A big clearout of all the passerines from last night – not even a Spotted Flycatcher around. Just one Whinchat. There were several Turtle Doves and I heard European Bee-eaters passing over. A Marsh Harrier was putting the House Sparrows up from the surrounding fields.
On the Sewage Pools there were over 80 Ruff, some Little Stint, a Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper. More interesting were a single Ruddy Turnstone, two Ferruginous Duck, a male Garganey, a male Northern Shoveler and a Common Shelduck. A Little Tern was fishing offshore.
A quick drive around Larnaca Sewage Works area once the rain stopped this afternoon. Lovely male Red-backed Shrike and Woodchat Shrike, nearly twenty Spotted Flycatcher, two female Northern Wheatear, one male and two female Common Redstart, three Common Redstart, two Turtle Dove, three Whinchat, a Black-crowned Night Heron, many Common Ringed Plover and Little Stint, and five Common Sandpiper on the beach.
Spent nearly five hours taking part in the BirdLife Cyprus Forest survey this morning along the road from Gerakies to Selladi tou Marouliou via Tsakistra and Kampos. Lovely scenery and weather and some good forest birds including Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Cyprus Wheatear, Masked Shrike, Common Nightingale, Eurasian Scops Owl, Red-rumped Swallow, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Winter Wren, European Jay, Woodlark, Coal Tit, Serin and lots of European Chaffinch. A surprise find was a male Black-headed Bunting at the site of my first point count.
View outside Kampos 4th May 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Visited the eastern edge of Akrotiri Salt Lake this afternoon – my first visit there this spring. Although the run-off from Zakaki Marsh is dry there is still water in the Salt Lake. I found at least eighty Greater Flamingo, two Eurasian Spoonbill, four Black-winged Stilt, thirty Common Shelduck, thirty two Gull-billed Tern, eleven Little Tern and several Ruff, Little Stint and Kentish Plover.
Before leaving Limassol I revisited both Akrotiri Gravel Pits and Zakaki Marsh where I had been in the morning. Of interest in the afternoon were a female Semi-collared Flycatcher in the Agios Georgios Church, a European Roller at Akrotiri Gravel Pits and a Temminck’s Stint at Zakaki.
Greater Flamingo and a Eurasian Spoonbill Akrotiri Salt Lake 30th April 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spent four hours this morning with Sheila and Declan around Akrotiri where we saw a good mixture of 58 different species. At Phassouri Reed Beds we had Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Great Reed Warbler, Western Marsh Harrier, Garganey, several flava Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and Turtle Dove. Driving through Akrotiri Gravel Pits we found three singing male Sardinian Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, a Common Buzzard, a Kentish Plover, a striking male Northern Wheatear and some Tawny Pipit. In the gardens of Agios Georgios Church there were several Spotted Flycatcher, a female Pied Flycatcher and a Woodchat Shrike. It was encouraging to find three male Cyprus Warbler singing in the junipers near the church.
Luckily there wasn’t too much of a heat haze and we were able to get good views of the Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake. At least twelve European Bee-eater were seen as we headed to Lady’s Mile where we found more Kentish Plover and a couple of Little Stint. There were more Little Stint at Zakaki Marsh along with Little Ringed Plover, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Ruff , Common Snipe, Black-winged Stilt and two Spur-winged Lapwing. The star bird there though was a Collared Pratincole, closely followed by the Purple Heron pointed out to us hidden in the reeds by a visiting birder. There were more Yellow Wagtail feeding in the mud – this time mainly feldegg.
Total of 58 birds seen –
Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Garganey, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Ruff, Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail flava and feldegg, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch.
Spotted Flycatcher Agios Georgios Church April 30th 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Spent the morning doing survey work in the Larnaca area. Migrating waders were thin on the ground for the time of year but wherever there was some remaining water there were Ruff, Little Stint, Dunlin and Wood Sandpiper. There were several Kentish Plover on Meneou Pool and one pair had two small chicks. Black-winged Stilt were only on the Sewage Works Pools which also had a pair of Garganey as well as the resident Mallard, Little Grebe and Coot.
A flock of Little Egret with one Cattle Egret among them flew along the coast at Spiros Pool and there were six Sguacco Heron on the beach. Two Common Tern flew over and a Little Tern was fishing offshore. On the north shore of the main Salt Lake, there was a Spotted Crake and many singing Reed Warbler.
A couple of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were heard during the morning and other birds of interest included a male Northern Wheatear, several male Black-headed Wagtail, a male Common Redstart, two Woodchat Shrike and a male Red-backed Shrike. Two Great Spotted Cuckoo and a couple of Turtle Dove were in the Meneou area and some European Bee-eater were heard passing over there. Other Bee-eaters were seen at Kiti Dam and Cape Kiti. A couple of Spotted Flycatcher and a female Collared Flycatcher were also at Kiti Dam.
A visit to some different sites today with Steve and Julie concentrated on finding his two target species – Eleonora’s Falcon and Black-headed Bunting – but also produced some other interesting sightings.
