Appended below is an annotated species list for a recent trip I made to Northern Cyprus. It was mainly a ringing trip, but I did plenty of birding too and thought other birders might like to see what this part of the island has to offer during Spring migration. Migration along the two peninsulas (Karpas and Korucam) was amazing, yet had really only just started - and I never
saw another birder throughout the trip. The highlight for me was finding a trio of species that are pretty scarce on the island - Wallcreeper, Saker and Penduline Tit. Other goodies included Bimaculated Lark, Black Francolin, Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar's Bunting, the two near-endemics and 9 species of Sylvia warbler.
Species list and notes
1. Little Grebe
One at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
2. Shag
Fairly common at the coast.
3. Little Egret
One at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
4. Pintail
One female at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
5. Pallid Harrier
One adult male passing through near Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08.
6. Hen Harrier
One ringtail near Dipkarpaz on 1/4/08 and several passing through near Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08.
7. Sparrowhawk
One male passing through on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08.
8. Buzzard
One near Dipkarpaz on 1/4/08.
9. Kestrel
Common throughout.
10. Peregrine
A pair displaying at St. Hilarion Castle on 29/3/08 and another pair near Hasan's Turtle Café (Karpas) on 1/4/08 and 2/4/08.
11. Saker
An adult passed by at St. Hilarion Castle on 29/3/08, mobbed almost all of the way by the local Peregrines.
12. Black Francolin
Common throughout. Many heard every day and at least one seen most days.
13. Chukar
Common throughout. Many heard every day and at least one seen most days.
14. Quail
One flushed at Alagadi on 27/3/08. Several heard throughout.
15. Coot
Five at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
16. Stone Curlew
One in a field near Lefkoşa on 24/3/08 and a pair at Alagadi on 3/4/08.
17. Greenshank
One at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
18. Green Sandpiper
Three at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
19. Snipe
Two at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
20. Audouin's Gull
Fairly common at the coast.
21. Caspian Gull
Common at the coast. There may also have been Yellow-legged Gulls around, but I never had the chance to really sort through them.
22. Woodpigeon
Common throughout.
23. Rock Dove
Apparently 'pure' birds common near the coast.
24. Collared Dove
Common throughout.
25. Cuckoo
One at Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08.
26. Great Spotted Cuckoo
Four together on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08 and several at Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08 and 3/4/08, with odd birds seen throughout towards the end of our stay.
27. Barn Owl
One near Lapta on 29/3/08.
28. Scops Owl
Common throughout. Several heard every night almost wherever we went.
29. Little Owl
Fairly common throughout.
30. Alpine Swift
Several over Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
31. Swift
Several large gatherings seen throughout towards the end of our stay.
32. Hoopoe
Fairly common throughout.
33. Wryneck
One on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08.
34. Woodlark
One over at Alagadi on 25/3/08.
35. Crested Lark
Common throughout.
36. Bimaculated Lark
Four together at Zafer Burnu (Karpas) on 1/4/08.
37. Crag Martin
Several over Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
38. Sand Martin
Several with Swallows on 26/3/08.
39. Red-rumped Swallow
Fairly common throughout.
40. Swallow
Common throughout. Visible passage on both the Koruçam and Karpas Peninsulas during each visit.
41. House Martin
Common throughout. Visible passage on both the Koruçam and Karpas Peninsulas during each visit.
42. Tree Pipit
By far the most common passage migrant during our stay. Birds were heard passing overhead every day at almost every site, and on several occasions on the Koruçam and Karpas Peninsulas the number passing between dawn and 10:00 far exceeded a thousand birds. Grounded birds were also seen at most sites, especially during poor weather.
43. Meadow Pipit
Several birds at Alagadi on 27/3/08 and 3/4/08.
44. Tawny Pipit
Four on the Koruçam Peninsula on 28/3/03 and one on the Karpas Peninsula on 1/4/08.
45. White Wagtail
Fairly common throughout.
46. Yellow Wagtail
Small groups on the Karpas Peninsulas from 1/4/08-3/4/08. Most birds were of the race feldegg but there were at least two of the race beema near Agios Filon on 2/4/08.
47. Nightingale
Fairly common throughout by the end of our stay.
48. Redstart
Fairly common throughout.
49. Whinchat
Two on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08 and two near Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08.
50. Northern Wheatear
Fairly common throughout.
51. Isabelline Wheatear
One on the Koruçam Peninsula on 28/3/08 and one on the Karpas Peninsula on 1/4/08.
52. Black-eared Wheatear
Four on the Koruçam Peninsula on 28/3/08 with at least one there on 29/3/08 and 30/3/08, and two near Agios Filon (Karpas) on 3/4/08. All birds appeared to be of the race melanoleuca.
53. Cyprus Pied Wheatear
Common throughout. Several pairs were seen nest-building, and one pair were feeding young at St. Hilarion Castle on 29/3/08.
54. Blue Rock Thrush
One male singing and displaying at St. Hilarion Castle on 29/3/08.
55. Blackbird
Odd birds seen throughout.
56. Song Thrush
Odd birds seen throughout.
57. Fan-tailed Warbler
Fairly common throughout.
58. Cetti's Warbler
Common throughout. One bird ringed on 2/4/08 was in breeding condition.
59. Sedge Warbler
One at Alagadi on 1/4/08 and two near Agios Filon (Karpas) on 2/4/08 and 3/4/08.
60. Reed Warbler
Several at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
61. Subalpine Warbler
One female on the Koruçam Peninsula on 28/3/03 and one male of the race albastriata in scrub near Hasan's Turtle Café (Karpas) on 1/4/08.
62. Spectacled Warbler
One in scrub near Hasan's Turtle Café (Karpas) on 1/4/08.
63. Lesser Whitethroat
Odd birds seen throughout.
64. Whitethroat
Several birds at various places on the Karpas Peninsula on 1/4/08, 2/4/08 and 3/4/08.
65. Blackcap
Very common throughout. Many of the birds ringed were carrying heavy fat deposits and clearly ready to move on.
66. Rüppell's Warbler
One small patch of scrub near Hasan's Turtle Café (Karpas) held at least eight birds on 1/4/08 and 2/4/08.
67. Sardinian Warbler
Fairly common throughout.
68. Eastern Orphean Warbler
Odd birds seen throughout.
69. Cyprus Warbler
Common throughout. One female ringed on 2/4/08 was in breeding condition
70. Eastern Bonelli's Warbler
Two on the Koruçam Peninsula on 29/3/08 and 30/3/08 and several near Agios Filon on 2/4/08 and 3/4/08.
71. Wood Warbler
Two on the Koruçam Peninsula on 31/3/08.
72. Chiffchaff
Fairly common throughout. Most birds appeared to be of the race tristis.
73. Collared Flycatcher
One male on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08.
74. Penduline Tit
One at Geçitköy reservoir on 29/3/08.
75. Great Tit
Common throughout. Most birds ringed were in breeding condition.
76. Wallcreeper
One at St. Hilarion Castle on 29/3/08.
77. Woodchat Shrike
Odd birds seen throughout.
78. Masked Shrike
One on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08 and 31/3/08 (almost certainly the same individual).
79. Magpie
Common throughout.
80. Jackdaw
Fairly common throughout.
81. Hooded Crow
Common throughout.
82. House Sparrow
Common throughout in urban areas.
83. Spanish Sparrow
Common throughout in rural areas. Mixed flocks with possible hybrids were seen at Alagadi and on the Koruçam Peninsula.
84. Chaffinch
Odd birds seen throughout.
85. Serin
Odd birds seen throughout.
86. Greenfinch
Fairly common throughout.
87. Goldfinch
Fairly common throughout.
88. Linnet
Several birds seen on the Karpas Peninsula on 1/4/08, 2/4/08 and 3/4/08.
89. Corn Bunting
Common throughout.
90. Ortolan Bunting
One bird seen on the Koruçam Peninsula on 30/3/08.
91. Cretzschmar's Bunting
Several birds seen on the Koruçam Peninsula from 28/3/08-31/3/08, often in small parties of up to ten.
Other fauna
Mammals
House Mouse
Brown Rat
Long-eared Hedgehog
Fox
Reptiles
Large Whip Snake
Montpellier Snake
Hardun (Painted) Agama
Turkish Gecko
Butterflies
Swallowtail
Eastern Festoon
Small White
Eastern Bath White
Eastern Dappled White
Orange Tip
Cleopatra
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Cyprus Meadow Brown
Long-tailed Blue