
53

April 22nd, 2018

22/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour (Paphos/Night Tour, Akrotiri + Akamas)

On the 17th I had the pleasure of Guiding Marco and Theresa on a 3 day tour with a heavy photographic focus. We started the day at the Paphos Sewage plant as it was a cloudy morning and the sun was not high enough yet for our main site. At the sewage plant we had a flock of Purple heron flying low and eventually landing in some nearby trees, a Glossy Ibis stood in a field with quite a few Squacco Heron, Little and Cattle Egret. There was only 2 Spur-winged Lapwing
outside the fence and few Red-throated Pipit.
As the light got better we moved around to Agia Varvara where we failed to see any crake species. Then we moved on to our main site, Anarita Park. Here we was treated to many Lesser Kestrel that didn't seem to be very active.
Here we had photo opportunities with male and female Cyprus Warbler and also Cyprus Wheatear. There was decent photo opportunities with Ortolan Bunting also, another target species. We managed to spot a Greenfinch feeding its mate and then copulating briefly. We even saw a Large Whip Snake sun-bathing on the track.
Next stop was Mandria where we managed good photo opportunities with Greater Short-toed Lark and also had good views of Black Francolin, another target species. We was very lucky to see the (Cyprus Rarity 6th) Namaqua Dove that had previously been found in the area. We flushed it some 30 meters from the car.
We then moved on to Timi Beach where we had great views and photo opportunities with an adult male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, and were also treated to a Yellow-legged Gull feeding another and then mating on a rock offshore. I saw a quail land in the vegetation and then flushed it whilst searching. Here we also came across a Mammoth Wasp and a Sand Wasp species carrying a dead Grasshopper. An usual occurrence here was 4 Swallowtail Butterflies all chasing each other and eventually landing all together. I guess competition for mating.
We managed 56 species for the day.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Sand Wasp (Tachysphex sp.)

Large Whip Snake

The second day was at Akrotiri and Episkopi. We started out at Phassouri for Black Francolin, we found one pretty quickly but it was tricky to photograph, a wary bird on this favoured perch. We did find another later for some photography.

As usual the entrance to the site held many Serin singing and a few Chaffinch.
Heading to the marsh there was a Wryneck perched in the reeds and two Purple Heron on the ground. From the hide there was many Cattle Egret and Little Egret nearby, as were Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis.

At the back 3 Great Reed Warblers showed well and in the small reeds much closer, Sedge and Eurasian reed Warbler flitted around.
The gravel pits held a few Woodchat Shrike, Pallid Harrier and a Eurasian Hobby on the ground at the pebbled beach. In a dry grassy area there were many Owlfly's on the wing. Unusually the church area was completely devoid of life.

We continued to Lady's Mile where there was many Ruff, Little Egret and a small party of Marsh Sandpiper and two Greenshank. There wasn't many Gulls around.
We then headed to the Salt Lake. On the way we came across a pair of Collared Pratincole on the ground and a huge group of Glossy Ibis both on the ground and in the air, of which many joined the passing flock. On the salt lake there was many Little Stint with a Temmincks stint very distant. There was a large stretch of Northern pintail on the ground as well as quite a few Greater Flamingo and Grey Heron. A Grey plover was an odd sighting here. Many Swift passed overhead with some Pallid among them.
A few little tern were fishing here and a White-winged Tern was resting on the ground.
On the other side there was a small group of Gull-billed Tern sitting next to some Yellow-legged and Armenian Gull. Slightly to the right was a small group of Kentish Plover and ... a male Caspian Plover, a Cyprus rarity. Two days and two rarities.

We then checked Episkopi on the way back for Griffon Vulture and saw one but it wasn't very close. An Eleonora's Falcon sat on the Cliffs in the distance and Alpine Swift buzzed past us many times. We managed a whopping 86 Species.

2 Hours of the tour were reserved for a quick night tour for Cyprus Scops Owl. We managed to find one but not at my trusted site which is now in need of evaluation. We found 4 Little Owls, an Egyptian Fruit Bat, a few Pipistrelle, a Nightjar churring and also a few encounters with Long-eared hedgehog.

The third day was to concentrate more on photography with the Endemics (and only 6 hours to do so) and also target Cretzschmar's Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Masked Shrike and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. It was an afternoon tour which was sadly overcast. We did however manage some superb photo opportunities despite the weather of all the mentioned species. I decided the Akamas on the north coast was the place to go.
Other highlights were a pair of Cuckoos, Whinchat, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, 20+ Golden Oriole and almost nabbing a good photo of one, Serin, Great Tit fledglings everywhere, Little Owl, Hoopoe and many many Roller including one in display flight. A female Pallid Harrier did a close flyby and we saw two Eurasian Hobby's. A low count of 45 species for the day and bringing our total to 110 species.

Total:
Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Common Quail
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Grey Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Caspian Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Dunlin
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Little Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove

Namaqua Dove
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
(h) Eurasian Nightjar
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Roller
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
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
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava, feldegg)
Meadow Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

110

April 20th, 2018

20/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour 16/04/2018 Paphos

On the 16th I had the pleasure of Guiding April and Ian around the Paphos sites. There was only one target species: European Roller. We managed to find 4 during the tour with some good photo opportunities. We were even treated to one feeding another.

Highlight species were a female Pallid Harrier, Peregrine Falcon on territory with a Cyprus Scops Owl heard nearby, 4 Collared Pratincole flying low over Mandria for most of the time we spent there, Red-rumped Swallow coming down for nesting mud and a female Little Crake.

Species:

Black Francolin
Northern Pintail
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Pallid Harrier
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Spur-winged Lapwing
Collared Pratincole
Yellow-legged Gull
Baltic Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Cyprus Scops Owl (h)
Common Swift
European Roller
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow

Great Tit (P.m.aphrodite)
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
57

April 15th, 2018

15/4/2018

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.

Little Owl Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Peregrine Falcon brookei action Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Baillons crake Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Cettis Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Hoopoe Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Red Throated Pipit Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Masked Shrike Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Mouflon Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

East Mediterranean Winter Wren Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

European Serin Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Cyprus Jay Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

European Turtle Dove Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Woodlark Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Grey Wagtail Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Garganey Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Griffon Vulture Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Glossy Ibis Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Alpine Swift Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Cyprus Grass Snake Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Reed Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Epaulet Skimmer Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Pallid Harrier Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Red-backed Shrike Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Siberian White Wagtail Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Kentish Plover Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Mellanistic Greater Flamingo Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

Cattle Egret nests Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Red Crested Pochard Duckings Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

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.

April 05th, 2018

5/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD 04/04/2018 Paphos

On the 4th I had the pleasure of guiding Ingeborg and Graham around the Paphos sites. We started in the foothills where they were staying and managed to see a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoo fly in before we even got in the car, and a Cyprus Wheatear was singing nearby. A great start!
We headed down to Timi beach after a quick browse around the sewage works which produced some Spur-winged Lapwing and Spanish Sparrow. The previous afternoon I had spotted a beautiful summer plumaged Greater Sand Plover but unfortunately it was not still there, probably the result of dog walkers. Infact the whole area was completely devoid of life, not even a wheatear and so we continued on to Mandria. On the way there was a small group of Greater Short-toed Lark that provided great views and photo opportunities. At Mandria the Laughing Dove were showing as were a few yellow wagtails and a lingering Water Pipit. A Hoopoe probed the ground meters from the car and caught a grub allowing some action photos. The rest of Mandria was pretty poor unusually, we only had a few Little Egrets flying over.
We continued on to Anarita Park which was also quieter than it had been before. Unbelievably a Cetti's Warbler was showing well on quite a few occasions. A Wryneck posed well as did Cyprus Wheatear and Black-eared Wheatear, with many Tawny Pipits around but only 3 Lesser Kestrel still present. We also found Cyprus Warbler at three locations here.
A surprise bird here was an incredibly early Red-backed Shrike, a stunning male. Many Corn Bunting were singing still and a pair of Red-rumped Swallow kept returning to their nest.

We then continued on to Agia Varvara where we managed Black Francolin (target species), infact a few of them with also quite a few others heard. At the pools there was quite a few ruff on the water along with a Marsh Sandpiper, I had a brief glimpse of a Spotted crake in the corner though Ingeborg and Graham were unable to get on it before it retreated into the vegetation. Scanning to the right I noticed a Snipe showing a lot of white on the wings. GREAT SNIPE. I quickly got the scope out and put them on it. We had some great lengthy views of the Great Snipe and spotted a Sedge Warbler also in the area and a pair of Turtle Dove and then we moved on.
Next stop was Asprokremnos Dam for lunch. After we ate our lunch and saw an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler we moved around to the mast area where plenty of Hoopoe are still hanging out. There were some red-throated pipit here but not in their usual spot on the heaps.
We quickly checked Kouklia Soakaways which were bone dry including the river. Graham managed to spot a few Ortolan Bunting that were perched for a considerable amount of time.

Next we ventured back to the Sewage Plant in hope of getting better photo opportunities with the Spur-winged Lapwing. We managed to find a few Eurasian Stone Curlew flying in and out of an orchard.
On the coast there was a small group of Northern Pintail in the sea and on the alfalfa fields we had three cattle egret on the ground hunting in the fields. One pulled out a young Snake that Graham managed to get some shots of in the beak. A nice bit of action to finish a relatively slow day totaling 58 species.

Spiecies:
Northern pintail
Chukar, Alectoris chukar cypriotes
Black francolin
Little egret
Squacco heron
Cattle egret
Long-legged buzzard
Lesser kestrel
Common kestrel
Spotted crake
Common moorhen
Eurasian Stone curlew
Spur-winged lapwing
Great snipe
Marsh sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged gull
Common Wood pigeon
European turtle dove
Eurasian Collared dove
Laughing dove
Great spotted cuckoo
Common swift
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian wryneck
Greater short-toed lark
Crested lark
Barn swallow
Red-rumped swallow

Common house martin
White wagtail
Yellow wagtail
Tawny pipit
Tree pipit
Red-throated pipit
Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta coutelli
Zitting cisticola
Cetti's warbler
Sedge warbler
Eurasian reed warbler
Eastern Bonelli's warbler
Eurasian blackcap
Sardinian warbler
Cyprus warbler
Northern wheatear
Cyprus wheatear
Eastern Black-eared wheatear
Great tit, Parus major aphrodite
Red-backed shrike
Magpie
Hooded crow
Ortolan bunting
Corn bunting
European greenfinch
European goldfinch
House sparrow
Spanish sparrow

58

April 01st, 2018

1/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD 31/03/2018 Famagusta + Larnaca

On the 31st I had the pleasure of Guiding Tomas, Ingred and Lars around the Eastern sites. We started the day at Cape Greco where we were treated to good views of mostly everything and had good but brief views of a male Marsh Harrier hunting over a field. Spectacled and Cyprus Warbler were target species of which we had both up very close on many occasions and in song. We also found a female Eastern Suablpine Warbler, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Ruppell's Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler and Sardinian Warbler with many Nightingale singing and jumping from the low shrub. The tour was to mainly concentrate on warblers so I was happy to get them out of the way early on. A Wryneck posed very nicely close to the car, kicking off a Cyprus Wheatear from its perch in the process. There were two pairs of Cyprus Wheatear displaying, buzzing around the female like an angry wasp/bee which was incredible to see, a rare thing to see in fact as even I had never witnessed it before.
An Audouin's Gull flew along the coast but was quite distant to ID by binoculars but luckily I managed a photo, followed by another gull that I couldn't identify and then some time later a Caspian Gull flew across, not a bad selection of gulls considering they were the only one's that we saw. There was many Northern Wheatears and just a single Isabelline around, and a few Tawny Pipits and a Yellow Wagtail. A Tree Pipit posed well incredibly close to us whilst we was on foot
and didn't seem disturbed at all by us in close proximity!

We then moved on to Oroklini where the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater was still present and showed very well for our duration there. Here we managed to spot a pair of Red-crested Pochard as well as various waterfowl including a lingering Pintail and Common Shelduck that should have moved on by now. Nearby we had a decent flock of Glossy Ibis on the ground feeding with two Squacco Herons nearby of which one walked up to us.

Then on to Menou which was still low on life, though we did manage to see the Black-necked Grebes in summer plumage that were not present on my last visit. Here we ate our lunch and then continued to Achna Dam which held quite a bit of life, namely wood and green sandpiper quite close together. But the star bird here was a Pied Kingfisher landing right next to the car but moving off quickly and not relocated! What a finish to a fantastic days guiding in the east of the island managing 79 species!

Species:
Common shelduck
Common teal
Mallard
Northern pintail
Garganey
Northern shoveller
Red-crested pochard
Ferruginous duck
Chukar
Black francolin (h)
Little grebe
Black-necked grebe
Greater flamingo
European shag
Grey heron
Little egret
Squacco heron
Cattle egret
Glossy ibis
Western Marsh harrier
Common kestrel
Common moorhen
Eurasian coot
Spur-winged lapwing
Kentish plover
Black-winged stilt
Common redshank
Common greenshank
Green sandpiper
Wood sandpiper
Ruff
Caspian Gull
Armenian gull
Audouin's gull
Slender-billed gull
Common Wood pigeon
Eurasian Collared dove
Laughing dove
Common swift

Eurasian Hoopoe
Pied kingfisher
Blue-cheeked bee-eater
Eurasian wryneck
Crested lark, Galerida cristata cypriaca
Barn swallow
Common house martin
White wagtail
Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava feldegg
Tawny pipit
Tree pipit
Meadow pipit
Song thrush
Zitting cisticola
Cetti's warbler (h)
Sedge warbler (h)
Eurasian reed warbler (h)
Eastern olivaceous warbler (h)
Eastern Bonelli's warbler
Eurasian blackcap
Common whitethroat
Lesser whitethroat
Rüppell's warbler
Eastern Subalpine warbler
Sardinian warbler
Cyprus warbler
Spectacled warbler
Common Nightingale
Common stonechat
Northern wheatear
Cyprus wheatear
Isabelline wheatear
Great tit, Parus major aphrodite
Magpie
Eurasian jackdaw
Hooded crow
Ortolan bunting
European greenfinch
European goldfinch
House sparrow

79