Eurasian Hoopoe | Cyprus Birding Tours

April 22, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Around Paphos 22nd April 2016

A day around the Paphos birding spots with Brenda and George today. We started at Petra tou Romiou where we had a dozen overhead Alpine Swift, singing male Cyprus Wheatear and Warbler as well as two distant Eleonora’s Falcon and close up views of a Peregrine Falcon. We then explored the area behind Asprokemmos Dam near the mast where we spent some time watching a family party of Spectacled Warbler, saw a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, a couple of Whinchat, a pair of Red-rumped Swallow and a migrating Purple Heron. On approaching the Dam itself we were pleased to see an Osprey flying over the area. In the trees of the amenities area near the Dam we found two male Collared Flycatcher, two Spotted Flycatcher and a Eurasian Hoopoe.

Moving to the Sewage Works we quickly found our target species – the Spur-winged Lapwing. There were at least seven birds around the Plant buildings and in fields. We watched at least 35 migrating Glossy Ibis and also found our only Yellow Wagtails of the day – two Black-headed around a small puddle of water. On arrival at the coast of Mandria we saw seventeen Northern Pintail flying E along the coast. In a field we found three Spur-winged Lapwing and a Ruff and a male Red-backed Shrike on a tree near the picnic site where we ate our lunch.

Moving inland we headed to the Ezousas Valley behind Agia Varvara village. A lone Garganey was on one of the pools there and we also found Spanish Sparrow, Eurasian Turtle Dove and Eurasian Reed Warbler. We finished the day in Anarita Park. There we found three pairs of Great Spotted Cuckoo, two Little Owl, a hunting female Pallid Harrier, around twenty Lesser Kestrel, a European Roller, a Woodchat Shrike, two Whinchat and a Long-legged Buzzard. As at our first stop we also had Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler. A good end to a good day’s birding.

Total species seen – 54

Little Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Black-headed Wagtail, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting

Great Spotted Cuckoo, Anarita Park, 22nd April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spur-winged Lapwing, Mandria 22nd April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

April 7, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Limassol 7th April 2016

As the temperature slowly creeps up on a daily basis and the water on the coastal sites begins to evaporate, I decided to split the day out with Lynne and Kevin between the Akrotiri sites and two inland areas close to Limassol. We started the day at Germasogeia Dam where we headed for the Finikaria end of the dam, stopping on the way to watch a Cyprus Wheatear and a flock of Spanish Sparrow. At Finikaria we spotted two Little Owls in a carob tree and then stopped to enjoy a calling Black Francolin by the trackside. We then watched a singing male Sardinian Warbler which was chased off its singing perch by a male Cyprus Warbler which then took over. All around us we could hear Zitting Cisticola and calling Cetti’s Warbler. A Cetti’s called from a fig tree near to where we were standing and for once we were able to watch this elusive species. Near the water we heard Eurasian Reed Warbler and saw two Water Pipit in their pinkish summer plumage. A Squacco Heron was feeding on the water’s edge. We heard calling Great Spotted Cuckoo and were pleased when the pair finally flew close to us.

We then headed to the coast and spent a while in the hide at Zakaki. We checked the reed edges for crakes but no joy so we watched a large flock of hirundine coming down to drink there. They were mainly Common House Martin but they were joined by a few Red-rumped Swallow and Sand Martin as well as the usual Barn Swallow. Six Cattle Egret and six Little Egret were resting there and a lone Ferruginous Duck was present.

Lady’s Mile was even quieter than the day before. We saw Lesser Whitethroat and a lone Northern Wheatear while the Spotted Redshank was still on the water together with five Greater Flamingo, some Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Dunlin and Kentish Plover. At the entrance to Bishop’s Pool we found a male and a female Eurasian Pied Flycatcher in the acacias. Around the Gravel Pits we found more Northern Wheatear and two female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear as well as a female Blue Rock Thrush. Four Greater Short-toed Lark flew over as did six migrating Grey Heron. Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and Eurasian Blackcap were feeding in the tamarisks and we saw a couple of Whinchat and heard two singing Common Nightingale.

