Harry and Jacky are regular visitors to Cyprus and this was the second time we had been out. As they were keen to see as many raptors as possible we headed to Akrotiri hoping to catch up with some of the species seen there over the last few days. Driving into the area Harry spotted a roosting Common Buzzard.  Arriving early we took advantage of the absence of too much heat haze to watch the Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake from the Sylvana’s restaurant vantage point.  There were well over 5000 birds there scattered wherever there was still some water. Behind them we could see a group of over 100 Grey Heron and on the salt flats two Marsh Harrier were roosting. Moving onto Bishop’s Pool we watched a couple of Grey Wagtail flying around the area and despite adding Little Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Sand Martin to the day’s list there was little to detain us there. On leaving we did however, find several Chukar and near the exit a Red-footed Falcon flew over.

Along Lady’s Mile, Harry was able to photograph several Little Stint, Kentish Plover, Dunlin and a lone Curlew Sandpiper. A Common Kingfisher was heard in the reeds at Zakaki and several Reed Warbler were flitting in the reeds together with several Yellow Wagtail. Seven Little Egret were roosting high in near-by Eucalyptus and a Grey Heron flew over.

We then moved on the Phassouri Reed Beds were we spent several hours. Here we had good views of migrating Bee-eaters – hundreds were in the area as well as at least 12 Red-footed Falcon, many Marsh Harrier, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a couple of Lesser Kestrel, a lone Black Kite and best of all a Lesser Spotted Eagle which was being harassed as it flew behind the reeds by a migrating Honey Buzzard – the size difference between the species more than evident. The numbers seemed much reduced from previous days and we had no more than ten Honey Buzzard visible from our view point. A juvenile Montagu’s Harrier flying around the area flew low over us and we were able to pick out the ID clinchers. We also saw Cattle, Little and Great Egret, two Glossy Ibis, a Ruff, Wood and Green Sandpiper and two Common Snipe. There were several Red-backed Shrike and Whinchat as well as Yellow Wagtail and a single Red-throated Pipit. A few Turtle Dove flew over and a Hoopoe and a Golden Oriole flew around the nearby orchard.  At least two Common Kingfisher were seen.

We then decided to go to Kensington Cliffs and here we were treated to three Lesser Kestrels and at least five Eleonora’s Falcon and their aerial acrobatics. At one stage one of the kestrels and Eleonora’s even seemed to lock talons. After that the species kept their distance from each other. Heading back to Paphos to drop Harry and Jacky back there we called in at Paphos Sewage Works. A good idea as we added several more species to our day’s birding. An adult Spur-winged Lapwing with three young birds was beside one of the tanks. By the road side at least twenty Willow Warbler were flitting in the bushes and many different Yellow Wagtail were in the alfalfa fields. A real treat were two White Stork in another newly mown field. A Lesser Grey Shrike watched us as we tried to relocate a Eurasian Sparrowhawk that flew into an olive grove. As we drove off a Spotted Flycatcher was seen on a watering unit.

Thanks to Harry and Jacky for their company and help in spotting some good birds.

Total species – 64

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail species including Blue-headed, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch

Damian and I started at Paphos Sewage Works where the first bird we saw was a European Roller which flew into some conifers. Nearby  a male Red-backed Shrike and a juvenile Lesser Grey Shrike were both perched. A good start and as we continued past the plant buildings we found three Spur-winged Lapwing, a male and female Black Francolin and a Hoopoe feeding on a track. We saw the first of the many Whinchat and Willow Warbler that we were to find wherever we went.  There were also five Tree Pipit, many Zitting Cisticola, a few hundred Yellow Wagtail and a couple of Isabelline and Northern Wheatear. Six Honey Buzzard suddenly arose from the trees at the back of the fields where they must have been roosting and flew over us and straight out to sea. We had good views of a male Sardinian Warbler but the most unexpected bird was seen as we left – a juvenile Common Cuckoo.

Mandria was relatively quiet when we were there. An Eleonora’s Falcon flew out to sea and we also saw a female Marsh Harrier and a juvenile Montagu’s Harrier. We got good views of several Stone Curlew roosting in the olive grove and in the ploughed fields were several Isabelline and Northern Wheatear as well as seven Greater Short-toed Lark and two Tawny Pipit. Many Barn Swallow were flying over and out to sea and again there were plenty of Yellow Wagtail. Oh and of course Whinchat and Willow Warbler!

