Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Fair Isle - Day 3
Mon 1 Oct 12
A ‘quiet’ sort of day. Whilst operations were not hampered by any rain the strong south-westerly winds still had their impact. A pre-breakfast recce of the Havens and Bu Ness failed to reveal anything unusual.
The morning patrol concentrated on the south-western side of the island; the report reads, ‘Nothing Significant to Report’. In true military fashion the transport failed to show at the RV and the team had to tab most of the way back to FIBO for lunch. However, whilst waiting for the transport, some of the team re-located the Bluethroat at the Stackhoull Store.
The afternoon patrol headed north to North Lighthouse and a period of sea watching before splitting into teams and heading back via multiple routes including the old radar station on top of Ward Hill. The afternoon report reads, ‘Nothing Significant to Report’.
The team was settling into harbour routine and preparing for dinner when a FIBO ‘crash out’ was called - Pechora Pipit! The FIBO staff organised a swift response and all troops were quickly moved to the south of the island around Shirva to see the Pipit. With the light beginning to fail everyone saw the Pechora Pipit, which clearly hadn’t read the manual, and was frequently out in full view! All of the team made the crash out bar one who was reluctant to leave the shower they were taking when the crash out was called!
So, the ‘quiet’ day ends less than quietly with another three star rarity captured.
CommentsFair Isle - Day 2
Sun 30 Sep 12
The recce screen deployed before first light but became a little bogged down having made contact with 11 Jack Snipe. Meanwhile the main force scoured the Havens and Bu Ness in rain and driving wind before retiring for a leisurely breakfast!
Once deployed, the main force recovered the recce screen and spent the morning searching for new and existing rarities. The morning turned up Richard’s Pipit above South Harbour and a Paddyfield Warbler at the shop, re-discovered just before the transport back to FIBO.
After lunch the team deployed back to the shop to get good views of the Paddyfield Warbler. The task was expected to last most of the afternoon but the bird was very obliging and good views were achieved within half an hour. With the Paddyfield Warbler having completed its photo call the team returned to scouring the south and were put onto a Red-breasted Flycatcher hiding in the cliffs around Hesswalls.
Another successful day. What will tomorrow bring?
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for Week Ending 30 Sep
Juvenile Montague's Harrier at Akrotiri Gravel Pits - 24 Sep 12 courtesy of Deb Easterbrook
* A photo of the species is included please visit the Flickr site.
An enjoyable month with 1038 records submitted detailing 148 species. The Cyprus year list now stands at 170 and the Cyprus life list has increased to 273 with 9 additions since arriving back on the island. Some good species have been added throughout the month including 5 Cyprus “ticks” and the earliest record of a Moustached Warbler. September birding in Cyprus is non stop and it appears so is the illegal poaching which is currently at an intensity that I have not witnessed previously – truly shocking! A mist net, limestick and tape lure appears to be in every patch of trees or orange grove; it is very worrying for the future populations of several species.
I had arranged to meet Colin Richardson the recorder at Akrotiri for the day so set off at 0630 to arrive at 0800. On arriving I saw Colin’s car and he was already stood on the salt lake about half a mile away. We scanned the waders with a Whimbrel being noteworthy. I also saw a couple of year ticks with a White Pelican and Grey Plover being present. We soon found the prize feeding amongst the Greater Flamingos, a Bar-tailed Godwit – a very scarce migrant and another Cyprus “tick” for me.
We progressed to Bishop’s Pool and it was clear that there was some good raptor passage occurring with numerous Marsh Harriers, Honey Buzzards and Montague’s Harriers* passing. At Bishop’s Pool, we were searching for a particular bird that has been reported intermittently for about 2 weeks. This is as close to a twitch as it gets in Cyprus. In any event almost immediately, Colin spotted our quarry – an adult White-throated Kingfisher (Smyrna). The rarest of the 3 Kingfishers that occurs on the island and less than annual. For me another new Cyprus bird. A Peregrine flushed the Teal and a few Red-footed Falcons passed overhead quickly followed by a dashing dark phase Eleonora’s Falcon - a bit of a falcon fest to be sure.
Since there was some good raptor passage occurring we decided to take lunch under the eucalyptus trees near Phasouri Reed Beds and opposite the large antenna array. No sooner had we sat down and we were viewing Honey Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, Montague’s Harriers and Red-footed Falcons all spiralling above us. Soon 1,2 and eventually 5 Black Kites* circled above us and amongst them a bird which drew our attention. Another scarce passage migrant, less than annual and another addition to my Cyprus list – a juvenile Egyptian Vulture*. A real red letter day for me on Cyprus with 3 new birds for the country and a good number of additions to the year list. As we continued to watch we eventually teased out and identified a distant pale phase Booted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, 2 Lesser Kestrels and to finish the day a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle drifted quickly over the salt lake.
At Akhna Dam on Tuesday evening all was normal, however 2 Great White Egrets were present and a single Little Crake continued its stay, although it appears to be becoming more elusive. Searching the reed beds produced 3 (Eastern) Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler*, 26 Willow Warblers and another Moustached Warbler*. A late flurry of 4 Wood Sandpipers kept the single Ruff company and a late Hoopoe was seen – the first for about a week. Three Whiskered Terns remained faithful to the site and a Kingfisher looks set for a long stay.
A quick walk around Akhna Dam on Wednesday produced a Purple Heron, Little Crake several Red-backed and Masked Shrikes and a Sedge Warbler. Probably the highlight was the first White Wagtail of the winter that was reported yesterday by my Cypriot counterpart. Other than that the experience was uneventful. With a Mess lunch on Thursday – you know where this is going to end up – no birding in the evening. Deb and I picked up our friends from Larnaca airport at 1500 on Friday, so this allowed me a quick trip to the Larnaca Sewage Works area prior to their arrival. A very quiet scene greeted me with only Kentish Plovers and Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach whilst a lone Black-necked Grebe continued at Larnaca Sewage Works.
Early on Saturday morning saw me visiting Akhna Dam in an attempt to track down a least one of the several Bluethroats that have recently been reported. I was not successful with the Bluethroats although 2 Little Crakes,2 Great White Egrets and 3 Sedge Warblers and 2 Ospreys were evident along with some commoner species. The count was actually 3 Ospreys but one was found shot deat. The mindless destruction that this nation carries out is beyond belief. I was contacted by a birder who was reading this blog and he informed me that his group had witnessed the "hunters" shooting many European Beeaters at Kiti Dam near Larnaca. Leaving them where they fell, he commented that they looked very proud and pleased with themselves - pathetic. In the evening I had European Beeaters over my house and a small passage of hirundines including 2 Red-rumped Swallows and a House Martin amongst the numerous Barn Swallows.
On Sunday I visited Oroklini Marsh in the morning which was relatively quiet with only a Great White Egret and 2 Marsh Sandpipers being of interest. Later I drove past Dhekelia Fire Station and found 14 Stone Curlews. In the afternoon I went to Akhna Dam and there were 2 more Great White Egrets, 7 Sedge Warblers, a Little Crake, Great Reed Warbler and finally a female Bluethroat, which was the 170th bird of the year.
For pictures of birds with * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Red-footed Falcon at Spiros Beach
- Black Kite at Akrotiri Salt Lake
- Egyptian Vulture at Akrotiri Salt Lake
- Black-necked Grebe at Larnaca Sewage Works
- Sedge Warbler at Akhna Dam
- Coot at Oroklini Marsh
Other interesting finds: NTR.
Highlight of the Week: A difficult decision with a choice of 3 this week but I think for rarity value it must be the White-throated Kingfisher at Bishop’s Pool with the juvenile Egyptian Vulture a close second followed by the Bar-tailed Godwit, although, a large raptor passage is always exciting.
Look Forward: October is the month where passage birds begin to peter out and winter visitors begin to arrive in larger numbers, I’m hoping for a Blue Rock Thrush this week.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsFair Isle - Day 1
Sat 29 Sep 12
Not a promising start to the day with the FIBO warden, Dave, deciding whether or not to start the early morning trap run because of the wind and rain. In the end it was go and, whilst those new to the island learnt about the Heligoland traps and their use, the sum total of the trap run was two birds, a Meadow Pipit and a Song Thrush.
After breakfast the team headed out for an abortive attempt to find Barred Warbler and was just considering moving on when a ‘red flag’ event was called. All birders on the island moved to Furse where a Buff-bellied Pipit had been located and was showing well. After a Snipe search the team returned to the observatory for lunch.
Whilst everyone was enjoying a post lunch cuppa in the lounge a warbler popped in through the open door. Having stunned itself against the glass and dropped down behind a sofa it was recovered by one of the rangers who confirmed it as a Blyth’s Reed Warbler. It was bagged, allowed to recover in the ringing room, and then tagged before being brought out for a ‘press call’ and being realised. Armchair birding for rarities at its best!
After all the lunchtime excitement the team resumed the hunt over the southern half of the island turning up: Arctic Warbler, Little Bunting, Barred Warbler, Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warbler, Lapland Bunting. Quite a collection for an afternoon and a fair few lifer’s for some.
After dinner Saturday night went with a swing and following an informative talk on the history of Fair Isle the CAOS team managed a creditable third place in the ’mystery birds’ quiz although, it has to be said, this achievement was marred slightly by the fact that there were only three teams!
CommentsFair Isle - Arrival
The Team Arrives - Fri 28 Sep 12
The two traveling teams made the RV at Tingwall Airfield in good time for the flight to Fair Isle, scheduled for 1430, having traveled to Shetland Mainland by either air from Inverness or the ferry from Aberdeen.
Following the team arrival at FIBO the team took over their rooms, dumped their kit and, after the welcome briefing, legged it out for quick tour of the island in the remaining available light.
Although only out on the ground for two hours much was seen the highlights being: Fair Isle Wren, Great Skua and Olive-backed Pipit. A cheeky Twite also welcomed our arrival greeting us from an adjacent gate top.
Sat 29 Sep will be the team's first full day on the island and expectations are high...
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