Archived destinations
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Northern Cyprus
Birds
Scrubby areas hold spectacled warblers and Cretzschmar’s bunting, with blue rock thrush on crags. On more open areas, we keep an eye out for great spotted cuckoo, chukar, tawny pipit and black-eared wheatear, plus alpine swifts overhead. Wetlands may have spur-winged and Kentish plovers, Audouin’s gull and migrant waders can include marsh sandpiper. Pied kingfisher is a winter visitor: they might still be lingering. Griffon vultures are both a winter resident and a resident breeder and are often seen eastwards along the Besparmak range from St Hilarian castle. Buzzards are frequent and pallid harrier is a regular migrant. Colourful summer visitors arriving in April are bee-eaters, bright golden orioles and the unmistakable hoopoe.
Flowers
The flowers in North Cyprus are every bit as prolific as the birds and this limestone region of the island has an especially good orchid flora. Among the bee orchids, Kotschy’s bee orchid, Ophrys kotschyii, is a speciality to look out for as is the endemic elegant orchid, Ophrys elegans, but there are some other charmers, like the Anatolian orchid, Orchis anatolica, which is hard to beat for pure grace and elegance. Two other orchids that have a distinctly eastern distribution but can be seen here are Bornmueller’s orchid, Ophrys bornmuelleri, and Ophrys levantina.
Away from the orchids, the flora in general is very rich with 16 species endemic to North Cyprus alone. The famous black tulip, Tulip cypria, really dark crimson, is one we expect to find. Apart from the stars, the chorus backdrop of the flowers of the field will be in full attendance, including gladiolus, pheasants-eye and crown daisies.
Other wildlife
As the weather warms up the lizards make their appearance including the chunky starred agama, Kotchy’s gecko, fringe-fingered and snake-eyed lizard. Expect Montpellier snakes around too. Red foxes and hares might be the highlights of the mammals, apart from the odd feral goat!
Cyprus pied wheatear
