Masked Shrike | Cyprus Birding Tours

March 31, 2016
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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

March 26, 2016
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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

March 12, 2016
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Cape Greco this afternoon, 12th March 2016

Good numbers of Rueppell’s Warbler at Cape Greco this afternoon – mainly males but a few females as well as well as a few Eastern Subalpine Warbler and an Eastern Orphean Warbler. Birds seen included:

Eastern Orphean Warbler 1
Rueppell’s Warbler 10+m and 3f
Eastern Subalpine Warbler 3m and 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 14
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Eastern race of Stonechat – prob Siberian 1m
Blue Rock Thrush 2
Northern Wheatear 4m
Cyprus Warbler 1m setting up territory
Song Thrush 7
Red-rumped Swallow 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 1
Cyprus Wheatear 2m
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1m dark throated
Masked Shrike 1
Cretzschmar’s Bunting 2+

October 13, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding Paphos,13th October 2015

A day around Paphos with Phil who I had also taken out on his previous trip to Cyprus in 2012. Today was, to be honest, very quiet birdwise and although we found our targets of Greater Sand Plover and Cyprus Wheatear, the birds made us work hard to find them. It seems as if most of the migrants have moved through and/or out and the winter visitors have yet to put in an appearance in any great numbers.

We started at Paphos Headland where we located four Greater Sand Plover, a European Golden Plover and three Common Sandpiper on the rocky shore. Moving on to Agia Varvara we had distant views of a Cyprus Wheatear and better views of two Long-legged Buzzard, a juvenile Masked Shrike, two Common Snipe, two Northern Lapwing and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Another Long-legged Buzzard was gaining height over Paphos Sewage Works where we also saw a male Red-footed Falcon and watched several White and Yellow Wagtail on the recently cut alfalfa crop.

Mandria was quiet although it was the only location at which we found a few Barn Swallow. We watched four European Shag on the offshore rocks as we ate our lunch. A single juvenile Red-backed Shrike was also in the area. We made a visit to the water’s edge at Asprokremmos Dam where a flock of Spanish Sparrow landed close to us and in the distance we found a Grey Heron and Little Egret. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the car park area there and another was at Kouklia Soakaways. By now we were wondering where the birds had all gone to. So I decided to head inland to the track leading to the Tsada/Minthis Hills Golf course. We wanted better views of Cyprus Wheatear and luckily there we found two, maybe three and were able to watch them for a while. A male and a female Common Stonechat were also there as were several Corn Bunting and Chukar.

An enjoyable day none-the-less with a day’s total of 43 less than we would have hoped for but well earnt!

List of species seen: Little Grebe, European Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Greater Sand Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Stonechat, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting.

September 21, 2015
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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 15, 2015
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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

September 15, 2015
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Cape Greco and Larnaca area, Sunday 13th September 2015

A very different morning at Cape Greco today. Few birds around compared to yesterday, although I spent an hour checking out the football pitches at Agia Napa which were full of migrants feeding on the watered pitches:

Cape Greco 8.00am – 12.00pm

Black Kite 1
Montagu’s Harrier 1 ringtail
Marsh Harrier 6 (1 male)
European Honey Buzzard 9
European Hobby 1
European Bee-eater two flocks heard and another 17 seen
Ortolan Bunting 4
Ruff 15 migrating off shore
Lesser Whitethroat 1

Agia Napa Football Fields

European Bee-eater 17
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Masked Shrike 3
Eurasian Hoopoe 6
Yellow Wagtail 50+
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Red-backed Shrike 4
Whinchat 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Cattle Egret 12
Spotted Flycatcher 1
Red-rumped Swallow 8

Protaras
Alpine Swift 8

Meneou Beach 6.00am
Red-rumped Swallow 50+
Barn Swallow 30+
Sand Martin 3
Red-backed Shrike 1
European Bee-eater c60

Red-rumped Swallow Meneou Beach 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Hoopoe Agia Napa Football Fields 13th September 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 1, 2015
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Cape Greco Raptor watch this morning, 1st September 2015

Raptor watching at Cape Greco this morning to kick off the autumn migration survey there. For a location that can be very good but also very quiet, it was a reasonable first day with two juvenile Pallid Harrier, five Western Marsh Harrier, three Honey Buzzard and a Black Kite all by 10.00 am. Then the only other bird of prey was a Eurasian Hobby who heading south in the company of the many hirundines that were migrating over the area. There were more than 400 Barn Swallow, 180+ Sand Martin, nine Common House Martin and five Red-rumped Swallow moving S over my observation point.

Also in the area to keep me interested once the raptor movement slowed were six Cretzschmar’s and then one Ortolan Bunting, three juvenile Eastern Orphean Warbler, twelve Eurasian Turtle Dove, two Pallid Swift, an Isabelline Wheatear, at least one Tawny Pipit, two Spotted Flycatcher, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, two Eurasian Hoopoe, a male Blue Rock Thrush and the inevitable Masked, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike.

August 28, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two Mornings guiding around Paphos 26th & 28th August 2015

Two mornings around the Paphos area with early starts to avoid the lingering summer heat enabled Andy to see some target species and catch up with several early migrants.

Highlights from locations visited:

26^th August:

Minthis Hills – Cyprus Wheatear, Eurasian Hobby, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Red-backed, Lesser Grey and Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, European Bee-eater

Arodes – Long-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Turtle Dove, European Roller, Red-rumped Swallow, Red-backed, Lesser Grey and Masked Shrike

Polis Chrysochou Bay – Garganey, Glossy Ibis

28^th August:

Paphos Headland – Greater Sand Plover

Paphos Sewage Works – Glossy Ibis, Eleonora’s Falcon, Spur-winged Lapwing, Eurasian Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail, Red-backed, Masked and Lesser Grey Shrike, Spanish Sparrow

Mandria – Collared Pratincole 1, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Eurasian Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Grey Shrike

Asprokremmos Dam area – Chukar, Cyprus Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Woodchat Shrike

Total number of species: 46

Grey Heron, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Collared Pratincole, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Lesser Grey Shrike Mandria 28th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 10, 2015
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Birding around Paphos area, 10th August 2015

Spent today out in the Paphos area. Rain was a pleasant relief from the heat when I got to Arodes but it didn’t put off both the Long-legged Buzzard and Eurasian Hobby that were flying over the area. There were at least four European Roller in the area and two Eurasian Turtle Dove.

Off shore I saw thirteen Grey Heron, three Little Egret, at least 75 Glossy Ibis, around fifty Garganey and six Gull-billed Tern as they migrated over Polis Chrysochou Bay. A Woodchat Shrike was at Neochorio and Masked Shrike were at Androlikou and Minthis Hills with several European Roller at both those locations.

A quick visit to Paphos Sewage Works on my way home produced 12 migrating Yellow Wagtail .

European Roller Arodes 10th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Woodchat Shrike Neochorio 10th August 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 17, 2015
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Pyrga and Panagia Stazousa this morning, 17th May 2015

At least seven European Rollers in the area but the best bird was found when I was trying to find a Masked Shrike that had flown into an old olive tree. I then realised that in the top of the tree was a nest and from it emerged a juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo which then flew off noisily.

Interesting sightings:

Pyrga – European Roller 1, Cretzschmar’s Bunting 1, Cyprus Warbler 3m, European Bee-eater h, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Cyprus Wheatear 1m

Panagia Stazousa – European Bee-eater h, Eurasian Scops Owl 1h, Eurasian Turtle Dove 2, European Roller 6, Cyprus Warbler 2m, Cyprus Wheatear 7, Little Owl 1, Great Spotted Cuckoo 2 juveniles (one seen another heard)

Klavdia – Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Great Spotted Cuckoo juvenile 17th May 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 12, 2015
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s guiding around Limassol, 12th May 2015

For our second day out this spring, I met John and Madeline at Avdimou and we headed for Kensington Cliffs. We stopped to watch a singing male Sardinian Warbler and then scanned the bay. We quickly found several Eleonora’s Falcon on the cliffs and then watched as others flew close to us and around the bay. On some rocks in the bay five Squacco Heron were resting. Both that species and strangely Common House Martin were present at most of the coastal sites we visited during the day. Spotted Flycatcher were also present in good numbers around the Akrotiri Peninsula and we found our first of the day at Phassouri Reed Beds where we also had at least five Squacco Heron, a Cattle Egret, several Little Egret, six Glossy Ibis , a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, up to sixteen Wood Sandpiper and a single Ruff. Five Eurasian Turtle Dove flew over as did a Western Marsh Harrier. In the reeds were several Eurasian Reed Warbler and also a Woodchat Shrike, while two female Black-headed Wagtail were feeding in the footsteps of one of the grazing cattle.

The Gravel Pits were quieter but we did find a Purple Heron, Kentish Plover, Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher. In the gardens of Agios Georgios Church we found another Woodchat Shrike and at least five Spotted Flycatcher. Madeline located a yellowish warbler in one of the pines which then started singing. The ID was then obvious – an Icterine Warbler – the star bird of the day and a lifer for John and Madeline. We could see around a hundred Greater Flamingo on the main Salt Lake and spotted a Great Egret feeding at the edge with several Little Egret. A female Montagu’s Harrier flew over the area. We had our lunch in the shade of the trees near Bishop’s Pool watching European Bee-eater and yet another Spotted Flycatcher. As we drove on a male Golden Oriole flew in front of us.

There had been a clear out of waders on Lady’s Mile since I was last there although on the eastern end we found nearly twenty Common Ringed Plover, several Ruff, many Little Stint and some Wood Sandpiper. Another good find was a Little Gull and six Squacco Heron were migrating along the coast. At the Zakaki Marsh hide we watched more Wood Sandpiper and female Black-headed Wagtail. We also found another Squacco Heron together with six Little Egret and a Grey Heron. We then visited the east side of the Salt Lake to get better views of some of the waders we had seen there when watching the Greater Flamingo. The light and heat haze were against us but we did see four Little Tern, several Black-winged Stilt and more Ruff, Common Ringed Plover and Little Stint. In the distance we could see a hazy flock of terns feeding – it was impossible to ID them with any certainty but it is likely they included White-winged and Whiskered.

We then headed inland to our final location at Kellakiou. On the way a Collared Flycatcher was seen from the side of the road. At Kellakiou we found a couple of Cyprus Wheatear and a single Cyprus Warbler. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler were singing and European Bee-eater migrating over the area. Eurasian Turtle Dove, European Serin, Common Chaffinch, Spanish Sparrow and juvenile European Goldfinch were coming down to drink at a small pool of water. Four Red-rumped Swallow were also flying down to drink there. At least three male Black-headed Bunting were singing and we were able to get close views of two of them as well as of at least seven Cretzschmar’s Bunting. A lone Masked Shrike was seen flying across the valley. This great experience, both listening and watching both migrant and resident breeders setting up territories ended our day out.

Total species seen – 68

Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Little Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Tern spp, Little Tern, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Eurasian Scops Owl (h), Common Swift, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Black-headed Wagtail, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Black-headed Bunting.

Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

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