Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
SPTA West
At the beginning of June I organised a Bioblitz of the Warminster Danger Area with 46 bird species including Cuckoo and Nightingale. Skylark topped the bill for numbers with Whitethroat 2nd and Yellowhammer 5th just a few behind 2nd place. It was an excellent day and it is intended to do this again. There were 22 butterfly species and lots of wildflowers. Everywhere I look there are Common Spotted Orchids on the way out and Pyramidal Orchids in their splendour. Last Wednesday I went out in the morning and at Vedette 3 saw a Marsh Harrier complete with orange wing tag. Today I took our Canadian colleague out as he cannot drive at present (bike, road, not on 2 wheels, hospital). The object of the day was to show him a Grasshopper Warbler. It did not take too long before we found one on Southdown track reeling at the top of a bush. There were plenty of orchids, and butterflies (Marbled White and Large Skipper) as well as birds. There were at least 3 Stonechat families plus of course Whinchat, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and the list goes on. It was a lovely sunny day and we headed over to the east to view the Montagu's Harriers which did a food pass in front of us as we watched from a safe distance. There were Swifts high up in the sky and Swallows nesting at a Vedette. A pair of Lapwings were on a scrape but we did not look for Stone Curlew.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 8 Jun 14
Juvenile Swallow at Akhna Dam on 29 May
The beginning of the week and a stop at Akhna Dam revealed that the Curlew Sandpiper and 12 Little Stints were still present. The Little Egret remains at the site and the usual breeding species could be heard all around the site. As I departed, 2 Rollers were sat on wires opposite the dam entrance track. In the afternoon I visited the Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta, at least 3 Glossy Ibises now have chicks and there appears to be 4 Night Heron nests. Whilst watching the now very large Cattle Egret chicks I noticed a tern on the other side of the lake which proved to be an adult Gull-billed. 8 Ferruginous Ducks flew across to the northern lake – my biggest count here so far. The Squacco Herons appear to have 3 nests with the birds sitting, but there’s still no sign of any chicks. That concluded Monday’s activities.
Living up to its reputation as a very dull month, this continued at Akhna Dam on Tuesday where only 3 Little Stints, 3 Little Egrets, a Squacco Heron and 11 Spur-winged Plovers including one juvenile were present. As I was leaving the site, I did manage to see a Temmink’s Stint which represented my first June record ever. And so it continues…….. Akhna Dam on Wednesday was dire! 2 Little Egrets, 1 Squacco Heron and 6 Spur-winged Plovers – desperate. I did however see 2 Turtle Doves and on the way home a Kestrel and a Roller at Vrysoulles. June is without doubt the worst month for birding in Cyprus and unless you want to see Cyprus Wheatear and Cyprus Warbler and you’re on a family holiday, you should not visit in this month!
On the 4th Akhna Dam held a couple of Turtle Doves, a Squacco, 2 Little Egrets and 6 Spur-winged Plovers and in Vrysoulles a Roller flew over the road. On Thursday, a trip to JUMBO had the drain holding 4 Spur-winged Plovers and 2 Moorhens – one a juvenile. Oroklini Marsh was a little more interesting with a fly over 1st Summer Black-headed Gull and a flushed Green Sandpiper. The late Shelduck continued to consort with the Mallards and a Black-headed Wagtail continued to call – they must be breeding here. Greater Flamingos had increased to 37 and a singleton Little Stint and Little Ringed Plover were present. A surprise Red-rumped Swallow flew across the road at Dhekelia and apart from 2 Little Egrets at Akhna Dam there was literally, nothing of interest.
On Friday afternoon we travelled to Limassol to stay over night and visit a restaurant that had been recommended – it was worth the trip, the food was superb! Rising early on Saturday morning I visited the Limassol sites. At Zakaki Marsh 5 Wood Sandpipers were surprising, whilst 3 Ferruginous Ducks and 2 Reed Warblers were also seen. At the edge of Akrotiri Salt Lake, Greater Flamingos numbered 92 and Black-winged Stilts 19, but the Kentish Plovers were notable by their absence. A single Little Tern landed briefly but there was little of interest so I drove to Episkopi, pausing at Phasouri Reed Beds were 7 Eleonora’s Falcons were hawking insects. 4 Eleonora’s Falcons were also at Kensington Cliffs and a genuine Rock Dove put in an appearance. Moving to Happy Valley Cliffs, my first Cyprus Wheatear of the month and a couple of Sardinian Warblers but no Alpine Swifts or Griffon Vultures. I drove the Troodos Foothills seeing Black-headed Bunting, Red-rumped Swallows, Serins and Rollers but as the rain started to fall, I headed east to the Larnaca area. At Spiro’s Beach, 3 Shags were roosting on the mooring buoy and at the sewage works an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Greenshank and a Spectacled Warbler broke the boredom. Driving to the North shore of Larnaca Salt Lake was rewarding, where I managed to see and photograph my first immature Great Spotted Cuckoo* of the year and 5 Sand Martins were amongst a throng of House Martins. 2 Glossy Ibises flushed and a pair of breeding Spur-winged Plovers were very vocal.
