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Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 23 Nov 14
Grey Heron at Akhna Dam on 19 Nov
On Monday and Tuesday as has become the norm, I was unable to get out of work early enough to get to any sights before it was dark.
On Wednesday I managed to get to Akhna Dam, where I was greeted by a mixed flock of Chaffinches, Serins, Corn Bunting and Goldfinches which include a Starling and 2 Woodlarks. I continued onto the dam where 3 Redshanks flushed and landed next to a Greenshank. Several Water Pipits were with the White Wagtails and a Robin showed well – unusually. I then photographed a Grey Heron* – an easy species one might think but they are very skittish in Cyprus and often fly before you can get a reasonable shot of one. I continued to drive around and a female Sparrowhawk – my first for a while but a regular winter visitor flushed from the tamarisks. A Great White Egret had appeared in the water when I returned but there was little else to write home about.
Thursday and I was preparing to pick up the AOS winter, long weekend contingent from Larnaca Airport at 1810 before heading off to Paphos. The flock safely gathered we arrived at the King’s Hotel, booked in and went for something to eat and a few beers – the banter had began and Geoff’s musical anatomy had started to give the mini bus a pungent smell.
Friday started with a decent breakfast and departure to Avagas George in the company of Colin Richardson and Matt Smith for the much awaited Wallcreeper hunt. Moving up the gorge, several commoner species were seen and in the gorge at least 2 Grey Wagtails, a Black Redstart and Blue Rock Thrush. A Peregrine passed overhead and some real Rock Doves were noted. We got to a position to look at a largish rock face where Matt Smith had found the Wallcreepers two weeks earlier. We started to scan and not long after Tim Cowley shouted “I’ve got one”. A great relief to me and more for him as it was a lifer and target bird so it was great for him to find it. We scoped the star of the show until it finally moved across the gorge and out of site – a great start to the tour, although it would have to be repeated for Rich as he was not arriving until 1310 that afternoon. We drove to the Lower Ezouzas Pools where Moustached Warbler was the highlight but a Black-headed (feldegg) Yellow Wagtail* was very unseasonal. Several more birds were added to the list including wintering Reed Buntings and numerous Chiffchaffs. Driving past Paphos Sewage Works at least 9 Spur-winged Plovers were seen and a Sparrowhawk was overhead. I dropped the group for lunch and picked Richard up from Paphos Airport, ahead of time we returned and also enjoyed a bight to eat. We continued into the Mandria area and a few birds were seen including a Long-legged Buzzard, but with the wind getting up, smaller passerines were staying low. Onward to Anarita Park for the next target bird. Passing several Wood Larks as we entered the area, we were soon looking at the rock slope adjacent to the famous goat farm. Soon enough a stonking male Finsch’s Wheatear was being enjoyed by all – in the bag! We stopped at the next Fincsh’s Wheatear site – Ayia Varvara where another male was on territory. With a little light left we proceeded to Paphos Headland which is only a short trip from the hotel. Luckily enough a 1st winter Slender-billed Gull was loafing which was unexpected and just next to it the 4 wintering Greater Sand Plovers showed well with a Common Sandpiper putting in an appearance. What a great first day!
On Saturday, we travelled to Troodos in an attempt to see the sub-species endemics and the wintering Pine Buntings. Stopping at Kidasi in the Dhiarizos River Valley, 3 male Finsh’s Wheatears were seen with a mixed flock of Linnets, Goldfinchis and Greenfinches also being nearby. Wood Larks were well represented and a Chukar sat obligingly on a rock allowing everyone good scope views. The group also managed its first good views of Sardinian Warblers as the concentrated on enjoying the Wheatears. The valley contained several flocks of Serins as we travelled up to Platres where it started to rain and sleet. With the passenger’s window being U/S it was not a great time as we donned fleeces. Unfortunately, no Pine Buntings were found which was a shame, although the mountain species were seen minus the Wren, typically, and a few wintering species were also encountered including Mistle Thrush and the difficult Goldcrest, which all added to the growing list – “It’s All About The List”. Good views of Crossbills* were obtained which can be difficult. With time to spare after finishing lunch in Troodos Square we carried on down the mountain towards Limassol and the sites in the Akrotiri area. Arriving at Zakaki Marsh about an hour later. Soon enough I managed to find the Striated Heron in its usual place and this was a treat for many. The first record for Cyprus back in October was still hanging around. The marsh held Water Pipits and a Snipe but it wasn’t that busy. On the sea at Lady’s Mile 3 Mediterranean and 4 Slender-billed Gulls were amongst the commoner Black-headed Gulls and of the larger gulls, 1st winter Caspians were easy to ID with the 1st winter Armenian being a little more tricky. Lady’s Mile held a few Dunlins and Little Stints with only a handful of Kentish Plovers. Bishops Pool was the next stop although a brief stop at Sylvana’s Restaurant on the edge of AkrotirI Salt Lake revealed in excess of a 1000 Greater Flamingos, 21 Grey Herons, a pair of Shovellers and a Peregrine. At Bishop’s Pool 13 Ferruginous Ducks was the highlight with a Sparrowhawk crashing through a hedge and Little Grebes being numerous with a couple of Wigeon also hugging the reeds. We finished at Phassouri Reed Beds where we were greeted by a pair of Marsh Harriers being mobbed by Hooded Crows. Careful scanning of the reeds found a Reed Bunting and above us a flock of c100 Starlings went to roost. I found a female type Little Crake which everyone got onto and as we were leaving a few got onto a juvenile Red-backed Shrike which was very late in the season. With it now getting dark, we travelled to Paphos, showered, did the call over and went to Tramps Bar for dinner with Colin Richardson – thanks for your company and birding knowledge!
Sunday was essentially a re-run of day one for Richard. At White River Cliffs on the way to Avagas Gorge, a pair of Blue Rock Thrushes was seen along with several Sardinian Warblers and Black Redstarts. Continuing to the gorge, Bob Hazlewood volunteered to stay with the vehicle due to the U/S window and bird around the car park with good results. The remainder continued up the gorge passing the regular Grey Wagtails. We stopped on a scree slope by the rock face we were viewing on Friday and waited. Playing a Wallcreeper recording produced nothing initially. However, after about 20 minutes a bird flying up the gorge (we must have passed it), landed above us providing excellent views once more. We were pleased that Rich had recovered the bird but I suspect that he was more pleased than us? We met Bob once more who had added Spectacled Warblers and the only Wren of the trip which the remainder of us failed to recover. A Hawfinch was seen as we made our way to the vehicle along with numerous Blackcaps. Stopping briefly at Kalafos Beach, Paphos found us adding a Turnstone to the list which was found by Geoff and a Common Sandpiper was also present. At the Lower Ezouzas Pools, Richard recovered a showy Moustached Warbler and the Little Crake was also showing well. A flock of 19 Kestrels caused confusion but large flocks of feeding birds in Cyprus is not uncommon. A Cormorant flew in the distance and a Water Rail continued to be heard but not seen. The Spur-winged Plovers were still around the Paphos Sewage Works and several Red-throated Pipits were heard with the more numerous Meadow Pipits. A Water Pipit posed on telegraph wires but it was time for lunch and a Sunday chicken and pork souvla lunch, at Mandria which was enjoyed by all. We continued to Mandria once more where good views of Red-throated Pipits were achieved and careful scanning of the Skylark flock produced several Water Pipits and the only Calandra Lark of the trip. Onto Asprokremnos Dam where a couple of Cormorants was all we had to show for our efforts. Visiting Anarita Park once more and the Little Owl was in the same place as day one with the Finsch’s Wheatear being seen again.
Highlights of the Week: 2 sightings Wallcreeper in Avagas Gorge, Male Finsch’s Wheatears and the Striated Heron.
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 16 Nov 14
Wallcreeper at Avagas George
On Monday, as usual in the winter, I was unable to get out before it got dark – now at about 1630. On 11th a Black Redstart was around the quarter area with a female Stonechat. On Wednesday, I made it to Akhna Dam. A sizeable flock of about 170 Corn Buntings were on wires over the fields and a little further along a mixed flock of finches held about 20 Serins. 7 Little Stints, a Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover were on the lagoon and several Water Pipits were on the mud. A Dunlin flew in and joined the Stints and a lone Starling flew into the reeds.
On Thursday I visited Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta. 21 Cormorants were flying around and 8 Greater Flamingos remained but were outnumbered by Grey Herons. 6 Ruff were unseasonal as was a Spotted Redshank. Kingfishers were active and a Green and Common Sandpiper were flushed by a young Marsh Harrier which caught and ate a Moorhen. The female Pintail showed briefly and 18 Starlings flew to roost as a Great White Egret and 2 Glossy Ibises joined the healthy Cattle Egret roost. A Water Rail was heard and a Black Redstart posed on a reed with a Great Tit. Finally, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls flew high above heading south.
On Saturday, I visited Larnaca Sewage Works for the first time in several weeks. As I drove the access track 8 Greater White-fronted Geese flushed from the fields – the first of the winter. On the lagoons, 2 Black-necked Grebes were with the Little Grebes and a drake Widgeon fed amongst the Teal. 2 Lapwings were on the water’s edge, with 9 Caspian Gulls on the separator and on the buoys at Spiros, 3 Shags loafed. On the airport fields my first Meadow Pipits of the winter flushed and a sizeable flock of Spanish Sparrows sat in a lone bush. At Pervolia Skylarks were in good voice with a mixture of Meadow and Red-throated Pipits. As I drove to pick Deb up from Larnaca, 14 Redshanks were on the South Airport Pool and c450 Greater Flamingos were on the main salt lake. Scanning through the 400 or so Black-headed Gulls revealed the presence of 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. 8 Greater Flamingos were on Oroklini Marsh with 2 Redshanks, 1 adult Little Ringed Plover, a Temminck’s Stint, 6 Lapwings, 24 Spur-winged Plovers and a Water Pipit. Also amongst the c170 Black-headed Gulls was a single 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. A Bluethroat was heard and a Chiffchaff was seen. As I passed Dhekelia Fire Station only 9 Stone Curlews were on the fallow rocky field. At Akhna Dam a Great White Egret was the highlight, although 2 more Dunlins and a Temminck’s Stint were also present. Water and Meadow Pipits were numerous and a Linnet was a surprise bird for the site.
On Sunday I ventured over the north and firstly stopped at Neopolis (Gulserin) Pond, which now has some water in it. 2 Dunlins, 6 Spur-winged Plovers, a Redshank, 7 Little Ringed Plovers and 39 Greater Flamingos were present and another Bluethroat was heard but not seen. At Clapsides Beach, 2 Redshanks were on the marsh, whilst on the rocky outcrop 2 Grey Plovers were with 8 Kentish Plovers and a Little Egret. 4 Audouin’s Gulls (3 adults and a 1st winter) flew in and rested on the rocks as I watched. At Silverbeach a Green Sandpiper was the highlight with a few Meadow Pipits flying around. I looked at Fresh Water Lake North which looks like a great site but access and viewing is difficult. Despite that I found a Grey Wagtail and a Green Sandpiper with 2 Snipe and on the lagoon, 7 Black-winged Stilts were with a Great White Egret. 5 Greater Flamingos were also present and a Chiffchaff was heard singing. Further investigation of the site could prove fruitful this winter. At Fresh Water Lake South, 8 Greater Flamingos were present with some commoner herons, 2 Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper. A Water Rail was heard along with a Bluethroat and a Robin showed well. 26 Cormorants roosted in the eucalyptus and 74 Spur-winged Plovers were on the muddy patches. 8 Night Herons roosted in their usual place consisting of 5 adults and 3 1st calendar years. As I drove through the quarter area, a Black Redstart and a surprisingly misplaced Grey Wagtail flushed.
Highlights of the Week: The first sighting of wintering Greater White-fronted Geese is always a good find.
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 9 Nov 14
Robin at Akhna Dam – a regular common winter visitor.
The week started slowly again and no birding was done on Monday. On Tuesday I got to Akhna Dam briefly and 19 Starlings flew over me. A Great White Egret was in the water with the usual commoner herons whilst nearby a Greenshank and 3 Redshanks were feeding. An immature Yellow Wagtail was a surprise and as I left the site the Little Owl was in its regular roost site, however it’s the first time I’ve seen it for a number of weeks.
On the 5th at Fresh Water Lake South, Famagusta 4 late Barn Swallows were over the lagoons and 4 Great White Egrets were in various parts of the lagoons. 9 Greater Flamingos were still present and a Spotted Redshank was with 9 Common Redshanks. A lone Common Sandpiper and a Black-winged Stilt added to the waders and 4 Common Snipe flushed and flew overhead. 7 Night Herons ( 4 adults and 3 1 CYs) roosted and 2 Glossy Ibises came to roost. Obviously the same birds as last month and my first November record for the species in Cyprus. A Water Rail was heard, a Chiffchaff flitted in the tamarisks and a single Starling flew to roost.
With visitors and doing the touristy things, there was no more birding for the week until Sunday up at Troodos, Kakopetria where I saw a Grey Wagtail and a Robin. Black Restarts are numerous around the quarter and camp areas but generally there’s hasn’t been much happening. The Striated Heron continues to show in the Zakaki area but is becoming more elusive as time goes on and the news came of 3 Wallcreepers in Avagas George with a number of Rock Sparrows also being present. Finsch’s Wheatears are now well established in their wintering areas which all bodes well for the forthcoming AOS long weekend.
Highlights of the Week: Difficult, but wintering Night Herons and the 2 Glossy Ibises are a good find.
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 2 Nov 14
Striated Heron at Zakaki Marsh on 29 Oct – 1st Record for Cyprus but unfortunately not found by me.
A fairly short one this week for a number of work and weather related issues.
The week started slowly due to work commitments so there was no birding on Monday or Tuesday, although whilst on the way to Troodos on the 28th a late European Beeater flew over the A1 motorway at the Kivisili junction. On Monday evening I had received an email alert regarding the first record for Cyprus of a Striated Heron (Thanks to Colin Richardson – Chairman of the sub-rarities committee and Jane Stylianou – the Cyprus recorder). Also known as Mangrove or Little Green with the US form being known as Green-backed. In any event, I couldn’t get to Zakaki Marsh on Tuesday so I thought Wednesday could be a possibility.
I left home at 0430 on Wednesday morning and drove to Zakaki Marsh in Limassol, arriving at first light at about 0550. No sign of the Heron but a Bluethroat and a couple of Kingfishers were in the area. I sat in the car and waited. At 0615, fearing the worst, I walked around the side of the sump/sluice that the bird had been seen in. It appeared! It jumped from a sunken drain up onto the wall and stood motionless. Grabbing a few shots, I watched as the bird was flushed by some (Fu**!!)ing feral dogs. It flew to another ditch across the road and as I watched, it flew into the reeds at Zakaki Marsh. Anyway – RESULT! I spent a few minutes at Zakaki noting a number of calling and then flying Penduline Tits, a Reed Warbler and my first Water Pipit of the winter. A late Sand Martin flew through and then the bloody dogs arrived and flushed everything. With nothing else for it, I drove back to Ay Nik, showered and got to work, only a little late. Stone Curlews numbered 26 in the Dhekelia roost – a little disappointing as numbers should be increasing. At Akhna Dam all was fairly quiet with only a couple of Redshanks and a Little Stint being at the water’s edge. An Osprey performed well which is getting quite late and a Water Pipit was with White Wagtails. As I drove home through the fields 5 Corn Buntings were sat on wires, the first for the site in some months.
On Thursday, unusually rain stopped play and on Friday, I was unable to get out, so the week and month ended with a bit of a whimper. Considering 169 species were seen last October and only 127 this year, it was a pretty poor October with slim pickings.
Highlights of the Week: The 1st Record of a Striated Heron (Little Green/Mangrove Heron) for Cyprus.
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 26 Oct 14
Greater Sand Plover at Ayias Trias on 21 Oct
A new week and it was decidedly cooler today. The recent storms have cleared the humidity and a cooler front is upon us. It will soon be time to put the quilt on but for now a pair of long trousers and a sweatshirt will do for birding. I visited Fresh Water Lake South after work and it was a lot quieter than it has been with very few waders present. A Spotted Redshank and 3 Common Redshanks were obvious with the Green and Common Sandpipers being least so. 14 Greater Flamingos remained at the site as did a Great White Egret which was joined by 3 others as dusk approached and 2 Night Herons became active. The Cattle Egret roost is increasing and numbered c250 with a handful of Little Egrets and Grey Herons. The 2 Glossy Ibises also roosted once more and this represents the latest occurrence in Cyprus for me, having never seen one this late in October before. Circa 40 Swallows also came to roost but on this occasion no Crakes were seen but a Water Rail was heard.
On Tuesday, I met up with Neville Weston once more, as after following a fairly unproductive morning at Cape Greco on the 19th due to bad weather, I felt I owed him a bird – Cyprus Warbler. We met up at about 1330 and first went to see a pair of Greater Sand Plovers* at Ayias Trias; they should have been present the other day but the sea was too rough and the rocks were awash. In any event they were there today with a Kentish Plover and a Common Sandpiper. Moving to Cape Greco Picnic Site area, we passed a Cyprus Wheatear and searched for a Cyprus Warbler. 2 were heard and about 6 Sardinian Warblers were seen along with a Song Thrush and a 1st calendar year Night Heron heading out to sea. Ominously – no Cyprus Warbler was seen so we visited a couple more sites before returning. Under the Army Camp cliffs (where AOS members will remember the Hooded Wheatear), we walked for a while seeing nothing but Stonechats. I paused in the favoured wintering site for Finsch’s Wheatears and BINGO! The first female of the light throated form for the winter at the site and an excellent and unexpected “tick” for Nev. I have seen them as early as the 15th of the month so it was spot on time. We continued to the Ayia Napa area passing through a housing estate and we lucked in again as a Laughing Dove was sat on the telegraph wires – lifer number 2. This site has become the reliable place for this species, now a self supporting small population that is not surprisingly growing. On to Ayia Napa Sewage Works where several Willow Warblers and Spectacled Warblers were present. Notable was a late Lesser Whitethroat which cause a bit of initial confusion. With nothing much else happening we drove around the football pitches adding only an immature Red-backed Shrike.
Returning to the Cape Greco Picnic Site, more bloody Sardinian Warblers and Spectacled Warblers. We added a female Blackcap and then at the death at about 1730, with the sun beginning to drop, I heard a Cyprus Warbler in the same bush as our previous visit. Suddenly it appeared on an exposed perch and began to sing in the sun. A result, I was beginning to get nervous about the bird with my 100% strike rate looking like it was about to go down the pan. It dropped and then reappeared in better light, where all the relevant ID features could be seen more clearly. Any way, with victory clutched from the jaws of defeat, Nev had his final and much sought after lifer. Having said that, I thought bird of the day was the female Finsch’s Wheatear which was a good find.
The regular trip to JUMBO in Larnaca on Wednesday resulted in a very uninspiring trip to Oroklini Marsh where a lone Greater Flamingo was accompanied by 24 Little Stints, 2 Dunlins and a Ringed Plover. Circa 80 Mallards were in the fields and a male Black Francolin fed on the edges in the vegetation. Birding poor but the buying of Halloween paraphernalia excellent (hoorahh), a cup of coffee at Oroklini Coast – Dolphin Rocks, resulted in the first 2 Black-headed Gulls of the winter for the site and a Little Egret. Pausing at Akhna Dam was equally dull, but 2 immature Red-backed Shrikes remained as did a pair of Redshanks. Grey Herons, Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets were present and a Fan-tailed Warbler moved amongst the reeds. I finally got a picture of a European Robin*. They are extremely timid in Cyprus (I wonder why)? That was about it for the day which was particularly disappointing.
Thursday and the monthly Ops visit to Troodos. Rain! Twice in a week, “What’s happening”? So much for a sunshine tour! On the way up I stopped at Giant Juniper picnic site and managed to see the mountain species in quick succession including the usually difficult Wren and Crossbill. I was drawn to a large flock of birds and several were perched – a year tick – Hawfinch, at least 10 perched and several flying with Chaffinches. Prodromos Dam held a Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail and on the back to Ay Nic, Trimiklini Dam also held a Grey Wagtail.
On Saturday I visited Fresh Water Lake South in the afternoon, where 2 Wood Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Redshank were present. 9 Greater Flamingos held on and a female Marsh Harrier flew through briefly. 5 late Swallows passed overhead and 3 Night Herons were roosting. On Sunday Akhna Dam was equally dull with only a Redshank being present with some commoner Herons. The highlight was a Great White Egret and a Eurasian Teal, just to prove how very quiet it was. With winter well and truly setting in, migration appears to be over, so it’s a search for scarce winter visitors and the AOS long weekend in November to look forward to.
Highlights of the Week: Hawfinches are never easy in Cyprus and the first returning Finsch’s Wheatear at Cape Greco with the company of a another UK birder – Thanks Nev
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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