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Cyprus 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
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
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