Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Category Archives: Birding


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Waterbird Count, Larnaca area this morning 26th October 2016

Due to the continued drought this was probably the quickest October Waterbird Count I have ever done, although where there was some water there were birds. Did not see the Greater White-fronted Geese or Black-necked Grebes seen on the Sewage Pools on Saturday.

Update: the five Greater White-fronted Geese were present at 17.00pm

Larnaca Sewage Works
Eurasian Skylark 3+
Mallard 129
Northern Shoveler 153
Eurasian Teal 25
Dunlin 2
Greater Flamingo 1 ad
Common Redshank 1
Eurasian Coot 1
Little Stint 23
Barn Swallow 5
Meadow Pipit 1+
Greater Cormorant 2
Kentish Plover 10
Red-throated Pipit 2
Yellow-legged Gull 9
Spiros Pool
Eurasian Curlew 3
Spiros Beach
Yellow-legged Gull 11
Armenian Gull 1
Larnaca Salt Lake
Little Owl 1
Common Kingfisher 1
Common Moorhen 2
Green Sandpiper 1
Little Stint 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Common Snipe 3

Dunlin 1

Green Sandpiper, Larnaca Salt Lake, 26th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Green Sandpiper, Larnaca Salt Lake, 26th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White Wagtail, Larnaca Salt Lake, 26th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White Wagtail, Larnaca Salt Lake, 26th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Female Finsch’s Wheatear and other winter visitors at Agios Sozomenos this morning, 23rd October 2016

After much searching finally found a female Finsch’s Wheatear at Agios Sozomenos this morning. More evidence of winter visitors than on Thursday though in general

Agios Sozomenos
Finsch’s Wheatear 1f
Little Owl 1
Red-backed Shrike 1 juv
Eurasian Blackcap 1m
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Meadow Pipit 8
Eurasian Skylark h
European Robin 2h
Common Chaffinch 2h
Green Sandpiper 2 on irrigation pool
Cyprus Wheatear 1
Common Stonechat 30+
Eurasian Stone Curlew 1


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Athalassa Dam, Nicosia 21st October 2016

A quick visit to Athalassa Dam, outside Nicosia this morning – very peaceful and with some good views of some interesting birds.

Eurasian Spooonbill 3 (possibly 5 but quite mobile)
Great Egret 3
White-winged Tern 1
Little Egret 24
Little Grebe 60 in a group moving around edge of water in company of the feeding Little Egrets
Grey Heron 7
Greater Cormorant 11
Common Kingfisher 3
Grey Wagtail 3
Water Rail 2 (one seen, another heard elsewhere)
European Robin 2+
White Wagtail 4
Eurasian Spoonbill, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Spoonbill, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Three feeding Eurasian Spoonbill, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Three feeding Eurasian Spoonbill, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Egret, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Egret, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Heron, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Heron, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Egret, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Egret, Athalassa Dam, 21st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Agios Sozomenos this morning 20th October 2016

A quick visit to Agios Sozomenos, outside Nicosia, this morning mainly to see if any wintering Finsch’s Wheatear had arrived. No luck but I did find a late European Roller, two Red-backed Shrike, a Long-legged Buzzard, a Cyprus Wheatear, some Cattle Egret and Red-throated Pipit. There were also plenty of Common Stonechat setting up territories. The photo below is of one of the many juveniles present.

Common Stonechat, Agios Sozomenos 20th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Stonechat, Agios Sozomenos 20th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Paphos and Akamas this weekend 30th September to 2nd October 2016

A few days in Droushia exploring the area and doing some birding. Passed by Mandria, Timi and Paphos Sewage Works on Friday morning where there were a few Red-footed Falcon, a couple of European Roller, single migrating European Honey Buzzard, dark morph Booted Eagle and Black Kite, three migrating Western Marsh Harrier, a couple of Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and newly arrived White Wagtail, a flock of Yellow Wagtail and a fly over Red-throated Pipit.

In the Akamas area and down in Polis Chrysochou Bay there were migrating Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey and Purple Heron, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater and Red-footed Falcon. Also seen were an Eastern Black-eared and Northern Wheatear, several Whinchat and Cyprus Wheatear, Red-backed Shrike, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Common Redstart. Unexpected birds were a European Nightjar flushed from an olive grove by a hunting Common Kestrel, a Common Kingfisher flying over the Baths of Aphrodite and a Northern Goshawk flushed from a large carob tree as I drove past near Fasli.

Cyprus Wheatear, Androlikou 1st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Wheatear, Androlikou 1st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-footed Falcon, Pittokopos in early morning sun 1st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-footed Falcon, Pittokopos in early morning sun 1st October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Akrotiri today 28th September 2016

 

Spent the day around Akrotiri – not lots of birds around – quality rather than quantity. Was pleased though to see European Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, juvenile Northern Goshawk, Western Marsh Harrier, Red-footed Falcon and Eleonora’s Falcon. Three White Stork were feeding in an alfalfa field. Flocks of European Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin and Red-rumped Swallow still passing through. Plenty of Whinchat, a couple of Northern Wheatear, two Lesser Grey Shrike and some juvenile Red-backed Shrikes. As far as waders were concerned still several Dunlin,plenty of Little Stint, Common Ringed Plover and lots of Kentish Plover – plus five Sanderling and two Spur-winged Lapwing.

White Stork, Akrotiri 28th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White Stork, Akrotiri 28th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spur-winged Lapwing, Akrotiri 28th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spur-winged Lapwing, Akrotiri 28th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Akhna Dam, 27th September 2016

With not much water anywhere on the island at the moment I spent a couple of hours at Akhna Dam today. There is still some water here. Highlight was a fly over Osprey but I also had:

Common Redshank 3
Common Greenshank 1
Dunlin 3
Curlew Sandpiper 1
Common Ringed Plover 3
Glossy Ibis 1
Ruff 2 juv
Common Quail 1
Osprey 1
Common Snipe 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 6
Common Kingfisher 1

Glossy Ibis, Akhna Dam 27th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Glossy Ibis, Akhna Dam 27th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Osprey, Akhna Dam 27th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Osprey, Akhna Dam 27th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Visible heron migration off Cape Greco this morning, 26th September 2016

Although raptors were thin on the ground this morning at Cape Greco – an Eleonora’s Falcon, four European Honey Buzzard and a Western Marsh Harrier to be precise – there was a noticeable movement of herons to the east of the area. As visibility was good it was possible to see flocks of herons heading southwards from the Karpasia area and then passing offshore to the east of Cape Greco and continuing out to sea. Between 8am and 11.30am more than 160 Grey Heron and 32 Purple Heron were counted. Plus a large flock of more than 140 individuals that were too far east of the observation point to be ID’d – seemed to be a mixture of Grey and Purple though.


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Larnaca this morning 25th September 2016

Had my first White Wagtail of the autumn and a few Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone to liven up the waders on the mud of the Sewage Pools.
 
Larnaca Sewage Works
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Sanderling 3
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 12
Little Stint c80
Common Ringed Plover 20+
Little Egret 1
Greater Flamingo 1 jug
Slender-billed Gull 1
Temminck’s Stint 1
Ruff 1 juv
Green Sandpiper 1
Eurasian Teal 20+
Northern Shoveler 15
 
Spiros Beach
Dunlin 4
Greater Flamingo 31 flew in from E circled over area and flew W
 
Meneou Beach
White Wagtail 1
Dunlin, Meneou 25th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Dunlin, Meneou 25th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area this morning, 17th September 2016

Interesting birds seen during the monthly waterbird count around Larnaca this morning:
 
Meneou Pool
European Bee-eater 40
Red-backed Shrike 1 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1 roosting in field
Ring-tailed Harrier 1 roosting in field
 
Larnaca Sewage Works (eastern pool now completely dry. Many small waders in mud which is very dry)
Greater Flamingo 1 (and 24 leaving area and heading out to sea on my arrival)
Eurasian Curlew 2 (flew over calling)
Kentish Plover 59
Dunlin 10
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Common Ringed Plover 27
Little Stint 116
Collared Pratincole 1
Ruff 3
Spur-winged Lapwing 2
Little Grebe 2
Mallard 227
Eurasian Teal 28
Northern Shoveler 8
Eurasian Coot 3
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Red-backed Shrike 2 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
Common Kingfisher 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Whinchat 1
 
Spiros Pool
European Bee-eater 12
Whinchat 2
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Northern Wheatear 1
 
Larnaca Airport Coast
Noticeable passage of Barn Swallow and Sand Martin heading towards Cape Kiti along coast
Yellow Wagtail 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Northern Wheatear 1m
Common Sandpiper 1
Whinchat 1
 
Spiros Beach
Kentish Plover 6
Little Stint 1
Greater Flamingo 17 heading E
 
Larnaca Salt Lake
European Bee-eater 24
Red-backed Shrike 1f and 2 juv
Eurasian Hoopoe 1
Woodchat Shrike 1
European Roller 1
Greater Short-toed Lark 3
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Kentish Plover, Spiros Beach 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Kentish Plover, Spiros Beach 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Stint, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Stint, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike - missing a tail, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike – missing a tail, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco raptor watch 13th September 2016

After the excitement of finding an Olive-tree Warbler in my garden yesterday (no photos – well I have lots of photos of out of focus bird and in focus branches..), I was hoping that the raptor count at Cape Greco would continue a good few days birding. No such luck. Very few raptors moving around and the interest was provided by three flocks of Greater Flamingo heading south along the east coast of the Cape. Main sightings of note:

Cape Greco 8.00am – 12.30pm
Western Marsh Harrier 2 (1m)
Eleonora’s Falcon 2
European Honey Buzzard 1
Greater Flamingo 48 + 68 + 30
Grey Heron 11
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (with Grey Herons)
European Bee-eater 100+ (and others heard only)
Red-rumped Swallow 14
Barn Swallow 200+ over during the survey
Greater Short-toed Lark 1 over
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Yellow Wagtail 2 over W to E
Common House Martin 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Cyprus Wheatear 3
Whinchat 1
Spanish Sparrow 3
Tawny Pipit 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Agia Napa Football Fields
Whinchat 4
Yellow Wagtail 12
Cattle Egret 11
Red-backed Shrike 1m and 3 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 2
European Roller 1