Blog Posts

October 20th, 2020

20/10/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 20/10/2020. Joe and Jeff

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
(h)Black Francolin
Mallard
Common Teal
Northern Shoveler
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Northern Goshawk
Common Buzzard
(h)Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Armenian Gull

Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
(h)Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
(h)Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Bluethroat
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
*Black-headed Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit

57

- Crimson Speckled Moth
- Green Turtle

September 16th, 2020

16/9/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 16/09/2020

On the 16th I guided Ian around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites. We started at Phassouri Marsh where we was greeted with many European Bee-eaters on the trees, feeding in-flight and bathing and we also flushed a female Black Francolin as we approached the tower hide. At the first hide we had a pair of Common Kingfisher and at the flooded part near the entrance we was treated to another pair and also Garganey, Glossy Ibis, Wood Sandpiper, Cattle and Little Egret.

A Sedge Warbler flitted around the reeds and a Little Bittern and Water rail called from deep in the reeds and unfortunately not seen. A small party of 4 Black-tailed Godwit flew overhead as well as many flocks of Little and Great White Egret. We put up a few Snipe here.
There wasn't much to be seen at the second hide so we didn't stay long. There was a lot of activity on the far fields, over 70 Glossy Ibis, Yellow Wagtails everywhere, Squacco Herons and also a juvenile Black Stork took the spotlight.

Moving round to the gravel pits we saw quite a few Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike and a Spotted Flycatcher. At the pools there was a pair of Curlew Sandpiper.
We then headed to the salt lake to see the Greater Flamingo of which we got great views of. There wasn't much else around here aside Black-winged Stilt and some Eleonora's Falcon hunting. Just as we was leaving a European Honey Buzzard flew in and landed nearby.
Next we scouted ladies mile that held no surprises and on to Bishop's pool. Here we saw Shoveler, a Pochard, Ferruginous Duck and many Garganey. The best birds of note was a Peregrine Falcon and a very rare Saker Falcon as well as maybe over 50 European Turtle Dove.
We decided to give the Gravel Pits another go as it seemed the better destination for the wave of Honey Buzzards that were imminent and although most were quite high we got just that. Over 100 including 5 Black Kite soared over us. We also managed to add Masked Shrike to our day list.
After stopping off at Kensington Cliffs for Eleonora's Falcons and seeing a Green Turtle in the bay we made our way back to Paphos stopping at Mandria Picnic site for lunch.

At Mandria we managed to locate an Isabelline Wheatear and many Whinchat and Greater Short-toed Lark as well as a Tawny Pipit.
Moving to Agia Varvara we was greeted with the long staying White Storks which provided amazing views and photo opportunities.
Our last stop was the Sewage Works where we got very close to Spur-winged Lapwing, Cattle Egret, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Grey Shrike and quite a few Hoopoes finishing the day with 76 Species in total.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Garganey
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Black Stork
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
(h)Little Bittern
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Saker Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
European Honey-buzzard
Black Kite
Western Marsh Harrier
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
(h)Water Rail
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Dunlin

Curlew Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Willow Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Isabelline Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
76

September 14th, 2020

14/9/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 14/09/2020

On the 14th I guided Luis around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites for my first tour of the year (due to the covid madness).
We started in the foothills of Paphos for Bonelli's Eagle, a target species. We was unfortunate not seeing one at their territory although I got a fleeting view of one low from behind, we managed to spot many Cyprus Wheatear here which were also a target species and also a single whinchat. We moved on to Minthis Hills where many Little Grebe and Garganey were on the drainage pool. Warblers were flitting around everywhere around the ornamental lake, here we got Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sardinian Warbler and Cyprus Warbler, another target species. In the hills we had great views of a Pallid and Montagu's Harrier as well as a few European Honey Buzzards riding the thermals.
Next stop was Episkopi for Cyprus Scops Owl which were not to be seen at their day roost. We continued to Agia Varvara where the many White Storks were still present, coming in to land at the pools enabling great views, in the air we counted over 50 of them, at one point they was accompanied by a Long-leggged Buzzard and some time later a 1st plumaged Bonelli's Eagle shot past.
On the water we had sedge warbler and some reed warblers calling out. We had a brief view of Black Francolin here in flight, another target species.
Moving on to the sewage plant we had fantastic views of Lesser Grey Shrike lining the trees around an Alfalfa field which held many Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail and Glossy Ibis, we also managed to spot a Red-backed Shrike here and also a Black Francolin crossing the road. Many Cattle Egret were also present in the area.

Many shrikes later and a lone Tree Pipit we ventured to Akrotiri stopping at Kensington Cliffs on the way fro Eleonora's Falcon, another target species. Luis said this was the highlight of the trip as not only did we get fantastic flight views but Luis managed a photo of a dark morph on the cliff just less than 10 meters away. We also had views of one feeding a recently fledged youngster. Unfortunately the Griffon Vultures didn't show.

Next stop was Bishop's Pool for ferruginous duck, another target, we had around 3-4 here and also a Common Pochard and an out of place Great Cormorant. We stopped here to have lunch.
After a brief visit to the Salt lake run-off and Ladies Mile where we saw many waders; Kentish and Common Ringed Plover, Little and Temmincks stint etc we brushed past the Gravel Pits, only seeing a lone Tawny Pipit and enteretd Phassouri marsh where there was an abundance of Great White, Little and Cattle Egret as well as Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron and Grey Heron feeding in the marshes. At the first hide we had a fleeting glimpse of a female Little Crake running into the reeds and European Bee-eaters were everywhere. Quite a few European Rollers were about of which there was also some on the wires at Ladies Mile providing good photo opportunities.
The tower hide was fairly unfruitful aside a few Common Kingfishers, we finished up the tour at the bee-hives raptor migration spot which produced many Marsh Harriers and some Honey Buzzards as well as a Hobby. We finished the day with 76 Species.

Species List:

(h)Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Garganey
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
European Honey-buzzard
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Yellow-legged Gull

Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
European Bee-eater
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
(h)Eurasian Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Willow Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (*Flava)
Black-headed Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

76

December 29th, 2019

29/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos & Akrotiri 28/12/2019

On the 29th I guided Rita and Wilkie around Akrotiri and Paphos.
It was a much quieter day than the previous day although we still managed 53 species even though the tour was called short an hour due to bad weather.
We set out at the Paphos Headland with Greater Sand Plover in mind. On the corner point looking past the many Golden Plover there were three Greater Sand Plover that we managed good close views of. The only other birds of note were Common Sandpiper, Skylark and many Meadow Pipit as well as a fantastic murmuration of Starling.
We then ventured to the Sewage Plant and saw the Cattle Egrets and a few Spur-winged Lapwing of which numbers seem to be down.
Next stop was for the Finsch's Wheatear at Anarita Park of-which two showed quite nicely although there was not much else around of note aside Corn Bunting which were surprisingly already in song.
Mandria was the next stop where Laughing Dove and Red-throated Pipit showed well and also a Water Pipit, no sign of any Hen Harriers though unfortunately.
We then continued to Akrotiri stopping at Phassouri Marsh first which was fairly quiet and so we moved on to the Sylvania Restaurant spot to scope the Flamingos of which there was a small party displaying.
Zakaki held very little, the Bluethroat that was present yesterday didn't show and the gull selection at Ladies Mile was very limited in comparison although there did seem to have been a lot more Armenian Gulls present.
Driving to Kensington Cliffs we had a fly over Peregrine Falcon and at which point the weather turned for the worse and so we decided against visiting the site.
We finished with 53 Species.

Species List:

Black Francolin
Mallard
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Eurasian Golden Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove

Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
(h) Cetti's Warbler
Common Starling
(h) European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

53

December 27th, 2019

27/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri & Paphos 27/12/2019

On the 27th I guided Tim and Alice around the Akrotiri and Paphos sites.

We started off at Phassouri Marsh where many Marsh Harrier and Penduline were seen along with Water rail. At the entrance to the site a Pale Morph Common Buzzard sat out in the open for a while and then flew off in the distance, the first time I had seen this colour phase in Cyprus.
We headed along the marsh banks seeing little aside Common Kingfisher. At the second hide we had great views of Common Kingfisher, Water Pipit and Shelduck flew overhead among many Common Snipe. Spur-winged Lapwing and Coot were on the Scrape. Reed Warbler called from the reed but were shy.

Further down we were treated to great views of both male and female Black Francolin and also a pair of Cattle Egret roadside. A lone Little Egret was also feeding among the cattle.
We then ventured to the environmental center to scope the Flamingos.
Next was Ladies Mile which was fairly quiet aside the bulk of the Gulls. We managed to pick out Armenia, Caspian, Heuglin's, Mediterranean and a Slender-billed Gull among the Black-headed Gulls.
At Zakaki Marsh we was treated to great views of a Bluethroat, and concealed views of Moustached Warbler.
Next we headed to Kensington Cliffs where only one Griffon Vulture showed but amazingly there was two Cyprus Warbler calling and showing nearby. We stopped here for lunch and then continued to Paphos.
At Mandria we had some smashing views of Red-throated Pipit and the many Skylark. We also got close to a Laughing Dove here and distant views of a Bonelli's Eagle being mobbed by Hooded Crows. We stopped for coffee at a taverna and headed to the Sewage Plant where the Spur-winged Lapwings were proving tricky though a Green Sandpiper was unusually showy.
Next we went for the finsch's wheatear at Anarita Park which we got pretty decent views of two. A male Goshawk swooped in and attacked a Common Kestrel right above us which was a bonus. On the way to Episkopi we had brief views of Woodlark and Corn Bunting and at Episkopi we managed to see the Cyprus Scops Owl which is amazingly still around.

We finished the day with an impressive 67 species for this time of year.

Species List:

(h) Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Common Shelduck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Common Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe
Green Sandpiper
Heuglin's (Siberian) Gull
Armenian Gull
Caspian Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl

Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Cetti's Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
(h)European Robin
Bluethroat
Western Black Redstar
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit (*Caucasian Water Pipit)
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Common Reed Bunting

67

December 06th, 2019

6/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

On the 2nd I guided Dave around Paphos. We started at the Headland for Greater Sand Plover of which there was two, a small group of Golden Plover were present also and a murmuration of Starling.
Our next stop was the Sewage Works where we saw a Peregrine Falcon on some pylons. The Spur-winged Lapwings were unusually no-where to be seen.
We then ventured to Agia Varvara where three Snipe were feeding at the edge of the pool. We then headed to Anarita Park for Finsch's Wheatear which showed well. A short trip around Mandria produced little and at Asprokremnos dam there were some Great Egrets which were behaving oddly, landing on the water.
We then headed to Episkopi for the Cyprus Scops Owl and lastly Minthis Hills where we saw just a Grey Heron.
We finished the half day with 39 Species.

Species List:

Common Teal
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Golden Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Common Snipe
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
(h)Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

39

December 02nd, 2019

2/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

On the 29th I guided Martijn around the Paphos and Akrotiri sites.
We started out at the Avagas Gorge for Wallcreeper though it didn't seem to be present, we did get good views of Robin, Black Redstart and a Sparrowhawk.

Next we stopped at the Paphos sewage works where both Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing were present. A quick visit to Mandria produced Skylark and various Pipits as well as Laughing Dove.

We then ventured to Akrotiri which seemed unusually quiet. Ladies Mile had some Redshank and the usual Black-headed Gulls with Yellow-legged and Armenian among them.
We stopped at Bishop's Pool for waterfowl, seeing mostly Common Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Mallard. We stopped at the Environmental Center to see the Flamingo's and then our final stop was Kensington Cliffs of which the Griffon Vultures didn't show.
We finished the tour with 46 species.

Species List:

Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Redshank
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Laughing Dove
Common Kingfisher

Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
(h)Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Blackbird
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

46

November 30th, 2019

30/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

On the 28th I guided Stephen Dutton around the Paphos sites for a half day tour starting off with Wallcreeper in mind. We started at the Avagas Gorge where plenty of Robin, Stonechat, Black Redstart and Blackcap were showing well as well as Linnet.
Before reaching the narrow part of the gorge we had some views of Wallcreeper in flight as well as Blue Rock Thrush and brief views of Hawfinch. A Long-legged Buzzard flew overhead being mobbed by a Common Buzzard.
We then headed to Mavrokolympus Dam which was very quiet aside some Chukar calling in the distance.
Our next stop was the Sewage works where Spur-winged Lapwing were showing well and a Bonelli's Eagle was seen but very distant.
Lastly we visited Mandria where Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Skylark showed as well as Laughing Dove.
We finished with 41 species.

Species List:

(h)Chukar Partridge
Common Kestrel
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola

(h)Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Wallcreeper
European Starling
Song Thrush
European Robin
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Blue Rock-thrush
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Hawfinch
(h)Corn Bunting

41

November 21st, 2019

21/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

On the 21st I guided Mark Woodhead around Akrotiri and Paphos. This is the second time I've been out with Mark. We started out at Ladies Mile where there were many Gulls, mostly Black-headed but with Yellow-legged Gull and an Armenian Gull. Little Stint were feeding in the pools along with a Sanderling and some Dunlin. We moved on to Zakaki Marsh where the reeds had been cleared, although nothing much was showing aside a brief glimpse of a water rail and some more Penduline tits calling.
Next we moved on to Phassouri Marsh where we had good views of Common Kingfisher and many Reed Warblers, Moustached Warbler were calling also Penduline Tit were calling and seen. A few Marsh harrier were in the area also. A small flock of Common Teal took up from the pools behind and a Glossy Ibis was feeding around the pools. We moved on to the next hide which held very little aside Common Starling.

We then moved onto to Bishops Pool where we had a brief view of a Black Francolin in flight. At the pool there were many Common Teal and Northern Shoveler. We had good views of a Black Kite flying over, a late migrant and a few Marsh Harrier. A surprise Marbled Teal was present as well although distant, a rarity and a lifer for me.

We then moved on to the gravel pits by the church which was also fairly quiet aside Stonechat and Crested Lark.
With little else around we headed to Paphos, our first stop was Anarita Park for Finsch's Wheatear of-which there was two which Mark had great photo opportunities with.
Lastly we headed up to Episkopi to see the Cyprus Scops Owl at its roosting tree.
We finished with 55 species

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Common Teal
Marbled Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Black Kite
Western Marsh Harrier
Water Rail
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Snipe
Sanderling
Little Stint
Dunlin
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull

Slender-billed Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Cetti's Warbler
(h)Moustached Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Common Starling
Western Black Redstart
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch

55 Species

November 20th, 2019

20/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

On the 14th I guided Allen around the eastern sites of Cyprus, a second time out for Allen this year. We started out at Oroklini Marsh where many waterfowl were present, including Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler and Pintail.
There was a few waders on the waters edge, including Redshank, Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper. From the first hide we had a brief glimpse of a Pied Kingfisher which shot over the far reeds but sadly didn't show again. There wasn't much else to see and so we then ventured to Kukla wetlands. Life wasn't very abundant here compared to previous visits though two Pelicans were a welcome sight and a decent sized flock of Common Cranes and small group of Greater Flamingo. A Merlin was in some shrub at the waters edge and provided great photo opportunities in flight.
We then headed back to Oroklini to get some food and to check out the gulls on the coast, sadly only Black-headed Gulls and Yellow-legged Gulls were present.
Next stop was the Kamares aqueduct which only had a few water pipits and a common kingfisher. The Menou area which held very little and so we called it a day.
We finished with 59 species.

On the 15th we headed to Akrotiri. The weather was terrible, with heavy rain, hail and and even a few waterspouts. We started at Phassouri Marsh at the tower hide. Penduline Tit and Common Kingfisher were seen as well as Common Snipe. Marsh Harrier were also patrolling the reeds.
We didn't venture to the next hide as the weather got worse and so we visited some of the sites in Paphos stopping at Episkopi on the way where we got fantastic views of Griffon Vultures not so high up. We searched Mandria and the sewage plant which both held many larks and pipits and the Spur-winged Lapwings were on show as well as a small group of Northern Lapwing.
We finished the day with 43 species.

On our last day we headed to the Avagas Gorge for the Wallcreeper of which we found fairly quickly not far from the entrance. A Lifer for Allen. Robins, Black Redstart and the usual winter visitors were present.
We then headed to Mavrokolympus in hope of seeing Cyprus Warblers which sadly were not around. Greater Cormorant and Little Grebe were on the water but no waterfowl, we saw a fleeting glimpse of a Spanish Sparrow and also many Stonechat were present.
We then headed to Agia Varvara as I got a message of a Great Bittern near the pools. Sadly we didn't see it as we were looking in the wrong place and not much else was around of note. We then headed to Anarita park where the Finsch's Wheatear was showing well, but unfortunately no Little Owls were around again. A flock of Woodlark were flitting around at the entrance.
Lastly we headed to Episkopi where a Cyprus Scops Owl was in its roosting tree, another lifer for Allen, and a highly sought after species.

We finished the day with 41 species.

Species List:

Chukar Partridge
Common Shelduck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Common Teal
Common Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Great Cormorant
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Long-legged Buzzard
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Common Crane
Black-winged Stilt
Northern Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Snipe
Common Redshank
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Black-headed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Cyprus Scops Owl
Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Eurasian Penduline tit
Crested Lark
Wood Lark
Eurasian Skylark
Zitting Cisticola
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Wallcreeper
Western Black Redstart
Common Stonechat
Finsch's Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Water Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

70 species

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October 20th, 2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 20/10/2020. Joe and Jeff

September 16th, 2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 16/09/2020

September 14th, 2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 14/09/2020

December 29th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos & Akrotiri 28/12/2019

December 27th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri & Paphos 27/12/2019

December 06th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

December 02nd, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

November 30th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

November 21st, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

November 20th, 2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

Bird is the Word

Archives

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Half-Day Promo Akrotiri 20/10/2020. Joe and Jeff

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 16/09/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - Paphos & Akrotiri 14/09/2020

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos & Akrotiri 28/12/2019

​Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri & Paphos 27/12/2019

​Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos and Akrotiri 29/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos half-day tour 28/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri and Paphos 21/11/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour. Kukla, Larnaca, Akrotiri and Paphos. 14, 15, 19th November

Bird is the Word

Archives

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Akrotiri & Paphos 27/12/2019

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - Paphos Half-day Tour 02/12/2019