Cyprus Birding Tours

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Tag Archives: Northern Wheatear


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Cape Greco area 8th September 2020


Plenty of Red-backed and Masked Shrike at Cape Greco this morning as well as many Whinchat and some migrating raptors. Full list of the more interesting sightings:
Cape Greco
Northern Wheatear 3
Isabelline Wheatear 3
European Honey Buzzard 27
Cyprus Wheatear 9
Eastern Orphean Warbler 1 juv
Whinchat 11
Black-eared Wheatear 3
Cyprus Warbler 4
Red-backed Shrike 11 (see photo of juvenile)
Common Hoopoe 2
Greater Short-toed Lark 6+
Willow Warbler 12+
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Eleonora’s Falcon 2
Western Marsh Harrier 6
Montagu’s Harrier 1m
Eurasian Hobby 1
Eurasian Wryneck 1
European Bee-eatear many passing over heard only


Agia Napa Sewage Works
Masked Shrike 7ad and 1 juv (all within 1km of each other)
Red-backed Shrike 7
Ortolan Bunting 2
Lesser Whitethroat 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Woodchat Shrike 1
Whinchat 3


Agia Napa Football fields
Red-backed Shrike 3
Cattle Egret 11
Tree Pipit 2
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1


Macronissos beach
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Whinchat 3
Kentish Plover 2
Greater Sandplover 4

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike, Cape Greco 8th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco morning 5th September 2020


As its much quieter this autumn around Cape Greco than it usually is, its much easier to birdwatch. Found a good array of migrants
in good numbers there this morning including Spotted Flycatcher (see photo), Black-eared Wheatear, Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrike, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Eurasian Wryneck, Isabelline and Northern Wheatear, Ortolan and Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Sand Martin, Red-rumped Swallow and European Bee-eater.

Spotted Flycatcher, Cape Greco 5th September 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area today 24th March 2020

Like many other local birders I was out trying to make the most of what could be last birding away from my garden for many weeks as we are now in lock down.

Some good birds around including my first Subalpine Warbler, Whinchat and Montagu’s Harrier of the year.

Meneou Pool
Mediterranean Gull 1
Slender-billed Gull 1
Garganey 3
Greater Flamingo c70
Little Egret 5
Common Sandpiper 1
Black-eared Wheatear 1m (see photo)

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Greater Flamingo c800
Northern Shoveler c120
Mediterranean Gull 5
Black-eared Wheatear 1m

Spiros Beach
Little Stint 10
Kentish Plover 2
Little Ringed Plover 1
Isabelline Wheatear 2

Spiros Pool
Spotted Redshank 4
Bluethroat 1
Garganey 50+
Ruff c30
Black-winged Stilt c40
Black-eared Wheatear 2m and 1f
Northern Wheatear 1m (see photo)
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Common Hoopoe 4
Masked Shrike 1m
Black-tailed Godwit 2
Subalpine Warbler 1m

Larnaca Airport Coast
Black-eared Wheatear 2m
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Common Nightingale 1

Softades
Northern Wheatear 1
Montagu’s Harrier 1m
Common Hoopoe 1m in off sea
Northern Wheatear 2

Kiti to Petounta road
Northern Wheatear 6

Petounta Point
Common Snipe 6
Little Ringed Plover 13 (see photo)
Citrine Wagtail 1f (see photo)
Black-headed Wagtail feldegg 12+
Blue-headed Wagtail flava 2
Grey-headed Wagtail thunbergi 1
Common Hoopoe 2
Kentish Plover 1
Northern Wheatear 3
Water Pipit 8+
Red-throated Pipit 1
Isabelline Wheatear 4
Black-eared Wheatear 5
Common Quail 1 in flight
Spur-winged Lapwing 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Common Redstart 2m

Kivisili fields
Black-eared Wheatear 4m
Cyprus Wheatear 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Whinchat 2m
Common Hoopoe 3
Green Sandpiper 1

 

Black-eared Wheatear, Larnaca 24th March 2020 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

Black-eared Wheatear, Larnaca 24th March 2020 (Cyprus Birding Tours)

Female Citrine Wagtail, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Female Citrine Wagtail, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Ringed Plover, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Little Ringed Plover, Petounta 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wheatear, Spiros Pool 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Northern Wheatear, Spiros Pool 24th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area 16th March 2020

Out around Larnaca yesterday morning doing the waterbird count. Still more than 2000 Greater Flamingos plus several hundred Slender-billed Gull, 23 Little Gull, three Mediterranean Gull, more than 50 Black-winged Stilt, nine Pied Avocet, a male Tufted Duck, three Great Crested Grebe, some Little and Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Kentish Plover, some Northern and Isabelline Wheatear, a couple of Common Hoopoe (see photo), lots of Common Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat and Western Yellow and White Wagtail and a Woodchat Shrike.

Common Hoopoe, Larnaca 16th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Larnaca 16th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Cape Greco 13th March 2020

Lovely day around Cape Greco today – dodging some very heavy rain at times. Great birds including this male Masked Shrike (photo).

Other sightings included:

Isabelline Wheatear 28+
Northern Wheatear 12+
Common Hoopoe 20 incl a group of five in off sea together
Cyprus Wheatear 4
Common Crane 1 heading E 09:45
Black Redstart 10
Lesser Whitethroat 8+
Common Whitethroat 2
Song Thrush 7
Bluethroat 1
Black-eared Wheatear 2 pale throated and 5 dark throated
Ruppell’s Warbler 3m
Masked Shrike 1m
Blue Rock Thrush 3 (incl a pair with singing male)
Cyprus Warbler 3m
Common Nightingale 1
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1
Hen Harrier 1f
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler 2
Common Redstart 1m and 1f
‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart 1f
Desert Wheatear 1m
Red-rumped Swallow 7
Black-headed Wagtail 30
Blue-headed Wagtail 2

Masked Shrike, Cape Greco 13th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Cape Greco 13th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020

Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Desert Wheatear, Mandria 10th March 2020 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Pleased to find one at Avakas coast this morning and then this individual on the beach at Mandria late in the afternoon. Light rubbish but never mind – always a great bird even if the photo doesn’t do it justice.

Had these other sightings today around Paphos:

Lara Beach
Woodchat Shrike 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Greater Short-toed Lark 3
Isabelline Wheatear 8
Woodlark 3

Avakas Coast
Desert Wheatear 1m
Isabelline Wheatear 5

Anarita Park early pm
Blue Rock Thrush 1m
Cyprus Wheatear 1
Pallid Swift 3

Timi Beach
Northern Wheatear 1m and 1f
Isabelline Wheatear 5
Little Ringed Plover 1

Mandria late pm
Desert Wheatear 1m on beach
Isabelline Wheatear 15+


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Lady’s Mile 28th October 2019

A quick visit to Lady’s Mile this morning. Around 40 Dunlin and several Little Stint were feeding in the marshy area and at least 50 Black-headed Gull were flying around. Several Red-throated, Water and Meadow Pipit were also in the area as were three Northern Wheatear and two Common Redstart.

Photo of one of the Water Pipits.

Water Pipit, Lady's Mile 28th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Water Pipit, Lady’s Mile 28th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area this morning 10th October 2019

First time around the area for a few weeks. The best place for birds was Oroklini Marsh where these two Eurasian Spoonbill were feeding (photo).

Eurasian Spoonbill, Oroklini Marsh 10th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Spoonbill, Oroklini Marsh 10th October 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Also in the area were:

Oroklini Marsh
Eurasian Spoonbill 2
Great White Egret 1
Little Egret 3
Cattle Egret 1
Common Teal 13
Northern Shoveler 34
Greater Flamingo 30
Common Snipe 6
Wood Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 3
Spur-winged Lapwing c45
Common Kingfisher 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1 m
Black-winged Stilt 1
Marsh Sandpiper 1
Laughing Dove 3

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo c150
Eurasian Spoonbill 10
Red-rumped Swallow c20

Spiros Pool
Red-throated Pipit 2

Larnaca Airport Coast
Northern Wheatear 2

Larnaca Sewage Works
Spur-winged Lapwing 7
Armenian Gull 2
Great Cormorant 1
Common Teal 15
Ruff 7
Western Marsh Harrier 1


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Cape Greco 13th March 2019

Spent most of the day at Cape Greco looking for early migrants. Some putting in an appearance – see list below – but the best was a lovely male Common Redstart of the samamisicus race (see photos). Also visited Oroklini Marsh and a couple of Agia Napa beaches where there were ten Greater Sandplovers (see photos).

Oroklini Marsh

Western Marsh Harrier 1
Black-tailed Godwit 5
Garganey 1m
Yellow Wagtail 1h
Northern Pintail 2m and 3f
Ferruginous Duck 7
Red-crested Pochard 1m and 5f
Black-winged Stilt c30
Spur-winged Lapwing 8
Common Redshank 1
Greater Flamingo 33
Common Swift 22
Cape Greco – from Kermia Beach to Agioi Anargyroi picnic site
Cyprus Warbler 6+ singing males
Ruppell’s Warbler 8m and 1f
Tree Pipit 1h
Cyprus Wheatear 4
Isabelline Wheatear 4
Greater Short-toed Lark 2
Northern Wheatear 1m
Yellow Wagtail 2 over
Blue Rock Thrush 1f
Common ‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart (samamisicus spp) 1m
Common Chiffchaff 30+
Black Redstart 7+
Audouin’s Gull 2
Black-eared Wheatear 1m pale throat
Macronissos Beach
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Agia Thekla
Greater Sandplover 10
Kentish Plover 2
Isabelline Wheatear 3
Northern Wheatear 1

‘Ehrenberg’s’ Redstart, Cape Greco 13th March 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Agia Thekla 13th March 2019 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area 15th September 2018

Greater Flamingo, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th September 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Flamingo, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th September 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Did the waterbird count this morning around Larnaca. Most of the birds were at the Sewage Works – Greater Flamingo, Little and Cattle Egret, Grey and Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Kentish and Common Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Sanderling, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Redshank, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, Garganey, Ferruginous Duck. Plus migrating Montagu’s and Pallid Harrier, lots of European Bee-eater, an Isabelline and Northern Wheatear, Red-backed (see photo), Masked and Lesser Grey Shrike. Good morning’s birding.

Red-backed Shrike, Larnaca 15th September 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Red-backed Shrike, Larnaca 15th September 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca area today 2nd April 2018

Some of the more interesting sightings:

Meneou Pool

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 1
Black-winged Stilt 7
Purple Heron 2

Spiros Beach

Eurasian Thick-knee 1
Greater Flamingo c200 flying E
Northern Wheatear 4m
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Spiros Pool

Kentish Plover 2
Pied Avocet 12 (seen later on Airport Pools south)

Larnaca Sewage Works

Northern Wheatear 5
Black-necked Grebe 3
Citrine Wagtail 2
Yellow Wagtail 7
Common Greenshank 1
Ruff 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 8+
Common Nightingale 1 singing in front of hide

Pervolia

Common Quail 1h
Black-headed Wagtail 8
Calandra Lark 3+
Common Hoopoe 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Petounta Point

Northern Wheatear 5
Common Kingfisher 1
Common Sandpiper 1

Kiti Dam

Laughing Dove 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Great Spotted Cuckoo 2
Eurasian Blackcap 1+
European Turtle Dove 1
Common Hoopoe 2

Kivisili

Lesser Kestrel 10+
Eurasian Thick-knee 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1
Common Hoopoe 1

Panagia Stazousa

Cyprus Wheatear 6
Cyprus Warbler 1
Common Cuckoo 1
Cretzschmar’s Bunting pair near known breeding location
Olivaceous Warbler 1 singing

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spiros Beach 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Stone Curlew, Spiros Beach 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lesser Kestrel, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lesser Kestrel, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Kivisili 2nd April 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

 


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Limassol area 10th & 11th March 2018

Spent the last two days in the Limassol area. The highlight was a Masked Shrike already on breeding territory at Prastio Kellakiou and two Bimaculated Lark in with a flock of Greater Short-toed Lark and Meadow Pipit on the coastline of Akrotiri Gravel Pits. Other interesting sightings during the two days:

Saturday 10th March

Zakaki Marsh
Water Rail 1h
Little Crake 1m
Penduline Tit 2

Lady’s Mile
Slender-billed Gull 2 ad and 1 imm
Heuglin’s Gull 1
Armenian Gull c30
Caspian Gull 2 imm
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Common Hoopoe 3 (See photo)
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Cyprus Wheatear 1

Akrotiri Salt Lake/Zakaki run off
Little Ringed Plover 20+
Common Ringed Plover 20+
Kentish Plover c100
Little Stint c30
Northern Shoveler c50
Greater Flamingo 800+
Dunlin 5
Western Marsh Harrier 1 ad male
Common Snipe 12
Black-headed Wagtail 1m

Akrotiri Gravel Pits
Kentish Plover 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Northern Wheatear 1m
Ruppell’s Warbler 1m
Greater Short-toed Lark 4

Phasouri Reed-beds
Subalpine Warbler 1f
Eurasian Reed Warbler 4+h
Red-throated Pipit 1h

Kensington Cliffs
Alpine Swift 14
Cyprus Warbler 2h

Sunday 11th March

Germasogeia Dam
Cyprus Warbler 3 singing males and 1f
Eurasian Reed Warbler 1h

Prastio Kellakiou
Masked Shrike 1m
Cyprus Warbler 4 singing males
Common Buzzard 1

Parekklishia
Great Spotted Cuckoo 1 flew over road

Akrotiri Gravel Pits coast
Bimaculated Lark 2 (Record shot below)
Greater Short-toed Lark 20+
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Black-eared Wheatear 1f

Common Hoopoe, Lady's Mile 10th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Hoopoe, Lady’s Mile 10th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bimaculated Lark, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 11th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bimaculated Lark, Akrotiri Gravel Pits 11th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours