Army Ornithological SocietyBlog Category | Overseas Birding
Cyprus Weekly
Birding Highlights for the Week Ending 27 Oct
Penduline Tit at Akhna Dam on 21 Oct
* Indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link.
A day off on Monday and I attempted unsuccessfully to see a Knot at Akrotiri – a rare bird in Cyprus although I have seen one previously. As I searched a Gull-billed Tern and 2 Shelduck were over the salt lake with a couple of Marsh Harriers but amongst the thousands of Greater Flamingos there was little else. Search complete and with only Dunlins, Little Stints and Kentish Plovers noted I headed to Lady’s Mile for more of the same. At Zakaki Marsh where there is a large amount of construction work taking place, a huge area has now been opened making the marsh visible for the first time since I’ve been here. Anyway, 2 Wood Sandpipers, an immature White-winged Black Tern, 3 Kingfishers, a Grey Heron and 2 Stonechats graced the area. I moved on back towards the Larnaca area and visited the sewage works where I heard and saw my first 4 Skylarks of the winter. The first Caspian Gulls had arrived along with an adult Baltic Gull. All things being equal – it was pretty dull.
In the afternoon I went for a shave and haircut, which was its usual unique experience and visited the Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta where a Great White Egret was obvious and 2 Redstarts were very active. A couple of Black-winged Stilts, a Spotted Redshank and a Common Sandpiper added to the numbers and as I left a female Blackcap chased a Redstart. In the evening I made for Akhna Dam where 5 Penduline Tits were present, a Reed Warbler lingered and I caught up with the Black-necked Grebe which was a new bird for the site. A Sedge Warbler was late as was a female Whinchat and Chiffchaff numbers appear to be increasing as Willow Warblers dwindle. Stopping at Vrysoulles on the way home, the Barn Owl remained faithful to its roost site.
On Tuesday, a quick visit to Akhna Dam, where patience and persistence were rewarded with a not bad picture of a male Penduline Tit*. 3 Greenshank and a late Squacco Heron flushed and the Reed Warbler* was again very showy at the top of a reed. A single Bluethroat was difficult but obvious to see, a Spotted Crake flew away into the reeds and a single Cormorant sat on a dead snag in the water. A Sparrowhawk did a fly through flushing what remained of the passage waders. In the fields above the dam, Corn Bunting numbers are increasing and a single Red- throated Pipit was visible in the furrows of a ploughed field. I stopped opposite Dhekelia Fire Station where Stone Curlew numbers had increased to 38 and a Robin was seen, meanwhile at Dhekelia Power Station, 7 Shags were present. After dropping Deb off, I returned home in the dark without further observations. It is now dark by 1810 and once the clocks go back, birding in the evening will be all but over.
After 3 Dotterel being found at Akrotiri yesterday, I headed off to the fields surrounding Larnaca Airport, a likely place for the species – in any event it was without success. However, on the Sewage Works lagoons, a Spoonbill and Greater Flamingos had increased to 41. At least 4 Armenian Gulls had arrived with Black-headed numbers rising by the day and another Baltic Gull loafed by the lagoons. Few waders were seen, although a single Yellow Wagtail is getting late and 2 Common Cranes passed high overhead. As I drove to the Larnaca Airport Fields area I saw a Wheatear on the dried out Spiro’s Pool which after investigation turned out to be a female Desert Wheatear* and another was in the stubble fields further along. A Red-throated Pipit was also there and a couple of Skylarks called as they took off. In the general area, I flushed a couple of male Black Francolins. I stopped at Oroklini Marsh on the way to Akhna Dam and at least 5 Redshanks and 4 Snipe were present with a reduced number of smaller waders. I then found a couple of Little Stints and at the end of the channel the Terek Sandpiper was still present entering its 3rd week of residence, a Common Sandpiper also flushed from the same area. My arrival at Akhna Dam was greeted by a perched, fly catching male Black Redstart – my first for the winter. Much was the same at the dam although a Green Sandpiper alighted as did a Greenshank when I entered. A Reed Warbler was still present, 2 Bluethroats performed as usual and the Penduline Tits have increased to 7. As I departed the Black-necked Grebe continued its occupancy and a pair of Lapwings called noisily as they landed.
On Thursday a quick visit to Akhna Dam produced little new of interest although 2 Lapwings were moving through and Penduline Tits remained at 7. On Friday the SSAFA “Big Brew” ate up some time and therefore no birding took place. I rose early on Saturday and made for the Cape Greco area via Ayia Napa in search of my first Finsch’s Wheatear of the winter. The football pitches at Ayia Napa produced 2 late European Beeaters but little else. As I drove the track to the sewage works, Stonechats were very common and then a flash of white, scope to the window – a female dark throated Finsch’s Wheatear in exactly the same place as last year – a very pleasing result. At the sewage works a couple of Black Redstarts, Song Thrushes, a female Blue Rock Thrush and finally a female Hen Harrier signalled that migration must be nearly over and the winter visitors are arriving in good numbers. At Cape Greco Pines, a late Red-backed Shrike and a couple of Chiffchaffs, although notable was the number of Chaffinches in lowland areas – another tell tale sign of winter arriving. I drove to the area below the Army camp at Cape Greco and walked along photographing 2 Pygmy Skippers which are getting towards the end of their flight season. A Blue Rock Thrush* male sang above me and I noted 2 female Fincsh’s Wheatears and 2 Northern Wheatears. I then saw a cracking male Finschs’ and walked across the volcanic rock in an attempt to photograph it. Without luck as it gave me the run around, I lost my footing and fell over, cutting my hands to shreds, but saving my bins and camera. I hope the AOS are happy that I have identified a wintering area for a male Finsch’s Wheatear in March at great personal injury to myself? Wintering Sardinian Warblers could be heard everywhere but not much else was about. At Akhna Dam in the evening a Lesser Whitethroat was late, 4 Bluethroats was a good count and a Sedge Warbler was still present.
On Sunday morning, I visited Oroklini Marsh whilst Deb was at the market and found my first Temminck’s Stint of the month amongst Little Stints and Dunlins and although the Redshanks were vocal there was no sign of the Terek Sandpiper. A Bluethroat and Water Rail added to the interest and Spanish Sparrow were very active in the reeds. After picking Deb up we moved to the Larnaca area where on the approach to the Sewage Works I flushed a pair of Black Francolins. The Sewage Works held 2 adult Armenian Gulls and the Bar-tailed Godwit was still present but apart from 3 Cormorants and a pair of immature White-winged Black Terns there was not much amongst the hundreds of wildfowl. On the way back along the Larnaca Strip we stopped for a Cyprus mixed sandwich – they truly are the food of the kings and I noticed 2 birds perched on the rocks (I call them Dolphin Rocks – as there is a small statue of the obvious on them), which proved to be a pair of Sandwich Terns.
At Akhna Dam in the evening, as I drove along the road a call of a Water Pipit alerted me to the presence of at least 3 in a ploughed field and a bird landed on the road which I photographed. There had obviously been a sizeable influx of the species and with a bird with pinky/orange legs it alerted me to the possibility of a Buff-bellied Pipit. Still under discussion with the photos being studied, they are thought to pass through Cyprus but have never been reported until last year’s first with many now believing that they are more common than previously thought – we shall see. The drawback being it didn’t turn around and I couldn’t relocate it. With no hope of birding on Monday due to the long day and the clocks going back, I’ll have to look again on Tuesday – but I don’t hold up much hope. No less than 16 Common Snipes and 2 Jack Snipes were present and the 3 Greenshanks continued their stay with the Black-necked Grebe. A Sparrowhawk perched in a eucalyptus briefly and at least 4 Penduline Tits were in the reed bed where I also photographed another Bluethroat* A call alerted me to the first Reed Bunting of the winter – a female type, a Red-throated Pipit called as it passed overhead and a (Caspian) Reed Warbler* was outstaying its welcome. Across the water I noticed a fairly large duck which proved to be a female Red-crested Pochard but with the light failing early – 1650, it was time to go.
Highlight of the Week: Finsch’s Wheatears are always good to find, the first Reed Bunting of the winter and the mystery Pipit.
Look Forward: I’m off over the north next weekend for a field trip with KUSKOR the Turkish group into the Troodos hills in the north.
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 20 Oct
Terek Sandpiper at Oroklini Marsh on 18 Oct
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link.
After a long day at work I decided to unwind and visit Akhna Dam for a few hours – not an unusual occurrence in itself. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by 2 large dark shapes in the open near to the tamarisk bushes and on the dried out mud. I raised my bins and bingo – 2 Black Storks*; an adult and an immature, a year and site tick. This kicked off a splurge of photographs and an hour and a half’s worth of quality birding. I worked my way around the site finding the Spoonbill with the broken leg once more amongst a group of Little Egrets. 2 Greenshanks called as they flushed from the water’s edge and 4 Lapwings also alighted. A lone female Redstart caught flies and returned to a nearby perch and a single Squacco Heron flushed from the reeds. I made my way around to the mouth of the southern arm where the reed bed has been fairly productive recently. It is clear that Bluethroats have arrived in good numbers, with one being of the svecica – Red Spotted form and a Sedge Warbler is still hanging on. As I walked amongst the mud in the reeds I sensed a movement down to my right and an adult Spotted Crake made its way along the reeds. Try as I might the camera’s auto focussed failed me on this occasion as I continually focussed on the reeds in front of the bird, a good bird nonetheless! A flurry of activity saw a Common Starling flushing from the reeds, 2 Whiskered Terns came in over the dam feeding actively and 3 Cormorants flew over heading south east. Above me a heaving mass of c600 Swallows were feeding which contained 1 House Martin that I could pick out.
As I was leaving the area, my attention was caught by a Cetti’s Warbler type call that wasn’t quite right. I moved around to an area where I could see the front of the reed bed and watched the water’s edge. I firstly caught a movement and then a glimpse of a bird walking slowly amongst the tamarisk roots and broken reeds. I noticed it had fairly obvious pink legs and was plain on the back, with a large rounded tail. It was lost to view but then about 5 minutes later it flew from the reed bed to another and continued to walk around. Having seen it in flight with it’s brown plumage with rufous tones and noted its behaviour which I remembered seeing many years ago at Akhna Dam, I was fairly certain of what I was looking at. I found the bird once more in amongst the reeds crawling around, noted its lightly streaked sides of the breast, plain off white underparts and supercillium extending behind the eye and for sure it was my first Savi’s Warbler of the tour. Having found a River Warbler in August, there was little difficulty in recalling the differences. A great bird seen more in the spring than the autumn and often caught by ringers, sight records are not as common. The secret to Akhna Dam is to work the area thoroughly and I tend to stick to 2 or 3 defined areas of habitat. There must be many birds that pass through unnoticed due to the size of the site but my system and strategy has produced some good birds to date. At Avgorou on the way home, a Stonechat flew in front of the car and a Red-back Shrike sat atop its lookout post. What a great start to the week!
As I was eating my breakfast, I heard the call of a European Beeater to find a relatively late group of 21 over the house – a good way to start a Tuesday. We visited the north to book a restaurant for tomorrow evening and I stopped at the Fresh Water Lake South, where a Great White Egret, a couple of Black-winged Stilts, a Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank were present with c50 Spur-winged Plovers. I headed to Akhna Dam and many of the same species were present including the 2 Black Storks, Savi’s Warbler and 2 Spotted Crakes*, that performed a little more openly than the previous evening. A Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper were seen and a Greenshank heard as a Hobby flew through the site. 3 Bluethroats* were noted with one posing in the open as the light faded. A couple of Robins were heard and c120 White Wagtails flew to roost.
A quick jolly to Oroklini Marsh on Thursday afternoon confirmed that the Terek Sandpiper was still present, although remained impossible to photograph. It consorts with Redshanks which flush at the drop of a hat and hence the Terek flies with them – damn annoying! A Great White Egret was still present along with the lonely looking Shellduck and small waders were well represented with Dunlins, Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers being present. The waders along with a good number of Spur-winged Plovers were regularly flushed by a sub-adult male Marsh Harrier. Onward to Akhna Dam after being given the run-around by the Terek for about 2 hours, without photographic success! At Akhna Dam the excitement of the last couple of days has subsided with the Black Storks and Savi’s Warbler moving on. The Spoonbill with the broken leg remained in situ and an Osprey paid a visit as I was scouring the reed beds only to find Bluethroats, Reed Warblers and Willow Warblers. 2 Green Sandpipers flushed, but if that was the highlight, you know things are getting desperate. A couple of Beeaters flew over and in the fields above the dam, 7 Red-throated Pipits called as they went, a Corn Bunting perched briefly and 5 Yellow Wagtails lingered.
On Friday we made for the north and Hisarkoy where our friend Tony Hutchinson lives, he’d agreed to let us stay for the night in order to be at Cape Kormakiti early on Saturday morning to do a spot of seawatching. We travelled via Oroklini where I managed to get a good shot of the Terek Sandpiper*. Onward via IKEA in Nicosia – there’s always a penalty and then we crossed the border to the west of Nicosia. We arrived at Tony’s at about 1400 and he gave me directions to Kalkanli Dam just to the east of Morphou. The dam was an excellent site and having not visited previously, I was surprised at what I found. 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Marsh Harriers were present although the highlight was the amount of wildfowl: 146 Ferrruginous Ducks (I’ve never seen so many), 71 Pochard, 1 female Wigeon, 11 Teal ,15 Mallard, 7 Pintail and 21 Shoveller, along with hundreds of Coot and Little Grebes. A lone adult Black-winged Stilt looked misplaced. At Hisarkoy a Redstart flitted about and 5 late Beeaters were over the road.
On Saturday I was at Capt Kormakiti for 0800 and at least 16 Stonechats were in the area. At the water tank at the beginning of the cape, 2 Sardinian Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Redstart, female Blackcap and a Spotted Flycatcher were active. As I moved along the cape a juvenile Red-backed Shrike was leaving it late to reach its wintering grounds. I settled down for a few hours sea-watching and the first birds of any note were 5 Pintails and a male Peregrine coming in off the sea. As I continued to watch a steady stream of Scipoli’s Shearwaters passed from east to west but only 1 Yelkouan. 9 Black-headed Gulls moved through with 3 Slender-billeds following behind and a juvenile Shag overtook them. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the first Sandwich Tern of the season and a lone Serin was also unlikely. 7 Corn Buntings fed in stubble as I left the cape and headed towards Cape Kormakiti Lake or Kouracam Lake. Sardinian Warblers were everywhere in the woodland and a Long-legged Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were overhead. Another Serin was in a tree and at the lake proper we were greeted by a pair of superb Bonelli’s Eagles. As we scanned the lake and walked around a Chiffchaff was amongst the Willow Warblers, a Little Bittern fed in the open and my first Water Rail for many months took a bit of “digging out” On Sunday whilst returning home we stopped at the Fresh Water Lake South in Famagusta where a Redstart, Great White Egret and a Baltic Gull were the highlights.
Having been away from Akhna Dam for a couple of days, I headed there in the afternoon. An Osprey was still present although waders had reduced with only 8 Ruffs being present. The highlight was hearing and then seeing 4 Penduline Tits – the first for the winter as a Sparrowhawk flew over me and a late Reed Warbler fed in the reed bed. A couple of Bluethroats were as usual elusive and a couple of Snipe and a Jack Snipe flushed. As I was leaving the site, 3 Whiskered Terns were over the dam and 16 Common Cranes* circled and then headed off in “V” formation to the south west.
Highlight of the Week: Black Storks* and a new patch tick with the added bonus of a Savi’s Warbler the same day – both year birds. The first Penduline Tits of the winter was a good find and sea watching is always enjoyable.
Look Forward: A day’s leave on Monday, although migration is waning but the search for winter visitors will commence.
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 13 Oct
Lesser-spotted Eagle at Phasouri Reed Beds on 10 Oct 13.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link.
Monday has arrived once more and the regular jaunt to Akhna Dam. The Little Owls appear to have left their roost sites for the time being, however as I entered the dam, an Isabelline Wheatear was on a ploughed field and a Spotted Flycatcher was doing what it’s supposed to do from a nearby tamarisk. Driving to the northern end of the southern arm, an adult Spoonbill was still present with a broken leg as were the regular waders with a Greenshank extending its stay. A movement below a tree caught my eye which turned out to be a late Wryneck which is always nice to see. The waders were suddenly flushed giving a clue to the presence of an adult Sparrowhawk. A lone Black-winged Stilt was a new arrival and as I scanned the reeds, a Sedge Warbler was also late amongst the many Willow Warblers. I then flushed a Little Crake and a Jack Snipe and an Osprey drifted in over the water ending an enjoyable couple of hours.
On Tuesday, after undertaking the monthly shopping – what a joy. I returned via Sotira Pond. 2 Greenshanks and 4 Redshanks were noted along with a Wood Sandpiper. Herons were well represented with 13 Little Egrets and a couple of Grey Herons, whilst ducks consisted of a couple of Mallards, Teal and Garganeys. I went to Akhna Dam in the evening adding a couple to the monthly tally with a Little Bittern and a male Bluethroat was a nice find. The 2 Lapwings were back and the adult Spoonbill* with a broken leg was still present, as was the Isabelline Wheatear. As I was leaving the site I spotted 21 Night Herons going about their twilight business.
On Wednesday I had to undertake an overnight MS visit to Troodos Station and managed to catch up with the mountain species except for a Blackbird which are quite elusive at the present time for some reason. The resident population is relatively small supplemented by winter visitors and when they’re not vocal they can be difficult to locate. Anyway on the way up, at Amiantos asbestos mine 9 Crag Martins and 4 late House Martins were present and surprisingly good numbers of Cyprus Wheatears were still present. There were no other surprises however the morning after on the way down at the Caledonian Falls trail I finally found a male Blackbird – surprising what joys can be derived from a common bird – still with a shrug “This is Cyprus my friend".
Further down the mountain in the foothills, a couple of Cetti’s Warblers (they are not restricted to wetlands and reeds in Cyprus), 2 Sardinian, 2 Spectacled and 4 Blackcaps were seen and another Cyprus Wheatear. At Kensington Cliffs at least 6 Eleaonora’s Falcons and a Long-legged Buzzard were present and a little further along at Tunnel Beach cliffs, 2 Honey Buzzards headed out to sea, 2 Peregrines hunted around the cliffs and a female Marsh Harrier quartered the hillside. At Phasouri Reed Beds a large raptor rising from the reeds caught my attention and I was delighted to identify it as a juvenile Lesser Spotted Eagle*, a good bird for a chance visit and a species which I have so far failed to catch up with, a ringtail Montague’s Harrier also caught a thermal and drifted east. Speaking to Colin later, he had said that with the wind changing from south westerly’s to northerlies. There had been a good raptor passage the day before with at least 5 Lesser Spotted Eagles, an Egyptian Vulture, a couple of Short-toed Eagles and a Black Stork passing over the Akrotiri area. In any event I was delighted to catch up with my first Lesser Spotted Eagle of the tour.
I returned via Larnaca Sewage Works and the Pacific Golden Plover was still present on the lagoons amongst a few Little Stints and Ruffs. On the other side of lagoon 1, (left hand lagoon), a Bar-Godwit fed actively with a Marsh Sandpiper and several more Ruffs. 5 Greater Flamingos were present of which 2 were adults. On the buoys at Spiro's Beach 3 Shags were in their regular spots. On the way home 4 more Shags were off Dhekelia Power Station and the Stone Curlew roost opposite Dhekelia Fire Station held 21 individuals. I returned to Akhna Dam and nothing much had changed, however a Great Reed Warbler , a couple of Redstarts and the Jack Snipe were nice to see. A Whiskered Tern sat on a rock and the first Cormorant of the season landed in the water. A Red-backed Shrike was at Avgorou along with 7 Swallows as I returned home for tea.
Planning to take Debs to the theatre club in Dhekelia at 1800, I checked my emails to find one from Colin Richadson highlighting the presence of a Terek Sandpiper* at Oroklini Marsh in the drainage channels. We left at 1740, I dropped Deb off and headed to Oroklinin with the light fading. I managed to locate the bird fairly quickly with Redshanks and Little Stints and with the light fading quickly managed to grab a quick record shot at distance for ID and recording purposes. Although, I had found one in August at Akhna Dam, Terek Sandpiper is such a rare bird in Cyprus, I felt compelled to “twitch it” and I don’t like other birders finding rarities on my patches without me seeing them. On Friday I had a day off from birding (I know – weak) and caught up on some sleep from a hectic week and went to the north with our friends to a newly found Pakistani restaurant where the food was excellent and they sold Cobra beer – result!
I rose early on Saturday and headed to the Larnaca area. The Terek Sandpiper was no longer present at Oroklini, however, the first Shelduck* of the winter was present along with some commoner waders. I flushed a male Black Francolin as I approached the sewage works area and managed to drive closely enough on a ploughed field (good job I invested in the new 4WD), to get reasonable shots of a male Peregrine*. A Great White Egret was on the lagoons, the Whiskered Tern continued its stay and on the approach road a female Redstart gave itself away as it flew across in front of me. On the beach at Spiro’s a Grey Plover* was my first of the season and a couple of Kingfishers sat on rocks. I proceeded to Akhna Dam, where another Osprey put on a show as a couple of Marsh Harriers, a Monty’s and a Lesser Kestrel sailed south. With not much happening I returned home and took Deb to the material warehouse (it really is a superb example of a fire hazard for those wishing to enhance their Health & Safety knowledge), where I left her for an hour as I went to the Fresh Water Lake South – it really was too dangerous for me to hang around. At the lake Grey Herons were visible in good numbers as were Moorhens. A Black-headed Gull was new and a few waders were dotted around the area but a Grey Wagtail was a new arrival for the winter.
