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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:

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 

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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. 

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Cyprus Weekly

28th Dec 2012 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (0)

Weekly Highlights for the Week Ending 30 Dec

Red-throated Pipit - Larnaca Airport Fields 27 Dec 12

On the 24th the Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta held a Night Heron and 2 White Pelicans along with a lone Wigeon whilst Gulserin Marsh held 2 Black-necked Grebes and the six Black-winged Stilts.  Even I stop for Christmas Day, so no birding tomorrow.

On Boxing Day, Deb and I went to the coast for some fresh air.  At Potomos Liopetri 16 Kentish Plovers were present along with a good number of Corn Buntings, a Kingfisher (they appear to like it on the coast in the winter), a Common Sandpiper and a Black Redstart.  At Ayia Napa Football Pitches the only noteworthy birds were a pair of Serins.  Later at Akhna Dam a ringtail Hen Harrier was present with a Common Buzzard whilst a Moustached Warbler was in full song and the Great Crested Grebe continues its stay.

A visit to Larnaca Salt Lake on the 27th produced 43 Shelducks, c5500 Greater Flamingos and along the north-western edge 26 Redshanks, at least 40 Common Snipe and 5+ Jack Snipes.  A Moustached Warbler, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Green Sandpipers were seen whilst 2 Bluethroats were heard.  At the Sewage Works area, 6 Red-throated Pipits were unseasonal and ducks were much in eveidence with a male Tufted, 6 Pochard, Gadwalls, Pintails, a drake Ferruginous Duck and the Black-necked Grebes have increased to 17.  Of waders 23 Redshanks were accompanied by a very unusual Marsh Sandpiper and 3 unseasonal immature Black-winged Stilts.  As I left the area a Swallow was a noteable December record.

At Oroklini Marsh on 29th 3 Red-crested Pochards with one spanking looking male were present and less interesting were 4 Redshanks and 4 Snipe.  In the Larnaca area, the Shelducks on the salt lake had risen to 296 and a single Avocet was present.  Meanwhile at the Sewage Works a flock of c400 Golden Plovers was impressive and 15 Stone Curlews were on Larnaca Airport Pool South.  The sites in the North were fairly mundane but the 2 White Pelicans remained at the Fresh Water Lake South.

Sunday was a bit of a disaster, I looked for Wallcreeper and recently reported Pied Kingfishers and Bitterns - all without success.  The highlight of the day was a Griffon Vulture at Kensington Cliffs along with a male Blue Rock Thrush and at Spiro's Beach a Gull-billed Tern flying west.  I did manage to photograph some gulls* at Larnaca Sewage Works which weren't too bad.

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

Other interesting finds: A late on the wing Eastern Willow Spreadwing.

Highlight of the Week:  At least 5 Jack Snipe at Larnaca Salt Lake and several very late Red-throated Pipits.

Look Forward: The New Year is looming and the list must begin again.

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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Cyprus Weekly

22nd Dec 2012 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (1)

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 23 Dec

Common Gull at Lady's Mile Limassol - 22 Dec

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

Before returning home on Monday I went to a Dragonfly club meeting, as I am now a member.  The rain was continuous during the journey home but broke as I approached Larnaca so I visited the Sewage Works area.  Spiro’s Pool held 376 Golden Plovers, a male Black Francolin – the first of the month and I photographed a female Kestrel.  The fields adjacent to the sewage works had the 8 White-fronted Geese feeding and in the lagoons an adult Mediterranean Gull and breeding plumaged Slender-billed Gull looking very pink.  2 Gadwalls, a Black-necked Grebe, Ferruginous Duck, 2 ringtail Hen Harriers and 8 Common Shelduck were also seen.

It’s Wednesday, you may ask “What happened to Tuesday – well, RAIN, and lots of it.  It has now been raining for 2 days almost non stop.  Not what you expect in Cyprus, but it has meant that with Christmas festivities and the weather no birding has been done.  The longest period that I haven’t been able to get out for in just over 6 months.  With the year drawing to an end, it’s a disaster!  With the exchange drinks looming this afternoon, I don’t see much happening today either!

As an update, the year list stands at 221 (not bad), the Cyprus list has increased by 14 to 276 and the month list is now stalled on 108.

Thursday and more bloody Christmas!  However, I got to the North and covered the wetland sites in Famagusta.  The first stoppage of rain in 3 days.  5 Great White Egrets were present along with 21 Little Egrets, 359 Cattle Egrets coming to roost, 5 Grey Herons and 13 Night Herons including 5 immatures.  The trees held 14 roosting Cormorants, 2 Kingfisher chased each other and the immature White Pelican was once again in residence.  The fields behind the Lake saw a number of corvids chasing a female Merlin.  A spectacular site of c4700 Starlings coming to roost in several large flocks was impressive.  At Gulserin Marsh, the 6 Black-winged Stilts remained but little else was of much interest.  A Moustached Warbler sang from the reeds and 2 Penduline Tits called.

Travelling to Larnaca for some prep and food etc I did manage a brief stop at Oroklini Marsh, where there wasn't much of interest.  On Saturday I had arranged to meet the Recorder Colin Richardson at Bishop's Pool, Akrotiri.  Arriving at about 0830, 7 Ferruginous Ducks* became obvious and a Water Rail swam on the far side of the pool.  Chiffchaffs were everywhere and a couple of Grey Wagtails called and landed in front of us.  A flash of blue which confirmed that the White-throated Kingfisher was still present and looks set to winter.  A couple of Blackcaps sang and eventually Colin found the overwintering female Garganey.

We moved along to Lady's Mile to look for the Common Gull - a pretty rare gull in Cyprus.  The marsh held Black-headed Gulls, 3 Slender-billed Gulls and several Armenian Gulls*.  Eventually, on the sea by the taverna I picked out the only Common Gull* amongst the Black-headed Gulls.  We went to Akrotiri Salt Lake where c12000 Greater Flamingos are now in residence, with Little Stints, Kentish Plovers, Shelducks, Pintails and 232 Grey Herons.  Both Hen and Marsh Harriers were present and an immature Bonelli's Eagle soared in the distance.

I returned home via Larnaca Sewage Works.  I photographed a few Redshanks* and a female Hen Harrier quartered the fields where 8 Greater White-fronted Geese fed.  I scanned the lagoons and found 24 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 25 Wigeon, 3 Black-necked Grebes and then a real "shocker from the locker", A first winter Great Black-headed (Pallas') Gull*.  Having seen them in India, I picked it out immediately noting the dark smudge behind the ear coverts, streaked neck, grey mantle and long droopy, yellow bill with a black tip.  As it took off the black tail band was also very obvious.  A managed a couple of flight record shots (heavily cropped), which show the relevant ID features.  Result - species number 223 for the year.

On Sunday, we visited Oroklini once more having stopped at the market on route.  The highlight being a Penduline Tit and Marsh Harrier although circa 70 Lapwings was the highest count yet.  At the coast I photographed a Kingfisher* and on the mouring bouys 21 Shags loafed.  The regular Stone Curlew roost held 104 individuals and the surrounding fields c50 Corn Bunting and about 25 Skylarks.  Stopping briefly at Akhna Dam revealed a couple of Cormorants and 4 female type Tufted Ducks remained.  After dropping the shopping off we headed to Paralimni Lake.  Due to the excessive rain over the last week it is now completely flooded and the Egrets and Gulls have found it as did a Water Pipit.  Usually dry for most of the year and attracting Steppe type species in the spring, I have never known it flood - well at least during my last tour - very impressive!

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

Other Interesting Finds: 2 Migrant Hawkers at Lady's Mile and 4 late (2 in tandem), Red-veined Darters.

Highlight of the Week: The Common Gull at Lady's Mile and finding a 1st winter Great Black-headed Gull at Larnaca Sewage Works.

Look Forward: More of the same I think - RAIN and Gulls.

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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Cyprus Weekly

17th Dec 2012 | Posted in: Overseas Birding | Comments (1)

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 16 Dec

Little Owl at White River Cliffs - Akamas

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

The week started slowly with the year total on 219 and the month total on 105.  Numerous thunderstorms and heavy downpours have rendered many areas too muddy to explore and decidedly dodgy for vehicle access.  Nonetheless, I attempted Akhna Dam on Tuesday afternoon before going shopping at the Bratwurst and sauerkraut centre of Cyprus – Lidl.  The dam still held the 7 Tufted Ducks and a Great Crested Grebe accompanied by 8 Cormorants but there was little else apart from 2 Long-legged Buzzards.  An evening outing looking for Barn Owls was unproductive in Dhekelia. There are many disused ex-military storage buildings that are becoming derelict which are obviously to the Owls’ liking and whilst every non-birder on the unit sees them and enjoy “gripping me off”, I seem to be unable to – typical.

On Wednesday morning a Sparrowhawk flew past the kitchen window as I ate my banana and toast.  The first of the twice weekly visits to the North took place on Wednesday afternoon.  At Fresh Water Lake South the usual Herons, but a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail provide a flash of colour.  I was surprised by a summer plumaged adult Whiskered Tern which was very unseasonal as it perched on submerged twigs in the lake.  As I was leaving I saw a strange bird in flight but distant.  I got my bins on it and immediately thought Sandgrouse.  It was flying toward the area known as the Meseoria Plain in the North, and although in decline for sometime, that area is the most likely for the species.  More of a gut feeling that it was a Sandgrouse, I have not formally submitted the record as the question “Are you a 100% sure”, must be a no.  The small muddy fringe had a feeding Snipe and the first Common Sandpiper of the month.

Onward to Gulserin (Neopollis Pond).  Here, 14 Greater Flamingos, containing 4 immatures, 7 Dunlins, 6 Black-winged Stilts continue and the usual Redshanks and Spur-winged Plovers.  The small reed bed appeared to be very busy so I overlooked it for 10 minutes adding a male Bluethroat, cyanecula (white-spotted), a singing Moustached Warbler, an extravert Cetti’s Warbler and a real delight atop a reed head – a feeding Penduline Tit. With the light fading and no encounters with the local law enforcement agencies, I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and take Deb to buy some Christmas Tree decorations in an attempt to subdue her passion for the festive period – It was unsuccessful, although we now have additional “things” hanging from the tree. 

Thursday, Akhna Dam, not much doing; It was all about the numbers of birds roosting with 264 Cattle Egrets, 12 Cormorants, c50 White Wagtails and c170 Starlings being harassed by a Long-legged Buzzard.  The Great Crested Grebe remained, 2 Moustached Warblers were in the usual reed bed and later a female Reed Bunting paused briefly before roosting elsewhere.  A Little Owl was seen in Ay Nik and that concluded the day.

We travelled to Paphos for a long weekend to celebrate Deb’s birthday.  On Saturday I ventured to Paphos Headland seeing several Linnets – not easy in the East of the island, 4 Greater Sand Plovers and 16 Golden Plovers.  I then met Colin Richardson and at his house had my first 2 Siskins of the year.  We visited the hills above his house finding a male Finsch’s Wheatear, male Peregrine, 3 Long-legged Buzzard, a Little Owl and 24 Wood Lark.  On the way to Armou Hills and Village we saw a female Blue Rock Thrush. The Hills above Armou held little but a ringtail Hen Harrier did make an appearance.  We stopped in the village to see more Siskins and then a good number of Hawfinches appeared with at least 10 being present.  As we watched them atop a tree 8 large soaring birds came into view.  Obviously Pelicans but with a plain underwing, they could be nothing else apart from Dalmatians – a very rare bird in Cyprus.

On Sunday, we went to Avgas Gorge and White River Cliffs in an attempt to nail a Wallcreeper that proved unsuccessful.  In attempting to find one we saw a lovely Little Owl*, Common Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawks, an immature White Pelican, 3 Blackcaps, numerous Sardinian Warblers and Chiffchaffs, 7 Golden Plovers and an out of place Cattle Egret.

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

Other Interesting Finds: 

Highlight of the Week:  A mountain Goat in Avgas Gorge*.

Look Forward:  With Xmas coming and a very busy period approaching, I don’t expect to be doing much birding but I have a Saturday trip to the Akrotiri area planned, to sweep up a few year ticks hopefully..

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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