Jonathan's Birding Blog: Birding Cyprus September 2025

Back on Cyprus (birding from 22 to 29 September) the focus on looking for migrating raptors. This became a routine of getting to Akrotiri to see them leave in the morning with migration continuing into the afternoon, and seeing those coming into roost for the night at Phassouri Forest as viewed from Akrotiri Beehives. Also visited Akrotiri Marsh, Oroklini Marsh and Larnaca SW.

The weather throughout was warm, approximately 30C and most days dominated by blue skies. Several welcome marker clouds did appear at times. Winds variable, mainly light and usually starting with a southerly component. The exception being Thursday 25th when the to be expected light to brisk westerly wind started first thing instead of the afternoon, I passed on raptor counting that day.

Akrotiri - Water Tower (AM)

Akrotiri Water Tower located SW of the village is, arguably, the main place to see raptors in the morning taking to the skies on migration after leaving their overnight roost. This is providing there isn't a strong wind from a westerly direction pushing the birds over the eastern side of the peninsula. As the morning progresses the passage perhaps includes other raptors flying directly over Cyprus, not from a local roost.

Aimed to arrive no later than 0930 each day, traffic permitting. Honey Buzzards were lifting off by then and this movement generally had tailed off by 1100 at the latest. Other large raptors joining them on their way south from overnight roost included Marsh Harriers, Black Kites, Bonelli's Eagles and Booted Eagles. Montagu's Harriers likewise. Sometimes difficult to work out which birds were truly on the move, as several birds did a U-turn namely one or two Bonelli's Eagle that were always happy to pick a fight with a passing raptor, and the Egyptian Vulture on one date appeared to leave to the South only to reappear half-hour later over the water tower and then present over the Beehives site in the afternoon.

Falcons included Kestrels, Red-footed Falcons, Eleanora's Falcons and Peregrine. Red-footed Falcons clearly on the move but were the Eleanora's Falcons just local birds on feeding flights, or did some head off south as well? So as the morning rush subsided birds from afar were moving onto the peninsula and through, such as a couple of Ospreys and a ridiculously high flying Short-toed Eagle, whose ghostly image is captured in the record photo below.

As the clock approached noon looking straight up into the heavens to catch a dot or two, sometimes rewarded with more raptors passing through on the same line. Sparrowhawks moving overhead, most Eurasian but a couple of “Levants” picked out, one female type was reasonably close allowing to see the pointed wing profile, end primary tips kind of dipped in ink, plus a contrast across the underwing and body. One high flying one took a dislike to a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle, probably the “Bonelli's” that saw off a Lesser Spotted Eagle a few moments later. A great variety of raptors, but you need to put the time in, hope the visit coincided with a movement, with the weather favourable for viewing a passage at this location. Not just raptors on the move, flocks of Bee-eaters up high, both Barn Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows plus Sand Martins through and a couple of Pallid Swifts.

Particular Highlights:

Egyptian Vulture – (27th) picked up this large raptor moving down the west cost with a couple of Honey Buzzards. It appeared to go off south but returned circling over the coast by the water tower and then seen later at the Beehives raptor watch.
Lesser Spotted Eagles – (28th) 2 birds were called out fairly close to the observers and were joined by another, they circled and drifted off north. Nice to study the profile of high-flying eagles.
Osprey – (28th) 3 south together over the Salt Lake was nice to see, when flagged to me it was good to study the ”flappy” approach of this species compared to the gentle soaring and drifting of other large raptors.

A great variety of raptors seen, the table below includes personal counts, perhaps an underestimate in places, but hope they show the variation or trends over the period.

Akrotiri - Beehives (PM)

Akrotiri Beehives, raptor watching here basically involved looking east staring at the western edge of Phassouri Forest from the road junction leading away from Akrotiri Marsh. The place to see raptors coming into roost during the afternoon. Don’t forget to occasionally look back towards Akrotiri Marsh for incoming raptors, Little Swifts and perhaps a perched up Black-winged Kite.

Aim to count the Honey Buzzards and other raptors flying in to roost and, some of which may still be thinking of continuing south in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea. A clear tail off of Honey Buzzard passage as the week drew to a close, but always worth a watch, even if the afternoon westerly wind picked up that could push birds into the eastern side of the trees. Most of the raptor species seen at the Water Tower seen here, plus one definite juvenile Pallid Harrier. Usually closer views here than at the morning location, but views could be hampered if the raptor kept at the treeline, or went into roost without much of a fly by.

Better views of Bee-eaters here and most days a Masked Shrike sat on a Tamarisk across the road. Spotted Flycatcher about and Whinchat noted on one watch. The rare to Cyprus Black-winged Kite stared at us from its lofty Akrotiri Marsh perch on a couple of visits, probably wondering what we were doing. Not to forget a flyby of the White-throated Kingfisher, more on that rarity below.

Particular Highlights:

Honey Buzzards - The afternoon of the 23rd was simply brilliant. Honey Buzzards streaming in, still flying into the trees at 1730. We stopped counting at 460 to take in the spectacle, and up to 1000 must have flown into roost either here or at the neighbouring Salt Lake/Plain.
Booted Eagle – 3 sightings of 2 pale phase birds of this uncommon autumn migrant on the 23rd against a sky with dotted wispy clouds allowed for good study.
Falcons – present throughout with Kestrel, Hobby, Red-footed Falcon and Eleonora’s Falcon regularly seen. Views allowed good study of the profiles plus flight style of each.

Same caveat with the following table as for the one above.

Akrotiri – Marsh

Akrotiri Marsh dominated by a reedbed running west to east ending a few hundred yards before the Beehives and start of Phassouri Forest. Characterised by marshy habitat and grazed land on its northern edge. A site always worth a look even if the marshy areas were dry, only noticeable water being the small pool at the Tower Hide.

A good place to see Spur-winged Plovers with Yellow Wagtails present around the cattle. Singles of Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egret present on one visit and a lone Squacco Heron present on two dates. Juvenile and immature Bonelli's Eagles patrolled the area and one chased a Snipe, the ever present Marsh Harriers took evasive action. Red-throated Pipit noted once and a group of 6 Lapwings were in the area. Migrating Honey Buzzards noted and Kestrels commonplace, with both Red-footed Falcons and Eleanora's Falcons seen. A juvenile Black-winged Kite in the area, nice to see this scarce visitor to the island, most times perched up but a couple of nice flight views revealing its gentle flight action.

The feisty kite would have taken star billing but for the White-throated Kingfisher in the area. After brief flight views at the 'Beehives', this was followed by another flight in near darkness one evening at the Tower Hide. Then, on walking down the track to the Tower Hide early evening on 26th, it gave its loud chattering call and was there in flight flew towards us at head height to turn and perch up in a nearby tree. After a minute or so it was off to the nearby Eucalyptus grove. Later it flew in front of the Tower Hide, the chatter betraying its presence. Common Kingfisher regular here, would have been nice to see the two side-by-side.

Akrotiri – Plain/Gravel Pits

The Plain/Gravel Pits extending south from the marsh down towards Akrotiri village, a vast open area with scrub, shingle beach, scattered pools and tracks.

Visited a couple of times, saw a juvenile Red-backed Shrike and on the coast a group of Kentish Plovers and Greenshank. 2 Greater Flamingos flew north here. One visit to take in the seemingly resident Black-necked Grebe on the pool near the chapel.

Larnaca Sewage Works

Don’t be put off by the name, this refers to the 2 massive water basins south of Larnaca airport as viewed from a hide. An oasis for passage birds, although views can be distant and the setting sun makes evening viewing troublesome.

It’s a place where you can see some specialities, chance of a rarity and you should always add to your trip list here. On my only visit here, the evening of the 25th, waders skirted the synthetic edge and nice to pick out Turnstone, Ruff and many Ringed Plovers. Autumn passage White Wagtails (6) seen, lots of Shovelers, Teal and Mallard and 20+ Ferruginous Ducks. Black-necked Grebes present and 7 Whiskered Terns fished the right-hand basin. Cormorant and Black-headed Gulls made their way onto the trip list as did a juvenile Roller present on roadside wires by the dried up Meneou Pools on the way to the site.

Oroklini Marsh

Another birding oasis on the outskirts of Larnaca. Essentially the northern pool with water in autumn only as viewed from the hide, with muddy edge and surrounded by reeds.

Twitched a Black Stork here on the way to Akrotiri on the morning of the 26th, and returned the following day to take in the evening Cattle Egret roost. On the latter visit the Black Stork remained and 378 Cattle Egrets roosted by dusk. All 3 Egret species seen plus Grey Heron, Night Heron, many Mallard and Teal, Greater Flamingo (36) and Black-winged Stilt (29). Other waders noted included Ringed Plover (10+), Ruff (5), Wood Sandpiper (4), Dunlin (3) and Little Stint (2). 3 Whiskered Terns fished the area by the road and Kingfisher seen.

Other Wildlife

• Mammals - a Fox seen near Larnaca.

• Butterflies – several Swallowtails and a Painted Lady.

• Odonata – Lesser Emperor, Scarlet Darter and Slender Skimmer.

• Lizards - Cyprus Rock Agama.

Nice to see familiar faces and meet new ones and many thanks to all who helped me in the field and online. Please find a selection of photographs below plus a link to a birding video compilation, and to comparisons with visits in 2023 and 2024.