On Sunday, I had promised myself a day out at Akrotiri to catch some raptor migration and it proved to be a productive day. On the Lady’s Mile side of the salt Lake behind Zakaki Marsh, 4 Slender-billed Gulls flew around whilst 2 Spoonbills were amongst the c9500 Greater Flamingos. In the scrub some Linnets – not easy on the east of the island, a male Stonechat and a Red-backed Shrike fed actively as a Marsh Harrier hawked the reed beds. As I drove around to Phasouri Reed Beds, I could see large flocks of Red-footed Falcons and an immature Honey Buzzard sat in a tree along with another Red-footed Falcon and c20 European Beeaters. I stood under the eucalyptus trees from 0930 – 1230 and was not disappointed, at least 5 Lesser-Spotted Eagles passed overhead with 1 lingering, c160 Red-footed Falcons, a Hobby, a Lesser Kestrel, 2 Eleonora’s Falcons and a Saker represented the falcons. The skies had a steady flow of Honey Buzzards with at least 20 passing with several Steppe Buzzards mixed in, a couple of Pallid and Marsh Harriers, 5 Sparrowhawks, 3 Long-legged Buzzards, a distant Griffon Vulture, whether this was a wandering resident or a migrant may never be known and a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle. Perhaps the biggest surprise was a flock of 10 Red-rumped Swallows with a handful of Sand Martins mixed in. On the way home at Larnaca, another Black Francolin, the same Whiskered Tern and a Eurasian Curlew was new for the month.
Finally Akhna Dam was its usual busy self with lots of waders, the single Spoonbill with a broken leg and a very downy looking juvenile Masked Shrike was a late migrant. Around the reed beds at least 4 Bluethroats, 1 svecica*, 3 Sedge Warblers*, 5 Reed Warblers a Great Reed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat*. I also flushed a Jack Snipe, and a female Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler fed actively in the tamarisks. Surprisingly, the loud “tchacking” revealed the presence of a late Eastern Olivaceous Warbler that was feeding frenetically. So to the end of an excellent and busy week. Late September into October is an excellent time to visit Cyprus.
Highlight of the Week: Lesser- Spotted Eagles* and raptor migration is always thrilling!
Look Forward: With a day’s leave on Fri and Mon, it’s a long weekend where we plan to stay in the north for a few days and visit Cape Kormakiti to sea watch.
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 6 Oct
Pacific Golden Plover at Larnaca Sewage Works on 3 Oct - A bit noisy, at distance.
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link
The last day of the month and a long day at work so I only had time to visit Akhna Dam. The Little Owl remained faithful to its day roost site and 19 European Beeaters fed over a ploughed field that held a couple of Whinchats. 3 Curlew Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, some Little Stints and 5 Snipe were on the muddy pools and a lone Redshank the only one of the month was also present. A smart looking male Masked Shrike outshone its immature Red-backed cousins and the usual collection of herons were present. As I worked my way around the dam to the reed bed, at least 5 Sedge Warblers were chasing each other and they were joined by a female type Bluethroat – my first of the autumn. Flushing a Little Crake from the same area was a bonus, with the month list ending on a fairly respectable 135, considering I didn’t have a car for half of the month with some notable sightings including Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Thrush Nightingale.
Anyway enough reminiscing and onto Tuesday and the beginning of a new month. Akhna Dam was fairly productive with a female Bluethroat, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers. Masked and Red-backed Shrikes continue to be present as do a couple of migrant waders. A couple of Lesser Whitethroats were in the eucalyptus and a Squacco Heron flushed from the reeds. European Beeaters continue to pass in small groups and a single Lapwing was present. On the way home the Barn Owl remained faithful to its roost at Vrysoulles.
On Wednesday I had a day’s leave so headed for the Cape Greco via Ayia Thekla where 7 Greater Sand Plovers*, 6 Kentish Plover and a Common Sandpiper were present . As I approached the track to the rubbish tip I immediately saw a late Lesser Grey Shrike. A Northern Wheatear was in nearby fields as were at least 20 Chukar. Onto the picnic area where a Cyprus Warbler sang noisily and a male Cyprus Wheatear lingered. Further on underneath the Army Camp, another Cyprus Wheatear, plenty of Spectacled Warblers and my first Blue Rock Thrush male of the winter. I continued onto Ayia Napa Sewage Works where Lesser Whitethroats were the most common bird along with Willow Warblers but I also found a nice looking Wood Warbler*. The lagoons held a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Flycatcher, Red-rumped Swallow* and first Stonechat of the winter were present on the wires. An Osprey drifted steadily southwards, as did a female Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk came in off the sea heading the other way – fantastic migration! At the football pitches, a couple of Whinchats and an Isabelline Wheatear. I visited Akhna Dam in the evening and much was the same, although another Osprey was present and at the side of the dam near to the donkey sanctuary I flushed a Little Bittern and a Great Reed Warbler. In the same area a pair of Garganeys alighted and the trees held good numbers of Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps.
On Thursday, I had to visit Akrotiri and although it wasn’t prolific, a couple of Black Kites, 4 Honey Buzzards, a few Marsh Harriers and a Sparrowhawk were all seen, the best of the bunch was a dark phase Booted Eagle complete with very obvious “landing lights”. A Common Buzzard was also a good sighting and the salt lake held c8500 Greater Flamingos. With not much doing, I headed for the Larnaca area where I photographed a cracking adult Baltic Gull* on Spiro’s Beach. I then headed for the hide overlooking the sewage works and met Pete Wragg a local visiting UK birder. I said the well used phrase “Anything about” – as you do and he replied nonchalantly a Pacific Golden Plover* (a Cyprus tick). Now I have to tell a story and “Fess Up”. As I got onto the bird, I realised that it was the bird I had seen on the 22 Sep and another had seen on the 21st and had ID’d it as a European Golden Plover. As I looked at the bird, which I had photographed 2 weeks earlier as it “looked odd”, I thought it was a Dotterel at first glance but then didn’t make the connection and put it down as a European Golden Plover – STUPID!!!! I was and am gutted at missing this bird. I broke my own biggest rule in Cyprus, look at everything and expect the unexpected – a mixture of complacency, not thoroughly looking at the detail of the bird which I am familiar with structurally had cost me dear. So Pete Wragg – well done, goes down as the finder. My first cock up this tour, but it does prove that nobody is infallible or gets it right every time. For good measure I also photographed the Desert Wheatear* that was present. As I drove home through Vrysoulles a Hobby drifted past the car.
Friday was the Mess end of season Greek style BBQ which I had organised, so absolutely no prizes for guessing the outcome. I did however, refrain from wholesale drunkenness and left at 2130 so I was able to rise early and visit Larnaca Sewage Works. This I did and it was a fairly productive morning. On the lagoons a Whiskered and White-winged Black Tern hawked and a Bar-tailed Godwit fed actively on the exposed mud (a relative scarcity in Cyprus). On the fields several Sanderling* fed amongst the other waders an 7 female type Pintails had appeared on the lagoons. A single Red-throated Pipit fed amongst the plethora of Yellow and White Wagtails and a ringtail Montague’s Harrier drifted over the fields whilst a Long-legged Buzzard hovered above. The Pacific Golden Plover was flushed early by the dreaded photographers (great field craft) and remained out of site until I left at least. I met a visiting birder in the afternoon and Ayia Napa Sewage Works and Football Pitches were fairly unproductive except for Lesser Whitethroats, Whinchats and Willow Warblers. Cape Greco was the same except for a Cyprus Wheatear and as we stopped for an ice cream 2 Audouins’ Gulls rested on the sea at Konnos Bay – probably the most reliable site in the East of the island on the Greek side for this species – although by no means a certainty. We drove along to Ayia Thekla where 2 Greater Sand Plovers, 2 Dunlins and a Little Egret were amongst the Kentish Plovers. Later at Akhna Dam, a late female Citrine Wagtail was a surprise, another Montague’s Harrier appeared and a Greenshank was new. As I watched a Sedge and Reed Warbler a Spoonbill landed in the dam with a broken leg and I flushed a couple of migrant Redstarts.
On Sunday it was shopping and barbers day over the north which allowed my to visit a few sites. There were still a large number of Grey Herons at Fresh Water Lake South with a single adult Spoonbill, a 1CY Night Heron and a single Squacco Heron. At Clapsides Beach a Kingfisher and a Greenshank were the first signs of anything for a few months. We did the shopping and at the barbers I’m sure his hands are getting softer – or maybe I’m just being molested to a greater extent. Anyway after feeling suitably relaxed, we had lunch in Famagusta with a couple of EFES and then a couple of hours sleep on the setee – what a great Sunday! At Akhna in the evening I added a Cetti’s Warbler to the month list and a Sparrowhawk flew by with a Lesser Whitethroat being new along with a Green Sandpiper. Before I left I managed a few more shots of a Kingfisher*.
Highlight of the Week: The Pacific Golden Plover – only the 8th Cyprus record but I’m gutted at not identifying the bird initially.
Look Forward: Some seawatching in the north hopefully and a bit of exploration of ploughed fields for Pipits and a Dotterel.
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 Sep
Osprey at Akhna Dam on 29 Sep
* indicates that a photo of the species is included please visit Flickr site to view or click on the link
Monday already and after a long day at work I managed to get to Akhna Dam for a couple of hours. The evenings are drawing in and it’s now dusk at about 1850 so I need to make the most of the time before the clocks go back. The dam was productive although nothing exceptional was seen. Waders numbers were fairly consistent with the last couple of weeks with Ruffs and Little Stints being in the majority. A couple of Whiskered Terns were present, one being a moulting adult and Red-backed and Masked Shrikes continue to pass through in reduced numbers. A Little Owl was in the usual place, Snipe numbers had increased to 4 and a Sedge Warbler was seen. As I returned home through the village c20 European Beeaters fed from the telegraph wires.
With the car back up and running with Turkish insurance, we headed over to the North via the dreaded “Poundland”. We arrived at Fresh Water Lake South and I immediately sighted a Whiskered Tern. Several waders were present including a Spotted Redshank, Ruffs, Ringed Plovers, Wood & Green Sandpipers and 3 Black-winged Stilts. A couple of Kingfishers chased each other around the tamarisks. A whos who of herons were present with c30 Grey Herons, 2 Purple Herons, 2 Night, 5 Squacco and 18 Little Egrets accompanied by 6 Glossy Ibises. Clapsides beach held 4 Ruff and an early Golden Plover but disappointingly there were no post breeding Audouin’s Gulls present.
Mid week already and with a BBQ looming I only managed to grab a couple of hours at Akhna Dam where there were a few notable highlights. A Jack Snipe fed actively under a tamarisk with 4 Common Snipes in close proximately. A couple of Shrikes continue their passage and Ruff numbers had increased to c30. A Temmick’s Stint and 9 Lapwings* flushed amongst the more common Spur-winged Plovers* and a lone White Wagtail continued its stay. A Honey Buzzard* drifted overhead and a few Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler moved actively in the reeds. As I was leaving the site on the main road to Ay Nik a latish Lesser Grey Shrike sat on a sprinkler head and overhead a fantastic view as 33 White Pelicans* flew south west in formation.
On Thursday, I was late home and had to drop Deb to the theatre club in Dhekelia where a Red-backed Shrike sat on a fence. On the way home, I stopped at Dhekelia Fire Station and the Stone Curlew roost had risen to 23 vice 18. Briefly, with the light fading at Akhna Dam, I encountered a Greenshank, 2 Snipe, a couple of Little Stints and Ruffs with an immature Masked Shrike catching flies in the twilight. A couple of Garganeys rose from the water and a Northern Wheatear was sat on a ploughed field. I also noticed a Whiskered Tern hawking the water.
On Friday morning as I departed for work 18 European Beeaters passed over the house heading south east. Attending a dinner in Troodos, we travelled up in the afternoon seeing a Great Grey Shrike in Ay Nik and 2 Ospreys over Polemedia Dam as we started the ascent. On Saturday on the way down we stopped at Oroklini Hills and saw a Masked Shrike, Northern Wheatear, 3 Chukars and c20 European Beeaters. With the station fete on Saturday, I had little time to go birding so had to wait until Sunday afternoon when I visited Akhna Dam.
At Akhna Dam I immediately noticed an Osprey* sat in the water with a Little Egret nearby and c30 European Beeaters overhead. A solitary White Wagtail continued in situ and a Spotted Flycatcher called as I passed. A couple of Shrikes; Red-backed and Masked continue to perform as they hunt actively prior to departure and at least 5 Kingfishers were seen. A female Marsh Harrier spooked the various waders with 4 Snipes and at least 25 Ruffs being seen along with smaller numbers of Little Stint, Little Ringed Plovers and a single Curlew Sandpiper.
Highlight of the Week: A Jack Snipe is always a good bird on passage and the 33 White Pelicans was a good count but good to get another opportunity to photograph an Osprey..
Look Forward: A couple of days off in the week should see me at Akrotiri attempting to catch up with a Lesser Spotted Eagle..
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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