Approaching Asprokremmos Dam there were many European Bee-eater flying around the canal area. We spent a while watching them and also two Honey Buzzards as they moved south and a Black Kite which was floating around the area. In the car park we picked out three Spotted Flycatcher and a Marsh Harrier in the distance which put some Mallards to flight on the water. Two Golden Oriole were flying around the woods but were not co-operative when we tried to watch them through binoculars. Bee-eaters continued to pass over all the time we were there.

We then decided to head for Phassouri Reed Beds where we hoped to see more raptors and maybe some herons. We found hundreds more Bee-eaters and ate our lunch as they hunted for insects all around us. A couple of Honey Buzzard drifted over as did several Marsh Harrier. In the distance we could see many hirundines mainly Barn Swallow but we also picked out a  single Common Swift and then two House and several Sand Martin. As we drove along the road we found several Cattle Egret and about six Little Egret. A lone Glossy Ibis was spooked by one of the Marsh Harrier quartering the area. They also disturbed the local Hooded Crow population and the migrating Yellow Wagtail. A male Marsh Harrier stood out and then a juvenile Pallid Harrier floated over.  We saw a couple of Common Kestrel and then one of our targets – three Red-footed Falcon were flying over heading south while a lone male circled up gaining height. Damian missed out on the Hoopoe I spotted on a roadside track but caught up with the two Turtle Dove racing across the reeds.

Our final stop was a Kensington Cliffs. We were greeted by a falcon flying westwards and into the sun. We identified that as a Peregrine Falcon and searched further for the Eleonora’s Falcons we had come to find. Soon three of them rose up over the cliff edge towards us and then we spotted another four in the distance. Two great species to end our day and we headed back to Paphos where Damian was staying.

Total species – 51

Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Mallard, European Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Black Francolin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch

Spent the day with Jayne who was staying in Pegeia.  We visited Cape Drepanum, Meletis area of Akamas, Paphos Sewage Works, Asprokremmos Dam, Mandria, Agia Varvara and Anarita Park. We had sightings of many Lesser Grey, Red-backed and Masked Shrike at all locations with a solitary Woodchat Shrike at Mandria.  There appeared to have been a fall of Whinchat and we saw between three and ten at all locations. Likewise there were many Willow Warblers around wherever we visited.

At Paphos Sewage Works we also found up to three hundred Yellow Wagtail – many juvenile and female birds but also a few males of the flava and feldegg races. In amongst them was a lone Greater Short-toed Lark, a male Northern Wheatear and a couple of Isabelline Wheatear. At least six Hoopoe were also feeding on the cut alfalfa fields together with thirteen Spur-winged Lapwing and many Hooded Crow and Jackdaw were taking advantage of the water from the sprinkling system. Sardinian Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher were in the trees close to the sea and several Barn Swallow were flying around. The only bird of prey was a Common Kestrel but two Black Francolin obliged with good views as they crept along the edge of the field.

At Asprokremmos Dam we were unable to find a Cyprus Warbler which was disappointing but we did find a couple of Spotted Flycatcher and a male Masked Shrike as well as a few more Isabelline Wheatear. As usual the pines were full of Goldfinch. The Dam itself held a lone Yellow-legged Gull and as we drove away we saw a Little Owl and a European Roller. The star birds at Mandria were Stone Curlew sheltering from the heat in the olive groves there. It was at Mandria that we also had our best sighting of the day – not a bird but a turtle swimming close to the shore – probably a Green Turtle Chelonia mydas.

We found two Cyprus Wheatear at Agia Varvara so Jayne had good sightings of one of our endemics. We also found another Little Owl there who watched us watching him! We added no new species at Anarita Park and were disappointed to see no raptors at all all day other than Common Kestrel. A quiet day overall but an enjoyable day in Jayne’s company.

List of birds seen:

European Shag,  Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Yellow Wagtail – including Blue-headed and Black-headed, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch

Two mornings out with Mike on 9^th and 12^th August.  On Friday we  headed first to Meletis forest outside Cape Drepanum to try and find the Cyprus Warbler I had seen a couple there earlier in the year, today though but we did see an adult Masked Shrike, several Chukar, a couple of Zitting Cisticola, a lone Cyprus Wheatear and a few Sardinian Warbler disappearing deep into vegetation.

On the roadside wires outside Kathikas we found a Roller and in the valley behind Arodes village there were another two as well as at least four juvenile Masked Shrike, two Turtle Dove and a migrating Woodchat Shrike. Behind Neo Chorio we found two juvenile Cyprus Wheatear who were very user friendly and enabled Mike to take a few photos. At the Smygies picnic site we could hear Eastern Olivaceous Warbler but could only see Great Tit and Greenfinch although an overflying Red-rumped Swallow was more interesting. As we left we found a female Cyprus Wheatear and then next to the stream a male Cretzschmar’s Bunting was very pleasing. Heading towards Neo Chorio an overflying Long-legged Buzzard gave us great views and another two Turtle Dove were an unexpected sight. Another shrike on a wire was a Lesser Grey Shrike – a lovely adult.

We had a quick scan of the Bay before finishing for the day as the heat was becoming unbearable. Despite all the caravans parked in the field overlooking the sea we spotted an Isabelline Wheatear flitting between two clods of earth and in the Bay itself a group of around forty Glossy Ibis headed west.

Picking Mike up on Monday we headed straight to Paphos Harbour for a walk around the coast. We were hoping to find Greater Sand Plover and after picking out one on the rocky shore we soon located another four. Only one was still showing any sign of breeding plumage. We also found a Common Sandpiper and after hearing it on the way out we found a Common Kingfisher on the way back. Moving onto Paphos Sewage Works we spotted one tern over the area – a Gull-billed and as we watched it a White-winged Tern joined it. In the fields there were at least eight Spur-winged Lapwing with many Western Jackdaw and Hooded Crow cooling off under the spray of the mobile watering unit. A juvenile Masked Shrike was on the wires and Zitting Cisticola and Sardinian Warbler were in the roadside vegetation. More interesting were the Yellow Wagtail feeding around a muddy pool and flying around the fields. There were at least six which mainly seemed to be female or juvenile and hard to assign to any race but Mike was pleased to pick out a Black-headed.

Driving away we both saw a Black Francolin – Mike’s to our left and mine to the right – and then another one to the left. Three individuals, two of which were feeding in the cut alfalfa and allowed Mike good views of one of his target species. Leaving the area two Turtle Doves flew in front of the car. On to Asprokremmos Dam where we were hoping to find Cyprus Warbler. We found a juvenile Spectacled Warbler and also a male that flew across the scrub area. Two Chukar and two more Masked Shrike were around and in the distance we heard a Stone Curlew. In the woods near the car park there were four Hoopoe as well as many Goldfinch, a few Sardinian Warbler and at least one more Masked Shrike. We checked out the scrub overlooking the Dam itself and in the distance had a brief glimpse of a female Cyprus Warbler as it showed briefly. A possible male was also in the area and showed for a few seconds. Two male Sardinian were however seen from close up and a juvenile watched from a conifer as we drank our coffee.

We finished the morning in the area still known as Aspro Pools but now completely dry. Again we found several Sardinian Warbler. A Long-legged Buzzard flew over the area ignoring the attentions of two Common Kestrel. We could hear two Cyprus Warbler in the undergrowth near the pumping station but they refused to be seen for more than a few seconds at a time. So that species refused to be user-friendly for Mike but he had had good views of his other targets – Black Francolin and Cyprus Wheatear. Leaving the area and heading back into Paphos a Eurasian Hobby flew over the motorway in front of us giving us a total of 43 species over the two hot August mornings.

List of species:

Glossy Ibis, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Chukar, Black Francolin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, Common Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail species, Isabelline Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting

Spent the Monday and Tuesday around the Paphos area with Steve who wanted especially to see Cyprus Wheatear and Black Francolin – both of which would be lifers. Cyprus Wheatear was easy but Black Francolin was harder at this time of year. We caught up with one outside Polemi this morning when a male was both seen and heard.

Altogether we saw a total of forty six species with highlights of at least 7 Eleonora’s Falcon including a dark morph; Alpine Swift flying over our heads at Petra tou Romiou; a male and female Black-headed Bunting; plenty of Roller and Masked Shrike; a couple of Cretzschmar’s Bunting and Red-rumped Swallow; around 20 Corn Bunting most of which were juvenile; a couple of Coal Tit (endemic sub-species) at Kannaviou.

Total species seen and heard – 46

Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Green Sandpiper, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting.

As summer takes hold and with migration well over, we had decided to concentrate on seeing some summer visitors on our trip out today. I picked up Linda and Tony from Paphos and we headed for Petra tou Romiou. While I scanned the skies for Eleonora’s Falcon, Linda looked at the cliffs in front of us and straight away found one sitting on a ledge plucking and eating a pigeon! We watched this for a while as other Eleonora’s flew over in the distance – mere specks compared to Linda’s bird. Eurasian Shag and Yellow-legged Gull were on the water and moving along the coast we also found Cyprus Wheatear and Warbler, Chukar and plenty of the resident Western Jackdaw.

Lower Xeros Pools are now almost dry but there were a couple of Little Egret and a Squacco Heron. A Black-crowned Night Heron on an acacia tree was being mobbed by a Hooded Crow and retreated to the middle of the tree but we were still able to watch it. A lovely sight was four juvenile Little Grebe swimming and diving in the remaining pool. Zitting Cisticola flew around and on hearing a Black Francolin call we moved to a nearby field where we were able to watch it for several minutes before it crept off out of sight. A Turtle Dove flew in and sat on the electricity wires above us and driving out we found a Little Owl sitting under the motorway.

Behind the Asprokremmos Dam amenity area I was disappointed to see some of the area had recently burnt but we still found an adult Little Owl with four juveniles sitting in their usual spot. A Stone Curlew flew over and we heard another in the distance. We could hear warblers in the bushes around us and got good views of a Spectacled, two Cyprus and one Sardinian Warbler. We drove onto Paphos Sewage Works and found two of the Spur-winged Lapwing that breed there as well as a couple of Cattle Egret in the newly mown fields with many Hooded Crow.

Moving inland we drove along the track to Tsada from Marathounta where we found a couple of Roller. Near the golf course I heard a singing Cretzschmar’s Bunting so we got out to search for it. No luck but we saw two more Cyprus Wheatear. There were several Cyprus Wheatear at Kannaviou but the star birds there were a male and female Masked Shrike that we watched feeding their two young who were skulking in thick vegetation. We saw other Masked Shrike at Kannaviou as well as a large flock of House Martin. Having our lunch in the shade there we saw many Greenfinch and Goldfinch and heard Spanish and House Sparrow. Several Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing and we managed to get brief glimpses of most of them as they moved in the undergrowth.

We drove across country, finally seeing a male Spanish Sparrow and adding European Serin to the day’s total, until we reached Kathikas where we found a couple of Rollers and saw a Corn Bunting with a grasshopper in its mouth obviously intended for its young somewhere nearby. Driving into the valley behind Arodhes I remarked that we hadn’t seen either of the larger birds of prey that use the area. Linda scanned around while Tony and I watched yet more Rollers – five at least were in the valley. She quickly picked up on a large raptor which we were able to identify as a Long-legged Buzzard. Turning away from that we immediately saw two adult Bonelli’s Eagle glide past us heading west down the valley. A wonderful sight. We were nearing the end of our day out and their fly pass was much appreciated. However, we still wanted to see Black-headed Bunting so we drove into the area of vines nearby and listened. Two males were calling and one seemed very close. We scanned the bushes and low trees in vain until finally we found one singing from the top of a vine. As we headed back to Paphos a Turtle Dove flew up and gave Tony excellent views of one of his lifers for the day. We had been concerned we may not find many birds but had had a great day with quality rather than quantity.

Day’s total – 45 species

Little Grebe, European Shag,  Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar  (heard), Black Francolin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Roller, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler,  Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie,  Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting (heard), Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Picking up Andrew and Rachel from their hotel in Limassol we were keen to get a quick start before it got too hot. Luckily in the end it was not as hot on previous days with a cloud cover at times. We started at Phassouri Reed Beds where there was a good collection of heron species – Squacco and Purple Heron, Little and Cattle Egret and over ten Glossy Ibis. Several Turtle Dove were flying over the area as did a rather scruffy looking Eleonora’s Falcon.

Driving over the Gravel Pits area Rachel and I caught the briefest glimpse of one of several Black Francolin that were calling but it went down into the vegetation and couldn’t be relocated.  Several Whinchat, a Sardinian Warbler and a Woodchat Shrike sat on the top of various bushes and two female Montagu’s Harriers, what looked like a juvenile Pallid Harrier and a female Marsh Harrier patrolled the area. Two Red-footed Falcon could be seen in the distance gaining height and we drank our coffee close to Agios Georgios Church watching a Spotted Flycatcher.

We had heard and seen several European Bee-eater passing over but just passed Sylvana’s Restaurant we stopped for a while so Andrew could take some photos of twenty more of these birds resting on the wires. A quick walk around the ‘bee-hives’ area gave us more Bee-eaters, two Common Cuckoo, two male Cyprus Warbler, a couple of Olivaceous Warbler, a very dark Marsh Harrier, a Hobby and a Roller. On Lady’s Mile there was a large group of nearly sixty Little Egret, five Greenshank and some Little Stint, Kentish Plover and Little and Common Ringed Plover.

Although it was close to midday it was not too hot we decided to walk to the Zakaki Marsh run off and view the eastern edge of the Salt Lake. This was a good decision and we spent a long time there. As we arrived we saw a Great Reed Warbler perched high on the top of a stand of reeds. On the salt lake edge we found many Common Ringed Plover – at least 100 and just as many Kentish Plover. There were also 12 Grey Plover in breeding plumage – a large number at an unusual time for Cyprus. There were several  Greenshank, over thirty Curlew Sandpiper, a couple of Dunlin, 200+ Little Stint and a Great Sand Plover and two Broad-billed Sandpiper. A good haul of waders. There were also several Gull-billed Tern, White-winged and Whiskered Tern. Roosting with around twenty Slender-billed Gull was a single Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the main Salt Lake there were at least 300 Greater Flamingo.

After a check at Kensington Cliffs we moved inland and checked the Kyparissia Nature Trail outside Prastio Kelladikkou. There we found Black-headed Bunting – two males and a female were seen -, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Serin, Red-rumped Swallow, several Turtle Dove and two Hoopoe, a male Blackcap, another Common Cuckoo and a Jay. We gave up on our search for Masked Shrike to return to Limassol and our luck was in and we found two males and a female in the trees as we drove back to the main road. A good day’s total of 79 species wasn’t bad when neither Andrew nor I had had great hopes for finding many birds when we set out.

Species seen and/or heard – 79

Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Buzzard species (probably Common), Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Eleonora’s Falcon, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Grey Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove,  Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Black-headed Wagtail, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting.

A slightly different two day trip with Steve and Claire who were staying in Larnaca. We spent our mornings at the usual coastal sites near Larnaca and then headed inland at midday for walks around Mosphiloti (between Nicosia and Larnaca) on Wednesday and to the Machairas forest on Thursday. We had a good selection of birds including a Collared Pratincole which had been high on Steve’s wish list. He actually spotted it himself while I was watching a Zitting Cisticola fly into some grasses!

Altogether a total of 93 different birds were seen or heard during the two days.

Highlights from each site visited:

24^th April

Oroklini Marsh – Cattle Egret 14, Red-crested Pochard 3m & 2f plus ducklings, Western Marsh Harrier 1f, Black Francolin, Chukar, Black-winged Stilt 30+, Spur-winged Lapwing 20+, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Little Tern 3, Whiskered Tern 1, White-winged Tern 1, Reed Warbler 2 seen, Spectacled Warbler 1 male singing from a tamarisk bush

Larnaca Salt Lake – Greater Flamingo c100, Collared Pratincole 1, Ruff 200+, Black Francolin 1, Little Ringed Plover, Slender-billed Gull 3 (seen driving past on 25^th), Long-legged Buzzard (seen flying over the nearby motorway)

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Greater Flamingo c100, Stone Curlew 2, Spur-winged Lapwing pair + small chick

Larnaca Sewage Works Pools – Garganey 4, Northern Shoveler c6, Spur-winged Lapwing 9, Wood Sandpiper 4, White Wagtail 1

Spiro’s Pool area – Little Ringed Plover 1, Kentish Plover c30 + three small chicks, Little Stint 50+, Ruff 150+, Curlew Sandpiper 5+, Black-headed Wagtail 3m, Black-eared Wheatear 2f, Wood Warbler 1

Larnaca Airport Fields – Garganey 7 flew E offshore, Greater Short-toed Lark 5, Red-throated Pipit 8, Northern Wheatear 1m, Spanish Sparrow 1m

Mosphiloti Pipis Forest – European Bee-eater c10 migrating overhead, Hoopoe 1, Cyprus Wheatear 4+, Sardinian Warbler 1m, Cyprus Warbler 2+, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Golden Oriole 1m and 1f, Masked Shrike 3, Serin c10, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1m

25^th April

Kiti Dam – Ruff 2, Wood Sandpiper 3, Turtle Dove 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Common Cuckoo 2, Blackcap c10, Lesser Whitethroat 4, Pied Flycatcher 1m

Alaminos – Roller 2

Kivisili Fields – Pallid Harrier 1 juv, Woodchat Shrike 1

Petounta Point – Common Greenshank 1, Wood Sandpiper 10+, Hoopoe 1, Red-throated Pipit 8, Thrush Nightingale 1, Red-backed Shrike 1m

Road north of Lefkara – Black-headed Bunting 3m

Machairas Forest area – Common Cuckoo 1 rufous morph, Hoopoe2, Red-rumped Swallow 2, Olivaceous Warbler 4 seen others heard, Cyprus Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Collared Flycatcher 1f, Coal Tit 4+, Masked Shrike 20+, Jay 20+, Cretzschamar’s Bunting 1+, Serin 10+

Kionia – Wren 2, Blackbird 3, Jay 2, Scop’s Owl 1h

Last year Kirsi and Philip were staying in Limassol and we had a day out around Akrotiri and Larnaca. This year they are on holiday in Paphos and I picked them up from their hotel this morning and we headed for Kouklia Fish Farm pool hoping that the weather would be kind to us despite the early morning clouds. We were lucky with the weather and despite a distinct lack of migrant passerines we saw some good birds. At our first stop we heard and saw Sedge Warbler and found a Spotted Crake in the reeds although a female Little Crake that we saw fly into the vegetation couldn’t be relocated. There was a Blue-headed and a Black-headed Wagtail and another of the ‘superciliaris’ race, as well as a lone White Wagtail. A Squacco Heron flew away as we approached and a Glossy Ibis flew over. There were several Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and a Ruff around the edges. Alpine Swift and Red-rumped Swallow flew overhead.

Philip wanted to see a Little Owl to complete his list of European owls and one was obligingly sitting on the rocks behind the Asprokremmos Dam upper car park. A Roller flew in front of us but in the wooded area we only found Goldfinch and three Tree Pipit although a Cyprus Warbler was seen in a bush from the car window as we left the area. We watched a Long-legged Buzzard and a Hobby soaring while being mobbed by Hooded Crows and a female Pallid Harrier quartered the area.

A good collection of wader and heron species were in the Lower Xeros area – Little Ringed Plover, Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper and Greenshank as well as single Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, a Glossy Ibis and two Little Egret.  Two Common Kingfisher were flying up and down the area oblivious to the several birders in the area and perching close to us on a couple of occasions. There were many hirundines overhead – again Alpine Swift, Red-rumped and Barn Swallow and also several House and Sand Martin.

Mandria did not have its usual range of species. Just one Isabelline Wheatear, two Shag on the rocks just offshore and a female Marsh Harrier being the sum total. So we headed for Agia Varvara where another Little Crake gave the briefest of glimpses and we also had another Purple Heron, more Wood Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler and a couple of Moorhen.

We finished our day with a drive around the Anarita Park area. We quickly came across a male Red-footed Falcon hovering and hunting in company with around 10 Lesser Kestrel. Moving on we found a couple of female Red-footed Falcon and probably another ten Lesser Kestrel. There were also some Common Kestrel and we had a juvenile Pallid Harrer and female Montagu’s Harrier. At almost every turn we came across Rollers and Corn Bunting. There was at least one Cyprus Warbler – probably more and a Little Owl sitting on overhead wires. Perched on the top of a bush we found two Ortolan Bunting. As we left there were now two male Red-footed Falcon and another two females near the start of the track. Both they and the Lesser Kestrel were the highlight of the day during which we found sixty different species – which considering the lack of any shrikes and many of the migrant passerines expected at this time of year was a pleasing day’s total.

List of 60 birds found:

Little Grebe, European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Chukar, Black Francolin(h), Little Crake, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail ‘superciliaris’ race, White Wagtail, Isabelline Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting.

Spent Sunday and Monday in the Paphos area with Richard and Mike who were over from the UK on a short break for some birding. We started early Sunday morning with a walk around the Headland and inside the archaeological site, moving onto Paphos Sewage Works, Ezousas soakaways, Mandria and finishing at Anarita Park. On Monday we started at the Kouklia Fish Farm pool before heading to Asprokremmos Dam and then moving down to the Lower Xeros Pools. A quick recheck of Mandria then over Minthis Hills and then a drive around the Akoursos area. We finished our time out at Cape Drepanum. Over the two days we saw 80 different birds between us with Richard and Mike gaining a good number of lifers each.

Highlights at each site

Sunday 7^th April

Paphos Headland – Pallid Harrier 1 juv, Greater Short-toed Lark 3, Tawny Pipit c10, Yellow Wagtail 20+ from various races including one ‘superciliaris’, Tree Pipit 1+, Common Redstart 1m, Common Nightingale 1 seen and others heard, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1, Subalpine Warbler 1m, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Woodchat Shrike 4+, Spanish Sparrow

Paphos Sewage Works – Spur-winged Lapwing, Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher 1

Ezousas Soakaways – Squacco Heron 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Tree Pipit 1

Mandria – Black Francolin 2, Chukar 2, Greater Sand Plover 6, Broad-billed Sandpiper 1, Greater Short-toed Lark c20, Isabelline Wheatear 4, Northern Wheatear 2

Anarita Park – Montagu’s Harrier 1m, Pallid Harrier 1f, Lesser Kestrel 13, Alpine Swift 3, Red-rumped Swallow 3, Whinchat 6, Woodchat Shrike 1, Corn Bunting 2+

Monday 8^th April

Kouklia Fish Farm Pool – Roller 1, Spotted Crake 1, Black-winged Stilt 1, Wood Sandpiper 3, Common Sandpiper 2, Yellow Wagtail 10+ from various races including one ‘dombrowski’, Sedge Warbler 3, Great Reed Warbler 1

Asprokremmos Dam – Montagu’s Harrier 1f, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Chukar 2, Hoopoe 2, Red-rumped Swallow 1, Common Redstart 1f, Sardinian Warbler 3, Cyprus Warbler 2m, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 1, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1

Lower Xeros Pools – Little Egret 1, Glossy Ibis 2, Little Crake 1, Little Ringed Plover 5, Wood Sandpiper 5, Sand Martin 1, Masked Shrike 1

Mandria – Kentish Plover 2

Minthis Hills – Pallid Harrier 1m, Corn Bunting 2+

Akoursos – Long-legged Buzzard 1, Rock Dove 3, Tree Pipit 3+, Common Nightingale 1 heard, Cyprus Wheatear 8+, Red-rumped Swallow 1

Pegeia – Bonelli’s Eagle 2 adult

Cape Drepanum – Yellow Wagtail 300+, Greater Short-toed Lark c30

Picked up Susan and Elton  from Larnaca port to explore some of the Larnaca birding sites. Our first stop was Oroklini Marsh where one of the first species we spotted was the Spur-winged Lapwing – this bird is now an established breeder at the Marsh and one of the reasons for its designation as a Special Protection Area and a reason behind the Life+ restoration project there. Red-crested Pochard started breeding there in 2009 and we had great views of a couple of males and a female. A Purple Heron was hiding in the reeds and was soon joined by another and a Grey Heron flew past. Two Red-rumped Swallow flew above with the Barn Swallow. Checking the lake from the car park we found many Black-winged Stilt, some White Wagtail, a Common Snipe, Little Grebe, several Teal and many Coot with young of all sizes.

On the north east edge of Larnaca Salt Lake we watched a male Marsh Harrier quartering a recently harvested cereal field from which a Black Francolin was calling. Two Little Egret and a Great Egret flew across the Salt Lake in front of us. On the Salt Lake itself we found several Little Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpiper, two Wood Sandpiper and a couple of Common Snipe. In the distance there were more waders many of which were Ruff. A small group of less than a hundred Greater Flamingo were feeding. As we walked past the reeds we could hear both Cetti’s and Reed Warbler. Luckily a Cetti’s flew across our path as we set out and a Reed Warbler flew down onto ground in front of us for a minute giving us a chance to check out its ID. Behind Tekke Mosque the resident Little Owl put on a show and we had good views of both a Chiffchaff and a Spectacled Warbler.  On our way to the Sewage Works area we saw several Slender-billed Gull on the Airport North Pools.

We had seen a few Yellow Wagtail at the Salt Lake but nothing prepared us for what we found on the track up to the Sewage Works hide – there must have been at least five hundred Yellow Wagtail of all races – males and females alike – moving around the salicorna, resting to feed and then flying off around the area again. Susan was able to take some good photos and we spent some time just enjoying the spectacle. A female Hen Harrier was in the area obviously hoping for some easy pickings. We then had great views of a male Ruppell’s Warbler in a tamarisk bush further down the track.

After lunch on the beach we spent the rest of our time looking around Spiro’s Pool and Beach. We had good views of a couple of Chukar but unfortunately the Wryneck I spotted in a bush near the Desalination Plant flew down out of sight before Susan and Elton could get their binoculars on it. We added Tawny Pipit and Northern and Isabelline Wheatear to our list. Strangely we had to wait until I dropped the couple back at the port to see our first Yellow-legged Gull!

Day’s total – 47 species

Little Grebe, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Red-crested Pochard, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin (heard), Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing,  Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Wryneck (seen only by leader), Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), White Wagtail, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Common Chiffchaff,  Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch.

A day out to sites east of Paphos with Nico and Antonella from Italy. We started at the Kouklia Fish Farm pool where we saw a Hoopoe and Wryneck as soon as we parked the car. There was a male Northern Wheatear on the other side of the pool together with a male Black-throated Wheatear. A Common Snipe flew off and we watched a Water Rail feeding in the reeds. Two Sedge Warbler were seen and heard and a Reed Warbler sang from a small stand of reeds nearby. Three Alpine Swift flew over as we moved on to the Kouklia soakaway. We searched for a while trying to locate a calling Black Francolin but he was too well hidden in the cereal field. There were several Tree Pipit in the area, another Hoopoe, and a Woodchat Shrike was spotted on a distant bush. A harrier was visible for  a few seconds over the ridge but not long enough for us to identify it.

Moving on to Asprokremmos Dam we were pleased to see and hear both singing Cyprus and Sardinian Warbler. In particular a male Cyprus Warbler sang for several minutes from the top of a pine tree while three Cretzschmar’s Bunting perched on the lower branches of another. A Nightingale sang briefly. We spotted a fledgling Sardinian Warbler being fed by one of its parents. Driving behind the dam we found a couple of Northern Wheatear and two Chukar. Below the Dam wall there was a Woodchat Shrike and more Chukar.

As on Tuesday, there were many Northern and Isabelline Wheatear at Mandria although we also found a male Black-eared (pale throated this time in contrast to the dark-throated one seen earlier).  A lone Kentish Plover was on the beach and at least one Skylark joined three Greater Short-toed Lark flying around the area. Although we could hear Yellow Wagtail they were hidden in the vegetation. We had more luck with that species at Paphos Sewage Works where at least twelve Black-headed and two Blue-headed were in the horse’s paddock together with three more Short-toed Lark and a couple of Northern Wheatear and a lone Serin. There were at least ten Tree Pipit in nearby trees and with twelve Cattle Egret and five Spur-winged Lapwing near the Sewage Plant .

Our last stop was at Anarita Park. A male Woodchat Shrike was next to the track and as well as the by  now familiar Wheatears we also found a few more Short-toed Lark and five Tawny Pipit. Two Red-rumped Swallow were flying over the area as was a Great Spotted Cuckoo who was being chased off by a pair of Magpie. At least twenty Corn Bunting were on the top of one bush. As we left four Lesser Kestrel (three male and one female) were on wires close to the track so we were able to finish our day watching them.