Cyprus Birding Tours

August 17, 2015
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Waterbird Count at Larnaca, 17th August 2015

Early start to avoid the humid heat of Larnaca today. Larnaca Sewage Works had most species including migrating Common Ringed Plover, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Common Redshank, White-winged and Whiskered Tern. Two adult Slender-billed Gull were present, three Grey Heron flew over heading W and a Eurasian Curlew that flew in briefly was later seen heading E. There was a single Greater Flamingo also with the usual resident Mallard, Coot and Little Grebe and a good number of Spur-winged Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt – both with several juveniles.

More than two hundred Kentish Plover were roosting on Spiros Beach in a post-breeding flock which contained many juveniles.

Little Stint were feeding around the edge of the main Salt Lake where there were also more Black-winged Stilt and Spur-winged Lapwing. Two European Roller and a male Red-backed Shrike were near Tekke Mosque.

August 14, 2015
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Akrotiri today, 14th August 2015

An unusual finding today was a Ruddy Shelduck on Zakaki Marsh – although the height of the reeds there now made it hard to see. Apparently it has been present for a few days now and is probably the first summer record for this species in Cyprus. It’s usually seen between November to April as a winter visitor, although three were reported in September in 1995.

Also had a juvenile Citrine Wagtail at Phassouri Reed Beds where there was a Lesser Grey Shrike and a Eurasian Hoopoe as well as several juvenile Yellow Wagtail and plenty of fledged Eurasian Reed Warblers. On Lady’s Mile there were around 150 Kentish Plover, several Little Stint, a Dunlin and one, maybe two, Sanderling. A juvenile Glossy Ibis was also there with several Black-winged Stilt.

As well as the Ruddy Shelduck at Zakaki I heard a Common Kingfisher and saw a Garganey.

Lesser Grey Shrike Phassouri Reed Beds 14th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 13, 2015
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Few hours birding around Cape Greco, 13th August 2015

Some of the birds seen in a few hours birding this morning were:

Agia Napa Sewage Works – Lesser Grey Shrike 2m, Red-backed Shrike 1f, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler c10, Common Sandpiper 2, Cyprus Warbler 1f, Spectacled Warbler 4+, Spur-winged Lapwing 1

Cape Greco – Red-backed Shrike 2f, Eurasian Hoopoe 2, Cyprus Wheatear 1

Agia Napa Football Fields – Cattle Egret c60, Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Oroklini Marsh – Little Stint 20, Spotted Redshank 2, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Little Tern 2 juv, Ruff 5, Wood Sandpiper 4, Grey Heron 1, Yellow Wagtail 5 flew over, Black-winged Stilt c20, Spur-winged Lapwing c25

Red-backed Shrike female Agia Napa Sewage Works 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Cape Greco 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 10, 2015
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Birding around Paphos area, 10th August 2015

Spent today out in the Paphos area. Rain was a pleasant relief from the heat when I got to Arodes but it didn’t put off both the Long-legged Buzzard and Eurasian Hobby that were flying over the area. There were at least four European Roller in the area and two Eurasian Turtle Dove.

Off shore I saw thirteen Grey Heron, three Little Egret, at least 75 Glossy Ibis, around fifty Garganey and six Gull-billed Tern as they migrated over Polis Chrysochou Bay. A Woodchat Shrike was at Neochorio and Masked Shrike were at Androlikou and Minthis Hills with several European Roller at both those locations.

A quick visit to Paphos Sewage Works on my way home produced 12 migrating Yellow Wagtail .

European Roller Arodes 10th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Woodchat Shrike Neochorio 10th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 8, 2015
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Cape Greco area and Oroklini Marsh this morning, 8th August 2015

Well I knew it had been hot in Cyprus while I had been away but I had hoped that at 7am it would be bearable. It wasn’t really but there were a few interesting species around. At least 18 Pallid Swift were over Agia Napa Sewage Works where almost every bush seemed to have several Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in it. I also saw eight Eastern Orphean Warbler but I am sure there were more unseen. A lone Cyprus Wheatear was also there as were several Spectacled Warbler.

A male Lesser Grey Shrike was at the Agia Napa Football Fields together with a Woodchat Shrike. Nearly 50 Cattle Egret were feeding on the watered pitches together with a couple of Black Francolin.

At Oroklini Marsh there were at least 22 Spur-winged Lapwing – several of them juvenile – and 25 Black-winged Stilt (again with several juvenile). At least twenty Little Stint were feeding in what is left of the water with some Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and a single Marsh Sandpiper.

Cattle Egret, Agia Napa Football Fields 8th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

July 22, 2015
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Oroklini Marsh, 22nd July 2015

An adult Spur-winged Lapwing was chasing all other birds away from where its four chicks were feeding at Oroklini today. It was even chasing away Little Stint which were smaller than the chicks! Also in the area was a juvenile Glossy Ibis, several adult and juvenile Little Tern and an unseasonal Common Black-headed Gull. Numbers of Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and Little Stint are increasing there.

At Larnaca Sewage Works I found nine Little Tern and five Green Sandpiper were on the coast nearby.

Spur-winged Lapwing chick Oroklini 22nd July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spur-winged Lapwing Oroklini 22nd July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

July 18, 2015
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Zitting Cisticola, Larnaca Sewage Works 18th July 2015

This Zitting Cisticola was one of a family party around the hide at Larnaca Sewage Works this morning. Also flying around the area were an adult and juvenile Little Tern and a Whiskered Tern which was still in breeding plumage.

Zitting Cisticola Larnaca Sewage Works 18th July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

July 15, 2015
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Larnaca waterbird count and Oroklini Marsh this morning, 15th July 2015

A hot morning out for the waterbird count around Larnaca. Three Whiskered Tern were on the Sewage Works pools, an Audouin’s Gull flew ovre and there were plenty of young birds – Mallard, Black-winged Stilt, a few Coot and some Spur-winged Lapwing. Three Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper there showed that migrant waders are now moving through. More waders were at Oroklini – nine Wood, three Common and a Green Sandpiper plus three Ruff, a Common Redshank and several adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plover. There were still some Cattle Egret in the small colony that is now established there as well as four feeding Little Egret. Large flocks of Barn Swallow were everywhere with a few Common Swift and House Martin as well.

Two juvenile Little Tern were at Oroklini – one was fed by an adult while another appeared to be having fishing lessons from a parent – the juvenile was diving in the water and the adult was squawking near by. At least eleven Little Tern were on the main Salt Lake although it was a bit too hazy for an accurate count. There were also around twenty Greater Flamingo and plenty of Black-winged Stilt. A couple of juvenile Eurasian Reed Warblers were in the reeds on the north eastern edge of the lake.

Little Ringed Plover Oroklini Marsh 15th July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Barn Swallow Larnaca Sewage Works 15th July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

July 4, 2015
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European Bee-eaters and Rollers this morning, 4th July 2015

Took a drive around Pyrga and Panagia Stazousa this morning and was treated to a flying display from what looked like newly fledged European Bee-eaters. Paler than their parents they were very noisy as they flew between carob and eucalyptus trees. There were also several European Rollers in the area as well as family parties of both Cyprus Wheatear and Warbler – in fact at one stage I had a few of each species in the same bush! Elsewhere a Eastern Olivaceous Warbler family were making a lot of noise. The Little Owl was on guard at its nest site but no sign of any young there. A Long-legged Buzzard flew over the area being mobbed by Common Kestrels.

European Roller Pyrga 4th July 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

July 1, 2015
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A few interesting species in Larnaca this morning, 1st July 2015

Less wind than on previous days in the Larnaca area as summer takes hold. Had a quick look around Cape Kiti and Larnaca Sewage Works this morning. Was surprised to find a European Bee-eater on the wires near Meneou. Just one Calandra Lark was seen at Pervolia with none heard singing today. Single Little Terns were at Meneou Pool and Larnaca Sewage Works where there was also a scruffy looking Whiskered Tern. An Audouin’s Gull was with several Yellow-legged Gulls on Spiros Pool.

June 22, 2015
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Late afternoon at Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia 22nd June 2015

A few hours in the Agios Sozmenos area late this afternoon produced four European Roller, a couple of hundred Corn Bunting in post breeding flocks, several calling Black Francolin, some Spanish Sparrow, at least three Green Sandpiper, Stone Curlew, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing and a juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo begging its Magpie parent for food.

Spanish Sparrow Agios Sozomenos 22nd June 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

June 20, 2015
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Omodos today 20th June 2015

Spent a few hours in the vineyards to the north west of Omodos where there were many singing Black-headed Bunting and Cyprus Wheatear. Had good views of Cyprus Warbler, Serin, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Long-legged Buzzard as well and there were many Common House Martin with a few Red-rumped and Barn Swallow overhead.

The best part of the time there was when I drove along the road to Agios Nikolaos and found a family party of four Black-headed Bunting juveniles flying from mosphilia bush to the vines and back. At one stage there were several young Corn Bunting, a couple of juvenile Spanish Sparrow, a young Common Linnet and Sardinian Warbler and two of the Black-headed Bunting in the same bush! Great birding moment! Light was really bad so the photo of one of the young Black-headed Bunting with a young Spanish Sparrow is the best of a very poor bunch.