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Cyprus species lists and trip report, 12th to 21st March 2014

WILDLIFE TRAVEL

Cyprus 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



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



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.



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!



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 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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



ENGLISH 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



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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



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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

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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



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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

ecuador & galapagoss668665351.websitehome.co.uk/.../03/wildlife-travel-cyprus-spring-2… ·...

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