Cyprus Day 1-2
This year saw the wife and I return to Cyprus. Its a perfect place for us as it has beaches ( i hate seating on them) and loads of Wildlife, especially birds (Hannah hates them). April is a great month as the spring migration is still ongoing and the weather is hot enough for Hannah to top up her tan. As its a holiday and not a birding trip its difficult to get out and about. The accounts in the following blog post are generally between the hours of 6am and 9am when the boss is still sleeping. We were spending 2 days in Paphos and 8 days Larnaka.
Day 1
Mandria
Weather forecast today looked really bad. Thunderstorms were forecast throughout the day but thought I couldn’t waste the first morning so headed out anyway. First stop was the ploughed fields area of Mandaria was the Caspian Plover was spotted last week. Sadly not here today. A Peregrine carrying some kind of prey and 8 over head Glossy Ibis were all that was in the area
The first storm was heading towards me and I could hear the thunder in the distance, I was just about to leave the area when I spotted a Hoopoe. I pulled up alongside it and got a few Pics before the storm unleashed its full glory.
Hoopoe - Mandaria
I was right in the middle of it. Thunder and lighting all around then the heavens opened and hail began to fall. It was so heavy I thought it was going to damage the car. Everywhere turned white in an instance a sight I had not seen before in Cyprus. I later headed up to Anarita Park but sadly couldn’t find it. I would try again later.
Later that day I paid for the wife to have some beauty treatment at the Hotel, which gave me an opportunity to find Anarita Park. I stopped off at Agia Varvara First and had brief views of a Squacco Heron. Someone I met earlier in the day had Little Bittern and Wood Sandpipers here.
Squacco Heron - Agia Varvana
This time I found Anarita Park and I wasn’t disappointed within minutes I had my first decent views of Red-footed Falcons. They gather in large numbers here on their spring migration and it appeared I had timed it just right. The area was dripping with them. There were probably well over 30 birds. There was also good numbers of Lesser Kestrels in the area and a distant Montague’s Harrier. There was also a lot of Rollers and I managed a few shots of these as well.
Red-footed Falcon (female) - Anarita Park
Red-footed Falcon (male) - Anarita Park
Corn Bunting, Anarita Park
Roller, Anarita Park
As I travelled along the dirt tracks I witnessed more and more Red-footed Falcons. I also heard a bit of a commotion and saw a magpie chasing of a Great Spotted Cuckoo. I believe the Magpie is the preferred host of the Great Spotted Cuckoo. There was also good numbers of calling Cettis Warblers and Corn Buntings. A lot of the Corn Buntings had insects in their beaks.
Great Spotted Cuckoo, Anarita Park
Just before leaving the area I Stopped at a Field and witnessed a Montague’s Harrier flying around and 15-20 Red footed Falcons Hawking one of my best birding highlights. No photos could do this scene justice. I stopped and watched these awesome birds feeding up before they carrying on with their migration. If anyone is thinking of a Cyprus Birding trip put this on the list.
On route back to the Hotel I stopped again at Agia Varvana This time there was a Snipe and Green Sandpiper feeding on the waters edge. An Squacco Heron was further up stream.
Snipe - Agia Varvana
Day 2
I could not resists an early morning trip to Anarita Park again. I briefly stopped at Agia Varvana On the way down to the stream a Black Francolin was doing his thing. A quick glimpse before he vanished into the vegetation. There was also a pair of Cyprus Warblers nearby. There wasn’t much on the water but a Green Sandpiper, which was in a small pool on a dirt track.
Green Sandpiper, Agia Varvana
I headed onto Anarita Park in on arriving caught sight of at least 15 Red-footed falcons on the deck and the wires. I drove along the track to find more and more of these birds. I stopped at a field area and watched 2 Montague’s Harriers hunting this was an awesome sight one of which would come really close. Sadly I ballsed up the photos. I can’t get on very well with my 1.4 convertor and flight shots. I managed a few distant shots that came out ok. If only the ones at point blank range had been in focus!!!!!!!!!
Montague's Harrier - Anarita Park
Montague's Harrier - Anarita Park
There were a lot of Rollers around again. Mostly on the wires. Love watching these colourful birds. Even the wife enjoys these.
