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Cyprus 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
CommentsSPTA West
The sun has been shining on the Plain these last 2 weeks. Blackcaps have arrived in force and there are numerous Chiffchaffs. Corn Buntings are found around the edges of the area and Yellowhammers are across the whole area. I was with the RSPB staff looking at Stone Curlew plots and around Imber Clump we found quite a few Wheatears. There are plenty of Buzzards and Kestrels around plus there was a Sparrowhawk in the grass last Friday. Stonechats are singing as are Skylarks. Birds seem to come alive this time of year as there are plenty of Goldfinches, Linnets, Chaffinches, Wrens and tits. I can still hear Goldcrests in the woods and there are plenty of corvids about. Ravens are nesting around the area and near Knook Camp the nest is above a Kestrel Box. Pairs of Red-legged Partridges are everywhere. Obviously the shoot did not do a very good job. Not only are the birds getting into Spring but puddles of water can be found with adult Fairy Shrimps and some are full of tiddlers. Some puddles even have Palmate Newts breeding in them. Mammals are doing well and as I was watching a Reed Bunting, 3 Fox Cubs were watching me. Tawny Owls are doing well as the vole population has fought back from the previous 2 winters; the boxes are filling up. I even took a couple of days off to go and see the Two-barred Crossbill in Norfolk though the Baikal Teal did not show whilst I stood on a windswept Fen Bank. Today I checked out some Stone Curlew sites with 3 birds and 4 lapwings on 2 sites. There are 2 Peregrine nests still active and I am waiting for Whitethroat, Nightingale and Whinchat to arrive. I did manage some ringing which was biased to Greenfinch in the valley and Blackcap on the Plain. It is Easter Weekend so Imber Village will be packed but the rest of the area will be open with no troops; more surveys.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 13 Apr 14
Syke’s Wagtail at Akhna Dam on 12 Apr
A new week and a visit to Akhna Dam beckoned. Waders were present in good numbers with 6 Common Snipe, so surely only a matter of days before a Great Snipe appears. Ruffs, Wood Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers and Little Stints were all present along with a lone lingering Cormorant and drake Ferruginous Duck. I was rewarded with the first Whiskered Tern of the year that was in breeding plumage and 2 Yellow Wagtails of the Dombrowskii* (Romanian Wagtail) hybrid form. 3 Meadow Pipits were late and 6 Little Egrets was a good count with 2 Purple Herons and 7 Grey Herons.
Tuesday and rain stopped play. A very heavy thunderstorm lasting about 5 hours drenched the area so I decided to stay in, catch up on some sleep and go for an Indian in the evening – so still an enjoyable day! On Wednesday, with news from the wider island of migrant breeders arriving, I visited the Cape Greco area. At the pines good numbers of migrants were present with a Wryneck*, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Collared Flycatchers (3 Males & a Female), 3 Common Redstarts (2 Males) and an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler which are becoming a bit thin on the ground. I moved onto the Cape area and more migrants, with Cretzchmars’ Ortolan and Corn Buntings with a Woodchat Shrike and numerous Whinchats nearby. A pristine Eastern Black-eared Wheatear is getting late and a male Cyprus Warbler continued to sing. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, I saw my first Eastern Olivaceous Warbler of the year, with a Wood Warbler, Eastern Bonelli’s, Willow and Common Redstart. As I drove home via the Ayia Napa Football Pitches several more Whinchats were obvious and 2 Turtle Doves flushed. I paused at Paralimni Lake driving across it – still no joy with a Caspian Plover! Around the other side by Sotira Pond, 2 Glossy Ibises continued their stay as did 3 Black-winged Stilts. Suddenly 15 Purple Herons* lifted off from the reeds and continued their migration and my first roller of the year sat on wires with a Cuckoo*.
On Thursday, I had to visit Troodos and saw most of the mountain specialities with the exception of Crossbill and Wren. As the AOS knows, these are the 2 most difficult to catch up with. Red-rumped Swallows were seen on the ascent as were Serins and singing Eastern Olivaceous Warblers. At Larnaca Airport Pools North, another Red-necked Phalarope was present with numerous Ruffs, Wood and Common Sandpipers with a small group of Dunlins also being present. The Black-tailed Godwit continued its stay at Oroklini, Flamingos numbered 30, Red-crested Pochards 15 and Little Egrets have increased to 15. 4 Garganeys were present (3 Drakes and a Duck) and Black-winged Stilts remained constant at about 40. Later at Akhna Dam, the first Curlew Sandpiper of the year feeding with a group of 50 or so Ruffs was overlooked by the Cormorant which appears to have forgotten to migrate and a drake Garganey. At the dam wall end of the site, a Wood Warbler was a good find with 3 Collared Flycatchers, another couple of Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, a Cetti’s, 2 Sedge and a couple of Reeds. Eventually, I connected with my first Common Whitethroat of the year, progressing the year list onto 218. As I left, a Whinchat showed and a “supercilliaris” Wagtail was perched in a tamarisk.
With wine tasting in the Mess on Friday afternoon with a curry to follow, no birding took place and if events run true to form, I am not hopeful of an early start tomorrow. As predicted, I got to Akhna Dam at about 1500 after suffering all day. In any event, it was a good decision. As I worked my way through a flock of Yellow Wagtails including, Black-headed, Blue-headed, I found a “Dombrowskii” hybrid and then a couple of Syke’s (beema) Wagtails*. A late Water Pipit was also present with a Purple Heron flushing from the reeds. Whinchats totalled 3 and a male Redstart added a flash of colour. A lone Glossy Ibis fed amongst the Ruffs but other than the Yellow Wagtails it was routine business.
On Sunday as I drove to the market, a female Montague’s Harrier was over the fields at Akhna Dam. I dropped Debs at the market and did a quick round at Oroklini Marsh. The Black-tailed Godwit was still present with 2 drake Garganeys. Flamingos totalled 38, 3 Greenshanks were noisy and my first Kingfisher of the month flushed from a small “skanky” pool. Picking Deb up I moved to the Larnaca area where 2 drake Ferruginous Ducks were still on the sewage works lagoons along with 2 late staying Shelducks. Nothing much doing, the airport fields had a Woodchat Shrike keeping watch from the fence and at Pervolia the regular “drive by” Calandras did the business. Kivisili Fields were disappointing with only 1 female Pallid Harrier being present, so I drove past Larnaca Airport looking in at the pools. The Phalarope was no longer present amongst the numerous Ruffs but the 9 Dunlins hung on. For a change JUMBO Drain let me down with only a Snipe and Common Sandpiper being notable. In the afternoon I visited the Cape Greco Pines area where the trees were alive with black and white flycatchers. At least 3 Collareds, 2 males and a female, 3 Pieds, 2 females and a male and 2 Semi-Collareds – one of each. Added to this my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year, a couple of Whinchats, 3 Common Redstarts, a Hoopoe, several Tree Pipits and a Wryneck. I retuned home via Paralimni Lake finding a small flock of Greater Short-toed Larks and along the water filled bund line, a spanking Wood Warbler. Wheatears are coming towards the end of their passage with only 1 Northern being present. I arrived home, cooked a BBQ and had a surprise as a European Nightjar flew through the garden at dusk, thus ending a productive week.
Highlights of the Week: Semi-Collared Flycatchers and grilling my way through Yellow Wagtail flocks to eventually find a Syke’s.
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 6 Apr 14
Red-necked Phalarope at Larnaca Airport Pool North on 3 Apr
Alone again treading a lonely path. With the AOS tour departed, on Monday, the last day of the month, I decided to get back in the saddle and visit Paralimni Lake. There wasn’t much about but I was greeted by a fly-through male Pallid Harrier. Many Lesser Whitethroats were present with an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler. On the quickly reducing flash, a Redshank, Ruff, Wood Sand, 3 Little Stints and 4 Little Ringed Plovers. As I searched the dried out lake for a possible Caspian Plover, there wasn’t one, I did find a perched male Peregrine. I flushed a Purple Heron and a Kingfisher and that was the last bird of the month. My highest total ever, with 170 for a month, thanks to thrashing about with the AOS for a week, which delivered some great and unexpected birds.
The first of the month and a JUMBO outing – why not? Stopping at Dolphin Rocks, an adult Baltic Gull loafed with a 1st winter Caspian and Yellow-legged. 7 Black-headed Gulls remained and 3 migrant Little Egrets perched on the rocks. After dropping Deb, I visited the now famous JUMBO drain. No Little Crake this time but 3 Citrine Wagtails – 2 males and a female, a Common Sandpiper and a few other common birds. Onward to Oroklini Marsh where the Spotted Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Marsh Sandpiper remained whilst the Red-crested Pochards looked resplendent and a lone Shelduck was amongst the increased 15 Greater Flamingos. Home via Akhna Dam, a flyby Cuckoo, another 2 Citrine Wagtails and the Cormorant remains, providing a good “tick” for April – It’s all about “The List”. A Marsh Harrier drifted lazily by and 9 Ruffs were on the ponds.
On Wednesday afternoon I visited the Cape Greco area. Stopping first at the small pine plantation, on the left before you enter the cape proper, migrants were everywhere. As is the norm for this time of the year and following a bird tour, the next, different tranche of migrants come through. A couple of Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers were present as they continue to pass in reasonable numbers and they were joined by my first busy Wood Warbler of the year. As I walked around, I connected with 3 Common Redstarts*, a male Collared Flycatcher, and 2 Pied Flycatchers- a male and female. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a Semi-collared. Continuing to walk a Cuckoo flushed, followed by the bird of the day…… a Long-eared Owl, which was consequently harassed by Corvids. The Cape held Isabelline, Northern and Cyprus* Wheatears but nothing rarer; I’d hoped that the Hooded Wheatear might still have been about, but I should’ve known better. At Cape Greco Picnic Site the area was alive with the song of Nightingales*, as 2 chased each other, 1 sat up and sang allowing me to get an unlikely, reasonable shot of this usually skulking migrant. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, I met Joe and John the 2 Irish birders who put me onto another male Collared Flycatcher*, there ended up being 2 present with another 2 Wood Warblers, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler – FULL HOUSE! A couple of Red-rumped Swallows drifted overhead and as we were leaving a male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear posed atop a bush, a male Pallid Harrier hawked the scrub and a Cuckoo flew away from it. Finally, at Paralimni Lake, a Glossy Ibis, 15 Kentish Plover and a flyover, calling Red-throated Pipit – but once again no lurking Caspian Plover – the search continues……..
