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October 26th, 2019

26/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri 26/10/2019

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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.
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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.
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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.
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

October 25th, 2019

25/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half-day Tour Paphos 25/10/2019 

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Water Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 25th I guided Mark and Christine on a half day tour around Paphos.
We started at Mavrokolympus Dam in hope of some Cyprus Warblers still being around. There was a few though they weren't showing overly well, which isn't uncommon for this time of year. A Cyprus Wheatear flew in and landed next to us for a fair amount of time, so both Endemics in the space of a few minutes. 
Sardinian Warblers and many Stonechat were present and also a group of Chukar showed very well close to the car, with one sitting on top of a rock some meters from the road. There wasn't anything on the water and as we were walking back I spotted a female Common Redstart which showed very well for a lengthy period of time. European Robins were calling with some very brief views and a male Spanish Sparrow showed very well in a nearby bush.
We then headed to the Sewage Plant for the Spur-winged Lapwing, of-which 20-30 birds were showing (though none of the Northern Lapwings were present that I had seen recently). At the entrance we was greeted with a group of Water Pipit next to the road and at the irrigation puddles were White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Spanish Sparrow.
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Spanish Sparrow - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
​The Alfalfa field held many Red-throated Pipit and a few Tree Pipit also took up. Just before we left a Common Buzzard shot low over the tree line being mobbed by a big group of Hooded Crows.
Next we headed to Agia Varvara seeing a Long-legged Buzzard perched and in flight causing confusion due to the fact the white rump wasn't visible on this one, but various factors ruled out Common or Steppe Buzzard. 
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Long-legged Buzzard - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We got great views of Common Snipe and Grey Wagtail plus some Pintail and a single Garganey on the pools. Reed Warblers were showing at the ford, Cetti's and Great Reed Warbler called in the distance. A pair of Wandering Glider dragonflies were in copula at the ford also which is a very uncommon sighting in Cyprus. A Green Sandpiper kept flying over but would not settle. Plenty of finches seemed to have arrived in the area recently, with good numbers of Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Serin. 
A quick stop at Anarita Park produced a single Finsch's Wheatear on winter territory, and then we finished up at Mandria seeing Skylark, Yellow-wagtail, many Northern Wheatear and a Falcon species very high up that could well have been a juvenile Saker. 
We finished the half day with 49 Species.
Species List:

Chukar Partridge    
(h)Black Francolin    
Northern Pintail
Garganey   
Common Kestrel      
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
(h)Common Moorhen  
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe 
Green Sandpiper 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Common Wood-pigeon   
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark  
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola  
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h)Great Reed-warbler

Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff 
Blackcap 
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler 
European Robin
Common Redstart
Common Stonechat
Northern Wheatear 
Finsch's Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow    
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)   
Tree Pipit 
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Serin 
European Greenfinch    
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
49

