Cyprus Birding Tours

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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

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

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

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


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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 4th 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 5th 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

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

 


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Akamas area 2nd April 2016

A day out with Margaret, Susan, Judy and Shelley at sites to the north of Paphos gave us a good variety of species and a very enjoyable day out. We started at Cape Drepanum which was quiet apart from the Yellow-legged Gulls, Rock Dove and Western Jackdaw breeding on Geronissos Island offshore. In the scrub we found many Sardinian Warbler, two Northern and an Isabelline Wheatear. We moved quickly north and into the area behind Arodes. Many singing Corn Bunting were around and we stopped to watch a Woodchat Shrike. We heard the first of the areas Great Spotted Cuckoo calling and soon located it in the company of a pair of Eurasian Magpie.  As we moved on we then found two other pairs and spent almost an hour watching one pair flying around the area and ‘torturing’ another pair of Magpies. An enjoyable way to spend an hour in the spring Cyprus sunshine. We also found a Masked Shrike, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Common Nightingale, a Blue Rock Thrush, some Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat and Eurasian Blackcap, several singing Cyprus Wheatear and Sardinian Warbler.

After our picnic lunch outside Droushia we headed for Smygies and the surrounding area. We stopped to watch some large birds of prey gaining height. We counted sixteen but they were too distant to be really sure of their ID. They were definitely Buzzards but given the number could have been ‘Steppe’ Buzzard . In the end we put them down as Buzzard spp. Three Long-legged Buzzard were easier to ID. We spent some time trying to locate the source of an unusual contact call and were pleased when we realized it came from an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler. Unfortunately only I managed to spot a Cretzschmar’s Bunting before it flew from its pine tree vantage point. We also had European Serin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff and more Lesser Whitethroat and another Blue Rock Thrush for the day.

We ended the day at Evretou Day. A large flock of at least fifty Spanish Sparrow were feeding on the track as we got down to the water. At the water’s edge we found three Little Ringed Plover, a Common and a Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret. Sand Martin and Red-rumped Swallow were coming down to feed off insects on the water. In the nearby grassy vegetation we found several White and Yellow Wagtail. The latter were mainly male Black-headed but we found at least two Blue-headed. A Tawny Pipit and at least twelve Greater Short-toed Lark were also feeding there. A Little Owl and several Black Francolin were calling as we left to head back to the ladies’ holiday accommodation but we were unable to see them.

Total species seen 60

Little Egret, Common Buzzard, Buzzard spp (poss Steppe), Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl (h), Little Owl, Common Swift, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Lesser 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, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Droushia 2nd April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Droushia 2nd April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Two Day’s Guiding around Paphos 19th and 21st March 2016

Two days out with Martin and Rosemary to several of the Paphos hotspots gave us several lifers for Martin, despite the strong winds and lack of numbers of migrants around at the moment which limited the species we could have seen. However we were pleased with our species list in the end, although we felt we had worked hard to get some of the birds!

Highlights from locations visited:

Saturday 19th March:

Baths of Aphrodite: Long-legged Buzzard, Cyprus Wheatear, European Serin, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Yellow-legged Gull

Neo Chorio/Smygies: Chukar, Red-rumped Swallow, Cyprus Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Droushia: Long-legged Buzzard, Blue Rock Thrush

Arodes: Little Owl, Cyprus Wheatear 4+, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1m pale throated, Finsch’s Wheatear 1m

Mioliou: Eurasian Hoopoe

Evretou Dam: Common Quail 3h, Black Francolin 2, Little Ringed Plover 2, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2, Black-headed Wagtail 2, Isabelline Wheatear 1

Monday 21st March:

Minthis Hills: Chukar, Woodlark, Cyprus Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Cyprus Warbler 1 singing male, Ruppell’s Warbler 1m and 1f, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 4 singing males, Corn Bunting

Agia Varvara: Green Sandpiper 4, Red-rumped Swallow 30+, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 10+

Anarita Park: Long-legged Buzzard, Common Quail, Little Owl, Red-rumped Swallow, Tree Pipit, Common Redstart 1m, Isabelline Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear 6+, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 2m dark throated, Finsch’s Wheatear 1f, Blue Rock Thrush 1m, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Spanish Sparrow c100

Asprokremmos Dam area: Long-legged Buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Chukar, Red-rumped Swallow 30+, Tree Pipit, Cyprus Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler

Mandria: Black Francolin, Western Black Redstart, Black-headed Wagtail c300

Anarita Park 21st March 2016


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s guiding in Limassol area 17th March 2016

Second day out with Ann and Peter and we started at Zakaki Marsh. We quickly found two newly arrived Sedge Warbler and a couple of Eurasian Reed Warbler and heard a Spotted Crake. Unfortunately we couldn’t see it, although apparently it had been on view before our arrival. Two Spur-winged Lapwing flew over. In the nearby vegetation we found Spectacled and Willow Warbler and were treated to good views of a male Black Francolin. On Lady’s Mile we found Armenian and Caspian Gull as well as a couple of Little Egret, a juvenile Greater Flamingo, a Black-tailed Godwit, three Common Redshank, some Kentish Plover, three Dunlin and more than fifty Little Stint. In the scrub were several Isabelline Wheatear and a male Northern Wheatear as well as several large flocks of European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch and Common Linnet.

It was very windy in the Gravel Pits area and workmen in the church grounds prevented us from checking those but as we drove across the area we heard a familiar call – it was Eurasian Penduline Tit. We stopped to investigate and then spent some time watching at least ten of them – mainly males – feeding in tamarisk bushes and calling to each other as they flitted around. We also found three Eurasian Hoopoe, that looked as if they had just flown in from the sea, and watched three Western Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard patrol the area. A male Merlin flew quickly over the old rabbit sheds. A flock of Spanish Sparrow also caught our attention.

We decided to head to Germasogeia Dam and then return to Zakaki later in the afternoon. At the Finikaria end of the dam we came across a Long-legged Buzzard and flocks of Spanish Sparrow and several singing Corn Bunting. A single male Cretzschmar’s Bunting was sitting high on a hawthorn bush. Checking out the remaining pools in the shallows we had great views of two Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe and it was especially interesting to compare their size when they flew. A single Alpine Swift flew low over our heads and a Water Pipit came down to the water’s edge to drink. At least five Black-headed Wagtail were flying around.

As the sun started to go down we headed back to Zakaki for a final check for the Spotted Crake. No luck again but we found Cattle and Little Egret there as well as two Ferruginous Duck and a Spur-winged Lapwing that flew in front of the hide.

Despite the wind making it difficult to find migrant passerines during the day we were pleased with the species we did see – a good variety in our 65 day total.

Total species seen – 65

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Chukar h, Black Francolin, Spotted Crake h, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Common Redshank, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), White Wagtail, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Zakaki Marsh, late afternoon 17th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Zakaki Marsh, late afternoon 17th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Morning’s guiding around Paphos 11th March 2016

It was good to meet up with Ann and Peter again for the first of our four trips out this month. Today we spent four hours around Agia Varvara, Anarita Park and Mandria to give them a feel for what was around at the start of their holiday here.

Highlights per location:

Agia Varvara – Long-legged Buzzard, Black Francolin 2h, Green Sandpiper 3, Great Spotted Cuckoo 1, European Serin 20+, Corn Bunting c40

Anarita Park – Common Quail 1h, Little Owl 1, Cyprus Wheatear 1m and 1f, Blue Rock Thrush 2m and 1f, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 2+, Corn Bunting 20+

Mandria – European Shag 2, Isabelline Wheatear 1

Total species seen – 43

Little Grebe, European Shag, Mallard, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Green Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting.


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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

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


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Cape Greco and Agia Napa coast 26th February 2016

Pleased to finally get the chance on Friday afternoon to see the first year White-crowned Wheatear that was found at Cape Greco on Tuesday. The eighth record of this species in Cyprus. Also at Cape Greco of note were four Isabelline Wheatear, two Tawny Pipit, a pale Long-legged Buzzard, four Blue Rock Thrush and a passing Audouin’s Gull. On leaving Cape Greco I checked the coast at Kermia Beach where I found two Greater Sand Plover, a Grey Plover, two Northern Lapwing and a migrating flock of 54 Great Cormorant. Moving onto Macronissos Beach there were thirteeen Greater Sand Plover, three Dunlin, around seventy Kentish Plover and a Little Egret.

White-crowned Wheatear Cape Greco 26th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White-crowned Wheatear Cape Greco 26th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White-crowned Wheatear Cape Greco 26th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

White-crowned Wheatear Cape Greco 26th February 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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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

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


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Birding around today, 30th January 2016

 

As I had to be in Paphos by 6pm I decided to do some birding on the way visiting Germasogeia Dam, Kouklia Soakaways, Asprokremmos Dam and Kefalos Beach (Paphos Headland). Highlights were:

Germasogeia Dam
Bluethroat 1
Moustached Warbler 2
Common Snipe 1
Water Pipit 1+
Woodlark 7
Cyprus Warbler 1

Kouklia Soakaways
Long-legged Buzzard 1
Common Buzzard 1

Asprokremmos Dam area
Cyprus Warbler 2m (1 singing)
Spectacled Warbler 2+

Kefalos Beach
Whimbrel 1
Slender-billed Gull 1 imm (photographed)
European Shag 2 offshore
Common Kingfisher 1
Red-throated Pipit 1h

Slender-billed Gull Kefalos Beach 30th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Slender-billed Gull Kefalos Beach 30th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia and Panagia Stazousa, Larnaca this morning 21st January 2016

A brief but interesting birding drive around both these two locations this morning. At Agios Sozomenos I found eight Northern Lapwings in one field, although they were then spooked by a beautiful male Hen Harrier quartering the area. A Bluethroat was singing again in the deserted village and today the Finsch’s Wheatear total was two males and a dark-throated female. Just one Long-legged Buzzard flew over. Corn Buntings, Spectacled Warblers and Zitting Cisticola were all singing. A Little Owl was calling but I didn’t see one on this visit.

In the Panagia Stazousa valley there were at least four singing Cyprus Warbler and several others were heard moving in the bushes. Small flocks of European Serin and Corn Bunting were around. I saw three Long-legged Buzzard here. One high over the village of Pyrga and a pair near the southern end of the valley.

Bluethroat, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bluethroat, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Finsch's Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Finsch’s Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 21st January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Agios Sozomenos this morning 15th January 2016

 

Too nice a day to sit at laptop so went out for a few hours around Agios Sozomenos. Best birds were a pair of Long-legged Buzzard flying together and being mobbed by the many Western Jackdaw of the area. One of the Long-legged had nesting material in its talons. A Bluethroat was a surprise spot, sitting on a bush singing briefly. Found a female and two male Finsch’s Wheatear. The female was at least a kilometre away from where I had seen one at the end of last year so there must be two of them in the area this winter. Spectacled Warbler and Corn Bunting were singing and I also found a female Cyprus Warbler and heard a Little Owl calling.

Finsch's Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 15th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Finsch’s Wheatear, Agios Sozomenos 15th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours