A great day out with John and Madeleine for general bird watching around Paphos. We chose a different selection of sites than those visited together in May 2014. Migration is definitely slowing down but we still found some migrating waders and herons as well as many colourful migrant breeders setting up territories.
Highlights per location:
Agia Varvara: Squacco and Purple Heron, Spotted Redshank, European Roller, Red-backed Shrike
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.
The weather was completely different today from recent visits to Akrotiri. The sea was calm with only the slightest breeze. Gloria, Stephen and I started at Kensington Cliffs where we watched several Eleonora’s Falcon flying out at sea and roosting on the Cliffs. Two Griffon Vulture briefly rose above the cliffs before flying round the promontory to Tunnel Beach. Several male Sardinian Warbler were singing; we heard some Chukar and watched two European Shag and Yellow-legged Gull down on the sea. We moved on to Phassouri where we found a couple of European Serin in the eucalyptus plantation and tried to locate a singing Eastern Olivaceous Warbler – a feat that was to be repeated several times during the day until we finally saw one – albeit briefly at our last location.
Squacco Heron, Cattle and Little Egret, Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis were all at the Reed Beds where we also found Common Snipe, a single Ruff and several Wood Sandpiper. We stopped to watch a Woodchat Shrike, both a female and a male Red-backed Shrike. Both Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler were calling/singing in the reeds. The water on the area near the old rabbit farm has nearly all gone but we found a couple of Wood Sandpiper, a single Dunlin, three Little Stint, three Kentish Plover, a Common Redshank and a Spur-winged Lapwing. I had received info that a Rose-coloured Starling had been seen in Akrotiri Village early in the morning so we decided to head there and see if we could relocate it. We had no luck with that but were very pleased to see two male Golden Oriole in the trees there.
Heading back to the Akrotiri Gravel Pits we found more shrikes – four Woodchat and a male Red-backed, a male and a female Common Redstart, a couple of Winchat, a rather pale Northern Wheatear and a Common Cuckoo. We ate our lunch near the Reed Beds but the only birds on view were a large number of Common Swift. Driving to Lady’s Mile along the south edge of the Salt Lake we saw several Greater Flamingos in the distance – a pink blob in the heat haze. Our persistence in checking out all the doves we saw also paid off when we finally found a Eurasian Turtle Dove. The sun was against us at Lady’s Mile but there was an interesting selection of waders including Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. We also found a Black-tailed Godwit and then a breeding plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit (unusual for Cyprus).
At Zakaki Marsh we found a Common Sandpiper and, especially interesting, two Temminck’s Stint. A couple of Glossy Ibis, two female Yellow Wagtail, several Wood Sandpiper, two Spur-winged Lapwing, some Mallard and two Northern Shoveler could be seen from the hide. Finally a single Ferruginous Duck came into view allowing better views that the three in flight that we had seen at Phassouri earlier.
To finish the day we headed inland to Prastio Kellakiou where we saw some completely different birds. Five Red-rumped Swallow were the first to greet us as we got out of the car. We could hear two singing Black-headed Bunting – one each side of the track and we spent some time watching them. Two Cretzschmar’s Bunting flew down to drink from a small puddle as did a male Serin, a male Spanish Sparrow and several Goldfinch. We could hear Eurasian Turtle Dove purring. There were at least two pairs of Masked Shrike and finally we located a couple of singing male Cyprus Warbler. Stephen had a fly-by Eurasian Hoopoe but we couldn’t find it again, although we finally had a brief look at an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler as we left the area.
Stephen and Gloria had asked to see a wide variety of birds and we certainly had that on an enjoyable day out.
Total number of species seen: 75
European Shag, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, ‘ring-tailed’ Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, 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
Prastio Kellakiou 28th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Was at Agia Napa Sewage Works early this morning and found a couple of male Black-headed Bunting and a female. Not much else around as the heat of summer starts to take hold. Heard several Spectacled Warbler and there were nearly twenty Little Grebe on the sewage pools. Leaving the area an Eleonora’s Falcon flew over the road being mobbed by a Common Kestrel.
Knowing that there was still water in Akhna Dam and there had been some good sightings there recently I decided to pay it a visit. The first bird I saw there was a Eurasian Spoonbill which made the detour worthwhile. There were four Squacco Heron, twelve Black-winged Stilt, a Common Sandpiper, a Common Greenshank, a Little Egret and two Grey Herons as well as nearly twenty Spur-winged Lapwing. There were several juvenile Spur-winged Lapwing. Cattle Egret flew in while I was there and the seven adults had five young birds with them. Eurasian Reed Warbler were heard in the reeds and a European Roller flew over the area, rolling while trying to catch an insect which was not giving in easily. After the dry winter and spring it was good to visit an area with water in it for a change, even if there was no sign of the Black Tern that had been there last month.
Eurasian Spoonbill Akhna Dam 24th June 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Black-winged Stilt, Akhna Dam 24th June 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Cattle Egret, Akhna Dam 24th June (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Common Greenshank Akhna Dam 24th June 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Last autumn I had taken Terry and Sarah out for a morning in the Paphos area. This time they chose a day around Limassol with target species Cyprus Warbler and Greater Flamingo. We were lucky with the first target at Kourio Stadium. At least two and maybe three male Cyprus Warbler were singing there and we were able to see two of them really well. We also caught up with a family party at our last stop at Prastio Kellakiou.
At first it appeared that all the Greater Flamingo had left Akrotiri Salt Lake and the high numbers of over summering birds of the last two years had misled me into thinking we could find the same this summer. We scanned the edges of the lake in the haze and could see some movement in the area behind the Zakaki Marsh although it wasn’t clear which species were involved. So we headed as close to the area as we could by car and then walked. There were a few Greater Flamingo on the shore opposite us but in the haze were only just visible as Flamingos. On cue however four – an adult and three immature birds – appeared from behind the reeds and paraded in front of us much to Sarah and Terry’s delight and my relief!
Other highlights of the day included hunting Eleonora’s Falcon over Phassouri Reed Beds; a male Spectacled Warbler and a young Kentish Plover together with a female sitting on a nest at Akrotiri Gravel Pits; good views of Black-winged Stilt, Ferruginous Duck, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Black-headed Wagtail, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spur-winged Lapwing and an unseasonal White Wagtail at Zakaki Marsh; and Black-headed and Cretzschmar’s Bunting, the Cyprus Warbler family, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, European Serin and Masked Shrike at Prastio Kellakiou.
Species seen – 55
Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin (h), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Gull, Little Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove (h), Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin, Common House Martin, Black-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, 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.
This day out had been scheduled for May 6th but after two hours in the pouring rain and driving through low cloud we had abandoned it and rearranged our trip for the following week. A much brighter and warmer day yesterday, although we had probably missed out on several migrants that could still have been around last week.
Carl, Riss and I headed to the track heading towards Tsada Golf course and driving towards the village we stopped as soon as we saw a Great Spotted Cuckoo being chased over the ridge by a couple of Magpies. The cuckoo disappeared from view but we stopped there to watch singing Corn Bunting, Spectacled Warbler and Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Both the Buntings were seen with caterpillars and insects in their bills and were obviously breeding in the area. In the distance we could see a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle but unfortunately it flew out of sight without coming closer to us.
We did however get another chance to see Great Spotted Cuckoo as we crossed the countryside to get to Kathikas and Arodes. A pair was being chased by yet more harassed Magpie as we approached Kathikas. Behind the village of Arodes we found a couple of European Roller, more Corn Bunting, a Woodchat Shrike and two singing male Black-headed Bunting. They were unfortunately too far away for Carl to take a photo of but luckily we found another two by the roadside later which he was able to get closer too.
We then spent a couple of hours around Smygies. Migrating Bee-eaters treated us to several displays of aerobatics and we spotted a single female Red-footed Falcon passing high over the area. Cretzschmar’s Bunting were singing and we managed to spot a couple of males but the singing Serin were harder to pick out high in the trees. Singing Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were also spotted flitting amongst the trees but we couldn’t see the calling Turtle Dove, Golden Oriole and Scops Owl that were heard calling briefly. Cyprus Wheatear and Masked Shrike were easier to see.
We were pleased to see a Long-legged Buzzard as we drove through the village of Psathi on the way to Kannaviou Dam. There Carl was pleased to finally see a Eurasian Turtle Dove – one of several lifers for him during the day. We found two more Black-headed Bunting and found the Coal Tit – one of Cyprus’ endemic sub-species in the forest there. As usual at this time of year there were several Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Cyprus Wheatear present. The Dam itself had many House Martin, Barn Swallow and Common Swift feeding around the wall.
We will never know what other species we may have seen if we had visited ten days earlier as originally planned but we had an enjoyable time watching those around yesterday.
Total species seen – 40
Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Black Francolin, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole h, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting with food for young Tsada track May 16th 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
A delayed start to our day due to a nasty accident on the road to Polis, meant that Janice and I headed quickly to the area behind Neo Chorio village and the Smygies picnic site. The first of several small flocks of European Bee-eater that we would find throughout the day passed over our heads continuing their journey northwards. The only other passage migrant we found there was a Spotted Flycatcher. We did however get great views of several migrant breeders – plenty of Cyprus Wheatear, a male Masked Shrike and at least four Cretzschmar’s Bunting. The Cretzschmar’s could be heard singing throughout the area and one very kindly flew and perched on a bush next to us.
We drove to the deserted village of Androlikou finding several European Roller as we passed the gorge. There were yet more Cyprus Wheatear and migrating Bee-eater as well as a Woodchat Shrike. We spent a while watching a calling Eurasian Hoopoe outside the village. It was oblivious to us as we amazed at its ability to call and hold a caterpillar in its bill at the same time. Behind Arodes village we found more Rollers, several family parties of Sardinian Warbler and a couple of Spanish Sparrow. There was also both a male and female Red-backed Shrike but the stars of the area were two singing Black-headed Bunting.
Another Black-headed Bunting was on the wires outside the village of Kathikas as we passed through it to Kannaviou Dam. The only waterbird on the dam was a single Little Grebe but that wasn’t the reason for our visit there. The area is great for migrant breeders and we were not disappointed finding Eurasian Turtle Dove, more migrating Bee-eaters, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, many Cyprus Wheatear, several singing Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting and another Black-headed Bunting. We also found a Coal Tit – one of the Cyprus endemic sub-species.
As we drove back to Latchi to return Janice to her hotel, we stopped for a quick view over Evretou Dam. A lone Yellow-legged Gull flew around the shallow end and one of the long staying Northern Pintail was still there. No other birds to add to our day list which includes great views of most of Cyprus’ migrant breeders.
Total species seen – 39
Little Grebe, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Kestrel, Black Francolin, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting
Decided to visit Perivolia fields this evening to see what was around. No rarities as with the Steppe Grey Shrike earlier this year although there was a male Red-backed Shrike perched on the same bush I had seen it on. In the fields towards the village the sound of singing Calandra Lark was dominant. I saw at least eight either in display flight or chasing over the potato plants but there must have been more in among the crops. I was surprised to also hear a Black-headed Bunting and found a male singing from the top of an artichoke seed head. Not a usual site for them so am guessing it could be passing through.
There were many Barn Swallow as well as at least 12 Black-headed Wagtail and three Whinchat. As I returned to the car twenty European Bee-eater passed overhead.
Spent nearly five hours taking part in the BirdLife Cyprus Forest survey this morning along the road from Gerakies to Selladi tou Marouliou via Tsakistra and Kampos. Lovely scenery and weather and some good forest birds including Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Cyprus Wheatear, Masked Shrike, Common Nightingale, Eurasian Scops Owl, Red-rumped Swallow, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Winter Wren, European Jay, Woodlark, Coal Tit, Serin and lots of European Chaffinch. A surprise find was a male Black-headed Bunting at the site of my first point count.
View outside Kampos 4th May 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
A visit to some different sites today with Steve and Julie concentrated on finding his two target species – Eleonora’s Falcon and Black-headed Bunting – but also produced some other interesting sightings.
We started our search for the Eleonora’s Falcon at Petra tou Romiou where we found several Alpine Swift, singing Cyprus Wheatear and Warbler and heard Chukar. Unusually we also heard a calling Scops Owl. More Alpine Swift were at Pissouri where we had great views of a male Cyprus Warbler, heard but couldn’t see a Black Francolin and Steve spotted a Hoopoe flying over the area. Our first Eleonora’s Falcon was seen by the roadside on the way between Pissouri and Avdimou. We had stopped to watch four European Rollers that were on roadside wires and an Eleonora’s Falcon flew nearby.
At Avdimou Bay we found several Cyprus Wheatear and a fly-by migrating Lesser Black-backed Gull of the fuscus race (Baltic Gull) was a good surprise. Arriving at Kensington Cliffs we were quickly treated to the aerial show of at least six Eleonora’s Falcon. We spent at least half an hour enjoying them and also saw one of the local Peregrine Falcon, a migrating juvenile Western Marsh Harrier and up to ten Alpine Swift.
One of our targets enjoyed, we then headed inland to see if Black-headed Buntings had arrived on their territories in the Omodos area. On the way we saw another Roller and pairs of Great Spotted Cuckoo and Turtle Dove. We sat and enjoyed the scenery in a valley outside the village. We could neither hear nor see any Black-headed Bunting but were treated to a pair of Long-legged Buzzard flying over the area – one of which had a rat in its talons and we assumed they were off to feed it to their young somewhere nearby. We also saw a Peregrine Falcon and a couple of Red-rumped Swallow and European Serin. Both Sardinian and Cyprus Warbler were heard and seen and Cyprus Wheatear were on territories. Several Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing in the thick vegetation but we couldn’t succeed in our attempts to actually see one. As we left I finally heard a singing male Black-headed Bunting and we managed just brief views of it as it flew away and out of sight over a ridge.
We headed back towards Limassol and then back inland to the east of that town to Prastio Kellakiou where I hoped we may find Black-headed Bunting. We were in luck and heard at least one as soon as we arrived. In the end there were three singing males and we managed much better views of them than at Omodos. We also found at least six Cretzschmar’s Bunting, several of which were singing, and two pairs of Masked Shrike. The area was full of Spanish Sparrow and a group of at least twenty European Bee-eater flew over.
An enjoyable day with some great bird watching moments – quality rather than quantity summing up the day.
Forty six species seen
Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Baltic Gull), Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl (heard), 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, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Tit, 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
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