Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus

Thursday 15th of February 2018 and we left Hotel Ajax and Limassol behind at 7 fifteen. I had skipped the breakfast at the hotel, really nothing to get out of bed for. Two Kit Kat in my room and I was ready for some birding. We will do birding at a few different sites today. We took off on the highway towards Paphos and we will start at Paphos headland. It looked to be a pleasant day with good weather.

We turned off the A6 highway and on the way to Paphos beach we crossed the Acheleia Canal and we could see a Common Kingfisher. We parked the car at the Lighthouse beach and we had some birds that my Guide wanted us to see. So we wanted to be there early before there were too much people to disturb the birds. We were keeping our eyes out for the Greater Sand Plover and the Ruddy Turnstone.

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Early morning on the highway to Paphos

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Early morning on the highway to Paphos

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Early morning on the highway to Paphos

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Arriving to Paphos headland

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Ship aground, almost hitting the huge lighthouse

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Ship aground, almost hitting the huge lighthouse

To see the map in a full window click HERE

We spotted a ship wreck when we got out of the car. The ship had almost hit the lighthouse, something you see in cartoons. My Guide told me that the whole crew had been playing poker, and BOOM! They were aground.

We had seen the Ruddy Turnstone from the parking. They were sitting on the huge sea weed piles on the beach. But first of all, we wanted to go to see the Greater Sand Plover. We managed to see 3 of the Greater Sand Plovers, with one nearing Summer Plumage. But it is a shy bird and I could not get very close. We spotted three different Pipits on the beach:
• Red-throated Pipit
• Water Pipit
• Common Pipit

We also saw Crested Lark and Skylark. I managed to get a picture of the Hooded Crow when we walked towards the Greater Sand Plovers. The light was not good, but it was better than nothing.

Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix

Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
We turn around going back to look for the Ruddy Turnstones

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Common Linnet, can hardly see the bird in all the garbage

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Common Linnet, can hardly see the bird in all the garbage

We got pictures of the Greater Sand Plover and, well, they were soon taking off and we turned around to go to look for the Ruddy Turnstones. We spotted a Sandpiper and a Whimbrel, but they were too scared so no pictures. We saw one beautiful Common Linnet, but it was hard to see the bird among all the garbage they throw around on the island.

Anyway, the picture was not good and the Common Linnet won't make it to my list of observed birds on Cyprus. We spotted two Dunlins in the water. And they were a little scared to start with. But when I sat down it took less than 20 seconds before I had them running around my feet. Amazing! This is what I call quality time, just sit there and watch these two birds pottering around looking for food. A great experience.

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Our hero with the Dunlins

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Kärrsnäppa
Dunlin feeding

And right there and then, I just knew that this would be one of the highlights from Cyprus. I could easily have spent hours there, but we had to go look for the Ruddy Turnstones. We spotted the Ruddy Turnstones on the big heaps of seaweed and we had to walk on top of the seaweed. Sinking down and we were all wet, but we want to have pictures.

We could come pretty close before the birds took off, but with the dark background, well, I wished I would have had my flash.

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, Roskarl

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, Roskarl
Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, Roskarl
Ruddy Turnstone

We left Paphos headland and the next stop was at the Paphos Sewage Plant. We were lucky with the European Stonechat, we saw a beautiful male sitting on a branch just next to the dust road and we could get some pictures before the bird took off.

We passed an Alfalfa field and we spotted Cattle Egrets starting to change to the breeding plumage. We had also several Spur-winged lapwing on the dust road. But as soon as we came close they took off. We stopped the car trying to let the Spur-winged lapwing come close again. Now they landed behind the car and we never got any pictures.

We parked the car behind the dung piles and we saw several small birds but no pictures. We had several Red-throated and meadow pipits but my pictures went straight to the garbage bin. We spotted a Grey Wagtail on one of the dung piles, the picture was not very good and the bird will not end up on my list of observed birds.

European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
Male European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
Male European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Look at the top of the head, we can see the bird
is changing to the beautiful breeding plumage

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret
Look at the top of the head, we can see the bird
is changing to the beautiful breeding plumage

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret
Look at the top of the head, we can see the bird
is changing to the beautiful breeding plumage

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
We parked behind the sewage plant

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Grey Wagtail

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Old British airplanes on the other side of the Alfalfa field

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Looking for birds on the Alfalfa field

Birding/ Bird watching on Cyprus
Hooded crow on top of the cactus

We left Paphos Sewage Plant to go look for birds at the Anarita Park up in the mountains, well, up in the hills. Anarita park, I don't know why they call it a park. It is a dusty area in the mountains/ hills. But it is a famous place for bird watching. We spotted a very shy Finsch's wheatear. Well, we actually saw two of them. First a black and white male and later on a female.

A singing Corn Bunting, I took several pictures and all of them ended up in the trash bin. I also made a recording of the bird singing next to the road.

Almond tree
Passing almond trees on the way to Anarita Park

Almond tree
Passing almond trees on the way to Anarita Park

Anarita Park
Anarita Park

Anarita Park
Anarita Park

Anarita Park
Anarita Park

Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii - Anarita Park

Finsch's wheatear, Oenanthe finschii - Anarita Park
Finsch's wheatear

Corn Bunting - Anarita Park
Corn Bunting
Listen to the Corn Bunting
Own record of the bird on the picture above

Anarita Park
Leaving Anarita Park

We spotted a few Cyprus Warbler and 2 very shy Chukars. Many Woodlarks in the area, but no pictures. We left the Anarita Park driving down the hills towards the Agia Varvara.

We drove down towards the huge bridge passing over the area at the bottom of the hills. There was a small aqueduct along the dust road. We came down to the bottom of the valley and there was an area covered with reeds, but no birds. But it was a beautiful area.

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara - driving along the aqueduct towards the bridge

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara - driving along the aqueduct towards the bridge

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara - driving along the aqueduct towards the bridge

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
Agia Varvara - driving along the aqueduct towards the bridge

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
No birds under the bridge

We turn around and we follow the dust road back to where we came from. Suddenly, I scream STOP. There was a beautiful Isabelline Wheatear sitting just next to the road. Maybe just laded coming from Africa tired after the flight. Well, I don't know, but the bird just stood there and I managed to get a few pictures.

Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina

Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
Isabelline Wheatear

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
We continue along the aqueduct towards the pools

Bird watching on Cyprus - Agia Varvara
Lizard

We checked out the pool areas, they were dry, but here is a lot of Bee-eaters during the spring. According to my Guide this was a good spot. We started to drive back towards Mandria where we will have our lunch. I will treat my Guide on lunch as I had finished the picnic early due to the missed breakfast

And what and opportunity, my Guide knows the local specialities and he had recommended some cheese, Halloumi with Lountza. Something I was looking forward to try as I was getting hungry after all the excitements.

Halloumi

Halloumi /həˈluːmi/ (Greek: χαλλούμι) or hellim (Turkish) (from Arabic: حلومي‎ ḥallūm [ħalˈluːm]) is a Cypriot semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk, and sometimes also cow's milk. It has a high melting point and so can easily be fried or grilled. Rennet is used to curdle the milk in Halloumi production, although no acid-producing bacteria are used in its preparation.

Halloumi is popular in Cyprus, the Levant, Greece, and Turkey. Demand in the United Kingdom had surpassed every other European country, except Cyprus, by 2013.

Lountza

Cured pork tenderloin is found in various cuisines in Mediterranean Europe and South America. It is typically salted or brined then dried or smoked.

In Cypriot cuisine, lountza (Greek: λούντζα) is brined, marinated in red wine, dried, and smoked.

It may be sold immediately after smoking, or aged. As it ages, it becomes harder and more strongly flavored. It may be spiced with coriander.

