Cyprus Birding Tours

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Tag Archives: Cyprus birdwatching


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Larnaca area today 2nd April 2018

Some of the more interesting sightings:

Meneou Pool

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 1
Black-winged Stilt 7
Purple Heron 2

Spiros Beach

Eurasian Thick-knee 1
Greater Flamingo c200 flying E
Northern Wheatear 4m
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Spiros Pool

Kentish Plover 2
Pied Avocet 12 (seen later on Airport Pools south)

Larnaca Sewage Works

Northern Wheatear 5
Black-necked Grebe 3
Citrine Wagtail 2
Yellow Wagtail 7
Common Greenshank 1
Ruff 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 8+
Common Nightingale 1 singing in front of hide

Pervolia

Common Quail 1h
Black-headed Wagtail 8
Calandra Lark 3+
Common Hoopoe 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Petounta Point

Northern Wheatear 5
Common Kingfisher 1
Common Sandpiper 1

Kiti Dam

Laughing Dove 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Great Spotted Cuckoo 2
Eurasian Blackcap 1+
European Turtle Dove 1
Common Hoopoe 2

Kivisili

Lesser Kestrel 10+
Eurasian Thick-knee 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1
Common Hoopoe 1

Panagia Stazousa

Cyprus Wheatear 6
Cyprus Warbler 1
Common Cuckoo 1
Cretzschmar’s Bunting pair near known breeding location
Olivaceous Warbler 1 singing
Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spiros Beach 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spiros Beach 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lesser Kestrel, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lesser Kestrel, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 


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Birding around the east of Cyprus 27th March 2018

A lovely day out today visiting Paralimni Lake, Cape Greco, Agia Napa Sewage Works and Ormedeia. A few record photos of a Citrine Wagtail and Spotted Crake seen at Paralimni, a Greater Short-toed Lark at Cape Greco and a Masked Shrike at Agia Napa Sewage Works.
Other interesting species seen were Bimaculated Lark, Pallid Harrier, Woodchat Shrike, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, singing Olivaceous and Willow Warbler, Audouin’s Gull, migrating Garganey and two stunning male Common Redstart.

Citrine Wagtail, Paralimni Lake 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Citrine Wagtail, Paralimni Lake, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Agia Napa Sewage Works, 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Masked Shrike, Agia Napa Sewage Works, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Crake, Paralimni Lake 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Spotted Crake, Paralimni Lake, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Short-toed Lark, Cape Greco 27th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Greater Short-toed Lark, Cape Greco, 27th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos afternoon 22nd March 2018

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

Common Hoopoe. Livadi tou Pashia 22nd March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cream-coloured Courser, Akrotiri 24th March 2018

Great feeling as I rounded the corner at Akrotiri today and this Cream-coloured Courser appeared in front of me. I guess its probably the same bird (that I was unable to get to see) that was at Mandria yesterday as it was last seen heading east from there late in the afternoon. This rare passage migrant to Cyprus was spooked by a Pallid Harrier at Akrotiri and flew off and was not relocated.

Cream-coloured Courser, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cream-coloured Courser, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cream-coloured Courser 7, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Cream-coloured Courser, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cream-coloured Courser 8, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Cream-coloured Courser, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 24th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Paphos area today 21st March 2018

Visited the Headland, Timi Beach, Agia Varvara and Anarita Park. Disappointed to miss the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at the Headland which seemed to have moved on (30 minutes before I arrived to be precise!) but I still had a good day with some good birds including Short-eared Owl, Desert Wheatear, a Eurasian Wryneck, three Pallas’s Gulls and surprisingly a Green Sandpiper at Anarita Park.

Eurasian Wryneck 2, Anarita Park 21st March 2018 (1 of 1)

Green Sandpiper, Anarita Park 21st March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Green Sandpiper, Anarita Park 21st March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Red-tailed Shrike, Larnaca 19th March 2018

Some record shots of the Red-tailed Shrike that I was very surprised to find on the Kiti to Petounta road yesterday morning 19th March 2018. A very scarce passage migrant to Cyprus.

red-tailed Shrike, Kiti area 19th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Red-tailed Shrike, Kiti, 19th March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

red-tailed Shrike 4, Kiti area 19th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Red-tailed Shrike, Kiti, 19th March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours

red-tailed Shrike 3, Kiti area 19th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Red-tailed Shrike, Kiti, 19th March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours

red-tailed Shrike 2, Kiti area 19th March 2018 (1 of 1)

Red-tailed Shrike, Kiti, 19th March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours


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Waterbird count Larnaca area today 15th March

Black-necked Grebe, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-necked Grebe, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Morning around Larnaca doing the monthly waterbird count. Most wintering ducks have gone as have most of the Greater Flamingos. Highlights were a Greater Sandplover at Spiros Pool, a flock of more than 600 Slender-billed Gulls on the Salt Lake and my first Wood Sandpiper of the year.

Main sightings:

Meneou Pool
Kentish Plover 6

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Eurasian Thick-knee 2
Greater Flamingo 178
Black Francolin 1h
Laughing Dove 1 (first time seen here)

Larnaca Sewage Works
Spur-winged Lapwing 6
Black-necked Grebe 13 (see photograph)
Northern Shoveler 247
Common Pochard 3f
Eurasian Wigeon 1m and 1f
Green Sandpiper 2
Common Teal 44
Common Hoopoe 1

Spiros Beach
Greater Sandplover 1 (later seen on Spiros Pool)
Kentish Plover 2

Spiros Pool
Little Stint 14
Kentish Plover 1

Larnaca Airport Pools North
Greater Flamingo 100

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo 17
Common Shelduck 2
Slender-billed Gull 657
Ruff 145
Dunlin 16
Kentish Plover 14
Little Stint 56
Common Ringed Plover 28
Eurasian Reed Warbler 5+h
Reed Bunting 1h
Common Snipe 6+
Water Pipit 4
Common Redshank 1h
Spur-winged Lapwing 9
Little Egret 1
Bluethroat 1
Wood Sandpiper 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Yellow Wagtail 1 first winter/spring


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Limassol area 10th & 11th March 2018

Spent the last two days in the Limassol area. The highlight was a Masked Shrike already on breeding territory at Prastio Kellakiou and two Bimaculated Lark in with a flock of Greater Short-toed Lark and Meadow Pipit on the coastline of Akrotiri Gravel Pits. Other interesting sightings during the two days:

Saturday 10th March

Zakaki Marsh
Water Rail 1h
Little Crake 1m
Penduline Tit 2

Lady’s Mile
Slender-billed Gull 2 ad and 1 imm
Heuglin’s Gull 1
Armenian Gull c30
Caspian Gull 2 imm
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Common Hoopoe 3 (See photo)
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1

Akrotiri Salt Lake/Zakaki run off
Little Ringed Plover 20+
Common Ringed Plover 20+
Kentish Plover c100
Little Stint c30
Northern Shoveler c50
Greater Flamingo 800+
Dunlin 5
Western Marsh Harrier 1 ad male
Common Snipe 12
Black-headed Wagtail 1m

Akrotiri Gravel Pits
Kentish Plover 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Northern Wheatear 1m
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Greater Short-toed Lark 4

Phasouri Reed-beds
Subalpine Warbler 1f
Eurasian Reed Warbler 4+h
Red-throated Pipit 1h

Kensington Cliffs
Alpine Swift 14
Cyprus Warbler 2h

Sunday 11th March

Germasogeia Dam
Cyprus Warbler 3 singing males and 1f
Eurasian Reed Warbler 1h

Prastio Kellakiou
Masked Shrike 1m
Cyprus Warbler 4 singing males
Common Buzzard 1

Parekklishia
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1 flew over road

Akrotiri Gravel Pits coast
Bimaculated Lark 2 (Record shot below)
Greater Short-toed Lark 20+
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Black-eared Wheatear 1f

Common Hoopoe, Lady's Mile 10th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Lady’s Mile 10th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bimaculated Lark, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 11th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bimaculated Lark, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 11th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco area today 9th March 2018

Saw at least 18 Ruppell’s Warbler today at Cape Greco – mainly males although there were a couple of females. More seemed to arrive as the day went on.

Also seen:

Cape Greco area
Greater Short-toed Lark 30 in one flock
Tawny Pipit 2
Cyprus Warbler 5m and 1f with nesting material in bill
Grey Heron 1 flying E
Common Buzzard 2
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Ruppell’s Warbler (almost certainly an undercount) 16m and 2f
Long-legged Buzzard 2
Common Hoopoe 2
Northern Wheatear 1m and 1f

Agia Napa Sewage Works
Ruppell’s Warbler 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 1
Black-necked Grebe 5 (3 in breeding plumage)
Ferruginous Duck 1
Cretzschmar’s Bunting 4
Eurasian Blackcap 1m

Ruppell's Warbler, Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell’s Warbler, Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell's Warbler female Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell’s Warbler female Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell's Warbler, Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell’s Warbler, Cape Greco 9th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area 5th March 2018

A few hours around Larnaca produced the following more interesting sightings. Migration still to get into full swing.

Meneou Pool
Greater Flamingo 39
Common Ringed Plover 1

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Greater Flamingo 180

Spiros Beach
Greater Sandplover 2 (see photo)
Caspian Gull 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Larnaca Sewage Works
Spur-winged Lapwing 4
Common Teal 50+ in one flock, very restless
Northern Shoveler c50 headed out to sea
Black-necked Grebe 12+ (Nine in breeding plumage)
Eurasian Wigeon 3f
Little Gull 1 imm
Common Buzzard 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1

Pervolia fields
Calandra Lark 3+

Petounta Point
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Great Cormorant 2 heading E
Eurasian Reed Warbler 1h

Agios Theodoros Coast – sea watch 15:10 – 16:30
Little Egret 3 on rocks
Great Crested Grebe 4 offshore
Northern Shoveler c50 heading W to E
Duck spp – probably Pintail c35 W to E
Great Cormorant c180 W to E 15:10

Greater Sandplover, Spiros Beach, 5th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Spiros Beach, 5th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos 1st March 2018

 

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)

Eurasian Siskin, Troodos 1st March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

European Greenfinch, Troodos 1st March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

European Greenfinch, Troodos 1st March 2018 (Cyprus Birding Tours)