Stopping at Oroklini Marsh on the way home produced a surprise moulting adult Whiskered Tern, Greater Flamingos had increased in number to 66 and 2 Glossy Ibises were present, (probably the same pair that were at Larnaca Salt Lake). Pausing briefly at Akhna Dam was a waste of time, with the exception of an adult Black Tern which was hawking the water’s edge. On Sunday a trip to the supermarket at Demirhan in the north for some shopping before returning to the UK on 11 June, allowed me to have a look at Demirhan Pools, a site which I rarely visit. There were hundreds of Terrapins around the sides of the pool and a Grey Heron immediately flushed, followed by 11 Night Herons and 2 Little Egrets. 2 Rollers were perched on the reeds and a European Beeater glided above. As we left the site a male Black Francolin stood proud on an earth mound as it called – as they do. Shopping done, I had a haircut and a shave at the local barbers – a most enjoyable experience, before having a look at the Fresh Water Lake South. Nothing really new here but may chicks in the nests of Glossy Ibises, Cattle Egrets, Little Egrets and Night Herons. Then I eventually found what I was looking for a Squacco Heron tending a chick – result and confirmation of breeding. At Akhna Dam in the evening 2 Black Terns were present with a Little Stint and a Roller, with another passing over the road as I returned home.
Highlights of the Week: An adult Gull-billed Tern in Famagusta and Temminck’s Stint at Akhna was my first June records for these species.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 1 Jun 14
Gull-billed Tern at Akhna Dam on 29 May
A bank holiday had me travelling to the Akrotiri area to see what was about. A Bar-tailed Godwit had been reported over the weekend and with it being a year tick, I decided to give it a whirl – without success, it has to be said. Lady’s Mile was pretty desperate with a few Kentish Plovers and Little Stints being all there was to show for an extensive search for the Godwit. Akrotiri Salt Lake was a little better. Circa 120 Greater Flamingos still remain and in the background on the far edge of the lake, 4 Great White Egrets loitered. A single Slender-billed Gull with a lone Whiskered Tern hawking the reed bed was interesting records and Little Terns numbered 11 – a good count. With no interesting waders being present, I moved to Zakaki Marsh where 7 Little Egrets and a Squacco Heron were obvious. A single Ruff was less so and eventually I saw a Reed and Cetti’s Warbler. The usual Stilts and Spur-wingeds were present but again, fairly quiet. 4 Ferruginous Ducks were unusual for the site as they are usually at Bishop’s Poool. As I drove the coast road back to Larnaca, at Kiti Fields, a Black Francolin strutted its stuff on top of a greenhouse frame and I saw a late male Red-backed Shrike*.
Larnaca Sewage Works was almost devoid of birds but a pair of Ferruginous Ducks and a pair of Shovelers were of note. Many Mallard chicks were with their parents and a couple of Ruffs was all there was in the way of semi-interesting waders. Onward to Oroklini and the Shelduck was still there – my latest ever record for one in Cyprus in the Spring. The usual Heron species were present but again, fairly dull. As I drove into Akhna Dam, a Roller flew by and I flushed several Spur-winged Plovers but with time rolling on and it becoming increasingly more evident that there was nothing about, I returned home.
On Tuesday with domestic duties being king, I paid a brief visit to Akhna Dam which was very quiet once more. With only 8 Little Stints, 6 Ruffs, 12 Spur-winged Plovers, 1 Grey Heron and a Little Egret present, there wasn’t much to get excited about. Wednesday had arrived and Akhna Dam was still very quiet although a Roller was the difference from yesterday. I headed towards Oroklini Marsh and this proved to be a good decision. On the main lake nothing much had changed although the Shelduck appears to have moved on. 7 Night Herons and a skulking Squacco Heron were amongst the Cattle Egret colony and the Greater Flamingos had increased to 30. I drove around to the south hide and walked the area. 4 Little Terns were vocal as were the breeding Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers. A calling Yellow Wagtail revealed a female type with a male Black-headed close by, suggesting probable breeding. I could hear a Greenshank calling my first for 3 weeks and a Green Sandpiper flushed providing my first record this month. With 6 Ruffs and 22 Little Stints at least there was something to look at. Eventually I found a Little Ringed Plover with its back to me sitting on mud – blending in perfectly, I had to wait for it to move to confirm the yellow eye-ring. As I drove home after finishing a KFC – always a treat when visiting Oroklini, a Night Heron flew past at Vrysoulles and the ever reliable Little Owl sat on its stone at the rock face roost site.
Thursday had arrived and it was the day to visit the North and check on the status of the Cattle Egret colony. The chicks are now well developed and wing exercising. I did have some good finds though. The Little Egret’s nest had two well grown chicks in it which confirms breeding at the site and another possible. At least 4 Glossy Ibis’ nests were located, one with 2 large chicks which confirmed breeding this year and finally with 3 Night Heron nests visible one of these had 2 well developed chicks and another a couple of eggs – so a good confirmation of breeding. It would appear that a couple of Squacco Herons are sitting but no eggs or chicks were seen. The pair of Ferruginous Ducks continue at the site and a couple of Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers were evident.
I moved to Akhna Dam after re-crossing the border to the south and was greeted by a couple of Magpies and a Roller chasing a pair of Great-Spotted Cuckoos – which was a good moment. As I approached the large area of water in the middle of the dam, a Hoopoe flushed and a white shape was sat on a small island. I quickly raised my bins and bingo – a year tick – an adult Gull-billed Tern* taking the year total to a respectable 245. I manoeuvred the car and got some reasonable images of the bird. 3 Little Stints fed in front of the tern, and a couple of Black-winged Stilts were with a Cattle Egret and 2 Squacco Herons. Highlight of the week over, I returned home happy. On the 30th Akhna was a re-run but with the addition of 2 Night Herons – a 1st CY & 2nd CY.
On the last day of the month I visited the Cape Greco area and it was really quiet. The reliable male Cyprus Warbler continued to sing and they’re always nice to see but there was little else. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a similar story with a couple of Spectacled Warblers and a singing Black-headed Bunting. A Hobby being mobbed by 2 Kestrels was a welcome relief and a tick for the month. I proceeded to Ayia Thekla where only a Little Egret broke the boredom and at Akhna Dam the Gull-billed Tern was still present and amongst the Little Stints, a late Curlew Sandpiper and a Temminck’s Stint. A pair of Rollers performed well and the pair of Squacco Herons were also present.
Sunday, a new month and a new list. The Shelduck remained at Oroklini which is a very late record as did 28 Greater Flamingos and 5 Red-crested Pochards. The pair of Shovelers remain at Larnaca Sewage Works. A Greenshank here was unexpected and 3, 3 CY Armenian Gulls were a very good record for June. A Green Sandpiper and 2 Glossy Ibises were at the north end of Larnaca Salt Lake. At least 5 Calandra Larks performed at Pervolia Fields and a male Black-headed Bunting was singing once more. Akhna Dam still had a few migrants passing through with a Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and an adult Black Tern. The pair of Night Herons and a Squacco remained but there was nothing of interest with the 11 Little Stints. Looking in at Vrysoulles 2 Owlets were at the entrance to the nest site but there was no sign of an adult.
Highlights of the Week: An adult Gull-billed Tern was at Akhna Dam and was a bit of a surprise at this time of year. Confirming breeding status for Night Heron was a good moment.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsSPTA West
After trips to Corsica and Extramadura it was back to SPTA. Yesterday I was able to get into the Warminster Range Danger Area to survey a grid sqaure. First bird was a calling Nightingale whist 2 Fox Cubs explored the the cut ground in front . I had expectd to hear this bird as the habitat was just right with a lovely scrub canopy and a thicket around it. There were a lot of Whitethroats, Chaffinches and Linnets in dense scrubland as I headed north with steady numbers of Yellowhammer, Goldfinches, Chiffchaffs and Wrens. Towards the end of the survey there were 2 Grasshopper Warblers reeling from amongst the low bushes. Stock Doves had taken up residence in the owl box in a small copse but at least a Kestrel flew out of its box. A Swift passed by and on the grassland Skylarks were singing. There were a number of Marsh Fritillaries as well as Dinghy Skippers, Meadow Browns and lots of moths. Today I spent the morning around Deptford Down. The track I could take my car down last year is now only passable to the most robust of 4x4s thanks to greenlaners. I checked out a scrape from which I could see the A303 but could only find a pair of Red-legged Partridge plus Skylarks. I then surveyed a square with just a hint of woodland plus a small dam and a few Hawthorn bushes. As ever there was a pair of Mallards on the water and plenty of Skylarks singing around the square with one lone Meadow Pipit calling from a post in the centre. Best view was 4 Swifts passing overhead. On the grass there were nearly 200 Rooks but I could not find a Jackdaw. Whitethroat and Corn Bunting were singing from lone bushes. I found a different route off the area and stopped at the Berril Valley on my way home to say hello to Jenni who was carrying out an invertebrate survy as part of her Whinchat study; she has found 24 nests so far and most had been predated. Nearby a pair of Reed Buntings watched proceedings as we discussed the project and sightings of harriers, Hobby and Stone Curlews.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 25 May 14
Glossy Ibis at Fresh Water Lake South on 18 May
In a break with tradition, I visited the North after work and sat for an hour or so at Fresh Water Lake South watching the Cattle Egret colony with many of the nests now having chicks*. At least 1 Glossy Ibis was also sitting on eggs* and about 20 were present overall. It appeared that several Squacco Herons may be attempting to nest along with a couple of Night Herons that were sitting and a lone Little Egret nest was also in the colony but without chicks yet. A pair of Ferruginous Ducks flew in and the usual Coots, Moorhens and Little Grebes were present. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls drifted overhead whilst 7 Black-winged Stilts and a lone Spur-winged Plover were quite vocal as I left.
On Tuesday it was back to a very quiet Akhna Dam after visiting JUMBO with Deb. I checked the drain and a number of Spur-winged Plovers were present. The area to the south of the main road looks promising as it hasn’t been cleared; so I’ll have to keep an eye on it. At Oroklini Marsh, 3 Little Terns were very active with the usual Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers which are all obviously nesting. I saw 2 Reed Warblers*, one of which I managed to photograph. On the main pond, 21 Flamingos were still present with a pair of Red-crested Pochards whilst a handful of Sand Martins fed actively over the water. Perhaps the biggest surprise was a lone Shelduck with a Grey Heron in the background. At Akhna Dam all was quiet, although I flushed 2 late Yellow Wagtails – female types not identifiable to sub-species and a Stone Curlew flew over the eucalyptus. The sun abated and there was a flurry of activity as 2 Wood Sandpipers, 34 Little Stints and 2 Temminck’s Stints arrived to feed.
On the 21st I attended a meeting at Troodos Station and saw a few mountain specialities with Masked Shrikes, Spotted Flycatchers and Hoopoes being on territory. Juvenile Coal and Great Tits were observed and many Eastern Olivaceous Warblers sand loudly in all locations. As I returned home a Long-legged Buzzard was sat on a bush overlooking the motorway at Zygi – my first of the month. 9 Calandra Larks sang and flew around the fields at Pervolia and a surprising male Black-headed Bunting also sang from atop an artichoke flower. 2 Turtle Doves were in the fields adjacent to Larnaca Sewage Works and the lone Shelduck was at Oroklini. Akhna Dam in the evening held 2 Temminck’s Stints once more and a reduced number of Little Stints with one Ringed Plover. A Cetti’s Warbler was seen as was a Roller and as I departed a Squacco Heron flew to roost.
On 23rd I visited the north and at FresH Water Lake South, I confirmed a Night Heron sitting on Eggs and at least 4 Glossy Ibises nests. 2 Ferruginous Ducks were also present and a Purple Heron flew in the direction of Fresh Water Lake North. I watched the Cattle Egret nest for some time estimating approximately 200 nests with the average number of chicks being 3. I saw my 3rd Plain Tiger of the year which was a new grid square of the species. On Saturday, prior to the Mexican Theme Night at Arriba Plonkzales (my house), I visited Akhna Dam in the morning. The female Pied Kingfisher was still present which surprised me. 36 Little Stints, a couple of Ruffs and 4 Black-winged Stilts were not much to show for a couple of hours, with the usual herons and a Roller going about their business.
With a monster Tequila, Mojito, Marguerita and Daiquiri hangover on Sunday the most I could manage was seeing nearly a hundred Swifts over the house. The week ended on a low but to be fair it was never going to be an epic. With the month drawing to a close and a Bank Holiday looming, a trip to Akrotiri is on the cards, in search of the reported Bar-tailed Godwit - a year tick.
Highlights of the Week: During a fairly dull week the Long-legged Buzzard and the Pied Kingfisher takes the accolades. However, confirming a Night Heron on eggs was a good find.
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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