Cyprus April 2019 Part 3

CYPRUS

APRIL 3rd - 6th 2019

AYIA NAPA SEWAGE WORKS

We found the track that leads upto the sewage works but the off road track that leads upto the back of the sewage works was pretty in-passable in the hire car we had, instead we drove upto the top end of the road where the entrace gates were and kind of jammed into a large grassy area (presumably someones front garge) with water sprinlers and surrounding trees and scrub. Gary soon picked out a flycatcher and upon studying we soon realised it was a smart male Semi-collared Flycatcher posing nicely on the surrounding fencing and the sprinklers allowing photo's to be obtained. We also picked out at least 2 male Collared Flycatcher and a nice female Collared was found too. We were surprised to find 2 male 'eastern' Common Redstarts here and the trees held good numbers of Wood Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, whilst the scrub produced a very skulky male Subalpine Warbler, a Tree Pipit also dropped in.
Other birders reported a Long-legged Buzzard but unfortuantley we failed to connect with this bird here. A good area to check out especially when Greco starts to get busy with tourists! and great photo opportunities as with patience the birds pop up on the exposed branches and fences

Semi-collared Flycatcher (male)

Collared Flycatcher (male)

Collared Flycatcher (female)

Wood Warbler

Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

Tree Pipit

PARALIMINI LAKES

Water levels were great here due to Cyprus having one of their wettest winters for a good few years, by the shooting range, this area was great for scanning the lakes and checking through Wagtails aswell as waders, we spent a few hours here as there was many hiding places the birds could get to. Resident birds included Spur-winged Plovers and Black-winged Stilts whilst a Marsh Harrier occassionally hunted nearby flushing everything. 

Waders included Ruff, Little-ringed Plover, Marsh Sandpiper with the odd Green and Wood Sandpiper's. A distant Temminck's Stint was a nice find by a fellow group of birders that had joined us with scopes. Garganey and at least 4 Ferruginous Ducks were un the deeper water, a flock of 14 Night Herons flew around the lake, presumably migrating, smaller birds were represented with various races of Yellow Wagtails and searching through these revealed a smart male Citrine Wagtail and a Water Pipit. The surrounding scrub produced a Wryneck and a Wood Warbler

Paralimini lakes from the shooting range

Water Pipit

Ruff and Marsh Sandpiper

Male Citrine Wagtail

Please read part 4 covering the Akrotiri peninsula 

Cyprus April 2019 Part 2

CYPRUS

APRIL 3rd - 6th 2019

CAPE GRECO/ SEA CAVES AREA

A couple of mornings were spent around the Cape produced a good mixture of grounded migrants and passage overhead and whilst we were here we were lucky to witness some pretty good falls. Aswell as the speciality species as mentioned in part 1, any areas of scrub produced birds, Lesser Whitethroats were everywhere, with many of the expected migrants found but a few jewels were found with a smart 'samamisicus' Redstart found which posed for photos, a Wryneck, several Spectacled Warblers, Ruppells Warblers popped up here and there. 

Eastern Common Redstart - Cape Greco

Ruppells Warbler

Spectacled Warbler

Wryneck

Small numbers of Ortolan and Cretzschmar's Buntings were also seen, whilst small number of Tawny Pipit were seen migrating through but could not be found grounded. A flock of Bee-eaters were heard high up, whilst raptors were represented with a Osprey, a couple of Pallid Harriers and a distant Hobby. A few Black-eared Wheatears were also found as was a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes. Shrikes were represented with at least a pair of Masked Shrikes with one observed feasting on a Painted Lady! and a single Woodchat Shrike.

Masked Shrike enjoying a Painted Lady

Along the roads Crested Larks were calling away and the odd Chukar were seen both resident species around here and a nice distraction from the migrants, aswell as the distinctive calls of the Zitting Cisticola's. Several Nightingales were seen and heard croaking away and one individual seen late in the evening had us going for Thrush Nightingale but upon checking photos later it just seemed to be a Common one. Hoopoes were seen around both locations too

Crested Lark

Chukar

Black-eared Wheatear

The sea caves area also proved very productive and a female Rock Thrush which was a nice Cyprus tick as it perched up on telegraph wires but unfortunatley never got close enough for photos. The sea caves were also good for Alpine Swifts with a count of 7 birds one afternoon, enjoyed whilst sampling nice ice cream and freshly squeezed orange juice from the convenient ice cream van at the caves! A top place and a large area to search for birds but does get very busy with tourist so recommend a early morning/late afternoon visit

Several Laughing Doves were seen on our journey from our digs in Protaras to the Cape.

There is a cracking snack van by the visitor centre where you can grab freshly prepared sandwiches....the Cyprus sandwich is to die for and will keep you going all day long!

Check out Part 3 which covers Paralimini lakes, Ayia Napa sewage works and the Akrotiri penisula...