The plan was for a relaxed birding holiday with not too much racing about or trying to cover the whole of the (Cypriot side) of the Island. We pretty much stuck to that plan. On the groups behalf I booked a 10 night package holiday with a high street travel agent staying in Paphos, South West Cyprus. We stayed at the 4 star Athena Beach Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis. The hotel was an ideal place to relax in the evenings or for those who didn’t want to venture out for an afternoon birding excursion. The hotel was efficiently run with friendly and helpful staff. The breakfasts and evening meals were varied and plentiful and proved good value for money although we did eat out on a few occasions.
Flights: We departed Gatwick at 07:55 on Wednesday 9th and were due to arrive in Paphos at 14:25 although we arrived nearer to 14:00. We departed Paphos 17:25 on Saturday 19th and arrived at Gatwick 20:05.
Hire Car: This was a 7 seat 4x4 Nissan Terrano, a beast of a vehicle, which we had for 8 days (10th to the 18th) and was pre-booked through the travel agent. Pick-up and return of the vehicle was from the hotel at 09:30. The 4x4 sturdy heavily built Nissan was needed for some of the rough tracks we drove down with a full complement on board. We covered about 900km in all.
Weather: In the main hot, sunny and settled which meant it was not too good from a birders perspective but fine if you are a migrating bird. The afternoon of our arrival was cloudy with a cool stiff south easterly wind, which continued into the following morning. This certainly helped to boost the number of migrants in our area. After that the weather settled into light north westerly winds or no wind at all with clear skies and hot sunny days. On our penultimate day the wind changed direction again with a light south easterly for most of the day before becoming variable in the afternoon. Again the change of wind direction led to a noticeable increase in migrants, mainly herons and wheatears on the coast.
South West Cyprus was very dry with water levels in reservoirs very low and most areas that should have been wet were in fact dry. This apparently is reflected across the whole Island which apparently has had no sustained heavy winter rains for about 4 years.
Information: I gleaned general bird information and site information from trip reports and A Birdwatching Guide To Cyprus: Arthur Stagg & Graham Hearl.
Itinerary
Wednesday 9th Arrived at the hotel mid afternoon
After settling in and sorting out the rooms we walked a little way south east along the coast from the hotel and birdwatched a small undeveloped headland called Moulia. This is a flat rocky and scrub covered area of land jutting out into the sea. Off shore were two small rocky islands called, appropriately enough, Moulia Rocks. This headland was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Our first brief visit showed the area had potential with Crested Larks, Northern Wheatears, Sardinian Warblers, Fan-tailed Warblers, Lesser Whitethroats and Spanish Sparrows. On a small rocky breakwater between the headland and our hotel there were 2 Cattle Egrets and a Kingfisher.
Thursday 10th Moulia Headland. Asprokremnos Dam and Mandria.
A pre breakfast visit to the Moulia Headland gave us the same birds as yesterday but with the addition of a male Black-eared Wheatear a Woodchat Shrike and 2 Whinchat. Off shore a couple of distant rafts of duck were almost certainly Garganey.
After breakfast I picked up the car, sorted the paperwork and we got on the road sometime after 10:00. We drove to Asprokremnos Dam and Pools remaining there for the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon. Here we picked up our first Cyprus Pied Wheatears and Cyprus Warblers. We also had such goodies as Roller, Alpine Swifts, Black-eared Wheatears, Woodchat Shrikes, Black and Common Redstarts, Cretzschmar’s and Ortolan Buntings. A pair of Pallid Harriers performed for us brilliantly following an earlier brief view of the male. As we were leaving the dam in the late afternoon 4 Grey Herons and 2 Squacco Herons flew in.
