Army Ornithological SocietyArmy Ornithological Society Blog
Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 5 Apr 15
Caspian Stonechat at Cape Greco Army Post Cliffs 30 Mar 15.
On Monday afternoon I shot off to Cape Greco after work. I arrived to see c60 Cormorants flying east offshore and good numbers of Northern and Isabelline Wheatears. Pete Wragg, a UK birder alerted me to the presence of a male Caspian Stonechat* which I managed to get acceptable photos of. Whilst doing this I flushed several Cretzschmar’s Buntings and at least 80 Short-toed Larks, I was however unable to find the male Trumpeter Finch that had been seen in the morning. I moved onto the pines area and immediately located a Black and White Flycatcher which turned out to a lovely male Collared – my first of the year. Also in the pines was a Cuckoo and a little further on in the open ground 8 Lesser Kestrels hunted. A few Common Redstarts made a dash for it which drew my attention to a female Semi-collared Flycatcher and shortly afterwards a female Pied Flycatcher. I returned home via Paralimni Lake where there were numerous commoner waders and I flushed my first Purple Heron of the year. A good start to the week!
On Tuesday a brief visit to Akhna Dam revealed the presence of a Hoopoe and numerous Wagtails. Amongst the White and Black-headed Yellow Wagtails was a White-chinned Wagtail*, a several Blue-headed Wagtails* and at least 1 Syke’s Wagtail. On Wednesday I had to go to Larnaca with Deb so took the opportunity of looking at Oroklini Marsh and surroundings. Akhna Dam on the first was equally uninspiring, however I did manage some Blue-headed Wagtails* and many Black-headed including one Supercilliaris. A Hoopoe was the only other bird of note.
On Thursday, a brief, first day of the month visit to Oroklini Marsh produced a few good birds, including a Sanderling a calling male Black Francolin and a singing Nightingale was heard. Akhna Dam’s contribution was a male dark throated Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. Now there is a pitiful tale to tell. On the 2nd it was my Birthday, so shopping for the first BBQ of the year without rain took place. Following that, the Birthday BBQ with much merriment and alcohol – for those of you that are regular followers of the BLOG – ENOUGH SAID. The 3rd was a write off as I had taken drink and was very much under the weather.
On Saturday, I was back on the road albeit feeling a bit fragile, something that the collection of British birders at Cape Greco noticed and commented on – it has to be said, I was not on top form., although still managed to refind the female Desert Wheatear on the cape. Eastern Orphean Warblers were quite numerous although Ruppel’s are reducing. A European Beeater passed high overhead calling as it went. Towards the picnic site a pair of Ortolan Buntings were heard and seen in the company of the reducing, migrating Cretzschmar’s. Nightingales could be heard in good numbers with a few showing briefly. In the pines, a male Collared Flycatcher was the highlight with Tree Pipits being fairly numerous. On a cultivated field opposite the pines with man-made perches and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Cyprus and Isabelline Wheatear were joined by a female Siberian (maura) Stonechat and a Cretzschmar’s Bunting. The regular drive trough Limnara Valley produced a Tawny Pipit as the highlight but this species, in the main appears to have passed through. On the track to Ayia Napa Sewage Works we stopped to look at a Common Cuckoo and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers once more appeared quite numerous in the bushes opposite to the works fence. Also in here were 2 Collared Flycatcher males and my first couple of Wood Warblers of the year. A Common Restart, Woodchat Shrike and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear added to the enjoyment with a singing male Cyprus Warbler and a couple of Eastern Orpheans rounding it off.
With the 2 Bills along for the ride once more we headed off to Larnaca in an attempt to look for some Red-necked Phalaropes – this failed! There wasn’t much about to be fair save for a few Wheatears and the regular Flamingos and Spur-winged Plovers. We continued to the north side of the salt lake passing the north pool where reasonable numbers of Dunlins, Little Stints and Ruffs were feeding. At the north side of the salt lake 22 Slender-billed Gulls were with c50 Black-headed Gulls but again nothing to get too excited about. As we passed the canal at the north end of the lake a wagtail drew my attention and on closer inspection turned out to be the Black-headed Wagtail, hybrid – xanthrophys with yellow supercillium which is the rarer form of supercilliaris. I bade farewell to the Bills as they were departing on Sunday. Many thanks for your company, lunch and some petrol money and I hope to meet you both again. At Oroklini on the way home, the Avocet was still present as were 2 drake Garganeys and a male Red-crested Pochard. Akhna Dam held a Woodchat Shrike, Hooopoe, Isabelline Wheatear and Greenshank.
On Sunday, I met Caitlin and Karl Proctor at Cape Greco and we found a Woodchat Shrike which was a good start. Several Wrynecks were around the cape with depleted numbers of Wheatears and everything to be honest including British birders. Joe and John, the Irish birders remain but it’s feeling a bit lonely again and with an influx of Swedish, German and Swiss birders the passage of information has reduced. Several Redstarts were also in the pines with Tree Pipits and whilst the Cyprus and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear remained in the fields opposite, the Siberian Stonechat had moved on. 9 Little Egrets were on the rocks at Kermia Beach and at Ayia Napa Sewage Works at least 3 Wood Warblars (a new bird for Caitlin) and 10+ Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers in what has been an exceptional spring for this species. More Eastern Orpheans, Lesser Whitethroats and Nightingales were to follow and we departed to a Wryneck sat on a post.
I took Deb for lunch in the north and afterwards decided to give the Red-necked Phalaropes another go in Larnaca that Pete Wragg had found prior to his departure - a nice farewell gift, although by the time I got to the airport pools in the afternoon they had gone. However, all was not lost, a 1st winter Little Gull was amongst the Slender-billed Gulls and a Curlew gave its migration call last it flew above me. A Sand Martin was with Swallows at the sewage works with a good count of Greenshanks (25) being on Spiro’s Pool. A Tawny Pipit with a few Wheatears ended the excursion. On the way home I stopped at JUMBO drain and finally 4 Temminck’s Stints were present. Oroklini held the same as the previous day so we headed home at the end of a bird and alcohol filled exhausting week.
Now that readers are openly complaining and commenting on my tardiness with getting the BLOG published, my apologies, I’ll try harder and attempt to keep up. But if I’m not out seeing stuff, I’ll have nothing to write about!
Highlights of the Week: A female Siberian Stonechat was a good bird, found by the Joe and John and Wood Warblers are always a pleasure to see.
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 29 Mar 15
Rock Thrush at Limnara Valley on 29 Mar.
With the end of March fast approaching and a posting looming in the summer – where is the year going?
Monday again and lots to do before my departure. I had time to visit Paralimni Lake after work and the Spotted Crake showed well again. A couple each of Sedge, Reed and Cetti’s Warblers were present and once more I heard the Great Reed Warbler, singing on this occasion. Some Yellow Wagtails were amongst the White Wagtails and Little Ringed Plovers but there wasn’t much else happening.
On Tuesday came the news of my posting. I’m off to Uphaven in Wiltshire (soon to become UK’s rarity hotspot – I don’t think) and will depart the island on Saturday 11th of July – so no more BLOGGING! In the afternoon I visited Cape Greco once more. In the pines it was alive, albeit with c100+ Chiffchaffs in the main. A couple of Eastern Bonell’s Warblers remained and at least 3 Eastern Subalpine Warblers were seen. This coupled with Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Common Whitethroats, Common Redstarts and Ruppel’s Warblers made the place very busy. I saw and then heard an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler before a few Tree Pipits flew up from the grass. I flushed a Great Spotted Cuckoo as I made for the car to continue onto the cape. On the cape Wheatears was the flavour of the day with 4 species being present but not much else. At the picnic site a Cretzschmar’s Bunting and an Ortolan Bunting were the highlights before I drove around the sea caves on route to Limnara Valley where more Wheatears were present. A Tawny Pipit was amongst the rocks and the 2 Audouin’s Gulls continued to loaf at Kermia Beach.
At Ayia Napa Sewage Works at least 15 Cretzschmar’s Buntings were present with a male Masked Shrike providing a flash of colour. At least 5 Eastern Bonelli’s and 2 Eastern Orphean Warblers were in the bushes with several Ruppel’s Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. A female Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush was with 2 Blue Rock Thrushes and 2 Eastern Black-eared Wheatears were with their Northern and Cyprus cousins. I finished the day at Paralimni Lake where I eventually saw the Great Reed Warbler and found the male Citrine Wagtail that had been previously reported. At least 500 Ruffs were present with smaller numbers of Green and Wood Sandpipers. As I watched an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, 6 Little Egrets and a Great White Egret were overhead. A Water Pipit was in the reeds but perhaps the biggest surprise was a male Reed Bunting which concluded proceedings. As I drove home I passed a Long-legged Buzzard perched on a telegraph post just outside Freneros.
On Wednesday, I managed to get to Cape Greco for a couple of hours. A couple of Common Redstarts and an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler were in the pines and Chiffchaff numbers had reduced significantly from yesterday. A bird dashing through the trees finally perched and turned out to be a Common Cuckoo and several Tree Pipits flushed from the grass and perched in nearby pines. I continued onto the cape where many of the commoner migrants were still present in smaller numbers. Tipped-off regarding the presence of a Bimaculated Lark – which I didn’t find, a beautiful male Pallid Harrier appeared and cruised along the rocky outcrops. It’s Always a joy to see one of these in the spring and my 200th bird of the year. I continued around the cape but didn’t relocate the Lark. Driving past the sea caves and onto Limnara Valley, 6 Greater Short-toed Larks alighted along with a Tawny Pipit. The hillside contained Northern, Isabelline, Cyprus and a lovely dark throated Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. The bushes contained Lesser Whitethroats, Ruppel’s Warblers and Blackcaps along with a handful of Chiffchaffs. A bird flying from the undergrowth to a pylon caught my attention and it was a cracking male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. A Hoopoe and 2 Audouin’s Gulls at Kermia Beach rounded off the day – but no Bimaculated Lark! I attended a Silver Lunch in the mess in the afternoon, but I’m not planning a heavy session.
Not planning a heavy session – failure! Still feeling a bit ropey I headed off to Akhna Dam where the highlight was an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and onto Paralimni Lake. The Spotted Crake showed again and a female Marsh Harrier flew over. 3 Temminck’s Stints were with a single Kentish Plover and on the lagoons, a Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and numerous Ruffs. Several Little Egrets and Grey Herons were also present but it wasn’t a huge haul of species.
On Friday I visited Cape Greco in the morning. Much of the same was still present in the area with Wheatears and Sylvia warblers being in the ascendency, although a couple of Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers were still in the pines. Pallid Harriers continue to come in from the sea and they’re a fantastic site. In the afternoon I visited Koprulu Dam in the north which is a fantastic wetland. Species not found anywhere in the south of the island at the moment are still present including Gadwalls, Pochards and Wigeon. My first 3 Sand Martins of the year were over the water and a Great White Egret flew in and landed next to 5 Common Cranes. A few Common Shelducks remain and a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe was a surprise. A few commoner waders were present all continually harassed by 4 or 5 female Marsh Harriers. At Fresh Water Lake North 2 Marsh Sandpipers were with c110 Black-winged Stilts and many Ruffs including a Spotted Redshank and 3 Common Redshanks. Another pair of Gadwalls were present and amongst the Teal a fine male Garganey. At the south lake a Glossy Ibis roosted with the c600 Cattle Egrets with c85 nests being noted. 5 Cormorants remain at the site and a drake Ferruginous Duck flew by as I watched. 5 Garganeys were present here (3 Drakes and 2 Ducks) and another pair of Gadwalls were present.
On Saturday, an early morning start at Cape Greco and a bit of a sea watch which produced 24 (2 groups of 12) Common Cranes flying East along with several Baltic Gulls and an Armenian Gull. 3 Audouin’s Gulls headed east and Pallid Harriers came in from the sea. I soon moved to the picnic site, alerted to the presence of a Savi’s Warbler. I wandered around with the 2 UK birders I’d met – Bill2 (both called Bill which made it easy for me) and soon the Savi’s started to reel intermittently and showed in flight briefly. We continued around the cape area and found many of the usual commoner migrants including Ruppel’s Warbers, Eastern Orpheans, Cretzschmar’s Buntings and 4 species of Wheatear. Greater Short-toed Larks were fairly numerous and at Limnara the male Rock Thrush continued to show well. A Great White Egret came in off the sea further down the coast before we headed of to Ayia Napa Sewage Works.
