Two photos from the White Stork extravaganza this morning at Akrotiri Salt Lake. One of just a few of the migrating group of c1000 and the other is of one White Stork heading to the left while one of the three European Honey Buzzard that was soaring with the storks heads right.
White Stork , Akrotiri Salt Lake, 17th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
White Stork and European Honey Buzzard, Akrotiri Marsh, 17th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Broad-billed Sandpiper, Meneou Pool 16th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Common Ringed Plover, Meneou Pool 16th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Little Ringed Plover, Meneou Pool 16th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Some interesting birds at Meneou this morning including at least 230 Black-winged Stilt, plus much smaller numbers of Ruff, Common and Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Common and Green Sandpiper and Collared Pratincole. At least eight Little Tern and a juvenile White-winged Tern. Plenty of Yellow-legged Gull roosting on salt flats and flying around the Sewage Works including several juveniles (see photo).
Yellow-legged Gull, Larnaca Sewage Works 9th August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
A surprise today around Larnaca in the shape of a female Red-necked Phalarope – bad record photo below – along with more usual birds in the shape of early passage migrants five Black-headed (see photo) and a Slender-billed Gull, a White-winged, two Common and four Little Tern; at least four Little Ringed Plover and Green and Wood Sandpiper and several breeding Spur-winged Lapwing (photo) and Black-winged Stilt.
Red-necked Phalarope, Larnaca 17th July 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spur-winged Lapwing. Larnaca Sewage Works, 17th July 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Black-headed Gull, Larnaca Sewage Works, 17th July 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
A morning around the Akrotiri peninsula with some interesting species seen.
Akrotiri Salt Lake
Slender billed Gull 50+
Common Tern 2
Gull billed Tern 4
Caspian Tern 1
Little Tern 15
Spotted Redshank 1
Marsh Sandpiper 4
Wood Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper 4
Common Redshank 4+
Greater Flamingo c1000
Little Ringed Plover 4
Little Egret 3
Black winged Stilt 100+
Akrotiri Marsh (Phasouri Reed beds)
Glossy Ibis 24
Little Egret 16 (see photo)
Grey Heron 2
Cattle Egret 8
Spur winged Lapwing 1
Squacco Heron 4
Little Bittern 1m
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
Red rumped Swallow 7 heading S
Black crowned Night Heron 1 juv in flight
Three species of tern fishing this morning at Larnaca Sewage Works: two Common Tern, at least two Gull-billed Tern (photo) and several Little Tern.
Gull-billed Tern, Larnaca Sewage Works, 25th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
At this time of year the birds in Troodos are looking for any remaining streams or pools in which they can drink or bathe. This small stream is drying up rapidly, but still had some visitors while I watched there yesterday, including this pair of Red Crossbills.
Red Crossbill, Troodos 23rd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Red Crossbill, Troodos 23rd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Another lovely day at Troodos enjoying the birds that seem to be numerous this summer with less disturbance.
Those seen included:
Platania
Grey Wagtail 1
Amiandos Botanical Gardens
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
European Serin h
Almyrolivado
Masked Shrike 6+ (see photo)
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Spotted Flycatcher 2 (see photo)
Cyprus Scops Owl 1h
Livadi tou Pashia
Cyprus Wheatear 1m singing
Common Hoopoe 1h
Masked Shrike 6+
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Red-rumped Swallow 4
European Serin 2
Troodos Square
Pallid Swift 3+
Cyprus Wheatear 3m and 1f
Caledonia Trail (Troodos end)
Grey Wagtail pair
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Lots of Coal Tits, Jays, Wrens, Blackbirds (see photo) and Chaffinches everywhere
Eurasian Blackbird, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Masked Shrike, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
The winter rain has created ideal conditions for breeding Black-winged Stilt this year. Many juveniles can be seen in the Larnaca area. This adult was at Meneou this morning.
Black-winged Stilt, Meneou 7th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Achna Dam 6th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
I don’t remember as much water in Achna Dam before as I found today . But even so I managed to have a good walk in several areas and found some interesting birds. Its getting hotter though now so I guess walks of an hour or more will soon be out of the question!
Birds seen included:
Glossy Ibis 13
Squacco Heron 8
Gull billed Tern 12
Spur winged Lapwing 8
Great Cormorant 2
Grey Heron 3
Great Crested Grebe 1 ad
European Roller 1
Cattle Egret 2 (one with stick in bill)
Little Egret 2
Little Bittern 1f
Purple Heron 1
Common Hoopoe 4
Black winged Stilt 2
Spent the day at Troodos which was full of breeding residents and summer visitors including Cyprus Wheatear, Masked Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Olivaceous Warbler, Common Hoopoe, Red Crossbill, Eurasian Blackbird, Coal Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Northern Wren, Red-rumped Swallow, Eurasian Jay and Eurasian Crag Martin.
Cyprus Wheatear, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Grey Wagtail, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Olivaceous Warbler, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Northern Wren, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos, 2nd June 2020(c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Cyprus Bird Report 2018
This is now ready and available from the BirdLife Cyprus office. Copies will be sent to members of BirdLife Cyprus whose subscription includes this. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy should contact:
BirdLife Cyprus office
P.O. Box 12026
Nicosia 2340
Cyprus
Tel 22455072. birdlifecyprus@birdlifecyprus.org.cy
Cyprus Birding Tours 