Cyprus 2008
30th April - Arrived In Larnaca after 2 hour delay, checked out the pools just to the north of the airport, seeing plenty of Swallows, Swifts and House Martin’s en-route. A Crested Lark was shortly seen, but scanning the pools they were unfortunately and surprisingly birdless! I decided to head back to the airport to grab a taxi as a Red-footed Falcon, a nice female passed overhead heading for the large salt-lake. Grabbing a taxi from the airport, we drove past a couple of Greater Flamingo's that were on a roadside salt-pan. Around 30minutes later I had arrived at my destination Pernera, which is the south-eastern corner of Cyprus and not far from the more familiar Protaras. Having checked into my room, I went to the Niatta bar, where I watched Chelsea finally reach the champions league final!!! Oh yeh…this is good I mean really good,..defeats in recent years against this very team(Liverpool) have caused a lot of temporary pain…especially last year having to watch it down in Portland...roll on the final against the plastics!
1st May - Managed to get a cycle from yorimos in Pernera..the first bike had a flat front tyre the second had no brakes so was left with a bike from the 2nd world war complete with a shopping basket on the front, classy I know birding the Widerscoped way! Cycled to Cape Greco or Kavo Greko -1st bird seen was a over-flying Stone Curlew which seemed to fly up from the Konnos bay area and headed east towards Ayia Napa, checked out the pine area first, quickly saw Spotted Flycatcher, met a birder called Jim who was fairly new to birding and was talking about celebrating his 75th birthday next week..he claimed that I was the first birder he had seen at Greco all year, in return I mentioned that he was the first birder I had encountered at Greco ever! Either way he looked good for 75 and spoke about a few things he had seen. I was originally drawn, by what I thought was a calling Golden Oriole…in-fact it was Jim trying to get my attention! There was a female Blackcap in the area, also a male and female Pied Flycatcher were seen along with several other Spotted Flycatcher's. There was quite a few Willow Warbler's in the area, a distant flock of Little Egrets(20+) did have the suspected Squacco Heron’s(7) tucked in with them. Watching greco, the cape produced the resident Spectacled Warbler aswell as Cyprus Pied Wheatear. Crested Larks were pretty conspicuous aswell. Bumped into another birder(David), who was English visiting from Oman. Whilst talking on the greco road we saw a Red-rumped Swallow arriving with a House Martin. An Ortalan Bunting flew away from us as we checked the distant passing gulls, which at this stage proved to be Yellow-legged. I found a pair of Woodchat Shrikes further down the track, David had mentioned he had seen two Tawny Pipit’s not far away so went to check the area out and discovered not only two birds but four! Call very distinctive..very sparrow like, nice to see four together tho. A male Common Redstart was seen from the fence line aswell as a single Olivaceous Warbler, Common Whitethroat. Chukars were seen intermediately. A Audouin’s Gull passed through and on the route home a male Red-backed Shrike was seen from the top cycle path. I described a gull that I had seen to David and he explained that it was probably a Baltic Gull, it was also seen the following morning lingering off of the cape. Not sure if this was mentioned earlier, but found a stunning Isabelline Wheatear, in one of the spots where I have found them in the past.....good area in general for Wheatears.
Tawny Pipit - Cape Greco - Cyprus
2nd May - Arranged to meet David at the appartments at 6am to have another bash at the Cape, both agreed a good early start was needed to have any chance of seeing and finding some decent birds at the Cape. 2 male Red-backed Shrikes were quickly seen, the 4 Tawny Pipit’s were also found in the same areas as the day before, 3 Tree Pipit’s were also found here along with the odd Yellow Wagtail sp flying high overhead along with a couple of Red-throated Pipit’s. A small party of 5 small larks moved through, possibly Short-toed, we also flushed a Quail, moving down to the cut-off point, a Ortolan Bunting was found and showed well, with a further two birds also later seen in the area. A Hoopoe flushed up briefly before disappearing amongst the rocky landscape. A Hobby was seen briefly, a Plover sp called high above us and despite scanning the skies, we could not locate it nor identify the call…interesting, but frustrating! We checked the pine area again, Spotted Flycatchers were again seen along with excellent views of a male Pied Flycatcher and whilst tracking this down we found a single Wood Warbler. David said his goodbyes as he had to get back to Larnaca to catch a plane to Jordan. It was now getting rather warm and overhead passage all but dried up, I was left on foot to keep on exploring the cape, back-trekking to where we had just come from. I photographed a pair of Cyprus-pied Wheatears, collecting small spiders and insects hopefully for young. Bee-eaters were now regularly heard calling high overhead. I attempted in vain to photograph the Tawny Pipit’s but was impossible in the heat haze that had quickly developed. Nearby, I found a singing Icterine Warbler, watching it feed up in a isolated patch of scrub, before heading off east, then I found a scubby looking Masked Shrike. Now fast approaching mid-day I decided to retire before the sun got to me….a good morning! Not forgetting the wedding I have been invited to this afternoon!
Masked Shrike - Cape Greco - Cyprus
5th May - Finally got out again this morning after a weekend of taking in the wedding and the on-going celebrations noteably Nissi beach and Ayia Napa on the Saturday! Again, another morning spent at Greco, all was quiet this morning with not a lot around, Black-headed Bunting's were singing away, a single Tawny Pipit remained, a Northern Wheatear was scrapping with a Cyprus Pied Wheatear. Bee-eaters were again passing overhead, only Spotted Flycatchers were seen in the pine area, there certainly seems to be more finches around than I remember from before, especially Greenfiches, the males looking slightly smarter and more bright yellow in contrast to 'our' one, Goldfinch and Linnets also seem to be doing well....plenty of food for the shrike invasion that should occur next week, a pair of Spanish Sparrows were also seen. Headed back early so I could take in the Newcastle, Chelsea match, with my mate Chris who happens to be a brummie but supports Newcastle...oh well at least it's not Villa(sorry Seth)! Chelsea won...then had a house party to go to before hitting Protaras for the evening....late night!
7th May - Made the most of having the bike for it's final day, you guessed it! headed for the wonderful world of Cape Greco, again pretty quiet, several Spotted Flycatchers were around with at least a dozen individuals around, a female Red-backed Shrike was seen, whilst searching this area I flushed a large warbler sp, managed to see it briefly in flight, quite long-winged, before it perched on the edge of some scrub. The initial feeling was that of Olivaceous, but the bill was way too long, then I was edging towards Great-reed Warbler, either way this bird had a monster beak! it dissappeared into the scrub, I sat waiting for it to re-emerge. Remarkably, the bird starting singing, very much like a Great-reed, very scratchy with what to me sounded like a very loud harsh Marsh Frog call, the song was rather sluggish. There were several bursts of song then just the odd call, this certainly wasn't a Great reed neither. I scanned the scrub but the bird was well hidden and was singing from deep. The bird started singing again, then after 10mins or so...nothing not even a call. I approached the scrub and nothing flushed out...for me this bird was a Olive-Tree Warbler, times like this you wish you had a recorder or something, but the song was pretty un-mistakable! Towards the evening the weather turn a little overcast and there was a slight chill in the wind....very unusual for this time of year. Whilst searching for Audouin's Gulls, 4 Shearwater's passed close inshore heading out towards the cape, which proved to be Yelkouan Shearwaters, the first time I have seen shearwaters off of here. 8 Audoiun's Gulls were seen loafing on the rocks below, only two adults tho, several parties of Bee-eaters were grounded around the Pernera area, looking in vain for somewhere to roost!
9th May - Managed to get out again today as yesterday was a complete write off as we had heavy rain followed by freak thunder storms, all day. I caught the bus to the Cape again. There is a bus service that runs once an hour, that coveniently takes you to the top of the cape en-route to Ayia Napa. Black-headed Bunting's were again seen singing away, 8 Little Egrets were seen off of the cape, along with a Shag, a party of 4 Cretzshmar's Bunting's were on the cape itself before flying south. There seemed to be a heavier passage of Bee-eater's today, several Spotted Flycatchers and a single female Common Redstart was seen around the pine area. A Northern Wheater was still present. The bus service costs 1.35 euro each way which works out just over a pound so offering great value.
10th/11th May/Summary - Spent my last full day relaxing on the beach, really enjoyed parties of Bee-eaters migrating through, whilst sunbathing, terrific sight! Travelled back on the Sunday afternoon arriving back at Gatwick around 8.30pm, a really enjoyable trip, restricive birding wise, I would like to have covered more areas and sites, but there was so much more going on. This area in particular is subject to loads of development, with many fields, where I used to see plenty of Fan-tailed Warbler's have dissappeared, also there is a new airport being currently constructed at Larnaca, so really do not know the magnitude of that development in terms of affecting the surrounding pools and fields that used to be good for Calandra Lark's etc. It has obviously had an impact on Fan-tailed Warbler's as I only saw 2 the whole week, I used to see at least 2 per field. Crested Lark numbers also seemed to have dwindled and shrike numbers were also down, but on the plus side, Greenfinch and Goldfinch numbers seemed to have increased, especially around the cape area, probably drawn to the new picnic sites.
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Cyprus-pied Wheatear - Cape Greco - Cyprus
Cyprus 2006
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'.
| CYPRUS 2005 - My Diary |
Masked Shrike - Cape Greco - Cyprus 2005 - photo :Gary Messenbird April 13th 2005, Gatwick Airport, the adventure starts here!This is it, departing England and not returning for six-months, quite a nice feeling really, but also quite daunting. Destination Larnaca airport, Cyprus, or should I say sunny Cyprus. Thats get things into perspective, I am going to Cyprus to work for the summer, not six months of complete freedom, to spend the time birding!Well when I mention work, I was going there to DJ which involves working at night, leaving daytimes free, too good to be true! Living abroad is something that has always appealed to me, but this opportunity arose somewhat short notice, so had limited time to do much research on what birds to expect to come across in Cyprus. Purchasing 'A Birdwatchers Guide To Cyprus' by Arthur Stagg & Graham Hearl and my uncle kindly handing me 'Finding Birds in Cyprus' by Dave Gosney, it wasn't long before I established that where I was based, neither book really covered the eastern side of the island which is where I was going to be based, except an area called 'Cape Greco' or 'Kavo Grecko'. This area was described as under-watched, this was the area that I decided would be my 'local patch'. To be fair all I knew was that I was gonna be staying near Protaras/Paralimini, so a lot of groundwork, map reading and getting my bearings together was in order once I arrived. A four hour or so flight later and putting the watch 2hours forward I was in sunny Cyprus, greeted by Swifts and House Martin's as I entered into the airport building. A forty-five minute taxi ride later I was at my hotel were I was staying for the next two-months at least. The following day, I decided to pack my bag with my bins, plenty of water and go for a wander. It's a weird feeling venturing out not knowing where you are exactly. Heading down the road I heard a call that I instantly remember from Spain, Fan-Tailed Warblers were calling everywhere!Also numerous Swallow's were hunting insects over the ploughed fields. Turning left at the first roundabout signposted for Agia Trias, I eventually reached the coastline. Here was a sheltered small sandy bay, as I reached the sand a Nightingale blasted it's presence from a dense thicket. Turning left here I ventured northbound towards Famagusta. Alomg this track not many birds were in evidence apart from plenty of House Sparrows in large flocks, but managed to flush a Hoopoe and Cetti's and Reed Warbler were heard singing from the reedbeds. Also Sparrowhawk seen hunting, seen well enough to rule out Levant Sparrowhawk unfortunatley!Also in evidence nemerous Crested Larks and more Fan-Tailed Warbler.Walking north from the Malama Beach Hotel reached a slight change in habitat, here in the bushes a female Blackcap was seen and more flittering further alomg revealed 2+Willow Warblers, it was whilst observing these two larger warblers were chasing each other, eventually revealing themselves, in the same field of view I had Icterine Warbler and Olivaceous Warbler, top stuff! The following day, a similar walk which took in the same route as yesterday, had a medium sized warbler that couldn't get quite enough on it but looking at it now it was likely to be a female Orphean Warbler, but this bird had me scrambling through the Collins Guide with no obvious conclusion, one that got away!Otherwise there were less warblers in evidence, but butterflies were out in force and amognst the ones I could identify were Swallowtail, Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady. Ventured further south today from Agia Tria headed towards Pernera and managed to see 3 Black-Eared Wheatears, including two stunning males one very bright and the other more creamy in colour, two different forms. Added to my Cyprus list today with Kestrel, Wagtails overhead including Grey, Yellow and White + 2 Tree Pipits. The same route taken the following day, less birds around apart from Hooded Crows in greater evidence, 5 Swifts over Kapparis, Greenfinch, unusual sighting of a Purple Heron migrating northwards late evening. Feeling was that I had exhausted this area, Cape Greco was calling! |
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