Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Tour - Akrotiri + Paphos 22/03/201
Tawny Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 22nd I guided Terry Thomas around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites. We started out early at Akrotiri, visiting Zakaki Marsh first. The birds were tough work here aside a large group of Little Egret roosting in the tall eucalyptus trees at the back. We had brief views of Eurasian reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler, a few penduline Tits called though we was unable to find them. Cetti's warbler and Lesser Whitethroat showed briefly in a tamarisk bush and a Common Swift was feeding above the hide. As we left the site a Common Kingfisher swooped in a showed nice and close but was reluctant to perch. As we approached the car a Savi's Warbler sounded from across the road, but it wouldn't show.
Ladies Mile must had seen a huge clear out over night as there was literally only 4 gulls in the area, all Armenian with a single Black-headed Gull hiding near the port. 2 Greater Flamingo were on the pools and a few Little Egret, but that was all. We saw a large flock of Greater Flamingo flying along the coast as well as a small group of Grey Heron in the distance.
By the port we had excellent views of a Tawny Pipit and a small party of Greater Short-toed Lark. Also we watched a stunning male Black Francolin which was a target species. Also a few Hoopoes showed very well close to the car.
Ladies Mile must had seen a huge clear out over night as there was literally only 4 gulls in the area, all Armenian with a single Black-headed Gull hiding near the port. 2 Greater Flamingo were on the pools and a few Little Egret, but that was all. We saw a large flock of Greater Flamingo flying along the coast as well as a small group of Grey Heron in the distance.
By the port we had excellent views of a Tawny Pipit and a small party of Greater Short-toed Lark. Also we watched a stunning male Black Francolin which was a target species. Also a few Hoopoes showed very well close to the car.
Greater Short-toed Lark - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Many Lesser Whitethroats later (and a brief view of a Common Whitethroat) we headed for the Gravel Pits where we had lengthy views of another Black Francolin and brief flight views of a male and female. Along the coastal point there was huge rafts of a mixed flock of Garganey, Pintail, Northern Shoveler and a few Mallard. The numbers of the flocks must have exceeded 7-8,000 easy! And to the left we got to witness some of the best of the Painted Lady migration currently in progress, seeing hundreds at a time swarm low continuously. What a spectacle!
Along this stretch we had a few Northern and Isabelline Wheatears along with a Cyprus Wheatear.
At a wetland area nearby we was treated to some waders. Many Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, a single Wood Sandpiper and Greenshank and maybe over 15 Common Snipe with plenty of Little Ringed Plover being very vocal and displaying.
Along this stretch we had a few Northern and Isabelline Wheatears along with a Cyprus Wheatear.
At a wetland area nearby we was treated to some waders. Many Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, a single Wood Sandpiper and Greenshank and maybe over 15 Common Snipe with plenty of Little Ringed Plover being very vocal and displaying.
Eurasian Griffon Vulture - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Kensington Cliffs was the next destination where we had amazing views of Alpine Swift swooping near our heads. 3 Griffon Vultures were showing well on the cliff and we had another come in and land, which had obviously just been feeding as its face was blood-stained.
Our next site was to be Anarita Park as Finsch's Wheatear was the other target species. Sadly they had left, likely the night before (with the winter clearout) but we had great views of Cretzschmar's Bunting, Corn Bunting, Northern, Isabelline, Cyprus and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Little Owl, Cyprus Warbler (both male and female) and 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos harrassing the Magpies. A pair of Red-rumped Swallow were hanging around their nesting tunnel providing incredible views.
Our next site was to be Anarita Park as Finsch's Wheatear was the other target species. Sadly they had left, likely the night before (with the winter clearout) but we had great views of Cretzschmar's Bunting, Corn Bunting, Northern, Isabelline, Cyprus and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Little Owl, Cyprus Warbler (both male and female) and 2 Great Spotted Cuckoos harrassing the Magpies. A pair of Red-rumped Swallow were hanging around their nesting tunnel providing incredible views.
Red-rumped Swallow - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Our last stop was Mandria where we saw a few Laughing Doves, another Black Francolin showing well, A Stone Curlew and many Yellow Wagtails including the "superciliaris" intergrade. No sign of the Lesser Short-toed Lark and Bimaculated Lark that I had found the previous days.
Despite the winter clearout we still managed 80 species for the day, but very unfortunate with the Finsch's Wheatear.
Despite the winter clearout we still managed 80 species for the day, but very unfortunate with the Finsch's Wheatear.
Laughing Dove - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
| Species List: Black Francolin (h) Common Quail Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Mallard Garganey Greater Flamingo Cattle Egret Grey Heron Great Egret Little Egret European Shag Common Kestrel Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier (h)Water Rail Common Moorhen Common Coot Eurasian Stone Curlew Spur-winged Lapwing Little Ringed Plover Common Snipe Marsh Sandpiper Common Greenshank Green Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Armenian Gull Yellow-legged Gull Black-headed Gull Rock Dove Common Wood-pigeon Eurasian Collared-dove Laughing Dove Great Spotted Cuckoo Little Owl Alpine Swift Common Swift Pallid Swift Common Kingfisher | Eurasian Hoopoe Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Great Tit (h)Eurasian Penduline tit Greater Short-toed Lark Crested Lark Barn Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Common House-martin Zitting Cisticola Cetti's Warbler (h)Savi's Warbler Sedge Warbler Eurasian Reed-warbler Common Chiffchaff Blackcap Common Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Warbler Song Thrush Common Stonechat Northern Wheatear Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Cyprus Wheatear Isabelline Wheatear House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow White Wagtail Yellow Wagtail (*Flava, *Superciliaris) Black-headed Wagtail Tawny Pipit Meadow Pipit Red-throated Pipit European Greenfinch European Goldfinch Common Linnet Corn Bunting Cretzschmar's Bunting 80 |
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