Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly
Birding highlights for week ending 9 Sep
An asterisk (*) indicates that a photo of the species is available to view on Flickr.
Monday and Tuesday comprised of two days leave. The obsession has finally taken over, so I really needed to attempt the Demoselle Cranes again. I visited Akrotiri Salt Lake early on the Monday but again, no Cranes. This has been a particularly poor year for the migration
of the species. Perhaps, because the Salt Lake is so full of water it has affected their usual stop over habit. More worrying is perhaps that it's indicitive of the declining population of this threatened Western Palearctic species. I continued the day noting the many Slender-billed Gulls, four Great White Egret and six Spoonbill. Two Whimbrel remained and did several Marsh Terns. At the back of Zakaki Marsh, four Eleanora's Falcons hunted at close range and two Ringtails and a sub-adult male Montagues Harrier hawked the reedbed. Perhaps the highlight of the day was seeing the c350 Honey Buzzards roosting on the salt lake, rising on the thermals and forming several large kettles of perhaps 70 birds in each. A real spectacle and well worth the trip. My time at Akrotiri was cut short as I managed to find a nail on the gravel pits and hence my first puncture of the tour. Not unexpected or surprising but still a pain in the obvious. Anyway soon underway, I got the tyre repaired at a garage for 5 Euros (at least something is cheap in Cyprus) before heading West.
I returned home via Oroklini Marsh where a pair of Marsh Sandpipers* were present along with a couple of Redshanks and the usual expected species. Not being able to resist the draw of Akhna Dam as I have to pass it, I decided to stop for a couple of hours. It was a good decision. Thirteen Honey Buzzards made their way east, a ringtail Montague's Harrier and female Marsh Harrier drifted ove the reeds carefully watched by the resident Long-legged Buzzard. Then, everything seemed to happen at once, a group of terns that I watched intently, proved to include all three species of marsh tern with a juveinile Black Tern* being a new bird for the tour. Suddenly eveything began to flush, a Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, many Spur-winged Plovers and Cattle Egrets and then I was treated to about half an hour of an Osprey (a new bird for Cyprus for me) fishing*. Feeling fully satisfied, as I left, I photographed a couple of Turtle Doves including a juvenile* and was lucky enough to see another Wryneck. What a fantastic couple of hours birding!
The following morining, I arrived early at Ayia Napa Sewage Works. Seveal Whinchats were present which are passing through in large numbers now. An Isabelline Wheatear, the usual three species of Shrike and a juvenile Barred Warbler. As I climbed the escarpment, I flushed a few Ortolan Buntings and then at the top saw a bird on a rock which I photographed and identified as a Tree Pipit*. The first reported for the autumn I think and a new bird for the year.
Ayia Napa Football Pitches held seven Isabelline Wheatears, three Hoopoes and a couple of Lesser Grey Shirkes with many Yellow Wagtails becoming evident. A picnic lunch with Deb at Cape Greco allowed me a chance to see another 39 migrating Honey Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier whilst a Cyprus Warbler also gave brief views. A nice Cyprus Wheatear* and a male Blackcap ended the lunch.
I took a friends father to Akhna Dam, whos local patch is at North Cave Wetland, so he was an interested birder. He was delighted to see sixteen European Beeaters as we entered the site along with a Spotted Flycatcher. Hoopoes totalled four and a few smart Yellow Wagtails were also present. A lone Wood Sandpiper and three Ruff fed amongst the seven Squacco Herons and a Glossy Ibis put in a late appearance. Finally, as we left the site a Hobby passed over the top of the car.
Back to work on Wednesday so only the afternoon to birdwatch. I had to visit the tailor's shop to have my summer Mess Dress fitted, due to the fact that I've lost so much weight since being here - I thought that would grab your attention - not really. Anyway, that visit coupled with trying to get to grips with the new Blog on the AOS Website saw me eating into birdwatching time. I eventually arrived at Ayia Napa Sewage Works at 1630. There wasn't much about with a late Pallid Swift, two Honey Buzzards, three Ortolan Buntings and an Eastern Orphean Warbler being the highlights. It would appear that the Eastern Orpheans have passed through and that only a few tardy stragglers are now being encountered. A good thing to remember if wishing to see this species, it's a very early autumn migrant in Cyprus so a visit from late July through to early September should bring success.
Thursday already and the monthly visit to Jumbo. Jumbo is a large shop near Larnaca that sells everything and it's one of Deb's favourite places. Whilst I can't boast that, it is only five minutes from Oroklini Marsh. So the deal is..... I drop Deb to Jumbo for two hours, birdwatch the marsh, pick Deb up, go for a coffee and a sandwhich and return home via Akhna Dam - "PERFECT", I hear you say - and I agree. Oroklini Marsh held three Marsh Sandpipers*, three Ruff, seven Redshanks and a Spotted Redshank with only one Wood Sandpiper remaining. Teal have increased to 43, Shovellers to three and a lone female Red-crested Pochard continues its stay.
Later at Akhna Dam, a skulking Little Bittern eventually gave itself up, two Little Crakes fed actively in the open* and three Glossy Ibisis flew into feed. Perhaps the surprise and most exciting bird was a Eurasian Starling, a new bird for the Cyprus year and amazing what you get excited about in different parts of the world.
I attended a dinner at Troodos station on Friday evening which put paid to any birding, however, I did manage a walk around the local area in order to record a number of the common mountain species for the month.
I managed an hour or so before showering and encountered a familiy group of 5 Woodlark, a Short-toed Treecreeper, Cyprus Pied Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear with 5 Serins along for the ride. On Saturday, I travelled back on the minibus with a headache and apart from 6 or 7 Beeaters at the back of the house, I noted nothing else.
Having missed Saturday I rose early on Sunday and made for Ayia Napa Sewage Works. The site was alive with birds and a female and male (eastern black-throated form) Black-eared Wheatears were a highlight. Another couple of Ortolan Buntings made an appearance and I flushed another 2 Corncrakes. Isabelline Wheatears and Whinchats were everywhere, as were Red-backed Shrikes. It was pleasing to see a female Cyprus Warbler which are becoming difficult. I saw a Turtle Dove and another 3 shot by hunters. Later at the Football Pitches a female Black Francolin* and a Tree Pipit was picked up on call and then seen perched on a fence.
The afternoon at Akhna Dam saw me sight my first female Pallid Harrier of the tour - obvious with its very pale collar and bouyant flight. Nothing new was noted but the juvenile Collared Pratincole continued its stay and I saw another 2 or the same pair of Little Crakes. For pictures of birds with * please click on the following Flickr links:
- Osprey at Akhna Dam
- Eastern Black-eared Wheater female at Ayia Napa Sewage Works
- Whinchat at Cape Greco
- Willow Warbler at Ayia Napa Sewage Works
- Chukar at Ayia Napa Football Pitches
The week was once again very productive. For me the highlights were the spectacle of Honey Buzzard passage over Akrotiri Salt Lake and a fishing Osprey at Akhna Dam.
Other interesting finds: Definately not the Jumbo swag bag that Deb managed to accumulate durng the monthly visit.
Look Forward: A day's leave on Monday so I must plan well, I also have to do a recce for next week as I'm picking a UK birder up and guiding him for a day, so I need to locate his hotel and we have friends visiting at the end of the month (yes I do have non-birding friends), that Deb and I will have to get prepared for, ie buy more beer and brandy sour making ingredients. The Battle of Britain Ball is at the end of the week so birding is likely to be curtailed next week due to the effects of alcohol - is there a theme developing?
If you are planning a visit or require more info please feel free to contact me at: birder639@yahoo.com
Mark Easterbrook
Ivor Dewdney | 16th Sep 2012 09:10 AM
Great shots mate and I’m very jealous about your work / birding balance as I am about your speedy and well publicised weight loss. Those Mezes must be doing the trick.
streaming football | 16th Sep 2012 11:06 PM
Wonderful snap of big birdie!! Dude I must say you’ve great time Akrotiri Salt Lake. You’ve expose some of your finest momentum and I really enjoyed studying these moments. Thanks for lovely sharing.
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