A widespread breeding species in Cyprus , Little Grebe was locally common, with 27 reported to mid-month at Larnaca Sewage Works, peaking at 69 on the 25th, while another large flock of 76 was at Fresh Water Lake , Famagusta on the 24th. An unseasonal Black-necked Grebe, in breeding plumage, was seen at Larnaca Sewage Works on the 31st. Shags were only seen on the rocks off Kensington Cliffs, with up to eight, including several juvs. present all month. Always a good find, single Little Bitterns were seen at Aspro Pools on the 1st and Fresh Water Lake on the 12th & 24th and three were at the Phasouri Reed-beds on 13th. Night Herons were in good supply with reports at 7 sites, including one at Akhna Dam 6th – 18th, two at Sotira Pools 7th & 18th, three at Fresh Water Lake 12th, seven, including 3 juvs., at Athalassa Dam 25th and up to six at Phasouri Reed-beds 9th - 26th, although some may refer to the same birds. A few Squacco Herons were reported all month too, with singles at Aspro Pools on 1st, Akhna Dam 6th – 29th, Phasouri Reed-beds on 9th, Zakaki Marsh 18th, Partentis Dam on 13th, Larnaca Sewage Works on 21st and three at Fresh Water Lakes 12th & 24th. An influx of Cattle Egret at Akhna Dam reached 32 on the 1st, while at nearby Fresh Water Lakes a count of 36 at the colony on the 12th, suggests the population is mobile. Up to three Little Egrets were reported widely, with a maximum of around 16 at Fresh water Lakes on 12th & 24th. Up to three Purple Herons, presumably migrants, were very early at Athalassa Dam 25th – 30th, as were up to two Glossy Ibis at Fresh Water Lakes from the 12th and at Phasouri Reed-beds on the 25th. A Spoonbill was at Phasouri Reed-beds on 6th and eight were at Larnaca Sewage Works on 31st. There were single Greater Flamingos at Phasouri Reed-beds and Larnaca Sewage Works early in the month with migrants appearing briefly, in the form of six at Larnaca Sewage Works on the 25th and 10 on the 31st. A flock of nine were circling the Phasouri Reed-beds on 26th. Ferruginous Ducks held on at Akrotiri, with some dispersal noted: a peak of 10 were at Phasouri Reed-beds on 13th and up to four were at Zakaki Marsh 18th – 26th.

Still very localised – and on the brink – Griffon Vultures were only seen at Kensington Cliffs, with up to three present most days while the Black Vulture was only seen there on 9th. An early, or wayward, very dark Marsh Harrier was seen from the hide at Larnaca Sewage Works on 21st and unseasonably early single Common Buzzards were reported at Akhna Dam and Partentis Dam on 13th and at Athalassa Dam on 23rd. A healthy breeding season was proven by the regular appearance of Long-legged Buzzards in the foothills behind Paphos, with at least one seen most days over the valley between Armou and Tsada golf course. An exceptional sighting of five hovering and feeding near Kallepeia on the 20th were hunting co-operatively. Singles in the Ezousas River Valley near Episkopi most days from the 18th, Ayios Dimitrianos on 13th, Pitargou on 20th and at Marathounta on 29th, may refer to birds from the same population. A pair of adult Bonelli’s Eagles performed on each afternoon visit to the Ezousas Valley near Pitargou from the 11th and it was encouraging to find a juvenile in tow on the 23rd and 25th. Presumably lost, a Red-footed Falcon was at Athalassa Dam on the 25th and a single Hobby was there on 30th, with others at Coral Bay on the 2nd and Tsada on the 23rd. Up to 12 Eleonora’s Falcons were seen at Kensington Cliffs most days, and up to three regularly strayed inland on the Akrotiri Peninsula, with singles at Bishop’s Pool and Akrotiri Salt Lake on the 8th, at Phasouri Reed-beds on the 18th, two at Trachoni on the 9th and three at the Sylvana Restaurant on 18th. One of the month’s most interesting reports was of an adult Lanner Falcon attacking Spur-winged Plovers and Chukar at Akhna Dam on 13th. I look forward to receiving more details please! A Peregrine was seen at  Kensington Cliffs most visits from at least the 9th – 30th. One or two Black Francolin, mostly juveniles-types, were seen at Armou, Episkopi, Kannaviou and Akrotiri Salt Lake on several days, with the greatest numbers at Oroklini Marsh, where they peaked at eight on 9th. The most elusive of marsh species, Water Rail was heard calling at the Phasouri Reed-beds on the 13th, though none were ever seen, and, even more surprising, single Spotted Crakes, were found at Ezousas River weir, Episkopi from 23rd – 28th and at Athalassa Dam on the 30th, possibly very early migrants or wandering birds, nest prospecting.

At the main breeding sites, Black-winged Stilts were easily found, many with well-grown young. The largest numbers were 27 at Fresh Water Lakes 12th, 25 at Aradippou pig farms on 13th, 40 at Larnaca Sewage Works on 25th, including chicks from 3 broods and 25 at Oroklini Marsh at least from 8th – 22nd. Up to 18 Stone Curlews were counted at the Acheleia olive farm from 5th and a good count of 61 birds were at Larnaca Salt Lake on 15th. One was calling at Agios Nikolaos on the 11th and 24th and two were at Oroklini Marsh on the 9th. Family parties of Little Ringed Plover were seen at Akhna Dam, with six on 9th increasing to 12 from the 21st while one at Oroklini Marsh 14th, rose to 12 on 20th. There was a peak of 10 at Fresh Water Lakes 24th, eight at the Paphos Sewage Plant 14th and a peak of five at the Phasouri Reed-beds on 18th. A Ringed Plover was at Paphos Headland on the 24th. Kentish Plovers had a good breeding season, especially around the Akrotiri Salt Lake , where over 100 were counted at Lady’s Mile on the 18th and at the Larnaca Sewage Works where c35 were present on 21st. A Greater Sand Plover at Lady’s Mile on the 8th, increased to two on 26th, while two were present on the rocks at Paphos Headland from the 16th. Spur-winged Plovers had a precarious breeding season, with 18 adults at Akhna Dam on 6th, only producing 3 juvs. on the 21st, at Aradippou pig farms there were six ads. and 6 juvs. on 13th and, at the Larnaca Sewage Works five ads. and 2 juvs. on 13th. Otherwise nine at Fresh Water Lake 12th, up to 25 at Oroklini Marsh most of the month a peak of six at Paphos Sewage Plant on 19th, three at Phasouri Reed-beds 25th, 16 at Sotira Pools on 7th and one at Zakaki Marsh 23rd. Wader migration was noticeable with Little Stints reaching 33 at Akhna Dam on 29th, 12 at Lady’s Mile on 26th, 19 at the Larnaca Sewage Works on 29th and 21 at Phasouri Reed-beds on 26th. There were three Temminck’s Stints at Akhna Dam on the 29th and one at Sotira Pools on 31st. Ruff were found in small numbers at several sites, with a max. of nine at Phasouri Reed-beds on 26th, while a Black-tailed Godwit at Phasouri Reed-beds on 9th moved to Zakaki Marsh and was joined by another on 12th. Three Spotted Redshanks were a good find at Fresh Water Lakes on the 12th and one was at the Larnaca Sewage Works on 31st, while common Redshanks were only seen in ones and twos at the Larnaca Sewage Works, Oroklini Marsh and Sotira Marsh. Marsh Sandpipers started to appear in the east, with one at Sotira Pools from 19th and two at Akhna Dam on the 21st. Greenshank arrived slightly earlier with one at Akhna Dam on 6th, one at Phasouri Reed-beds on 13th and three at Zakaki Marsh on the same day. Another early species, Green Sandpiper was seen in small numbers sporadically at Aspro Pools, Lymbia Dam, Oroklini Marsh and Sotira Pools, with a maximum of six at Aradippou pig farm pools on 13th and seven at Akhna Dam on 29th. Wood Sandpiper was even more common, with the greatest numbers, 14 at Akhna Dam on 6th, 16 at Fresh Water Lake  on 12th, five at Oroklini Marsh on 15th eight at Phasouri Reed-beds on 18th and six at Sotira Pools on 19th. Slightly less common, was Common Sandpiper, first reported at Oroklini Marsh on the 5th, and peaking at six on 16th, up to five at Akhna Dam, peaking on the 9th, five at Fresh water Lake on 24th, up to three at Larnaca Sewage Works from the 13th and three at Sotira Pools on 31st. Two Turnstones at Paphos Headland on the 25th, were the month’s only records.

Seabirds were really worth watching this month, especially when an adult Franklin’s Gull appeared at the Larnaca Sewage Works from the 29th, showing well from the hide and regularly flying passed at eye level, though not recognised as such until the 31st. This is the first record for Cyprus, of a localised species which normally breeds around inland lakes of North America, although wanderers regularly reach Britain and occasionally find themselves in western Europe. The Larnaca Sewage Works and Zakaki Marsh hosted good numbers of Slender-billed Gulls in July, with a maximum of 38 at the sewage works on 15th and a peak of 15 on the 9th, at the marsh. An early Baltic Gull (nominate form of Lesser Black-backed Gull) was at Larnaca Sewage Works from the 13th – 16th and a possible immature Armenian Gull was there on the 27th. Of terns, a Gull-billed Tern arrived at the Larnaca Sewage Works on 7th and it, or another bird,  was seen with a begging juvenile from 31st, while a pair of Common Terns successfully raised three young there, remaining on view from the hide throughout the month. Little Terns had a record year, entirely confined to the Larnaca Sewage Works, with numbers reaching 48 on 13th, when 4 downy young were present, and peaking at about 60 birds, which included 5 breeding pairs, producing some eight chicks. One Whiskered Tern at the Larnaca Sewage Works from the 27th, became two on the 31st and Black Terns started appearing on the 6th, with one at Akhna Dam and up to two at the Larnaca Sewage Works from the 7th, rising to four on 31st.  White-winged Black Tern was also present at these sites, in good numbers, with one at Akhna Dam on the 6th, up to two at the Larnaca Sewage Works from the 1st, with seven from 27th, three at Phasouri Reed-beds 25th and two at Zakaki Marsh on 9th. Most were adults.

Oddly, Turtle Doves were fairly localised, or perhaps over-looked, with most reports only from Armou, Athalassa and the Ezousas River valley, where up to three were seen throughout the month. Four were seen at Nata Ford on the 1st and, away from the west,  singles were reported at Akhna Dam on the 6th, Pera on the 3rd & 14th and at Akrotiri on the 18th. Great Spotted Cuckoos made their final appearance, with only single juveniles seen at Larnaca Sewage Works on the 3rd and at Armou on the 6th. Owls featured extremely well. Three Barn Owls were found at a nest site at Pera on the 3rd, but sadly another was found dead on the road near Letimbou on the 14th. Two juvenile Scops Owls were well-watched at the English School, Nicosia from 27th – 31st and others were heard in the Tsada Hills on 14th & 22nd and at Tremithousa on the 15th. Two Little Owls were heard regularly all month at Agios Nikolaos (ESBA), while singles were seen at Aradippou dam on the 6th, Akhna Dam on the 10th and sitting on a road sign at Episkopi on 28th. A Long-eared Owl was seen at Lymbia Dam on the 18th and one was hunting sparrows around a house at Paramytha on the 31st. Even Nightjars were reported in July, usually a quiet time for the species, with one heard ‘churring’ at the Tsada golf course on 1st & 4th, one sitting on the road at Kinousa on the 3rd and another flying over the village at Pera on the 14th. There was a large congregation of an estimated 200 Common Swifts, 60 Alpine Swifts and 400 Swallows flying above fields at Trachoni on the 9th, indicating a probable assembly prior to migration off the Akrotiri Peninsula. Two Pallid Swifts were feeding with other swifts at the Phasouri Reed-beds on 13th. 65 more Alpine Swifts were feeding high over the weir at Episkopi in the Ezousas River Valley on 11th and the last four of the month were at Phasouri Reed-beds on the 26th. One of the most colourful migrants of the season, Kingfisher was first seen at Paphos Headland on the 20th, followed by singles at Zakaki Marsh on 28th, Akhna Dam on 29th and Sotira Pools on 31st. Two female Pied Kingfishers were present all month at Akhna Dam, the first time the species has over-summered in Cyprus since a pair bred in the Larnaca area in 1996. Interestingly, Bee-eaters were well-reported in July, with up to 19 daily in the Ezousas Valley near Episkopi from at least the 18th, and 35 at roost on 20th. Nesting was also widely reported by MM, with two pairs and 2 juvs. in a mountain cutting at Agros on 6th, a pair nesting in a cutting at Lythrodontas 10th, a pair plus ‘helper’ nesting at Lymbia on 17th, two pairs nesting at Episcopion on 18th and two pairs and 4 juvs. at a river bank nest at Makheras on 20th. Flyover birds were heard at Pera on 9th, one was at Famagusta border crossing 12th and five flew passed Tsada on 17th. Rollers were more elusive with reports only from Tsada, Armou, Akhna Dam, Lymbia Dam, Meneou Pools, Pera and Stroumbi. There were a few Hoopoe reports, from or near nest sites, with up to three at Akhna Dam on several occasions from 6th – 29th, up to two at Kannaviou Dam 14th – 19th and two nesting pairs at Paramytha on the 31st. Red-rumped Swallows were reported all month, although they were rather localised. Up to 12 were present most days in the Ezousas valley between Episkopi and Pitargou, four at Akhna Dam on 18th, six at Fresh Water Lakes on 24th and up to seven on Tsada Hills from 1st – 16th. House Martins formed vast flocks well away from their nest sites, with some spectacular gatherings over the forest, including 175 over Mt. Olympus on the 9th and 2,500 over Kannaviou Dam on the 19th. At Oroklini Marsh and Phasouri Reed-beds, Black-headed Wagtails were present all month, having hosted breeding pairs, with a peak of five at Oroklini on the 19th and eight, including 6 juvs. at Phasouri on the 9th. Always a good find, Wrens were seen at Kionia, one on 16th and on the Artemis Trail, with a pair, the male in song, on the 9th. Single juvenile Cyprus Wheatears were at Akhna Dam on 6th and Fresh Water Lakes on 24th, and 18 were on the Artemis Trail, Mt. Olympus on the 9th. Otherwise all reports of this endemic were from the well-watched sites in the Paphos area. Always shy in Cyprus, two Blackbirds were reported each on the Artemis Trail on the 9th and at Kionia 16th.

Warblers are sometimes hard to find in mid-summer although this was not the case with Reed Warbler, a total of 32 of which were counted at Zakaki Marsh and Phasouri Reed-beds on the 9th and 13th, while 10 Olivaceous Warblers were seen with 3 juvs. at Akhna Dam on the 6th, and 10, also with calling juvs., were in the Ezousas Valley on the 11th. Spectacled Warblers were only seen at Akhna Dam, Armou track, Larnaca Sewage Works, Meneou Pools and Oroklini Marsh, with a maximum of eight at the Tsada golf club track on the 3rd. However, Sardinian Warblers as one would expect in summer, were only seen in Paphos district, apart from one on the Artemis Trail on the 9th. Cyprus Warblers were even more scarce, worryingly suggesting further decline, with reports only from Armou, Kannaviou, Kionia and Letimbou. However juveniles are quite tricky to identify. Two Spotted Flycatchers and 24 Coal Tits were along the Artemis Trail on the 9th, while smaller numbers of Coal Tits were also seen at Kalo Khorion Kirou, Kannaviou Dam and Kionia. Masked Shrikes made a determined push out of the forests and on to low ground in July, with up to two at Akhna Dam and Armou from the 6th followed by 35 more records comprising about 79 birds. The most were recorded at Armou with up to six from the 18th, three at Lymbia Dam on 18th, five at Strakka on 29th and two at Episkopi, Athalassa, Kionia and Pitargou, with the rest of the records being of mostly single immature birds. Five, including 2 juvs. were seen at the Artemis Trail on the 9th, possibly near their nest site. As usual, Jays were greatly under-recorded due to lack of coverage, but six were seen from the Artemis Trail on the 9th and two were at Kionia on the 16th. There were quite large flocks of Spanish Sparrows reported, the largest of these being c85 at Akhna Dam on the 6th, a peak of 40 at Oroklini Marsh on the 6th & 15th, c50 at Sotira Pools on the 7th, 150 along the Paphos Airport fence at Acheleia on 19th and 70 around the Turkish Cypriot village of Pitargou on the 20th. I was amused to see there was only one record of Chaffinch (normally abundant in most European countries) – 24 were counted along the Artemis Trail at Mt. Olympus on the 9th. Greenfinch was seen in groups of up six at Akhna Dam, the Ezousas River Valley and Strakka Valley, while ever ubiquitous Goldfinch, were widely reported in feeding flocks of up to 20, with a maximum of 71 at Lymbia Dam on 18th. Linnets were ‘flocking’ too in the west with foraging groups of up to 70 in the hills above Armou from the 10th, although no other large groups were reported. Our three breeding buntings were a bit scarce. One Cretzschmar’s Bunting was at Pera on the 3rd and up to six were at the Episkopi weir in the Ezousas River Valley from the 25th. One male Black-headed Bunting was in scrub on the Tsada golf club track on the 3rd and the only two records of Corn Bunting were, up to 33 at Akhna Dam from the 6th and six at Sotira Pools on the 19th.  

The following common species were also reported Grey Heron, Mallard, Kestrel, Chukar, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Crested Lark, Cetti’s Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow and House Sparrow.