Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus


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Larnaca area today, 13th April 2015

Some good birds around the Larnaca area seen on both an early morning and later afternoon ‘drive around’. I thought the days highlight would be a male Golden Oriole I found when doing my Common Bird Survey at Mennogeia until I found a Eurasian Dotterel on the Larnaca Airport Fields late in the day.

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Little Gull 1, Red-necked Phalarope 3, Common Greenshank 7, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Black-winged Stilt 50+, Greater Flamingo c120 (all pink!)

Meneou Pool – Whiskered Tern 1

Alaminos – European Roller 1, Red-rumped Swallow 3

Mennogeia – Cyprus Warbler 2m and 1f, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2, Golden Oriole 1m, Masked Shrike 1, Common Nightingale 1 singing

Mennogeia to Alaminos Road – European Roller 1

Larnaca Sewage Works – Collared Pratincole 6

Spiros Pool – Little Tern 1, Northern Wheatear 5f

Larnaca Desalination/Airport Fields – Eurasian Dotterel 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 2, Red-throated Pipit 2+


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 11th April 2015

A good day’s general bird watching in the Paphos area with Nicke where we managed to pick up some good sightings including the vagrant male Caspian Plover that has been at Mandria for the last two days.

Highlights per location:

Anarita Park: Lesser Kestrel c15, Chukar 2, Great Spotted Cuckoo 3, European Roller 1, Eurasian Hoopoe 2, Eurasian Wryneck 3, Tawny Pipit 12, Common Nightingale 3 heard singing, Common Redstart 1m, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 6, Cyprus Warbler pair, Woodchat Shrike 2, Ortolan Bunting 2+

Asprokremmos Dam area – Baltic Gull 3, Little Owl 1, Alpine Swift 8+, Tree Pipit 2, Red-throated Pipit 4+, Whinchat 4, Spectacled Warbler 2, Cyprus Warbler 1

Petra tou Romiou – Cyprus Wheatear 1, Cyprus Warbler 1

Lower Ezousas River – Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Crake 1m, Yellow Wagtail

Paphos Sewage Works – Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Collared Pratincole

Mandria – Caspian Plover 1m, Black Francolin 1

Total – 62 species

European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Little Crake, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Spur-winged Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Plover, Dunlin, Baltic Gull (Lesser Black-backed Gull), Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Common Nightingale, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 9th April 2015

Olöf and Gun had three priorities for our day out –Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear and Great Spotted Cuckoo. We headed out to Anarita Park where Great Spotted Cuckoo had been seen regularly recently. Our first scan of the area produced several Ortolan Bunting and a Tawny Pipit but the cold wind and the threat of rain made us worry we wouldn’t find our target. As we returned to the car to search other areas, one flew into a hawthorn bush just 30metres from us and meant we got great views – in fact we moved off before the Great Spotted Cuckoo did. We then found two maybe three others and one even sat on a fence close to us while we were watching a male Cyprus Wheatear singing on his territory. We also found a Wrneck, several Eurasian Blackcap, a European Roller, a couple of Lesser and Common Whitethroat, at least five Whinchat, two Woodchat Shrike and two female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. We found the Little Owl on its usual rock and to the watched a small group of Lesser Kestrel to the north of the area. A male Western Marsh Harrier migrated over being harassed by a Hooded Crow.

Two of the targets found and we headed to the area behind Asprokremmos Dam for the third. The wind meant that sylvia warblers were not keen to come out and sing but finally we found a male and then a female and heard at least one other singing well inside a bush. In the area we heard another Great Spotted Cuckoo, found a female Eurasian Pied Flycatcher in a carob grove, a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, several Tawny Pipit, two male Spectacled Warbler, a couple of Chukar and several Whinchat. While eating our lunch in the pines of the utility area we watched a couple of Wood Warbler, a Eurasian Hoopoe and heard a Willow Warbler. Several Alpine Swift and Red-rumped Swallow were flying over the area.

It was very windy down at Mandria where we found a single Black-winged Stilt on the beach and several Isabelline and Northern Wheatear in the fields. Towards the church we got good views of a male Black Francolin and at least three Eurasian Turtle Dove flew over. At Paphos Sewage Works we watched a couple of Spur-winged Lapwing in a field which were joined by a Collared Pratincole and a group of herons flew in off the sea and headed inland – it contained Grey and Purple Heron, a single Cattle Egret and at least eleven Black-crowned Night Heron. We then watched a flock of around a hundred of Yellow Wagtail – mainly feldegg with some flava – and at least ten Red-throated Pipit feeding on a recently mown field. Two Grey-headed Wagtail, thunbergi, were on a pool at the mouth of the Ezousas river together with a Little Egret. As we left the area we were greeted by the beautiful sight of five Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. A great end to a good day’s birding with our targets met and we avoided the rain as well!

Sixty four different birds seen:

Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting.


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Akrotiri and Larnaca today, 8th April 2015

A Melanistic Greater Flamingo was a strange sight at Akrotiri this morning. Black bird in a small flock of the usual pink ones!!

Apart from the black Greater Flamingo there were some interesting birds there including a Cream-coloured Courser which I saw flying away and an early morning appearance by a male and female Black-bellied Sandgrouse which I missed!

At Larnaca in the late afternoon there appeared to have been a late fall of Whinchat and other passerines.

Phassouri Reed Beds – Common Quail 1h, Sedge Warbler 1h, Squacco Heron 2, Woodchat Shrike 1

Pool near sheds – Wood Sandpiper 12, Green Sandpiper 2, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Collared Pratincole 1, Glossy Ibis 18 flying over, Great Egret 1 flying over, Grey Heron 7 flying over, Black-winged Stilt 5, Little Stint 6, Little Ringed Plover 6, Ruff 8, Spotted Redshank 1, Red-rumped Swallow 8, Common Snipe 2

Akrotiri Salt Lake – Melanistic Greater Flamingo in with c20 others

Akrotiri Gravel Pits area – c600 Garganey in bay, Tree Pipit 2, Glossy Ibis 9 + 12 + 21 flying over, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2m dark throat, Red-throated Pipit 1, Woodchat Shrike 1

Lady’s Mile – Cream-coloured Courser 1 (seen in flight), Marsh Sandpiper 3, Common Greenshank 3, Slender-billed Gull 2

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Little Gull 1, Greater Flamingo c30

Larnaca Sewage Works – Sand Martin 3, Whinchat 4m and 1f, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 1m, Wryneck 1, Common Redstart 1f, Common Whitethroat 1

Spiros Pool – Glossy Ibis 19, Little Egret 8


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Zakaki and Larnaca, 2nd April 2015

Picking Bob up in Limassol for a day’s birding in Larnaca we decided to check out Lady’s Mile and Zakaki Marsh before heading east. We found a Squacco Heron on the marsh together with at least six Little Egret, three Ferruginous Duck and a male Garganey. We could hear several Eurasian Reed Warbler singing in the reeds while at least two Sedge Warbler could be seen. On Lady’s Mile we found a selection of waders including Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper and Little Stint.

On arrival at Oroklini we were pleased to receive a fly pass from a very pale Long-legged Buzzard. There were many Black-winged Stilt here as well, plus several Spur-winged Lapwing, a Common Snipe, some Little Stint, nearly fifty Ruff and a Wood Sandpiper. A male and female Northern Pintail were also present. The water was very deep on the main lake where we found a lone Greater Flamingo and some late Eurasian Teal and Northern Shoveler. A European Coot already had several quite large young.

The water level was also very high on the main Larnaca Salt Lake but in the north east corner we found nearly three hundred Greater Flamingo, at least eighteen Purple Heron, two Cattle Egret, around thirty Black-winged Stilt and three Spur-winged Lapwing. A flash of yellow moving between the mud and the reeds caught our eye and we were really pleased to find a male Citrine Wagtail. A Water Pipit and Woodchat Shrike were also seen and a Western Marsh Harrier quartered the area.

The other side of the airport close to the sea we found more Greater Flamingo and Black-winged Stilt as well as four Common Greenshank. Near to the coast a Gull-billed Tern was flying along the shore as were several migrating Barn Swallow. We found another Woodchat Shrike and plenty of Northern and Isabelline Wheatear on a ploughed field together with a small flock of Yellow Wagtail – both flava and feldegg races. As we were leaving the area we caught site of a Little Gull on the Airport Pool South and we spent some time watching it flying over the water – almost tern like.

We had had enough of the wind so headed inland to Kiti Dam. The trees there were quite quiet although we did manage to find at least three Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and a Blackcap. A Little Egret also flew out of the trees much to our surprise and two Eurasian Hoopoe were feeding on the track as we drove up. Our final stop was Kivisilli fields where we were pleased to find at least three Lesser Kestrel (and a couple of Common) as well as the usual Isabelline and Northern Wheatear plus eight Tawny Pipit.

On our return to Limassol in failing light we made for the Zakaki Marsh hide again where we were treated to great views of one of the male Little Crake currently there. We may not have seen great numbers of birds but we had seen some quality species.

Number of different birds seen – 65

Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Black Francolin h, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Ruff, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Water Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Citrine Wagtail, White Wagtail, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting

 Kivisilli Fields 2nd April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Kivisilli Fields 2nd April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Interesting migrants around Nicosia

Having been confined to Nicosia over the last few days I was pleased to find some interesting migrants on both my local patch and a bit further afield:

March 30th and 31st: Manglis Lake – Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1 singing male, two Tree Pipit and a Cattle Egret

April 1st: Agios Sozomenos – Woodchat Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 1, Eastern Black-throated Wheatear 2 dark throated males, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 2 singing in eucalyptus trees, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Tree Pipit 3, Yellow Wagtail c10, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2+h. Also there were two Little Owl, some singing male Spectacled Warbler (one seen carrying food into probable nest site), and both Western Jackdaw and Spanish Sparrow seen carrying nesting material.


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Three Day’s Guiding Paphos and Akrotiri 24th, 26th and 27th March 2015

Three days out with Alan and Marilyn gave a good opportunity to catch up with many different resident and migrant species. They wanted the chance to get as many photos as possible and although not all the birds we saw were photo-friendly we found a wide variety of species and ended up with a three day total of 107 different birds: 59 on 24th, 51 on 26th (when the afternoon was very quiet at the sites we visited) and 71 on 27th.

Highlights of each location were:

Tuesday 24th March:

Paphos Headland – Red-throated Pipit 10+, Common Nightingale 2h, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Common Whitethroat 4, Subalpine Warbler 4m, Rüppell’s Warbler 1f, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 6

Paphos Sewage Works – Spur-winged Lapwing 4, Sardinian Warbler, European Serin c50

Lower Ezousas River – Great Egret 2, Purple Heron 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Tree Pipit 1, Rüppell’s Warbler 2m, Black-headed Wagtail 3m

Mandria – Eurasian Hoopoe 3, Greater Short-toed Lark c20, Isabelline Wheatear 12, Northern Wheatear 16+, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2, Hawfinch 2

Asprokremmos Dam area – Common Quail 1h, Chukar 2, Little Owl 1, Common Cuckoo 1, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Tawny Pipit 2, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2, Spectacled Warbler 1, Cyprus Warbler 1m and 1f, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 2, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 2

Thursday 26th March:

Anarita Park –  Bonelli’s Eagle 1 immature, Lesser Kestrel 4, Great Spotted Cuckoo 4, Little Owl 1, Wryneck 1, Red-rumped Swallow 1, Tawny Pipit 2, Common Stonechat 2, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 1m, Cyprus Wheatear 2m, Cyprus Warbler 1m, Corn Bunting 12+

Tsada Hills – Hen Harrier 1m, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Spectacled Warbler 1, Cyprus Wheatear 2, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1

Mavrokolympos Dam – Long-legged Buzzard 2, Chukar 3+, Cyprus Wheatear 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Whitethroat 1

Akoursos Valley – Eurasian Scops Owl 1h, Common Nightingale 1h, Cyprus Warbler 2m

Cape Drepanum – Great Cormorant 4, European Shag 3, Yellow-legged Gull 30+, Greater Short-toed Lark 4, Barn Swallow 30+ migrating N along coast, Subalpine Warbler 1m

Friday 27th March:

Zakaki Marsh – Little Egret 1, Little Crake 1m, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2+h, Sedge Warbler 1h

Phassouri Reed Beds – Squacco Heron 2, Cattle Egret 1, Purple Heron 3, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Crane 3 flying over heading N, Black Francolin 1+h, Common Quail 1h, Black-winged Stilt 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 1, Common Nightingale 1, European Blackcap 3

Flooded Phassouri old rabbit farm area – Great Egret 1, Black-winged Stilt 1, Little Ringed Plover c10, Kentish Plover 1, Ruff c50, Common Snipe 1, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Sand Martin 1, Yellow Wagtail inc Black and Blue headed and ‘dombrowski’ intergrade, Masked Shrike 2

Akrotiri Gravel Pits and coast – Great Egret 3 in from sea over area, ‘Baltic’ Gull 1 migrating with 10 Yellow-legged Gull offshore, Common Black-headed Gull c60 in bay, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Common Redstart 1f, Desert Wheatear 1m, Cyprus Warbler 1h, Masked Shrike 1, Ortolan Bunting 1

Bishop’s Pool – Black-crowned Night Heron 3, Ferruginous Duck 2

Lady’s Mile – Black-winged Stilt 29, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover 1+ flew with flock of Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Common Greenshank 4, Slender-billed Gull 8

Anarita Park – Lesser Kestrel 6, Woodchat Shrike 1, Spanish Sparrow c30

List of all 107 birds seen:

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, ‘Baltic’ Gull (Lesser Black-backed Gull), Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, ‘dombrowski’ Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Western Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler h, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Rüppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Black-winged Stilt, Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-winged Stilt, Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Crane 2 Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Crane 2 Phassouri Reed Beds 27th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Egret Akrotiri Gravel Pits 27th March 2015  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Egret Akrotiri Gravel Pits 27th March 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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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s Guiding around Paphos, 22nd March 2015

It was still windy in Paphos this morning although less so than the previous two days. John and Joy wanted a morning out to see some East Mediterranean birds;  so we visited Paphos Sewage Works first to find Spur-winged Lapwing. We only located two of them but we spent most of our time watching several Black-headed Wagtail in the lower end of the Ezousas river. Three Baltic Gull passed off shore heading west and five Little Ringed Plover flew in off the sea and heading inland. There were still some European Serin around and a noticeable passage of Common Swift, Barn Swallow and Common House Martin.

We found a single Red-rumped Swallow as we drove down to the sea at Mandria and then watched two Hooded Crow mobbing a Eurasian Sparrowhawk. More Black-headed Wagtail were around the area as were several flocks of Spanish Sparrow. Near the coast we found at least two Little Ringed Plover feeding on the grassy area where there were also several Isabelline and Northern Wheatear and a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. A flock of around twenty five Greater Short-toed Lark were also feeding there.

Behind the Asprokremmos Dam we had to be very patient trying to find a Cyprus Warbler but finally a male appeared and sang for us. Nearby we had found a melanistic male Sardinian Warbler with an all-black head. We had a good selection of birds near the Mast including a migrating second calendar year male Western Marsh Harrier, Red-throated Pipit, Little Owl, Corn Bunting, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (dark throat), Chukar, Tawny Pipit and Cretszschmar’s Bunting.

Total species seen – 49

European Shag, Cattle Egret, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Baltic Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Ringed Plover, Little Owl, Common Swift, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin (h), Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Little Owl Asprokremmos Dam 22nd March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Owl Asprokremmos Dam 22nd March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two day’s Guiding Akrotiri and Paphos 6th and 20th March 2015

Two days out with Pauline and Michael over again on holiday in Cyprus. Despite the two weeks difference between them, both days out were characterized by strong winds which affected the number of species seen. However, we managed a total of 53 on 6th March visiting Germasogeia Dam, the Akrotiri Peninsula, Petra tou Romiou and Kouklia Soakaways; and 54 on 20th March when we visited Cape Drepanum, Mavrokolympos Dam, Tsada Hills, Episkopi (Paphos), Mandria, Asprokremmos Dam and Anarita Masts. Over the two days we saw a total of 74 different species. The final bird we saw was a Eurasian Pied Flycatcher which surprised us as we said our goodbyes in the car park at Paphos Harbour!

Highlights were:

6th March

Germasogeia Dam – Common Quail

Akrotiri Gravel Pits – Kentish Plover, Isabelline Wheatear, Woodlark, Eurasian Hoopoe

Akrotiri Salt Lake – Greater Flamingo

Lady’s Mile – Armenian Gull, Caspian Gull

Kouklia Soakaways – Long-legged Buzzard, Hawfinch

Petra tou Romiou – Alpine Swift

20th March

Cape Drepanum – European Shag, Eurasian Skylark

Mavorkolympos Dam – Alpine Swift, Isabelline, Northern and Cyprus Wheatear, Common Whitethroat

Episkopi (Paphos) – Long-legged Buzzard

Mandria – Greater Short-toed Lark, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (light throated form)

Asprokremmos Dam area – Little Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail – feldegg, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (dark throated form), Cyprus Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Rüppell’s Warbler

Anartia Mast area – Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Tawny Pipit, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (dark throated form), Blue Rock Thrush

Paphos Harbour carpark – Eurasian Pied Flycatcher

Total species seen – 74

Little Grebe, European Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Common Moorhen, Kentish Plover, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin,  Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Rüppell’s Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Hawfinch, Corn Bunting

 Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Anarita Mast 20th March (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Anarita Mast 20th March (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Tawny Pipit, Anarita Mast 20th March 2015  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Tawny Pipit, Anarita Mast 20th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning around Paphos 18th March 2015

Visited Paphos Sewage Works, Mandria, Asprokremmos Dam and Anarita Park with Steve this morning and successfully found his target species of Cyprus Wheatear, Cyprus Warbler, Spur-winged Lapwing, Chukar and Red-throated Pipit all of which were lifers. We had no joy finding his other target the Long-legged Buzzard at those sites but our time out was limited. We found some other great birds though which included Lesser Kestrel, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Greater Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Hawfinch and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear.

Total number of species seen – 51

European Shag, Cattle Egret, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin (h), Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, White Wagtail, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Hawfinch, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Great Spotted Cuckoo Anarita Park 18th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Great Spotted Cuckoo Anarita Park 18th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Waterbird count and other birding around Larnaca today, 17th March 2015

Mixture of migrants and winter visitors around Larnaca today

Black-winged Stilt Meneou Pool 17th March 2015  (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-winged Stilt Meneou Pool 17th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Meneou Pool – Black-winged Stilt 6

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Black-winged Stilt 13, Slender-billed Gull 49, Greater Flamingo 776, Black-headed Gull 215, Common Shelduck 42, Little Gull 1, Armenian Gull 2+, Caspian Gull 2

Larnaca Sewage Works – Green Sandpiper 2, Northern Shoveler 21, Eurasian Teal 111, Spur-winged Lapwing 6, Ferruginous Duck 2, Ruppell’s Warbler 1f, Great Cormorant c180 flying E at 17.15pm

Spiros Pool and Beach area – Wryneck 2, Temminck’s Stint 1, Little Stint 3

Larnaca Airport Pools North – Greater Flamingo 39

Larnaca Salt Lake – Greater Flamingo 2770, Slender-billed Gull 159, Little Ringed Plover 3, Northern Shoveler 313, Common Shelduck 44, Eurasian Wigeon 1m and 1f, Northern Pintail 1m and 1f, Black-necked Grebe 11, Eurasian Reed Warbler 6+heard singing, Eurasian Teal 38, Green Sandpiper 1, Black-winged Stilt 2, Spur-winged Lapwing 2, Common Redshank 21, Common Snipe 1, Ruff 3, Little Stint 54, Dunlin 4, Common Ringed Plover 1, Kentish Plover 11

Kiti Dam – Masked Shrike 1, Eurasian Coot 31, Northern Shoveler 3, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 1

Petounta Point – Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Isabelline Wheatear 2, Corncrake 1 (flew from side of track into cereal crop), Red-throated Pipit 3, Kentish Plover 2

Eurasian Hoopoe Petounta Point 17th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Petounta Point 17th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours