Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 18 Jan 15
The Long Staying Striated Heron at Zakaki Marsh on 15 Jan.
As is the norm no birding on a Monday at this time of year. On Tuesday the 13th I visited Paralimni Lake where 9 Ruddy Shelducks were new arrivals. Greater Flamingos numbered 43 and were supported by Grey Herons, Little Egrets and a single Great White Egret. I flushed a Green Sandpiper which was a year tick and 4 Common Snipe. A female Marsh Harrier flushed the waders that were present and when they rearranged, 2 Ringed Plovers and c20 Dunlins were noted as a Song Thrush flew from the tamarisks.
Visiting Paralimni early on Wednesday on route to Cape Greco revealed that the Ruddy Shelducks were still present with the Flamingos and 4 Lapwings hid in the grass, A Common Shelduck was new as were a pair of Shovelers but there was little else of interest. Onward to Cape Greco and as it was a bit windy the Cyprus Warblers were keeping low. However, Spectacled and Sardinian Warblers were quite conspicuous. Song Thrushes were present in large numbers as were Stonechats although a female Blackbird was a surprise in a lowland location. 8 Yellow-legged Gulls passed by in the windy conditions and a couple of Black Redstarts kept low. At the Sea Caves, my first visit in a long time, I quickly spotted a female Finsch’s Wheatear and Crested Larks were numerous. I drove to Oroklini where 3 Armenian Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls were present with 4 Gadwalls (unusual for the site) and 45 Greater Flamingos. A Black-necked Grebe was notable but otherwise if was fairly mundane.
As I passed Kiti Pools in Larnaca, c400 Greater Flamingos were feeding and across the road on Larnaca Airport Pool South I could see a good number of large Gulls roosting. Walking across the fields to get to a point where I could scope the birds, I flushed a female Marsh Harrier. As I scoped the mainly Armenian Gulls, I noted at least 9 Caspians and then came across a bird sleeping with a partial diffused black hood and white eyelids. I watched further and as the bird stood up, with its posture, head shape, bill colouration and size, it was clear that it was a 2nd winter Great (Pallas’) Black-headed Gull. 11 Flamingos were on Spiro’s Pool which is looking very full and deep, however there was nothing else visible. At the sewage works 2 Black-necked Grebes consorted with a Great Crested Grebe* but it was fairly unremarkable. I drove to Parthenitis Dam, a seldom visited site, where I flushed a Green Sandpiper from the pig slurry pits (not a particularly enjoyable experience) but by far the most interesting sighting of the day so far was an immature Black Kite being mobbed by a couple of Jackdaws at it headed purposefully east. At Dolphin Rocks, Oroklini another adult Mediterranean Gull* was present which posed for the camera but was just a bit too far away for a crisp image. Akhna Dam was predictably birdless which is becoming rather to frequent, but again several Hooded Crows mobbed a Black Kite – sure the same one that was seen earlier at Parthenitis Dam. I left the site with a couple of year ticks under the belt. As I drove the back road to the Dam, I noticed several grey pigeon like birds in the fields. Without much trouble, as the birds took off, of which there were 5 – A Cyprus tick and a difficult bird to catch up with – Stock Doves*.
After hearing the news of a Crimson-winged Finch (2nd for Cyprus) at Mandria near Paphos on my return home, there was only 1 option for Thursday as it was too late for me to get there on Wednesday and have light left. So, on Thursday, I departed for Mandria at 0500 arriving on site at just after 0700. Immediately, there was a large flock of Linnets and Finches. Scanning through the birds, a bloody dog walker and a yappy shit of a dog dispersed the flock. This coupled with another bloody dog walker and from that moment onwards it was all over. I did however add a year tick with a single Red-throated Pipit being seen and heard amongst the commoner Meadow Pipits. Despite several people looking for the bird, it wasn’t to be. It didn’t show and I DIPPED! It didn’t show for the whole day but with the current weather system over Cyprus, it’s unlikely that it will depart so hopefully it’ll be re-located. I returned hope with that all too familiar depression that results from twitching and dipping – I really is the pits! I stopped at Zakaki Marsh seeing a Kingfisher and a female Marsh Harrier and then met a visiting birder – Bill Stacey and together we saw the Striated Heron* sitting in the open once more. I took bill to Finikaria at the head of Germasoiga Dam where 2 Crag Martins were present and soon, on cue an adult Long-legged Buzzard appeared. With nothing else doing, I dropped Bill at his hotel and returned to the Larnaca area for a look at Oroklini Dam. At the dam 48 Lapwings were above me flushed by a male Peregrine and 2 female Marsh Harriers. A male Reed Bunting called from the reeds and a couple of Chiffchaffs flitted about with a Black Redstart. 3 Black-winged Stilts were present still and a Stone Curlew flushed from the marsh. The single Black-necked Grebe remained and that was it for the day.
On Friday I visited the North . Gulserin Pond had filled somewhat with 18 Pintails, a couple of Shovelers, many Teal and Mallards being present. 8 Black-winged Stilts were present, probably relocated from Fresh Water Lake North and amongst the 114 Flamingos, 7 Shelduck were feeding. Clapsides beach was interesting with 7 1st winter Caspian Gulls with 3 adult Armenian Gulls and close scrutiny revealed and adult Siberian (Heuglin’s) Gull with them. The rocks had a Sandwich Tern and 3 Shags resting and a Kingfisher, Little Grebe and Little Egret were in the channels from the beach to the marsh. On to Silver Beach where another 8 Shelducks were feeding with Teals and 29 Flamingos. A Snipe and Redshank flushed and a Grey Heron hid amongst the vegetation. At Fresh Water Lake North, viewing was difficult once more but it’s a reliable place for Wigeon of which there were 20 or so with c120 Flamingos also being present. The highlight at Fresh Water Lake South was a calling and flying Penduline Tit – they’ve been scarce this winter and it was my first for the year. The pair of Glossy Ibises remained faithful to the Cattle Egret roost and a single drake Ferruginous Duck was amongst the many Coots. A female Blackbird was unusual for the site and a couple of Marsh Harriers flew over heading to the north lake as the usual Cormorants flew in the opposite direction to roost in the eucalyptus trees. Returning home, I found that the Crimson-winged Finch had been seen again – Arrrgghhhhh, with a full-frame picture to boot!
On Saturday it was an early start for Mandria once more picking up Bill Stacey at Limassol on the way. All aboard, we arrived at Mandria at about 0730 where another birder was already in attendance. 6 hours of looking – NO BLOODY FINCH AGAIN!!!!! – THAT IS ALL. I did however photograph a male Sardinian Warbler* as it sang – scant consolation! A Sandwich Tern flew by and an immature Shag was in its usual place on the rocks, whilst 35 Golden Plovers were in the fields. We finished at Anarita Park where a nice male Finsch’s Wheatear continues to winter along with a male Blue Rock Thrush. At Lady’s Mile, 4 Dunlins were with 19 Little Stints. The long depressing journey home seemed to take a while for some reason.
I visited Paralimni Lake early on Sunday morning where the 9 Ruddy Selducks had been joined by a Greater White-fronted Goose. 101 Greater Flamingos were present and a single Great White Egret was with 11 Grey Herons and 2 Little Egrets. Stopping at Ayias Trias fishing shelter, 3 each of Grey and Greater Sand Plovers were on the rocks with a Kentish Plover. After lunch we visited the north for a shave and haircut and concluded the week at Fresh Water Lake South, Famagusta. Ferruginous Ducks were not at 3, The 2 Glossy Ibises roosted with the Cattle Egrets, not so many Starlings flew to roost and a couple of Marsh Harriers flew over. Song Thrushes and 2 male Blackbirds were conspicuous and at least 6 Chiffchaffs caught flies from the reeds.
Highlights of the Week: A Penduline Tit was a good find and seeing the long-staying Cyprus 1st was also a good year tick.
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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