Red-rumped Swallow | Cyprus Birding Tours

March 10, 2017
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Anarita Park, Agia Varvara and Akrotiri, 10th March 2017

The first day out of what promises to be a busy spring season for Cyprus Birding Tours, was with Peter and Sian. We had arranged to go to Anarita Park and Akrotiri to show Peter those locations. Our target species were Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear and Finsch’s Wheatear. After heavy rain over night the weather was mainly sunny if hazy as we headed for Anarita Park. Flocks of finches – Common Linnet, European Serin, European Goldfinch and Greenfinch greeted us as did a Eurasian Hoopoe. Corn Bunting were singing and we heard a Great Spotted Cuckoo although we didn’t see one there. After a few false starts we found both Cyprus and Finsch’s Wheatear as well as a couple of Isabelline and Northern and a very smart Eastern Black-eared. We were told by a local birder that a male Lesser Kestrel was hunting near the road and we passed by there and had good views of it. We briefly saw a male Cyprus Warbler as well as a Chukar, two male and a female Blue Rock Thrush, some male Spanish Sparrow and a few Woodlark.

We then headed to the Agia Varvara valley hoping to get better views of the Cyprus Warbler. We were in luck and found a male singing there which kept us entertained for a while until we were interrupted by a fox dashing through the undergrowth nearby being chased by three dogs. We then moved on to Kourio Stadium where we ate our lunch in the shade of a carob tree watching Isabelline, Northern and Cyprus Wheatear and added Red-rumped Swallow to our list of species.

Two Eurasian Hoopoe flew over Phasouri Reed-beds but we didn’t find much else there. We drove to check the coast of the Gravel Pits and assumed we had found Garganey floating on the sea. Putting the scope on them it was a surprise to see five Gadwall and around twenty Eurasian Teal. Driving through the Gravel Pits area we came across five Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff and a Green Sandpiper, two Kentish Plover, a Great Spotted Cuckoo, two Isabelline Wheatear, a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, five Lesser Whitethroat, a Woodchat Shrike and many mosquitos. A quick scan over the Salt Lake revealed a couple of hundred Greater Flamingo and a Western Marsh Harrier quartering the shore.

On Lady’s Mile we found just a couple of Kentish Plover and Ruff, a Black-winged Stilt, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Redshank. A couple of Slender-billed Gull with a lovely pink tinge to their plumage were floating offshore with some Common Black-headed Gull and at least one Armenian and Caspian Gull. We then spent a short time in the hide at Zakaki Marsh where we could hear Eurasian Penduline Tit calling. Finally two males were spotted by Peter feeding in a tamarisk bush to the left of the hide. Also present were a Little Egret, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot and five Common Starling.

The last stop was Kensington Cliffs but unfortunately we were too late to see any Eurasian Griffon Vulture but we did see at least six Alpine Swift. We returned to Paphos happy with our days birding.

Total species – 72

Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Common Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Caspian Gull, Armenian Gull, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, European Robin, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Corn Bunting

Lesser Kestrel, Anarita Park 10th March 2017 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 20, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Day’s Guiding Akrotiri area, 20th September 2016

It’s always good to spend some time out with Terry and Sarah and today was no exception. We headed straight to Akrotiri with the intention of trying to catch some of the raptor migration passing over the area. Most of the raptors we saw were European Honey Buzzard and Western Marsh Harrier but many of them were passing over quite low, meaning we had good views and we also watched a group of Grey Heron feeding at Zakaki Marsh chase off one of the Marsh Harrier over that location. Waders included the Cyprus rarity – a Bar-tailed Godwit, lots of Kentish Plover, a juvenile Ruff, a Sanderling and several each of Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper. A single Greater Flamingo feeding on Lady’s Mile gave some photo opportunities and we found a couple of Ferruginous Duck on a quick visit to Bishop’s Pool.

Plenty of European Bee-eater were migrating over throughout the day, many of them very high and we saw a lot of Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin and Barn Swallow as well as several late Common Swift. Not so many shrikes around as in early September but we saw a couple of juvenile Red-backed Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike.

An afternoon visit to Kensington Cliffs gave us the chance to enjoy the acrobatics of both adult and juvenile Eleonora’s Falcon, who in turn mobbed a migrating European Honey Buzzard and then two of the resident Eurasian Griffon Vulture returning from their inland feeding stations. On the way back to Paphos we stopped at Asprokremmos Dam where there was a European Golden Oriole feeding in a ficus tree – thanks to Alan and Lynn for showing us the location – and we also found a female European Pied Flycatcher.

