October 18th, 2017

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour, Paphos & Akrotiri 17/10/2017

On the 17th I had the pleasure of guiding Krzysztof around the sites at Paphos and Akrotiri. I decided after a recon trip the day before that it would be better to start in Akrotiri and spend the majority of our time there as Paphos had seen a clear out.
It was definitely the right choice as the first birds we came across in Akrotiri was a small party of Common Cranes sitting on the salt flats which we managed to get great close views of with a dazzling mountainous backdrop. 

Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

We continued to the Salt Lake after checking Ladies Mile where there was nothing unusual. On the salt lake there was a Montagu's Harrier hunting and the normal party of Grey Heron. Many White Wagtails flitting around and a few waders on the outlet, but fairly quiet for this time of year. We spent little time here and moved on to Zakaki Marsh where we had superb views of Spotted Crake, Water Rail and a Bluethroat. There was a very large group of Grey Heron that were put up at one point creating quite a spectacle. Also there was a small group of Little Egret flying low around the port. As we were leaving the site I noticed a flock of Common Crane flying in along the coast. We saw a few small groups of cranes whilst driving to Bishop's pool.

Crested Lark - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Spotted Crake - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Bluethroat - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

At Bishop's pool Common Teal, Garganey and a few Shoveler were present, also a Ferruginous duck was showing. We had a Western Marsh Harrier hunting what looked to be an injured or sick Common Teal for long periods. The site was a bit dissapointing raptor wise, we only had a few Eurasian Sparrowhawk flying overhead with no passage of Honey or Steppe Buzzard.
We then headed to the Gravel Pits were we heard but could not locate Red-throated Pipits. We saw a juvenile Common Crane land nearby, then we saw a decent flock of Common Cranes fly out to sea which was being followed by a Bonelli's Eagle which unfotunately gave up the chase early and didn't come as close as we would have liked. There was a few raptors here very high up but impossible to make out, also we had a small migrating flock of Northern Lapwing here.

Common Crane (juv) - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Common Crane - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Northern Lapwing - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Then we headed to Kensington Cliffs as although we got distant views of Eleonora's Falcon at the Salt Lake, we wanted to see them a bit closer and also hopefully some Griffon Vultures. Sadly the Griffon's weren't about but the Eleonora's Falcons put on a show for us. 

Eleonora's Falcon - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

On to Paphos we checked Mandria which was pretty devoid of life aside Wheatears, Stonechats and Spanish Sparrow. Heard the call of a Tree Pipit but couldn't find it. 

Spanish Sparrow - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

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The Sewage Works held an impressive 30+ Spur-winged Lapwing, many of which must have been migrants considering the population there was around 14 last year and only 3 eggs reported this spring. Among them was a small group of Northern Lapwing too which was great to see side by side. There were many White wagtails feeding in the recently cut field, among them were some Yellow Wagtails whose numbers seem to be less by the day. Round some of the Orchards we located a female Red-backed Shrike which was our first and only shrike of the day as well as finding 3 Whinchats which was lucky considering the others in Paphos must have migrated over night.
Last stop was the Paphos headland for Greater Sand Plover of which there was 2 of and enabled us to get close for some great views and photos. Sadly the Whimbrel and Turnstones were no-where to be seen. ​

Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Yellow-legged Gull - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Still though, we managed 64 species:

Chukar Partridge     
Mallard     
Northern Shoveler
Garganey 
Common Teal 
Ferruginous Duck   
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier   
Montagu's Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Water Rail
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen 
Common Coot 
Common Crane
Northern Lapwing 
Spur-winged Lapwing
Kentish Plover   
Greater Sand Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint  
Dunlin
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
Red-backed Shrike    
Eurasian Magpie     
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark  
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler (h)
Eurasian Reed-warbler (h)
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap (h)
Sardinian Warbler   
Bluethroat
Whinchat  
European Stonechat
Northern Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail 
Tree Pipit (h)
Red-throated Pipit (h) 
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
64