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.
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| Wryneck |
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| 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.
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| Cretzschmar's Bunting |
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| Eastern Black-eared Wheatear |
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| Purple Heron |
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| Woodchat Shrike |
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| Tawny Pipit |
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| 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.
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| Citrine Wagtail (with Black-headed 'Yellow' Wagtail) |
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| Ortolan Bunting |
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| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
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| Lesser Moorhen |
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| Bonelli's Eagle |
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| Griffon Vulture |
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| 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.
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| Garganey |
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| 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.
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| Bar-tailed Lark |
Many thanks to all who helped me in the field and online, very much appreciated.