With the month list off to a flyer, I decided on a change of tack and dropping Deb into Larnaca for a change, I visited the local sites on Thursday afternoon. Joe and John (the visiting Irish birders) had tipped me off regarding a Red-necked Phalarope in the Larnaca area so I thought I’d give it a whirl. On the small pool, opposite the main salt lake and to the left of the VIP terminal, there it was, a Red-necked Phalarope*, along with c80 Ruffs, a Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Black-winged Stilts and 2 Kentish Plover – a good year “tick”. The sewage works retained its 3 Ferruginous Ducks, a couple of Shovelers, and about 80 Black-winged Stilts but little else. Spriro’s Pool had a Northern Wheatear on it and offshore a Baltic Gull migrated. Picking Debs up laden down with “Kippling Bags” – whatever they are, I drove home and as I passed Akhna Dam a cracking male Pallid Harrier flew over the road.
Cape Greco again on Friday afternoon, with Deb for a Cyprus Sandwich – excellent. As it was being cooked I walked around the Pines. Nightingales* were out in force and I saw my first Wood Warbler of the year with an Eastern Bonelli’s for good measure. A pair of Redstarts were present with good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats. I flushed a Tawny, Tree Pipit and Hoopoe and proceeded to the Picnic Area. A pair of Cyprus Warblers sang, a couple of Cyprus Wheatears with Northerns, but it was pretty quiet. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works along the fence line, more Chiffchaffs, a couple of Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers and another Nightingale. A Masked Shrike was present as I left the area and at Vrysoulles on the way home a Little Owl remained faithful to its roost.
On Saturday morning I drove across Paralimni Lake in the hope of finding a Caspian Plover – without luck, there was however, and Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear present. Later at Cape Greco Pines, it was very quiet and this was the case generally in the whole area. At the Picnic Site I caught a glimpse of a male Pallid Harrier as it made its way north. Whilst doing so, in my bins in the distance I saw 2 White Storks, very high gliding north-west. I paused to photograph an Eastern Orphean Warbler* which, unusually had perched on top of a bush for a while. On route to Ayia Napa Sewage Works I stopped to photograph a Cuckoo* perched on a telegraph wire and continued to the sewage works where a couple of Woodchat Shirkes, a Masked Shrike, another Cuckoo, Eastern Orphean Warbler and a male Blue Rock Thrush were the highlights. Onward to Akhna Dam where a couple of Cormorants remained and I photographed a female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear* amongst the Yellow Wagtails. Of the waders 2 Marsh Sandpipers with 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and 4 Snipe was all that could be found. In the afternoon, over to the barbers in the north for the regular love-in and a brief stop at the Fresh Water Lake South, brought 23 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons and 2 Glossy Ibises. As I attended my “enforced fun” belated Birthday Party, c25 Glossy Ibises passed over the house in “V” formation heading north east.
On Sunday, I visited Petounta Point and it was very quiet save for a couple of Nightingales and a male Eastern Black Eared Wheatear. I photographed some Black-headed* and Blue-headed Wagtails* however. Before reaching Petounta I’d stopped at Larnaca Sewage Works where the usual Black Francolins were seen and waders consisted of Marsh, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers with Redshanks and Greenshanks also appearing. Black-winged Stilts look set to breed with c80 being present. Slender-billed Gulls were outnumbered by Black-heads but there wasn’t that much to talk about. At Pervolia, I engaged in the usual “drive-by” Calandra Lark sightings with 1 in display flight and a female Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by Crows. The small pond adjacent to the airport had good numbers of waders present again but the Red-necked Phalarope had moved on. JUMBO drain was a bit of a disappointment for a change and Oroklini Marsh had 5 pairs of Red-crested Pochards and a lone male present with 35 Greater Flamingos and a single Black-tailed Godwit. Having had news of Lesser Kestrels moving through I finished the day at Paralimni Lake which is usually a good place for the passage of the species. I arrived and saw 7 Kestrels feeding actively and most were females, however I got a cracking male in the scope complete with blue wing panels in the median coverts and an elongated black centre tail feather – so a good year tick. I moved along the raised banks and found a Wood Warbler and Eastern Bonell’s Warbler but I also managed to see the first Little Bittern of the year as a Sedge Warbler fed actively nearby. So ended the week, which despite me singing “I’m so Ronrey, in a Team America type style, went quite well.
Highlights of the Week: A Long-eared Owl at Cape Greco Pines is always a good find and the arrival of spanking Wood Warblers is always a good find. An earlyish Red-necked Phalarope was a bonus, it’s always good to get that one under your belt and a male Lesser Kestrel is always good to see
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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