Army Ornithological Society Blog

Cyprus Weekly

21st Jan 2013 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (0)

Weekly Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 20 Jan

Greater Sand Plover at Paphos Lighthouse 20 Jan 13

* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.

As is the norm, no birding on a Monday unfortunately.  A combination of a “long day” and the light fading by 1700 ensures there is no time to get out until the clocks go forward.  On walking to work on Tuesday, I first heard and then saw my first Serin of the year in full song from a conifer on camp.

With a Bittern being reported from Paralimni Lake, I headed off there in the afternoon.  Impossible, a vast area with lots of suitable habitat and no Bittern – becoming a bit of an problem child this one.  Anyway, 2 Great White Egrets, waders of a Dunlin and Kentish Plover persuasion and circa 600 White Wagtails with a flock of about a 1000 Starling, a single Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzard was the sum total of my efforts.

As I walked to work on Wednesday a Blackcap was calling and then seen briefly in next door’s garden.  I ventured over to the North in the afternoon.  I firstly stopped at Gulserin Marsh where the 1st Winter Little Gull continued to fly around tern like plucking insects from the water.  Also there was a nice adult Slender-billed Gull, several Armenians, Caspians and Yellow-leggeds with a lone adult Heuglini.  An immature Marsh Harrier flushed the Teal, 4 Black-winged Stilts and 21 Spur-winged Plovers. A White Pelican flew overhead heading east toward Salamis.  I progressed to Silver Beach Marsh where c400 Golden Plover rested but little else.  A little later at Clapsides Beach, I looked at a single Curlew with a Grey Plover and flushed 2 Redshanks from a drainage channel.  2 adult Audouin’s Gulls were present along with good numbers of Armenians, Caspians and Yellow-leggeds, again Heuglins were present but in the minority.  Finally, at Fresh Water Lake South, the immature White Pelican was still present with 3 Great White Egrets.  2 Kingfishers chased each other and as dusk was falling, as is their habit, 5 Night Herons revealed themselves calling with 1 being an adult.  As I left the site a single Black Redstart perched in front of me.

So to Thursday and with a leaving lunch in the Mess I don’t give much for my birding chances in the afternoon.

On Saturday, I departed for Paphos via Akrotiri and saw a female type Reed Bunting at Phasouri Reed Beds and several Marsh Harriers,  Buzzards and a ringtail Hen Harrier.  I did flush a White-throated (Smyrna) Kingfisher which proved that at least 2 have over-wintered in the area.  Later at Lady’s Mile, much the same but 2 Common Gulls were present and also an adult and 1st winter Slender-billed Gull*.  I stayed in a hotel in Paphos and met Colin Richardson the recorder on Saturday.  On Sunday, At Paphos Lighthouse, 4 Greater Sand Plovers*, 3 Turnstone* 2 Common Sandpipers and a wintering Whimbrel* was a good haul with 94 Golden Plovers adding to the occasion.  We headed to Anarita Park a famed area for Finsch’s Wheatear.  Rather worrying only 1 presumed old female or 1st winter male was present.  The year has been odd with many wintering males appearing to have departed early or perished.  Only 1 female at Marathounta hills the previous day confirmed this.  However, large flocks of very early passage Serins were noted at the coast.  In the hills the first Orchids of the year are appearing with Fan-lipped* and Giant* being the present.

For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:

1. Turnstone at Paphos Lighthouse.
2. 1st Winter Slender-billed Gull at Lady’s Mile.
3. Griffon Vulture at Kensington Cliffs.
4. Belated Marsh Harrier at Larnaca Sewage Works.
5. Whimbrel at Paphos Lighthouse.
6. Record shot – Little Gull at Gulserin Marsh.

Highlight of the Week:  A White-throated Kingfisher at Phasouri Reed beds, a Whimbrel at Paphos Lighthouse and Finsch’s Wheatears as a year tick.

Other Interesting Finds:  Especially for Tim Cowley, Fan-lipped Orchid (Ochris collina) & Giant Orchid (Barlia robertiana).

Look Forward:  Migration has begun with the appearance of large flocks of Serins, hopefully next week will bring something interesting.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook 

SPTA West

15th Jan 2013 | Posted in: UK Birding | Comments (0)

A Mumuration of Starlings

While the rest of the country shivers, here there is glorious sunshine.  It was days like this last week that saw me out and about.  We have our own mumuration of Starlings that gather near the COTEC site on the Larkhill impact area.  They can be seen from the public road near Gore Cross (best viewpoint is 3rd flag from the crossroads).  My first visit was to this viewpoint where there was quite a swirl in the sky as the initial birds gathered but as like most occasions they soon settled and awaited the mobs from other parts who arrived in the tens of thousands going straight in to roost.  The second viewing was from 5km away.  There were 2 clouds visible with the eye before the birds settled and again it was just the initial rush as soon others came streaming in with long lines of up to a kilometre long.  They kept coming from all directions including over my head for the next half hour.  It is difficult to estimate numbers but there must be over half a million if not more.  This is an amazing display and I am still waiting for the Pergrine to fly through once most have gathered. 

The other spectacle at this time of year are the numbers of Short-eared owls quartering the ground.  From one spot deep in the training area with the car parked on American Road, I saw 5 owls in 3 different grid squares.  There was a pair getting to know each other and 3 others all hunting, flying backwards and forwards across the ground with the occassional dive into the rough grass.  The Plain was devoid of troops and the only noise was the wind and the call of corvids.  There was a noisy interuption as a Merlin tried to grab my attention but I had my bins focussed below the machine to see what birds the RAF would disturb; more corvids!  He soon left and I took a slow drive down to Bridge Crossing 3 where a lonesome Lapwing stood forlorn in the mud without a friend nearby.  This year there are very few Lapwings around and I have only seen one small flock of Golden Plover.  I the stopped near Stripwood to observe the Starlings and wait for any raptors flying over the ridge of which of course there were none.  As an aside when I was driving home across the Plain last Wednesday I spotted a rare sight of some CR2 tanks actually training; the shrimps will welcome their return.

Cyprus Weekly

14th Jan 2013 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (0)

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 13 Jan

Female Pied Kingfisher at Lady’s Mile on 13 Jan.

* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.

Tuesday the 8th was a fairly dull, cold and boring day at Larnaca Sewage Works – yes, we even have them in Cyprus!  A couple of Marsh Harriers were present with the usual wildfowl.  At the salt lake the highlight was a ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Slender-billed Gulls consorting with the commoner Black-headeds.  They were the first of the year so took the year list to 100.

With the weather becoming very cold and windy (I know, I must be getting soft – well, cold by Cyprus standards) and the car in the garage for a timing belt change, no serious birding was done in the middle of the week.

Saturday was the first day I was able to get out.  I made for the Larnaca area and passing the hide headed for the airport fields.  As I passed Spiro’s Beach I noticed 4 Sandwich Terns, in itself notable.  A darkish bird was following and I new immediately it was a Skua.  As it passed the wing flashes were noticeable and as it got blown inland it looked quite large.  My thoughts turned to Pomerine Skua.  However, after much deliberation and ID assistance from Tim Cowley et al, it was decided that it was an Arctic Skua*.  When birds are seen out of context and closer than you’re used to, ID issues that are not normally experienced have to be dealt with.

The remainder of the area produced little except for a Red-throated Pipit and the usual waterfowl at the sewage works.  A male Tufted Duck was the highlight and on the salt lake a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.  On the north west side of the lake, I flushed 6 Jack Snipe, several Water Pipits and viewed a large gathering of waders although nothing exceptional was present.  I did however, manage to get a not bad shot of a female Hen Harrier* which was a bonus.

On Sunday, I headed for the Limassol area to look for a few species that had been reported.  The Common Gull* was absent although showed later in the day along with Armenians and Caspians.  I also photographed a strange looking gull that is still under review.  It could represent a first for Cyprus in the form of a Steppe Gull (barabensis).  I initially posted it on the Gulls of the World facebook page, and a Danish gull, guru came back and said he thought it was a Siberian (heuglini) or Steppe Gull.  I have sent it to a few others and await their replies, as I am fairly confident that it isn’t a Siberian Gull.  In any event resolution was fairly quick, either it's a 3rd winter Michahellis (Yellow-legged Gull) or a 4th/5 CY Cachinans (Caspian Gull).  So, even the experts find it difficult which is reassuring.

A good Cypriot birder, Marios Konnos alerted me to the presence of the Pied Kingfisher*, a female that I managed to photograph.  Later at Bishops Pool a male Blackcap, a couple of female Pochards and a Moustached Warbler with 7 drake Ferruginous Ducks kept things interesting.  As I drove along the salt lake I saw a flock of 23 Woodlarks which kept the year list ticking over.  With no Bittern and only a heard Penduline Tit at Phasouri Reed Beds the year list stalled at 108.

I returned home via Moni Beach in an attempt to see an early Orchid which I failed to locate, although did see a couple of Sardinian Warblers and Song Thrush.  So what started as a fairly dismal week all round ended in some good sightings – persistence is key.

For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:

• Arctic Skua at Spiro’s Beach
• Pied Kingfisher at Lady’s Mile
• Armenian Gull at Lady’s Mile
• Common Gull at Lady’s Mile
• Hen Harrier at Larnaca Salt Lake
• Starling at Oroklini Marsh
• 3 CY Yellow-legged Gull or 4/5 CY Caspian Gull at Ladies Mile
• 3 CY Yellow-legged Gull or 4/5 CY Caspian Gull in flight at Ladies Mile

Highlight of the Week:  Finding an Arctic Skua at Spiro’s Beach on Saturday.  Although not as rare as a Pomerine Skua, it’s still only the 17th record for Cyprus.

Look Forward:  The weather has held up any possible migration which allows more time to search for wintering species.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook

Cyprus Weekly

7th Jan 2013 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (3)

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 6 Jan

Cyprus Warbler at Cape Greco Picnic Site on 3 Jan

* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view.

The year started well with the 1st producing 76 species.  Highlights were a drake Ruddy Shelduck at Larnaca Sewage Works along with 14 Black-necked Grebes.  On the salt lake some 5000 Greater Flamingos and c300 Shelduck were present.  At a newish site on the North West side of the lake, I flushed 4 Jack Snipe and c30+ Common Snipe, numerous Water Pipits, a couple of Bluethroats and a single Heuglin’s Gull were also present.   In the airport fields a couple of Red-throated Pipit continued to over winter and a pair of Calandra Larks were a welcomed bonus.  At Dhekelia Power Station 17 Shags sat on the mooring platforms and a Common Sandpiper was a surprise.  In the North at Gulserin Marsh an adult Audouin’s Gull was a cracker together with an adult Armenian Gull, 6 Black-winged Stilts were a good January record.

The second bought a couple of Song Thrushes over Ay Nik but on a very dismal day, little else of any note was seen.  On the 3rd a quick jolly around the Cape Greco area found me viewing a Grey Plover and another 2 Audouin’s Gulls at Kermia Beach whilst at Cape Greco itself I managed to photograph a male Cyprus Warbler* that was performing display flight and perching up well in the open.  The commoner Sardinian and Spectacled silvias were also present.  Under the cliff at the Army camp, 3 Blue Rock Thrushes were present and many Black Redstarts however, the hoped for Finsch’s Wheatear was absent which was a bit of a disappointment.  At Ayia Napa sewage works a Long-legged Buzzard was a good find and an immature Bonelli’s Eagle drifted overhead, heading east.  Later at Ayia Thekla the hoped for Greater Sand Plovers were present along with 15 Kentish Plovers.

At Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta, 4 Great White Egrets continued their stay and an immature Night Heron showed itself. It is unusual for this species to over winter and is currently the only place on the island where they can be seen.  A couple of Kingfishers and another Common Sandpiper added to the throng of c400 Cattle Egrets.

On Fri at Larnaca Sewage Works, I managed to pick up a few missing wildfowl including 2 Ferruginous Ducks, a single drake Pochard, and the remaining 8 White-fronted Geese.  9 Lapwing and a Black Redstart were welcomed along with 21 Wigeon.  A male Black Francolin also called and showed itself briefly from atop a haystack.  On the buoys at Spiro’s Beach 5 Shag and a Sandwich Tern.  At the salt lake, I managed to locate 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (the first for the year) and the Shelducks had increased to 530.  To the north west of the lake the waders have increased with 17 Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Temminck’s and numerous Little Stints being present amongst the 200 or so Dunlins.  At Oroklini Marsh a couple of Bluethroats, a Moustached Warbler and 2 Water Rails showed themselves and the Black-winged Stilts have increased to 6.

On Saturday we visited the north for a spot of lunch and some man love (sorry male grooming), at the Turkish barbers – always a joy, never a chore 20 Euros later and I felt like a new man.  Well the same oldish one with a shave and a haircut.  We found a new site at Clapsides Marsh – just east of Famagusta.  It held c320 Golden Plovers and a surprise 32 Curlews, my first since returning to the island and not as easy as they used to be in the winter in the south.  Also present was a lonely Grey Plover* that posed for the camera.  I also found the gull roost at Clapsides Beach, so will be grilling a few gulls in the coming weeks.  At Fresh Water Lake the immature White Pelican* has returned, it must surely be the same bird that was seen at Larnaca Sewage Works recently.

A brief outing on Sunday after an excellent lunch at a local restaurant found 3 very ugly mist nets in the village.  Whoever said it was prevalent during migration periods is either misinformed or blissfully ignorant.  It happens all year around, is indiscriminate and kills millions of birds!  Later it was impressive to see c2000 Starlings performing before going to roost in the reeds at Akhna Dam.

So concluded week 1 of 2013.  Thanks to all my readers for the positive feedback during 2012 and I hope to continue through 2013.  Please let me know if you require additional information.

For pictures of birds with a * please click on the following Flickr links:

• Immature White Pelican at Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta
• Grey Plover at Clapsides Marsh - Famagusta
• Red-crested Pochard at Oroklini Marsh

Highlight of the Week:  A flock of 32 Curlews in the North was noteable.

Other Interesting Finds:  I photographed a Pygmy Skipper at Cape Greco and realising this was unusual have had it confirmed as the first January record ever for the island.

Look Forward:  The hunt is on for those winter visitors for the year list that will not be around for long.  Traditionally, January is also the month to find an early Great Spotted Cuckoo or two.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook 

SPTA West

1st Jan 2013 | Posted in: UK Birding | Comments (0)

A New Year Resolution from Wiltshire

Start of the New Year is a resolution to provide you with updates on SPTA West.  This is the area with no public access which you will have spent many a day on enjoying the delights of a calceous grassland landscape.  I lead walks across the area for the conservation group most months as well as organising various bird surveys.  The road from Gore Cross through Imber to Warminster is open to the public though there is a lot of water on the road in Imber.  The bush near Gore Cross which normally has Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer in was occupied by a Kestrel this morning so no small birds around.  The drive across the Plain produced lots of corvids and not a lot else.  However Balttlesbury Bowl near Warminster provided the highlights with a male Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll and a flock of about 60 Goldfinch.  Further around the road stopping at our new ringing site the Great Grey Shrike was found as well as three Green Woodpeckers in the same tree.  The Shrike had been reported 2 days earlier in the area and there were possibly 2 in early December.