We then headed inland again to Prastio Kellakiou. There we finished our day out surrounded by calling Cretzschmar’s Bunting, courting Masked Shrike, singing Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and some fly-by Red-rumped Swallow. There were several European Serin, European Chaffinch and Spanish Sparrow around and we watched an adult Great Tit feeding a couple of young fledglings in a fig tree. I was surprised to hear a couple of calling Coal Tit but our final bird of the day – a calling Eurasian Scops Owl was more expected but very welcome.

Total species – 69

Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail (h), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Prastio April 7th 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Prastio 7th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lavender, Prastio April 7th 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

April 5, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two Days Guiding Larnaca and Paphos areas 4th & 5th April 2016

Two good days birding out with Mathias and Barbara. We spend Monday around Larnaca, visiting Oroklini Marsh, Larnaca Salt Lake and Sewage Works areas, Pervolia and Panagia Stazousa. On Tuesday we went west and birded around Anarita Park, Agia Varvara, Mandria, Paphos Sewage Works and Asprokremmos Dam. We had a good selection of 99 species (we tried to make it 100 but found Eastern Bonell’s Warblers instead of the promised Wood Warblers at our last location). We had flocks of migrating Grey and Purple Herons and Garganey offshore; a Peregrine Falcon mobbing a Long-legged Buzzard; migrating European Bee-eaters; an early Little Tern; great views of a male Black Francolin chasing a female; a singing Great Reed Warbler in the open in reeds next to us; several flocks of Greater Short-toed Lark and displaying Calandra Lark; good views of both Cretzschmar’s and Ortolan Bunting; and a soaring Bonell’s Eagle.

Highlights per location:

Monday 4^th April

Oroklini Marsh – Purple Heron 18, Greater Flamingo, Black Francolin 2m and 1f, Black-winged Stilt, -Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Spanish Sparrow

Oroklini Jumbo Channel – Temminck’s Stint 3, Little Ringed Plover

Larnaca Salt Lake – Little Egret, Kentish Plover, Little Tern, Greater Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Slender-billed Gull c10

Larnaca Sewage Works and nearby pools – Ruddy Shelduck, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing, Whinchat, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Pervolia – Black Francolin, Calandra Lark

Panagia Stazousa – Bonelli’s Eagle, Great Spotted Cuckoo 5, European Bee-eater 12, Cyprus Wheatear, Cyprus Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 2.

Tuesday 5^th April

Anarita Park – Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Lesser Kestrel, Eurasian Stone Curlew 3, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl 3, Red-rumped Swallow 6, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Woodchat Shrike, Ortolan Bunting

Agia Varvara area – Long-legged Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Little Bittern, Great Reed Warbler, Woodchat Shrike

Mandria – Garganey c20 offshore in bay, Spur-winged Lapwing 1, Eurasian Hoopoe 4+, Greater Short-toed Lark c40, Red-throated Pipit 1 seen others heard, Yellow Wagtail 20+, Common Nightingale 1, Whinchat 3, Northern Wheatear 12+, Woodchat Shrike 2

Asprokremmos Dam area – Common Buzzard 1, Long-legged Buzzard 1 being mobbed by a Peregrine Falcon, Grey Heron 40+, Purple Heron c70, Baltic Gull 3, Common Redstart 1f, Cyprus Wheatear 1, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Woodchat Shrike 1

Total species seen: 99

Little Grebe, Little Bittern, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Eurasian WIgeon, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Nothern Shoveler, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Baltic Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Greater Short-toed Lark, Larnaca 4th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 13, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Larnaca 13th March 2016

Immature Greater Flamingo Meneou Pool 13th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Much quieter than it had been at Cape Greco yesterday. There was a female Desert Wheatear and a Cyprus Wheatear near the Sewage Pools plus two Eurasian Hoopoe. On the Sewage Pools there was a Ruddy Shelduck, five Ferruginous Duck and two male and a female Red-crested Pochard in with the usual Northern Shoveler etc. Six Black-winged Stilt around the edge and still fourteen of those on Meneou Pools. A few immature Greater Flamingo were still on the pools of the area as were tens of Slender-billed Gull.

March 11, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Paphos Headland this afternoon 11th March 2016

Had a great couple of hours this afternoon walking around the archaeological site at Paphos Headland where I found: Richard’s Pipit, Eastern Subalpine Warbler 1m, Ruppell’s Warbler 1m, Common Quail (h), Isabelline Wheatear, Little Egret (one flew over), Greater Short-toed Lark, Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Hoopoe and Western Black Redstart and Eurasian Blackcap 2m and 1f.

Greater Short-toed Lark, Paphos Headland, 11th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Distant record shot of Richard’s Pipit, Paphos Headland 11th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 9, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Morning around Paphos 9th March 2016

A few hours out with Rose who is over in Cyprus for several days. She had visited the Archaeological Site the day before so we headed to Paphos Sewage Works, Asprokremmos Dam and Anarita Park – Mandria, our other option, was out of bounds due to an army exercise.

There were a few migrants around – although not in large numbers. We found Red-rumped Swallow, Eurasian Hoopoe, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Isabelline and Northern Wheatear. At Anarita Park we found both Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Wheatear as well as a female Finsch’s Wheatear although disappointingly no sign of a male. Several Blue Rock Thrush were also in the area and we had good views of Long-legged and Common Buzzard. The Little Owl was on its usual rock and many Corn Buntings were singing. At the Sewage Works we watched at least eight Spur-winged Lapwing and three Cattle Egret. Plenty of winter visitors were still around including Woodlark and at Asprokremmos Dam we watched singing male Sardinian and Spectacled Warbler.

Total species: 43

Great Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Little Owl, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Finsch’s 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, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Goldfinch, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Little Owl, Anarita Park 9th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 4, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Migrants at Cape Greco today, 4th March 2016

It was quite windy at Cape Greco so there was little chance of finding any early sylvia warblers – the reason for my trip. But I was very pleased with what I did manage to see, especially as I finally found the Trumpeter Finches that had been avoiding me on all other recent visits there.

Apart from them, other birds around included two Tawny Pipit, 27 Isabelline Wheatear, four Northern Wheatear, a male Eastern ‘Siberian’ Stonechat, three singing male Cyprus Warbler, four Northern Wheatear, a male Desert Wheatear, two male Cretzschmar’s Bunting, a Eurasian Hoopoe, a male Blue Rock Thrush and a group of c40 Great Cormorant migrating E.

At Kermia Beach I found three Audouin’s Gull, two Yellow-legged Gull and a Caspian Gull.

Desert Wheatear Cape Greco 4th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Trumpeter Finch Cape Greco 4th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

February 25, 2016
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Larnaca 25th February 2016

Back from two weeks holiday in the UK and straight into the first day’s guiding of the season. Picking up Martin from his hotel in Larnaca, we decided to spend the day in the area catching up with as many Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus specialties likely to be found at this time of year. Our first stop was at the somewhat unattractive drainage channel near the JUMBO toyshop at Oroklini which provided a good start to the day with Temminck’s Stint, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Water Pipit, Grey Wagtail and overflying Cattle Egret. Several Barn Swallow were flying around and we saw small numbers at all the locations we visited.