Number of species seen – 60

Little Grebe, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Western Marsh Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Bar-tailed Godwit, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Turtle Dove, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Cetti’s Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Akrotiri Gravel Pits, 20th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Flamingo, Lady’s Mile 20th September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

September 13, 2016
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Cape Greco raptor watch 13th September 2016

After the excitement of finding an Olive-tree Warbler in my garden yesterday (no photos – well I have lots of photos of out of focus bird and in focus branches..), I was hoping that the raptor count at Cape Greco would continue a good few days birding. No such luck. Very few raptors moving around and the interest was provided by three flocks of Greater Flamingo heading south along the east coast of the Cape. Main sightings of note:

Cape Greco 8.00am – 12.30pm
Western Marsh Harrier 2 (1m)
Eleonora’s Falcon 2
European Honey Buzzard 1
Greater Flamingo 48 + 68 + 30
Grey Heron 11
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (with Grey Herons)
European Bee-eater 100+ (and others heard only)
Red-rumped Swallow 14
Barn Swallow 200+ over during the survey
Greater Short-toed Lark 1 over
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Yellow Wagtail 2 over W to E
Common House Martin 2
Isabelline Wheatear 1
Cyprus Wheatear 3
Whinchat 1
Spanish Sparrow 3
Tawny Pipit 2
Lesser Grey Shrike 1

Agia Napa Football Fields
Whinchat 4
Yellow Wagtail 12
Cattle Egret 11
Red-backed Shrike 1m and 3 juv
Lesser Grey Shrike 2
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1
Tawny Pipit 1
Eurasian Hoopoe 2
European Roller 1

September 2, 2016
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Raptor count Cape Greco 2nd September 2016

My first count of the BirdLife Cyprus autumn raptor monitoring at Cape Greco is usually very quiet giving me a chance to renew my acquaintance with the local Common Kestrels. So although not very busy the steady stream of raptors around there this morning was a pleasant change. At least three Eleonora’s Falcon, a Perergine Falcon and a Eurasian Hobby flew over the Cava Viewpoint on several occasions and did not appear to be migrating. (Poor, hazy record shots below). A group of eight adult and two juvenile Greater Flamingo flew from west to east and then heading SE out to sea. A trickle of migrating Western Marsh Harrier were seen either circling up and gaining height or heading out S over the sea. At least 15 passed through as well as six European Honey Buzzard. A couple of other large raptors were too distant for a certain ID. Also migrating over were seven Red-rumped Swallows, a handful of Barn Swallows and some European Bee-eater.

On finishing I passed by the Agia Napa Football Fields which is a good location to visit at this time of year and as most years there were a good number of Lesser Grey Shrike (15+) and also a male Red-backed Shrike, a European Roller, two Isabelline Wheatear, two Spotted Flycatcher, seven Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat, a European Roller and around thirty Cattle Egret.

Peregrine Falcon, Cape Greco 2nd September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eleonora’s Falcon, Cape Greco 2nd September 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

August 4, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report – Morning out Paphos 3rd August 2016

The first of two mornings out with Jon and we made an early start to avoid the stifling Paphos heat as far as possible. A visit to the Headland gave us a good start with four Greater Sand Plover but there was very little else there. We spent some time around Asprokremmos Dam and the mast area behind it and this was more profitable, if still a little quiet. Four Long-legged Buzzards flew above us calling and an Eleonora’s Falcon flew high above them. At least three Masked Shrike were seen perched on bushes and a Eurasian Stone Curlew was in the carob grove as were two family parties of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. We found two Cyprus Wheatear but had no luck with Cyprus Warbler today. A mixed flock of Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Sand and House Martin flew over. The surprise bird of the day was in the trees of the car park of the Dam. As we got out of the car to look at two Eurasian Hoopoe feeding under the trees, a European Nightjar flew up and into one of the conifers. We managed to get some decent views of it until it flew on into denser cover and we lost it. An unexpected bonus. We finished the morning at Paphos Sewage Works where several Spur-winged Lapwing, including some juveniles, were feeding in the fields. We also found another Eurasian Stone Curlew. Some choice birds on a very quiet day with just a few signs that migration is slowly getting underway.

