Spectacular flocks of flamingoes have arrived on a stretch of water at Kalkanli near Güzelyurt and on Famagusta´s Çanakkale pond, Cyprus Today reported on Saturday.
The birds began appearing in August as they migrated from Turkey to spend the winter in Cyprus or other warmer countries.
Biologist Robin Snape said: ”The flamingoes will be here until they start to return to Turkey in February and March.”
He said that during their winter in Cyprus many flamingoes will transfer to Gülseren in Famagusta because of its large area of water. Mr Snape said flamingoes usually migrated in small groups of between two and 40, sometimes at night.
Apart from flamingoes there have recently been between 40 and 50 other species of birds spotted in Cyprus, he said. The new arrivals include spotted crake on Çanakkale pond which are en route from Eastern Europe and Russia to Africa, pied kingfishers, visitors from Africa and Asia – plus a single osprey.
Sightings of the rare lesser spotted eagle have also been reported as they journey from Turkey to Africa for the winter.
A flutter of excitement was caused when between 80 and 100 red footed falcons made a stopover on the roundabout near Ercan Airport while flying to Africa.
Nature-lovers were hoping to see flamingoes in south Cyprus on Saturday during a trip organised by bird and nature group Kuşkor. Read about the trip here.
A similar trip is to be organised by Kuşkor in the North by next month. The date and details will be announced on New Cyprus Magasin later.
