(6) Blog Posts Made in July 2013

Cyprus Weekly

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 28 Jul

Long-eared Owl at Cape Greco Pines on 28 Jul.

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

Belated ID:  For those interested the Wasp that I photographed last week in Troodos was of the genus sphecid - Ammophila heydeni  Dahlbom.  Whilst I know many will not be interested, this is a special entry for Tim Cowley, who I know recently purchased a British Bee ID book, so, if he wishes to branch out, here’s the opportunity.

Monday at Akhna Dam and Common Sandpiper numbers remain at 9, however today a Greenshank* was new in, but the Squacco Heron, Masked Shrikes and Spur-winged Plovers remain.  A large flock of c100 Spanish Sparrows was impressive and eventually I flushed 5 Green Sandpipers whilst a couple of Spectacled Warblers shot off into the scrub.

In the morning going to work DEB alerted me to a calling Beeater – so persistence does reap rewards.  After work I went to Akhna once more where nothing much changed, although Common Sandpiper numbers had increased to 16 and an early returning Common Kingfisher was seen.  The Little Owl* was in the same place as last week and 3 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were seen.  Later that night a Long-eared Owl was calling from behind the house.

Wednesday had arrived and so I visited a new site in the north that a British ex-pat birder Robin Snape )who works for Exeter University and is studying turtles in Northern Cyprus and is also a keen birder, leading trips in the north) had given me directions to.  I eventually arrived at Guvercinlik, now much dried out but an irrigation channel led to a small flooded area which contained 13 Glossy Ibises, a Wood Sandpiper, 2 pairs of Black-winged Stilts and at least 14 Spur-winged Plovers.  The reason I had gone, I encountered when returning to the car through a lightly grassed area of unploughed field.  I flushed at least 7 Greater Short-toed Larks, which were easy to ID as they alighted calling.  This would be a very early autumn occurrence if they were migrants but suggests a possible breeding area for the birds which are known to breed on the island in isolated locations.  I moved on to Koprulu Dam and several Wood Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and Redshank were present amongst the c150 Black-winged Stilts.  At least 17 Glossy Ibises were there and 8 Grey Heron (an increase of 1).  Nothing else much doing so I checked out Fresh Water Lake South – Famagusta which had 8 Squacco Herons and 3 Glossy Ibises present.  Perhaps the most interesting observation was that, drying up a little, on a small muddy patch, waders have begun to return.  I counted 52 Spur-winged Plovers and 6 Black-winged Stilts.  It should be good for migrants shortly.

Thursday and I asked Deb a rhetorical question “Did she want to go to JUMBO”?  So it was that I ended up at Oroklini Marsh.  At the marsh a Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpipers and 4 Grey Herons were migrants and 4 Little Egrets continued their stay.  The most interesting observation was of 2 adult Little Terns tending a downy looking juvenile, suggesting breeding has taken place at the site once more.  We returned via Dhekelia Power Station and Akhna Dam as usual – my wife leads a very diverse and interesting life (I think)?  At the power station platforms, 5 Shags and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls were present.  As we drove around Akhna Dam a Hoopoe flushed and a Kingfisher plunged dived.  I got a not very good picture of 1 of the 3 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers* and Little Ringed Plover numbers had increased to 5 with 2 Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers reducing to 3.  2 immature Masked Shrikes and the Little Owl sat in its, by now, usual spot rounded the day off.  At night I drove around the local village and heard 2 Long-eared Owls calling, so I have now tracked them down to a rough area.

Friday was the mess summer BBQ, End of – nuff said.  In any event, I got to Akhna Dam on Saturday where 1 Hoopoe alighted along with a Masked Shrike and 3 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers were around the ponds.  On Sunday I made it to the Cape Greco area.  At Ayia Napa Sewage Works 5 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, a Spectacled with 38 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Coot on the lagoons.  I moved to the Cape Greco Pines area where the Cyprus Wheatears* continued their residency and I flushed a large bird of prey and as I sneaked up on it (if that’s possible), I managed to photograph a fantastic Long-eared Owl*.  A couple more Cyprus Wheatears were in the area and as I was leaving an Isabelline Wheatear – the first of the autumn.  I visited the Turkish barbers and stopped at the Fresh Water Lake where 5 Squaccos were the highlight, although wader numbers are increasing.  At Akhna Dam in the evening, 2 Little Owls a number of waders had also arrived and soon I spotted 3 small waders which proved to be Temminck’s Stints* that I managed to get some cracking shots of.  The early arrived Kingfisher continued to fish from an exposed perch and a lone Wood Sandpiper was a new arrival.  On the way home, I stopped at Vrysoulles where I managed to see my 3rd owl of the day in the form of a roosting Barn Owl*.  With 4 European Beeaters roosting at the back of the house on dead tree snags, this concluded the week.

Highlight of the Week:  7 Greater Short-toed Larks at a new site – Guvercinlik, suggesting possible breeding.

Look Forward: The last week in July usually heralds the arrival of early Sylvia Warblers which should be coming through and be present around the Cape Greco area, with a day’s leave on Monday I am very hopeful of a result.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook


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SPTA West

Earlier this month the area was out of bounds so I missed the Red-back Shrike seen by our PhD student and her BTO supervisor.  That said I have been helping with the Whinchat study normally as muscle to move the batteries for nest cameras and sward measurer and scribe for inverterbrate surveys.  We have had 52 pairs of Whinchat breed on the Imber area alone.  I have a few nests to check this coming week though one has already been predated and it is too late in the season for the pair to try again.  As an aside I have been helping with ringing at a CES site just north of the Plain and quite a few adults are already in molt rather than breed again.  I have also been ringing in the Centre with a good mix of birds including Nightingale, Grasshopper Warbler and Redstart.  Of course all this dry weather has meant a few fires on the impact area but fortunately the wind direction has not affected the very early starts ringing involves.  Elsewhere on the Plain the summer is quite quiet. There have been plenty of Swallows, and corvids plus Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.  The Southdown Barn road always provides Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear and Reed Bunting and it did not let me down on an organised walk last weekend.  The highlight was a Hobby that mobbed a Buzzard, chased a Woodpigeon and caught a Swallow.  The Plain is covered in Butterflies and Marbled White, Small Skipper, Ringlet and Meadow Browns dominate.  In addition Dark Green Fritillary and Gatekeeper are increasing in number.  There are plenty of moths as well and areas that have been previously grazed are a riot of colour from wild flowers.  The annual nature walk and picnic was more of a botany walk than anything as obscure plants that are normally found in Western Germany training areas were located!

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Cyprus Weekly

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 21 Jul

1st Summer Gull-billed Tern at Akrotiri Salt Lake.

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

A slow start to the week with a Dragonfly survey at Sotira Pond where a Green Sandpiper and 16 Spur-winged Plovers were in residence with 13 Mallards and some other common waterbirds.  Onward to Akhna Dam where another 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper flushed.  The 8 Spur-winged Plovers were very vocal and amongst them a Hoopoe alighted.  A small family group of Greenfinches fed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers “tacked” from the tamarisk.  A single Little Egret was with the numerous Cattle Egrets and many hirundines hawked the water but nothing significant occurred.

Tuesday’s trip to Akhna Dam produced much the same as Monday, although 2 Masked Shrikes a male and an immature were new and Hoopoe numbers had increased to 5.  My first Spectacled Warblers for the site in several months was welcomed and Eastern Olivaceous Warblers, 4 of them, appear to becoming for obvious, post breeding.  Wednesday and a trip over to Kouklia Dam in the north which is drying up fast, however this has had the effect of concentrating the birds which makes life a bit easier.  After successfully photographing a male Lesser Emperor* in flight, I proceeded to the raised bank on the east side of the dam and viewed the area.  Waders were much in evidence with at least 28 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Greenshank, 4 Wood Sandpipers and 6 Ruff along with the commoner Black-winged Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers.  11 Glossy Ibises still remain and I eventually found 5 Ferruginous Ducks below the reed line.  2 Marsh Harriers were early migrants and a Roller was also present.  Perhaps the surprise of the day when I was leaving was an immature Corn Bunting, often difficult to see in the summer months.  We returned via Deb’s favourite shop in Famagusta and had dinner in a local Turkish restaurant where the mixed grill and iskender kebabs are excellent.

On Thursday, it was necessary to visit Troodos Station again with a visitor and in doing so managed to see, a large flock of 15 immature Coal Tits several Swift species (CRIME!! I didn’t have my bins with me) and that was about it.  Akhna Dam in the evening held 5 Hoopoes, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Squacco Heron.  I travelled to Troodos on Friday afternoon to attend the Summer Ball and planned to stay over for the weekend.  On Saturday a walk around the trails produced the expected mountain species with the exception of the Wren – which can prove problematic if they’re not calling.  At Prodromos Dam there were also 8 Black-tailed Skimmers* and a pair of ovipositing Lesser Emperors in tandem*.  On the Persephone Trail a Wasp* which is currently unidentified was photographed.  On the Caledonian Falls trail several Holly Blues* and a Brown Argos* were seen.

We drove another route down to Limassol and Rollers and a Masked Shrike was along the roadside.  Episkopi failed to produce any Vultures or Eleanora’s Falcons in what was a strong wind.  At the edge southern of Akrotiri Salt Lake, 3 Gull-billed Terns were active; an adult and 2 1st Summers*.  Circa 750 Greater Flamingos remain on the lake with a couple of Black-winged Stilts.  As I was returning to the car a dark phase Eleonora's Falcon flew past and hunted over the reed bed which was a pleasing site since I had missed them earlier.  Onward to Larnaca Sewage Works on the way home where a Little Tern was amongst the Common and Wood Sandpipers.  On the far side of the lagoon 6 Slender-billed Gulls and a single adult Black-headed Gull loafed.  In the evening at Akhna Dam, my first Little Owl for the site this tour sat on a rock face and on the lagoons 9 Common Sandpipers and the first 4 Little Stints* of the autumn.  A single Little Ringed Plover, Hoopoe and 2 Masked Shrikes* ended the week.

Highlight of the Week:  The Gull-billed Terns at Akrotiri was nice to see.

Look Forward:  A few visits to Ayia Napa Sewage Works 

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Cyprus Weekly

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 14 Jul

Audouin’s Gull at Potomos Liopetri.

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

In what can only be described as a work and drinktastic week there was little time for birding.  On Monday evening, I did manage to get to Akhna Dam where 5 Green Sandpipers was a good count.  Several Hoopoes were present, a couple of Common Sandpipers and a pair of Pallid Swifts was a surprise.  The Barn Owl remained in its hole at Vrysoulles and a roost of 80 Jackdaws at Avgorou was a good count.  I had to visit Episkopi and Akrotiri on Wednesday and another pair of Pallid Swifts were over Episkopi Garrison with a Cyprus Wheatear.  On the salt lake at Akrotiri I could see at least 300 Greater Flamingos but little else from a distance.  A late return and a dinner in the mess left no time to get out further.  On Thursday, I accompanied a visitor to Troodos Station and on the way up at Platres saw a male Blackbird.    On the station a juvenile Coal Tit was interesting and a mixture of Pallid and Common Swifts were overhead.

We proceeded to Mount Olympus where at least 500 House Martins was a spectacle with 3 Cyprus Wheatears along the fence line.  The biggest surprise was a lone Alpine Swift over the Raydome.  Another late return home and the COs dining out on Friday evening ruled that day out as well.  Inevitably Saturday was a write off but all was not lost as I watched the first Ashes Test all day and felt sorry for myself.

Determined not to waste a whole week, I rose early on Sunday and headed for Cape Greco.  At Ayia Napa Sewage Works, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler numbers are increasing after the breeding season and a female Cyprus Warbler posed a momentary ID challenge.  On the lagoons were a pair of Common Sandpipers and 51 Little Grebes and a Common Swift drank briefly.  I moved along to Cape Greco Pines where it was quiet but I did managed to get some good photos of a family of Cyprus Wheatears*, including 2 juveniles*.   Attempting to get a month tick, I drove along the coast to Ayia Thekla and although there was much disturbance by the fishermen, I eventually managed to locate 4 Greater Sand Plovers.  I moved further along the coast as I hadn’t driven along to Potomos Liopetri for months and was surprised to find the bird that I hoped would be there.  Albeit not an adult the 3rd Summer Audouin’s Gull* posed for the camera and presented a rare close opportunity to get some good shots.  Not always an easy bird on Cyprus in the summer, it’s the BLOG cover photo this week as I know you’re all probably missing the winter “Gullfest”. 

Having had some success, I trooped across to Akhna Dam where at least 5 Hoopoes* were present and eventually after just over a year of waiting, I managed to capture a shot of a bird with its crest raised – result.  2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Squacco Herons were present and I managed to get a better picture of a juvenile Masked Shrike* to replace last years ropey effort – so migration is occurring.

Deb and I headed to the North after breakfast and I conducted the Dragonfly survey at Fresh Water Lake South.  The Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis breeding colony has now dispersed preferring the larger trees that surround the lake and 9 Squacco Herons was a good count.  A lone Black-winged Stilt and 3 Spur-winged Plovers remained along with a single Little Grebe.  Home in time to watch the end of the first test and a BBQ for dinner rounded off a not particularly productive week.  It is worth noting that no day out in Cyprus is wasted if you have your camera with you.

Highlight of the Week:  Audouin’s Gull is not an easy species on Cyprus and finding one close enough to get photos was a bonus.

Look Forward:  Migration is picking up but remains with the vanguard at present.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook

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Cyprus Weekly

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 7 Jul

Hoopoe at Akhna Dam – a common autumn migrant.

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

July already and migrants are already starting to appear.  Waders are coming through in good numbers and mountain breeding species such as Masked Shrikes and Hoopoes are beginning to appear in lowland sites once more.  On Monday I went to Akhna Dam after work and saw my first Wood Sandpiper at the site this autumn along with a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.  Spur-winged Plovers totalled 5 and a female Masked Shrike hunted along the water’s edge in tamarisk bushes.  3 Hoopoes was a good count, Spanish Sparrows numbers are increasing with a sizeable flock being present, 2 Eastern Olivaceous Warblers were restless but were eventually seen briefly and Cattle Egret numbers have increased to about 50.  Returning home via Vrysoulles, the Barn Owl didn’t let me down for a month tick and 3 Rollers – 1 immature were present in the adjacent orange grove.  2 Swift remained in the Ay Nik area, although the breeding colony appeared to have left on mass on the 25th to 26th of June.

I visited Troodos with some work visitors on Tuesday and saw 3 Jays, 2 Chaffinch and c20 Common Swifts in the Station along with several Cyprus Wheatears nearby.  After getting home on the 2nd at Akhna Dam a Greenshank was new as was a Little Egret, another Hoopoe or one of the same ones was seen and commoner passage waders remained in situ.

On Wednesday I went Tuna fishing off Cape Greco and predictably saw no seabirds but did catch a reasonable Tuna along with the others which provided the focal point for the BBQ and a few beers that evening.  On Thursday we had friends visiting so we took them to the North for dinner.  Despite every effort to take in a few “scenic” spots, Deb was fairly persistent that I was not to visit any birding areas – I had been told!

On Friday I was snowed under at work although did get to Akhna Dam briefly where 11 Green Sandpipers was a good count as was 11 Magpies.  The tally concluded with 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Spur-winged Plovers, a Hoopoe and a Common Sandpiper.  A juvenile Greenfinch was the first for the month.  Saturday and I watched the Rugby and had a few beers to celebrate.  On Sunday, I did whirlwind tour of sites.  22 Little Terns,  35 Glossy Ibises 2 Redshanks and a Wood Sandpiper were the highlights at Oroklini whilst at Larnaca Sewage Works, 7 female Red-crested Pochard and a female Shoveller were notable.  Retuning via Akhna Dam a Hoopoe was the only species of any notoriety.  7 Shags stood on the platforms off Dhekelia Power Station.  We headed over the north in the afternoon as I needed some male pampering – Mehmet the barber obliged and all was good with the world.  Gulserin Pond is no longer a pond as it’s totally dried up – leaving a huge number of beer bottles in the sand – very depressing and no birds.  At Koprulu which has also dried dramatically, c50 Glossy Ibises were present and at least 150 Black-winged Stilts and c350 Cattle Egrets.  A 1st Calendar Year (1CY) male Marsh Harrier was an interesting sighting along with a Common Sandpiper and 5 Green Sandpipers.  Continuing the Heron theme at Fresh Water Lake South, 6 Glossy Ibises were present along with 7 Squacco Herons and a single 1 CY Night Heron.

Highlight of the Week:  Errmmm – struggling and I’m tempted to say a Bridled Tern at Cresswell Pond - my local patch when I visit Deb’s parents in the North East.

Look Forward:  No mass migration yet but the annual autumn raptor fest should soon be underway.

If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at:   birder639@yahoo.com

Mark Easterbrook

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Cyprus Weekly

Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 30 Jun

Little Ringed Plover at Akhna Dam 24 Jun.

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

After a fairly depressing week last week, things are definitely moving.  With no cricket to watch, I went to Akhna Dam after work.  Several returning wader species were evident with 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Little Ringed Plovers* as well as the resident Spru-winged Plovers.  3 Cattle Egrets and a showy Squacco Heron* were obvious and as I drove around a Hoopoe flushed.  A 1st Calender Year (1 CY) Masked Shrike was hunting which was surprisingly early in the lowlands and does signal that some movement of breeding visitors is already taking place.  As I departed the area, 2 European Rollers sat on telegraph lines and I paused to photograph a juvenile Swallow*.

Tuesday and a visit to the local shops in Paralimni offered the opportunity to conduct the bi-monthly Dragonfly survey of Sotira Pond.  There were not many Dragonflies in evidence and even fewer birds but a lone Stone Curlew and female Black Francolin were noteworthy as a Cetti’s Warbler worked its way along the rank vegetation.  The Long-eared Owl continued to call from the woods behind the house and appears to be getting closer.

On Thursday afternoon I conducted a Dragonfly survey of Oroklini Marsh.  Something has obviously changed here with the water becoming perhaps too stagnant as there was not a single Dragonfly of any species present, which says something in itself.  The Dragonflies might not like it but the noisy breeding Stilts and Spur-winged Plovers obviously do and 19 Little Terns was the highest count this year.  Red-crested Pochards have obviously had a good year with 8 immatures and 6 females hiding amongst the vegetation.  All in all though, June continues to live up to its billing.  We returned home via the mooring buoys at Dhekelia where 8 Shags sat.  With not much else doing, we returned home and finished for the day. 

Friday came and went and on Saturday we visited the North.  Gulserin is all but dry with only 3 Black-winged Stilts and 2 Spur-winged Plovers.  Meanwhile and Koprulu, the site still looks excellent.  64 Glossy Ibises rose from the reeds and amongst them 3 adult Spoonbills.  Circa 1000 Coots remain with lesser numbers of Mallards and the Black-winged Stilts appear to have increased to about 200 with the Cattle Egrets numbering about 400.  Of the waders, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Greenshank and 5 Ruff were present.  As I left the area, I flushed a lone Stone Curlew from a ploughed field.  At Fresh Water Lake South, I conducted the Dragonfly survey and noted at least 5 Squacco Herons, 1 Little Egret, c20 Cattle Egret and 2 Glossy Ibis.  A European Beeater was heard over Ay Nik (ESBA) and at Akhna Dam a Great Spotted Cuckoo and Hoopoe were migrants with a few waders remaining in the form of a couple of Green Sandpipers and Common sandpipers.  At Vrysoulles village the Barn Owl continued to roost and 2 Rollers were in the orange grove.

On Sunday I visited the Larnaca area and at the North side of the salt lake which is now completely dry 8 Little Egrets flew in from the north and were probably migrants.  At the sewage works a pair of Shovellers remain with 3 ducklings whilst Little Grebe numbers have increased to 41 and Mallard to C60, three female Red-crested Pochards were of interest.  A Greenshank and Common Sandpiper were present amongst the more numerous Spur-winged Plovers and Black-winged Stilts.  On Spiro’s Pool Yellow-legged Gull numbers are building again with 16 being present.  Although 2 Little Swifts had been reported from the Limassol area, I saw none in the East of the island.  As I returned home, 2 Rollers were on the wires at Xylotymbou and later at Akhna Dam a pair of Hoopoes*, a juvenile Masked Shrike, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Little Ringed Plover* and a Green Sandpiper.  As I was leaving 2 superb adult White-winged Black Terns did a flyby and kept going south.  At Ay Nik, 4 European Beeaters and 3 Common Swifts (the majority of the breeding colony left on the 25/26 Jun) were seen, which concluded the week.

For the first time in a year (excluding last June), I recorded less than 100 species, which just proves what a dire month June is in Cyprus.  Even if I had hit all of the summer breeding sites I would still have fallen short.  There are few migrants in June and obviously no winter visitors so birding is hard work for few rewards.

Highlight of the Week:  A Great Spotted Cuckoo and White-winged Black Terns at Akhna Dam.

Look Forward: The month of July offers some good wader migration and towards the end some Warbler species should start to return, if you can brave the heat.

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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