Northern Cyprus April 16 - 21, 1998


Arriving late in the evening of the 15th and leaving very early on the morning of the 22nd, the trip lasted for six whole days. Approximately half of this time was spent birding, the remainder being spent with my wife and son, either sight-seeing or relaxing at the hotel.

We were based at Karavas (Alsancak) on the North coast about 8km west of Kyrenia (Girne). The hotel - 'Riverside' - was about 2km inland. This was booked through Cyprus Paradise who also arranged the car hire: a four-wheel drive Suzuki Vitara which was essential for getting around in some of the more remote and mountainous regions.

Weather
Hot and sunny throughout although there were violent thunderstorms with some rain on the first morning; the last day was extremely windy.

Places Visited
Karavas and immediate area
This consisted of hotels, restaurants and residential houses but was not too built-up and contained good areas of lowland bushy shrub and coastal dunes as well as mountainous slopes - accessible via the nearby mountain village of Karmi (Karaman).

Kyrenia area
Kyrenia itself is quite densely populated (by Turkish Cypriot Standards). The nearby mountain villages of St. Hilarion and Bellapais (Beylerbeyi) have good birding areas.

Panagra (Gecitkoy) Reservoir
Two short trips were made to this resevoir which, as well as the water, contained good areas of bushy shrub.

North-west tip
The coastal cliff road from Orga (Kayalar) to Liveras (Sadrazamkoy) passed through excellent shrub habitat; the point, west of Liveras, was particularly good and this was visited on a couple of mornings.

Panhandle
A single trip was made to the North-east peninsula (a three hour drive from Kyrenina). This was by far the best birding area visited. The area around the 'Blue Sea' hotel - on the southern coastal road, east of Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz) - and around the monastry at Ap Andreas were particularly good. Sea-watching is good off the Zafer Burnu (north-east point).

Salamis
A single trip was made to the ruins just north of Famagusta (Gazimagusa). Good forest and shrub habitat surround the ruins.


Itinerary
15/4 Flight from Heathrow to Nicosia; coach to Karavas.
16/4 Karavas.
17/4 Panagra; Kyrenia area.
18/4 North-west tip; Kyrenia area.
19/4 Panhandle.
20/4 Salamis.
21/4 North-west tip; Karavas area.
22/4 Coach to Nicosia; return flight to Heathrow.

Birds (79 species, 19 ticks)
Little Grebe - Several at Panagra Reservoir on 17th.
Cory's Shearwater - Four during short sea-watch at Zafer Burnu on 19th.
Mediterranean Shearwater - Four during short sea-watch at Zafer Burnu on 19th.
Shag - Common around coast.
Grey Heron - One flying along north-west coast on 18th.
Glossy Ibis - One circled near Ap. Andreas before flying high north on 19th.
Marsh Harrier - Three between Ap. Andreas and 'Blue Sea' hotel on 19th; male west of Liveras on 21st.
Hen Harrier - A pair west of 'Blue Sea' hotel and a male + ringtail east of there both on 19th; ringtail west of Liveras on 21st.
Harrier sp - Two ringtails west of Liveras on 18th.
Sparrowhawk - Two accipiters (one a female) presumed to be this species present west of Liveras on 21st.
Booted Eagle? - An eagle west of Liveras on 18th was possibly of this species. Circled before flying north.
Bonelli's Eagle - One west of Liveras on 18th.
Lesser Kestrel - Two, possibly three, hawking around Salamis ruins on 20th.
Kestrel - Common.
Red-footed Falcon - One on roadside wires east of Nicosia whilst en route to Panhandle on 19th.
Hobby - One at Karmi on 21st.
Eleonora's Falcon - One west of Liveras on 21st.
Peregrine - One hunting Rock Pigeons at Zafer Burnu on 19th.
Chucker - Common on hilly ground.
Black Francolin - Relatively common on Panhandle; A possible female seen briefly in north-west on 18th; One heard calling near Salamis on 20th.
Quail - One flushed west of Liveras on 18th.
Coot - Several at Panagra Reservoir on 17th.
Stone Curlew - One near 'Blue Sea' hotel on 19th.
Audouin's Gull - Several off Zafer Burnu on 19th.
Yellow-legged Gull - Common around coast, particularly on Panhandle. Birds seemed to be of michahellis race.
Rock Dove - 'Pure' rock doves noted around Zafer Burnu on 19th. Feral populations common in most areas.
Wood Pigeon - Fairly common.
Collard Dove - A few seen at various locations.
Turtle Dove - A few seen at various locations.
Great Spotted Cuckoo - A juvenile near Liveras on 18th.
Scops Owl - One seen briefly in flight on evening of 15th; One seen in hotel carpark on evening of 16th; Can be heard calling from most locations, occasionally during daylight.
Common Swift - Fairly common; large flocks at Bellapais on 17th and 18th.
Palid Swift - Fairly common on Panhandle and around Famagusta.
Alpine Swift - One on north-west tip on 18th.
Bee-eater - Occasional large flocks in north west and on Panhandle; often seen on roadside wires.
Roller - One between Ap. Andreas and 'Blue Sea' hotel on 19th.
Hoopoe - One west of Liveras on 18th.
Wryneck - One west of Liveras on 21st.
Calandra Lark - Several seen with Crested Larks on lowland agricultural land east of Nicosia whilst en route to Panhandle on 19th.
Crested Lark - Common away from towns.
Swallow - Common.
Red-rumped Swallow - Occasional individuals seen in Swallow flocks.
House Martin - Several seen at various locations.
Tree Pipit - Common in north-west and on Panhandle.
Yellow Wagtail - Two males of race feldeggg west of Liveras on 21st.
Pied Wagtail - Several birds seen at various locations.
Nightingale - One probably seen briefly in flight at Orga on 18th; One singing west of Liveras on 21st.
Whinchat - Male west of Liveras on 21st.
Stonechat - Male west of Liveras on 21st.
Isabeline Wheatear - One near Ap. Andreas on 19th.
Northern Wheatear - Male near Ap. Andreas on 19th.
Cyprus Pied Wheatear - Common, particularly on higher ground.
Black-eared Wheatear - Female by road, east of Orga on 18th; Female west of Liveras on 21st.
Blue Rock Thrush? - Female possibly seen in hills near Bellapais on 18th.
Cetti's Warbler - Abundant.
Fan-tailed Warbler - Common.
Olivacious Warbler - Common.
Spectacled Warbler - Several east of Orga on 18th.
Cyprus Warbler - Abundant.
Orphean Warbler - Male seen briefly, east of Orga on 18th.
Lesser Whitethroat - One at Bellapais on 18th.
Whitethroat - One west of Liveras on 21st.
Blackcap - Common.
Wood Warbler - One at Salamis on 20th.
Pied Flycatcher - One near North-west tip on 18th.
Great Tit - Fairly common.
Golden Oriole - Male west of Ap. Andreas on 19th; Many (10+) around Salamis on 20th.
Red-backed Shrike - Male near hotel on 16th.
Woodchat Shrike - One seen west of Liveras on 21st.
Masked Shrike - One seen around hotel on 16th; Several at Panagra reservoir on 17th; One west of Liveras on 21st.
Magpie - Fairly common.
Jackdaw - Several flocks seen at various locations.
Hooded Crow - Abundant.
House Sparrow - Abundant in most habitats; some individuals near to italae in plumage.
Spanish Sparrow - Common away from towns.
Chaffinch - Fairly common.
Serin - One (probably male) seen briefly in flight on southern outskirts of Kyrenia.
Greenfinch - Several flocks seen at various locations.
Goldfinch - Several flocks seen at various locations.
Linnet - Several flocks seen in north-west.
Ctetchzmar's Bunting - Male singing 'Beethoven's 5th' near Karmi on 21st.
Black-headed Bunting - Several males west of Liveras on 18th and 21st.
Corn Bunting - Abundant in suitable habitat.

Butterflies
Swallowtail - Several seen at various locations.
Large White - One around hotel on 16th.
Small White - Several seen at various locations.
Clouded Yellow - Fairly common west of Liveras (18th and 21st).
Painted Lady - Very common; approximately 75% of all butterflies seen were of this species.
Small Copper - Several, mostly seen around hotel.
Paphos Blue - Two or three males near Ap. Andreas on 19th.
Common Blue - One near St. Hilarion on 17th.
Cyprus Meadow Brown - Several seen west of Liveras and on the Panhandle.

Mammals
Long-eared Hedgehog - Several, mostly dead in the road!.
Egyptian Fruit Bat - Several around hotel each evening.