We moved on to Mandria following a tip-off that 2 Collared Pratincoles and 3 Stone Curlews were present. As it turned out we had great views of 12 Collared Pratincoles resting in a ploughed field and occasionally having a fly around, particularly when disturbed by a photographer who just had to get closer and closer. Just as we were about to move on more Pratincoles flew in and a count of 21 was made. In the same field we also had superb looking Black-headed Wagtails, along with Blue and Grey headed Wagtails and Red-throated Pipits in full summer plumage. Off shore on a small rocky island were 30 Little Egrets, 1 Cattle Egret and a Shag – a very pallid plumaged immature. A couple of distant trees further along the shoreline had a large flock of roosting Little Egrets. A short drive along the tracks to some olive groves produced 10 Stone Curlews that were just beginning to venture out onto the adjacent fields for an early evening feed. It was then time to head back to the hotel. Everyone agreed it had been a very good day and a great start to the trip.
Friday 11th Out all day. Paphos Headland, Cape Drepanum. Avgas Gorge.
As we were getting into the car 14 Glossy Ibis flew north past the hotel – a nice show of visual migration. Onwards then to Paphos Headland which took some finding due to road and building works but was easy to get to from the hotel once we sorted out the route. Paphos Headland is an area of archaeological importance with ancient Roman ruins and mosaics very much worth a look. Because of its archaeological importance the headland is now fenced off for protection but does have access points. Once inside we were soon picking up the species - a Collared Flycatcher, followed quickly by Olivaceous Warbler, Wryneck and Nightingale. As we walked slowly around the tracks we came across a Black-eared Wheatear along with Northern Wheatears, Hoopoes, Tawny Pipits a male Subalpine Warbler, a party of Ortolan Buntings along with a couple of Cretzschmar’s Buntings. A number of Red-rumped Swallows were flying amongst their more familiar Barn Swallow cousins. Five Great White Egrets and a flock of 21 Glossy Ibis flew past migrating north.
Leaving Paphos Headland we moved on to Cape Drepanum which was rather quiet and a bit windy but I did put up a Quail that gave all too brief flight views. Twenty Red-rumped swallows appeared to find it hard going against the stiffening N.W. wind, however, a Peregrine which flew across the small fishing harbour made easy headway. We soon moved on to Avgas Gorge which was well worth a visit for the scenery alone and although a bit of a walk it was worth the effort. Bird wise it was fairly quiet but we did find genuine looking Rock Doves along with Pied Flycatchers, Wood, Olivaceous and Subalpine Warblers and heard a Scops Owl which for reasons unknown decided to call a few times in the late afternoon.
Saturday 12th Out all day. Akrotiri Peninsular and salt lake. Asprokremnos Dam.
We started with a brief look around the Akrotiri reedbeds which produced very little. We saw Chaffinches and Goldfinches and heard Turtle Doves but apart from that it was pretty quiet. The track and reedbed area was very dry and most of the salt lake and the pools along Ladies Mile had dried up. However, Zakaki Pool at the north end of Ladies Mile still had water and although viewing was restricted to a busy road with frequent lorries passing by we did succeed in seeing some good birds. Along with Little Grebes, Coots, Moorhens and Mallards there was 3 Ferruginous Ducks, a female Garganey and three Black-winged Stilts. An immature Slender-billed Gull put in an appearance with a couple of immature Black-headed Gulls for company. The surrounding tall reeds held Reed and Sedge Warblers.
After leaving Zakaki Pool we drove along the west coast track of the peninsular heading for Curium Beach. Although an interesting stony habitat the enjoyment was lost in the heat of the day and the very bumpy track. If it wasn’t for the very obliging flock of 20 Short-toed Larks and a single Black-eared Wheatear it would have been a waste of time as the pools were dry and nothing much was happening at the Phassouri reedbeds either which we passed en route to Curium Beach. We rested and ate lunch at Curium Beach whilst scanning the Kensington cliffs for Griffon Vultures to no avail. The best thing about this stop was the 2 Kingfishers taking advantage of a small fish pond by a pumping station opposite the beach restaurant.
On the way back to Paphos we called in at Asprokremnos Dam. This proved very successful with the highlights being 4 or 5 Great-spotted Cuckoos giving some exceptional views and a superb male Collared Flycatcher which although elusive at times eventually gave itself up to all. A Stone Curlew had a fly around before we returned to the vehicle to make our way back to the hotel but not before stopping for a Roller that was at the side of the road just south of the dam.
Sunday 13th Paphos Headland. Moulia Headland. Hotel for lunch. Paphos Sewage Farm and surrounding fields. Airport Road.
A pre breakfast Paphos Headland was relatively quiet with more or less the same birds as Friday’s visit. But a Wryneck showing well was good value as was a Roller. After breakfast we checked out the Moulia Headland for a couple of hours, the best birds being a Shag a Black-eared Wheatear and a flock of 16 Grey Herons which after circling a couple of time flew off north. Returning from the headland we had a relaxing time for a few hours at the hotel before making our way to Paphos Sewage Farm. Checking the surrounding fields before arriving at the actual sewage works proved worthwhile with superb looking Black-headed Wagtails and 100+ Yellow Wagtails feeding avidly in the crop fields that were being watered. The sewage works provided a pair of Spur-winged Plovers and a Black-winged Stilt whilst a Black Francolin called but remained hidden just over the adjacent airport perimeter fence.
Moving on to the Airport Road we had a walk around the area just past the picnic site by the sea. Here 3 or 4 Hoopoes flew up ahead of us and a Quail was put up but despite a brief search it couldn’t be re-located. A Calandra Lark singing very high in the sky was seen to drop into some crops a field away from where we were parked. We made our way to the area and shortly after connected with two Calandra Larks that sang and occasionally flew low very close to where we were standing. However, our attention was then grabbed by a Francolin calling close by. A few minutes went by and then a male Black Francolin peeped cautiously at us through the crops long enough for us all to get views of this elusive game bird. Just before we left the Airport Road we added to the day’s tally with - Tree Pipit, Woodchat and a female Pallid Harrier which cruised low over our heads and appeared to have just come in off the sea.
Monday 14th Dhiarizos Valley. Hotel for lunch. Asprokremnos Dam.
The Dhiarizos Valley was a pleasant drive being very scenic. We went north up the valley following the lower valley floor road and came back on the higher western side of the valley.
Making a few stops in some likely looking areas proved worthwhile with a Hoopoe, 2 Great-spotted Cuckoos and Cyprus Warblers on our first brief stop. Moving on we were soon watching a male Black Francolin sitting on an irrigation aqueduct calling merrily away, further on the performance was repeated with another male again using the aqueduct as a vantage point. Cyprus Wheatears were common along the whole valley. At the northern end of the valley between Fiousa and Arminou a pair of Long-legged Buzzards performed spectacularly for us. Further on as we were making our way back down the valley, a stop by a wrecked coach provided us with 3 Griffon Vultures soaring high in the sky. We arrived back at the hotel in the early afternoon for a rather late lunch.
Late afternoon we again visited Asprokremnos Dam which was fast becoming a favourite site and once again didn’t disappoint. To begin with we had an obliging Roller and an equally obliging Hoopoe a couple of Tree pipits and 3 Turtle Doves. Just before dusk an immature Night Heron did a fly past for us and then an adult Night Heron landed in a nearby tree before that too did a fly around for us. We then gave the Little Owl that was breeding in the wall of the dam a last try before we made our way back to the hotel. Up to now we hadn’t connected with the owl despite a few attempts. Just as we were about to give up and leave the owl was picked up sitting on a spindly weed looking straight at us – great stuff and a fine end to the day.
Tuesday 15th Out all day. Smigies (Smiyies) Track, Baths of Aphrodite Caravan Site and Evretou Reservoir.
We drove along Smigies/Smiyies track as far as the picnic site pausing briefly for a Great-spotted Cuckoo. We then walked back on ourselves to Ayios Minas Church. This short walk provided us with our first Masked Shrikes and Serins of the trip. Calling Bee-eaters got us scanning the sky but only provided brief views of 3 European Bee-eaters which unfortunately not everyone got on to. Just past the church a water trough was attracting some passerines, amongst the many Goldfinches were a male Collared Flycatcher a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart. Nearby a Wood Warbler was in taller trees above the track and an Olivaceous Warbler frequented some bushes and trees on the opposite side of the track. Driving back along Smigies we had good views of a Roller close to the road. Onwards for an ice cream and a quick look at the Baths of Aphrodite before a walk around the caravan site. A small grebe on the sea turned out to be, rather disappointingly, a Little Grebe. The caravan site didn’t have much to offer in the heat of the day – Masked Shrike, a couple of Hoopoes and a brief flight view of a Little Owl being about the best. Bee-eaters were heard again but not seen. The good weather had put paid to any chance of anything other than small numbers of migrants. We dropped in on Evretou Reservoir on our way back to Paphos. It was very quiet with only calling Chukars and Francolins, a distant soaring buzzard, and a Roller.
Wednesday 16th Cape Aspro, Airport Road, Mandria, Paphos Sewage Farm & fields. Secret Valley.
There was quite a strong westerly wind today which kept the birds low and hidden. The morning was really all about a run around at the various sites to see what we could find. Cape Aspro, near Pissouri, had little to offer bird wise – Red-rumped Swallow, Cyprus Pied Wheatear and a Sardinian Warbler. But the beach side hotels were very pleasant with well thought out small gardens and a clean and tidy beach frontage. Beyond the beach and a little way inland many new houses and apartments were being built. We then headed back in the general direction of Pathos and diverted along the Airport Road, which was also quiet and so we didn’t linger. On to Mandria which still held the large numbers of wagtails plus an Ortolan, 4 Whinchat and 2 Stone Curlew. Just offshore 2 Shags sat on a small rocky island. Mandria was another small village and farming community that was undergoing a large building programme of apartments and houses. On to Paphos Sewage Farm, the last stop of the morning and at last something of note. A Spur-winged Plover was feeding in a field by the side of the road giving excellent views, presumably one of the pair we saw three days ago. On the opposite side of the road a mixed flock of wagtails and Red-throated Pipits also included a Short-toed Lark but on landing all were lost to view in the crops. However, nearby where the crops were being watered a small flooded area had formed and here amongst the wagtails and pipits was a fabulous male Citrine Wagtail. A Ruff, which we had seen briefly a little earlier, was also feeding on the small flooded corner of the field. It was then back to the hotel for lunch and a bit of relaxation before the afternoon excursion.
With some of the group opting for a relaxing afternoon poolside it was just two of us who departed from the hotel later that afternoon. I decided to try a place called Secret Valley which was about a 20 minute drive south east from our hotel, located between Kouklia and Pissouri and well signposted from both the A6 and B6. Most of the valley bottom is taken up with a golf course, the eastern side had steep cliffs but the western side is rocky and scrub covered and offers some access. This side held Cyprus Pied Wheatears, Cyprus and Sardinian Warblers. However, at the northern end of the golf course a small reservoir had been created, presumably to water the course. Because of the low water level mud was exposed and reeds had taken a hold around some of the edges. It held Little Grebes, Coots and Moorhens but of more interest were 2 Squacco Herons, and 1 each of Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper and a Snipe - the three latter species being new for the trip.
Thursday 17th Out all day. Troodos Mountains: Caledonian Falls Trail (Pano Platres), Persephone Trail (Troodos). Secret Valley.
We took the Dhiarizos Valley route up the mountain. We didn’t stop much en route but ploughed on to Pano Platres to walk the Caledonian Falls Trail. It was a wooded trail with a fast flowing stream complete with trout, which we had to cross and re-cross many times to get to the falls. It was a good walk made even better by connecting with Crag Martins and the endemic races of Jay, Coal Tit, Wren and Short-toed Treecreeper. The Treecreeper was attending its nest and performed for many minutes in front of us all. We then continued higher up to Troodos Village where a Masked Shrike diverted our attention from lunch. Following a quick look around the village, which was very tourist orientated, we walked a little way along the Persephone Trail – the highlights being one or two Pallid Swifts and a pair of Masked Shrikes and more Coal Tits but little else of note.
We came down the mountain on a minor road to the east of Dhiarizos Valley which brought us out on the B6 near Kouklia and nearer to our turning into Secret Valley. This would be our last opportunity to see what the small reservoir had to offer as the car was to be returned the following morning. We were not to be disappointed as the single Wood Sandpiper had been joined by 28 others and the Snipe and Green Sandpiper were still present, as were the Squacco Herons. The only bird that had gone was the Common Sandpiper. But it got better, a lot better, as a fantastic Bonelli’s Eagle drifted into view being harassed all the way by Jackdaws. The eagle appeared to come along the valley to have a look at us before turning and slowly drifting back the way it had come. When this was going on one of our party, who was standing a little way off, was also watching 6 large raptors that she believed were Griffon Vultures. The birds had emerged from behind the ridge of the valley and drifted across the sky before disappearing once again behind the ridge. Fortunately for the rest of us a few minutes later they reappeared and indeed they were Griffons so we all had great views as they slowly drifted above the ridge and cut across the valley.
Friday 18th Paphos Headland. Returned car. Coast walk from hotel. Hotel for lunch. Moulia Headland.
A pre breakfast visit to Paphos Headland produced the usual suspects but with the added attraction of a male Collared Flycatcher and a Subalpine Warbler. A couple of Turtle Doves briefly showed but not so the singing Olivaceous Warbler. Just as we were leaving a party of 7 Purple Herons flew over heading north followed a few minutes later by another 2 which kindly did a few circuits over our heads before they too flew north continuing their migration. After breakfast and with the car duly returned we walked south east along the coast for a mile or two but apart from a flyby Ruff and an obliging Common Sandpiper we saw nothing of note. However, as we traversed the Moulia Headland a flock of what were possibly terns were roosting on the Moulia Rocks amongst the bigger Yellow-legged Gulls but without a scope it was impossible to be certain of their identification.
After lunch and a bit of a rest only three of us ventured out to the Moulia Headland, this time I had my scope, the ‘terns’ were fortunately still there, but not for long as having no doubt rested for long enough the flock lifted off as one and flew around for about five minutes before heading north – they weren’t terns they were Slender-billed Gulls 38 of them in fact. For the rest of the afternoon we were kept entertained by migrating Glossy Ibis – first just 2 and then a flock of 37 and then a flock of 26. Purple Herons were still on the move with a flock of 12 which flew around in large circles getting their bearings before heading north.
Saturday 19th Moulia Headland. Breakfast. Paphos Headland. Departed hotel for airport at approx 14:45.
The final day dawned and from my hotel balcony I watched three Purple herons flying in and settling on an isolated palm tree in the middle of the crop field opposite, presumably very tired after a night flight across the sea. A pre-breakfast visit to the Moulia Headland gave us a flock of 10 Night Herons which landed in trees a little way inland, a total of 16 Purple Herons came and went as they continued their northward journey and nearby 2 Squacco Herons and a Kingfisher rested on the rocky shoreline. There were also 2 Woodchat and a Hoopoe and a noticeable increase in the number of Northern Wheatear and Whinchat brought in by the south easterly wind of the day before.
After breakfast four of us took a bus to Paphos Headland whilst the other members of the party relaxed around the hotel. At the headland good numbers of Northern Wheatears were present along with Whinchat a Hoopoe and a Woodchat. A male Collared Flycatcher was present, presumably yesterday’s bird, which had been joined by a 1st year male Pied Flycatcher and, new for the trip, a Spotted Flycatcher. A party of 12 Glossy Ibis flew past close to the coast as they headed north.
But after a couple of hours it was time to head back to the hotel and so we came to the end of a great birding trip. At the hotel we had time to relax and have a drink before boarding the early afternoon coach to the Airport for our late afternoon flight back to Gatwick.
