Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Akrotiri 21/12/2108
Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 21st I guided Andy around the Akrotiri sites.
We started off at Zakaki where there were many Penduline Tits flitting around and calling, though due to their very flighty behaviour we never managed a good view of one sitting in a reed, though we got great flight views of well over 30 birds. Black-redstart and European Stonechat were showing at the entrance and a female Common Reed Bunting was showing infront of the hide at times. As we entered the hide a Common Starling flew out of the reeds, seemingly a roosting spot. Cetti's Warblers could be heard singing and calling all over and sometimes showing briefly, and a pair of Common Chiffchaff moved from reed to reed. At least 4 Moustached Warbler were heard in the area and at least 2 of those showed quite well, infact they sat on reeds preening for well over 5 minutes each which was fantastic given their usual low-down, skulky nature. Whilst tracking one of the Cettis warblers through the reeds a White-spotted Bluethroat jumped out and showed well but briefly, it then flew into a dense patch of reeds and sang for a few minutes.
There wasn't hardly any waterfowl on the lake itself, just coot, moorhen, shoveler, mallard and a few teal. A Common Kingfisher and Water Rail could be heard at times but neither showed for us.
We started off at Zakaki where there were many Penduline Tits flitting around and calling, though due to their very flighty behaviour we never managed a good view of one sitting in a reed, though we got great flight views of well over 30 birds. Black-redstart and European Stonechat were showing at the entrance and a female Common Reed Bunting was showing infront of the hide at times. As we entered the hide a Common Starling flew out of the reeds, seemingly a roosting spot. Cetti's Warblers could be heard singing and calling all over and sometimes showing briefly, and a pair of Common Chiffchaff moved from reed to reed. At least 4 Moustached Warbler were heard in the area and at least 2 of those showed quite well, infact they sat on reeds preening for well over 5 minutes each which was fantastic given their usual low-down, skulky nature. Whilst tracking one of the Cettis warblers through the reeds a White-spotted Bluethroat jumped out and showed well but briefly, it then flew into a dense patch of reeds and sang for a few minutes.
There wasn't hardly any waterfowl on the lake itself, just coot, moorhen, shoveler, mallard and a few teal. A Common Kingfisher and Water Rail could be heard at times but neither showed for us.
Common Reed Bunting - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Across the road two Muskovy Duck sat on a wall basking in the sun. Inside the Port wall on a container sat a female Blue Rock Thrush which was a surprise bird for the day which provided great close views.
We then headed on to Ladies Mile, there was a lot of Greater Flamingos feeding on the pools here as well as many Black-headed Gulls. On the beach we had Caspian, Yellow-legged and Armenian Gulls and a surprise Great Crested Grebe. Crested Larks entertained in the car park and a few Corn Bunting flying over.
We then headed on to Ladies Mile, there was a lot of Greater Flamingos feeding on the pools here as well as many Black-headed Gulls. On the beach we had Caspian, Yellow-legged and Armenian Gulls and a surprise Great Crested Grebe. Crested Larks entertained in the car park and a few Corn Bunting flying over.
Great Crested Grebe - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Greater Flamingo - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Our next stop was Bishop's Pool. En route we came across a small party of Spanish Sparrows feeding in a bush. Just past the gate we were lucky enough to see a male and female Black Francolin (target species) at the side of the road, brief but good views. Bishop's Pool held poor numbers of waterfowl compared to previous years and sadly the toxic algae bloom was still prevailing at certain parts of the lake which may be a factor in reduced numbers of birds. Birds of note here were Ferruginous Duck and a Black-necked Grebe which we got pretty close views of. There was also a single Wigeon. A few Anemone Coronaria were blooming beside the pathway and also some Green Asparagus was fruiting already.
The reed area had a few Eurasian Reed Warbler, with one in song.
As we left the area we saw Robin, White wagtail, Chaffinch and Blackcap drinking from the puddles and also a Blackbird near the entrance. As I closed the gate I saw movement in the corner of my eye, A Hen Harrier shot across the scrub and concealed behind the line of acacia and so I asked Andy if he wanted to chase it. Ofcourse, it's a Hen Harrier. So we shot down to the salt pan for a clear view point and watched the Hen Harrier for a few minutes hunting over the shrub.
A quick visit to the Gravel Pits didn't provide much as the area was too wet to drive on so we had a quick look around the church. We came across many Sardinian Warbler and some European Serin. The star bird here though was a Cyprus Warbler seemingly lost. A small party of Woodlark landed in a wet shrubby area though we was unable to locate them.
We then headed to Phassouri Marsh to eat our lunch in the tower hide. As we entered the area we saw a Common Buzzard in a tree and at least 3 hunting over an agricultural field with a few calling. After watching the buzzards a small party of Woodlark flew in and landed next to the car and provided good views. A vineyard was full of finches feeding; Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch etc.
As we ate our lunch we watched a Marsh Harrier gliding around infront of us for a long period of time, and a Common Kingfisher slowly edged closer to us providing great views.
The site was quite devoid of life though so we didn't spend much time here.
The reed area had a few Eurasian Reed Warbler, with one in song.
As we left the area we saw Robin, White wagtail, Chaffinch and Blackcap drinking from the puddles and also a Blackbird near the entrance. As I closed the gate I saw movement in the corner of my eye, A Hen Harrier shot across the scrub and concealed behind the line of acacia and so I asked Andy if he wanted to chase it. Ofcourse, it's a Hen Harrier. So we shot down to the salt pan for a clear view point and watched the Hen Harrier for a few minutes hunting over the shrub.
A quick visit to the Gravel Pits didn't provide much as the area was too wet to drive on so we had a quick look around the church. We came across many Sardinian Warbler and some European Serin. The star bird here though was a Cyprus Warbler seemingly lost. A small party of Woodlark landed in a wet shrubby area though we was unable to locate them.
We then headed to Phassouri Marsh to eat our lunch in the tower hide. As we entered the area we saw a Common Buzzard in a tree and at least 3 hunting over an agricultural field with a few calling. After watching the buzzards a small party of Woodlark flew in and landed next to the car and provided good views. A vineyard was full of finches feeding; Chaffinch, Serin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch etc.
As we ate our lunch we watched a Marsh Harrier gliding around infront of us for a long period of time, and a Common Kingfisher slowly edged closer to us providing great views.
The site was quite devoid of life though so we didn't spend much time here.
Common Kingfisher - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then headed to Kensington Cliffs for the Griffon Vultures. We scanned for Chukar Partridge on entry which was another target species, though unfortunately none were around. A Griffon Vulture was in flight on arrival and 2 were sitting on the cliff face. The pathway to the cliff face was full of newly emerged Ranunculus, possibly Ranunculus bullatus sbsp. cytheraeus given the time of year. After scoping the Griffons we looked around for other stuff. A Peregrine Shot across the sky as did many Rock Dove. 2 Heuglin's Gull flew in (which were very easy to identify from above) and landed on the far rocks with some European Shags. Looking down I noticed a Turtle (likely a Loggerhead) emerge from the water for air, I was just explaining to Andy where exactly it was when I saw some big shadows cast down. More Griffon Vultures arrived at the site until there was 10 in total. They passed us extremely close countless times, eye level, slightly above us, sometimes below us and sometimes so close we could have probably reached out and grabbed one. It was probably one of the best experiences I had had with them due to how much time we got to experience them so close. A second Peregrine entered the site and both tried to gain height over the vultures who in turn tried to gain height to prevent being mobbed. Eventually the Griffons came in to land one by one.
Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
When heading back to the hotel we were treated to seeing a Cyprus Fox slowly crossing the road, a Song Thrush flying across the road and many Laughing Dove around the coastal road, a good end to a good tour totaling 63 species, which is a decent count for December.
| Species List: Black Francolin Eurasian Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Common Teal Ferruginous Duck Muskovy Duck Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Black-necked Grebe Greater Flamingo European Shag Common Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Common Buzzard (h) Water Rail Common Moorhen Common Coot Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull Armenian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Caspian Gull Black-headed Gull Rock Dove Common Wood-pigeon Eurasian Collared-dove Laughing Dove Common Kingfisher | Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Great Tit Eurasian Penduline tit Crested Lark Wood Lark Cetti's Warbler Moustached Warbler Eurasian Reed-warbler Common Chiffchaff Blackcap Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Warbler Common Starling Eurasian Blackbird Song Thrush European Robin Bluethroat Western Black Redstart Common Stonechat Blue Rock-thrush House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow White Wagtail (h) Meadow Pipit Common Chaffinch European Serin European Greenfinch European Goldfinch Corn Bunting Common Reed Bunting 63 Species |
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