Cyprus Birding Tours

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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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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


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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


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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

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


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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

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


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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.


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Guiding Larnaca area 31st October & 1st November 2014

A planned day’s guiding was spread over a day and a half in the end due to a flat car battery at Panagia Stazousa on Friday morning! The sort of morning that you couldn’t really make up – but Greg and I had good views of a late Cyprus Wheatear and were able to spend several hours listening and watching at least four male Cyprus Warbler while we waited for a jump start to the car. We also had plenty of European Robin, Eurasian Blackcap, Sardinian Warbler, Chiffchaff and Common Stonechat to watch and listen to. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over as did at least two Long-legged Buzzard. We saw many Chukar and after a heavy rain storm at least ten Common Kestrel were flying over the area.

With my car restarted we decided to try again on Saturday and I went off to replace the battery. With Greg’s primary targets, the Cyprus endemics, well seen on Friday we aimed for some general birding and additions to his life list. We stopped at Oroklini Marsh on our way to Cape Greco where the numbers of Mallard, Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal are increasing after the recent rain. We heard a Water Rail and saw a couple of Common Redshank as well as five Northern Lapwing and several Spur-winged Lapwing. Stopping at Kermia Beach we were pleased to find two Greater Sand Plover.

At Cape Greco there were flocks of finches – Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet – and a couple of Corn Bunting. Plenty of Spanish Sparrow were present and Eurasian Skylark and Meadow Pipit were flying over. We found a late migrating Northern Wheatear and at least four Blue Rock Thrush. The star birds, and the main reason for our visit there, were a male and female Finsch’s Wheatear that appeared to be competing for territory as we watched them.

A quick visit to Makronissos Beach found four Greater Sand Plover, a Little Egret and added Kentish Plover to Greg’s increasing world list. A Common Sandpiper was at Potamos Liopetri where two European Shag were fishing offshore. Arriving back in Larnaca we visited the northern edge of the Salt Lake where we found nearly three hundred Greater Flamingo were now on the Lake. At least fourteen Common Redshank were feeding at the edge as were five Common Ringed Plover and a Water Pipit. A flock of Kentish Plover could be seen in the distance.  Just as we were leaving I spotted a larger bird behind the reeds and was surprised to find it was a White Stork. A Black-crowned Night Heron flew over as we returned to the car.

Another surprise, again in the reeds but this time at Spiros Pool, was a juvenile Purple Heron. On the flooded area there we had two more Northern Lapwing for the day and three Green Sandpiper flew over. A couple of Black Francolin flew allowing good views and two arguing Cetti’s Warbler squabbled in a stand of reeds and for once came well into the open. A lone Common Starling on a wire was our last new species for the day.

Some good birds seen over a day and a half and thanks to Greg for his patience during our enforced stay in the Panagia Stazousa valley.

Sixty two species

European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, White Stork, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail (h), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting.

Panagia Stazousa 31st October 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Panagia Stazousa 31st October 2014 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report, Morning Guiding around Cape Greco 29th October 2014

A couple of hours around Cape Greco with John and his family produced some late migrants and numerous Common Stonechat taking up their territories. We found plenty of other winter visitors in the area – Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Skylark, European Robin and just one Western Black Redstart. We spent some time trying to find the Cyprus Warbler and were finally rewarded with one singing male out in the open and another flitting from bush to bush. We also found Spectacled and Sardinian Warbler as well as a couple of Spanish Sparrow and a flock of around 20 Corn Bunting.

A migrating flock of Common Crane flew over us at around 11.00 am and at the same time two European Bee-eater also passed over heading SE. A few minutes before them we had seen a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk circling up and then an Elenora’s Falcon. At both the Cape and around the Agia Napa Sewage Works we found several Eurasian Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat as well as some Willow Warbler and just one Chiffchaff. Other late migrants included an Isabelline Wheatear two Northern Wheatear, a  Red-backed Shrike, some migrating Barn Swallow, a Sand Martin and one Red-rumped Swallow.

As we finished our morning out a Long-legged Buzzard quartered the rocks at the back of Agia Napa Sewage Works. A majestic bird to watch and a good way to end our brief trip around the Cape Greco area.

Thirty six species seen:

Little Grebe, Mallard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Common Crane, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s Guiding Paphos 1st September 2014

A relief to find the day seemed cooler than last week as Paul and I set off for Asprokremmos Dam early this morning. A Common Kingfisher was the first bird of note sitting by the canal as we then headed to the area behind the dam. There we had good views of a male Cyprus Warbler (and heard another), several Spectacled and Sardinian Warbler, a Little Owl, around ten Chukar, a couple of Northern Wheatear and a Cyprus Wheatear. We were pleased to find the Cyprus Wheatear as they are moving off island now and getting harder to locate. As has been the case the last week island-wide, there were several Lesser Grey, Red-backed (mainly female) and Masked Shrike around. A Spotted Flycatcher was found in the pines of the utility area.

A single Glossy Ibis was a strange bird to find in one of the alfalfa fields near the Paphos Sewage Plant. With it were eight Spur-winged Lapwing – including a couple of juvenile. Three Cattle Egret were nearby and in total around 100 Yellow Wagtail were flying around and feeding in the fields. There were yet more shrikes and we had good views of a couple of Zitting Cisticola, Willow Warbler and three Whinchat. Sitting on hay bales near to the Ezousas Soakaways was a European Roller and yet more Lesser Grey Shrike on the wires and bales.

Finding the water filled Soakaways we disturbed a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron and a Garganey, and a Eurasian Hoopoe also flew up. Several Eurasian Reed Warbler were flitting around at the base of the reeds together with a Sedge Warbler and we heard a Water Rail. A Eurasian Turtle Dove was on the wires above the area. More Yellow Wagtail could be heard flying around.

We finished the morning driving over Minthis Hills where we had good views of an adult Bonelli’s Eagle and two European Hobby.  A few Sardinian Warbler were flying around but we could not find much else there – well there were obviously some Lesser Grey Shrike!! A good variety of species in just a few hours and Paul was especially pleased to have had good views of both the Cyprus endemics.

Forty two species seen:

Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Chukar, Water Rail (heard), Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Little Owl, Common Kingfisher, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two Mornings Guiding around Paphos 25th & 27th August 2014

Two early starts on Monday and Wednesday in order to take out Simon who was staying in Latchi. That way we managed to beat the worse of the late August heatwave and caught up with several good species as well. On Monday 25th August we started behind Neo Chorio near the Smygies picnic site and had great views of around seven Cretzschmar’s Bunting. One even sang on the top of a pine tree in front of us – a lifer for Simon that I had not been optimistic of finding. We also found several Cyprus Wheatear, a male Red-backed Shrike and a couple of Masked Shrike. Willow Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroat were around but the best warbler was an Eastern Orphean in a carob tree. Several Red-rumped Swallow were migrating over the area during our time there and a flock of nearly 50 Purple Heron flew over heading SW. We were pleased to pick out a Little Owl in the distance as we were searching the some noisy Chukar who were not so easy to see.

Visiting the area behind Arodes village we were treated to the first of the many Lesser Grey Shrike we saw on both mornings. We had six of them sitting in a group together on some electricity wires. A great sight. More were seen on the road between Kathikas and Akoursos. Another male Red-backed Shrike was at Akoursos where we had brief glimpses of a male Cyprus Warbler skulking in the bushes.

To get a better view of the Cyprus Warbler we headed straight to Asprokremmos Dam on the Wednesday morning where we found at least one male – which Simon was able to get a record shot of –  and yet more Lesser Grey Shrike and several female Red-backed Shrike. A Whinchat was also present and two male Ortolan Bunting flew in and landed in front of us before flying off again. It was good to be able to compare them with the Cretzschmar’s we had seen on Monday. Finally Simon got good views of Chukar here with at least five perched on a ridge in full view. There were several Eurasian Hoopoe in the trees near the car park and two Spectacled Warbler were near the mast.

We made a quick detour to Petra tou Romiou and were treated to a couple of minutes fly-past from two Eleonora’s Falcon and then we headed inland over Minthis Hills towards Tsada and then over to Evretou Dam. Two Long-legged Buzzard were flying over Minthis Hills and yet more shrikes were perched on scattered bushes.

It was very hot by the time we reached Evretou Dam – our last point of call. Single Little Egret, Glossy Ibis and Green Sandpiper were on the water’s edge and an adult European Roller was flying around. At least two Yellow Wagtail were feeding on the drying mud. The orchards held many Willow Warbler with double figures in one carob tree alone.

I drove Simon back to Latchi pleased that we had managed to see most of his target species – Black Francolin let us down. Two enjoyable mornings’ birding.

Full species list – 41

Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Green Sandpiper, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting