Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Cyprus birds


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Eastern Cyprus today, 16th January 2015

My first stop was Paralimni Lake which has plenty of water and also nine Ruddy Shelduck, several Great Egret, three Western Marsh Harriers hunting, a lone Greater White-fronted Goose, some Greater Flamingo and several hundred Common Starling. At Agias Trias there were six Grey Plover, a Greater Sand Plover, Common Kingfisher and a Caspian Gull which was chased away by a Hooded Crow. Single Audouin’s Gulls were at Konnos Bay and Macronisos Beach. At Macronisos there were also seven Greater Sand Plover and around thirty Kentish Plover. A Sandwich Tern was on the beach at Oroklini.

Paralimni Lake 16th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Paralimni Lake 16th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Crimson-winged Finch – second Cyprus record, Mandria 14th January 2015

Was glad I braved the heavy rain to drive to Mandria today as I was rewarded with good views of the Crimson-winged Finch that had been found there yesterday. It was very mobile and kept company with the many Linnets, Greenfinches and Goldfinches that were flying around the area. A pretty rubbish record shot below. But nice to get a lifer in January!

Also at Mandria were hundreds of Eurasian Skylark, a flock of nearly two hundred Northern Lapwing, ten Golden Plover and a ringtail Hen Harrier. A quick visit to Paphos Sewage Plant produced at Hawfinch, several Song Thrush and Blackbirds, many Chaffinch, a couple of Spur-winged Lapwing and three Cattle Egret.

Crimson-winged Finch Mandria 14th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Crimson-winged Finch Mandria 14th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Zakaki and Phassouri today, 12th January 2015

Was too late getting to Zakaki Marsh this morning to catch sight of the three Little Swift that had been feeding there earlier. Although I also returned there later in the day, there was no further sign of them. I did see a Jack Snipe, several Water Pipit, Common Kingfisher and hear a Water Rail though. The Eurasian Bittern at Phassouri Reed Beds came out from the reeds briefly, but more interesting there were the Hawfinch that were flying in the area together with large flocks of Common Chaffinch and European Serin. I saw at least four but other birders had found up to ten. At least three Western Marsh Harrier and four Common Buzzard were around and a Eurasian Curlew was near the coast.

At Lady’s Mile there was at least one Mediterranean Gull in with all the Common Black-headed Gull, about ten Armenian Gull and six first winter Caspian Gull. Along the port road two Laughing Dove were sitting on the wires and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk was flying over being mobbed by two Hooded Crow. Great to get out birding again!!


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Gulls on Oroklini Beach, 4th January 2015

Had a chance to check the gulls on Oroklini Beach this afternoon. Many Common Black-headed Gull as usual at this time of year but there were also at least four Mediterranean, five Armenian and one Caspian Gull as well. Two Sandwich Tern were also present. One Mediterranean Gull was also on Oroklini Marsh where there were two Western Marsh Harrier quartering the area putting up Northern and Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and Mallard. More than fifty Greater Flamingo were there as were seven Cattle Egret.

Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gull Oroklini Beach 4th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gull Oroklini Beach 4th January 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Nicosia birding 1st January 2015

Arriving back in Cyprus late last night meant I didn’t get out as early as I wanted this morning so confined my birdwatching to Nicosia. Visited Athalassa Dam in the morning and Agios Sozomenos in the afternoon. Highlight at Athalassa was two Ferruginous Duck; with Finsch’s Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, a Peregrine Falcon and flocks of Spanish Sparrow the pick of the afternoon’s birding.


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Larnaca Friday 12th December 2014

Went to Larnaca to do the waterbird count and was pleased that the bad weather held off. A lot of the ducks on the Sewage Works pools seemed to be out of sight from the hide along the edge hidden from view. I couldn’t find the White-headed Duck from last weekend although it could have been along that edge.

A summary of the birds around:

Meneou Pool – Greater Flamingo 411, Black Francolin 2m calling

Larnaca Sewage Works – Greater Flamingo 59, Tufted Duck 3, Northern Shoveler 16 (probably more but other ducks were on edge not visible from hide), Eurasian Teal 227, Mallard 57, Gadwall 3, Greater White-fronted Goose 8, Eurasian Wigeon 7, Black-necked Grebe 5, Black-winged Stilt 2, Greater Cormorant 4

Spiros Pool – Golden Plover 350

Larnaca Airport fields – Eurasian Curlew 1, Spanish Sparrow 80+, European Goldfinch 80+, Red-throated Pipit 2h, Meadow Pipit 50+, Eurasian Skylark 200+

Larnaca Airport Pools North – Dunlin 26, Common Redshank 34, Little Stint 4, Kentish Plover 10, Eurasian Stone Curlew 25

Larnaca Salt Lake – Greater Flamingo 520, Corn Bunting c90, Spanish Sparrow 120+, Eurasian Skylark c30, Common Chaffinch 10, Kentish Plover 135, Little Stint 55, Common Shelduck 150, Common Black-headed Gull 535, Common Ringed Plover 8, Dunlin 26, Western Marsh Harrier 2, Caspian Gull 3, Armenian Gull 2, Eurasian Teal c90, Common Snipe 2, Jack Snipe 1, Reed Bunting 9, Water Rail 1h

Larnaca Fishing Shelter – Black-legged Kittiwake 1 juv still present


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Two rarities Larnaca area this morning, 6th December 2014

The star bird on the Larnaca Sewage Pools this morning was a female/juvenile type White-headed Duck. A rare winter visitor, its a couple of years since one has been seen although that site is often favoured when one does appear. Also present were eight Greater White-fronted Geese, at least four Gadwall, several Eurasian Wigeon, a male Common Pochard, two Black-necked Grebe and the long staying lone Common Shelduck.

Around 150 Greater Flamingo were on Meneou Pool where a Western Marsh Harrier was on the mud with the remains of something it caught earlier. A Eurasian Curlew was on the coast near the airport and in the fields there were a couple of hundred Eurasian Skylark, some Meadow Pipit and Corn Bunting and at least one Red-throated Pipit.

But the morning got better when I got a tip off from a local birder of a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake on Larnaca Sea front.  It was still there when I arrived. Only six previous records of this bird in Cyprus. Great morning in Larnaca!

Black-legged Kittiwake Larnaca Sea Front 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-legged Kittiwake Larnaca Sea Front 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Western Marsh Harrier Meneou Pools 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Western Marsh Harrier Meneou Pools 6th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Paralimni, Cape Greco and Oroklini 5th December 2014

Went over to the east of the island today stopping at Agia Trias outside Paralimni first where there were two Grey Plover, a Greater Sand Plover and a Common Sandpiper on the shore. A first winter Audouin’s Gull flew by as did two Yellow-legged Gull. Spent a couple of hours walking around Cape Greco where the highlight was a female Finsch’s Wheatear. As most of the Finsch’s Wheatear that winter in Cyprus are male it was good to find a female on the same territory used by one  for several years now. A male Blue Rock Thrush was also nearby and there were many Western Black Redstart and European Stonechat as well as Spectacled and Sardinian Warbler, and flocks of Corn Bunting, Common Linnet and European Goldfinch. Several Chukar were about as were several Meadow Pipit.

There was at least 150 Cattle Egret coming to roost on Oroklini Lake late in the afternoon. A group of more than seventy Greater Flamingo were there as well as Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and a large flock of Common Black-headed Gull. A Water Pipit was also present and at least sixty Common Starling were flying around the area.

Finsch's Wheatear female Cape Greco 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Finsch’s Wheatear female Cape Greco 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sand Plover and Grey Plover Agia Trias 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sand Plover and Grey Plover Agia Trias 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover Agias Trias 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Plover Agias Trias 5th December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Winter visitor to Manglis Lake, Nicosia 3rd December 2014

Never a common winter visitor to Cyprus but when this lake had good water levels and less disturbance, Great Crested Grebe were present on it most winters. I haven’t seen one there for several years so it was a nice surprise this morning to find one there.

Great Crested Grebe Manglis Lake 3rd December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Crested Grebe Manglis Lake 3rd December 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area this morning, 22nd November 2014

Did the waterbird count around the Larnaca area this morning. A good variety of wintering wildfowl at the Sewage Works although not any great numbers – Greater White-fronted Geese, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Black-necked Grebe, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Wigeon. There are still two Black-winged Stilt there that look as if they may be going to over winter. The fields around have plenty of Eurasian Skylark and Meadow Pipit and there were hunting Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier and Western Marsh Harrier. Over a hundred Golden Plover were roosting on Spiros Pool.

On the main Salt Lake there were over nine hundred Greater Flamingo, plenty of Common Black-headed Gull and fifteen Common Shelduck. Flocks of waders around the edge included Dunlin, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Little Stint and Common Redshank. A few Eurasian Stone Curlew were roosting in the Airport Pools and in the reeds on the eastern edge there were at least three Penduline Tit.

Western Black Redstart, Larnaca Sewage Works 22nd November 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Western Black Redstart, Larnaca Sewage Works 22nd November 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos Friday 21st November 2014

Spent most of the day at Troodos yesterday and was pleased to find the Pine Bunting again and several Yellowhammer. Other winter visitors around included Mistle Thrush and Hawfinch. There were several Crossbill flying around the area and plenty of Coal Tit – the endemic sub-species. But the best birds were seen flying near the Millomeris Waterfall outside of Platres – two Northern Raven. An extremely unusual sight away from the Pentadactylos mountains these days.


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Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia this afternoon 14th November 2014

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

Peregrine Falcon juvenile Agios Sozomenos 14th November 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Peregrine Falcon juvenile Agios Sozomenos 14th November 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours