Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri 26/10/2019
Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 26th I guided John and Jean around the Akrotiri sites.
We started off at Phassouri Marsh where the first bird seen was a Mistle Thrush sitting at the top of a cypress tree. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler showed well at the tower hide passage and we put up a few Black Francolin and Song Thrush. Cetti's Warblers were calling frequently, with one showing for longer than usual. The Tower hide produced little aside a Common Kingfisher plus a few Penduline Tits (heard but not seen) so we moved on to the water bodies further down where a pair of Common Snipe were probing the marsh. Cattle, Little and Great Egret were all showing well and on the opposite side of the road a Bluethroat was perched on a dry bit of vegetation for a very lengthy period of time.
We started off at Phassouri Marsh where the first bird seen was a Mistle Thrush sitting at the top of a cypress tree. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler showed well at the tower hide passage and we put up a few Black Francolin and Song Thrush. Cetti's Warblers were calling frequently, with one showing for longer than usual. The Tower hide produced little aside a Common Kingfisher plus a few Penduline Tits (heard but not seen) so we moved on to the water bodies further down where a pair of Common Snipe were probing the marsh. Cattle, Little and Great Egret were all showing well and on the opposite side of the road a Bluethroat was perched on a dry bit of vegetation for a very lengthy period of time.
Cattle Egret - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
A Whiskered Tern with heavy wing damage was scouting the puddles which passed us a few times during our stay. Serin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and Greenfinch were feeding in the area and a small group of Spanish Sparrows showing meters from the car.
As we approached the main hide a large group of Northern Lapwing took up followed by a large flock of Spur-winged Lapwing, of which I had never seen so many in the area before. White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail were feeding near the pathway and Common Stonechat were everywhere. Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed line frequently and a Eurasian Hobby flew over low.
Due to the recent heavy rains, both the Gravel Pits and the Salt Lake were off limits, and so we headed to Bishops Pool seeing a Common Redstart and many Crested lark on the way. Bishop's Pool held a disappointing variety of waterfowl for this time of year, mostly Teal and some Northern Shoveler. Just before we was about to leave, multiple large flocks of Common Crane flew over low from the salt lake, creating quite a spectacle and undoubtedly the highlight of the day.
As we approached the main hide a large group of Northern Lapwing took up followed by a large flock of Spur-winged Lapwing, of which I had never seen so many in the area before. White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail were feeding near the pathway and Common Stonechat were everywhere. Marsh Harrier patrolled the reed line frequently and a Eurasian Hobby flew over low.
Due to the recent heavy rains, both the Gravel Pits and the Salt Lake were off limits, and so we headed to Bishops Pool seeing a Common Redstart and many Crested lark on the way. Bishop's Pool held a disappointing variety of waterfowl for this time of year, mostly Teal and some Northern Shoveler. Just before we was about to leave, multiple large flocks of Common Crane flew over low from the salt lake, creating quite a spectacle and undoubtedly the highlight of the day.
Common Snipe - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
A stop at Zakaki Marsh produced little aside a Common Kingfisher and some Grey Heron and so we moved on to Ladies Mile where many Black-headed Gull were on the port side lake with no larger gulls among them. On the opposite side a Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Kentish Plover were very active.
We then stopped for a coffee and lunch.
Our final site was Kensington Cliffs where two Long-legged Buzzards flew over, many Eleonora's Falcons were still around and five Griffon Vultures flew in. With a bit more time to spare we had a second search around Phassouri, with a Sparrowhawk being the only new species for the day.
We finished the day with 64 species.
We then stopped for a coffee and lunch.
Our final site was Kensington Cliffs where two Long-legged Buzzards flew over, many Eleonora's Falcons were still around and five Griffon Vultures flew in. With a bit more time to spare we had a second search around Phassouri, with a Sparrowhawk being the only new species for the day.
We finished the day with 64 species.
| Species List: Black Francolin Mallard Northern Shoveler Common Teal Little Grebe Greater Flamingo Cattle Egret Grey Heron Great Egret Little Egret Common Kestrel Eurasian Hobby Eleonora's Falcon Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier Eurasian Sparrowhawk Long-legged Buzzard (h)Water Rail Common Moorhen Common Coot Common Crane Northern Lapwing Spur-winged Lapwing Kentish Plover Common Snipe Ruddy Turnstone Little Stint Dunlin Curlew Sandpiper Yellow-legged Gull Black-headed Gull | Whiskered Tern Rock Dove Common Wood-pigeon Eurasian Collared-dove Common Kingfisher Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Great Tit (h)Eurasian Penduline tit Crested Lark Zitting Cisticola Cetti's Warbler Eurasian Reed-warbler Great Reed-warbler Willow Warbler Common Chiffchaff Sardinian Warbler Song Thrush Mistle Thrush European Robin Bluethroat (h)Western Black Redstart Common Redstart Common Stonechat House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow White Wagtail Yellow Wagtail (*Flava) Common Chaffinch European Serin European Greenfinch European Goldfinch 64 |
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