Cyprus Birding Tours

Offering guided bird watching tours around Cyprus

Tag Archives: Spur-winged Lapwing


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Larnaca 5th December 2018

Visited Larnaca today where there was evidence of very heavy overnight rain in the fields and around the salt lake.

Highlights:
Meneou Pool
Greater Flamingo 26

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Pied Avocet 3
Greater Flamingo 3
Armenian Gull 4+
Black-headed Gull 3+
other white-headed gulls – probably Caspian – but distant 11

Pervolia
Calandra Lark 2 in flight

Larnaca Sewage Works
Common Shelduck 8
Greater White-fronted Goose 6
Black-necked Grebe 14+
Eurasian Wigeon 2
Northern Pintail 4+
Common Redshank 1
Ferrruginous Duck 32
Armenian Gull 2 imm

Spiro Beach
Sandwich Tern 2 on buoys

Spiros Pool
Eurasian Golden Plover 26

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo 700+
Slender-billed Gull 1 imm

Kamares aquaduct
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Little Egret 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 5
Common Snipe 2 (see photo)
Water Pipit 3
Green Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 2
Eurasian Penduline Tit 1h

Oroklini Marsh
Spur-winged Lapwing 34 (most in fields on other side of motorway)
Common Redshank 1
Cattle Egret 20
Peregrine Falcon 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Northern Shoveler c300
Black-winged Stilt 4
Water Pipit 1h

Common Snipe, Larnaca 5th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Snipe, Larnaca 5th December 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca Waterbird count morning 19th November 2018

Plenty of the usual wintering ducks around – Northern Shoveler, Common Teal for example. Interesting birds seen during the count included: Greater White-fronted Goose (see photo), Black-necked Grebe, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Redshank (see photo), young Baltic Gull and Slender-billed Gull, adult Citrine Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Water Pipit, Bluethroat (see photo), Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Water Rail, Reed Bunting and a feeding male Penduline Tit (see photo).

Bluethroat, LSW 19th November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Bluethroat, Larnaca Sewage Works, 19th November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Penduline Tit, LSL, 19th November 2018 (1 of 1)

Penduline Tit, Larnaca Salt Lake, 19th November (C) Cyprus Birding Tours

Common Redshank, LSL, 19th November 2018 (1 of 1)

Common Redshank, Larnaca Salt Lake, 19th November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater White-fronted Goose 2, LSW 19th November 2018 (1 of 1)

Greater White-fronted Goose, Larnaca Sewage Works, 19th November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of the island 3rd November 2018.

Some different birding today visiting Oroklini, Akhna, Paralmini area and Agia Napa coast.

Birds seen, including a lovely juvenile Great White Pelican:

Oroklini Marsh morning and late afternoon
Common Crane 1 juv still present 16:45
White Stork 1 still present 16:45
Grey Heron 1
Spur-winged Lapwing c30
Common Teal c30
Common Redshank 3
Bluethroat 1
Eurasian Skylark 7 over
Greater Flamingo 58
Black-winged Stilt 1
Black-headed Gull 30+
Cattle Egret c250 coming into roost late pm visit
Common Ringed Plover 2
Little Stint 15+
Common Starling 7

Akhna Dam
Great White Pelican 1 juv (see photos)
Cattle Egret 1
Little Egret 5
Squacco Heron 1
Moustached Warbler 1
Whiskered Tern 1
Grey Heron 6

Agios Trias
Common Sandpiper 1

Cape Greco
Black Redstart 2
Common Stonechat 12+

Kermia Beach
Audouin’s Gull 1

Macronissos Beach
Greater Sandplover 4
Kentish Plover 5

Potamos Liopetri fish farm area
Common Redshank 1
Yellow-legged Gull 11

Great White Pelican, Akhna Dam, 3rd November 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Larnaca and Achna area 25th September 2018

Visited the hide at the Sewage Works, Achna Dam, Ormideia and Oroklini this morning. Birds of interest:

Larnaca Sewage Works
Marsh Sandpiper 6
Dunlin c20
Kentish Plover 50+
Common Ringed Plover 10+
Little Stint 30+
Ruff c10
Sanderling 2
Whiskered Tern 3
Grey Heron 3
Spur-winged Lapwing c30
Garganey 2
Ruddy Turnstone 2

Akhna Dam
White-winged Tern 1
Whiskered Tern 5 (see photo of a juvenile that was preening on a rock)
Northern Lapwing 2
Spur-winged Lapwing 45
Little Egret 1
Grey Heron 5
Common Ringed Plover 6
Common Kingfisher 2
Garganey 1
European Bee-eater 14

Dekeleia Fire Station
Eurasian Thick-knee 8

Ormideia Beach
Common Kingfisher 1
Grey Plover 1

Oroklini Marsh
Spur-winged Lapwing 110
Glossy Ibis 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1
Common Redshank 1
Ruff 2
Common Ringed Plover 6
Little Stint 6

Whiskered Tern , Achna Dam 25th September 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Whiskered Tern , Achna Dam 25th September 2018 (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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Terek Sandpiper, Oroklini Marsh this morning 28th August 2018

While doing the waterbird count at Larnaca Sewage Works this morning, I remarked to another birder there that this time last year a Terek Sandpiper had been found at the Sewage Works. An hour later at Oroklini Marsh the first bird I saw from the hide was this Terek Sandpiper! Not annual here this would be the 15th Cyprus record of the species since 2000 if accepted. Sorry for the awful photos but it was just too far for anything decent.

Terek Sandpiper, Oroklini Marsh 28th August 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours
Terek Sandpiper, Oroklini Marsh 28th August 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Also seen this morning in the Larnaca area:

Meneou Beach
Laughing Dove 1
Barn Swallow 3

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Eurasian Thick-knee 4
Grey Heron 4 over flying W

Larnaca Sewage Works
Black Kite 2 flying low heading W 7:35
Greater Flamingo 418 inc 67 juvs
Black-winged Stilt 30
Northern Shoveler 33
Little Stint 29
Common Ringed Plover 6
Dunlin 6
White-winged Tern 4
Gull-billed Tern 2
Spur-winged Lapwing 7
Marsh Sandpiper 3+
Curlew Sandpiper 1
Ruff 3
Black-headed Gull 2
Yellow-legged Gull 30
Common Kingfisher 1
Ferruginous Duck 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Whiskered Tern 1
Kentish Plover 2
Garganey 1
Common Teal 9

Larnaca Airport Coast
Common Sandpiper 1

Spiros Beach
Yellow-legged Gull 24
Kentish Plover 2

Spiros Pool
Western Marsh Harrier 1f

Larnaca Salt Lake
Spur-winged Lapwing 2
Black-headed Wagtail 1m
Laughing Dove 2

Oroklini Marsh
Terek Sandpiper 1
Curlew Sandpiper 4
Spur-winged Lapwing 107
Black-winged Stilt 8
Common Redshank 4
Marsh Sandpiper 4
Little Stint 5
Common Ringed Plover 2
Little Ringed Plover 6
Whiskered Tern 1


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Larnaca area this morning 30th July 2018

Migration slowly getting busier with c50 Collared Pratincole in the fields near Larnaca Sewage Works and a group of 13 Common Sandpiper resting on the rocks on the nearby coast this morning. Feeding on the Sewage Pools were Gull-billed, Whiskered and White-winged Tern. A couple of Slender-billed and Black-headed Gull were present as were more than 100 Greater Flamingo, a couple of Black-winged Stilt, 23 Ferruginous Duck, a Common Greenshank, six Grey Heron and six Cattle Egret, plenty of Spur-winged Lapwing and both the long-staying unseasonable Great Crested Grebes.

Ferruginous Duck, Larnaca Sewage Works, 30th July 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Ferruginous Duck, Larnaca Sewage Works, 30th July 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Gull-billed Tern, Larnaca Sewage Works, 30th July 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Gull-billed Tern, Larnaca Sewage Works, 30th July 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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Waterbird count Larnaca area today 15th March

Black-necked Grebe, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Black-necked Grebe, Larnaca Sewage Works 15th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Morning around Larnaca doing the monthly waterbird count. Most wintering ducks have gone as have most of the Greater Flamingos. Highlights were a Greater Sandplover at Spiros Pool, a flock of more than 600 Slender-billed Gulls on the Salt Lake and my first Wood Sandpiper of the year.

Main sightings:

Meneou Pool
Kentish Plover 6

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Eurasian Thick-knee 2
Greater Flamingo 178
Black Francolin 1h
Laughing Dove 1 (first time seen here)

Larnaca Sewage Works
Spur-winged Lapwing 6
Black-necked Grebe 13 (see photograph)
Northern Shoveler 247
Common Pochard 3f
Eurasian Wigeon 1m and 1f
Green Sandpiper 2
Common Teal 44
Common Hoopoe 1

Spiros Beach
Greater Sandplover 1 (later seen on Spiros Pool)
Kentish Plover 2

Spiros Pool
Little Stint 14
Kentish Plover 1

Larnaca Airport Pools North
Greater Flamingo 100

Larnaca Salt Lake
Greater Flamingo 17
Common Shelduck 2
Slender-billed Gull 657
Ruff 145
Dunlin 16
Kentish Plover 14
Little Stint 56
Common Ringed Plover 28
Eurasian Reed Warbler 5+h
Reed Bunting 1h
Common Snipe 6+
Water Pipit 4
Common Redshank 1h
Spur-winged Lapwing 9
Little Egret 1
Bluethroat 1
Wood Sandpiper 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Yellow Wagtail 1 first winter/spring


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Larnaca area 5th March 2018

A few hours around Larnaca produced the following more interesting sightings. Migration still to get into full swing.

Meneou Pool
Greater Flamingo 39
Common Ringed Plover 1

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Greater Flamingo 180

Spiros Beach
Greater Sandplover 2 (see photo)
Caspian Gull 1
Isabelline Wheatear 1

Larnaca Sewage Works
Spur-winged Lapwing 4
Common Teal 50+ in one flock, very restless
Northern Shoveler c50 headed out to sea
Black-necked Grebe 12+ (Nine in breeding plumage)
Eurasian Wigeon 3f
Little Gull 1 imm
Common Buzzard 1
Western Marsh Harrier 1

Pervolia fields
Calandra Lark 3+

Petounta Point
Isabelline Wheatear 2
Great Cormorant 2 heading E
Eurasian Reed Warbler 1h

Agios Theodoros Coast – sea watch 15:10 – 16:30
Little Egret 3 on rocks
Great Crested Grebe 4 offshore
Northern Shoveler c50 heading W to E
Duck spp – probably Pintail c35 W to E
Great Cormorant c180 W to E 15:10

Greater Sandplover, Spiros Beach, 5th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Greater Sandplover, Spiros Beach, 5th March 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours


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East of the island 27th February 2018

Went out hoping for some early migrants today. No luck with that although had some good birds including at least six singing male Cyprus Warbler at Cape Greco. Two photographed below.

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Cyprus Warbler, Cape Greco 27th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Other sightings of note included:

Agia Trias
Greater Sandplover 3
Grey Plover 10
Kentish Plover 2

Konnos Bay
Eurasian Shag 1

Cape Greco
Cyprus Warbler 6 singing males

Macronissos Beach
Common Sandpiper 1

Potamos Liopetriou
Great Cormorant c70 migrating NE 13:40

Ormideia Fishing Harbour
Audouin’s Gull 1
Common Buzzard 1
Eurasian Shag 2

Oroklini Beach
Great Cormorant 90+ migrating W 15:15
Sandwich Tern 1
Armenian Gull 2 imm

JUMBO Drainage Channel
Spur-winged Lapwing 8
Common Sandpiper 1

Oroklini Marsh
Greater Flamingo 50+
Northern Pintail 1m and 1f
Gadwall 1m and 1f
Black-necked Grebe 1
Ferruginous Duck 7
Red-Crested Pochard 1m and 1f
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Ruff 4
Black-winged Stilt 8
Spur-winged Lapwing 5
Common Redshank 2
Little Egret 2
Cattle Egret c250
Western Marsh Harrier 1


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Larnaca area 6th February 2018

Out for a day’s birding around Larnaca with Victor Tjernberg checking out some good sites for spring birding and trying to up our year lists!

The wetlands had most birds but probably the birds of the day were the Calandra Lark on the fields in Pervolia already in display song flight. Also good to see several Cyprus Warbler in the Panagia Stazousa valley singing and on territory. Although it is a partial migrant with some leaving in the winter, many stay all year on the island.

Interesting sightings:

Larnaca Sewage Works
Eurasian Wigeon 7 (3m)
Ferruginous Duck 1
Common Pochard 6+
Black-necked Grebe 40+
Common Greenshank 3
Western Marsh Harrier 1

Spiros Pool
Eurasian Golden Plover 120+

Larnaca Airport Pools South
Eurasian Thick-knee 17
Caspian Gull 10+
Armenian Gull 1ad
Heuglin’s Gull 1 ad

Pervolia fields
Calandra Lark 4+ in display flight

Petounta Point
Common Buzzard 4

Kiti Dam
Common Quail 1h

Panagia Stazousa
Cyprus Warbler 6+ singing males
Long-legged Buzzard 1
European Serin 3+
Eurasian Blackbird 1m
Eurasian Thick-knee 1 in flight near Klavdia village

Oroklini Marsh (see photo)
Black-winged Stilt 2
Red-crested Pochard 1m and 2f
Common Pochard 2m
Ferruginous Duck 7
Ruff 3
Northern Lapwing 1
Cattle Egret 200+
Grey Heron 2
Barn Swallow 3
Common Redshank 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Spur-winged Lapwing 3

Oroklini Beach
Armenian Gull 5 ad and c15 imm
Caspian Gull 1 imm
Sandwich Tern 2 fishing offshore

Oroklini Marsh 6th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Oroklini Marsh 6th February 2018 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours