European Bee-eater | Cyprus Birding Tours

September 20, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Akrotiri area, 20th September 2016

It’s always good to spend some time out with Terry and Sarah and today was no exception. We headed straight to Akrotiri with the intention of trying to catch some of the raptor migration passing over the area. Most of the raptors we saw were European Honey Buzzard and Western Marsh Harrier but many of them were passing over quite low, meaning we had good views and we also watched a group of Grey Heron feeding at Zakaki Marsh chase off one of the Marsh Harrier over that location. Waders included the Cyprus rarity – a Bar-tailed Godwit, lots of Kentish Plover, a juvenile Ruff, a Sanderling and several each of Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper. A single Greater Flamingo feeding on Lady’s Mile gave some photo opportunities and we found a couple of Ferruginous Duck on a quick visit to Bishop’s Pool.

Plenty of European Bee-eater were migrating over throughout the day, many of them very high and we saw a lot of Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin and Barn Swallow as well as several late Common Swift. Not so many shrikes around as in early September but we saw a couple of juvenile Red-backed Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike.

An afternoon visit to Kensington Cliffs gave us the chance to enjoy the acrobatics of both adult and juvenile Eleonora’s Falcon, who in turn mobbed a migrating European Honey Buzzard and then two of the resident Eurasian Griffon Vulture returning from their inland feeding stations. On the way back to Paphos we stopped at Asprokremmos Dam where there was a European Golden Oriole feeding in a ficus tree – thanks to Alan and Lynn for showing us the location – and we also found a female European Pied Flycatcher.

Number of species seen – 60

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Bar-tailed Godwit, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Cetti’s Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Akrotiri Gravel Pits, 20th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Flamingo, Lady’s Mile 20th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 17, 2016
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Larnaca area this morning, 17th September 2016

Interesting birds seen during the monthly waterbird count around Larnaca this morning:

Meneou Pool

European Bee-eater 40

Red-backed Shrike 1 juv

Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Western Marsh Harrier 1 roosting in field

Ring-tailed Harrier 1 roosting in field

Larnaca Sewage Works (eastern pool now completely dry. Many small waders in mud which is very dry)

Greater Flamingo 1 (and 24 leaving area and heading out to sea on my arrival)

Eurasian Curlew 2 (flew over calling)

Kentish Plover 59

Dunlin 10

Ruddy Turnstone 2

Common Ringed Plover 27

Little Stint 116

Collared Pratincole 1

Ruff 3

Spur-winged Lapwing 2

Little Grebe 2

Mallard 227

Eurasian Teal 28

Northern Shoveler 8

Eurasian Coot 3

Western Marsh Harrier 1

Red-backed Shrike 2 juv

Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Common Kingfisher 1

Isabelline Wheatear 1

Whinchat 1

Spiros Pool

European Bee-eater 12

Whinchat 2

Spotted Flycatcher 1

Northern Wheatear 1

Larnaca Airport Coast

Noticeable passage of Barn Swallow and Sand Martin heading towards Cape Kiti along coast

Yellow Wagtail 2

Isabelline Wheatear 1

Northern Wheatear 1m

Common Sandpiper 1

Whinchat 1

Spiros Beach

Kentish Plover 6

Little Stint 1

Greater Flamingo 17 heading E

Larnaca Salt Lake

European Bee-eater 24

Red-backed Shrike 1f and 2 juv

Eurasian Hoopoe 1

Woodchat Shrike 1

European Roller 1

Greater Short-toed Lark 3

Western Marsh Harrier 1

Kentish Plover, Spiros Beach 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Stint, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike – missing a tail, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Larnaca 17th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 17, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Paphos, 16th September 2016

Picking Bernie and Gill up in Latchi we headed for the Smygies/Agios Minas area behind Neochorio. We saw the first of many European Bee-eater there as well as two Cretzschmar’s Bunting, a Whinchat, a Cyprus Wheatear, a couple of Spotted Flycatcher and an adult Masked Shrike. A covey of ten Chukar kept us entertained especially as a juvenile tried to climb into an olive tree as we drove past.

At Arodes we found another Cyprus Wheatear and spent some time watching and checking the ID pointers of a female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. We also saw a male Spanish Sparrow, several Sardinian and Willow Warbler and juvenile Red-backed and Masked Shrike. The sound and sight of more European Bee-eater dominated the area. Driving from Kathikas through Arkoudaleia and Miliou we saw a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear and a Lesser Grey Shrike.

We spent some time at the shallow end of Evretou Dam. There were many Yellow Wagtail, Barn Swallow and a couple of Sand Martin, yet more European Bee-eater as well as one each of Black-winged Stilt, Dunlin, Little Stint, Ruff and Common Kingfisher. Here we also saw a Long-legged Buzzard and more unexpectedly a Common Kestrel noisily mobbing an adult Northern Goshawk. The latter spectacle interrupted our lunch as we sat and ate our sandwiches in a small olive grove. We weren’t complaining though!

On the south coast outside Paphos we visited the Sewage Works and Mandria. Here we enjoyed Spur-winged Lapwing, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Western Marsh Harrier, more than 300 Yellow Wagtail, three European Roller, three Tawny Pipit, at least thirty Greater Short-toed Lark, Isabelline and Northern Wheatear and a couple more Whinchat, Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrike.

A good day out with a mixture of species seen. European Bee-eaters provided the soundtrack of the day with the Northern Goshawk and the European Rollers providing the birding moments of the day.

Full list of birds seen – European Shag, Western Marsh Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail races – flava, feldegg, thunbergii, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 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, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting.

Mandria, 16th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 14, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Paphos 14th September 2016

The day out with Joan and Keith started with a walk around the Headland with the aim of finding the Greater Sand Plover that overwinter there. We found four of them after a bit of searching in the rocks where they were hunkered down. We also watched a Common Kingfisher hovering over the sea and saw a Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, a Northern Wheatear and two Crested Lark. Several of the fields around Paphos Sewage Works were being watered and at least twelve Spur-winged Lapwing were feeding there, as were many Hooded Crow and Western Jackdaw. Other birds of note there were a couple of Whinchat and Eurasian Hoopoe, a Eurasian Stone Curlew, at least ten Yellow Wagail, a Green Sandpiper and the first of many Willow Warbler that were at all locations visited.

At Mandria we got good views of a flock of migrating European Bee-eater which came down close to us and then headed out to sea. We watched a flock of more than 150 Yellow Wagtails in a field of cut alfalfa and in the ploughed fields found two Isabelline and two Northern Wheatear, several Whinchat, a Tawny Pipit and a mobile flock of at least thirty Greater Short-toed Lark. In the west of the area there was a European Roller and two Lesser Grey Shrike on some wires. A Spur-winged Lapwing seen on the beach could have been a migrant. An unusual bird sitting on the offshore rocks with the European Shag was later identified as nothing more interesting than a Muscovy Duck….not sure how it got there!

We ate our lunch under the trees in the amenities area of the Asprokremmos Dam. European Bee-eater passed over head and European Goldfinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Sardinian Warbler and a Masked Shrike were all flying around and feeding in the conifers. We had a quick scan of the dam itself but saw nothing until we spotted a Peregrine Falcon sitting near the Dam head. Moving onto Agia Varvara we found some water in a couple of the ‘soakaways’. There we found a very smart male Red-backed Shrike, several Yellow Wagtail including a male Black-headed, more Willow Warbler, two Tree Pipit, a Spanish Sparrow, Chukar, Zitting Cisticola and some more European Bee-eaters.

The current development at Minthis Hills appears to have disturbed the birds although we did see some more European Bee-eater, a Masked Shrike and a fly-by Eurasian Hobby.
A good day out in fun company – odd not to have seen any large raptors, migrant or resident – but we had a good mixture of species.

Total birds – 46
European Shag, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail inc flava and feldegg, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian 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 Goldfinch, Common Linnet.

Whimbrel, Paphos Headland 14th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-backed Shrike, Agia Varvara 14th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 13, 2016
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Cape Greco raptor watch 13th September 2016

After the excitement of finding an Olive-tree Warbler in my garden yesterday (no photos – well I have lots of photos of out of focus bird and in focus branches..), I was hoping that the raptor count at Cape Greco would continue a good few days birding. No such luck. Very few raptors moving around and the interest was provided by three flocks of Greater Flamingo heading south along the east coast of the Cape. Main sightings of note:

Cape Greco 8.00am – 12.30pm
Western Marsh Harrier 2 (1m)
Eleonora’s Falcon 2
European Honey Buzzard 1
Greater Flamingo 48 + 68 + 30
Grey Heron 11
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (with Grey Herons)
European Bee-eater 100+ (and others heard only)
Red-rumped Swallow 14
Barn Swallow 200+ over during the survey
Greater Short-toed Lark 1 over
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Yellow Wagtail 2 over W to E
Common House Martin 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Cyprus Wheatear 3
Whinchat 1
Spanish Sparrow 3
Tawny Pipit 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Agia Napa Football Fields
Whinchat 4
Yellow Wagtail 12
Cattle Egret 11
Red-backed Shrike 1m and 3 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 2
European Roller 1

September 6, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s Guiding Paphos 6th September 2016

A few hours out with Malcolm around Paphos. We started at Paphos Headland where four Greater Sand Plover were obligingly standing on the rocky shore and easily visible. A Common Snipe flying in from the sea and over the archaeological site calling was unusual. Apart from a few Crested Lark the other birds we saw were familiar to a British birder if good birds for Cyprus – a Whimbrel and a Ruddy Turnstone.

We then visited Mavrokolympos Dam with the specific purpose of finding the endemic Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler. We had good views of both and also found migrant Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike and Whinchat. We could hear many Chukar on the surrounding hills as well as some European Bee-eater migrating over head. There were also plenty of migrating Lesser Grey Shrike at both Mandria and Paphos Sewage Works – out next two stops. At Mandria we also found a smart male Red-backed Shrike, a flock of at least 300 Yellow Wagtail feeding on recently cut alfalfa, around twenty Greater Short-toed Lark, two Northern Wheatear and an Isabelline Wheatear. A Black Kite floated over and out to see as a Hooded Crow mobbed it and a Western Marsh Harrier put all the Yellow Wagtail to flight.

There were more Yellow Wagtail at Paphos Sewage Works again feeding in the recently cut fields. At least six Spur-winged Lapwing were also there and unusually we found two Glossy Ibis and a Eurasian Curlew also feeding in nearby fields. A few Red-rumped Swallow flew over and a Purple Heron passed over the area and headed out over the sea. Also seen here were a Eurasian Hoopoe, Willow Warbler, Chukar, Eurasian Stone Curlew and a Spotted Flycatcher,

A good mixture of different species found during an enjoyable morning’s birding.

Total species seen: 47

European Shag, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Black Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Whimbrel, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue-headed Wagtail, Grey-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, 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

Lesser Grey Shrike, Mandria 6th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 5, 2016
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East of the island this morning, 5th September 2016

Another four hours raptor count at Cape Greco this morning with more, mainly Western Marsh Harriers, passing over. Followed up with a visit to Agia Napa Football fields.

Cape Greco 7:45 – 11.45
Western Marsh Harrier 16 (3m)
Pallid Harrier 1m and 1 juv
Montagu’s Harrier 3 juv
Ring-tailed Harrier 1
Eleonora’s Falcon 3
Purple Heron 9
Grey Heron 4
European Bee-eater 39
European Honey Buzzard 9
Lesser Grey Shrike 3
Cyprus Wheatear 2
Tawny Pipit 3 straight out to sea
Whinchat 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Agia Napa Football Fields
Lesser Grey Shrike 19
European Roller 1
Yellow Wagtail 9
Cattle Egret 14
Red-backed Shrike 2m and 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Whinchat 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 2

Western Marsh Harrier, Cape Greco 5th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whinchat, Cape Greco 5th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Isabelline Wheatear, Cape Greco 5th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 31, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Akrotiri and Larnaca 31st August 2016

A good day out birding with Byron started at Akrotiri Salt Lake where we scanned the area for roosting Demoiselle Cranes. None were present but although we were unlucky with that species we had a successful day enabling Byron to get many of his target species which included – Chukar, Black Francolin, Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Spur-winged Lapwing, Kentish Plover, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Long-legged Buzzard, Eleonora’s Falcon, Slender-billed Gull, Spectacled Warbler, Pallid Swift and Masked Shrike.

Highlights per location visited:

Akrotiri Salt Lake – Lesser Grey Shrike, European Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike

Akrotiri Gravel Pits – Greater Flamingo c20 along coast, European Honey Buzzard 3 gaining height over area 9.30 am, Black Francolin, Common Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper (thanks to local birder Tony who told us where the bird had moved to when it was absent from Lady’s Mile), Common Kingfisher, Tawny Pipit, Common Whitethroat, Northern Wheatear, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 2h and seen briefly

Lady’s Mile – Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Eleonora’s Falcon (one over high up)

Phasouri Reed-beds – Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Eurasian Roller, Yellow Wagtail inc feldegg and thunbergii, Cattle Egret, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike

Panagia Stazousa – Montagu’s Harrier 2m, Long-legged Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear 3, Cyprus Warbler 2m, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike

Larnaca Airport Pools South – European Bee-eater, Eurasian Stone Curlew

Larnaca Sewage Works – Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Montagu’s Harrier 1 juv, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Ruddy Turnstone, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Spur-winged Lapwing

Spiros Beach – Ruddy Turnstone 5

Petounta – Long-legged Buzzard

Agios Theodoros – Little Owl 2, Eurasian Scops Owl 1 h and seen, Black-crowned Night Heron 16 heading S

Total species – 79

Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Owl, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Alpine Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Blue-headed, Black-headed and Grey-headed Wagtail, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting

Broad-billed Sandpiper, Akrotiri, 31st August 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 20, 2016
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Panagia Stazousa, Friday 20th May 2016

Good to get to do a European Roller survey for BirdLife Cyprus at one of my favourite places this morning. Found four European Roller, four European Bee-eater, an adult and five juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo, two Eurasian Hoopoe, six male Cyprus Wheatear, five male Cyprus Warbler and a juvenile, a singing male Cretzschmar’s Bunting and two young Little Owl.

European Roller, Panagia Stazousa, 20th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Young Little Owl, Panagia Stazousa, 20th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 11, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 11th May 2016

A day out around Paphos with John and Madeleine. As we had been out together in both May 2014 and 2015, this year we were aiming for a general birdwatch in the Paphos area. We visited Anarita Park, Episokopi (Paphos), Minthis Hills, Kannaviou, Panagia, Evretou Dam and Kathikas. A good variety of habitats in which we saw mainly migrant breeders but also several late passage migrants including a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear at Anarita Park. Unfortunately, that area was much quieter than it has been recently. The vagrant Amur Falcon and most of the other migrating falcons having moved on.

Highlights per location:

Anarita Park – Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel 1m, Red-footed Falcon 1f, Great Spotted Cuckoo 5, European Roller 2, Little Owl, Red-rumped Swallow, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1m pale throated, Cyprus Warbler 1m

Anarita Park to Episkopi (Paphos) track -European Roller 6

Episkopi (Ezousas valley) – Bonelli’s Eagle, European Roller 2, European Turtle Dove, Red-rumped Swallow, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher

Episkopi Rocks – Peregrine Falcon 2

Minthis Hills – Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1m

Kannaviou area – European Turtle Dove, European Bee-eater, Red-rumped Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher,Coal Tit, Masked Shrike, European Serin, Cretzschmar’s Bunting

Panagia area – Common House Martin 50+, Red-rumped Swallow c10, Masked Shrike 1, Coal Tit, Eurasian Jay, European Bee-eater

Evretou Dam – Purple Heron, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Spanish Sparrow, Eurasian Hoopoe

Kathikas – Black-headed Bunting 2 singing males

Total species seen: 53

Purple Heron, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Masked Shrike, Panagia 11th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 9, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Larnaca area 9th May 2016

A late spring trip with Neil and Julie following on from an autumn trip with just Neil last October. We started at Oroklini Marsh where as well as breeding Black-winged Stilt and Spur-winged Lapwing we had fifteen White-winged Tern. There was a good selection of heron species as well with ten Purple Heron flying in and landing on trees to the west, a single Squacco Heron and immature Black-crowned Night Heron, two Little Egret and many Cattle Egret – several on nests in the tamarisks. A European Roller flew nearby and we watched a male and female Red-footed Falcon gain height to the west of the water. We then moved to the nearby storm water drain next to Jumbo toy shop where there were a couple of Spur-winged Lapwing, a Little Ringed Plover, two Wood Sandpiper and four Temminck’s Stint. The last was the reason for stopping there so I was pleased they were still around.

As we approached the hide at Larnaca Sewage Works we saw three White-winged Tern flying over the area. That was a good start but better was to come. From the hide itself we found there were at least twenty White-winged Tern and eight Black Tern – the latter not common in Cyprus. We were entertained by them for a while and then ten Collared Pratincole flew over but unfortunately didn’t appear to land. On the water there was a single Ferruginous Duck in with the Mallard and Eurasian Coots and Ruff, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint feeding around the edge. Two Common Black-headed Gull were unusual for May. We found a female Red-backed Shrike and got fleeting views of Spectacled Warbler. Around Meneou Pool we watched two European Roller and on the water’s edge found Kentish Plover with two small chicks, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Common Greenshank, some Little Stint, six Little Egret and a couple of Greater Flamingo.

We checked the fields near Pervolia for Calandra Lark and after a while had good views of at least eight in the stubble. Moving onto Kiti Dam we watched a Spotted Flycatcher and a female Common Redstart while we ate our lunch and then at Kivisilli we watched a hunting female Red-footed Falcon and saw a Chukar with twelve recently hatched young.

We spent the rest of the day in the Panagia Stazousa Important Bird Area. There we found Long-legged Buzzard, European Roller, European Bee-eater, Masked Shrike, Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Eurasian Hoopoe, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Eurasian Turtle Dove and heard Eurasian Scops Owl all within a short drive. A lovely location to finish an enjoyable day out, although we managed to add a new species to our day list on the drive back – two Eurasian Stone Curlew in fields near Vrysoulles.

Total species – 66

Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Black Tern, White-winged Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Common Redstart, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch

Cattle Egret, Oroklini Marsh, 9th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 8, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 7th May 2016

I had previously taken Gareth out in April 2015 when we had visited Akrotiri and managed to see 90 species. We knew that we couldn’t reach that total today around Paphos but we had some great birding moments – quality rather than quantity being the order of the day. We started at Anarita Park where we saw seven species of raptor – Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Amur Falcon and Red-footed Falcon. We also found both the Cyprus endemics – Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler, at least six Great Spotted Cuckoo, watched a displaying European Roller, enjoyed the feeding antics of many European Bee-eater and in return were watched by two Little Owls.

We spent several hours at Anarita Park and then moved on to Petra tou Romiou where we saw at least three Eleonora’s Falcon, an Alpine Swift and then – my birds of the day – a female Peregrine Falcon with two young birds flying out over the sea and near the cliff face. A great spectacle watching them trying out aerial manouvres and chasing each other. A quick detour into the village of Kouklia meant we found two of Cyprus’ newest colonisers, Laughing Dove. Usually noted as a vagrant to Cyprus, a population of escapees has bred for several years in Agia Napa and Limassol and they are now spreading, although the exact origin of the Kouklia birds is unclear. While eating our lunch in the Agia Varvara valley we added Squacco Heron and Spotted Flycatcher to our day list and again were entertained by European Bee-eaters.

We then drove to the area around Kannaviou Dam. There was little on the dam itself – a single Purple Heron but in the nearby wooded area we found two of Cyprus’ endemic sub-species – Coal Tit and Eurasian Jay – as well as Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting and European Serin. There was no sign though of any Black-headed Buntings which have been seen near the Dam in previous years. So we headed towards Kathikas where we heard at least two singing males and got good views of one in the vineyards. A nearby soaring Long-legged Buzzard completed a great day’s birding.

Total species – 50

Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Amur Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Peregrine Falcon, Petra tou Romiou 7th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-footed Falcon, Anarita Park 7th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-footed Falcon female, Anarita Park 7th May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

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