Records and photographs for Around the Region should be sent as soon as possible after the event to Around the Region, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.  You can also email records using the form below.

The following assisted in the compilation of this review: Alexander Abuladze, Yosef Ali Alzaby, Vasil Ananian, Ian Andrews, Parviz Bakhtiari, Gerry Bilbao, Tom Coles, Judy Dawes, Rob Felix, Peter Flint, Ramezanali Ghaemi, Jan Goedelt, Ian Green, Nader Hamidi, Tomas Haraldsson, Peter Hellyer, Volker Hesse, Menno Hornman, Lior Kislev, Abolghasem Khaleghizadeh, Marcus Kohler, Graham Langley, Alexander Lees, Graham Lobley, Martin Lok, Mary Megalli, Peter Meininger, Babak Musavi, Yoav Perlman, Thomas Pettersson, Stefan Pfutzke, Colin Richardson, Nir Sapir, Dave Sargeant, Heiko Schmaljohann, Shellie Senzer, David Stanton, Marius Teeuw, Hannes Uhlig, Magnus Ullman, Harvey van Diek, Colin Walters, David Whaley, Frank Willems and Mark Zekhuis.

On 7 October, 14 Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea were feeding at sea 28km north of Kyrenia. An early returning Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus was seen on 10 August at Ozanköy. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis bred in a mixed colony at Famagusta Lake in summer 2004 – the first breeding records for both species from the island of Cyprus. Little Egret Egretta garzetta also bred there – the first breeding record for North Cyprus; on 4 August there were 57 Cattle Egret, 33 Squacco Heron and 17 Little Egrets. Forty Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus flew west at Karaoglanogu on 11 August. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos had an excellent breeding season and were present in high numbers at many reservoirs: 76 at Serdali on 16 July, 80 at Kanliköy on 14 July. Out of season records of Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus came from Vrecha and Choulou on June 19. The adult Black Vulture Aegypius monachus was seen again at Kensington Cliffs on 3 November. A Lanner Falco biarmicus at Larnaca Sewage Works between 11–30 November will be the third record if accepted. A Corncrake Crex crex was in dry herbage at Salamis on 27 August; a good record for this underrecorded species. Coot Fulica atra also had a successful breeding season and 400+ were at the Fresh Water Lake on 24 July.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus is an uncommon passage migrant so the record of ten flying over the sea near Argaka on August 9 was notable. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius bred successfully at Asprokremnos Dam; two adults and two juveniles were seen on 26 June. If accepted, the third records of Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva was at Lady’s Mile, Limassol on 20 October. A Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus was at Sirievler Reservoir on 10 July, three pairs were at the Fresh Water Lake on 13 July and another breeding pair at Kanliköy reservoir on 14 July. A Lapwing Vanellus vanellus at Achelia Stream from 15–22 June was unseasonal. Two adult Heuglin’s Gull Larus argentatus heuglini were at Larnaca Sewage Works on 7 November. On 19 August, 14 Black Tern Chlidonias niger were at Phasouri Reedbeds; a good records of this irregular passage migrant. Seven Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus at Kouklia on June 16 was an excellent record. Eighty Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus were at the Apostolos Andreas Monastery on 1 July and the first Little Swift A. affinus for North Cyprus was at there on 1 July.

On 24 June, 20 Swallow Hirundo rustica flew north-east from Zafer Burnu; a very late record for this species. A flock of c900 House Martin Delichon urbicum over Paphos Forest on June 19 was an impressive count. Three Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens were at Mandria, Paphos on 6 November. Two Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka were reported from Armou on 1 September and at least two were reported from Neo Chorio on 2 September – there have been three previous records. At Ozanköy, the over-summering Blackbird Turdus merula was present all month. A reponse to a playback survey on 12 July found the distribution of Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala in the Lefke area showed little change since three years ago, with no spread into the Güzelyurt/Morphou citrus groves.