April 1st :- We fly into Paphos Airport and after picking up the air-conditioned minibus make our way to our hotel for the next six nights. The journey into town could yield a few Mediterranean species with possibly a Woodchat Shrike or Hoopoe sat on the roadside. After settling into our accommodation and maybe having a cool drink we will spend a relaxed first evening around the Paphos area familiarising ourselves with the more common resident species and any migrants that are around.

April 2nd :- Most of the day will be spent around te Paphos Headland and Mandria where secretive Black Francolin call from the tall grasses. The immediate area out towards the headland forms one of the best migration sites on the whole of Cyprus. A morning's walk around the lighthouse and headland areas and along the rocky shore can produce some really good birds including Red throated & Tawny Pipits, Crested & Short-toed Larks, several wheatear species including Isabelline, Northern, Black-eared, & their own Cyprus Wheatear, Cretzschmar's Bunting, and overnight falls of several races of Yellow Wagtail including the lovely Black-headed. The olives groves and scrub can host the raucous Great Spotted Cuckoo, Cirl Bunting, Olivaceous, Orphean & Rüppell's Warblers, Wryneck and perhaps Pied & Collared Flycatchers. Many rare european species have been found in this area over the years including Bimaculated Lark, Semi-collared Flycatcher and Rufous Bush-robin. Just south of Paphos are the valleys and cultivated fields of Mandria where more grounded migrants can be found along with Black Francolin, Black headed Bunting and Calandra Lark.

April 3rd :- Today we visit the pools at Asprokremnos Dam, which is one of the best places in the Western Palearctic for seeing Little Crake, but also a chance of Little Bittern, Marsh Sandpiper, Spotted Crake and Citrine Wagtail. At the top end of the dam, Pied Kingfisher is a possibility and raptors are on the agenda with migrants such as Long legged Buzzard. Montagu’s & possibly Pallid Harrier moving through. We then travel up to the cool of the Troodos Mountains covered with the smell of Calabrian & Troodos Pine where we hope to find both Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus  Wheatear along with the gorgeous Masked Shrike, the cypriot races of Coal Tit and Crossbill.

April 4th :-  Another chilled day around the Paphos headland and the Akamas peninsula. A visit to the historical Tomb of the Kings can be great for migrants with Quail being flushed from the scrub and also numerous pipits, larks and wagtails. We will also be keeping a close eye on birds coming in off the sea as flocks of Purple & Night Heron, Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill can be seen heading inland on their northward passage. Birds can also be found flying along the coastline particularly Yelkoan & Cory's Shearwaters plus Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe and Shag. feeding in the blue mediterranean waters. Next we travel to the island's north-west extremity and the lovely Akamas peninsula with it's stunning scenery and some superb birds and flowers. Among the many orchids to be found there are Giant, Syrian & Naked Man Orchids, plus a good variety of bee orchids including Omega, Yellow Bee, and the endemic Cyprus Ophrys. While here we will visit the Baths of Aphrodite; a sheltered spot that can also attract a good range of migrants, especially shrikes and flycatchers.

April 5th :-  Our last full day will be spent in the south of the island where we visit the famous Akrotiri Peninsula with the Phassouri reedbeds Bishop's Pool and Akrotiri Salt Lake all of which are excellent for good views of wetland birds. Amongst the pools we should find Squacco & Night Heron, Glossy Ibis, and possibly Great White Egret, with several harriers including Marsh, Montagu's & Pallid Harriers quartering the area. Waders will be in evidence now mostly in Summer plumage with several parties of Curlew & Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Kentish Plover & Ruff. There is always good chance of finding something special amongst these flocks such as Temminck's Stint, Marsh & Broad billed Sandpiper or Greater Sand Plover. Next we will visit the Griffon Vulture colony at Kensington Cliffs, and who knows we may also find an early returning Eleanora's Falcon hawking birds & insects over the sea.

April 6th :- After spending the morning in Cyprus we will catch an afternoon flight to London, arriving in the early evening.

*As the focus is on migrant birds the schedule may change due to weather conditions at the time, your guides will determine the sites with the best likelihood of seeing the target species each day but all of the sites named will be visited during the trip.

Price includes:-

Price does not include:-

1. Flights to & from Paphos
2. 5 nights in en-suite accommodation
3. All meals inc. wine
4. All transport costs, inc. vehicle hire, fuel, etc
5. Potential trip list with daily check list.
6. Use of field guides covering the area

1. Travel and contents insurance.
2. Extra food & drink to normal meal times.
3. Items of a personal nature.