Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Audouin’s Gull


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Larnaca area 31st August 2020

A very hot and humid early morning check around the Larnaca area saw a few interesting species including this Eurasian Stone Curlew and Dunlin (see photos). Also of note were a juvenile Collared Pratincole, two Isabelline Wheatear, an adult and two juv Ruddy Turnstone, at least 13 Curlew Sandpiper, a couple of Red-backed Shrikes, migrating Red-rumped Swallow and Northern House Martin, a juvenile Audouin’s Gull and the first Northern Shoveler of the autumn on the Sewage Works pools.

Dunlin, Larnaca 31st August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Dunlin, Larnaca 31st August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Larnaca 31st August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Larnaca 31st August 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area 10th December 2019

Out doing the waterbird count today but the best bird was an immature Audouin’s Gull at Oroklini Beach which I visited after I’d finished (see heavily cropped photo).

Audouin's Gull, Oroklini Beach 10th December 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Audouin’s Gull, Oroklini Beach 10th December 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Other sightings included:

Meneou Pool
Common Ringed Plover 1

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Grey Plover 1
Armenian Gull c10
Caspian Gull 8+
Heuglin’s Gull 2 ad
Baltic Gull 1 juv

Larnaca Sewage Works
Great Cormorant 431
Bluethroat 1
Common Teal 417
Northern Shoveler 180
Greater White-fronted Goose 2
Eurasian Wigeon 3m and 2f
Great Crested Grebe 1
Northern Pintail 8
Common Shelduck 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Armenian Gull 20+
Caspian Gull 30+
Yellow-legged Gull 5
Black-headed Gull 68+

Spiros Pool
Common Ringed Plover 1
Eurasian Golden Plover 175

Larnaca Airport Pools North
Black-headed Gull 35
Slender-billed Gull 3 ad
Common Redshank 43
Dunlin 6

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo 946
Common Shelduck 6
Kentish Plover 2
Common Ringed Plover 5
Spanish Sparrow 10+
Corn Bunting 4
Cattle Egret 3
Black-headed Gull 77

Larnaca Salt Lake north east corner
Water Pipit 1
Common Snipe 29+
Western Water Rail 1h

Kamares area
Jack Snipe 1
Common Snipe 1
Water Pipit 2
Common Kingfisher 2
Western Water Rail 1 seen

Oroklini Beach
Audouin’s Gull 1 imm
Black-headed Gull c150
Little Egret 1
Caspian Gull 4
Armenian Gull 7
Great Cormorant c50 heading E offshore

Oroklini Marsh
Northern Lapwing c60
Northern Pintail 5m
Bluethroat 1h
Spur-winged Lapwing 36+
Little Egret 3
Northern Shoveler 200+
Common Teal 130+
Common Starling c30
Red-crested Pochard 1m and 1f
Greater Flamingo 26
Cattle Egret 32
Ferruginous Duck 1
Common Pochard 2f


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Larnaca area 30th November 2019

Lovely day birding around Larnaca today visiting Panagia Stazousa, Oroklini and the aqueduct at Kamares. Some good birds around although didn’t expect to see a very late Common Whitethroat in with the Blackcaps at Panagia Stazousa.

Main sightings:
Panagia Stazousa
Long-legged Buzzard 3
Common Whitethroat 1
Woodlark 1
Cyprus Warbler 5m and 1f (four males singing)

Pyrga
Common Chaffinch 60+
Cyprus Warbler 1m
Woodlark 6

Kamares Aqueduct
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 juv (see photo)
Common Kingfisher 1
Water Pipit 1
Western Marsh Harrier 2
Spur-winged Lapwing 2

Oroklini Marsh – south area
Common Redshank 6
Water Pipit 1
Northern Lapwing 5
Western Marsh Harrier 2
Laughing Dove 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Black-winged Stilt 13
Little Egret 3
Spur-winged Lapwing 20+

Oroklini Marsh – main lake
Greater Flamingo 7
Common Pochard 1m and 1f
Ferruginous Duck 2
Northern Pintail 1
Barn Swallow 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 20+
Western Water Rail 1h

Oroklini Beach
Pallas’ Gull 1 ad fly past heading W
Audouin’s Gull 1 flying W five minutes later
Sandwich Tern 1
Black-headed Gull 300+

Spiros Beach
Kentish Plover 11
Dunlin 9
Little Stint 4

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile, Larnaca Salt Lake 30th November 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile, Larnaca Salt Lake 30th November 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco 13th March 2019

Spent most of the day at Cape Greco looking for early migrants. Some putting in an appearance – see list below – but the best was a lovely male Common Redstart of the samamisicus race (see photos). Also visited Oroklini Marsh and a couple of Agia Napa beaches where there were ten Greater Sandplovers (see photos).

