Army Ornithological SocietyCyprus Weekly Supplement
Cyprus – Winter Long Weekend 20–24 Nov 14
Female Crossbill – Levadia Tou Pasha 22 Nov 14
Participants: Mark Easterbrook (leader), Tim Cowley, Richard Seargent, Geoffrey McMullan & Bob Hayward.
Introduction
With the long weekend trip idea being hatched during the AOS March tour, the idea was simple. Target the range restricted wintering species that can be difficult to see elsewhere. With Wallcreeper being a lifer for some and Finch’s Wheatear being a lifer for all, the challenge was on. With 4 members taking part (sadly Andy Rose had to withdraw due to work commitments), the week proved to be very successful and enjoyable. With members of the Continuity AOS being gathered the leader has to admit that I did feel a bit of pressure to deliver.
Day by Day
Day 1 – 20 Nov
On Thursday 20th 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.
Day 2 – 21 Nov
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. With the boiled eggs playing havoc with Geoff, the journey to our next stop was not pleasant. We drove to the Lower Ezouzas Pools where Moustached Warbler was the highlight but a 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!
Day 3 – 22 Nov
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, Goldfinches 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”. 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 Shovelers 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. 5 Swallows were very unseasonal but a welcome addition to the trip list. 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!
Day 4 – 23 Nov
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 were seen along with several Sardinian Warblers and Black Redstarts. Continuing to the gorge , Bob Haywood 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. The only good views of Spanish Sparrow was also achieved here. 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, as we departed a Long-legged Buzzard was called by Bob and gave good views.
Day 5 – 24 Nov
The final day of the tour turned into a mini bird race, covering a great deal of the island in the quest to achieve a good tally of species – “It’s All About The List”. An early breakfast had been booked so we departed the hotel at 0700 on route to Kensington Cliffs. We paused and with a little luck saw 7 Griffon Vultures, which probably constitutes the Cyprus wild population. Walking around the area I heard several Cyprus Warblers and eventually saw at least 3. It would have been a shame to miss this bird, although they are more difficult in the winter and it does appear that the species is less numerous due to the increase in less habitat specific Sardinian Warblers. A short trip to Phassouri ensured a chance encounter with another target bird that I thought we might miss. A female Black Francolin was feeding along the edge of a reed bed and eventually walked into the road in full view. Geoff found a Penduline Tit which most of the group got onto and Zakaki Marsh held little, although a Bluethroat was seen briefly and a ringtail Hen Harrier was added to the list. The hour or so journey to Larnaca was uneventful except for the brief stop at McDonalds for coffee where Geoff moaned about the quality of the cuisine and the “Pathetic bit of bacon”. At Larnaca we eventually secured views of the only Spectacled Warbler seen by the whole group – a surprise for this common resident which had played hard to get. At the sewage works wildfowl was the focus, where we added 8 Greater White-fronted Geese, Shelduck, Pochard, Gadwall, Black-necked Grebe and the real surprise a pair of Tufted Ducks which were a good find for the group thanks to Tim. A single Black-winged Stilt of the trip was on the lagoons and a single Cormorant flew about.
Stopping at Larnaca Salt Lake on the way to Oroklini Marsh where Tim chipped in again with 5 Avocets. New birds added amongst the Greater Flamingo numbers were a Ringed Plover with Dunlins and Little Stints and 6 Ruff with 20 Redshanks. A Slender-billed Gull was amongst the Black-headed Gulls and several Armenian Gulls roosted at the north end of the lake. 34 Shelducks was the largest count of the winter so far but we moved onto Oroklini which was a bit disappointing but allowed us to add a nice male Pintail to the list. Another Marsh Harrier drifted over the marsh and 26 Lapwings with Spur-winged Plovers were also an addition. We stopped for lunch at Dolphin Rocks, Oroklini Coast where remarkably the first Sandwich Tern of the winter was seen loafing on the rocks with Black-headed Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls and a single 1st winter Mediterranean Gull also loafing. After an enjoyable lunch and with our luck appearing to be good, I chanced my arm with a stop at Dhekelia Power Station which had been fruitless previously. Our luck was in, a pair of immature Shags of the Mediterranean race sat on the mooring buoys. Another bird secured, onto the Dhekelia Fire Station Stone Curlew roost. Disaster! The field had been ploughed and no birds were present. I drove on and had a hunch to drive down a track separating 2 stony fields. BINGO! Large numbers of Stone Curlews alighted and good views were had of an impressive 80 or so birds. Akhna Dam was a little dull although 5 Redshanks, a few Little Stints and Dunlins fed on the mud, with good numbers of Water and Meadow Pipits being present. A Great White Egret was added to the tally and the day was proving to be very productive.
With time saved due to the early successes of the week we still had time to fit a visit to The Fresh Water Lake South in the north. I stopped briefly at my house to get my passport and we were away. On crossing the border a particularly pretty Turkish Passport Control Officer caused a few raised eyebrows and comments. However, she amused us all by saying that Geoff looked like a man from the forest and lacked soul – who said first impressions aren’t accurate? Onto the site and we parked in the usual place next to the horse stables where the sun was at our back. The Night Herons were in their usual roost site (4 adults and 3 1CYs) and 2 Glossy Ibises flew into join the Cattle Egrets. I caught site of a perched black and white bird – amazing the long staying and difficult to see female Pied Kingfisher was posing in the open, a great bird for the group on the final day. As we watched in the fading light, Tim noticed 2 unseasonal Swallows above us and a Great White Egret flew into the west end of the site. A Spotted Redshank called and was then seen along with the commoner Redshanks and 3 Green Sandpipers were also noted before we departed for the trip to Larnaca Airport. 1720, job done, all targets seen, although the Pine Buntings would have been a MEGA bonus.
Consolidated Species List
Summary
Thank you to all participants for their support and commitment allowing the small group to have a very successful 4 days. With 122 species seen, I wouldn’t have predicted so many species but with a bit of luck and some good birding, it goes to show what can be achieved in winter on Cyprus. Thanks once more to Colin Richardson for his knowledge and company and of course to Matt Smith for initially finding the Wallcreepers this year.
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