Species list:

Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eleonora’s Falcon, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Greater Sand Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Nightjar, Eurasian Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Cyprus Wheatear, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Great Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch.

June 10, 2016
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Troodos and Omodos vineyards, 10th June 2016

Some sightings from the Troodos area and the Omodos vineyards. Many Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Common Chaffinch, Coal Tit and Short-toed Treecreeper also seen:

Amiandos

Eurasian Crag Martin 2

Livadi tou Pashia

Eurasian Hoopoe 1h

Winter Wren 5+

Spotted Flycatcher 5

Masked Shrike 3m and 2f and 4 juveniles (two in one area, two others elsewhere)

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 8+ and 2+ family groups

Red Crossbill 1 seen and another heard

Eurasian Jay 2

Eurasian Blackbird 1m

Red-rumped Swallow 2

Almirolivado

Masked Shrike 3m and 1f

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 4+

Winter Wren 4+

Eurasian Blackbird 1

Start of Caledonia Trail (Troodos end)

Grey Wagtail 1m and 1 juv plus another prob heard.

Eurasian Blackbird 1m an 1f

Winter Wren 3+

Spotted Flycatcher 1

Mandria (Platres) – Agios Nikolaos road

Cyprus Wheatear 4m

Masked Shrike 1

Agios Nikolaos road to Omodos

Cyprus Wheatear 3
Masked Shrike 1m and 1f

Long-legged Buzzard 2

Black-headed Bunting 4 singing males

Omodos

Black-headed Bunting 3 males

Corn Bunting 1

Red-rumped Swallow 5

Eurasian Jay, Livadi tou Pashia, 10th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Grey Wagtail, Caledonia Trail, 10th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Livadi tou Pashia, 10th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike juvenile, Livadi tou Pashia, 10th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Spotted Flycatcher, Livadi tou Pashia, 10th June 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

May 31, 2016
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Troodos 31st May 2016

Had a great day around Troodos today – relaxing birding! Found two Red-rumped Swallow collecting mud from near the stream in the Platania picnic site. They would fly in together and one would sit on a nearby stem or bush while the other collected the mud and then they flew off together – presumably to make a nest or repair one they have already used. Spent some time watching a male Masked Shrike feeding a downy recently fledged youngster at Livadi tou Pashia and was pleased to see a Grey Wagtail at the Troodos end of the Caledonia Trail. Lots of Coal Tit, Short-toed Tree-creeper, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and Common Chaffinch around.

Main sightings:

Platania Picnic Site

Red-rumped Swallow 2 coming down to take mud

Masked Shrike 2m and 1f

European Serin 6+

Eurasian Blackbird 1m and 1f

Eurasian Hoopoe 2

Winter Wren 1

Eurasian Jay 1

Livadi tou Pashia

Spotte Flycatcher 3

Eurasian Hoopoe 2

Eurasian Blackbird 2m, 1f and one juvenile

Eurasian Jay h

Masked Shrike 2m – one feeding a downy fledgling

European Serin 4+

Winter Wren 2 plus family party of 6+

Cyprus Wheatear 2m

Start of Artemis trail

Common Swift c70

Pallid Swift 3+

Eurasian Hoopoe 1h

Cyprus Wheatear 3m

European Serin h

Eurasian Blackbird 1 singing male

Eurasian Jay 1

Platania Old Road

European Turtle Dove 2

Cyprus Wheatear 1

Caledonia Trail (Troodos end)

Grey Wagtail 1 ad

Winter Wren 10+ and young in family parties

Eurasian Blackbird 3m and 2f

Common Nightingale 1h singing

Spotted Flycatcher 1

Troodos Environment Centre area

Eurasian Blackbird 1m

Common House Martin c30

Common Swift c200 with at least 30 probable Pallids

Kampos tou Livadiou

Winter Wren 1

Troodos Botanical Gardens – Amiandos

Cyprus Wheatear 1m, 1f and 1 fledgling

Masked Shrike 1m

Eurasian Jay 2

European Serin 2+

Eurasian Blackbird 2+m

Red-rumped Swallow 30+

Common House Martin c40

European Turtle Dove 1

Red-rumped Swallow, Platania, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Wheatear fledgling, Amiandos, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Wheatear, Amiandos, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Winter Wren, Caledonia Trail, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Chaffinch, Livadi tou Pashia, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Blackbird, Caledonia Trail, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

European Greenfinch Platania, 31st May 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

April 30, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Two Day’s Guiding Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos area 28th and 29th April 2016

Two days out with Benny and Ann-Marie who were based in Limassol. We visited most of the coastal Larnaca sites and a couple of inland ones, Zakaki, Phasouri and Kensington Cliffs in Limassol, Omodos, Agios Nikolaos and Tzelefos Bridge inland before finishing at Anarita Park where we had ended our two days out with great views of the first Amur Falcon to be found in Cyprus the day before by local birder Matt Smith.

Species highlights per locations:

28^th April 2016

Oroklini Marsh – Cattle Egret, Spur-winged Lapwing, White-winged Tern, Glossy Ibis, Black-tailed Godwit, Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt

Oroklini JUMBO Drainage Channel – Temminck’s Stint 2, Little Ringed Plover , Wood Sandpiper

Larnaca Salt Lake – Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler

Larnaca Sewage Works – Ruddy Shelduck, Garganey, Black Francolin, Ruff, Slender-billed Gull, Armenian Gull, Spotted Flycatcher, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint

Spiros Pool – Kentish Plover, Black-headed Wagtail, Little Tern

Larnaca Airport Coast – Woodchat Shrike, Eurasian Turtle Dove

Meneou Pools – Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover

Pervolia – Black Francolin, Calandra Lark, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail

Kivisilli – Lesser Kestrel, Montagu’s Harrier 2f

Panagia Stazousa – Long-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Roller, Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Common Nightingale

29^th April 2016

Zakaki Marsh – Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Water Rail, Wood Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler

Phasouri Reed-beds – Eleonora’s Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Western Marsh Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Ferruginous Duck

Kensington Cliffs – Eleonora’s Falcon, Cyprus Wheatear

Omodos, Agios Nikoloas, Mandria (Platres) – Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Black-headed Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Red-rumped Swallow, Coal Tit, European Serin, Winter Wren, Masked Shirke, Eurasian Hoopoe, Long-legged Buzzard

Tzelefos Bridge – Winter Wren, Red-rumped Swallow, Black-crowned Night Heron, European Bee-eater

Nikokleia – Little Owl, European Roller

Agia Varvara – European Bee-eater, European Roller, Common Snipe, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron

Anarita Park – Montagu’s Harrier 1m, Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Amur Falcon, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Whinchat, Long-legged Buzzard

Total seen: 96

Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Common Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, Amur Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Black-headed Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Armenian Gull, Little Tern, White-winged Tern, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Eurasian Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Little Owl, Common Swift, European Bee-eater, European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtail (flava), Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), Winter Wren, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, 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, Black-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Glossy Ibis, Zakaki Marsh 29th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-crowned Night Heron, Tzelefos Bridge, 29th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Amur Falcon, Anarita Park, 29th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Omodos 29th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Snipe, Agia Varvara 29th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

April 7, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Limassol 7th April 2016

As the temperature slowly creeps up on a daily basis and the water on the coastal sites begins to evaporate, I decided to split the day out with Lynne and Kevin between the Akrotiri sites and two inland areas close to Limassol. We started the day at Germasogeia Dam where we headed for the Finikaria end of the dam, stopping on the way to watch a Cyprus Wheatear and a flock of Spanish Sparrow. At Finikaria we spotted two Little Owls in a carob tree and then stopped to enjoy a calling Black Francolin by the trackside. We then watched a singing male Sardinian Warbler which was chased off its singing perch by a male Cyprus Warbler which then took over. All around us we could hear Zitting Cisticola and calling Cetti’s Warbler. A Cetti’s called from a fig tree near to where we were standing and for once we were able to watch this elusive species. Near the water we heard Eurasian Reed Warbler and saw two Water Pipit in their pinkish summer plumage. A Squacco Heron was feeding on the water’s edge. We heard calling Great Spotted Cuckoo and were pleased when the pair finally flew close to us.

We then headed to the coast and spent a while in the hide at Zakaki. We checked the reed edges for crakes but no joy so we watched a large flock of hirundine coming down to drink there. They were mainly Common House Martin but they were joined by a few Red-rumped Swallow and Sand Martin as well as the usual Barn Swallow. Six Cattle Egret and six Little Egret were resting there and a lone Ferruginous Duck was present.

