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May 23rd, 2018

23/5/2018

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos x2 half day tours 19 + 22/05/2018

Picture
Black-headed Bunting - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
​On the 19th and 22nd I had the pleasure of guiding Mark around the Paphos sites for two half day tours. (I had a bit of a break from photography and so Mark kindly let me display some of his photos from the tour on this report)
The first day we spent in the lower paphos sites, Our first stop was Agia Varvara with Black Francolin in mind. On arrival we saw one briefly on the top of an abandoned building. We heard him call out for a long period of time though he wouldn't show for a second time.
A family of common kestrel were hanging around providing great views as they learned to hunt from their parents. 
On the river we had a brief glimpse of a wood sandpiper and some reed warblers. We also had good views of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, another target species. I had a Garden Warbler briefly show whilst Mark was photographing one of the Olivaceous Warblers.
Picture
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Mark Woodhead ©
We even had a brief fly by of a Common Cuckoo and Peregrine Falcon, and also a Stone Curlew in one of the orchards along with a Great Reed Warbler singing.
We then moved on to Anarita Park where some Red-footed Falcon were still present along with one Lesser kestrel. At one point a Cyprus Scops Owl called out, but didn'gt continue to call and so we did not spend time in trying to find it.
A family party of Cyprus Warblers showed briefly in the broom shrub as well as a family of Chukar on the plateau.
We made a short trip to the Sewage Plant for Spur-winged Lapwing of which we got fairly easily, there was also a small group of yellow wagtails present but unfortunately we flushed them before getting good views. A Eurasian Stone Curlew showed briefly right next to the car. 
A small family of Goldfinch showed well also.
Mandria provided two Greater Short-toed larks just meters from the car, and Asprokremnos Dam car park had a smart male Common Redstart. We managed 44 species for for the half day.
Picture
Spur-winged Lapwing - Mark Woodhead ©
Picture
Greater Short-toed Lark - Mark Woodhead ©
​The second day was in the Paphos Foothills on a cloudy and dusty day.
We started by driving through Episkopi seeing many Cyprus Wheatear and Roller on the way and even managing some decent photo opportunities with the Rollers. Only one Peregrine Falcon showed at the monolith, the young must have fledged.
At Minthis we managed to locate many Cretzscmar's Bunting which was another target species. Many were calling and some in song, on the ground and in the shrubs. A surprise here was a female Marsh Harrier gliding the valley and also two whinchat with one in sub-song which I had never heard before. A spectacled warbler called nearby briefly but was not seen. We continued through to Kathikas for the Black-headed Bunting which was another target species. We managed to find quite a few Black-headed Buntings, with many in song. We also came across another Black-francolin with superb flight views over the car. A small party of Sand Martin flew over here.
We had a quick look around Pano Arodes which produced many Rollers and an Eleonora's Falcon. Unfortunately we did not manage our final target species, the Long-legged Buzzard despite visiting and driving past many of their territories and favoured perching points. We managed 37 species for the half day bringing our total to 54 species.
Picture
European Roller - Mark Woodhead ©
Picture
Black-headed Bunting - Mark Woodhead ©
Picture
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Mark Woodhead ©
Species:
Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel 
Red-footed Falcon 
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing 
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon  
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl (h)
Little Owl 
Common Swift
European Roller
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw    
​Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin  
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler 
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed Warbler (h)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
Common Redstart 
Spotted Flycatcher 
Cyprus Wheatear
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (flava, feldegg)
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch 
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
54

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    Mostly all photos are taken with a
    - Canon 7D mkii (older photos with mk1)
    and a
    - Canon 400mm Ef-s USM l f5.6 Lens. 
    - no teleconverter.

    Macro: 
    Tamron sp 90mm f017
    (older: Canon sx50 HS)


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