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.

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Isabelline Wheatear

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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.

Red-Throated Pipit

Tree Pipit

Ortolan Bunting

Cretzchmar’s Bunting

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.

Wryneck

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.

Little Ringed Plover

Glossy Ibis

Ferruginous Duck

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.

Common Crane

Marsh Sandpiper

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.

Squacco Heron

Purple Heron

Cattle Egret

Night Herons (the three ages of Elvis)

Night Heron

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

Red-Backed Shrike

Common Redstart

**Spanish Sparrow **

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.

Blue Cheeked Bee-eater

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