Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 11 Aug
Common Kingfisher at Akhna Dam on 11 Aug
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link
Migration gathered pace this week with the first visit to Akhna Dam producing some good birds. The first of which was a Purple Heron quickly followed by a Sedge Warbler, an adult male Little Bittern and 2 Squacco Herons. The site’s vehicular access has been blocked off so a walk is necessary to gain any benefit of a visit. As I walked around, several Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were obvious as were the Common Sandpipers. 3 Yellow Wagtails, female types, not ID’d to race were noted which were my first for the autumn. 2 Common Kingfishers were present and I then caught site of a loan Common Starling. Masked Shrikes and Hoopoes were present as usual for this time of year as were the commoner waders – Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Spur-winged Plovers. A good start to the week with some visible migration underway and completed by 2 Rollers over the road at Avgorou as I returned home.
Tuesday’s visit to Cape Greco and the North were productive. In the morning at Ayia Napa Football Pitches, 2 female Black Francolins strutted their stuff out in the open whilst further on at the Sewage Works, a male Eastern Orphean Warbler and Cyprus Warbler were seen briefly whilst 2 male Red-backed Shrikes and a Lesser Grey Shrike were more obvious sat on top to their lookout perches. A Common Swift was heard overhead and 4 Common Sandpipers were on the lagoons. At Cape Greco Pines, nothing much doing but 3 Chukars scampered away, a male Cyprus Wheatear caught flies and 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers tried to hide.
In the afternoon, it was the weekly trip to Koprulu Dam. Now reduced to two small puddles which will probably be dry in about 2 or 3 days, I didn’t expect much. But proving me wrong, it’s amazing how migrating waders find even the smallest patches of water to feed in, it was quite productive. An adult male (moulting heavily) Spotted Redshank stood out and as I watched, at least 7 Wood Sandpipers came into view with a Ruff and finally a very white, winter plumaged Marsh Sandpiper with its needle thin bill joined the feeding flock. With 16 Cattle Egrets, 6 Grey Herons, 5 Spur-winged Plovers and 4 Black-winged Stilts present, it’s probably going to be the last visit to the site until November/ December and the first rains. Returning home via the Fresh Water Lake in Famagusta which is beginning to reduce in water and revealing some mud produced 8 Squacco Herons, 4 Little Egrets, an adult Night Heron, with 23 Spur-winged Plovers, 1 Black-winged Stilt and 6 Glossy Ibises, so not exactly heaving yet.
On Thursday prior to heading over the north for dinner out at the Turkish kebab emporium, I walked around Akhna Dam for about an hour. As I arrived good numbers of Yellow Wagtails flew from the grass and 2 Green Sandpipers took to the air. As I walked around the usual flock of Common Sandpipers were present including a Wood Sandpiper and a Redshank called and then landed not far from me. With 4 Glossy Ibis and a Squacco flushing, I noticed a wader on the shore which I managed to photograph that was my first Dunlin* of the autumn, a breeding plumaged bird. An immature Masked Shrike was still present as were 3 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Little Owls. As I stood above a reed bed, I first heard 2 and then saw a Reed Warbler. A couple of European Beeaters called as they passed high above me but that was about it for the visit.
Friday had arrived and I watched the cricket. On Saturday I made an early start and returned to the Cape Greco area. At Ayia Napa Football Pitches, a male and female Black Francolin fed on one of the pitches whilst 2 Common Swifts were above me. On an adjacent pitch 5 Yellow Wagtails and a female Red-backed Shrike fed actively. As I drove past the Ayia Napa Sewage Works lagoons, 5 Common Sandpipers were present but not much else. Clearly there had been a mini fall with many Sylvia warblers being present including at least 5 Eastern Orphean Warblers, 2 Common Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Spectacled Warblers and 2, a male and female Cyprus Warblers. Another Red-backed Shrike at the top of the hill was also fairly obvious. As I reached the top of the hill, vehicles were present – not a good sign. Sure enough the song of an unseasonal Blackcap alerted me to a tape lure and a pair of poachers with about 60 – 100 limesticks being set – the first of the autumn and quite early. There, the grotesque site of several birds hanging from the deadly sticks awaiting their demise and their lives and migration to Africa cut short. So, despite my efforts to report the site throughout last autumn – no action! The barbaric, narrow-minded, uneducated slaughter of millions of migrating species continues unabated, quite sickening. I reported the incident but I know nothing will be done. 3 juvenile Black-headed Buntings* called as they flew across me and one stopped to have a look around before proceeding south. As I left the area an adult Roller perched on a small conifer, 2 Grey Herons flew west and several Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were very vocal.
On Sunday evening I visited Akhna Dam and all appeared quiet. A single Squacco Heron fed in the water soaked vegetation and not much else appeared to be occurring. With persistence, I saw 4 Glossy Ibises and 18 Yellow Wagtails. As I scanned I saw 3 Wood Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper with 4 Garganeys flying in and landing on the water. A juvenile Masked Shrike revealed itself briefly and 3 Little Ringed Plovers called and flew over the water. I eventually found 3 Kingfishers* and amongst the hundreds of migrating Swallows, a single Sand Martin and 2 House Martins. I also snapped a breeding plumaged Cattle Egret*. That concluded the day and the week and with England recovering against Australia all was well.
Highlight of the Week: A couple of juvenile Black-headed Buntings were good August records.
Look Forward: More braving the heat in an attempt to find some rarities.
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 Aug
Juvenile Yellow Wagtail at Akhna Dam
• indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
On Monday, I took a day’s leave in an attempt to find a few early migrants. It was on the same date last year that I found an unlikely Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler at Ayia Napa Sewage Works, which is where I headed initially. I visited yesterday but there were few birds evident. What a difference a day makes (that is not a cue for a song). There were clearly more birds present with several Spectacled Warblers and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers being present with an immature Masked Shrike. I then found a cracking male Red-backed Shrike, the first of the autumn to my knowledge followed by the first Eastern Orphean Warbler of the migration period. A Common Sandpiper was on the lagoons with the usual Little Grebes and at Cape Greco Pines the Cyprus Wheatears were still present along with another Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. I returned via Sotira Pond to find 4 Glossy Ibises, a Green Sanpiper, Stone Curlew, 5 Black-winged Stilt and 7 very vocal Spur-winged Plovers. Retuning home for lunch a Hoopoe flew across the road at Freneros.
In the afternoon I visited the Larnaca area where the north side of the salt lake was completely dry although overhead 7 Pallid and a Common Swift drifted southwards. At the sewage works, a pair of immature Whiskered Terns and a Little Tern were present along with a couple of Common Sandpipers and 2 Ruff. Retuning via Akhna Dam as usual a large influx of waders had taken place although most were Little Ringed Plovers with 26 resting on the mud, 8 of which were adults. 2 Common Sandpipers and a single Ruff fed actively whilst a Little Owl and immature Masked Shrike sat quietly on their respective look out posts.
On Tuesday after work, I once more visited my local patch at Akhna Dam. 2 Little Owls were present as I entered the site and a Temmick’s Stint accompanied the 6 Little Ringed Plovers that were present. As I drove the site, I flushed at least 7 Hoopoes and a Glossy Ibis, with an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Common Kingfisher and 3 Common Sandpipers putting in an appearance. A Squacco Heron and circa 20 Spur-winged Plovers with a noisy Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler), living up to its name completed an enjoyable couple of hours. Wednesday, with the car in the garage, (again – but I have put it through its paces), it was returned in time for me to visit Akhna Dam. Little had arrived from the previous day although Little Ringed Plover numbers had once more increased to 27.
With it being extremely hot (40 degrees +) on Thursday afternoon, I stayed in until later which allowed me the opportunity to watch the beginning of the 3rd Ashes Test with Deb. OK, so it’s a lie, she does not enjoy cricket more than she dislikes my perpetual listing! A quick trip over the north and stopping at Fresh Water Lake, Famagusta saw me recording 4 Night Herons, 1 1 CY and 3 adults, 6 Squaccos, 4 Little Egrets, c150 Cattle Egrets, 2 Glossy Ibis and a single female Mallard. Later at Akhna Dam, situation normal although the Little Ringed Plover flock had moved on and 2 Rollers crossed the road at Avgorou on the way home. A noisy Little Owl kept me awake for a while as I struggled to sleep in the heat – Aircon time one thinks. On Friday, I stayed in had a few beers and watched the cricket before heading over the north in the evening to visit the best Chinese restaurant we’ve so far managed to find..
An early rise on Saturday morning and I headed straight for the Cape Greco area in the hope of some migrants and I was not disappointed. As I walked to the car 2 European Beeaters were over the wood at the back of the house which was great – not so great was that the locals were shooting at them. The MINDLESS, BARBARIC, annual SLAUGHTER begins once more with the authorities obviously being either unable or unwilling to do anything about it. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, a couple of Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper were on the lagoons, with Little Grebe numbers rising to c70. As I walked towards the small olive grove, it was clear that there had been some movement as there seemed to be a lot more birds than earlier in the week. At least 10 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers moved around restlessly and I caught sight of an immature Masked Shrike. As I worked the area I disturbed at least 3 Eastern Orphean Warblers and 5 Spectacled Warblers. I walked to the eucalyptus stand where a female Cyprus Warbler flitted about and a Spotted Flycatcher was actively doing what its name suggests. With a few migrants obviously moving, I explored further and as I followed an in-flight Eastern Orphean Warbler, I caught a glimpse of a red tail. I located a perched male Redstart and as it moved on the branch it revealed a large white wing patch. Of the sub-species samamisicus, it was the Turkish and Caucasus race known as Ehrenberg’s Redstart. During my previous visits to Cyprus I had recorded these as Eastern race Redstarts, with the Eastern Redstart now being recognised as a sub-species the discrimination of the samamisicus is in fact a Cyprus “tick” for me. Having missed them in the spring when they are fairly common, to find one in the autumn where they are classed as very rare was indeed rewarding and worth the trip out in the by now (0800), blistering heat. Happy, I moved to Cape Greco picnic site where 2 Rollers flew south, an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler fed actively and a Cyprus Wheatear (now becoming scarcer) caught an insect. With not much else happening I moved along to Ayia Thekla to check out the Greater Sand Plovers, of which there were 4 in the usual place along with 2 Common Sandpipers.
At Akhna Dam in the afternoon, not much was changing, the Little Owl roosted, the usual waders were present with 26 Little Ringed Plovers being in the majority and 2 Hoopoes flew away as the car approached. Departing for Dhekelia at 1815 we stopped at the power station to view 6 Shags and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls before going to our friends to attend a leaving function. Staying overnight and a bit worse for the wear, we rose late, drove home, watched the cricket, suffered and stayed out of the heat. Not a bad week with evidence of small migration but nonetheless, rewards are there if you get out in the heat.
Highlight of the Week: It’s always good to catch up with a few firsts for the migration period and the Ehrenberg’s Redstart was a good moment.
Look Forward: Migration – it’s that time of the year again when getting out as often as possible should pay dividends even though it is now uncomfortably hot.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Comments
Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 28 Jul
Long-eared Owl at Cape Greco Pines on 28 Jul.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
Belated ID: For those interested the Wasp that I photographed last week in Troodos was of the genus sphecid - Ammophila heydeni Dahlbom. Whilst I know many will not be interested, this is a special entry for Tim Cowley, who I know recently purchased a British Bee ID book, so, if he wishes to branch out, here’s the opportunity.
Monday at Akhna Dam and Common Sandpiper numbers remain at 9, however today a Greenshank* was new in, but the Squacco Heron, Masked Shrikes and Spur-winged Plovers remain. A large flock of c100 Spanish Sparrows was impressive and eventually I flushed 5 Green Sandpipers whilst a couple of Spectacled Warblers shot off into the scrub.
In the morning going to work DEB alerted me to a calling Beeater – so persistence does reap rewards. After work I went to Akhna once more where nothing much changed, although Common Sandpiper numbers had increased to 16 and an early returning Common Kingfisher was seen. The Little Owl* was in the same place as last week and 3 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were seen. Later that night a Long-eared Owl was calling from behind the house.
Wednesday had arrived and so I visited a new site in the north that a British ex-pat birder Robin Snape )who works for Exeter University and is studying turtles in Northern Cyprus and is also a keen birder, leading trips in the north) had given me directions to. I eventually arrived at Guvercinlik, now much dried out but an irrigation channel led to a small flooded area which contained 13 Glossy Ibises, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 pairs of Black-winged Stilts and at least 14 Spur-winged Plovers. The reason I had gone, I encountered when returning to the car through a lightly grassed area of unploughed field. I flushed at least 7 Greater Short-toed Larks, which were easy to ID as they alighted calling. This would be a very early autumn occurrence if they were migrants but suggests a possible breeding area for the birds which are known to breed on the island in isolated locations. I moved on to Koprulu Dam and several Wood Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and Redshank were present amongst the c150 Black-winged Stilts. At least 17 Glossy Ibises were there and 8 Grey Heron (an increase of 1). Nothing else much doing so I checked out Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta which had 8 Squacco Herons and 3 Glossy Ibises present. Perhaps the most interesting observation was that, drying up a little, on a small muddy patch, waders have begun to return. I counted 52 Spur-winged Plovers and 6 Black-winged Stilts. It should be good for migrants shortly.
Thursday and I asked Deb a rhetorical question “Did she want to go to JUMBO”? So it was that I ended up at Oroklini Marsh. At the marsh a Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpipers and 4 Grey Herons were migrants and 4 Little Egrets continued their stay. The most interesting observation was of 2 adult Little Terns tending a downy looking juvenile, suggesting breeding has taken place at the site once more. We returned via Dhekelia Power Station and Akhna Dam as usual – my wife leads a very diverse and interesting life (I think)? At the power station platforms, 5 Shags and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were present. As we drove around Akhna Dam a Hoopoe flushed and a Kingfisher plunged dived. I got a not very good picture of 1 of the 3 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers* and Little Ringed Plover numbers had increased to 5 with 2 Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers reducing to 3. 2 immature Masked Shrikes and the Little Owl sat in its, by now, usual spot rounded the day off. At night I drove around the local village and heard 2 Long-eared Owls calling, so I have now tracked them down to a rough area.
Friday was the mess summer BBQ, End of – nuff said. In any event, I got to Akhna Dam on Saturday where 1 Hoopoe alighted along with a Masked Shrike and 3 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers were around the ponds. On Sunday I made it to the Cape Greco area. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works 5 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, a Spectacled with 38 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Coot on the lagoons. I moved to the Cape Greco Pines area where the Cyprus Wheatears* continued their residency and I flushed a large bird of prey and as I sneaked up on it (if that’s possible), I managed to photograph a fantastic Long-eared Owl*. A couple more Cyprus Wheatears were in the area and as I was leaving an Isabelline Wheatear – the first of the autumn. I visited the Turkish barbers and stopped at the Fresh Water Lake where 5 Squaccos were the highlight, although wader numbers are increasing. At Akhna Dam in the evening, 2 Little Owls a number of waders had also arrived and soon I spotted 3 small waders which proved to be Temminck’s Stints* that I managed to get some cracking shots of. The early arrived Kingfisher continued to fish from an exposed perch and a lone Wood Sandpiper was a new arrival. On the way home, I stopped at Vrysoulles where I managed to see my 3rd owl of the day in the form of a roosting Barn Owl*. With 4 European Beeaters roosting at the back of the house on dead tree snags, this concluded the week.
Highlight of the Week: 7 Greater Short-toed Larks at a new site – Guvercinlik, suggesting possible breeding.
Look Forward: The last week in July usually heralds the arrival of early Sylvia Warblers which should be coming through and be present around the Cape Greco area, with a day’s leave on Monday I am very hopeful of a result.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Comments
SPTA West
Earlier this month the area was out of bounds so I missed the Red-back Shrike seen by our PhD student and her BTO supervisor. That said I have been helping with the Whinchat study normally as muscle to move the batteries for nest cameras and sward measurer and scribe for inverterbrate surveys. We have had 52 pairs of Whinchat breed on the Imber area alone. I have a few nests to check this coming week though one has already been predated and it is too late in the season for the pair to try again. As an aside I have been helping with ringing at a CES site just north of the Plain and quite a few adults are already in molt rather than breed again. I have also been ringing in the Centre with a good mix of birds including Nightingale, Grasshopper Warbler and Redstart. Of course all this dry weather has meant a few fires on the impact area but fortunately the wind direction has not affected the very early starts ringing involves. Elsewhere on the Plain the summer is quite quiet. There have been plenty of Swallows, and corvids plus Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The Southdown Barn road always provides Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear and Reed Bunting and it did not let me down on an organised walk last weekend. The highlight was a Hobby that mobbed a Buzzard, chased a Woodpigeon and caught a Swallow. The Plain is covered in Butterflies and Marbled White, Small Skipper, Ringlet and Meadow Browns dominate. In addition Dark Green Fritillary and Gatekeeper are increasing in number. There are plenty of moths as well and areas that have been previously grazed are a riot of colour from wild flowers. The annual nature walk and picnic was more of a botany walk than anything as obscure plants that are normally found in Western Germany training areas were located!
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 21 Jul
1st Summer Gull-billed Tern at Akrotiri Salt Lake.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.
A slow start to the week with a Dragonfly survey at Sotira Pond where a Green Sandpiper and 16 Spur-winged Plovers were in residence with 13 Mallards and some other common waterbirds. Onward to Akhna Dam where another 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper flushed. The 8 Spur-winged Plovers were very vocal and amongst them a Hoopoe alighted. A small family group of Greenfinches fed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers “tacked” from the tamarisk. A single Little Egret was with the numerous Cattle Egrets and many hirundines hawked the water but nothing significant occurred.
Tuesday’s trip to Akhna Dam produced much the same as Monday, although 2 Masked Shrikes a male and an immature were new and Hoopoe numbers had increased to 5. My first Spectacled Warblers for the site in several months was welcomed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, 4 of them, appear to becoming for obvious, post breeding. Wednesday and a trip over to Kouklia Dam in the north which is drying up fast, however this has had the effect of concentrating the birds which makes life a bit easier. After successfully photographing a male Lesser Emperor* in flight, I proceeded to the raised bank on the east side of the dam and viewed the area. Waders were much in evidence with at least 28 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpipers and 6 Ruff along with the commoner Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers. 11 Glossy Ibises still remain and I eventually found 5 Ferruginous Ducks below the reed line. 2 Marsh Harriers were early migrants and a Roller was also present. Perhaps the surprise of the day when I was leaving was an immature Corn Bunting, often difficult to see in the summer months. We returned via Deb’s favourite shop in Famagusta and had dinner in a local Turkish restaurant where the mixed grill and iskender kebabs are excellent.
On Thursday, it was necessary to visit Troodos Station again with a visitor and in doing so managed to see, a large flock of 15 immature Coal Tits several Swift species (CRIME!! I didn’t have my bins with me) and that was about it. Akhna Dam in the evening held 5 Hoopoes, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Squacco Heron. I travelled to Troodos on Friday afternoon to attend the Summer Ball and planned to stay over for the weekend. On Saturday a walk around the trails produced the expected mountain species with the exception of the Wren – which can prove problematic if they’re not calling. At Prodromos Dam there were also 8 Black-tailed Skimmers* and a pair of ovipositing Lesser Emperors in tandem*. On the Persephone Trail a Wasp* which is currently unidentified was photographed. On the Caledonian Falls trail several Holly Blues* and a Brown Argos* were seen.
We drove another route down to Limassol and Rollers and a Masked Shrike was along the roadside. Episkopi failed to produce any Vultures or Eleanora’s Falcons in what was a strong wind. At the edge southern of Akrotiri Salt Lake, 3 Gull-billed Terns were active; an adult and 2 1st Summers*. Circa 750 Greater Flamingos remain on the lake with a couple of Black-winged Stilts. As I was returning to the car a dark phase Eleonora's Falcon flew past and hunted over the reed bed which was a pleasing site since I had missed them earlier. Onward to Larnaca Sewage Works on the way home where a Little Tern was amongst the Common and Wood Sandpipers. On the far side of the lagoon 6 Slender-billed Gulls and a single adult Black-headed Gull loafed. In the evening at Akhna Dam, my first Little Owl for the site this tour sat on a rock face and on the lagoons 9 Common Sandpipers and the first 4 Little Stints* of the autumn. A single Little Ringed Plover, Hoopoe and 2 Masked Shrikes* ended the week.
Highlight of the Week: The Gull-billed Terns at Akrotiri was nice to see.
Look Forward: A few visits to Ayia Napa Sewage Works
Comments
Follow us:
