May 23rd 2006

Flew from London Heathrow to Larnaca via Paphos. Was a late flight and whilst catching up with a friend at as dawn broke  2 Black Francolin were calling in the fields behind the appartment where I am staying. Also Crested Lark, Fan-Tailed Warbler, Swallows, Swifts, House Sparrow and Greenfinch were all seen before getting some rest.

A brief walk along the local coastline on 25th and 26th produced good numbers of House Martins, Swalllows, 6 Swifts, Collared Dove, Reed Warbler and Swallowtail butterflies were present. Whilst at Nissi bay on 25th one Cettis Warbler was signing and 24 Yellow-Legged Gulls flew over.

The first visit to Cape Greco on the 27th June produced just single Cyprus Pied Wheatear, Black-Headed Bunting and a pair of Spectacled Warblers.

Whilst on a boat trip from Ayia Napa on 21st June a Alpine Swift was seen heading west along the cliffs by the sea caves.

Managed to get to Larnaca sewage works on 5th July. Was rewarded with 6 Slender-Billed Gulls with two birds showing very well. Also noticed a very large tern being harrasswd by Common and Little Terns that were present. Further observation concluded that it was a Caspian Tern, and at times flew right near the hide. Studying the gulls I noticed a smaller gull seperate from the rest of the gulls. The bird was distant and had a full black-head and a darker plumage on the back, this bird was far too distant to conclude what it was as only had my bins with me!. Other birds included Black-Headed Wagtail, Spur-Winged Plover, Kentish Plover, 4 Marsh Sandpipers, Black-Winged Stilts, 2 White-Winged Black Terns were also seen and there were 60+ Little Terns.

18th July - Managed to combine a fishing trip with a bit of birding at Achna dam and managed to see two Pied Kingfishers that had previously been reported here. Quite a flighty bird so was mainly treated to flight views and distant perched views but was glad I connected with them none the less. Also here was an impressive flock of 200+ Corn Buntings, 12 Spur-Winged Plovers , Kentish Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper. There was also a White Pelican on the dam.

19th July Larnaca Sewage works

15c Slender-Billed Gulls, 3 Greater Flamingos, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 1+Ruff, Temminck Stint, Little Tern c15, Common Tern x3, Black Headed Gulls x 4, 1 White-Winged Black Tern, 1 Black Tern, 1 Spur-Winged Plover.

3rd August

50+ Bee-Eaters migrating south over Konnos Bay, near Cape Greco

8th August - Achna Dam

1 Pied Kingfisher, seen a lot closer and with more regurlarity than on my previous visit, also 3 Common Kingfishers were showing well. Migration obviously kicking in today with 4 Wood Sandpipers, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed and Kentish Plovers. One of the highlights was finding 30 Collared Pratincoles, including adults and juvenilles. 1 Squacco Heron, 7 Yellow Wagtails of unknown race 2 Red-Throated Pipits and 1 juv Masked Shrike ensured there was plenty of variety. A Roller and Hobby were also observed on the journey home. 

9th August - Achna Dam

Today 2 Pied Kingfishers present, one observed going into a nest hole! Also 2 Kingfishers, Olivacious Warbler, Hoopoe, 9 Black-winged Stilts, 5 Spur-Winged Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 5 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, Temminck's Stints,  Little Stints, 1 juv Masked Shrike, 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Kestrels and Collared Doves.

22nd August - Cape Greco

4 Red-Backed Shrikes (2f 2juv), 1 Lesser-Grey Shrike, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, female Blackcap, Spectacled Warblers, 20c Greenfinches and Goldfinches

23rd August

Remarkable sight of Common Kingfisher on Nissi Beach!

29th August - Akritori Salt Lake

100+ Demoiselle Cranes, 3 Honey Buzzards usual waders etc as seen last year in area.

9th September - Achna Dam

1 Broad-Billed Sandpiper, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Great Snipes, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Glossy Ibis, 6 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Citrine Wagtails, 1 Garganey, Common + Wood Sandpiper, 50c Dunlins, 2 Temmincks Stint, 1 Little Stint, 2 Hoopoes, 1 Whinchat, 5 Red-Backed Shrikes incl 1 male, 1 juv Masked Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher, 20+Willow Warblers, Swallows, Sand Martins and 1 White Pelican.

10th September - Cape Greco

4 Honey Buzzards(in park area), 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Lesser Grey Shrike, 4-5 Red-Backed Shrikes incl 2 males, 1 Cyprus Pied Wheatear, 1 Northern Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, Willow Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and Kestrel.

11th September

Large Numbers of Bee-Eaters migrating south over Kapparis

19th Sept - Cape Greco

1 Orphean Warbler(fem), 1 Barred Warbler(juv), 2 Audouin's Gulls, 3 Rollers, 17 Purple herons(migrating south), 8 Bee-eaters, 1 Red-Throated Pipit, 5+Red-Backed Shrikes, 1 Isabelline Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Kestrels. Several hundred Swallows and Sand Martins. 12 un-identified plover type species flying south!

27th September - Kapparis

1+Red-Rumped Swallow in fields nr greenhouses with large hirundine flock just before dusk.

3rd Oct - Kapparis

2 Kingfishers, Spectacled warbler along coastline

4th October - Cape Greco

1 Osprey, 4 Honey Buzzards, 5 Red-Footed Falcons(migrating), 1 Roller, Red-Backed Shrike, Spectacled Warblers, White Wagtails.

1 Little Egret flying over Derynia

Achna Dam

1 Stonechat, Whinchat, 1 Red-Footed Falcon, 7 Spoonbills, 1 Great-White Egret, 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Redstarts, Tree Pipit, Blue-headed Wagtails, 1 Marsh Harrier, 50+Dunlins, Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Lapwing, 1 Little Stint, Spotted Flycatchers, Bee-eaters, 1 White Pelican. Loads of 'African grass skippers'??

5th October - Kapparis

1 ring-tailed Harrier sp flying south

6th October - Cape Greco

Several Cyprus Pied Wheatears, 1 Blue Rock Thrush(fem)

9th October - Cape Greco

10c mostly adult Red-Footed Falcon migrating through.

11th October - Cape Greco

1+Isabelline Wheatears, 3 Northern Wheatears, 6+Cyprus Wheatears, 3 Auduoin's Gulls (2ad 1 1st winter), Blackcap, 3 Goldfinches, 20+Whinchats, White Wagtails, Kestrel, Chiff-Chaffs. Increased numbers in Crested Larks.

23rd - considerable less hirundines present

24th - 1 Ringtail Montagu's Harrier, 1 Willow warbler, White Wagtails and Stonechats now numerous

27th - Cape Greco

3 Black Redstarts, 3 Northern Wheatears, 2 Auduoin's Gulls, 1 Blue Rock Thrush(fem), Stonechats(loads), Robin, 1 Chaffinch, White Wagtails(less numbers), no hirundines, 1Cyprus Pied Wheatear, 3 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap(male)

1st November - small numbers of Swallow's around locally

2nd November - Cape Greco

Winter feel to the day, 5 Northern Wheatears, 2 Common Redstarts, 8 Corn Buntings, 25c Skylarks (migrating south), 30c Chaffinches, incresed flocks of both Greenfinch and Goldfinch, a few Meadow Pipits scattered. Stonechats again numerous, and increased numbers of Robins. 1 male Finsch's Wheatear was a nice find here. Small numbers of Swallow's moving through.

6th November - 1 Black Redstart (turkish race phoenicurus ochruros) in the field next to my appartment. Next to no white on wings with more red on the under belly. 

7th Nov - Kapparis Coastline

1 Audouin's Gull(offshore flying south), 1 Black Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5c Swallows, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails, Stonechats, Robins, Crested Larks, several Willow warblers and Chiff-Chaffs,1Fan-Tailed Warbler.

18th November - Fly back to London Heathrow

Target species for 2007 in Cyprus include Cinereous Bunting, Greater-Black Headed Gull, Baillons Crake, Cream-Coloured Courser etc, with the hope of finding a rarity or two of my own on my 'local patch'.