We started our search for the Eleonora’s Falcon at Petra tou Romiou where we found several Alpine Swift, singing Cyprus Wheatear and Warbler and heard Chukar. Unusually we also heard a calling Scops Owl. More Alpine Swift were at Pissouri where we had great views of a male Cyprus Warbler, heard but couldn’t see a Black Francolin and Steve spotted a Hoopoe flying over the area. Our first Eleonora’s Falcon was seen by the roadside on the way between Pissouri and Avdimou. We had stopped to watch four European Rollers that were on roadside wires and an Eleonora’s Falcon flew nearby.
At Avdimou Bay we found several Cyprus Wheatear and a fly-by migrating Lesser Black-backed Gull of the fuscus race (Baltic Gull) was a good surprise. Arriving at Kensington Cliffs we were quickly treated to the aerial show of at least six Eleonora’s Falcon. We spent at least half an hour enjoying them and also saw one of the local Peregrine Falcon, a migrating juvenile Western Marsh Harrier and up to ten Alpine Swift.
One of our targets enjoyed, we then headed inland to see if Black-headed Buntings had arrived on their territories in the Omodos area. On the way we saw another Roller and pairs of Great Spotted Cuckoo and Turtle Dove. We sat and enjoyed the scenery in a valley outside the village. We could neither hear nor see any Black-headed Bunting but were treated to a pair of Long-legged Buzzard flying over the area – one of which had a rat in its talons and we assumed they were off to feed it to their young somewhere nearby. We also saw a Peregrine Falcon and a couple of Red-rumped Swallow and European Serin. Both Sardinian and Cyprus Warbler were heard and seen and Cyprus Wheatear were on territories. Several Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing in the thick vegetation but we couldn’t succeed in our attempts to actually see one. As we left I finally heard a singing male Black-headed Bunting and we managed just brief views of it as it flew away and out of sight over a ridge.
We headed back towards Limassol and then back inland to the east of that town to Prastio Kellakiou where I hoped we may find Black-headed Bunting. We were in luck and heard at least one as soon as we arrived. In the end there were three singing males and we managed much better views of them than at Omodos. We also found at least six Cretzschmar’s Bunting, several of which were singing, and two pairs of Masked Shrike. The area was full of Spanish Sparrow and a group of at least twenty European Bee-eater flew over.
An enjoyable day with some great bird watching moments – quality rather than quantity summing up the day.
Forty six species seen
Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Baltic Gull), Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl (heard), Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting
Saw several flocks of Purple Heron, Little Egret and Glossy Ibis this morning at both Spiros Pool and Petounta Point. A Great Reed Warbler was at Petounta flying between the stands of reeds and a couple of Tawny Pipit were present. Another Great Reed Warbler was near the Alaminos Fishing Shelter. Behind Alaminos I found many singing male Cyprus Warbler as well as two pairs of European Roller near to a cliff suitable for nesting. Two pairs of Great Spotted Cuckoo were also in the area. A ringtail Montagu’s Harrier was at Kivisilli fields and at least eleven Lesser Kestrel were over the fields.
Finally saw an adult Rose-coloured Starling when one was found this morning roosting inside the unfinished Environment Centre at Cape Greco. Luckily it was still there when I finished the Raptor Count in the area at midday, although it took some finding looking through the fence and the girders there. It had been one of my Cyprus targets for 2014!
Several flocks of Little Egret totalling 110 were migrating around Cape Greco this morning as were 23 Slender-billed Gull. Three flocks of at least 350 Spanish Sparrow passed over the area as well between 8.30 and 12.30. I was in the area to do the Raptor Count but the only raptor I saw was a European Hobby and of course the local Common Kestrel.
Birdwatching afterwards around Cape Greco produced Ortolan Bunting, Turtle Dove, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Spotted, Pied and Collared Flycatcher, Common Whitethroat, European Bee-eater, Willow Warbler and Woodchat and Masked Shrike. And of course the Rose-coloured Starling!
A male Montagu’s Harrier was the only bird of note at Sotira Pools and a couple of Garganey and more than twenty Little Egret were at Oroklini.
Rainy weather in Larnaca but still managed to see a few interesting birds today. Plenty of Ruff on the Salt Lake as well as at least one pair of Spur-winged Lapwing near the old airport and possibly another on the roundabout nearby. There has been a big clear out of birds on the Sewage Pools although there are still a couple of Northern Shoveler there. Three Little Tern were flying around and five migrating Black-headed Gull were present together with twelve Squacco Heron and several Black-winged Stilt.
Ten more Black-winged Stilt flew in off the sea onto the nearby beach. Four Turtle Dove were on Spiros Pool as were two Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher. Nine Black-crowned Night Heron were flying over Petounta when I got there and on the rocky plateau were at least seven Whinchat and three female Black-eared Wheatear.
At Kivisilli there were at least sixteen Whinchat in an olive grove. Two Turtle Dove were also in the area. By the time I arrived it was raining hard but there were still up to six Lesser Kestrel feeding over the fields. More Kestrels were in the distance but it was impossible to see if they were Common or Lesser. Two female Red-footed Falcon were looking very bedraggled on the electricity lines. The bird of the morning though was a female Montagu’s Harrier that I found perched on a pile of soil and then watched as she caught and ate a grasshopper.
Spur-winged Lapwing Larnaca 19th April 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Michael had already seen some of his Cyprus target birds out birding before we met but we still had several to try and find on our day out. We visited Kouklia Soakaways, Asprokremmos Dam, Mandria, Agia Varvara and Anarita Park. We saw some interesting birds and had especially good views of an obliging male Cyprus Warbler near the Asprokremmos Dam who can and sang on bushes near us and a Great Spotted Cuckoo (one of at least seven in the area) at Anarita Park that walked along the track towards the car which we were standing next too.
We also found a Spectacled Warbler family at Asprokremmos; saw a pair of Stone Curlew at Kouklia where there were also at least two Great Reed Warbler and we had a fly past from a Long-legged Buzzard. A singing male Eurasian Blackbird was an unusual find. There were two Ortolan Bunting there and then another three at Asprokremmos Dam where we also found a Collared, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher and two European Bee-eater. On the water’s edge was a Purple Heron, a Black-winged Stilt and a couple of Great Cormorant.
Michael had hoped to see an Isabelline Wheatear and after finding a couple of female Northern Wheatear we were pleased to find a lone Isabelline Wheatear. We also found some Greater Short-toed Lark and a male and female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. A male Black Francolin was very obliging, sitting on a small building out in the open and calling. As with everywhere else we visited there was at least one Woodchat Shrike and many Whinchat.
Although one of the soakaways at Agia Varvara had water we only managed to find a Wood Sandpiper so we moved on to Anarita Park. We were treated to at least twelve Lesser Kestrel and a male Montagu’s Harrier as soon as we arrived and moving into the area we also found a Little Owl, a couple of European Roller, a female Red-footed Falcon and a Wryneck. Our last target bird for the day was a Great Spotted Cuckoo and we were in for a treat. Not only did we find at least seven (and definitely no double counting!) in the fields near the rubbish tip but one of them decided to feed on the track where we were parked moving slowly towards us completely oblivious of our present. A really great end to a good day’s birding.
Species seen – 63
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Purple Heron, Mallard, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail feldegg race, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, European Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting
Great Spotted Cuckoo Anarita Park 17th April 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Picking up Reem and Paul from Nicosia we headed straight to Oroklini. It was their first visit there since the hide and information point had been installed. We used both of these to give us a good view over the whole area and got the day off to a good start with Red-crested Pochard, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingo, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and Black-crowned Night Heron. Moving onto the Salt Lake we found a few areas with water where many Ruff, Little Stint and Dunlin were feeding. There were a couple of Glossy Ibis on the north eastern edge and we spotted calling Black Francolin. Near Tekke Mosque we found a couple of Woodchat Shrike and in the fennel plants we spotted an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler. A Spectacled Warbler was singing and a male and female Common Redstart were in the eucalyptus trees.
More Black-winged Stilt were on the Sewage Work Pools together with more Ruff, a Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and a Little Tern. Lesser Whitethroat and a Wood Warbler were in the tamarisks and several Whinchat were on the fence. A Black Francolin perched on the perimeter fence for a while so better views wre obtained of that species and a couple of Chukar flew over. A great find was a male Ruppell’s Warbler near Spiros Pool and there were also some male feldegg Yellow Wagtail. As we left we found a striking male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear.
We ate our lunch in the wooded area of Kiti Dam and were able to see two female Collared Flycatcher, a male and female Common Redstart, a Willow Warbler and two Spotted Flycatcher. On the dam itself were many Ruff, three Common Sandpiper, five Black-winged Stilt and eight Glossy Ibis. In the distance we could see a European Roller. We had heard the call of a Great Spotted Cuckoo and found a pair near the church trying to fool a pair of Magpies. It seemed as if they were succeeding. Another pair was seen on our way back into Kiti village.
We continued to the fields near the village of Kivisilli. There we found yet more Whinchat, an Isabelline Wheatear and two Hoopoe. We were looking for raptors especially harriers and Lesser Kestrel. There were over twenty Kestrel flying around but most appeared to be Common Kestrel. Finally though after careful searching we found three Lesser Kestrel. At the same time a juvenile Pallid Harrier came into view and then a male Montagu’s Harrier which was even better and came quite close enabling us to see all its ID features and really appreciate it.
Finishing the day around Panagia Stazousa our first birds were also raptors – a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle flew over the valley and then we found two Long-legged Buzzard. Stopping to drink a final cup of tea we were pleased to see the two European Bee-eater we had heard calling as well as watch a singing male Cyprus Warbler while another Great Spotted Cuckoo was flying around, several Cyprus Wheatear were around and a Scops Owl was calling.
A good number of species in a relatively small geographical radius. Thanks to Paul and Reem for their company.
Species seen – 78
Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl (heard), Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (heard), Spectacled Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Rueppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting
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