Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri, Paphos, Famagusta + North, Troodos 4 Day Tour 29+30/09 + 01+3/10/2019
On the 29th I guided Janet and Edward on a 4 day tour across Cyprus
The first day we set out to Akrotiri, at Phassouri Marsh where we got great views of Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Little Egret, Common Kingfisher and also brief views of Common Snipe and Black Francolin. Many ducks were flying in and out and I managed to spot an odd one in the crowd which turned out to be a female wood duck! Obviously an escapee.
The first day we set out to Akrotiri, at Phassouri Marsh where we got great views of Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Little Egret, Common Kingfisher and also brief views of Common Snipe and Black Francolin. Many ducks were flying in and out and I managed to spot an odd one in the crowd which turned out to be a female wood duck! Obviously an escapee.
Moving on to the Gravel pits we had a few Marsh Harrier on the ground and an Osprey flying low over us. At the oasis was a lone Ruddy Turnstone, a scarce species in Cyprus but no sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit that had been hanging around.
Moving into the Eucalyptus woodland we had a Honey Buzzard in a low tree, probably the same one seen before.
The salt lake held great numbers of Greater Flamingo and the Eleonora's Falcons were hunting here again. Slender-billed Gulls were showing again too.
Ladies Mile held small numbers of waders, Little Stint and Ringed Plover.
Bishop's Pool was unfortunately locked being a Sunday and so we ventured to the tower hide which was fairly quiet aside some groups of Honey Buzzard flying over and a lone Steppe Buzzard.
The salt lake held great numbers of Greater Flamingo and the Eleonora's Falcons were hunting here again. Slender-billed Gulls were showing again too.
Ladies Mile held small numbers of waders, Little Stint and Ringed Plover.
Bishop's Pool was unfortunately locked being a Sunday and so we ventured to the tower hide which was fairly quiet aside some groups of Honey Buzzard flying over and a lone Steppe Buzzard.
We did get a Pallid harrier fly in close to the hide. Also present was a Blue Emperor and a Large Marsh Horsefly. We had our lunch here and then ventured to Kensington Cliffs where we had great views of Eleonora's Falcon and Griffon Vulture plus the Green Turtle still showing in the bay.
Then we finished up the day at the Bee-hives where we saw Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, more Honey Buzzards and a Black Kite.
We managed 61 species for the day.
We managed 61 species for the day.
The second day we ventured to Paphos. We started at the Headland where the Whimbrel showed well and many flocks of Spanish Sparrow. A few Honey Buzzards flew in off the sea right where we were and also a Squacco Heron flew in close along the coast. The Greater Sand Plover was at the usual spot and we had great views and photo ops with it. The Kingfisher was hanging around again too.
We then ventured to the Sewage Works where we got great close views of Spur-winged Lapwing.
Our next stop was Mandria where we saw some Stone Curlew and a Black Francolin. We also got great views of Laughing Dove.
Our next stop was Mandria where we saw some Stone Curlew and a Black Francolin. We also got great views of Laughing Dove.
Moving up to Agia Varvara we stopped for a special butterfly species as Edward was keen on butterflies (so I added many stops to accommodate as many species), the smallest Butterfly in Europe, the Grass Jewel. None of the Little Owls were on show at Anarita Park though we did see a 1st Plumage Bonelli's Eagle. Moving through Episkopi we saw Cyprus Wheatear and at Minthis we had a Hobby hunting dragonflies very low and close.
Next we went up to Arodes where we saw Long-legged Buzzard. We searched this site for Levantine Leopard though was unsuccessful in finding this rare butterfly. Our last stop was to see Egyptian Fruit bats at a secret cave.
We got 50 species for the day.
Next we went up to Arodes where we saw Long-legged Buzzard. We searched this site for Levantine Leopard though was unsuccessful in finding this rare butterfly. Our last stop was to see Egyptian Fruit bats at a secret cave.
We got 50 species for the day.
On our third day we headed to the East of the island starting at Oroklini. Here we had a fair few sightings, a Marsh Harrier flew right up to the hide and on the water we had lots of Snipe, Garganey, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard and a Temminck's Stint being the star bird. A Whiskered Tern was also feeding over the water.
Then we ventured to the north side of the island to Kukla Wetlands, an incredibly productive site this year, maybe the best on the island. At Kukla we had a Pallid Harrier on entry low over the fields and then later seen perched at the waters edge which we managed to get very close to. The usual waders were around the edge (Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper), we also had many Greater Flamingo up close to the waters edge providing incredible views though sadly a few people walked close to our car and inevitably disturbed them.
There was a large flock of Spoonbill present and also an Osprey came and fished right next to the car though sadly towards the sun.
Red-footed Falcon were on the ground close as well as Collared Pratincole. A lone Common Shelduck and Golden Plover were present and large numbers of Marsh Harrier were close at times. We even saw a young Bonelli's Eagle being mobbed by many lesser kestrel dive a Grey Heron without success. A few Northern Lapwings were still present as well as Whiskered and White Winged Tern .... getting the former close on the ground, at least one Great Crested Grebe was still present too and a young Peregrine Falcon though the Pelicans and Black Stork had left. A newly arrived flock of Red-throated pipit showed nice and close on the ground near us.
Maybe our greatest sightings here though were 3 Common Cranes and then 2 White Storks which were happy to feed meters from the car.
Wandering Glider dragonflies were in abundance here and also a few Vagrant Emperors, Slender Skimmers, a surprise Southern Skimmer and also a pair of Lesser Emperors mating. Small Desert Blue's were here in good numbers and a few Crimson-speckled Moth. We also saw an Oriental Hornet cannibalize another. As we left a dust devil formed.
We visited the Larnaca Salt Lake on the way back for Little Tiger Blue butterflies ... though we were too late, though we did get Lesser Fiery Copper.
We managed 76 species for the day.
We managed 76 species for the day.
Our last day was a trip up to the mountains. We started in Platres in hope of seeing a Cardinal butterfly nectaring, though we only got flight views. We had many sightings of Cyprus Grayling though and a small party of Coal Tit and Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackbird and a high flying Peregrine Falcon. We then headed to Trooditissa seeing a Griffon Vulture on the way and a few Cyprus Wheatear. At the picnic site we had many more Cyprus Grayling and also Brown Argus, no sign of Purple Hairstreak. A Goshawk flew over briefly and also a Jay showed well. A Migrant Hawker was present.
Prodromos was quite dissapointing for both birds and Butterflies, though we did get a Hobby here.
We then headed to Livadi tou passia where we ate our lunch. Sadly there was a group of motorcross people here and very little wildlife.
At the next picnic site we had a small group of Crossbill in a tree but flushed due to a car going past fast, we also had a single one sitting high in a tree. Willow Warbler were showing and we had fleeting glimpses of Wren and a Sylvia warbler type that went down as unknown but likely a lesser whitethroat. A tree pipit showed quite well in a tree for a decent period.
We visited the Botanical Garden where we had great views and photo ops with many Hummingbird Hawkmoths.
Prodromos was quite dissapointing for both birds and Butterflies, though we did get a Hobby here.
We then headed to Livadi tou passia where we ate our lunch. Sadly there was a group of motorcross people here and very little wildlife.
At the next picnic site we had a small group of Crossbill in a tree but flushed due to a car going past fast, we also had a single one sitting high in a tree. Willow Warbler were showing and we had fleeting glimpses of Wren and a Sylvia warbler type that went down as unknown but likely a lesser whitethroat. A tree pipit showed quite well in a tree for a decent period.
We visited the Botanical Garden where we had great views and photo ops with many Hummingbird Hawkmoths.
We then headed to Tzelefelos Venetian Bridge seeing a Sparrowhawk dive for prey and on the ground for a while. At the bridge we saw Catocala coniuncta sat on my foot and many Grey Wagtail attacked their reflection in the car side mirrors.
Our day total was a low count of 30 species. Bringing our 4 day tour to 112 Species.
Our day total was a low count of 30 species. Bringing our 4 day tour to 112 Species.
Species List: Chukar Partridge (a.c.cypriotes) Black Francolin Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Common Shelduck Common Teal Garganey *Wood Duck Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Greater Flamingo White Stork Eurasian Spoonbill Glossy Ibis Cattle Egret Grey Heron Great Egret Little Egret Squacco Heron Great Cormorant European Shag (p.a.desmarestii) Lesser Kestrel Common Kestrel Red-footed Falcon Eleonora's Falcon Eurasian Hobby Peregrine Falcon (f.p.brookei) Osprey European Honey-buzzard Black Kite Griffon Vulture Western Marsh Harrier Pallid Harrier Eurasian Sparrowhawk Northern Goshawk Long-legged Buzzard Steppe Buzzard Bonelli's Eagle Water Rail Common Coot Common Moorhen Black-winged Stilt Eurasian Stone Curlew Common Crane Northern Lapwing Spur-winged Lapwing Common Ringed Plover Eurasian Golden Plover Greater Sand Plover Whimbrel Common Snipe Common Redshank Common Greenshank Marsh Sandpiper | Wood Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Little Stint Temminck's Stint Curlew Sandpiper Collared Pratincole Yellow-legged Gull Slender-billed Gull Whiskered Tern White-winged Tern Common Wood-pigeon European Turtle-dove Eurasian Collared-dove Laughing Dove Common Swift Alpine Swift European Roller Common Kingfisher European Bee-eater Red-backed Shrike Eurasian Jay (g.g.glaszneri) Eurasian Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw Hooded Crow Great Tit (p.m.aphrodite) Coal Tit (p.a.cypriotes) Greater Short-toed Lark Crested Lark (g.c.cypriaca) Sand Martin Barn Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Zitting Cisticola Cetti's Warbler (h)Eurasian Reed-warbler Willow Warbler Blackcap Sardinian Warbler Whinchat Spotted Flycatcher Northern Wheatear Cyprus Wheatear Eurasian Blackbird House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Eurasian Wren (t.t.cypriotes) White Wagtail Yellow Wagtail (*Flava) Black-headed Wagtail Grey Wagtail Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper (c.b.dorothea) Tree Pipit Red-throated Pipit Common Chaffinch European Greenfinch (c.c.muehlei) European Goldfinch Red Crossbill (c.c.guillemardi) Corn Bunting 112 |
Blue-tail Damselfly Common Darter Red-veined Darter Red-veined Dropwing Broad Scarlet Slender Skimmer (copula) Southern Skimmer Lesser Emperor (copula) Blue Emperor Vagrant Emperor Wandering Glider Migrant Hawker Common Blue Long-tailed Blue Small Grass Blue Grass Jewel African Grass Blue Small Desert Blue Brown Argus Lesser Fiery Copper Large White Small White Clouded Yellow Wall Brown Cyprus Meadow Brown Oriental Meadow Brown Wall Brown Speckled Wood Painted Lady Swallowtail Cleopatra Cardinal Cyprus Grayling Eastern Rock Grayling Pygmy Skipper | Crimson-speckled Flunky/moth Catocala coniuncta Hummingbird Hawk Moth Drimia aphylla Pygmy Carlina Sternbergia lutea European Plumbago Colchicum Troodi Tiger beetle - Calomera littoralis winkleri Large Marsh Horsefly Deerfly - Chrysops relictus Oriental Hornet Cannibalism Antlion sp. Large Black Whip Snake Sling-tailed Agama Lizard Snake-eyed Lizard Troodos Lizard Schreiber's Fringe-fingered Lizard Green Turtle |