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Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 15 Dec
Alexandrine Parakeet at Gulhane Park Istanbul on 15 Dec
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
On Tuesday I visited the north to get some Turkish Lira prior to the trip to Istanbul. At Clapsides Beach, 2 Curlew, 4 Grey Plover numerous Dunlins and Kentish Plovers were of interest and at Silver Beach, 4 Golden Plovers were new. I moved onto the Fresh Water Lake South and watched 304 Cattle Egrets come into roost. Whilst watching I saw a lone Great White Egret, 8 Cormorants, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Night Herons and an adult Armenian Gull washing amongst the Black-headed Gulls but nothing very unusual.
Unseasonal poor weather across the Levant produced a rare event – an un-birdable day, very rare in Cyprus. In any event I stayed in and packed for the trip to Istanbul. On Thursday we flew to Istanbul arriving to snow and very cold conditions. Throughout the visit birds were scarce save for the ubiquitous Yellow-legged* and Black-headed Gulls. I did see 2 Sandwich Terns patrolling the Bosphorus and Cormorants and Shags were well represented with Starlings sat on the Galata Bridge. Visiting Topkapi Palace and Gulhane Park, there were the usual common woodland species with a, what appeared to be a mixed breeding colony of Alexandrine* and Ring-necked Parakeets. I was unaware that Alexandrine Parakeets had a breeding population in the Western Paleactic and although I have seen them elsewhere they did represent a European and WP “tick”, albeit from introduced stock. The usual Hooded Crows*, House Sparrows* and I was surprised to see Palm (Laughing Doves)* around the city. However in Gulhane Park, despite searching for a Syrian Woodpecker as I had heard one, I think numbers are reduced probably due to the Parakeet population taking the nest holes. There were also nest boxes for them in the park, so their expansion will be excessive. A couple of Common/Steppe Buzzards were over the Palace but generally birding was at a low and unfortunately shopping was at a high. When you arrive with a 12Kg case and leave with a 17 Kg case, you can work out for yourselves what went on!
Istanbul is a fantastic place and well worth a visit. I plan to visit again in September to catch some raptor migration across the Bosphorus.
Highlight of the Week: A mixed colony of Alexandrine* (WP “tick) and Ring-necked Parakeets in Gulhane Park, Istanbul.
Look Forward: Many species have been pushed south due to the poor weather coming down from the Arctic across the Black Sea, through Turkey and towards the Lavant so something good should turn up.
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 8 Dec
Female Little Bustard at Geri (Buffer Zone) on 4 Dec
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
As is the norm there was no possibility of birding on Monday although going to lunch a Great Tit was present in the camp area. On the morning of the 3rd, a Black Redstart was present near to the accommodation blocks. On Tuesday afternoon which was pretty miserable and windy, I visited Akhna Dam. Water Pipits seem to have declined in numbers and the Buff-bellied Pipit was nowhere to be seen. In the fields a single Red-throated Pipit, complete with red throat was amongst c60 Corn Buntings but there wasn’t much of interest. At the dam, the now regular female Hen Harrier spooked what waders were present which included 5 Redshanks, 1 Greenshank and a Dunlin. Good numbers of Spur-winged Plovers are wintering and a single Teal flushed from the water’s edge. Meadow Pipits and Wood Larks were well represented and a male Black Francolin flew in and quickly hid in the undergrowth. On the way home at Vrysoulles, no Barn Owl but a Little Owl was present in the regular roost. I received an email late on Tuesday informing me that there was a Little Bustard in the buffer zone near a town called Geri – south of Nicosia, but no more details. It had been found by a local naturalist and photographer, George Chris.
On Wednesday at work, I received an email from Colin Richardson, informing me that access had been arranged to see the Bustard and where I had to be and at what time. As soon as I’d finished work I drove to the “twitch” – with 3 of us there that’s as big as it gets in Cyprus for the 3rd record of Little Bustard. As we drove to the area a female Hen Harrier flew over the fields, whilst several Larks and Stonechats were also present. Suddenly there was the Little Bustard*, a female not 10 yards from the car. Feeding actively and very tame, we edged closer taking some great shots and looking at its cryptic plumage in detail – a fantastic bird for Cyprus. I fear for its well being, as it is so tame and seemingly having no fear, I would have thought that the likelihood of it being shot is high. As we left the area we saw a male Finsch’s Wheatear and Black Redstart. On the way home I stopped at Larnaca Sewage Works – shame to miss an opportunity and as it’s the first visit of the month, caught up with some good species for the monthly checklist. 3 Gadwalls was a good count, 5 immature Greater Flamingos were feeding and 3 Black-necked Grebes were predictable. Shellducks have increased to 76 and Greater White-fronted Geese have reached 12. Waders represented were 1 Ruff, 5 Redshanks and 4 Little Stints. A single adult Mediterranean Gull loafed with c700 Black-heads, but generally it was all rather predictable. Spiro’s Pool held 136 Golden Plovers and the Airport fields another 31 and an adult male Peregrine Falcon. On Spiro’s Beach, 1 adult Ringed Plover and 4 Kentish Plovers was at that was available. Still, a great day out with superb views of the Little Bustard which were the best I’ve ever had anywhere in the world.
Thursday was the promotion board results and as I was unsuccessful, I got drunk anyway. On Friday, I took Deb to Nicosia before proceeding to Troodos for the station Christmas Ball. In Ledra Street, Nicosia a Grey Wagtail called and flew above me which was unexpected. The weather was horrendous in the mountains and with visibility down to about 5 metres, no birding was done. A patch of clear weather on Saturday morning allowed me to catch up with most of the mountain endemics an in the village of Omodos, several Sardinian Warblers and Serins showed periodically. A single Grey Wagtail was at the Caledonian Falls Trout Farm but with the cloud cover coming down once more that was it for the day.
On Sunday, returning home I stopped at Oroklini Marsh where a large group of Lapwings had gathered along with a single Starling. At the nearby Dolphin Rocks, a single Caspian Gull joined c170 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Sandwich Terns. Continuing the coastal theme, at Dhekelia Power Staition, at least 13 Shags had gathered. I dropped Deb at home and returned to Akhna Dam where it was very quiet, however I re-found the Asian (japonicus) Buff-bellied Pipit* and got a bit of a ropey photo for recording purposes.
Highlight of the Week: The 3rd record of Little Bustard for Cyprus, showing down to 5 metres.
Look Forward: Christmas is upon us but next weekend we are off to Istanbul to celebrate Deb’s Birthday, so birding highlights may be a bit sparse.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 1 Dec
Buff-bellied Pipit at Akhna Dam 24 Nov
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Where has the year gone? I can’t believe it’s December already! Anyway, with the beginning of the week came 2 independent confirmations that the bird I photographed on 24 November at Akhna Dam was indeed a Buff-bellied Pipit* of the Ssp Japonicus (Asian Buff-bellied Pipit), although not split from the North American form rubescens it is very obviously different. With 2 previously reported this year, one in March and probably the same bird as I saw earlier in the month; perhaps they’ve always been present but remained undetected? Having looked for the bird in several Middle East countries the most recent being Israel in 2011 with Tim Cowley, I was delighted to catch up with it. Submitted to the sub-rarities committee, we await the outcome. As is the norm, no birding was undertaken on Monday due to the early evenings drawing in; it is now scarcely bird-able by 1610.
On Tuesday, a Christmas visit to JUMBO. With Oroklini now flooded again, the prospects are good. However, on arrival there was work taking place on behalf of Birdlife Cyprus to regenerate the area and make it more of a reserve. When completed it looks like it will be a good site for birds, although accessing and viewing may be difficult so not so good for birders. So not much was seen but Water and Meadow Pipits were around in good numbers, 9 Teal, a group of Spur-winged Plovers and a Grey Heron. At the man made channel next to JUMBO, 7 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Stints and 4 Spur-winged Plovers were present.
Wednesday presented an opportunity to get to Akhna Dam which was extremely quiet, although a female Hen Harrier flushed good numbers of Corn Buntings as I entered the site. I did however managed to locate and photograph the Buff-bellied Pipit* once more amongst Water and Meadow Pipits. As I watched, I caught site of a Water Rail briefly, which then flew to another reed bed where 2 Bluethroats were located. As I left the site, I paused to look at the waders which consisted of 5 Redshanks and 2 Redshanks amongst the 30 or so Spur-winged Plovers.
On Wednesday afternoon I visited Akhna Dam to see what was new. A Black-winged Stilt was new, a Water Rail was seen as I watched and photographed the Buff-bellied Pipit* again amongst the Meadow* and Water Pipits*. 2 Greenshanks were noisy as several Corn Buntings and a Red-throated Pipit passed overhead and a female Hen Harrier was nice to see. On Thursday, Christmas decorating of the Mess took precedence and you can imagine how delighted I was that this activity had stopped me from birding?
On Friday afternoon, I met Colin Richardson and 3 other birders from Paphos who were interested in seeing the Buff-bellied Pipit. After some time we located the bird once more feeding amongst the other Pipits so all were delighted with the result. Whilst watching we added Starlings, Wood Larks, Greenshanks and a Great White Egret and the star of the day and a year tick for me a female Merlin did a fly through. With Marsh and Hen Harriers putting in appearances, the last bird of the day was a surprised Moustached Warbler. Saturday was fairly dull where only a Redshank and a Black Redstart were seen at Silver Beach prior to having the “Movember” growth removed by Mehmet.
At Dhekelia Fire Station on 1st Dec, 10 Stone Curlews were roosting with a Black Redstart close by. At Akhna Dam later in the afternoon, many Pipits were still present but I couldn’t find the Buff-bellied on this occasion. A single Greenshank and Great White Egret were still active and a newly arrived Dunlin was also on the lagoons. With the wind blowing “a hooley”, there was little chance of much else but a cracking male Hen Harrier followed by a female and a female Marsh Harrier were a consolation.
Highlight of the Week: Confirmation of the Buff-bellied Pipit* sighting.
Look Forward: A trip to Troodos next weekend for the Xmas Ball could bring anything and hopefully a Brambling.
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 24 Nov
Woodlark at Akhna Dam 20 Nov
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
No birding on Monday but I did catch up with “Dusky Gate” episode. Being a Devon birder, I can imagine the dilemma that was caused by the find and also the resulting anguish that it’s caused. If you’re expecting anything as exciting, thought provoking or emotive, read no further. Rest assured, if I find anything at Akhna Dam, there will be no suppression, so if you wish to twitch it – feel free.
On Tuesday, the hunt for the Buff-bellied Pipit commenced. Well, having grilled at least 30 Water and Meadow Pipits, I’m now more than happy with their features, but no Buff-bellied, so another session tomorrow will have to take place. In the process, 2 Great White Egrets, a Bluethroat, 11 Starlings, 6 Redshank and a male Sparrowhawk was seen as the latter flushed the birds I was observing. A Little Owl was on the wires in Ay Nik as I returned home.
On Wednesday, I once again headed to Akhna Dam to search for the Buff-bellied Pipit – without luck. However, as I arrived I photographed the presumed long staying Booted Eagle*. I progressed around the site where at least 15 Water Pipits* were present. A Great White Egret flew in and a Marsh Harrier and Buzzard were overhead. A single Dunlin, couple of Redshanks and Greenshank were present but an adult Little Ringed Plover was unexpected. A common Buzzard flew over and searching the reed beds, at least 7 Bluethroats and 4 Song Thrushes were seen. Photographing a posing Wood Lark* was a bonus, as 4 were present as usual in the winter, a couple of Kingfishers made their presence felt but generally although the weather is still great for November and a good couple of hours was spent at the site, not that much was happening.
Silver lunch on Thursday – end of – nothing further to report and as a consequence Friday was also a write off with the mother of all hangovers. I managed to raise my sorry self on Saturday and visited Akhna Dam. The immature White Pelican was again present as were a pair of Great White Egrets. Water Pipits and Meadow Pipits were again feeding in good numbers, although 3 Linnets was a good site record. As an adult Little Ringed Plover and Little Stint crouched in the lagoons, a pair of pale phase Booted Eagles put on a fantastic display above me. Later after visiting the barbers in the north, Clapsides Beach was quiet with a Grey Plover and Yellow-legged Gull being the only sightings.
After attending the panto on Saturday night in Dhekelia, which was a great show – Oh no it wasn’t – don’t start that again, I stayed over and walked the local area on Sunday morning finding a male Blackbird, (unusual for lowland sites) and a male Cyprus Warbler. I visited Oroklini next, which must have been flooded in the week as the water levels were high, having been bone dry for the last few months. It’s amazing how the birds quickly re-colonise any piece of water. At least 250 Teals were present with Shovelers, Mallards, Coots, Little Grebes and a pair of Pintails. 6 Lapwings, 2 Redshanks and 2 Dunlins were also feeding but were soon flushed by a quartering male Marsh Harrier. Onward to Larnaca Sewage Works where 7 Lapwings were on the lagoons. In the water, 5 Black-necked Grebes, a surprise Wigeon, 48 Shelduck, a couple of Armenian Gulls and eventually a lovely adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the commoner Black heads. On Spiro’s Pool, Golden Plover numbers had increased to 119. At Akhna Dam in the evening, a couple of Red-throated Pipits flew over, a Green Sandpiper flushed from a muddy pool and after grilling hundreds of Water and Meadow Pipits in the last week, I believe I found and photographed the Buff-bellied Pipit that was reported last week – the outcome awaits confirmation. On the way home the Barn Owl was not present in Vrysoulles but a Little Owl was.
Highlight of the Week: A pair of pale phase Booted Eagles was nice to see and again the potential Buff-bellied Pipit.
Look Forward: Grilling some more Pipits and wintering species – all getting a bit samey at the moment
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 17 Nov
Osprey at Akhna Dam in Nov
With photographic opportunities being very limited this week - a species at Akhna Dam that's always worth a photoshoot.
Monday and bad light stopped play as usual. On Tuesday, avoiding the monthly shop, I had arranged to meet Colin Richardson at Akhna Dam at about 1430. Meeting successfully, the White Pelican was still hanging around and 6 Starlings flew overhead. The dam was alive with Pipits, mainly Water and 3 Redshanks and a Greenshank were present. At least 4 Bluethroats were seen, 10 Song Thrush flew overhead and perhaps the surprise of the day was 2 very late Swallows. As we left, a Marsh Harrier hawked the reed beds and at Dhekelia 40 Stone Curlews were present at the roost.
On Wednesday I ate breakfast as a Sardinian Warbler passed through the trees, a Chaffinch flew in and a Song Thrush flew over the house. I departed for Troodos at about 0730. Stopping at Giant Juniper picnic site, Song Thrushes were evident along with the usual mountain suspects but 4 Crossbills flying over was a good count. A Mistle Thrush, my first of the winter flew over, however, with hunters everywhere, blasting everything, I’m not sure how long it will last – this really is a despicable, sick nation! In the village at Troodos, a Wren sang in the open, a Coal Tit was less obvious, several Blackbirds flushed and Chaffinches were obvious. At Prodromos Dam in the afternoon, more of the same but a Grey Wagtail was an addition to the monthly tally.
On Thursday I returned to Ay Nik. At Larnaca Sewage Works, 8 Black-winged Stilt remained, 2 immature Greater Flamingos looked lost and a male Cyprus Warbler was unusual for the site. On the lagoons, gull numbers are growing but with nothing unusual, 3 Black-necked Grebes were present and a pair of Gadwalls were new. The dried out Spiro’s Pool now holds 12 Golden Plovers and a Black Redstart was present by the sewage works offices. Oroklini had a fair collection of smaller waders with mainly Dunlins and Little Stints being present however the Terek Sandpiper appears to have gone. 12 Lapwings was a good count prior to departing the area. At Dolphin rocks, conveniently near the KFC, 4 Sandwhich Terns were amongst the Black-headed Gulls and a Common Sandpiper – the only one for the month so far flew in. At Akhna Dam in the evening the immature White Pelican was still there and the highlight was a male and female Marsh Harrier and a cracking adult male Hen Harrier. Bluethroats numbered 4, Water Pipits are declining in numbers although good numbers of Red-throated Pipits remain in the fields. A Great White Egret had returned to the site and a Little Owl was in its usual roost as I left.
On Friday, I ventured over the north, but as Movember progresses, there was no need for the barbers. At Clapsides Beach, 2 Curlews were present along with an adult Audouin’s Gull, Grey Plover and numerous Kentish Plovers and Dunlins. Fresh Water Lake South held 3 Great White Egrets a couple of Kingfishers, a Spoonbill and the Cattle Egret roost numbered c250. A Grey Wagtail called and as dusk drew in, 6 Night Herons took to the sky. As I drove away from the site a Little Owl perched on a telegraph wire in front of me.
On Saturday the monthly jaunt to Ayia Thekla revealed 7 Greater Sand Plovers and 16 Kentish Plovers whilst at Ayia Napa Football Pithces, 19 Meadow Pipits and 1 Woodlarks fed actively on the grass.. The female dark throated Finsch’s Wheatear remained to the east of the football pitches and at the sewage works 126 Little Grebes was a good count. A male Black Redstart and my first Spectacled Warbler of the month were overshadowed by the large number of very vocal Sardinian Warblers. 20+ Chiffchaffs were in bushes on the approach road but there was little else of interest. As I approached Cape Greco, a Wheatear flew across in front of me which proved to be a late female Northern, I was hoping for something rarer. Male Blue Rock Thrushes numbered 3, Black Redstarts 5 with numerous Spectacled and Sardinians under the Army Camp. Another female Finsch’s Wheatear was present and a Peregrine was mobbed by a pair of Kestrels.
On Sunday to avoid the mass shooting, I went to the Larnaca Sewage Works area – next the airport, shooting is forbidden – which is good for the birds. 3 Shelducks were on the lagoons, Black-necked Grebes totalled 7, a Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and 6 Ruffs were on the lagoons along with the long staying Bar-tailed Godwit. A Sanderling was also present and a Marsh Harrier and then a Hen Harrier flushed everything. I flushed 2 Black Francolins as I drove away and Skylarks numbered 30+. At the dry Spiro’s Pool, 43 Golden Plovers were present along with a male Sardinian Warbler. I returned via Oroklini Marsh and a chance drive around the drainage channels revealed that remarkably the Terek Sandpiper, which was thought to have gone was still present into its 6th week. A single Shellduck and 5 Teals were in the channels along with commoner waders. I stopped at Dolphin Rocks on the way home to find c80 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Sandwich Tern and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls – my first for the winter period. Akhna Dam was fairly quiet with 2 Great White Egrets, the immature White Pelican and a female Hen Harrier. I was however shown a picture of an Asian Buff-bellied Pipit taken at the site 2 hours previously, however, no Water Pipits were present when I checked – I knew they must be here!
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Highlight of the Week: In a fairly dull week a Mistle Thrush and late Swallows were good finds although the re-finding of the Terek Sandpiper at Oroklini was a good record..
Look Forward: Cold weather (relatively speaking of course), winter visitors and some long awaited rain I think. With the news of the japonicas Buff-bellied Pipit confirmed – some more grilling of Pipits no doubt.
Other Interesting Finds: Although I have seen this species before in the Canaries, it was the first Crimson Spotted Moth* that I’ve see in Cyprus.
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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