October 14th, 2019

14/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri/Paphos 11/10/2019  

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White Stork - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 11th I guided Sara and Garry around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
We started at Phassouri Marsh where a Glossy Ibis was feeding close to the road as well as many cattle egrets. A female Sparrowhawk swooped in low being chased by Hooded Crows, moorhen were darting around the pools and shrubs and a Great Reed Warbler was showing briefly in the reeds as well as Common Kingfisher.
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Common Kingfisher - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the way to the first hide we had fantastic views of many Black Francolin on both sides of the road, of which many were calling. We didn't see much at the hide aside Spur-winged Lapwing, and the scrape held little aside garganey and teal. A Juvenile Red-footed Falcon flew over us but didn't stick around. Just as we were leaving, a Great Egret flew in and then out again and a marsh harrier was patrolling the reed edge.
As we headed to the Gravel Pits Sara and Garry said to stop the car, and to the right were two White Storks quite close in the field. One had a damaged leg which may well have been shot (gun fire was heard prior), so I contacted the authorities. Not the nicest thing to happen during a tour.
After seeing some more Black Francolin, with some meters from the car we headed to the gravel pits which was full of newly arrived Stonechats, but not much else. 
We didn't spend much time here and continued to the salt lake. Unfortunately the Greater Flamingos had abandoned their new nests, which had looked incredibly promising. There was quite a few newly arrived gulls on the salt lake, a few Slender-billed Gulls were here, a flock of Black-headed gulls ... plus some large gulls. We picked out Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged and a young Armenian as well as quite a few White-winged and Whiskered Terns that seemed quite active but not feeding nearby. There was also some distant ruff and a small party of Common Ringed Plover darting around ... likely trying to evade the Eleonora's Falcons hunting in the area.
We stopped for a coffee at Ladies mile and then checked the pools to find a pair of Temminck's Stint among the Little Stint, Kentish Plover and Ringed Plover.
As we headed back to the Akrotiri strip we was lucky in seeing a Hobby in a eucalyptus tree and even though we flushed it, it kept landing a few trees down.
Next stop was Kensington Cliffs where we had our lunch and then got close views of Eleonora's Falcons, unfortunately the Griffon Vultures were not around.
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Eleonora's Falcon - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Heading back to Paphos we stopped to see 2 Adult Bonelli's Eagles which glided towards us not so high. 
Our first site in Paphos was Mandria, where the Laughing Doves showed well. We had smashing views of Red-throated Pipit right by the car and some good photo ops and on the way out we got another Bonelli's Eagle, this one being a second plumaged bird.
Lastly we headed to the Sewage Works, and saw Spur-winged Lapwing which weren't at their usual spots. Grey wagtail were briefly seen, one chasing the other through the bougainvillea and also one feeding with Yellow Wagtails on the alfalfa fields.
We finished up with 68 Species.  
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Red-throated Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Species List:

Black Francolin     
Mallard    
Garganey   
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
(h)Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag  
Common Kestrel   
Red-footed Falcon    
Eleonora's Falcon  
Eurasian Hobby
Western Marsh Harrier  
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Bonelli's Eagle    
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen  
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover 
Kentish Plover    
Little Stint 
Temminck's Stint 
Ruff 
Armenian Gull 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Caspian Gull 
Black-headed Gull 
Slender-billed Gull 
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove 
Common Wood-pigeon   
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater   
Red-backed Shrike 
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark  
Barn Swallow 
Zitting Cisticola  
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Sedge Warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler 
(h)Blackcap 
Common Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow    
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)   
Grey Wagtail 
(h)Tree Pipit 
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch    
European Goldfinch
68

October 12th, 2019

12/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Half Day tour 6/10/2019  

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Cyprus Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 6th I guided Winfried and Nilga around Paphos for a half day tour. With the Endemics in mind we set out to Mavrokolympus Dam. It was quite a cloudy morning so the light wasn't the best.
On entry we located a few Cyprus Warbler though they weren't showing overly well though a Blackcap was being unusually confiding. A Eurasian Hobby called and then shot over and Chukar called in the distance and then later seen.
As we headed further down a Kingfisher was heard from the dam itself, on the shrubs we had quite a few Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler showing well, along with many Sardinian Warbler and a Willow Warbler. Red-backed Shrike were also present as was a single Spotted Flycatcher. Flocks of Spanish Sparrows were pouring in and feeding. 
We then continued to the Sewage Works where we got fantastic views of Spur-winged Lapwing and Turtle Dove. 
Then at Mandria we had incredible views of many Laughing Doves right next to the car, a Hoopoe in flight and on the ground, many Northern Wheatear in the plowed fields along with Tawny Pipit and Tree pipit but no sign of Red-throated Pipit which are usually the common species at this time. 
We finished the half day with 36 species and all targets met.  
Species List:

Chukar Partridge    
Common Kestrel   
Eurasian Hobby
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Wood-pigeon   
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
(h)Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater   
Eurasian Hoopoe 
Red-backed Shrike 
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark  
Barn Swallow 
Zitting Cisticola  
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Willow Warbler 
Blackcap 
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler 
Northern Wheatear 
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow    
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)   
Black-headed Wagtail 
Tawny Pipit  
Tree Pipit 
European Greenfinch    
European Goldfinch
36

October 07th, 2019

7/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri, Paphos, Famagusta + North, Troodos 4 Day Tour 29+30/09 + 01+3/10/2019  

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Greater Flamingo on new nests - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 29th I guided Janet and Edward on a 4 day tour across Cyprus
The first day we set out to Akrotiri, at Phassouri Marsh where we got great views of Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Little Egret, Common Kingfisher and also brief views of Common Snipe and Black Francolin. Many ducks were flying in and out and I managed to spot an odd one in the crowd which turned out to be a female wood duck! Obviously an escapee.
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Wood Duck - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Wood Duck - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Moving on to the Gravel pits we had a few Marsh Harrier on the ground and an Osprey flying low over us. At the oasis was a lone Ruddy Turnstone, a scarce species in Cyprus but no sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit that had been hanging around.
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Ruddy Turnstone - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Western Osprey - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Moving into the Eucalyptus woodland we had a Honey Buzzard in a low tree, probably the same one seen before.
The salt lake held great numbers of Greater Flamingo and the Eleonora's Falcons were hunting here again. Slender-billed Gulls were showing again too.
Ladies Mile held small numbers of waders, Little Stint and Ringed Plover.
Bishop's Pool was unfortunately locked being a Sunday and so we ventured to the tower hide which was fairly quiet aside some groups of Honey Buzzard flying over and a lone Steppe Buzzard.
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Steppe Buzzard - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We did get a Pallid harrier fly in close to the hide. Also present was a Blue Emperor and a Large Marsh Horsefly. We had our lunch here and then ventured to Kensington Cliffs where we had great views of Eleonora's Falcon and Griffon Vulture plus the Green Turtle still showing in the bay.
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Eleonora's Falcon mobbing Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Then we finished up the day at the Bee-hives where we saw Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, more Honey Buzzards and a Black Kite. 
We managed 61 species for the day.
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Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
The second day we ventured to Paphos. We started at the Headland where the Whimbrel showed well and many flocks of Spanish Sparrow. A few Honey Buzzards flew in off the sea right where we were and also a Squacco Heron flew in close along the coast. The Greater Sand Plover was at the usual spot and we had great views and photo ops with it. The Kingfisher was hanging around again too.
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European Honey Buzzard - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then ventured to the Sewage Works where we got great close views of Spur-winged Lapwing.
Our next stop was Mandria where we saw some Stone Curlew and a Black Francolin. We also got great views of Laughing Dove.
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Eurasian Stone Curlew - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Common Kestrel - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Moving up to Agia Varvara we stopped for a special butterfly species as Edward was keen on butterflies (so I added many stops to accommodate as many species), the smallest Butterfly in Europe, the Grass Jewel. None of the Little Owls were on show at Anarita Park though we did see a 1st Plumage Bonelli's Eagle. Moving through Episkopi we saw Cyprus Wheatear and at Minthis we had a Hobby hunting dragonflies very low and close. 
Next we went up to Arodes where we saw Long-legged Buzzard. We searched this site for Levantine Leopard though was unsuccessful in finding this rare butterfly. Our last stop was to see Egyptian Fruit bats at a secret cave.
We got 50 species for the day.
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White Stork - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On our third day we headed to the East of the island starting at Oroklini. Here we had a fair few sightings, a Marsh Harrier flew right up to the hide and on the water we had lots of Snipe, Garganey, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard and a Temminck's Stint being the star bird. A Whiskered Tern was also feeding over the water.
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Western Marsh Harrier - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Western Marsh Harrier - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Western Marsh Harrier - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Then we ventured to the north side of the island to Kukla Wetlands, an incredibly productive site this year, maybe the best on the island. At Kukla we had a Pallid Harrier on entry low over the fields and then later seen perched at the waters edge which we managed to get very close to. The usual waders were around the edge (Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper), we also had many Greater Flamingo up close to the waters edge providing incredible views though sadly a few people walked close to our car and inevitably disturbed them.
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Greater Flamingo - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
There was a large flock of Spoonbill present and also an Osprey came and fished right next to the car though sadly towards the sun.
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Osprey - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Red-footed Falcon were on the ground close as well as Collared Pratincole. A lone Common Shelduck and Golden Plover were present and large numbers of Marsh Harrier were close at times. We even saw a young Bonelli's Eagle being mobbed by many lesser kestrel dive a Grey Heron without success. A few Northern Lapwings were still present as well as Whiskered and White Winged Tern .... getting the former close on the ground, at least one Great Crested Grebe was still present too and a young Peregrine Falcon though the Pelicans and Black Stork had left. A newly arrived flock of Red-throated pipit showed nice and close on the ground near us.
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Whiskered Tern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Maybe our greatest sightings here though were 3 Common Cranes and then 2 White Storks which were happy to feed meters from the car.
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Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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White Stork - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Wandering Glider dragonflies were in abundance here and also a few Vagrant Emperors, Slender Skimmers, a surprise Southern Skimmer and also a pair of Lesser Emperors mating. Small Desert Blue's were here in good numbers and a few Crimson-speckled Moth. We also saw an Oriental Hornet cannibalize another. As we left a dust devil formed.
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Vagrant Emperor - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Southern Skimmer - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Oriental Hornet cannibalism - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Crimson Speckled Moth - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We visited the Larnaca Salt Lake on the way back for Little Tiger Blue butterflies ... though we were too late, though we did get Lesser Fiery Copper.  
We managed 76 species for the day.
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Cyprus Grayling - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Our last day was a trip up to the mountains. We started in Platres in hope of seeing a Cardinal butterfly nectaring, though we only got flight views. We had many sightings of Cyprus Grayling though and a small party of Coal Tit and Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackbird and a high flying Peregrine Falcon. We then headed to Trooditissa seeing a Griffon Vulture on the way and a few Cyprus Wheatear. At the picnic site we had many more Cyprus Grayling and also Brown Argus, no sign of Purple Hairstreak. A Goshawk flew over briefly and also a Jay showed well. A Migrant Hawker was present. 
Prodromos was quite dissapointing for both birds and Butterflies, though we did get a Hobby here.
We then headed to Livadi tou passia where we ate our lunch. Sadly there was a group of motorcross people here and very little wildlife. 
At the next picnic site we had a small group of Crossbill in a tree but flushed due to a car going past fast, we also had a single one sitting high in a tree. Willow Warbler were showing and we had fleeting glimpses of Wren and a Sylvia warbler type that went down as unknown but likely a lesser whitethroat. A tree pipit showed quite well  in a tree for a decent period.
We visited the Botanical Garden where we had great views and photo ops with many Hummingbird Hawkmoths. 
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Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Winter Daffodil (rare flora!) - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then headed to Tzelefelos Venetian Bridge seeing a Sparrowhawk dive for prey and on the ground for a while. At the bridge we saw Catocala coniuncta sat on my foot and many Grey Wagtail attacked their reflection in the car side mirrors. 
Our day total was a low count of 30 species. Bringing our 4 day tour to 112 Species.
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Grey Wagtail - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Tzelefelos Venetian Bridge - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Species List:

Chukar Partridge (a.c.cypriotes)
Black Francolin   
Mallard 
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail   
Common Shelduck
Common Teal 
Garganey 
*Wood Duck  
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Eurasian Spoonbill
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Squacco Heron
Great Cormorant 
European Shag  (p.a.desmarestii)
Lesser Kestrel 
Common Kestrel   
Red-footed Falcon    
Eleonora's Falcon 
Eurasian Hobby 
Peregrine Falcon (f.p.brookei)
Osprey
European Honey-buzzard
Black Kite   
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier  
Pallid Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Northern Goshawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Water Rail
Common Coot
Common Moorhen  
Black-winged Stilt 
Eurasian Stone Curlew 
Common Crane
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Eurasian Golden Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Whimbrel
Common Snipe 
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper ​
Wood Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone 
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint 
Curlew Sandpiper 
Collared Pratincole 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Slender-billed Gull 
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Common Wood-pigeon   
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Swift
Alpine Swift
European Roller   
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater   
Red-backed Shrike 
Eurasian Jay (g.g.glaszneri)
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (p.m.aphrodite)
Coal Tit (p.a.cypriotes)
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark  (g.c.cypriaca)
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow 
Red-rumped Swallow   
Zitting Cisticola  
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Spotted Flycatcher
Northern Wheatear 
Cyprus Wheatear
Eurasian Blackbird
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow
Eurasian Wren (t.t.cypriotes)
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava) 
Black-headed Wagtail 
Grey Wagtail
Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper (c.b.dorothea)
Tree Pipit 
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch  (c.c.muehlei)  
European Goldfinch
Red Crossbill (c.c.guillemardi)
Corn Bunting
112
Blue-tail Damselfly
Common Darter
Red-veined Darter
Red-veined Dropwing
Broad Scarlet
Slender Skimmer (copula)
Southern Skimmer
Lesser Emperor (copula)
Blue Emperor
Vagrant Emperor
Wandering Glider
Migrant Hawker

Common Blue
Long-tailed Blue
Small Grass Blue
Grass Jewel
African Grass Blue
Small Desert Blue
Brown Argus
Lesser Fiery Copper
Large White
Small White
Clouded Yellow
Wall Brown
Cyprus Meadow Brown
Oriental Meadow Brown
Wall Brown
Speckled Wood
Painted Lady
Swallowtail
Cleopatra
Cardinal
Cyprus Grayling
Eastern Rock Grayling
Pygmy Skipper
Crimson-speckled Flunky/moth
Catocala coniuncta
Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Drimia aphylla
Pygmy Carlina
Sternbergia lutea
European Plumbago
Colchicum Troodi

Tiger beetle - Calomera littoralis winkleri

Large Marsh Horsefly
Deerfly - Chrysops relictus
Oriental Hornet Cannibalism
Antlion sp.

Large Black Whip Snake
Sling-tailed Agama Lizard
Snake-eyed Lizard
Troodos Lizard
Schreiber's Fringe-fingered Lizard

Green Turtle

October 07th, 2019

7/10/2019

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri + Paphos 1 Day + 1/2 Day Tour 27+30/09/2019  

Picture
European Honey Buzzard - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 27th and 30th I guided George and Lorna on a day and a half birding tour around Akrotiri and Paphos.
On our first day we set out to the Akrotiri Peninsular with Phassouri being our first site. In the Tower hide car park we had great views of a Roller, some Bee-eater and a pair of Gull-billed Tern flying over. As we ventured round to the main hide we was treated to a few Black Francolin next to the road.
Picture
Black Francolin - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
As we approached the next hide a Great Reed Warbler showed in some vegetation on the opposite side, as well as Red-backed Shrike and Whinchat.
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Great Reed Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
At the main hide Spur-winged Lapwing showed in the distance and large groups of Mallard and Garganey were landing behind the reeds. A Marsh Harrier swooped in and put up a party of White Winged and Whiskered Tern with one Whiskered still in its summer plumage. Water Rail briefly showed at the waters edge and Sedge Warbler. Common Kingfishers were darting around with one flying right up to the hide. A large party of Greenshank kept buzzing around the hide sounding alarm calls, coming very close at times.
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Greenshank - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
A few Glossy Ibis were on the ground as well as many Little and Cattle Egret with a few Great Egret and Grey Heron flying over. We also had a European Honey Buzzard fly over us low which must have been roosting in a nearby tree.
We then continued to the gravel pits, seeing a few more Black Francolins on the way. At the oasis pool a Bar-tailed Godwit was at the waters edge, a scarce bird for Cyprus and likely the same bird I found flying in the area the day prior. Quite a few Turtle doves were flying from bush to bush here.
Next we ventured into the Eucalyptus woodland and got fantastic views of a Honey Buzzard in a low tree right infront of the car.
Picture
European Honey Buzzard - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Near the Salt lake edge from the north we got great views of a pair of Greater Short-toed Lark.
We continued to the run-off side of the salt lake and watched the thousands of Greater Flamingo nearby. Eleonora's Falcon were hunting here and a few Honey Buzzards flew over high. Yellow wagtails were moving about here as they were at Phassouri earlier but not much else seemed to be visiting the area so we moved on.
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Western Yellow Wagtail - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We stopped at the Environmental Center where many Red-rumped Swallow were flying over low.
A quick visit along ladies mile produced Common and Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint and Kentish Plover, quite a poor selection of waders for this time of year. Bishop's Pool held little aside a Whiskered Tern, a newly arrived Common Teal and Shoveler.
We stopped at the Tower Hide for lunch and got to see the Bee-eaters coming down to bath. 
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European Bee-eater - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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European Bee-eater - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We finished up the day at the Bee-hives getting Pallid Swift, more Honey Buzzards, a ring-tail Harrier, Hobby, Red-footed Falcon and many Marsh Harriers with a pair of Spotted Flycatcher making some strange noises in the orchard behind us. No sign of the Levant Sparrowhawk, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Booted Eagle that I had seen the day before here which must have went straight through.
We managed 66 species for the day.
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Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
The half day tour was in Paphos. We started at the headland and got amazing close views of the long staying Whimbrel and also a single Greater Sand Plover.
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Whimbrel - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
A Common Sandpiper was feeding in the rocks nearby also and a Kingfisher showed a few times on the rocks during our stay. Lorna put us on to 3 newly arrived Great Cormorant as we approached the corner point.
We continued to the Sewage Works as Lorna and George wanted closer views of Spur-winged Lapwing and sure enough got them.
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Spur-winged Lapwing - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Red-throated Pipit had arrived at the area but we could only manage flight views.
At Mandria we had great close views of Laughing Dove and also great views of Eurasian Stone Curlew in their usual field.
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Laughing Dove - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Northern and Isabelline Wheatear were present on the field and Greater Short-toed Lark were heard and not seen. Some newly arrived White Wagtail showed well on the fields too.
We ventured in land to cut across Episkopi to Minthis hills in hope of seeing Long-legged Buzzard and Bonelli's Eagle on this route, unfortunately we didn't but got great views of Cyprus Wheatear. 
Minthis hills wasn't great for life, but we did see Eurasian Hobby's hunting dragonflies very close at times and flushed a small party of Corn Bunting.
We finished the half-day tour with 48 species totaling 82 Species overall.
Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin    
Mallard    
Northern Shoveler
Garganey   
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Greater Cormorant
Little Egret
Common Kestrel   
Red-footed Falcon    
Eleonora's Falcon  
Eurasian Hobby
European Honey-buzzard
Western Marsh Harrier  
Ring-tailed Harrier
Water Rail
Common Moorhen  
Common Coot
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover 
Little Ringed Plover 
Kentish Plover    
Greater Sand Plover
Whimbrel 
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
Common Greenshank 
Little Stint 
Ruff 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Gull-billed Tern 
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Common Wood-pigeon   
European Turtle-dove
​Eurasian Collared-dove

Laughing Dove
Pallid Swift   
European Roller   
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater   
Red-backed Shrike 
Masked Shrike 
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark  
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow 
Red-rumped Swallow   
Zitting Cisticola  
Willow Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Spotted Flycatcher
Northern Wheatear 
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)   
Black-headed Wagtail 
Grey Wagtail
Tree Pipit 
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch    
European Goldfinch
Corn Bunting
82
    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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