Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Cyprus Wheatear


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Cape Greco area 8th September 2020


Plenty of Red-backed and Masked Shrike at Cape Greco this morning as well as many Whinchat and some migrating raptors. Full list of the more interesting sightings:
Cape Greco
Northern Wheatear 3
Isabelline Wheatear 3
European Honey Buzzard 27
Cyprus Wheatear 9
Eastern Orphean Warbler 1 juv
Whinchat 11
Black-eared Wheatear 3
Cyprus Warbler 4
Red-backed Shrike 11 (see photo of juvenile)
Common Hoopoe 2
Greater Short-toed Lark 6+
Willow Warbler 12+
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Eleonora’s Falcon 2
Western Marsh Harrier 6
Montagu’s Harrier 1m
Eurasian Hobby 1
Eurasian Wryneck 1
European Bee-eatear many passing over heard only


Agia Napa Sewage Works
Masked Shrike 7ad and 1 juv (all within 1km of each other)
Red-backed Shrike 7
Ortolan Bunting 2
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Woodchat Shrike 1
Whinchat 3


Agia Napa Football fields
Red-backed Shrike 3
Cattle Egret 11
Tree Pipit 2
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1


Macronissos beach
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Whinchat 3
Kentish Plover 2
Greater Sandplover 4

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike, Cape Greco 8th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco, 3rd September 2020

Change of scenery this morning with a trip to Cape Greco. Although it was really hot, a quick trip around the area produced a good selection of migrants including European Honey Buzzard, juvenile Pallid Harrier, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat (see photo), Red-backed and Masked Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Still several Cyprus Wheatear around. At Macronissos Beach there were two Greater Sandplover and a couple of Tawny Pipit.

Whinchat, Cape Greco 3rd September (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos 16th June 2020

Another lovely day at Troodos enjoying the birds that seem to be numerous this summer with less disturbance.

Those seen included:

Platania
Grey Wagtail 1

Amiandos Botanical Gardens
Eleonora’s Falcon 1
European Serin h

Almyrolivado
Masked Shrike 6+ (see photo)
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Spotted Flycatcher 2 (see photo)
Cyprus Scops Owl 1h

Livadi tou Pashia
Cyprus Wheatear 1m singing
Common Hoopoe 1h
Masked Shrike 6+
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Red-rumped Swallow 4
European Serin 2

Troodos Square
Pallid Swift 3+
Cyprus Wheatear 3m and 1f

Caledonia Trail (Troodos end)
Grey Wagtail pair
Spotted Flycatcher 1

Lots of Coal Tits, Jays, Wrens, Blackbirds (see photo) and Chaffinches everywhere

Eurasian Blackbird, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Blackbird, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos 16th June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos area 2nd June 2020

Spent the day at Troodos which was full of breeding residents and summer visitors including Cyprus Wheatear, Masked Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, Olivaceous Warbler, Common Hoopoe, Red Crossbill, Eurasian Blackbird, Coal Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Northern Wren, Red-rumped Swallow, Eurasian Jay and Eurasian Crag Martin.

Cyprus Wheatear, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Wheatear, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Wagtail, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Wagtail, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Olivaceous Warbler, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Olivaceous Warbler, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wren, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wren, Troodos, 2nd June 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos, 2nd June 2020(c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Troodos, 2nd June 2020(c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Paphos area May 21st 2020

Headed towards Paphos yesterday for first day here without a lock down and restrictions on movement. Spent some time in the Akamas where I found plenty of European Roller, a Woodchat Shrike, several Black-headed Bunting, two Cretzschmar’s Bunting (see photo of female), European Turtle Dove, Red-rumped Swallow and Cyprus Wheatear. On the way home I visited Agia Varvara soakaways where there is still some water and spent time watching a Little Bittern and a Squacco Heron (see photo) fishing.

Cretzschmar's Bunting, Akamas 21st May 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Akamas 21st May 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Agia Varvara 21st May 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Squacco Heron, Agia Varvara 21st May 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area today 24th March 2020

Like many other local birders I was out trying to make the most of what could be last birding away from my garden for many weeks as we are now in lock down.

Some good birds around including my first Subalpine Warbler, Whinchat and Montagu’s Harrier of the year.

Meneou Pool
Mediterranean Gull 1
Slender-billed Gull 1
Garganey 3
Greater Flamingo c70
Little Egret 5
Common Sandpiper 1
Black-eared Wheatear 1m (see photo)

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Greater Flamingo c800
Northern Shoveler c120
Mediterranean Gull 5
Black-eared Wheatear 1m

Spiros Beach
Little Stint 10
Kentish Plover 2
Little Ringed Plover 1
Isabelline Wheatear 2

Spiros Pool
Spotted Redshank 4
Bluethroat 1
Garganey 50+
Ruff c30
Black-winged Stilt c40
Black-eared Wheatear 2m and 1f
Northern Wheatear 1m (see photo)
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Common Hoopoe 4
Masked Shrike 1m
Black-tailed Godwit 2
Subalpine Warbler 1m

Larnaca Airport Coast
Black-eared Wheatear 2m
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Common Nightingale 1

Softades
Northern Wheatear 1
Montagu’s Harrier 1m
Common Hoopoe 1m in off sea
Northern Wheatear 2

Kiti to Petounta road
Northern Wheatear 6

Petounta Point
Common Snipe 6
Little Ringed Plover 13 (see photo)
Citrine Wagtail 1f (see photo)
Black-headed Wagtail feldegg 12+
Blue-headed Wagtail flava 2
Grey-headed Wagtail thunbergi 1
Common Hoopoe 2
Kentish Plover 1
Northern Wheatear 3
Water Pipit 8+
Red-throated Pipit 1
Isabelline Wheatear 4
Black-eared Wheatear 5
Common Quail 1 in flight
Spur-winged Lapwing 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Common Redstart 2m

Kivisili fields
Black-eared Wheatear 4m
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Whinchat 2m
Common Hoopoe 3
Green Sandpiper 1

 

Black-eared Wheatear, Larnaca 24th March 2020 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

Black-eared Wheatear, Larnaca 24th March 2020 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

Female Citrine Wagtail, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Female Citrine Wagtail, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Ringed Plover, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Ringed Plover, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wheatear, Spiros Pool 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wheatear, Spiros Pool 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area 16th March 2020

Out around Larnaca yesterday morning doing the waterbird count. Still more than 2000 Greater Flamingos plus several hundred Slender-billed Gull, 23 Little Gull, three Mediterranean Gull, more than 50 Black-winged Stilt, nine Pied Avocet, a male Tufted Duck, three Great Crested Grebe, some Little and Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Kentish Plover, some Northern and Isabelline Wheatear, a couple of Common Hoopoe (see photo), lots of Common Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat and Western Yellow and White Wagtail and a Woodchat Shrike.

Common Hoopoe, Larnaca 16th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Larnaca 16th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco 13th March 2020

Lovely day around Cape Greco today – dodging some very heavy rain at times. Great birds including this male Masked Shrike (photo).

Other sightings included:

Isabelline Wheatear 28+
Northern Wheatear 12+
Common Hoopoe 20 incl a group of five in off sea together
Cyprus Wheatear 4
Common Crane 1 heading E 09:45
Black Redstart 10
Lesser Whitethroat 8+
Common Whitethroat 2
Song Thrush 7
Bluethroat 1
Black-eared Wheatear 2 pale throated and 5 dark throated
Ruppell’s Warbler 3m
Masked Shrike 1m
Blue Rock Thrush 3 (incl a pair with singing male)
Cyprus Warbler 3m
Common Nightingale 1
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1
Hen Harrier 1f
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 2
Common Redstart 1m and 1f
‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart 1f
Desert Wheatear 1m
Red-rumped Swallow 7
Black-headed Wagtail 30
Blue-headed Wagtail 2

Masked Shrike, Cape Greco 13th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Cape Greco 13th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020

Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Pleased to find one at Avakas coast this morning and then this individual on the beach at Mandria late in the afternoon. Light rubbish but never mind – always a great bird even if the photo doesn’t do it justice.

Had these other sightings today around Paphos:

Lara Beach
Woodchat Shrike 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Greater Short-toed Lark 3
Isabelline Wheatear 8
Woodlark 3

Avakas Coast
Desert Wheatear 1m
Isabelline Wheatear 5

Anarita Park early pm
Blue Rock Thrush 1m
Cyprus Wheatear 1
Pallid Swift 3

Timi Beach
Northern Wheatear 1m and 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 5
Little Ringed Plover 1

Mandria late pm
Desert Wheatear 1m on beach
Isabelline Wheatear 15+


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Agios Sozomenos, morning 7th October 2019

Quick visit to Agios Sozomenos outside Nicosia this morning. Very quiet apart from some Red-throated Pipits, a Cyprus Wheatear and a group of five Whinchat (one photographed below) and a male European Stonechat together on the edge of a field. The European Stonechat was my first of the winter – soon they will be so common everywhere until late March.

Whinchat , Agios Sozomenos, 7th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whinchat , Agios Sozomenos, 7th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Troodos area 2nd July 2019

Masked Shrike, Troodos 2nd July 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Troodos 2nd July 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

A relaxing morning in the Troodos area. Several family parties seen – of Masked Shrike, Northern Wren, Olivaceous Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Eurasian Jay as well as several Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Common Chaffinches, European Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Also a couple of Eurasian Crag Martin, two Grey Wagtail and a Common Hoopoe. This Masked Shrike looked the worse for wear – after a tiring breeding season I’m guessing.