birding...

The politically divided island of Cyprus lies on one of the major bird migration routes across the Mediterranean. With Africa to the south, Turkey and central Europe to the north and Syria and the Middle East to the east, Cyprus is a major staging post used twice a year as birds move between Africa, Europe and Euro-Asia. Almost 200 species occur as regular passage migrants, while another 20 or so occur irregularly. Fatbirder treats the island as one for birding purposes and has no deliberate bias and no political view.

The resident species number in the lower 50s and some 40 or more are migrant species, which regularly or occasionally breed. The Island list stands at 365 species, which includes accidental or vagrant species and those like Stonechat and Black Redstart, which are abundant winter visitors. The degree of endemism is quite high which is surprising when you consider the Island’s close proximity to the mainland and its large migrant and wintering population. 2 species are currently recognized as endemic; the Cyprus Wheatear and the Cyprus Warbler and both are migratory. The Island also has 5 sedentary subspecies, Scop's Owl, Coal Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Jay and Crossbill.

Probably the best time to visit Cyprus is in the spring when, in addition to the hordes of migrants in their readily identifiable breeding plumages one can also see the resident and summer breeding visitors. Spring migration starts very early, by the end of February Great Spotted Cuckoo are numerous and the first Isabelline Wheatear are passing through. Early March sees the first Hoopoe and by the end of this month larks, hirundines, pipits, wagtails, warblers and buntings are in super abundance. Wryneck can be very common and Nightingale seem to pop out from every piece of low vegetation, quite happy to hop on the ground in front of you, quite different behavior from that observed on their breeding grounds. April is the prime month if you want the largest total of species, particularly the middle 2 weeks. Some of the winter visitors will probably still be hanging on, the migrant breeders will have arrived, including Black-headed Bunting, which is probably the latest arrival and the flocks of European migrants are streaming through; magic! It is also now that most vagrants occur as well!

Water bird and wader numbers start to build up in April and huge flocks of duck can be seen streaming by off shore. Both Cory's and Mediterranean Shearwater add excitement to a spring [and autumn] sea watch, a pretty pointless exercise at any other time of the year. It is in spring that we are now starting to receive skua records, previously an extreme rarity, but now being seen annually thanks to some dedicated visitors. Wader passage continues well into May, Broad-billed Sandpiper being one of the latest.

Breeding birds include very high populations of Great Spotted Cuckoo, particularly in the west were their host species, Magpies are in plague proportions in some areas. Roller also breed in good numbers all over the Island, as does Masked Shrike in the foothills. Olivaceous Warbler sing from every bush and Cyprus Wheatear seem to occupy every available spot, their choice of habitat is really catholic! Cretzschmar's Bunting breed on the sparsely vegetated hillsides but can be difficult to find unless you know where to look. Golden Oriole can be very difficult to track down on their breeding sites as you are no doubt aware, but they are there for those with the patience to search. We are getting increasing records of breeding Bee-eater; surprisingly difficult to locate once they set about rearing a brood.

The spring raptor passage is only a fraction of the autumn passage but it is in spring that we receive most Pallid Harrier sightings, particularly males. Breeding raptors include decent numbers of Bonelli's Eagle but I am afraid that Imperial Eagle has now been lost, unless of course you know different! Griffon Vulture are now restricted to the Western Sovereign Base site, a result of illegal shooting and poisoning. Peregrine, Goshawk and Long-legged Buzzard also breed and 2 years ago we had our first Sparrowhawk breeding record. Eleonora's Falcon are numerous on the western sea cliffs from May onwards and Kestrel are very numerous all over the Island.

It is in the autumn, from early September onwards to the end of October, that we get the main raptor movement. Honey Buzzard can be seen in the hundreds around the Akrotiri Peninsular and Black Kite and Steppe Buzzard can also be very numerous. Lesser Spotted Eagle is annual and in some years Booted Eagle can be quite numerous. October is the month for Red-footed Falcon, the area around Mandria near the Paphos Airport and Phasouri Reed Beds being well known feeding sites for this species.

It is also in autumn, early September in fact, that we get the Demoiselle Crane. They arrive early evening at the Akrotiri Salt Lake and rest there overnight before catching the early thermals the next morning. The best time to see them is to visit the Salt Lake at first light, scope the lake from a vantage point, the area around Sylvana's Restaurant is suggested, and then position yourself on the Salt Lake track to get decent views. Please, please do not try to get too close; they spend the night here because they are undisturbed!

The winter months can also be very productive. Stonechats, of every conceivable race, are very common as are Black Redstart. A specialty species is Finsch's Wheatear, found in all suitable habitat, and Wallcreeper are to be found but require time, effort and some local knowledge to locate.

Cyprus is a wonderful country to birdwatch despite all the illegal liming and netting of birds that goes on. The Illegal catching of birds can occur anywhere on the Island, but does have a contraction east of Larnaca, towards the Eastern Sovereign base area near Ayia Napa. this activity is potentially is the greatest threat to the Cyprus birds and those migrating through the Island than any other illegal hunting activity. Any illegal liming or netting should be reported to Game Fund. It is unadvisable to take your own action against the equipment found as the person reasonsable might be nearby and do so could result in confrontational situation occurring.

Cyprus like most countries has legalised shooting of Game birds, though unlike the UK, Cyprus does allow the shooting of Skylark and Thrushes between November and February. All shooting is illegal between March and around 20 August. Shooting is not allowed every day during the open season. In spring you potentially will not encounter many, if any shooting incidents of birds. Autumn during the open season is the time of year that you will witness legalised shooting. It is more likely that you may experience infringements during this period. There was the well documented shooting of a number of Red-footed Falcons near Akrotiri. Unfortunately, whilst incidents like this can occur, if you visit Cyprus you will not necessarily experience incidents of shooting of non-game species as a regular daily occurance.

If you do witness any such activity write and express your concerns about it to Letters of protest should be sent to:
Cyprus High Commission, 93 Park Street, London W1Y 4ET, Cyprus Tourist Organisation, 17 Hanover Street, London, W1S 1YT. Tel 020 7569 8800 or to the
Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Main, 19 Lemesou Avenue, 2112 Aglantzia, Nicosia.

To show your support consider joining and supporting the work of Birdlife Cyprus anti-trapping campaign (see website details below) or ring (00 357) 22455072. , With the assistance of the RSPB, active work is taken each year in conjunction with the Game Fund and Sovereign base authorities to reduce the incidences of illegal trapping. The more members that Birdlife Cyprus can recruit the better!

NB This advice is only relevant to the Cypriot (Greek) part of Cyprus and not the northern (Turkish) area.