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
The first stop of a day out with Peter and Marny was at Petra tou Romiou where we found two Eleonora’s Falcon – one unusually perched on a tree. A male Cyprus Wheatear was singing and we watched a Great Spotted Cuckoo fly over the area. At least nine Alpine Swift were around and a lone Little Egret flew in off the sea. A couple of male Sardinian Warbler were singing, trying to attract our attention. A Peregrine Falcon speeded past the car as we left the area. The river at the Kouklia Soakaways had a good flow of water and we spent some time watching four Wood Sandpiper feeding there.
We found a male and a female Cyprus Warbler near to the mast behind Asprokremmos Dam where there were also five Tawny Pipit, two Ortolan Bunting, a Whinchat, a Little Owl and a Sardinian Warbler family party. We were having a good day for raptors and here we saw a female Western Marsh Harrier, a male Montagu’s Harrier, an unidentified ring-tail harrier and two Bonelli’s Eagle. On the water were several Yellow-legged Gull and through the ‘scope we spotted one with a darker grey mantle which we identified as the ‘heuglin’ race of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Mandria was very windy and disappointing bird-wise so we moved onto Paphos Sewage Works where we found eight Spur-winged Lapwing and three Cattle Egret in the fields. It took us some time to locate any Yellow Wagtail but we found several in a bare tree including Blue-headed flava and Black-headed feldegg, several females and a xanthophrys intergrade. Near the Ezousas river we saw a Eurasian Turtle Dove, a Squacco Heron and heard an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler singing.
At Agia Varvara we found a Woodchat Shrike, a Purple Heron and more Wood Sandpiper. Our last stop was Anarita Park where at least twelve Red-footed Falcon resting on a field was the sight that greeted us. The first of the five European Roller that we saw in the area joined them. Driving through the area we found at least twenty more Red-footed Falcon flying and feeding over the hills sides. Around ten Lesser Kestrel were also present as were several Common Kestrel. A Long-legged Buzzard flew in but two Western Jackdaw soon chased it away. Two male Montagu’s Harrier were also seen. An impressive array of raptors in a small area concluded a good day out.
Number of different birds seen – 57
Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Heuglin’s Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, xanthophrys Yellow Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting
Red-footed Falcon female Anarita Park 24th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Three days out with Alan and Marilyn gave a good opportunity to catch up with many different resident and migrant species. They wanted the chance to get as many photos as possible and although not all the birds we saw were photo-friendly we found a wide variety of species and ended up with a three day total of 107 different birds: 59 on 24th, 51 on 26th (when the afternoon was very quiet at the sites we visited) and 71 on 27th.
Mavrokolympos Dam – Long-legged Buzzard 2, Chukar 3+, Cyprus Wheatear 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Whitethroat 1
Akoursos Valley – Eurasian Scops Owl 1h, Common Nightingale 1h, Cyprus Warbler 2m
Cape Drepanum – Great Cormorant 4, European Shag 3, Yellow-legged Gull 30+, Greater Short-toed Lark 4, Barn Swallow 30+ migrating N along coast, Subalpine Warbler 1m
Friday 27th March:
Zakaki Marsh – Little Egret 1, Little Crake 1m, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2+h, Sedge Warbler 1h
Phassouri Reed Beds – Squacco Heron 2, Cattle Egret 1, Purple Heron 3, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Crane 3 flying over heading N, Black Francolin 1+h, Common Quail 1h, Black-winged Stilt 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 1, Common Nightingale 1, European Blackcap 3
Flooded Phassouri old rabbit farm area – Great Egret 1, Black-winged Stilt 1, Little Ringed Plover c10, Kentish Plover 1, Ruff c50, Common Snipe 1, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Sand Martin 1, Yellow Wagtail inc Black and Blue headed and ‘dombrowski’ intergrade, Masked Shrike 2
Akrotiri Gravel Pits and coast – Great Egret 3 in from sea over area, ‘Baltic’ Gull 1 migrating with 10 Yellow-legged Gull offshore, Common Black-headed Gull c60 in bay, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Common Redstart 1f, Desert Wheatear 1m, Cyprus Warbler 1h, Masked Shrike 1, Ortolan Bunting 1
Bishop’s Pool – Black-crowned Night Heron 3, Ferruginous Duck 2
Lady’s Mile – Black-winged Stilt 29, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover 1+ flew with flock of Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Common Greenshank 4, Slender-billed Gull 8
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, ‘Baltic’ Gull (Lesser Black-backed Gull), Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, ‘dombrowski’ Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Western Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler h, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Rüppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting
With no rain forecast, for the first time in days, I headed out with first stop Agios Sozomenos on the outskirts of Nicosia. There was still a male Finsch’s Wheatear present. Two sub-adult Bonelli’s Eagle, a Peregrine Falcon and a Long-legged Buzzard flew over and at the water treatment plant there were two Ferruginous Duck. Blackcap could be heard singing from many bushes as could several male Spectacled Warbler. I also saw two Long-legged Buzzard flying over Panagia Stazousa on the way to Larnaca. A single Isabelline Wheatear and Eurasian Hoopoe at Petounta Point showed that migration continues to stutter into gear. On the beach there were four Kentish Plover. Nine Eurasian Curlew were near the Larnaca Sewage Pools and at least eight Calandra Lark were in the fields outside Pervolia.
Eurasian Hoopoe Petounta Point 26th February 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spent a lovely spring day around Limassol with highlights:
Phassouri Reed Beds – Hawfinch 1+, Common Reed Bunting 3, Water Pipit 2, Common Snipe 4, Little Egret 1, Blackcap 10+, Song Thrush 5+, Blackbird 1, Western Marsh Harrier 2
Akrotiri Gravel Pits – Green Sandpiper 1, Western Marsh Harrier 1
Lady’s Mile – Sandwich Tern 2, Armenian Gull 20, Caspian Gull 3+
Zakaki Marsh – Common Kingfisher 1, Common Snipe 1, Penduline Tit 1h
Germasogeia Dam – Bonelli’s Eagle 1 adult, Grey Wagtail 2, Barn Swallow 7, Woodlark 14
Taking a break from paperwork this afternoon, I visited Agios Sozomenos outside Nicosia and ended up seeing five different species of bird of prey as well as three male Finsch’s Wheatear and a male Blue Rock Thrush. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was perched near the road side and a male Hen Harrier was quartering the area. But at least seven Common Kestrel were causing a commotion and mobbing a large raptor. Knowing that Long-legged Buzzard are usually around I looked up expecting to see one of those. I was surprised to see that it was an immature Bonelli’s Eagle instead, which I hadn’t seen on any previous visits there. The Bonelli’s flew away for a while but when it returned, much to the annoyance of the Common Kestrel again, a Long-legged Buzzard also flew close by and attracted the attention of the Kestrels. A good spectacle.
Also seen were Western Black Redstart, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Common Starling, Corn Bunting, Spectacled Warbler, Common Stonechat, European Robin
A relief to find the day seemed cooler than last week as Paul and I set off for Asprokremmos Dam early this morning. A Common Kingfisher was the first bird of note sitting by the canal as we then headed to the area behind the dam. There we had good views of a male Cyprus Warbler (and heard another), several Spectacled and Sardinian Warbler, a Little Owl, around ten Chukar, a couple of Northern Wheatear and a Cyprus Wheatear. We were pleased to find the Cyprus Wheatear as they are moving off island now and getting harder to locate. As has been the case the last week island-wide, there were several Lesser Grey, Red-backed (mainly female) and Masked Shrike around. A Spotted Flycatcher was found in the pines of the utility area.
A single Glossy Ibis was a strange bird to find in one of the alfalfa fields near the Paphos Sewage Plant. With it were eight Spur-winged Lapwing – including a couple of juvenile. Three Cattle Egret were nearby and in total around 100 Yellow Wagtail were flying around and feeding in the fields. There were yet more shrikes and we had good views of a couple of Zitting Cisticola, Willow Warbler and three Whinchat. Sitting on hay bales near to the Ezousas Soakaways was a European Roller and yet more Lesser Grey Shrike on the wires and bales.
Finding the water filled Soakaways we disturbed a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron and a Garganey, and a Eurasian Hoopoe also flew up. Several Eurasian Reed Warbler were flitting around at the base of the reeds together with a Sedge Warbler and we heard a Water Rail. A Eurasian Turtle Dove was on the wires above the area. More Yellow Wagtail could be heard flying around.
We finished the morning driving over Minthis Hills where we had good views of an adult Bonelli’s Eagle and two European Hobby. A few Sardinian Warbler were flying around but we could not find much else there – well there were obviously some Lesser Grey Shrike!! A good variety of species in just a few hours and Paul was especially pleased to have had good views of both the Cyprus endemics.
Forty two species seen:
Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Chukar, Water Rail (heard), Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch
A quick visit to Panagia Stazousa this morning where I found several juvenile Masked Shrike and Cyprus Wheatear. Two Little Owls were near the road but the best birds were an adult and sub-adult Bonelli’s Eagle soaring over the area.
At the coast, the fields near the Larnaca Desalination Plant are being watered at the moment and there were two Collared Pratincole, four Little Stint, a Common Sandpiper, three juvenile Little Ringed Plover and several Kentish Plover feeding in the mud. Two juvenile Little Tern flew along the coast.
Little Owl Panagia Stazousa 21st July 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Little Stint Larnaca Desal Fields 21st July 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
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
John, Madeleine and I started our day out at Petra tou Romiou. On leaving the car our attention was attracted by a calling falcon and we found a young Peregrine Falcon clinging to a rock face opposite us. Its mother was trying to persuade it to leave and fly to her and a cache of food she had on a rocky outcrop. We left them to it and turned our attention to at least four Eleonora’s Falcon that were flying over the area – two of them were dark morphs. They were chasing the local Western Jackdaws. Two Alpine Swift were also in the area and a singing Cyprus Wheatear was ignored as we watched the acrobatics of the falcons.
Moving on the Kouklia Soakaways we found the recent rain had ensured a few small pools of water had reappeared but there was little there to detain us for long. Several Reed Warbler were singing in the reeds and House Sparrow and European Goldfinch family parties were drinking from the puddles. We went to Asprokremmos Dam and on our approach found two European Roller on the wires which enabled us to see them well from the car windows. Two European Bee-eater were also present. We found a Spectacled Warbler family group as well as a male and female Cyprus Warbler, several Sardinian Warbler , a male Common Redstart and a Western Marsh Harrier. The resident Little Owl obliged by sitting out in the sun away from the gloom of its usual cave.
Mandria was quiet with a Spotted Flycatcher the only real evidence of any migration. We visited Paphos Sewage Works where we saw four Spur-winged Lapwing and the same number of Cattle Egret. A male and female Blue-headed (flava) Wagtail were also seen. At Agia Varvara we watched a European Bee-eater feeding on insects and then found a pair of European Stone Curlew in one of the now –dry Soakaways as well as a Wood Sandpiper feeding by a large puddle and a European Turtle Dove.
Unwittingly we had saved the best to last. I was hoping that a few Red-footed Falcon and maybe a Lesser Kestrel or two would still be around Anarita Park although I knew that it was a bit late now for them. As soon as we arrived in the area a few Red-footed Falcon rose up to greet us – male, female and second calendar year birds. Then we found a female Lesser Kestrel and then a male. As we progressed into the area more falcons appeared over every ridge with several flying over us and one female Red-footed Falcon even landing on a stem by the side of the car. In total we think there were probably around forty Red-footed Falcon and at least ten Lesser Kestrel but we may have undercounted. We also found a couple of this year’s Common Kestrel juvenile resting in a field. We watched as several of the Red-foot rose to chase off a migrating Western Marsh Harrier but a bigger commotion occurred as first an adult Bonelli’s Eagle moved across the area beneath the goat farm and then a light phase Booted Eagle. A great spectacle.
There were four European Roller flying around adding some colour and we saw two male Cyprus Warbler – one singing and the second with food in its bill. One of the resident Little Owl was on its favourite perch and two Red-rumped Swallow were close by. We drove to the masts on our way out and several of the Red-footed Falcon were now on the overhead wires. We were looking for Great Spotted Cuckoo and were not disappointed. Two pairs were flying around as well as were another two European Roller. We all agreed that we may not have seen lots of different species as migration comes to an end but we had had a lot of quality birds and quality birding moments.
Total species seen – 50
Little Grebe h, European Shag, Cattle Egret, Western Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin h, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Common Redstart, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler h, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch
Cyprus Birding Tours 