Lady’s Mile was even quieter than the day before. We saw Lesser Whitethroat and a lone Northern Wheatear while the Spotted Redshank was still on the water together with five Greater Flamingo, some Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Dunlin and Kentish Plover. At the entrance to Bishop’s Pool we found a male and a female Eurasian Pied Flycatcher in the acacias. Around the Gravel Pits we found more Northern Wheatear and two female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear as well as a female Blue Rock Thrush. Four Greater Short-toed Lark flew over as did six migrating Grey Heron. Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and Eurasian Blackcap were feeding in the tamarisks and we saw a couple of Whinchat and heard two singing Common Nightingale.

We then headed inland again to Prastio Kellakiou. There we finished our day out surrounded by calling Cretzschmar’s Bunting, courting Masked Shrike, singing Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and some fly-by Red-rumped Swallow. There were several European Serin, European Chaffinch and Spanish Sparrow around and we watched an adult Great Tit feeding a couple of young fledglings in a fig tree. I was surprised to hear a couple of calling Coal Tit but our final bird of the day – a calling Eurasian Scops Owl was more expected but very welcome.

Total species – 69

Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Chukar, Black Francolin, Water Rail (h), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Little Stint, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Owl, Common Swift, Eurasian Hoopoe, Greater Short-toed Lark, Crested Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Common House Martin, Tree Pipit, Water Pipit, White Wagtail, Common Nightingale, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Masked Shrike, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Corn Bunting

Cretzschmar’s Bunting, Prastio April 7th 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Masked Shrike, Prastio 7th April 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Lavender, Prastio April 7th 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 21, 2016
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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 19^th 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 21^st 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

March 15, 2016
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Cyprus Birding Tours Trip Report: Day’s Guiding around Paphos, 15th March 2016

The weather rather dampened our expectations for our day out but in the end we managed some good species although not large numbers. Picking up Richard and Ethelyn from Coral Bay we headed first to Mavrokolympos Dam hoping to find a late Finsch’s Wheatear. We had no luck with that species but a couple of male Cyprus Wheatear were fighting over territory and at least two male Cyprus Warbler were singing. The heavens opened as we left and drove to Agia Varvara. Luckily it had stopped when we arrived there. We found a bedraggled Cretzschmar’s Bunting perched in a tamarisk and a Red-rumped Swallow on the wires looking the worse for wear. The orchards were full of European Serin, Common Chaffinch and European Goldfinch and we could hear European Blackcap singing in the olive groves. Two Great Spotted Cuckoo were calling and we watched as they were chased by a couple of Hooded Crow. I spotted a Peregrine Falcon but it speeded out of sight before Richard could find it. We had seen a male Western Marsh Harrier as we turned off the motorway and I hoped that we could maybe see other large raptors but the weather was definitely not helping.

We spent some time watching a mixed flock of finches and Spanish Sparrow on the road into Asprokremmos Dam where we also found a Chukar. Otherwise it was quiet there so we moved to the Paphos Sewage Plant where we found five Cattle Egret and a pair of noisy Spur-winged Lapwing. A small flock of around fifty Black-headed Wagtail were emerging from an alfalfa field to drink and bathe in a puddle and were joined by a couple of Meadow Pipit and a single Water Pipit. At Mandria we found the vagrant Namaqua Dove that has been present in the area for a couple of weeks before driving down to the coast. The strong wind meant that we ate our lunch in the car but we did find a couple of Isabelline and Northern Wheatear to watch as we did so.

As we headed inland to Anarita Park it began to rain hard again and as we waited in the car for it to stop I even contemplated calling it a day. But we could see the clouds clearing from the west so we were patient and were well rewarded with several species coming out to dry in the late afternoon sun. These included a male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, a male Finsch’s Wheatear and an Isabelline Wheatear shaking themselves dry, at least twelve Cretzschmar’s Bunting, a male Blue Rock Thrush, a female Cyprus Wheatear, three Red-rumped Swallow, two Lesser Whitethroat, a Woodlark and a calling Common Quail. A great end to a wet and windy day.

Total species seen 54

Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Chukar, Black Francolin, Common Quail, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Namaqua Dove, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, Crested Lark, Woodlark, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Black-headed Wagtail (feldegg), White Wagtail, Western Black Redstart, Common Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Cyprus Wheatear, Finsch’s Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Sardinian Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, 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

Namaqua Dove, Mandria 15th March 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

March 9, 2016
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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

Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

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