(X:11) denotes number of days a species was seen on over the 11 day period.
Little Grebe (5:11)
2 at Asprokremnos Dam, 1 on the sea from the Baths of Aphrodite Caravan Site and 6 on the reservoir at Secret Valley.
Cormorant (2:11)
3 seen on the coast off Paphos.
Shag (3:11)
3 seen on the coast off Mandria and 1 off Moulia Headland.
Night Heron (2:11)
2 Asprokremnos Dam, 10 Moulia Headland.
Squacco Heron (4:11)
2 Asprokremnos Dam, 2 seen on consecutive days at Secret Valley, 2 Moulia Headland.
Cattle Egret (3:11)
2 Moulia Headland, 1 Mandria, 1 Zakaki Pool.
Little Egret (2:11)
2 large gatherings at Mandria consisted of approx 70 birds. 1 bird at Moulia Headland.
Great White Egret (1:11)
5 flew north along the coast off Paphos Headland
Grey Heron (3:11)
4 Asprokremnos Dam, 1 Akrotiri Peninsula, 16 Moulia Headland.
Purple Heron (2:11)
9 over Paphos Headland, 14 Moulia Headland and 3 from the hotel balcony.
Glossy Ibis (3:11)
Small flocks migrating north, seen at Moulia Headland and Paphos Headland totalled 113 birds.
Mallard (1:11)
6 on Zakaki Pool.
Garganey (2:11)
Two small rafts of duck seen off Moulia Headland were almost certainly this species. A single female at Zakaki Pool.
Ferruginous Duck (1:11)
3 on Zakaki Pool.
Griffon Vulture (2:11)
3 west side of Dhiarizos Valley and 6 north end of Secret Valley.
Marsh Harrier (2:11)
1 Asprokremnos Dam and 1 south of Polis.
Pallid Harrier (2:11)
A male and female at Asprokremnos Dam and a female at Airport Road.
Common Buzzard (2:11)
2 Asprokremnos Dam and 1 Evretou Reservoir.
Long-legged Buzzard (1:11)
A pair north end of Dhiarizos Valley.
Bonelli’s Eagle (1:11)
1 carrying a prey item north end of Secret Valley.
Kestrel (11:11)
2 or 3 seen everyday.
Peregrine (2:11)
1 Cape Drepanum and 1 Asprokremnos Dam.
Chukar (8:11)
Common and widespread.
Black Francolin (6:11)
Widespread and frequently heard, even from the hotel, but only 3 seen, all males.
Quail (3:11)
A total of 3 seen, all singles and all when almost trod on.
Moorhen (5:11)
Found on all the pools that still had water.
Coot (3:11)
Found on the bigger pools and reservoirs.
Black-winged Stilt (2:11)
3 Zakaki Pool and 1 Paphos Sewage Farm.
Stone Curlew (4:11)
A total of 12 at Mandria, 1 Paphos Headland and 1 Asprokremnos Dam.
Collared Pratincole (1:11)
21 at Mandria.
Spur-winged Plover (2:11)
A pair at Paphos Sewage Farm. A single bird seen a few days later in a field adjacent to the sewage farm was probably one of the pair.
Ruff (2:11)
1 Paphos Sewage Farm and 1 south of Moulia Headland.
Common Snipe (2:11)
A single seen on consecutive days at Secret Valley.
Green Sandpiper (2:11)
A single seen on consecutive days at Secret Valley.
Wood Sandpiper (3:11)
1 Zakaki Pool and 1 Secret Valley with 29 there the following day.
Common Sandpiper (2:11)
1 Secret Valley, 1 Moulia Headland area.
Black-headed Gull (1:11)
3 immature, Zakaki Pool.
Slender-billed Gull (2:11)
1 immature Zakaki Pool and 38 adults Moulia Headland.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (4:11)
Small numbers seen on the coast.
Yellow-legged Gull (11:11)
Common.
Gull-billed Tern (1:11)
1 off Moulia Headland.
Rock Dove (3:11)
Genuine Rock Doves were seen at: Avgas Gorge, Dhiarizos Valley and Aphrodites Baths. Feral pigeons were widespread and seen every day.
Woodpigeon (11:11)
Common.
Collared dove (11:11)
Common.
Turtle Dove (3:11)
Heard on the Akrotiri Peninsula and in the Dhiarizos Valley with 1 to 3 seen at Asprokremnos Dam, Paphos Headland and Secret Valley.
Great-spotted Cuckoo (3:11)
4 or 5 seen at Asprokremnos Dam, 2 Dhiarizos Valley and 1 Smigies Track.
Cuckoo (2:11)
2 Asprokremnos Dam - seen as singles on different days.
Scops Owl (1:11)
1 called a few times in Avgas Gorge.
Little Owl (2:11)
1 Asprokremnos Dam and 1 at the Baths of Aphrodite Caravan Site.
Common Swift (10:11)
Common.
Pallid Swift (1:11)
2 Persephone Trail, Troodos Mountains.
Alpine Swift (1:11)
3 Asprokremnos Dam.
Common Kingfisher (4:11)
A single frequented the rocky shoreline between our hotel and the Moulia Headland, with 2 at a pond at Curium Beach on the Akrotiri Peninsula.
European Bee-eater (1:11)
3 seen briefly along Smigies Track, heard only at the Baths of Aphrodite Caravan Site and 1 seen from the hotel balcony all on the same day.
Roller (6:11)
1 or 2 seen at Asprokremnos Dam with singles at Paphos Headland, Smigies Track, Evretou Reservoir and Pissouri.
Hoopoe (9:11)
1 - 4 seen per day.
Wryneck (3:11)
A single seen on each of our 3 visits to Paphos Headland might have been the same bird each time or 3 different birds.
Calandra Lark (1:11)
2 Airport Road.
Short-toed Lark (2:11)
A flock of 20 on the west side of the Akrotiri Peninsula to the south of Curium Beach and 1 Paphos Sewage Farm fields.
Crested Lark (11:11)
Common
Sand Martin (3:11)
A few noted at Asprokremnos Dam and over the field opposite our hotel.
Crag Martin (1:11)
A party of 4 seen we walked back along the Caledonian Falls Trail, Pano Platres.
Barn Swallow (11:11)
Common.
Red-rumped Swallow (9:11)
Fairly common.
House Martin (10:11)
Fairly common
Tawny Pipit (5:11)
Up to 6 at Asprokremnos Dam and up to 4 Paphos Headland.
Tree Pipit (4:11)
Up to 5 at Asprokremnos Dam and up to 4 Airport Road and Paphos Headland.
Red-throated Pipit (2:11)
A flock of 12 at Mandria and a flock of 20 at Paphos Sewage Farm fields, feeding with wagtails.
Yellow Wagtail (5:11)
About 70 at Mandria and 150 at Paphos Sewage Farm fields with smaller numbers at Paphos Headland. Races involved were Blue-headed and Grey-headed.
Black-headed Wagtail (4:11)
Anything up to 20 amongst the flocks of Yellow Wagtails at Mandria, Paphos Sewage Farm fields and Paphos Headland.
Citrine Wagtail (1:11)
A male fed with Yellow Wagtails at Paphos Sewage Farm fields.
White Wagtail (5:11)
Small numbers noted.
Wren (1:11)
4 seen but more heard as we walked the Caledonian Falls Trail, Pano Platres.
Nightingale (7:11)
Common, seen well but mainly heard.
Black Redstart (1:11)
1 Asprokremnos Dam.
Common Redstart (3:11)
2 Asprokremnos Dam and1 Smigies Track.
Whinchat (7:11)
Anything from 1 - 6 seen most days mainly at coastal sites.
Northern Wheatear (8:11)
Common, a fair passage noted.
Cyprus Pied Wheatear (6:11)
Common, occupying all suitable habitat.
Black-eared Wheatear (4:11)
Singles at Moulia Headland and Paphos Headland, 2 Akrotiri Peninsular and the Airport Road with 4 at Asprokremnos Dam seen on our first visit.
Blackbird (1:11)
Heard once and seen briefly twice on the Caledonian Fall Trail, Pano Platres.
Cetti’s Warbler (10:11)
Common and widespread heard everywhere and seen a number of times.
Fan-tailed Warbler (11:11)
Common and widespread.
Sedge Warbler (3:11)
Heard and/or seen only in the bigger reedbeds.
Reed Warbler (3:11)
Distribution and sightings mirrored the previous species.
Olivaceous Warbler (8:11)
Fairly common and often heard singing but also seen well on a few occasions.
Spectacled Warbler (1:11)
1 seen briefly at Paphos Headland.
Subalpine Warbler (5:11)
Singles seen at Paphos Headland, Avgas Gorge, Asprokremnos Dam and Secret Valley.
Sardinian Warbler (9:11)
Common.
Cyprus Warbler (4:11)
Common e.g. at least 10 singing males at Asprokremnos Dam.
Lesser Whitethroat (6:11)
Common during the first half of the trip but numbers dropped off sharply.
Whitethroat (4:11)
Fairly Common.
Blackcap (10:11)
Common.
Bonelli’s Warbler (3:11)
1 Avgas Gorge, 1 Smigies Track, 4 Asprokremnos Dam.
Wood Warbler (2:11)
4 Avgas Gorge and 1 Smigies Track.
Chiffchaff (2:11)
1 Asprokremnos Dam and 1 Paphos Headland.
Willow Warbler (1:11)
1 Asprokremnos Dam.
Spotted Flycatcher (1:11)
1 Paphos Headland
Collared Flycatcher (5:11)
2 at Paphos Headland (a male and female seen on different days) a male Asprokremnos Dam and a male at Smigies Track.
Pied Flycatcher (4:11)
1 at Pathos Headland, 2 Asprokremnos Dam, Smigies Track and Avgas Gorge.
Coal Tit (1:11)
Common along the Caladonian Falls Trail and Persephone Trail, Troodos Mountains.
Great Tit (11:11)
Common
Short-toed Treecreeper (1:11)
1 Caladonian Falls Trail, Pano Platres, Troodos Mountains.
Woodchat Shrike (4:11)
Up to 2 at Moulia Headland and Asprokremnos Dam, singles at Avgas Gorge and Paphos Headland.
Masked Shrike (2:11)
A pair at the picnic area Smigies Track and a pair at the Baths of Aphrodite Caravan Site and a total of 6 seen on one day in the Troodos Mountains.
Jay (1:11)
At least 6 seen as we walked the Caladonian Falls Trail, Pano Platres, Troodos Mountains.
Magpie (10:11)
Common
Jackdaw (7:11)
Common
Hooded Crow (11:11)
Common
House Sparrow (11:11)
Common
Spanish Sparrow (10:11)
Common - breeding near our hotel as well as good numbers of migrants seen.
Chaffinch (2:11)
Small numbers seen on the Akrotiri Peninsular and in the Troodos Mountains.
Serin (2:11)
Common in the pine trees around the picnic area of Smigies Track. 2 flew over as we walked through Troodos Village.
Greenfinch (11:11)
Common
Goldfinch (11:11)
Common
Linnet (10:11)
Common
Ortolan Bunting (8:11)
A party of 10 at Asprokremnos Dam and up to 8 at Paphos Headland with odd birds noted elsewhere e.g. Mandria.
Cretzschmar’s Bunting (4:11)
4 Asprokremnos Dam, 3 Paphos Headland and 2 Smigies Track.
Corn Bunting (5:11)
Fairly common being seen at Asprokremnos Dam, Paphos Headland, Dhiarizos Valley and in fields just south of Paphos.
Total Number of Species: 118 (+ 1 heard)
John Wright
Email: johnpw2@tiscali.co.uk