Cyprus 4th-17th October 2007

by Neil Frampton.

This was a late summer sun holiday for myself and my wife (non birder) with a bit of birding when it was convenient.We stayed on the eastern outskirts of Agia Napa, Cyprus. Cape Greko being about 4 miles to the east of us.

4th October

We stayed around the hotel, walked into town and around the harbour area. Later in the day we walked along the coast towards Cape Greko and saw 2 kingfishers on the rocks, a Little Egret and Kentish Plover. A steady trickle of Barn Swallows had been moving East all day.

5th October

We stayed locally again and noted the steady movement of Swallows along the coast.

6th October

Nice day so we decided to spend the day on the beach. Again I noted a massive movement of Swallows east. Literally thousands.

7th October

Up early to walk the coast path, noted a party of Chukars, my first Red-backed Shrike and 4 Wheatears. Decided to hire a car and drove to Cape Greko. Here I noted Bee-Eater on overhead wires, Spotted Flycatcher, Spectacled Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat in the scrub. In a dirt field at the Cape were 12 Stone Curlews well camouflaged, which was just as well as it was like world war three with the number of guns going off all day.

In the afternoon I drove to Achna Dam, which was well depleted of water, but at the far end of the reservoir were lots of waders. This included about 40 Spur-winged Plovers, Little stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Snipe and Greenshank. Also a White winged Black Tern was hawking over the water and fields. A Pratincole was roosting on an island, but which species I don’t know as I hadn't taken my scope and it was too far off to see detail.

8th October

Up early and drove again to Achna dam. Unfortunately the Pratincole was gone but other goodies were Black-winged Stilt, Garganey, Teal, Shoveler, Dunlin, Temminck’s Stint, Little Stint, Little Ringed, Kentish and Ringed Plovers and a superb Marsh Sandpiper. The noisy Spur-winged Plovers were still present as was the White-winged BlackTern.

9th October

I was again up early and drove to Cape Greko. I saw several Cyprus Pied Wheatears and Whinchats in the fields but bird of the day was a very obliging juvenile Pallid Harrier which landed on the ground in front of the car. Also noted were 2 Tawny Pipits and a dashing Levant Sparrowhawk.

10th October

Drove up to the Troodus mountains but only noted birds were Coal Tit and Chaffinch

11th October

No hire car, so an early morning walk, at the back of the hotel. Unfortunately here were local Cypriots collecting their overnight Lime Sticks which of course is illegal under E U law.

12th October

A bus trip into Turkish held Cyprus, across the green line which wouldn't have been possible a few years ago. In Famagusta did see Great Tit and Spotted Flycatcher.

13th October

Up early and rented a push bike to cycle to Cape Greko. New birds seen were Stonechat, Honey Buzzard, Blue Rock Thrush, Common/Steppe Buzzard and a Merlin on wires In the field at the Cape was a superb Isabelline Wheatear.

Later in the day, at the hotel swimming pool, a Great white Egret flew overhead.

In the afternoon I cycled back to Cape Greko but the Isabelline had gone probably due to all the people around. However I did see a Long-legged Buzzard and another juvenile Pallid Harrier, 3 Marsh Harriers, several Kestrel and a Red-footed Falcon.

14th October

Went on an organised boat trip but only Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail seen.

15th October

Up early to cycle to Cape Greko. Nothing new to add to my list but saw Cyprus Pied Wheatears, Red-backed Shrike and 4 Honey Buzzards.

16th October

Spent all day on the beach and just noted the usual trickle of Swallows and the odd Wagtail overhead.

17th October

Up early and walked the coastal foot path. Amazingly down the coast to the West saw 3 exhausted Black Storks fly in from the sea getting lower to the water and land on the rocks near the harbour. In the fields were Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spanish Sparrow and Skylark.

On the the rocks was one Audioun’s Gull, my only gull of the holiday, plus Dunlin and Kentish Plover. Another wader was present further out which I was fairly sure was a Sand Plover but without a scope I couldn' t get enough detail.

List of birds seen, in the order I saw them in Cyprus (Agia Napa) 4th-17th October 2007: 

This part of Cyprus is undoubtedly under watched and Cape Greko is a migrant hotspot at this time of year. A dedicated birding trip would undoubtedly turn up a lot more species. However, I doubt if I would return to Cyprus as the flagrant bird crime committed here put me right off! 

Addition by editor:

If you are intersted in Cyprus and its birds then the following Society is well worth your support. It is only by supporting such Societies that he appalling slaugher in Mediterranean countries and the flagrant breaching of EU law can be brought to a halt.

BirdLife Cyprus was founded in 2003 to try and protect the birds of Cyprus.
Address: P. O. Box 28076, 2090 Lefkosia, Cyprus
Email: birdlifecy@cytanet.com.cy
Web: http://www.birdlifecyprus.org

BirdLife Cyprus was formed through the amalgamation of the two Cyprus Ornithological Societies. The main aims of BirdLife Cyprus are the protection and study of the birds of Cyprus.

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