Roller - Anarita Park
I had hoped to photograph them in a more natural surrounding. It wasn’t long before one came and perched up right in front of me. Boom mission accomplished.
Roller - Anarita Park
Again I witnessed a magpie trying to see off a Pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos. Seems Like a big game to the Cuckoos. There was a large number of Spanish Sparrows in the area and I managed to get of few shots of a male. The sun was still pretty low so wasn’t the greatest picture.
Spanish Sparrow (male) Anarita Park
I also managed a few pictures of the elusive Cettis Warbler normally all you see is a quick glimpse of this bird and then its deafen call. But this one was at the top of a bush belting out his song.
Cettis Warbler - Anarita Park
Cettis Warbler - Anarita Park
I still hadn’t really managed any natural decent Red-footed Falcon photos yet. I was lucky enough to get close to one perched. But the sun was still a bit low. I also didn’t get the flight shots I was after. Something to work on next year.
Red Footed Falcon (male) - Anarita Park
I left Anarita Park a happy man only managed a few hours here but loved every minute. On the way back to hotel I stopped off for one last look at the stream. The Squacco Heron was still here along with a Snipe, 3 Wood Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper. A Little Egret Flew overhead.
Wood Sandpiper - Agia Vervana
Wood Sandpiper - Agia Vervana
Snipe - Agia Varvana
Green Sandpiper - Agia Varvana
Squacco Heron - Agia Varvana
Squacco Heron - Agia Varvana
I had spent a lot my short period of time in Phapos at Anarita Park and not really visited the Headland this area can throw up allsorts. It’s a great place for wintering Greater Sand Plover. I have yet to see one. There is an area of Roman Ruins that are great for birds last year here I had Red-backed Shrike, Bee Eaters and a very showy Sardinian Warbler
This year all I had was a flyby Little Egret, 4 Black Headed Wagtails and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, which were around Paphos Castle.
Paphos Castle
We left Paphos and headed onwards to Larnaka. I had managed to persuade the wife that a quick stop at Zakaki Marshes and Lady’s Mile would be a great Idea. We were also going to make the usual stop at Kensington Cliffs.
Kensington Cliffs is probably one of the best areas in Cyprus to see Griffon Vultures a very rare Cypriot Breeder. The area is also good for Eleanoras Falcon, Peregrine Falcon and Alpine Swift. A Brief stop at the cliffs today produced 1 Alpine Swift, 6 Eleanoras Falcons and 1 Griffon Vulture. All a bit distant for photograph. The wife enjoys the stop off here, as the view is stunning.
View from Kensington Cliffs
Alpine Swift - Kensington Cliffs ( record shot)
Next stop was Lady’s Mile here I managed to see 2 Greenshanks, 3 Spotted Redshanks and 13 Little Stints. At the hide overlooking Zakaki Marsh, which was looking very overgrown there were lots of Waders including Kentish Plover, Spur Winged Plover, Ruff, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpipers. As I entered the hide a Grey Heron flew up and it wasn’t long before a Marsh Harrier drifted over the Marsh being mobbed by Swallows and a couple of Hooded Crows.
Greenshank - Ladys Mile
Greenshank - Ladys Mile
Little Stint - Ladys Mile
Spotted Redshank - Ladys Mile
Spotted Redshank - Ladys Mile
Last stop of the day was at Oroklini, which is one of only 7 wetland areas in Cyprus. Its about 5 minutes from the apartment. It’s a fantastic sight and a real Cyprus success story. The project here is being run by Life and Natura 2000 and I understand its main aim is to improve breeding areas for Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers. Last year I am lead to believe. The above species plus Red-crested Pochard, Little Terns, Common Tern, Stone Curlews, Kentish Plovers and for the first time Cattle Egrets bred here. Along with many other species. Around 190 birds have been recorded here.
Today the water levels were higher than I had ever seen them. From the first hide species logged were Little Grebe, Coot, Mallard, Moorhen, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Swallows, Swifts, House Martins, Reed Warbler, Flamingos, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Spur-winged Plover and Black-winged Stilt
View from main hide at Oroklini
From the 2nd Hide, which normally overlooks a dry area, this to was full of water. Here it was pretty much the same apart from some Common Sandpipers and distant Little Stints (I think) Collared Dove, Goldfinch, House Sparrows and a calling Cettis were also logged here.
