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Summary: Outward bird migration at the Southeastern Peninsula and Cape Greco, Cyprus
77Tobias Roth
Figure 1a. Location of the study area. Figure 1b. Transects positions on the SE Peninsula.
Outward (autumn) bird migration at the
Southeastern Peninsula and Cape Greco,
Cyprus: the phenologies of regular migrants
TOBIAS ROTH
Birds on their outward migration were counted in Cyprus at the Southeastern
(SE) Peninsula, which includes Cape Greco, from 3 September to 27 October
2005 inclusive. Birds passing during the day were counted continuously and 4
to 5 transect counts were conducted daily to estimate the densities of resting
birds. Phenologies are presented for all species observed 50 or more times. The
results considerably augment our knowledge of many species, shedding new
light on their autumn migration phenology. Strong diurnal movements of
herons, raptors, bee-eaters and swallows were observed. The total numbers of
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster met the Important Bird Area C3 criterion.
For the first time a significant passage of Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne
rupestris is noted. The area of the SE Peninsula is an important stopover for
many Sylvia warblers, Eurasian Stonechat Saxicola torquatus, Isabelline
Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina and Black-eared Wheatear O. hispanica.
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