Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus


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Akrotiri 30th September 2020

A very windy day at Akrotiri with limited raptor movement and those that were migrating keeping low over the Salt Lake. At least twenty Red-footed Falcons were roosting at Lady’s Mile with half of them hunkered down on the salt flats and rest on wires (see photo). Two Booted Eagles were seen – the long staying light morph is still around Phasouri (see photo). A small number of European Honey Buzzard braved the elements as did a couple of Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, some Western Marsh Harrier and a juvenile Pallid Harrier. There is still a Whimbrel on Lady’s Mile (photo) and plenty of herons and egrets on Akrotiri Marsh together with the juvenile Black Stork, three Black-tailed Godwit, several Common Snipe, Common Teal, a single White Wagtail, three White-winged Tern and the usual migrating European Bee-eater, Barn Swallow and Sand Martin.

Red-footed Falcon, female, Lady’s Mile 30th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Whimbrel, Lady’s Mile, 30th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Booted Eagle, Phasouri, 30th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca late afternoon 19th April 2019

Out for an hour before sunset in the Meneou/Spiros Pool area. A few birds seem to have been put down by the heavy storms in the area during the afternoon. Interesting species seen were:

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Little Tern 2
Squacco Heron 1 (see photo)

Spiros Pool
Little Bittern 1m
Northern Pintail 1m
Eurasian Wryneck 1
Little Tern 4
Common Redstart 1f
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Common Whitethroat 2

Spiros Beach
Dunlin 1
Little Stint c40 (See photo)
Eurasian Stone Curlew 2 (See photo)
Kentish Plover c30
Common Ringed Plover 3
Northern Wheatear 1m and 1f

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Larnaca 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Larnaca 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Stint, Larnaca 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Stint, Larnaca 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Larnaca, 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Larnaca, 19th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca waterbird count 18th April 2019

Out around Larnaca counting the waterbirds today. The depth of the water on the Sewage Pools means they hold very few birds but the surrounding Salt Lake area still had Greater Flamingo as well as Black-winged Stilt (see photo), Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Stint, Common and Little Ringed Plover, Garganey and single Mediterranean Gull.  Whiskered Tern and Grey Plover.

Black-winged Stilt, Spiros Pool, 18th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-winged Stilt, Spiros Pool, 18th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Spiros Pool, 18th April 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Spiros Pool, 18th April 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


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Akrotiri, 7th May 2018

Still some migrating waders around today with two Ruddy Turnstone and six Broad-billed Sandpipers the highlights. Plenty of Ruff, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plover and Black-winged Stilt. Also two Black-tailed Godwit and Marsh Sandpiper and a few Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Common Greenshank. Still a large flock of Little Tern on Lady’s Mile so hopefully they will stay to breed. I also found two Woodchat Shrike and four Red-backed Shrike with a Black-eared Wheatear, a Whinchat, a female Common Redstart and several Spotted Flycatcher.

Little Ringed Plover, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Ringed Plover, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ringed Plover, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ringed Plover, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruddy Turnstone, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruddy Turnstone, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Female Red-backed Shrike, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Female Red-backed Shrike, Akrotiri 7th May 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Akrotiri 28th April 2018

A very enjoyable day birding around Akrotiri even if I got a later start than intended. Highlight was definitely finding a female Semi-collared Flycatcher as I was checking the ID’s of several females near Bishop’s Pool – also a female Collared Flycatcher which was actually my first Collared for the year. In that area there were also Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Blackcap and several beautiful male European Golden Oriole. Plenty of Woodchat Shrike around with a few Red-backed as well. A large group of more than twenty Little Tern were on Lady’s Mile in the morning as were nine Collared Pratincole and many Marsh Sandpiper and Common Greenshank (see photos).

Late in the afternoon I visited the eastern shore of the Salt Lake and the Zakaki run off. There I saw more than ten Temminck’s Stint, ten Black-tailed Godwit, a few Curlew Sandpiper, fishing Little Tern, feeding White-winged and Whiskered Tern and best of all – a resting flock of around 300 Collared Pratincoles (see photo). Lovely!

Collared Pratincole, Akrotiri Salt Lake 28th April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Collared Pratincole, Akrotiri Salt Lake 28th April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Greenshank, Lady's Mile 28th April 2018  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Greenshank, Lady’s Mile 28th April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Marsh Sandpiper, Lady's Mile 28th April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Marsh Sandpiper, Lady’s Mile 28th April 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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Waterbird Count Larnaca area this morning 15th September 2017

No rarities in with the usual autumn migrating waders at the Sewage Pools this morning after a Terek Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover had been reported there in the last few weeks. Plenty of Greater Flamingo feeding in the water there and numbers of Northern Shoveler and Common Teal already building up. Two Black-necked Grebe were in with the Little Grebe and two Sanderling were on the nearby beach.

Two Black Kite flew in and rested on the mud for a while and two juvenile Montagu’s Harrier were quartering nearby fields as they headed S to Cape Kiti.

Some of the more interesting species:

Meneou Pool
European Bee-eater 50+

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Eurasian Thick-knee 20
Montagu’s Harrier 1 juv

Larnaca Sewage Works
Black Kite 2 flew in and rested on mud
Greater Flamingo 549
Common Ringed Plover 28
Black-winged Stilt 5
Little Stint 61
Kentish Plover 95
Cattle Egret 2
Grey Heron 2
Little Ringed Plover 3
Marsh Sandpiper 6
Dunlin 22
Curlew Sandpiper 1 juv
Common Greenshank 2
Ferruginous Duck 10
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Eurasian Curlew 1
Northern Shoveler 352
Common Teal 119
Wood Sandpiper 3
Ruff 43
Common Redshank 4
Eurasian Thick-knee 1 flew over
Black-necked Grebe 2
Northern Pintail 2
Spur-winged Lapwing 3
Montagu’s Harrier 1 juv

Spiros Pool
Northern Wheatear 2
Red-backed Shrike 1 juv

Larnaca Airport Coast
Yellow-legged Gull 21
Spotted Flycatcher 1

Spiros Beach
Sanderling 2 (see photo)

Larnaca Salt Lake
Red-backed Shrike 3 juv
Masked Shrike 1 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 1
European Roller 1

Kamares area of Salt Lake
Laughing Dove 4
Little Egret 7
Squacco Heron 2 (see photo)
Common Redshank 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 2Sanderling, Larnaca 15th September 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Larnaca 15th September 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Larnaca 15th September 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Akhna Dam and Agia Napa area this morning, 27th October 2016

Some interesting birds at Akhna Dam this morning where there is still a good level of water. The star was a juvenile Little Bittern but also there were a Grey Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, four Dunlin, a juvenile Ruff, a Common Snipe, Common Redshank and Little Stint. Also a Little Egret, Grey Heron, six Eurasian Teal and three Northern Pintail. A Bluethroat, two Yellow Wagtail, nine Water Pipit and several Corn Bunting and White Wagtail were around the edges. A couple of Barn Swallow and a Sand Martin flew over.

At Macronissos Beach there were six Greater Sand Plover and around forty Kentish Plover. They were spooked by a Eurasian Sparrowhawk that flew along the coast and were very uneasy for a while afterwards.

Little Bittern, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Bittern, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bluethroat, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bluethroat, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

grey-heron-akhna-dam-27th-october-2016-1-of-1

Grey Heron, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover, Akhna Dam 27th October 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area, morning 1st September 2016

Interesting birds seen this morning around Larnaca area:

Meneou Pool

Lesser Grey Shrike 7
European Roller 1
Red-backed Shrike 3 juv
Eurasian Hoopoe 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Larnaca Sewage Works (West pool is virtually empty)
Greater Flamingo 27
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 15
Black-winged Stilt 7
White-winged Tern 3
Ruff 7
Collared Pratincole 2
Little Stint c50
Kentish Plover c40
Common Ringed Plover 8
Little Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 2
Curlew Sandpiper 5
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone 1
Slender-billed Gull 1
Spiros Pool
Western Marsh Harrier 1f
Spiros Beach
Ruddy Turnstone 5
Common Ringed Plover 2
Kentish Plover 13
Larnaca Airport Coast 
Great Egret 1 flying E
Common Sandpiper 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Common Kingfisher 1
Pervolia
Lesser Grey Shrike 3
Red-backed Shrike 2
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Sand Martin 2
Tekke Mosque area
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Red-backed Shrike 1 f
European Roller 1

Willow Warbler 1

Red-backed Shrike, Larnaca 1st September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-backed Shrike, Larnaca 1st September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruddy Turnstone, Spiros Beach 1st September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruddy Turnstone, Spiros Beach 1st September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca Sewage Works this morning 7th August 2016

Still some interesting waders on Larnaca Sewage Works pools with an adult and a juvenile Pied Avocet among them today.

Larnaca Sewage Works 7th August 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Larnaca Sewage Works 7th August 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

The juvenile can just be made out in this photo taken from a distance. Also present:

Black-tailed Godwit 1
Spotted Redshank 2
Temminck’s Stint 2+
Little Stint 40+
Little Ringed Plover 1
Dunlin 3
Curlew Sandpiper 6
Wood Sandpiper 2
Green Sandpiper 1
Ruddy Shelduck 1
Garganey 9
White-winged Tern 3
Ruff 6
Common Redshank 1
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Ferruginous Duck 3
Yellow-legged Gull 31

Sprios Pool
Yellow-legged Gull 92 (all juvs)


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Migrating waders at Larnaca this morning 30th July 2016

As well as this Sanderling on Spiros Beach, there were at least five Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit and three Marsh Sandpiper at Larnaca Sewage Works. Several Little Stint and a couple of Common Sandpiper were also present. Seven Greater Flamingo were feeding there and in among the Mallard were a couple of Garganey, a single Northern Shoveler, a Ruddy Shelduck and some Ferruginous Duck. Many Spur-winged Lapwing were around the edge of the pools and in the nearby fields and a couple of Black-winged Stilt were still present. No sign of the Eurasian Curlew I had seen there the day before.