Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos & Episkopi 27/02/2018
Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of Guiding Jessica and Liam around the Paphos and Episkopi sites.
We started out at the Headland for the Greater Sandplover, sure enough we came across two of them, one almost in Summer Plumage, and they were accompanied by two Dunlin and two European Golden Plover. We made use of the early morning light and snapped up some good close shots. We also managed to locate the Whimbrel and Ruddy Turnstones. We heard Red-throated Pipit but decided against searching for them as we would be visiting two more sites where they would be present and better for photography. Just as we left the site a small murmuration of European Starling darted across the Archaeological Park and a European Shag flew low over the sea.
We started out at the Headland for the Greater Sandplover, sure enough we came across two of them, one almost in Summer Plumage, and they were accompanied by two Dunlin and two European Golden Plover. We made use of the early morning light and snapped up some good close shots. We also managed to locate the Whimbrel and Ruddy Turnstones. We heard Red-throated Pipit but decided against searching for them as we would be visiting two more sites where they would be present and better for photography. Just as we left the site a small murmuration of European Starling darted across the Archaeological Park and a European Shag flew low over the sea.
Ruddy Turnstone - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We moved on to the Sewage Plant, spotting a grey heron quite close on the Ezousas River, and a male & female Black Francolin together in the road at the entrance which were unfortunately startled by the horse ranches dog. We quickly located the Red-throated Pipits feeding in a freshly cut field. The Spur-winged Lapwings were present also feeding in the field along with any Zitting Cisticola flitting around, two Cattle Egret feeding and also many White Wagtail in Summer Plumage. A lone European Starling was on the wires.
Heading on to Agia Varvara for closer encounters with Zitting Cisticola didn't dissapoint, here we also managed good photo opportunities with Common Linnet and also European Stonechat perched close on vivid ripe Aloe Vera. The Resevoir held just a Green Sandpiper.
Heading on to Agia Varvara for closer encounters with Zitting Cisticola didn't dissapoint, here we also managed good photo opportunities with Common Linnet and also European Stonechat perched close on vivid ripe Aloe Vera. The Resevoir held just a Green Sandpiper.
 European Stonechat - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  European Stonechat - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Anarita Park was relatively quiet, probably due to the heavy rainful and winds the previous day. We still managed to locate the male and female Finsch's Wheatear. As we approached the male it started to rain which caused the bird to be less rattled for some reason. We managed to get very close to the male and some great photos. We moved to higher ground here and parked up next to a male Cyprus Warbler and Western Black Redstart of which both briefly had a fight.
 Finsch's Wheatear - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Finsch's Wheatear - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Our next stop was Mandria which was also relatively quiet though we did manage a large group of Alpine and Common Swifts, possibly the first to be reported this year and also the recently arrived Isabelline Wheatear feeding heavily.
Alpine Swift - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
We then proceeded to Anarita Masts where we saw presumably the same group of swifts again. Here we managed more views of Cyprus Warbler, though the stronger winds prevented them from sitting on the tops of the thorny shrubs. A male Sardinian Warbler showed well though providing mouth watering photo opportunities.
Whilst we were concentrating on the Warblers, two Eurasian Hoopoe flew towards the car and over. One chasing the other and calling in flight ... spring is definitely in the air.
We headed round the corner to try and track down some red-throated pipits. Sure enough we found one in stunning plumage, and managed to get incredibly close. Also a small group of Serin showed well, our second flock of the day and brief glimpseof two Spectacled warblers chasing each other. An unfortunate sight was seeing the many abandoned hunting dogs here ... sadly a common occurence here every year.
Whilst we were concentrating on the Warblers, two Eurasian Hoopoe flew towards the car and over. One chasing the other and calling in flight ... spring is definitely in the air.
We headed round the corner to try and track down some red-throated pipits. Sure enough we found one in stunning plumage, and managed to get incredibly close. Also a small group of Serin showed well, our second flock of the day and brief glimpseof two Spectacled warblers chasing each other. An unfortunate sight was seeing the many abandoned hunting dogs here ... sadly a common occurence here every year.
 Red-throated Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |  Red-throated Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved |
Then on to Secret Valley to see our only target species; the mighty Bonelli's Eagle. We stopped at Kouklia Soakaways on the way and managed to find two small flocks of Spanish Sparrow. We walked to the resevoir which must have only recently had water in as only coots and moorhen were on the water. Here we ate our lunch, and just before finishing, sure enough an adult Bonelli's Eagle flew in from the valley edge and proceeded to rise. After some good scoped views we was ready to leave and then heard the call of the Cyprus Scops Owl.
I asked Jessica and Liam what they wanted to do next, and we all ageed on seeing the Griffon Vultures, So we headed for Episkopi, seeing a newly arrived flock of House Martins on the way. 8 Griffon Vultures were seen on arrival and provided some close fly-by's ... not as close as seen
previously, but it was quite a windy day ... so much so that they had to attempt to land a few times before they got it right. Driving out of Episkopi we was even treated to another low fly-by.
 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 I dropped Jessica and Liam back at their apartment in Coral Bay, a very large group of Great Cormorants flew over in a giant V. What an end to a great tour totaling 60 Species with some fantastic photo opportunities.
Great Cormorant - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
| Chukar Black francolin Great cormorant European shag Grey heron Cattle egret Griffon vulture Eurasian sparrowhawk Common buzzard Bonelli's eagle Common kestrel Peregrine falcon Common moorhen Eurasian coot Spur-winged lapwing European golden plover Greater sandplover Whimbrel Green sandpiper Ruddy turnstone Dunlin Yellow-legged gull Rock dove Common Wood pigeon Eurasian Collared dove Cyprus Scops Owl (h) Alpine swift Common swift Eurasian Hoopoe Crested lark | Skylark Barn swallow Common house martin White wagtail Meadow pipit Red-throated pipit Song thrush Zitting cisticola Cetti's warbler (h) Chiffchaff Sardinian warbler Cyprus warbler Spectacled warbler Western Black redstart European stonechat Finsch's wheatear Isabelline wheatear Great tit Magpie Eurasian jackdaw Hooded crow European starling Corn bunting Common chaffinch European greenfinch European goldfinch Common linnet European serin House sparrow Spanish sparrow 60 |
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