Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Cape Greco


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Cape Greco and Larnaca area, Sunday 13th September 2015

A very different morning at Cape Greco today. Few birds around compared to yesterday, although I spent an hour checking out the football pitches at Agia Napa which were full of migrants feeding on the watered pitches:

Cape Greco 8.00am – 12.00pm

Black Kite 1
Montagu’s Harrier 1 ringtail
Marsh Harrier 6 (1 male)
European Honey Buzzard 9
European Hobby 1
European Bee-eater two flocks heard and another 17 seen
Ortolan Bunting 4
Ruff 15 migrating off shore
Lesser Whitethroat 1

Agia Napa Football Fields

European Bee-eater 17
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Masked Shrike 3
Eurasian Hoopoe 6
Yellow Wagtail 50+
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Red-backed Shrike 4
Whinchat 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Cattle Egret 12
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Red-rumped Swallow 8

Protaras
Alpine Swift 8

Meneou Beach 6.00am
Red-rumped Swallow 50+
Barn Swallow 30+
Sand Martin 3
Red-backed Shrike 1
European Bee-eater c60

Red-rumped Swallow Meneou Beach 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-rumped Swallow Meneou Beach 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Agia Napa Football Fields 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Agia Napa Football Fields 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Good visible migration this morning at Cape Greco, 12th September 2015

Good movement over Cape Greco from 8am to 12pm this morning. Flocks totaling 54 Purple Heron and 16 Grey Heron were heading south and there were unseen European Bee-eaters flying over as well as plenty of Barn Swallow, a few Sand Martin and a flock of around 40 Red-rumped Swallow. Four European Rollers were in the area.

The stars though were the raptors. It was interesting to see that the 230+ European Honey Buzzard that passed over or were seen gaining height in the distance approached from the north, north east or east and the Harriers from the north or north west. There were forty Western Marsh Harrier including ten males and a male and two ringtail Montagu’s Harriers throughout the morning. One of the early birds was an Osprey and a European Sparrowhawk over the view point as I arrived. I counted at least eight Black Kite – mainly in with the Honey Buzzard. On two occasions kettles of Honey Buzzard rose up over the ridge to the east of the observation point and over my head. Great views.

Not many passerines around – two Cyprus Wheatear and a juvenile Red-backed Shrike.

Migrating raptors Cape Greco 12th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Migrating raptors Cape Greco 12th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Wheatear 2 Cape Greco 12th September 2015 with signature


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Cape Greco again 2nd September 2015

Back again this morning at Cape Greco with an easterly wind, the birds arriving later than yesterday and only around 50 Barn Swallow migrating with no martins at all today. Raptors were a juvenile Montagu’s Harrier and another distant ring-tail, six Western Marsh Harrier, six European Honey Buzzard, a Black Kite and a Long-legged Buzzard which may be a local bird. Twenty Purple Heron left their roost in some eucalyptus trees and headed south around 10.00 am. Other birds seen included two Greater Short-toed Lark, two Tree Pipit, three Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Whitethroat, a Cyprus Wheatear and two male Red-backed Shrike with a single juvenile.

Ten Eurasian Hoopoe were feeding on the Agia Napa Football Fields were there was also a small flock of Yellow Wagtail, some Cattle Egret, a Northern Wheatear, two Lesser Grey Shrike and two Red-backed Shrike.


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Cape Greco Raptor watch this morning, 1st September 2015

Raptor watching at Cape Greco this morning to kick off the autumn migration survey there. For a location that can be very good but also very quiet, it was a reasonable first day with two juvenile Pallid Harrier, five Western Marsh Harrier, three Honey Buzzard and a Black Kite all by 10.00 am. Then the only other bird of prey was a Eurasian Hobby who heading south in the company of the many hirundines that were migrating over the area. There were more than 400 Barn Swallow, 180+ Sand Martin, nine Common House Martin and five Red-rumped Swallow moving S over my observation point.

Also in the area to keep me interested once the raptor movement slowed were six Cretzschmar’s and then one Ortolan Bunting, three juvenile Eastern Orphean Warbler, twelve Eurasian Turtle Dove, two Pallid Swift, an Isabelline Wheatear, at least one Tawny Pipit, two Spotted Flycatcher, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, two Eurasian Hoopoe, a male Blue Rock Thrush and the inevitable Masked, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike.


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Few hours birding around Cape Greco, 13th August 2015

Some of the birds seen in a few hours birding this morning were:

Agia Napa Sewage Works – Lesser Grey Shrike 2m, Red-backed Shrike 1f, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler c10, Common Sandpiper 2, Cyprus Warbler 1f, Spectacled Warbler 4+, Spur-winged Lapwing 1

Cape Greco – Red-backed Shrike 2f, Eurasian Hoopoe 2, Cyprus Wheatear 1

Agia Napa Football Fields – Cattle Egret c60, Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Oroklini Marsh – Little Stint 20, Spotted Redshank 2, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Little Tern 2 juv, Ruff 5, Wood Sandpiper 4, Grey Heron 1, Yellow Wagtail 5 flew over, Black-winged Stilt c20, Spur-winged Lapwing c25

Red-backed Shrike female Agia Napa Sewage Works 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-backed Shrike female Agia Napa Sewage Works 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Cape Greco 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Cape Greco 13th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco area and Oroklini Marsh this morning, 8th August 2015

Well I knew it had been hot in Cyprus while I had been away but I had hoped that at 7am it would be bearable. It wasn’t really but there were a few interesting species around. At least 18 Pallid Swift were over Agia Napa Sewage Works where almost every bush seemed to have several Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in it. I also saw eight Eastern Orphean Warbler but I am sure there were more unseen. A lone Cyprus Wheatear was also there as were several Spectacled Warbler.

A male Lesser Grey Shrike was at the Agia Napa Football Fields together with a Woodchat Shrike. Nearly 50 Cattle Egret were feeding on the watered pitches together with a couple of Black Francolin.

At Oroklini Marsh there were at least 22 Spur-winged Lapwing – several of them juvenile – and 25 Black-winged Stilt (again with several juvenile). At least twenty Little Stint were feeding in what is left of the water with some Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and a single Marsh Sandpiper.

Cattle Egret, Agia Napa Football Fields 8th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cattle Egret, Agia Napa Football Fields 8th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco this morning, 9th May 2015

Some good birds still around including an Icterine Warbler at Cape Greco this morning. Mixing Common Bird Monitoring transects with some birding afterwards!

Birds seen included:

Agia Napa Sewage Works – Black-headed Bunting 2m singing, Eurasian Turtle Dove 1, Cyprus Warbler 1m, Common Redstart 1f, Collared Flycatcher 2f, Laughing Dove 2

Cape Greco – Black-headed Bunting 1m singing, Cyprus Warbler 1m, Pallid Harrier 1f, Lesser Kestrel 2, Eurasian Turtle Dove 2, Woodchat Shrike 3, Red-backed Shrike 1m, Honey Buzzard 1, Cyprus Wheatear 6m, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Icterine Warbler 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 3, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, Common Redstart 1f, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Cyprus Wheatear 5+

Photo below is of one of a pair of Laughing Dove near Agia Napa Sewage Works this morning. Wild birds are rare vagrants to Cyprus; this bird is from a small population established in the area by escapees from local collections. Others, again thought to be escapees, are now breeding in a couple of locations in Limassol.

Laughing Dove, Agia Napa Sewage Works May 9th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Laughing Dove, Agia Napa Sewage Works May 9th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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A little birding today at Cape Greco and Larnaca 25th March 2015

An hour’s bird watching at Cape Greco was short and sweet with a Bimaculated Lark and two male Pallid Harrier at Cape Greco and several male Subalpine and Ruppell’s Warbler around plus a male and female Eastern Orphean Warbler. At Larnaca later in the day the highlight was a Little Gull with a large flock of Ruff feeding on a newly harvested field at dusk.

 Interesting sightings of the day:
Meneou Beach – Ruppell’s Warbler 2m
Meneou Pool – Greater Flamingo c60
Larnaca Airport Pools South – Greater Flamingo c200, Black-winged Stilt 32, Little Gull 1, Ruff 3, Common Redshank 2
Larnaca Sewage Works fields – Ruff c100 feeding at dusk on field, Cyprus Wheatear 1m, Ruppell’s Warbler 2m, Grey Heron 2 overflying heading E
Cape Greco – Subalpine Warbler 3m, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Ruppell’s Warbler 1m, Cyprus Wheatear 2m, Pallid Harrier 2m, Bimaculated Lark 1 flew into field then off inland (possibly in off sea), Greater Short-toed Lark 22
Oroklini Beach – Eurasian Hoopoe 1


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Fall of migrants today at Cape Greco, 13th March 2015

After being confined to Nicosia for several days and feeling frustrated at the birds that were being seen elsewhere I headed for Cape Greco today. There were many Ruppell’s Warbler – almost one per bush and probably even more Chiffchaffs. There were also good numbers of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler around. Many were seen coming in off the sea as were Tawny Pipit and Greater Short-toed Lark. Double figures of Cyprus, Northern and Isabelline Wheatear as well as a male Finsch’s Wheatear and a dark throated and pale throated male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. I also saw at least twenty Cretszchmar’s Bunting, eight Eurasian Hoopoe. plenty of Lesser Whitethroat, a Cyprus Warbler and a male Common Redstart, a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, a Wryneck and a Great Spotted Cuckoo.


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Cape Greco 7th March 2015

Annoyed to dip on the Rock Sparrow today at Cape Greco but found some good migrants instead – both male Subalpine and Ruppell’s Warbler, a Black-headed Wagtail, a singing male Cyprus Wheatear, two Eurasian Hoopoe and at least six Isabelline Wheatear. A Common Quail was calling at Kermia Beach where I also saw two Audouin’s Gull and a Sandwich Gull.

At least thirty Slender-billed Gull were on Larnaca Airport Pools later and twenty six were flying east close to the sea off Spiros Beach. Thirteen Armenian Gull had flown over Cape Greco around midday.

Isabelline Wheatear Larnaca Sewage Works March 7th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Isabelline Wheatear Larnaca Sewage Works March 7th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell's Warbler Cape Greco 7th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell’s Warbler Cape Greco 7th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco this afternoon, 28th February 2015

An afternoon walk around Cape Greco in spring sunshine until a large dust cloud approached from the west around 4.30pm. Found five Audouin’s Gull on Kermia Beach and an assortment of wheatears – four Isabelline Wheatear, a male Northern Wheatear and a male and female Finsch’s Wheatear. Surprise bird was an immature Black Kite flying over the army camp.

Audouin's Gull Kermia Beach February 28th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Audouin’s Gull Kermia Beach February 28th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Spring and winter visitors today, 14th February 2015

The nine Ruddy Shelduck were still at Paralimni Lake this morning where there are still around two hundred Greater Flamingo. I heard two Water Rail and there were eight Ruff feeding. A couple of Barn Swallows were in the area together with a single Alpine Swift. Only winter visitors though at Agia Trias – one Sandwich Tern, one Greater Sand Plover and one Golden Plover.

As Cape Greco was hosting a car rally – not exactly the best use for a Natura 2000 site I would have thought – there was no access there so I had a walk from the east of Agia Napa and found one of the earliest Isabelline Wheatear of the year (the first had been found at Avagas last Saturday).

On the beach at Oroklini there were still many Black-headed Gull with just one Mediterranean Gull, two Sandwich Tern, a couple of Armenian Gull and at least one Caspian Gull. On Oroklini Marsh there were hunting Western Marsh Harrier and Long-legged Buzzard which put up three Common Snipe. As well as the overwintering Greater Flamingo, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal there were at least fifty Barn Swallow and probably more House Martin flying around the area and just one Common Swift. A flock of over a hundred Common Starling were also seen.

Grey Plover Agias Trias 14th February 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover Agias Trias 14th February 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours