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Cyprus Weekly - Final Edition
The Final Curtain
After 3 years and about 160 BLOGs, this is the final curtain. I’ve been struggling to find time to write the BLOG in the last couple of weeks and with it being June (the worst month for birding in Cyprus), I’ve also struggled for material, and so all in all, it’s probably time to call it a day, as I depart the island on 11 Jul and am on a Mediterranean cruise next week.
During my time on the island, I’ve submitted circa 35000 records detailing 305 species and managed to photograph many of them. My Cyprus list stood at 263 when I arrived and is now at a very respectable 320. 4 lifers were seen on the Island; Saker, River Warbler, Asian Buff-belled Pipit and Crimson-winged Finch, with an additional 2 being seen in Turkey – Brown Fish Owl and Red-fronted Serin. I’ve submitted rarity reports and supporting evidence for 37 rarity occurrences and so far, with a few pending, all have been accepted, including a few “MEGAs” like the 2nd record of Menetries’ Warbler, 5th record of Goosander, 14th record of River Warbler and recently the 1st record of Lesser Flamingo.
Despite the fact that writing the BLOG every week was a bit painful at times, on the whole, I’ve really enjoyed doing it and providing information to visitors. During my last 3 years and as a result of writing the BLOG, I’ve guided, assisted or provided information to in excess of 50 visiting birders and at a fraction of the price that they might have been charged elsewhere – so I’m very pleased about that!
The 2 tours I organised for the Army Ornithological Society – 1 in the Spring and 1 in the Winter of 2014 were very successful with lots of new birds for all those participating. The best moments; finding a male Hooded Wheatear at Cape Greco on the final day of the Spring tour and getting a Wallcreeper for Tim Cowley in Avgas George on the Winter tour.
In many ways, I have mixed emotions about leaving Cyprus. Of course I’ll miss the birding with Rollers, Beeaters and Spur-winged Plovers to name but a few in my back yard but there are also reasons why I’ll be glad to depart. Sadly, despite the country being full of potential for birders the mass slaughter of millions of birds through netting, liming and shooting continues unabated and if anything, it’s got a lot worse during the last 3 years. Europe, The Cypriot Government, Birdlife Cyprus and the SBA Police seem unwilling or unable to take any real, meaningful action to address and defeat this disgusting, cruel and barbaric practice. Lobbying and campaigning are all very well but it doesn’t save any birds without practical intervention on the ground.
I do not discriminate between the political boundaries of the country or Birdlife Cyprus and KUSKOR as birds do not adhere to political boundaries and more needs to be done to produce a set of records that represents occurrences across the island if any meaningful data is ever to be collated. How it can be described as Birdlife Cyprus that doesn’t represent the Island holistically is beyond me.
Not to end on a low, a big thank you to all the friends I’ve met in Cyprus and visitors who’ve assisted me, joined me in the field and shared bird sightings, which have all added to a fantastic birding experience. Special thanks to the kindred spirit and long standing friend Colin Richardson.
Finally, a thank you to all the BLOG readers (I really have no idea how many), who have followed the exploits of a manic birder and twitcher. I hope you’ve all enjoyed the read and found some useful information on the Birds, Orchids, Butterflies and Dragonflies of the country as a result.
Many thanks and perhaps I’ll see you all around the course.
Yours Aye
Mark Easterbrook - The Bird Finder General - “It’s All About The List”!
SPTA West
It has been quite a while since I last posted some news about the Plain. At the end of April and into May I was based in Sicily helping out and leading bird tours. Just before I left when carrying out a Bee Survey I disturbed a Short-eared Owl which was a surprise. To bring you up to date with May I should first of all mention that Stone Curlews are back and some have had chicks already. I was looking at one with 8 Great Bustards yesterday and there was a pair with a chick on the Driver Trg Area at Tidworth. There are also plenty of Whinchats about and a nest with 7 eggs on Deptford Down was predated. Of my nest boxes all but one with holes are occupied (it lost the lid earlier on) but the open fronted boxes remain empty less an old one by Imber Village which has 7 Robin eggs. Yesterday I saw 2 Hobbys on the west and on Saturday a Wheatear was at the refurbished junction of Berril Valley and Tinkers tracks. Cuckoos are calling from Westdown Plantation and near Southdown Barn. Everywhere I go there are plenty of Swifts and Swallows as well as Whitethroats. In the valleys there are lots of Stonechats some with young families already. Tree Pipits have been noticeable and one by Imber Road perfomed as per the book as it took off from and parachuted back to a large Hawthorn bush whilst singing. Butterflies include Adonis Blue, Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Dinghy Skipper, Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak as well as whites. Of course there are plenty of Corvids about including Jays. Ravens nested again in the quarry however the Peregrines have moved to the old cement factory building and not the tower. Salisbury Cathedral has it pair back this season nesting on the south side of the spire. Skylaks are singing across the area as are Corn Buntings. Yellowhammers are bit more circumspect but they are still around. One of my BBS squares is in the middle of the impact area and all my recording is done by sound as my eyes are glued to watching I do not place my feet too close to some half buried metal (especialy those with fins). There is a Redstart near Southdown Barn and a Grasshopper Warbler has a nest around the corner of the track. The whole eastern bank by the track south of the barn is occupied by birds including Reed Bunting. There are Nightingales near Southdown Plantation as well as Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Chiffchaffs are quite common across the area as are Linnets and Goldfinches. That brings me up to date with ongoing birds and with the weather getting better I aim to be out more weekdays.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 31 May 15
Spur-winged Plover and very young chick at Akhna Dam on 28 May.
Cape Greco Pines were very quiet on Bank Holiday Monday. So the hope of some late migrants to add to the year list. Although no year birds were found a couple of late migrants were interesting. In the pines a Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were late and remarkably after 2 years I managed a picture of a Eurasian Magpie* - understandably, as they get shot at a lot, they are very wary and don’t sit anywhere for very long. Anyway, for completeness, I grabbed a photo for the gallery. Near the picnic site, a male Black-headed Bunting sang from atop a bush and a male Cyprus Wheatear was expected. At the Sea Caves, an Alpine Swift headed west which was unexpected. The evening at Akhna Dam was fairly predictable with the Great White Egret still being in attendance. It was generally the same although a wader caught my eye which proved to be a Common Redshank. Although unremarkable, it was my first ever May record of the species, so interesting all the same – a Wood Sandpiper and Squaccos were nearby and I flushed a Hoopoe. As I left a family covey of Chukars, including at least 15 chicks ran in front of the car.
On Tuesday afternoon, I decided to check Koprulu Dam in the North to see if the Lesser Flamingo was still present – It wasn’t. In any event the site is without doubt the best wetland on the island at present thanks to some good negotiating and conservation work by KUSKOR – The Turkish birding group, which has ensured that water is not drained from the site. It’s always heaving with birds here and today was no exception although working through the 1200+ Common Coots can be a little tedious at times. But it’s worth it! As I looked I saw 3 Whiskered, White-winged Black and a Gull-billed Tern. 2 female Marsh Harriers were very active and Herons were well represented, with Purple, Squacco, Grey (including 2 juvs), Little and Cattle Egrets being present with c100+ Glossy Ibises. I moved to the North end of the marsh, along the raised embankment there was quite a gathering of wildfowl including 50+ Mallards including many ducklings, a female Red-crested Pochard with 5 ducklings, a pair of Ferruginous Ducks and a very lonely looking drake Common Pochard – very unusual for May. I noticed a collection of waders along a raised bit of dry vegetation feeding and sheltering under 3 or 4 bushes. As I scanned I saw 30+ Ruff, 2 Little Stints and 2 Wood Sandpipers with numerous Black-winged Stilts around the site and 2 Spur-winged Plovers. As I continued to watch, I was surprised to see 2 adult Collared Pratincoles. Observing more intently, astonishingly, I saw 2 downy looking juveniles that appeared flightless. Another adult flew in showing the red underwing and drew my attention to another juvenile. The birds must have bred at the site – amazing. Described as opportunistic breeders, the site must have attracted them, with the water – great work KUSKOR! I continued to observe and felt that there were 2 pairs of Pratincoles with 2 chicks each. I reported the discovery to Colin Richardson who confirmed that the only other breeding record was from Jun 14, 1913 (per Flint & Stewart). As I left the site very happy, the usual Little Owl was perched on wires near to the houses in the village.
