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May 23rd, 2018

23/5/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos x2 half day tours 19 + 22/05/2018

On the 19th and 22nd I had the pleasure of guiding Mark around the Paphos sites for two half day tours. (I had a bit of a break from photography and so Mark kindly let me display some of his photos from the tour on this report)
The first day we spent in the lower paphos sites, Our first stop was Agia Varvara with Black Francolin in mind. On arrival we saw one briefly on the top of an abandoned building. We heard him call out for a long period of time though he wouldn't show for a second time.
A family of common kestrel were hanging around providing great views as they learned to hunt from their parents.
On the river we had a brief glimpse of a wood sandpiper and some reed warblers. We also had good views of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, another target species. I had a Garden Warbler briefly show whilst Mark was photographing one of the Olivaceous Warblers.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler - Mark Woodhead ©

We even had a brief fly by of a Common Cuckoo and Peregrine Falcon, and also a Stone Curlew in one of the orchards along with a Great Reed Warbler singing.
We then moved on to Anarita Park where some Red-footed Falcon were still present along with one Lesser kestrel. At one point a Cyprus Scops Owl called out, but didn'gt continue to call and so we did not spend time in trying to find it.
A family party of Cyprus Warblers showed briefly in the broom shrub as well as a family of Chukar on the plateau.
We made a short trip to the Sewage Plant for Spur-winged Lapwing of which we got fairly easily, there was also a small group of yellow wagtails present but unfortunately we flushed them before getting good views. A Eurasian Stone Curlew showed briefly right next to the car.
A small family of Goldfinch showed well also.
Mandria provided two Greater Short-toed larks just meters from the car, and Asprokremnos Dam car park had a smart male Common Redstart. We managed 44 species for for the half day.

Spur-winged Lapwing - Mark Woodhead ©

Greater Short-toed Lark - Mark Woodhead ©

The second day was in the Paphos Foothills on a cloudy and dusty day.
We started by driving through Episkopi seeing many Cyprus Wheatear and Roller on the way and even managing some decent photo opportunities with the Rollers. Only one Peregrine Falcon showed at the monolith, the young must have fledged.
At Minthis we managed to locate many Cretzscmar's Bunting which was another target species. Many were calling and some in song, on the ground and in the shrubs. A surprise here was a female Marsh Harrier gliding the valley and also two whinchat with one in sub-song which I had never heard before. A spectacled warbler called nearby briefly but was not seen. We continued through to Kathikas for the Black-headed Bunting which was another target species. We managed to find quite a few Black-headed Buntings, with many in song. We also came across another Black-francolin with superb flight views over the car. A small party of Sand Martin flew over here.
We had a quick look around Pano Arodes which produced many Rollers and an Eleonora's Falcon. Unfortunately we did not manage our final target species, the Long-legged Buzzard despite visiting and driving past many of their territories and favoured perching points. We managed 37 species for the half day bringing our total to 54 species.

European Roller - Mark Woodhead ©

Black-headed Bunting - Mark Woodhead ©

Cretzschmar's Bunting - Mark Woodhead ©

Species:
Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl (h)
Little Owl
Common Swift
European Roller
European Bee-eater
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark

Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed Warbler (h)
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
Common Redstart
Spotted Flycatcher
Cyprus Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (flava, feldegg)
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
54

May 13th, 2018

13/5/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Troodos 11/05/2018

On the 11th I had the pleasure of guiding John and Lesley around the Troodos sites. Lesley was quite keen on botany also, so I made sure we saw some good species and many endemics on the way. We started the day on the outskirts to find some Black-headed Bunting. We found some fairly quickly with many in song and providing some fantastic views of this colourful specialty. Corn bunting could be heard around the vineyards, some Common Linnets landed close to the car at one point but views were very brief. Not far away we found a singing male Cretzschmar's Bunting on territory providing great lengthy scoped views.
A pair of Masked Shrike evicted a Jay from a pine tree right next to where we parked the car which was incredible to see. The masked Shrikes provided some impressive views. A Hoopoe flew into a small valley though we couldn't find it on the ground, or a Nightjar that was churring very close to us. Quite a few red-rumped Swallow flew over here with nests in the area.
We then headed to the Troodos Square stopping at platres on the way for Grey Wagtail and to an area that usually has a good number of Short-toed Treecreepers. Sure enough I heard some and managed to track them down, providing pretty decent and lengthy views.
A Pair of Jays were foraging on the ground not far from where we was standing though they flew off the second they noticed us. A Woodlark was singing but we was unable to find him, though later on the way back we saw him in flight, though he was quite high up in display.
Many Swifts were shooting around collecting recent emerging orange flying insects. Many Pallid swifts were showing today with decent sized groups of them moving among the Common Swift and coming down low, even head height at times. I heard an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler singing
in a bush next to where I parked the car, some brief phishing got him sitting on the top of the bush showing incredibly well for around 20 seconds.

Next stop was Livadi tou Passia where sadly the Crossbill were not showing, we even came back to this site later to eat our lunch in hope they would show, but they didn't. We also saw a Hoopoe in flight here quite close, but it vanished among the dense woodland.
Our next site was giant junipers where a flock of around 30 European Bee-eaters were resting in the pines and also hunting the flying insects. This is not a species I expected to see that day and was a bit of a treat. There didn't seem to be much here, we did get some more great views of masked shrike, I noticed a male catch a bug and not eat it, and then flew to a tree and then out. On further inspection it was actually a nest with a female inside, though we kept our distance and scoped them, not observing for long so as not to disturb them at this very sensitive period. I did take a photo from distance but do not wish to encourage people photographing nests, it is something I am strongly against.
On the way out we heard a Turtle Dove calling.

The next site was the Botanical Garden. On entry we saw a female blue rock thrush calling out constantly from a rock, and from the return calls we located the male. An obvious breeding pair who were successful last year. We managed very good views of both male and female, and managed good photo opportunities of the male. A few crag martin flew down to the river quite a few times. In the botanical garden we had incredibly close views of a Jay on the ground, Serin were darting around and another surprise bird was a Cyprus Warbler singing in the top of a pine tree, though the pine was outside the botanical garden on a lower height, so the bird was near enough eye level with us. A great way to wrap up a good day birding in the mountains managing 41 species, which is a good count for the mountains this close to summer.
*Note we did also visit Prodromos dam for flora and in desperation for the Crossbill

Species:
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
(h) Corn Bunting
Spotted Flycatcher
Common Linnet
European Serin
European Goldfinch
European Greenfinch
European Chaffinch
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Jay (G.g.glaszneri)
Hooded Crow
Eurasian Magpie
Blackbird
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Crag Martin
Barn Swallow
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Nightjar
Common Kestrel
House Sparrow
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Eurasian Wren (T.t.cypriotes)
Great Tit (P.m.aphrodite)
Coal Tit (P.a.cypriotes)
Eurasian Hoopoe
Grey Wagtail
Cyprus Wheatear
(h) Common Nightingale
Woodlark
Dorothy's Short-toed Treecreeper (C.b.dorotheae)
European Turtle Dove
(h) Common Cuckoo
European Bee-eater
Blue Rock Thrush
41

Flora and Fauna:
Cynoglossum montanum subsp. extraeuropaeum
Poppy of Troy
Strawberry Tree
Rose Acacia (invasive)
Black Locust (invasive)
Sequoyah Tree (introduced)
Platanthera holmboei
Limodorum abortivum
Red Valerian
Paeonia mascula
Aphrodite's Spurge
Anchusa azurea
Viola alba
Vicia tennifolia subsp. dalmatica
Orobanche cypria
Cyprus Cedar
Allium exaltatum
Ornithogalum chionophilum
Scorzonera troodea
Meklei's Poppy
Troodos Chamomile
Cynoglossum troodi
Alyssum Troodi
California Poppy (introduced/invasive)
Centaurea aegialophila
Scutellaria cypria
Rock Rose
Tassle hyacinth
Silene Vulgaris

Shaggy Ink Cap (fungi)

Cyprus Water Frog

Sling-tailed Agama
Troodos Lizard

Clouded Yellow
Bath White
Large White
Small White
Red Admiral

May 08th, 2018

8/5/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Akrotiri 07/05/2018

On the 7th I had the pleasure of guiding Antonis, Holly and Wendy around the Akrotiri peninsular. The morning was a little overcast with Black-crowned Night Herons flying in and out of Zakaki Marsh, and many Reed Warblers flitting around the reeds.
We headed for the Salt Lake. Only a few Temminck's Stints were present among the Little Stints before the lake itself, along with 3 Collared Pratincoles. Holly managed to spot a Rufous-tailed Rock thrush sitting in a low shrub which provided excellent lengthy views.

On the salt lake itself we browsed through the many waders spotting a Ruddy Turnstone in Summer plumage and a Grey Plover in winter plumage, over 5 Curlew Sandpipers and the usuals with Ruff and Little Stint the most abundant. The part melanistic Greater Flamingo was showing well again among the large flock that were displaying, we also spotted a fair sized flock flying in to the salt lake. A few female Pintail were the only waterfowl.
Moving on to lady's mile we was treated to seeing a Grey Plover in summer plumage, a pair of Black-winged Stilts copulating briefly and many Little Tern diving meters from the car with one even presenting a fish to its mate ... though this moment was short lived as a grounded Little Tern nearby was not in the mood for seeing this happen a few meters from him and chased them off. We didn't have many great photo opportunities during this tour aside the Little Terns, Temminck's and Little Stint and Eleonora's Falcon.

Bishop's pool held small numbers of birds, many Ferruginous duck were present though which was the target here. We stopped here to have our lunch.
Next destination was the gravel pits where we had good views of Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and Winchat.
We stopped at Phassouri which held very little and then ventured to Kensington Cliffs where we had great views of many Eleonora's Falcons and Alpine Swift, though sadly the Griffon Vultures didn't show.
We decided to check the Salt Lake for a second time, driving past bishops pool I spotted a Golden Oriole land in one of the trees, also a few bee-eaters were about now.
We didn't see much else on the Salt Lake aside a Spotted Flycatcher and ended up with 70 species.

Species:
(h) Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Grey Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Collared Pratincole
Yellow-legged Gull
Little Tern
Rock Dove

Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Bee-eater
Red-backed Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h) Sedge Warbler
(h) Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

70 species

May 04th, 2018

4/5/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos & Akrotiri 01 & 03/05/2018

On the 1st I had the pleasure of guiding David and Maicon around Paphos. We started at the Sewage works where many Cattle Egret were feeding in the fields and many broods of Barn Swallow were lining the wires, with a Sand martin among them.
The Spur-winged lapwings weren't outside the fence at this early time so we checked the pools to which we found Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron and quite a few Spur-winged lapwing. Towards the solid waste area we got better views of Spur-winged Lapwing and was amazed to find they had a chick already. On the way out we spotted a Stone Curlew in flight but failed to find the point in which it landed.
Then on to Mandria where we had good views of Laughing Dove, Hoopoe, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike. There wasn't much movement out at sea as now the migration has slowed right down and so we didn't stick around. We headed to Agia Varvara which held little and then onto Anarita Park where we was treated to many great views of Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Cyprus Warbler, European Roller, Montagu's Harrier and Red-rumped Swallow.
We moved on through to Episkopi in hope of getting Great Spotted Cuckoo which is a nightmare bird to find this year unfortunately, undoubtedly there being some problems in their wintering grounds considering the sharp decline in populations visiting Cyprus over the past 3 years. Sadly we couldn't locate any Great Spotted Cuckoos, though we did see Eastern olivaceous warbler, Cyprus Wheatear and some more Rollers. Moving up to higher ground we got great scoped views of Peregrine Falcon chicks and briefly heard the calls of a Cyprus Scops Owl echoing against the cliff face.

Moving up to Minthis hills a Long-legged Buzzard was gaining height. At the entrance to Minthis we came across a Cretzschmar's Bunting singing away at the top of a small Hawthorne tree, there was many Corn Buntings along this strip which has been subject to much construction over the past year.
We drove to Kathikas from here and managed to get incredible views of Black-headed Bunting, with all of them singing and even had close views of 2 males fighting on at least 3 occasions. There was a harrier in the distance but too far to identify.

From kathikas we headed up to Pano Arodes where we saw quite a few Golden oriole in flight. I was hoping to get Great Spotted Cuckoo here ... but the best we managed was a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Spotted Flycatcher both managing to get within meters.
As we headed out and journeyed to Evretou Dam we came upon a Long-legged Buzzard perched in a tree very close providing incredible views and an inevitable take-off.
We stopped to eat our lunch at Evretou near the waters edge where Yellow Wagtails approached us and we enjoyed many flocks of Bee-eater flying over. Highlights here was a few Night Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron and a Black-tailed Godwit which was well spotted by David partly concealed in the grass. We also watched a Long-legged Buzzard soaring over the hills and watched the extremely large nesting group of Spanish Sparrow in a large tree. A great day with some very colourful birds totaling 68 species.

The second day we ventured to Akrotiri. We started at the Salt Lake which had been very productive lately. In no time at all we came across many Temminck's and Little Stint, Wood and Marsh Sandpiper. There was a large Flock of Greater Flamingo overhead at various stages and also we had flocks of Glossy Ibis and Collared Pratincole that flew very close to us at times and landed nearby.

We had Eleonora's Falcon flyby's on entrance and on exit of the salt lake. White-winged and Little Terns were both present in decent numbers flying and landing very close
to us at times. The majority of waders were Ruff and Little Stint, though we did pick out a Dunlin and also quite a few Curlew Sandpipers. Seeing a few Black-headed Gull here was a bit of a surprise considering how late into spring we are.
Some Baltic gull showed well in flight and on the ground. There was a decent group of Greater Flamingo at the waters edge that were in display which was great to see especially so close as well. A few Northern Shoveler were among them.

After we was satisfed with our sightings here we moved on to Lady's Mile seeing a Tawny pipit on the way. I made a mistake here in not exploring the southern eastern point here which I am told Greater Sandplover and Broad-billed Sandpiper were seen there in the afternoon.
The water levels at Lady's Mile had reduced dramitically since last being there and seemed ripe for waders now. Though there actually wasn't many around. We did get some more ruff, marsh sandpiper and a greenshank. Also a Black-tailed Godwit among Ruff. Little Tern were in abundance here fishing.

We then moved on to Bishops Pool. Many ferruginous duck were showing and we also had a few late Common Teal and some Garganey. A Little Bittern called from the reeds though we was unable to locate it. A Chiffchaff moved from tree to tree, an unexpected sighting for this time of year (identified on call).
After checking some of Akrotiri Gravel Pits (of which the highlight was seeing two Little Terns plunging into the water around 4 meters from the car and then feeding each other in display) and Phassouri Marsh we stopped for our lunch.
After lunch we headed to Kensington cliffs where we got incredible views of many Eleonora's Falcons playing, hunting and also mobbing the Griffon Vultures that were active on arrival. We also saw lots of Alpine Swift with some flying quite low.
It was quite windy by this point so getting the Griffon Vultures closer to us in flight was not going to happen, though they still provided a good show and ended the tour on a high note. We managed 78 species for the day and brought the total number of species to 100.

Species:
Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Garganey
Common Teal
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
(h) Little Bittern
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Long-legged Buzzard
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Baltic Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon

European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
(h) Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
European Roller
European Bee-eater
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
(h) Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h) Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Common Chiffchaff
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
(h) Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush
Spotted Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava, feldegg)
Tawny Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Black-headed Bunting

100

April 30th, 2018

30/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour - Paphos 28/04/2018

On the 28th I had the pleasure of guiding Hugh and Joyce around the Paphos Sites.
Starting at the Paphos Sewage Works we were treated to Spur-winged Lapwing and many Golden Oriole. We spotted a Tree Pipit calling in flight and also heard a red-throated pipit. Many various Yellow Wagtails were feeding in the freshly cut field.
A Wood sandpiper and a ruff was a good spot near some puddles and we also managed many Turtle Doves here with some smashing views.
Moving on to Anarita Park we browsed through the many Rollers, Red-footed Falcons and Lesser kestrels. There was a decent number of Montagu's Harriers hunting throughout the site, we had great views of them all in flight close and also many of them on the ground feeding nearby. A female Pallid Harrier was also among them.
Smaller birds were thin on the ground though we did manage to find a Whinchat, Cyprus Warblers and Cyprus Wheatears. We got some great views of Spanish Sparrows here collecting nesting material in a mixed group with House Sparrows.

Agia Varvara was the next site where many Black Francolin were calling but proving very hard to find as usual. The Zitting Cisticolas were flitting about as usual but life here seemed quite poor compared to recent. Our best birds here was a lone Purple Heron, Little Owl, a brief glimpse at a Collared Flycatcher and a few Pallid Swift among the many Commons.
We then moved on to Mandria which seemed very quiet. We did see a migrating flock of Glossy Ibis and many of the shrikes (Lesser Grey, Woodchat and Red-backed). The Stone Curlew were still in the same field. We cut through to Timi where a large group of Squacco Heron were all on the beach in full summer plumage, not something you get to see very often in Cyprus. A European Shag and Common Sandpiper were the only other birds on the shore.

Then we went to Asprokremnos Dam to have our lunch and check the woodland for flycatchers. The sound of Golden Oriole singing whilst we had our lunch was very pleasant and a Spotted Flycatcher darted around the trees along with many Goldfinch and Great Tit families.
Moving further inland we headed to the Xeros river which also seemed much quieter than it had been recently. The Red-rumped Swallows were still around collecting mud ... they landed quite close to us at times. On the water we could only make out Wood Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.
We then decided to head to Episkopi in hope of getting more views of Cyprus Wheatear of which we did. Also quite a few more Rollers and a few Pied Flycatchers. Many Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing in the bushes, one popped up for a minute.
Many finches were calling and singing, Linnet being the best of the bunch. A few Golden oriole flew into a woodland but proved to be very hard to see.
At the Peregrine Site we had great scoped views of 2 fluffy chicks and the male Peregrine in flight for long periods of time, a Great Spotted Cuckoo flew in and landed inside the fenced area where unfortunately we couldn't see it. We finished the day with 63 species.

Species:
Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Purple Heron
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Pallid Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Little Owl
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Roller
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie

Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
(h) Eurasian Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Eurasian Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Whinchat
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Tree Pipit
(h) Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting

63

April 28th, 2018

28/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 1/2 day tour - Akrotiri 27/04/2018

On the 27th I had the pleasure of guiding Jack and Eric around Akrotiri for a half day tour. Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Wheatear were the only targets so we headed inland a bit. At our first site our first bird was a Cyprus Wheatear singing on top of a juniper tree and then a male Montagu's Harrier flew over low. A good start! Further up the track we came across many Sardinian Warblers and also a few Rollers, one perched in a tree and another in flight. A Great Spotted Cuckoo called though we could not find it in the dense woodland. The Cyprus Warblers were not at their territory so I recommended that we move on to another site nearby where I knew that they will be present. On the way out a big group of Golden oriole flew over with some landing in the Junipers and pines. Serin and Chaffinch could be heard.
At the next site we were greeted by a large group of Alpine Swift being very noisy and eventually flying very low. The next bird we saw was a Cyprus Warbler sitting on top of a tree quite close, it then flew towards us and landed in a bush meters away.
Then he vanished but was seen again later chasing a Sardinian Warbler around and providing incredible views in a low bush just meters away from us. A surprise bird here was a lone Greater Short-toed Lark that landed infront of the car.
Two Griffon Vultures were on the cliff and a small group of Eleonora's Falcons were in flight but quite far away.
We headed to the other side to get better views of Cyprus Wheatear of which we did.
Next destination was Phassouri Marsh. A Large flock of Glossy Ibis were flying over as we entered the site and two Serin were on the ground very close to the car. Black Francolin were calling all around and Marsh Harriers were hunting.
On the water we had a few Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Garganey, mallard and ducklings, Moorhen and some Glossy Ibis.
Moving on to the gravel pits we came across Lesser Grey Shrike and Red-backed Shrike in close proximity to each other. Two Great Egret flew in from the sea and landed on some pools. The church only had a Spotted Flycatcher.
Heading to Lady's Mile we had a Chukar in the road near bishop's pool, with eastern olivaceous warbler singing in the acacia and a Pied Flycatcher darted across the road.
Lady's Mile held plenty of waders, mostly Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff and black-winged stilt with Little Stint and little terns. The highlight here was an Avocet.
Moving on to the salt lake we was treated to many Temminck's Stint very close to the car ... a very productive site but sadly we didn't get to spend much time here. We totaled 68 species for the half day tour!

Species:
Chukar Partridge
(h) Black Francolin
Mallard
Garganey
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Great Egret
Little Egret
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
Common Moorhen
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Ruff
Little Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Common Cuckoo
(h) Great Spotted Cuckoo
Alpine Swift

Common Swift
European Roller
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
(h) Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
(h) Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Cyprus Wheatear
Spotted Flycatcher
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava)
(h) Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet

68

April 24th, 2018

24/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 1/2 day tour - Paphos 21/04/2018

On the 21st I had the pleasure of Guiding Dave and Josie around Paphos for a half day tour in the afternoon. As we approached our first destination the weather took a turn for the worst and it started raining with winds also picking up.
Not ideal conditions. At Anarita Park we found some Lesser Kestrel with a Common Kestrel posing very well for photos. There was quite a few European Rollers present, some providing some great photo opportunities. A Chukar sat on a rock meters from the car completely unfazed. Probably some of the best photo opportunities and views I've ever managed of them. We found a Woodchat shrike seeking shelter from the rain inside a thorny broom.

On to Agia Varvara we saw some Wood Sandpiper and a Little Grebe on the way. We had a quick look on the river to see if any Crakes were about since the water levels had increased after drying out recently. Unfortunately there were none around, though we did see two Turtle Doves.
A female Pallid Harrier flew in from the hills enabling some great views as it circled to gain height not far from us. A falcon followed the valley edge, very hard to identify from such a distance but a few record photos showed it to be a female Red-footed Falcon.
There were many Great Reed Warblers on the south side, with Eurasian Reed Warbler and a Sedge Warbler. Also a few Pied Flycatchers darted across the track. A Purple heron sat not far from the track enabling good views on the ground and in flight. I heard a faint call of a Great Spotted Cuckoo, though was unable to locate it.
There was also quite a few Whincat knocking about, I managed to get us very close to them on many occasions though they were very jittery and never allowed a shot. One even landed a few meters infront of the car foraging for food.
Moving on to Mandria we stopped to see the Laughing Doves which were perched on the wires. Many Yellow Wagtail were feeding on the football pitch as well as Barn Swallow and House Martin collecting mud.
There was a big group of Common Swifts, House Martin, Barn Swallow, and a few Alpine Swift and Sand Martin feeding over the fields.
Driving along the coast a Common Tern came in to view. A very uncommon sighting in Cyprus, and it flew fairly close to us. A small migrating group of Little Egret flew overhead quite low. We finally managed a photo opportunity of Zitting Cisticola here after hearing them just about everywhere.
A female Red-footed Falcon stood on top of a bare tree, we went in closer for a photo but a Hooded Crow flushed her and she just kept flying east which was a shame. On the far east side I showed them two Stone Curlew that had been on the same field for quite some time allowing some great views. A large group of Glossy Ibis were flying along the coast just as we were leaving the Stone Curlew and a Peregrine Shot across the fields to the coast though views were very restricted by the plastic agricultural tubes.

Last stop was the Paphos Sewage Plant to see the Spur-winged Lapwing which we saw quite a few of. We also managed a couple more Stone Curlew but much closer this time, a great way to end the tour managing 53 species with unfavourable weather conditions.

Species:
Chukar Partridge (A.c.cypriotes)
(h) Black Francolin
Little Grebe
Glossy Ibis
Cattle Egret
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Red-footed Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Stone Curlew
Spur-winged Lapwing
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-legged Gull
Common Tern
(h) Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Little Owl
Alpine Swift

Common Swift
European Roller
Woodchat Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit (P.m.aphrodite)
Crested Lark (G.c.cypriaca)
Barn Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Blackcap
Wood Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Whinchat
Cyprus Wheatear
European Pied Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (M.f.flava)
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
53

April 22nd, 2018

22/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD - 3 day tour (Paphos/Night Tour, Akrotiri + Akamas)

On the 17th I had the pleasure of Guiding Marco and Theresa on a 3 day tour with a heavy photographic focus. We started the day at the Paphos Sewage plant as it was a cloudy morning and the sun was not high enough yet for our main site. At the sewage plant we had a flock of Purple heron flying low and eventually landing in some nearby trees, a Glossy Ibis stood in a field with quite a few Squacco Heron, Little and Cattle Egret. There was only 2 Spur-winged Lapwing
outside the fence and few Red-throated Pipit.
As the light got better we moved around to Agia Varvara where we failed to see any crake species. Then we moved on to our main site, Anarita Park. Here we was treated to many Lesser Kestrel that didn't seem to be very active.
Here we had photo opportunities with male and female Cyprus Warbler and also Cyprus Wheatear. There was decent photo opportunities with Ortolan Bunting also, another target species. We managed to spot a Greenfinch feeding its mate and then copulating briefly. We even saw a Large Whip Snake sun-bathing on the track.
Next stop was Mandria where we managed good photo opportunities with Greater Short-toed Lark and also had good views of Black Francolin, another target species. We was very lucky to see the (Cyprus Rarity 6th) Namaqua Dove that had previously been found in the area. We flushed it some 30 meters from the car.
We then moved on to Timi Beach where we had great views and photo opportunities with an adult male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, and were also treated to a Yellow-legged Gull feeding another and then mating on a rock offshore. I saw a quail land in the vegetation and then flushed it whilst searching. Here we also came across a Mammoth Wasp and a Sand Wasp species carrying a dead Grasshopper. An usual occurrence here was 4 Swallowtail Butterflies all chasing each other and eventually landing all together. I guess competition for mating.
We managed 56 species for the day.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Sand Wasp (Tachysphex sp.)

Large Whip Snake

The second day was at Akrotiri and Episkopi. We started out at Phassouri for Black Francolin, we found one pretty quickly but it was tricky to photograph, a wary bird on this favoured perch. We did find another later for some photography.

As usual the entrance to the site held many Serin singing and a few Chaffinch.
Heading to the marsh there was a Wryneck perched in the reeds and two Purple Heron on the ground. From the hide there was many Cattle Egret and Little Egret nearby, as were Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis.

At the back 3 Great Reed Warblers showed well and in the small reeds much closer, Sedge and Eurasian reed Warbler flitted around.
The gravel pits held a few Woodchat Shrike, Pallid Harrier and a Eurasian Hobby on the ground at the pebbled beach. In a dry grassy area there were many Owlfly's on the wing. Unusually the church area was completely devoid of life.

We continued to Lady's Mile where there was many Ruff, Little Egret and a small party of Marsh Sandpiper and two Greenshank. There wasn't many Gulls around.
We then headed to the Salt Lake. On the way we came across a pair of Collared Pratincole on the ground and a huge group of Glossy Ibis both on the ground and in the air, of which many joined the passing flock. On the salt lake there was many Little Stint with a Temmincks stint very distant. There was a large stretch of Northern pintail on the ground as well as quite a few Greater Flamingo and Grey Heron. A Grey plover was an odd sighting here. Many Swift passed overhead with some Pallid among them.
A few little tern were fishing here and a White-winged Tern was resting on the ground.
On the other side there was a small group of Gull-billed Tern sitting next to some Yellow-legged and Armenian Gull. Slightly to the right was a small group of Kentish Plover and ... a male Caspian Plover, a Cyprus rarity. Two days and two rarities.

We then checked Episkopi on the way back for Griffon Vulture and saw one but it wasn't very close. An Eleonora's Falcon sat on the Cliffs in the distance and Alpine Swift buzzed past us many times. We managed a whopping 86 Species.

2 Hours of the tour were reserved for a quick night tour for Cyprus Scops Owl. We managed to find one but not at my trusted site which is now in need of evaluation. We found 4 Little Owls, an Egyptian Fruit Bat, a few Pipistrelle, a Nightjar churring and also a few encounters with Long-eared hedgehog.

The third day was to concentrate more on photography with the Endemics (and only 6 hours to do so) and also target Cretzschmar's Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Masked Shrike and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. It was an afternoon tour which was sadly overcast. We did however manage some superb photo opportunities despite the weather of all the mentioned species. I decided the Akamas on the north coast was the place to go.
Other highlights were a pair of Cuckoos, Whinchat, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, 20+ Golden Oriole and almost nabbing a good photo of one, Serin, Great Tit fledglings everywhere, Little Owl, Hoopoe and many many Roller including one in display flight. A female Pallid Harrier did a close flyby and we saw two Eurasian Hobby's. A low count of 45 species for the day and bringing our total to 110 species.

Total:
Chukar Partridge
Black Francolin
Common Quail
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Squacco Heron
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Eleonora's Falcon
Eurasian Hobby
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Grey Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Caspian Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint
Dunlin
Ruff
Armenian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Little Tern
White-winged Tern
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove

Namaqua Dove
Common Cuckoo
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl
(h) Eurasian Nightjar
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
Pallid Swift
European Roller
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Wryneck
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Great Tit
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Sand Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (flava, feldegg)
Meadow Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting

110

April 20th, 2018

20/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD Tour 16/04/2018 Paphos

On the 16th I had the pleasure of Guiding April and Ian around the Paphos sites. There was only one target species: European Roller. We managed to find 4 during the tour with some good photo opportunities. We were even treated to one feeding another.

Highlight species were a female Pallid Harrier, Peregrine Falcon on territory with a Cyprus Scops Owl heard nearby, 4 Collared Pratincole flying low over Mandria for most of the time we spent there, Red-rumped Swallow coming down for nesting mud and a female Little Crake.

Species:

Black Francolin
Northern Pintail
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
European Shag
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Pallid Harrier
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Little Crake
Common Moorhen
Spur-winged Lapwing
Collared Pratincole
Yellow-legged Gull
Baltic Gull
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Cyprus Scops Owl (h)
Common Swift
European Roller
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow

Great Tit (P.m.aphrodite)
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Blackcap
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Whinchat
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Red-throated Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
57

April 15th, 2018

15/4/2018

Cyprus Bird Watching Tours - BIRD is the WORD 8 Day Tour 07-14/04/2018 Lower Paphos, Upper Paphos, Akamas, Paphos Forest, Akrotiri & Limassol X2, Larnaca, Agia Napa & Famasgusta.

From the 7th I had the pleasure of guiding Mark and Lorna around Cyprus for an 8 day tour. Mark and Lorna favoured relaxed birding with regular stops and so the tempo was not high paced and the bird count was not a priority but rather good lengthy views of the species with many tea, coffee and ice cream stops. The first day was an afternoon tour concentrating on a few sites in lower and upper Paphos and finishing with a night tour for Cyprus Scops Owl of which we also managed to see a Barn Owl also. The highlights of the day was a low flying Bonelli's Eagle at Nata, Peregrine Falcon on territory doing food passes, quite a few newly arrived European Rollers, a lingering Blue Rock Thrush and a Black Francolin as well as Great Spotted Cuckoos, Cyprus Warblers and Cyprus Wheatears.
We managed 56 species for the day.

Little Owl Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Peregrine Falcon brookei action Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Day two was situated at the lower paphos sites. We started at Agia Varvara early for the Baillon's Crake that had been in the area recently. Sure enough we got close views of albeit a bit brief. Other notable birds for the day were a Steppe Buzzard quite low, a Hen Harrier, a Whimbrel, Laughing Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, immense views of Red-throated Pipit and the cherry on the cake was a pair of Cyprus Warblers with fledglings.
Unfortunately the Paphos headland was locked due to Easter which was an unnecessary inconvenience causing a change of plans and reducing our chances of getting some species.
We managed 52 species.

Baillons crake Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Cettis Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Sardinian Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Hoopoe Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Red Throated Pipit Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

The third day was on the north coast of Cyprus and into the Paphos Forest. As we arrived in Latchi there was rain and thunderstorms which cleared up after an hour or so but really restricted our morning birding. On the beach we found a Caspian Gull and got great views. This was a another lifer for Mark.
At neo chorio we was treated to Serin quite close with some in display and also Cyprus Wheatear in display. I managed to locate a Creztschmar's Bunting calling which we all had great views of. Androlikou held some waders due to the downpour, common snipe and green sandpiper. Masked Shrike were around as was Common Cuckoo, Roller and a goat giving birth.
Moving on to the Paphos forest we came across a masked shrike that allowed very close observation. In the forest itsely we saw a Mouflon family with a newborn calf.
We managed 53 species for the day.

Masked Shrike Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Mouflon Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

On the fourth day we headed up to the mountains. On the way we had many Common Cuckoo and a few Cretzshmar's Bunting in the foothills. We managed all the endemic sub-species with very close views of all. We had Wren in display, Grey wagtails meters away, maybe over 60 Cyprus Wheatear with some in display, many masked Shrike, a family of Crossbill, a Serin that flew up to us on a tree sitting meters away singing for over a minute, some of the lengthiest views of Eastern Olivaceous warbler I have ever had (20+ minutes out in the open singing), a woodlark singing and in display for over 30 minutes and a low flying Bonelli's Eagle near one of the Venetian Bridges. A Woodcock was flushed but sadly I was the only one that could identify it in flight. A great day in the mountains totaling 48 species.

East Mediterranean Winter Wren Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

European Serin Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Cyprus Jay Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

European Turtle Dove Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Woodlark Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Grey Wagtail Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

We spent the fifth day on the Akrotiri peninsular with a slightly later start. Here the highlights were Coot and Mallard with young and many Little Stint which are a favoured species of Marks. A fair sized flock of Purple Heron migrating quite low was a spectacle and a spectacled warbler and common kingfisher provided close lengthy views. We came across a Black-necked Grebe in dazzling full summer plumage and the Griffon Vultures couldn't have shown better, with many passing very low overhead multiple times.
We managed 76 species for the day.

Garganey Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Griffon Vulture Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Glossy Ibis Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Alpine Swift Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

On the sixth day we ventured to Agia Napa. We started by trying to twitch an Isabelline Shrike that was seen the day prior. Unfortunately it was not present, though we did find a Ruppell's Warbler being warded away from a bush by a Sardinian Warbler, this was a target species so definitely not a loss. At Cape Greco we got some views of a Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier almost colliding. The Hen Harrier perched and allowed good views. Further near the masts we also managed to locate a female pallid harrier. Species were quite sparse here so we ventured to other locations. At a secret lake we were treated to another female Pallid Harrier and two Crake species. One we had closer views of which was a male Little Crake, the other based on size was a Spotted Crake, though we didn't locate and get good views of. A Reed Warbler sat in a reed meters from us, Night Heron and Purple Heron flew towards and above us in close proximity. But the real gem at this site was probably the rarest creature in Cyprus. The Critically endangered Cyprus Grass Snake (natrix natrix cypriaca) which swam right up to us. This is the first time I had actually ever seen this species (in 13 years of living on the island), a species largely wiped out by the introduction of Large Mouth Bass from America.
Heading back in to Larnaca we stopped at Achna Dam which had a Goshawk present being mobbed by Barn Swallow and then at the salt lake to view the Slender-billed Gull incase they migrated before our day in Larnaca.
We managed 75 species.

Cyprus Grass Snake Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Eurasian Reed Warbler Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Epaulet Skimmer Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

On the 7th day I suggested another day in Akrotiri would be more fruitful than Nicosia despite Mark wanting the Lillith Little Owl. Mark agreed and it proved to be a very wise decision.
We managed to get phenomenal views of the rare WP 1st Ocularis White Wagtail at Phassouri which was meters from us in a tree. We got incredible and lengthy views of a male Pallid Harrier hunting on the salt pans, something Mark really wanted to see. On the Salt Lake we got incredible views of the unique part-mellanistic Greater Flamingo as well as enormous numbers of waders including some black-tailed godwit, some breath-taking views of Black Francolin calling out meters from the car for a decent amount of time and a brief view of an Eastern Montpellier Snake dashing infront of the car. We had many Ortolan Bunting, a Common Redstart showed very well as did European Roller, Red-backed Shrike and Woodchat Shrike.
A fantastic day totaling 78 species.

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Red-backed Shrike Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Siberian White Wagtail Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Kentish Plover Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Mellanistic Greater Flamingo Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

On the final day we ventured around Larnaca. At Oroklini we managed to find the Red-crested Pochard with Ducklings, a rare sight in Cyprus. Venturing west we came across a field full of Yellow Wagtail and red-throated Pipit but unfortunately could not locate any Calandra Lark there. Further on we found some Common and Great Spotted Cuckoo. The Great Spotted Cuckoo pair actually flew towards us and landed in tree meters away providing great views. A semi-collared flycatcher showed well but briefly allowing a few record photos. Unfortunately Mark and Lorna could not get to the viewing point in time before it vanished into the dense trees not to be seen again. A few Long-eared Owls were flushed here.
We managed 69 species for the day and brought the total number of species to 131, with much of the island covered with some great scenery and historical sites, some great flora and fauna and great company.
Some species did evade us that I usually have no trouble in finding and put it down to site disturbance (of which it seems there was many groups out this year walking through the sites) i.e Whinchat, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Wood Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Greater Sand Plover, Armenian Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Wryneck, Common Quail, Isabelline Wheatear and Lesser Kestrel.

Cattle Egret nests Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Red Crested Pochard Duckings Cyprus Birding Birdwatching tours ecotours birdlife wildlife

Chukar Partridge (a.c.cypriotes)
Black Francolin
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Garganey
Common Teal
Red-crested Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Little Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Glossy Ibis
Black-crowned Night-heron
Squacco Heron
Western Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Little Egret
European Shag (p.a.desmarestii)
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon (f.p.brookei)
Griffon Vulture
Western Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Common Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Bonelli's Eagle
(h) Water Rail
Little Crake
Baillon's Crake
Spotted Crake
Common Moorhen
Common Coot
(h) Eurasian Stone Curlew
Black-winged Stilt
Spur-winged Lapwing
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
*Eurasian Woodcock
Common Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Ruff
*Audouin's Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Caspian Gull
Baltic Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Common Wood-pigeon
European Turtle-dove
Eurasian Collared-dove
Laughing Dove
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Cyprus Scops Owl
Little Owl

*Long-eared Owl
Alpine Swift
Common Swift
European Roller
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Hoopoe
Red-backed Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike
Eurasian Jay (g.g.glaszneri)
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Jackdaw
Hooded Crow
Coal Tit (p.a.cypriotes)
Great Tit (p.m.aphrodite)
Greater Short-toed Lark
Crested Lark (g.c.cypriaca)
Wood Lark
*Sand Martin
Barn Swallow (inc. transitiva sb.sp)
Red-rumped Swallow
Common House-martin
Zitting Cisticola
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Eurasian Reed-warbler
Great Reed-warbler
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
(h) Willow Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Rueppell's Warbler
Sardinian Warbler
Cyprus Warbler
Spectacled Warbler
Eurasian Wren (t.t.cypriotes)
Dorothy's (Short-toed) Treecreeper (c.b.dorothye)
Eurasian Blackbird
Common Nightingale
Common Redstart
Northern Wheatear
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Cyprus Wheatear
Blue Rock-thrush
*Semi-collared Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail (inc. Ocularis sbsp.)
Yellow Wagtail (inc flava, thunbergi, feldegg, beema sbsp.)
Grey Wagtail
Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Serin
European Greenfinch (c.c.muehlei)
European Goldfinch
Common Linnet
Red Crossbill (l.c.guillemardi)
Corn Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
Cretzschmar's Bunting
131 species

*= only seen well enough to ID (or photographed) by the guide.

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