Lountza may be served cooked or uncooked with alcoholic drinks such as zivania or wine. Grilled lountza served with other Cypriot foods such as halloumi and kefalotyri cheese often appears in meze platters. Sandwiches made out of grilled lountza and halloumi are favorite fast food snacks in Cyprus.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We left the pools behind and we spotted a few Zitting Cisticola flying very close to us. We stopped and got out of the car, impossible to get any pictures, the birds, either fighting or breeding was never still long enough to get a picture. We left, now I'm really hungry.

Klimataria Tavern in Mandria was a nice place and the food tasted very good, two cups of tea and I was off to buy an ice cream before we took off to the beach to look for birds.

Klimataria Tavern in Mandria
Klimataria Tavern in Mandria

We were in a PEP mood when we left Klimataria Tavern, the food had been good. And it was nice to get out of the car for a while. Down at the beach and we were soon spotting an European Greenfinch in one of the fields. We continued and suddenly my Guide stopped. He had spotted a Spanish Sparrow in one of the bushes. Good spotting!

I didn't know about the Spanish Sparrow until I met my Guide the first day and I really wanted to see one, and now we were lucky.

European Greenfinch, Greenfinch, Chloris chloris, Grönfink
European Greenfinch

Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow

Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow

Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow

We followed the coast and, well, we must have seen a million of the Common Kestrels during our tour around Cyprus. But now we had one hovering just above our car. I hanged out the window trying to get a picture of the beautiful raptor. I took several pictures, moss of them erased direct, but I was lucky with a few of them.

Common Kestrel, European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Tornfalk

Common Kestrel, European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Tornfalk
Common Kestrel

Common Kestrel, European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Tornfalk
Common Kestrel

We drove around in the fields and we spotted a Eurasian Skylark when we were about to leave Mandria. I got a few failed pictures before we left. Next stop: Anarita Masts to look for the Little Owl and the Pipits.
Eurasian Skylark, Alauda arvensis, Sånglärka

Anarita Masts had nothing to offer but a lot of garbage dumped everywhere. And old tyres, I really don't know what it is with the Cypriotes and the tyres. They are thrown all over the island, and in huge amounts. What kind of people wants to live in this shit?

And, well, I saw a small mouse crossing the road in front of us, the only wild life we saw, not one single bird. What a disgrace this island is, and they live of the tourists coming here, just like in Thailand. And it is a shit hole with garbage destroying a beautiful nature!

Anarita Masts
Anarita Masts, nothing but garbage

Anarita Masts
Anarita Masts, nothing but garbage

Anarita Masts
Anarita Masts, nothing but garbage

Anarita Masts
Anarita Masts, nothing but garbage

We decided already on the first day to make a stop at Kensington’s Cliffs to have a look for the vulture on our way home. We just made a quick a stop at Kouklia fish farm to have a look for the Salvonian Grebe. The Grebe was gone, but we saw two Chukars running on the dust road. Scared as always when we see them and no pictures, at least not any good pictures so I can put them on my list over observed birds.

A shame as it is a beautiful bird, and it is kind of fun to watch them running around.

Chukar
Chukar

OK, time to return to Limassol with a stop at Kensington’s Cliffs to see if we're having any luck with the Griffon vulture. We drove by Aphrodite's Rock and as there were something special with this rock we made a quick stop to take a picture

Aphrodite's Rock

Petra tou Romiou ("Rock of the "Roman") (that is East Roman or Byzantine as Byzantines referred to themselves as either Greeks or Romans until the 1820s), also known as Aphrodite's Rock, is a sea stack in Paphos, Cyprus. It is located off the shore along the main road from Paphos to Limassol. The combination of the beauty of the area and its status in mythology as the birthplace of Aphrodite makes it a popular tourist location.

The sea in this region is generally rough, persuading tourists not to swim there. It is not permitted to climb the rock. A restaurant, a tourist pavilion and the Aphrodite Hills resort are nearby.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We approached the rock on the highway and, well, it looked like a rock
Aphrodite's Rock
Aphrodite's Rock in the horizon

Aphrodite's Rock

Aphrodite's Rock

Aphrodite's Rock

Aphrodite's Rock
We stop to take a picture - Wått's dö madderfakking diil?

Aphrodite's Rock
We continue towards Limassol and Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Aphrodite's Rock
We continue towards Limassol and Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Aphrodite's Rock
We continue towards Limassol and Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Aphrodite's Rock
Approaching the tunnel again - Now from the other side

Aphrodite's Rock
Approaching the tunnel again - Now from the other side

Aphrodite's Rock
Approaching the tunnel again - Now from the other side

We can see one of the Griffon vulture flying over the cliffs from the car. When we're out on the cliffs we have a hard time finding the bird. But we spot the vulture sitting on the cliffs. Too far away for a good picture. We leave and when we leave my guide find a Bee orchid.

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture flying over Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture sitting on Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture sitting on Episkopi Cliffs / Kensington Cliffs

Bee orchid
A bee orchid

Bee orchid
A bee orchid

As my Guide said: Amazing, the flowers don't have any eyes and still, they make a bee to attract bees to come and pollinate them. I was taking pictures of the flower when the vulture came flying over us. We threw the orchid and we went to see if we could find the vulture.

We saw the vulture in the top of a tree. And the bird was very close, will we get any pictures? Well, the bird was covered by branches so the pictures wasn't all that good. But it was a beautiful sight to see the Griffon Vulture up close

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
We see the bird again

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
We see the bird again

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
Griffon Vulture

We drive back to Limassol after yet another fantastic day. I go around looking for birds and we get to see all the sceneries and historical sites. And the Guide provide the car so it is an excellent way of touristing. Imagine sitting on a coach and you would have seen duck all. My Guide Matt at the CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS - BIRD IS THE WORD www.birdingtourscyprus-bitw.com had made yet another day interesting. This is a tour operator that I can recommend if you ever come to Cyprus. Check out his web page and book a tour. I paid 150 € per day. Very cheap:

• Excellent guide
• Guide that identify all the birds for you
• No need to rent a car
• No need to drive the car
• Just to sit down relaxing enjoying the sights


Check out CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS - BIRD IS THE WORD on You Tube and Flickr

      

CYPRUS BIRD WATCHING TOURS - BIRD IS THE WORD is highly recommended by Aladdin! So if you ever come to Cyprus, and he is also making trip reports with all the birds we had seen. Well, I only count the birds I have got on photo. Anyway, here is Matt's trip report for the third day. Click HERE for Day 3 Trip Report.


I went to the Scandinavian Gardens for dinner. I had called them yesterday to ask if they had snus. They told me they had so I decided to go there for dinner.

Scandinavian Gardens in Limassol
Scandinavian Gardens in Limassol

Scandinavian Gardens in Limassol
Starter, smoked salmon

Scandinavian Gardens in Limassol
Meatballs with mashed potatoes

Scandinavian Gardens in Limassol
They were out of rhubarb pie so I had to have an almond cake

Scandinavian Gardens, not easy to find as the name was nowhere to be seen. Anyway, I asked for directions and I found the place. I started with smoked salmon, excellent salmon sauce and very good fresh bread. So I was really looking forward to the meatballs, must be good if they start like this.

Meatballs and mashed potatoes, was cold. Cold food, but the taste was good. I had asked for Rhubarb pie but they were out of rhubarb pie so I had to have an almond cake. This cake was not any good. Friendly and helpful staff

Tomorrow, my Guide will pick me up at 07:15 and by then I have checked out from Ajax Hotel and my Guide will drop me at Larnaca Airport when we're ready with the bird watching. Click HERE to find out if we find any birds.

English subtitles available - Click on settings
Sverigedemokraterna

English subtitles available - Click on settings
Sverigedemokraterna

Well, and everything he says is true
Sweden is already beyond rescue

Everyday life in Sweden HD
Meanwhile, the old Swedish people in the elderly care starve to death

Warnings: Sweden is Headed Toward "a Cliff"...




       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

BirdforumTV

You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011



Send me an e-mail My web page directory