Cyprus birdwatching | Cyprus Birding Tours

March 16, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Paphos, 16th March 2015

A day out with Pat and Chris looking for regional specialties and migrants stared at Geroskippou where we found Isabelline Wheatear , Red-rumped Swallow and Eurasian Hoopoe. Moving on to Paphos Sewage Works, we quickly found our target species with at least eight Spur-winged Lapwing visible from the road. Offshore we found five Armenian Gull floating in the bay and a the first of the day’s many Corn Bunting were found when a large flock flew out of the reeds there. European Serin were plentiful flying around the area and we saw one, maybe two, Hawfinch flying with some Chaffinch while four Cattle Egret were feeding in the fields. Another Hawfinch was with a finch flock on the approach road to Asprokremmos Dam. In the area behind the dam we found two male Cyprus Warbler, several Sardinian and Spectacled Warbler, two Red-throated Pipit, at least two Eurasian Hoopoe, two Little Owl, four Eastern Black-eared Wheatear and some Chukar. Up to eight Alpine Swift were flying overhead with a group of hirundines which included many Barn Swallow and Common House Martin. A flock of ten migrating Grey Heron flew over the dam heading north.

Heading towards the sea at Mandria we stopped to look at a group of at least ten Red-rumped Swallow mixed with other hirundines and then found three more Hawfinch near an olive grove. Close to the beach we saw three Isabelline Wheatear and at least six Northern Wheatear. Two small flocks totalling around thirty Greater Short-toed Lark were feeding in the area as were Serin, Linnet, Goldfinch and Spanish Sparrow and a lone Little Ringed Plover. We spent some time trying to locate a calling Black Francolin but only saw it fly away from us together with a flock of nearly a hundred Corn Bunting.

As we headed to the last stop of the day at Anarita Park, we stopped just before Agia Varvara when a Great Spotted Cuckoo flew by. We were able to relocate it and watch it through the ‘scope before it flew out of sight. We rounded off a good day’s birding with some new species at Anarita Park – Ruppell’s Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Lesser Whitethroat and Cretzschmar’s Bunting – as well as yet more Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, many more Corn Bunting and a great view of a Cetti’s Warbler unusually out in the open. As the sun set I returned Pat and Chris to their hotel after an enjoyable day’s birding.

Total number of species seen – 59

Great Cormorant, European Shag, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Yellow-legged 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, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 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

March 14, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning around Paphos 14th March 2015

It was good to meet up again with Lesley and Bill who I had taken out previously in November 2011. The idea was that I would take them to a few new sites this morning that they could visit again during their holiday. They already knew the Headland, Mandria and Paphos Sewage Works so we spent some time at Kouklia Soakways, behind Asprokremmos Dam and Anarita Park. After the flurry of activity of newly arrived migrants over the last few days we found the sites we visited much quieter and were pleased to finish before heavy rain hit the Paphos area.

Highlights: Kouklia Soakaways – A Long-legged Buzzard flew over the area low and close to us giving an impressive flying display. Two Common Buzzard were in the area and we had good views of singing male Sardinian Warbler.

Asprokremmos Dam – We found three singing male Cyprus Warbler – all of them out on the tops of bushes letting us see them well. We spent some time watching a flock of Serin and also found an Isabelline Wheatear, a male Ruppell’s Warbler, a Eurasian Hoopoe and two singing male Spectacled Warbler.

Anarita Park – There were many singing Corn Bunting and we had good views of a female Blue Rock Thrush, a male Cyprus Wheatear, another Isabelline Wheatear and a flock of Spanish Sparrow. A surprise find was a lone Common Starling on the wires near the masts.

Total number of species – 38

Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, European Robin, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

March 13, 2015
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Fall of migrants today at Cape Greco, 13th March 2015

After being confined to Nicosia for several days and feeling frustrated at the birds that were being seen elsewhere I headed for Cape Greco today. There were many Ruppell’s Warbler – almost one per bush and probably even more Chiffchaffs. There were also good numbers of Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler around. Many were seen coming in off the sea as were Tawny Pipit and Greater Short-toed Lark. Double figures of Cyprus, Northern and Isabelline Wheatear as well as a male Finsch’s Wheatear and a dark throated and pale throated male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. I also saw at least twenty Cretszchmar’s Bunting, eight Eurasian Hoopoe. plenty of Lesser Whitethroat, a Cyprus Warbler and a male Common Redstart, a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, a Wryneck and a Great Spotted Cuckoo.

March 8, 2015
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Migration around Larnaca today, 8th March 2015

Some movement of birds noted today around Larnaca. In the morning eighteen Mediterranean Gull in breeding plumage were a great sight on Larnaca Airport Pools near Meneou. There were also four Garganey together with Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and some Common Shelduck as well as around two hundred Greater Flamingo and some Slender-billed Gull. A flock of fourteen Grey Heron flew over around 11.00 am and then in the late afternoon two flocks of around thirty Great Cormorant each headed east.

March 7, 2015
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Cape Greco 7th March 2015

Annoyed to dip on the Rock Sparrow today at Cape Greco but found some good migrants instead – both male Subalpine and Ruppell’s Warbler, a Black-headed Wagtail, a singing male Cyprus Wheatear, two Eurasian Hoopoe and at least six Isabelline Wheatear. A Common Quail was calling at Kermia Beach where I also saw two Audouin’s Gull and a Sandwich Gull.

At least thirty Slender-billed Gull were on Larnaca Airport Pools later and twenty six were flying east close to the sea off Spiros Beach. Thirteen Armenian Gull had flown over Cape Greco around midday.

Isabelline Wheatear Larnaca Sewage Works March 7th 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ruppell’s Warbler Cape Greco 7th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 4, 2015
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Larnaca and Oroklini today, 4th March 2015

Some of the more interesting birds seen while I was out today around Larnaca and Oroklini
Larnaca Sewage Works area – Eurasian Curlew 6
Petounta Point – Northern Wheatear 1m, Kentish Plover 2 (pair)
Kivisili – Hoopoe 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1
Oroklini Beach – Armenian Gull 11, Caspian Gull 3, Mediterranean Gull 3 adult and 1 second year bird
Oroklini Marsh – Common Snipe 10, Black-winged Stilt 5, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Pied Avocet 1, Ruff c30, Red-crested Pochard 2m and 2f, Mediterranean Gull 1 adult, Armenian Gull 2, Common Redshank 2, Common Kingfisher 1, Northern Pintail 1m and 2f, Green Sandpiper 1, Cattle Egret 50+, Greater Flamingo c30, Western Marsh Harrier 1

Red-crested Pochard male and female Oroklini Marsh 4th March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 3, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two mornings around Paphos, 2nd & 3rd March 2015

Two good mornings’ birding with Ann and Peter, continuing on from our day in Akrotiri two weeks ago. We visited a selection of sites in the Paphos area. Migrants not around yet in great numbers but we caught up with two male Finsch’s Wheatear at Anarita Park, two singing Cyprus Warblers at Asprokremmos, a soaring Long-legged Buzzard at Tsada and several Isabelline Wheatear at Mandria. Large flocks of finches especially Serin were at most of the sites we visited and at least thirty Woodlark were at Anarita. We also saw two Eurasian Hoopoe at Asprokremmos Dam, three Spur-winged Lapwing at Paphos Sewage Works, several large flocks of Corn Bunting and Spectacled Warbler at both Asprokremmos and Tsada.

Cyprus Warbler Asprokremmos Dam 2nd March 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Total number of species – 47

Great Cormorant, European Shag, Cattle Egret, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Eurasian Blackbird, 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 Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

February 26, 2015
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Some decent weather at last, 26th February 2015

With no rain forecast, for the first time in days, I headed out with first stop Agios Sozomenos on the outskirts of Nicosia. There was still a male Finsch’s Wheatear present. Two sub-adult Bonelli’s Eagle, a Peregrine Falcon and a Long-legged Buzzard flew over and at the water treatment plant there were two Ferruginous Duck. Blackcap could be heard singing from many bushes as could several male Spectacled Warbler. I also saw two Long-legged Buzzard flying over Panagia Stazousa on the way to Larnaca. A single Isabelline Wheatear and Eurasian Hoopoe at Petounta Point showed that migration continues to stutter into gear. On the beach there were four Kentish Plover. Nine Eurasian Curlew were near the Larnaca Sewage Pools and at least eight Calandra Lark were in the fields outside Pervolia.

Eurasian Hoopoe Petounta Point 26th February 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

February 18, 2015
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Water bird count around Larnaca 18th February 2015

Very windy today at Larnaca where I did the water bird count. A lot of water on the Salt Lake so the Greater Flamingo were concentrated at the edges where the water is shallower. Best species was Little Gull – one on Meneou Pool and another on the Sewage Pools. A Eurasian Hoopoe and a Common Quail were seen on the track leading to the hide at the Sewage Pools.

Meneou Pool – Little Gull 1 first winter, Common Shelduck 3

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Greater Flamingo 245, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Caspian Gull 3, Common Black-headed Gull 107

Larnaca Sewage Pools – Barn Swallow 8, Mallard 73, Eurasian Teal 330, Black-necked Grebe 1, Northern Shoveler 13, Northern Pintail 1m, Gadwall 1m, Great Cormorant 1, Quail (in off sea), Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Little Gull 1

Spiros Pool/Beach – Spur-winged Lapwing 2, Greater Flamingo 67, Sandwich Tern 3, Golden Plover 11, Common Redshank 1

Larnaca Airport Pools North – Northern Shoveler 38, Greater Flamingo 82, Kentish Plover 12, Barn Swallow 2, Coot 3

Larnaca Salt Lake – Northern Shoveler 301, Common Shelduck 660, Greater Flamingo 3364, Barn Swallow c60, Green Sandpiper 1, Black-headed Gull c300, Caspian Gull c80, Armenian Gull c10, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Redshank 10, Common Ringed Plover 4, Dunlin 5, Little Stint 7, Kentish Plover 6

February 17, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Limassol area, 17th February 2015

First trip out of the new season was around Limassol with Ann and Peter. We visited Germasogeia Dam, Phassouri Reed Beds, Akrotiri Gravel Pits, Akrotiri Salt Lake, Zakaki Marsh, Lady’s Mile and Kensington Cliffs. A windy day still mainly dominated by winter visitors although we found a Eurasian Hoopoe at the Gravel Pits and Barn Swallows and Common House Martins at Germasogeia Dam. We had good views of a juvenile Caspian Gull and adult and juvenile Armenian Gull at Lady’s Mile with other highlights – a Ferruginous Duck on Zakaki; Woodlarks at Akrotiri Gravel Pits; a male and a female Black Francolin in flight at Phassouri Reed Beds and a Long-legged Buzzard at Kensington Cliffs.

Days species – 57:

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Shag, Little Egret, Greater Flamingo, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Curlew, Common Black-headed Gull, Baltic Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

February 14, 2015
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Spring and winter visitors today, 14th February 2015

The nine Ruddy Shelduck were still at Paralimni Lake this morning where there are still around two hundred Greater Flamingo. I heard two Water Rail and there were eight Ruff feeding. A couple of Barn Swallows were in the area together with a single Alpine Swift. Only winter visitors though at Agia Trias – one Sandwich Tern, one Greater Sand Plover and one Golden Plover.

As Cape Greco was hosting a car rally – not exactly the best use for a Natura 2000 site I would have thought – there was no access there so I had a walk from the east of Agia Napa and found one of the earliest Isabelline Wheatear of the year (the first had been found at Avagas last Saturday).

On the beach at Oroklini there were still many Black-headed Gull with just one Mediterranean Gull, two Sandwich Tern, a couple of Armenian Gull and at least one Caspian Gull. On Oroklini Marsh there were hunting Western Marsh Harrier and Long-legged Buzzard which put up three Common Snipe. As well as the overwintering Greater Flamingo, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal there were at least fifty Barn Swallow and probably more House Martin flying around the area and just one Common Swift. A flock of over a hundred Common Starling were also seen.