Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos x2 half day tours 19 + 22/05/2018
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.
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.
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.
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.
 Spur-winged Lapwing - Mark Woodhead © |  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.
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.
European Roller - Mark Woodhead ©
 Black-headed Bunting - Mark Woodhead © |  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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