Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 19 Oct 14
Mourning Wheatear in Jordan at Petra on 16 Oct.
On Monday I chose to go to Fresh Water Lake South as Akhna Dam is losing it’s attraction for birds. At the lake a handful of Greater Flamingos arrived and a Great White Egret was present. The Little Crake was located once more and drake Wigeon and Gadwall were present once more. The Spotted Redshanks continued their stay and several Kingfishers chased each other. Commoner waders were present, but there wasn’t much to get excited about.
On the 14th we flew to Jordan for a short break arriving in the late evening. As we passed Akhna Dam on the way to the airport an Osprey was perched on a telegraph pole next to the Turkish observation post. On the 15th at Mount Nebo, a Yellow-vented Bulbul and Spotted Flycatcher* were present with the ubiquitous Palm Doves. As we continued to Karak and the castle, at Al Haydan, I saw a Southern Grey Shrike on wires and a Red-rumped Swallow above me. On ward to Wadi Al Mugib and the dam where another Yellow-vented Bulbul posed and a Pale Crag Martin (Rock Martin) hawked above us. A Red-backed Shrike was seen and as we continued up the valley, 3 Blackstarts chased each other. Approaching Karak, 2 Tristram’s Grackles passed in front of the car and at Karak, 5 Alpine Swifts and more Pale Crag Martins were visible. Walking around the ruins, several Sardinian Warblers were heard and as I looked above a Lesser Spotted Eagle headed south west and a Long-legged Buzzard hovered over the hillside. Typically I found 3 Blue Rock Thrushes* around the ruins and as we departed for a lunch stop my attention was caught by a strange call that I didn’t recognise immediately. Realising that the birds were no ordinary House Sparrow, I got onto 3 of them perched on the castle walls, proving to be Rock Sparrows*. On route from Karak to Petra along the King’s and Desert Highways where many Mourning Wheatears and a Northern Wheatear were seen we stopped at Jerusalem Rest House near the Hisa Highway intersection where a Mourning Wheatear* fed on flies attracted to some rubbish bags (who said fly tipping isn’t useful)? Prior to this near the intersection a bird was in flight across the desert which initially lucked like a goose or duck, with long neck and brown colouration, I was delighted to see a McQueen’s Bustard. 2 Tristram’s Grackle’s were also near the rest house with a couple of White Wagtails nearby. We continued to Petra passing Ash Shawback where a Long-legged Buzzard was over the road. In Petra near the hotel another Yellow-vented Bulbul was heard and that was it for the day before a good Bedouin meal and an evening candlelight walk through the Siq to the Treasury (who said romance is dead in the Easterbrook household)?
On the 16th was the guided visit to Petra but before this at first light, I walked around the town, noting more Yellow-vented Bulbuls, Palm Doves, a couple of Greenfinches and a female Common Redstart. During the visit around Petra, it gave me the opportunity to get a very close picture of a Mourning Wheatear*, with about 6 being seen and a Blackstart* perched in a 500 year old pistachio tree above me. 3 Desert Larks* were seen and a noisy flock of Tristram’s Grackles. Yellow-vented Bulbuls were numerous, however, last time I visited, some 16 years ago, I saw good numbers of Sinai Rosefinches later in the month. None were seen during this visit, assuming that I was a week or two early to connect with their seasonal movements. As we left Petra a Spotted Flycatcher was near the visitor centre, which we couldn’t visit as King Abdullah was officially opening it and with guards and police aplenty there was no way a scruffy pair of Brit tourists with sunburn were getting anywhere near. Driving back through Ash Shawback again, the Long-legged Buzzard was in the same place and I’d stop counting Mourning Wheatears. At Hisa once more a flock of 6 Brown-necked Ravens was a surprise. Along the highway Barn Swallows were seen and as we neared Amman a Jay flew across the road.
On the 17th we returned home and the last bird I saw was a Common Mynah at the airport. I wondered if this was range expansion for this destructive, intrusive species but it was confirmed by OSME that they are indeed in Jordan now with the airport being one of the two locations. A particularly nuisance species (as AOS members will justify to regarding their behaviour on Ascension Island), there seems to be way of stopping their spread.
Arriving home early and having withdrawal symptoms, I headed for Fresh Water Lake South in the afternoon to catch up. Little had changed with Flamingos numbering 10, although a Red-footed Falcon passed overhead and 2 Black-winged Stilts were present. 2 Redshanks and 2 Spotted Redshanks were quite vocal with several Dunlins and 2 Temminck’s Stints making appearances. As I scanned I found a Little Crake again and a male Wigeon and Gadwall were also present. A Great White Egret flew in to join the Cattle Egrets.
On the 18th I was leading the KUSKOR (Turkish, conservation group) on a short tour of the southern wetlands in the east. First stop Larnaca Sewage Works where a drake Common Pochard was present – not something to get excited about you might say – but a fairly scarce winter visitor in the south of the island. An immature Whiskered Tern was still present along with 2 Shelducks and 2 Black-winged Stilts. 4 Ruffs were around the lagoon edges and on wires a lone European Beeater. 86 Greater Flamingo were on the lagoons and in the area a male Marsh Harrier and Long-legged Buzzard. A couple of immature Red-backed Shrikes were also on telegraph wires and in the airport fields 5 Skylarks were new wintering arrivals. In the fields at Pervolia, good numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Red-throated Pipits were easily flushed. With 5 types of Blue feeding in the Alphalfa and a Banded Argiope spider being photographed, the group needed to refocus. On the way to Akhna Dam, Oroklini was fairly disappointing with only a Common Snipe being of note amongst the numerous Spur-winged Plovers. At Dhekelia Fire Station the group was impressed by the Stone Curlew roost numbering c60. Another Whiskered Tern was a Akhna Dam with a couple of Redshanks and a Greenshank but the highlight was a pair of fishing Ospreys, which put on a great display.
On Sunday the 19th, I had arranged to guide a visiting UK birder, Neville Weston, picking him up at 0730 in Protaras. In the morning the whether was atrocious (rain, what’s happening). The rain didn’t help in the hunt for a Cyprus Warbler and Blue Rock Thrush, which were both a disaster. We did however manage a couple of lifers, connecting with 3 Cyprus Wheatears and many Chukar. An adult Audouin’s Gull flew past the cape with 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and newly arrived Robins were very active. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a few immature Red-backed Shrikes were still present and driving towards the football pitches an female Northern Wheatear and the first Black Redstart of the winter was seen. Continuing to Ayia Thekla and lifer number 3, 5 Greater Sand Plovers with Kentish Plovers for comparison was closely followed by number 4 – a flock of Spanish Sparrows with several well marked males, making ID easy. The only Common Sandpiper of the day was also seen on the coast. At Dhekelia Fire Station the Stone Curlew roost was well received and at the Power Station 8 (including 1 immature) Mediterranean Shags were seen.
Next stop Oroklini for the next lifer with 80 or so Spur-winged Plovers being seen at very close range. A surprise was a calling and then seen in flight Penduline Tit. At Larnaca Sewage Works the immature Whiskered Tern, Shelduck and Common Pochard were still present and were joined by my first, winter plumaged, Black-necked Grebe of the winter. Black-headed Gulls had increased to 13 and the 2 Black-winged Stilts were also seen. In a newly flooded area next to the desalination plant, good numbers of Ringed Plovers, Little Stints and Dunlins were feeding with 2 Ruffs also alighting and flying high north. At the salt lake north side, the only Marsh Harrier, a female was seen as was a fleeting glimpse of a Cetti’s Warbler. Akhna Dam was fairly quiet where only a Kingfisher was added to the day list. Another Red-backed Shrike was at Vrysoulles as we passed on the way to Famagusta. Arriving at Fresh Water Lake South at about 1600 we stayed until 1800 although it was a lot quieter than it has been. Searching produced a Temminck’s Stint, 2 Spotted Redshanks and a pair of Green Sandpipers. A Great White Egret flew in and amongst the reeds 2 Water Rails and the final lifer of the day, an immature Little Crake was seen. A Red-footed Falcon passed overhead and at dusk, a flock of 60 or so Starlings and 2 Glossy Ibises arrived to roost as an adult Night Heron woke up and perched in the open. With the addition of 3 late birds it took the day total to a respectable 70, considering the poor start due to inclement weather conditions.
Highlights of the Week: A trip to Jordan refreshing a few species and a first Penduline Tit and Black Redstart of the winter.
Other Interesting Sightings: Another Plain Tiger butterfly at Akhna Dam whilst leading the KUSKOR group on 18th.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
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