One of two Brambling seen and a Mistle Thrush – both winter visitors – at Troodos today.
Brambling, Troodos, 6th December 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Mistle Thrush, Troodos, 6th December 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Still some winter visitors around – Eurasian Siskins, Hawfinches and Bramblings but migrant breeders are now in evidence – I found two male and one female Masked Shrike as well as a Common Hoopoe (see photo).
Common Hoopoe. Livadi tou Pashia 22nd March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Decided to make what will probably be last visit to Troodos for a while before migration gets underway and the coastal sites become the best birding spots. Spent a leisurely day at Livadi tou Pashia picnic site where I found at least three Brambling, two Hawfinch, many Eurasian Siskin (photo) – several feeding on pine cones – , many Coal Tit chasing and calling, lots of Common Chaffinch, a fly over Red Crossbill, and singing Northern Wrens. Also seen were Eurasian Blackbird and European Greenfinch (photo).
Eurasian Siskin, Troodos 1st March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)
European Greenfinch, Troodos 1st March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)
Spent several hours at a few Troodos picnic sites. As well as the usual enedemic sub-species Coal Tit, Eurasian Jay and Short-toed Tree Creeper there was a good selection of winter visitors around including this Yellowhammer (see record shot photo). Until recently Yellowhammers were vagrants but small numbers are recorded most years now.
A male and two female Hawfinch spent at least an hour hiding behind branches and leaves at Troodos today, finally coming down the drink as the light faded!
Platania Picnic Site
Eurasian Siskin c12
Goldcrest 2
Hawfinch 3
Grey Wagtail 1
Almyrolivado
Mistle Thrush c20
Fieldfare 1 flew over
Brambling 1m
Winter Wren 2
Eurasian Jay 2
Livadi tou Pashia
Eurasian Blackbird 5
Mistle Thrush 2
Yellowhammer 1
Hawfinch 1m and 2f
Yellowhammer, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Eurasian Blackbird, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Strange day at Troodos! Found some interesting birds including a Yellow-browed Warbler at Platania and a Brambling at Almyrolivado. Fourteen Water Pipit on the road near the start of the Artemis Trail was an odd site – in fact it was hard not to run them over. Several Song and Mistle Thrushes too as well as plenty of resident Coal Tit and Eurasian Jay. Pine Bunting and Hawfinch were seen in the area by others.
Water Pipit, Troodos 4th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spent a day and a half in Troodos where some great winter visitors are present. Spent most of the time near a picnic site where birds were coming down to drink at a quickly drying puddle left from recent rain. One of my best birding experience days with Fieldfare, Hawfinch, Brambling, Mistle Thrush, Yellowhammer, possible Pine Bunting, Crossbill and Goldcrest all up close and easy to watch. Also had a late Cyprus Wheatear near Mount Olympos and a Siskin at Platania.
Coal Tit, endemic sub-species, Troodos 9th November (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Fieldfare, Livadi tou Pashia, Troodos 10th November 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Hawfinch Livadi tou Pashia November 10th 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Yellowhammer Livadi tou Pashia November 10th 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
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