Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos, Limassol, Troodos, Larnaca, Famagusta, Nicosia, Agia Napa 12-16/02/2018
On the 12th I had the pleasure of Guiding Nisse for a 4 day tour island wide (originally for 3 days but Nisse opted for a 4th) for a more photography focused tour. We started the first day at the Akrotiri sites arriving first at Zakaki Marsh. The Moustached Warblers were flitting about the bottom of the reeds and the Common Kingfisher made a few appearances. Eurasian Penduline Tit, Reed Bunting and Water Rail were all heard but sadly not seen. We heard the call of a Black Francolin nearby and with a little scoping I shortly found one on a nearby mound which was shortly joined by another. We moved the car in for some photography.
After having little luck with anything else showing at Zakaki marsh mostly due to the shockingly bad site maintenance we moved on to Lady's Mile where the large flock of gulls had all been scared off by an abandoned hunting dog, we found a few black-headed gull behind the restaurant along with a Mediterranean Gull and some Armenian. Along the strip we found a Little Stint. Heading onto the outskirts of the Salt Lake we tracked down a few Isabelline wheatears, newly arrived migrants. We also found a group of Ruff joined by some Kentish Plover on the salt flats.
We then moved onto Bishops Pool which was extremely quiet. The 3 Black-necked Grebes were still present though and a young male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the water. A Gadwall and Wigeon were also present as well as many Ferruginous duck which were our target species here.
After having little luck with anything else showing at Zakaki marsh mostly due to the shockingly bad site maintenance we moved on to Lady's Mile where the large flock of gulls had all been scared off by an abandoned hunting dog, we found a few black-headed gull behind the restaurant along with a Mediterranean Gull and some Armenian. Along the strip we found a Little Stint. Heading onto the outskirts of the Salt Lake we tracked down a few Isabelline wheatears, newly arrived migrants. We also found a group of Ruff joined by some Kentish Plover on the salt flats.
We then moved onto Bishops Pool which was extremely quiet. The 3 Black-necked Grebes were still present though and a young male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the water. A Gadwall and Wigeon were also present as well as many Ferruginous duck which were our target species here.
Black Francolin - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
The Salt Lake held the usual, Greater Flamingo and Common Shelduck. We stopped for a meal (traditional Sheftalia) at the Kollossi Restaurant and then ventured to Kensington Cliffs were the Griffon Vultures were sadly no-where to be seen. We wasted little time and headed to Germasogeia Dam mainly for Cyprus Warbler. We located the Cyprus Warblers relatively quickly though we didn't manage any Crag Martin which are frequently seen at this site in winter. We were treated to many finches coming down for water in the feeder stream, mostly Serin and Goldfinch. There wasn't anything on the water of the dam which was disturbing, though on the way out we saw 2 Peregrines hunting on the big hill and also a Long-legged Buzzard flyby and several flocks of newly arrived Barn Swallow. Great way to end the first day clocking 61 Species.
Cyprus Warbler - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the second day we ventured to the east. We started at Cape Greco that held many Cyprus and Spectacled warblers. We found another Isabelline Wheatear here accompanied by a stunning male Blue Rock Thrush. Chukar Partridge were the only other species of note here and so we moved on to the football fields ... which was in use that day so we then ventured to Oroklini. On the way we saw a big group of Eurasian Stone Curlew in flight along the motorway at the Xylofagou football pitch.
Blue Rock Thrush - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Oroklini Lake held quite a few species present, maybe the best were two extremely early White-winged Terns in Summer Plumage frantically feeding in the water. After checking both hides and channels we continued to the Dolphin Rocks beach which had 5 Sandwich Terns feeding, resting and bathing very close to shore providing fantastic photo opportunities. Also here was 3 Mediterranean Gulls, an Adult in Summer plumage, one heading into Summer plumage and a 1cy bird.
 Greater Flamingo - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Sandwich Tern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Sandwich Tern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  White-winged Tern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Mediterranean Gull - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved  Sandwich Tern - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
We stopped here to eat lunch and then continued on to the Airport area. Menou Pools had many Greater Flamingo present and all very well fed and pink. One of the adults was accompanying two youngsters from last year and provided great photo opportunities.
On the other pool there was a big group of gulls, mostly Armenian but with a few Heuglin's Gulls.
The Sewage Pools were the quietest I had seen them. Only species of note here were 2 Northern Pintail, a few Common Pochard and around 30 Black-necked Grebe. Some in full summer plumage but too far for photo. As we were leaving a few Caspian Gulls flew in, also a Eurasian Curlew flew in and landed nearby.
We then ventured around the Salt Lake of which as we joined back on to the motorway a Northern Goshawk flew over the car very low coming from the direction of the Salt Lake, a female bird that I though was a buzzard at first due to her size. An odd place to see this arboreal species, but then they do move around a bit in winter.
We then finished at the Kamares Aquaduct which has some construction going on. The aquaduct area was pretty good, here we had Spur-winged lapwing, a young Peregrine Hunting pigeons, flocks of Teal, many Water Pipit, around 4 Common Snipe and our first Little Egret.
The East held 64 Species.
On the other pool there was a big group of gulls, mostly Armenian but with a few Heuglin's Gulls.
The Sewage Pools were the quietest I had seen them. Only species of note here were 2 Northern Pintail, a few Common Pochard and around 30 Black-necked Grebe. Some in full summer plumage but too far for photo. As we were leaving a few Caspian Gulls flew in, also a Eurasian Curlew flew in and landed nearby.
We then ventured around the Salt Lake of which as we joined back on to the motorway a Northern Goshawk flew over the car very low coming from the direction of the Salt Lake, a female bird that I though was a buzzard at first due to her size. An odd place to see this arboreal species, but then they do move around a bit in winter.
We then finished at the Kamares Aquaduct which has some construction going on. The aquaduct area was pretty good, here we had Spur-winged lapwing, a young Peregrine Hunting pigeons, flocks of Teal, many Water Pipit, around 4 Common Snipe and our first Little Egret.
The East held 64 Species.
Heuglin's Gull (Central 2) - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Day 3 was the Paphos area. Our first bird was a Common Kingfisher on the Acheleia Canal. We moved on to the Headland to start so we could get the Greater Sand Plover before there was too much disturbance in the area. Sure enough we located 3 with one nearing Summer Plumage. Also present here was a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, a few Dunlin which were literally walking around Nisse's feet and a group of Ruddy Turnstone on the seaweed piles. Away from the rocks we had Red-throated, Water and Common Pipit along with Crested Lark and Skylark. Here we saw our first Yellow-legged Gull.
 Dunlin - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Ruddy Turnstone - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then moved on to the Sewage Plant where we had great views and photo opportunities with Cattle Egret feeding in the Alfalfa fields. Also the many Spur-winged lapwing were present, many landing very close to us in the road. Red-throated and meadow pipit
were in large numbers here and we managed a very close photo opportunity with a male European Stonechat here as promised.
There was a Grey Wagtail on the waste area singing away but sadly no Bluethroat yet but a suprise show was a very early Common Nightingale very briefly seen flying into some dense vegatation on the side of the road as leaving the site.
were in large numbers here and we managed a very close photo opportunity with a male European Stonechat here as promised.
There was a Grey Wagtail on the waste area singing away but sadly no Bluethroat yet but a suprise show was a very early Common Nightingale very briefly seen flying into some dense vegatation on the side of the road as leaving the site.
Cattle Egret - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We continued to Anarita Park for our Finsch's Wheatear. We located the male and female very quickly and also saw another Isabelline Wheatear of which to my amazement was attacked by the Finsch's Wheatear. It was always my belief that the Isabelline wheatears do all the attacking. Here I managed to get Nisse incredibly close to the Male Finsch's Wheatear, quite a task considering how shy they are.
We got a few more Cyprus Warbler here and Chukar and quite a few Woodlark. We also had great photo opportunities with singing Corn Bunting. We had a quick look around Agia Varvara, target here was the Zitting Cisticola for good photos ... we managed to get quite close to a few perched, one was flying quite erratically here and diving towards the other which could have been a display or forcing another male from its territory. Here we also got another Isabelline Wheatear providing frame filling photo opportunities.
We got a few more Cyprus Warbler here and Chukar and quite a few Woodlark. We also had great photo opportunities with singing Corn Bunting. We had a quick look around Agia Varvara, target here was the Zitting Cisticola for good photos ... we managed to get quite close to a few perched, one was flying quite erratically here and diving towards the other which could have been a display or forcing another male from its territory. Here we also got another Isabelline Wheatear providing frame filling photo opportunities.
 Finsch's Wheatear - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Corn Bunting - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
We then headed to Mandria for lunch and then had a quick sweep of the beach seeing Laughing Dove on the wires on the way. There was a European Shag on the rocks and plenty of Skylark in the fields but no sign of the Hen Harrier that has been showing well over the previous week. Spanish Sparrow providing some great photo opportunities here as did a Common kestrel.
Spanish Sparrow - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Common kestrel - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then went to the Anarita Masts, the Little Owl wasn't present and none of the pipits were about so we moved on quickly checking Kouklia fish farm on the way for the Salvonian Grebe which sadly must have moved on.
We stopped in at Episkopi to try for the Vultures again. This time we had one sitting on the cliffs and flew very close as we were heading back. I then noticed one sitting in a pine tree as we were leaving the site... fantastic!
The west held 56 species.
We stopped in at Episkopi to try for the Vultures again. This time we had one sitting on the cliffs and flew very close as we were heading back. I then noticed one sitting in a pine tree as we were leaving the site... fantastic!
The west held 56 species.
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Our final day was overcast and dusty though we managed to miss the rain. We headed to the mountains. A quick walk around the Visitors center produced many Chaffinch, Coal Tit and a Short-toed Treecreeper.
We searched the Atlante Trail for Short-toed Treecreeper of which we found many but all staying near the tops of the trees. I heard a Mistle Thrush here but sadly we couldn't locate it.
In the Square we had a few Crossbill, an Adult male and Female sitting at the top of a small pine tree. Unfortunately a Search and Rescue helicopter decided to inconveniently fly past very low at this precise time flushing them before we could get into the best position for photographs.
We then headed into Livadi tou Passia where many birds were singing and squabbling. I heard a yellowhammer singing too but also couldn't locate it. Here there were two Jays providing good photo opportunities and quite a few Short-toed Treecreepers.
We moved on to Almyrolivadou were we saw two Wrens fighting and also a small party of Coal Tits fighting.
We headed to Platania to eat our food and were treated to a small group of Siskin feeding in the Alder Trees in front of us.
We searched the Atlante Trail for Short-toed Treecreeper of which we found many but all staying near the tops of the trees. I heard a Mistle Thrush here but sadly we couldn't locate it.
In the Square we had a few Crossbill, an Adult male and Female sitting at the top of a small pine tree. Unfortunately a Search and Rescue helicopter decided to inconveniently fly past very low at this precise time flushing them before we could get into the best position for photographs.
We then headed into Livadi tou Passia where many birds were singing and squabbling. I heard a yellowhammer singing too but also couldn't locate it. Here there were two Jays providing good photo opportunities and quite a few Short-toed Treecreepers.
We moved on to Almyrolivadou were we saw two Wrens fighting and also a small party of Coal Tits fighting.
We headed to Platania to eat our food and were treated to a small group of Siskin feeding in the Alder Trees in front of us.
Common Crossbill - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then headed to Athalassa in Nicosia and then on to Achna Dam. Achna Dam had unusually high water levels restricting access to much of the site. We found another Isabelline Wheatear that provided great photo opportunities in the shallow end along with a huge flock of coot, 3 Green Sandpiper and 5 Northern Lapwing. Meadow pipit and White Wagtail were everywhere here. Just a lone Great Cormorant on the north side of dam. The day provided 45 species.
Isabelline Wheatear - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
All in all a great four day tour with a good species count (107 species) for winter in Cyprus and most of the island seen.
| Common shelduck Eurasian wigeon Common teal Mallard Northern pintail Northern shoveler Common pochard Ferruginous duck Chukar Black francolin Little grebe Black-necked grebe Greater flamingo Great cormorant European shag Grey heron Little egret Cattle egret Griffon vulture Western Marsh harrier Eurasian sparrowhawk Northern goshawk Common buzzard Long-legged buzzard Common kestrel Peregrine falcon Water rail (h) Common moorhen Eurasian coot Eurasian Stone curlew Northern lapwing Spur-winged lapwing Kentish plover Greater sandplover Black-winged stilt Common snipe Whimbrel Eurasian curlew Common redshank Green sandpiper Common sandpiper Ruddy turnstone Little stint Dunlin Ruff Heuglin's gull Yellow-legged gull Caspian gull Armenian gull Mediterranean gull Black-headed gull Sandwich tern White-winged tern | Rock dove Common Wood pigeon Eurasian Collared dove Laughing dove Common kingfisher Crested lark Woodlark Skylark Barn swallow White wagtail Grey wagtail Meadow pipit Red-throated pipit Water pipit Eurasian wren (T.t.cypriotes) Eurasian blackbird Song thrush Mistle thrush (h) Zitting cisticola Cetti's warbler Moustached warbler Common Chiffchaff Eurasian blackcap Sardinian warbler Cyprus warbler Spectacled warbler Blue rock thrush European robin Nightingale Western Black redstart European stonechat Finsch's wheatear Isabelline wheatear Coal tit (P.a.cypriotes) Great tit Dorothy's (Short-toed) treecreeper (C.b.dorotheae) Eurasian penduline tit (h) Eurasian jay (G.g.glaszneri) Magpie Eurasian jackdaw Hooded crow European starling Yellowhammer (h) Reed bunting (h) Corn bunting Common chaffinch Common crossbill (L.c.guillemardi) European greenfinch Eurasian siskin European goldfinch Common linnet European serin House sparrow Spanish sparrow |
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