At the works, more of the same but a cracking male Ehrenberg’s Redstart showed in the open for a change and aside from the Warblers and the Wheatears, good numbers of Red-rumped Swallows were above us and contained a pair of Alpine Swifts. 8 Black-crowned Night Herons were seen to the east coming in from the sea, which was a year tick for me. At Paralimni Lake a Spotted Crake showed briefly, with a Lesser Whitethroat and Cretzschmar’s Bunting showing well as another couple of Red-rumped Swallows passed overhead. Then came the news of a couple of good birds in the Larnaca area and a large movement of passerines. We were off to Spiro’s beach. Driving as fast as my car would carry me we arrived at Spiro’s at about 1215. A short walk on the beach and there it was – a near mythical bird for me in Cyprus an Oystercatcher*. I don’t think the Bills had ever seen a UK birder get so animated about an Oystercatcher – but a Cyprus “tick” does things for you after a while. We continued to Larnaca Sewage Works where careful searching revealed 2 Collared Pratincoles in the ploughed field with a Stone Curlew, Greater Short-toed Larks, a couple of Red-throated Pipits and many Ruffs and Wood Sandpipers. On the raised area separating the lagoons a few Armenian Gulls remained with a Yellow-legged Gull and amongst the Black-headed Gulls was an adult Gull-billed Tern. On the lagoons 5 Garganeys and 2 Ferruginous Ducks was the highlight. A male Black Francolin called from a fence post, giving excellent views before we left. Another flew across us at Pervolia fields as we watched a pair of displaying Calandra Larks, (members of the AOS will remember this site as the “drive by” Calandra Lark site. A brief stop at the north airport pool produced a Redshank, 5 Ringed Plovers, 8 Little Stints and 10 Dunlins with 3 Sanderlings also being present. 30 or so Slender-billed Gulls spiralled overhead and on the salt lake there were c400 and 8 Black-necked Grebes with c900 Shovelers. I left the 2 Bills here and arranged to meet them at Cape Greco the following day. Thanks for your company throughout the day and the 50 bucks for a few beers, some petrol and a bite to eat.
Turning into an epic day, a Water Pipit was in JUMBO Drain with some Black-headed Yellow Wagtails and a Green Sandpiper. At Oroklini 53 Slender-billed Gulls were with a handful of Black-heads and a male Red Crested Pochard skulked in the undergrowth. A final visit to Paralimini Lake in the evening saw the Spotted Crake show once more and a Sedge Warbler added to the day list. A Citrine Wagtail also showed with at least a 1000 Ruffs being present along with other commoner waders. Standing with Joe and John we saw 3 sad GROWN MEN? Shoot a Black-winged Stilt and we saw it fall into the water – what a waste, pointless, stupid and f…ing annoying – It is these events which make me glad I am leaving Cyprus in July. The Irish birders were shocked and stunned having never seen this sort of thing before but sadly, I had a resigned look on my face and it was another species added to the list of those that I’ve seen shot pointlessly over the last 3 years. The following day although I wasn’t present, another couple birding in the area had the back window of their hire car put through with stones. So much for “What a lovely place Cyprus is”? The day ended on a high with a flyover Peregrine.
The following day, Sunday I headed to Cape Greco again and met the 2 Bills once more. A bit of early morning sea watching revealed a surprise bird with a pale phase Arctic Skua chasing 2 Gulls as it headed east. Several Red-rumped Swallows were in off the sea and 4 Baltic Gulls passing east concluded the watch and with the weather coming in, it was time to move on. 2 newly arrived male Pallid Harriers were over the picnic site area and a Nightingale was heard but other than that the same migrants were still around from yesterday. Our first find in the pines was a Wryneck closely followed by a Redstart and at least 5 Eastern Orphean Warblers. 2 Masked Shrikes eventually gave themselves up amongst the more familiar species. At the Sea Caves, I paused to photograph a male light throated Eastern Black-eared Wheatear* as 5 Greater Short-toed Larks passed overhead calling. The male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush* remained in situ which was again a pleasure to see. We continued to Ayia Napa Sewage Works where our first find was a Tawny Pipit. A couple of Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers and a female Ruppel’s added to the day list amongst a sea of various Wheatears. Perhaps the surprise of the day was a pair of dark phase Booted Eagles, harassed by a Kestrel as they thermalled northwards. A female Blue Rock Thrush ended the session here but another Masked Shrike was seen on the way to the football pitches.
Onto Akhna Dam where another Wryneck was seen with many Black-headed Yellow Wagtails amongst which was a Water Pipit, Supercilliaris hybrid and a Syke’s (bema) Wagtail. I finished the day at Fresh Water Lake South in the north. 6 Cormorants remained, a count of the Cattle Egrets revealed c650 with c85 nests and 31 Glossy Ibises flew in towards dusk. The surprise and end to another fantastic week was a flythrough Blue-cheeked Beeater.
Highlights of the Week: A Cyprus “tick” and MEGA – Oystercatcher at Spiro’s Beach!!!! My 319 Cyprus’ species. Migrants are still pouring through and the diversity remains if not the numbers. A male Pallid Harrier and another male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush are always enjoyable moments.
