Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Paphos & Akrotiri 21/02/2019
Arctic Skua - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 21st I guided Lisa and John around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites. We started in Akrotiri with Greater Flamingos in mind. Unfortunately there was only a few birds feeding near the coast, likely reduced numbers due to disturbance in the area. But we got great views of the few that were there.
We was looking through the gulls when an Arctic Sku flew low over the car, a very scarce bird for Cyprus. We watched it as it flew down the coast and rested in the sea for a while, though as I drove down for closer views it vanished, briefly re-appearing and then losing it again. Only the second I have ever seen in Cyprus and a lifer for both Lisa and John.
We proceeded to look through the gulls and found a few Armenian, Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gull. Moving on to Zakaki there was a few Temminck's stint on the pool across the road from the hide.
We was looking through the gulls when an Arctic Sku flew low over the car, a very scarce bird for Cyprus. We watched it as it flew down the coast and rested in the sea for a while, though as I drove down for closer views it vanished, briefly re-appearing and then losing it again. Only the second I have ever seen in Cyprus and a lifer for both Lisa and John.
We proceeded to look through the gulls and found a few Armenian, Slender-billed and Mediterranean Gull. Moving on to Zakaki there was a few Temminck's stint on the pool across the road from the hide.
Temminck's Stint - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Slender-billed Gull - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
From the hide we had many good views of Marsh Harrier hunting and a Sparrowhawk harrassing a hooded crow. We had very good views of Penduline Tits out in the open but failed to see the few Moustached Warbler that were singing. A reed warbler showed very briefly.
On the way to Bishops pool a Common Buzzard was sitting out in the open showing very well and during a brief stop next to the salt lake a Common Kestrel swooped down and grabbed something from the ground in close proximity to the car. Bishop's Pool was again unusually short of waterfowl for this time of year. We did manage to see quite a few Ferruginous Ducks here though. We did manage to spot a Green Tree Frog which proceeded to hide in a shrub.
On the way to Bishops pool a Common Buzzard was sitting out in the open showing very well and during a brief stop next to the salt lake a Common Kestrel swooped down and grabbed something from the ground in close proximity to the car. Bishop's Pool was again unusually short of waterfowl for this time of year. We did manage to see quite a few Ferruginous Ducks here though. We did manage to spot a Green Tree Frog which proceeded to hide in a shrub.
Ferruginous Duck - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Lisa had an interest in Orchids so we entered part of the Gravel Pits to find some of the special species in flower at the moment. We found a decent selection of species including two of our endemic: Kotschyi and Elegans.
As we left the site we spotted a Cyprus Warbler sitting in the top of a low shrub next to the road, which provided good views at times. I suspect it was a recent arrival as this is not one of their territories.
We then headed to Phassouri seeing many finches at the entrance as well as some Common Swift ... with a few Alpine Swifts among them. We tried looking for the Black-bellied Sandgrouse that was seen recently here but was unsuccesful. A small party of Starlings were airborn and we later saw them all perched in a Eucalyptus tree. We got great views of a Marsh Harrier perched on some dead wood here.
We decided to have our lunch at Kensington cliffs whilst watching the Griffon Vultures. There was only one in view at first but shortly after we had 4 of them flying extremely close to us ... eye level.
As we left the site we spotted a Cyprus Warbler sitting in the top of a low shrub next to the road, which provided good views at times. I suspect it was a recent arrival as this is not one of their territories.
We then headed to Phassouri seeing many finches at the entrance as well as some Common Swift ... with a few Alpine Swifts among them. We tried looking for the Black-bellied Sandgrouse that was seen recently here but was unsuccesful. A small party of Starlings were airborn and we later saw them all perched in a Eucalyptus tree. We got great views of a Marsh Harrier perched on some dead wood here.
We decided to have our lunch at Kensington cliffs whilst watching the Griffon Vultures. There was only one in view at first but shortly after we had 4 of them flying extremely close to us ... eye level.
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
As we returned to Paphos, we scouted Mandria which held surprisingly little, though we did see a Laughing Dove. We headed to Timi after in hope of catching an Isabelline Wheatear but they seemed to be vacant from both sites.
Our final stop was the Sewage Works for Spur-winged Lapwing. One flew in and landed next to the car as did a second. A red-throated pipit flew overhead calling and a few Meadow pipit were at a puddle. A small group of Corn Bunting showed well in a bare pecan tree and moments later joined by a male Spanish Sparrow.
We ended the day by the pomegranate orchard to get good views of Serin which didn't disappoint.
We managed 63 species for the day
Our final stop was the Sewage Works for Spur-winged Lapwing. One flew in and landed next to the car as did a second. A red-throated pipit flew overhead calling and a few Meadow pipit were at a puddle. A small group of Corn Bunting showed well in a bare pecan tree and moments later joined by a male Spanish Sparrow.
We ended the day by the pomegranate orchard to get good views of Serin which didn't disappoint.
We managed 63 species for the day
| Species List: Chukar Partridge Black Francolin (h) Mallard Common Teal Ferruginous Duck Little Grebe Greater Flamingo Cattle Egret Grey Heron Great Cormorant European Shag Common Kestrel Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier Eurasian Sparrowhawk Common Buzzard Common Moorhen Common Coot Spur-winged Lapwing Temminck's Stint Armenian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Black-headed Gull Slender-billed Gull Mediterranean Gull Arctic Skua Rock Dove Common Wood-pigeon Eurasian Collared-dove Laughing Dove Alpine Swift | Common Swift Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Great Tit Eurasian Penduline tit Crested Lark Barn Swallow Common House-martin Zitting Cisticola Cetti's Warbler Moustached Warbler (h) Eurasian Reed-warbler Common Chiffchaff Blackcap Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Warbler Common Starling Eurasian Blackbird (h) Song Thrush Common Stonechat House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow White Wagtail Meadow Pipit Red-throated Pipit (h) Common Chaffinch European Serin European Greenfinch European Goldfinch Common Linnet Corn Bunting 62 Himantoglossum Robertianum Orchis Syriaca Ophrys Sicula Ophrys Elegans Ophrys Kotschyi Ophrys Iricolor Veined Sainfoin Fagonia Cretica Storks Bill Anenome Coronaria Salvia lanigera Silene Aegyptica Green Tree Frog |
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