Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Category Archives: Birding


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Terns and waders this evening 10th May 2015

Seventeen White-winged Tern and six Whiskered Tern were feeding over Larnaca Sewage Pools this evening as was a Little Gull. There was a good selection of wader on Spiros Pool – many of them in breeding plumage which we don’t often get the chance to see. There were single Red-necked Phalarope and Broad-billed Sandpiper, three Black-winged Godwit, several Curlew Sandpiper, five Dunlin, many Ruff and Little Stint, some Common Ringed Plover and Wood Sandpiper.

Two Collared Pratincole were on the Desalination Plant fields where more Wood Sandpiper and Ruff were feeding. It was good to see a small group of European Bee-eater and there was also a Whinchat and a Woodchat Shrike.

Whinchat Larnaca Desalination Plant 10th May 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whinchat Larnaca Desalination Plant 10th May 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco this morning, 9th May 2015

Some good birds still around including an Icterine Warbler at Cape Greco this morning. Mixing Common Bird Monitoring transects with some birding afterwards!

Birds seen included:

Agia Napa Sewage Works – Black-headed Bunting 2m singing, Eurasian Turtle Dove 1, Cyprus Warbler 1m, Common Redstart 1f, Collared Flycatcher 2f, Laughing Dove 2

Cape Greco – Black-headed Bunting 1m singing, Cyprus Warbler 1m, Pallid Harrier 1f, Lesser Kestrel 2, Eurasian Turtle Dove 2, Woodchat Shrike 3, Red-backed Shrike 1m, Honey Buzzard 1, Cyprus Wheatear 6m, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 3, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Common Redstart 1f, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Cyprus Wheatear 5+

Photo below is of one of a pair of Laughing Dove near Agia Napa Sewage Works this morning. Wild birds are rare vagrants to Cyprus; this bird is from a small population established in the area by escapees from local collections. Others, again thought to be escapees, are now breeding in a couple of locations in Limassol.

Laughing Dove, Agia Napa Sewage Works May 9th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Laughing Dove, Agia Napa Sewage Works May 9th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca this morning, 8th May 2015

No sign of the Broad-billed Sandpiper, that had been present last night, on Spiros Pool this morning but still plenty of interest as there were nearly twenty Curlew Sandpiper, a Red-necked Phalarope, four Black-tailed Godwit, two Little Tern, a Little Gull, more than a hundred Little Stint and a Ruff in near breeding plumage among the twenty or so of that species.
A couple of Whinchat and a late Northern Wheatear were also seen, ten Glossy Ibis passed over and then along the airport coast I watched 41 Collared Pratincole flying over the sea and then move inland. A Whiskered Tern was on the Sewage Pools.


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Droushia and Neo Chorio, Akakmas, 1st and 2nd May 2015

Several male Black-headed Bunting seen singing on territories Friday and Saturday around Droushia and Neo Chorio. Also seen were Golden Oriole, Masked and Woodchat Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Hoopoe, Red-rumped Swallow, European Hobby and European Roller.


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Larnaca area over the last two days, 30th April 2015

Early morning surveys in the Larnaca area provided some good birds which included several singing male Cyprus Warbler, Great Spotted Cuckoo, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Pallid Harrier, Little Owl, Calandra Lark, Woodchat  and Red-backed Shrike, European Bee-eater and a calling Eurasian Scops Owl. The numbers of Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake has decreased but there are still plenty of Ruff, Little Stint and Wood Sandpiper passing through as well as Black-winged Stilt, Little Tern, Spur-winged Lapwing and a Little Gull. Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis and Black-crowned Night Heron have been passing by the coast and in the fields there are still small numbers of Yellow Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit and an occasional Northern Wheatear.

Kentish Plover Petounta Point April 30th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Kentish Plover Petounta Point April 30th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-crowned Night Heron Larnaca Salt Lake 29th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-crowned Night Heron Larnaca Salt Lake 29th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area today, 23rd April 2015

A drive around the south side of the Larnaca Salt Lake today dodging the showers produced some interesting species. The water in the pools is slowly receding meaning that the conditions are just right for migrating waders.
Pervolia – Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1, Calandra Lark 4, Red-throated Pipit 1h
Larnaca Airport Pools South – Little Gull 1, Red-necked Phalarope 4, Pied Avocet 2, Glossy Ibis 21, Common Greenshank 43, Spotted Redshank 1, Marsh Sandpiper 11, Common Sandpiper 1, Black-winged Stilt 22, Greater Flamingo c100
Larnaca Sewage Works – Collared Pratincole 4
Spiros Pool – Little Stint c100, Ruff c200, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Common Ringed Plover 3, Dunlin 2, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Wagtail 2, Woodchat Shrike 1
Larnaca Desalination Fields – Red-throated Pipit 20+
From Meneou to Airport coast 17.30pm – Common Swift 500+
Yesterday a quick drive through Panagia Stazousa gave good views of European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Cyprus Warbler, Cretzschmar’s Bunting and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Red-throated Pipit Larnaca Desalination Fields 23rd April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-throated Pipit Larnaca Desalination Fields 23rd April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 


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Afternoon around Akrotiri, 16th April 2015

Spent the afternoon birding around Akrotiri. The best bird was seen last at 18.10 when an Osprey flew over Lady’s Mile and headed north. Other birds seen included Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Spotted Redshank, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and Yellow Wagtail.

Black-tailed Godwit, Akrotiri Salt Lake 16th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-tailed Godwit, Akrotiri Salt Lake 16th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Yellow Wagtail Akrotiri Coast 16th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Yellow Wagtail Akrotiri Coast 16th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Waterbird Count around Larnaca Salt Lake today, 15th April 2015

Some good birds seen around the area of Larnaca Salt Lake both north and south of the airport today, which included the famous black Greater Flamingo which today was on the main Salt Lake. Waders of note included eight Pied Avocet, four Eurasian Dotterel, two Whimbrel flying offshore, three Red-necked Phalarope, more than thirty Common Greenshank and plenty of Black-winged Stilt. Several migrating Grey Heron and Little Egret were around and three Squacco Heron went east along the coast in the morning with a flock of sixteen Great Egret flying over the area just before 9 am. There were several Slender-billed Gull on the main Salt Lake where there was also a European Roller and four European Bee-eaters flew over heading north. Eight Garganey were on the Larnaca Sewage Pools and a few Eurasian Teal still remain from the winter.

The fields were full of Red-throated Pipit and Yellow Wagtail early in the morning with several Greater Short-toed Lark and I  found one Eurasian Wryneck. I also saw two Western Marsh Harrier and a female Pallid Harrier.

Little Egret Larnaca Salt Lake 15th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Egret Larnaca Salt Lake 15th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area today, 13th April 2015

Some good birds around the Larnaca area seen on both an early morning and later afternoon ‘drive around’. I thought the days highlight would be a male Golden Oriole I found when doing my Common Bird Survey at Mennogeia until I found a Eurasian Dotterel on the Larnaca Airport Fields late in the day.

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Little Gull 1, Red-necked Phalarope 3, Common Greenshank 7, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Black-winged Stilt 50+, Greater Flamingo c120 (all pink!)

Meneou Pool – Whiskered Tern 1

Alaminos – European Roller 1, Red-rumped Swallow 3

Mennogeia – Cyprus Warbler 2m and 1f, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2, Golden Oriole 1m, Masked Shrike 1, Common Nightingale 1 singing

Mennogeia to Alaminos Road – European Roller 1

Larnaca Sewage Works – Collared Pratincole 6

Spiros Pool – Little Tern 1, Northern Wheatear 5f

Larnaca Desalination/Airport Fields – Eurasian Dotterel 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 2, Red-throated Pipit 2+


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Akrotiri and Larnaca today, 8th April 2015

A Melanistic Greater Flamingo was a strange sight at Akrotiri this morning. Black bird in a small flock of the usual pink ones!!

Apart from the black Greater Flamingo there were some interesting birds there including a Cream-coloured Courser which I saw flying away and an early morning appearance by a male and female Black-bellied Sandgrouse which I missed!

At Larnaca in the late afternoon there appeared to have been a late fall of Whinchat and other passerines.

Phassouri Reed Beds – Common Quail 1h, Sedge Warbler 1h, Squacco Heron 2, Woodchat Shrike 1

Pool near sheds – Wood Sandpiper 12, Green Sandpiper 2, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Collared Pratincole 1, Glossy Ibis 18 flying over, Great Egret 1 flying over, Grey Heron 7 flying over, Black-winged Stilt 5, Little Stint 6, Little Ringed Plover 6, Ruff 8, Spotted Redshank 1, Red-rumped Swallow 8, Common Snipe 2

Akrotiri Salt Lake – Melanistic Greater Flamingo in with c20 others

Akrotiri Gravel Pits area – c600 Garganey in bay, Tree Pipit 2, Glossy Ibis 9 + 12 + 21 flying over, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2m dark throat, Red-throated Pipit 1, Woodchat Shrike 1

Lady’s Mile – Cream-coloured Courser 1 (seen in flight), Marsh Sandpiper 3, Common Greenshank 3, Slender-billed Gull 2

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Little Gull 1, Greater Flamingo c30

Larnaca Sewage Works – Sand Martin 3, Whinchat 4m and 1f, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 1m, Wryneck 1, Common Redstart 1f, Common Whitethroat 1

Spiros Pool – Glossy Ibis 19, Little Egret 8


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Interesting migrants around Nicosia

Having been confined to Nicosia over the last few days I was pleased to find some interesting migrants on both my local patch and a bit further afield:

March 30th and 31st: Manglis Lake – Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1 singing male, two Tree Pipit and a Cattle Egret

April 1st: Agios Sozomenos – Woodchat Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 1, Eastern Black-throated Wheatear 2 dark throated males, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 2 singing in eucalyptus trees, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Tree Pipit 3, Yellow Wagtail c10, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2+h. Also there were two Little Owl, some singing male Spectacled Warbler (one seen carrying food into probable nest site), and both Western Jackdaw and Spanish Sparrow seen carrying nesting material.


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A little birding today at Cape Greco and Larnaca 25th March 2015

An hour’s bird watching at Cape Greco was short and sweet with a Bimaculated Lark and two male Pallid Harrier at Cape Greco and several male Subalpine and Ruppell’s Warbler around plus a male and female Eastern Orphean Warbler. At Larnaca later in the day the highlight was a Little Gull with a large flock of Ruff feeding on a newly harvested field at dusk.

 Interesting sightings of the day:
Meneou Beach – Ruppell’s Warbler 2m
Meneou Pool – Greater Flamingo c60
Larnaca Airport Pools South – Greater Flamingo c200, Black-winged Stilt 32, Little Gull 1, Ruff 3, Common Redshank 2
Larnaca Sewage Works fields – Ruff c100 feeding at dusk on field, Cyprus Wheatear 1m, Ruppell’s Warbler 2m, Grey Heron 2 overflying heading E
Cape Greco – Subalpine Warbler 3m, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Ruppell’s Warbler 1m, Cyprus Wheatear 2m, Pallid Harrier 2m, Bimaculated Lark 1 flew into field then off inland (possibly in off sea), Greater Short-toed Lark 22
Oroklini Beach – Eurasian Hoopoe 1