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Paphos-Akrotiri-Larnaca 11+13+14-12-15

15/12/2015

 
On the 11th a three day tour commenced with Chris (one of the most knowledgeable birders that I had ever come across). Finsch's Wheatear was the target and also Chris wanted to see some gull species throughout the tours. Gull identification generally not being my strong point, however I did a bit of brushing up before the tours.
The first day in Paphos turned out to be very fruitful, Heuglin's Gull, Greater Sand Plover, Whimbrel, Caspian Gull, Great Crested Grebe and Finsch's Wheatear being the highlights.
The Lower Ezousas Pools had now completely dried up and despite the water department saying they would re-fill it they had not. So a vast number of birds had moved on, of which would prove to be very difficult to find anywhere else in Paphos.
Kouklia Soakaways was my back-up plan to the Lower Ezousas Pools but sadly that site had still been badly neglected, with reeds completely over-running the pool.

Areas Visited:
Akti Beach, Paphos Headland, Lower Ezousas Pools + Sewage Works, Anarita Park, Mandria, Asprokremnos Dam, Kouklia, Achelia Dam.

Species Seen+heard:
Great Tit
Great Cormorant
Common Kingfisher
Yellow-legged Gull
European Stonechat
Meadow Pipit
Sardinian Warbler
House Sparrow
Greater Sandplover
Dunlin
European Golden Plover
Whimbrel
Ruddy Turnstone
Black Redstart
Crested Lark
Skylark
European Shag
Linnet
Blue Rock Thrush
Common Starling
Chiffchaff
Zitting Cisticola
Spur-winged Lapwing
Cattle Egret
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
White Wagtail
Hooded Crow
Collared Dove
Wood Pigeon
Green Sandpiper
Heuglin's Gull
Red-Throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Mallard
Finsch's Wheatear
Great Crested Grebe
Common Teal
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Serin
Goldfinch
Little Owl
Caspian Gull
Little Grebe
Chukar
Jackdaw
Woodlark
Greenfinch
Magpie
Coot
Common Snipe
Chaffinch
Long -Legged Buzzard
Robin
Blackcap (Heard)

56

Day two of the tour was to be in Akrotiri, the only lifer that Chris could have possibly got in Cyprus was a Finsch's Wheatear of which we already got in Paphos ... so now it was to be a numbers game but with Gulls in mind. However Akrotiri was the quietest I had ever seen it and the birding was hard work. I can only assume that there had been great disturbances as Phassouri Marsh prior to our arrival as there was barely a bird in sight. Consistently every year I get Moustached Warbler, Penduline Tit, Little Crake, Spotted Crake, Common Kingfisher, Water Rail and Reed Bunting here and occasionally a Great Bittern ... but only common species were present, and many common species weren't! 
Zakaki Marsh was also quiet although thankfully someone had cut the reeds down enabling views into the pool. Whoever that was has my utmost respect as the site was largely neglected pretty much since last winter. 
We still managed to see some good gull species and a decent bird count. Highlights were Armenian Gull, Sandwich Tern, Ferruginous Duck, Bluethroat and Griffon Vulture.

Areas Visited:
Phassouri, Salt Lake, Bishop's Pool, Lady's Mile, Zakaki, Kensington Cliffs, Mandria.

Species Seen+heard:
Chaffinch 
Great Tit
Spanish Sparrow (Heard)
Marsh Harrier
Black Francolin
Common Buzzard
Buethroat
Zitting Cisticola
European Stonechat
Cetti's Warbler (Heard)
Cattle Egret
Common Kestrel
Moorhen
Starling
Hooded Crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Greater Flamingo
Mallard
Ferruginous Duck
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Northern Shoveller
Blackbird
Coot
Grey Heron
Collared Dove
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
House Sparrow
Crested Lark
Chukar
Chiffchaff
Yellow-legged Gull
Armenian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Sandwich Tern
Common Redshank
Linnet
Gadwall
Water Rail (Heard) 
Griffon Vulture
Red-Throated Pipit 
Water Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Skylark
Black Redstart
Robin
Wood Pigeon
Northern Lapwing
Shag

51

The final day of the tour was to be in Larnaca which is generally the best place to be in Cyprus in the Winter. Here we managed to get Slender-Billed Gull and Mediterranean Gull, unfortunately none of the Audouin's or Pallas' Gulls were present. Highlights in Larnaca were White-fronted Goose, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Temminck's Stint and the Islands 16th Record of White-Headed Duck (since 1989), discovered by Chris.. of which they had never been seen before at Oroklini Lake, 3 individuals (females/immature) was a very important record of this Endangered Species! It was a lifer for me and one I have wanted for many years, so I was incredibly happy.

Areas Visited:
Larnaca Sewage Works, Oroklini Lake, Airport Field, Dolphin Rocks.

Species Seen+Heard:
Slender Billed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Armenian Gull
Caspian Gull
Yellow-Legged Gull
Little Stint
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Common Redshank
Ruff
Northern Shoveller
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Widgeon
Tufted Duck
Ferruginous Duck
Common Teal
Mallard
White-fronted Goose
Marsh Harrier
Sardinian Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Chiffchaff
House Sparrow
Red-Throated Pipit
Meadow Pipit
Crested lark
Skylark
Black Francolin
Great Cormorant
Hooded Crow
Common Kestrel
Greater Flamingo
Common Shelduck
Ruddy Shelduck
Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebe
Coot
Moorhen
Northern Lapwing
Corn Bunting
White Wagtail
Zitting Cisticola
European Stonechat
Temminck's Stint
White-headed Duck
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Spur-winged lapwing
Common Snipe
Ringed Plover
Barn Swallow
Goldfinch
White Wagtail

55
 
So 92 Species seen in total, a very good count for winter! 
Greater White Fronted Goose Ruddy Shelduck Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Greater white-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons & Ruddy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
White Headed Duck Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala (16th Cyprus record since 1989) & Coot - Fulica atra Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Slender Billed Gull Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Slender-billed Gull (Central) - Chroicocephalus genei Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Greater Sand Plover Ruddy Turnstone Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
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Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
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Great Cormorant Grey Heron Caspian Gull Mallard Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
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Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus & Common Teal - Anas crecca Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Sandwich Tern Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Mediterranean Gull Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus & Northern Shoveller - Anas clypeata & Common Teal - Anas crecca Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
White Headed Duck Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
White-headed Duck - Oxyura leucocephala (16th Cyprus record since 1989) & Coot - Fulica atra Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved
Common Shelduck Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
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Corn Bunting Cyprus Birding Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Cyprus Bird Watching Cyprus Birding Cyprus Birding Guide Cyprus Ornithological Tours
Corn Bunting - Emberiza calandra Cyprus Bird Watching Tours Bird is the Word © Matt Smith All Rights Reserved

Comments are closed.
    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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