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October 28th, 2020

28/10/2020

 

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Full-Day Tour Paphos & Akrotiri 28/10/2020.

Picture
Bluethroat - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
On the 28th I guided Geoffrey around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.
We started at Akrotiri (Phassouri) Marsh where we came upon many Common Snipe at the waters edge. Common teal, Moorhen and Coot were abundant here as well as at least 4 Common Kingfisher. Reed Warblers and Water Rails were heard in the reeds but unfortunately not seen. Quite a few Cattle Egret were in the area, spotting one perched on a cow. Further up we got views of Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail with many Red-throated Pipit calling but being tricky to locate,we got great views of a Water Pipit here though. In the distance a Starling and two Little Stint were feeding in the water. Both Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing were present with some close to the fence. At the last stop along the marsh we had views of at least 4 Glossy ibis and some Little Egret at the back. A single Wood sandpiper was present as well as many Common Snipe. A Red-footed Falcon passed close overhead, a juvenile bird shortly followed by a Eurasian Hobby flying low hunting dragonflies. Quite a few Marsh Harriers were knocking about and I managed a fleeting glimpse of a Hen Harrier here. The White Stork appears to have migrated from the area thankfully.
Picture
Red-footed Falcon - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Many Stonechats later and a drive through the much devoid Akrotiri Gravel Pits we arrived at the Salt Lake. Many Greater Flamingos were showing as well as a few Great Egret. I couldn't pick out anything from the gulls aside Yellow Legged and Black-headed this time round. A few Eleonor's Falcons passed over and in the reeds section we had amazing views of a Bluethroat.
We then checked Ladies Mile for waders. Little Stint, Common Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover were on show. A Greater Sand Plover was also present, saving a trip to the Paphos headland later.
Picture
Greater Sand Plover - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Next we stopped at Bishop's Pool for waterfowl. We managed to see Ferruginous Duck here as well as Common Pochard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and the usuals.
Our next stop was Kensington cliffs where for the 5th trip running we were not able to see a single Griffon Vulture, which is deeply worrying. We did pick out a few Eleonora's Falcons, European Shag and a Blue Rock Thrush.
We then drove back to Paphos stopping at Mandria for Dinner. At Mandria we saw many Laughing Dove and despite seeing them in flight and hearing them we still didn't manage a good view of a Red-throated Pipit. The small football pitch held maybe over 100 Water Pipit, with some red-throated among them but distant. Also a few Starling were feeding in the grass as well as a group of Spanish Sparrow.
Picture
Caucasian Water Pipit - Cyprus Bird Watching Tours © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Our next target was Finsch's Wheatear at Anarita Park which seems to have not arrived yet sadly and not many birds of note were seen here, probably due to a large fire in the area.
Our last stop was the Paphos Sewage Plant which also was fairly quiet. Spur-winged Lapwing showed here but not much else aside a Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
We finished the day with 63 species.
Species List:

Black Francolin    
Gadwall 
Mallard    
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Common Pochard   
Ferruginous Duck    
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag  
Common Kestrel   
Eleonora's Falcon  
Eurasian Hobby
Red-footed Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier  
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen  
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover 
Kentish Plover    
Greater Sand Plover
Common Snipe 
​Wood Sandpiper 

Little Stint 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Black-headed Gull 
Rock Dove 
Common Wood-pigeon   
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie    
Eurasian Jackdaw   
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark  
(h)Cetti's Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff 
(h)Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling 
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
Blue Rock-thrush 
House Sparrow 
Spanish Sparrow    
White Wagtail 
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)   
Black-headed Wagtail 
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

63

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