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 22 Mar 15
Semi-collared Flycatcher at Asprokremnos Dam on 21 Mar.
The weekly BLOGs are becoming a bit delayed due to the fact that I don’t have the time due to too much birding – if that’s possible.
On Monday, a day’s leave and I headed to Cape Greco. Wheatears were very much in evidence with 5 species being present. In the pines, the male Ehrenberg’s Restart* was still present with 2 Common Redstarts and the Great Spotted Cuckoo (or a different one) continued its stay. Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, although reduced in numbers are still present with at least 4 being in the pines. Blue Rock Thrushes and Hoopoes appear to be everywhere still. A few Black Restarts and Stonechats remain from the winter but they continue to decrease in numbers. A Wryneck was still present in the antennas area as were several Tawny Pipits. Cretzschmar’s Buntings continue to pass through in good numbers and a few Nightingales have begun to sing from hidden perches. 2 Audouin’s Gulls continued to loaf at Kermia Beach and that moved me quickly onto the Ayia Napa Sewage Works area. In the area Cretzschmar’s Buntings were obvious as were more Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers. My first 2 Masked Shrikes of the year were seen and Whreatears were also well represented. 4 male Ruppel’s Warblers were noted and Blue Rock Thrushes continue to populate the bluff.
In the afternoon I visited Larnaca and at Dolphin Rocks, 7 Sandwich Terns were present with 64 Black-headed Gulls and 2 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls. Oroklini Marsh still holds 35 Greater Flamingos and a Reed Warbler was heard. A Marsh Harrier flew over the marsh and disturbed and Avocet and 5 Snipe. Whist watching I noted 2 adult Baltic Gulls, a 2nd winter Armenian Gull but perhaps the surprise of the day was a male Penduline Tit. I visited Akhna Dam before returning home but a few Wheatears were all that was of interest.
On Tuesday at Akhna Dam Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers were present with Reed Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Cetti’s Warblers also being fairly obvious along with c20 Spanish Sparrows. On the 18th, I picked up Caitlin at Paralimni for an early morning start at Cape Greco. The pines held much the same with a Great Spotted Cuckoo still being present with Hoopoes. A late Robin was heard from the undergrowth but we moved on to the Cape to see what was happening. No real change here with lots of Sylvia Warblers and Wheatears being present. An Eastern Orphean Warbler was a good find but typically didn’t show for very long. 9 Tawny Pipits were at Limnara Valley and a Nightingale sang sweetly. More of the same at Ayia Napa Sewage Works but we did manage to photograph an obliging Eastern Black-eared Wheatear and Greater Short-toed Lark*. As we passed Avgorou on the way to Akhna Dam I spotted a Long-legged Buzzard* perched on a small cliff which we took time to admire, but soon enough we were at Akhna. Several Black-headed Yellow Wagtails were present including Supercilliaris and melanogrisea (White-chinned Wagtail) forms. Some more Greater Short-toed Larks8 posed for the camera and Caitlin took time to photograph Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers. A Tree Pipit was seen briefly as it called and 4 Water Pipits were also present. With nothing else for it we stopped at Stelios snack bar for a mega Cyprus mixed sandwich – the birding food of choice. At Oroklini 6 Sandwich Terns were present with the 2 1st winter Med Gulls, c50 Black-heads and 1 Armenian. The marsh still held the Avocet and a couple of Black-winged Stilts. A female Mallard had 11 ducklings in tow and a Marsh Harrier rose in the distance. JUMBO drain held a Little Ringed Plover, 3 Green Sandpipers and 3 Spur-winged Plovers. I dropped Caitlin off and continued to the Larnaca area before waiting for “H” hour when Deb would land at Larnaca on the famous BA662 arriving at 1825. On the south airport pools, 31 Black-winged Stilts were joined by a Spotted Redshank, with good numbers of Greater Flamingos and 5 Common Shelducks still being present. Nothing much else was in the area but I did manage to scope a calling male Black Francolin at Pervolia. I drove to Petounta Point for the first time this year and sadly it’s been drained and is a shadow of its former glory. A Hoopoe, Meadow Pipit and Common Redstart flushed as a Reed Warbler sang from the reed bed and 13 Baltic Gulls passed the point. A male Ruppel’s Warbler showed well but that was it. The Larnaca Salt Lakes were fairly boring with nothing much of interest and by this time “The Eagle Has Landed”, so it was time to pick Deb up and finish the day with a curry at the Balti House on Larnaca Strip (I can recommend it)!
