Nicosia birding | Cyprus Birding Tours

June 9, 2016
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Athalassa Dam, Nicosia this morning 9th June 2016

A walk around the dam at Athalassa today which still has plenty of water. A couple of pairs of Black-winged Stilt were present as were four Ferruginous Duck, an adult Little Bittern, two Squacco Heron, two Black-crowned Night Heron, four Little Egret and several European Turtle Dove. Eastern Olivaceous and Eurasian Reed Warbler could be heard and seen flitting in the trees and reeds and there were several Cetti’s Warbler. Several Mallard had large duckling with them and Eurasian Coot were feeding young – ranging from recently hatched to larger birds. Plenty of Common Moorhen and Little Grebe but no young seen of either species. As usual the area was full of Common Woodpigeon and Hooded Crow.

Black-winged Stilt, Athalassa 9th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

European Turtle Dove, Athalassa Dam, 9th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Coot with young, Athalassa 9th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Woodpigeon, Athalassa 9th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 27, 2016
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Athalassa Park, Nicosia 27th January 2016

Five Barn Swallows, two House Martin and a Common Swift today at Athalassa Park reminded me that spring is on the way. On and around the water were two Great Egret, six Grey Heron, two Black-crowned Night Heron, two Cattle Egret, c40 Great Cormorant, a male Common Pochard, 18+ Ferruginous Duck, 3 Tufted Duck, three Grey Wagtail, a Common Snipe and lots of Little Grebe, Eurasian Coot, Common Moorhen, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal and Mallard.

Little Grebe Athalassa Park 27th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Coot Athalassa Park 27th January 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

January 21, 2016
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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.