Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Two rarities Larnaca area this morning, 6th December 2014

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The star bird on the Larnaca Sewage Pools this morning was a female/juvenile type White-headed Duck. A rare winter visitor, its a couple of years since one has been seen although that site is often favoured when one does appear. Also present were eight Greater White-fronted Geese, at least four Gadwall, several Eurasian Wigeon, a male Common Pochard, two Black-necked Grebe and the long staying lone Common Shelduck.

Around 150 Greater Flamingo were on Meneou Pool where a Western Marsh Harrier was on the mud with the remains of something it caught earlier. A Eurasian Curlew was on the coast near the airport and in the fields there were a couple of hundred Eurasian Skylark, some Meadow Pipit and Corn Bunting and at least one Red-throated Pipit.

But the morning got better when I got a tip off from a local birder of a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake on Larnaca Sea front.  It was still there when I arrived. Only six previous records of this bird in Cyprus. Great morning in Larnaca!

Black-legged Kittiwake Larnaca Sea Front 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-legged Kittiwake Larnaca Sea Front 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Western Marsh Harrier Meneou Pools 6th December 2014  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Western Marsh Harrier Meneou Pools 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

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