On the 19th I visited Paralimni Lake where I heard and saw my first Sedge Warbler of the year which kept the year list on target. An Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers was active near a Blackcap and a Black-winged Stilt called as it went. At Cape Greco Pines, another 3 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, a Common and Ehrengerg’s Restart wer present and a Hoopoe flushed from underfoot. At the Cape, still good numbers of Ruppel’s Warblers, Blue Rock Thrushes and Wheatears, with a Tree Pipit being heard. A Sandwich Tern cruised west as I watched and several Tawny Pipits and a Cretzschmar’s Bunting were quite vocal as they flew over. The same species were present all over the cape area and 2 Audouin’s and a Yellow-legged Gull remained at Kermia Beach. I walked around Ayia Napa Sewage Works noting good numbers of the same species that were present earlier on the cape. I had been walking for a while when a raptor rose over the escarpment. Going through the data base of species in my head and after a bit of thought and confusion (that was the key) a worn pale phase Booted Eagle was added to the year list which was quite unexpected, although previous record show that there is a small spring passage at about this time. In the afternoon I visited the north which was quite unproductive for a change. The highlights were a Great White Egret and a Glossy Ibis amongst the c500 Cattle Egrets at Fresh Water Lake South.
On Friday after work we headed to Troodos for a dinner, stopping on the way in atrocious weather to see 4 Crossbills at Levadia Tou Pasha, 2 of which were immatures. As I left on Saturday morning in the snow, I noted a late Mistle Thrush and at the Caledonian Falls 7 Siskins. On the way down the Dhiarizos River Valley on route for an overnight stay in Paphos, Kidasi held a Northern and Cyprus Wheatear but no Finsch’s as the AOS discovered last year. The wintering birds appear to depart by the 2nd week in March from this site. I met Colin Richardson and Bill Stacey at Anarita Park where at the entrance at least 4 Lesser Kestrels* hawked over the fields. Moving on 2 Blue Rock Thrushes performed well for the crowd and a little later on male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush* was and excellent bird to see for the year, it was joined by a Northern and Cyprus Wheatear before a magnificent adult Bonelli’s Eagle flew over flushing a couple of Meadow Pipits. It was then that Colin received a text from a visiting birder (Jim Wilson) alerting us to several Semi-collared Flycatchers in the pine woods above Asprokremnos Dam. With no time to waste a semi-twitch was on. As I arrived I soon located a female Semi-collared* feeding actively and flushed several Hoopoes, A pair of Garganeys landed briefly below us on the dam and it took a while to find another female flycatcher and eventually the male. The male Semi-collared Flycatcher* fed actively flying to the ground and showed well as we watched and photographed it. The least numerous and most difficult of the black and white flycatchers to see was in the bag!
At Mandria 78 Cormorants headed out to see and Northern and Isabelline Wheatears were common. I checked in at the hotel, dropped Deb and headed off to the headland. I walked along seeing 3 Common Redshanks, 3 migrating Spur-winged Plovers and a late, migrating Greater Sand Plover. The surprise was eventually (this year) catching up with the only winteriing Whimbrel* on the island, a bird I thought I’d missed for the year. At least 12 Yellow-legged Gulls passed to roost as I walked to the car. The usual trip to Armou Village near Colin’s house produced 2 Cyprus Scops Owls and that was it for the day except for watching the rugby, a few beers and an excellent Steak and Kidney Pie in Tramps Bar.
On Sunday, we departed earlyish and stopped at Mandria. Much the same here but a flock of c800 Yellow Wagtails – mostly feldeggs was amazing. From the same field I flushed a Quail and a few Tawny Pipits and Greater Short-toed Larks were also present. At Kouklia Soakaways, a Long-legged Buzzard was over the hills as were a pair of Alpine Swift with many Common Swifts and House Martins. Onward to Episkopi where another 4 Alpine Swifts and 3 Griffon Vultures were seen. At Akrotiri Gravel Pits, a Marsh Sandpiper was with c20 Ruff and a Water Pipit showed briefly amongst the Yellow Wagtails. A late Hawfinch was near Phassouri Reed Beds as a Marsh Harrier went about its business. At Zakaki Marsh from the hide I caught up with 2 Little Crakes, a male and a female whilst Sedge and Reed Warblers were active in the vegetation. A Kingfisher was the last bird I saw in the area before heading to Larnaca and 2 Lesser Kestrels passing over the car at Kivisili. Akhna Dam held nothing new so after stopping at home for a cup of tea and to sort out some dirty washing admin, I drove to Paralimni Lake to end the week.
On arrival I quickly saw a Spotted Crake in front of the reeds and after watching for an hour or so it was chased by a Water Rail as another swan close by. As I scanned the reed bed another Crake appeared – an adult male. All grey on the front with obvious barring on the flanks reaching the legs – BAILLON’S, my first of the tour – RESULT, and a good decision to visit, the hybrid “dombrowski” (Romanian Wagtail) nearly when unnoticed in the excitement. As I watched the reed beds, a couple of Sedge, Reed and Cetti’s Warblers were very active. Lesser Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs chased each other and then the familiar deep croaking and grating of a Great Reed Warbler which remained hidden. A great end to another productive week.
Highlights of the Week: Another superb week’s activity, culminating in Rock Thrush, Semi-collared Flycatchers and 3 species of Crake.
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
CommentsSPTA West
This week there is live firing on the west all week so quite understandably there is no access. Over the last 4 weeks I have visited Norfolk and Somerset whilst in between I have looked at various sites in Wiltshire and even strayed into Hampshire. On the Plain the winter birds are leaving. On a walk last Sunday there were still some Fieldfares and Redwings. There were some last week on the Centre. I have started to carry out surveys there as well and a new BBS square is in the middle of the impact area! Birds seen over the last period include Snipe and Woodcock as well as raptors including Short-eared Owl, Merlin and Red Kite. There are plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits about though some cold winds seem to hampen their singing. I have put up 18 bird boxes arond Imber Village and 8 re-furbished boxes along Gurkha Track. It will be interesting to see what nests in them as they are all at shoulder height so I can look in without a ladder. On area R there was a Chiffchaff and there is a pair of ravens with a nest nearby. They are nesting in the quarry as well. There are lots of tits and Chaffinches all over the place. In a flock of Chaffinches near Z Range there were 2 Brambling. Unfortunately I have not found any others. Corn Buntings remain by famland though Yellowhammers are moving about in more central areas. There are plenty of Stonechat pairs. The Spring migrants are on their way so hopefully they will stop and hang around the Plain for a while so I can note where they are, once I can get back on.
CommentsCyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 15 Mar 15
Blue-cheeked Beeater at Vrysoulles Village on 15 Mar.
I awoke in the middle of the night to hear Stone Curlews calling and a hear tick – a calling Quail. Monday evening started slowly with a trip to Akhna Dam. Again it was very quiet with only 5 Green Sandpipers, 1 Ruff, 1 Grey Heron a couple of Corn Buntings and as I left the Little Owl was in its usual roosting hole.
As I walked to work on Tuesday a Song Thrush passed overhead and a Black Francolin called. In the afternoon I headed for Cape Greco, the weather was glorious and it was the first time this year that the shorts and a T-Shirt got an outing. . Male Blue Rock Thrushes continue to sing and Hoopoes are becoming more numerous. Song Thrushes and Black Redstarts are building in numbers prior to departure and Stonechats are reducing in numbers as are Meadow Pipits. In the Sea Caves area 7 Greater Short-toed Larks called as they flew over and landed nearby which alerted me to the presence of 5 Tawny Pipits consorting with Isabeline and Northern Wheatears. At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, I found a fresh female Subalpine Warbler and on the lagoons a single Black-necked Grebe was with Little Grebes. As I walked around, Song Thrushes were once more very numerous and a Black Redstart gave itself up. At least 3 Ruppel’s Warblers were in the area, with 2 males and a female being seen. As I left a Common Buzzard flushed from the bushes and on the way to Ayia Napa Football Pitches, several Isabelline and a single Cyprus Wheatear was seen. A Robin showed itself near to the football pitches and a Meadow Pipit called as it went.
I visited Cape Greco again on Wednesday and the appalling weather had returned. That said, some good migrants were found, albeit all looking a bit bedraggled in the rain. Northern and Isabelline Wheatears are now everywhere, Cyprus Wheatears are on territory and the female (light throated) Finsch’s Wheatear continues its winter stay at the Cape Greco Sea Caves. Several Lesser Whitethroats were seen around the Cape, with Ruppel’s building in numbers. A female Blackcap was at the picnic site area and a Spectacled Warbler sang and displayed as did at least 2 Cyprus Warblers. Once more at the Sea Caves a single Tawny Pipit and Greater Short-toed Lark was seen. As I continued another Lesser Whitethroat was on top of a bush with Chiffchaffs nearby. The best find was a male Eastern Orphean Warbler, which was spot on time, looking at previous earliest dates for the species. At Kermia beach a pair of Audouin’s Gulls loafed. The rain stopped briefly in the late afternoon so at Gulserin Pond in the north 61 Greater Flamingos remained with 4 Pintails, numerous Shovelers and Teal with 4 Black-winged Stilts looking like they may attempt breeding at the site. At a very quiet Fresh Water Lake South, 7 Cormorants hang on before their departure and a Hoopoe did a fly by. The day over I returned home, where it’s getting pretty lonely in Deb’s absence – I will have to turn to drink!
Following the storm, I made for Cape Greco once more on Thursday afternoon – it was an amazing day with hundreds of birds everywhere. A considerable fall of Wheatears had occurred with all 6 regularly occurring species being present. Cyprus, Isabeline*, Eastern Black-eared. Northern*, Finsch’s* and a single female Desert. Tawny Pipits numbered at least 17 with supporting Wrynecks*, Ruppel’s* and Subalpine Warblers* with a few Cyprus* thrown in for good Sylvia measure. Blue Rock Thrushes and Song Thrushes were everywhere and a Common Whitethroat also put in an appearance. The Rock Sparrow was once again present and some lovely looking Cretzchmar’s Buntings sang from the bushes. A single Nightingale was at the Picnic Site and several Greater Short-toed Larks were in the area. At least 2 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers were in the pines and at Ayia Napa Sewage Works an unprecedented 17+ were present.
On the 13th I returned to Cape Greco and although many birds had moved on there were still some interesting species present. One of the first birds I saw was the Rock Sparrow* once more, followed by a Wryneck and many Ruppels and Lesser Whitethroats. Much of the same was around but a male Common Redstart was a new arrival. Subalpine Warblers continued to pass and a few Common Stonechats and Black Redstarts hung on to their wintering territories. A Lesser Short-toed Lark with its distinctive drilling call was a good find at Cape Greco Sea Caves.
On Saturday, I took a Turkish birder to Cape Greco and to see the rare Orchid at Ayia Napa Sewage Works. Orchid photographed, it wasn’t long before we found my first Masked Shrike of the year – a beautiful male. An Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (dark throated)* posed for the camera, which was new but many of the same birds were still hanging around with good numbers of Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers, Ruppel’s Warblers, Cretzschmar’s Buntings* and Blue Rock Thrushes being present. We moved onto the Cape Greco Pines area where a Common Redstart soon showed and then an stonking male Ehrenberg’s Redstart* gave itself away when it called. It played hard to get for sometime but I eventually attained an acceptable image showing the white panel in the wing. A Great Spotted Cuckoo continued to hide in the woods and flushed periodically. Nothing much had changed around the cape but an Eastern Orphean Warbler was a good bird for the day. At Akhna Dam in the afternoon a good selection of Wagtails was present with Black-headed*, and hybrids – xanthrophys* and supercilliaris* being present.
On Sunday, once more to Cape Greco and although bird numbers had reduced the same variety was present in all the usually visited locations. Down at the Cape just north of the antennas, I was watching a Northern Wheatear when I came across a small bird hopping on the rocks. Realising immediately what it was I grabbed a quick record shot for reporting purposes. My battery then ran out on my camera and by the time I had “made safe”, the bird had gone. Nonetheless, an acceptable record shot of a female Trumpeter Finch*. A new bird for the tour taking the tour’s total to a round 300 species and identifiable forms. A Red-rumped Swallow came in off the sea as I tried relocate the bird without luck. The first Willow Warblers were in the pines with Chiffchaffs and Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers. On the way home, another Eastern Orphean Warbler was at Ayia Napa Sewage Works.
Having had lunch and caught up with some husbandly chores at home I departed for Akhna Dam at about 1500. No sooner had I got outside Vrysoulles Village when to my amazement a Blue-cheeked Beeater* was sat on the telegraph wires. As I continued to photograph the bird another joined it and then calling on the other side of the road another 7 – my highest count in Cyprus – a good record!. Incidentally this was obviously the day for them as a further 29 were reported throughout the island. Akhna Dam’s highlight was 2 Serins and at Paralimni Lake, a Marsh Sandpiper, 3 Greenshanks and a Water Rail was present.
Highlights of the Week: An amazing week, Trumpeter Finch, Blue-cheeked Beeater, the first Eastern Orphean of the year and lots of migrants now pouring through is always an exciting time – you never know what you’ll find!
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Comments
Follow us:
