Cyprus - April 2007
Owen Foley, Conor Foley and Donal Foley
09/04/2007 – 17/04/2007
We flew out from Gatwick on the 8th of April, flying into Paphos airport. Using the Paphos area as a base, we hired a car to reach a number of other areas including the Akhamas peninsula, Akrotiri salt lake and Phassouri reed beds, Larnaca salt pools and the Troodos Mountains. Car rental equated to just 30 Euros a day for a 1.3 Litre 4 Wheel Drive Suzuki Swift. Accommodation equated to just 22 Euros per night B+B.
Day 1. Paphos Headland and nearby areas.
Early morning at Paphos produced a wide variety of birds. A fortunate wrong turn brought us first to the harbour, where a stunning Pied Kingfisher was our first tick of the trip, feeding from the mooring lines of the many boats in the harbour
Pied Kingfisher (even back then this was a very good species to find here, these days they're apparently excellent)
Moving on to the beach, our next tick was an Isabelline Wheatear amongst the many Black Eared and Northern Wheatears feeding on the flat rocky areas.
Scopoli’s Shearwaters moved in small numbers offshore and visible migration was quite obvious, with many Yellow Wagtails (of several different races) present on the beach and nearby fields.
Yellow Wagtail
The calls of both Tree and Red Throated Pipits were constantly heard over head. Also calling obviously were the many Black Francolins present in the scrub, a piercing call, somewhat a mix between that of a pheasant and a rooster. In amongst the small groups of Ortolan Buntings on the headland were one or two Cretzschmars Buntings.
Nightingales were obvious in their abundance, both calling plaintively from vegetation and flicking across the pathways. The scrub also held a large fall of Blackcaps and numerous Sardinian Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and the odd Wryneck and Woodchat Shrike.
Woodchat Shrike
Also seen here were our first Eastern Black Eared Wheatears, favouring the ruins on the headland. Swallows, both Barn and Red Rumped, flew low around the headland with the many Martins and Swifts, which included Common, Pallid and Alpine Swifts.
Eastern Black Eared Wheatears
Common Nightingale
After a productive morning on the headland we moved on to near by Paphos sewerage plant which produced 8 adult Spur Winged Plovers as well as numerous Wood Sandpipers, Ruff and several Little Stints. An adult Masked Shrike flew in front of the car at a nearby dry riverbed, giving good views.
Spur Winged Plover
Masked Shrike
Nearby Asprokremnos Dam produced the endemic Cyprus Wheatear, and Cyprus Warbler, as well as Little Owl, a Juvenile Night Heron, Purple Heron, Marsh Harrier and a few Chukars, their throaty call echoing down the valley. A couple of hunters in the area were, to our relief, not after the birds, but where instead after snakes....namely the quite venomous (and disturbingly large) Blunt Nosed Viper...Okay...so maybe not much better conservation wise...but at least they weren’t flushing birds on us.
Cyprus Wheatear
Cyprus Warbler
Chukar
Day 2. Akrotiri Salt Lake and adjacent marshes.
45 minutes from Paphos, the Akrotiri peninsula, just a few miles south of Limmasol, is a fantastically rich area for a variety of bird species. However Cyprus has been in quite a drought over the past few years, with many dams in the country being dry as a bone. As a result the nearby marshes were, save for Phassouri reed bed, quite barren of birdlife.
Phassouri, despite being drier than in normal years, held a fantastic array of species, including Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, Squacco Heron, Ferruginous Duck, Garganey, Yellow Wagtail, Black Winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper.
Whilst watching a Water Pipit on a nearby reedmass, an adult male Little Crake emerged into the open giving stunning views. Numerous Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards and Common Kestrels hunted over the reed beds.
Little Crake
We then moved on to the nearby Kensington cliffs, a breeding site for both Eleonora's Falcon and Griffon Vulture. Both of these species, were yet to be present in numbers and none were seen whilst we were there, however a fantastic adult Black Vulture rose off the Cliffs and afforded good views. Numerous Alpine Swifts were also present here, screaming past just inches from our heads.
We also saw our first Roller of the trip, typically, on overhead wires by the roadside, a truly stunning bird.
Day 3. The Akhamas Peninsula.
We began the day at the famous Baths of Aphrodite, a noted migration watch point where birds feed up before making the crossing to Turkey. A Wood Warbler showed well at the entrance to the caravan park, with the almost acrocephalus sounding song of Masked Shrike echoing around the groves.
It was here we encountered our first Eastern Bonelli's Warbler of the trip. Further up the hill at Symies track, the buzzing song of the Cyprus Wheatear resounded around the hills, with the water troughs in this area, the only source of water for birds to drink, producing both male Collared and Semi-Collared Flycatchers (along with Pied Flycatcher) and yet more Eastern Bonelli's Warblers.
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
We then moved back south to Cape Drepanum, (seeing an Adult Long Legged Buzzard along the way) where we saw numerous Greater Short Toed Larks, Yellow Wagtails, with more Black Eared Wheatears and an Isabelline Wheatear.
Corn Bunting
European Roller
Day 4. Larnaca salt marshes.
Two hours from Paphos, beside Larnaca airport, are a number of very productive salt pools. A few hours driving around these produced Spectacled Warbler, Marsh Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Greater Flamingo, Slender Billed Gull, Little Gull and Greater Sandplover.
Spectacled Warbler
Greater Sandplover
A nearby marsh at Oirilinki, not described in any of the texts, produced several more Marsh Sandpipers with other waders such as Ruff, Little Stint, Wood and Green Sandpipers, numerous Black Winged Stilts and Glossy Ibis and a surprise 1st year Common Crane. Passerines here included Yellow Wagtails, Spectacled Warbler, Great spotted Cuckoo and Hoopoe.
Day 5. Paphos, Mandria and Phassouri Reed Beds.
The early morning at Paphos produced yet more new trip birds such as a migrant Blue Rock Thrush at the ruins of Dionysus. Flocks of herons migrating included 25 Night Herons and several Squacco Herons. Several Woodchat Shrikes (of the races Senator and Niloticus) afforded good views, whilst Sardinian and Eastern Subalpine Warblers were in strong numbers in the scrub of the headland with a few Wrynecks mixed in for good measure.
Blue Rock Thrush
Mandria Beach produced yet more Greater Short Toed Larks and Red Throated Pipits, with good numbers of Eastern Black Eared Wheatears and a pair of Isabelline Wheatears.
Greater Short Toed Lark
The evening was spent at Phassouri Reed Beds, were numerous waders fed in close proximity, including Marsh and Wood Sandpipers, Ruff, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit and Little Ringed Plover. Reed, Great Reed and Sedge Warblers flitted around the reed stems and many Little Crakes emerged to feed. Heron species included Purple Heron, Night Heron, Grey Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. Yellow Wagtails arrived to roost in the evening, with Citrine Wagtail being heard at this site also.
Day 6. Troodos Mountains
The Troodos Mountains occupy a large portion of the centre of the island of Cyprus, and provide the best opportunity for seeing Bonelli’s Eagle and the scarce Eastern Imperial Eagle, as well as the endemic races of Jay, Coal Tit, Wren and Short Toed Tree Creeper. The woodlands around the village of Troodos (some two thousand meters above sea level and still emerging from the winter snow) provided these endemics easily with all but wren being easily seen. The Coal Tit in particular was remarkably different from our own. Several stake outs for Raptors failed to produce either eagle and we returned to the lower sections of the island.
Asprokremnos dam held Osprey and Gull Billed Tern as well as a migrating Steppe Buzzard. Several Rollers were seen on telegraph wires along the way.
Day 7. Phassouri Reed beds and Akrotiri.
An early morning trip to Phassouri Reed Beds produced a stunning Baillon's Crake and over 20 Little Crakes. Several Eastern Black Eared Wheatears and an Isabelline Wheatear were at the nearby gravel pits, with Spectacled Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and other common migrants also in this area. A ring tail Pallid Harrier was at nearby Lady’s mile.
Baillons Crake
Upon returning to Phassouri, 2 Blue Cheeked Bee-eaters began feeding over the marsh, truly stunning birds and easily the bird of the trip for me. These birds gave stunning views for over half an hour.
Returning towards Paphos, Mandria Beach played host to four migrating Red Footed Falcons (3 adult males and an adult female), with a flock of 14 Eurasian Spoonbills moving offshore.
Red Footed Falcon
Day 8. Akhamas Peninsula.
An early morning trip to the Akhamas peninsula began at Symies track, producing an extremely obliging Eastern Olivaceous Warbler drinking from the troughs and allowing excellent views from the car. Ortolan Buntings were again in strong numbers with several parties sitting in trees around the area. A pair of Goshawk afforded good views moving up the valley with a Hobby moving through the area also.
The Polis area nearby produced more Rollers, with a pair affording excellent views just overhead on wires in breeding habitat.
The Evretou Dam produced more Chukar and Great Spotted Cuckoo, with a Calidus race Peregrine Falcon hunting the area, eventually harassing an adult Bonellis Eagle, a long awaited tick for me. The lower end of the dam produced another Ringtail Pallid Harrier and an adult male Red Footed Falcon, along with more Corn Bunting, Black Headed Wagtail and Flava Wagtails and our only Little Bittern of the trip, a stunning male.
The return trip to Mandria produced several more Rollers as well as 3 Long Legged Buzzards and a male Red Footed Falcon. Mandria itself had obvious migration underway, with over a dozen Purple Herons roosting in crop fields. A female Marsh Harrier passed close by, with many Eastern Black Eared Wheatears in the fields with Red Throated Pipits. A pair of Stone Curlews was also present in the area with large flock of Greater Short Toed Larks. Many migrants were also grounded on the beach, with Wood Warbler, Common Redstart, Eastern Sub Alpine Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Collared Flycatcher all feeding in the scrub.
Collared Flycatcher
Day 9. Final Day. Paphos Headland.
Rain just before dawn produced our only fall of migrants of the trip, with a massive deluge of migrants landing in the Paphos area. The headland itself was heaving with Yellow Wagtails of several races, Tree Pipits, Red Throated Pipits, Tawny Pipits, Whinchats, and Wheatears.
Many Woodchat Shrikes were also present, with a migrant Masked Shrike also. 2 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers were amongst the many Lesser Whitethroats, Common Whitethroats and Blackcaps. Pied Flycatchers, were in good numbers with both Collared and Semi-Collared Flycatchers also present. Numerous Wrynecks flicked across the paths, feeding with the abundant Nightingales. 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers fed in the scrub near the Ruins of Dionysus with similar scrub producing our only Ruppell's Warbler of the Trip.
Several Flocks of Herons moved over head with Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Squacco Heron and Great White Egret all being seen. Birds were also moving in off the sea with several Hoopoes moving through, as well as Common Nightjar and Common Quail. Another Calidus race Peregrine hunted over the headland and an Eleonora’s Falcon also came off the sea.
Cape Drepanum had a large flock of Greater Short Toed Larks and Yellow Wagtails. With numerous Black Eared Wheatears, Red throated Pipits and Tawny Pipits. Several Quail moved in off the sea here and 6 Great White Egrets roosted on the island off shore.
A bit of an adventure headed back to the airport where, trying to leave the tank as empty as possible, we succeeded in running dry. 😂
However we made our flight with time to spare.
Species list.
1 Alpine Swift Kensington Cliffs, Paphos, Akrotiri, Asprokremnos. Common Daily
2 Avocet Larnaca Salt Lakes Small numbers 12/04/2007
3 Baillons Crake Phassouri Reed beds Uncommon (1) 15/04/2007
4 Eastern Black Eared Wheatear Coastal farmland and beaches. Common Passage Migrant Daily
5 Black Francolin Farmland Common Daily
6 Black Headed Gull Coasts and marshes Common Daily
7 Black Headed Wagtail All Habitats Extremely Common Passage Migrant Daily
8 Black Redstart Paphos Headland Single bird (female) 17/04/2007
9 Black Tailed Godwit Phassouri Reed beds Single bird (1st summer) 13/04/2007
10 Black Winged Stilt Phassouri, Larnaca, Paphos, Oirllinki, Asprokremnos. Common Daily
11 Blackbird Troodos Scarce (only in mountainous areas) 14/04/2007
12 Blackcap Paphos, Akrotiri, Ahkamas. Common Daily
13 Black Vulture Kensington Cliffs Single Adult 10/04/2007
14 Blue Cheeked Bee-eater Phassouri Reed beds 2 birds. (adults) 15/04/2007
15 Blue Rock Thrush Paphos 1 bird. (female) 13/04/2007
16 Bonelli’s Eagle Evretou Dam 1 bird (adult) 16/04/2007
17 Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Ahkamas, Paphos. 6 birds over the course of the trip. 11/04/07 and 17/04/07
18 Cattle Egret Phassouri, Paphos Common in suitable habitat Daily
19 Cetti’s Warbler All Habitats Common in all Habitats Daily
20 Chaffinch Troodos, Paphos Common in mountains, Passage migrants seen during fall. 10/04/2007
21 Chiffchaff Paphos, Ahkamas Small numbers on passage Daily
22 Chukar Asprokremnos, Akrotiri, Coastal Farmland. Common in rocky terrain and Farmland Daily
23 Citrine Wagtail Phassouri, Lara beach Birds heard overhead. Small numbers 11/04/07 and 15/04/07
24 Coal Tit (endemic race) Troodos Common in mountains 14/04/2007
25 Collared Dove All habitats Extremely Common Resident Daily
26 Collared Flycatcher Ahkamas, Mandria, Paphos 5 adult males over the course of the trip 11/04/07 (2), 16/04/07 (1) and 17/04/07 (2)
27 Common Buzzard Lowland areas Common Daily
28 “steppe” Buzzard Asprokremnos Dam Single Bird 14/04/2007
29 Common Crane Oirilinki Marsh Single bird (1st year) 12/04/2007
30 Common Sandpiper All wetland and coastal habitats Common Daily
31 Common Tern Larnaca Salt Pools Single Bird 12/04/2007
32 Coot All Wetland Areas Common Daily
33 Cormorant Kensington Cliffs Single Bird 10/04/2007
34 Corn Bunting Farmland and scrub areas Common Daily
35 Cory’s Shearwater Paphos Headland Common Daily
36 Crag Martin Ahkamas 2 birds 11/04/2007
37 Crested Lark Coastal areas Extremely Common Daily
38 Cretzschmars Bunting Paphos 8 birds (in small parties) 09/04/2007
39 Crossbill (Endemic Race) Troodos Common in mountains 14/04/2007
40 Curlew Paphos Single Bird 16/04/2007
41 Curlew Sandpiper Phassouri 3 birds (1st years) 10/04/2007
42 Cyprus Wheatear All Habitats Extremely Common endemic. Daily
43 Cyprus Warbler Coastal Scrub and agricultural groves Common Endemic Daily
44 Dunlin Larnaca salt pools Small numbers amongst little stints. 12/04/2007
45 Eleonora’s Falcon Paphos Single adult pale phase 17/04/2007
46 Ferruginous Duck Phassouri Reed beds 16 adult birds (6 Drakes) and 10 ducklings. 10/04/07, 15/04/07
47 Garganey Phassouri, Larnaca, Oirilinki, Paphos Common in wetlands and flocks of birds on passage at sea. Daily
48 Glossy Ibis Phassouri, Larnaca, Oirilinki and Cape Drepanum. Common in wetlands and some passage birds Daily
49 Golden Oriole Paphos Single adult male 17/04/2007
50 Goldfinch All areas Extremely Common Daily
51 Goshawk Akhamas 2 (Male and Female) 16/04/2007
52 Greater Flamingo Akrotiri and Larnaca 10 birds at Akrotiri, 4 at Larnaca 10/04/07 and 12/04/07
53 Great Reed Warbler Phassouri, Ahkamas Common in reed bed and on passage 15/04/07 and 16/04/07
54 Great Spotted Cuckoo All areas Common Daily
55 Great Tit All areas Common Daily
56 Great White Egret Paphos Passage Migrant (8 birds, 2 at Paphos and 6 at Cape Drepanum) 17/04/2007
57 Greater Sandplover Larnaca Single bird 12/04/2007
58 Green Sandpiper Akrotiri Common 10/04/2007
59 Greenfinch All areas Common Daily
60 Greenshank All wetland areas Common Daily
61 Grey Heron Ahkna dam 4 birds 12/04/2007
62 Gull Billed Tern Asprokremnos dam, Mandria 2 birds 14/04/2007
63 Hobby Ahkamas Single Bird (adult) 16/04/2007
64 Hooded Crow All areas Extremely common Daily
65 Hoopoe Coastal areas Common Daily
66 House Martin All areas Common Daily
67 House Sparrow All areas Common Daily
68 Isabelline Wheatear Paphos, Lara Beach, Mandria, Akrotiri Present in reasonable numbers. 2 at Paphos,1 at Lara beach, 2 at Mandria, 1 at Akrotiri Daily
69 Jackdaw All areas Common Daily
70 Jay (Endemic Race) Troodos Common in Mountains 14/04/2007
71 Kentish Plover Akrotiri and Larnaca Common in Salt lakes 10/04/07 and 12/04/07
72 Kestrel All areas Extremely common resident an d passage migrant Daily
73 Common Kingfisher Wetlands and Coastal areas. Common Daily
74 Lesser Black Backed Gull (Fuscus race) Coastal areas Common Daily
75 Lesser Whitethroat All areas Common Passage Migrant Daily
76 Linnet All areas Common Resident Daily
77 Little Bittern Evretou Dam Single bird (adult male) Daily
78 Little Crake Phassouri Over 20 individuals 10/04/2007
79 Little Egret Coastal Areas Common Daily
80 Little Grebe All wetland areas Common Daily
81 Little gull Larnaca Salt Pools 3 birds, 1 adult and 2 first summers 12/04/2007
82 Little Owl Asprokremnos Dam Single male seen, numerous singing birds 09/04/2007
83 Little Ringed Plover Phassouri Common in wetlands Daily
84 Little Stint Phassouri and Larnaca Common passage migrant Daily
85 Little Tern Larnaca Salt pools 3 birds 12/04/2007
86 Long Legged Buzzard Polis area and Ahkna Dam 5 birds over course of the trip 11/04/07 and 16/04/07
87 Magpie All areas Common Daily
88 Mallard All wetland areas Common Daily
89 Marsh Harrier All Areas Common Daily
90 Marsh Sandpiper Larnaca Salt pools 20+ birds 12/04/2007
91 Masked Shrike Coastal areas on migration and highland areas Common Daily
92 Mediterranean Gull Cape Drepanum 2 first summers 17/04/2007
93 Merlin Cape Drepanum Single Birds 11/04/2007
94 Moorhen All wetland areas Common Daily
95 Night Heron All wetland areas and coastal areas on passage Common Daily
96 Nightingale All areas Common passage migrant Daily
97 Nightjar Paphos Single bird 17/04/2007
98 Olivaceous Warbler Ahkamas, Paphos 3 birds (1 at Ahkamas, 2 Paphos) 16/04/07 and 17/04/07
99 Ortolan Bunting Paphos, Ahkamas Common Passage Migrant Daily
100 Osprey Asprokremnos Dam Single Adult 14/04/2007
101 Pallid Harrier Paphos, Akrotiri, Evretou 3 Ringtail harriers 15/04/07,16/04/07
102 Pallid Swift Akrotiri and Troodos Several Birds amongst Common Swifts 09/04/07 and 10/04/07 and 14/04/07
103 Peregrine Falcon (calidus race) Phassouri reed beds and Everetou Dam, Paphos. 3 birds encountered. 10/04/2007
104 Pied Flycatcher Paphos, Ahkamas Common migrant Daily
105 Pied Kingfisher Paphos harbour Single Bird 09/04/2007
106 Pochard Phassouri Single Drake 10/04/2007
107 Purple Heron All Areas Common in wetlands and on passage Daily
108 Quail Cape Drepanum 6 birds off the sea 17/04/2007
109 Red Backed Shrike Akrotiri Single adult Female 10/04/2007
110 Red Footed Falcon Mandria, Polis area 4 birds at Mandria, 2 in Polis area. 15/04/07 and 16/04/07
111 Red Rumped Swallow All areas Common Migrant Daily
112 Red Throated Pipit Coastal areas and watch points Common Daily
113 Redshank Phassouri Single bird 09/04/2007
114 Redstart Paphos, Ahkamas Common Migrant Daily
115 Reed Warbler Phassouri Common 10/04/2007
116 Ringed Plover Larnaca 12+ birds 12/04/2007
117 Rock Dove All Areas Common Daily
118 Roller All Areas Common Passage migrant Daily
119 Ruff All Wetland areas Common Daily
120 Ruppell's Warbler Paphos Single Bird (male) 17/04/2007
121 Sand Martin All areas Common Daily
122 Sandwich Tern Larnaca 4 birds 12/04/2007
123 Sardinian Warbler All areas Common Daily
124 Savi’s Warbler Phassouri Single singing bird 15/04/2007
125 Sedge Warbler All areas Common Passage Migrant Daily
126 Semi-Collared Flycatcher Akhamas, Paphos 2 birds, (male at Akhamas, female at Paphos 11/04/07 and 17/04/07
127 Serin All areas Common Daily
128 Shag Kensington Cliffs Colony 10/04/2007
129 Short Toed Lark Coastal Areas Common Daily
130 Short Toed Tree Creeper Troodos Common in mountains 14/04/2007
131 Shoveler Phassouri 4 birds 10/04/2007
132 Skylark Cape Drepanum Single Bird 13/04/2007
133 Slender Billed Gull Larnaca and Akrotiri Common 10/04/07 and 12/04/07
134 Snipe Phassouri Common 10/04/2007
135 Spanish Sparrow All areas Common Daily
136 SparrowHawk Paphos Single Bird 17/04/2007
137 Spectacled Warbler Larnaca, Akrotiri, Oirilinki Common in Suitable Habitat 12/04/2007
138 Spoonbill Mandria 14 Birds migrating along coast 15/04/2007
139 Spotted Redshank Larnaca, Phassouri Adult at Larnaca, 1st year at Phassouri 12/04/2007
140 Spur Winged Plover All wetland areas Common 09/04/2007
141 Squacco Heron All areas Common in wetlands and on migration Daily
142 Stone Curlew Mandria 2 birds 14/04/2007
143 Subalpine Warbler Paphos, Mandria Common Daily
144 Swallow All areas Extremely Common Daily
145 Swift All areas Common Daily
146 Tawny Pipit Coastal areas Common Daily
147 Teal Asprokremnos, Phassouri and Larnaca Singles at each site 09/04/2007
148 Tree Pipit All areas Very Common Passage Migrant Daily
149 Turtle Dove Paphos Single Bird 09/04/2007
150 Water Pipit Phassouri Single Bird 10/04/2007
151 Water Rail Phassouri Single Bird 15/04/2007
152 Northern Wheatear All areas Very Common Daily
153 Whinchat Paphos Very common Daily
154 White Wagtail All areas Common Daily
155 Whitethroat Paphos Common Daily
156 Willow Warbler Paphos 2 birds 09/04/2007
157 Woodlark Paphos Single Bird 09/04/2007
158 Wood Pigeon All areas Very Common Daily
159 Wood Sandpiper All wetlands Very Common Migrant Daily
160 Wood Warbler All areas Small numbers on passage Daily
161 Woodchat Shrike Paphos Com
mon Migrant Daily
162 Wryneck All areas Common Migrant Daily
163 Yellow Legged Gull Coastal areas Common Daily
164 Zitting Cisticola All areas Very Common Daily
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