Cyprus Birding | Cyprus Birding Tours

December 16, 2013
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Larnaca today 16th December 2013

Finally I was able to get out birding today even if mainly to do the waterbird count around Larnaca. What a difference from last December though. Then there were around 7000 Greater Flamingo on the Larnaca Salt Lake but the low rainfall of the last few months meant there is very little water in the Lake yet and I found a only three young birds at the Sewage Works – although at Akrotiri Salt Lake there are currently around 11000 as that has had water in all year. There were around 1300 Northern Shoveler and 730 Common Teal as well as nearly 200 Mallard and plenty of Common Coot and Little Grebe on the Sewage Works Pools. There are thirteen Greater White Fronted Geese and twelve Black-necked Grebe. The only other duck species I found was a single Northern Pintail. Plenty of Black-headed Gull but only one juvenile Caspian Gull.

There were a lot of Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit and some Red-throated Pipit around and at least 160 Golden Plover on Spiros Pool. On the main Salt Lake there were just under 400 Common Shelduck and some Kentish Plover, Little Stint and Dunlin as well as Black-headed Gull and three Armenian Gull. A flock of fifty Northern Lapwing flew over and a Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard were hunting in the area. In the reeds I found four Reed Bunting as well as Chiffchaff, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Chaffinch, Song Thrush Cetti’s Warbler, Robin and Stonechat.

I continued to Petounta Point where I spent a long time watching both a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail that were out in the open. Also there were five Common Snipe, a Temminck’s Stint, a Common Sandpiper, some Common Teal, nine Common Starling, plenty of Meadow Pipit and White Wagtail, and a Marsh Harrier which was perched in the reeds as I arrived.

Jack Snipe Petounta 16th December 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

December 4, 2013
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Little Bustard, Cyprus, 4th December 2013

If anyone had told me this time yesterday that I would soon not only have seen a Little Bustard in Cyprus but would have taken photos of it I would never have believed them. Every year there is anecdotal evidence of shot individuals and it is even reported that certain specimens have found there way to local taxidermists. In the past it was known as a scarce to fairly common winter visitor to low ground here but the only recent validated record of a live bird seems to be from December 1979 (Flint and Stewart. The Birds of Cyprus 1992). Therefore I was surprised to receive a copy of a photo of one late yesterday afternoon and to discover that it had been taken a few hours earlier and just outside Nicosia.

The bird had chosen as hard to find location as you could imagine and one that was a bit too close to the UN Buffer Zone for comfort. Anyhow this morning I was taken by its finder, George Constantinou, out way past Geri to see if it had spent the night in the area. We must have searched for around thirty minutes before we found it. We stayed in the car and it didn’t really seem aware of our presence at all, feeding and moving around the area – sometimes only a few metres in front of us. What a great bird and such a great find. Last year I waited till December for my birding highlight of the year – finally seeing a Wallcreeper – and almost twelve months to the day I get the birding highlight of 2013!

Little Bustard Geri December 4th 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 30, 2013
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Agios Sozomenos and Athalassa again today 30th November

Again confined to Nicosia for birding but a good collection of birds found. Four male Finsch’s Wheatear, a Woodlark, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Redstart and a Little Owl at Agios Sozomenos as well as several Spanish Sparrow, Chaffinch,Spectacled Warbler and lots of Jackdaw. Two Great White Egret at Athalassa as well as nearly fifty Great Cormorant, a couple of Kingfisher, Grey Heron and Little Egret, four Northern Shoveler, some Teal and a Grey Wagtail. The three Black-winged Stilt are still there.

Great Cormorant Athalassa Dam November 30th 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Kingfisher Athalassa Park 30th November 2013. (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Heron Athalassa November 30th 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 23, 2013
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Morning’s bird watch around Nicosia, Saturday 23rd November 2013

With not a lot of spare time to get our birding at the moment I decided to allow myself a few hours around Nicosia this morning. I first went to Agios Sozomenos and on heading straight to the cliffs behind the church I found a male Finsch’s Wheatear who came close to the edge overlooking the track which meant I could watch him well for quite a while. There was another male about 500m away along the road which for a few seconds actually flew down on the road before flying up onto the cliffs. Also in the area were at least 200 Western Jackdaw, a male Blue Rick Thrush, a couple of Black Redstart, a Little Owl and a Long-legged Buzzard.

At Athalassa Dam I found a Jack Snipe crouched low at the edge of one of the stands of reeds. There were around forty Great Cormorant, five each of Grey Heron and Little Egret, some Common Teal and at least two Grey Wagtail. I had assumed that lone Black-winged Stilt I had seen there on previous visits would have left so was surprised to find three this visit. A Common Kingfisher was flying around the area – in fact I think there were two. In the trees there were plenty of Chiffchaff, Robins, Chaffinch and a male Blackbird and a Song Thrush.

Finsch’s Wheatear Agios Sozomenos November 23rd 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Long-legged Buzzard Agios Sozomenos November 23rd 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-winged Stilt Athalassa November 23rd 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Egret Athalassa November 23rd 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 18, 2013
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Booted Eagle at Akhna Dam and Terek Sandpiper at Oroklini, 18th November

Yesterday a Buff-bellied Pipit (spp. japonicas) had been seen at Akhna Dam but I had no joy finding it this afternoon although there were many Meadow Pipit and Water Pipit around. It was worth the trip to see the pale Booted Eagle that has been there the last week or so and was seen several times – usually being harassed by the local Hooded Crows. Also present was an immature Great White Pelican, a Common Redshank and a Greenshank, a Great Egret and several Grey Heron, Little and Cattle Egret. The bushes were full of Chiffchaff – at least twenty five in one small area.

The recent storms meant that there was some water at Oroklini Marsh and the waders have moved from the channels into a flooded area which was visible from the derelict houses there. Common Redshank, Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing, Dunlin, Little Stint and there out in the open – the Terek Sandpiper. A less than annual migrant this individual has been present for over a month now. Managed to get a few record shots of it – not great especially as it was getting dark. So pleased to see the Terek well that I didn’t notice the Common Snipe sitting behind it until I got home and checked the photos!

Booted Eagle Akhna Dam 18th November 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Terek Sandpiper and Common Snipe Oroklini Marsh November 18th 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 18, 2013
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Waterbird Count Larnaca today 18th November 2013

After a stormy night it was still windy and showery around Larnaca this morning as I did the Waterbird Count. Nearly a thousand Northern Shoveler on the Sewage Pools and over 500 Common Teal with plenty of Mallard, Coot, Little Grebe and Black-headed Gull. Thirteen Greater White-fronted Geese have arrived as have four Black-necked Grebe and four Common Shelduck. Among the ducks I found one Northern Pintail and one Ferruginous Duck. Four Black-winged Stilt were feeding around the edges together with a Bar-tailed Godwit, three Sanderling and some Common Redshank, a Greenshank, five Ruff and a few Little Stint. I found one adult Caspian Gull, two Armenian Gull and several Yellow-legged Gull.

On Spiro’s Pool there were over forty Golden Plover but no water. At the Kamares area of the main Salt Lake there is some water and an interesting selection of birds included 100 Kentish Plover, a couple of Common Ringed Plover, some Dunlin, Little Stint and Common Redshank as well as a Jack Snipe. There were a couple of Water Pipit and at least one Penduline Tit and two Reed Bunting in the reed beds. Two Marsh Harriers were overflying as was a Eurasian Sparrowhawk.

Plenty of overwintering passerines around – Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, European Robin and Song Thrush.

Golden Plover Spiro’s Pool 18th November 2013 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 15, 2013
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Paphos Sewage Works and Mandria afternoon 15th November 2013

Stopped at the Sewage Plant outside Paphos this afternoon on my way back to Nicosia. More than 100 Common Woodpigeon are flocking in the area. There was a small group of 18 Common Starling and a Sparrowhawk was hunting the Meadow Pipit and Skylark as it had been doing when I was there on Monday. There were also several Red-throated Pipit and lots of White Wagtail as well as five Cattle Egret feeding in the fields. I was surprised to hear a Wren singing and then saw it in the reeds opposite the stables. A Bluethroat was also there together with several Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler and a Cetti’s Warbler. The sun was setting when I got to Mandria but both a male and female Hen Harrier were quartering the fields there, putting all the Skylark up.

Zitting Cisticola Paphos Sewage Plant 15th November 2013 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Stonechat Mandria 15th November 2013 (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 15, 2013
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Morning’s Guiding Paphos 15th November 2013

Having had a good day out in early October with Carl and Riss it was great to get the chance to take Riss’ parents and their friends out for the morning. Leaving from Emba we headed north to Evretou Dam visiting the ‘deep’ end first. There were three Grey Heron, a Moorhen, a Great Cormorant and some Mallard on the water and we heard a Long-legged Buzzard but couldn’t locate it. We did find a couple of Black Redstart, two male Sardinian Warbler, some Linnet and of course Common Stonechat. We had heard Chukar and one ran in front of the car as we left and headed for the ‘shallow’ end of the dam.

Waiting to greet us as we drove up were a young Bonelli’s Eagle and two Long-legged Buzzard. Great – the eagle flew over our heads and the two buzzards had to put up with being mobbed by Common Kestrel. Good timing – in fact if road works hadn’t made us take a detour our timing would have been different and we may have missed them. At the water’s edge was a Great Egret and as we watched it the Pied Kingfisher that had been present for the last few days flew out from the other side of the dam and hovered over the water. We had great views of that although the Common Kingfisher was only seen briefly. Also in the area were White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Robin, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush and a Woodlark.

As we returned towards Paphos another Long-legged Buzzard flew along the side of the road near Stroumbi. We had a quick visit to Anarita Park where we found the obliging male Finsch’s Wheatear, at least twenty Woodlark and a Little Owl. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was still around and we had the chance to watch a couple of Black Redstart up close.

We seemed to have packed a lot into a few hours and I returned the group to their holiday home.

Total number of species seen – 38

Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Mallard, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Moorhen, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Finsch’s Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet

November 11, 2013
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report, Paphos 11th November 2013

Six hours around Paphos today with David and Jan. Lots of winter visitors around now including Hen Harrier, Woodlark, Northern Lapwing, a flock of over 100 Woodpigeon and a Reed Bunting. We also caught up with a male Finsch’s Wheatear at Anarita Park and found a male Cyprus Warbler and a Little Owl at both Asprokremmos and Anarita Park.

We spent most of our time out around Paphos Sewage Works. There we watched Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and Robin all bathing in a pool while a lovely male Hen Harrier, a female Sparrowhawk and several Common Kestrel were hunting over the area putting up the many Meadow Pipit, Skylark, White Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit. A Yellow Wagtail is still around. At least four Spur-winged Lapwing were present as was a lone Northern Lapwing. The numbers of Chaffinch and Linnet in the area have increased and there was several Spanish Sparrow. On the road driving into the area we found several Serin, Black Redstart and a single Woodlark.

At Mandria we found well over 100 Eurasian Skylark and at Asprokremmos Dam there was a juvenile Red-backed Shrike. Another one was also at Anarita Park which we visited to find Finsch’s Wheatear and were not disappointed.

Total species – 40

Cattle Egret, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Finsch’s Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting