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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Cyprus 4th to 18th April 2007,

Ian Kinley

Ronnie Irving, Ian Kinley, Derek McAlone and Dave Thexton

Introduction

Though we’d all visited Cyprus previously, none of us had ever been based as far east as Protaras and a number of the sites visited on this trip were new to us all. Despite the rather tacky nature of the resort itself (not dissimilar to its near neighbour Ayia Napa), Protaras proved to be a good base, being particularly handy for Cape Greco where much of our birding was done.

This part of the island turned out to be really under watched, a feature brought into sharp relief when we spent a few days at Paphos and it suited us to search for our own birds without the distraction of constantly bumping into other birders and feeling that we ought to go scurrying off after other people’s finds. Whilst we found no great rarities, it was a very enjoyable trip with highlights including good numbers of Pallid Harriers, a Pied Kingfisher, Spotted and Little Crakes, Ruppell’s and Orphean Warblers, Ortolan and Cretzschmar’s Buntings and much more. However, rather than any one species, perhaps the abiding memory of the trip will be reaching Cape Greco one breezy overcast morning after overnight rain to find the headland alive with birds, fields full of wagtails and wheatears, bushes dripping with warblers.

Travel and accommodation

In the absence of any cheap flights to Cyprus, our normal preferred option of booking our own flight, accommodation and car hire separately proved too expensive and the solution was a package deal. We went with First Choice Holidays; return flights from Manchester to Larnaca, 14 nights’ self-catering in the immodestly named Brilliant Apartments in Protaras and car hire cost a total of £1620.44 for the four of us. Flights were relatively hassle-free apart from unnecessarily long queues at a disorganised and understaffed First Choice check-in desk at Manchester. The Brilliant Apartments exceeded our expectations; the apartment was clean, spacious and comfy, the hotel itself modern and quiet with lots of facilities (including swimming pool, decent restaurant and bar) and the staff very helpful and friendly. However, it was early season and the place was by no means full; it will probably not be so quiet at busier times of year and, as all the apartments overlook the pool area, which is apparently the focus of the entertainment, it may not be quite so suitable for early-rising birders. Whilst there was no birding in the immediate vicinity of the apartments, apart from am almost constantly calling Black Francolin, we were only about 10 minutes’ drive away from Cape Greco. The car was less satisfactory, a Nissan Almeira from SIXT picked up efficiently enough at Larnaca airport, was not exactly in pristine condition with no rear screen wiper, lots of scratches and a rather disconcerting smell of burning in reverse gear. The upside was that we had no need to worry about adding a few extra bumps and bruises to the bodywork.

Weather

Rather mixed with just a handful of really warm sunny days and a fair amount of cool, breezy, showery conditions plus a couple of days with heavy thunderstorms. Birding light was from about 06.15 to about 19.30, leading to some long days in the field on occasions.

Main Sites Visited

For details and directions to all the main sites we visited we used Gosney’s Finding Birds in Cyprus (as with most of the Gosney guides, the bird information is often very dated but the directions remain largely accurate) plus A Birdwatchers Guide to Cyprus by Stagg and Hearl. A Birdwatching Guide to the Birds of Cyprus by Bill Oddie and Derek Moore lacked sufficient detail to be of much use. Extra information was gleaned from trip reports available on the internet. As most birders base themselves in Paphos, or at least that end of the island, especially in Spring, most of the trip reports we found were of limited use, the main exception being that by Margaret Breaks at http://breaksholidaypics.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/cyprus_05.htm We used the Cyprus Tourist Organisation maps of the island which proved just about adequate though something with a bit more detail would have been useful.

Cape Greco

This easterly headland is signposted from the Protaras to Ayia Napa road and, apart from the fenced off transmitter station, is easily accessed by a network of roads and tracks. It is, however, an extensive area with a variety of habitats ranging from open fields through rocky escarpments to dense scrub and therefore takes a lot of covering. All the more remarkable then that it apparently receives so little attention at peak migration times. Apart from ourselves, we met just one Norwegian birder with his son who was birding this site with any regularity. Given the same coverage, it would surely rival the much more famed Paphos Head for quality and numbers of birds. Migrant numbers here declined noticeably towards the end of our trip.

Cape Greco, Derek McAlone   
Masked Shrike, Cape Greco, Derek McAlone

Cyprus Pied Wheatear, Cape Greco, Ian Kinley   
Spanish Sparrow, Cape Greco, Ian Kinley
    
Birds seen here included Great White Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Pallid Harrier, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Hobby, Quail, Black Francolin, Collared Pratincole, Audouin’s Gull, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Bee-eater, Roller, Red-throated Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Spanish Sparrow, Black-eared Wheatear, Cyprus Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Spectacled Warbler (abundant here), Subalpine Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Orphean Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Cyprus Warbler, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Collared Flycatcher, Ortolan Bunting and Cretzschmar’s Bunting.
    

Ruppell’s Warbler, Cape Greco, Ronnie Irving (videograb) 
Ortolan Bunting, Cape Greco, Derek McAlone

Kermia Beach

A site where Margaret Breaks had found Great Black-headed Gull in 2005 failed to produce anything so spectacular for us but nevertheless proved attractive to Audouin’s Gull. It was, in any event, quick and easy to check, being reached by a track from the road east of Ayia Napa and just east of the Kermia Beach Hotel opposite the Limnara Taverna. Apart from Audouin’s Gulls, it was a reliable site for Spanish Sparrow and also produced Little Egret, Black Francolin, Slender-billed Gull and Masked Shrike.

Akhna Dam

Great Spotted Cuckoo, Akhna Dam, Derek McAlone 
Kentish Plover, Akhna Dam, Ian Kinley

Since RI last visited this site virtually all the reedbeds had gone and much of the bankside vegetation had died. We read that the water level had been artificially raised to suit fishing interests and that much of the vegetation had been removed to provide additional bank space for anglers. Even though it looked ugly and a shadow of its former self, the reservoir still attracts good birds. Species we recorded here included Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Long-legged Buzzard, Black Francolin, Spur-winged Plover, Kentish Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Gull-billed Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Olivaceous Warbler, Wood Warbler and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler.

Paralimni Lake

Whilst “lake” is something of a misnomer these days, this site remains well worth visiting even though the areas of open water are small and somewhat unprepossessing. It’s not the easiest of places to find it has to be said and we got lost on a number of occasions before finding our way to profitable birding areas. These turned out to be on the west side close to the village of Sotira (wet areas here are apparently sometimes referred to as Sotira pools) and, to a lesser extent, on the northern edge accessed from between Deryneia and Paralimni. There were pools on the east side of the lake but, as our visits here were always in late afternoon or evening when the light was awful on that side, we never explored though we did on one occasion see a distant flock of c50 pratincoles apparently land in that area. It would probably have merited further investigation.

Paralimni Lake, Derek McAlone

In the course of a number of visits, species found here included Night Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Black Francolin, Spur-winged Plover, Temminck’s Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Great Reed Warbler, Woodchat Shrike and Masked Shrike.

Oroklini Marsh.

Oroklini Marsh, Ronnie Irving

This was, prior to this trip, an unknown site to us and we found little reference to it in the literature but it proved the best wetland in the east of the island and, contrary to what we read in one trip report, easily accessed and viewable. Go north from Larnaca on the motorway, leaving at the Oroklini exit No 58. Follow signs to the beach and after a few hundred metres you will see the marsh immediately beside the road. There is a parking area on the north side on the right and on the road to Kampos next to the marsh on the south side from which a driveable track leads into the middle of the area. Somewhat to our surprise, water levels rose considerably during our stay.

Glossy Ibis & Black-winged Stilt, Oroklini Marsh, Derek McAlone
Marsh Sandpiper, Oroklini Marsh, Ian Kinley

Birds here included Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Pallid Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Common Crane, Black Francolin, Spur-winged Plover, Temminck’s Stint, Marsh Sandpiper (plus a good variety of commoner waders), Whiskered Tern, Pallid Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Red-throated Pipit, Spectacled Warbler and Great Reed Warbler.

Larnaca Sewage Works and nearby wetlands

The sewerage works consist of two plastic lined man-made pools, viewable only from a purpose built hide giving the elevation necessary to see over the raised embankment. In dry conditions, it’s possible to drive right to the hide in an ordinary vehicle but after rain, unless you’ve got a 4x4, you’ll need to park a couple of hundred metres away and walk the rest. We were slightly disappointed by the relative lack of birds on our first couple of visits but both the numbers and quality increased later on. Whilst this site may be best in autumn when there are few alternative areas of water available, it is still an excellent spring venue. There are several other wetland areas nearby, the ones we visited being Spiro’s Pool, Larnaca Airport Pool (this may not be the correct name for this site but there was nothing more specific in any of the literature we had) and Meneou Pools. Larnaca Airport Pool lies alongside the road between the Meneou junction and the track to the Sewerage Works and consists of a large area of open water with little vegetation that attracted Greater Flamingos and a variety of waders, gulls and terns. Spiros Pool, located beyond the Sewerage Works where the road heads north alongside the shore, is shallow and more vegetated, proving good for small waders. Meneou Pools were less easy to view and relatively unproductive. We didn’t get to Larnaca Salt Lake or the Tekki Mosque area.

Larnaca Sewerage Works, Ian Kinley 
Spur-winged Plover, Larnaca Sewerage Works, Derek McAlone

Species here included Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Quail, Spur-winged Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Marsh Sandpiper (plus a good variety of commoner waders), Slender-billed Gull, Little Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Short-toed Lark.

Kiti Dam.

Short-toed Lark, Kiti Dam, Ian Kinley

We struggled to find this site first time round, though it is actually relatively straightforward. In Kiti take the road to Tersefanou. As you enter the town, turn right and then immediately right again onto a track that leads eventually to the dam. Don’t expect to find any water when you get there, it was completely dry on our visit. Nevertheless, both the trees and bushes below the dam and the open fields above it proved productive with species that included Pallid Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, Quail, Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Short-toed Lark, Olivaceous Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Collared Flycatcher and Woodchat Shrike.

Ayia Napa Sewerage Works

Blue Rock Thrush, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Ian Kinley

This appears to be a new site consisting of several freshwater pools in which the water level varies though the surrounding area proved at least as attractive as the pools themselves. Just east of Ayia Napa, take the road signposted to the Church of St Epiphanios (Agios Epifanios) and before you reach the sewerage works entrance – the works are surrounded by a fence and are inaccessible – take a track to the left, again signed to the church, and follow this round bearing right until the pools come into view. Looking at satellite maps on our return showed a couple more pools just north of the ones we found.

Birds here included Night Heron, Black Francolin, Temminck’s Stint, Red-rumped Swallow, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Isabelline Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Masked Shrike, Ortolan Bunting and Cretzschmar’s Bunting.

Mandria

A well-known site that needs little introduction from us. Building development is proceeding rapidly but as yet does not appear to be impacting on the main birding area. Highlights of our three visits here included Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Pallid Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Black Francolin, Stone Curlew, Gull-billed Tern, Red-throated Pipit and Short-toed Lark. We were less enthralled than most by a Whimbrel that caused an inexplicable amount of excitement amongst visiting birders!

Asprokremmos Dam

Another well-known site that needs no introduction. Water levels in the dam pools were very low, the lower pool being virtually dry. There had been a couple of unwelcome developments since we were last here. The first was the creation of a motorcycle scrambling track on the nearby hillside that generates very high noise levels when in use. Secondly, much of the scrub near the pools had been burnt and destroyed though hopefully this will regenerate.

Our three rather brief visits here produced such species as Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Black Francolin, Hoopoe, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Cyprus Warbler (common here), Great Reed Warbler and Cretzschmar’s Bunting.

Anarita Park

This was another new site for all of us. It can be reached from the B6 by turning north towards Agia Varvara (E606). The remains of the sign are still just about visible but, to be on the safe side, clock the distance when you pass under the A6. At exactly 3km, just before the road ascends into the hills, turn right onto a dirt track. It’s possible to drive up this track for some distance.

Our first visit here was abandoned in a torrential downpour whilst the second produced Long-legged Buzzard, Tawny Pipit, Spectacled Warbler and Ortolan Bunting. Both Finsch’s Wheatear and Cinereous Bunting had been seen here about 10 days earlier.

Paphos Headland

The most famous birding site on Cyprus. A secure fence now surrounds the best areas though a gate from the track along the seaward side appears to offer access at all times. Removal of the goats does seem to have made the area less attractive to ground-feeding species

Several visits produced species that included Cory’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Spoonbill, Pallid Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Black Francolin, Quail, Hoopoe, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike and Ortolan Bunting. One of the highlights of the trip, Pied Kingfisher, was seen in the nearby harbour.

Evretou Reservoir

We made just one visit to the shallow end of the reservoir and it wasn’t particularly productive, the best birds being Great Spotted Cuckoo and a distant Roller.

Baths of Aphrodite/Neo Chorion Area

One visit in mid-afternoon didn’t really do justice to this site with few migrants to be seen around the Aphrodite caravan site though it was good for hirundines and swifts with large numbers of Pallid Swifts and Red-rumped Swallows plus a few Crag Martins A Long-legged Buzzard was seen between here and Neo Chorion where we had the usual difficulty finding our way out of the village on to Smyies Track but got there eventually to find Great Spotted Cuckoo and Woodchat Shrike but little else.

Phassouri Reedbeds

We were pleased to find the area quite wet, less so to see that the eucalyptus grove had been cut down. Several wet areas were visible from the track though viewing improved as you progressed. Unfortunately, this site was in no-man’s land for us, being rather distant from our two bases at Protaras and Paphos. Consequently, we managed just one visit and that not at the best time of day. Nevertheless, it was well worthwhile with highlights including Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Harrier, Little Crake, White-winged Black Tern and a good selection of waders.  

Bishops Pool

There is no longer any access by turning left just before the gates to the Base and following the secure fencing as you now come to a halt at a locked gate (though we did see a nice flock of Ortolan Buntings whilst finding this out). However, we had no problems entering via the monastery (a friendly farmer waved us through, commenting that there were not many birds – he was right!). There is now a hide overlooking the pool and an as yet empty information board. Sadly, however, there was little to see, the highlight being some fearsome-looking lizards sunning themselves.

We also paid brief visits to Nata Ford (Black Francolin, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Cyprus Warbler and Great Reed Warbler), Kensington Cliffs (Griffon Vulture and Peregrine) and Ladies Mile/Zakaki Marsh where water levels were quite high (Squacco Heron, Purple Heron and Slender-billed Gull).

Daily Itinerary

4th April. Travel from Manchester to Larnaca with arrival too late for any meaningful birding. Overnight at Protaras.

5th April. Birding at Cape Greco, Kermia Beach, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Akhna Dam and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Spur-winged Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Ruppell’s Warbler, Masked Shrike, Blue Rock Thrush. Daily total 74 species. Overnight at Protaras.

6th April. Birding at Kermia Beach, Larnaca area, Kiti Dam, Oroklini Marsh and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Greater Flamingo, Ferruginous Duck, Pallid Harrier, Black Kite, Lesser Kestrel, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Spur-winged Plover, Temminck’s Stint, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Little Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Short-toed Lark, Collared Flycatcher Daily total 84 species. Overnight at Protaras.

7th April. Birding at Kermia Beach, Cape Greco, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Great White Egret, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Pallid Harrier, Quail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Spur-winged Plover, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Bee-eater, Roller, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Isabelline Wheatear, Subalpine Warbler, Ruppell’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Collared Flycatcher, Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Daily total 76 species. Overnight at Protaras.

8th April. Birding at Cape Greco and Akhna Dam. Highlights: Purple Heron, Hen Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Spur-winged Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Audouin’s Gull, Red-throated Pipit, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Isabelline Wheatear, Orphean Warbler, Olivaceous Warbler, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Ortolan Bunting. Daily total 75 species. Overnight at Protaras.

9th April. Birding at Kermia Beach, Larnaca area, Kiti Dam, Oroklini Marsh and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Pallid Harrier, Quail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Common Crane, Greater Sandplover, Spur-winged Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Slender-billed Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Little Gull, Red-throated Pipit, Great Reed Warbler. Daily total 75 species. Overnight at Protaras.

10th April. Birding at Cape Greco, Mandria, Asprokemnos Dam & Pools. Highlights: Squacco Heron, Pallid Harrier, Alpine Swift, Red-throated Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Daily total 61 species. Overnight at Paphos.

11th April. Birding at Paphos Head, Evretou, Baths of Aphrodite area, Neo Chorion. Highlights: Pied Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Long-legged Buzzard, Pallid Swift, Crag Martin, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Woodchat Shrike. Daily total 52 species. Overnight at Paphos.

12th April. Birding at Mandria, Asprokemnos Dam & Pools, Nata Ford, Anarita Park,Paphos Head. Highlights: Night Heron, Purple Heron, Spoonbill, Pallid Harrier, Quail, Stone Curlew, Gull-billed Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Red-throated Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Hoopoe, Great Reed Warbler, Daily total 66 species. Overnight at Paphos.

13th April. Birding at Paphos Head, Anarita Park, Kensington Cliffs, Phassouri reedbeds, Bishops Pool, Akrotiri Salt Lake, Zakaki Marsh, Lady’s Mile. Highlights: Cory’s Shearwater, Yelkouan Shearwater, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Griffon Vulture, Hobby, Quail, Little Crake, Slender-billed Gull, White-winged Black Tern, Red-throated Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Daily total 83 species. Overnight at Protaras.

14th April. Birding at Cape Greco, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Akhna Dam and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Hobby, Quail, Spotted Crake, Collared Pratincole, Spur-winged Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Red-throated Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Wryneck, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-backed Shrike, Masked Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Cretzschmar’s Bunting. Daily total 79 species. Overnight at Protaras.

15th April. Birding at Kermia Beach, Larnaca area, Kiti Dam and Oroklini Marsh. Highlights: Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis,, Greater Flamingo, Quail, Spur-winged Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Great Reed Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Masked Shrike. Daily total 77 species. Overnight at Protaras.

16th April. Birding at Cape Greco, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Cattle Egret, Night Heron, Little Bittern, Red-footed Falcon, Quail, Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Spur-winged Plover, Tawny Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Roller, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Ortolan Bunting Daily total 66 species. Overnight at Protaras.

17th April. Birding at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Kermia Beach, Cape Greco, Akhna Dam and Paralimni Lake. Highlights: Purple Heron, Long-legged Buzzard, Spur-winged Plover, Audouin’s Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Wryneck, Olivaceous Warbler, Masked Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Ortolan Bunting Daily total 61 species. Overnight at Protaras.

18th April. Birding at Oroklini Marsh, Larnaca area and Kiti Dam. Highlights: Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis, Pallid Harrier, Quail, Spur-winged Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Little Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Pallid Swift, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Olivaceous Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Masked Shrike. Daily total 67 species. Return flight Larnaca to Manchester.

Species List

We recorded a total of 157 species, listed below. The figures in brackets represent the number of days each species was recorded e.g. (4/14) means that a species was seen on four days during our 14 day trip (disregarding the first day when no birding at all was done and bearing in mind that the last day involved just a few hours’ birding) and gives a crude indication of how easy each species was to see. More details are given of the rarer or more interesting species.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (11/14)

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea (1/14) Two off Paphos Head on 13th.

Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan (1/14) Five off Paphos Head on 13th.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (7/14) One to two at Paralimni Lake throughout.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (1/14) Three on rocks off Mandria on 12th and two at Kensington Cliffs on 13th.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus (1/14) A male at Paralimni Lake on 16th.

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (5/14) A flock of c30 in flight near Larnaca Sewerage Works on 6th; two at Paralimni Lake on 7th; three at Asprokemnos Dam Pools on 12th; two at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th; one at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 16th.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (7/14) Four at Paralimni Lake on 5th; two at Paralimni Lake on 6th; one at Paralimni Lake on 7th; 10 in flight over Kiti village on 9th; 10 at Mandria on 10th; two at Paphos Head, three at Phassouri Reedbeds and one at Zakaki Marsh on 13th and four at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Cattle Egret Bulbulcus ibis (5/14) Two at Larnaca Airport Pool on 6th; two at Asprokemnos Dam Pools on 10th; six at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th; two at Larnaca Airport Pool on 15th; four at Cape Greco on 16th and one at Oroklini Marsh on 18th.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta (12/14) Seen, usually in small numbers, at most wetland sites, the most noteworthy records being c30 at Paralimni Lake on 5th; 15 in off the sea at Paphos Head and 15 at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th; 16 at Spiros pool on 15th and a flock of 60 on rocks and in flight at Cape Greco on 16th.

Great White Egret Ardea alba (1/14) A flock of 10 flew east at Cape Greco on 7th.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (9/14)

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea (10/14) Nine at Oroklini Marsh and three at Paralimni Lake on 6th; a total of 59 including fly-over flocks of 51 and five at Paralimni Lake on 7th; four in flight at Cape Greco on 8th; one at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 9th; a flock of 15 flying west near Coral Bay on 11th; 13 roosting on coastal rocks at Mandria on 12th; four at Phassouri Reedbeds and two at Zakaki Marsh on 13th; five at Oroklini Marsh on 15th; two at Paralimni Lake on 16th and 17th.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (6/14) Three at Paralimni Lake on 5th; flocks of 43 and 25 flying east off Cape Greco plus three at Paralimni Lake on 7th; one at Oroklini Marsh on 9th; six at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th; two at Oroklini Marsh on 15th and one there on 18th.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia (1/14) Flocks of 59 and 15 flying east past Paphos Head on 12th.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (3/14) 135 at Larnaca Airport Pool on 6th; 10 at Larnaca Airport Pool on 9th and c50 distantly on Akrotiri Salt Lake on 13th;

Wigeon Anas penelope (3/14)

Teal Anas crecca (4/14)

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (7/14)

Garganey Anas querquedula (9/14) Seen at most wetland sites with records including 30 at Paralimni Lake on 5th and 50+ at Oroklini Marsh on 6th.

Shoveler Anas clypeata (6/14)

Pochard Aythea farina (1/14) A drake at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th.

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (2/14) A female at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 6th and six at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th

Black Kite Milvus migrans (1/14) One at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 6th.

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (1/14) Three at Kensington Cliffs on 13th.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (10/14) Widespread in small numbers.

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus (1/14) A ringtail at Cape Greco on 8th.

Pallid Harrier Circus (7/14) Frequent, good views of this species undoubtedly provided one of the highlights of the trip. Two, an adult male and a sub-adult male, at Kiti Dam on 6th; an adult male at Cape Greco on 7th; two 2nd calendar year birds at Cape Greco on 8th; a 2nd calendar year bird at Kiti Dam on 9th; a 2nd calendar year bird (one of the two seen on 8th with a damaged tail) at Cape Greco and a 2nd calendar year bird at Mandria on 10th; a 2nd calendar year bird at Paphos Head on 12th that perched briefly on the perimeter fence; a 2nd calendar year bird at Oroklini Marsh on 18th.

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus (1/14) A ringtail at Cape Greco on 5th.

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (5/14) A 2nd calendar year bird at Akhna Dam on 5th, 8th and 17th plus singles near Neo Chorion on 11th and Anarita Park on 13th.

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (1/14) A male at Akhna Dam on 6th.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (14/14)

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus (1/14) An adult male at Cape Greco on 16th.

Hobby Falco subbuteo (2/14) Singles at Paphos Head on 13th and Cape Greco on 14th.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus (4/14) Regular sightings of one or two at Cape Greco plus one at Kensington Cliffs on 13th.

Chukar Alectoris chukar (14/14) Widespread, numerous, noisy and very obvious.

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus (14/14) Though we’d read that this species was less numerous in the east of the island, we came across them at most sites we visited and they were often to be heard calling throughout the day. Recorded at Protaras, Cape Greco, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Paralimni Lake, Kermia Beach, Oroklini Marsh, Mandria, Paphos Head, Nata Ford and Asprokemnos Dam. Most were just heard but we did have decent views on a few occasions.

Quail Coturnix coturnix (6/14) Heard at Paralimni Lake, Kiti Dam and Akhna Dam In addition, singles flushed at Paphos Head on 12th, Cape Greco on 14th and 16th, two in off the sea at Paphos Head on 13th and two seen in flight at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana (5/14) Two on pools on the west side of Paralimni Lake on 6th, three there on 7th and 9th and one on 16th. In addition, one was on a pool at the north end of the lake on 14th.

Little Crake Porzana parva (4/14) On pools on the west side of Paralimni Lake, there was a female on 6th, a male and a female on 7th and 9th and a female on 16th.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (12/14)

Coot Fulica atra (12/14)

Common Crane Grus grus (1/14) A first-summer bird at Oroklini Marsh on 9th.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (9/14) Records included c150 at Oroklini Marsh on 6th and c50 at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 15th.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta (2/14) Up to half a dozen at Larnaca Sewerage Works

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus (1/14) Surprisingly, a single at Mandria on 12th was the only one of the trip.

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola (1/14) A distant flock of c50 birds at Paralimni Lake on 6th were probably this species. More obliging was one at Cape Greco on 14th.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius (10/14)

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (10/14)

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus (5/14)

Greater Sand Plover (1/14) Two on the beach near Spiros Pool on 9th.

Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus (10/14) This species is evidently much commoner in the east of the island and we were surprised how widespread and numerous it was. We recorded them at Paralimni Lake (max. 20), Akhna Dam (max. 12), Oroklini Marsh (max. 10) and Larnaca Sewerage Works area (max. four). They often gave stunning views.

Little Stint Calidris minuta (7/14) Records included 21 at Larnaca Airport Pool on 9th; 200+ at Spiros Pool on 15th; 100+ at Spiros Pool, 30 at Oroklini Marsh and 25 at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii (4/14) Singles at Oroklini Marsh on 6th and 9th, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th and Paralimni Lake on 14th.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (2/14) One at Larnaca Sewerage Works and four at Oroklini Marsh on 15th; one at Larnaca Sewerage Works and 12 at Oroklini Marsh on 18th.

Dunlin Calidris alpina (4/14)

Ruff Philomachus pugnax (11/14) Records included 100+ at Oroklini Marsh on 6th and 60 at Paralimni Lake on 7th.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago (5/14)

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (2/14) One at Mandria on 10th and 12th caused a surprising amount of excitement among visiting birders.

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythopus (1/14) One at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th.

Redshank Tringa tetanus (6/14)

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (7/14) Some stunning views of this gorgeous wader. Two at Akhna Dam on 5th; 11 at Larnaca Airport Pool on 6th; one at Akhna Dam on 8th; two at Larnaca Sewerage Works and three at Paralimni Lake on 9th; one at Paralimni Lake on 14th; eight at Larnaca Sewerage Works and five at Oroklini Marsh on 15th; six at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia (10/14)

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus (9/14)

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (9/14)

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (12/14)

Turnstone Arenaria interpres (2/14)

Little Gull Larus minutus (4/14) At Larnaca Airport Pool there was a 1st-summer on 6th and 9th and two 1st-summer birds on 15th then an adult and a 1st-summer at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus (3/14)

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei (5/14) Three north past Kermia Beach on 5th; 16 at Larnaca Airport Pool on 6th; six at Larnaca Sewerage Works and 29 Larnaca Airport Pool on 9th; three at Zakaki Marsh on 13th; three at Larnaca Sewerage Works and six at Larnaca Airport Pool on 15th.

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii (5/14) At Kermia Beach there were seven on 5th and 6th, two on 9th and three on 17th plus one at Cape Greco on 8th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus (7/14) Some, perhaps most, that we saw appeared to be fuscus.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans (13/14) Those that we positively identified were michahellis though no doubt there were cachinnans there somewhere.

Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica (5/14) One at Larnaca Airport Pool on 6th; one past Mandria on 12th, two at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 15th; one at Akhna Dam on 17th; one at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis (1/14) One past Mandria on 12th

Common Tern Sterna hirundo (2/14)

Little Tern Sterna albifrons (2/14)

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida (1/14) Two at Oroklini Marsh on 15th.

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus (1/14) A summer-plumaged adult dropped in for 10 minutes at Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th.

Feral Pigeon Columba livia (14/14)

Woodpigeon Columba palumbus (9/14)

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto (14/14)

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur (3/14)

Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius (8/14) Widespread and obvious with birds recorded at many locations, most memorable was the confiding individual that fed greedily on caterpillars within feet of our car at Akhna Dam.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus (5/14)

Barn Owl Tyto alba (1/14) One hunting in the dark on the outskirts of Paphos on 10th.

Little Owl Athene noctua (2/14) One at Asprokemnos Dam on 10th and 12th.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (1/14) One in off the sea at Paphos Head on 13th

Common Swift Apus apus (14/14)

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus (2/14) c30 at Baths of Aphrodite on 11th and good numbers at Oroklini Marsh on 18th.

Alpine Swift Apus melba (3/14) Two at Cape Greco on 5th; three at Cape Greco on 10th; two at Anarita Park on 13th.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (8/14)

Pied Kingfisher (1/14) A single in Paphos Harbour on 11th gave prolonged views perched on rocks before flying almost over our heads on its way towards the old fort. Our excitement was only slightly reduced when we later learned that it had been present for weeks.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster (3/14) None seen but flocks heard flying over at Kiti Dam on 6th, Cape Greco on 8th and Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th.

Roller Coracias garrulus (5/14) Singles at Cape Greco on 8th; near Ayia Napa on 9th; near Limassol on 10th; at Evretou on 11th and between Protaras and Cape Greco on 16th.

Hoopoe Upupa epops (10/14) Widespread in small numbers.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla (4/14) Two at Cape Greco on 7th; one at Cape Greco on 8th; two at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th; one at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 17th.

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla (8/14) Three at Cape Greco on 5th; one at Kiti Dam on 6th; 25 at Cape Greco on 7th; 20 at Mandria on 10th; one at Mandria and 25 at Paphos Head on 12th; six at Paphos Head on 13th; 30 at Paralimni Lake on 16th; a flock of c100 near Spiros Pool on 18th.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata (14/14) Common

Sand Martin Riparia riparia (8/14)

Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris (2/14) One at Cape Greco on 5th; two at Baths of Aphrodite on 11th.

Swallow Hirundo rustica (14/14) An adult was already feeding five fledged young at Cape Greco on 16th.

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica (11/14) Widespread, mostly in small numbers except for c100 at Baths of Aphrodite on 11th.

House Martin Delichon urbicum (10/14)

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris (7/14) One at Cape Greco on 5th; three at Cape Greco on 7th; five at Paphos Head and one at Anarita Park on 12th; two at Paphos Head on 13th; one at Paralimni Lake on 14th; three at Paralimni Lake on 16th; one at Larnaca Sewerage Works on 18th.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis (14/14)

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis (2/14)

Red-throated Pipit Anthus (7/14) Two at Cape Greco on 8th; three at Oroklini Marsh on 9th; one at Cape Greco and one at Mandria on 10th; 12 at Paphos Head and one at Mandria on 12th; six at Paphos Head on 13th; three at Cape Greco on 14th; six near Spiros Pool on 18th.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (14/14) Some large flocks, numbering several hundred birds at times in cut fields at Cape Greco, comprised birds of several races including the Black-headed race feldegg.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea (1/14)

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba (10/14)

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos (12/14) Numerous at Cape Greco on some days.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus (6/14)

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra (13/14)

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina (3/14) Two at Cape Greco on 7th; three at Cape Greco on 8th; two at Cape Greco and one at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe (13/14)

Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca (13/14) Common, widespread and very obvious. Large numbers in cut fields at Cape Greco on 7th appeared newly arrived.

Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica (12/14) Common. Especially noteworthy and memorable was the sight of a field full of 100+ at Cape Greco on 7th.

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius (3/14) Male and female on piles of rubble at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 5th and 7th; a male on cliffs at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th.

Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis (2/14) Two males on piles of rubble at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 7th and a female at Cape Greco on 14th.

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti (13/14)

Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis (12/14)

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (4/14)

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus (5/14)

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (6/14) Singing birds at Paralimni Lake on 7th, 9th and 14th, Asprokemnos Dam and Nata Ford on 12th; Phassouri Reedbeds on 13th; Kiti Dam on 15th.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (3/14) Singles at Cape Greco on 8th; Akhna Dam on 17th and Kiti Dam on 18th.

Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata (13/14) Especially numerous and obvious at Cape Greco.

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans (1/14) A male at Cape Greco on 7th.

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala (3/14) Surprisingly widespread. This species is evidently increasing on the island.

Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax (6/14) Asprokemnos Dam remains a particularly good site. Much less numerous in the east of the island with just a handful seen at Cape Greco

Ruppell's Warbler (2/14) Single males at Cape Greco on 5th and 7th.

Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis (1/14) Two, a male and a female, at Cape Greco on 8th.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca (11/14) Abundant at Cape Greco at times.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis (5/14)

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (13/14)

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix (2/14) Two at Akhna Dam on 8th; one at Baths of Aphrodite on 11th.

Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis (1/14) One at Akhna Dam on 17th.

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (10/14)

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (3/14)

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa sriata (1/14) One at Akhna Dam on 18th.

Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (3/14) Four (two males two females) at Kiti Dam on 6th; a male at Cape Greco on 7th; two males at Kiti Dam on 15th.

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (4/14) A male near Larnaca Sewerage Works on 6th; a male at Kiti Dam on 15th; a male at Cape Greco on 16th and a male at Kiti Dam on 18th.

Great Tit Parus major (4/14)

Red-backed Shrike Lanius colluria (1/14) A male at Cape Greco on 14th.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator (8/14) Recorded in small numbers at Cape Greco, Paralimini Lake, Kiti Dam, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works, Neo Chorion and Paphos Head.

Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus (10/14) Recorded at Cape Greco, Kermia Beach, Paralimini Lake, Ayia Napa Sewerage Works and Paphos Head, often giving superb views.

Magpie Pica pica (14/14)

Jackdaw Corvus monedula (13/14)

Hooded Crow Corvus cornix (14/14)

House Sparrow Passer domesticus (14/14)

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis (13/14)

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris (13/14)

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (13/14)

Linnet Carduelis cannabina (5/14)

Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana (6/14) Three at Cape Greco on 8th; four at Cape Greco on 10th; eight at Paphos Head and 20 at Anarita Park on 13th; ? at Cape Greco and nine at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th; six at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 16th and four there on 17th.

Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia (4/14) Two at Cape Greco on 7th; two at Cape Greco and two Asprokemnos Dam on 10th; one at Cape Greco and four at Ayia Napa Sewerage Works on 14th. two at Cape Greco on 16th.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra (9/14)

 

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