We arrived at Larnaca 01:30 on 26 April and spend the night at a hotel in the city centre. The first bird observed were some Barn Swallows at the airport.
This moring we woke up to the sounds of Swifts. We first claimed them as Pallid Swifts together with Common Swifts. However, more identification research needs to be done to be shure.
The plans for the day were to take a taxi to Famagusta to hire a car there. We did not manage to hire the car in Larnaca due to insurance complications when we want to go to the Turish part of the island. We went from Larnaca via Famagusta and north on the Karpaz peninsula. To get from Larnaca to Famagusta we had to take a taxi to the Turkish border and another to Famagusta. Here we hired a car and started our journey towards the north-eastern part of Cyprus, the Karpaz peninsula.
This moring we woke up to the sounds of Swifts. We first claimed them as Pallid Swifts together with Common Swifts. However, more identification research needs to be done to be shure.
The plans for the day were to take a taxi to Famagusta to hire a car there. We did not manage to hire the car in Larnaca due to insurance complications when we want to go to the Turish part of the island. We went from Larnaca via Famagusta and north on the Karpaz peninsula. To get from Larnaca to Famagusta we had to take a taxi to the Turkish border and another to Famagusta. Here we hired a car and started our journey towards the north-eastern part of Cyprus, the Karpaz peninsula.
 Male Black-headed Bunting |  Corn Bunting |
The bird species observed today were not a lot when it comes to quantity, only 35 species observed, but huge in quality. One reason for this low species number is probably that we visited only one habitat during the day, dry costal areas with bushes. We were lucky to get all the endemic bird-species on the island today, Cyprus Pied Weather, Cyprus Warbler, and the Cypriotic subspecies of Scops Owl.
Larnaca – Famagusta: Unfortunately we did not have time to do more identification on the Pallid/Common Swifts, but we hope get better views of the Pallid Swifts north on Zarfer Burnu. During our taxi trip we spotted the first Crested Larks, some Collared Doves and Turtle Doves in addition to the soemmerringii subspecies of Jackdaw. On our way north from Famagusta we spotted two Black-winged Stilts.
Yesilköy: A short stop at a site with agricultural habitat gave us some quality species. Three Black-headed Buntings (one singing male shown in the photo that was digiscoped by Frode). One Cetti’s Warbler, Two Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and one male Spanish Sparrow.
Yenierenköy: The first bird that exposed itself to us was one of our main target species, the Cyprus Warbler. All together we found eight different individuals on this locality. Five singing Corn Buntings were also nice. When we approached the sea three beautiful Cyprus Pied Weather were both seen and heard. The first Black Francolin was also heard on this spot. In addition a Tawny Pipit, a Cetti’s Warbler, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Black-headed Buntings and a Yellow Wagtail with feldegg sound.
Larnaca – Famagusta: Unfortunately we did not have time to do more identification on the Pallid/Common Swifts, but we hope get better views of the Pallid Swifts north on Zarfer Burnu. During our taxi trip we spotted the first Crested Larks, some Collared Doves and Turtle Doves in addition to the soemmerringii subspecies of Jackdaw. On our way north from Famagusta we spotted two Black-winged Stilts.
Yesilköy: A short stop at a site with agricultural habitat gave us some quality species. Three Black-headed Buntings (one singing male shown in the photo that was digiscoped by Frode). One Cetti’s Warbler, Two Eastern Olivaceous Warblers and one male Spanish Sparrow.
Yenierenköy: The first bird that exposed itself to us was one of our main target species, the Cyprus Warbler. All together we found eight different individuals on this locality. Five singing Corn Buntings were also nice. When we approached the sea three beautiful Cyprus Pied Weather were both seen and heard. The first Black Francolin was also heard on this spot. In addition a Tawny Pipit, a Cetti’s Warbler, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Black-headed Buntings and a Yellow Wagtail with feldegg sound.
 European Roller |  Male Cyprus Wheatear, An endemic breeding species on Cyprus. |
Yenierenköy – Dipkarpaz: The most exclusive species seen along the road was a Roller. All three of us agreed that this bird was the observation of the day. Two Red-rumped Swallows were also seen.
In Dipkarpaz we booked in to the Karpaz arch house, just outside it we discovered a owl sitting on a wire and we identified it as a Little Owl which we also heard on three different localities after dawn. Later this evening we also heard another owl, the Scops Owl, and since we are on Cyprus this is the endemic subspecies.
When it comes to mammals we got good views of a Long-eared Hedgehog.
In Dipkarpaz we booked in to the Karpaz arch house, just outside it we discovered a owl sitting on a wire and we identified it as a Little Owl which we also heard on three different localities after dawn. Later this evening we also heard another owl, the Scops Owl, and since we are on Cyprus this is the endemic subspecies.
When it comes to mammals we got good views of a Long-eared Hedgehog.
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