At Oroklini Marsh we were pleased to see two of the three female White-headed Duck that have been there since mid December, as well as a male and two female Red-crested Pochard, ten Black-winged Stilt, several Spur-winged Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit, several Northern Pintail and a tatty looking Western Marsh Harrier. There were just a few immature Greater Flamingo present, while numbers of Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal were reduced from earlier in the month. There were just a couple of hundred Greater Flamingo on the main Larnaca Salt Lake with hundreds of Common Shelduck, many Common Black-headed Gull and at least twenty Slender-billed Gull, several with a lovely pinkish tinge. We found many singing Corn Bunting, a lone Kentish Plover, a few Spanish Sparrow, a singing Spectacled Warbler and in the north east corner heard a Eurasian Penduline Tit but were unable to find it in among the reeds.

Moving towards the coast there were several large gulls on the Airport Pools and we spent some time identifying Caspian and Armenian adult and immature birds as well as a Heuglin’s Gull and several Yellow-legged Gull. There was a small group of Greater Flamingo and Martin spotted three Eurasian Stone Curlew hidden in the vegetation near the edge. On the Sewage Pools we found two Spur-winged Lapwing, a Northern Lapwing and a Ruff and in among the Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal there were smaller numbers of Eurasian Wigeon and Gadwall.

Along the Airport Coast we found a Eurasian Hoopoe feeding which quickly flew inland. A small flock of Eurasian Skylark were also feeding. We found more in the fields near Pervolia but more interestingly we found a flock of at least twenty Calandra Lark, calling and flying in a ploughed field. An Isabelline Wheatear was in the same field and we had clear views of a calling male Black Francolin while two Chukar flew away as we approached.

Heading inland we drove through the Panagia Stazousa Valley where we had excellent views of at least three male Cyprus Warbler and one female and heard at least four others. There was a flock of Spanish Sparrow, some finches and several Corn Bunting and we could hear Chukar. A Long-legged Buzzard flew briefly into view before disappearing again over the hills. As we sat and drank a cup of tea to finish the day we heard both Little Owl and Eurasian Scops Owl calling. We headed into Nicosia so I could drop Martin off at a local hotel there – with an unscheduled stop in Marks and Spencer’s car park to watch a migrating flock of around 60 Greater Cormorant flying over!

Total number of species seen: 75

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Greater Flamingo, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, White-headed Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Temminck’s Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Heuglin’s Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Little Owl h, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline Tit h, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

Greater Flamingo, Larnaca 25th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 28, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Paphos, 28th September 2015

For our second day out Pete, Julia and I spent our time around various Paphos birding sites with the main targets being Greater Sand Plover and the endemics. The first were found on the Headland where three birds were roosting on the rocks in the early morning sun. The endemics were a little harder although we finally had decent views of a male Cyprus Warbler at Asprokremmos Dam and found several Cyprus Wheatear at Minthis Hills. No rarities this time but we had a good selection of birds with interesting species seen including:

Paphos Headland – Greater Sand Plover 3, Common Sandpiper 1, White Wagtail 1 flew over

Agia Varvara Soakaways – Long-legged Buzzard 1, Common Snipe 1, Chukar 4+, European Bee-eater c20, Whinchat 4, Willow Warbler c20

Paphos Sewage Works – Spur-winged Lapwing 7, Common Cuckoo 1 (rufous phase), Yellow Wagtail (feldegg & flava mainly) 100+

Mandria – Long-legged Buzzard 1, Tawny Pipit 1

Asprokremmos Dam – Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Red-backed Shrike 1, Whiskered Tern 4, Cyprus Warbler 1m, 1f, 1+ juv, Spectacled Warbler

Minthis Hills – Long-legged Buzzard 3, Northern Wheatear 1, Cyprus Wheatear 4, Corn Bunting 3

Full list of birds seen:

Little Grebe, European Shag, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Whiskered Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail –flava and feldegg, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

Cyprus Wheatear Minthis Hills 28th September 2015. (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 21, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Three Day’s Guiding Akrotiri, Larnaca and Cape Greco 18th, 19th & 21st September 2015

Three great days out with Robert and Ruth visiting Akrotiri, the sites around Larnaca and those around Cape Greco. Although migration was not as busy as we would have expected at this time of September we still had some great birds while missing out on some usual sitters such as Zitting Cisticola! We had over 100 European Honey Buzzards on at Akrotiri on 18^th; displays by flying Eleonora’s Falcons at Akrotiri Gravel Pits, Larnaca Sewage Works and Kensington Cliffs; close views of Long-legged Buzzard at Panagia Stazousa; a probable Saker at Cape Greco (we are checking our photos); Temminck’s Stint and Marsh Sandpipers; six Eurasian Spoonbill at Larnaca Sewage Works; three Demoiselle Crane flying up over Lady’s Mile on 18^th; Gull-billed and White-winged Terns; Greater Sand Plover near Kermia Beach 21^st; more juvenile Red-backed Shrikes than we thought possible; several Cyprus Wheatear and a showy female Cyprus Warbler when the males let us down; and so many flocks of European Bee-eaters.

Highlights per location and date

Friday 18^th September

Phassouri Reed Beds – European Honey Buzzard c130, Sand Martin 100+, Red-rumped Swallow 20+, Ortolan Bunting 1

Akrotiri Gravel Pits – European Honey Buzzard c20, Montagu’s Harrier, Eleonora’s Falcon 2, Kentish Plover c15, Yellow Wagtail c60, Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Lady’s Mile area – European Honey Buzzard 2, Western Marsh Harrier 3, Demoiselle Crane 3

Zakaki Marsh – Spur-winged Lapwing 2

Kensington Cliffs – Eleonora’s Falcon 10+

Saturday 19^th September

Livadia ‘Jumbo’ Drainage Channel – Temminck’s Stint 1+

Meneou Pool – European Roller 1 juv

Spiros Pool – Western Marsh Harrier 1, Kentish Plover c60, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Eurasian Turtle Dove 10+, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Spectacled Warbler 4+

Larnaca Airport Coast – Common Kingfisher 2, Sand Martin c50, Red-rumped Swallow 10+, Tawny Pipit 2, Northern Wheatear 1

Larnaca Sewage Works – Glossy Ibis 1, Eurasian Spoonbill 6, Greater Flamingo 10, Northern Pintail 2, Eleonora’s Falcon 1 flew over, Black-winged Stilt 2 juv, Spur-winged Lapwing c40, Yellow-legged Gull 8, White-winged Tern 1 juv

Pervolia Fields – Western Marsh Harrier 1m, Common Swift 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1

Kivisilli – Red-backed Shrike 1 male, Masked Shrike 1 juv, Western Marsh Harrier 1

Kiti Dam – Cyprus Wheatear 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1

Panagia Stazousa – Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard 2, Eurasian Turtle Dove 8, Pallid Swift 1, Cyprus Wheatear 5+, Cyprus Warbler 1+ glimpsed briefly, Masked Shrike 6+, Corn Bunting c50

Monday 21^st September

Cape Greco – European Honey Buzzard 4, Eurasian Hobby 1, probable Saker 1, Tawny Pipit 1, Cyprus Wheatear 3, Spectacled Warbler 2+, Cyprus Warbler 1f seen well and 2+ others seen briefly, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Masked Shrike 1

Kermia Beach – Greater Sand Plover 2

Agia Napa Football Fields – Cattle Egret c50, Long-legged Buzzard 1, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Yellow Wagtail c50, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2

Akhna Dam – Little Egret, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 3, Common Greenshank 1, Gull-billed Tern 2

All species seen – 86

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Eleonora’s Falcon, probable Saker, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Demoiselle Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail (feldegg & flava), Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s 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, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting

Eurasian Spoonbill Larnaca Sewage Works 19th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike Panagia Stazousa 19th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 16, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s guiding, Paphos 16th September 2015

A few hours out with Jeanette visiting a few of the well-known Paphos birding locations to give her the chance to get several of her target species. We had a total of 40 species with great views of some migrating European Honey Buzzards as a bonus. Not bad for less than four hours and without visiting wetlands!

Highlights:

Paphos Headland – Greater Sand Plover 3, Whimbrel 1, Common Kingfisher 1, Greater Short-toed Lark 1

Paphos Sewage Works – Chukar 4, Spur-winged Lapwing 7+, European Bee-eater 12+, Yellow Wagtail inc feldegg and flava c50, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Red-backed Shrike 2, Spotted Flycatcher

Mandria – European Shag 1, European Bee-eater 1+, European Roller 5, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Greater Short-toed Lark c20, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Northern Wheatear 6, Lesser Grey Shrike 2

Petra tou Romiou – Eleonora’s Falcon 3+, European Honey Buzzard 20+, Western Marsh Harrier 2, Eurasian Hoopoe 1

Asprokremmos Dam – Common Cuckoo 1, European Bee-eater c50, Tawny Pipit 4, Cyprus Warbler 2

Agia Varvara – European Honey Buzzard 4 pale juveniles

Full species list:

European Shag, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Whimbrel, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crown, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch

September 15, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours Leave a comment

Cyprus Birding Tour Trip Report : Day’s guiding around Paphos, 14th September 2015

Rather a hotter day than we had expected and despite a disappointing show by migrating raptors we had a good day’s birding. It was the third time I was taking Terry and Sarah out and we headed straight for Agia Varvara, a new site for them. We were greeted by the sound of migrating European Bee-eaters – which was to be found wherever we went throughout the day. There was still some water in the river and we found a Sedge Warbler but could not see the Water Rail we had heard. Our lone European Honey Buzzard of the day was a juvenile bird seen in the area perched on a small tree. We saw two Cyprus Wheatear, two Eurasian Turtle Dove and the first of many Whinchat and Masked and Red-backed Shrike that were around throughout the day.

There were many Yellow Wagtail in the fields at Paphos Sewage Works – many juveniles and females but we also saw some male Black and Blue-headed. We counted at least fifteen Spur-winged Lapwing which included at least seven juveniles. There were several migrating Willow Warbler and resident Sardinian Warbler in the roadside vegetation and we also found a Eurasian Reed Warbler, a Eurasian Hoopoe and an Isabelline Wheatear which was sitting on the top of some hay bales.

The star birds at Mandria were eight European Rollers that were together on some wires to the west of the main beach. They were calling to each other as we watching and swooping down to feed on insects in the fields. Our attention was drawn to a kestrel nearby and on watching it through the ‘scope we realized we were looking at a male Lesser Kestrel. Our only Lesser Grey Shrike of the day was also in those fields. Again Whinchat and the other shrikes were plentiful and we also had four Northern Wheatear and yet more Yellow Wagtails. On the beach, avoiding the bathers were two Little Ringed Plovers.

Visiting the area behind Asprokremmos Dam we were pleased to locate a male and female Cyprus Warbler, a Spectacled Warbler and then a single Eurasian Stone Curlew in the shade of the carob grove. As we ate our lunch in the shade of the car park trees we watched a Eurasian Hoopoe, a Spotted Flycatcher and the many European Goldfinch that are always there. On the water we found a single White-winged Tern and disturbed a Purple Heron that flew off inland.

We finished the afternoon at Evretou Dam adding juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, Common Greenshank and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear to our list. We also had good views of European Bee-eaters coming down to drink from the water until frightened off by the Bonelli’s Eagle, as well as three Cyprus Wheatear and another Northern Wheatear. Many Willow Warbler were feeding in the roadside orchards.

Driving back to Paphos we caught sight of a hovering large bird of prey – a Long-legged Buzzard. We spent some time just watching it as it hunted over the area near Stroumbi. A spectacular display to end our day.

Number of different birds seen 51:

Grey Heron, Purple Heron, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Water Rail (h), Eurasian Stone Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Greenshank, Yellow-legged Gull, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, 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, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch

Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Eurasian Hoopoe