Oroklini Marsh

Western Marsh Harrier 1
Black-tailed Godwit 5
Garganey 1m
Yellow Wagtail 1h
Northern Pintail 2m and 3f
Ferruginous Duck 7
Red-crested Pochard 1m and 5f
Black-winged Stilt c30
Spur-winged Lapwing 8
Common Redshank 1
Greater Flamingo 33
Common Swift 22
Cape Greco – from Kermia Beach to Agioi Anargyroi picnic site
Cyprus Warbler 6+ singing males
Ruppell’s Warbler 8m and 1f
Tree Pipit 1h
Cyprus Wheatear 4
Isabelline Wheatear 4
Greater Short-toed Lark 2
Northern Wheatear 1m
Yellow Wagtail 2 over
Blue Rock Thrush 1f
Common ‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart (samamisicus spp) 1m
Common Chiffchaff 30+
Black Redstart 7+
Audouin’s Gull 2
Black-eared Wheatear 1m pale throat
Macronissos Beach
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Agia Thekla
Greater Sandplover 10
Kentish Plover 2
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Northern Wheatear 1
‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart, Cape Greco 13th March 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Greater Sandplover, Agia Thekla 13th March 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of the island 18th January 2019

Finally a sunny day with not a lot of wind and no rain coincided with a day I was free to go out. Went to the east again and checked out Oroklini, Achna, Paralimni Lake and the rocky coasts. A good collection of birds including Greater Flamingo, Greater Sandplover, Grey Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Blue Rock Thrush, Peregrine Falcon, several Western Marsh Harrier, Great Crested Grebe, Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt.

Photos of one of the Grey Plover and Greater Sandplover that were at Agia Trias, Paralimni

Greater Sandplover, Agia Trias 18th January 2019 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Agia Trias 18th January 2019 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Agia Trias 18th January 2019 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Agia Trias 18th January 2019 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Agia Trias, 18th January 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Agia Trias, 18th January 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of island today 11th December 2018

Visited Oroklini Marsh, Akhna Dam, Paralimni Lake, Cape Greco, Agia Trias, Kermia Beach, Macronissos Beach and Leivadia.
Highlights were fly in Pallas’s Gull at Oroklini (which then flew out again straight away), Great Crested Grebe at Akhna, Grey Plover at Agia Trias, Audouin’s Gull at Kermia Beach  (see photo) and Temminck’s Stint at Leivadia.

Audouin's Gull, Kermia Beach 11th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Audouin’s Gull, Kermia Beach 11th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Redshank, Oroklini Marsh 11th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Redshank, Oroklini Marsh 11th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of the island 3rd November 2018.

Some different birding today visiting Oroklini, Akhna, Paralmini area and Agia Napa coast.

Birds seen, including a lovely juvenile Great White Pelican:

Oroklini Marsh morning and late afternoon
Common Crane 1 juv still present 16:45
White Stork 1 still present 16:45
Grey Heron 1
Spur-winged Lapwing c30
Common Teal c30
Common Redshank 3
Bluethroat 1
Eurasian Skylark 7 over
Greater Flamingo 58
Black-winged Stilt 1
Black-headed Gull 30+
Cattle Egret c250 coming into roost late pm visit
Common Ringed Plover 2
Little Stint 15+
Common Starling 7

Akhna Dam
Great White Pelican 1 juv (see photos)
Cattle Egret 1
Little Egret 5
Squacco Heron 1
Moustached Warbler 1
Whiskered Tern 1
Grey Heron 6

Agios Trias
Common Sandpiper 1

Cape Greco
Black Redstart 2
Common Stonechat 12+

Kermia Beach
Audouin’s Gull 1

Macronissos Beach
Greater Sandplover 4
Kentish Plover 5

Potamos Liopetri fish farm area
Common Redshank 1
Yellow-legged Gull 11

Great White Pelican, Akhna Dam, 3rd November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Birding around the east of Cyprus 27th March 2018

A lovely day out today visiting Paralimni Lake, Cape Greco, Agia Napa Sewage Works and Ormedeia. A few record photos of a Citrine Wagtail and Spotted Crake seen at Paralimni, a Greater Short-toed Lark at Cape Greco and a Masked Shrike at Agia Napa Sewage Works.
Other interesting species seen were Bimaculated Lark, Pallid Harrier, Woodchat Shrike, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, singing Olivaceous and Willow Warbler, Audouin’s Gull, migrating Garganey and two stunning male Common Redstart.

