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Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 18 May 14
Black Tern at Akhna Dam on 13 May
John had done the early morning round of Akhna Dam and it was fairly uneventful although the 2 Black Terns were still present. From a birding perspective it was fairly mundane but John had an encounter with a Cypriot POACHER – (They like to call themselves hunters, but there is little sport in their mindless, uneducated activities, so we should not legitimise their activities by referring to them as such). The cretin was firing a shotgun into some eucalyptus trees – what he was shooting at is a mystery. However, when John was watching him, he turned his gun on John in an aggressive manner, a familiar scene as I’m sure CABS will justify. It is amazing that these inbred criminals believe they are above the law in acting in such a way. Still I suppose that’s why Cyprus joined Europe, to become educated and get dragged out of the dark ages – that or they wanted the money to build pointless roundabouts and speed bumps. In any event it was reported to the Police both SBA and Civilian, who seemed equally non-plus about it. John returned to the airport via Oroklini and saw a couple of Spoonbills, a pair of Garganeys and a Little Tern. With that being done, I decided not to go out on Monday and went for an Indian with Deb, not a First Nation American or person from the Sub-Continent but a chicken vindaloo and Tarka Dhal which was excellent.
The beginning of a birding week would not be complete without a visit to Akhna Dam. As I entered the site from the north-west, the female Pied Kingfisher was sat on a dead tree overlooking the water. I proceeded a little further and the 2 Black Terns were still present and very vocal as they hawked the water. 66 Ruffs were feeding actively but left shortly after the shooting started. Other waders recorded were 5 Wood Sandpipers and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. 3 Little Egrets flew in briefly and at the southern end of the dam a Roller perched atop a bush. Any waders that remained were flushed soon enough by a hunting male Peregrine as it flew through at speed.
On Wednesday morning I awoke to the sound of a passing Beeater as I considered my bowl of muesli for breakfast. With not much time on Wednesday due to a bit of fancy dress shopping at JUMBO – RIP JUMBO Drain. I looked in at Oroklini Marsh where 26 Greater Flamingos were still present, along with 4 Red-crested Pochards, only 7 Black-winged Stilts, 5 Squacco Herons and c50 Cattle Egret. I proceeded home via Akhna Dam and with food for the freezer in the car, I couldn’t stop long. I passed a Roller on the wires at Xylotymbou and at the dam, the Osprey was still fishing, 2 Temminck’s Stints were with 6 Little Stints and 7 Ruff were feeding with 8 Ringed Plovers. Only 1 Black Tern remained and during my brief visit, I couldn’t find anything else to write about.
On Thursday, Akhna Dam was the quietest I have seen it this year. 2 Little Egrets, a Night Heron, 5 Little Stints, a Temminck’s Stint and a Spotted Flycathcher was all I had to show for an hour and a half’s searching. Tomorrow, in my “King of the BBQ” role, I am cooking for the UAO’s annual event. The Little Owl remained at its roost in Vrysoulles and whilst at home a lone European Beeater flew over the house calling and 5 Night Herons alighted from the wood behind the house. It is likely that there will be beer involved in the equation, so the chances of getting out on Friday afternoon are looking remote – which may not be a bad thing given yesterday’s showing. Saturday was also a write off, for obvious reasons – no detail required, I hope?
On Sunday, I headed for the Larnaca area, with 1 Greater Flamingo on the Salt Lake and 1 Spur-winged Plover on the Airport Pool North, things did not look promising. The only presence in the Spiro’s Beach and Larnaca Airport Fields were 3 Kentish Plovers and thankfully no lunatic Cypriots to bump into my car. As I approached the Sewage Works the usual male Black Francolin flushed and flew across in front of the car. With things looking normal and mundane with a pair of Shovelers still remaining, a family party of Mallards or 2 and 25 Coots, careful searching produced a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe, which was my first ever May record and a real surprise. A White-winged Black Tern was to be expected but was still pleasing to watch as it gracefully plucked insects from the water. The north side of the Salt Lake produced my first Small Desert Blues of the year with a Cetti’s and Spectacled Warbler also being seen. A juvenile Great Tit, clumsily made its way around a hedge and a Spotted Flycatcher had read the script and caught flies from a telegraph wire. Oroklini was the last stop where 30 Greater Flamingos still fed actively and a flyby Little Tern added to the interest. Only 2 female Red-crested Pochards were present (the others must be sitting) and 12 Black-winged Stilts remain after the heavy rains, which probably washed a few nests out. A drake Garganey emerged from the reeds as I departed.
Later in the day, Akhna Dam was a little more lively with 12 Little Stints and 3 Temminck’s Stints* being present and 10 Ringed Plovers flew into join them later on. 4 Common Sandpipers were busy and a territorial Little Egret chased another off and was fairly aggressive in its nature. A Squacco Heron flew over the dam as did a couple of European Beeaters calling as they continued north.
Highlights of the Week: Although a fairly quiet week with migration petering out, a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe was an unusual May record and the emergence of good numbers of Small Desert Blues.
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 11 May 14
Icterine Warbler at Cape Greco on 10 May
Having stayed over in the North on the Karpas we returned via the North coast road and Balalan Cliffs where c80 Alpine Swifts, 4 Pallid Swifts and a Blue Rock Thrush put on a good show. We drove up to Kantara and on the way up stopped at a site where Two-tailed Pashas breed. We were lucky and sighted one working its way along the conifers and strawberry trees (host plant). Moving down the south side of Kantara after lunch towards Bojaz we soon found ourselves in Famagusta looking at Fresh Water Lake South where we saw my only White-winged Black Tern of the spring so far. A first summer Black-headed Gull was late and a bit of a surprise but the several species of Herons weren’t. 37 Glossy Ibises settled and 16 European Beeaters passed overhead. After dropping the ladies at home we headed off to Akhna Dam to finish off the day. A couple of Turtle Doves flushed at we entered, a Temminck’s Stint was still present and a late Cuckoo appeared and perched in front of us. A female Redstart broke the boredom and as we left the site we were delighted to find our first Lesser Grey Shrike of the holiday – but it didn’t hang around for the camera.
On Monday, we headed to Troodos via the usual sites. At Larnaca, no sign of any Broad-billed Sandpipers, but the Shelduck and male Shoveler were on the sewage works lagoons. A Little Tern flew over and 8 Greater Flamingo were present but there was little else of interest. We paused at the hide at Zakaki Marsh where 6 Curlew Sandpipers were feeding actively with Little Stints, Wood Sandpipers and a single Collared Pratincole was playing hide and seek. We were pleased to see our only Sedge Warbler of the trip and an adult Yellow-legged Gull rested on the pond. We continued to Akrotiri Salt Lake and drove most of the way to the area near Zakaki Run-Off. The majority were Kentish Plovers but included a couple of Ringed Plovers. As we scanned a pair of Spoonbills became obvious, however a pair of Grey Plovers and a Turnstone were a surprise. With 2 Collared Pratincoles resting, a couple of Greenshank and in the distance 3 Slender-billed Gulls, the visit was bearing fruit. John scanned the Greater Flamingos and found 2 birds with colour rings, the first a yellow ring reading JCBS and the second a white one reading T(BAR)DPJ – the birds were of French and Turkish origin respectively. Bishop’s Pool was very quiet with only 9 Ferruginous Ducks, 1 Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper being worthy of note. Onwards through Akrotiri Gravel Pits where a female Marsh Harrier and a dark morph Eleonora’s Flacon were present to Phassouri Reed Beds where 5 Glossy Ibises and a Purple Heron were the highlights. At Kensington Cliffs at least 8 Eleonora’s Falcons were in acrobatic display flight and a little further along at Tunnel Beach Cliffs we ate lunch and luckily caught up with a single Griffon Vulture.
We drove up to Troodos but with the weather coming in we only saw a single Jay and outside the chalet 8+ Pallid Swifts mixed in with Commons. In the evening we heard a Scops Owl calling from a large conifer directly outside the accommodation. As luck would have it, the bird flew to an obvious branch on top of the tree and showed very well so that was a result. It rained heavily in the night and things didn’t look good in the morning.
The plan on Tuesday was to drive down the Dhiarizos River Valley looking for Great Spotted Cuckoos, Long-legged Buzzards etc. The weather was appalling all the way to the coast at Mandria and we observed little. A couple of Cetti’s Warblers looked bedraggled in the rain at Kouklia Soakaways. On the beach at Mandria a 1st and 3rd winter Caspian Gulls were present still but with little happening and the rain sheeting down we drove back up to Troodos. At Fasoula a male Red-backed Shrike showed at the side of the road and near the Troodos Station a pair of Chaffinches was present. Arriving to no electricity in the chalet and with the weather worsening, we cut our losses and headed back to Ay Nik. On the way down we stopped at Giant Junipers recording a few of the mountain specialities including Short-toed Treecreeper, Blackbird and got great views of 3 Masked Shrikes. Further down the hill, at Saittas, at least 4 Serins sang and fed young, so another bird added to the growing list – “It’s all about the list”.
At Oroklini, 20 Greater Flamingos were still hanging around and 6 Sand Martins were seen with 3 Squacco Herons in a distant tamarisk. A Temminck’s Stint was still at Akhna Dam with all the usual suspects. We finally discovered why the adult Cormorant* was still present – it’s obviously been shot and lost half a wing.
A visit to Cape Greco on the 7th and the first stop was Cape Greco Pines. A Lesser Grey Shrike sat on wires and a Red-backed Shrike was nearby. In the pines several Spotted Flycatchers were the most obvious but a Redstart, Whitethroat and singing Willow Warbler were also present. Perhaps the biggest surprise was a female Pied Flycatcher*. At the picnic area, several Black-headed Buntings sang and 2 were seen, a pair of Cyprus Pied Wheatears showed well and the regular Cyprus Warbler sang from its usual perch giving great views. Up at Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a Common Sandpiper and 17 Little Grebes were on the lagoons with another Lesser-Grey Shrike on the trees above. At least 4 Red-backed Shrikes (1 female), were in the area and a male Black-headed Bunting sang and was seen. A few European Beeaters were above us but a male Northern Wheatear was a surprise find. Amazingly, a pair of Alpine Swifts passed low above us, which were very late migrants.
Arriving at Akhna Dam we paused to view an adult Gull. I could not believe I said Armenian Gull*, but that’s what it was, surely the only May record to date? A very unusual occurrence! A Collared Pratincole was flying around and occasionally sat on the mud and then another surprise and “tick” for the site - a breeding plumaged Grey Plover*. The Cuckoo was still present but the Temminck’s Stints and other waders appear to have thinned out. 4 Ringed Plovers remain, but there wasn’t much else about. Oroklini held 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a pair of Garganeys and only 5 Greater Flamingos. A Cattle Egret was seen on a nest which will be a good record for the site but again it was fairly quiet. The final visit was to Parthenitis Dam where an adult Little Bittern and Night Heron were welcomed sightings. A pair of Black-winged Stilts, 2 pairs of Spur-winged Plovers and a calling Stone Curlew finished the day off. At home in the wood to the rear of the house, I heard a calling Golden Oriole as I drank a beer.
The 8th was a disaster! The rain was sheeting down again and the Larnaca area was dead. As I made my way along the airport fields, I stalled in the mud as a pick-up truck also stopped. As he pulled away, he skidded and smashed my rear light unit – great! I managed to cajole him into giving me 50 Euros towards the repair – and that was an amazing result as he claimed to speak no English after saying “No problem, No damage, everything OK – a likely story but a typical situation faced by many tourists. He eventually coughed and we went on our way. Car now in the garage, honking down with rain, no birding – write the BLOG. Torrential rain throughout the day stopped play.
Trying to avoid the rain we visited Akhna Dam and John found a Broad-billed Sandpiper amongst the Little Stints, with a single Curlew Sandpiper also being present. 14 Temminck’s Stints was the biggest count this year and a Whiskered Tern hawked the water’s edge. Good numbers of Sand Martins were present and with the first record for Cyprus of Brown-throated Martin, being ringed at Polis on 1st May, they were worth looking through – without luck. Oroklini, whilst running away from the rain produced very little and as the weather followed us, we headed east once more to where the sun was shining. Arriving at Cape Greco Pines, it was clear that there were plenty of birds present, a good hour or so produced some late records of migrants including a female Collared Flycatcher*, 3 Redstarts, a couple of Willow Warblers an Icterine Warbler and a Garden Warbler. A Little Bittern flushed from a small pine tree was a surprise but the Turtle Dove was predictable. A Lesser Grey and male Red-backed Shrike were good to see and 6 Spotted Flycatchers were evidence of their continued passage. Another torrential down poor at Ayia Napa Sewage Works caught us out and we consequently received an unusual drenching. We returned home to sit it out. In the afternoon we visited the north and Fresh Water Lake South. A Spoonbill immediately flew over us and a drake Ferruginous Duck floated by. Another Whiskered Tern sat on a dead snag but 21 Glossy Ibises flying into the Cattle Egret colony were more obvious. Circa 200 Sand Martins were present proving a good passage during the day and Beeaters continued to pass overhead. Finishing at Akhna Dam a 7 Little Terns*, Black Tern* (my first for the year), 2 Rollers and the Pied Kingfisher was still present. So despite nearly being thwarted by the weather, we managed to outwit it and the day proved to be very productive. Remember, good weather birders never see anything.
On the 10th we visited the Cape Greco area in the search of some Trumpeter Finches that had been reported. As is the way with Cyprus birding, “Cape Greco” as a site description, doesn’t really help. We searched anyway but without joy. At the pines we decided to find our own and were rewarded with 2 Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler. A Turtle Dove flushed and Spotted Flycatchers had reduced to 4. We moved onto Cape Greco Picnic Site area and after a short walk flushed an Icterine Warbler* which showed well along with 2 Willow Warblers. A couple of late Masked Shrikes were obvious and European Beeaters flew over in good numbers. A soaring female Sparrowhawk was a surprise and a late Northern Wheatear female was present on the ploughed fields, which was a good record. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a Tawny Pipit was present and 5 Black-headed Buntings were heard with 1 being seen. We drove onto Akhna Dam, where another Black Tern had joined yesterday’s bird along with a Whiskered Tern. The female Pied Kingfisher* performed well for us and a few waders were present but no sign of the large numbers of Ruffs, Temminck’s Stints or the Broad-billed Sandpiper. A female Great Spotted Cuckoo was chased by a Magpie and as we left the site we were very surprised to see a late migrating Osprey.
An early morning visit to Akhna Dam on Sunday produced a Sedge Warbler that was new; the 2 Black Terns remained along with 2 Little Terns and the Osprey which sat in a lone tree above the dam. Other than that, 2 male Red-backed Shrikes were present but not much else to get excited about. We returned home and a Golden Oriole was singing from the back of the house in a eucalyptus tree. After having a bit of breakfast we headed to the north and the Morphou area. The first stop was Kalkanli Dam where remarkably 6 pairs of Wigeon remained with a single male Red-crested Pochard and hundreds of Coots. At least 14 Yellow-legged Gulls flew around and Beeaters passed overhead. A Ruff on a pond by the rubbish tip looked oddly out of place. We paused to photograph a Little Owl on route to Cape Kormakiti. Stopping for a brew at Sadrazamkoy, a good selection of hirundines and Beeaters headed out to sea over the cape. We reached the cape after passing a couple of Corn Buntings and a male Red-backed Shrike. Looking out to sea for an hour or so produced 4 Scipoli’s Shearwaters and a Shag. A Red-throated Pipit was a very odd sighting as it hesitated to fly out to sea. On the way back from the cape 19 Turtle Doves in a tree was a good sighting as was a pair of Black-headed Yellow Wagtails. Returning home another “biblical” down poor put paid to any hope of searching for Ravens on the Kyrenia Range. At Akhna Dam in the evening, the female Pied Kingfisher was still present as were the 2 Black Terns. 8 Ringed Plovers flew in to join the 6 Little Stints and 7 Ruffs that were present. A male Black Francolin running across the track in front of the car ended the week.
Highlights of the Week: A few Lesser Grey Shrikes and a remarkable adult Armenian Gull at Akhna Dam. The Scipoli’s Shearwaters were a year tick as were the often difficult to catch up with Garden Warblers. However, a great view of an Icterine Warbler was very enjoyable.
Other Interesting Finds: 2 Plain Tigers*, a rare butterfly on Cyprus – 1 at Cape Greco and 1 at Ayia Napa Sewage Works both on 7 May.
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 4 May 14
Blue-cheeked Beeater at Oroklini Marsh on 1 May
Another week, another after work evening visit to Akhna Dam. However, European Beeaters are now passing through all day in good numbers with some stopping at various perches within the Ay Nik area. The week commenced as the last had ended. The breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank remained with 2 Temminck’s Stints and good numbers of Little Stints and Wood Sandpipers. A lone Greenshank was accompanied by several Black-winged Stilts and a couple of Ringed Plovers. 10 Little Egrets were present and in the tamarisks several warbler species fed actively including Wood, Willow, Cetti’s Reed, Great Reed, Blackcap and Whitethroat. A strange looking Wheatear caused me some confusion. After photographing it and seeking a second opinion, it was concluded that it was a strange not atypical Eastern Black-eared Wheatear female*. Spotted Flycatchers continue to pass through in force with a least 6 fly-catching as the sun went down.
After some brief shopping prior to our guests arriving, I did a quick round at Akhna Dam. A couple of good birds were present with a Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Collared Pratincole being the highlights amongst the many Ruffs, Wood Sandpipers, Little Stints and 2 Temminck’s Stints. A singleton, complete breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was present – they are superb birds when in that condition. European Beeaters were fly catching and at the top of the southern arm and a Wood Warbler and male Common Redstart were still present.
On the way into work on Wednesday, 6 Glossy Ibises flew over the house and European Beeaters were calling. In the Eucalyptus trees opposite the armoury, 2 Golden Orioles called. Taking the usual trip to JUMBO presented some great opportunities as we dropped Deb and Val in Larnaca for a couple of hours whilst we visited the sewage works and airport fields. We stopped at the Airport Pools North where the most interesting find was a pair of Dunlins amongst the c130 Little Stints. 3 Greater Flamingos linger on the pools. A pair of Little Terns passed Spiro’s Beach but there was nothing else around. The sewage works held some interesting wildfowl including a Ferrruginous Duck, drake Garganey, and a very lost looking Shelduck and drake Shoveler. The usual commoner waders were present and later at Pervolia the “drive by” pair of Calandra Larks sang and we flushed 3 Black Francolins. We picked the girls up and stopped at JUMBO drain before dropping them off and heading to Oroklini. DISASTER!!!! JUMBO drain has been cleared of reeds and vegetation – all that was present were 6 Spur-winged Plovers. I am heart broken, I had found, nurtured and loved this site and now it is no more. Pulling myself together, at Oroklini, the Black-tailed Godwit was still present (forgive me for annotating this as a Bar-tailed last week – not an ID error but a typo). Also present were 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, several Ruffs and a lone, surprising, Curlew. John also spotted a single Sand Martin which have been in very short supply so far this spring. 11 Red-crested Pochards were present along with 12 Greater Flamingos. We departed and headed for Akhna Dam where John had seen a female Pied Kingfisher in the morning, probably the same one that was at Fresh Water Lake South last week and has relocated. We reached Akhna Dam and after passing a couple of Temminck’s Stints, (4 in total were seen), Deb immediately spotted the Pied Kingfisher sat on a dead snag overlooking the water. Result – my 207th bird for Akhna Dam and well done Deb! It pirouetted and flew around the dam before settling again elsewhere. The Spoonbill, 18 Squacco Herons and 2 Collared Pratincoles seen in the morning had moved on and generally the dam was fairly quiet except for the usual wader suspects.
On Thursday, John had found 2 Blue-cheeked Beeaters* at Oroklini. He texted Val and I got the message and was able to leave the house soon after at break-neck speed to get to the site. I did this within half an hour and was able to see to fantastic birds – only the 2nd and 3rd this spring. A quick record shot and couple of views as they caught insects and they rose from the wires, gained height and headed north 5 minutes after I arrived. A very fortuitous year tick, thanks to John. A Roller sat atop a distant bush, so I stayed at the marsh for a while noting a pair of Little Terns, 6 migrant Grey Herons, a Wood Sandpiper with 2 Curlew Sandpipers, some Ruff and the long staying Black-tailed Godwit. In the afternoon we visited the north and Fresh Water Lake South allowing for some good photo opportunities of the Cattle Egret colony, Squacco, Night Herons and Glossy Ibises. At Akhna Dam there was a good selection of waders present with 6 Temminck’s Stints and 3 Collared Pratincoles being the hightlights. We flushed a Common Cuckoo and a Turtle Dove was heard.
On the 2nd we travelled to Dipkarpaz on the Karpas Peninsular for the KUSKOR weekend. Travelling along the south road, at least 12 Rollers were seen and many Black-headed Buntings heard. A fortuitous stop revealed a Little Owl, Corn Bunting and flyover Red-throated Pipit. European Beeaters were evident in good numbers as were Cyprus Pied Wheatears. After booking into the Dipkarpaz Arch Houses Hotel – which was excellent we went for a walk in the village finding a female Golden Oriole, several Blackcaps and a few Spanish Sparrows. As we looked skyward we saw a drifting adult Bonelli’s Eagle which caught a thermal and rose quickly until it was a small speck in the sky.
On Saturday morning we drove to the Seabird restaurant to catch a boat to the Klidhes Islands to undertake a breeding seabird count. On the way we saw a Little Owl* my first Black Kite of the year and a female Red-footed Falcon. At the restaurant 2 Common Sandpipers and a feldegg Yellow Wagtail was present. On the boat and reaching the islands we counted at least 65 Yellow-legged Gulls – many on nests and c40 Audouin’s Gulls with 18-20 nests being counted. Shags* have had a good breeding year with many juveniles being present with a total count of c50. A Little Egret was present and a Peregrine caught a Rock Dove and fed it to a juvenile as Dad watched on. Another Black Kite drifted over the boat bound for the land and we soon returned to the restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon we birded around the tip of the Karpas and saw some interesting birds including late female Black-eared Wheatears, and Isabelline Wheatear and several Northern Wheatears. A few Whinchats were fly catching and a female Masked and Red-backed Shrike were sat on bushes. With European Beeaters passing over constantly we eventually found a female Barred Warbler, a Whitethroat and an out of place male Chaffinch. Spotted Flycatchers were numerous and a single Red-rumped Swallow looked at home. Driving back to the hotel a female Montague’s Harrier was seen and 16+ Turtle Doves. In the evening from the hotel a Scops Owl was heard.
The next day we headed home via the north coast road and Balalan Cliffs, where numerous Alpine Swifts were nesting with a couple of Pallids and a male Blue Rock Thrush sang and was seen. At Kantara my first Two-tailed Pasha was seen but little else. Stopping at Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta, a Little Bittern flew across the lake in front of us but the highlight was my and our first White-winged Black Tern of the spring. We then came across a 1st summer Black-headed Gull which didn’t look quite right but a good grilling determined that it was indeed a young Black-headed Gull and not a Grey-headed that was the cause for much scrutiny. A Purple Heron flushed as we departed and 16 European Beeaters passed overhead. Squacco and Night Herons were well represented in the Cattle Egret colony along with Little Egrets and Glossy Ibises which made quite a sight. A Cuckoo was at Akhna Dam as was a Dunlin and Temminck’s Stint amongst the numerous Little Stints. A female Redstart lingered and as we drove through the farmland a resplendent, Lesser Grey Shrike sat on a bush – a great end to the day.
Highlights of the Week: Blue-cheeked Beeaters are always a difficult species to catch up with in Cyprus so I was particularly pleased with that.
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 27 Apr 14
Ortolan Bunting at Fresh Water Lake South on 22 Apr
On Monday 21st, the Larnaca area produced little but a pair of Ferruginous Ducks were still on the sewage works lagoons, with a Shoveler and Shelduck. A 1st winter Caspian Gull lingered and a Great Spotted Cuckoo was a surprise. The Bar-tailed Godwit was still feeding at Oroklini Marsh and the Cormorant remained at Akhna Dam. An Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler was also present with a Wood and a couple of Lesser Whitethroats. A female Masked Shrike remained from last week and a Great Reed Warbler was heard.
We stayed overnight in the north so I visited Gulserin Pond on my return which is now completely dry with only 4 Spur-winged Plovers and a calling Black Francolin being present. At Fresh Water Lake South, I watched for about half an hour seeing a good selection of herons including Grey, Purple, Squacco, Night, Little (2 nests) and Cattle (c150 nests). 16 breeding plumaged Whiskered Terns were present – a good count and I then saw a Black and White bird at the other side of the lake. It flew and then perched with its back to me for about 2 minutes revealing itself as a Pied Kingfisher – a good bird for April as it’s usually a winter visitor and having missed the wintering birds at Zakaki and Finikari – a year tick. In the afternoon I went to Akhna Dam but still no Great Snipe!
On Wednesday afternoon, I visited Akhna Dam and all was fairly routine and quiet. The Cormorant continues its stay and my first Temminck’s Stint of the month was amongst 50 or so Little Stints. Wood Sandpipers continue to pass through in good numbers although Common Sandpipers appear to be reducing. In the tamarisks, passerines appear to be reducing with only a couple of Tree Pipits, Spotted Flycatchers, a Wood Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat. 4 Squacco Herons flew across the dam and resting on a pipe in the water were 5 breeding plumaged Whiskered Terns.
On the 24th I visited the Larnaca area. Although relatively quiet, a 1st winter Caspian Gull lingered on Spiro’s Beach and at the Sewage Works my first Little Terns of the year with 4 being present. A Spotted Redshank nearing breeding plumage was a bit more obvious with 3 Greenshanks nearby and on top of the divider between the 2 lagoons were 27 Collared Pratincoles – a good count. A Great Spotted Cuckoo was still present and a Tawny Pipit at Larnaca Airport Pool North was unexpected. 5 Curlew Sandpipers were amongst the throng of Ruffs and Little Stints on the smaller pool at the old airport terminal. On the way home Oroklini Marsh didn’t much new to offer but a male Garganey is always nice to see.
On Friday I travelled to the Limassol area where a Snipe was at Zakaki Marsh with a Squacco Heron but little else of interest. The terns reported from the salt lake the day before had all gone and only the Flamingos and a lone Greenshank remained. 6 European Bee-eaters came in off the sea feeding actively and I saw my first Linnets and Sardinian Warbler of the month with a migrant Willow Warbler. Bishop’s Pool had 3 Ferruginous Ducks present with 9 Night Herons and a single Squacco. The Akrotiri Gravel Pits area produced 4 Hoopoes but little else until Phassouri Reed Beds providing views of a Purple Heron. So a fairly disappointing visit to the Limassol area. I drove to Kensington Cliffs before departing for the east and at least 7 fantastic Eleonora’s Falcons were hunting and displaying around the cliffs as a couple of Alpine Swifts and a few “real” Rock Doves passed by. Tunnel Beach cliffs allowed good views of a Peregrine but little else with no Vultures being present. I stopped at Finikaria on the way home and found a Little Bittern and a Night Heron but no Crakes. On the buoys at Spiro’s Beach, a Shag was roosting and in the Airport Fields a female Red-footed Falcon rested which was my first of the year. At Akhna Dam, a breeding plumage Spotted Redshank looked impressive and as I walked the scrub, a Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats fled quickly followed by a fleeting glimpse of a male Barred Warbler.
Saturday at the Cape Greco area brought a Red-rumped Swallow, a Roller and a Greenfinch feeding young but nothing notable. However, Cape Greco Pines didn’t fail to deliver with a male Pied Flycatcher, female Collared Flycather (getting late in the season), several Blackcaps and Spotted Flycatchers and a Thrush Nightingale darting into a bush, never to be seen again. Up at Ayia Napa Sewage Works I passed a male Red-backed Shrike, only my second of the spring and a male and female Redstart flitted around the fence line. Several Turtle Doves flushed and then a familiar sound of a singing male Black-headed Bunting, my first of the year which I eventually tracked down at the top of a Eucalyptus tree. On the way home a pair of male Black Francolins fed in the open on the football pitches.
The following day, Akhna Dam held 2 Temminck’s Stints and 3 Curlew Sandpipers with a Greenshank and the breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank. A Great Reed Warbler sang loudly and was eventually seen with Wood, Reed, Eastern Olivaceous and Cetti’s Warblers also being seen, a male Redstart revealed itself before I departed. A bit of shopping in the north allowed a visit to the Fresh Water Lake South where 4 Squaccos, a Purple and 2 Night Herons were eclipsed by the 500 or so Cattle Egrets and 8 Little Egrets. 14 European Beeaters flew over calling and 12 Glossy Ibises were also in the Cattle Egret colony. An evening visit to Akhna seen things moving on with a Cuckoo and female Golden Oriole making appearances. As I returned home a Little Owl remained faithful to its cliff face in Vrysoulles and a Roller was in the Orange grove. As I cooked a BBQ 30 or so European Beeaters rested briefly in the woods at the back of the house. Eating belly pork, having a KEO and listening to Beeeaters – I was glad to be alive!
Highlights of the Week: Collared Pratincoles are cracking birds to encounter but a Pied Kingfisher stole the show, closely followed by an Icterine Warbler, with a fleeting glimpse of a Barred Warbler not quite cutting it.
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 20 Apr 14
Collared Pratincole at Akhna Dam on 16 Apr
A new week and a new BLOG to fill. After a long day on Monday, I managed to get to Akhna Dam for a couple of hours. 51 Glossy Ibises dropped in at dusk and prior to that a Squacco Heron flew east across the dam. A couple of Snipe hid in the reeds and whilst I was scanning through the Wood Sandpipers and Ruffs, I came across a bobbing Jack Snipe which was a good bird for the month. The lone Cormorant is still present and a Turtle Dove flushed as a Greenshank looked on. A few Yellow Wagtails were present of the Black, Blue and melanogrisea variety but little else was present so I returned home earlier than expected which caught Deb by surprise.
Tuesday was a fairly low-key day. My intention was to visit Cape Greco and then return via Paralimni for the shopping. Unfortunately, rained curtailed the activities. Cape Greco Pines was its usual productive self with 3 Wood Warblers, 2 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers a Wryneck and 3 Common Redstarts and on the Cape, fairly quiet with 2 Woodchat Shrikes and a male Blackcap. And that was that for the day as the rain came down.
On Wednesday Akhna Dam beckoned. It’s prime time for a Great Snipe but not on this occasion. However, the area was heaving with passerines including 7 Collared Flycatchers (5 Males), 3 Wood Warblers, 2 Common Redstarts, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and 11 Whinchats at least. Waders were well represented with the highlight being the first Collared Pratincole* of the year – one of my favourites amongst the wader families. Yellow Wagtail variants were also evident with Dombrowskii, Syke’s (Beema), Feldegg and Flava being present, with a couple of Tree Pipits for good measure. As I walked around the dam a raptor was being mobbed by crows as it made its way north, heavily moulting and looking a bit bedraggled, the Osprey was not looking in the happiest of spirits. A Black Francolin called and c110 Glossy Ibises headed NE at 1730 in “V” formation. Eastern Olivaceous Warblers are now singing widely around the dam and the last birds of the day were a female Pied Flycatcher, a fleeting Cetti’s Warbler and a pair of Northern Wheatears.
I visited Akhna again on Thursday and there were many waders around but none that were unusual. 3 Golden Orioles and 2 singing Great Reed Warblers were a bonus. As I walked the tamerisks, male Ruppell’s Warbler was a surprise and a Skyk’s Wagtail continued its stay. I eventually dug out a Jack Snipe and then 24 Collared Pratincoles descended, stopped for a drink and were on their way north again. At Paralimni Lake, a pair of Stone Curlews flushed and a lone Isabelline Wheatear sunned itself.
On the 19th still searching for a Great Snipe at Akhna Dam without luck I did see 10 Glossy Ibises and a lone adult Night Heron*. A male Shoveler continued its stay and it was joined by a Garganey. As I walked around the southern arm – now completely dry, it was obvious that there had been a considerable fall off warblers. At least 7 Wood Warblers were present with 2 Eastern Bonelli’s, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Blackcaps, 2 Great Reed Warblers and eventually, briefly, a fine Icterine Warbler, complete with raised crest, lemon wash and obvious orangey bill. 2 Ruppell’s Warblers and a male Eastern Subalpine Warbler added to the mayhem and 6 European Beeaters called as they passed overhead. 2 Rollers were at a possible nest site and 26 Grey Herons were above me as a Cuckoo and Woodchat Shrike flushed. It was quite a spectacle with so many birds in such a small area. At Oroklini, Greater Flamingos now number 23, with 28 Glossy Ibises and 26 Night Herons circling at the coast. 13 Red-crested Pochards were present and another Great Reed Warbler. JUMBO Drain was a little quiet but a Sedge Warbler was good to see. I returned via Akhna Dam where many of the morning’s birds had moved on but a Hobby flew through as I was there and a female Marsh Harrier moved slowly north.
On the 20th in the Cape Greco area I flushed a Stone Curlew from the pines area and several Woodchat Shrikes were obvious. A male Cyprus Warbler showed well from the pines and a male Ortolan Bunting flew from the ground. In the Cape Area a Golden Oriole* sang and was then seen at close range, although a bit obscured. 3 Greater Short-toed Larks called as they passed overhead and a late Chiffchaff was feeding actively as a Red-rumped Swallow fed close to the cliffs. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, at least 3 Woodchat Shrikes and an Isabelline Wheatear were present and a female Sparrowhawk spiralled above me. A couple of European Beeaters fed above me as they called and as I was leaving the site I saw my first Red-backed Shrike of the spring – a female. A Pallid Harrier – ringtail and 2 Squacco Herons were the highlight as Paralimni Lake before at Akhna Dam, a Whitethroat and female Masked Shrike were present before I returned home for breakfast.
Highlights of the Week: Collared Pratincoles are cracking birds to encounter but an Icterine Warbler stole the show.
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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