Bluethroat | Cyprus Birding Tours

November 14, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Morning’s Guiding Akrotiri and Germasogeia Dam 14th November 2016

A morning out with Rob and Payel started at the hide overlooking Zakaki Marsh. We had excellent views of Bluethroat and Moustached Warbler which kept us entertained for a long time. Only I caught a brief glimpse of a Spotted Crake but we all saw two Water Rail run in front of the hide. We also saw Water and Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting, Western Black Redstart, Common Starling, Northern Pintail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot and Eurasian Teal. The short drive from there to Lady’s Mile gave us the chance to look closely at a Zitting Cisticola and of course several Common Stonechat. Common Linnet, White Wagtail and a Common Kingfisher were also in the area.

Five Kentish Plover flew over us and a lone Dunlin fed on the marshy area of Lady’s Mile. We spent some time looking at the gulls on the water and picked out an adult Caspian and an adult Armenian Gull in with the many Common Black-headed Gull. We headed into the area behind Lady’s Mile hoping to find the ‘Steppe’ Grey Shrike that had been there recently. We quickly found a shrike – but not the right one! A late migrating juvenile Red-backed Shrike was sitting on the bushes recently occupied by the Cyprus rarity which was nowhere to be seen.

Nothing of interest was to be seen at Phasouri Reed-beds so we headed inland to Germasogeia Dam. Our main target there was the endemic Cyprus Warbler. We soon heard Chukar on the hillsides and in the trees and bushes found European Serin, Eurasian Blackcap, Corn Bunting and Spanish Sparrow. We heard European Robin and saw several Zitting Cisticola but although we could hear the scolding of a Cyprus Warbler we had to wait a while for one to appear. Finally, we saw one and it sang briefly in front of us. Another was also in the area but not seen well. There was only a little water in the dam and the only wetland species we saw were Great Cormorant.

A good morning out with the highlight the showing Bluethroat at the hide.

Total species seen: 45

Great Cormorant, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Kentish Plover, Dunlin, Common Black-headed Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Bluethroat, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Bluethroat, Zakaki Marsh, 14th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 11, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Three days Guiding Paphos and Akrotiri 1st, 7th and 11th November 2016

Three days out with Peter who I had previously taken out this time last year. Although once again he was too late for Cyprus Wheatear we had some great birds and a good time with one of the highlights being a Peregrine Falcon roosting on Akrotiri Salt Lake for the second year running, photo friendly Eurasian Penduline Tits and Jack Snipe, an unexpected Cyprus Warbler at Phinikas, five Finsch’s Wheatear including a female for a change and good views of Eurasian Stone Curlew, Hen Harrier and Eurasian Griffon Vulture to name just three – oh and hundreds of Common Stonechat!

Highlights per location visited:

Tuesday 1^st November- Morning around Paphos

Paphos Sewage Works – Cattle Egret 2, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 8, Red-throated Pipit 4+, Yellow Wagtail 1 juv, Common Starling 1

Mandria – Eurasian Skylark, Red-throated Pipit c14, Water Pipit 2

Agia Varvara – Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Chukar 6, Northern Wheatear 1m, Chiffchaff 3, Willow Warbler 2, Red-backed Shrike 1 juv, Spanish Sparrow 4, European Serin c10, Corn Bunting 1

Monday 7^th November – Day around Akrotiri Peninsula

Phasouri Reed-beds – Western Marsh Harrier 2, Eurasian Skylark h, Eurasian Penduline Tit 2, European Robin 6+

Akrotiri Gravel Pits – Western Marsh Harrier 1, Woodlark 2

Lady’s Mile – Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Ringed Plover 2, Kentish Plover 100+, Little Stint c20, Dunlin c30, Armenian Gull 2 ad and 2 juv, Slender-billed Gull 4, Corn Bunting 4

Akrotiri Salt Lake – Grey Heron c60, Greater Flamingo c90, Peregrine Falcon 1 juv, Common Snipe 1, Water Pipit 2

Zakaki Marsh – Little Egret 2, Great Egret 1, Eurasian Teal 3, Water Rail 2+, Jack Snipe 1, Bluethroat 1, Song Thrush 1, Moustached Warbler 1, Common Starling 14, Common Reed Bunting 1

Kensington Cliffs – Eurasian Griffon Vulture 3

Friday 11^th November – Day around Paphos

Mandria – European Shag 1, Hen Harrier 1 ringtail, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Eurasian Stone Curlew 25, European Golden Plover 1 flew over, Eurasian Skylark 40+, Meadow Pipit c60, Red-throated Pipit 20+, Western Black Redstart 1

Nata Ford – Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Bonelli’s Eagle 1 ad, Chukar 8, Song Thrush 4+, Eurasian Blackbird 1m, European Serin 6+, Corn Bunting 1

Phinikas (Asprokremmos Dam) – Great Cormorant 3, Eurasian Teal c90, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Whiskered Tern 1, Little Owl 1, Common Kingfisher 1, Meadow Pipit 50+, Water Pipit 1, Western Black Redstart 4, Finsch’s Wheatear 3m, Blue Rock Thrush 1m, Cyprus Warbler 1m, European Serin 4, Common Linnet 3

Anarita Park – Long-legged Buzzard 1, Little Owl 1, Finsch’s Wheatear 1m and 1f, Spanish Sparrow 50+, Corn Bunting 3

Full species list – 80 species

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Armenian Gull, Whiskered Tern, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Bluethroat, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.

Jack Snipe, Zakaki Marsh, 7th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Blue Rock Thrush, Phinikas, 11th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whiskered Tern, Phinikas, 11th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Penduline Tit, Phasouri Reed Beds 7th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

October 27, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

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

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

February 5, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Troodos, Zakaki area and Germasogeia Dam, 5th February 2016

Underestimated how much snow was still around at Troodos and most of my usual sites were difficult to explore. There were large flocks of Common Chaffinches around and the Coal Tits were very vocal and chasing through the trees. Unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to check the finch flocks for anything more interesting.

Down at Zakaki I found: Common Buzzard 1, Common Reed Bunting 4, Water Rail 1h, Bluethroat 1, Eurasian Penduline Tit 2+h, Western Marsh Harrier 2, Hen Harrier 1 ring tail, Spur-winged Lapwing 2, Green Sandpiper 1

Finishing the day at Germasogeia Dam there were at least 12 Eurasian Crag Martin, five Common House Martin and five Barn Swallow plus an adult Bonelli’s Eagle flying over the area, two Bluethroat, two Water Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, two European Serin and flocks of Corn Bunting, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Spanish Sparrow, and Meadow Pipit.

Bluethroat Germasogeia Dam 5th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Buzzard Lady’s Mile 5th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Hooded Crow Lady’s Mile 5th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 30, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Birding around today, 30th January 2016

As I had to be in Paphos by 6pm I decided to do some birding on the way visiting Germasogeia Dam, Kouklia Soakaways, Asprokremmos Dam and Kefalos Beach (Paphos Headland). Highlights were:

Germasogeia Dam
Bluethroat 1
Moustached Warbler 2
Common Snipe 1
Water Pipit 1+
Woodlark 7
Cyprus Warbler 1

Kouklia Soakaways
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Common Buzzard 1

Asprokremmos Dam area
Cyprus Warbler 2m (1 singing)
Spectacled Warbler 2+

Kefalos Beach
Whimbrel 1
Slender-billed Gull 1 imm (photographed)
European Shag 2 offshore
Common Kingfisher 1
Red-throated Pipit 1h

Slender-billed Gull Kefalos Beach 30th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 21, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia and Panagia Stazousa, Larnaca this morning 21st January 2016

A brief but interesting birding drive around both these two locations this morning. At Agios Sozomenos I found eight Northern Lapwings in one field, although they were then spooked by a beautiful male Hen Harrier quartering the area. A Bluethroat was singing again in the deserted village and today the Finsch’s Wheatear total was two males and a dark-throated female. Just one Long-legged Buzzard flew over. Corn Buntings, Spectacled Warblers and Zitting Cisticola were all singing. A Little Owl was calling but I didn’t see one on this visit.

In the Panagia Stazousa valley there were at least four singing Cyprus Warbler and several others were heard moving in the bushes. Small flocks of European Serin and Corn Bunting were around. I saw three Long-legged Buzzard here. One high over the village of Pyrga and a pair near the southern end of the valley.

Bluethroat, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Finsch’s Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 15, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Agios Sozomenos this morning 15th January 2016

Too nice a day to sit at laptop so went out for a few hours around Agios Sozomenos. Best birds were a pair of Long-legged Buzzard flying together and being mobbed by the many Western Jackdaw of the area. One of the Long-legged had nesting material in its talons. A Bluethroat was a surprise spot, sitting on a bush singing briefly. Found a female and two male Finsch’s Wheatear. The female was at least a kilometre away from where I had seen one at the end of last year so there must be two of them in the area this winter. Spectacled Warbler and Corn Bunting were singing and I also found a female Cyprus Warbler and heard a Little Owl calling.

Finsch’s Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 15th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 9, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Germasogeia Dam, 9th January 2016

Jack Snipe, Germasogeia Dam 9th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Was pleased to find that a couple of Jack Snipe were still at Germasogeia Dam today together with at least one Common Snipe, a Bluethroat, several Water Pipit and two Grey Wagtail. There were also flocks of European Goldfinch, European Serin, and Spanish Sparrow as well as several European Robin, lots of Common Stonechat and a European Blackbird. On the water there were some Great Cormorant, Eurasian Teal, Little Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen and a Grey Heron.

White Wagtail Germasogeia Dam January 9th 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Jack Snipe Germasogeia Dam 9th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 18, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 18th November 2015

The second day out with Mark and Sally saw us find several of Mark’s target species, enjoy two rare visitors to Cyprus at close quarters and was a fitting end to a great year of guided tours for me. We visited Lower Ezousas Pools (morning and late afternoon), Paphos Sewage Works, Asprokremmos Dam and Mandria and brought the total of species seen on the two days out to sixty four.

Highlights today included:

Lower Ezousas Pools: Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Water Rail 3+, Common Kingfisher, Woodlark 10, Grey Wagtail 1, Bluethroat 1, Moustached Warbler 4+, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler 2, Bearded Reedling 2, Spotted Crake (seen by me).

Paphos Sewage Works – Spur-winged Lapwing 14, Northern Lapwing 18

Asprokremmos Dam area – Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, Woodlark 2, Spectacled Warbler 4, Cyprus Warbler 2m and 1f, European Serin c50, Corn Bunting 7

Mandria – Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Chukar, Northern Lapwing 1, Yellow-legged Gull c70, Eurasian Skylark 150+

Total species seen today – 51

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Water Rail, Spotted Crake, Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Bluethroat, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Bearded Reedling, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

Bearded Reedling male Lower Ezousas Pool 18th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bearded Reedling female Lower Ezousas 18th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 16, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Days Guiding Paphos 16th November 2015

The third day out with Peter and Jean was spent around Paphos. We stopped at Achelia Dam on our way to Anarita Park. There we found the lone Ferruginous Duck that has been there for at least a week as well as fourteen Great Cormorant – one of which we watched struggle with a large fish it had caught. Onto Anarita Park, where it took us longer than expected to find a Finsch’s Wheatear, but with a little help from another birder we finally had some good views of a male. We also spent time watching two Little Owls and then were treated to the spectacle of two adult Bonelli’s Eagle flying to the east of the area being mobbed by a Long-legged Buzzard. Three Woodlark were also seen as well as a couple of Western Black Redstart and the ubiquitous Common Stonechat.

Some Yellow-legged Gulls, two Grey Heron and two Great Cormorant were the only water birds on Asprokremmos Dam so we headed to the mast area to the west of the water where we had brief views of a male and female Cyprus Warbler and a couple of Spectacled Warbler. A late Northern Wheatear was a surprise but the best bird of the area was a male Merlin we saw speeding over the scrub and fields putting the large flocks of European Goldfinch and Greenfinch, Spanish Sparrow, Meadow Pipit and Corn Bunting into a panic. Down by the water’s edge we also found large flocks of European Serin. A Long-legged Buzzard was also flying over the area.

We finished our day at Lower Ezousas, a site that has been very busy over the last few days since a pair of Cyprus rarities, the Bearded Reedling, had been seen on Saturday. We saw the female as soon as we arrived and the male as we left. We also had close up views of at least one Moustached Warbler, a Grey Wagtail, two Water Rail and a Bluethroat as well as several Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff. As we left the light was fading – some good birds to round off the day.

The new species that we saw today brought the total seen over the three trips to 77.

Today’s species – 52

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Chukar, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Bluethroat, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Moustached Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Bearded Reedling, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, Western Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

Water Rail Lower Ezousas 16th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Moustached Warbler Lower Ezousas 16th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 14, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Larnaca and Oroklini 14th November 2015

Did the waterbird count at Larnaca and late in the afternoon visited Oroklini. The Red-breasted Goose is still at the Sewage Works together with five Greater White-fronted Geese. A Pied Avocet was the best wader and the Red Knot is still present. A young Peregrine Falcon flew in and snatched up a Coot only to be forced to drop it by an adult Peregrine that came swooping in. Both Peregrines flew off calling and briefly grappling. The Coot was left there although it was gone when I revisited in the afternoon.

The Ruddy Shelduck is still at Oroklini and there were three Temminck’s Stint and six Common Snipe feeding as well as a Bluethroat and Water Pipit.

Full list of sightings:
Larnaca Sewage Works
Greater Flamingo 56 (only one adult)
Pied Avocet 1
Common Shelduck 1
Black-winged Stilt 8
Little Stint c50
Common Redshank 6
Dunlin 9+
Ruff 3
Common Ringed Plover 1
Baltic Gull 1 juv
Armenian Gull 11
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Greater White-fronted Goose 5
Red-breasted Goose 1
Black-necked Grebe 1
Northern Pintail 6
Red Knot 1
Peregrine Falcon 2

Larnaca Desalination Plant Fields
Eurasian Skylark 100+
Calandra Lark 5
Eurasian Golden Plover 4
Common Starling 11

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo 6
Eurasian Teal 13
Little Ringed Plover 5
Common Ringed Plover 25
Spur-winged Lapwing 2
Common Redshank 30
Dunlin c100
Kentish Plover c140
Little Stint 30+
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Water Pipit 2

Oroklini Marsh
Spur-winged Lapwing 35
Ruddy Shelduck 1
Cattle Egret 60
Common Snipe 6
Little Stint 2
Temminck’s Stint 3
Common Ringed Plover 5
Little Ringed Plover 2
Water Pipit 1
Water Rail h
Eurasian Penduline Tit h
Northern Pintail 2
Common Starling 40
Bluethroat 1
Corn Bunting 8

Oroklini Beach
Sandwich Tern 2
Common Black-headed Gull c150

Sandwich Tern Oroklini Beach 14th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

October 30, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Akrotiri Peninsula, 30th October 2015

As I hadn’t been over to Akrotiri for a while, I headed there today. Some interesting species around as winter visitors are finally arriving:

Phassouri Reed Beds
Grey Wagtail 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1

Akrotiri Gravel Pits
Common Kingfisher 1
Eurasian Skylark 9
Eurasian Golden Plover h

Akrotiri Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo c200

Bishop’s Pool
Ferruginous Duck 4
Northern Pintail 5
Eurasian Wigeon 3

Lady’s Mile
Red-backed Shrike 1 juv
Common Starling 12

Zakaki Marsh
Common Kingfisher 1
Bluethroat 1
Moustached Warbler 1
Sedge Warbler 2
Eurasian Reed Warbler 2
Penduline Tit heard but not seen

Common Kingfisher Akrotiri Gravel Pits 30th October 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Bluethroat