Citrine Wagtail, Paralimni Lake 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Citrine Wagtail, Paralimni Lake, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Agia Napa Sewage Works, 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Masked Shrike, Agia Napa Sewage Works, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Crake, Paralimni Lake 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Spotted Crake, Paralimni Lake, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Short-toed Lark, Cape Greco 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Greater Short-toed Lark, Cape Greco, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of the island 27th February 2018

Went out hoping for some early migrants today. No luck with that although had some good birds including at least six singing male Cyprus Warbler at Cape Greco. Two photographed below.

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Other sightings of note included:

Agia Trias
Greater Sandplover 3
Grey Plover 10
Kentish Plover 2

Konnos Bay
Eurasian Shag 1

Cape Greco
Cyprus Warbler 6 singing males

Macronissos Beach
Common Sandpiper 1

Potamos Liopetriou
Great Cormorant c70 migrating NE 13:40

Ormideia Fishing Harbour
Audouin’s Gull 1
Common Buzzard 1
Eurasian Shag 2

Oroklini Beach
Great Cormorant 90+ migrating W 15:15
Sandwich Tern 1
Armenian Gull 2 imm

JUMBO Drainage Channel
Spur-winged Lapwing 8
Common Sandpiper 1

Oroklini Marsh
Greater Flamingo 50+
Northern Pintail 1m and 1f
Gadwall 1m and 1f
Black-necked Grebe 1
Ferruginous Duck 7
Red-Crested Pochard 1m and 1f
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Ruff 4
Black-winged Stilt 8
Spur-winged Lapwing 5
Common Redshank 2
Little Egret 2
Cattle Egret c250
Western Marsh Harrier 1


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East of island 28th November 2017

 

Greater Sandplover, Agios Trias, 28th November 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Agios Trias, 28th November 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Visited several sites this morning before the heavens opened and the rain ruined any chance of birding in the afternoon.

Akhna Dam
Hen Harrier 1 ring -tail
Black-necked Grebe 2
Woodlark 11

Agios Trias
Greater Sandplover 4 (see photograph)
Eurasian Shag 1

Avgorou
Common Starling 2

Cape Greco
Hen Harrier 1 ring-tail
House Sparrow 500+
Spanish Sparrow 20+
Common Buzzard 2
Northern Wheatear 1m
Blue Rock Thrush 1m

Kermia Beach
House Sparrow 300+
Spanish Sparrow 50+

Macronissos Beach
Eurasian Collared Dove 80+
Laughing Dove 4
Common Kingfisher 1
Audouin’s Gull 1

Potamos Liopetriou
Common Shelduck 1 flying W


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Larnaca this morning 13th November 2017

A windy morning by the coast south of the airport at Larnaca. Wintering ducks and gulls were around.

Larnaca Airport Coast
Audouin’s Gull 1 ad flying W

Spiros Pool
Eurasian Golden Plover c30
Audouin’s Gull 1 imm
Caspian Gull 4 ad
Armenian Gull 3 ad + 4+ imm
Plus some other immature gulls!

Larnaca Sewage Works
Usual ducks etc plus
Common Pochard 1m and 4f types
Eurasian Wigeon 3
Ferruginous Duck 14
Northern Pintail c20
Black-necked Grebe 3
Greater White-fronted Goose 4
Dunlin 3
LIttle Stint 3
Common Redshank 1
Greater Flamingo 6
Black-headed Gull c60
Red-throated Pipit 1
Eurasian Skylark 2

Meneou Pool
Greater Flamingo 4 ad

Pervolia fields
Chukar 4
Northern Lapwing 2

Greater Flamingo, Meneou 13th November 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Flamingo, Meneou 13th November 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Polis Chrysochou Bay 1st September 2017

After visiting Akrotiri I spent the afternoon sea watching in Polis Chrysochou Bay. The photo is of two Whimbrel seen migrating W offshore. Other sightings included:

Polis Chrysochou Bay 12:00 – 19-:00
Common Ringed Plover 4 heading W along coast
Garganey three groups c300 in total
Purple Heron in off sea in two groups of 74 in total then seen heading inland 19:00
Audouin’s Gull 1 heading W
Glossy Ibis 52 in off from N and then inland
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Honey Buzzard 2 in off sea 14:40 and then lost to view
Whimbrel 2 heading W with another wader probably Ruff
Baltic Gull 1 heading W
Masked Shrike 1m

Whimbrel, Polis Chrysochou Bay, 1st September 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whimbrel, Polis Chrysochou Bay, 1st September 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours