Cyprus Birding Trip Report - (3rd April - 7th April 2018) - Species List and Locations

Day 1 – Tuesday 3rd April 2018

Cyprus Warbler – 3rd April 2018 - A6 scrubland, between Paphos and Ancient Kourion. Showing well in scrubby bushes at the side of the road. A good number of birds seen during the trip, including at Kourion Stadium and Cape Greco, the majority full breeding plumage males. First bird of the trip found at the side of the road showed best.

Cyprus Wheatear – 3rd April 2018 - Kourion Stadium, Ancient Kourion. Perched singing on the walls and in the small trees. Abundant throughout the trip and seen at most sites. Males displaying and calling.

Ortolan Bunting – 3rd April 2018 - Temple of Apollo, Ancient Kourion. 3 male birds feeding in the short grass at the temple of Apollo. Only birds of the trip.

Black Francolin – 3rd April 2018 - Akrotiri marsh/gravel pits. Calling from a raised hill near to the road, although quite distant. Heard at several sites and seen on two occasions calling from a prominent perch. Distant both times unfortunately.

Chukar Partridge – 3rd April 2018 - Mavrokolympus Dam. Calling and moving around on the rocky hillside. Seen at several sites throughout the trip, on occasion showing well. Calling frequently in rocky locations.

Cyprus Scops Owl – 3rd April 2018 - Mavrokolympus Dam. Several birds heard calling in the valley and good views on two occasions - one seen perched on a cliff face at very close range, another showing well in torchlight on a telegraph pole. Only birds of the trip. 

Cyprus Warbler

Day 2 – Wednesday 4th April 2018 

Lesser Kestrel – 4th April 2018 - Anarita Park. Male showing well on telegraph wires at the side of the road. The only confirmed bird of the trip. 

Tawny Pipit – 4th April 2018 - Anarita Park. Single bird perched on a rock by the side of the road. The only bird of the trip.

Spur-winged Lapwing – 4th April 2018 - Paphos Sewage Works. A good number of birds seen in the fields surrounding the sewage works. Also a pair seen showing well at Oroklini Lake.

Spur-winged Lapwing

Day 3 – Thursday 5th April 2018 

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler – 5th April 2018 - Ayia Napa Sewage Works. A single bird seen foraging in the low down trees surrounding the pools. Only bird of the trip.

Ayia Napa Sewage Works

Day 5 – Saturday 7th April 2018 

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler – 7th April 2018 - Mountain road down from Troodos to Agios Nikolaos. Several birds on territory singing in the valley in the large bushes and trees. Showing well on occasion.

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Notable Cyprus subspecies: 

Dorothy’s Treecreeper – 7th April 2018 – Troodos Mountains. Single bird showing well and calling in the pines near the post office car park.

Cyprus Jay (glazneri) – 7th April 2018 - Troodos Mountains. Two birds showing well in the trees near to the post office. 

Cyprus Coal Tit (cypriotes) – 7th April 2018 - Troodos Mountains. A pair of birds calling and showing well along the wooden boardwalk near the post office.

Cyprus Jay - glazneri

Notable species:

Greater Flamingo – Several birds seen distantly at Akrotiri Salt Lake

Griffon Vulture – One flying near the cliffs at Kourion Stadium

Laughing Dove – Seen near the houses around Mandria 

Great Spotted Cuckoo – Two seen at Kourion Stadium

Pallid Swift – Several seen flying overhead with Common Swifts

Alpine Swift – One seen flying over near Asprokremmos Dam

Hoopoe – One seen at Paphos Headland and Akrotiri Marsh

Bee-eater – A flock of birds seen flying in off the sea at Cape Greco

Roller – One bird seen along the Dhiarizos Valley

Crested Lark – Seen at Zakaki Marsh

Black-eared Wheatear – Seen at Akrotiri gravel pits

Sardinian Warbler – Widespread across the island

Spectacled Warbler – A pair seen at Cape Greco

Eastern Subalpine Warbler – One bird seen at Kourion Stadium

Masked Shrike – Adult birds seen at Cape Greco 

Spanish Sparrow – Seen at Paphos Headland

Cretzchmar’s Bunting – Individuals seen at Cape Greco and Troodos

Eastern Subalpine Warbler

Additional species:

Mallard

Pintail

Shoveler

Teal

Garganey

Red-crested Pochard

Ferruginous Duck

Little Grebe

Shag

Cormorant

Night Heron

Cattle Egret

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Purple Heron

Glossy Ibis

Marsh Harrier

Common Buzzard (Steppe)

Kestrel

Coot

Black-winged Stilt

Green Sandpiper

Ruff

Yellow-legged Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Baltic)

Feral Pigeon

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Little Owl

Common Swift

Barn Swallow

Red-rumped Swallow

House Martin

Tree Pipit

White Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail (feldegg)

Nightingale

Redstart

Northern Wheatear

Whinchat

Blackbird

Blackcap

Lesser Whitethroat

Cetti’s Warbler

Chiffchaff

Great Tit

Red-backed Shrike

Magpie

Jackdaw

Hooded Crow

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Corn Bunting

Heard only:

Cuckoo

Serin

86 Trip Total

11 Trip lifers 

Orchid List:

Bug Orchid (Anacamptis coriophora) - Agios Georgios chapel
Eastern Ploughshare Tongue Orchids (Serapias bergonii) - Akrotiri Marsh

Bug Orchid

Butterfly List:

Paphos Blue - Anarita Park

Paphos Blue Butterfly

Reptile List:

Starred Agama

Starred Agama