Cyprus Birding Tours

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Tag Archives: Greater Short-toed Lark


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Akrotiri area 31st March 2016

It was good to see Brian again who I had first taken out in late 2013. We spent the day around Akrotiri and managed several lifers for him plus a Cyprus rarity – a shrike from the Southern Grey complex which on first thoughts would appear to be of the elegans race.

We started at the channel opposite the port where we found a Squacco Heron, two Little Egret, a Common Kingfisher, several Eurasian Reed and Cetti’s Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. We searched the area for one of the Laughing Doves that seem to be colonizing the port area but with no joy. Moving onto the hide at Zakaki Marsh, Brian immediately picked out a male Little Crake in the reeds near the hide. It dashed back into the dense reeds and refused to come back out. Two Ferruginous Duck were on the water and a couple of Sedge Warbler were in front of the hide. Eurasian Reed and Cetti’s Warbler were also here. On Lady’s Mile we found our only Greater Flamingo – a juvenile bird. There were several Kentish Plover on the mud flats there as well as a couple of Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, a Curlew Sandpiper, six Common Redshank, an unexpected Greater Sand Plover and a single Greater Short-toed Lark . Near the football ground we found four Tawny Pipit and several Eastern Black-eared and Northern Wheatear.

Moving to the east side of the Salt Lake behind Lady’s Mile we found Isabelline and Cyprus Wheatear as well as several more Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. While Brian was taking photos of the wheatears I spotted a grey shrike nearby. Realising that it was a bit early for a migrating Lesser Grey Shrike I spent some time watching it through the scope and both of us got several photos as did local birder Tony who was also birding in the area. The bird was from the Southern Grey Shrike group and first indications are that it is of the elegans race, although subsequent checking of photos may change this!

We then headed over to Akrotiri Gravel Pits and ate our lunch near the church there. We were joined by several Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Whitethroat, a couple of male Eurasian Blackcap and some Chiffchaffs. A male Cyprus Warbler was seen in display flight and singing behind the garden there. Travelling across the Gravel Pits we saw more wheatears and added Whinchat, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Woodchat and Masked Shrike, Eurasian Hoopoe , Common Nightingale, Black-winged Stilt and oddly a single Corn Bunting resting in a tamarisk, to the day’s ever growing list. A ring-tailed harrier was too distant to identify but we did see Western Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard at closer quarters.

We drove past the burnt Phasouri Reed-beds. We heard a calling Black Francolin but it would not come out in the open for us to get better views. Singing Common Chaffinch and European Serin were heard near the Cat Sanctuary. We moved over to Kensington Cliffs where Brian had hoped to see and photograph Alpine Swift. At first we thought he would be unlucky but then we were treated to an aerial display by five of them. On the distant cliff face I found a Eurasian Griffon Vulture but no others were seen flying. A flock of nearly fifty migrating Great Cormorant flew east over the bay. A lone Cyprus Wheatear was at the nearby Stadium.

We returned to the hide at Zakaki to see if the Little Crake would appear and we were not disappointed as this time a female was seen albeit briefly. A Great Reed Warbler was also seen as was a Green Sandpiper. As earlier we heard Water Rail but it didn’t come into view. Neither did either of the two calling Black Francolin. Three Eurasian Hoopoe flew over the area and the last new species for the day was Grey Heron as fly flew east in the distance.

A very enjoyable day’s birding with the good variety of species that Akrotiri can often provide.

Total species seen: 83

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, ring-tailed Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin h, Water Rail h, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Kingfisher, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting.

Greater Sand Plover, Lady's Mile 31st March 2016(c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sand Plover, Lady’s Mile 31st March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 

 


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Migration getting underway 26th March

Spent two days on the Karpasia Peninsula and had a good variety of migrants including Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Pallid Harrier, Masked Shrike, Tawny Pipit, Greater Short-toed Lark, Northern, Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, Tree and Red-throated Pipit, an ‘eastern’ Stonechat (female), Purple Heron, a lone Demoiselle Crane, Wryneck, Common Redstart, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Whinchat, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Nightingale, Lesser Kestrel, Cretzschmar’s Bunting and Common Quail.

Two record shots taken in the gloomy dust haze below:

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 2, Karpasia 26th March 2016 with signature

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Karpasia 26th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Demoiselle Crane, Kouklia Dam 25th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Demoiselle Crane, Kouklia Dam 25th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day out around Oroklini and Cape Greco 24th March 2016

The third day out with Ann and Peter didn’t develop as planned as we decided to twitch a Cyprus first. We started at Oroklini Marsh where we found Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-winged Stilt, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Flamingo, Spur-winged Lapwing and Black Francolin as well as the more common wintering ducks Eurasian Teal and Northern Shoveler and resident Mallard, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen and Eurasian Coot. We moved on to the drainage channel at the nearby JUMBO toyshop where our targets of Temminck’s Stint and male Citrine Wagtail were soon found. A Common and Green Sandpiper and a couple of Spur-winged Lapwing were also there.

The plan for the day had then been to head for Larnaca Salt Lake and other Larnaca birding sites but having been told that a Cyprus first – a Brown-necked Raven – had been found earlier in the morning at Cape Greco,  Ann asked that we changed our plans and headed there. And we were certainly glad we did. On arrival we only just got out of the car when a male Pallid Harrier flew past us straight in off the sea. We turned around and into view then flew the Brown-necked Raven as if on cue. We watched it land on nearby rocks but were too excited to get our cameras to focus on it. We later rued the loss of a great photo opportunity. Several other birders including the raven’s finders, Keith and Raija Howard, then turned up and we spent some time discussing the bird and looking at Raija’s photos. A flock of migrating Northern Pintail flew E along the coast then turning and heading N over our heads. The first of many Northern and  Isabelline Wheatear were around us.

After that the day couldn’t really go wrong and we found Ruppell’s Warbler, a female Pallid Harrier and male Western Marsh Harrier, Spectacled Warbler,Tawny Pipit, Greater Short-toed Lark, Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler, Common Nightingale and Red-rumped Swallow. As the afternoon drew on we relocated the Brown-necked Raven near the restored rubbish dump and then finished the day with good views of a female Desert Wheatear. Probably we would have had a greater number of species if we had kept with our previous plan but getting a lifer made that irrelevant we decided!

Total species seen – 64

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Temminck’s Stint, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Citrine Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Brown-necked Raven, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting.

Citrine Wagtail, Leivadia, 24th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Citrine Wagtail, Leivadia, 24th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 


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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

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

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


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos 25th September 2015

It was good to meet up with Carl and Riss again and enjoy some friendly birding around Paphos. We checked out several locations that were new to them so they could visit themselves later in their holiday and found some good species on the way. It was much quieter than it has been over the last two weeks and we especially noted a big reduction in the number of European Bee-eaters around.

The star turns of the day were a male Western Marsh Harrier we saw with prey (probably a female Black Francolin) in its talons even though it then disappeared into an alfalfa field and defied all our attempts to relocate it; an Osprey we watched fishing at Asprokremmos Dam; and a lone male Red-footed Falcon on wires near the small church at Mandria.

Long-legged Buzzard were seen at Agia Varvara, Mandria and Kouklia Soakaways. We found a Cyprus and Isabelline Wheatear at Agia Varvara and several Greater Short-toed Lark and Tawny Pipit in the fields of Mandria where there were also many Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear. In the wetter areas at Agia Varvara there were three Common Snipe. There we also heard a Water Rail and managed to see rather than hear two Cetti’s Warbler.

A juvenile Eleonora’s Falcon was perched in a tree at Petra tou Romiou where two Hooded Crow and three other Eleonora’s joined it for a while – it got a bit crowded! Other good birds included at least two Whiskered Tern on Asprokremmos Dam, two European Roller at Mandria, four Spur-winged Lapwing at Paphos Sewage Works and a Grey Wagtail at Kouklia Soakaways.

Species seen:

European Shag, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Water Rail (h), Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Snipe, Whiskered Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail inc feldegg and flava races, Grey Wagtail, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet

Red-footed Falcon Mandria 25th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-footed Falcon Mandria 25th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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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


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Cape Greco again 2nd September 2015

Back again this morning at Cape Greco with an easterly wind, the birds arriving later than yesterday and only around 50 Barn Swallow migrating with no martins at all today. Raptors were a juvenile Montagu’s Harrier and another distant ring-tail, six Western Marsh Harrier, six European Honey Buzzard, a Black Kite and a Long-legged Buzzard which may be a local bird. Twenty Purple Heron left their roost in some eucalyptus trees and headed south around 10.00 am. Other birds seen included two Greater Short-toed Lark, two Tree Pipit, three Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Whitethroat, a Cyprus Wheatear and two male Red-backed Shrike with a single juvenile.

Ten Eurasian Hoopoe were feeding on the Agia Napa Football Fields were there was also a small flock of Yellow Wagtail, some Cattle Egret, a Northern Wheatear, two Lesser Grey Shrike and two Red-backed Shrike.


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Spiros Pool and Larnaca Sewage Works 24th August 2015

On Saturday I had been surprised to see Ruff on Spiros Pool which appeared to be completely dry; visiting the area briefly yesterday I saw a Western Marsh Harrier put up many waders from that location. I returned for a search today and found water in the area near the Sewage Plant and Desalination Buildings. A good collection of waders and mosquitos awaited me. These included a Black-tailed Godwit (probably the same as seen at the Sewage Works last week), two Grey Plover moulting from their breeding plumage, a Temminck’s Stint, a Sanderling, several Wood Sandpiper, two Dunlin, a Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plover and around ten Common Ringed Plover, four Common Snipe and tens of Ruff and Little Stint. Several Black-winged Stilt were there and a juvenile Collared Pratincole flew away as I arrived. Four Greater Short-toed Lark flew over the area calling and there were at least three Yellow Wagtail. The Western Marsh Harrier was still quartering the area.

After the excitement of finding a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling on the coast near the airport boundary fence, I then watched a young Peregrine Falcon chase a feral pigeon while being mobbed by two Commom Kestrel.

As I arrived at the Sewage Works pools a Long-legged Buzzard was soaring over the area. On the water were an adult and two juvenile ‘Baltic’ Gulls, an eclipse plumage Northern Pintail, at least four Garganey, six Northern Shoveler and a Eurasian Teal. A few waders around the edge of the pools – Common Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Ruff, Common Ringed Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt.


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s Guiding around Paphos 16th April 2015

The first of two morning’s out with Mike and Nancy, with the intention of seeing different species and visiting different habitats. We started at Paphos Sewage Works where we saw several Spur-winged Lapwing, two Eurasian Stone Curlew, at least one Eurasian Hoopoe and a singing male Sardinian Warbler. There were at least eight Turtle Doves on the wires near the Ezousas river mouth. On the water still left in the river bed we found three Glossy Ibis, some Little Egret and a Common Greenshank. We had good views of a Eurasian Reed Warbler high on one of the reeds and also a Cetti’s Warbler came out into the open for a chance.

Of course, we had to go to Mandria to find the male Caspian Plover that luckily was still there, as was the Eurasian Dotterel that has been keeping it company since Tuesday. We also watched a Black Francolin singing in response to another calling male and found a flock of more than twenty Greater Short-toed Lark and a couple of Northern Wheatear. There was a single Greater Short-toed Lark in the manure piles close to the mast behind Asprokremmos Dam.

We spent some time there watching two singing male Cyprus Warbler and also had brief views of a female. A pair of Spectacled Warbler was also in the area. Closer to the mast we found a Woodchat Shrike, at least seven Whinchat, more than fifteen Red-throated Pipit and several Ortolan Bunting. In the pine trees there we found several Eurasian Blackcap and some young Great Tits which seemed to be annoying a pair of Sardinian Warbler.

Number of species seen – 42

European Shag, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Common Kestrel, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spur-winged Lapwing, Caspian Plover, Eurasian Dotterel, Common Greenshank, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Red-throated Pipit, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting


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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 – Day’s Guiding Paphos 10th September 2014

A day out around Paphos, and David and I started at Petra tou Romiou where at least three Eleonora’s Falcon flying around the area got the day off to a good start. Several Willow Warbler were flitting in a eucalyptus tree as was an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. A Lesser Grey Shrike was on a distant bush – the first of many seen throughout the day.

Three of them were on the wires as we turned into the track to Kouklia Soakaways and we also saw several female Red-backed Shrike, a couple of Zitting Cisticola and heard several Cetti’s and Eurasian Reed Warbler. We heard European Bee-eater, and while we watched twelve of them flying above us we caught sight of seven Honey Buzzards thermalling up to the north of the area. Soon they were out of sight so we headed to Asprokremmos Dam. Yet more Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrike (this time a couple of males as well) and two Masked Shrike were there. We also had two Eurasian Hoopoe, two Tawny Pipit, a Spectacled Warbler, around fifty Yellow Wagtail on a mown field, some Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, two Northern Wheatear and many Willow Warbler. Around the edge of the lake itself there was a single Grey Heron and Squacco Heron and four Little Egret.

A drive round Mandria added a juvenile Montagu’s Harrier, three European Roller, three Isabelline Wheatear and fifteen Greater Short-toed Lark to our growing list of species. The Short-toed Lark sat still in a field as we passed by and we were able to get really good views of them. We ate our lunch there watching a migrating flock of Grey Heron pass by as well as a couple of European Shag and Yellow-legged Gull on the offshore rocks.

In the fields of alfalfa at Paphos Sewage Work there must have been at least 200 Yellow Wagtail – many female and juvenile but we did see several male feldegg and flava among them. A female Western Marsh Harrier headed out to sea. Two Cattle Egret were enjoying the water from the irrigation system and the area was also full of shrikes, Whinchat and Willow Warbler. Two Glossy Ibis could be seen over the Ezousas river so we headed there next and checked the Soakaways. A Garganey flew up, we heard a Water Rail, and we also had good views of two Common Kingfisher, several Sedge Warbler and a Eurasian Reed Warbler.

Anarita Park was our last stop where we watched around ten Red-rumped Swallow flying around and found an autumn plumaged Cyprus Wheatear. Pleased to have found one of the Cyprus endemics, as the Cyprus Warbler had eluded us, we finished our day. An interesting variety of species.

Day’s total – 55 species

European Shag,  Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, European Honey Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar (h), Water Rail (h), Common Moorhen, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, 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, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch