Birding Cyprus March/April 2025 Summary

Back on Cyprus at the end of March birding into the first week of April. Over 100 species seen with two new species for me, Bar-tailed Lark and Lesser Moorhen.

Weather mainly fine and dry throughout, with thick cloud and showers in the uplands some mornings north of Paphos. Temperatures around 20C most days and the light winds with a westerly component leading to a cool breeze. Any switch to the south east brought in pulses of warm air. One or two days of 'dust' midweek spreading in off the sea, south west to north east over Paphos.

Birding the 'curve' from the north west corner of the island down to Paphos along the coastal fringe over to Akrotiri, with brief visits to the south east corner, Larnaca and Cape Greco. A lot of birding at the hotspot that is Paphos Plain and surrounds.

Here's a summary of the highlights. Video compilation link given at the end.

The North West corner - The Baths of Aphrodite literally the first birding site visited on Monday 31 March 2025, the only visit of the trip. It offered a bit of Spring bird migration only with both Barn Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows moving west along the Akamas ridge, Lesser Whitethroat noted amongst resident Sardinian Warblers. Cyprus Wheatears in and the first Black Francolin of the trip 'chuckled' away in the distance, with Laughing Doves seemingly commonplace around the nearby villages. Several visits made to Cape Drepanum, both morning and early evening, not big numbers of birds seen, but a variety with Tawny Pipit, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Wryneck and Redstart noted as well as local Yellow-legged Gulls amongst other species.

Wryneck

Yellow-legged Gull

Paphos Headland  - The archaeological site a must visit, with passage birds wandering around the ruins. Two visits made to this inner headland, the first on 01 April 2025 particularly impressive. Lesser Whitethroats moved in numbers, singles of Eastern Subalpine Warbler and Eastern Bonelli's Warbler of note, both Cretzschmar's Buntings and Ortolan Buntings seen and Woodchat Shrikes watched the world go by on both visits. Tawny Pipits frequented the ruins in the south west corner where Eastern Black-eared Wheatears could be found, perhaps outnumbering Northern Wheatears. Short-toed Larks overhead here and the nearby grasslands held 'Yellow' Wagtails and Red-throated Pipits. Always had to look up, be it for a flock of Black-winged Stilts, Glossy Ibises or singles of Purple Heron and Night Heron. The second visit on 04 April 2025 quieter for migration but a massive Eastern Orphean Warbler most welcome as were several Pallid Swifts noted up above with Common Swifts present throughout and a movement of Red-rumped Swallows evident. An evening visit for a seawatch off the outer headland on 02 April 2025 produced little, a couple or so of 'Baltic' Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving west/north west. However, two Nightjars moving slowly west/north west up to 100 yards offshore within half hour of each other were not expected, managed a record photograph shown below and brief video.

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Purple Heron

Woodchat Shrike

Tawny Pipit

Nightjar

Paphos Plain - The fields south of Mandria didn't disappoint, including two Caspian Plovers that eventually showed at distance for prolonged periods in the heat haze covered ploughed field by the beach church. Wagtail covered irrigated fields nearby hosted two or three Citrine Wagtails, including the male shown below, Ortolan Buntings and Red-throated Pipit. Spanish Sparrows made it onto the trip list with sightings by the coast and Lark Corner was reliable for Short-toed Larks and occasional Red-throated Pipits.

Paphos Sewage Works by the airport hosted several lingering Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters later in the period, caught up with three.

Asprokremmos Dam always a look with elusive Ficedula Flycatchers including a male Collared Flycatcher. Eastern Bonelli's Warblers easier to see, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler noted and the only Ruppell's Warbler of the trip. Great Spotted Cuckoos present and a Griffon Vulture was watched by a Bonelli's Eagle. Long-legged Buzzard over this site which was reliable for seeing Alpine Swifts.

Agia Varvara, the quiet village to the west with the three sets of irrigation ponds, Motorway, Middle and Top Pools. Last year the Motorway Pools were the attraction, less so this time although a Little Bittern flew from the reedbeds, and was very nice to see. Species seen or heard at or by either the Middle Pools or Top Pools included Great Reed Warblers, Citrine Wagtail, 'Yellow' Wagtails, Great Spotted Cuckoos, Little Crakes, Spotted Crakes, a single Baillon's Crake and passage Cattle Egrets. Usually the Baillon's Crake takes top billing, but all were overshadowed by breaking news on the morning of Wednesday 03 April 2025 of a first for Cyprus, Lesser Moorhen, at the Top Pools. I was arriving at Paphos to the news and quickly changed plans, arriving soon on site.  A distinctive bird, characteristic thick set predominantly yellow bill, it was smaller than Common Moorhen but perhaps only obvious when side by side. The white-lined undertail seemed to be consistently white with no cream, plus the white at the top of the undertail seemed to be thicker than in Common Moorhen. Pink legs of the Lesser Moorhen.

Citrine Wagtail (with Black-headed 'Yellow' Wagtail)

Ortolan Bunting

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Lesser Moorhen

Bonelli's Eagle

Griffon Vulture

Spotted Crake

Akrotiri - The first flash at Akrotiri Marsh held many marshland species including Black-winged Stilts, Collared Pratincoles, Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harriers, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint. Woodchat Shrike seen and Great Reed Warbler heard. On the way back towards Paphos a stop at the M1 Pools yielded Garganey.

Garganey

Collared Pratincole and Black-winged Stilt

The South East corner - A first day twitch (31 March 2025) to see the confiding Bar-tailed Lark at Cape Greco, nice to study. Cyprus Warbler present as was a male Blue Rock Thrush on a crag with two Ravens overhead noteworthy. A stunning adult Audouin's Gull made several close passes over the bay by the natural bridge. At the end of the visit (06 April 2025) an all too brief look at Larnaca Sewage Works added Ferruginous Duck to the trip list.

Bar-tailed Lark

Many thanks to all who helped me in the field and online, very much appreciated.

Please find and enjoy:

Birding Video Compilation from Cyprus March/April 2025.

2024 - Autumn and end of year birding

First up, Cyprus 10 days in total starting towards the end of September through to the first Saturday of October. Weather steady around the 30C mark. Surprisingly calm with only a few afternoons characterised with a stiff, yet refreshing westerly breeze. Mainly light and variable breeze from day to day for the morning push of raptors out over Akrotiri. Amazing autumn for raptor passage in which the stream of passage Honey Buzzards overshadowed by other species. I was lucky to see 20 raptor species during the visit, highlight was finding a Saker Falcon which was the first recorded on the island in 6 years plus great views of multiple Lesser Spotted Eagles and several Levant Sparrowhawks.

Honey Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle

Saker Falcon

Back in GB twitched a couple of "possibles", that need DNA tests of samples to firm up the identification. The Shrike at Gillingham, Dorset thought to be Isabelline Shrike and then the 'Eastern' Stonechat at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk, that looks to be Amur Stonechat. Whilst both may be confirmed they could be lost as species with the shake up of the world bird list talked about for this year. 

Shrike sp.

Stonechat sp.

As autumn progressed Rainham Marshes RSPB, London, delivered its usual wintering (Scandinavian) Rock Pipits and a very smart Dartford Warbler showed well early one November morning along the perimeter. Great White Egret sightings continued into November and 2 flyover Goosanders late that month were noteworthy. Across the Thames the wintering Black-tailed Godwit flock held a colour-ringed individual ringed in Kent in 2020. It has been seen at The Wash and in Iceland as well as in this area back in October 2022 and January 2023. Yellow-legged Gulls noted including a returning green-ringed (now 3rd winter) from the Camargue.

Yellow-legged Gull

Back in South Yorkshire where local Raven and Red Kite were most welcome and early November saw Pink-footed Geese on the move. On the moorland edge passage Brambling seen, and after a long lean spell, Crossbills could be seen on occasion with sightings at the year end as well. Saw a couple of the Old Moor RSPB Caspian Gulls around Christmas time, a fine reserve holding a variety of winter visitors.

Caspian Gull - 2nd Winter

Twitched the Grey-headed Lapwing in Northumberland that gave itself up in flight with (Northern) Lapwings. A good supporting cast with in excess of 50 Twite moving along the dunes here in the the Druridge Bay area where Pink-footed Geese moved to find daily feeding grounds. On the sea the Common Scoter flock held several Velvet Scoters. The 'slick' of Scoters attracted many Red-throated Divers, up to 2 Black-throated Divers and a diminutive Slavonian Grebe that looked like it would be squashed whenever the Scoters dived in unison. Eider, Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes completed the diverse gathering of waterbirds on the sea. Nearby many Goldeneye on one of the inland pools and further inland Hen Harriers flew over a grassy hillside sometimes alongside a Marsh Harrier, allowing for nice studies of the the flight profiles.

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Birding Cyprus 26 Sep to 05 Oct 2024 - Summary

Back on Cyprus to take in the raptor migration at Akrotiri at the end of September into early October 2024. Please find a summary below. Many thanks to those who helped me in the field and online. 

Falcons

Didn’t disappoint. (Common) Kestrels present throughout and at least one with pale underwings could have been a Lesser Kestrel, but the strong sunlight can make all Kestrels having noticeably pale underwings. However, one adult male Lesser Kestrel complete with peachy breast flew through the Beehives one afternoon even “rolling” to show its grey wing crescents. Hobby seen throughout and several sightings of Red-footed Falcons with multiple birds present at times. In terms of numbers probably an even split of distinct (juvenile, male and female) plumages seen. Eleonora’s Falcons readily seen over Akrotiri visiting from their nearby summer haunts, yet to migrate south. A few Peregrines about the peninsula including one juv/imm. hunting over the Beehives area and a pale adult type over the Water Tower, the plumage suggestive of ‘brookei’ the expected subspecies in the Eastern Mediterranean.  Most unexpected was the large Falcon that appeared over the Beehives mid-afternoon on the first birding day. With the naked eye I thought it was the pale adult Peregrine seen earlier at the Water Tower, but through bins the first view confirmed otherwise revealing brown upperparts. Almost immediately it turned revealing dark underwing coverts contrasting with flight feathers and heavily streaked underparts becoming denser further down the body. Took and circulated a record "boc" photo, Saker Falcon. It showed too briefly but remained in the area and others connected with it over the next three days. I saw it on two of those with perhaps the last sighting of it leaving the peninsula by the Water Tower (29/09). A scarce visitor to the island and I believe the last was back in 2018.

Red-footed Falcon

Eleonora's Falcon

Saker Falcon

Accipiters

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk a given be it local birds or those on the move. Most if not all of the Accipiters readily identified on wing profile and most sightings comprised singles either hunting over the peninsula, especially Akrotiri Marsh, or moving through on migration. Sometimes seen together with another but once in a small group, more on that below. It has been an exceptional autumn for Levant Sparrowhawk on Cyprus, is this a one off? I had brief looks of a Levant Sparrowhawk called out at the Beehives (28/09) and the next day I picked up a Levant Sparrowhawk flying over the Beehives and the brown and white underpart streaking on the body gave it away as a juvenile. I nearly dismissed it as the first (Common) Kestrel of the afternoon as it flew head-on over towards the western edge of Phassouri Forest. Prolonged views of juvenile Levant Sparrowhawk followed at the Water Tower on consecutive mornings at the end of the trip (04/10 and 05/10) both birds arriving from the north and heading out south. Both birds were photographed and I got the snaps of the one on the 5th shown below. This was seen coming in at distance where the pointed-ish wing profile was made or enhanced by dark primary tips, a feature noted on 2 possible/probable/candidate/definite Levant Sparrowhawks seen earlier that morning circling above the water tower with the small group mentioned above of 4 (Eurasian) Sparrowhawks. Interestingly one of the (Eurasian) Sparrowhawks mobbed one of the suggested Levant Sparrowhawks quite a few times as they circled overhead slowly drifting south. So connected with 4-6 Levant Sparrowhawks over the period, can’t grumble with that!

(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk

Levant Sparrowhawk

Buzzards

Honey Buzzards moved through seen every day with big numbers at the beginning of the trip and a clear drop off on reaching October. The commonest raptor and the one to judge any other large raptor by in terms of size, structure and flight profile. (Common) Buzzard not so common, one Buteo (nominate) seen and one (Steppe) only, nice to get my second views of the latter. The white “swoosh” of the underwing flight feathers a key feature. Several sightings of Long-legged Buzzard touring the peninsula, always nice to see.

Honey Buzzard

'Steppe' Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Harriers and friends

Marsh Harriers commonplace with some moving out but most attracted to Akrotiri Marsh remaining in the area and regularly seen over the nearby Beehives. Several sightings of juvenile Montagu’s Harriers noted mostly over the Beehives. The one shown below was debated, I’m calling it as Montagu’s based upon the primary tips being dark all or most of the way along the length plus a dark edge to the primaries. I think the neck mark whilst strong, but thin, is within range of Montagu’s. Black Kites seen throughout including a movement of at least 12 one afternoon over the Beehives. Some of these showed big pale primary windows maybe indicative of an eastern population. Osprey noted on occasion from the Water Tower most at distance along the coast except for the one shown below which appeared directly overhead on the first birding day of the trip.

Black Kite

Montagu's Harrier

Osprey

Eagles

A wandering Bonelli’s Eagle is usually a given over the peninsula and sightings throughout. Multiple birds around as noted by an astonishing group of 5 juveniles seen in the air together over Akrotiri Plain from the Water Tower (02/10) and an adult noted on a couple of dates. Sought after were Lesser Spotted Eagles and this seemed to be an exceptional year for sightings, and perhaps a week or so earlier than expected. Seen on many dates and at times 2 together with a minimum of 3 one afternoon. Towards the end of the period one over the Beehives was mobbed by the adult Bonelli’s Eagle mentioned above. The Lesser Spotted Eagles showed well with most views of the underparts but upperwing seen as well and quite a few looks at the rusty spot on the nape that was more easily seen from the photos than in the field. At times looked like a big Marsh Harrier (with drooping hands) or a mini barn-door. Short-toed Eagle was to be expected and typical behaviour of one bird lingering on the peninsula flying around when it felt like it. As the trip moved into October chance of Booted Eagle and on the last morning (05/10) a dark morph literally dropped out of the sky into Akrotiri village where it was soon back up in the sky alongside a rather upset Hooded Crow. It flew off east towards Lady’s Mile.

Bonelli's Eagle

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Booted Eagle

Please click here for a full trip report.

Please click here for a birding video compilation.

2024 - Summer Birding - Highlights inc. Great White Egrets on the move

Summer Birding 2024. You could argue that summer and early autumn birding morphs into one. Taking the astronomical definition of the period 21 June 2024 to 23 September 2024, but surely autumn birding starts on 01 July a marker in the calendar any year for the first returning waders.

This period both starts and ends with honourable mentions for Great White Egret. On the last Saturday of June two of these majestic Herons graced Rainham Marshes RSPB, London where there was a start of autumn birding feel with returning singles of Black-tailed Godwit and Curlew feeding on the low tide in Aveley Bay. As with last summer Red Kite discovered the landfill site, but this unlike last year this turned out to be a fleeting visit.

As we moved into July and a chance to twitch the Black-winged Pratincole at Finningley, South Yorkshire which was literally by the border with Nottinghamshire, quite a big Yorkshire Tick. For me this now stands at 351 and for Yorkshire Birding Listers League purposes add two more  (Fea’s-type Petrel, Flamborough Head Aug 2003 and a couple of Isy/Red-tailed-type Shrikes at Kilnsea Oct 1991 and Bempton Cliffs Summer 2022). Though both will soon drop by two with the lumping of the Redpolls. The Pratincole showed reasonably well allowing for the following record photographs. 

Black-winged Pratincole

Elsewhere in July newly fledged Tawny Owls called on most evening walks in south Hertfordshire and similarly when I was back on South Yorkshire’s moorland edge. The latter held churring Nightjars and patrolling Woodcock at dusk. But late July signifies the return of Yellow-legged Gulls to the Thames hoping for Caspian Gulls soon after. Over a dozen juv. Yellow-legged Gulls sighted along the river about the Thamesmead peninsula, and on one visit Mediterranean Gulls appeared out of nowhere at high tide gatherings of the Black-headed Gulls. An adult flew down river with the remainder comprising 4 juvs. including the one below. Whimbrel sounded off in the distance on one visit and Peregrines started to move around with a pair of juvs. attacked a high-tide roost of Black-headed Gulls, honing their hunting skills.  One sticky July evening produced a suburban Peregrine that seemed to be floating in a sky that was like plasma. 

Yellow-legged Gull

Finally into August and on one mid-month visit 2 juv. Caspian Gulls showed on the river at Thamesmead where Yellow-legged Gulls remained on all visits. Early one warm evening a string of silver birds flew low fast along the north side of the Thames at this site, a flock of 50+ ‘Commic’ Terns that included a dozen Black Terns in various degrees of moult. They headed towards the city and must have carried on their journey as they had not returned downriver during the following walk west. ‘Autumn’ Hobby sightings started as early as the 10th July with a juv. chasing anything it could over Rainham Marshes RSPB, London. Were the 4 Ruddy Shelducks that spent some time at Rainham's Aveley Bay wanderers from the Netherlands, potential Category C tick?

Caspian Gull

Ruddy Shelducks

End of August and a good time to spot Ospreys moving south for the winter. Passage birds shown below seen at different sites during the period. 

Osprey

Into September and Spotted Flycatcher noted again, this time at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London where Hobby sightings continued as expected for late summer and Great White Egret continued. Whinchat seen on one visit and Black-tailed Godwit numbers increased and passage Ruff seen. Just before the end of the period and jumping back in South Yorkshire where Hobby sightings continued, we had a more unexpected sight of 6 Great White Egrets flying over a moorland reservoir heading north. A great time when the birding seasons come together with Swallows and House Martins on the move, Spotted Flycatcher still being seen plus my first skein of winter Pink-footed Geese on the same day as the Egrets. Of those Great White Egrets flocks of 6 and 41 moved through Spurn the same day (18th), perhaps suggesting a more widescale movement taking place. Easy to say that the 6 were the same as those that flew over Upper Midhope? At least 2 remained at Rainham Marshes RSPB as the season drew to a close, a site that saw 2 Spoonbills drop out of the sky looking for somewhere to have a snooze.

Great White Egret

Spotted Flycatcher

Pink-footed Geese

Spoonbills

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