Yellowhammer | Cyprus Birding Tours

November 12, 2016
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Troodos today 12th November 2016

Spent several hours at a few Troodos picnic sites. As well as the usual enedemic sub-species Coal Tit, Eurasian Jay and Short-toed Tree Creeper there was a good selection of winter visitors around including this Yellowhammer (see record shot photo). Until recently Yellowhammers were vagrants but small numbers are recorded most years now.
A male and two female Hawfinch spent at least an hour hiding behind branches and leaves at Troodos today, finally coming down the drink as the light faded!

Platania Picnic Site
Eurasian Siskin c12
Goldcrest 2
Hawfinch 3
Grey Wagtail 1

Almyrolivado
Mistle Thrush c20
Fieldfare 1 flew over
Brambling 1m
Winter Wren 2
Eurasian Jay 2

Livadi tou Pashia
Eurasian Blackbird 5
Mistle Thrush 2
Yellowhammer 1
Hawfinch 1m and 2f

Yellowhammer, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Eurasian Blackbird, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Hawfinch f, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Hawfinch m, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

Hawfinch f, Livadi tou Pashia 12th November 2016 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 20, 2015
by cyprusbirdingtours 1 Comment

Troodos today, 20th November 2015

All the usual suspects at Troodos today – plenty of Coal Tits, Winter Wren, Short-toed Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Common Chaffinch and Eurasian Blackbird. Of more interest was a male Yellowhammer and a Mistle Thrush at Almirolivado, two Goldcrest at Livadi tou Pashia and at least twelve European Siskin at Platania.

Photograph below of a Coal Tit at Livadi tou Pashia. One of the Cyprus endemic sub-species.

Coal Tit Troodos 20th November 2015 (c) Cyprus Birding Tours

November 10, 2014
by cyprusbirdingtours 2 Comments

Troodos 9th and 10th November 2014

Spent a day and a half in Troodos where some great winter visitors are present. Spent most of the time near a picnic site where birds were coming down to drink at a quickly drying puddle left from recent rain. One of my best birding experience days with Fieldfare, Hawfinch, Brambling, Mistle Thrush, Yellowhammer, possible Pine Bunting, Crossbill and Goldcrest all up close and easy to watch. Also had a late Cyprus Wheatear near Mount Olympos and a Siskin at Platania.