Wednesday evening at Akhna Dam was predictably dull with the highlights being 6 Rollers, 1 Great White Egret, an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and a pair of Black-winged Stilts, with a few of the usuals including Spur-winged Plovers and Squacco Herons. Thursday evening was similar with the Great White Egret still being present in the same place. Perhaps the highlight was seeing 2 pairs of Spur-winged Plovers, 1 pair with 4 chicks and 1 pair with 2 chicks, newly hatched and hiding, which I managed to photograph – they’re the youngest ones I’ve seen.
On Friday morning, I left the house at first light to photograph the habitat of the Collared Pratincoles at Koprulu and to have another look. 5 adults were present in the same area but no sign of any juvs. From the way the birds were behaving and returning to the same very small piece of vegetation, I suspect the juvs were hiding in the vegetation and I was unable to see any. As I watched 6 Whiskered Terns were flying with the Pratincoles and 2 Flamingos took off, the size differential being obvious, one a Lesser and one a Greater, when they landed, I confirmed the ID. An adult Night Heron alighted from the reeds as did several Squaccos and c30 Corn Buntings. A Hoopoe flew past me and on the far side of the marsh a drake Shoveler was present. With a pair of Red-crested Pochards and 5 Ferruginous Ducks flying around it was quite a productive hour. A single late Sand Martin was also a surprise.
On Saturday evening, I visited Akhna Dam briefly and the Great White Egret was still present with the usual Herons and 2 Black-winged Stilts but that was about it. It would appear that migration has come to an end. I was busy and tied up with admin etc on Sunday so was unable to get out but I did hear Stone Curlews calling all night from behind the house.
Highlights of the Week: Breeding Collared Pratincoles at Koprulu – the first since Jun 14, 1913 was an incredible and much unexpected discovery.
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 May 15
Corn Bunting at Akhna Dam on 22 May
On Monday, an afternoon visit to Akhna Dam had good numbers of Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints present with reduced numbers of Temminck’s Stints and Wood Sandpipers. Herons were well represented with Grey, Purple, Squacco and Little Egrets showing themselves periodically. A lone Coot was a new arrival, 45 Glossy Ibises flew in and a female type Yellow Wagtail was a surprise.
As I left the site a European Roller passed in front of the car. In the evening a European Beeater flew over the back garden, calling.
Stone Curlews were heard at the back of camp during the night of the 18th. In the afternoon, I paid a brief visit to Akhna Dam, with the heat rising rapidly, the wetlands are the only likely place to find birds at the moment. A heat wave this week has sent temperatures to 35 degrees on average. Perhaps next week when it drops to normal May levels there may be a little migration once more. Curlew Sandpipers had increased to 19, Glossy Ibises to 88 and Little Stints were fairly stable at 33. 2 Ringed Plovers were present and the surprise bird of the day was a non breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. Other than that it was generally the same as Monday with the Heron species. At least 5 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, a Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler were heard as I traversed the area.
With it all getting a bit samey and Deb requiring a JUMBO visit we headed off to Larnaca on Wednesday afternoon. 5 Spur-winged Plovers were in the JUMBO Drain, so I moved to Oroklini. With the heat and humidity being quite uncomfortable I wasn’t very hopeful. So it proved, with the water levels reducing, a Little Tern fished whilst 3 Glossy Ibises landed briefly for a drink. 2 Squacco Herons were visible with 1 Little Egret and a small (c60) breeding colony of Cattle Egrets. Spur-winged Plovers numbered 4 and 18 (9 pairs) of breeding Black-winged Stilts were evident. A single Ruff was chased by a pair of Stilts and that was about it for the day.
On Thursday, it was my departure (it’s getting close) Silver Lunch in the Mess so no birding in the afternoon. On Friday, I did a quick visit to Akhna Dam. Glossy Ibises numbered 46, with 1 Wood Sandpiper amongst them. 7 Curlew Sandpipers were present with 5 Ruffs and 7 Little Stints. As I drove around a Purple Heron flushed and then I was surprised by the appearance of a Great White Egret. Unusual for this time of year 5 Corn Buntings* were present and as I left a couple of Rollers chased each other.
On Saturday, I heard a few European Beeaters calling as they passed over the house so being awake I headed off to Cape Greco. It was very quiet with the only things of note being a Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher, a singing Black-headed Bunting and a single European Beeater. A male Cyprus Warbler sat in the open singing and Spectacled Warblers were in and out of the bushes. As I drove around the Sea Caves and Limnara area, I was surprised by a calling Short-toed Lark amongst the many Crested Larks and on a wire was another European Beeater. I tried to photograph a male Red-backed Shrike without luck and c110 Greater Flamingos were out at sea heading east. Ayia Napa Sewage Works was also very quiet with an Eastern Olivaceous, Turtle Dove, 2 singing Black-headed Buntings and a Spectacled Warbler being the sum total for a trudge around in the heat.
We stayed in Bojaz for the night of the 23rd, so on the way back on Sunday, I stopped at the Famagusta Wetlands. At Silver Beach a Little Tern was the highlight with a Squacco Heron and 3 Kentish Plovers nearby. 8 Black-winged Stilts were present with 3 chicks, proving breeding at the site. At Gulserin a pair of Ferruginous Ducks was a good find but a male Shoveler was unseasonal and a Wood Sandpiper was at the base of the reed bed. My final stop was Fresh Water Lake South where I immediately saw a Whiskered Tern and another pair of Ferruginous Ducks. The breeding colony contained at least 200 Cattle Egret nests with well developed chicks, 3 pairs of Glossy Ibises with chicks and a pair of Little Egrets with a pair of chicks. A Squacco Heron was present but I couldn’t see a nest. In the evening I visited Akhna Dam where 13 Squacco Herons, including 1 juvenile was a good count. 4 Rollers were present and on the lagoons, a pair of Black-winged Stilts were in the same area as 4 Little Egrets and once more the Great White Egret. 22 Glossy Ibises flew in as I left and on the way home the Little Owl was in its hole at Vrysoulles. Common Swifts over the quarters must have numbered at least 200 and were making quite a noise.
Highlights of the Week: Difficult this week – a Whiskered Tern and Great White Egret were good finds.
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 May 15
Lesser Grey Shrike - Cape Greco Antennas 17 May
Monday once more and an evening visit to Akhna Dam. Arriving at the water the highlight was 18 Purple Herons taking flight with a few Grey Herons and Little Egrets. 6 Squacco Herons eventually showed themselves and a Roller was on top of a dead tree. 8 Glossy Ibises came in later and rested as 15 Little Stints, 2 Temminck’s and a couple of Wood Sandpipers fed actively. A female Marsh Harrier flushed everything and once settled again a pair of Ringed Plovers were with a Little Ringed Plover before they departed.
On Tuesday afternoon I visited the Cape Greco area and once more the pines were the most productive. At least 3 Collared Flycatchers remained (2 males), with a female Pied Flycatcher and 2 female Common Redstarts. A number of Turtle Doves flushed and Spotted Flycatchers were the most numerous birds. A pair of Whinchats were feeding actively and as I was leaving the now, regular pair of male Black-headed Buntings sand from the telegraph wires. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works it was fairly quiet and it’s a sad thing when the highlight was 3 Sand Martins with 7 House Martins. A Black-headed Bunting flew over the car and I photographed a Dragonfly which I believe to be a new species for me – Small Skimmer* (later confirmed by the Dragonfly recorder – Dave Sparrow – Thanks) which are quite scarce on the island, so a Dragonfly tick in the twilight of the tour was a bonus. In the evening at Akhna Dam, a Roller was in the usual place and the female Marsh Harrier was still present harassing the waders. 17 Wood Sandpipers were in the majority although 13 Little Stint and 2 Temminck’s Stints looked a greater number as they ran around feeding furiously. 2 Common Sandpipers were also present with a pair of breeding Spur-winged Plovers and 5 Ruffs arrived for a drink as I watched. A Greenshank was the biggest surprise and as it called, 2 Squacco Herons and an adult Night Heron emerged from the longer grass.
Household provisioning duties took place on Wednesday afternoon allowing me only a little time at Akhna Dam on the way home. We were greeted by at least 15 European Beeaters on the wires with several being seen previously as we drove around. Otherwise it was much the same. The Greenshank was still present but had been joined by a Black-winged Stilt. Ruffs had reduced to 4, Little Stints to 2 and Temminck’s Stints 4. Wood Sandpipers were present in good numbers and 3 Purple Herons were present as were 3 of their smaller Squacco cousins but were outnumbered by the 28 Glossy Ibises that fed in front of me. 2 Spotted Flycatchers were the only passerines noted as I left the site.
At lunchtime of Thursday, I received and email from the Cyprus Recorder tipping me off that a probable Lesser Flamingo had been seen at Koprulu consorting with 50 or so Greater Flamingos. I shot off immediately, arriving at about 1230. 30 or so White-winged Black Terns were in the air with 2 Whiskered, a Gull-billed and a Marsh Harrier. Circa 120 Glossy Ibises added to the mayhem. I concentrated on the Flamingos and after careful searching and about 20 minutes found a smaller bird with its head in the water most of the time. Eventually, it rose and started to walk between the Greater Flamingos. The size differential was obvious and the bill shape which was smaller and more acutely angled began to add up. It appeared black at distance and I grabbed a few very ropey record shots in the heat haze and at distance. The bird was overall more pinkish and lacked the obvious black and bright pink wing markings of the Greater Flamingos. I concluded that it was a Lesser Flamingo* – a Cyprus and WP “tick”. I left soon after to pick up Deb from work.
The Larnaca shopping run in the afternoon, allowed me to drop Deb off for an hour and a half whilst I had a quick scoot around the Larnaca sites. It was a good decision with lots of Curlew Sandpipers on Larnaca Airport Pool North and a concentrated effort revealed 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers amongst them. On to the sewage works where Black Francolins called, a Stone Curlew took shade under a bush and 25+ White-winged Black Terns hawked the water with 3 Little Terns pirouetting near the hide. A 1st winter Little Gull was a surprise and several commoner waders were on the plastic that separates the lagoons. At Spiro’s Pool I was greeted by the site of hundreds of waders comprising 29 Curlew Sandpipers, c500 Little Stints, 2 Dunlins, 4 Black-winged Stilts, c120 Ruff, 6 Ringed Plovers and 4 Kentish Plovers. A lone Greater Flamingo alighted, headed out to sea, thought better of it and landed at the far end of the pool. As I passed the airport’s south pool 18 European Beeaters* were on the wires. On the way home at Oroklini another Little Tern was the highlight and some common waders were present but there wasn’t very much to get excited about.
On Friday, I visited the Famagusta Wetlands and there were a few good birds around. At Silver Beach, a Little Tern was with a Gull-billed Tern and 8 Little Stints fed with a Wood Sandpiper. 43 Yellow-legged Gulls were at Clapsides Beach and at Gulserin Pond, another Gull-billed Tern was present. 2 Sand Martins were with c500 Barn Swallows but that was it before I went for a bit of male grooming at the barbers before the Waterloo Night in the Mess, which obviously turned out to be a bit messy and put paid to any birding on Saturday morning. In the evening I visited Koprulu in the north. Only one Flamingo was present and it was the Lesser. Circa 30 White-winged Black Terns were a good sight and a couple of Gull-billeds were also present. 3 Calandra Larks sang above the fields and there was one of each of Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and Squacco Heron. 100 or so Glossy Ibises were flushed by a Marsh Harrier and a pair of Stone Curlews were in the field as I left with 4 Turtle Doves flying past the car.
With time running out for a few late migrants, I headed to Cape Greco early on Sunday morning. The pines were sadly very quiet with only a male Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and a flyover Red-throated Pipit to show for my efforts. As I headed down to the cape, 3 European Beeaters were above me and 2 female Red-backed Shrikes* were present with one posing for the camera. With not much happening, I was pleased to find my 1st Lesser Grey Shrike* of the spring, with a small passage in the spring, I thought I’d missed it for the year list. A couple of Black-headed Buntings could be heard singing, Spectacled Warblers were everywhere and at least 3 male Cyprus Warblers sat up and sang in the open – most unusual. A similar story at Ayia Napa Sewage Works with 4 singing Black-headed Buntings, a skulking Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and 6 Beeaters overhead was a sign that migration is petering out with the year list on 247 – will I make it to 250 before July 11th?
Highlights of the Week: A first for Cyprus found by 2 BLC volunteers at Koprulu was also a WP tick and my 320th Cyprus bird – Thanks to Jane Stylianou for the tip off. Collared Flycatchers are late but still good to see and the Lesser Grey Shrike was a bonus bird.
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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