Phassouri Reed-beds – Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Buzzard 1, Common Snipe 1, Bluethroat 1
Akrotiri Gravel Pits – European Serin 5+, Song Thrush 1
Akrotiri Salt Lake – Grey Heron 210, Greater Flamingo c500, Common Shelduck 15, Peregrine Falcon 1 sitting on salt flats preening, Kentish Plover c10, Water Pipit 1, Spectacled Warbler 1
Lady’s Mile – Little Stint 39, Caspian Gull 3, Armenian Gull c10
Zakaki Marsh – Western Marsh Harrier 2, Water Rail 2, Little Crake 1 juv, Eurasian Penduline Tit 1m & 1f seen well + 2 others heard, Common Starling c200 at dusk
Full list of species seen – 61
Little Grebe, European Shag, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Water Rail, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail inc Grey-headed Wagtail thunbergii, White Wagtail, European Robin, Bluethroat, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet
Greater Flamingo Akrotiri Salt Lake 11th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Pat, Val, Paul, Anne and I headed straight for Paphos Headland where a walk along the coast line produced four Greater Sand Plover, a Eurasian Golden Plover, a Whimbrel, a Ruddy Turnstone and two Common Sandpiper. Two Common Kingfisher squabbling over territory was great to see and we also found a Tawny Pipit in the scrub as well as a Zitting Cisticola and several Spanish Sparrow sitting in a couple of bushes. Two Northern Lapwing flew over – an unusual location for them.
Our next stop was the Ezousas Valley near Agia Varvara where we found many Willow Warblers, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, two newly arrived Common Stonechat, a couple of Chukar and a distant Cyprus Wheatear. A couple of the Soakaways still held water but the only birds we found on them were a couple of Common Moorhen and a young Grey Heron. At Paphos Sewage Works we quickly found at least six Spur-winged Lapwing but it took us a bit longer to find and get decent views of the three Red-throated Pipit that we could hear feeding in the fields with the many White and several Yellow Wagtail. A juvenile Red-footed Falcon was migrating overhead as we left.
The three Red-throated Pipit in the fields near the sea at Mandria were more obliging and we had great views of them – still mainly in breeding plumage. We found three Northern Wheatear, a Tawny Pipit and a Whinchat, and then watched a Long-legged Buzzard fly over and perch on the top of a tall conifer while being mobbed by Hooded Crows. Two Eurasian Sparrowhawk were flying over as were four Northern Lapwing. We were especially pleased to spend some time watching at least 35 Eurasian Stone Curlew on a ploughed field.
We then went to Petra tou Romiou and were treated to a flying display by four or five Eleonora’s Falcon. Another Eleonora’s Falcon gave us a surprise at Kouklia Soakaways when it flew up from the water in the river bed there. A Long-legged Buzzard was also flying in the valley and we saw another of those on the approach road to the Asprokremmos Dam being pursued by a flock of Hooded Crow. Both darker birds than we had seen at Mandria. A male and female Cyprus Warbler played hide and seek behind the Dam but finally the female at least allowed us to see her well, the male giving only the briefest glimpses.
Our last stop was at Minthis Hills where we were hoping to get better views of the Cyprus Wheatear. We were very pleased to find one as soon as we turned into the area and then another a bit further along the track. Our final species were two Bonelli’s Eagle that gave us a great fly by and a fitting end to the day.
Total species seen 47
European Shag, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Northern Lapwing, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Kingfisher, Crested Lark, Barn Swallow, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet
Eurasian Stone Curlew Mandria 15th October 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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
Several male Black-headed Bunting seen singing on territories Friday and Saturday around Droushia and Neo Chorio. Also seen were Golden Oriole, Masked and Woodchat Shrike, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Hoopoe, Red-rumped Swallow, European Hobby and European Roller.
The first stop of a day out with Peter and Marny was at Petra tou Romiou where we found two Eleonora’s Falcon – one unusually perched on a tree. A male Cyprus Wheatear was singing and we watched a Great Spotted Cuckoo fly over the area. At least nine Alpine Swift were around and a lone Little Egret flew in off the sea. A couple of male Sardinian Warbler were singing, trying to attract our attention. A Peregrine Falcon speeded past the car as we left the area. The river at the Kouklia Soakaways had a good flow of water and we spent some time watching four Wood Sandpiper feeding there.
We found a male and a female Cyprus Warbler near to the mast behind Asprokremmos Dam where there were also five Tawny Pipit, two Ortolan Bunting, a Whinchat, a Little Owl and a Sardinian Warbler family party. We were having a good day for raptors and here we saw a female Western Marsh Harrier, a male Montagu’s Harrier, an unidentified ring-tail harrier and two Bonelli’s Eagle. On the water were several Yellow-legged Gull and through the ‘scope we spotted one with a darker grey mantle which we identified as the ‘heuglin’ race of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Mandria was very windy and disappointing bird-wise so we moved onto Paphos Sewage Works where we found eight Spur-winged Lapwing and three Cattle Egret in the fields. It took us some time to locate any Yellow Wagtail but we found several in a bare tree including Blue-headed flava and Black-headed feldegg, several females and a xanthophrys intergrade. Near the Ezousas river we saw a Eurasian Turtle Dove, a Squacco Heron and heard an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler singing.
At Agia Varvara we found a Woodchat Shrike, a Purple Heron and more Wood Sandpiper. Our last stop was Anarita Park where at least twelve Red-footed Falcon resting on a field was the sight that greeted us. The first of the five European Roller that we saw in the area joined them. Driving through the area we found at least twenty more Red-footed Falcon flying and feeding over the hills sides. Around ten Lesser Kestrel were also present as were several Common Kestrel. A Long-legged Buzzard flew in but two Western Jackdaw soon chased it away. Two male Montagu’s Harrier were also seen. An impressive array of raptors in a small area concluded a good day out.
Number of different birds seen – 57
Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Heuglin’s Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Roller, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, xanthophrys Yellow Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting
Red-footed Falcon female Anarita Park 24th April 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
A good day’s general bird watching in the Paphos area with Nicke where we managed to pick up some good sightings including the vagrant male Caspian Plover that has been at Mandria for the last two days.
Three days out with Alan and Marilyn gave a good opportunity to catch up with many different resident and migrant species. They wanted the chance to get as many photos as possible and although not all the birds we saw were photo-friendly we found a wide variety of species and ended up with a three day total of 107 different birds: 59 on 24th, 51 on 26th (when the afternoon was very quiet at the sites we visited) and 71 on 27th.
Mavrokolympos Dam – Long-legged Buzzard 2, Chukar 3+, Cyprus Wheatear 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Whitethroat 1
Akoursos Valley – Eurasian Scops Owl 1h, Common Nightingale 1h, Cyprus Warbler 2m
Cape Drepanum – Great Cormorant 4, European Shag 3, Yellow-legged Gull 30+, Greater Short-toed Lark 4, Barn Swallow 30+ migrating N along coast, Subalpine Warbler 1m
Friday 27th March:
Zakaki Marsh – Little Egret 1, Little Crake 1m, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2+h, Sedge Warbler 1h
Phassouri Reed Beds – Squacco Heron 2, Cattle Egret 1, Purple Heron 3, Western Marsh Harrier 1, Common Crane 3 flying over heading N, Black Francolin 1+h, Common Quail 1h, Black-winged Stilt 1, Spur-winged Lapwing 1, Common Nightingale 1, European Blackcap 3
Flooded Phassouri old rabbit farm area – Great Egret 1, Black-winged Stilt 1, Little Ringed Plover c10, Kentish Plover 1, Ruff c50, Common Snipe 1, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Sand Martin 1, Yellow Wagtail inc Black and Blue headed and ‘dombrowski’ intergrade, Masked Shrike 2
Akrotiri Gravel Pits and coast – Great Egret 3 in from sea over area, ‘Baltic’ Gull 1 migrating with 10 Yellow-legged Gull offshore, Common Black-headed Gull c60 in bay, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Common Redstart 1f, Desert Wheatear 1m, Cyprus Warbler 1h, Masked Shrike 1, Ortolan Bunting 1
Bishop’s Pool – Black-crowned Night Heron 3, Ferruginous Duck 2
Lady’s Mile – Black-winged Stilt 29, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover 1+ flew with flock of Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper 1, Common Greenshank 4, Slender-billed Gull 8
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Little Crake, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Ruff, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, ‘Baltic’ Gull (Lesser Black-backed Gull), Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl h, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail, Black-headed Wagtail, ‘dombrowski’ Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Western Black Redstart, Common Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler h, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Rüppell’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting
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