Cyprus birdwatching | Cyprus Birding Tours

February 7, 2015
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Morning out at Athalassa and Panagia Stazousa, 7th February 2015

A good selection of ducks at Athalassa Dam this morning although only the Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal were obliging enough to be seen from the hide there. A female Tufted Duck, female Common Pochard and two male and a female Ferruginous Duck were present but could only be seen through the gaps in the waterside vegetation now that the water level is so high.

Singing Cyprus Warblers could be heard as I drove from Pyrga to Panagia Stazousa. I counted and saw at least 12 males and two females but heard several others as well.

Ferruginous Duck and female Common Pochard Athalassa Dam 7th February 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

February 6, 2015
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Paralimni Lake, Cape Greco and Oroklini, Friday 6th February 2015

Due to road works I couldn’t get to my usual view point at Paralimni Lake today but despite that I managed to find the nine Ruddy Shelduck that have been there for several weeks now. A few Spur-winged Lapwing were flying around and there were at least two hundred Greater Flamingo on the Lake. A few Barn Swallow flew over and in Sotira village there were some Common Starling. The sea was very rough at the coastal sites I visited and at Agia Trias eight Grey Plover were together on the few rocks that were exposed together with a Greater Sand Plover. Three Sandwich Tern were fishing offshore and four Audouin’s Gull headed north – one a first winter bird.

I also found Audouin’s Gull at Kermia Beach (3) and Macronissos Beach (4) as well as one flying past Cape Greco. At least three male Cyprus Warbler were singing at Cape Greco. Stopping at Oroklini Marsh in the late afternoon it was good to see two male and four female Red-crested Pochard there as well as a Water Rail, three Northern Lapwing, 42 Spur-winged Lapwing, over 200 Cattle Egret coming to roost, a female Northern Pintail, a Common Redshank, several Barn Swallow and my first House Martin for the year.

February 4, 2015
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Akrotiri and Germasogeia today, 4th February 2015

Spent a lovely spring day around Limassol with highlights:

Phassouri Reed Beds – Hawfinch 1+, Common Reed Bunting 3, Water Pipit 2, Common Snipe 4, Little Egret 1, Blackcap 10+, Song Thrush 5+, Blackbird 1, Western Marsh Harrier 2

Akrotiri Gravel Pits – Green Sandpiper 1, Western Marsh Harrier 1

Lady’s Mile – Sandwich Tern 2, Armenian Gull 20, Caspian Gull 3+

Zakaki Marsh – Common Kingfisher 1, Common Snipe 1, Penduline Tit 1h

Germasogeia Dam – Bonelli’s Eagle 1 adult, Grey Wagtail 2, Barn Swallow 7, Woodlark 14

January 17, 2015
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Waterbird Count today around Larnaca, 17th January 2015

Out today doing the waterbird count around Larnaca Salt Lake area and Kiti Dam. Also visited Petounta Point. The highlight was a group of seventeen Black-necked Grebe on Larnaca Salt Lake which is full of water and had few waders as a result.

Highlights were:
Meneou Pool – Greater Flamingo 465

Larnaca Sewage Works – Eurasian Teal 829, Mallard 119, Eurasian Wigeon 15, Black-necked Grebe 5, Tufted Duck 4, Caspian Gull 3, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Eurasian Curlew 1

Spiros Pool & Beach area – Greater Flamingo 15, Golden Plover c300 flying over airport in distance, Dunlin 2, Little Stint 3, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Ringed Plover 12, Kentish Plover 89

Larnaca Airport Pools North – Greater Flamingo 24, Common Redshank 1

Larnaca Salt Lake – Black-headed Gull 108, Common Shelduck 607, Northern Shoveler 87, Greater Flamingo 1820, Black-necked Grebe 17, Reed Bunting 3, Common Snipe 2, Eurasian Teal 107, Common Redshank 3, Common Buzzard 1, Western Marsh Harrier 2, Water Pipit 1, Dunlin 4, Blackbird 1

Larnaca Airport Pools South – Greater Flamingo 123, Caspian Gull 50, Armenian Gull 12, Heuglin’s Gull 1 (maybe 2)

Kiti Dam (has water) – Western Marsh Harrier 1, Eurasian Teal 6, Black-headed Gull 54

Petounta Point – Sandwich Tern 2, Common Buzzard 1

January 16, 2015
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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

January 14, 2015
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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

January 12, 2015
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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!!

January 4, 2015
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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

January 1, 2015
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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.

December 12, 2014
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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

December 6, 2014
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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

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

December 5, 2014
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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.