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Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
WILDLIFE TRAVEL
Cyprus 2014
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 2
# DATE LOCATIONS & NOTES
1 12th March Afternoon arrival and transfer to the Aphrodite Beach Hotel.
2 13th March Baths of Aphrodite, walk round to Fontana Amorosa, then back to the hotel along the coast
3 14th March Pegeia Forest. Kritou Terra
4 15th March Stroumpi. Monastery of Agios Neophytos. Tombs of the Kings. Paphos headland
5 16th March Hillsides towards Neo Chorio and Latchi
6 17th March Paphos Forest: Peristerona, Stavros tis Psokas
7 18th March Droutia area
8 19th March Minthis Hill. Episkopi. Aranita. Mandria beach
9 20th March Smygies to Neo Chorio and back to hotel
10 21st March Return to UK.
LIST OF TRAVELLERS
Leaders Yiannis Christofides Philip Precey
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 3
12th March. Arrival. After some fun and games along the way with a rattling plane at Gatwick and fog at Luton we
all eventually arrived at Paphos Airport in the late afternoon where we met up with Yiannis and Lambros, our driver and transferred to the hotel at Aphrodite Beach, just north of Latchi on the eastern edge of the Akamas Peninsula, our home for the next ten nights.
13th March. Baths of Aphrodite. Today, our first introduction to the countryside and flora of Cyprus came whilst
walking some of the coastal path around from the Baths of Aphrodite towards Fontana Amorosa, just up the coast from the hotel. But first we had to get to the ‘start’ of the walk!
The botanical garden at the Baths of Aphrodite was a great introduction to some of the endemic plants of the island, including some real specialities that we won’t see elsewhere on our itinerary: the impressive Euphorbia veneris more normally found high up in the Troodos range, and the lovely Sideritis cypria, only found on the northern, Kyrenia
range. From here we visited the Baths themselves, a shady pond where myth would have us believe Aphrodite bathed after
her exploits: here we found Maidenhair Fern, the leaves of Brookweed along the stream and some very luxuriant fig trees. Beyond the Baths, the rocky hillsides were home to plenty of flowering Cyclamen persicum and the Turban Buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus, as well as two species of Bellevalia and our first orchids, in the form of Ophrys flavomarginata and O. umbilicata, the yellow O. sicula and O. elegans with its swept back wings. We also learned more about the ‘interesting’ (for which, read incredibly complex) geology of the island.
14th March. Pegeia Forest. Today dawned bright but windy, although as we headed over to the other coast, the wind calmed down and the sun warmed up.
Arriving at the forest, it was as much as we could do to make it out of the car park, where we were all enjoying the orchids: Anacamptis syriaca, Ophrys levantina, O. sicula, O. elegans and O. cinereophila were all within ten paces of the bus, keeping the botanists and photographers busy!
Low-growing bulbs included abundant white Ornithogallum pedicellare and the yellow Gagea peduncularis. A patch of mossy ground with the leaves of the autumn-flowering buttercup Ranunculus bulatus was also home to the tiny fronds of Small Adder’s Tongue Ophioglossum lusitanicum, a winter ‘flowering’ fern which was surprisingly common in
its favoured micro-habitat.
Exploring deeper into the forest, the limestone outcrops here have a series of vernal rock pools, home to a special suite of plants, including the little red succulent Telmisia microcarpa, the water crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus, the
floating leaves of Mudwort Limosella aquatica and the green ‘hair’ of Horned Pondweed Zannichellia palustris. Nearby we found the tiny sand crocus Romulea ramiflora and several spikes of the lovely delicate Serapias aphrodite, an endemic not just to Cyprus but to this tiny corner of the Akamas peninsula itself!
Birds were most obvious by their relative absence, with just Sardinian Warblers and a handful of finches to show for the day, but butterflies were on the wing during the day, with Orange Tip, Red Admiral and Painted Lady all familiar species from home, but more exciting were the endemic Paphos Blue, a couple of bright yellow Cleopatra and a fast-
flying Swallowtail.
Heading back towards the picnic site we also found several Crown Anemones Anemone coronaria in flower and a good population of Ophrys morio, while nearby a single tiny flower of Gagea fibrosa was found, a plant that normally
flowers in February.
Having made good time during the morning, we made an unscheduled stop at the village of Kritou Terra, where we
wandered along the quiet lanes, finding one of the island’s only two populations of Fritillaria persica, along with some lovely Giant Orchids Himantoglossum robertianum, a spike of Arum hygrophilum and a noisy Cetti’s Warbler.
15th March. Paphos. A day delving into Cyprus’s history, which seems almost as complicated as its geology! But
first, a quick stop near the village of Stroumpi, where a small population of Tulipa agenensis seems to be flourishing on the edge of the cultivated fields: a lovely little red tulip, in a rather precarious situation, but one that definitely seems to be having a good year.
And so to our history lessons… we started at the monastery and hermit’s cave of Agios Neophytos, home to some impressive cave paintings and an unfortunate saint’s skull. We then moved on to the Tombs of the Kings, where the Ptolemic rulers of the island were buried, and where the sandy, rocky upper beach revealed its particular plant
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 4
specialities: Centaurea aegialophila, Medicago marina and the tiny Papaver cyprium amongst them, as well as a good
number of Schreiber’s Fringe-footed Lizards, a couple of impressive Starred Agamas and an Isabelline Wheatear down by the shore.
To learn more about the lifestyle of Paphos’s ancient upper class, we travelled to the Paphos headland with its
fantastic mosaics, roman amphitheatre and byzantine ‘castle of forty columns’. Alongside the history, we enjoyed some birding. An immature Shag was on rocks in the harbour, while around the archaeological site were four Wood
Larks, a single Hoopoe and a handful of Northern Wheatears, with a pair of Isabelline Wheatears posing alongside. On the rocky shore we found a Little Egret, paddling through the pools.
16th March. Hillsides above the hotel. Before breakfast, at least four Black Francolins could be heard singing
from the nearby hills and fields… but always just out of sight. Patience is a virtue, and eventually we were lucky to find a male singing from a small rise in a field just up the road, as we made our way into the lanes up towards Neo Chorio.
During the morning, we walked up through the lanes and then along the ridge towards Latchi, before heading back to the hotel along the road. We found plenty of orchids along the way, amongst the abandoned olive groves and rough fields. A single small rough field was home to an amazing mix of Tongue Orchids, with four species of Serapias
growing side by side: Serapias orientalis, S. levantina, S. bergonii and the delicate local endemic S. aphrodite. Down in the lowest grove we found a handful of the large, yellow Orchis punctulata surviving in the edges of a field, where once a very strong population grew, growing alongside the giant orchid Himantoglossum robertianum. Ophrys orchids
during the morning included velvety black O. morio, O. umbilicata (with the pale pink sepals and barrel-shaped lip), O. astarte (very like umbilicata but with green sepals, and previously called Ophrys attica), O. flavomarginata (very common, with the more flared lip and yellow margins) and O. sicula (the yellow one). Highlight of them all, however,
were a small population of the handsome black and white and purple endemic Ophrys kotschyi. A wonderful variety in a relatively small area, although how long will they all survive here, with signs of yet more development of housing in
these rural villages.
Coming down from the ridge, we explored another area of temporary pools and limestone ‘pavement’ just off the road. Here we were pleased to find another population of Serapias aphrodite, looking particularly dainty amongst the
rocks here. In the pools themselves and the damp ground around them we found plenty of Telmissa microcarpa, Sedum caespitosum and the Red Data Book plant Crassula alata. The pools were home to plenty of tadpoles and a few water beetles, but most exciting of all were the bizarre Clam Shrimps, members of an ancient and increasingly
endangered group of crustaceans known as the Branchiopods, which are specialists of temporary pools which dry up in the summer.
17th March. Troodos Foothills. Today we headed for the cool air and the endemic flora of the mountains, with
Lambros safely tackling the hair pin bends of the Troodos Foothills, through the Paphos Forest.
We visited the small village of Peristerona, where we explored the rocky hillside, finding Ground Pine Ajuga chamaepitys, a dead Coin-marked Snake on the road and fly-pasts by several very showy Eastern Festoons, and
visited the nearby Byzantine Museum of the Bishopric of Arsinoe, home to some spectacular icons and a 1100 year old olive tree!
Crossing from the limestone to the igneous rocks, the vegetation changed from soft fields with Carob and Almonds to
a forest of Pinus brutia with an understorey of (endemic) Golden Oak Quercus alnifolia and Eastern Strawberry Tree Arbutus andrachne. Our first roadside stop yielded the endemic Orchis troodii , beautiful creamy yellow Dactylorhiza romana and some tiny botanical highlights in the form of more Ophioglossum lusitanicum under a cistus bush and the
even-more- tiny and almost un-noticeable Minuartia montana, together with the pink, endemic Thymus integer.
We stopped for lunch near the Mouflon enclosure at Stavros tis Psokas, passing the leaves of the endemic Cyclamen cyprium , the leaves of Platanthera holmboe (yet another endemic orchid, although this one is probably a month away from flowering), the beautiful Vicia cassia and a couple of noisy Coal Tits (an endemic Cypriot subspecies, of course) on the way.
Our afternoon walk looped around the top of a hill through the pine forest: here we found another beautiful Vicia, the yellow and purple V. lunata, the tiny Vicia lathyroides, a couple of impressive Romulea tempskyana and a big patch of Teesdalia coronopifolia.
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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A couple of roadside stops revealed the distant Cyprus Cedars, and some wonderful rock plants, in the form of Arabis purpurea, Turritis laxa and Anagallis lusitanicus, before we headed back to Latchi, under skies heavy with the grey clouds of Saharan dust which has been blown across by the winds from the south.
18th March. Droutia. With blue skies and sunshine accompanying us for the day, we walked the lanes around the
hilltop village of Droutia.
Amongst the African rocks we found the lovely Vicia cypria in flower. The nearby field was a little disappointing, with
just a handful of Ophrys sicula and Ophrys cinereophila amongst the rather stunted Anacamptis syriaca. At least five Blue Rock Thrushes were flycatching from the enormous rocks, and amongst them was a real surprise in the form of a female Rock Thrush, an apricot-bellied bird with a lovely orange tail that she fanned when in flight. Nearby, a male
Cyprus Wheatear appeared briefly, also fresh in, while overhead a group of Common Swifts were joined by at least one Alpine Swift.
Back to the orchids, and along the way we found some very fresh Anacamptis laxiflora in a damper field, a couple of
impressive spikes of Orchis italica, a single spike of Dense-flowered Orchid Orchis intacta and at least two species of Serapias, as well as abundant A. syriaca and a whole range of Ophrys: Ophrys cinereophila, O. sicula, O. morio, O. umbilicata, O. flavomarginata and O. astarte. At the end of the walk we found one new Ophrys: O. israelitica, a large
fusca-like flower but without the V-shaped groove in the throat.
A couple of tree frogs posed in a bush, while a small stream crossing the path was home to Green Toad, with a string of toad spawn and two adults calling from under a big overhanging rock in the stream bed. Nearby, a male Southern
Skimmer was zipping about; later on, a male Vagrant Emperor crossed in front of us, another migrant from North Africa, helped this way by the recent winds from the south.
An adult Bonelli’s Eagle soared overhead at lunchtime, preceded by three Steppe Buzzards on their way north and a
single Long-legged Buzzard lingering over the hillside. At the top of the hill we found a group of at least three Great Spotted Cuckoos causing some consternation amongst the local Magpies. Later, on the edge of the village, we found
a male Semi-collared Flycatcher in some oak trees, together with a female of presumably the same species.
19th March. Minthis Hill, Episkopi, Anarita and Mandria Beach. A long day, visiting various sites around Paphos. We started with a hilltop stop just near the golf resort at Minthis Hill. Here we found our first Ophrys iricolor, with the lovely cherry-pink underside to the lip, alongside plenty of other commoner Ophrys. A male Spectacled Warbler was singing from the dense bushes, while a female Eastern Subalpine Warbler slipped quietly through and the usual Sardinian Warblers rattled about.
From here we moved on to the Environmental Education Centre at Episkopi, where we investigated the displays, learning more about the wildlife of the island, and had a look at the newly planted botanic gardens. The nearby African limestone rock is home to a pair of Peregrines, and some of us saw one leave the rock, before circling high
overhead. There were also plenty of Jackdaws and a single Blue Rock Thrush, with Verbascum levantinum growing on the cliff face and both Polypodium cambricum and Asplenium ceterach in the cracks.
Lunch was along a nearby shady section of river in the valley bottom, with Cyprus Water Frogs, Alnus orientalis and
fresh oranges scrumped from the nearby orchards by Lambros.
Onwards, and upwards, to the dry hillsides around Anarita where we went on a wheatear hunt. And a very successful one: at least three Eastern Black-eared Wheatears and maybe ten Northern Wheatears were seen before we found
the main target of our search, a male Finsch’s Wheatear, just finishing his winter season here before heading back up to the highlands of Turkey to breed. A male Pallid Harrier slipped by almost unseen, a couple of Great Spotted Cuckoos were chuckling around the track and a Woodchat Shrike was busy chasing Corn Buntings off form their
favourite thistle-top perches.
And then it was down to the beach at Mandria, where we found something for everyone: the botanists enjoyed an
array of coastal plants including Matthiola tricuspidata and Anthemis tomentosa, butterflies ranged from a posing Swallowtail to a tiny African Grass Blue and our first Mallow Skipper of the trip, and for the birders there was a recent fall of wagtails to enjoy, including Black-headed Wagtails on their way to Greece and the Balkans, a couple of Blue-
headed Wagtails heading to Central Europe, a male Grey-headed Wagtail on his way to Scandinavia and a couple of ‘dombrowski’ intergrades making their way to Romania or the Ukraine: quite a multinational bunch!
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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20th March. Smygies and Neo Chorio. The early risers were rewarded with the best views so far of Black Francolin in the fields just up the road, with the displaying male finally succeeding in attracting a female.
After breakfast, we spent the day walking gently down from the ridge of the Akamas, above the Smygies picnic site,
to the hotel, stopping en route for a taverna lunch in the lovely village of Neo Chorio.
But before the walk proper, we drove a bit further up along the trail to a sunny hillside where a little searching
revealed good numbers of a beautiful red tulip, the recently discovered population of Tulipa orphanidea.
Back at the start of the walk, an outcrop of serpentine rock was the habitat for several Cypriot endemics associated this rock: Alyssum akamasicum, Thymus integer and Centaurea veneris, with a male Cretzschmar’s Bunting singing
nearby giving us brilliant views, swiftly followed by a male Cyprus Warbler, a real surprise so far west on the island, where Sardinian Warbler has pretty much replaced the endemic species.
Lower down, under the pines we found the tiny Gladiolus triphyllus (another endemic, of course). But the real stars of
the day were the orchids: new species came in the form of some fresh Ophrys bornmuelleri, the endemic O. lapethica just about to go over and the last few flowers of Orchis sezekiana.
The walk through the fields back to the village revealed a nice plant of Venus’s Looking-glass, plenty of lizards
scuttling away at the verges and on the walls, and a group of about five very confiding Cretzschmar’s Buntings feeding just outside the village.
21st March. Aphrodite Beach and home... All too soon, our ten days has come to an end! One last breakfast on
the terrace, overlooking the Mediterranean, and we had to bid farewell to Gregoria and the team at Aphrodite Beach and headed back to Paphos and our flights home.
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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CYPRUS 2014 A gallery of Philip’s photos from the trip can be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifetravel/sets/72157642307719784/
Top: One of Aphrodite Beach’s lovely Savigny’s Tree Frogs: very noisy neighbours! First row, l to r: Fritillaria persica, Paphos Blue on Ophrys morio and Ranunculus asiaticus. Second row, l to r: the delicate Serapias aphrodite, the newly-christened Ophrys aphrodite and Orchis troodii, three of
Cyprus’s endemic orchids
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 8
E = endemic species. e = endemic sub-species
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen FERNS
Adiantum capillus-veneris Maidenhair Fern Baths of Aphrodite 13th
Asplenium ceterach Rusty-back Fern 14th
Polypodium cambricum Southern Polypody On the African rocks 19th
Ophioglossum lusitanicum Small Adder’s Tongue with moss and Ranunculus bulatus
on thin soils at Pegeia
14th
CONIFERS
Cupressaceae Cupressus sempervirens Planted along roadsides 14th
Juniperus phoenicea Phoenician Juniper 13th
Ephedraceae Ephedra fragilis Jointed Pine 15th
Pinaceae Pinus brutia Calabrian Pine 13th
Pinus pinea Stone Pine Planted, at Monastery. Pine nuts 15th
E Cedrus brevifolia Cyprus Cedar 17th
DICOTYLEDONS
Aceraceae Acer obtusifolium 17th
Amaranthaceae E Bosea cypria 13th
Anacardiaceae Pistacia lentiscus Mastic Tree Evergreen 13th
Pistacia terebinthus Turpentine Tree Deciduous 17th
Apiaceae Daucus carota Wild Carrot 13th
Ferula communis Giant Fennel 13th
Foeniculum vulgare Fennel 15th
Lecokia cretica Furry fruits 14th
Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd’s Needle 14th
Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders 13th
Tordylium aegyptiacum 16th
Apocynaceae Nerium oleander Oleander 18th
Araliaceae Hedera helix cypria Cypriot Ivy 14th
Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia sempervirens Dutchman’s Pipe 14th
Asteraceae Anthemis palaestina 16th
Anthemis plutonia 17th
Anthemis rigida Rayless Chamomile 16th
Anthemis tomentosa 19th
Bellis sylvestris Autumn Daisy 18th
Carduus argentatus 18th
Calendula arvensis Field Marigold 13th
Centaurea aegialophila On the beach 15th
E Centaurea veneris On the serpentine rocks 20th
Crepis sancta Little yellow dandelion at Peristerona
17th
Geropogon hybridus 16th
Glebionis coronarium Crown Daisy 13th
Glebionis segetum Corn Marigold 13th
Helichrysum conglobatum 13th
Helichrysum italicum Vesta curry plant 17th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 9
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Leontodon tuberosum Tuberous Hawkbit 14th
E Onopordum cyprium 16th
Pallenis spinosa 16th
Phagnalon rupestre 13th
Ptilostemon chamaepeuce Pine-like knapweed in bot. garden 13th
Rhagadiolus stellatus 16th
e Senecio glaucus cyprius On the beach 15th
Tragopogon sinuatus Goat’s Beard 13th
Boraginaceae Anchusa aegyptiaca Eastern Alkanet 13th
Anchusa azurea Large Blue Alkanet 13th
Anchusa undulata Undulated Alkanet 18th
Borago officinalis Borage 14th
Buglossoides arvensis Corn Gromwell 14th
Cynoglossum creticum Cretan Hound’s-tongue 16th
Echium angustifolium Narrow-leaved Bugloss 15th
Lithodora hispidula 13th
Myosotis ramosissimum Tiny forgetmenot 17th
E Onosma fruticosa 20th
Brassicaceae E Alyssum akamasicum 20th
E Arabis purpurea 17th
Arabis verna Spring Rockcress 17th
Biscutella didyma 14th
Cakile maritima Sea Rocket 19th
Erophila verna Early Whitlow-grass 14th
Erucaria hispanica Spanish Mustard 19th
Hirschfeldia incana 19th
Matthiola tricuspidata Three-horned Stock On Mandria beach 19th
Sinapis alba White Mustard 13th
E Malcolmia nana var. glabra Tiny, on the beach 15th
Teesdalia coronopifolia 17th
Thlaspi perfoliatum 17th
Turritis laxa 17th
Campanulaceae Legousia speculum-veneris Venus’s Looking Glass 20th
Caryophyllaceae Arenaria thymifolia 19th
Kohlrauschia velutina Childling Pink 17th
Minuartia hybrida 17th
Minuartia picta Red striped under-petals 20th
Minuartia montana 17th
Paronychia argentea On the beach 15th
Silene behen 16th
Silene colorata var decumbens On the beach 15th
Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion 13th
Cistaceae Cistus creticus 14th
Cistus monspeliensis Narrow-leaved Cistus In Botanic Gardens 13th
Cistus parviflorus Small-flowered Cistus 13th
Cistus salviifolius Sage-leaved Cistus 13th
Cistus ladanifer In Botanic Gardens 13th
Fumana arabica Arabian Rock-rose 14th
Fumana thymifolia Thyme-leaved Rock-rose 20th
E Helianthemum obtusifolium On the beach 15th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Helianthemum salicifolium Willow-leaved Rock-rose 14th
Tuberaria guttata Spotted Rock-rose 17th
Convolvulaceae Convolvulus althaeoides Mallow-leaved Bindweed Big pinky flowers 15th
Convolvulus coelesyriacus 13th
Convolvulus pentapetaloides 20th
Convolvulus siculus Small bluish flowers 15th
Crassulaceae Crassula valantii Paphos headland 15th
Crassula alata rock pools 16th
E Sedum cyprium 20th
Sedum caespitosum 16th
Telmissa microcarpa Tiny red plant by the rock pools 14th
Umbilicus rupestris Navelwort 14th
Cucurbitaceae Bryonia cretica 16th
Ecballium elaterium Squirting Cucumber 13th
Ericaceae Arbutus andrachne Eastern Strawberry Tree 13th
Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia dimorphocaulon Winter-flowering 14th
Euphorbia helioscopia Sun Spurge 14th
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge 13th
E Euphorbia veneris Botanic Gardens 13th
Mercurialis annua Annual Mercury 13th
Fabaceae Astragalus lusitanicus 17th
Calycotome villosa Spiny Broom Yellow flowers 13th
Ceratonia siliqua Carob 13th
Cercis siliquastrum Judas Tree 20th
Genista sphacelata Very spiny, not in flower 13th
Hymenocarpus circinatus 14th
Lathyrus annuus Pale yellow flowers 16th
Lathyrus aphaca Yellow Vetchling Big stipules 16th
Lathyrus blepharicarpos Orangey-red flowers 13th
Lathyrus cicera Red Vetchling Deep red flowers 16th
Lathyrus gorgonei Pale orange flowers 16th
Lathyrus ochrus Edible crop 16th
Lupinus micranthus Dwarf Blue Lupin 17th
Lotus edulis Weed in carpark 13th
Medicago marina Sea Medick On the beach 15th
Medicago orbicularis Big discs 13th
Medicago polymorpha Spiky discs 13th
Ononis biflora White flower, red spot 16th
Physanthyllis tetraphylla 20th
Pisum sativum Wild Pea 18th
Scorpiurus muricatus 13th
Tetragonolobus purpureus Asparagus Pea 13th
Trifolium argutum 13th
Trifolium clypeatum Shield Clover 13th
Trifolium physodes 20th
Trifolium stellatum Star Clover 16th
Trifolium tomentosum Woolly Clover 16th
Vicia hybrida Hairy Yellow-vetch Pale yellow 13th
Vicia cassia Beautiful pink/purple 17th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Vicia cypria White and mauve 18th
Vicia lathyroides Tiny blue, hairy 17th
Vicia lunata Blue and yellow 17th
Vicia narbonense 17th
Vicia peregrina Bluish-purple 14th
Vicia sativa Common Vetch Purple 13th
Fagaceae Quercus coccifera calliprinos Kermes Oak 14th
E Quercus alnifolia Golden Oak 17th
Quercus infectoria veneris Deciduous or Royal Oak 14th
Geraniaceae Erodium gruinum Long-beaked Stork’s-bill 13th
Erodium malacoides Soft Stork’s-bill 13th
Erodium moschatum Musk Stork’s-bill 16th
Geranium ciconium 19th
Geranium columbinum 16th
Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill 18th
Geranium molle Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill 13th
Geranium purpureum Little Robin 13th
Geranium tuberosum Tuberous Crane’s-bill 14th
Lamiaceae Ajuga chamaepitys Ground Pine 17th
Lamium amplexicaule Henbit 15th
Lamium moschatum 13th
Micromeria nervosa 16th
E Origanum majorana Botanic Garden 13th
E Phlomis cypria Botanic Garden 13th
Phlomis lunariifolia 18th
Prasium majus 13th
Salvia dominica Botanic Garden 13th
Salvia fruticosa 13th
Salvia verbenaca Wild Clary 19th
Salvia viridis 13th
Sideritis cypria In the botanic garden 13th
Teucrium kotschyanum 17th
Thymus capitatus 15th
E Thymus integer 17th
Linaceae Linum bienne Pale Flax 13th
Meliaceae Melia azedarah Persian Lilac 15th
Myrtaceae Myrtus communis Myrtle 17th
Oleaceae Olea europaea Olive 13th
Olea europaea var. sylvestris Wild Olive 13th
Orobanchaceae Orobanche minor 18th
Orobanche ramosa Branched Broomrape 13th
Oxalidaceae Oxalis pes-caprae Bermuda Buttercup 13th
Papaveraceae Fumaria macrocarpa 15th
Fumaria officinalis 15th
Glaucium flavum Yellow Horned Poppy 19th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
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SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Papaver rhoeas Corn Poppy 13th
Papaver argemone Prickly Poppy 13th
Papaver cyprium On the beach 15th
Plantaginaceae Plantago afra Branched Plantain 16th
Plumbaginaceae Limonium sinuatum Sea Lavender 15th
Polygonaceae Emex spinosa 15th
Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis foemina Blue Pimpernel 13th
E Cyclamen cyprium Cypriot Cyclamen Leaves only 17th
Cyclamen persicum Persian Cyclamen 13th
Samolus valerandi Brookweed By the Baths of Aphrodite 13th
Rafflesiaceae Cytinus hypocistis Under the Cistus in the Bot.Garden 13th
Ranunculaceae Adonis annua Pheasant’s Eye 13th
Anemone coronaria Crown Anemone 14th
Ranunculus asiaticus Turban Buttercup 13th
Ranunculus bullatus leaves only, on Pegeia 14th
Ranunculus ficaria 14th
Ranunculus marginatus 18th
Ranunculus peltatus Pond Water Crowfoot In the pools 14th
Ranunculus paludosus The common yellow buttercup 14th
Rosaceae Crataegus azarolus Mediterranean Hawthorn 18th
Crataegus monogyna Common Hawthorn 14th
Eriobotrya japonica Loquat 18th
Prunus dulcis Almond 14th
Pyrus communis Wild Pear 18th
Sarcopoterium spinosum Thorny Burnet 13th
Rubiaceae E Asperula cypria 20th
Rubia tenuifolia Narrow-leaved Madder 14th
Sherardia arvense Field Madder 14th
Vallantia hispida 19th
Rutaceae Ruta chalepensis Rue Tombs of the Kings 15th
Scrophulariaceae Linaria chalepensis 16th
Limosella aquatica Mudwort In the rock pools 14th
Misopates orontium Weasel Snout 13th
Parentucellia latifolia Southern Red Bartsia 16th
Verbascum levantinum On the African rock 19th
Verbascum sinuatum Waxy-leaved Mullein On the beach 19th
Veronica anagallis-aquatica Blue Water Speedwell In the river 19th
Veronica cymbalaria Pale Speedwell 14th
Veronica persica Blue Field Speedwell 14th
Solanaceae Mandragora officinarum Mandrake 15th
Hyoscyamus alba White Henbane On Turkish Castle 15th
Withania somnifera 15th
Styracaceae Styrax officinalis 18th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 13
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Zygophyllaceae Fagonia cretica 13th
MONOCOTYLEDONS
Amaryllidaceae Allium neapolitanum Naples Garlic 13th
Allium trifoliatum 13th
Araceae Arum hygrophilum 14th
Arisarum vulgaris Friar’s Cowl 13th
Asparagaceae Asparagus acutifolius 14th
Asparagus horridus 15th
Bellevalia trifoliata Three-leaved Bellavalia 13th
Bellevalia nivalis Snowy Bellavalia 13th
Drimia maritima Sea Squill 13th
Muscari parviflorum Autumn Grape Hyacinth 13th
E Ornithogalum pedicellare 13th
Iridaceae Gladiolus italicus Field Gladiolus 13th
E Gladiolus triphyllus 20th
Moraea sisyrinchium Barbary Nut 14th
Romulea tempskyana Big purple 17th
Romulea ramiflora Small lilac 14th
Liliaceae Fritillaria persica 14th
Gagea fibrosa Tiny 14th
Gagea graeca White 13th
Gagea peduncularis Big 14th
Tulipa agenensis 15th
Tulipa orphanidea 20th
Smilacaceae Smilax aspera Smilax 13th
Xanthorroeaceae Asphodelus ramosus Common Asphodel 13th
Asphodelus fistulosus 13th
Zanichelliaceae Zanichellia palustris Horned Pondweed 14th
Orchidaceae Anacamptis collina (was Orchis collina) Gone over 13th
Anacamptis coriophora Bug Orchid (was Orchis coriophora) Rosettes 13th
Anacamptis syriaca (was Orchis morio ssp syriaca) 13th
Anacamptis laxiflora Loose-flowered Orchid (was Orchis laxiflora) 18th
Himmantoglossum robertianum Giant Orchid (was Barlia robertiana) 14th
Dactylorhiza romana 17th
Orchis intacta Dense-flowered Orchid (was Neotinea maculata) 16th
Orchis italica Naked Man Orchid 13th
Orchis punctulata 16th
Orchis sezekiana (was Orchis quadripunctata) 20th
E Orchis troodii (was Orchis anatolica ssp troodii) 17th
E Platanthera holmboei (was P. chlorantha ssp holmboei) 17th
E Serapias aphrodite 14th
Serapias orientalis 16th
Serapias levantina 13th
Serapias bergonii 14th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 14
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ENGLISH NAME
Notes
Seen
Spiranthes spiralis Autumn Lady’s Tresses Leaves only 14th
Ophrys: apifera group
Ophrys apifera var. chlorantha 20th
Ophrys: elegans group
Ophrys elegans 13th
Ophrys: mammosa group
E Ophrys alasiatica 18th
E Ophrys morio 14th
Ophrys: umbilicata group
Ophrys astarte (was Ophrys attica) 16th
Ophrys flavomarginata 13th
E Ophrys kotschyi 16th
E Ophrys lapethica 20th
Ophrys umbilicata 13th
Ophrys: bornmuelleri group
E Ophrys aphrodite (was Ophrys bornmuelleri) 20th
Ophrys levantina 14th
Ophrys: fusca group
Ophrys cinereophila (was Ophrys fusca) 14th
Ophrys iricolor 19th
Ophrys sicula 13th
Ophrys israelitica 18th
Ophrys cinereophila X O.flavomarginata One where we had lunch 18th
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 15
ENGLISH NAME
LATIN NAME
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Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants) Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo X
Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii X X
Family Ardeidae (Herons) Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis X
Little Egret Egretta garzetta X
Family Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles) Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus X
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo X X X X X X X X
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus X X
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus X
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus X X
Family Falconidae (Falcons) Kestrel Falco tinnunculus X X X X X X X X X
Peregrine Falco peregrinus X X X
Family Phasianidae (Pheasants and Partridges) Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus H H X X X H X H
Quail Coturnix coturnix H H H
Chukar Alectoris chukar H X X X X X
Family Charadriidae (Plovers) Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus X
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola X
Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers) Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos X
Turnstone Arenaria interpres X
Family Laridae (Gulls) Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis X X X X X X X X X
Heuglin’s Gull Larus (fuscus) heuglini X
Family Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia X X X X X X X X X
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus X X X X X X X X X
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto X X X X X X X X X
Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos) Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius X X
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus H
Family Strigidae (Owls) e Scops Owl Otus scops cyprius H H
Little Owl Athene noctua X X
Family Apodidae (Swifts) Swift Apus apus X X X X X
Alpine Swift Apus melba X X
Family Upupidae (Hoopoes) Hoopoe Upupa epops X X X X X X X X
Family Alaudidae (Larks) Skylark Alauda arvensis X
Crested Lark Galerida cristata X X X X X X X X X
Woodlark Lullula arborea X X
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and Martins) House Martin Delichon urbica X X X X X X X X X
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica X X X X X X X X X
Swallow Hirundo rustica X X X X X X X X X
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 16
ENGLISH NAME
LATIN NAME
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Family Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails) Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris X
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis X X X X X
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea X X X X X
White Wagtail Motacilla alba X X X X
Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla (flava) flava X
Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla (flava) feldegg X X
Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla (flava) thunbergi X
Family Troglodytidae (Wrens) Wren Troglodytes troglodytes cypriotes H
Family Muscicapidae (Chats and Flycatchers) Robin Erithacus rubecula X X X X X X X
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus X X
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros X X X X X X X
Stonechat Saxicola torquata X X X X X X X X X
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe X X X X X
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina X X X X
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe melanoleuca X X
Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii X
E Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca X
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius X X X
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis X
Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata X X
Family Turdidade (Thrushes) Blackbird Turdus merula X X X X
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos X X X X X X X X
Family Acrocephalidae (Reed Warblers) Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus X
Family Locustellidae (Locustellid Warblers) Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinoides X X H
Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas) Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis X X X X X X X X
Family Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers) Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla X X X X X X X
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca X X X
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala X X X X X X X X X
E Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax X
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata X
Eastern Subalpine Warbler Sylvia albistriata X X X
Family Cettidae (Bush Warblers) Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti X X X X X X X X X
Family Phylloscopidae (Leaf Warblers) Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita X X X X X X X X
Willow Warbler Phyloscopus trochilus X
Family Paridae (Tits) e Coal Tit Parus ater cypriotes X
Great Tit Parus major X X X X X X X X X
Family Laniidae (Shrikes) Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator X
Family Corvidae (Crows) Magpie Pica pica X X X X X X X X
e Jay Garrulus glandarius glaszneri X
Jackdaw Corvus monedula X X X X X X X X X
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix X X X X X X X X X
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 17
ENGLISH NAME
LATIN NAME
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Family Passeridae (Sparrows) Spanish Sparrow Passer hispanicus X X X X X X X X
House Sparrow Passer domesticus X X X X X X X X X
Family Fringillidae (Finches) Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs X X X X X X X X X
Linnet Carduelis cannabina X X X X X X X X X
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris X X X X X X X X X
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis X X X X X X X X X
Serin Serinus serinus X X X X X X
Family Emberizidae (Buntings) Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesia X
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra X X X X X X X X X
ENGLISH NAME
LATIN NAME
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AMPHIBIANS Green Toad Bufo viridis X
Savigny’s Tree Frog Hyla savignyi H H X X X X X X X X
E Cyprus Marsh Frog Pelophylax cypriensis X
REPTILES
Family Agamidae (Agamids) Starred Agama Laudakia stellio X X X X X X
Family Gekkonidae (Geckos) Kotschy’s Gecko Mediodactylus kotschyi X X X X
Family Lacertidae (Lizards) Snake-eyed Lacertid Ophisops elegans X X X X X X X X X
Schreiber’s Fringe-toed Lizard Acanthodactylus schreiberi X
Troodos Wall Lizard Lacerta troodica X X X X X X X X X
Family Scincidae (Skinks) Banded Skink Mabuya vittata X X X
Budak’s Snake-eyed Skink Ablepharus budaki X X
Family Colubridae (Colubrid Snakes) Large Whip-snake Coluber jugularis X X
Coin-marked Snake Coluber numifer One dead on the road near Peristerona, 17th
BUTTERFLIES
Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails) Swallowtail Papilio machaon X X X X
Eastern Festoon Zerinthia cerisyi X X X X X
Family Pieridae (Whites) Large White Pieris brassicae X X X X X X X X X
Eastern Bath White Pontia edusa X
Eastern Dappled White Euchloe ausonia X
Orange Tip Anthocaris cardamines X X X X X X X X X
Clouded Yellow Colias croceus X X X
Cleopatra Gonopteryx cleopatra X X X X X
Family Nymphalidae (Admirals and Fritillaries) Painted Lady Vanessa cardui X X X X X X X X X
Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta X X X X X
Family Satyridae (Browns) Southern Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria aegeria X X
Wall Brown Lassiomata megera X X X
Large Wall Lassiomata maera X X X X
Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014
www.wildlife-travel.co.uk 18
ENGLISH NAME
LATIN NAME
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Family Lycaenidae (Blues & Coppers) E Paphos Blue Glaucopsyche paphos X X X X X X X X
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus X
African Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra X
Family Hesperiidae (Skippers) Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alcaea X
OTHERS e Cyprus Mouflon Ovis musimon orientalis In the enclosure at Stavros
Southern Skimmer Orthetrum brunneum female at Pegeia; powder-blue male near Droutia
Vagrant Emperor Hemianax eppiphiger One male near Droutia, 18th
Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum One near Baths of Aphrodite and one near the Tulips at Smygies
Silver Y Autographa gamma Smygies, 20th
E Cyprus March Moth Ocnogyna cypriaca Massed caterpillars on the floor
Pine Processionary Moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa Caterpillars in webs in the pine trees
Violet Carpenter Bee Xyolcopa sp The flying black olive
Egyptian Grasshopper Anacridium aegyptium The large grey locust, eg Pegeia
e a cricket Truxalis eximia cypria The stick-insect grasshopper
Giant Centipede Scolopendra cingulata Poisonous bite, under rocks
Cyprus Tarantula Chaetopelma gracile under a rock in Pegeia Forest
a jumping bristletail Silvestrichilis trispina male with black and white belts, 16th
a clam shrimp Order Spinicaudata: Crustaceans In the rock pools near Latchi